Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Friday, November 24, 2017 OTHER VIEWS 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 tip of the hat to Umatilla County commissioners for approving a four-way stop at the intersection of Feedville and South Edwards roads near Stanfield. The crossing has been a danger zone for years, with vehicles on Edwards too often ignoring the stop signs and crashing at high speeds into vehicles with the right of way on Feedville. The collisions have been horrific and have taken lives, seriously injured others and left emotional scars on survivors. The unpredictability of others on the road make motor vehicles an inherently dangerous mode of transportation. Signs and signals, speed bumps and rumble strips help but are never foolproof. With that in mind, putting up a second set of stops signs at the Feedville/ Edwards intersection is past due. It seems that both teen drivers in the wreck earlier this month will survive, but the next time might not be so lucky. And it’s never too late to make the right decision. Let this be a warning to all drivers who take the back roads — proceed with caution. A tip of the hat to Bryon Zumwalt, Stanfield’s police chief, for his observant catch of a double murder suspect on Tuesday. Zumwalt spotted a red Honda Civic with Idaho plates near the Pilot travel center in his town and trailed it into the parking lot by the McDonald’s entrance. He and officer Joyce Wright helped make the arrest of Richard Carlin, 73, who was wanted out of Lewiston, Idaho, and considered dangerous. It’s a reminder of what police officers deal with every day — the uncertain circumstances and constant vigilance that come with wearing the badge. The arrest went down without incident, and for that we’re thankful. A tip of the helmet to the Hermiston Bulldogs, who have had an incredible run through the playoffs and into the football state championship game this Saturday. The championship for the state of Oregon, that is. Next year the Bulldogs will leave this state’s athletic association for Washington’s, giving Hermiston the opportunity for a perfectly timed mic drop. Take the title and run. Go out on top. Win or lose, the Bulldogs have played with class this season, earning positive remarks from opponents along the way. At the end of the season, that’s what really matters. That’s what all good coaches, parents and fans should be rooting for on the high school athletic field. But boy would a trophy be nice. Good luck, Bulldogs. We’re rooting for you. 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. OTHER VIEWS Senator seeks to curtail perks for her colleagues in Congress Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger S ome politicians seek federal office in part so they can live an extravagant lifestyle paid for by American taxpayers. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, is determined to curtail that type of self- serving behavior. That’s why the Iowa Republican has just introduced legislation that would eliminate a tax break federal lawmakers crafted to benefit themselves. “Iowans sent me to Congress to make Washington, D.C., squeal and that includes eliminating handouts to politicians,” Ernst said. “To achieve the ultimate goal of lowering tax rates for hardworking families and businesses, Congress is going to have to eliminate various loopholes and deductions in our outdated tax code. Congress should lead by example and offer up its own unnecessary tax break.” With that in mind, she is promoting the Stop Questionable, Unnecessary, and Excessive Allowances for Legislators Act, also known as the SQUEAL Act. If it becomes law, this proposal would eliminate a provision of the tax code that allows members of Congress to deduct, for income tax purposes, up to $3,000 annually in living expenses while in the Washington, D.C. area. While this part of the tax code isn’t hugely expensive, it is typical of the thousands of special provisions that have been added to our nation’s tax laws to advantage people who have influence with lawmakers. Collectively, they make our tax laws thousands of pages long, waste taxes people pay and produce a tax system that almost no one believes to be fair. Ernst’s proposal is a small step in the right direction. Its adoption by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives would show that the members of these bodies are serious about reforming our tax system to make it both fairer and less wasteful. The Messenger applauds Ernst’s initiative. This legislation demonstrates that she views the pledges she made during her campaign for office as commitments to be pursued vigorously. That’s an example we wish more of her colleagues in Washington would emulate. The legislation would eliminate a tax break federal lawmakers crafted to benefit themselves. Six scenarios for GOP disaster in Roy Moore Senate race O ne laconic Republican Mitch McConnell said recently. lawmaker said recently of the That process would involve Roy Moore situation: “Given hearings, witnesses, evidence — a the unusual circumstances and very long and excruciating ordeal during unusual personality involved, it’s hard which Moore could defend himself, to see this working out well.” The and attack his accusers, at length. Alabama Senate race is shaping up as How long? The Ethics Committee’s a catastrophe for the GOP, regardless investigation of Sen. Bob Packwood of how it works out. But just how big a began in December 1992 and ended Byron catastrophe? Here are six scenarios: with a recommendation to expel York 1) Moore withdraws from the race. Packwood in September 1995. Comment That’s the dream of many in the GOP. (Packwood resigned before the Senate Under that scenario, a Republican could act.) Moore’s case would likely be a long and ugly process. And a precedent- write-in candidate would then be able to keep setting one: The Senate has never expelled the GOP seat in one of the nation’s reddest a member for conduct that occurred before states. But there’s a problem: Even if Moore quit today, his name would remain on the Dec. the member joined the Senate. If McConnell and his colleagues tried to 12 ballot. And if Moore expel Moore on the basis stays on the ballot, even of accusations of conduct after having withdrawn, he dating 30 to 40 years before will likely still get a lot of the campaign, they would votes. set a new and potentially “Candidates typically dangerous example. retain somewhere in the 5) Moore wins, and the neighborhood of 20 percent Senate GOP does not try to to 25 percent of their pre-withdrawal polling expel him. This is, so far, an average if they quit a race unspoken scenario. What but their names still appear if Moore won, and Senate on the ballot,” 538’s Nate Republicans simply allowed Silver wrote recently. That him to serve? Moore would seems particularly likely to have essentially half a be true in Alabama, given Senate term; if elected, he the devotion of Moore’s following. So would would serve the remainder of Sessions’ term, a GOP write-in be able to defeat Democrat meaning he would be in office until the 2020 Doug Jones in what would amount to a three- election. candidate race, with Republicans divided Republicans could shun him, if they chose. between Moore and the write-in? Unlikely. They could stand by as protesters dogged 2) The governor of Alabama changes Moore’s every move. They could condemn election day. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has the embarrassing things he did. They could already changed the day of the Senate election do everything they could to assure Moore once. Her scandal-ridden predecessor, Gov. is not elected to a full term in 2020. But the Robert Bentley, originally scheduled the GOP could, in essence, recognize that the election to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions voters of Alabama made a choice, and even for November 2018, as part of next year’s if Republicans nationwide viewed it as a regularly scheduled midterm elections. calamitously bad choice, Moore is still a But Ivey, who ascended to office after senator until the end of his (shortened) term. Bentley resigned in disgrace, moved the 6) Doug Jones wins. This is a very real election up to Dec. 12. Now, she could change possibility, regardless of what the GOP it again — say, to a few months from now, does. What would it mean for the Senate’s or back to 2018 as originally planned. That Republican leadership? Just ask how hard it would give the Republican Party time to has been for the GOP to pass legislation with regroup. But Ivey has said she has no interest a 52-seat majority. It would become far harder in a new change. And even if she did, it is hard with a 51-seat majority. to see how that would make Roy Moore go Plus, losing the Alabama seat would away. make it easier — not easy, but easier — for 3) Moore stays in the race with a GOP Democrats to win control of the Senate in write-in challenger. Yes, there is time, but 2018. That would have profound effects. For many Republicans are deeply pessimistic example, President Trump could probably about the possibility of success. This is a forget about putting another justice on the special election, they note, not a general Supreme Court, should a vacancy arise. election. That means significantly lower Trump and Republicans could forget about turnout, and it means a high proportion of passing legislation, even with the lowered that turnout will come from the motivated requirements of the reconciliation process. supporters of Roy Moore. A divided And Democratic committee chairmen would Republican vote — some for Moore and some be running all the investigations of the Trump for the GOP write-in — seems guaranteed to administration they like. ensure victory for Jones. Six scenarios. For the GOP, six bad 4) Moore wins, and the Senate GOP tries scenarios. to expel him. “If he were to be sworn in, he ■ would immediately be in a process before the Byron York is chief political correspondent Senate Ethics Committee,” Majority Leader for The Washington Examiner. The Alabama Senate race is shaping us a catastrophe for the GOP, but just how big a catastrophe? YOUR VIEWS HIV-AIDS remains dangerous, but treatment is available The Pendleton chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) would like to call attention to November as National AIDS Awareness Month. Great progress is has been made in the treatment of AIDS and it does not carry the stigma it once did. However, AIDS is still an international problem. When I was 14 I contracted AIDS, and in February 1999 I was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS. After I was given AZT for the virus three months later, it was found that AZT was killing me. I was given different medication and was told four months later that I had gone from full-blown AIDS to HIV positive. Six years later my medication was adjusted once more. A few months ago I was put on two new medications. At present my HIV-AIDS is non-detectable, which means I cannot transmit the disease to others. If I can get to this point in my life, I know others can do it as well. I want to give my support to others who need the support I did not have when I was younger. PFLAG Pendleton provides support and information to those dealing with HIV-AIDS, including education on how HIV-AIDS is contracted, spread, and treated. You can contact the HIV virus through sexual contact, dirty needles, and syringes. The virus can be spread through the breast milk of infected mothers. You can contract the virus by getting tattoos if needles are reused. There is a test for HIV-AIDS provided through health providers. Treatment helps to stop the virus. You can stay updated by going online and searching for HIV-AIDS tips and prevention, or by contacting PFLAG Pendleton or the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living. Homer Bozarth Pendleton LETTERS POLICY The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. 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 daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to managing editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.