Voters will face dueling crime measures in November

From The Oregonian:

An initiative that would set three-year mandatory minimum prison sentences for first-time drug dealers, burglars and identity thieves has qualified for the November ballot.

Elections officials on Thursday said measure supporters collected 84,169 valid signatures, 1,400 more than needed.

It's the first initiative to qualify for the November ballot. Another dozen measures targeting taxes, unions, lawsuits and more could end up before voters in what is expected to be a busy election.

Sponsored by Republican Kevin Mannix, the anti-crime measure would increase Oregon's prison population by an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 inmates and cost $128 million to $200 million a year.

A less expensive alternative initiative from the Legislature would also include drug treatment and local jail funding:

Oregon voters will have another, less expensive, crime-fighting choice on the November ballot: a measure backed by the Oregon Legislature that would send an estimated 1,600 burglars, car thieves and drug dealers to prison at a cost of about $50 million a year.

The legislative proposal, which targets repeat offenders, also includes $20 million a year for drug treatment and local jails.

The legislative proposal also includes a key clause: If voters approve both measures, only the one with more votes goes into effect.

Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, said the legislative measure was widely supported by prosecutors, police and jail officials who know a lot more about fighting crime than Mannix.

"What's really faulty about Kevin's measure, besides not having any treatment, is that he treats everyone the same no matter what their criminal history," Prozanski said. "He's just completely out of step with dealing with the issue."

Discuss.