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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2015)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Tuesday, May 19, 2015 Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher JENNINE PERKINSON Advertising Director DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Oil shipments no mere ‘uptick’ existing plan was completed in A press release announcing Washington’s and Oregon’s plans to 2003, long before the current update their responses to oil spills on crude-oil boom. Part of it is now the lower Columbia River describes more than 20 years old. Besides an increasing rail shipments of crude oil intensely increased scale of risk, much has changed in these years. in the area as an “uptick.” The old plan, ways to comment, In fact, the volume of oil and a link to a similar draft updated shipments by rail across both states plan for the has enormously Chehalis River expanded in recent Prevention must be are all accessible years, going tinyurl.com/ from essentially the first priority, at NewOilSpillPlan nothing at the start plans of this decade to accompanied by are Spill detailed tens of millions geographical of gallons a year making certain studies of every now. Even under those who profit geographical the most optimistic of a river, of assumptions, are appropriately element with maps showing derailments and containment spills are certain insured and bonded how booms or other to occur. The U.S. rail industry has a to pay for the dam- techniques can be used to keep oil good safety record, but there have been age done by spills. where it is until it enough disasters can be dealt with. in other states and The old plan rules &DQDGDWRFRQ¿UPWKDWLWVUHFRUG out some approaches in some places, isn’t anywhere close to perfect. such as burning large spills on the With proposals for new and surface, due to the proximity to expanded export terminals and populated areas and the likelihood of UH¿QHULHVWKHUHDOVRDUHQHDUO\ air pollution. At the time of the 2003 certain to be additional ships plan, Washington state explicitly carrying petroleum products up and ruled out the use of surfactants to down the Columbia, along with break up oil spills — probably still PRUHRLOÀRZLQJLQSLSHOLQHV7KHVH a good thing to forbid, considering too, are subject to spills. increasing knowledge about the From being mostly just a environmental risks of these recipient of fossil fuels, our two complex chemicals. states will increasingly be integral The revised plan will pay special parts of a national and international attention to several wildlife refuges WUDQVSRUWDWLRQDQGUH¿QLQJQHWZRUN along the lower river, places where This is no mere “uptick,” but oil could be especially disastrous. It potentially a multidecade increase would make sense to include Willapa in risk that policymakers must do Bay in these plans, considering the their best to confront. As always in hydrology of the Columbia River such matters, prevention must be SOXPHZKLFKFDUULHV¿VKQXWULHQWV WKH¿UVWSULRULW\DFFRPSDQLHGE\ and other things into the bay from PDNLQJFHUWDLQWKRVHZKRSUR¿WDUH the Columbia, at least during some appropriately insured and bonded to PRQWKVZKHQWKHFXUUHQWÀRZV pay for the damage done by spills. northward. The particular aspect of planning Comments are due to June 30. that is being updated is precisely This is an important matter that how to respond in the immediate warrants careful attention by citizens aftermath of spills, to contain who care about local riverine and damage and clean them up. The maritime resources. 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. YOUR VIEWS Those who played for Req know he deserves a tribute This is a reply to statements by Sams and Phinney printed May 9, 2015, in the East Oregonian (about the Don Requa bronze). The expression of their views is their right, but showed that they didn’t really know the man. My feeling in this whole issue is that 97 percent of the opposition to the location comes from people that never played a minute for Req. He was more than a coach. He could see things that ordinary people didn’t see and feel. If \RXZDQWTXDOLW\DW%URZQ¿HOG\RXJRW it, and quit fooling with aesthetics. My respect for him took a big jump in 1981. My son had played football from 1978 and academics in 1981 were interfering with football. Req told him he could use him but he understood. They still went to Rotary meetings together. Their friendship never ended. The comparison of Req and (Stella) Darby is an insult. The whole statement seemed to be a political statement of sorts and not many facts. Ed Tucker Pendleton Kicker would be better spent on schools While visiting Heppner this weekend, I bought the East Oregonian and noticed the editorial cartoon about the PERS decision’s impact on schools, right next to a series of citizen comments about the modest “kicker” refunds expected to come as tax credits next year. Oregon’s economy is doing better and we have just started to dig out of a decade of school funding cuts. We have the option to put this year’s kicker in a rainy day fund to protect schools from the budget headed their way. That option requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature, i.e. bipartisan support. Eastern Oregon legislators have been calling for more school funding this session. Maybe saving the kicker for schools is something the whole state can agree on. Kathleen Pool Portland OTHER VIEWS The PERS earthquake: A damage assessment agreed and 47 percent disagreed. You want a party divide? While 72 percent of Democrats agreed that it is time to raise taxes, only 16 percent anner headlines, above the fold: of Republicans and 34 percent of Supreme Court Overturns PERS Independents felt so. That’s not good Changes. calculus for tax advocates. Since the announcement a couple Wonder if people view the situation of weeks ago, the chattering class differently when framed in terms of in Oregon has been focused on Adam “my local schools?” That should tug at assessing the damage from the political Davis the heart strings, right? earthquake. What do the billions of Comment Given four statements, only 24 unfunded PERS costs mean for the state percent felt the statement that comes moving forward? closest to how they feel is “my local public Many wonder if the earthquake has shaken schools just don’t have enough money, and the taxpayers enough that they are now willing now with the recent Supreme Court ruling to tax themselves to prevent cuts to important overturning PERS reform, the problem is public services including schools and public worse. I’m prepared to pay more in taxes for safety. DHM Research did some earthquake damage my local schools.” Slightly more, 28 percent, felt even with assessment of our own to determine where the PERS reforms being overturned, “I’m not Oregon voters are on PERS and the question of prepared to pay more in taxes for my local higher taxes to prevent cuts to services. schools until education reforms have been put Despite all the hoopla surrounding the in place to ensure that any additional money Supreme Court’s decision, not all voters have will increase student academic growth.” heard about it. About a third of Oregon’s voters The most common viewpoint, chosen by told us last weekend that they had not heard 31 percent, was that “I’m not prepared to pay or read anything related to PERS within the more in taxes for my local schools. Even with last two weeks. When asked to identify the the PERS reforms being overturned, I feel the most important issue they want their state schools have enough money; they just need to JRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDOVWRGRVRPHWKLQJDERXW spend it more wisely.” only 3 percent mentioned PERS. A smaller number, 10 percent, said “I just 9RWHUVUHJLVWHUHGVLJQL¿FDQWFRQFHUQVDERXW can’t afford it. Even though I feel my local the state’s ability to pay for an adequate level school don’t have enough money, I can’t pay of public services such as education and public more in taxes for my local schools.” safety. Good news if you think that the climate At this point, it doesn’t look like the may be changing for tax reform. The magnitude Supreme Court’s PERS earthquake has shaken of concern, however, remains moderate: Less things enough to mobilize Oregonians in than one half of Oregon’s voters are “very” support of increased taxes to maintain funding concerned (45 percent Democrats; 37 percent for public services. How many aftershocks Republicans; 22 percent Independents). Yes, would it take, and for how long would they despite the PERS decision. need to happen, to change things? Hard to tell. Furthermore, voters listed high taxes among Also, consider that we’re only talking about WKHWRSLVVXHVWKDWWKH\ZDQWWKHLURI¿FLDOVWR the need for additional revenue to prevent cuts address. School funding remains a top concern, in services. How about the money needed to but is mentioned by less than a majority and split between those who feel the schools already address new expenses such as our deteriorating water, sewer, and transportation systems? have enough money (and just need to spend it We do know that any future earthquakes more wisely) and those who feel schools need would have to be of seismic magnitude to more money. SHQHWUDWHWKHYRWHUV¶FRQVFLRXVQHVVVLJQL¿FDQWO\ Two more data points from this past affect their attitudes about government and weekend suggest it may take some earthquake aftershocks and a prolonged economic recovery politics, and alter the political landscape. It will likely take more than one. Perhaps it may take a before the political landscape shifts enough in real earthquake. Oregon to safely support building a request of Not likely to happen? OK then, let’s just go the voters to increase their taxes. after the wealthy and big business. What a novel The state remains very divided on the need idea. for more state revenue, even after the PERS No wonder only about a third of Oregon decision. YRWHUVIHHOWKDWRYHUWKHQH[W\HDUVZH¶OO¿QG In the 2013 Oregon Values and Beliefs common ground and work together to make Survey, 43 percent agree that our current tax progress addressing the critical issues we face system with just income tax and property tax is too unstable to pay for public services. A similar as a state. Ŷ 42 percent disagreed. Adam Davis, who has been conducting This past weekend, we asked voters to opinion research in Oregon for more than consider the state’s quality of life and low ranking compared to other states in many areas. 35 years, is a founding principal in DHM 5HVHDUFKDQLQGHSHQGHQWQRQSDUWLVDQ¿UP When asked if now with the PERS decision 9LVLWZZZGKPUHVHDUFKFRP there was a need to raise taxes, 43 percent By ADAM DAVIS For Oregon Capital Insider B Ports need TPA to thrive The Port of Morrow is well posi- tioned to help attract jobs to the region and support local industry. Our location, infrastructure and advanced communica- tions all make us an attractive option for shipping in and out of the Columbia. But growing economic activity at the port requires a market at the other end of the line for us to ship products to. That is why we are closely watching the votes in Congress for Trade Promotion Authority. TPA, as it is called, authorizes the negotiation of trade agreements with nations in Asia and elsewhere that will be key trade partners in the 21st century. That is why we are glad to see Senator Ron Wyden supporting this critical piece of creating a strong trade policy. Running a successful port includes many critical factors, but having access to markets for our goods is a linchpin for economic success in Morrow County. We encourage our leaders to quickly approve Trade Promotion Authority. LETTERS POLICY Gary Neal Manager, Port of Morrow Port of Morrow Commission The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our web- site. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be pub- lished. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@ eastoregonian.com. OTHER VIEWS A tale of three killers O n May 13 a jury in Seattle sentenced Joseph McEnroe, who was convicted of six murders, to life in prison instead of imposing the death penalty. Two days later, a Boston jury returned a death sentence in the Boston Marathon bombing case for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Those two cases will now follow much different courses. Mr. Tsarnaev’s case will be subject to PXOWLSOHDSSHDOV(DFKQHZ¿OLQJZLOOUHVXOWLQ extensive renewed press coverage. Each news story will focus on what Mr. Tsarnaev, who has already appeared on the cover of several national publications, is doing now and then repeat the awful details of his crime. Mr. McEnroe will be transferred to a prison where he will live the rest of his life forgotten by the media. His legal proceedings will be over and done. After the jury returned a life without parole verdict for Mr. McEnroe, the mother of one and grandmother of two of his victims said she and her husband were happy about the verdict “because we don’t ever have to deal with it again.” “It’ll be probably better for everybody involved to be able to just kind of put the McEnroe part of this case away,” she said. That won’t be possible for the victims of Mr. Tsarnaev. Bill and Denise Richards, whose 8-year old son was murdered whose 7-year old daughter was maimed by Tsarnaev, called on the government to withdraw the death penalty — a request that was not heard by the Boston jury. They wrote that “the continued pursuit of that punishment” will bring years of appeals “and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives. We hope our two remaining children do not have to grow up with the lingering, painful reminder of what the defendant took from them, which years of appeals would undoubtedly bring.” Here in Oregon on May 7, Jesse Fanus was sentenced to life without parole after 17 years of costly litigation following his original death sentence. The prosecutor told reporters: “Under this agreement, Fanus will have no legal avenue to seek release, and will die in prison.” The common thread in these three cases is obvious. Pursuit of the death penalty is costly, both economically and psychologically speaking. Life without parole is a better alternative. Ŷ Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death 3HQDOW\LVDQRQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQZKRVH mission is to repeal the death penalty in the VWDWH)RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQYLVLWZZZRDGSRUJ
