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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2015)
Wednesday,December23,2015The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon23 What am I supposed to do here? The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service photo by lynn WoodWard Jessie Jane is not so sure about these reindeer games. ‘Civil war’ over ballot measures? By Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press PORTLAND (AP) — Oregon’sbusiness,union,and politicalinterestsriskopening apermanentriftiftheydon’t cometogetherandnegotiatea plantowithdrawcontentious ballot measures slated for next year’s election, Senate PresidentPeterCourtneysaid Monday. The Salem Democrat warnedthat“Oregonisonthe vergeofitsowncivilwar”pit- tingthestate’smostpowerful andwealthyinterestsagainst eachother. “Whilewemaynotphysi- cally kill one another, the consequences of next Nov. 8 could be our version of Antietam,” Courtney said, referringtothebloodyCivil War battle. “Potentially the bloodiest political day in Oregon’shistory.” Agroupbackedlargelyby public-employee unions has proposed ballot measures to significantlyincreasetaxesfor corporations.Othergroupsare lookingtoraisetheminimum wage. Variousbusinessinterests are considering ballot mea- surestoweakenunionrights or roll back restrictions on greenhousegasemissions. Theexpensivefightwould create “wounds that will be opened and never healed,” Courtney told the annual Oregon Leadership Summit, which brings together busi- ness executives, lawmakers andlobbyists. Courtney,whoisOregon’s longest-serving legislative leader, is known for using fieryanddramaticlanguageto spuractionontheissuesthat concernhim. — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — Rather than pursuing multi-million-dollar cam- paignsoverballotmeasures, Courtney encouraged inter- est groups to come up with compromise ideas that the Legislature could consider inthefive-weeksessionthat beginsinFebruary. While we may not physically kill one another, the consequences of next Nov. 8 could be our version of Antietam. — Peter Courtney This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Lastyear,then-Gov.John Kitzhaber convinced labor andbusinessintereststostand downfromsimilarcontentious ballotfightsthey’dplanned. Insteadofacontentiouselec- tion,Kitzhaberhopedtobro- ker an ambitious reform of Oregon’svolatiletaxsystem, but he resigned amid eth- icsquestionssurroundinghis fiancée’sconsultingwork. M e a n w h i l e , H o u s e SpeakerTinaKoteksaidbusi- nessofficialsneedtoconcern themselves with the state’s rapidlyrisinghousingprices. Parents priced out of their rentals are forced to change their children’s school, or endure a long commute to take them to and from cam- pus,shesaid. “Housing affordability is aheadwindthatwemusttake on,”saidKotek,D-Portland. “Policy changes and public investmentsareimportant,but theywillnotsolvethiscrisis ontheirown.Weneedthepri- vatesector.” Skin Care Warmest Wishes & Happy Holidays Essentials Exclusive Éminence Salon from Karen & Juanita Thank you for your ongoing support and loyalty. y al a l ty y . alty We look forward to another successful year i in n 2016 Skin • Hair • Nails 541-480-1412 | 541-588-6271 | 492 E. Main Ave. | Mon-Sat Flexible Hours | www.SistersEssentials.com Si t E ti l NOW OFFERING WELL PUMP SERVICE! FREQUENCY DRIVES • MOTOR CONTROLS • PUMPS 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE A Division of Curt 541-480-1404 • Zach 541-420-8170 WWW.PEAKPUMPANDMOTOR.COM CCB#178543