Sanctuary repeal, anti-abortion measures likely Nov. vote

(Update: Adding anti-abortion measure likely making ballot)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A proposed anti-abortion measure and a measure that would repeal Oregon’s sanctuary state status have both likely garnered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Deb Royal, with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, said Friday the signatures must be deemed valid before the measures will be certified for the fall election.

Initiative Petition 1 would prohibit the state from paying for insurance that covers abortion except in limited circumstances, such as to protect the life of the mother.

Initiative Petition 22 would repeal the Oregon’s long-standing status as a so-called “sanctuary” state for immigrants who have entered the country illegally.

Royal says Initiative Petitions 31 and 37 — which, respectively, would require a supermajority for any legislative tax increases and exempt groceries from new taxes on sales — have qualified.

The initiative aimed at repealing Oregon’s sanctuary state status garnered opposition from a coalition including Nike on Friday, the day after supporters announced they had enough signatures to potentially qualify for the November ballot.

Organizers for Oregonians United Against Profiling said that along with the Portland-based corporation, they’ve secured support from several state legislators, Multnomah County’s district attorney and sheriff, and the Oregon AFL-CIO.

The announcement came the day after a report that backers of Initiative Petition 22 delivered 105,000 signatures to the Oregon secretary of state, bringing them within striking distance of the November general election ballot.

Those opposed to repealing Oregon’s sanctuary state status said they were prepared to campaign hard against the measure, should it qualify for the ballot.

It could take several weeks for state elections officials to certify there are enough valid signatures collected.

“Oregon’s existing ‘sanctuary’ law has been protecting Oregonians from unfair racial profiling for more than 30 years,” said Andrew Williams, executive director of Causa Oregon.

“No Oregonian, including those who may be undocumented immigrants, should have to live in fear that doing basic things like going to work or school or reporting a crime to police could result in harassment or their families being torn apart.”

Several other initiative petitions were also in the mix for the Friday deadline to turn in signatures.

Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, struck a deal with union and business officials to keep a tax-related initiative off the November ballot that would require large, publicly held corporations to reveal more about their operations in Oregon and how much they pay in state and local taxes, according to a report by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

The proposed measure had been supported by unions but major corporations based in Oregon said it would hurt business.

In exchange, some major corporate figures agreed to join labor officials in opposing two tax measures sought by other business interests.

Those measures would exempt groceries from new taxes on sales and require a three-fifths legislative vote for bills raising revenue, OPB reported.

The grocery measure had already qualified for the ballot before Friday.

Brown had also wanted to reach a deal on the proposed measure to require a supermajority for revenue-raising bills, but did not get it.

She has been trying to avoid a showdown between labor and business interests like the one that unfolded in 2016 over a corporate tax measure.

Most initiative sponsors try to deliver at least several thousand signatures more than the 88,184 required to qualify for the ballot, to compensate for any that end up disqualified.

Signatures were due to the secretary of state’s office by 5 p.m. Friday.