Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2020)
JANUARY 31, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion cuffed in Keizer Rudy Contreras Arrested Jan. 20 for: Unlawful possession of a fi rearm Previous convictions: Assault, unlawful use of a vehicle Eduardo Ray Munoz Acea Lee Clark Anderson Arrested Jan. 22 for: Fugitive from justice Arrested Jan. 25 for: Drug possession Pending charges: Charged with obscene communication in Virginia Previous convictions: Drug possession, coercion, strangulation Joshua Jabryce Thompson Arrested Jan. 22 for: Aggravated harrassment Previous convictions: Theft, menacing Thoughts on the short session In 2010, Oregon voters approved a Constitutional amendment allow- ing annual legislative sessions. Until 2012 the state legislature met in odd-numbered years. The 2010 measure was touted as tool for the legislature to address bud- get issues (this was during the height of the Great Recession) and address any legislative ‘emergen- cies.’ Since the legislature started meeting in even-numbered years, the sessions have morphed into a free-for-all. Republican law- makers complain that the even-year sessions have become unruly with consequential new laws pushed through without adequate time for the public to have its say. The short session beginning next week is shaping up to be more of the same. The state’s biennial budget is nary mentioned. The main action will center on another attempt at climate change legislation, primarily as a so-called cap and trade program. Under a cap-and-trade system, carbon emissions are capped at a certain level and companies can earn credits for reducing their out- put below that threshold. The cred- its can then be sold to other fi rms that exceed it. A similar House bill passed in 2018. Once it arrived in the other chamber, 11 Senate Republicans walked out, denying a quorum. The tactic worked and the bill died. The 2020 version of the climate change legislation is expected to be just as contentious. Though the short session was designed to address budget is- sues and emergencies, there are a number of bills waiting to be introduced that are neither. Sen. Kim Thatcher of Keizer wants to introduce a bill to send to vot- ers a measure to undo the Consti- tutional amendment that allowed even-numbered year legislative ses- sions. She is right, especially if any bill on any subject can be intro- duced in the short session. There are plenty of proposed bills to raise one’s blood pressure. One of the problems with a short session is that often there is a very short window for the public to be engaged, especially if they live hours from the Capitol and can’t get to Salem in time to testify for or against a bill. Of course, that is by design. If nobody speaks against a bill, it can pass, especially with a supermajority, with hardly a word heard from the public. State representatives and sena- tors are doing the people’s business, but not when they give the people scant chance to respond and testify. Too often legislation is something done to the people rather than for the people. The corridors of the capitol are zaitz writes fi lled with lobbyists; they are paid by their clients to be there, speak to lawmakers and persuade them to support their point of view. It is dif- fi cult for the average citizen to do the same. Where do they start? How do they do it? We think organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce, service clubs houses of worship and other groups, should establish tutorials or classes that would teach how to get involved with the legislative process. Tutorials can teach how to write effective letters to lawmakers. Not just to own representative or senator but also those who chair commit- tees that hold hearings. Organizations should also have classes on how to testify before a committee. That is a scary prospect for most people, speaking in pub- lic before powerful politicians. Les- son number one: politicians are just people. All a citizen needs is the in- terest time and desire. Barring a personal trip to the capitol, people have three powerful tools at their disposal: phone calls to legislators, letters or emails. A law- maker’s attention will be grabbed if their offi ce is inundated with mes- sages. Calls, letters and emails will have more impact if they are polite and rational. Everyone responds better to courtesy than rants and anger. The people’s business is too im- portant to be conducted without input from the people themselves. — LAZ What Canada can teach us about health care Polls have determined that Medi- care For All is newly-popular among Americans in the 18 to 36 age range. Those of more youthful years may want to fi nd out that what they wish for in deliverance is what they get. What’s interesting about that age range is that those years of life are usually the most healthy. In other words, Americans, typically, do not need the kind of coverage Medicare typically assists to provide to those 65 and older. Nevertheless, young- er ages under Medicare For All would likely pay for coverage like anyone now who’s 65 or older. Facts report that the average monthly premium currently paid by Medicare recipients is $144.60 effective January 1, 2020. However, coverage annually does not kick in until the recipient has generally in- curred $198, again, effective January 1, 2020. It works like this: recipients pay the federal government an average of $144.60 on January 1 but then must pay-out-of-pocket of about $198 before the Medicare benefi t kicks in. Further, federal bureaucrats in D.C. decide what Medicare cov- ers. It’s not uncommon for a bene- fi ciary to be denied coverage. Also, comprehensive cover- age, coverage to address the cost of medical visits, exams and tests, and medical procedures means ad- ditional supplementary medical insurance at eye-pop- ping, budget-break- ing expense. Also, the typical co-payment at service is an addition- al cost, not anywhere close to a nickel-dime exchange. All togeth- er, the Medicare pre- mium, supplementa- ry medical insurance along with co-payments can lighten one’s wal- let by hundreds of dollars every doc- tor visit. Medicare is directly taken out of Social Security before one receives his check and, if there’s a tiny raise or no raise at all, which happens with exasperating regularity, then the amount of the “raise” gets ze- roed out. For 2020, the increase in Social Security and simultaneous increase in Medicare premiums will be close to a wash. Meanwhile, the cost of living index proves that ev- erything we need, young to old, just to survive, goes up every year, some gene h. mcintyre Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2020 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Publication No: USPS 679-430 items exponentially. As an American citizen, I worked for three years as a program adminis- trator at a public community college in British Columbia. Free medical insurance was provided me and my family from day one. A child of ours got so sick we took that child to a Canadian physician. It was de- termined that a surgical procedure was required to correct the problem. End of that story: All related costs, doctor visits, tests, and a Canadian hospital stay of three days, were paid in full by the government plan. Our out-of-pocket cost literally amount- ed to one Canadian dollar. After working for awhile in Can- ada, all my withholdings were re- funded. Canadian medical services for every citizen are mostly gov- ernment managed while we have government only for Medicare after 65, Medicaid in places and the Af- fordable Care Act. Canadians pay a higher practical tax rate of 28 per- cent compared to 18 percent in the U.S. but cost of living in Canada is lower. Canada does not tax their middle class so their wealthiest citizens can receive big tax reductions. Medicare For All will not serve as a panacea for those aged 18 to 36 or any oth- er age group. Americans want re- forms that other so-called post-in- dustrial nations appreciate: Most of us want medical service availability where profi t is not the only de- terminer and affordability occurs through laws that provide livability through dignity and health for all citizens. Meanwhile, we could do so much better. The U.S. could do so much better at providing med- ical services to our citizens while Canada serves as a model for what could be here. (Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keiz- er. He shares his opinion frequently in the Keizertimes.) Effrem Demonds Davis Arrested Jan. 25 for: Parole violation Abraham Romero- Angeles Previous convictions: Assault, DUII, theft Arrested Jan. 23 for: Theft Previous convictions: Strangulation, theft Rody Langimeo Arrested Jan. 24 for: Major traffi c violation Previous convictions: Trespass, giving false info to a police offi cer Pauline Elizabeth Hanson Arrested Jan. 25 for: Drug possession Previous convictions: Theft, identity theft Celebrate heart health throughout February Wear Red Day, is on Friday, Feb. 7. Salem Health is encouraging the hospital and the community to wear red to kick off American Heart Month and promote heart health. Salem Health is celebrating American Heart Month this Febru- ary by offering community activi- ties and other heart-health related events. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Thurs- day, Feb. 13, Salem Health is of- fering free health screenings from 6:30 to 10 a.m. in the Salem Health Community Health Education Center at the Salem Hospital, 939 Oak St. S.E., Building D. The screenings will measure cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, height and weight. In addition to the screening, hospital staff will help patients understand their results. Members of Mended Hearts, a non-profi t support group for patients and families affected by heart disease, will be there from 8 to 10 a.m. as well. Call 503-814-2432 to reserve a 15-minute appointment. Remember to fast for 12 hours before the cholesterol test. Kaiser Permanente cardiologist Priya Kansal, MD, will be speaking at Talk with a Doc: Living healthy with gadgets, on Thursday, Feb. 13 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Salem Hospital, 939 Oak St. S.E. Building D. She will share the latest advancements on leading a heart- healthy lifestyle and how fi tness gadgets help. Three times this month KYKN will have radio tips featuring hearth health at 12:45 p.m. Gabe Gaetner will be on the air on Monday, Feb. 3 to share how some patients are able to stop taking blood thinners with the WATCHMAN device. The following Thursday, Feb. 6, Andy Walker, a cardiac nurse navigator, will explain heart medications. The fi nal radio tip will be on Friday, Feb. 21, and will feature Dan Voy as he sares his journery after a quintuple bypass and how the Mended Hearts support group made a difference. On the last two Wednesdays of the month, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. Chef Andre Uribe will teach several hearth healthy recipes. Come hungry and ready to learn. There is a $15 fee. Register online at www.salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-2432. Because many open-heart surgeries depend on donated blood, Salem Health is encouraging community members to donate blood in honor of American Heart Month. Schedule to donate at www.redcrossbloo.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.