UPDATE: SB833 referendum campaign

Alert date: 
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Alert body: 

We are so energized by the excitement of longtime OFIR members as well as so many new people wanting to get involved to help overturn SB833 by a vote of the people.  We are all outraged that so many Oregon Legislators think that the demands of foreign nationals illegally in our country are more important than what's best for Oregon's citizens and legal residents.

We want to bring everyone up to speed on OFIR filing a referendum on Senate Bill 833.

The OFIR phone line has been flooded with calls and hundreds of e-mails!  OFIR's volunteer board members have been on a number of TV news and radio talk shows all over Oregon this week.  People from all over the state and even some folks from other states have called offering help to overturn SB 833.

Currently we are filling out the necessary forms with the Secretary of States Elections Office.  It is not an easy process.   In addition to a number of other tasks we will be building a new website specific for the referendum, opening a campaign account, organizing committee leaders, etc.  Please bear with us.

A few specifics regarding the referendum process:

We will be filing paperwork of intent, getting approval and getting petition styles approved this coming week.  
 
Then, we will need to gather about 59,000* valid signatures. *We will actually need to collect about 80,000 signatures to offset errors, duplicates, unregistered voters etc.  Accuracy and legibility are crucial to our success.  We've heard stories of opponents attempting to sign petition sheets multiple times using fraudulent names in an effort to have all the signatures thrown out.

We will have ONLY 90 days following the end of the legislative session to collect the signatures we need...but we can start as soon as we get the go ahead form the Secretary of State's office..

The referendum will be the exact same wording as Senate Bill 833.  In essence voters will have the same opportunity as a state legislator to vote for or against giving illegal aliens Oregon driver licenses.

There will be both online petitions as well as the standard 10 lined signature sheets.  We are looking into other options, as well.

We fully expect our opponents to spend alot of money in an attempt to prevent citizens from voting on this important issue.  The pro-illegal alien supporters brought in expensive lobbyists to pressure state legislators to pass SB 833. 

If anyone can contribute financially to OFIR's defeat SB833 campaign it would be most appreciated!  We ask that you give generously to support this project...but please, give only what you can afford.

Just as soon as the referendum forms are available we will let you know so we can all get started. 

The next OFIR meeting is scheduled for 2:00, Saturday, June 1,  at the Best Western Inn in Salem, 3125 Ryan Dr, SE, just west of I-5, Exit 253, across from Costco.  In the meanwhile, you could start making a list of people and places where you could collect signatures.

Invite your friends to join you at the meeting.  We will have all the supplies you need to get started collecting signatures.

We can't do this without you!  As soon as we get our ducks in a row, we will be in touch with all of  you.