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Ballot Recommendations Summary Measure 83 Measure 84 Measure 85 Measure 86 Measure 87 Measure 88 Measure 89 Measure 90 Measure 91 Measure 92 Measure 93 Measure 94 Measure 95 Measure 96 Measure 97 Measure 98 Measure 99 Measure 1 Measure 2 Measure 3 Measure 4 Measure 5 Measure 6 Measure 7 Measure 8 Measure 9

Measure #7
Amends Constitution: requires payment to landowner if government regulation reduces property value.

RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote requires state, local government pay property owner if law, regulation reduces property value.

RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects requiring government pay compensation if law or regulation reduces property value.

PEAPAC Explanation: If passed, Measure 7 would change the Oregon Constitution so that property owners would be made whole for any decrease in the value of their property brought about by most state and local government actions.

As we noted under Measure 3, private property is one of the most basic freedoms reiterated throughout the Bible. That’s why our founding fathers placed such a high value on property rights, and placed a high wall of protection around these rights. The Bill of Rights includes the “right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.”

English common law was the basis for our Constitution. It allowed governments to take private property when needed for public purposes. This practice is called “eminent domain.” But it also insisted that the original owner be compensated for the land taken. That’s the case in Oregon today. But sometimes the government’s actions don’t result in a total taking of the property. The State or county may rezone your land, restrict your right to use the trees on it, etc. In these cases, this Measure would ensure that you be compensated for the loss of value that you have suffered at the hands of the government.

Good men may disagree whether eminent domain is appropriate in a Biblical society. But all should agree that the State should recompense the owner for property taken. And we think it’s right for the State to recompense the owner for whatever reduction in value the State’s actions create. We thus recommend a Yes vote on Measure 7.

This voters' guide produced by Parents Education Association, PAC.