ballot measure 88

Oregon 2014 Ballot Measure 88 will give driver cards to illegal aliens. Vote NO on Ballot Measure 88.

Your letters and commentaries help spread the word

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Thu, 05/07/2015

Many of us are neck deep in politics. They call us activists - or worse.

Many of us are very informed, but prefer to stay out of the fray and simply be supportive at the ballot box.

But, the vast majority of people are uninformed voters. And, in large part, it's because of the "low information voter" that we are in the predicament we find ourselves now.

Letters to the Editor, commentaries and opinion pieces are critical in reaching out to people who only glance at the newspaper - occassionally. Or take a peek online once in a while.

Please read through the fantastic collection of letters written by folks inspired to simply speak up and express their frustrations!

A well written opinion piece by OFIR founder and longtime member Elizabeth VanStaaveren is a good example!

A recent commentary by OFIR member Rick LaMountain is a great place to start.

Oregon Voters Reject Illegal Alien Driver’s Licenses

Voters in Oregon overwhelmingly rejected a law passed in 2013 that would grant driver’s license cards to illegal aliens. (Oregon Live, Nov. 5, 2014) Ballot Measure 88, which put Senate Bill (“S.B.”) 833 up for voter approval, was defeated by a landslide of 68% of voters in favor of vetoing S.B 833, with only 32% in support of the law. (Id.) The defeat of Measure 88 marks a huge victory for true immigration reformers in Oregon and nationwide. Currently, eleven states grant driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. However, activists in Oregon were the first state to hold their elected representatives accountable and put the question on the ballot.

Opposition against Measure 88 was entirely a grassroots effort. Oregonians for Immigration Reform, a local group whose mission is to support enforcement of immigration law, initiated the referendum of the law by working tirelessly to gather over 71,000 signatures in just a few months to get Measure 88 on the ballot. (Breitbart, Oct. 21, 2014) Supporters for the Measure included illegal alien lobby groups, labor unions, and businesses that profited off of the availability of cheap, illegal labor. (Oregon Live, Nov. 4, 2014) True immigration reformers raised only $37,000 to fight Measure 88, compared to the $421,000 raised by the illegal alien lobby to support it. (Breitbart, Oct. 21, 2014)

The movement to defeat Measure 88 gained momentum in April when sheriffs representing all 36 counties in Oregon came out in opposition to the Measure. (Oregon Live, Sept. 22, 2014) Sheriffs of Oregon Political Action Committee, which represents Oregon sheriffs, issued a press release stating: “The Sheriffs of Oregon support the citizens veto referendum #301 to overturn S.B. 833. We urge a NO vote.” (Id.) Tom Bergin, current Clatsop County Sheriff and former President of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, added, “It is wrong to provide special driver’s licenses to people who cannot prove legal presence in the United States. For Oregon to do so, will only enhance the ability for criminal behavior, thus creating a larger risk to our citizens public safety. The Sheriffs of Oregon urge you to oppose this Measure.” (Id.)

Supporters of illegal alien driver’s licenses appealed to public safety concerns, arguing S.B. 833 would improve public safety and increase the number of insured drivers on state roads and highways. (Portland Tribune, Oct. 16, 2014) These arguments, however, lost credibility after the law enforcement adamantly spoke up against the law. Dave Driscall, a retired Salem Police officer, described Measure 88 as “just a way for a select group of people to avoid Oregon law. It will not increase traffic safety or lower the number of uninsured drivers in this state. If allowed to stand Oregon could become a safe haven for criminals and terrorists.” (Oregon Live, Sept. 22, 2014) Indeed, a study published in the Journal of Insurance Regulation in 2011 reported that the average percentage of uninsured motorists is actually higher in states that have no lawful presence requirement for obtaining driving privileges. (National Association of Insurance Commissioners)

True immigration reform activists in the state were thrilled to learn of the outcome of the referendum. (Statesman Journal, Nov. 4, 2014) Cynthia Kendoll, president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, commented, “We wanted to get it to the ballot, and we wanted to let Oregon voters decide this issue. I think they’ve spoken loud and clear.” (Id.) Kendoll stated the outcome was a victory for those “sick and tired of big business, special interest groups and unions controlling our government.” (Oregon Live, Nov. 4, 2014)

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Sheriff of the year a friend of Measure 88 campaign

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Fri, 04/03/2015

Sheriff Tom Bergin worked diligently to secure the endorsement of the Sheriff's of Oregon PAC for the Measure 88 campaign. Sheriff Bergin is a great friend of OFIR's and we salute his success.

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Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin was named Sheriff of the Year by the Western States Sheriffs' Association at its annual conference last week in Nevada.

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin was named Sheriff of the Year by the Western States Sheriffs’ Association at its annual conference last week in Nevada.

The association includes sheriffs from 15 western states, including Oregon, Washington to North and South Dakota and down to California and Texas.

Sheriffs in the association receive training related to issues such as use of force, officer video cameras and numerous other court decisions.

In addition, the sheriffs work on immigration issues, conducting meetings with federal officials related to travel management plans on national and state lands and managing forests and federal law enforcement expansion authority, according to the association.

Bergin is on several committees and is the state representative for Oregon. He is also involved with legislative issues both in Oregon and at the federal level.

Western State President Sheriff Dave Brown presented the award to Sheriff Bergin.

“I am truly honored to receive this award. There are many deserving sheriffs but to be singled out as Sheriff of the Year for WSSA is a humbling experience that I will never forget and (will) treasure forever,” Bergin said at the ceremony.

Bergin is in his third term as Clatsop County sheriff and has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years, all of which he has served in Clatsop County.

Read the article here.
Read more about Sheriff of the year a friend of Measure 88 campaign

Dorchester Conference left alot to be desired

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Sun, 03/15/2015

Having defeated Ballot Measure 88 in 35 out of 36 counties and with a 66% NO vote, it seemed curious to me that a conversation about just exactly how that happened would be eminent on the floor at the Dorchester Conference. Perhaps those people scratching their heads about what happened to Oregon Republicans in the last election should review what happened with Measure 88 - and why! There is a clear message here!

Uber vs. Taxi was the lead topic of discussion on Saturday. Disappointing, for sure. A break-out session (one of three) to discuss immigration reform was offered late in the afternoon on Saturday. Read more about Dorchester Conference left alot to be desired

Illegal Alien Driver's Licenses Invite Fraud to States

States that grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens are beginning to see growing evidence of fraud in the application process.

This month, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") announced that many out-of-state aliens have been fraudulently applying for driver's licenses in Vermont. (Watchdog, Jan. 22, 2015) The Vermont DMV made this announcement after it uncovered that at least 130 applications at just one of its DMV offices last month were filled out using false address information. (Id.) When applicants later arrived in person to take the driving portion of the test, investigators learned that many of these applicants were illegal aliens who had paid $2,000 to individuals in New York for help to obtain Vermont driver's licenses. (Id.)

Vermont is not the only state experiencing high instances of fraud in relation to its driver's license law. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez recently re-ignited her appeal to dump New Mexico's driver's license law that allows illegal aliens to receive regular driver's licenses, in violation of the REAL ID Act. (KOAT Albuquerque, Jan. 20, 2015) Indeed, New Mexico has experienced high instances of fraud as a result of granting driver's licenses to illegal aliens. During an audit between August 2010 and April 2011, investigators found that as much as 75 percent of foreign national license applications were phonies. (KRQE) Between that same period, investigators also uncovered 37 percent of foreign national requests for appointments came from out-of-state, most from Arizona, Georgia, and Texas. (Fox News, Jan. 25, 2012)

Tennessee, which also passed a law to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens in 2004, has similarly experienced high instances of fraud in the application process. (Watchdog, Jan. 22, 2015) The state ultimately repealed the law in 2007 after it became apparent to officials that granting driver's licenses to illegal aliens contributed to "an excess of fraudulent resident documents." (Id.)

This month, the State of California is flooded with new applicants for driver's licenses after it began implementing Assembly Bill 60, its new law which grants driver's licenses to illegal alien residents. After the first week of implementation, the California DMV reported that over 46,200 aliens had applied for the special license. (KHTS, Jan. 6, 2015) Of this number, only about a third of the applicant pool passed both the written and driving portions of the test, with 64% of applicants failing. (Id.) California's new law is expected to cost the state over $220 million dollars over the next three years to implement. (Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary)

Driver's license legislation is proving once again to be a hot topic in state legislatures for the third year in a row, with some legislators still pushing to extend driving privileges to illegal aliens despite the mounting evidence of fraud in states that already do. For example, legislators in Rhode Island and Texas reintroduced legislation this month to extend driver's licenses to illegal aliens, after unsuccessful attempts in both states to push the idea last year. (Valley Breeze, Jan. 14, 2015; House Bill 68; Senate Bill 132)

Legislators in other states, however, are seeking a step back. In New Mexico, legislators followed Governor Martinez's appeal and introduced bills change the state's law. Representative Paul Pacheco introduced House Bill "H.B." 32 that would amend New Mexico law to only grant lower tier "driver's privilege cards" to illegal aliens instead of regular driver's licenses. (H.B. 32) Representative William Rehm went even further by introducing H.B. 79 to repeal New Mexico's law completely and reduce the period of validity for driver's licenses to only an alien's period of authorized stay. (H.B. 79) Read more about Illegal Alien Driver's Licenses Invite Fraud to States

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Where do Oregon Republicans stand on immigration?

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Thu, 01/22/2015

For the past 50 years Republicans from all across Oregon have gathered at the Dorchester Conference in Seaside to discuss politics. The opportunity for hundreds of politically active Oregonians to gather and discuss the issues of the day with Legislators, Mayors, Congressmen and others has been an asset to Oregon politics.

Every year a slate of topics covering state and national issues, is presented for conference attendees. Speeches presenting both sides of the issue and debate with the table group expands participants knowledge of each issue. A comment period allows participants to express their viewpoint to the entire conference.

Oregonians for Immigration Reform has participated in The Dorchester Conference for the past several years, hosting an informational booth in the vendor hall, participating in the conference and contributing financially to the conference in the form of sponsorships.

For the past few year as the issue of immigration becomes increasingly concerning in local and national politics, OFIR requested that the topic of immigration be slated as a discussion topic at an upcoming Dorchester Conference. OFIR has been denied every time. Why?

OFIR and Protect Oregon Driver Licenses delivered a powerful blow to the Legislators that supported Ballot Measure 88 with 66% of Oregonians voting NO on driver cards for those illegally in the country.

Because of the profound message that victory sends, OFIR has submitted yet another request for immigration to be a topic at the conference. OFIR has gotten no response to our request. Why?

Please read the letter OFIR has submitted to the Dorchester Conference and feel free to send a comment to:

Telephone: (503) 435-0141
www.OregonIR.org

To: Alison Bruun
President - 2015 Dorchester Conference

From: Cynthia Kendoll
President - Oregonians for Immigration Reform

Re: Illegal immigration as a discussion topic at Dorchester Conference

Will the 2015 Dorchester Conference include illegal immigration as the subject of a discussion group on Saturday, March 14?

As proved by last year's election, opposition to illegal immigration is of vital importance to Oregon voters -- and to Republican success. Via Ballot Measure 88, nearly one million Oregonians voted to repeal the 2013 state law granting driver cards to illegal aliens. Republican candidates who publicly supported efforts to deter illegal immigration -- among them Kim Thatcher, Sal Esquivel, Bill Post, Mike Nearman and Greg Barreto -- won their elections. Those who downplayed or avoided the issue -- like Dennis Richardson, Monica Wehby, Patti Milne and Matt Geiger -- were defeated.

At Dorchester, the issue could be explored in a number of ways specific to Oregon. Possible questions for a discussion group could be:

-- Should Oregon mandate that state businesses use E-Verify to vet job applicants' eligibility for U.S. employment?

-- Should Oregon repeal ORS 181.850, which purports to limit Oregon law enforcement's coordination and cooperation with federal immigration authorities?

-- Should Oregon enact a constitutional amendment to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in state elections?

Both in Oregon and across the nation, illegal immigration is of paramount concern to American voters. It's time that the Dorchester Conference gives illegal immigration the attention it has earned -- and makes it a topic of a Saturday discussion group.

As well, I would be happy to address conference attendees on the connection between opposition to illegal immigration and Republican electoral success or any other immigration related topic.

Thank you for your consideration, and all the best.

Cynthia
President - Oregonians for Immigration Reform http://www.oregonir.org/ Authorized Agent and Statewide Campaign Manager - Protect Oregon Driver Licenses http://www.protectoregondl.org/
Advisory Board - Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform - http://www.cairco.org/

OFIR applauds voters for seeing through the false statements

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Sat, 01/03/2015

Two months after the election those who supported the new law giving driver cards to illegal aliens - on the ballot as Measure 88 - are still trying to explain away their overwhelming defeat.

Spending nearly $600,000 (more than ten times that of Protect Oregon Driver Licenses) Andrea Miller - Director of Causa - claims they simply didn't have the resources to "educate the public".

The clear and simple truth is that the majority of Oregon Legislators, the Governor, big unions and special interest groups couldn't quite dupe the public.

The reality of the major problems created by granting driver cards to illegal aliens was just too big to bury in the sob stories of hardship about getting to and from jobs that illegal aliens are not supposed to have in the first place.

Nearly a million voters - 66% voted NO on 88, even after hearing nothing but misinformation and, in some cases, downright lies about what Ballot Measure 88 would accomplish.

Jim Ludwick - founder and past President of OFIR laid it all out nicely in a letter in response to yet another sob story printed in The Register-Guard.

Measure 88-supporting politicians disregarded unemployed Oregonians

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Thu, 12/18/2014

OregonLive.com

By David Olen Cross

We have included excerpts - click here for the complete article.

Oregon’s continued high unemployment numbers continue to show how Governor John Kitzhaber, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and members of the Oregon State Legislature who supported Ballot Measure 88 (formerly known as Senate Bill 833), legislation that would have required the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issue driver cards to illegal immigrants, foreign nationals illegally in the state, are politicians hopelessly disconnected from the plight of the unemployed in the state.

An evaluation of the seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, News Release from November 21, 2014 titled “Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — October 2014” revealed the National unemployment rate at 5.8 percent — Oregon’s unemployment at 7.0 percent...

What follows below are complete lists of the names of Democrat and Republican elected officials currently in office...

Gov. John Kitzhaber supported and signed into law SB 833 — represents 36 Oregon counties’ 127,041 unemployed (UE) — 7.0 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (SAUR).

Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian supported SB 833 — represents 36 counties’ 127,041 UE, 7.0 percent SAUR.

Democrat senators (Sen.) who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the senate district (SD) they represent: click here

Republican senators who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the senate district they represent: click here

Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr. (SD-2) — represents portions of Jackson’s 7,389 UE — 8.5 percent SAUR and Josephine’s 2,989 UE — 9.6 percent SAUR;

Democrat representatives (Rep.) who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the house district (HD) they represent: click here

Republican representatives who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the house district they represent: click here

An indefensible argument given by proponents of driver cards for the foreign nationals illegally in the state, are illegal immigrants need to be able drive to work. A reminder for proponents of driver cards, foreign nationals illegally in the country cannot legally work in the state.

Another argument of proponents of driver cards is Oregon U.S. citizens will not work at the jobs illegal immigrants now occupy. This argument is at best a half-truth; Oregon U.S. citizens have historically been more than willing to work in construction, forestry, hotels, and restaurants.

.... estimate of 110,000 unauthorized workers in the state.

.... there are up to 52,880 unauthorized agricultural workers in the state.

Oregon’s 127,041 unemployed should contact their governor, labor commissioner and legislators and tell them in the future to reject the idea of any executive action or legislation that would require the DMV to grant a state issued identity in the form of a driver card to illegal immigrants — foreign nationals illegally in the state — that would allow them to legally drive to work.

Here is how Oregon’s’ unemployed can contact their governor, labor commissioner, and members of the state legislature (See links):

Governor: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/ShareYourOpinion.aspx

Labor commissioner: http://www.bradavakian.com/contact/

Find who represents me: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-search.html

State senators: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/

State representatives: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/house/

David Olen Cross of Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com. Read more about Measure 88-supporting politicians disregarded unemployed Oregonians

Very special guest, Dr. Stephen Steinlight, addresses OFIR meeting

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Sat, 12/06/2014

Dr. Stephen Steinlight - Senior Policy Analyst from The Center for Immigration Studies in Washington DC addressed OFIR members and guests and OFIR's annual Christmas Party and meeting. The overwhelming defeat of Ballot Measure 88 was celebrated, as well. Visit our OFIR photo gallery. Read more about Very special guest, Dr. Stephen Steinlight, addresses OFIR meeting

Oregon Legislature poised to act inspite of citizen's vote

Posted by Cynthia Kendoll on Sun, 11/30/2014

I thought OFIR had uncovered a real gem when Mike Nearman, Polk County Republican Chairman, enthusiastically jumped in to help with the PODL citizen's veto referendum to overturn SB833.

I knew we were very fortunate when Mike agreed to attend one of our OFIR Board meetings as a potential future Board member.

I was thrilled when he agreed to join our OFIR Board and continued to work on the PODL campaign.

And, even better than that, we're so fortunate that, even after being elected State Representative in District 23, Mike has agreed to still actively serve on our OFIR Board.

Mike has written a telling article for The Oregon Catalyst.

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