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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Wednesday, January 10, 2018 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Marijuana money rolls in The results are in: Marijuana receipts in Pendleton — the only municipality in northeast Oregon to allow recreational and medical sales — are far beyond initial expectations. In the current fiscal year, which started in July and still has six months to go, the city has already brought in $131,963 in tax money from marijuana. The Pendleton City Council had budgeted just $25,000 in marijuana revenue for the entire fiscal year. Remember, for instance, the gas tax the city floated (and was defeated by voters) in November 2015 that was expected to bring in about $550,000 per year. Now the city is getting half of that with a voluntary sin tax (approved by voters). The council was right to start with a conservative estimate of marijuana tax income. When they had to first ballpark a number, there were no retailers open yet in the city and it was unknown how many — if any — entrepreneurs would take the plunge. But three stores have since opened, and despite some concerns with how a couple are operating, it has been a relatively easy jump across the gorge of prohibition. And for Pendleton, it has been a leap that came with serious monetary reward. The city has no shortage of uses for the money. Although not the most useful about 360 days of the year, the city could do worse from a public relations perspective than buying a sparkling new snowplow (or better yet, a half-priced used one!) to help clear its streets each winter. The city public works department could certainly use another infusion for its roads — and using the money on something tangible may help persuade those who were not supportive of allowing a new, federally prohibited industry to operate in city limits. And public safety, the department that deals with the downsides of legal marijuana, could use a cut to cover the costs of dealing with the new businesses and their customers. This all comes, however, against the backdrop of noise that marijuana may be once again in the crosshairs of the federal government. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a noted marijuana opponent, removed the barrier last week that kept Department of Justice AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty prosecutors from pursuing marijuana cases in states that had made pot legal. It’s hard to parse the conflicting messages coming from the White House, but we don’t think Sessions’ actions will have much impact on policy. Marijuana has arrived to a number of states, it has worked better than expected, and it is helping raise money for cash-strapped governments. We think that other municipalities in Eastern Oregon, especially smaller ones suffering from a lack of revenue and new industries, should reconsider their opposition to the drug. The upside is higher than many in the region thought it would be, and the downside is manageable. Assuredly, Pendleton is hoping other cities keep their bans and keep sending their customers in its direction. Marijuana tax revenue is not a panacea, but it pays better than prohibition. OTHER VIEWS With DC distracted, immigration debate reaches critical point W YOUR VIEWS Cleaning up dogs’ business has become our business The good news? Perhaps after New Year’s Day people have resolved to get out and walk with their dog more often. Good for the health of the dog and the human. The bad news? Some humans are forgetting to pick up after their dogs do their business. In fact, quite a few seem to have forgotten. Recently we were walking our dog along the river walkway, played at the dog park, and then stopped at a local park on the way home to enjoy a cup of coffee from Buckin’ Bean. I’m not exaggerating when I say we picked up eight piles of dog feces along the way. I’m not counting the business of our own dog. Thank goodness, we always carry many bags. But that is ridiculous! Dog owners, haven’t you noticed that runners and walkers with whom we share the areas have frequently stepped in it, getting it on their shoes and smearing it further on the pavement or grass? I can assure you that they are just as disgruntled as we are. More surprisingly, we have found numerous piles at the dog park. The Pendleton Parks and Rec Department thoughtfully placed two bag dispensers, (yes, they are full of bags) and two waste receptacles. There’s no reason there should be piles of feces at the dog park. So, you bag-less dog walkers out there, it’s really easy: put several bags in your pocket. Pick up after your dog. Dispose of the bag. We can all continue to walk, run, bike and be healthy in 2018 without having to worry about stepping in a pile. Connie Macomber, Ron Fonger & Tia the dog Pendleton Drug companies make millions off our poor health Most everyone knows we have an opioid crisis. Big city hospitals are snowed under by overdose patients now on a daily basis. Overprescription of Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. painkillers is one of the big causes. However, you would be surprised to find out who is the biggest drug pusher in your community. No, it isn’t the suspicious character in the hoodie and sunglasses lurking in the park. No, the worst drug dealer by far is your local TV provider. The corrupt drug companies have used their wealth, power and expensive lobbying to force the FDA to allow TV advertising, which means we now get about 80 drug ads per hour every day of the week. This seemed impossible to me, so I started keeping track of the drug ads on TV, and I was astounded to find how bad it really is. In just a couple days I had a very long list of TV drug ads, seen while the kids are watching cartoons and people are watching football, evening news and “The Price is Right.” There was $6 billion spent in 2016 on drug ads, with Lyrica spending $313 million, Humira spending $303 million and Eliquis $186 million. So think about that — drug companies are not happy with the obscene amount of money they make just allowing doctors to prescribe them normally. Drug companies now want to get to the customer — before they even see the doctor — to try and condition them to need this drug before they have their first appointment. As a cancer survivor, I am thankful for good doctors and good medicine, but then I would probably also be dead if the Veteran’s Administration didn’t step up and help pay the more than $200,000 in chemo treatments to beat this horrible disease. And think of the thousands of good people who die anyway after having to pay this huge amount for medications, hospital stays, scans and surgeries anyway. Also consider the billions and billions of dollars spent on cancer research, and we are still not much closer to finding a cure. The sad truth is thousands of clinics, research centers, doctors and drug companies might go out of business if a cure was found. David Burns Pendleton hile Washington obsesses have pursued it when government over a new book on White funding came up in December. But House intrigue, the Trump when push came to shove, they administration is reaching a critical didn’t. Now, will they try for real? point on the issue of immigration, “If the government were to shut one of the president’s top priorities down because of DACA, it would and the subject of his most often- elevate the question of amnesty for repeated campaign promises. these illegal immigrants far beyond There are multiple moving parts: the status it has now,” says one GOP Byron The Deferred Action for Childhood lawmaker. That seems less likely York Arrivals program, a border wall, to capture the voters’ attention than Comment chain migration, the visa lottery a question of shutting down the and — hanging over it all — funding government. the government. But everything hinges on It’s one thing to block a DACA fix DACA, unilaterally imposed by Barack because of a policy demand — in this case, Obama to temporarily legalize nearly the wall. But it’s a much different thing 800,000 people who were brought to the to force a partial government shutdown U.S. illegally when they were young. because of a policy demand. Durbin and When President Trump rescinded DACA Democrats are likely to find that out, if they last Sept. 5, he delayed implementation don’t already know. for six months to give Congress time to Assuming the government is funded, come up with some sort of solution for the with either a long-term or kick-the-can, so-called Dreamers. That short-term measure, the means lawmakers need to DACA negotiations will act by March 5 or face a start in earnest ahead of decidedly uncertain future. that March 5 deadline. Nearly everyone Can Trump get what on Capitol Hill wants he wants, or part of a fix that results in what he wants? At the legalization for the moment, Democrats Dreamers. Democrats seem determined to throw want to legalize right their bodies in front of away, straight up, no strings attached. But any plan to build a wall. The president has Trump and most Republicans want a deal: asked Congress to put aside $18 billion over immigration reforms — the wall, chain the next 10 years for the job. That seems migration, visa lottery — in exchange for doomed. legalization. But what about some other idea? What That’s where funding the government about passing a down payment — the House comes in. A temporary funding resolution has already approved $1.6 billion — as part passed last month expires on Jan. 19. of another plan? Congress can pass a “clean” bill to avoid “One possibility would be a relatively a partial shutdown, or it can have a fight if modest down payment that Democrats could one party tries to attach unrelated policy swallow,” said the GOP lawmaker, “and then preferences to the must-pass spending bill. authorization for a user-fee model for future That is the traditional Republican role, years. So a fee for visas or border crossings which has led Republicans to believe that could be turned into a dedicated revenue they always lose shutdown fights. But stream for wall construction.” (That would, it is probably more accurate to say that by the way, mean that, yes, Mexico pays for Republicans don’t always lose shutdown the wall, or at least a significant part of it.) fights — it is the party that tries to attach The president also wants a measure unrelated policy preferences to must-pass to stop chain migration, and perhaps a spending bills that loses shutdown fights. provision to end the visa lottery, too. It seems In the past, that has been Republicans. This highly unlikely he would get it all. But he time, it might be Democrats. might get something. The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, Dick Trump will be offering permanent Durbin, appears to be itching to set off a legalization for those nearly 800,000 shutdown crisis over DACA. “President Dreamers, or perhaps for an even larger Trump has said he may need a good group referred to as DACA-eligible. It government shutdown to get his wall,” depends on whether Democrats believe that Durbin said recently. “With this demand (for giving Trump something in return is the only wall funding), he seems to be heading in that way to achieve that legalization. direction.” It is a decisive moment in the Trump But Trump, who in the past has presidency, and in the debate over threatened a government shutdown over the immigration. Right now, it’s fair to say wall, is now proposing trading his policy nearly no one in the Washington press corps is paying much attention — they would preferences — the wall, etc. — in exchange for DACA legalization. “The wall is going to much rather discuss Steve Bannon, or the happen, or we’re not going to have DACA,” 25th Amendment or whether the president watches too much TV. But the coming he said recently. He hasn’t demanded they weeks will be crucial for the agenda that be passed in order to keep the government won Donald Trump the White House. running. Durbin is suggesting Democrats ■ demand DACA passage to keep the Byron York is chief political government in business. correspondent for The Washington Examiner. It’s a losing strategy. Democrats could Can Trump get what he wants, or part of what he wants? 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. 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.