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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2015)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Thursday, April 30, 2015 Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher JENNINE PERKINSON Advertising Director DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Oregon needs a state auditor Despite scandal over current auditor, Washington state’s model holds up that’s where the intrigue begins. What happens when the person Kelley said he intends to take a responsible for rooting out waste and fraud in state and local governments leave of absence starting May 4 to may be a crook? Our neighbor to the SXUVXHKLVOHJDO¿JKW+HZLOOQRW DFFHSWSD\RUEHQH¿WVGXULQJWKH QRUWKLVDERXWWR¿QGRXW absence, something Gov. Inslee Earlier this month, a federal already said would not happen. grand jury indicted Washington’s Washington Republicans have state auditor on 10 felony counts other concerns. They pointed out involving his private business in a recent email that the deadline practices. The indictment claims IRUFDQGLGDWHVWR¿OHIRUDVSHFLDO Troy Kelley devised schemes to election is May 11. That means defraud title companies and their borrowers of nearly $3 million from if Kelley resigns after that date, 2006 to 2008. Kelley also is charged Democrat Gov. Inslee would appoint with failing to pay the next state $1 million in income And that Oregon is the auditor. taxes for those years appointee would E\XQGHUUHSRUWLQJ only state where EHLQRI¿FHXQWLO his income. the next election in the secretary The indictment 2016, giving that does not accuse person a serious of state is Kelley of criminal against responsible for headstart activity involving a Republican his duties as state public spending. challenger. auditor. However, Washington’s Acting U.S. travails should Attorney Annette Hayes said Kelley not discourage Oregonians from ³VSXQDZHERIOLHV´LQDFRYHUXS pressing for an independently during his tenure as state auditor. elected state auditor. Our current It’s a stunning downfall for the system of having the Secretary of VWDWH¶VWRS¿VFDOZDWFKGRJThe 6WDWH¶VRI¿FHKDQGOHWKLVFULWLFDO News Tribune of Tacoma describes UHVSRQVLELOLW\LVÀDZHG WKHPDQ Oregon is the only state where the “In the span of six years, Troy secretary of state is responsible for Kelley rose from political obscurity DXGLWLQJSXEOLFVSHQGLQJ7KDWRI¿FH WRVWDWHZLGHRI¿FHFDSWXULQJDVHULHV is also charged with overseeing of state House campaign victories elections, promoting business and on his way to winning election maintaining state archives. With as Washington’s auditor … He state and local governments in SURMHFWHGDVSLWSROLVKHGLPDJHWKDW Oregon spending more than $40 VROGZHOOSROLWLFDOO\DGHGLFDWHG billion each year, the audit function family man who served his country, should be separate and independent. a successful lawyer and businessman An elected state auditor would eager to lead… Boosted by a UHSRUWGLUHFWO\WRWKHFLWL]HQV sterling résumé, with stops at the of Oregon and be charged with Department of Justice and a Fortune representing the sole interest of 500 company.” the public. Washington state has Kelley, a Tacoma Democrat, GHPRQVWUDWHGWKLVSXEOLFEHQH¿WIRU pleaded not guilty to the charges more than a century. and vowed to clear his name. And Voters may select a bad apple despite calls from Gov. Jay Inslee, like Troy Kelley. But voters, not political leaders of both parties and career politicians, should determine most Washington newspapers, the the person best suited to restore that \HDUROGUHIXVHVWRUHVLJQ$QG trust. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. Editor’s note: Letters to the editor regarding issues on the May ballot must be received by the East Oregonian by 5 p.m. May 7 to ensure publication in our May 9 edition. Letters received after the deadline will be posted online but not in print. Email editor@eastoregonian. FRPWRVXEPLW\RXUOHWWHURUGURSWKHPRIIDWRXURI¿FH6(%\HUV$YHLQ3HQGOHWRQ OTHER VIEWS Love, marriage and music A t some point in my childhood, IRUOHJDOL]LQJVDPHVH[PDUULDJHWKH just before my teens, I was measurable rights that it establishes or struck by the fact that almost all ensures. of the songs that I was hearing on the It eliminates anxieties and injustices UDGLRKDOIFRQVFLRXVO\KXPPLQJDORQJ regarding hospital visits, medical to or committing to memory were decisions, estates, Social Security about love. EHQH¿WVFKLOGFXVWRG\FKLOGFDUH Different shades of love, yes, and immigration and more. It’s the best GLIIHUHQWVWDJHVRILWWKHKHDWDQG way to replace limbo with stability, Frank hunger of its infancy, the expansive freeing good people to get on with the Bruni warmth of its maturity, the bleeding rest of their lives. Comment pain when all that’s left of it is shards. But the expansion of marriage But love nonetheless. to include gays and lesbians does Starland Vocal Band mulled the naughty something even broader and deeper than that. pleasures of an “Afternoon Delight.” Daryl It alters the very soundtrack of our existences, Hall pined for the sweet validation of a removing a refrain of disapproval, however sweetheart’s gesture in “Sara minor, however muted. Smile.” “Don’t Go Breaking I long detected that My Heart,” Elton John refrain in all of those silly implored Kiki Dee, and back love songs, which dominated then he hadn’t informed the the pop charts of my youth world, or fully accepted, that and dominate the pop charts the people most likely to now, because they traced hold that kind of power over a landscape that I would him didn’t have names like almost certainly have to Kiki. tiptoe across, that was only partly hospitable to Those were all huge hits in 1976, which is the likes of me. when I turned 12. And the No. 1 single that 6RZKLOHWKH\¿OOHGPHZLWKORQJLQJDV year? WKH\ZHUHPHDQWWRWKH\DOVR¿OOHGPHZLWKDQ “Silly Love Songs,” which Paul McCartney unintended sadness. With envy, too, because thought that “people would have had enough I knew that for other people — straight of.” No way, because there’s nothing silly people — worry and shame didn’t intrude on about love, and when it comes to music, love the melodies. is almost all there is. So much has changed. One of the most When it comes to life, too. widely played love songs of last year, “Stay On Tuesday love went to the Supreme With Me,” is performed by Sam Smith, whose Court, where the lawyers and the justices fans are fully aware that he’s gay. They’re VSRNHRI³HTXDOSDUWLFLSDWLRQ´DQG³HTXDO DZDUHWRRWKDWWKH³RQHQLJKWVWDQG´WKDWKH protection,” of “due process” and “animus,” of mentions in the opening line is with another the Constitution and states’ rights. man. There were legal terms and points of At a music festival later this year, he’s reference aplenty. It’s easy to become lost in scheduled to appear with Elton John, now out them, and just as easy to follow the leads of of the closet, now knighted and now with kids journalists who are framing the proceedings as and a husband, whom he married under British DKLJKGUDPDVWDUULQJHQLJPDWLFDFWRUV-XVWLFH law, which allows it. Anthony Kennedy with his swing vote, Chief 86ODZUHPDLQVDSDWFKZRUNHTXDOLW\LQ Justice John Roberts with his sensitivity to the WKLVVWDWHLQHTXDOLW\LQWKDWRQH7KDW¶VZKHUH court’s legacy. the Supreme Court comes in. But it’s important to step back and It can endorse inconsistency. Or the justices UHPHPEHUZKDWWKLVLVUHDOO\DERXWWKHPRVW can do what’s right and what’s necessary, H[TXLVLWHHPRWLRQWKDWDQ\RIXVFDQKDYHWKH acknowledging that there’s no way to divorce most exalted bond, and whether we’re content a person’s way of loving from his or her to tell one group of Americans that their humanity — that they’re entwined, like verse ORYHLVOHVVGLJQL¿HG²DQGOHVVZRUWK\RI and chorus, and to treat one as inferior is to celebration — than another group’s. treat both that way. There’s no alternate message for gays We’ll probably get a ruling in June. and lesbians to read into prohibitions against And with any luck, that judgment will VDPHVH[PDUULDJHEHFDXVHRXUVRFLHW\ turn all the love songs of yesterday, today and like so many others, decided long ago that tomorrow into universal anthems that make marriage was the most formal recognition of the same promise to every listener, no matter love, the ultimate blessing bestowed on it. the object of his or her affection. For many years now the tireless, dauntless Ŷ DGYRFDWHVZKREOD]HGWKHWUDLOWR7XHVGD\ Frank Bruni has been an Op-Ed columnist KDYHHORTXHQWO\GHWDLOHGWKHSUDFWLFDOUHDVRQV for The New York Times since June 2011. On Tuesday, love went to the Supreme Court. YOUR VIEWS BMCC bond will empower the region 9HU\VRRQZHZLOO¿QGWKH 2015 May election ballot in our mailboxes. This is our opportunity to voice our opinion for issues facing our local communities. In this ballot \RXZLOO¿QGWKHUHTXHVWIRUDQHZ Blue Mountain Community College bond. We believe that investing in BMCC will bring a change in lives as well as in our communities. Ultimately, the BMCC bond is not about me, it’s not about BMCC. It’s about what our friends and neighbors need to empower their community to create positive change for the future. Join us in voting yes for the Blue Mountain Community College bond. Bryan and Lou Ann Wolfe Hermiston Region cannot afford BMCC’s bond measure Yes, Blue Mountain Community College is a major asset to our community of northeast Oregon. As I have told the BMCC president and BMCC board chair, our family has much to appreciate about BMCC. However, for this letter, we will only discuss the “affordability” of this levy. Many of the taxpayers cannot afford this loan that the voters are being asked to take out for their local college. At this point in Oregon history, taxes are a big deal. The property tax on a $120,000 valued local residence per year, in 2002, was about $1,500. In 2008, it was about $1,900. In 2011, it was about $2,100. In 2014, it was about $2,250. With the federal increase in fees, ¿QHVFRSD\VWD[HVDQG2UHJRQ¶V new upcoming taxes and fees, what will 2015’s property tax be competing with? We do not have a choice on these levies. We do have a choice on the BMCC levy/loan. By the way, what do you think the “carbon tax” will cost us directly and indirectly (in the cost of living)? Recently, the East Oregonian newspaper published an article concerning United Way. It reported that United Way no longer generates enough volunteer donations from individuals and businesses to contribute to VHYHUDOQRQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQVLQ Pendleton. Nor do they generate enough income to contribute to RWKHUQRQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQVDW the level they are used to getting from the United Way. One of WKRVHXQIXQGHGRUJDQL]DWLRQVZLOO be the Pendleton Salvation Army meals program. What about the lower end of the economic food chain? For those who recycle metal, they have noticed, over the last year, that a pickup truck load of metal scrap gets, on the average, less than one half what it did a year ago. Yes, the BMCC levy supporters paint a “rosy” picture of why we should take out another loan for BMCC. Well, right now, economically speaking, all is not “rosy.” Larry and Jean Nye Athena Don’t forget about Pendleton school levy I’ve been enjoying reading all the letters of support for the Blue Mountain Community College bond measure, but have grown concerned at the lack of letters UHJDUGLQJDQHTXDOO\LPSRUWDQW measure on the May ballot — the Pendleton School District’s Local Option Levy. In 2000, after experiencing several years of devastating budget cuts caused by Ballot Measure 5, 3HQGOHWRQYRWHUVSDVVHGWKH¿UVW local option levy and have voted to renew it in both 2005 and 2010. The \HDUOHY\LVGXHWRH[SLUHRQFH again. The district receives approximately $470,000/year from the levy ($300,000 from property taxes and $170,000 from matching state funds) and failure to renew it could result in painful cuts to important programs. First, it is important to remember that this is not a new tax. It is simply renewing a tax that has been in place for 15 years. Second, unlike the school bond measure that passed in 2013, the levy funds are used for programs and teachers, not structures. Third, because the lion’s share of school funding comes from the state general fund, the local option levy is one of the few ways ZHFDQ¿QDQFLDOO\KHOSRXUVFKRROV LQDVLJQL¿FDQWZD\ While I no longer have children in school, I strongly support the local option ;evy and urge everyone to vote yes on the measure. Soon, there will be several new, modern school buildings in town (as well as major upgrades to existing ones). Let’s help make sure that our kids receive a comprehensive, 21st century education inside those buildings. Please join me in voting \HVRQ%DOORW0HDVXUH Elizabeth Scheeler Pendleton Plass impressive in enthusiasm and skills Thirteen years ago, we met Susan Plass, the new grant writer for Blue Mountain Community College. She immediately impressed us with her enthusiasm IRU%0&&KHURUJDQL]DWLRQDO skills and attention to detail. She worked at University of Oregon before she came to BMCC and has 26 years of experience in the world of higher education. She has a thorough understanding RIIXQGLQJDQGWKH¿QDQFLDODQG program side of an institution of higher education. Before she retired, Susan successfully received grants for over $9 million in her ten years at BMCC. We believe she made an enormous difference for our college. I joined Altrusa about six years ago and again ran into Susan Plass DVDPHPEHURIWKHRUJDQL]DWLRQ, continue to be impressed with her friendliness at our club functions and her sense of purpose for whatever position she holds in the RUJDQL]DWLRQ$IWHU6XVDQUHWLUHG from BMCC she became more active in Altrusa. An example of her RUJDQL]DWLRQDODELOLWLHV For the past two years, I have served on an Altrusan committee chaired by Susan. Before each meeting we receive a detailed emailed agenda of what we will discuss. The agenda was built with input from our entire committee. On that agenda is an extremely detailed accounting of our funds and where and when they were dispersed and what the purpose was. The day after the meeting we receive the minutes to peruse and correct if necessary. +DYLQJWKLV¿QDQFLDOLQIRUPDWLRQ before us assists us in granting, or not, funds for community projects. We appreciate her dedication to education and know her knowledge and characteristics will translate into becoming a BMCC board member who understands the world of higher education and she will be dedicated to doing the best job she can. Dave and Viki Lange Pendleon
