Oregon's Big Money Move: Can They Make It Work?

Oregon is trying to clean up its political money game. They passed a law to limit big donations and make spending more transparent. But now, they need a lot of cash to make it happen. The Secretary of State's Office wants $25 million to start. But they admit they don't know the final cost. This is because they haven't even hired someone to build the new system yet. The law kicks in soon, but they're running out of time. The law will cap donations from candidates, companies, unions, and others starting in 2027. It will also create a new system to track all this money. But without enough funding, things could go wrong. Oregon has a history of messing up big tech projects. Remember Cover Oregon? That was a huge failure. So, people are worried this could be another disaster.The Secretary of State, Tobias Read, has been warning about the high cost. He entered office after the law passed. His predecessor said the office didn't have the resources to make it happen. Lawmakers have a few choices. They can fund the project, delay it, or fix the law's flaws. But they're busy with other stuff, like immigration, transportation, and budget issues. Some people worry the big price tag might be an excuse to delay the law. But others say it's a top priority for voters. They want to stop big money from buying elections. Oregonians have shown they want these changes. In 2020, they voted overwhelmingly to allow donation limits. Now, they're waiting to see if lawmakers will deliver.