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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
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Business Manager
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Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Good governance is frequently bland
F
ew people outside the Oregon
Capitol care about much of the
Legislature’s work.
Most legislation is tedious —
making fixes in laws and regulations,
adjusting the state budget, correcting
spellings such as for the central
Oregon community of Terrebonne,
and the like.
Such legislation rarely makes head-
lines. But it comprises the nuts and bolts
of governance, and it was the essence of
the 2018 Legislature.
Legislative sessions in even-num-
bered years are short — limited to 35
days — because they’re designed for
fix-it and budget-balancing bills, not
grand visionary legislation. And the
2018 Legislature, which adjourned after
only 27 days, largely succeeded in that
mission.
The so-called Clean Energy Jobs leg-
islation — a top priority for many urban
Democratic legislators but, according to
polls, not most Oregonians — was put
off until 2019, when the Legislature will
Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune
The state Legislature adjourned on Saturday.
meet for up to 160 days.
The state Senate continued to act as
a brake on the House, letting a number
of contentious House-passed bills die
quietly, including one that would have
required school districts to negotiate
with teacher unions over class sizes.
The Legislature faced up to its dismal
record on sexual harassment and pushed
Roseburg Republican Sen. Jeff Kruse to
resign.
Gov. Kate Brown had a modest
agenda, and the Legislature went along
with it.
Slight progress was made on improv-
ing government efficiency and on paring
the huge costs of the Public Employees
Retirement System.
Then, in this same paper, we have Sen. Jeff
Merkley representing our state — yes, east and
west — asking questions and taking public
comments (“Guns a hot topic at Merkley town
hall in Seaside”). A man of integrity and basic
decency, speaking for us while asking what we
think about the state of our political life, all in
a mature, intelligent manner and forum at the
Seaside Library.
Thank you, Daily Astorian, for all of this.
RD SMITH
Gearhart
only the counties who voted to stay in the suit
will be in a position to shape forest policy rec-
ommendations to the Board of Forestry (BOF)
through participation on the Forest Trust Land
Advisory Council (FTLAC).
Rohne got that exactly backwards. Not
only did our commissioners send a strong mes-
sage to the BOF with their vote, our forest rep-
resentative Commissioner Kathleen Sullivan
is attending all BOF meetings, where she has
directly represented Clatsop County’s position
for balanced forest management. Meanwhile,
the FTLAC has virtually quit meeting in appar-
ent concern that they might make comments
that are supportive of the state in the lawsuit.
Furthermore, the three Clatsop County tax dis-
tricts that lawyered up will have no sway over
forest policy via counsel, in light of the state’s
declining a settlement.
ROGER DORBAND
Astoria
Far-reaching gun legislation was set
aside in favor of a bill that expands the
definition of stalkers and domestic abus-
ers who may lose access to firearms.
Most bills that passed did so on a
bipartisan basis, many on unanimous
or near-unanimous votes. Among the
exceptions were the Democratic major-
ity’s bills to partially disconnect Oregon
income tax regulations from the fed-
eral tax reforms that became law in
December. The wisdom of the state leg-
islation, or lack thereof, likely won’t be
known for some time.
And despite legislators’ sometimes
heated public rhetoric on taxes, immi-
gration and a few other issues, this was
a legislative session that largely worked
well behind the scenes. Republicans
and Democrats collaborated to make an
early adjournment possible.
Oregon history books may pay little
heed to the 2018 Legislature, and that’s
OK. Good governance is frequently
bland, often tedious … and supremely
important.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
US Rep. Bonamici
a leader on climate change
I
wanted to take a moment to clarify an area
where I misrepresented the leadership
position and forward action that Congress-
woman Suzanne Bonamici has taken on cli-
mate change in my interview (“Climate change
group searches Clatsop County for help in
Washington, D.C.,” The Daily Astorian, March
7, 2018).
What I intended to share was that we have
been so impressed to see the congresswoman
shift from having climate change be one of
many issues important to her, to being a leader
on this issue in the House. We so appreciate
that she joined the bipartisan Climate Solu-
tions Caucus early on (over a year ago and as
the first CSC member in the Pacific Northwest)
and was one of the speakers representing the
caucus on the House floor last fall.
I would also like to clarify that she has
not been silent nor on the fence about climate
change whatsoever during her time as repre-
sentative. Quite to the contrary, since being
elected to office in 2012, the congresswoman
has been a stronghold for action on climate
and the environment. Her 97 percent Oregon
League of Conservation Voters scorecard in
2012 is testimony to that, as well as her 96 per-
cent score in 2013.
Speaking out publicly in support of Pres-
ident Barack Obama’s plan to address cli-
mate change in 2013, as well as her letter to
the International Trade Commission to stop the
flood of Chinese subsidized solar panels, also
makes her forward position very clear.
My deepest apologies for being less than
clear on an issue and about a leader that
deserves all possible clarity and laudability.
TAMARA STATON
Regional Coordinator, Greater Pacific
Northwest
Citizens’ Climate Lobby
County stepping
into 21st century?
love it. And I can’t stand it, too. The Feb. 21
issue of The Daily Astorian offers the pos-
sibility that Clatsop County and our dear state
of Oregon can truly, finally step into the 21st
century.
Fist bump to the Oregon Parks and Recre-
ation Department for ending the publicly sub-
sidized celebration of the American Civil War,
a bloody, political, financial and moral waste
over a cruel, failed cause (“Civil War re-enact-
ment will relocate from Fort Stevens State Park
after 27 years”). Our Civil War history deserves
acknowledgment, not a party-like celebration.
High five to Richard Elfering for acknowl-
edging a valuable counterpoint to the old saw
of “lock ’em up” (“We need a treatment center,
not a new jail”). Only true criminals deserve
jail; people with mental issues deserve treat-
ment — not deprivation. Thank you Richard,
for a well-stated piece that should be printed in
the voters’ pamphlet at election time opposite
the jail bond measure. We need to spend our
precious tax dollars helping people, not punish-
ing people.
Praise the lord that someone has stepped up
big time to address homelessness here with a
shelter, to come in July — late, but welcome
(“New Astoria homeless shelter could open in
July”). Alan Evans and Helping Hands have
tirelessly and thanklessly grappled with home-
lessness and people struggling to return to soci-
ety in Clatsop County. Bless you, Alan.
I
Environmental groups
represent wide interests
I
n an editorial recommending the relocation
of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM)
headquarters to the west, The Daily Astorian
speaks of opposition to this from lobbyists for
“environmental special interests” (“BLM big-
wigs should move west,” March 2).
I would suggest that environmental orga-
nizations, generally speaking, represent wider,
long-term interests than do those who want to
profit from drilling or from running cattle on
publicly owned land.
ROBERT ADAMS
Astoria
Who is in the dark?
T
he Clatsop County Commission opted out
of the Linn County lawsuit based on what
Chairman Scott Lee called “the overwhelm-
ing message from public testimony in favor of
balanced forest management.” Balanced forest
management is precisely what the Linn County
lawsuit against the state seeks to undermine in
favor of more timber harvest. Think more and
more state land being clearcut.
In the Feb. 22 article in The Daily Astorian
“Port, schools seek legal representation in tim-
ber lawsuit,” Dirk Rohne states that the com-
mission’s vote to opt out of the suit did nothing
except leave the county “in the dark” regard-
ing progress in the lawsuit. He suggests that
Thanks for supporting
Cannon Beach Academy
fundraiser
T
hank you. Recently at the Coaster Theatre
we had a fundraiser for the Cannon Beach
Academy that was also a tribute to Bill Steidel,
an artist and leading community member. This
truly amazing evening was the result of the
contributions of so many wonderful people.
The talents of Bob “Bobcat” Rice on gui-
tar and gitja (you really have to see this one),
Cami Lira on vocals (and an occasional kazoo),
and Margo Dueber on vocals (and the other
kazoo), came together and their patience and
hard work had a huge impact on the success of
the evening.
Ryan Hull, our audio/visual guru, put an
amazing presentation behind the music. Mer-
rill Lynn Taylor and Jack Shields offered their
years of experience in helping shape the eve-
ning’s format and focus. George Vetter, pho-
tographer extraordinaire, provided some amaz-
ing photography that Ryan utilized in the
presentation. Patrick Lathrop and Jenni Tronier
at the theater offered excellent advice and
assistance.
Bill’s songs of history, love, humor, tragedy
and hope wove magic through the evening, and
the audience added to that tapestry by singing
right along with us — the type of community
event that makes Cannon Beach the special vil-
lage that it is.
PAUL DUEBER
Cannon Beach
County listened to
public on timber lawsuit
P
ort Commissioner Dirk Rohne criti-
cizes our County Commission’s decision
to opt out of the Linn County lawsuit (“Port,
schools seek legal representation in timber law-
suit,” The Daily Astorian, Feb. 22) stating that
“elected leaders have a fiduciary duty to partic-
ipate in issues that could affect constituents.”
That makes me wonder why Rohne didn’t
choose to participate in the decision, but
instead let the issue float undecided until after
he left the commission. The class action suit
had certainly been apparent for some time, and
the public comment on the Linn County law-
suit was held while Rohne was still serving on
the commission.
More importantly, the county commission-
ers did participate actively, and made their
majority decision after more public input than
any other county issue in years. Chairman
Scott Lee and Commissioners Sarah Nebeker
and Kathleen Sullivan didn’t just vote, they
each explained their views and their reasoning
on how the lawsuit might impact our county.
Clearly, one factor they considered was volu-
minous input from Clatsop residents over a
period of months.
The Port’s choice to hire legal counsel is
certainly theirs to make, but it’s unfortunate
that it seems to require denigrating the county
commission’s very deliberative and public pro-
cess on this issue.
HELEN WESTBROOK
Astoria