With expected strong support from Lane County, but also with solid support from several other counties — including a few surprises — Oregon voters passed Ballot Measures 66 and 67 on Jan. 26.

Both measures passed at a rate wavering between 53 and 54 percent "Yes" as all of the final numbers were being tabulated statewide county-by-county. In addition to a big margin in Lane, the measures also had a majority vote in Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood River, Lincoln, Multnomah, Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Washington counties.  

"This was a true grass roots victory" said Oregon AFSCME Executive Director Ken Allen. "We won in some places where we don't traditionally win."

"I want to thank all of our union's members and staff who talked to co-workers, leafleted their workplaces, volunteered for phone banks and walked in door-to-door canvasses," Allen continued. "All of that effort really matters, as we saw when the results came in."

There was some thought in the election's waning days that voters could split on the measures. Combined, the measures fill a $733 million hole in the Oregon General Fund, and both were referrals from action taken by the 2009 Oregon Legislature to balance the state budget. Measure 66 raised income taxes for the highest-earning Oregonians, while Measure 67 increased the tax burden on businesses and corporations, with a distinct emphasis on larger corporations. The "No" side focused its campaign on "Job-Killing Taxes," and there appeared to be some momentum that voters might pass Measure 66 but defeat Measure 67. However, when ballots were counted it turned out voters were amazingly consistent, and the vote totals were within a fraction of being the same on both measures.

Even in areas where the measures failed, the margins were often razor thin. For example, both measures were defeated in Clackamas County, but by a tally of less than 300 votes each out of more than 105,000 votes cast on both measures in the county. Even small, rural, conservative Wheeler County came within 50 votes of passing both measures.

AFSCME also played a key financial role in the "Yes" campaign. In addition to a general donation of $1 million ($500,000 from Council 75 and $500,000 from AFSCME International), Oregon AFSCME also funded a series of radio advertisements debunking the opposition's claims that state employees were receiving $259 million in raises and paid for a final election weekend wraparound ad in the Oregonian that corrected several errors and/or exaggerations made by the opposition. The radio ads cost $150,000 and the Oregonian ad was another $20,000; both were paid primarily from a media grant given Council 75 by the national union at last April's Oregon AFSCME Convention.

"It was a prudent and necessary investment to protect our members' jobs and to protect vital resources and services here in our state," said Allen. "Now, the February legislative Special Session can focus on other important issues."