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JULY 28, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 KeizerOpinion KEIZERTIMES.COM Twin threats to our republic’s health By E.J. DIONNE JR. The news is being reported on split screen as if the one big story in Washington is disconnected from the other. But President Trump’s lawless threats against Attorney General Jeff Sessions have a lot in common with the Sen- ate’s reckless approach to the health coverage of tens of millions of Americans. On both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, we are witnessing a collapse of the norms of governing, constant violations of our legitimate expectations of po- litical leaders, and the mutation of the normal confl icts of democracy into a form of warfare that demands the opposition’s unconditional sur- render. Trump’s latest perverse miracle is that he has progressives—along with everyone else who cares about the rule of law—rooting for Sessions. The attorney general is as wrong as ever on voter suppression, civil rights enforcement and immigra- tion. But Sessions did one very im- portant thing: He obeyed the law. When it was clear that he would have obvious confl icts of interest in the investigation of Russian med- dling in our election and its pos- sible links to the Trump campaign, Sessions recused himself, as he was required to do. Trump’s attacks on Sessions for that recusal are thus a naked admis- sion that he wants the nation’s top lawyer to act illegally if that’s what it takes to protect the president and his family. Equally inappropriate are his diktats from the Oval Offi ce call- ing on Sessions to investigate Hillary Clinton and those terrible “leakers” who are more properly seen as whis- tleblowers against Trump’s abuses. Our country is now as close to crossing the line from democracy to autocracy as it has been in our lifetimes. Trump’s ignorant, self-in- volved contempt for his duty under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitu- tion to “take care that the laws be faithfully execut- ed” ought to inspire pa- triots of every ideological disposition to a robust and fearless defi ance. But where are the lead- ers of the Republican Par- ty in the face of the dan- gers Trump poses? They’re trying to sneak through a health care bill by violating every reasonable standard citizens should impose on public servants dealing with legislation that affects more than one-sixth of our economy. Senate Majority Lead- er Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan have little time for worrying about the Constitution because they are busy doing Trump’s bidding on health care. Let it be said that two Republi- can senators will forever deserve our gratitude for insisting that a compli- cated health care law should be ap- proached the way Obamacare—yes, Obamacare—was enacted: through lengthy hearings, robust debate and real input from the opposition party. In voting upfront to try to stop the process, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski demonstrated a moral and political toughness that eluded other GOP colleagues who had ex- pressed doubts about this charade but fell into line behind their lead- ers. The most insidious aspect of McConnell’s strategy is that he is shooting to pass something, any- thing, that would continue to save Republicans from having a transpar- e.j. dionne Never forget Korean War veterans The Keizer City Charter has two specifi c sections: 36—“Special assessments for public improvements or other services to be charged against real property;” and, 43—“Water rev- enue use—All revenue, shall be used exclusively to pay for the water department fund expenses.” The city charter is a contract be- tween a city’s governing body and its citizens, and cannot be altered, nor added to, in any manner, with- out the consent of the governing body and the vote of its citizens which is the will of the people. In all service agreement contracts, including the state of Oregon’s own contract, there is a ‘no third party benefi ciaries clause’: “Nothing in this contract gives any benefi t or right to third person (parties) unless such are identifi ed and described as benefi ciaries of this contract.” The question to be asked by vote of the citizens is: “Do we need ad- ditional police services and parks and recreation personnel and how do we share the cost reasonably and legally among Keizer’s citizens?” The law is clear—it cannot be done in the manner chosen. If this is allowed, we must consider what is to prevent the adding of streets and sidewalks, homeless shelters, drug treatment programs and all else from being added to our water and sewer bills? The purpose behind the law of all parties involved in a contract is that one party cannot change or al- ter the agreement. Lynn B. DeSpain Keizer letters To the Editor: A time to remember. This year marks the 64th anniversary of the cease fi re of the Korean War. A war by executive decision begin- ning 25 June, 1950, and continuing to 27 July 1953. This brutal confl ict lasted 37 months and claimed more than 37,000 American lives, averag- ing 1,000 combat deaths per month. This equates to the population of the city of Keizer. (Something to think about.) The cease fi re became effective at 2200 (10:00 p.m.) July 27, 1953. A truce had been signed, an armistice had been agreed upon, however a peace agreement has not been completed, therefore, the Ko- rean War has not offi cially ended. There are three memorials in the Willamette Valley dedicated to those men and women who fought and died in Korea fi ghting the war under the United Nations command. The fi rst memorial completed is located at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland and was the project of the Chosin Few, survivors of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Located in a beautiful setting and easy to fi nd. The second and largest memo- rial, sponsored by the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association and dedicated in 2000 is located in Wilsonville. Engraved in the wall are the names of Orego- nians who died in combat in Korea. A recent addition to the memorial is a life-size statue of General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander during the early part of the war. The Korean Memorial Foundation of Oregon funded this project. The third memorial in the Wil- lamette Valley is located on the grounds of the Oregon Department of Veteran’s Affairs at 700 Summer Street in Salem. The former Iron Triangle Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association arranged for the funding of this black gran- ite center piece fl anked by granite benches. Another fi ne tribute to those who served. None of these memorials are intended to glorify war but are to remind us that “free- dom has neever been free.” Bob Wickman Keizer USN/USMC Korea, 1953-54 Council’s fee votes violate city charter To the Editor: “The law is reason free from pas- sion.” —Aristole The city council of Keizer has just voted to add a fee for the police and parks to our water /sewer bill. I am quite sure their actions in doing so are heartfelt and justifi ed in their own minds. They are even consid- ering changing the name of, Water and Sewer Fee to a more all encom- passing title of City Services Bill. In doing this, an illegal act occurs by adding a third party to our Water and Sewer Bills. To do so legally requires amend- ing the city charter (a contract be- tween a governing body and its citi- zens), which was last done by public vote in November, 1993. Who will be fi red next in Washington? To the Editor: Before the most recent recession there was another recession that had a huge negative fi nancial impact on the Boeing Corporation, then still headquartered in Seattle. So many fewer planes were being ordered and built that thousands of Boeing em- ployees got pink-slipped. Someone with a fl are for the sarcastic bought a message on a billboard in Seattle. It read: “Will the last person to leave Seattle please turn off the lights.” It reminds this writer that we now have a president who rather obviously does not want an investi- gation into whether he and his co- horts colluded with Russia to help him win the 2016 election. He has made a number of moves making it clear that anyone in law enforce- ment who threatens him with rev- elations of complicity will be fi red, including the current special inves- tigator, Robert Mueller, and the recused U.S. attorney general, Jeff Sessions. Now the reminder of Seat- tle from a few decades ago and what looked to some prognostica- tors like the end of a great American aircraft-building company, appears to apply to federal law enforce- ment offi cials where a billboard in Washington, D.C. might appropri- ately provide this message: “Will the last person fi red from U.S. law enforcement please lock up the J. Edgar Hoover Building.” Gene H. McIntyre Keizer Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com Lyndon A. Zaitz, Editor & Publisher POSTMASTER Send address changes to: SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $25 in Marion County, $33 outside Marion County, $45 outside Oregon PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Publication No: USPS 679-430 Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon ent give-and-take on measures that could ultimately strip health insur- ance from 20 million Americans or more. Passing even the most meager of health bills this week would move the covert coverage-demolition ef- fort to a conference committee with the House. The Senate’s unseemly marathon thus seems likely to end with a push for a “skinny repeal” bill that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s individual and employer mandates and its medical device tax. But no one should be deluded: A vote for skinny repeal is a vote for an emaci- ated democracy. A wholesale defeat for what might be described as the Trump-McCon- nell-Ryan Unhealthy America Act of 2017 is essential for those being served by the ACA but also for our politics. It was disappointing that Sen. John McCain’s passionate plea on Tuesday for a “return to regular order” did not match his votes in this week’s early roll calls. But McCain could yet advance the vision of the Senate he outlined in his fl oor speech and rebuke “the bombastic loudmouths” he con- demned by casting a “No” vote at the crucial moment. Here’s hoping this war hero will ultimately choose to strike a blow against everything he said is wrong with Congress. And when it comes to the ongo- ing indifference to the law in the White House, Republicans can no longer dodge their responsibility to speak out against what Trump is do- ing. They should also examine their own behavior. The decline of our small-r republican institutions can be stopped only if the party bran- dishing that adjective starts living up to the obligations its name honors. (Washington Group) Post Writers I’m still a less government legislator not motorcyclists. It has been an honor to Another important serve you in the legislature bill I was involved with this past session and I want- passed: HB 2732, affec- ed to take a moment to fi ll tionately called the “hot you in on some of what has dog in a car bill.” There happened. has already been a case During the regular 2017 in Oregon where the session I ended up intro- passing of this bill saved a ducing more bills than I dog’s life. I was also suc- did in my freshman year. I cessful in getting Sen- still tried to keep that num- ate Bill (SB) 677 passed ber low however, as I am from the which allows cider busi- still a fi rm believer in “less to be on cider government.” All of my capitol nesses farms in Oregon. Sort bills were centered on free- of like the wineries and dom and cutting red tape in By BILL POST breweries we have now. state government. Sadly, the • HB 2017: The one that meant the most Transportation Package. to me, my “Sudafed bill” (which would have sent Sudafed- I voted no on the package for many related drugs back to “behind the reasons. I was disappointed in the counter”) did not go anywhere. In amount designated for the New- fact, most of my bills didn’t even berg-Dundee Bypass, the fact that it get hearings in committees. Here didn’t do a whole lot for Keizer or are some of the bills I found suc- St. Paul, the 0.5 percent tax on new cess with and a couple that I wasn’t car sales (which by the way goes right back to the “better off ” as a re- happy with from the 2017 session: My House Bill (HB) 2598, ex- bate for electric cars) and generally panded the offense of vehicular as- the fact that once again, the Metro sault to include contact with mo- Portland area gets the lion’s share of torcycle, motorcycle operator or the projects. The bill passed 39-20 motorcycle passenger. As a biker and my vote didn’t stop it. I just myself along with many of my con- didn’t think you wanted more taxes. • HB5517: The K-12 Budget. stituents, it amazed me that bicyclists and pedestrians were covered but This budget was entirely inadequate to properly fund our teachers and provide the education our kids des- perately need so I voted no on it. • HB3464: Sanctuary State bill. Restricts the ability of state and lo- cal agencies, including law enforce- ment, to inquire about an individ- ual’s immigration status. The bill specifi cally prohibits public agencies from disclosing information to the federal government except in cer- tain circumstances. I voted no. SB719: A well-intentioned an- swer to veteran suicides but allows courts to compel an individual to surrender their fi rearms on the word of a judge or others. I voted no. HB3391: Provides $10 million for on demand abortions even for those who are undocumented. This bill disturbed me more than anything I’ve done or seen in my two terms. Overall, I saw this session as the most hyper-partisan in recent mem- ory. No matter which party it is, the state as a whole suffers when one party has complete control. When one party controls all the commit- tees, all the bills and all the processes, Oregon is not being properly rep- resented. ( Bill Post represents House Dis- trict 25. He can be reached at 503- 986-1425 or via email at rep.bill- post@state.or.us.) Fix skate park for a lot less than $500,000 By JERRY MCGEE I sat in the audience at the last city council session and was deeply saddened as I listened to the Di- rector of Public Works describe the condition of the Carl- son Skateboard Park. He described it as unfi t for use, even dangerous. He said that the experts recommended total replacement rather than to repair it. He said the cost would be between $350,000 and $500,000. This could consume much of the new- parks assessment dollars. (inciden- tally I spoke in favor of a parks as- sessment) I was saddened because I remem- bered the many hours that Charlene and Steve Carlson spent to make the skate park a reality. Charlene was the fund raiser and the political arm and Steve was the organizer of the work parties. Don’t tell me it wasn’t built right. Steve, through his organized labor connections, brought the top steel men from Portland, journey- men carpenters and concrete men from all over, all willingly donating their skills and time. When the park was fi nished it was the jewel of the valley. It was designed and built to require little maintenance, but like any concrete structure, it would require some at- tention from time to time. I decided to take one last look at this monument to volunteerism. So on Monday, July 24, at 3:30 p.m., on a very hot day, I drove over to Carl- son Skate Park. I expected to see the park posted with danger signs or even fenced off. But what I saw were twenty (I counted them) young men ages from 11 to 17 on skate boards, scoot- ers, and two were on bikes all having ath- letic fun. I talked to some of them. They said they came often to skate. They were aware of “bad” spots but they just avoided them. In walking over the area I could see many cracks that could be re- paired just as the Or- egon De- partment of Trans- portation repairs the con- crete on bridges (epoxies). Several ar- eas would require m o r e guest opinion extensive repair. The entire area could be gunnited. The gunnite and smoothing would need to be done professionally. Filling the cracks with epoxy would be a good volun- teer project. I asked my new skating friends if they felt the skate park was obso- lete compared to other such parks, a claim stated by the director of Pub- lic Works. They said they didn’t use any other skate park and that this one “is just fi ne.” In my opinion the skate park is repairable and it can be done at a lot less than $350,000 to $500,000. (Jerry McGee lives in Keizer.)