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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2017)
OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 Founded in 1873 HEIDI WRIGHT, Interim Publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND, Editor JEREMY FELDMAN, Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager Water under the bridge Compiled by Bob Duke From the pages of Astoria’s daily newspapers GUEST COLUMN Johnson Amendment is worth saving Hugh McKenna On Monday afternoon at the South Jetty at Fort Stevens State Park four people enjoyed playing in a pool of foam created by waves breaking over the jetty as Mother Nature showed its power. 10 years ago this week — 2007 Thousands living at the North Coast were powerless for a time today as a heavy storm rocked the region. High winds caused hazardous driving con- ditions, and there were warnings to residents and visitors to stay out of the dangerous surf. Trees fell on powerlines and emergency crews were kept hopping around Clatsop and Pacific counties. The worst report of damage came from Gearhart where the roof was blown off the Gearhart Fire Station. Gearhart Fire Chief Bill Eddy was out on a call and unavailable for comment as the edition went to press. Powerful wind gusts continued to pummel the north Oregon and south- west Washington coast today, as a very strong Pacific frontal system moved through the area. Cape Meares and Clatsop Spit were slammed by gusts as high as 84 mph, the National Weather Service in Portland reported. A 77– mph gust hit Toke Point in Washington. The North Coast woke up to a less blustery day today, with the prospect of sunshine — although the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean were still hazardous. Power crews worked throughout a stormy Monday to restore electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Because outages were still widespread on the central Long Beach Peninsula, all Ocean Beach School District schools, includ- ing Ilwaco Middle and High schools, were closed today. Pacific County Emergency Manager Stephanie Fritts said res- idents in areas north of 227th Street in the Klipsan Beach area may be without power for as long as the next 48 hours while crews from the Pacific County Public Utility District No. 2 work to repair a downed transmission line. 50 years ago — 1967 Saturday morning, a flash of color, a star spangled, red-and-white striped, unfurled above the tree tops and white tower at the Clatsop County Histor- ical Museum as the American Legion dedicated the flag pole they installed on the grounds. OLYMPIA — Opponents of proposed water quality standards urged today that water temperature restrictions for the Columbia River be eased to avoid adverse effects on nuclear operations at the Hanford Atomic Works. First use of the Port of Astoria’s new $30,000 electrically operated steel barge loading ramp is expected Sunday. The new ramp has been installed on Pier 3. “Bugs” were being worked out Friday to have it in operating condition Sunday when the Norwegian motor- ship Hoyanger will call to discharge 130 tons of general cargo for Portland. The cargo is to be trans-shipped via Western Transportation Co. barge to Portland. 75 years ago — 1942 Recent losses of men from the fishing industry into the armed services resulted in a meeting this forenoon of representatives from both union and packers to work out some agreement on requests for deferrals of skilled employees. It was pointed out that the fishing industry would be seriously handicapped if many more men in skilled positions enter the ser- vice, since replacements cannot be readily trained for many of the men nor can the jobs be filled by women. The canneries will ask deferment for bona fide fishermen who were in the trade before Dec. 7, but no blanket deferments will be asked. Neither will deferments be asked for men unless they work in essential industry during the seasons when they cannot fish and return to fishing at their usual times with the reopening of sea- son. No deferments will be asked for boat-pullers. It is expected that boat captains will ask deferments for those of their men, such as engineers, who are irreplaceable on tuna or drag boats fishing offshore. The latest unusual take of the city’s parking meter machines on display at the City Hall today is a bronze locket piece, the size of a dime, evidently of some worth at least as a keepsake. For the time being, the locket will go into the two year’s accumulation of odd coins, tokens, slugs and metal washers, kept by City Treasurer Oswald Gustafson. Ralph R. Bateson of Seaside was arrested Nov. 15 on a charge of driving 35 mph in the dim-out zone. He will appear for hear- ing on Nov. 21. Roscoe L. Shreve, of Portland, was arrested on Nov. 14 for driving in the dim-out zone with improper lights. He was released on $12.50 bail. By BILL VAN NOSTRAN For The Daily Astorian A s an ordained minister, I have a regu- lar weekly podium from which I can preach. But today, I am writing as a concerned citizen. The Supreme Court bestowed First Amendment rights upon corporations and other policy action organizations through their Citizens United ruling, allowing companies to financially participate in political campaigns without the requirement to either identify member contributors or adhere to reasonable and worthwhile monetary limits. And due in large part to the well-choreographed, deflec- tion and denial tactics by some congressional beneficiaries of that ruling, our democracy — originally “for and by the American people” — is now rapidly becoming an oligarchy “for and by PACs and businesses,” where those who can easily afford it buy influence in order to dictate election outcomes. But the power granted through the Cit- izens United ruling does not appear to be enough. Nestled dangerously within the latest proposed tax reform bill comes a provision that will both serve to exacerbate the prob- lem of dark money in politics and, at the same time, breach a Jeffersonian tenet separating church and state. Proponents have included in their draft legislation repeal of the 1954 John- son Amendment which prevents churches and other nonprofit, religious institutions from campaigning — from their pulpits or newsletters — either for or against issues or candidates. Under threat of forfeiture of their 501(c) (3) tax-advantaged status, religious institu- tions have been prohibited from advocating for or against ballot issues or office seekers, and from accepting “public” dollars to fund “private” passions. And, under the present law, governments and businesses have been prohibited from asserting undue or manipula- tive influence on not-for-profit, religious ser- vice providers and within places previously reserved for worship. The Johnson Amend- ment has worked well to keep these interests separate for more than 60 years. By and large, I believe there has been a general adherence to the advocacy restric- tions, and pastors have regulated themselves: 1) out of respect for the law, and 2) out of fear of being so politically vulnerable. However, a notable few — religious universities; some megachurch and mainline preachers; as well as outspoken tax-exempt executives – have already stepped over that line. And many of those are now among the president’s advisors, regular attendees at his prayer breakfasts and, undoubtedly, eagerly awaiting legal validation to keep up their efforts. Except in rare and egregious instances, the IRS has either been unable or unwilling to enforce the separation the Johnson Amend- ment requires. But, rollback of this important ordinance altogether could serve to cloud dis- tinct differences in purpose between the reli- gious and secular, encourage mobilization of “the faithful” for political action, and permit ideologues and corporations to buy church influence and receive yearly tax deductions for politically-motivated but “charitable” con- tributions, nonetheless. My great fear is that, along with negotiat- ing naming rights (imagine if you will: Char- ter church, Safeco synagogue, Target temple, Walmart window, Koch cry room, or Halli- burton hall), such “dark” donations in church offering plates will come with equally great expectations. Just as so many Americans have grown weary of lobbyists compromising con- gressional resolve and their influence thwart- ing any significant or meaningful lawmak- ing, I expect to see agenda-setting by these same corporate donors to begin compromis- ing church or religious missions and mes- sages, and threatening our reasons for doing and being, as well. Concerned candidates and motivated vot- ers have aligned — both for the Johnson Amendment and against Citizens United — and religious leaders have joined institutions and nonprofits across the country to oppose such irresponsible legislation. And yet, mem- bers of Congress, who have in the past, misin- terpreted or mischaracterized the “mandates” they have received, either do not hear (or will not hear) the dissent being communicated now by “We, the people.” And their deafness, on this critical church-state separation issue, will have disastrous consequences. Bill Van Nostran serves as pastor at First Presbyterian — “The Yellow Church” on the corner of 11th and Grand Avenue in Astoria. The 1954 Johnson Amendment is a Jeffersonian tenet that separates church and state. Creative Commons
