Oregon’s tight budget plagues legislature
Analysis by
GREG WASSON
And DANA TIMS
Of the Emerald
As the state legislature con
venes in Salem today, Oregon
ians have another reason to
boast about the state's relative
hipness.
Where changes in Congress
and the presidency ensure the
federal government will become
more conservative, alterations
in the state body promise a loos
ening of feed, seed and fer
tilzer’s grip on the statehouse
another major change in the
Senate because he is commit
ted to replacing Sen. Jack Rip
per, D-North Bend, with Sen. Ed
Fadeley, D-Eugene, as co-chair
of the money-controlling Ways
and Means Committee. The
committee is composed of both
senators and representatives
and must approve any legisla
tion that appropriates state dol
lars.
And money issues will domin
ate Capitol discussion, in what
House Majority Leader Grattan
Kerans, D-Eugene, promises
will be a "brutal” session. After
and a growing influence of the
more liberal, urban legislators.
The single-most significant
change is the absence of Sen.
Jason Boe, D-Reedsport, who
has run the Senate for eight
years and developed a power
that made it so when he said
"jump", other senators asked
“how high" on the way up.
Boe will be replaced by Sen.
Fred Heard, D-Klamath Falls, a
professor at the Oregon Insti
tute of Technology. Heard is
perceived to be less antagonis
tic to urban interests than was
Boe.
Heard’s election will cause
egislative
issues
adjustments for inflation, the
state budget proposed by Gov.
Vic Atiyeh is among the lowest
since World War II.
Consider higher education.
Chancellor Roy Lieuallen
laments the funding level
proposed by Atiyeh is sorely
insufficient to maintain current
levels of program support,
salaries and upkeep. But where
is the additional revenue to
come from?
The 1979 Legislature ap
proved a politically popular tax
give-away that was designed to
avert the northern spread of
Howard Jarvis-style tax fever.
The program sent more than
Ein Gluckliches
Neues Jahr
&
Make this year exceptional. Spend 1981-82
studying in Germany. Apply by January 12.
For more information contact International
Services, 330 Oregon Hall. 686-3206.
$700 million from the state
coffers to property taxpayers,
offsetting 30 percent of the local
tax burden. Atiyeh's budget this
time calls for the state to main
tain the same percentage,
which, because of inflation,
calls for an allocation of even
more money.
Friends of higher education,
like Fadeley, can be expected to
try and increase the funds ear
marked for the state s colleges
and universities. But it seems
unlikely that the Democrat-con
trolled legislature would want to
take responsibility for reducing
tax relief.
Last session witnessed the
re-emergence of the classist
notion that a college education
is not a right but a privilege.
Further acceptance of this idea
could lead to passage of
Atiyeh's tuition proposals which
call for a 30 percent hike over
the next two years.
According to Lieuallen, there
are three choices: serve the
same number of people on the
same amount of funds, sacrific
ing quality; limit enrollment,
sacrificing access; or increase
state funding to higher educa
tion.
Lieuallen's choice would be
to ‘create" extra money by not
allowing the property tax relief
program to swell in
accommodation of inflation but
maintain the same dollar level,
freeing funds for education.
Another issue the legislature
must address is what to do
about shrinking energy re
sources. Since his inaugura
tion, Atiyeh has steered the
state toward a stronger com
mittment toward nuclear power,
or the centralized "alternative"
— coal. When nominating ci
tizens for administrative posi
tions, the governor has shown
himself unable, or unwilling, to
find people without financial ties
to nuclear development.
The state Senate offered
those opposed to power from
the atom a little more hope, but
not much. The body approved
legislation requiring study of the
waste question, but refused to
establish any criteria to be met
before further construction
could occur. By the initiative
process, tne people scuu m
November, "If you don't have a
place to put the garbage, we
don't want them." That declar
ation may force the lawmakers
to at least pay lip service to
development of true alterna
tives.
It's helpful to keep in mind,
however, that Atiyeh spent
$600,000 getting elected in
1978. All indications are that
he’ll run again, making utility
money worth reacting for
|F c 81-82 Financial Aid Applicants:
You must act now, but don’t risk critical ERRORS!
p New, private service will assure you do it RIGHT!
J o For complete Information, send 50c and this coupon to
I N Bob Hoffman, F/A Assistance Service
| C P O Box 905. Springfield, OR 97477
11111iiiii i»ir
PHOTO SPECIAL!
Develop 8 Print
12 Exposure
20 Exposure . . . $2.9S
24 Exposure . $3.5S
36 Exposure $5.4S
3x size Code 11
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Sale ends Friday, January 16
I 13th & Kincaid
Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30
BOOKSTORE Sat 10:00-2.00
Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 666-3510 • Supplies 666-4331
CONTACT LENSES:
OUR ONLY BUSINESS.
• Soft Lenses * Soft Lenses for
• Difocol Lenses Astigmatism
• Flex Lenses • Exam & Follow-up
683-2224
Contact Lens Clinic
of Eugene
401 E. 10th
walking distance to the University
Dr. Philip Stockstad, Optometrist
Visa and Masrercharge Welcome Financing Available on Approved Credit
D tvs'! A