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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 2015)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Saturday, December 26, 2015 0LQ Zage Wa[ ¿gKWV WRS 2 ageQGa By HILLARY BORRUD and PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — The New Year will ring in some pivotal policy- making and elections in Oregon that could shape the state’s government, economy, quality of life and balance of power. The Legislature will only meet for about a month in 2016, but lawmakers still plan to tackle KLJKSUR¿OHLVVXHVLQFOXGLQJWKH minimum wage, child welfare and problems at the Oregon Department of Energy. It also promises to be a year of conten- tious ballot measures, from a proposed corporate sales tax to a measure aimed at repealing or weakening the state’s low-carbon fuel standard. Minimum Wage Four competing Oregon ballot initiative proposals would gradually increase the $9.25 per hour minimum wage to at least $13.50, and to as much as $15. Some Oregon lawmakers are trying to head off that contest with their own proposal during the 35-day session in February and March. Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, is spearheading the effort. His proposal would set three minimum wages for the state based on cost of living and median income. Lawmakers have yet to agree on exact amounts to propose, Dembrow said. They are scheduled to meet after the New Year to continue discussions. Conceptually, the bill would raise the minimum most in the Portland region, where housing costs have skyrocketed. A middle-level minimum would take effect in mid-size cities such as Ashland, Bend and Eugene, while the lowest minimum would apply to less populated coastal and rural communities. EO Media Group The New Year will ring in some pivotal policymaking and elections in Oregon that could shape the state’s gov- ernment, economy, quality of life and balance of power. measure, and supporters could spend a similarly large amount. “You’re going to have two months of nasty business on TV and social media,” Hass said back in November. “And out of that, a very toxic atmosphere.” Hass hoped to bring together the governor, lawmakers, supporters and opponents of the tax to broker an alternative revenue measure which the Legislature could pass in 2016. So far, he hasn’t had much luck and the outlook for alternative revenue legislation is not good. “We just need some people to come to the center,” Hass said on Dec. 22. PERS shortfall Oregon’s unfunded public pension liability roughly doubled this fall, under newly updated actuarial projections. That means the pension fund is now $18 billion short of the money it is supposed to pay retired school teachers, state workers and other public employees. The increase is partly due to a decision in April by the Oregon Supreme Court, which struck down a portion of the pension reforms which the Legislature passed in 2013 to trim costs. The state is also paying out more because retirees are living longer, and the pension fund’s investment returns have fallen short of expectations since 2014. Gov. Kate Brown and legis- lative leaders haven’t given A union-backed tax measure any indication that they plan to planned for the November 2016 tackle the shortfall in 2016. But ballot would require certain they won’t be able to avoid the corporations to pay a 2.5 percent issue when the pension system tax on sales in Oregon greater governing board sets the 2017- 2019 contribution rates at the than $25 million. Economists in the Legislative end of September. By then, election campaigns 5HYHQXH 2I¿FH KDYH DOUHDG\ projected the corporate sales tax will be in full swing for governor would raise an additional $2.65 and legislative seats across the state. billion annually for the state. If lawmakers and the State Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, said he’s heard governor put off working on the businesses could spend as much issue until 2017, they will only DV PLOOLRQ WR ¿JKW WKH WD[ have a few months to agree on Corporate tax fight solutions during that legislative session, before schools and other governments are forced to pay more starting in July 2017. Interest groups plan to begin hammering out potential solu- tions behind the scenes in 2016, for the governor and Legislature to take up the following year. Fuel standard fight Oregon’s low-carbon fuel standard, which the Legislature made permanent in 2015, takes effect in January. However, the Oregon Envi- ronmental Quality Commission recently voted to delay enforce- ment of the standard until 2018 and opponents of the law have ¿OHG WKUHH SURSRVHG EDOORW measures to weaken or repeal it in November. Gov. Kate Brown and lawmakers are closely following WKH ¿JKW EHFDXVH WKH RXWFRPH could impact the Legislature’s ability to pass a funding bill in 2017 to pay for the state’s backlog of highway, bridge, transit and other transportation work. Republicans refused in 2015 to vote for a gas tax increase to pay for transportation projects, unless Democrats agreed to repeal the fuel standard. The law calls for gasoline and diesel importers and producers to reduce the total carbon emis- sions from the fuels by up to 10 percent over the next decade. After years of news reports about problems at the Oregon Department of Energy, Democratic legislative leaders announced in early December that they will explore in 2016 ZKHWKHUWKHDJHQF\FDQEH¿[HG or is beyond repair. A newly formed bipartisan committee will look into problems at the agency and issue recommenda- tions and legislation for the full Legislature to take up in 2017. In June, the EO Media Group/ Pamplin Media Group Capital Bureau reported that Depart- ment of Energy employees quietly stopped enforcing state price regulations on tax credits intended to incentivize renewable HQHUJ\DQGHI¿FLHQF\SURMHFWV The bureau also reported that Oregon Department of Revenue director Jim Bucholz told audi- Gov. Kate Brown is unlikely tors in 2012 to ignore problems to attract any formidable compe- on tax returns where people or tition during the 2016 election, corporations used energy tax according to political analysts. credits to reduce taxes they owed “The chance of dark horse the state. People and corpora- candidate in the gubernatorial tions who bought the tax credits races is zero,” said Jim Moore, for less than their face value were SROLWLFV SURIHVVRU DW 3DFL¿F supposed to pay capital gains University and director of the taxes on difference, but auditors Tom McCall Center for Policy found people weren’t reporting Innovation. the gains or paying the taxes. But some House and Senate $ WRS RI¿FLDO DW WKH 'HSDUW- races could tip the scales of ment of Energy told certain tax power in Salem, Moore said. credit recipients and brokers Races to watch are in districts they could ignore state rules, and that have traditionally swung the agency retroactively changed between Democrat and Repub- the rules under pressure from a lican victories in the past few elec- 3RUWODQG FRQVXOWLQJ ¿UP WKDW tion cycles, especially seats where brokered tax credit deals. incumbents might decide against Republican lawmakers in seeking reelection, he said. December asked Attorney General One example is District Ellen Rosenblum, the state’s U.S. 40, where Rep. Brent Barton, Attorney, the FBI, the IRS and D-Clackamas County, has decided Marion County District Attorney against seeking reelection. Walter Beglau to investigate similar So far, one Democrat, real allegations by whistleblowers. In estate executive Mark Meek, and a response to the lawmakers, the no Republicans or Independents Oregon Department of Justice KDYH ¿OHG IRU WKDW HOHFWLRQ asked for more details about their according to the Secretary of allegations. To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ (DVW2UHJRQLDQ(USPS 164-980)LVSXEOLVKHGGDLO\H[FHSW6XQGD\0RQGD\ DQG'HFE\WKH(20HGLD*URXS6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25 3HULRGLFDOVSRVWDJHSDLGDW3HQGOHWRQ25Postmaster:VHQGDGGUHVVFKDQJHVWR (DVW2UHJRQLDQ6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25 Chilly with clouds and sun Chilly with more clouds than sun 35° 24° 34° 26° TUESDAY Cloudy; snow and ice at night Morning fl urries; mainly cloudy 32° 23° 32° 21° 28° 18° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 33° 27° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 35° 24° 39° 25° 61° (1980) -16° (1924) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Trace 2.26" 1.27" 10.07" 12.90" 12.74" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 36° 39° 62° (1971) 23° 27° 0° (1983) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 1.77" 1.20" 7.16" 7.56" 9.67" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Jan 1 Jan 9 35° 24° 33° 23° 31° 22° Seattle 42/35 ALMANAC First 7:35 a.m. 4:16 p.m. 6:09 p.m. 8:13 a.m. Full Jan 16 Jan 23 Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson MSHUNLQVRQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP NEWS To submit news tips and press releases:FDOO ID[HPDLOQHZV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Multimedia consultants 7HUUL%ULJJV WEULJJV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP -HDQQH-HZHWW MMHZHWW#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP .LP/D3ODQW NODSODQW#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP 'D\OH6WLQVRQ GVWLQVRQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: HPDLOFRPPXQLW\#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRPRUFDOO7DPP\0DOJHVLQL LQ+HUPLVWRQDWRU5HQHH6WUXWKHUVLQ3HQGOHWRQDW To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: HPDLOUVWUXWKHUV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRPRUYLVLWZZZHDVWRUHJRQLDQ FRPFRPPXQLW\DQQRXQFHPHQWV To submit a Letter to the Editor:PDLOWR0DQDJLQJ(GLWRU'DQLHO :DWWHQEXUJHU6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25RUHPDLO HGLWRU#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: VSRUWV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: 6WHYH.QREEH VNQREEH#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP REGIONAL CITIES Today WEDNESDAY PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 35° 24° SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Power outages dimmed Christmas morning for some people in the Inland Northwest. The Spokesman-Review reports thousands of customers in Spokane, Stevens and Kootenai counties were without power Friday morning after heavy snow blanketed the region for days. Inland Power and Light Co. reported Friday morning roughly 9,500 of its customers were without power, most of them in Spokane County. Avista Utilities reported close to 3,500 customers remained without power following outages Thursday. Kootenai Electric Cooperative also totaled about 3,500 of its customers in the dark on Christmas morning. Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook MVQRRN#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP MONDAY Cloudy and cold OXWageV GLP &KULVWPaV PRUQLQg LQ ,QOaQG NW Legal Advertising:$PDQGD-DFREV DMDFREV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Single copy price: 7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\6DWXUGD\ Forecast SUNDAY COLTON (AP) — Authorities say an Oregon 2-year-old is in the hospital after being shot accidentally by a family member who was cleaning a gun on Christmas morning. .2,179UHSRUWVWKHJLUOZDVÀRZQE\ helicopter from Colton to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. 7KH&ODFNDPDV&RXQW\VKHULII¶VRI¿FH is investigating the shooting, and says she is expected to survive the gunshot to her cheek. Colton is about 27 miles south of Portland. ClassiÀed Advertising: FODVVL¿HGV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Copyright © 2015, EO Media Group TODAY 2\eaUROG VKRW E\ IaPLO\ PePEeU FOeaQLQg gXQ Power battles SUBSCRIPTION RATES /RFDOKRPHGHOLYHU\ 6DYLQJVRIIFRYHUSULFH (=3D\ SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW (=3D\ RQH\HDUUDWHZLWKDPRQWKO\FUHGLWRUGHELWFDUGFKHFNFKDUJH www.eastoregonian.com ROSEBURG (AP) — The Oregon Department of Transportation says a landslide has buckled Oregon Highway 42, also known as the Coos Bay-Roseburg Highway. The Oregonian reports the roadway in southern Oregon is expected to be closed LQGH¿QLWHO\QHDUWKHERUGHURI&RRVDQG Douglas counties. Authorities say the 200-to-300- foot-long slide has covered most of the two-lane state highway with mud and rock. Jared Castle of the Oregon Department of Transportation says the roadway will be closed for at least a week, but it’s too early to say for certain. The slide happened on Thursday afternoon on a section that has been involved in an effort to straighten out some severe curves along the Middle Fork of the Coquille River. Heavy rain this month saturated the ground, defeating efforts at erosion control. Overhaul of DOE Didn’t receive your paper?&DOO EHIRUHQRRQ7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\ RUEHIRUHDP6DWXUGD\ for same-day redelivery 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 2I¿FHKRXUV0RQGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\DPWRSP &ORVHGPDMRUKROLGD\V /aQGVOLGe EXFNOeV HZ\ 2 FORVLQg URaGZa\ LQGe¿QLWeO\ State’s elections database. Other potentially interesting races: District 30, held by Rep. Joe Gallegos, D-Hillsboro; District 20 held by Rep. Paul Evans, D-Mon- mouth; District 29, held by Rep. Susan McLain, D-Forest Grove; District 25 held by Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer; District 51 held by Shemia Fagan, D-Clackamas; and District 52 held by Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Hood River. “The Oregon Senate is a much more sedate place for elections, but the swing of just three districts puts the Senate in a 15-15 tie for 2017,” he said. Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — BRIEFLY Spokane Wenatchee 27/19 26/21 Tacoma Moses 42/31 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 28/23 27/20 42/36 41/30 30/21 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 41/34 34/24 Lewiston 33/25 Astoria 31/22 46/39 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 42/34 Pendleton 23/7 The Dalles 35/24 35/24 38/29 La Grande Salem 29/19 41/32 Albany Corvallis 40/32 39/29 John Day 29/18 Ontario Eugene Bend 22/11 40/31 30/19 Caldwell Burns 25/15 17/4 Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima Hi 46 21 30 46 17 23 40 33 35 29 26 29 29 39 45 49 22 33 35 42 33 41 27 29 40 34 30 Lo 39 13 19 38 4 7 31 21 24 18 11 19 19 27 38 40 11 25 24 34 16 32 19 16 34 24 21 W pc pc c pc c pc c pc pc pc s c c c pc pc pc c pc c c c c pc c pc c NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Sun. Hi 47 24 33 47 22 26 42 33 33 32 30 28 27 40 45 49 24 33 34 41 33 42 29 30 40 34 32 Lo 38 15 19 38 13 18 35 25 27 26 20 23 23 30 39 40 18 27 26 34 19 36 22 24 36 25 20 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. W r c sn r c c r c c c c c c r r r pc c c r sn r c c r c c WORLD CITIES Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 39 67 57 59 74 38 55 59 39 82 53 Lo 12 59 40 54 49 24 45 37 13 63 45 W pc pc pc c pc c pc pc s t pc Sun. Hi 28 65 58 59 72 29 55 59 27 73 50 Lo 13 58 40 49 40 20 42 35 15 62 37 W pc pc s r pc i pc s s pc pc WINDS Medford 39/27 Klamath Falls 26/11 (in mph) Today Sunday Boardman Pendleton NE 3-6 SE 3-6 NE 3-6 SE 4-8 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Clouds and sun today. Cloudy tonight, but increasing clouds in the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: Clouds and sun today; cold. Mostly cloudy tonight; rising temperatures in central parts. Western Washington: Increasing cloudiness today; however, mostly cloudy across the south. Cloudy tonight. Eastern Washington: Mainly cloudy today. Cloudy tonight; a little snow at times in the north. Cascades: Mainly cloudy and chilly today and tonight. Chilly tomorrow with a little snow. Northern California: Mostly sunny today; frigid in the interior mountains. Partly cloudy and cold tonight. 0 1 1 0 0 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015 -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: A storm in the Midwest today will bring rain and thunderstorms from Texas to Illinois then eastward through the mid-Atlantic. Snow will fall in the northern Plains, Colorado and New Mexico. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 90° in Edinburg, Texas Low -10° in Bridgeport, Calif. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 33 76 55 55 21 77 24 48 81 71 44 56 77 18 46 45 -1 15 82 78 62 81 50 47 77 61 Lo 21 64 51 48 9 66 12 42 63 59 35 53 54 7 41 29 -9 -6 72 71 55 64 31 29 66 37 W sn c r r s c s pc pc sh r r r sf r r pc sn pc c r pc r s t s Sun. Hi 34 74 66 73 30 75 27 53 81 74 39 56 55 24 42 40 5 8 83 72 56 82 36 46 74 61 Lo 14 65 47 46 12 69 16 33 62 50 32 34 35 12 30 21 1 -3 72 38 38 64 28 29 50 39 Today W sn c c c pc c pc r pc c c r r c r sn s s pc t r pc c s r pc Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 71 79 83 41 33 76 81 51 60 37 54 56 47 53 75 16 33 51 61 25 64 51 42 48 57 49 Lo 67 68 75 33 22 65 69 49 31 22 51 36 33 42 62 -1 13 27 46 6 42 37 35 28 51 27 W r c pc r sn c c r r r r s pc pc c sn s s r pc s s pc pc r r Sun. Hi 71 78 83 38 24 77 81 65 33 28 71 57 41 59 74 24 40 48 47 24 63 49 44 54 72 35 Lo 50 58 75 29 14 66 57 42 25 21 47 36 27 36 60 4 24 33 40 8 45 39 36 31 51 20 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W r t sh c pc t c sh i pc sh s r r c s c pc r s s pc r pc c i
