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PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Opinion Let the people decide Once again proposed cap-and- trade legislation has led to a walk- out and no-show of Republican legislators, denying a quorum in both the state Senate and the House of Representatives. These legislators mostly repre- sent the rural areas of Oregon, whose resi- dents say they and their businesses will be hurt by the proposed legis- lation. Senate Bill 1530 would set limits and shrink the state’s green- house gas emissions in a move to address global climate change. Some reports say that Oregon contributes a very small percentage of emissions, mak- ing the current proposal inconse- quential in the overall aim of reduc- ing greenhouse gases. Opponents of the bill say it doesn’t make sense to disrupt life as rural Oregon knows it so that resi- dents of the state’s largest cities can feel good about doing something about the environment. As is gener- ally the case, rural Oregon and city Oregon are talking past each other. City Oregon has a population that is more liberal than their fellow state residents. Oregon’s large cit- ies elect the Democratic legislators that comprise supermajorities in the Senate and the House. Until Republicans can capture some of those city and suburban seats and get past this suspermajori- ty era in the legislature, the Demo- crats will continue to push through bills that are anathama to rural Or- egon. The tactic of denying a quorum in either of the legislative cham- bers has been used before here and in other states. It worked last year when Republican Senators walked out over cap-and-trade in 2019. They used the only weapon in their arsenal. It is politics, but it is this kind of politics that make many citizens dislike offi cerholders. The main problem for the short legislative ses- sion (which is mandated for 35 days only) is that other important issues will not get the hearings they need, including providing emergency relief funds for victims of the recent fl ooding in Umatilla County. The best course of action is to drop the cap-and-trade bill for now, address it again in 2021 when there is time to hear from proponents and opponents alike and then recom- mend the issue to the voters. Cap-and-trade is too conten- tious of an issue and a potential disaster for rural Oregon not to let the voters make the fi nal decision. Waiting to let voters to decide the issue in the November 2022 gener- al election is not too much to ask. Debating a re-introduced cap- and-trade bill in January 2021, hearing the same arguments pro and con doesnt’ matter. Yes, legisla- tors are elected to do the people’s business. Some issues—such as cap- and-trade—are so big and complex and affects so many lives, that get- ting assent from the governed is warranted. Let the people decide. —LAZ editorial More than cap-and-trade As of Wednesday, Feb. 19, the leg- voices are heard and the best possi- islature is over half way through the ble legislation moves forward. Not all bills have been controver- 2020 short session. I’m sure you’ve read about the fi reworks happening sial and complicated. My two bills, at the Capitol, including the House HB 4013 (relating to kratom) and HB 4014 (relating to land Republicans decid- use) have both moved ing not to prolong the forward to the Senate side day fl oor session into with unanimous support. a night fl oor session On Feb. 20, the Senate on earlier in the week. Committee on Judiciary The intention being to held a public hearing and slow down the pace of possible work session on the session, allow time HB 4013, and the Sen- to fully vet legislation, ate Committee on En- and ensure Oregonians vironment and Natural are able to be a part of will be having the process. Clearly, the from the Resources a public hearing and pos- largest point of conten- sible work session on HB tion is the Cap-and- capitol 4014. I really hope to see Trade bills, SB 1530 By BILL POST both bills move forward (the Senate version), as they are small fi xes SB 1574 (the Gover- with unanimous bi-parti- nor’s version), HB 4159 san support. (House version), and The rest of the session remains HB 4169 (Speaker Tina Kotek’s version). Earlier this session, both unknown. As of now, the House proponents and opponents each had Republican caucus will continue rallies at the Capitol. The opposi- to not suspend the House Rules, tion to these bills has been astonish- which means each bill must be read ing. Never in my life have I seen a section by section (as specifi ed in grass roots group come together so the Oregon Constitution). At any quickly. Truckers from all over the moment, it feels the tension in this state circled the Capitol for a full building is so thin, we’re just hang- day. Both opponents and propo- ing on by a thread. The great thing nents have been extremely respect- about this process, is every legislator ful at both rallies and have done a is doing what they believe is best to great job sharing their passions in a represent their district. (Bill Post represents House Dis- respectful way. This is what the po- litical process is all about. It is im- trict 25. He can be reached at 503- portant the legislature continues to 986- 1425 or via email at rep.bill- post@ oregonlegislature.gov.) take the necessary time to ensure all 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 Trump’s own criminal justice reform By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS For decades, a small cadre of re- formers pushed whichever president occupied the Oval Offi ce to use his pardon power more frequently and put a lid on draconian federal sen- tences that put low-level and midlevel offenders away for decades, even life. The problem they face on the week President Donald Trump issued pardons and commutations to 11 nonvio- lent offenders is that they got their wish—except for the Trump part. It’s odd because, in his fashion, Trump relates to the prison commu- nity, as was clear when the president presided over a graduation ceremony for 29 ex-offenders who participated in the Hope for Prisoners program in Las Vegas last week. He didn’t speak down to the gradu- ates, as politicians have been known to do. Trump spoke as if they were in the same boat: “To every returning citizen here today, I know that there are some in our society who want to tell you what you can’t do. They’re going to tell you what you can’t do. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to be here.” Trump has a healthy distrust of federal prosecutors. Of course, most want to lock up bad guys to protect the public, for which voters should be grateful. But they often do so with a chilling ruthlessness. They’ve been known to put away low-level nonviolent drug offenders for decades, even life without parole, while giving deals to kingpins who knew how to game the system. I’ve talked to career prosecutors who defended putting away nonviolent drug offenders for life in prison—because bad laws said they could. No doubt Trump’s dis- trust of the criminal justice system has been stoked by special counsel Robert Mueller’s Rus- sia probe, which, after more than two years, found no coordination between the Kremlin and Trump Tower. The investigation dragged on far beyond the point when Mueller and company should have realized they didn’t have the goods they sought. It was deliciously ironic to hear former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe complain after he learned the government would not charge him for making inaccurate statements to the FBI, “it is an absolute disgrace that they took two years and put my family through this experience for two years before they fi nally drew the obvious conclusion and one they could have drawn a long, long time ago.” If only Mueller’s team thought two other opinions years was too long for the country to wait for its probe to end. A true criminal justice re- former would call for an end to crim- inalizing politics and disagreements. Trump embraces criminal justice re- form, and then grins at rallies when his base chants, “Lock her up.” The New York Times re- ported that all 11 Trump pardon re- cipients had connections with Trump or Fox News. Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice.” Former New York City Police Commissioner Ber- nard Kerik had friends on Fox News. The family of Texas businessman Paul Pogue had contributed more than $200,000 to reelect Trump. I perused the list and didn’t see any miscarriage of justice, per se. It’s refreshing to see a president who is not afraid to recognize people who have served their time and turned their lives around or to reduce draconian sentences for nonviolent offenders. This is what criminal justice reformers have wanted for decades. But there’s no path for 14,000 applicants who have asked for clemency the old-fashioned way. And I can’t shake the feeling that it’s more about Trump and his feelings and who he likes than justice. (Creators Syndicate) Proposed budget cuts will hurt economy Monday, Feb. 24, the Dow began the week down 800 points. Mean- while, the S&P slid 2.7 percent and the Nasdaq sank 3.2 percent. The low for the day was down 997 points. This is fearsome stuff that we haven’t seen for a while. What’s going on? Coronavirus is already making itself fi nancially felt throughout most of the globe. First reported in China, where it orginated, it’s now in plac- es as far-fl ung as South Korea, Iran and Italy. Deaths attributed to the virus are common and exponential- ly-growing in number. Also underway is President Trump’s proposed 2021 budget, already receiv- ing negative reactions because it is full of outdated plans that would add to the Coronavirus’ fi nancial impact as it will weaken the economy and under- mine our nation’s ability to grow and prosper. Ultimately, by analysis, it will result, if implemented, in a national calamity. What’s so threatening about it? For openers, it proposes massive and im- mediate cuts to the kinds of public services, protections and health care that help to strengthen short-term economic growth. According to a report by the Brookings Institution’s Hutchins Center Fiscal Impact Mea- sure, government investment has been directly supporting overall economic growth for the past two years. Our federal government was contributing the most to the na- tion’s Gross National Product (GNP) over the past two years while to reverse that impact means to fur- ther limit growth that has recently slowed. The proposed Trump administration cuts are so deep, so signifi cant and so destructively targeted that they could be large enough to push the U.S. into serious recession. Programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and tax credits for low income families tend to have a positive impact throughout local econ- omies while those are the main victims of President Trump’s budget: It seeks to cut or eliminate around $335 bil- lion in the next four years. These cuts would effectively reduce economic activity and push growth potential for America to well under 1 percent over the next year and longer through pain- ful economic contractions. A key to economic prosperity is improving opportunities, as workers and consumers drive growth and pros- perity. When those who work have the support to do their best, they have proven themselves able to innovate, create and improve everything around them. Trump’s budget wrecks havoc with the foundations of our society: education, health care, research and development. Disappointing to an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens and helping the wealthiest Americans, Trump’s budget includes an extension of the one-sided tax cuts. If extended, the richest 0.1 percent of Americans would receive additional tax cuts of about $100,000 per year. Meanwhile, cuts to public services for all who need help, would simply add signifi cantly to the inequalities of the current Amer- ican way of conducting the nation’s business: bad for our economics and our efforts to raise morale and op- portunity among those left out of the American dream. Extreme inequality pulls the economy down and limits consumer buying to the few who can afford it. What’s the bottom line on the con- sequences of Trump’s proposed bud- get? In all likelihood, Trump’s budget would yield the opposite of what so many of us want and need as it will produce less and weaken the U.S. economy overall. Where are you America? fed up with both parties? People don’t have to as- cribe to the ideas of either of these parties to be great candidates and exceptional leaders. In fact, I don’t think either of these parties re- semble anything near what they represented in the beginning. We need at least four or fi ve political par- ties that all have the chance to nom- inate, support, have debates and vote for primaries as well. What about a Tea Party, Libertarian, Independent and, yea, even a Socialist party? At least we would know who or what we were voting for. My personal feeling is that the president of the United States should not belong to any political par- ty at all. That would be new and differ- ent, don’t you think? By the way, coming from some- one who was around before dial tele- phones, do you really want America to become a socialist country? Do you have any idea what that is? Study it. Do you really want the government taking over your life and telling you what you can and can’t do, can or can’t buy or own, and worse yet, what you can believe? Check it out. What has happened to education in this coun- try? I guess it has gone the way of all good and noble things like truth, man- ners, respect, kindness, etc. I don’t know how things work in big government, but it seems to me like there are those out there who do know how to get things like this done. Where are you? Judy Chappell Libertytown, MD gene h. mcintyre letters To the Editor: I, for one, have been asking why we have to be a registered Republican or Democrat to have our voice heard around this country? Oh sure, you can register as an “independent” or as they like to call it “unaffi liated” voter, but who real- ly cares besides you? Your candidate will never have a primary or join in any debate or win an election. That is why many in power today started out as independent thinking people but switched to one of the two parties because they knew they didn’t stand a chance. Why? What about those of us who are (Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer. He shares his opinion frequently in the Keizertimes.)
