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.