NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Page 2A
Thursday, July 6, 2017
BRIEFLY
Health care provider tax gets closer to ballot
“sales tax on health care” for
people who buy insurance on
the individual market.
Esquivel voted for the
provider tax — the lone
Republican to do so and a key
vote supplying the required
three-fifths majority approval
in the House.
Esquivel said in a prepared
statement
Wednesday
that although he voted for
the provider tax, he was
concerned about recent
initiatives in health care
led by Democrats, such as
mandating coverage of repro-
ductive health services for
Oregon residents, regardless
of immigration status. That
bill was passed by the Legis-
lature Thursday.
“I supported (the provider
tax bill) because I think those
who qualify under the federal
law should have a way to see
the doctor,” Esquivel said. “It
was a hard vote, but it needed
to be done. What’s ensued
since is a major overreach
by the House Democrats to
drive new costs and expand
programs when we can’t
and a 1.5 percent tax on
insurers.
Taxing providers allows
states to draw substantial
federal funds to pay for
Medicaid. According to the
Kaiser Family Foundation,
all states except Alaska had
some kind of provider tax in
the 2016 fiscal year.
In Oregon, the provider tax
is expected to collect more
than $600 million in the next
two years, and to leverage
nearly $1.9 billion in federal
funds to pay for Medicaid.
Health care providers
receive a portion of the
total Medicaid funds in
exchange for providing care
to Medicaid patients.
If the petitioners collect the
required 58,789 signatures in
about three months, the legis-
lation will “freeze” and parts
of it will not be implemented
as planned. The tax on
insurers, for example, would
not start on Jan. 1, 2018, as
the legislation outlines.
Parrish is critical of that
aspect of the bill, and said
Wednesday it amounted to a
By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Legislation
designed to pay for Oregon’s
expanded Medicaid program
through a tax on providers
and insurers got a step closer
to the ballot Wednesday.
State Rep. Julie Parrish,
R-Tualatin/West Linn; Rep.
Cedric
Hayden,
R-Fall
River; and Rep. Sal Esquivel,
R-Medford, filed paperwork
to start collecting signatures
to get a tax on health care
providers on the ballot.
Oregon already assesses
certain urban hospitals 5.3
percent of net revenues in
order to help pay for the costs
of the Oregon Health Plan, the
state’s version of Medicaid,
the federal program that
provides health coverage for
the poor and other qualifying
groups.
Legislation approved last
month would continue the
assessment, create a “true
tax” of .7 percent of net reve-
nues, create a new 4 percent
assessment on rural hospitals
Oregon lawmakers pass
controversial abortion bill
fully fund programs for our
veterans and citizens. That’s
not how those tax increases
were presented to me.”
Oregon
Gov.
Kate
Brown, a Democrat, signed
the provider tax legislation
Monday. In a statement
Wednesday, she called it
“critical to protecting the
health care coverage of
Oregonians and stabilizing
the commercial insurance
market.”
“Any delay would jeopar-
dize the care of more than 1
million Oregonians who rely
on the Oregon Health Plan,
drive up costs of Oregonians
who buy their insurance on
the individual market, and
limit health care options for
rural Oregonians,” Brown
said.
It’s not yet clear when the
tax could go to the ballot:
the House is scheduled to
vote Thursday on when to
hold the election. Democrats
are pushing for a January
election to decide the issue
sooner, a move that Parrish
opposes.
SALEM, (AP) — Insurance companies in
Oregon would be required to cover abortions and a
variety of other reproductive services at no cost to
the patient under a $10 million reproductive health
bill approved by the state Legislature.
Oregon already has among the most liberal
abortion laws in the nation, which are absent of
otherwise common requirements for waiting periods
or spending limits on taxpayer funds, among others.
House Bill 3391 was approved by the Oregon
Senate Wednesday in a 17-13 vote along party lines.
The bill heads to Gov. Kate Brown. The measure
requires reproductive health be covered in all
insurance plans at no cost to the patient regardless
of income, citizenship status or gender identity.
The bill would also allocate almost $500,000
over the next two years to expand cost-free
reproductive health coverage, including abortions,
to immigrants who are otherwise ineligible for
Medicaid.
GOP lawmakers launch fight
against Oregon’s new health tax
SALEM (AP) — Three Republicans in the
Oregon House have officially launched an effort to
block a multimillion-dollar health care tax to fund
Medicaid before it can go into effect.
Reps. Julie Parrish, Cedric Hayden and Sal
Esquivel filed initial paperwork with state elections
officials on Wednesday for a voter referendum on
House Bill 2391, which Gov. Kate Brown signed
into law Monday.
If they can gather nearly 59,000 valid signatures
before the bill goes into effect in early October,
HB 2391 would be placed on hold until voters can
decide its fate at the ballot in November 2018. But
Democrats are working to move the vote up to
January 2018 instead.
The Legislature passed the $670 million tax
package on health insurers and providers to sustain
coverage for more than 350,000 local Medicaid
expansion recipients
Rainbow Gathering begins to disperse after July 4 peak
National Forest and medi-
tated for world peace. The
silence was broken when a
parade of children in colorful
costumes and face paint
marched into the center of
the circle.
“It’s very simple but
it’s very moving,” said a
Rainbow Family member
who gave only the name
“Chinkipin,” from Hood
By AMANDA PEACHER
Oregon Public Broadcasting
The highlight of the
seven-day Rainbow Family
Gathering occurred Tuesday
— a mass peace prayer after
a morning of silence at the
event.
Thousands of campers
held hands in a grassy
meadow in the Malheur
River. “This is a constitu-
tional right to come here and
gather, for the purpose of
peaceful assembly, praying
for peace.”
The pinnacle moment of
the event followed tragedy:
two deaths at the gathering.
One unidentified man had
collapsed over the weekend
and a second man had a heart
attack on Monday evening,
according to sources at the
event. Law enforcement is
conducting
investigations
into both deaths.
The gathering promotes
peace, love and acceptance.
It continues through Friday.
The Forest Service says
the gathering is unsanctioned
but the agency can do little to
stop the thousands of partic-
ipants.
Seattle cyclist dies in Oregon crash
REDMOND (AP) — Authorities say a
32-year-old Seattle woman was killed in a bicycle
crash near Redmond, Oregon.
KOMO-TV reports 32-year-old Katie Jenks
was discovered by passing motorists Wednesday
morning near Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve.
Redmond authorities responded and declared her
dead at the scene.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says she
was traveling west when she went off the shoulder,
suffering fatal injuries.
The sheriff’s office says they’ve found no
witnesses to the crash and say a vehicle or other
obstruction wasn’t involved.
The sheriff’s office says there may have been a
mechanical issue with her bicycle.
She was not wearing a helmet.
Any possible witnesses are asked to contact the
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-693-6911.
Police identify Oregon man who tried to seize helicopter
HILLSBORO (AP) —
Authorities in a Portland,
Oregon, suburb released the
identity Wednesday of a man
who they say tried to steal a
helicopter at gunpoint before
being fatally shot by police.
Holden Austin Gorka, 25,
had no known address and no
known mental health or drug
abuse issues, the Hillsboro
Police Department said in a
statement.
An autopsy was completed
Tuesday but results of toxi-
cology tests won’t be ready for
another two to three months,
authorities said.
The name of the officer
copter, but officers
arrived before he
could take off. The
man then ran across
a street and into a
field, where he was
shot.
The man died
at the scene shortly
before noon. No
other injuries were
reported.
Investigators have to
yet to establish the man’s
motive for trying to steal the
helicopter, but authorities said
Wednesday that he was not
connected to the Hillsboro
Aero Academy, the airport’s
who fatally shot
Gorka
will
be
released Thursday,
the statement said.
According
to
authorities, Gorka
jumped a fence at the
Hillsboro Airport on
Monday and held a
flight instructor and a
student at gunpoint, Gorka
firing at least one shot
before police showed up. That
shot — and possibly a second
misfire — were directed away
from the victims, who were
in the helicopter as it was
warming up for takeoff.
The man got into the heli-
flight-training school.
A witness, Christopher
Neal, told reporters that he
and his family were watching
planes at the small airport
when he saw a man walking
in wearing a gray hoodie. The
man looked at them and then
started running toward the
fence. He pulled a gray mask
over his face, Neal said.
The Hillsboro Airport,
established in 1928, is one of
three airports operated by the
Port of Portland.
It’s about a 40-minute drive
west of the Portland Interna-
tional Airport, the region’s
main airport.
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Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group
REGIONAL CITIES
Forecast
TODAY
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
Partly sunny and
very hot
Sunshine and very
warm
100° 68°
98° 61°
Very warm with
plenty of sun
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Plenty of sunshine
Sunny and
pleasant
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
95° 63°
93° 61°
89° 57°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
102° 64°
104° 69°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
LOW
99°
86°
107° (2007)
57°
57°
38° (1932)
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"
0.00"
0.05"
11.30"
6.47"
7.62"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
Yesterday
Normals
Records
HIGH
LOW
100°
86°
108° (1968)
59°
57°
42° (2012)
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"
0.00"
0.04"
6.59"
4.64"
5.74"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
Full
Last
July 8
July 16
New
July 23
96° 64°
92° 60°
Seattle
84/58
ALMANAC
Yesterday
Normals
Records
99° 66°
5:13 a.m.
8:47 p.m.
6:42 p.m.
3:35 a.m.
First
July 30
Today
Spokane
Wenatchee
98/67
99/70
Tacoma
Moses
85/53
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 102/64
95/62
68/52
85/52
101/65
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
83/55
101/72 Lewiston
103/65
Astoria
102/70
66/53
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
88/60
Pendleton 95/56
The Dalles 104/69
100/68
99/68
La Grande
Salem
97/61
88/57
Albany
Corvallis 88/55
86/54
John Day
99/62
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
102/64
85/53
94/58
Caldwell
Burns
101/61
96/51
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
66
95
94
62
96
95
85
97
104
99
91
97
95
99
61
63
102
102
100
88
99
88
98
95
86
101
101
Lo
53
53
58
52
51
56
53
63
69
62
50
61
57
63
52
53
64
63
68
60
55
57
67
54
57
72
65
W
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
s
s
s
pc
s
c
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
s
s
s
s
pc
s
pc
s
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Fri.
Hi
66
94
91
64
96
94
82
94
102
96
91
95
93
96
61
63
104
103
98
82
95
83
98
92
80
100
102
Lo
53
53
53
52
52
54
50
57
64
58
52
57
54
61
49
51
68
60
61
56
49
54
65
50
53
67
61
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
W
pc
s
s
pc
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
WORLD CITIES
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Hi
79
87
85
82
72
63
93
88
90
63
82
Lo
71
81
69
63
54
48
68
66
74
45
73
W
t
t
s
t
pc
r
t
s
t
s
pc
Fri.
Hi
89
86
84
82
70
59
91
89
81
65
84
Lo
72
81
66
62
56
49
65
67
75
47
74
W
pc
t
s
pc
t
r
s
s
r
s
pc
WINDS
Medford
99/63
(in mph)
Klamath Falls
91/50
Boardman
Pendleton
REGIONAL FORECAST
Eastern and Central Oregon: Partly sunny
and very hot today. A moonlit sky tonight.
Sunshine and hot tomorrow.
Western Washington: Plenty of sunshine
today; however, low clouds followed by
sunshine at the coast.
Eastern Washington: Mostly sunny today.
A moonlit sky tonight. Mostly sunny
tomorrow.
Cascades: Sunny much of the time today; a
passing shower in central parts.
Northern California: Low clouds followed
by sunshine at the coast today; sunny
elsewhere.
Friday
WSW 8-16
W 7-14
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Coastal Oregon: Low clouds followed by
sunshine today. Increasing clouds tonight.
Today
WSW 4-8
WNW 4-8
2
5
7
7
5
2
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: Storms will dot the Southeastern states as showers dampen New
England today. As rain soaks parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, storms will blast the
Upper Midwest. Most of the West will be dry.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 117° in Needles, Calif.
Low 30° in Aurora, Colo.
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
97
91
74
78
95
90
100
80
96
80
91
85
92
98
89
99
83
85
86
93
82
94
90
112
88
89
Lo
70
74
69
70
66
74
69
65
77
69
70
69
76
60
69
74
62
58
75
75
69
74
70
90
71
68
W
pc
pc
c
r
t
s
pc
pc
pc
t
pc
pc
t
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
sh
t
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
Fri.
Hi
95
87
82
87
95
88
103
71
92
84
83
84
95
90
86
98
78
82
87
93
86
96
86
114
93
96
Lo
70
73
72
70
67
74
69
66
78
67
59
64
76
59
59
75
58
59
74
76
62
75
65
90
74
70
Today
W
t
pc
r
r
s
pc
s
r
t
pc
pc
t
pc
pc
t
s
t
s
s
t
t
pc
pc
s
s
pc
Hi
Louisville
80
Memphis
87
Miami
91
Milwaukee
86
Minneapolis
92
Nashville
84
New Orleans
89
New York City
78
Oklahoma City
93
Omaha
96
Philadelphia
78
Phoenix
113
Portland, ME
76
Providence
80
Raleigh
94
Rapid City
94
Reno
97
Sacramento
99
St. Louis
89
Salt Lake City
102
San Diego
78
San Francisco
70
Seattle
84
Tucson
108
Washington, DC 81
Wichita
94
Lo
70
73
81
67
66
70
77
66
69
68
70
90
60
64
74
60
66
61
75
74
68
54
58
80
74
69
W
r
t
sh
pc
t
t
pc
r
s
s
t
pc
pc
pc
pc
c
s
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
t
s
Fri.
Hi
90
92
91
76
82
89
90
80
96
87
85
116
72
75
93
90
99
104
94
103
81
73
78
111
88
95
Lo
69
77
80
60
63
74
77
72
70
65
72
94
58
65
71
60
68
63
69
73
70
54
56
82
75
69
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
t
pc
pc
t
s
pc
t
r
s
pc
r
s
r
r
c
t
s
s
pc
s
pc
pc
s
t
r
pc