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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2020)
Opinion 4A Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Our View Measure 108 protects our most vulnerable O regon Measure 108, on the Nov. 3 ballot, would increase the tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack, up to $3.33 per pack. It also increases taxes on cigars, and establishes a new tax on e-cigarettes and vaping products that are essentially nicotine delivery systems. This tax revenue would fund health care and mental health care for low-income families, and public health programs aimed at preventing the use of tobacco and nicotine, and helping users quit. If passed, it would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. This would bring in an estimated $160 mil- lion in new revenue for Oregon per year. While we are in favor of this, there are a couple of things we don’t like about Measure 108. We don’t like the enormous amounts of money that were poured into the “Yes for a Healthy Future” campaign. Many of Oregon’s large hos- pital systems gave $500,000 each, and one gave $3.29 million. Total campaign donations to pass this measure exceed $12.5 million as of Sept. 5, according to ballotpedia.org’s Measure 108 page. But our concern here is mostly about the need for campaign finance reform (which Measure 107 addresses, and which we recommend voting for). Clearly these hospital and health care systems have a lot to gain if fewer people use tobacco and nicotine, and if more people have health insurance, so it makes sense that they would be willing to spend big money to pass this measure. We also don’t like the fact that raising the per- pack tax to $3.33 would make Oregon’s ciga- rette prices considerably higher than in our three neighboring states. Those per-pack taxes are: Washington: $3.03, California: $2.87 and Idaho: $0.57. Those smokers and vapers who live near a state border might decide it’s worth the time and gas to drive across the state line to stock up. And when people cross a border to shop for one item, they are likely to buy other items as well on that trip. So much for shopping local. There also is a concern that high cigarette taxes will create a black market, with product being smuggled in from states with lower taxes. This will be of particular concern to Malheur County, sharing a border with Idaho. Right now, 31 states have higher cigarette taxes than Oregon. The passage of Measure 108 would mean only five states would have higher rates. We do like making the users of addictive and unhealthy products (tobacco and nicotine in this case) pay for addiction treatment and health care costs that result from their use. We also are in favor of anything that dissuades young people from smoking or vaping and keeps them from getting addicted to nicotine. We don’t buy the argument that taxes like this “punish Oregon’s most vulnerable.” Ultimately, when costs of cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products go up, smoking rates go down. And that protects the vulnerable. We recom- mend a “Yes” vote on Measure 108. Letters Private email spurs political controversy Imagine my surprise, Thursday, Oct. 1, when I opened my newspaper and discovered that I was the sub- ject of the top story. More specifi- cally, the subject of the story was an email I wrote to 40 of my friends. One of them posted it to the ucrcc.org website, without my knowledge. The email was not meant to be public. I want to apologize to Mr. Steve Clements, Ms. Nicole Howard and Ms. Corrine Dutto for making assumptions about their policies regarding violent protests without consulting them first. The Observer omitted my statement that “I could be wrong.” It was not my intention to embarrass the mayor and the two city councilors or to accuse them. The purpose of my email was to encourage my friends to learn the positions of the city officials on a couple of critical issues currently in the news. Contrary to The Observer article, I did not suggest that the city council is “working to defund the police.” I think The Observer misrepresented the tone and intent of my private email. I would like to take this opportu- nity to apologize to all of my Demo- crat friends and neighbors, who might have been offended or upset by The Observer article. In addition, I would like to thank the mayor and the two city councilors for providing answers to the questions I raised. Now we know where they Contact your public officials Local officials La Grande: City Manager Robert Strope, 541-962-1309, fax 541-963-3333; RStrope@cityoflagrande.org; P.O. Box 670, La Grande, OR 97850; Mayor Steve Clements, mayor@cityoflagrande.org; Councilors Gary Lillard (mayor pro tem), glillard@cityoflagrande.org; Nicole How- ard, nhoward@cityoflagrande.org; Corrine Dutto, cdutto@cityoflagrande.org; Mary Ann Miesner, mmiesner@cityoflagrande. org; Justin Rock, jrock@cityoflagrande.org; and through the city manager’s office. Elgin: City Hall, 790 S. Eighth Ave., Elgin, OR, 97827; City Recorder/Administrator Brock Eckstein, cityadm@cityofelginor.org; Mayor Allan Duffy, 541-240-9763, mayor@ cityofelginor.org; Councilors Mary West, 541-805-0443, councilor3@cityofelginor. org; Kathy Warren, 541-786-9611, council- or6@cityofelginor.org; Risa Hallgarth, 541- 437-9462, councilor2@cityofelginor.org; Rocky Burgess, 541-786-2417, councilor1@ cityofelginor.org; David Reed, 541-975- 3306, councilor4@cityofelginor.org; and stand. All of us agree that peaceful protests are an indispensable part of the First Amendment and protected free speech. Lanny Hildebrandt La Grande Check my voting record The Union County Republicans are publishing information telling voters to oust me from the city council based on wild theories and suppositions. No one from the organization has spoken with me, communicated via email nor bothered to look up my actual voting record. In the past 16 years on the council, I pushed for using metrics to drive decisions on urban renewal dollars, worked to ensure our tax dollars were spent legitimately and more. I do my research and listen to public comments before deciding on any issue. I fully support police and fire departments, including making sure our first responders were provided with adequate personal protective equipment throughout this pandemic. Before you vote, check my voting record and see the ways I have sup- ported our community or email me at cdutto@cityoflagrande.org. Corrine Dutto La Grande city councilor La Grande Editor’s note: The Observer usu- ally limits submissions to letters to the editor to one letter every two weeks. We made an exception in this case so Corrine Dutto could address accu- Ryan Martin, councilor5@cityofelginor.org. Cove: City Hall, 504 Alder St., P.O. Box 8 Cove, OR 97824; City Recorder Donna Lew- is, 541-568-4566, donna.lewis@cityofcove. org; Mayor Del Little, 503-508-6727. Union County: County Courthouse: 1106 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-963-1001; fax 541-963-1079; Commissioners Donna Beverage, dbeverage@union-county.org, Matt Scarfo, mscarfo@union-county.org, and Paul Anderes, panderes@union-county. org; administrative officer Shelley Burgess, sburgess@union-county.org. Wallowa County: Courthouse, 101 S. River St., Enterprise OR 97828, 541-426-4543 ext. 15; fax 541-426-0582; Commissioners sations from Lanny Hildebrandt in a timely manner. Hog heaven in Union? It appears the city council of Union, in all its wisdom, has chosen to allow pigs within residential areas of the city. In itself, not a big deal, except that with 16 total property owners within 300 feet of the pigs, 12 owners were adamantly against the pigs. For those not doing the math, that is 75% of the affected owners. No, the council didn’t care about us, our concerns for our property values, the possible stench or for that matter we just don’t want them. Do you know what they did care about? What the pigs’ names were, do they have shelter (which became an issue since they didn’t have a proper one) and do the kids love them. Yes, these are very important items when you’re trying to justify voting against the majority. And how was this brought up? Union allows a “conditional use permit” for a person to get permis- sion to have pigs. It’s very interesting that only Union allows this. All other communities in our valley, Elgin, Cove, North Powder and La Grande, specifically do not allow swine at all in residential areas. Imagine that. So, Grande Ronde Valley, listen up. Bring your pigs here. They’re all welcome. John Schwendemann Union Susan Roberts, ext.133, sroberts@co.wal- lowa.or.us; Todd Nash, ext.132, tnash@ co.wallowa.or.us; John Hillock, ext.131, jhillock@co.wallowa.or.us. State officials Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove (58th District): Salem office: 900 Court St. N.E., H-384, Sa- lem, OR 97301; 503-986-1458. Email: rep. gregbarreto@oregonlegislature.gov. Sen. William S. Hansell of Athena (29th Dis- trict): Salem office: 900 Court St. N.E., S-423, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1729. Email: sen. billhansell@oregonlegislature.gov Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www. governor.oregon.gov. United States officials Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District): walden. house.gov; D.C. office: 2182 Rayburn Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202-225-6730; fax 202-225-5774; La Grande office: 1211 Washington Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-624-2400; fax, 541-624-2402. Sen. Jeff Merkley: merkley.senate.gov.; D.C. office: 313 Hart Senate Office Build- ing, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland office: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR
