FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
ORP transparency tour
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Gurney believes that if
the recommendations from
that prior tour had been
implemented, “Kitzhaber
may have been caught
sooner.”
Gurney pointed out
that this tour had already
involved state elected of-
ficials, different individuals
at each stop, who offered
up what it was like to
“try to do good” from the
inside.
In Medford, former Rep-
resentative Dennis Rich-
ardson, and current repre-
sentatives Carl Wilson and
Sal Esquival spoke.
In Salem, Reps. Jodi
Hack and Mike Nearman
spoke.
Those are just a few of
the names who have joined
in.
Said Currier, “The reason
that we’re taking this so se-
riously is that we feel if we
can’t get honesty and trans-
parency in our government
we really can’t solve any
of the problems that we’re
concerned about. It’s re-
ally kind of the common
denominator we have to
address.”
Currier added that the
ideas gathered on the tour
would be cataloged and
used to perhaps draft the
basis for a bill that may
correct transparency prob-
lems.
He emphasized that
whenever a majority party
was in office, legislation of
course favored that party,
which had led other states
to have legal consequences
in place for lack of trans-
parency—regardless of the
party in power.
Currier pointed to polls
that indicate most voters
are concerned across the
board about corruption
through cronyism and
keeping the citizen sover-
eign in government.
“For example,” he said,
“When you make a records
request in some of the
neighboring states, there’s
a time requirement on both
responding to the request
as well as fulfilling the
request. And there has to
be a reasonable cost as-
sociated with fulfilling that
request.”
Rep. Bentz took the mic
and offered up some per-
sonal insight into the inner
workings of the legislature.
“This is my eighth ses-
sion,” Bentz said, “so I’m
seeing where the lack of
transparency is most.”
Bentz explained that
budget bills spend a Gen-
eral Fund of $20 billion
and an All-Funds budget of
$66 billion, lined out in a
five-month session. There
are 60 House members: 35
Democrat, 25 Republican,
and the Ways and Means
Committee oversees the
budget process.
“Often what happens is
those of us in the room
are told what the budget’s
going to be and then there
will be an argument...
Those of us who are not in
those rooms and see those
discussions will not see
those numbers until the last
few days of the session. So
for example, this county
ended up with $850K for
the Pine-Valley Fire Sta-
tion.”
Bentz said he learned
about that allocation one
day before it was voted
on. “That $850K came
directly out of the General
Fund. Now is that a lack
of transparency? Hmm.
Well, I would suggest it
probably is. I think there’s
an arrangement if you will,
that the numbers and who’s
going to end up with which
funding is not made public
until the last few days
so there won’t be a huge
amount of questioning by
the rest of the legislature.
That, to me, is an incorrect
approach.”
Senate Bill 5507, The
Christmas Tree Bill,
includes one-time General
Fund appropriations to
the Department of Admin-
istrative Services for the
following purposes for one
line item affecting Baker
County: $850,000 for
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
Rep. Cliff Bentz talks about his experiences from
inside the Oregon legislature.
disbursement to the Pine
Valley Fire District for a
new location and facility to
house the Fire Department
in the City of Halfway,
Oregon.
Bentz added, “The big,
important bills—those
kinds of things aren’t going
to be on the table until the
last minute.”
He said, “If you have
one party that’s in all of
the major offices, then
it’s hard not to think there
aren’t conversations going
on about actions that are
going to be taken that are
occurring off-site so to
speak.
“It’s hard not to think
that because there’s no
reason they would all
avoid each other at certain
meetings... so there could
be creeping, insidious al-
most—activities happening
because people just aren’t
in a position to worry
about what they might say
or what they might do,”
Bentz said. “It’s certainly
something that might be
happening.”
“Sometimes as I watch
these discussions, it seems
as though decisions may
have already been made,”
Bentz said. “In fact, I’m
pretty sure they have
been.”
Currier and Bentz
pointed out the importance
audit function of the Secre-
tary of State, which has 75
auditors.
Kody Justus asked about
the use of the “emergency
clause” in so many recent
laws, which enacts those
bills quicker, and, accord-
ing to Bentz, also makes it
harder to gather signatures
to challenge them.
Currier added, “In truth,
75-80% of bills are not an
emergency.”
Gurney concluded the
meeting by listing some
tidbits expressed at previ-
ous meetings, including
a story shared by Rep.
Hack who said Sen. Peter
Courtney had informed
her, “Corruption is not a
problem in Oregon.”
This past session, seven
ethics-related bills were in-
troduced in the legislature.
None survived.
On Wednesday morning,
Currier, Gurney and Taylor
went on a tour of the recent
Cornet / Windy Ridge burn
area with Baker County
Republican Central Com-
mittee Chair Suzan Ellis
Jones and alternate del-
egate Keith Jones, forestry
expert Arvid Andersen, and
Natural Resources Advi-
sory Committee (NRAC)
member Kody Justus
with wife Heidi, who is
also a precinct committee
woman.
The tour then hit the
road for Pendleton—the
next stop. Meetings are
also scheduled ahead for
Eugene, Bend and Wash-
ington County.
Taste of Baker draws eager
crowd, music lovers
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On a perfect, slightly
breezy autumn Saturday
evening, the downtown
merchants of Baker City
spread out their culinary
wares for the annual “Taste
of Baker.”
The unseasonably mild
weather made the event
even more enjoyable than
usual, and hundreds of
locals and visitors strolled
Main Street.
Everyone from giggling
babies to elderly cowboys
wandered from store to
store and table to table.
On offer were a vari-
ety of edibles, from tasty
breads, Mexican meals,
BBQ and grilled meats to
deserts, candy, apple cider
and wine.
Some stores that were
not on Main Street were
also participating, such
as Sweet Wife Bakery on
Resort.
Musicians played on the
front porch of the adjoin-
ing house, and there was
seating available for visi-
tors to sit while nibbling
their treats and listening to
the music.
Another participating
vendor was Earth and Vine
Pine-Eagle has
Homecoming
Carmelita Holland/ The Baker County Press
This court photo shows escorts and princesses. At
far left are Homecoming King Moroni Jensen with
Kerri Rowan; next in long gown, Kandice Holland
with Leland Seggerman; third pair, Felicity Denig
and Jeff Rice; fourth, Lacey Walker and Josiah Kel-
logg; fifth pair, far right are Queen Sarah Cooley and
Wyatt Tyler.
Carmelita Holland/ The Baker County Press
King Moroni Jensen and Home Coming Queen,
Sarah Cooley.
BY CARMELITA HOLLAND
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
September 25th was a day to remember at the Pine-
Eagle Charter School in Halfway, when the Homecoming
Court and their escorts were introduced during halftime
of the Pine Eagle Spartan football game with the Elgin
Huskies.
The group was taken before the stand in three classic
convertibles—a 1932 Ford Roadster and two bright red
Corvettes.
Teacher, Robert Crawford, at the stand, read speeches
written by each princess.
Homecoming Queen was Sarah Cooley and Homecom-
ing King was Moroni Jensen. Both are Seniors. Princess-
es were: Lacey Walker, Senior Class, escorted by Josiah
Kellogg; Felicity Denig, Junior Class, escorted by Jeff
Rice; Kandice Holland, Sophomore Class, escorted by
Leland Seggerman; and Kerri Rowan, Freshman Class,
escorted by Moroni Jensen.
Soon after the outdoor presentation, more honors were
bestowed inside the gymnasium during the girl’s Vol-
leyball games with the Nixyaawii Golden Eagles, of
Umatilla County.
Lacey Walker was named Miss Volleyball, and Wyatt
Tyler was named Mr. Football.
The football game that day was won by the Spartans, 58
to 34 for the Elgin Huskies.
The Homecoming Ball was held in the old grade school
cafeteria in Halfway and the theme was “Lost in the
Jungle.”
Unity hosts
Harvest Bazaar
Sunny Werner/ The Baker County Press
Those who purchased tickets and enjoyed food samples had music to eat by
this year at the Taste of Baker.
wine bar on First Street.
People traded chips (to-
kens) for food, and sat at
outside tables enjoying the
activities.
Folk met up with friends,
exchanged tips on where
they had found their fa-
vorite treats, and lingered
to chat in the pleasant
evening weather.
There was live music
playing, and some visitors
were dancing.
Sitting at the table selling
the “chips” which were
used to purchase the food
items was DeeDee Clark,
an Historical Baker City
board member.
Clark was busy hand-
ing over chips, handing
out maps and menus, and
answering question by the
score.
She was assisted by
another volunteer, Valerie
Potter.
Clark explained that the
event was one of HBC’s
most popular, and always
enjoyed by Baker residents
and visitors alike. Par-
ticipating shops were open
late, and most were enjoy-
ing the constant flow of
traffic as those who came
for the Taste of Baker wan-
dered in to look at their
wares.
As described in the
magazine TravelOregon,
“Hosted by Historic Baker
City Inc. the Taste of Baker
City is a perfect way to
celebrate fall’s arrival and
all things culinary.”
Submitted Photo.
The Unity Harvest Bazaar was held Saturday, Oc-
tober 3rd, and attended by vendors and skilled arti-
sans. The Burnt River Home Extension ladies sold
baked goods and tickets for a quilt to be raffled off
in January with all proceeds going for scholarships.
The Burnt River FFA club cooked and served lunch
and goodies. The door prize was won by Wayne
Morin of Hereford, pictured above.