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3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 Kitzhaber says Cover Oregon settlement vindicates him No word on FBI inquiry By NICK BUDNICK Capital Bureau Former Gov. John Kitzhaber says he is feel- ing somewhat “vindicated” by the recent settlement with California software giant Oracle over the $300 million Cover Oregon website iasco. As for the long-running joint FBI-IRS inluence ped- dling probe of him and ian- cee Cylvia Hayes? “I have no idea,” he says. “It’s been 19 months and I haven’t heard a word. I’m getting on with my life.” Kitzhaber last week shared some thoughts after making his third promi- nent public appearance since resigning as governor in Feb- ruary 2015, at a health care conference at the Portland Hilton downtown. Kitzhaber’s words took on greater signiicance because they come at a time when state leaders’ best hope to salve the state’s bleak iscal outlook rests once again on the vision he articulated as governor. To close a billion-dollar gap in the state heath care bud- get, lawmakers next year must hope Kitzhaber’s prescription for health care reform again results in a large federal pay- ment, as it did in 2012. Re-entering public life Kitzhaber’s speech came at an important time for him personally as well, serving as the latest installment in his long-term plan to re-en- ter public life and establish a new post-government career of consulting. In the nearly 400-member audience at the Sept. 28 “State of Reform” conference were plenty of potential customers, includ- ing executives of hospital systems and Medicaid care organizations. He’s no longer in ofice, but “I would take exception with the statement that I’m out of it,” he said, referring to the dialogue on health care. He’s been “just doing a lot of thinking, speaking, doing a little consulting.” Approached after his talk, Kitzhaber declined to revisit the circumstances that led to his downfall, including his complaints about the media coverage of how Hayes, while serving as his adviser, accepted more than $235,000 from groups seeking to inlu- ence Oregon policy. But on health care, he was happy to speak, including the Cover Oregon legal after- math. His contention: that Oracle settled the long-run- ning legal war he started mainly because it knew it would lose. He said he felt somewhat vindicated at the settlement, noting that inter- nal corporate documents EO Media Group Former Gov. John Kitzhaber says he is feeling somewhat “vindicated” by the recent settlement with California soft- ware giant Oracle over the $300 million Cover Oregon website fiasco. attempt to follow the path he charted and secure additional funds from the federal gov- ernment to support the Ore- gon Health Plan. Five years ago he secured a $1.9 billion payment from the federal government over ive years to support Ore- gon’s reforms to the Ore- gon Health Plan, which in turn is funded by the federal low-income health program Medicaid. The state is now seeking a slightly lesser amount, $1.25 billion. But at least initially, unearthed by the state indi- cated that the company had done shoddy work — or, as Kitzhaber put it, employed “bad technology” on the project. “From my standpoint, they were partially responsi- ble for what happened, and at least the settlement suggests that they knew that they were culpable and they didn’t want to go to trial. … I’m con- vinced they would have lost at trial.” Perhaps more surprising was what Kitzhaber said in his speech about Oregon’s Kitzhaber said, he expects the federal Centers for Medi- care and Medicaid Services to pan Oregon’s high-stakes request. “From my perspective, I don’t think CMS is going to give us that money just to maintain the status quo” as the state has requested, he said. What’s necessary to improve Oregon’s chances, Kitzhaber said, are further changes to how the state’s hospitals and health care organizations operate. Speciically, he called on his audience of health care oficials to embrace more spending on social invest- ments, such as housing, edu- cation and social services, and for the state to put that commitment in writing in its federal request. “I think the likelihood of success goes up dramatically … if we use that $1.25 billion to leverage a redeployment of resources (into) social invest- ments,” he said. Kitzhaber cited statistics showing that other countries spend more on social ser- vices and also enjoy better health outcomes for its pop- ulation as a whole, relect- ing the notion that socioeco- nomic status, not health care, plays a major role in an indi- vidual’s health. The notion of remaking the Oregon Health Plan to include more spending on social services comes even as the state takes stock of its reforms, with even sympa- thetic lawmakers questioning whether the Medicaid “coor- dinated care” organizations Kitzhaber created enjoy too much latitude on spending, and too much secrecy. When Kitzhaber resigned, some health care oficials and lawmakers openly wondered what would come of his Ore- gon Health Plan changes. But last week Kitzhaber said he’s not worried about his reforms. “There’s a lot of momentum out there, there’s a lot of people who are very committed to this within the (state’s coordinated care organizations). I think they can carry it.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Re-elect Deborah Boone W A NTED State Representative HD 32, Democrat Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Native Oregonian Rural homeowner in HD 32 since 1974 N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 BooneforStateRep.org Paid for by: Boone for State Representative, P.O. Box 637, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 COAST COMMUNITY RADIO KMUN 91.9FM Submitted Photo Jennifer Crockett is the new director of the Liberty Theater. Liberty Theater hires new director By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian After a ive-month search, the Liberty Theater has hired Jennifer Crockett, a profes- sional musician, as the venue’s new director. The board of directors hired Crockett, 39, for the full- time position at an August meeting. She began work in mid-September. The interim director, Carol Shepherd, plans to move back to Eugene after Saturday’s Storm Large concert. As director, Crockett will handle bookings for the theater and its McTavish Room and Paulson Pavilion. She will also oversee the building’s retail properties. Crockett replaces Rose- mary Baker-Monaghan, the Liberty’s longtime executive director who resigned in April. “We are very fortunate to have Jennifer Crockett as our new director,” Christine Lol- ich, president of the Liberty board, said in a release. “She brings new energy, creative ideas and a rebirth of the Lib- erty Theater.” Crockett was chosen because of her background in arts and management. She graduated from the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago with a performance degree in clarinet and bass clarinet. “She also came very pre- pared with what she wanted to do, so that was very attrac- tive,” Lolich said. Crockett, who has per- formed in the Astoria Music Festival, plays with a variety of organizations, including symphony orchestras, cham- ber groups and pit orchestras. “After playing clarinet pro- fessionally for a number of years and also having busi- ness experience, I’m excited to merge the two together into arts administration,” Crockett said in a release. “I’ve realized as I’ve gotten older that music needs champions both on the stage and behind it, and the Liberty is the perfect place to make a measurable difference. “Like the arts in general, the theater took a beating over the years and has survived. I’m excited for the opportunity to help it continue to thrive,” she continued. Crockett lives just blocks from the theater with her hus- band, Nathan Crockett, the iddle player from the band Horsefeathers. Last summer, Horsefeath- ers was the opening act for the theater’s inaugural Sun- set Series, an indie folk con- cert series intended to attract theatergoers from a wider age range, particularly younger ones. Asked what she’s most looking forward to, Jennifer Crockett said, “I’m excited to just throw open the doors and get as many people in as we can.” Pick of the Week P is looking for volunteers to host CLASSICAL , JAZZ & BLUES Bandit 11-year-old 11 year old Shepherd/Lab Blend Ap Appropriately named as His ears, his h face, his personality, and his story will steal your heart. music programs Call 503.325.0010 for more information www.CoastRadio.org (More on http://Petfi nder.com/ ) C LATSOP C OUNTY A NIMAL S HELTER Sponsore Sponsored ed By 1315 SE 19 th Street, Warrenton • 861 - PETS www.dogsncats.org Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat Th e Fre e d o m M arke t e x p an d s to Ilw aco ! Nice selection, exclusive products, great prices! W id e Se le ctio n & N o w Op e n ! 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