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OPINION
East Oregonian
Friday, May 5, 2017
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
MARISSA WILLIAMS
Regional Advertising Director
MARCY ROSENBERG
Circulation Manager
JANNA HEIMGARTNER
Business Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
Tip of the hat;
kick in the pants
A kick in the pants to governor Kate Brown for once again finding
ways to limit rural voices and put sycophants from the valley in
important positions.
Brown had previously fired three members of the state Environmental
Quality Commission, including Melinda
Eden of Milton-Freewater and Colleen
Johnson of La Grande. The governor cut
them loose because they voted (along with
two others) to appoint Richard Whitman as
permanent director of the department.
The firing was roundly criticized,
though Brown said she didn’t fire them
for their decision but how they arrived at
it. Those of us far from the halls of power
are perhaps not as familiar with how such
back-scratching is supposed to be done. Our
state senator, Bill Hansell, was one of those critical of Brown.
“The governor should not fire commissioners because they are doing their
jobs,” he said earlier this week during floor debate.
We agree, but of course the proclamation was to no avail
The trio was replaced this week by three voices from inside the I-5
corridor. Which means the result is all too common, another government
institution — populated by westsiders — making decisions that affect us
here on the east side.
A tip of the hat to Judge Daniel Hill, or as we must now address him:
Brigadier General Hill.
The Umatilla County circuit court judge
will soon be promoted to Assistant to the Chief
Counsel of the National Guard and an advisor to
the Judge Advocate General of the Army.
Step outside the bureaucrat-speak of top
Army brass and you’ll see that Hill’s promotion
is a mighty big deal. It’s a national position
that was almost created for Hill, who had been
serving in the top legal position of the Oregon
National Guard since 2015.
He will now work on big legal issues
involving overlaps between the National Guard, active duty Army and Army
Reserve.
It has been quite a journey for the Hermiston High School and Blue
Mountain Community College graduate, who will still spend plenty of time
at his day job on the local circuit court.
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.
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public
issues and public policies for publication. Send letters to 211 S.E. Byers Ave.
Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
Appreciate firefighters, When is life too costly?
The fire station is more than just
but don’t like location
Two young men representing
the Pendleton Fire Department
called on me at my home
They convinced me we need
better accommodations for
the fire station. These men
were knowledgeable, sincere
and dedicated to their cause.
I am proud to have such men
representing the city.
However, I strongly disagree
that the vacated St. Anthony
Hospital land is the place to
build it. This land is down in a
hole. The exit north on Southeast
17th has a railroad track, as does
the exit west on Court Place.
The exit east is a dead end. The
exits south on Southeast 17th
and Southeast 16th have a very
steep incline. This land is on the
easterly fringe of Pendleton, and
Pendleton is rapidly growing
toward the west.
The building plans and new
equipment are top of the line. If
we are going to spend this kind
of money, let’s find a better place
to put it.
Mary E. Harris
Pendleton
a building. It houses millions of
dollars in equipment.
The fire station is more than
just a building. It hosts community
meetings and events.
The fire station is more than just
a building. It hosts school tours
and special events.
The fire station is more than just
a building. It represents Pendleton
and pride in our community.
The bond is needed. It pays for
self-contained breathing apparatus.
Not just for a building.
The bond is needed. It pays for
heart monitors/defibrillators. Not
just for a building.
The fire station is more than
just a building. It houses the men
and women of Pendleton Fire &
Ambulance, who are very fortunate
to serve Pendleton.
The fire station is more than
just a building. It houses the men
and women of Pendleton Fire &
Ambulance who put their lives
on the line every day for our
community and people who just
pass through and visit. The men
and women of Pendleton Fire &
Ambulance are currently housed in
a fire station that is unnecessarily
OTHER VIEWS
Rural Oregon wants
health care solutions
Q
uality rural healthcare always
I heard repeatedly how repealing
has been and always will be
the ACA’s Medicaid expansion would
a fundamental foundation to
significantly decrease rural coverage
sustain robust rural life in Oregon.
and increase uncompensated care.
Maintaining quality rural
That could force shutdowns of rural
healthcare poses special challenges
hospitals and clinics, many of which
when hospitals and doctors may be a
already have slim financial margins.
long drive or even a helicopter flight
Cuts to Medicaid would worsen the
away, challenges made even harder by
often-tough job of recruiting providers
Ron
inclement winter weather.
to rural Oregon, with the ultimate
Wyden
We must meet the challenge to
victims being rural residents needing
Comment
protect the health and well-being of
healthcare.
rural seniors, children and families.
3) Some of the heaviest impacts
At the same time, healthcare
from repealing the ACA
generates good jobs at good
and slashing Medicaid
wages, providing significant
funding would land on
financial resources for
rural seniors and children;
smaller communities
and people battling opioid
statewide.
addiction
Because rural healthcare
Rural seniors would be
is so key, I’m holding a
threatened because those
statewide rural healthcare
older Oregonians tend to
listening tour this year. I’ve
have chronic conditions
heard so far from doctors,
and disabilities, and are
nurses, patients, advocates
more likely to enter nursing
and many others about
homes.
what’s working and what
I also heard how rural
needs improving to stay on the path toward
children could suffer because youngsters are
quality care for all.
disproportionately served through the Oregon
Two of my seven roundtables were in
Health Plan.
Pendleton and John Day. I plan additional
And providers also spoke of how the fight
Oregon rural healthcare meetings this year but to combat opioid addiction would become
so far can report these five takeaways from my tougher if the expanded addiction treatment
meetings in Pendleton, John Day and the other coverage under the ACA is lost.
five roundtables:
4) Soaring prescription drug prices
1) The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has
continue to undermine lasting healthcare
produced real benefits for rural Oregonians solutions
Rural healthcare providers overwhelmingly
There were harrowing tales about
said many Oregonians have benefited from the Oregonians facing prescription drug costs
ACA.
that place the treatment they need far out of
I heard powerful personal stories of
financial reach.
Oregonians whose lack of insurance pre-ACA
Providers and patients alike highlighted
had forced them to put off essential medical
about the need to lift the veil of secrecy
treatment because the mammoth healthcare
covering the opaque system of pricing
expenses would have bankrupted them.
prescription drugs.
Thanks to coverage under the ACA, those
We discussed my bill that would require
same people can now receive vital care that
pharmacy benefit managers in Medicare to
helps keep them healthy and providing for
disclose their total rebates provided by drug
their families.
manufacturers.
I also heard how the ACA generated more
The legislation also would disclose how
cost-saving and life-saving preventive care, as much those rebates are passed on to health
well as access to caseworkers and behavioral
plans so prices are lowered for people needing
health providers to help patients improve their prescription drugs.
quality of life.
5) Rural Oregon is hungry for solutions
Healthcare providers also talked about
Oregonians prefer proven innovations
the important connections they can make in
pioneered in rural Oregon over partisan
coordinating services to link crucial mental
standoffs that could reverse those gains.
health treatment, community resources and
They say ideas are most likely to succeed
good physical health care.
when they emerge from the “Oregon way”
2) Expansion of Medicaid in rural
prioritizing what works over partisan
Oregon has been especially helpful
politics.
More than 1 in 4 Oregonians are enrolled
I wholeheartedly agree.
■
in Medicaid — and that share exceeds one in
Ron Wyden is Oregon’s senior U.S. Senator.
three in some rural counties.
These are the
five takeaways
from my
meetings in
Pendleton and
elsewhere.
YOUR VIEWS
exposing them to cancer causing
agents and mold. The men and
women of Pendleton Fire &
Ambulance are your neighbors and
unselfishly serve the citizens of
Pendleton.
The fire station is not just a
building. It is an office, meeting
place and a home.
The bond is more than just for a
building. It will save lives.
Is the cost too great? The
voters will decide on May 16.
And remember, the lives of those
men and women who work for
you will be affected by how you
vote. Pendleton, take pride in your
community. Vote yes.
John Richardson
Pendleton
Tell reps your thoughts
on health care
Thursday the U.S. House of
Representatives passed the AHCA,
or the American Health Care Act.
If passed in the Senate and
signed by the President, it will
sicken and kill voters and their
families. Unless you’re wealthy
enough to enjoy the tax break from
weakening healthcare in the U.S.,
anyone recommending the AHCA
is not your friend. Let your federal
representative hear from you about
this.
The proposed revisions will
sicken and kill Americans who
are not wealthy. Proposed AHCA
premium prices for older but not
retired Americans will be dramatic.
According to CNBC, this would
bring average annual premiums
up to $17,900 for someone aged
60 or older who purchases health
insurance on the individual market.
The proposed AHCA will
remove the safety net for
pre-existing conditions — the
subsidy offered in return is a
tiny fraction required to offer
reasonable coverage.
The Congressional Budget
Office projects an additional 14
million Americans will not be
covered next year if the AHCA
is enacted, and 24 million by
2026. People without health care
coverage die early.
The AHCA is opposed by
AARP, the American Medical
Association, American Hospital
Association, American Lung
Association, American Heart
Association, American Academy of
Pediatricians, the American Nurses
Association and surprisingly, by
several GOP senators, according to
ABC News.
A single payer system, based on
the model of all other developed
nations, which provide healthcare
as a right. Single payer is a system
where we would all pay for a more
efficient system with rules but with
our best health outcome as a goal.
A 2013 study of Rep. Conyers’
bill (HR676) to provide universal
coverage, no deductible, doctors
free to practice as they see fit,
would cost less for 95 percent of
U.S. households than our current
healthcare insurance model. We’d
save money and have better care.
America is the only developed
country putting their citizens at the
mercy of the Healthcare Industry. In
fact, U.S. citizens pay far more for
coverage and prescription drugs than
other countries, and our outcomes
are generally worse. Be better to
have insurance that won’t kill us.
Please call our U.S.
representatives and let them know
how you feel about this life and
death matter: Rep. Greg Walden,
202- 225-6730; Sen. Jeff Merkley,
202-224-3753; Sen. Ron Wyden,
202-224-5244.
Bill Young,
Pendleton