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--> --> Let's see what Sizemore does Corvallis Gazette-Times July 18 Bill Sizemore says he's scaling back his efforts to pass initiatives. Well, sort of -watch and see what happens. Sizemore's description of his plans, told in news stories this week, sounds not so much like pulling back as focusing his efforts. So far this year, Sizemore has listed himself as a chief petitioner on 25 initiative petitions, including three filed just last Friday - and associates have filed others. Some are just revisions of the same basic idea, redrafted to try to win the most politically appealing ballot title, but Sizemore appears to have more than a dozen policy ideas in play. Sizemore said he will narrow the list for which his Oregon Taxpayers United actually gathers signatures, so that the organization doesn't expend all of its campaign dollars on placing issues on the ballot and keeps some cash for campaign season to persuade voters to pass the measures. That's simply prudent politics - the old "don't bite off more than you can chew" approach. Sizemore also appears to be moderating his approach to issues, taking incremental steps rather than attempting a dramatic shift in state law in a single act. That, too, is smart politics. A focused list of priorities, with incremental changes, is much the way laws get changed in a legislature. Voters often are more comfortable with small changes - grand gestures may seem irreversible, or too prone to unintended results that can require repairs later. The incremental approach doesn't automatically work. The Oregon Citizens Alliance has tried that with some of its anti-gay proposals; while it hasn't passed any in recent years, the margin of defeat has narrowed. Sizemore has given many of his proposals "mom and apple pie" names - such as a "prudent government act," "own your own home" or"right to self-representation." Whatever the titles, his array of initiatives return to many of his basic themes: restrict or abolish the property tax, cut income taxes, redirect tax revenue away from state government, reduce the power of unions. In time, voters will see if Sizemore does pursue a leaner list of more-modest initiatives. They'll also need to examine his measures for their ultimate motives along with the details in the language. 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