îl!e ^¡Jortlanh (Dbseruer Page 8 March 9, 2011 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. New Prices Effective May 1,2010 Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services M inim um S ervice C H G $45.00 A sm all distance/travel charge m ay be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 C lean in g A reas or m ore $30.00 Each Area P re-S pray T raffic A reas (Includes: I small Hallway) 1 C lean in g A rea (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With O ther Services): $25.00 A rea/O rien tal Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs t Woo/): $40.00 Minimum H eavily S oiled A rea: Additional $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Prc-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $109-$139 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With Other Services): $5.00 % ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949 Standing Up for the Poor, Working Class Congress should reject cuts to housing programs by J udge G reg M athis O nce again, the R epublican Party is show ing that it cares very little about the average A m erican and their struggles. W hile taking a stab and craft­ ing a budget that w ill serve the nation in the long-term . R ep u b li­ can m em bers o f the H ouse o f R epresentatives proposed cutting $5.7 billion from affordable housing program s. T hey also w ant to e lim inate m ore than $550 m illion from a program that offsets rent costs for low -incom e senior citizens and do aw ay w ith over $200 m illion that helps people with disabili­ ties pay fo r housing. If that w eren ’t enough, they also w ant to end funding for a program that provides counseling to fam ilies fighting fore­ closure. T he recession has seen an increase in the ^'JJortlanh (Dbatruer num ber o f hom eless people in this country. W ith so m any A m ericans out o f w ork or em ­ ployed in low paying positions, rent is an e x ­ pense that eats aw ay at a large chunk o f w h at­ ever incom e they bring in. W ithout these gov­ ernm ent subsidies, w e ’ll see m ore and m ore fam ilies forced into the streets. Sim ilarly, foreclosure counseling has helped a great num ber o f people stay in their hom es. W ithout access to this ser­ vice, m ore people w ill lose their greatest asset. O f all the program s the R epubli­ cans could look to cut, housing is the one area they should leave alone. It’s inconceivable that a political party w ould fight so hard to extend tax cuts for the rich w hile w orking equally hard to keep the poor dow n and to m ove the m iddle class into poverty and h o m elessn ess. C ongress has gone back and forth, arguing on a budget that w ould carry the federal go v ern ­ m ent through the rem ain d er o f this fiscal year. T here is a sense o f urgency; if no agreem ent can be reached, the g overnm ent w ill shut dow n and any ‘non esse n tial’ governm ent business w ould cease. Established 1970 USPS 9 5 9 -6 8 0 ___________________________________ 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 Charles H. Washington E niroR.M ichael L e ig h to n D istr ib u tio n M anager : M a rk W a sh in g to n C reative D irector : P a u l N e u fe ld t E ditor - in - c h ie f , P ublisher : Federal w orkers w ould be out o f w ork and the services they provide no longer available, c re ­ ating frustration for all o f us. P re s id e n t O b a m a ju s t a p p ro v e d a te m p o ­ rary b u d g e t th a t w ill k e e p the g o v e rn m e n t ru n n in g th ro u g h M arch 18. B ut, he an d C o n ­ g re ss n e ed to d e c id e on a lo n g e r term b u d g e t, one th a t w ill k eep th e g o v e rn m e n t fu n d e d th ro u g h S ep t. 30. A lready, there is som e dissatisfaction w ith the $4 billion in cuts in the tem porary m easure. Indeed, A m erica has to m ake som e tough decisions about how it spends its m oney if the nation is to reduce the deficit. Intellectually, m ost A m ericans understand and accept that truth. The progressive thinkers am ong us ju s t d o n 't w ant those cuts to com e at the expense o f the poor and w orking class. C all y o u r C ongressm an and express outrage over the R epublican budget proposal. Tell them to keep th eir hands o ff housing program s. D e­ m and that they stand up fo r the average A m eri­ can. Greg Mathis is a former Michigan District Court Judge and current syndicated television show judge. The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and w ill be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. A ll created design display ads become the sole property o f the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent o f the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition o f such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. A L L RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART W ITHO UT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. 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