Corporation Nation: Screwing Oregonians for fun and big profit

Image via WikipediaIf you ever wondered whether the initiative process had wound up being captured by the very corporations its was originally meant to corral, wonder no more:

Mark Nelson, the veteran Salem lobbyist and political consultant, is now getting involved in the business of gathering signatures for proposed ballot measures.

Nelson and other fellow business interests have started a non-profit firm called The Signature Gathering Company of Oregon.  It's first big client is a proposed initiative from the Oregon Association of Realtors that would ban new real-estate transfer fees.

"It's our feeling that the business community cannot be left exposed in this state without access to a quality and affordable signature-gathering company," said David Reinhard, who works for Nelson and helped set up the firm. . . .