SALEM (AP) - Democratic state lawmakers have abandoned a plan to change what a "yes" or "no" vote means when actions of the Legislature are referred to voters for approval.

The move came Friday after the referendum proposal was panned by Republicans, anti-tax groups and some newspaper editorials.

Democrats tacked an election law change onto an unrelated bill Wednesday night, making a "yes" vote in favor of rejecting a referendum, and a "no" vote against rejecting it.

On Friday, Senate Democrats seemed to back down, moving the bill off the floor and back to committee to strip the new language.

The issue is timely because opponents of the Legislature's $733 million tax hike on corporations and upper-income earners likely will be able to collect enough signatures to force a statewide referendum by voters.

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