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--> Measure 11 gets business boost, new taxes also one of the issues Ashland Daily Tidings In a push to make the state a leader in medical research, over 50 businesses, labor organizations, chambers of commerce and others have inked an endorsement for Ballot Measure 11, also known as the Oregon Opportunity Act, which goes before voters in May. The crux of the measure is whether to free the Legislature's hands to raise taxes. But backers of Measure 11 don't talk about that much. Here's how it works: Measure 11 asks voters to authorize the Legislature to use general obligation bonds instead of revenue bonds to fund the efforts of Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University, which has a nursing school here in Ashland. The initial funds of $35 million come from the state's settlement with tobacco companies. The question remains how to invest those funds. General obligation bonds would allow more money to be generated - about $200 million - but would also free the state to use any means available to guarantee payments, including raising taxes. By contrast, a revenue bond approach would generate less money, about $165 million, but would restrict the legislature from repaying the bond issue with any funds other than those in the tobacco settlement. Thus far, OHSU is raising a $300 million warchest from private donations to back the measure, and is close to the halfway mark, according to a release. This fundraising effort raises another point: If OHSU can raise this much money to back a political campaign, can the difference in the bond measure payoff - $35 million - be enough to open the door to new taxes? Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing