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
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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.)