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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2012)
Ballot Measure 82 Ballot Measure 84 (Authorizes private casinos) (Eliminates inheritance tax) NO NO Don’t let the slick commercials about The Grange “family-friendly” casino — promoting an amendment to the state Constitution that lifts the ban on non-Indian reservation casinos in Oregon — fool you into thinking it will be a benevolent tax boon for the state. A “yes” vote would be a devastating blow to Oregon’s tribal populations, who, already under financial duress, will find their much- needed casino profits in competition with the private sector. The private sector (and primary investor) in this case is the Canadian company, the Clairvest Group Inc., which could funnel profits straight out of the state (and country). Three weeks before the election, casino backers dropped their more than $6 million dollar campaign saying “not enough Oregon voters are ready to add a private casino to the state’s gaming options.” Ballot Measure 83 The pro-small farms view initiative supporters have painted is nice, but it turns out this measure to phase out the inheritance tax already applies to all farms worth less than $7.5 million. If this law passes, it’s a tax cut to the very wealthy at a time when the state is struggling to take in enough revenue for essential services. Ballot Measure 85 (Corporate kicker for K-12 education) State Rep. District 8 YES Paul Holvey (D) Oregon’s corporate kicker is quite the loophole, sending excess tax revenue more than 2 percent above projections back to corporations instead of investing it in schools or saving it for a rainy day. Measure 85 would close that loophole and direct tax dollars to stay in the General Fund to aid schools or other projects. (Authorizes Multnomah Co. casino) State Rep. District 7 NO In addition to Measure 82, Measure 83 specifically authorizes the privately owned Wood Village casino (The Grange), and also mandates a chunk of its revenue must be dedicated to state funds. Backers of the measure tout that it will pay back 25 percent in gaming revenues, which, at face value seems generous, but when compared to the 84 percent the lottery pays the state, it looks stingy, especially considering the investors projected annual profits are over $400 million. We admire retired forester Fergus McLean of Dexter for standing up against this guy, as Sara Byers did in 2010 (getting a third of the votes), because lock-step Republicans focused on perpetuating a fossil-fuel economy and clear- cutting forests are the dinosaurs in our political system. The times are changing, even in this Republican-leaning district. McLean is a smart guy, involved in the Occupy movement and working on watershed issues, foreclosure reforms and sustainable forest practices. We predict he will get thousands of votes even without raising money or advertising. Hanna’s big war chest, meanwhile, is being doled out to help other Republican legislative campaigns. Fergus McLean (D) Roseburg Republican Bruce Hanna is seeking his fifth term in District 7, which covers southern Lane County and northern Douglas County. Hanna’s political machinery is generating nearly $500,000 in contributions, mostly from timber, mining, pharmaceutical, oil and insurance PACs, including $5,000 directly from Koch Industries. He even has $25,000 from the American Beverage Association (he is, after all, a soft drink distributor). We see Hanna’s campaign is reimbursing him for more than $1,500 in airline tickets (he’s not flying around his district). Unlike many bemoaned incumbents, four-term State Rep. Paul Holvey has a record of getting things done: He sponsored key legislation banning field burning in the Willamette Valley, he is a consumer protection champion and he is the sole vocal supporter of a sales tax that would benefit public schools. His opponent is Aaron Baker, a Union Pacific Railroad engineer taking his first stab at public office and running on a “let’s-eliminate-most-taxes- and-shrink-government” platform. Baker would stop income and property taxes and replace them with a consumer tax. Baker is the self-described part-time journalist who declared in his “No Sugar Coated News” YouTube series that the Hult Center is a haven for communists. State Rep. District 11 Phil Barnhart (D) Incumbent Phil Barnhart’s stance as a pro-schools, anti- tax-loophole Democrat fits well in District 11, plus he’s one of the few people in Salem who really understands Re-elect Betty Taylor “With a long record of service to our community, Judge Leiman is the ideal choice to serve on the Lane County Circuit Court. He has a tremendous work ethic, a deep understanding of the law and he’s earned my strong support.” INTEGRITY INDEPENDENCE Pete Sorenson EXPERIENCE Lane County Commissioner, and former State Senator ENDORSED BY AFSCME Oregon League of Conservation Voters Sierra Club Lane County Young Democrats Mayor Kitty Piercy GEARS County Commisioner Pete Sorenson Eugene City Councilor George Brown Eugene City Councilor Alan Zelenka Former Congressman Jim Weaver Former Commissioner Jerry Rust Canvassing for Taylor 11:00 a.m. Saturdays Democratic Party of Lane County Office 228 E.11th Ave. paid for by Taylor for City Council www.bettyltaylor.com J OIN THESE L ANE C OUNTY VOTERS AND WRITE - IN A LAN L EIMAN FOR J UDGE Commissioner Pete Sorenson State Rep. Val Hoyle Deborah Noble Business owner, Community leader Scott Landfi eld Owner Tsunami Books and many others www.WriteinAlanLeiman.com Paid for by Alan Leiman for Judge eugeneweekly.com • October 18, 2012 19
