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THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, OcTObER 13, 2020
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
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Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
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OUR VIEW
Place limits on campaign money
V
oters will weigh several
statewide ballot measures
in the November election.
Campaign contribution lim-
its, new tobacco taxes, legaliz-
ing psilocybin for therapeutic use
and decriminalizing drug posses-
sion each pose thorny public policy
questions.
Measure 107
Oregon has been among a hand-
ful of states with no limits on polit-
ical campaign contributions.
Measure 107 would amend the
state Constitution to allow laws
that limit campaign contribu-
tions and spending, require disclo-
sure of campaign finance activity
and require political advertising to
identify the sponsors.
The Oregon Supreme Court
ruled in April that a $500 contri-
bution limit in Multnomah County
did not violate free speech protec-
tions in the Constitution, a ruling
that suggested new limits on cam-
paign money would be legal across
the state.
The ballot measure would leave
no doubt. The Legislature, local
governments and voters, through
the initiative process, would be
able to set limits.
We think some of the rhetoric
about money in politics is exagger-
ated. The same First Amendment
that protects the rights of The Asto-
rian to make political endorsements
enables individuals, corporations
and labor unions to spend money to
influence elections.
But reasonable limits on cam-
paign contributions and disclosure
requirements do not foreclose free
speech.
Vote “yes.”
Measure 108
Looking to discourage smok-
ing and vaping and raise money
for public health, state legislators
safe medical treatment for mental
health conditions.”
We believe the idea should be
vetted by mental health experts and
the Legislature, not voters.
Vote “no.”
Nike co-founder Phil Knight donated $2.5 million to Knute Buehler’s Republican
campaign for governor in 2018.
have recommended a sizable cig-
arette tax increase and a new tax
on e-cigarettes and nicotine vaping
devices.
Measure 108 would raise the
tax on a pack of cigarettes by $2
— to $3.33. The cap on cigar taxes
would climb to $1, up from 50
cents. The new tax on e-cigarettes
and nicotine vaping devices would
be 65% of the wholesale price.
The taxes could generate more
than $331 million in the next two-
year state budget cycle. Ninety per-
cent would go to the Oregon Health
Plan and other public health pro-
grams and 10% would go to pre-
venting tobacco use.
We know taxes on sales dispro-
portionately affect low-income res-
idents. But the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
lists smoking as the leading cause
of preventable death, and many
low-income residents rely on the
Oregon Health Plan for their medi-
cal care.
We also believe the new tax
on e-cigarettes and vaping makes
sense, particularly given the
increase in vaping among young
people.
Vote “yes.”
Measure 109
Therapists who see the poten-
tial of psilocybin — a hallucinogen
drawn from mushrooms — to treat
depression and other mental health
conditions want to legalize the drug
for use by people 21 and over at
licensed service centers.
Under Measure 109, no licenses
would be issued until after a two-
year development period overseen
by the Oregon Health Authority. A
sales tax would be imposed on psi-
locybin products.
The federal Food and Drug
Administration has designated
psilocybin as a potential break-
through therapy for depression,
but it remains a Schedule I drug
under federal law, meaning it has
no accepted medical use and a high
potential for abuse.
The Oregon Psychiatric Physi-
cians Association opposes the mea-
sure, warning that “science does
not yet indicate that psilocybin is a
Measure 110
There is an emerging consensus
in Oregon that treatment, not pun-
ishment, is the best approach to
drug addiction.
But treatment advocates are
divided over Measure 110, which
would decriminalize lower-level
drug possession and divert mar-
ijuana tax money to fund new
addiction recovery centers across
the state.
Criminal penalties for drug pos-
session — 1 gram or less of her-
oin; 2 grams or less of cocaine
or methamphetamine, for exam-
ple — would be eliminated. Pos-
session would result in a $100 fine
or completion of a health assess-
ment. Possession of larger amounts
of drugs — but not commer-
cial scale — would be reduced to
misdemeanors.
A financial impact statement pre-
pared by the state found the mea-
sure would reduce marijuana tax
revenue that goes to schools, men-
tal health programs, the state police
and local governments.
Several leading addiction and
mental health treatment provid-
ers oppose the measure, arguing
it would destabilize existing pro-
grams. The Oregon Council for
Behavioral Health cautioned that it
“provides no new funding, destroys
pathways to treatment and recov-
ery and fails to address racial injus-
tice in our systems by decrimi-
nalizing a narrow set of charges
without resource for larger system
innovation.”
We think the Legislature is better
equipped to evaluate these issues.
Vote “no.”
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Wolf
imberUnity is a powerful and rich
political action committee. They
are a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Originally, #TimberUnity was made up
of log truck drivers concerned about fuel
prices and climate change issues. Now
hijacked by big corporations, they are
pouring big dollar support to very right-
wing candidates, including the Republican
candidate for Oregon House District 32,
who appears very reluctant to call herself a
Republican.
#TimberUnity disingenuously claims
they are for working families, but take a
look at who their endorsed candidates are.
They are supporting Suzanne Weber, who
has no proof of standing up for working
people.
Additionally, Weber’s donors are big
corporations, including multiple out-of-
state corporations. These corporations have
never supported the interests of working
people, and will continue to cut jobs as
they automate their industries.
In contrast, Debbie Boothe-Schmidt
has a track record of fighting for our work-
ing families, and has over a dozen union
endorsements. Unions helped build Ameri-
ca’s middle class.
Debbie is supported by teachers, nurses
and social workers, as well as small-busi-
ness owners. She has broad, small-dol-
lar support, and will truly represent all the
folks in our north Oregon Coast district.
Take time to learn how your vote will
work for your interests. Don’t believe the
false messaging by Weber that is being
bought and paid for by obscene amounts of
money trying to influence this election.
Study the voters’ pamphlet to
be an informed voter, then vote for
Boothe-Schmidt.
ALETHA S. WESTERBERG
Astoria
#T
Our own values
t is important for our House District
32 communities to have a representa-
I
tive who can work collaboratively with
their colleagues in diverse communities
throughout Oregon. We need someone who
will not insult others, or flee when legisla-
tive deliberations do not go their way.
By the time this is printed, we will all
have seen both the candidates’ statements
and mailed cards from Debbie Boothe-
Schmidt and her opponent. Debbie’s talk
about her qualifications, her values, her
priorities and her understanding of what
is important to the 32nd District. She says
nothing about her opponent.
Suzanne Weber gives a brief back-
ground of her education, her career and her
job as Tillamook’s mayor. What sets her
materials apart is her attacks.
Her mailer shows a scary dark figure set
against an out-of-control fire, representing
(we assume) Debbie. Suzanne is all color-
ful and smiling. Her statement in the vot-
ers’ pamphlet again demeans Portland, and
plays on the theme that Debbie and her
supporters are extreme partisans and/or
environmentalists.
Suzanne uses her opportunity not to
explain her priorities, but to attack and
demonize. These are not approaches which
would serve her successfully for us in the
Legislature.
The truth is that out-of-area financial
support is coming to this campaign. We
need to look to our own values and needs,
and not to fear. I encourage you to vote for
Boothe-Schmidt.
JAN MITCHELL
Astoria
Right choice
uzanne Weber is the right choice for
House District 32. She has experi-
ence as an educator, small-business owner
and she currently serves as the mayor of
Tillamook.
What I admire about Suzanne is she
is practical and nonpartisan. She focuses
on understanding the issues important
to our community, and developing solu-
tions and results based on a common-sense
approach, not rooted in a specific agenda
S
or political philosophy.
She wants our rural North Coast com-
munities to have a voice in Salem, and she
vows not to align herself with the priorities
of Portland politicians.
We need a representative who rep-
resents the North Oregon Coast first and
foremost. Please support Weber.
PATRICK NOFIELD
Cannon Beach
It would be a vote to continue with leg-
islative representatives aligned with big
unions and special-interest groups.
Weber has the interests of only the citi-
zens of House District 32 and the support
of those from all parties. Vote for Weber.
VINEETA LOWER
Seaside
Travesty
T
he recent “path to peace” negotiated by
President Donald Trump, Jared Kush-
ner, Benjamin Netanyahu, the United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain is a travesty.
This plan ignores and neglects the rights
of the Palestinian people, who were not
consulted or considered. The occupation of
their lands is a blatant overreach. Honoring
the return of all Zionists to the territory,
based on an obscure biblical reference, is
hypocritical.
Why shouldn’t white settlers return
Native American people to their land? The
U.S. displaced the native people less than
200 years ago. Ask your neighbor if they
would return their home to the displaced
native people.
SAADA HADDAD
Astoria
T
Interests
n 2018, Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell won by
about 5 percentage points, and just a few
short months later it was apparent that she
did not represent the people of House Dis-
trict 32.
Rather, she represented the big unions
and special-interest groups that paid her
way to the legislative seat. Don’t make that
mistake again.
A vote for anyone other than Suzanne
Weber is a vote to continue to raise our
taxes and implement ridiculous fees, tak-
ing money from the vulnerable population
on a fixed income, single parents and fami-
lies already struggling to make ends meet.
I
Puffery
here is no more important issue fac-
ing Oregon today than forest industry
reform. Yes, industry reform. The industry
operates as Big Ag, and boasts of itself as
Big Timber. What puffery.
Loss of sawmill jobs due to conser-
vative forestry is a hoax. There can be
no domestic log shortage as long as raw
unprocessed logs are loaded on ships and
sent to offshore sawmills. In the world
most of us live in, log exports equal job
exports. We have been exporting saw logs
since the mid-1960s, and now it is not even
worthy of notice, question or comment?
Why are Big Ag, and its wholly owned
subsidiary Big Timber, and their captive
legislators — Sen. Betsy (the buck stops
here) Johnson, et al. — absolutely silent
about log exports?
Bottom line: forest practices, mean-
ing labor costs, are prohibitive. There is
no palatable way to speak of the unspeak-
able; nothing is more upsetting than watch-
ing woods workers fall in line as #Timber
Unity showcasing their captivity and soli-
darity with their bosses. Labor has lost its
way, and has no place at the table.
What will it take for the concerned cit-
izens of Oregon to fully appreciate the
incestuous arrangements the sawmill lobby
has with the Oregon Department of For-
estry? Why buy logs from real estate
investment trust forest lands, when pub-
lic forests are available on demand for
high-quality raw material? What, indeed, is
the highest, best use of our forests?
Reform business practices, and forest
practices will follow.
GARY DURHEIM
Seaside