I know what you're thinking: this is just another complaint about Californians moving up to Oregon, driving up our housing prices. No, this time I am complaining about something real. Believe it or not, wealthy individuals in California are sneakily attempting to usurp Oregon's electoral power. Entrepreneur John Koza, and other Californians, have been pressuring the state Legislature to pass a national popular vote here in Oregon ("National popular vote bill stalled in Oregon Legislature," Feb. 28). The national adoption of this idea would make small states like Oregon get much less representation when choosing who becomes the next president.

John Koza now opposes Senate Bill 1512 because it requires the voters to have the final say on whether we join this pact that will radically change the way our electors are allocated. Koza knows Oregon voters will choose their own interests over those of California, and so he has to bully and intimidate our legislators to achieve his goals. This national vote idea essentially robs Oregonians of their right to choose a president, instead bestowing that privilege on the voters of Alabama, New York and the rest of the nation.

What's next? Should the makeup of the Senate be decided by a national popular vote? California, like Oregon, only has two senators. How much longer will it be before they demand the result of our Senate races be based on the national popular vote? This is not a push toward democracy, this is a push to take away the rights of Oregon voters.

-- Marcus Curlin, Northwest Portland