FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Politics
— Guest Opinion —
Sen.Ted Ferrioli to address
2016 ORAVI Summit
Conservative
values ...
By Sen. Doug Whitsett
The American Conservative Union
(ACU) is the nation’s premier conserva-
tive group supporting Americans who are
concerned with personal responsibility,
traditional values, a strong national de-
fense and the preservation of liberty. The
Washington D.C.-based organization is
the national leader for providing conserva-
tive positions on issues to Congress, the
Executive Branch, State Legislatures, the
media, political candidates and the public.
The ACU researches and selects a wide
range of bills that reflect a member’s
adherence to government integrity, as well
as economic, social and cultural conserva-
tive principles.
According to ACU Chairman Matt
Schlapp, “The Oregon legislature con-
tinues to churn out a liberal wish-list of
legislation that results in higher costs to
consumers for health care, housing and
energy. The list includes complex no-
tification requirements for landlords of
apartment buildings, forcing insurance
companies to pay physician rates to non-
physicians, and making Oregon the first
state in the nation to ban coal fired power
plants. Fortunately, a House-passed bill
that would have allowed the state police
to indefinitely hold up a firearms sale was
not taken up in the Senate.”
After the 2016 legislative session ended
last March, the ACU selected twelve bills
to evaluate legislators’ conservative val-
ues. They are as follows:
HB 4122—Food Labeling Mandate:
This bill would have mandated that labels
be applied to any genetically engineered
salmon sold in Oregon. ACU opposed the
bill because it was a mandate to drive up
the cost of food to consumers. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 32-27 but it
subsequently died in the Senate Health
Care Committee.
HB 4147—Firearm Transfers: This
bill would have prohibited the transfer
of a firearm if the Oregon State Police
(OSP) allege they are unable to determine
whether the recipient is qualified to pos-
sess a firearm. Currently, the law allows
dealers to release a firearm after three
days if OSP has reached no decision. ACU
opposed the bill because it supports the
founders’ belief in the Second Amend-
ment. The House passed the bill by a vote
of 31-28, but it later died in the Senate
Rules Committee.
SB 1532—Minimum Wage: This bill
created a complex system of minimum
wage laws across the state, with levels
rising to $13.50 per hour in Portland and
to lower levels in other parts of the state.
ACU opposed the bill because it artifi-
cially increases wages, hurting those who
need the most help in finding employ-
ment, such as students and inexperienced
workers. The Senate passed the bill by
a vote of 16-12 and the House passed it
32-26. It was signed into law by Governor
Kate Brown.
HB 4143—Rent Control: This bill cre-
ates a series of new mandates on land-
lords, including giving a 90 days’ notice
of terminating residency for month-to-
month tenants. It also allows tenants to
occupy the landlord’s private property
rent free if the notification policies are not
followed. The ACU Foundation’s Center
for 21st Century Property Rights engages
heavily on this issue because it opposes
housing mandates that drive up prices to
consumers and deny the rights of property
owners. The bill passed the House with
a vote of 48-11 and the Senate by 16-9.
It was signed into law by Governor Kate
Brown.
SB 1589—Expanding Corporate Subsidy
Program: This bill expands a government
business loan and credit guarantee pro-
gram designed to help narrowly defined
businesses that will “produce substantial
benefits for the state.” ACU opposed the
bill because government programs that
favor one business over another too often
are the basis for crony capitalism and the
subsequent expansion of government-
preferred businesses. The Senate passed
the bill by a vote of 21-9 and the House by
37-21. It was signed into law by Governor
Kate Brown.
SB 1503—Health Insurance Price Con-
trols: This bill mandates that insurance
companies reimburse nurse practitioners
and physician assistants at the same rates
as physicians. It also prohibits negotiating
separate rates for those who are not physi-
cians. ACU opposed the bill because it
interferes in the free market and drives up
Submitted Photo
Sen. Doug Whitsett represents
Oregon’s 28th District.
the cost of health insurance for consum-
ers. The Senate passed the bill by a vote
of 21-4 and the House by 44-15. It was
signed into law by Governor Kate Brown.
HB 4037—Solar Energy Subsidies: This
bill gives a direct subsidy to those who
implement utility-scale solar installations.
For example a two-megawatt installation
would receive a direct subsidy of $57,000
over five years. ACU believes that all
forms of energy should compete within
the free market and government should
not put its thumb on the scale to favor
certain businesses. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 51-4 and the Senate by
22-6. It was signed into law by Governor
Kate Brown.
HB 4086—Unemployment Benefits:
This bill creates a new category of em-
ployee: those who are “locked out” of
their place of employment because of a la-
bor dispute. Those employees will receive
up to 52 weeks of benefits, while others
will receive only 26 weeks of benefits.
ACU opposed this discriminatory bill,
which was designed to benefit employ-
ees of one company in Oregon that was
involved in a labor dispute. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 48-10 and the
Senate 20-6. It was signed into law by
Governor Kate Brown.
SB 1547—Renewable Energy Mandate:
This bill makes Oregon the first state in
the nation to ban coal-fired power plants
on or before the year 2030. It also requires
the state to obtain at least 50 percent of its
energy from renewable sources by 2040.
ACU opposed the bill because it believes
that all forms of energy should compete
within the free market and government
should not put its thumb on the scale to fa-
vor certain businesses. The Senate passed
the bill by a vote of 17-12 and the House
passed it 38-20. Governor Kate Brown
signed the bill into Oregon law.
HB 4017—Medicaid Expansion: This
bill directs state agencies to develop a plan
to expand Oregon’s Medicaid program
to include certain immigrants covered by
an international agreement known as the
Compact of Free Association. Research
based on the ACU Foundation’s Family
Prosperity Index shows increasing per
capita Medicaid spending actually has
a negative impact on the economy and
family prosperity. ACU opposed the bill
because it expands a program that has
been rife with fraud and waste, with no
reforms. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 36-22 and the Senate by 18-10.
The bill was signed into law by Governor
Kate Brown.
SB 1533—Affordable Housing Set-
Asides: This bill violates private property
rights by forcing landlords to set-aside
20 percent of their properties for “afford-
able housing,” at prices below the market
rates. The bill also imposes a new one
percent excise tax on the permit value of
construction projects. ACU opposed the
bill because it arbitrarily creates mandates
that drive up the cost of housing for oth-
ers. The Senate passed the bill by a vote
of 20-8 and the House by 39-21. It was
signed into law by Governor Kate Brown.
SB 1587—Criminalizing the Free
Market: This bill created a new felony
for violating Oregon’s “prevailing wage”
laws that is punishable by up to five years
in prison. It establishes three new govern-
ment positions and creates regulations that
employers must follow in order to comply
with the law. ACU opposed the bill be-
cause it artificially increases wages, driv-
ing up the cost of construction projects.
The bill, in effect, makes it a crime to pay
wages based on a free market. The Senate
passed the bill by a vote of 21-7 and the
House by 59-1. Governor Kate Brown
signed it into law.
These are only a few of the bills enacted
by the 2016 Legislative Assembly that
defy conservative values and the princi-
ples of a government limited by authority
granted by the U.S. Constitution. Orego-
nians may expect more of the same during
the 2017 Legislative Assembly. We have
no doubt that Oregon’s current legislative
political majority will continue to adhere
to its progressive liberal agenda.
Please remember—if we do not stand up
for rural Oregon, no one will.
On October 4, Senator
Ted Ferrioli will address
over 100 Oregonians at the
ORAVI Summit hosted by
the Oregon Aviation Asso-
ciation in Aurora, Ore. As
one of five keynote speak-
ers at the event, Ferrioli
will discuss the urban-rural
divide in Oregon and the
benefits of retaining and
expanding air transporta-
tion to rural Oregon com-
munities.
"The diversity of
Oregon's communities
leaves us with unique
transportation challenges,"
explained Ferrioli. "The
urban-rural divide leaves
rural Oregon communi-
ties without the attention
and access to transporta-
tion solutions they need
to not only survive, but
thrive. We need to consider
multi-modal transportation
options for the whole state,
not just big cities, invest in
rural economic develop-
ment and boost aviation
opportunities to help rural
Oregonians move safely
and efficiently."
Ferrioli has served as
State Senator for Oregon
Senate District 30 since
1997. SD 30 covers 36,000
square miles in eastern Or-
egon, the largest legislative
district in the state. One
area of focus for the 2016
ORAVI Summit is rural air
service for Oregon com-
munities outside of metro-
politan areas. A 2015 bill
passed by the legislature
raised $20 million for rural
commercial air service
assistance, rural economic
development, and other air
transportation priorities.
"Rural communities
across the state are work-
ing hard to attract new
employers offering good,
family wage jobs. Our
success in recruiting these
family wage employers
would soar if, in addition
to the highest quality of
living and great, kid-
centered communities,
we could also offer them
timely, reliable air freight
and passenger service on a
predictable schedule," said
Ferrioli.
Rep. Walden receives award
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden
has been named a “Guard-
ian of Small Business” by
the National Federation
of Independent Business
(NFIB).
NFIB President and CEO
Juanita Duggan praised
Walden for his record of
standing up for small busi-
nesses.
NFIB is made up of
small businesses nation-
wide, including over 7,000
in Oregon. The Guard-
ian of Small Business is
NFIB’s most prestigious
award. It is reserved
for lawmakers who vote
consistently with NFIB on
the key issues identified
by small business owners.
NFIB tracks the votes of
every member of Con-
gress. House members and
Senators who vote with
NFIB members at least
70 percent of the time are
eligible for the Guardian
Award. Walden received a
100 percent voting record
during this session of
Congress.
— Letters to the Editor —
Scripture to go with recent
angel article
To the Editor:
Since the recent article about angels was
liberally sprinkled with Bible references,
it’s fair to let the Bible speak for itself.
Are all angels good?
“And there was war in heaven: Michael
and his angels fought against the dragon;
and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place
found any more in heaven. And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which de-
ceiveth the whole world: he was cast out
into the earth, and his angels were cast out
with him.” (Revelation of John 12:7-9)
Can Satan and his evil angels deceive
people?
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. There-
fore it is no great thing if his ministers
also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be ac-
cording to their works.” (II Corinthians
11:14-15)
Is it truly possible to communicate with
dead people?
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker Coun-
ty Press reserves the right not to publish letters
containing factual falsehoods or incoherent nar-
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Word limit is 375 words per letter. Letters are lim-
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Opinions submitted as Guest Opinions or Let-
“For the living know that they shall die:
but the dead know not any thing, neither
have they any more a reward; for the
memory of them is forgotten. Also their
love, and their hatred, and their envy, is
now perished; neither have they any more
a portion for ever in any thing that is done
under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)
What warning does the Bible give about
trying to contact “spirits of the dead”?
“When thou art come into the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou
shalt not learn to do after the abomina-
tions of those nations. There shall not be
found among you any one that maketh his
son or his daughter to pass through the
fire, or that useth divination, or an observ-
er of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar
spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For
all that do these things are an abomina-
tion unto the Lord: and because of these
abominations the Lord thy God doth drive
them out from before thee. Thou shalt be
perfect with the Lord thy God.” (Deuter-
onomy 18:9-13)
Linda Kotz
Baker City
ters to the Editor express the opinions of their
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