Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham introduced Senate Bill 644, aiming to increase legislative scrutiny of the Oregon Food Bank and other nonprofits that receive state funding. Bonham’s proposal comes after years of tension between Republicans and the food bank, with disagreements over the organization’s involvement in political and social issues.
Democrats expressed skepticism about the need for Bonham’s bill, as the food bank already conducts annual financial audits and the proposed legislative audit would come at a cost to the state. The food bank has faced criticism from Republicans for its stances on issues such as the war in Gaza, agricultural overtime, and climate change.
The food bank’s president, Andrea Williams, defended the organization’s advocacy work, stating that addressing root causes of hunger requires more than food distribution alone. She emphasized that government funding received by the food bank is not used for advocacy efforts.
Critics of Bonham’s bill, including the ACLU of Oregon and the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, raised concerns about the potential chilling effect on nonprofits engaging in the democratic process. They argued that subjecting nonprofits to legislative audits based on political speech could be unconstitutional and set a dangerous precedent.
While Bonham considered expanding the scope of the bill to include more nonprofits, it is unlikely to advance in the Legislature. Some lawmakers, including Sen. Floyd Prozanski and committee chair Sara Gelser Blouin, expressed reservations about the bill, suggesting that discussions about nonprofits’ use of state funds should be included in budget decisions rather than through audits.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.