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August 11, 1999
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FROM FRONT PAGE
R a b b i M a rv in H ie r, D ean
o f th e S im o n W ie se n th a l C e n ­
te r , s a id th a t o ld e r c h ild re n
fro m th e Je w is h c e n te r w ere
to u r in g th e M u s e u m o f T o l­
e ra n c e a t th e tim e. T h e y w ere
n o t im m e d ia te ly to ld o f w h a t
h a p p e n e d a t th e c e n te r, he
sa id .
“ I t ’s iro n ic th a t th e 2 0 c h il­
d re n w e re h e re le a rn in g ab o u t
m a n 's in h u m a n ity to m an ,
w h e n th e ir o w n d a y c a m p
b e c a m e a ta r g e t o f su c h h a ­
tr e d ,” H ie r said .
“It was fortunate that most
o f the children were in the
playing field behind the
building, and not many chil­
dren were inside the center
when the shootings occurred
there,” Hier added.
A t th e W h ite H o u s e , V ic e
P r e s id e n t A1 G o re o ff e re d
L o s A n g e le s M a y o r R ic h a rd
R io rd a n fe d e ra l a s s is ta n c e in
c a p tu r in g th e g u n m a n . H e
o f f e r e d h is th o u g h ts a n d
p ra y e r s to th e v ic tim s an d
th e ir fa m ilie s.
“ W e ’re m o n ito r in g th e
s itu a tio n v e ry c lo s e ly ,”
G o r e s a id . “ T h e r e is s till a
g r e a t d e a l w e d o n ’t k n o w ,
e x c e p t th e f a c t th a t w e ’v e
s e e n a n e ig h b o r h o o d a n d a
c o m m u n ity s h a tte r e d by
v i o l e n c e .”
T h e N o rth V a lle y Je w is h
C o m m u n ity C e n te r, 3 0 m ile s
n o rth w e s t o f d o w n to w n , is
in a q u ie t d is tr ic t o f s in g le ­
f a m ily h o m e s in th e S a n
F e rn a n d o V a lle y . It p ro v id e s
n u rs e ry p ro g ra m s , c h ild care
a n d c a m p a c tiv itie s . It h a s a
la r g e m a in b u il d in g , a
s m a lle r h o u s e lik e s tru c tu r e ,
a p o o l a n d te n n is c o u rts.
P a re n ts a n d re la tiv e s in
te a rs ru s h e d to th e sch o o l.
“ I h a v e a g ra n d d a u g h te r
a n d d o n ’t k n o w h o w she is o r
a n y t h i n g ,” o n e d is tr a u g h t
w o m a n said .
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W y o m in g ’s 2 c e n ts p e r g a llo n to ,
y o u g u e ss e d it, H a w a ii’s s ta g g e r­
ing 93 c e n ts p e r g a llo n .
B u t n o w , d e fe n d e rs o f p u b lic
ide y o u r B ig M acs, W h o p ­
h e a lth a re m o v in g to n e w ta r g e ts ,
p ers, an d M ilk D uds. T hese
d e te rm in e d to p u n is h u s fo r e n jo y ­
A m erican classics m ay be
th e g o v e rn m e n t’s n e x t ta rg e ts in ing
its s a lty o r fa tty fo o d . I f th e n u tr i­
tio n -p o lic e in W a s h in g to n a n d th e
w a r a g a in s t p o litic a lly in c o rre c t
fifty s ta te c a p ita ls h a v e th e ir w a y ,
c o n su m e r p ro d u c ts. T h e C lin to n -
y
o u ’ll b e s u rv iv in g o n a ta x - fre e
G o re a d m in is tra tio n , th e ir a llie s in
d ie t o f c e le ry , ric e c a k e s , a n d
C o n g r e s s , a n d s ta te le g is la to r s
g rap efru it ju ic e . T o d ay it s to b a c c o
th ro u g h o u t th e co u n try are in c re a s ­
an d a lc o h o l, to m o rro w it c o u ld b e
ingly tu rn in g to so -called “ sin taxes
sn a c k food. T h a t’s rig h t, a s p e c ia l
as so u rc e s o f new re v e n u e d e sp ite
tax o n th e trip to 7 -1 1 .
m a s siv e fed eral an d sta te b u d g e t
T h ere are se v e ra l p ro b le m s w ith
su rp lu se s. A lth o u g h a lc o h o l an d
th
is
a p p ro a c h : firs t, i t ’s a rb itra ry .
to b a c c o h av e tra d itio n a lly b e e n th e
P
o
litic
ia n s a re c o n s ta n tly lo o k in g
m ain ta rg e ts, c h o c o la te , fast fo o d ,
fo
r
new
tax v ic tim s . F o rtu n a te ly
an d p o ta to c h ip s m ay b e n e x t in the
fo r th e m , p u b lic h e a lth a d v o c a te s
sin tax lin e.
a re c o n tin u a lly e x p a n d in g th e u n i­
E v e ry sta te c u rre n tly ta x e s c iga-
v e rs e o f p ro d u c ts a n d a c tiv itie s
re tte s , ra n g in g fro m 2 .5 c e n ts p e r
th a t a re a lle g e d ly b a d fo r y o u o r
p a c k in V irg in ia to a w h o p p in g $1
y o u r ch ild re n . A trip to th e b a llp a rk
p e r p a c k in ta x -c ra z y H a w a ii. M o st
to see A m e ric a ’s p a stim e m a y so o n
s ta te s a ls o tax s p irits , ta b le w in e
e x p o se y o u to p u n itiv e ta
n
ia x e c s s , ,c e v e C„
a n d b e e r. B e e r ta x e s ra n g e fro m
T o n y W ash in g to n
D irecto r o f A d v e rtisin g
S erv in g P o rtlan d and V an co u v er.
Slippery Slope: Are Snack
Foods The Next Tax Target?
i f y o u a v o id th e b e e r. T h e co k e
y o u o rd e r c o n ta in s c a ffe in e , w h ich
w e ’re to ld is b a d fo r u s, an d th e
s a lt o n th o s e p e a n u ts is b a d for
y o u r h e a rt; l e t ’s n o t e v e n th in k
a b o u t th e n a c h o s o r b ra tw u rs t.
S e c o n d , i t ’s u n fa ir. “ S in ta x e s "
s u b je c t o n e se g m e n t o f th e p o p u ­
la tio n to a p u n itiv e ta x b e c a u se
th e y a re e n g a g in g in a b e h a v io r
p o litic ia n s p a in t as c u ltu ra lly ta ­
b o o . T h e y allo w th e g e n e ra l p u b ­
lic to b e n e fit fro m e x p a n s iv e g o v ­
e rn m e n t p ro g ra m s , w h ile fo rc in g
th e fu n d in g b u rd e n o n to a sm a ll
g ro u p o f p e o p le . A n d y o u r fa v o r­
ite p ro d u c t c o u ld b e n ex t.
T h ird , th is is a b a c k d o o r w a y o f
g ro w in g g o v e rn m e n t. P o litic ia n s
p ic k th e s e ta x e s fo r th e p re c is e
re a s o n th a t th e y ta r g e t p e o p le w h o
d a re to e n g a g e in c o n d u c t d e e m e d
in a p p ro p ria te . It i s n ’t th a t risk y
fo r a p o litic ia n to a d v o c a te a 50
c e n t p e r p a c k c ig a r e tte in c re a s e ,
w h e re a s a 1 p e r c e n t p ro p e rty o r
« ........- -
—
in c o m e tax ra te in c re a se w o u ld g et
th e c h a rla ta n ru n o u t o f D o d g e . B y
s e llin g th e se tax h ik e s as a w a y to
sa v e o u r c h ild re n fro m v a rio u s
e v ils , “ sin ta x ” p ro p o n e n ts a p p e a r
v ir tu o u s , c le v e rly a v o id in g th e
" ta x -a n d -s p e n d " la b e l. U n fo rtu ­
n a te ly , n o b o d y seem s to n o tic e th at
the re a l p u rp o s e o f th e s e ta x e s is to
fu n d the e x p a n sio n o f g o v e rn m e n t,
w itn e s s th a t th e s e tax p ro p o s a ls
n e v e r in c lu d e d o ll a r - f o r - d o l la r
d e c re a s e s in o th e r ta x e s to c o u n ­
te ra c t th e “ sin ta x ” in c re a se .
S o th e n e x t tim e y o u h e a r th a t
so m e w o n d e rfu l g o v e rn m e n t p ro ­
g ra m is g o in g to be fu n d e d b y a tax
th a t o n ly h its sm o k e rs o r d rin k e rs ,
th in k tw ic e . T h e s e lf-r ig h te o u s
b u s y b o d ie s in W a sh in g to n an d the
s ta te c a p ita ls h a v e an in s a tia b le
a p p e tite fo r g o v e rn m e n t sp e n d in g .
A n d th e y h a v e no p ro b le m w ith
te llin g y o u h o w to ru n y o u r life ,
e s p e c ia lly i f th e y d o n ’t sh a re y o u r
a p p e tite fo r B ig M acs.
Scanner W Survey
Indicates
Room for Improvement
M I >
J
.......................
M ore tlian42% ofsuperm arkets and
other retail stores surveyed by the O r­
egon D epartm ent o f A gnculture failed
to m eet the recom m ended 98% pricing
accuracy for checkout scanners, accord­
ing to survey results just released by
O D A ’s M easurem ent Standards Divi­
sion. H ow ever, that survey also indi­
cates m ost errors are relatively sm all
and that consum ers are actually under­
charged m ore often than overcharged.
. l_
^
accuracy standards (30.9% ) and the
lowest percentage o f inaccurately priced
“A lthough our survey w as som e­
w hat lim ited in scope, it does suggest
there is room for im provem ent w hen it
com es to retailers ensuring price accu­
racy,” says O D A director Phil W ard.
“R etailers m ust m ake certain that the
price registered by the scanner is the
actual price o f the item being s o ld "
O fficials are quick to point out the
p ro b lem is not w ith the scanner, but
w ith those individuals responsible for
items (2.39% ).
“T hat’s due to the fact that m ost
grocery stores are national chains and
have an internal price check system
already in place," says M cNicholas.
’ ’They are used to dealing with the prob­
lem and have taken steps to keep pric ing
accuracy high.”
A t the other en d o fth e spectrum , gas
station mini marts had the highest per­
centage o f business failing to m eet ac­
curacy standards (70% ) as well a the
hi ghestpercentageofinaccurately priced
items (6.56%).
“Before people get too concerned
about gas stations o r mini m arts, let me
say that few er o f them use scanner
technology ,” saysM cNicholas. “ Sothe
num ber o f stations surveyed w as small
by comparison. B ut clearly, if you are
a m ,n ,m a r t v™1rnavw ant
egon should adopt the national standards
shopping at a mini mart, you may want
for inspecting scanners. Second, ODA
to pay attention to w hat is being rung up
should develop an industry outreach pro-
at the register "
gram to assist retailers that are using scan­
C lo th in g stores (rep o rtin g only
ners in understanding the need to put their
3.6 7 % inaccurately p riced item s) had
pricing information into the scanners in a
the h ighest averag e overch arg e, if
timely manner. Third, O D A should re­
o ne occurred, at $14.62 per item .
peat the pnce verification study at a later
D epartm ent stores h ad the highest
date to see if there ls improvement from
averag e u ndercharge am ount, it one
the results we found this time.”
o ccured, at $7.29 p er item .
O regon is one o f eleven states with­
The best advice for consum ers is to
out
a scanner v erificatio n program .
pay attention no matter w here they shop.
The current survey has given a snapshot
“Consumers should take a look at the
o f the industry that relies on scanners.
price dial’s on the shelf, the tag, or die
That’shelpful in perhaps getting industry
display because is some cases, that price
to minimize die problem themselves.
may not be the same one in the scanner,"
says George Shefcheck, administrator o f
O D A ’sMeasurcmentStandards Division,
w ho admits it’s not always practical to
check every item that mightbe purchased.
“This survey leads us to three recom­
mendations,” say Shefcheck. ‘First, Or-
But there isn’t enough evidence yet to
suggest that scanner inaccuracy is so
rampant that government needs to im­
pose anew frill-time inspection program.
F o r m o re in fo rm atio n , co n tac t
E rin M cN icholas at (5 0 3 ) 986-4670.
pro g ram m in g the equipm ent.
“Basically.itisem ployeeoversight,"
says Erin M cN icholas, an O D A inspec-
torw ho coordinated the scanner survey.
“Technology isn’t the problem. It’s the
individual im plem enting that technol­
ogy. M ost com m only, it is shelf tags
that don ’ t get displayed or rem oved in a
timely manner. If a store has tags on
display for a sale that has expired, con­
sumers m ay think they sh o u ld be get­
ting that item for less than the computer
or scanner says, th o u g h the scanner is
reflecting the actual price.”
S till, p ast su rv ey s sh o w th at scan ­
ners are m u ch m o re accu rate than the
old m an u al entry system s.
In the latest O D A survey, 195 retail
stores— including groceries, department
stores, drug and novelty stores, auto and
hom e supply outlets, clothing stores,
and gas station mini marts— were ran­
dom ly selected and inspected. Most
establishments were located in the highly
populated W illam ette Valley. More
than 16,000 sale items w ere checked as
inspectors com pared the listed price
w ith the p rice sh o w n o n the scanner.
A gain, 4 2 % o f th e retail estab lish ­
m en ts in sp ected failed to m eet the
nationally recom m ended standard o f
98% price accuracy. However, only
3.06% o f all items checked had pricing
errors. Further. 1.81% o f all items
checked resulted in an undercharge,
while 1.25% resulted in an overcharge.
"Basically, there areanumberofstores
that have pricing accuracy problems in
Oregon,” says McNicholas. “But the
degree o f that problem in Oregon stores is
probably less th an in stores surveyed
nationally.”
C om paring the O D A survey with
national surveys conducted by the Fed­
eral T rade C om m ission in 1996 and
1998, the num ber o f stores failing to
m eet accuracy standards in O regon is
low er than the 1996 study (55.1% ) but
higher than the 1998 study (29%). The
percentage o f inaccurately priced items
in O regon is less than both the '96 and
’98 studies (4.82% and 3.35% respec­
tively). C orrespondingly, the percent­
age o f both overcharges and under­
charges are much less in Oregon.
A breakdow n in the types o f estab-
lishments inspected paints a general
picture o f w ho m ay be m ore likely to
have scanner accuracy problems.
G rocery stores had the lowest per­
centage o f businesses failing to meet
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