East Oregonian : E.O., May 25, 2017, Page Page 4A, Image 4

Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Thursday, May 25, 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
In Salem, both
parties found way
to support pay equity
Oregon is setting a national
to lead committees, which is where
example for ensuring that employees most of the Oregon Legislature’s
work gets done. Kathleen Taylor,
are paid equally for performing
a first-term Democratic senator
equal work.
from Milwaukie, and experienced
In doing so, Oregon also
Republican Sen. Tim Knopp, of
has shown how Democrats and
Republicans can work together. And Bend, did not know each other well
before Courtney appointed them to
it happened because of the 2017
the Senate Workforce
Legislature’s struggles
Committee.
on an unrelated issue
chair Taylor
— curbing the soaring
The bill bars and But
vice chair
costs of the Oregon
employers
Knopp developed a
Public Employees
trust and
Retirement System.
from asking collaborative
respect as they worked
House Bill 2005,
for applicants’ this year on PERS and
known as the Oregon
issues. Under
Equal Pay Act of
salary history other
the Legislature’s
2017, outlaws wage
deadlines, they ran
discrimination on the
before
of time to resolve
basis of race, sex,
offering a job. out
PERS, which they
disability, sexual
shipped off to the
orientation, age,
legislative budget
veteran status and
other protected classes. It allows
committee for more work. Pay
different pay levels for equivalent
equity is a priority for Taylor, and
work if the disparity is because
Courtney asked Knopp to work
of bona fide factors such as merit,
with her on it. Republican Sen.
seniority and quality of a person’s
Bill Hansell of Athena, a member
of the Workforce Committee, said
work. And it bars employers from
asking for job applicants’ salary
Taylor’s leadership and Knopp’s
collaboration were crucial. Little
history before offering a job. That
matters because women often have
by little, the committee reshaped
the measure from a bad bill into a
been paid less in the past, and using
good bill. The working relationship
salary history for a new job can
between Taylor and Knopp was
perpetuate that disparity.
personified by her giving the
The bill, which Gov. Kate
opening argument for the bill on
Brown plans to sign into law next
the Senate floor and his giving the
week, combines enforcement and
closing argument, Hansell said.
education. It encourages employers
In the House, the bill had
to examine the internal equity of
elicited considerable rancor. In
their wages, provides them with
the Senate, all sides got their say,
legal protections for doing so, but
as negotiations started by finding
expands penalties for employers
common ground. Senators talked
who willfully discriminate. The
with House members about their
bill initially was so divisive that
concerns. Misunderstandings and
it passed the state House in late
miscommunications were resolved.
March on a party-line vote after
Blowups and hiccups happened, but
Republicans narrowly failed to
no one was willing to walk away
substitute their own version. Yet the
from the negotiating table.
final version unanimously passed
Seeking perfect legislation can
both the Senate and this week the
be the barrier to achieving good
House.
How could this be? It stems from legislation. On the pay equity bill,
business and labor — Republicans
good-hearted people being willing
and Democrats — were largely
to listen, make compromises and
satisfied that the final version was
not fall victim to ideology. Senate
both effective and reasonable.
President Peter Courtney, D-Salem,
Oregon can be proud of its equal-pay
gives broad autonomy to his
committee chairs instead of ordering legislation. And equally proud of its
legislators, starting with Sens. Taylor
them what to do. He also has a
and Knopp.
knack for pairing the right people
OTHER VIEWS
At this rate, it won’t matter if
Trump colluded with Russia
T
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. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters
that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that
infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by
the author and include the city of residence and a phone number. Send letters
to 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
hroughout the Trump-Russia
and obstruction: “The jurisdiction of a
investigation, the core
Special Counsel shall also include the
question — the question that
authority to investigate and prosecute
mattered above all others — was
federal crimes committed in the course
whether President Trump or his
of, and with intent to interfere with,
associates colluded with Russia to
the Special Counsel’s investigation,
try to influence the 2016 election. If
such as perjury, obstruction of
there were proof of that, the effect on
justice, destruction of evidence, and
Trump’s presidency would have been
intimidation of witnesses; and to
Byron
devastating, and possibly fatal.
conduct appeals arising out of the
York
The problem, for the confederation
matter being investigated and/or
Comment
of Democrats, pundits, Obama
prosecuted.”
Then The New York Times reported
holdovers and NeverTrumpers who
hoped to see that result, has been that so far,
that Comey wrote contemporaneous memos
after a lot of investigating, no evidence has
of his interactions with the president, and that
emerged that collusion actually occurred.
during one of those interactions Trump asked
Although they allowed that previously
Comey to drop the investigation into fired
unknown proof could always emerge, last
national security adviser Michael Flynn.
week some of the lawmakers most deeply
Then the Times reported Trump, in an Oval
involved in the investigation, and most closely Office meeting, bragged to Russia’s foreign
in touch with the intelligence community
minister and ambassador to the U.S. that firing
working on the probe, conceded that there
Comey relieved Trump of “great pressure” in
appeared to be no there there.
the Russia investigation.
That was then. Now, rather than focusing
As each revelation came, there was
on alleged collusion, the thrust of leaks
more talk of obstruction. (A Google search
in recent days has been directed almost
of “Trump” and “obstruction of justice”
exclusively toward building a case of
Monday night drew 597,000 hits.) Democrat
obstruction of justice against the president,
after Democrat suggested Trump might
charging that he actively tried to derail the
have engaged in obstruction, while the list
investigation into his campaign and his
of Democrats calling for impeachment grew
associates. More and more, day after day,
long enough for party leaders to worry about
Trump’s adversaries believe that, when it
the situation escalating too soon. The newest
comes to bringing down the president, it might stories will do nothing to slow things down,
not matter if collusion occurred or not. A
even with the president on a foreign trip.
cover-up would be enough to do the job.
Before Trump fired Comey, a likely
The Trump-Russia case could become the
conclusion of the Russia affair was coming
ultimate illustration of the old Washington
into view. Flynn would be in trouble for his
saying that it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up. connections to Turkey and possible violation
In this case, there might be no underlying
of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
crime at all.
Former Trump campaign head Paul Manafort
The latest story in the cover-up timeline
would be in trouble for some sort of sleazy
broke Monday night in the Washington Post.
business dealing in Ukraine. Maybe another
Citing current and former officials, the paper
figure or two from TrumpWorld would get
reported that Trump called the Director of
into trouble, as well, but in ways tangential
National Intelligence and the head of the
to the investigation. There would be scalps
National Security Agency to enlist their help
for Democrats to celebrate, but the most
to “push back” against the FBI investigation
consequential issue — collusion — would end
and to “publicly deny the existence of
in nothing.
any evidence of collusion during the 2016
That was before Comey was sacked. Now,
election.”
the investigation has taken what is for Trump
Before that came a spate of reports and
a more ominous turn. Focusing on alleged
developments, all arising out of Trump’s May
obstruction, the president’s enemies no longer
9 firing of FBI Director James Comey.
have to find an underlying crime to attempt to
First, the White House portrayed the firing
remove him from office.
as 1) not Trump’s doing, and 2) not related to
All the while, some Republicans have
the Russia investigation.
found themselves asking over and over: But
Then Trump told NBC’s Lester Holt that
what about collusion? Remember that? If
he had in fact decided to fire Comey because
there’s no crime at the bottom of the Russia
“this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a
affair, then isn’t all of this just much ado about
made up story.”
nothing?
Then, with accusations of obstruction in the
The answer is no. Certainly Trump has
air, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
good arguments to make in his defense,
appointed a special counsel to investigate the
beginning with what legally constitutes
Russia affair. Rosenstein specifically gave
obstruction. But after the last two weeks,
that prosecutor, former FBI Director Robert
his supporters can no longer assume that his
Mueller, authority to pursue any “federal
detractors will have to find an underlying
crimes arising from the investigation” and
crime to make big trouble for the president.
specifically referenced 28 CFR 600.4(a),
■
which is the part of the Code of Federal
Byron York is chief political correspondent
Regulations dealing with special counsels
for The Washington Examiner.
YOUR VIEWS
City of Echo bullying resident
to condemn his land
I read with interest the East Oregonian
article concerning the city of Echo taking
Michael Yunker’s property by condemnation
for a water treatment facility. In a letter the
city indicated that it would be better for him
to voluntarily sell, so the city did not have
to handle the situation in the most expensive
and least neighborly way. How could that
possibly be better for him? It appears the
city feels that condemning the property is the
least neighborly way to handle the situation.
City manager Diane Berry stated that the
proposed project would only encompass
a “small piece” of the field. The ranch is
65 acres, of which 14 is the river, leaving
51 usable acres. That is 19.6 percent of the
ranch. That is not a small piece.
The city of Echo was advised by Oregon
DEQ 10 years ago that they would have
to upgrade the sewer system. They have
received six extensions to an agreement with
DEQ in that 10 years. What has the city done
to pursue other viable alternatives to locate
and upgrade the sewer system? Ten years is
more than sufficient time to find funding and
viable alternatives.
Mayor Jeanie Hampton stated that she felt
Echo residents would understand the city’s
decision to pursue Mr. Yunker’s land. Did
you ask them in an open forum or is this an
assumption?
When Mr. Yunker asked to voice his
concerns of the condemnation at a city
council meeting, he was told he had to read
a letter of concern to the council in a closed
door executive session. Why?
These concerns should lead a reasonable
person to question what the city of Echo’s
motives are for condemning private property.
And yes, I am Mr. Yunker’s brother.
Regardless of that fact, these are questions
that should be publicly addressed and
sufficiently answered based on reasonable
facts.
D. Yunker, (Michael Yunker’s brother)
Central Oregon
Don’t make God responsible
for Trump’s election
I can just see God now. St. Peter tapped
him on the shoulder and handed him the
East Oregonian containing the Ron Ingle
letter giving Him credit (blame?) for the
Donald Trump farce of a presidency. Did
he chuckle, frown or puke at the thought of
being dragged into our cesspool known as
U.S. politics?
The incredibly naive and hypocritical
religious right in this country are beyond the
realms of common sense in embracing the
con man now occupying the White House.
I can imagine if Larry Flynt, the publisher
of Hustler magazine, came out and said
he was pro life, the evangelicals in this
country would fall all over themselves to
nominate him for president and disregard
every decadent thing he had ever done up
until now. My apologies to Larry Flynt for
comparing him to Trump.
Hopefully this latest scandal concerning
Comey will finally be Trump’s undoing.
Don’t be one of Trump’s chumps. Wake up!
You’ve been conned.
David Gracia
Hermiston
More takeaways from
Pendleton drone industry
The op-ed I wrote for Saturday’s East
Oregonian (“Drone range a development
opportunity”) went through considerable
editing after submission. Verbose writing is
a risk when a former editorial writer like me
does a guest column. There are four more
aspects of drones I would like to note.
The U.S. Department of Energy and
the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
(outgrowth of Battelle Northwest, in the
Tri-Cities) has worked since the 1980s on
aviation and atmospheric testing related to
aerosoles and depletion of the ozone layer.
It is that work that drew attention to the
Pendleton airport as a test range possibility
for drones. A recent open house at the airport
featured roll-out of a monoplane with a 10
foot wingspan called the Tiger Shark and
piloted from a ground control station.
Besides atmospheric testing, another
productive use of drones under consideration
is to provide more detailed information
on, say, levels of moisture and nutrients
on cropland. With grant money, a program
called Oregon UAS Future Farm has been
created by two men to promote drone use
to growers. The two are Jeff Lorton, an
economic development specialist who
has moved here from Yamhill County,
and Young Kim, CEO of Virginia-based
Digital Harvest, which focuses on using
unmanned aerial systems in ag. Digital
Harvest and Yamaha have contact facilities
and equipment at the Pendleton airport.
Lorton said Future Farm seeks to integrate
drones into ag through demonstrations to
local crop producers. He said he would like
to see Gov. Kate Brown name a small group
of Oregonians to form strategy to promote
drone use in farming and forestry.
The fact that the Pendleton airport has a
tower and a variety of activity — commercial
flights, National Guard helicopters, medical
rescue aircraft, crop dusters, fixed base
operators — has earned the airport a
reputation for helpfulness and dependability
among officials from the FAA and elsewhere.
Key personnel who have been working
to promote the Pendleton Test Range: Darryl
Abling, range manager, 541-966-0281; Jeff
Lorton, liaison between the drone industry
and agriculture, 503-989-6933; and Steve
Chrisman, airport manager and economic
development director for Pendleton,
541-276-7754.
Mike Forrester
Pendleton