Manipulating energy markets was not enough
Now the agenda is manipulating Oregon's elections

Update:  John Arnold has ponied up another $275,000, making his total Measure 90 contribution = $1.75 million.

Former top-level Enron energy trader John Arnold has now contributed $1,500,000 to a new political committee, the "Open Primaries Committee." Arnold doubled his previous $500,000 contribution two weeks before with another $1,000,000 contribution just filed today. The Committee's only mission is to support Measure 90, the "top two" primary plan backed by corporations and the wealthy.

John Arnold made his mark on society as one of the top managers of the Enron energy trading operation. That was the bunch who caused the phony "West Coast Energy Crisis" of 2000-2002 with fraudulent trades, resulting in rolling blackouts and huge electricity rate increases. Later studies showed that it cost the California economy alone over $42 billion. For its impact on Oregon, see Enron Corruption: The Special Oregon Connection.

John Arnold is Measure 90's biggest financial backer, by far. Of the total raised to support Measure 90 between its two committees ($2,189,719 so far), John Arnold personally has contributed 69% of it.

"Burn, baby, burn. That's a beautiful thing." That is what Enron traders were recorded as saying as a fire approached a major transmission line, because it caused the line to be "derated" or shut off, thus drastically increasing electricity prices. See this New York Times article: Word for Word? Energy Hogs: Enron Traders on Grandama Millie and Making Out Like Bandits for more information. Or remember this from the Enron energy traders:

"They're f------g taking all the money back from you guys?" complains an Enron employee on the tapes. "All the money you guys stole from those poor grandmothers in California?"

"Yeah, grandma Millie, man"

"Yeah, now she wants her f------g money back for all the power you've charged right up, jammed right up her ass for f------g $250 a megawatt hour." [emphasis added]

See the CBS News article Enron Traders Caught on Tape.

John Arnold received a $8 million bonus in 2001, one day before Enron declared bankruptcy. In his 2005 deposition, he took the 5th Amendment and refused to answer any questions, except basically his name. He formed a hedge fund, Centaurus Advisors LLC, and hired, among others, John Forney, who had pled guilty to manipulating electricity prices from Enron's now-defunct trading office in Portland, Oregon. See the CBS News piece Enron Energy Trader Pleads Guilty.

For more information on why Measure 90 is bad for Oregon (but somehow apparently good for former Enron energy traders) see:

Save Oregon's Democracy
Protect Our Vote

Oregon Progressive Party Press Release: 9/16/2014

The Koch brothers, through their firm Koch Industries, are providing significant funding to a major supporter of Measure 90, the top two primary proposal.

The political committee of Associated Oregon Industries (AOI PAC, ID #10) reported on September 3 receiving a $10,000 contribution from Koch Industries.  The AOI PAC on September 2 reported giving a $50,000 contribution to Vote Yes on Measure 90 (ID #17001), making it at that time the largest financial backer of the measure.  It was later topped by the $60,000 contribution from the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Administrators.

Koch Industries, at $25,000, is the third largest aggregate contributor to the AOI PAC, behind only Daimler Trucks LLC and ESCO Corp.

"The Koch brothers join a parade of corporations, corporate executives, and big-time financiers in bankrolling Measure 90," said Seth Woolley of the Pacific Green Party.  "They correctly perceive Measure 90 as a way for the corporations to control Oregon."

The largest contributors to the Yes on Measure 90 PAC are:

Here is the joint Voters' Pamphlet statement of Oregon Progressive Party and Pacific Green Party:

Oregon’s Grassroots Political Parties Say “Vote NO” on Measure 90: “Top Two Primary”

The big business backers of Measure 90 want to restrict your right to vote for the candidates and political parties of your choice. They want only Democrats and Republicans on the November ballot.

Measure 90 will allow only two candidates on the November ballot in each race. Both candidates can be from the same party.

 Under “Top Two” in Washington and California, there have been:
ZERO minor party or independent candidates
on the general election ballot for any statewide office

and

ZERO minor party candidates for any office,
including the Legislature, when two major party candidates
ran in the primary election.

Washington elects 147 legislators and 12 Congress members; California elects 120 legislators and 55 Congress members. In November, voters in those states could vote for only Democrats and Republicans in races where at least 2 of them ran in the primary. In California there will be 28 races this November between 2 Democrats or between 2 Republicans.

In practice, “Top Two” means just Democrats and Republicans, period.

The impartial Oregon Citizens’ Review Committee voted 14-5 to oppose Measure 90, in part because:

“Measure 90 has several drafting errors. The most significant appears to eliminate minor parties. Because M90 bars parties from nominating candidates, their legal status is in jeopardy.”

Measure 90 backers claim it will increase voter turnout and produce “moderate” legislatures. But, under Top Two, California and Washington just suffered the lowest voter turnout primaries in their histories. A 2014 study by professors at Princeton and Georgetown ranked the California and Washington legislatures #1 and #4 in most polarization among the 50 states. Oregon ranked #18.

Oregon has a long and proud history of grassroots political parties and independent voices. Voters need real, meaningful choices on the November ballot. That’s why we’re urging NO on Measure 90.

VISIT SAVEOREGONSDEMOCRACY.ORG

Oregon Progressive Party     progparty.org
Pacific Green Party of Oregon     pacificgreens.org

The Oregon Progressive Party has endorsed these measures on the 2014 Oregon general election ballot:

Measure 88 (referendum): Provides Oregon resident "driver card" without requiring proof of legal presence in the United States.

Measure 89 (initiative): Amends Constitution: State/political subdivision shall not deny or abridge equality of rights on account of sex.

Measure 91 (initiative): Allows possession, manufacture, sale of marijuana by/to adults, subject to state licensing, regulation, taxation.

Measure 92 (initiative): Requires food manufacturers, retailers to label "genetically engineered" foods as such; state, citizens may enforce.

The Oregon Progressive Party opposes these measures on the 2014 Oregon general election ballot:

Measure 90 (initiative): Changes general election nomination processes: provides for single primary ballot listing candidates; top two advance.

Click on the image below to start the program.

The San Jose Mercury News has this article, "California's minor parties facing extinction under new voting system." The founders and leaders of the Oregon Progressive Party led the opposition to adopting a very similar system in Oregon (Measure 65 of 2008), which Oregon voters defeated by 66-34%.