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THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
OPINION
November 21,1990
The little law that could, if it were given the chance
Just one year ago we, the voters of Ore
gon, passed an environmental measure into
law: The Oregon Resource Conservation
Trust Fund (ORCTF). This bill, like too
many really good bills, is waiting for fund
ing. Its a serious indication of misplaced
priorities when our legislature will fund
prisons but not schools and environmental
programs. Perhaps if they are able to pro
vide enough jailspace for the ignorant and
unhappy they might find a little time for
our ecological needs.
The purpose of the ORCTF is to ad
vance the causes of habitat conservation/
restoration and resource recovery. With
regard to resource recovery, the Oregon
Legislature describes the fundamental bene
fits of the ORCTF as “... [enabling] the
state [to] promote Oregon’s natural val
ues, ... provide an economic incentive to
effective recycling and reduce contamina
tion of the waters of this state caused by
plastic and other debris.”
In much simpler terms, this law pro
vides for all the good things left out of Mea
sure 6; enhancement of the resource recov
ery industry, educational programs, and
economic incentives for ecologically sound
practices. There’s no hidden whip in this
law, only positive reinforcement for the
Some of the other provisions of the
right activities.
While I was damning Measure 6 as a ORCTF provide for; the development of
bill that lacked any incentives I was think secondary markets for recycled products in
ing about an existing law’s provisions. One Oregon, the stabilization of recycling ef
of the more interesting tenets in the ORCTF forts (or depots and processing centers
is the provision for funding to be provided through tax credits, tax credits for groups
for “resource recycling projects.” This means that conduct clean up activities if the par
that the Trust Fund will pay moneys to aid ticipants are educated about resource re
or establish programs that promote recy covery.
When I read this last provision I could
cling and the reduction of contaminants
n’t believe it, but you can; the fund shall al
caused by debris in our state.
What exactly is a “project,” according locate moneys to “Fund grants [at a 2:1
to Salem? Again, the lan
ratio vs school con
guage of the law itself speak
Environmentalists' tributions] to Ore
gon educational in
best:
. projects that re
Grimoire
flect the resource recycling
stitutions for re
by
search, development,
benefits to the state... [in
and initiation of re
cluding but not limited to:]
Randal Hodgins
source conservation
(A) Promoting environ
projects... “
mental and resource recycling education.
If all this sounds too good to be true
(B) Establishing effective recycling sys
then - in a way -- you’re right. Oh don’t
tems in the state. '
(C) Using the educational resources avail- think that there is some hidden legal boner
able at Oregon institutions of higher edu in the bill, there isn’t The problem is that,
although the bill was made law, the LAW
cation.”
Okay, so we’re not hoi-polloi legal dig has yet to be funded. I expect that if Meas
nitaries, how does any of this concern the ure 6 is passed (I am writing this pre-Nov.),
tegular guy? Well, according to ORS 46&681 IT will find funding 0ust like the prisons
regarding how a project becomes nomi and other select punitive measures). The
nated; “Any person may nominate a re bill for the fund originally provided for a
source recycling project for approval...” If packaging tax to help fund itself. This tax
you’re an Oregonian, still suck air for a liv would only apply to those products that
ing, and want to suggest a viable project to were not at least 40 percent recoverable.
help our environment... YOU CAN DO The tax itself was only a surcharge of 3/4 of
1 percent of the packages value up to a de
IT.
terminable limit. The plastic industry sup
ported the idea; the paper industry op
posed it because the cost of a daily paper
would increase a penny (?!!!).
Another funding method would in
volve funds tied to the General Fund. The
Trust would have to compete for funds -
not exactly my favorite choice. The paper
industry has “indicated” that they would
pupport this plan (thanks guys!).
My choice would be to get ‘two birds’
with one plan. Oregon is one of 13 “west
ern” states. Of these 13 states, Oregon
imports the largest amount of Out-of-State
generated hazardous waste, in fact Oregon
takes in more than the other states do com
bined; about 122,000 tons annually. Other
states charge between $90 and $117 per ton
to take in this waste; Oregon, on the other I
hand charges about... nothing. This goes
a long way toward explaining why we get so
much of it. If we implemented a $100/ton
surcharge on this noxious material we would:
a) generate about $13 million annually for
the Trust Fund, and
b) probably slow down our intake of other
people’s poisons — aww gee whiz!
If you think this — The Oregon Re
source Conservation Trust Fund -- is al
good law that deserves funding then write
your local representative. If you don’t know
what to say just tear out this article and
send it with your name, address and phone
number along with a piece of paper with a
big “?” on
Commander in Chief looks to poll not issues
Editor-In-Chief:
Angela Wilson
Feature Editor:
Jennifer Soper
Sports Editor:
Aaron Brown
Photo Editor:
Lane Scheideman
Rhapsody Editor:
Ron Jagodnik, Jr.
Business Manager:
Gregg Mayes
Staff Writers:
Carie Gardener
Heatherle Himes
Brenda Hodgen
Heidi Hoffman
Frank Jordan
Nolan Kidwell
Jennifer Lessard
Richard Marx
Jane Wilcox
Photographers:
Kyle Moe
Darby Pereira
David VanKeuren
Eva Worley
Production Staff:
Anthony Porter
Jillian Porter
Tricia Schneider
Ad Salesman:
Dan Champie ■
Computer Tech:
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Debbie Felix
Advisor:
Linda Vogt
The Clackamas Print aims to be a fair and
impartial newspaper covering the college com
munity. Opinions expressed in The Clackamas
Print do not necessarily reflect those of the
college administration, faculty or advertisers.
The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication
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column inch. Clackamas Community College,
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by Ron Jagodnik, Jr.
Rhapsody Editor
Again, the Commander in Chief George
Bush has stepped up the total force in the
Persian Gulf driving the anxiety of the Ameri
can people and the American troops around
the countiy into a crisis state. And all two
days after the elections!
Where was the aggressive bend toward
Iraq when the Republican incumbents
battled to maintain numbers in the House,
Senate, and gubernatorial positions through
out the countiy?
Well, the Commander is Chief was
jogging through the countiy pulling to
gether his political party and making jokes
about “reading hips.”
How coincidental that two days after
the elections, Bush rushed over 100,000
more American troops into the Gulf bring
ing the total American force equal to the
Iraqi forces along the Iraqi-Saudi border. It
took Bush nearly three months to make
this move - two days after the elections.
Something smells fishy in the Bush.
Three months ago, during election cam
paigning, Bush announced a show of force
into the Gulf as a “defensive” measure to
deter Sadam Hussein from invading Saudi
Arabia.
Not anymore!
Now that general elections are over,
Bush says the American troops are there as
an “offensive” force to remove the Iraqis
from Kuwait.
Which will it be - defensive or offen
sive? Only President Bush can tell which,
or maybe his campaign manager can tell.
Bush’s campaign manager is still in
terpreting the latest poll.
Unfortunately, this latest push by Bush
has alerted Hussein into both positive and
negative action viewed from an American
stand point
First, Hussein has agreed to a plan
which will allow American«hostages to
evacuate Kuwait; this is a good thing.
Next, Hussein has asked for military
support from such leaders as Kadafi, Cas
tro and Idi Amin to counter the increase in
force across the border; this is a bad thing.
Of course, the radicalleaders have not
committed any troops to the Iraqis yet, but
what are the chances that Kadafi wants to
stay out of this one after Reagan whacked
him a good one a while back.
It wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture
for President Bush to be worried about the
elections or his own political standing.
Instead, he should be concentrating on the
consequences of his actions. He should be
doing the job for which we put him in office
- the Presidency and Commander in Chief.
He should be considering the lives he has
put on the line. (He should be dreaming
about all of the potential votes in the Per-1
sian Gulf! Ha, Ha!). He should be finding!
out what the American people want.
If he follows through with these I
steps, he will find himself again elected into I
office during a time of peace and prosper-1
ity for the American people.
Either do it or not, George! Find I
things out before you get yourself into deep I
(like now). Don’t let your public popularity I
polls run the conflict in Iraq!
ScUtolfaC 'Pdiicy
The views expressed in The Clackamas Print are those of The Clackamas Print
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