Special Issue on Ballot Measure 50

                                        and Health Care Reform

Please attend a special interfaith organizing meeting for the
Yes on Measure 50 (Healthy Kids) Campaign

Thursday, September 20, 2007 – 12 noon to 2 p.m.

At the Interchurch Center –
SW Bancroft and Kelly, Portland, OR 97239 (Directions)
(In the Corbett/Lair Hill area of Portland, near Barbur Blvd. and Hamilton)
            
This meeting is co-sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO)
and the Oregon Center for Christian Values (OCCV).

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Kevin Finney
at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204, or e-mail Kevin at [email protected].

A Moral Challenge for Oregonians of Faith
In 2006, one in six Oregonians—or 576,000 people, including over 116,000 children—lacked health insurance. Nearly half of these are working adults. One of the biggest challenges facing poor and low-income families is finding the ability to afford decent health care. As people of faith, we find it morally unacceptable that more than 100,000 Oregon children currently lack health insurance, and that health insurance has become unaffordable for many working Oregonians.

Passing Measure 50 is Critical to Increasing Health Care Access
The first step toward being able to provide all Oregonians with access to quality health care is passage of Ballot Measure 50, which the Legislature has placed before the voters at a special election on November 6, 2007.   

A “Yes!” vote on Measure 50 will increase state revenue by an estimated $386 million over the next four years to provide health care for children and low-income adults, and double the amount of money available for proven tobacco-prevention programs. It does this through an 84.5 cent per pack increase in the state’s cigarette tax, matching our neighbors to the north in Washington state.   

Measure 50 leads in early polls of Oregon voters, but tobacco companies like R.J. Reynolds are funding a huge media campaign against Measure 50. People of faith are called to study the facts about this measure and help to educate others about why its passage is so important. For more information on Measure 50, visit http://healthykids-oregon.org/.

Have You, Your Church, or Your Denomination Endorsed Measure 50? 
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is working with the Yes on 50 Campaign to compile a growing list of faith supporters for measure 50. Please let us know if we can add your name or the name of your church to our growing list of supporters. 

Wherever you are in the state of Oregon, please reply to this e-mail if you would like to support Measure 50 in any way. Let me know your name, e-mail address and phone number so we can keep you updated about how to help the Yes on 50 Campaign.

Clergy Sign Voters Guide Statement for Measure 50
A growing list of clergy and faith organizations have endorsed measure 50.  Several of those have submitted statements of support for the voters guide put out by the Secretary of State prior to the Nov. 6th election.  Among those signing the statement of support or endorsing Measure 50 are: 

Rev. Alcena Boozer, St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church, NE Portland
Rev. Dr. Dan Bryant, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eugene
Rev. Chuck Currie, Parkrose Community UCC, Portland
Rev. Benjamin Dake, First Presbyterian Church, Cottage Grove
Rev. Kent Harrop, First Baptist Church, McMinnville
Rabbi Daniel Isaak, Congregation Neveh Shalom, Portland
Rev. Gail McDougle, First Congregational Church (UCC), Salem
Rev. David Nagler, Nativity Lutheran Church, Bend
Rev. Jim Boston, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Grants Pass
Shahriar Ahmed, President, Bilal Masjid Mosque, Beaverton
Gregory Hamilton, President, Northwest Religious Liberty Association
The Oregon Center for Christian Values
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland

To see the all the pro and con voters guide statements, go to: 
http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/nov62007/   

Kick-off the “Yes on 50 Campaign” This Weekend by Canvassing in Portland or Eugene
Election Day is less than eight weeks away! The Healthy Kids, Yes on 50 Campaign needs your help to go door-to-door this Saturday in Portland and this Sunday in Eugene.

Portland
Saturday, September 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SEIU Local 49, 3536 SE 26th Ave. (corner of 26th & Powell)
Contact Kevin at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Training & materials provided

Eugene
Sunday, September 16, 2 to 5 p.m.
Stand for Children office, 1192 Lawrence (corner of 12th & Lawrence)
Contact Kevin at (503) 221-1054, ext. 204 or by e-mail at [email protected] 
Training & materials provided

Who Else Has Endorsed Measure 50? Here’s a Partial List: 

American Cancer Society
Oregon PTA
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Business Association
Oregon Alliance of Retired Americans
American Heart Association
American Lung Association of Oregon
Oregon Education Association
Children First for Oregon
Oregon Nurses Association
United Seniors of Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski
Oregon Pediatric Society
Oregon AFL-CIO
Urban League of Portland
Oregon Public Health Association
American Association of University Women
National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network
SEIU, Local 503 and Local 49
Oregon State Public Interest Research Group
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Oregonians for Health Security
Providence Health System
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Health Action Campaign
Stand for Children