Advocacy

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, through a partnership of church-wide, synod, and social ministry organizations, supports state public policy advocacy offices. 

These ministries represent the church in advocating at the state government level with and on behalf of those without economic or political power. These offices advocate for issues and not for particular candidates.

Approximately 32% of state office work is directed to hunger-related causes such as food and nutrition, shelter and affordable housing, environmental stewardship and justice, employment and income, and access to preventative and primary health care.

For more information please contact:
Norene Goplen
Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Oregon
605 SE 39th Street
Portland, OR 97214-3298

Ballot Measure 50
Several pastors and members of the Oregon Synod have requested information on Ballot Measure 50,
the Healthy Kids Plan.

Ballot Measure 50 Amends the Constitution and Dedicates Funds to Provide Health Care for Children, and Funds Tobacco Prevention, through increased Tobacco Tax

The average health insurance premium for a family in Oregon is $11,480 a year. (Kaiser Permanent study). This amounts to more than a full-time worker would make on the federal minimum wage, an insurmountable figure for many working families and Oregon businesses."  While Oregon's minimum wage is approaching $7.95 per hour it is still a poverty income for families.  Most small companies do not provide health care coverage for employees.  Many large employers are now curtailing their coverage, sometimes by offering plans that do not reflect rising health care costs.

• Advocacy Council 2007 – 2009 Word Document of Council Members
• Community Sponsored Information
  in favor of BM 50:
  Reflecting a broad base of community groups and funding www.healthykids-oregon.org
• Community Sponsored Information opposed to BM 50: Reflecting a limited base of groups and funding by the tobacco industry www.stopmeasure50.com.
  

Measure 50
Ballot Title:
AMENDS CONSTITUTION: DEDICATES FUNDS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN, FUND TOBACCO PREVENTION, THROUGH INCREASED TOBACCO TAX.

Result of "Yes" Vote: “Yes” vote dedicates funds to provide health care for children, low-income adults and medically underserved Oregonians, and fund tobacco prevention programs, through increased tobacco tax.

Result of "No" Vote: “No” vote rejects proposal to dedicate funding for children’s health care, other health care programs, and tobacco prevention programs; maintains tobacco tax at current level.

Summary: This measure increases the tobacco tax and dedicates the new revenue to providing health care for children, low-income adults and other medically underserved Oregonians, and to funding tobacco prevention and education programs. The measure increases the tax on cigarettes by 84.5 cents per pack, and increases the tax on other tobacco products. The measure will fund the Health Kids Program created by the 2007 legislature to provide affordable health care for uninsured children. The measure will fund tobacco prevention programs, safety net clinics, rural health care and health care for Oregon’s lowest income families and individuals through the Oregon Health Plan. If the measure does not pass, these health care programs will not be expanded, and the Health Kids Program will not become law.

 Estimate of Financial Impact
This measure increases state revenue by an estimated $152.7 million for the 2007-2009 budget period. Revenue is estimated to increase $233.2 million in the following two-year period. These estimates account for a projected decline in the sale of tobacco products because of higher prices. These estimates would be reduced if further restrictions on smoking become law. The additional state revenue generated by this measure would be available to allocate to programs that provide health care for children, low-income adults and other medically vulnerable Oregonians, and to tobacco prevention programs

Secretary of State, Elections Division Rev. 7/12/07

Political Activity Guidelines for Religious and Non-Profit Organizations

• What does section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code say about political campaign activity?

This section prohibits organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under its provision from participating or intervening in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. This prohibition has been interpreted as absolute.

• How does the IRS limit lobbying activity by religious and non profit groups?

The IRS limits the amount of lobbying in which 501 c 3 organizations may engage.

Groups may engage in lobbying activities only if these activites do not constitute a substantial part of their total activities, measured by time, effort, expenditure, and other relevant factors. The IRS does not define what is “substantial”. A few cases suggest that the line lies somewhere between 5% and 15% of an organization’s total activities.

• What is the difference between lobbying and political campaign activity?

In the most basic terms, lobbying focuses on legislation , whereas political campaign activity focuses on candidates and campaigns for election. Lobbying includes both direct lobbying (contacting members of a Legislative Body) for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation or advocating the adoption or rejection of legislation. Grassroots lobbying means urging members of the public to do the same.

• Are Ballot Measures lobbying or political activity?

Ballot measures, including referenda, initiatives, constitutional amendments, and bond measures, are considered legislative proposals. Thus, involvement by 501 c 3 groups is not prohibited. However, it is limited by the “substantial” clause.

• Does the political campaign activity prohibition apply to individuals?

The code refers to organizations not to individuals acting in their individual capacities , providing that they “do not in any way utilize the organization’s financial resources, facilities, or personnel, and clearly and unambiguously indicate the actions taken or statements made are those of the individual and not of the organization”.

• When will an individual’s actions be attributed to a Religious organization?

Organizations act through individuals. Thus, when officials of a Religious organization engage in political campaign activity at official functions (e.g. worship services, publications, bulletins, newspapers, the political campaign activity will be attributed to the Religious organization.

Compiled by Norene Goplen
For additional Information contact: www.irs.gov “Tax Guide of Church and Religious Organizations” www.pewforum.org “Politics and the Pulpit: 2004”

Food Stamp Challenge 2007
Hunger. Food insecurity. These are abstract terms for most of us. We imagine. We theorize. But we haven’t experienced not knowing where our next meal will come from or if we'll have enough food in the cupboard to make it through the week. For more than 35 million Americans, this situation is all too real—and 700,000 of them are Oregonians.

What is it really like to be hungry? Most of us have never known. But now you may have a small experience of what it's like.

Join Governor Ted Kulongoski in taking the food stamp challenge. Experience the challenge of eating nutritious meals on $3 a day. Learn the difficulty of poverty by living on a food stamp budget for one week.
more>

When Traveling This Summer, Bring Your Own (Reusable) Bottle!
If you're planning on traveling this summer, whether it's to the "Sowing Seeds" conference, Global Mission Event, Churchwide Assembly, or on a family vacation, plan to bring a reusable bottle and refill it. Using a reusable plastic water bottle instead of buying bottled water will save you money and help protect God's creation. Learn how!

Predatory lending cap passes Oregon House of Representatives
House Bill 2871 will stop payday and car title loan sharking

[ Salem-May 4, 2007] Today the Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill that will close the loopholes in state law that allow predatory lenders to charge interest rates of more than 500 percent. The bill was a top priority for Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley, a long-time advocate for consumers and working families.

"These triple-digit interest rates are inflicting harm on our families and our communities," said Merkley, speaking to the bill on the floor of the House.

House Bill 2871 will cap the interest rate on all consumer loans of less than $50,000 at 36 percent,and is designed for thepayday and car title lenders who pass out loans from storefronts found on every corner in Oregon. These loans are high cost, often with interest rates of more than 500 percent. Because of the high rates, loans that are sold as convenient and low-cost, turn into long-term, unmanageable burdens of debt.

"Rather than help borrowers meet their financial challenge, these high-cost loans trap borrowers in a cycle that puts them in a worse financial situation," said Rep. Jackie Dingfelder.

The predatory lending cap comes after nearly a decade of advocacy from faith, social service, senior and consumer groups. Oregon is currently one of only 16 states without any sort of usury cap.

"Passage of the predatory lending cap is good news for Oregon's seniors and other families who struggle on fixed incomes and are vulnerable to legal loan sharking," says Rick Bennett of AARP.

AARP and Our Oregon are part of a coalition that has been working against the influence of the payday and title lenders. Over the past few months, volunteers have been phone-banking and contacting lawmakers urging them to end legal loan sharking in Oregon with the passage of HB 2871.

The coalition also includes: Children First for Oregon, Community Action Directors of Oregon, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network/Jobs with Justice, FISH Emergency Services, Franciscan Spiritual Center, FOOD for Lane County, Human Solutions - Daybreak Shelter, Interfaith Action for Justice of Central Oregon, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Oregon, Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, Oregon State Public Interest Research Group, SEIU Local 503, SnowCap Community Charities, St. Luke Lutheran Hunger Advocacy Group, and St. Vincent de Paul.

House Bill 2871 passed with a vote of 37 to 21, and now goes to the Oregon Senate for consideration.

Social Statements
Social statements are social policy documents, adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, addressing significant social issues.

Since 1991 the ELCA has adopted eight social statements. You can read and download these social statements by clicking on a link below. 

| abortion| church in society|death penalty | economic life | envioronment |
| health and healthcare | peace | race, ethnicity, & culture |