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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2016)
LET TERS OBVIOUS CHOICE I’m writing to urge Ward 1 voters to vote for Emily Semple. Endorsed by George Brown, Betty Taylor and Pete Sorenson, Emily Semple is the obvious choice. As a mother of two and the owner of a graphic arts business, Semple understands hard work and the needs of working people and struggling families. She also sees that Eugene has a shortage of affordable hous- ing. Her concerns extend to the most vul- nerable in our community, those who have fallen through society’s safety nets and now live without shelter. I met Emily five years ago when she was working on a project to slow down foreclosures on local homes. As we spoke, I found her easy to talk to and engaging. She listens intently, hears what people say and thinks about issues with a great deal of creativity. Since we first met, I have worked with her on several projects, and have found her to be focused and tireless. If you have been unhappy with the way the city has dealt with issues such as Kesey Square, MUPTE, transportation and zon- ing, vote for Emily Semple for Ward 1. She will work to make city government fairer and more transparent. Vickie Nelson Eugene VALUE EDUCATION The Lane Community College Board of Education unanimously endorsed Ballot Measure 97 at its September meeting. We strongly encourage all Lane County voters to vote yes on this important measure. Be- low is our statement: Whereas the state of Oregon faces an historic revenue shortfall in the 2017- 18 biennium which may require massive spending cuts to education and social ser- vices in order to balance the state budget, the Lane Community College Board of Directors resolves to formally endorse and urge community support of Measure 97. In doing so, the Lane Community Col- lege Board joins the “A Better Oregon” coalition effort to raise the corporate mini- mum tax on the largest corporations doing business in Oregon — corporations with more than $25 million in Oregon sales — HOT AIR SOCIETY to fund education and social services in Oregon. We know Oregonians value educa- tion. That’s why we hope you will join us in voting yes for Ballot Measure 97. Sharon Stiles Chair, LCC Board of Education Eugene CORPORATE ARGUMENTS It has started. The lies and misinfor- mation about Measure 97 have hit the air- ways. Any time there is a piece of legisla- tion or initiative that attempts to cut into record profits or make the wealthiest pay more for schools, roads, health care, etc., the same tired arguments pop up. Raise the minimum wage? Oh no, it will kill jobs. Give sick leave to workers? Businesses will leave the state. Make the largest corporations pay their fair share in taxes? It will hurt poor people because businesses will pass it on to consumers. The time has come for people to see through these lies and predictions of eco- nomic catastrophe. When Oregonians passed Measures 66 and 67 in 2010 that raised taxes on the wealthiest Oregonians, they said: “hidden sales tax,” it hurts citizens the most, especially the poorest citizens. Sound familiar? Both measures passed, and they helped our state dig out from one of the deepest recessions in our history. Trying to figure out which way to vote on Measure 97? Just follow the money. Wells Fargo, one of the largest contribu- tors against Measure 97, made $86 billion in revenue and $23 billion in profits last year. They were recently caught ripping off millions from their customers. But pay their fair share in taxes? No way. Comcast has given $315,000 to No on 97 but owes the state $120 million in unpaid property taxes. Ask yourself: Whom do I believe, teachers, nurses, firemen, etc., or Bank of America, Monsanto, Comcast and Wells Fargo? Then vote yes on 97. Pete Mandrapa Eugene BY TON Y CORCOR A N Oregonians: Is this Bud for you? NO VOTING RECORD, NO PLAN I don’t know about you, dear reader, but the political season always makes me ner- vous behind the steering wheel. Every two years here in the 4th Congressional District, I used to have an involuntary fight-or-flight reaction to any vehicles sporting an “Art Robinson” bumper sticker. I’d slam on the brakes and elude, just in case the driver was preparing for the Rapture at any moment. I can only imagine what’s in the enraptured minds of the owners of the “Trump that Bitch” sticker I saw recently on a Ford SUV in Cottage Grove. Anyway, I’m over my Art Robinson paranoia now that he’s running for the fourth time against Peter “the Wolfman” DeFazio. Welcome back, students. Hope you made a lot of money this summer. You’re go- ing to need it when the Oregon Legislature gets back in session next February saddled with a $1.3 billion biennial shortfall. That’s the problem with an overreliance on vol- atile personal income tax to fund education, human services and public safety: When our economy slowed, there was less tax revenue available than anticipated back in early 2015, when legislators created the current 2015-17 budget. As for the presidential race, I’m guessing you’ve got that circus figured out, so I’m going to ignore it for now. For the next couple of weeks I’m going to focus on down ticket races here in Oregon. These races will have a direct impact on future tuition increases, K-12 funding, senior and disabled programs, and public safety. So forget your disgust, hold your nose and vote. Don’t let the top of the ticket deter you. It’s too important, especially this year. Let’s start with the governor’s race: incumbent Cautious Kate Brown vs. Bud “No Plan” Pierce. You can stream their Sept. 24 Bend debate on KGW.com. But I watched it for you to save you the pain. Kate’s a known political commodity. I served with her in the Oregon House and Senate. She took Democrats from a minority to a majority during her tour as Senate Democratic leader. She’s pro-choice, pro-education funding and pro-Measure 97. And Brown just got a $250,000 campaign contribution from former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg for her support of stronger background checks on firearms. That move also prompted gun nuts to hang her in effigy at the Capitol last week. She has a voting record. Bud Pierce is illusive. He’s never run for public office. He can say anything he wants; he has no voting record. Sound like someone else you’ve heard lately? He’s a physician willing to spend $1.5 million of his own fortune to convince you he has a better mousetrap, but he won’t describe his plan. And like Republican physicians Monica Wehby and Knute Buehler before him, 4 October 6, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com Pierce considered it beneath him to run for some lower form of public office — be it school board or city council or the legislature — before stepping in front of the line and running for statewide office straight out of the chute. Really? Maybe he had one too many shots at the genius bar? In March of 2016, before Oregon’s primary, Bud endorsed Trump. Then, after the primary, moving to the center, Bud began equivocating. In an August radio interview he refused to repudiate Trump, even after the infamous Mexican criminal and “Obama created ISIS” comments. He told his host he only supported Trump because Trump won the primary and he (Bud) is a loyal Republican. But wait, there’s more. On Sept. 24 OPB reported: “In A Reversal, Oregon Republican Candidate For Governor (Pierce) Dumps Trump.” Apparently, Bud’s party loyalty is trumped by The Donald’s propensity for driving away Hispanic voters. Oregon’s population is 12 percent Hispanic, the 14th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally. Hispanic voters are a growing force in Oregon politics. Bud still hasn’t repudiated any of Trump’s positions, just the candidate. Come on, man! Bud offers nothing on PERS other than to attack public employees. He opposes Measure 97 with no alternative revenue plan in mind. His thoughts on land use reform mirror the Bundy broth- ers’ Malheur philosophy: Return all federal lands to the states and counties, even if they can’t maintain them, so they can sell it all to the highest bidder. “Prosperity Without a Plan” ought to be the Repub- lican mantra this cycle. Blaming Kate for 25 years of the Republican Legislature’s neglect for public educa- tion funding is clear evidence of Pierce’s political na- ïveté. If you’re a progressive, this Bud’s not for you. Former state Sen. Tony Corcoran of Cottage Grove is a retired state employee. Next week: Brad Avakian and Dennis Richardson, the scariest man in Oregon, in the race for Oregon secretary of state.
