Today, State Senator Frank Morse (R-Albany) sent an email outlining his support for SB-1087, an anti-crime referral that will compete on the November ballot with a highly controversial initiative petition backed by likely Congressional candidate, Kevin Mannix.

Morse points out that the high cost of Mannix's measure, which will incarcerate 6000 additional Oregonians at a cost ranging between $200 - $400 million per biennium, is coming at a time of "economic uncertainty", alluding to the $170 billion budget shortfall predicted by state economists.

SB1087 will stiffen penalties for drug trafficking and other crimes, and increases funding for drug treatment and prevention. It comes with a much smaller $120 million price tag.