NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Page 2A
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Portland council moves to rein in protests Oregon bill preps for
abortion restrictions,
health care cuts
PORTLAND (AP) — In Oregon’s
ultra-liberal city of Portland, where
protest is a way of life, the new mayor is
taking on the sacrosanct.
Mayor Ted Wheeler and the City
Council unanimously approved an emer-
gency ordinance Wednesday that would
allow city leaders to eject disruptive
protesters from meetings and ban them
from council chambers for up to 60 days
in some cases.
As they voted, commissioners said
months of protests by a small group
of people have shut down meetings,
disrupted government business, caused
stress to city staff, undermined projects
and prevented other residents from
appearing before the council.
“I don’t know why you’ve decided
that your voices are more important than
anyone else who comes to this chamber
to give testimony,” said Commissioner
Chloe Eudaly, who was elected to the
Council last fall and called the interrup-
tions “toxic.”
“The fact that I can’t singlehandedly
and immediately satisfy your demands
does not mean that we are not listening
to you.”
The American Civil Liberties Union
immediately condemned the ordinance
as unconstitutional and protesters tried
to prevent the vote by shouting down
commissioners as they were polled.
People in the chamber held up posters
with an image of Wheeler’s head that read
“Gas the Peaceful, Let the Poor Freeze.”
The poster is a dual reference to
Portland’s vast numbers of homeless
and anger over how the Portland Police
Bureau handled almost daily protests after
President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
In papers filed with the City Council,
ACLU-Oregon’s legal director Mat dos
Santos said city officials have the right
to throw out disruptive individuals on a
case-by-case basis, but banning a person
from future meetings based on their
current behavior is unconstitutional.
“People have the right to express
unpopular, even offensive ideas,” he
wrote. “The government cannot bar
communicative acts ... based on the mere
By ANDREW SELSKY
Associated Press
SALEM — Oregon
lawmakers,
anticipating
federal abortion restrictions
and
health-care
cuts,
considered a proposed law
Wednesday that would ban
interference in terminating
a pregnancy, and would
ensure full reproductive
health care coverage.
The measure sponsored
by a host of lawmakers
in one of America’s most
liberal states could set a
precedent for other states.
But some of the witnesses
who testified Wednesday
before the House Committee
On Health Care warned that
the legislation could provoke
the federal government to
cut up to $10.7 billion in
funds to Oregon.
The bill requires coverage
of medical services, drugs
and products related to
reproductive health, with no
co-pay or deductible. The
Oregon Health Authority
would implement programs
to reimburse those costs to
those “who would be eligible
for medical assistance if not
for certain federal require-
ments.”
The measure, sponsored
by three House represen-
tatives and 19 senators,
prohibits
any
“public
body” from interfering in
a woman’s choice to have
an abortion, and interfering
in any licensed health care
provider terminating a
pregnancy.
The chief executive of
Providence Health Plans,
which runs eight hospitals
and bills itself as Oregon’s
largest health care provider,
said that as a Catholic-spon-
sored organization it is
“strongly opposed” to the
measure.
“Catholic institutions are
not permitted to provide, or
cooperate with the provision
of, abortion services,”
Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian via AP, File
In this Feb. 22 photo, Mimi German, center, and, Star Stauffer, right,
disrupt the Portland City Council meeting to protest Mayor Ted Wheeler’s
performance regarding police tactics related to protests, people of color,
and homeless issues, in Portland.
fear of disruption in reaction to those
acts.”
The vote came after nearly four hours
of a city agenda that was largely made up
of members of the public taking the floor
to criticize Wheeler. Several commenters
preceded their remarks by calling the day
“Unconstitutional Wednesday.”
“Locally, we’re going to have the war
on protesters, backed up now by a City
Council ordinance,” said Charles Bridge-
Crane Johnson, a local activist. “Shame
on all of you. I know you can see our
attempts to communicate with you and
you ignore them.”
Before the vote, Wheeler said the
provision allowing people to be banned
from the council chambers won’t be used
until a federal court rules on its constitu-
tionality.
“There is a difference of opinion
among informed attorneys as to whether
this is constitutional or not. It may not be
constitutional,” Wheeler said, adding that
passing it would allow the court evalua-
tion to start.
A federal judge in 2015 ruled that
the city acted unconstitutionally when it
threw out a protester and banned him for
60 days. But the judge left open a window
for the city to revise its ordinance and
bring it back for review, said Michael
Cox, a spokesman for the mayor.
The revised ordinance contains an
appeals process and specifies the types of
behavior that can get a person banned, he
said.
Weekly or even daily protests are
nothing new in Portland, but in recent
months even this city has had more than
its share — and Wheeler has seemed
more willing than previous mayors to
push back.
That approach, plus a constellation
of highly charged events, has created an
atmosphere of anger and distrust for some.
The city has been panned for its
response to its homeless crisis during an
especially harsh winter. Four people have
died of exposure and a stillborn infant
was found with his homeless mother at a
street side bus stop earlier this year.
Lane County boosts age to 21 for buying, using tobacco
EUGENE
(AP)
—
Commissioners
in
the
Oregon county that includes
Eugene have increased
the legal age for using and
buying tobacco products to
21.
Lane County is the first
county in Oregon to raise the
age limit from 18. The ordi-
nance was approved Tuesday
by a 3-2 vote and applies
countywide starting April 13,
the Register-Guard reported.
The ordinance is the latest
in the Tobacco 21 campaign,
an effort to pass similar
local and state laws around
the country. California and
Hawaii have statewide laws
setting the minimum age for
tobacco purchase or use at
21, and Oregon lawmakers
are considering doing the
same.
“This will allow the
product to get out of the
school
system,”
said
Commissioner Faye Stewart,
who voted in favor of the
change.
Violators of the new rule
may be fined up to $50.
Commissioners
Jay
Bozievich supports a higher
minimum age but voted
against the ordinance. He
said he was swayed by the
thought of active military
members returning to Lane
County to learn it is illegal
for them to buy cigarettes.
He had called for a grand-
father clause that would
allow anyone who turned
age 18 before April 13 to be
exempt from the new age
limit.
“You don’t criminalize an
addiction,” Bozievich said.
“You treat it.”
During public comment,
Tamara Miller of Eugene
argued against such a clause.
“If we are going to protect
kids in this community, why
not protect them all now?”
she said.
Commissioner Sid Leiken
cast the other “no” vote,
saying the legal age should
be uniform across Oregon,
and legislators are already
pursuing the matter in Salem.
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REGIONAL CITIES
Forecast
TODAY
FRIDAY
Partly sunny and
cooler
A little afternoon
rain
52° 36°
53° 46°
SATURDAY
Cloudy with a
touch of rain
SUNDAY
Partly sunny and
cooler
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
59° 32°
49° 32°
48° 36°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
53° 43°
57° 34°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
LOW
63°
55°
78° (1901)
49°
35°
1° (1906)
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
0.06"
0.93"
0.61"
4.85"
3.34"
3.12"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
Yesterday
Normals
Records
LOW
62°
58°
77° (1940)
47°
34°
15° (1944)
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
0.01"
0.46"
0.47"
3.92"
2.12"
2.71"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
Last
New
Mar 20
Mar 27
7:06 a.m.
7:02 p.m.
11:25 p.m.
9:19 a.m.
First
Full
Apr 3
52° 31°
52° 37°
Seattle
52/38
ALMANAC
Yesterday
Normals
Records
61° 31°
Apr 10
Today
MONDAY
Times of clouds
and sun
Spokane
Wenatchee
47/28
51/31
Tacoma
Moses
53/34
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 55/32
46/33
50/39
52/34
57/30
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
54/38
55/37 Lewiston
58/34
Astoria
55/34
53/37
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
55/37
Pendleton 49/27
The Dalles 57/34
52/36
60/35
La Grande
Salem
52/33
56/37
Albany
Corvallis 55/35
56/38
John Day
53/38
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
60/35
56/38
52/32
Caldwell
Burns
60/38
52/28
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
53
55
52
53
52
49
56
52
57
53
58
52
48
60
51
54
60
57
52
55
54
56
47
48
55
55
57
Lo
37
28
32
42
28
27
38
32
34
38
34
33
29
41
39
40
35
33
36
37
27
37
28
29
38
37
30
W
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
c
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
s
Hi
49
60
61
56
59
54
53
54
53
64
63
58
57
63
50
57
65
52
53
51
60
51
50
57
51
53
52
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Lo
38
66
42
42
48
29
44
42
29
68
42
W
pc
c
pc
pc
pc
sf
s
s
s
t
s
Lo
42
44
47
50
38
47
47
43
43
54
46
50
49
49
46
49
45
43
46
45
45
47
42
46
47
46
39
W
r
pc
r
r
pc
pc
r
r
r
pc
c
pc
pc
r
r
r
pc
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
c
Fri.
Hi
63
73
60
53
71
43
55
65
57
74
53
(in mph)
Klamath Falls
58/34
Boardman
Pendleton
Lo
40
68
49
49
48
30
43
47
32
70
42
W
pc
c
pc
sh
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
t
pc
REGIONAL FORECAST
Coastal Oregon: Some sun today; a shower
in spots across the north. Mainly cloudy
tonight.
Eastern and Central Oregon: Times of
clouds and sun today; a passing shower in
the south.
Western Washington: Clouds and sun
today. A brief shower or two; only in the
morning across the south.
Eastern Washington: A bit of ice in the
mountains today; sunny in central sections.
Partly sunny elsewhere.
Cascades: A blend of sun and clouds today.
Partly cloudy tonight. A little rain tomorrow.
Northern California: Some sun today;
cloudy in the morning, then some sun in
central parts in the afternoon.
Today
Friday
WSW 7-14
W 7-14
NNE 4-8
N 4-8
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
0
2
4
4
2
NEWS
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Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
WORLD CITIES
Hi
64
73
55
56
69
41
66
64
54
79
53
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NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Fri.
WINDS
Medford
60/41
Corrections
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Michael
Cotton
said.
“This would be considered
material cooperation and
is a red line for Providence
Health Plans that cannot be
crossed.”
However the bill allows
a religious employer to use a
health benefit plan that does
not include coverage for
contraceptives or abortion
procedures that violate
the employer’s religious
tenets. Also, if the state
Department of Consumer
and Business Services
concludes that enforcement
may threaten federal funds,
the department may grant a
minimal exemption to the
requirements “to ensure the
continued receipt of federal
funds.”
House Speaker Tina
Kotek told reporters that the
measure makes sure that all
reproductive health care is
affordable and accessible.
An editorial by The New
York Times, entered as testi-
mony by Rep. Julie Fahey,
D-Eugene, one of the bill’s
sponsors, said the bill may
serve as a model for other
states. The opinion piece by
the newspaper’s editorial
board said the measure is
“a powerful defense, at the
state level, of necessary
reproductive health care.”
If the bill becomes law, a
person may not be excluded
for “sexual orientation,
gender identity” and other
reasons. Basic Rights
Oregon, which promotes
equality for LGBTQ citi-
zens, said “this legislation
is a necessary step in the
right direction to ensure that
all transgender Oregonians
have access to lifesaving
care.”
The Oregon Nurses
Association said that with
the Affordable Care Act
facing repeal, “hundreds of
thousands of Oregonians
could lose no-cost-share
coverage for essential repro-
ductive health services.
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. ©2017
-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: Frigid air and snow showers will linger in the Northeast today. As spot-
ty rain and ice break out over the northern Plains, valley rain and mountain snow showers
will push inland over the Northwest.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 95° in Palm Springs, Calif.
Low -11° in Windom, Minn.
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
78
53
37
39
57
54
59
34
54
42
39
36
74
74
39
86
7
43
84
72
42
58
61
86
53
82
Lo
47
36
26
21
31
39
41
19
32
21
32
23
63
39
22
55
-19
31
69
63
31
31
48
63
47
57
W
s
s
pc
pc
pc
s
sh
pc
s
pc
s
pc
c
c
pc
s
pc
i
pc
c
s
s
c
pc
c
pc
Fri.
Hi
77
66
44
46
52
66
69
37
64
47
49
41
81
67
43
86
8
40
83
80
51
67
67
88
69
84
Lo
47
53
37
35
37
55
50
24
47
44
32
36
64
41
35
53
-13
20
68
64
35
42
34
63
55
57
Today
W
s
pc
s
s
pc
pc
pc
s
s
sh
sh
sn
c
pc
sn
s
s
pc
pc
pc
sh
s
pc
pc
c
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
48
52
71
39
40
52
65
35
73
62
36
92
32
34
47
68
70
72
50
68
72
66
52
90
40
72
Lo
36
46
56
31
32
37
53
24
58
39
22
64
11
19
25
31
41
45
43
46
57
48
38
59
27
49
W
s
c
s
s
c
pc
s
pc
c
c
pc
s
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
c
pc
pc
c
sh
s
pc
pc
Fri.
Hi
55
67
73
46
47
60
74
40
75
62
42
92
33
39
58
54
75
75
64
72
72
68
50
92
50
72
Lo
43
55
61
31
26
50
56
29
50
29
34
64
12
22
47
26
48
52
38
53
57
52
44
60
39
38
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
sh
c
pc
sn
c
c
pc
s
c
c
s
s
s
s
s
pc
pc
pc
t
pc
pc
pc
r
s
s
c