Oregon News: House GOP balks at fixes reported for Measure 37

'Solution' was announced prematurely, they say

PETER WONG
Statesman Journal

April 3, 2007

The Oregon Legislature's minority Republicans are unhappy with discussions about how to fix the flaws in Oregon's property-compensation law, which voters approved as Measure 37 in 2004.

House Republicans who have been involved say the Democratic co-chairmen of a joint committee spoke too soon when they conducted a news conference last week about a potential solution.

Measure 37 requires government either to pay landowners or waive regulations and allow development when those regulations result in reduced property values. More than 7,000 claims have been filed; many are awaiting resolution by a 180-day deadline that is approaching in the next few weeks.

Rep. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, said he is interested in achieving two things in a bill. One is a right of landowners to transfer their development rights to others. The other is to reduce the growing backlog of court cases.>>