Side Bars – R.L. Dabney on Secular Conservatives – Rethinking Public Schools – The Bible and Private Property – The Bible and Possession Laws – Deuteronomy 4:5-9 – Lord Acton Quote – The Bible and Gambling – Closing Exhortation – Our Obligations – The Purpose of Civil Government

Ballot Recommendations Summary Measure 54 Measure 55 Measure 56 Measure 57 Measure 58 Measure 59 Measure 60 Measure 61 Measure 62 Measure 63 Measure 64 Measure 65 Measure 66 Measure 67

PEAPAC Information Help Us Expand Get a Political Tax Credit

Measure #54
Amends Constitution: Authorizes State To Guarantee Bonded Indebtedness Of Certain Education Districts

Result of “Yes” vote: Authorizes state to guarantee general obligation bonds issued by certain education districts.

Result of “No” vote: No vote retains prohibition against state guarantee of general obligation bonds issued by education districts.

PEAPAC Explanation: This Measure would let the State of Oregon guarantee (sort of like co-signing for) debts of various public school groups. This would have the effect of lowering the financing costs for these groups. We have no recommendation on this Measure.

PEAPAC Commentary and Recommendation

Biblical law recognizes suretyship, and regulates the same in passages such as Deut. 24:6-17, Exodus 22:25-26; Amos 2:8 and Job 24:3. However, the book of Proverbs contains a number of passages which warn against standing surety for another (6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27; 27:13).

The obvious argument in favor of this Measure is that it’s purpose is to lower the financing costs of public education. So most would favor this Measure. There are, however, a couple of arguments against this Measure.

First, it could be said to prop up a system of debt financing, with no firm commitment to the elimination of debt. Its sort of like a man in debt continually making use of lower cost credit cards to pay off higher cost ones, instead of making a commitment to live debt-free as much as possible.

While debt is a way of life in America today, Scripture repeatedly and clearly negatively characterizes most forms of debt (Deut 28:12,13 with 28:43,44; Prov. 22:7; Rom. 13:8). Debt is not sin, but frequently (not always) results from the sin of covetousness - desiring and then obtaining through unrighteous means what God has not provided for with righteous means.

Second, Measure 54 seeks stable, cheaper funding for public schools. We recognize that many good Christian men and women and their children are involved in the public school system. But ongoing commitments to maintaining the current system of public schools should be balanced by what we see as a need to rethink some of the core problems with the current system. (See sidebar “Rethinking Public Schools.”)

And third, it is our opinion that this Measure will not reduce the costs of education or your tax burden. Like the proverbial horseleach’s daughters of Proverbs 30:15, the government schools always cry, “Give, give.” They are like “the grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough” (Proverbs 30:16). Like them, the government schools are things “that are never satisfied, …things that say not, It is enough:” Some debt-service costs may be reduced by the passage of this Measure. According to the official financial impact statement for this measure, “reduced interest and issuance costs on indebtedness by participating school districts, education service districts and community college districts are estimated to be $70 million over the next 20 years under this measure.” But whatever savings occur will undoubtedly be eaten up by the never-satisfied public school bureaucracy.

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