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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1973)
SALEM (Special) — The people will end the agony Tuesday. Tuesday Oregon voters go to the polls to cast ballots for or against the McCall Tax Plan. They will also cast away the confusion of counter charges piled upon charges from opponents and proponents of the plan which have marked the last few weeks in the legislature. For the first time in more than 100 years, a special election is being held during a legislative session. And By NAN HENDERSON Of the Emerald the atmosphere in the Capitol clearly reflects the pen ding election. Legislators can look forward to ad journment in a few weeks if the plan is approved. If not, they may remain cooped up in the dim Capitol throughout the summer hammering out an acceptable alternative. Pessimistic administrative assistants have been filing requests for Thanksgiving off. The climax of the constant confusion here perhaps came Friday when Secretary of State Ciay Myers an nounced possible legai action against the Portland-based “Oregonians Against New Taxes” which has headed the campaign against Ballot Measure 1. Myers said he, as the State’s chief election officer, was responding to a complaint from a “Eugene citizen” that some of the radio tapes produced by the Portland group were “false and misleading.” i Tax plan debate picks up pace He ordered that the tapes be taken off of the air since “experts from the Department of Revenue and the Attorney General’s Office” advised him that the radio spots “are clearly not factual in several instances, and are, in general, completely misleading.” Myers’ announcement came during a hastily called news conference held about 1 p.m. in the Capitol News Room. About 5 p.m., the opposition responded with a hastily called news conference of their own. Multnomah County Commissioner Frank Ivancie, a co-chairer of “Oregonians Against New Taxes” said that the tapes in question had been pulled but not because of the an nouncement by Myers. Ivancie said that a change in tapes had been previously planned. He refused to directly answer repeated questions from members of the Capitol Press Corps about the accuracy of the tapes in question. “They are as accurate as any statements flying around the State on this tax plan,” Ivancie responded. He said, “As far as we know now we say they are not misleading.” The tapes in question ask, “How about those 55 major corporations that will get a $16.5 million tax break?” Myers said that the corporations will not receive a $16.5 million total decrease, since some of tht property tax decrease will be offset by the increases income and excise taxes. The episode typified the tax plan campaign—waged by the mathematically elite of the state who can un derstand the flying figures, charts and graphs many times manipulated and stretched over the ever-elusive truth. Last week also saw the disclosure that the cor porations which will supposedly receive tax breaks— Analysis including Weyerhauser and Georgia Pacific—are among 126 corporations helping to finance the campaign against the plan. Weyerhauser and Georgia Pacific each contributed $1,000 to the total pot of almost $40,000. It was also revealed last week that the opponents of the plan were spending about twice as much as the proponents who have primarily been funded by in dividual and labor corporations. May Oregon voters miraculously sort through the mire and trek to the polls Tuesday with clear minds about the value of the proposed plan. Anyone unsure of where to vote can call the County Courthouse today or Tuesday. The Polls, as usual, will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Solons clash on campaign trail over tax plan Photo by Josh Marquis Hansell fights tax machine By DKEX HEIKES Of the Emerald Stafford Hansell is busy these days traveling around the State to battle the lorces of Tom McCall, Jason Boe and other proponents of the McCall Tax Plan. Hansell is one of the most vocal op ponents of the proposed tax relief plan. In the past few weeks he has averaged two speaking engagements a day, not to mention numerous interviews and ap pearances in the news media. Tuesday the Republican representative from Umatilla County (district 57) jour neyed to Lincoln City for lunch and a speaking engagement. That night he spoke at McNary High in Salem. Hansell is a hog farmer from Hermiston (just outside of Pendleton) who has lived his entire 59 years in Oregon. He is a down home type of guy. He iikes salt-water taffy, the coast, sunny days and farming. He’s not a giant at close to 5’8” and has undoubtedly had to loosen his belt several notches over the years. A full head of graying, black hair gives the soft-spoken representative an air of distinction. It is almost a disappointment when you find out this Oregon version of Colonel Sanders is actually a well-educated man who enjoys things like state politics. Mary Lou Hansell is Hansell’s bookkeeper and driver during the legislative session. She is also his full-time wife. Mary Lou Hansell did the driving to Lincoln City. The North Lincoln City Lions Club was very receptive. The Lions' program director said the turnout was the largest of the year. Lunch, the pledge of allegiance, a song and the Lions’ roar preceded Han sell’s speech. Hansell told the club that he had become aware of “awesome forces being used by our governor, his agencies, the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate to push the McCall massive tax increase program.” He came down hard on the governor and his methods for publicizing the plan. He particularly objected to the use of taxpayers’ money to transport supporters of the plan around the State to speak . He said proponents of the plan were using “arm-twisting intimidation of op ponents. “Opponents of the plan suddenly realized their opposition would keep their own legislation from getting to the floor. Unable to recognize the ‘gospel’—based on ability to pay, 85 per cent to benefit and only the rich corporations to pay—was to stand in the way of completely unrelated legislation. In addition, failure to accept the gospel’ could be a factor in the loss of a committee position. Chastising of the opponents became a political reality.” Hansell accused the press, radio and television of supporting the “massive brain-washing job” by repeating McCall’s “gospel.” He went on to say that this “gospel” was nothing more than a “big lie.” Hansell said all state agencies were falling in line behind McCall, afraid to oppose a plan that is supposed to benefit 85 per cent of the population. “Many profitable corporations including Weyerhauser, Georgia-Pacific, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Bell Telephone, Crown Zellerbach, Pacific Power and Light and Portland General Electric will hav^ no additional tax liability and some will actually have a tax advantage.” (Continued on Page 14) Eymann sells tax plan By GEORGE BUDDY Of the Emerald The 3500 citizens of Oakridge must have God on their side. The town is nestled in the foothills of the Willamette National Forest, about 50 miles down Highway 58 from Eugene. There’s so many pine trees down there that it looks from a distance like a lush green carpet watered by the green and blue flow of the Willamette River. One look at all this and you know it’s more than an accident of nature. Oakridge is part of Rep. Richard Eymann’s 44th legislative district, and last Wednesday he drove down to do some informal campaigning for the Governor’s tax plan which will be presented to the voters on Tuesday. The public meeting in Oakridge was held in the community hall which is, naturally enough, nestled among pine trees in a small park. Eymann and his wife Juanita arrived shortly before the start of the noon hour meeting. Eymann’s administrative aide, Jack Craig, was also along as the driver. The community hall was filled with about 60 of the leading citizens of mm Oakridge. The first thing they did when they started the meeting was to go around the tables and introduce everyone — from the police chief to the high school principal — while boxed lunches of A & W chicken were consumed by the hungry audience. The 53-year-old Eymann got his chance to present his argument for the tax plan after the local business of the Oakridge community was taken care of. The Speaker of the House, a key supporter of the Governor’s program, concentrated on the advantages of the plan: rent relief, tax equity, local control — all the usual things. And when he was done, the citizens had their chance to question the Speaker about rent relief (“Is it enough?”), tax equity (“What about us small businessmen?”), and, of course, that all-time favorite concern of citizens everywhere, local control (“Will the state be setting the salaries of teachers?”). So Eymann fielded these and other questions with the steady assurance of a man who knows what he is doing. “The bill provides explicitly that local control of schools will be maintained,” Eymann told the people of Oakridge. “The state isn’t getting in the business of setting teacher’s salaries.” (Continued on Page 14) ---mi mmmmommmmat k. Photo by George Buddy
