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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Thursday, July 12, 2018 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Western governors offer prudent ESA proposal S ince it was passed in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has been all but untouchable by members of Congress, who consider amendments to the law with the same trepidation they would if they were climbing over an electric fence. It’s not that the ESA is perfect — far from it. Rather it’s fear of retribution from environmental groups who see the law as their meal ticket and a weapon they use against anyone who doesn’t share their enthusiasm for shutting down economic activities across the West to “save” local populations of various species. That’s why an effort by the Western Governors’ Association is so interesting. The top elected officials in the western-most 21 states and three Pacific territories — Republicans and Democrats — took on the challenge of studying the ESA to determine how they could make it work better. Headed by Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, the association first invited people from around the West to talk about the law. The governors’ recommendations are the result of those initial conversations and “drilling down” to develop ideas for addressing the law’s shortcomings. It was not easy. The ESA is complicated and riddled with strict deadlines. In fact, the deadlines are part of the problem, the governors found. They were added in 1982 and have provided environmental groups with the hammer they wanted to force the federal agencies to pay them whenever they miss a deadline. The governors recommended that the deadlines be made more realistic. The also recommended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service be allowed to prioritize petitions for species of concern. Those species that are already the subject of on-the-ground conservation efforts would be a lower priority than other species that are not being helped. This would allow time to determine how any conservation efforts are working before the USFWS jumped in. Such recommendations represent a well- thought-out starting point for making the ESA better and more effective. ODFW Wolves protected under the federal Endangered Species Act have created problems for ranchers in the West. The Western Governors’ Association has proposed changes to the ESA. They “would require agencies to consider conservation efforts and give them time to work,” David Willms, a policy adviser to the Wyoming governor, recently told the Idaho Water Users Association’s water law conference. We’ve previously recommended that Congress tear up the ESA and start over on a better law that works, and is workable. The ESA overloads federal agencies, exposes them to needless lawsuits and prevents wildlife and land managers from using all the tools at their disposal to do their jobs. Getting rid of the ESA, however, is probably not realistic, since every environmental group would most likely hit the panic button at the mention of repeal. But the case the Western governors make for judiciously modifying the ESA to make it more effective — and ultimately save more species in need of help — is difficult for even the most ardent environmentalist to resist. OTHER VIEWS Mueller reveals tenuous link between Manafort charges and Trump I YOUR VIEWS Jamie McLeod-Skinner is a needed rural champion In case anyone missed it, Oregon District 2 Representative Greg Walden is telling everyone near and far that he is the champion making a difference in the opioid crisis. However, if Greg Walden and the current administration have their way, the Affordable Care Act will be destroyed and 134,500 constituents in Oregon District 2 will be at risk of losing their health care. How will that affect the opioid crisis? According to his latest installment of information about how he was involved in “historic action to stem the tide of the nationwide opioid crisis and save lives,” he says was a result of 10 years of bipartisan work. However, I agree with Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Walden’s Democratic challenger this November, that Greg Walden is using the opioid crisis as a safe campaign platform instead of discussing the current issues of immigration reform and the healthcare crisis. So the questions are: Where is Walden and who does he work for? He quit holding town hall meetings so there is no opportunity for a public forum. Calling his office gets dismal responses from staff, “I don’t have access to his schedule” or “I haven’t spoken with him on that issue.” His many corporate donors include pharmaceutical companies which includes opioid manufacturers and distributors. Where’s Walden? Soon to be looking for another job because Jamie McLeod Skinner will be our champion. She is already out in the district listening to our voices, engaged and advocating for our families and communities, not for special interests. Jamie McLeod Skinner, our rural champion, will work for us. Beverly Sherrill The Dalles No enforcement against illegal fireworks in Umatilla We live in Umatilla (the McNary area). For several years we have complained to the Umatilla city police and fire department regard illegal fireworks. Last year, we even read a letter to the Umatilla City Council about this problem, only to be ridiculed by the then-fire chief. This year the illegal fireworks are even worse; they start a couple of weeks before the Fourth of July and are continuing these last several days. The fireworks usually start around 9 p.m. and continue until 11 or 11:30 p.m. We have called the 911 dispatch to report a few of these incidents and according to the East Oregonian, others have also reported this problem, but to no avail. We feel the Umatilla police and fire departments are not doing their job patrolling the areas of John Day and El Monte Streets to let the people know the illegal fireworks are illegal and subject to a fine, etc. If we know where this is activity is occurring, you would think they would also. Fortunately, there have not been fires, especially with the tall dry grass in many yards. Bill and Cece Delfs Umatilla CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us 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. Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us t’s often been observed that But Mueller did argue that the special counsel Robert Mueller, case has something to do with assigned to investigate alleged Trump. And this is it: Trump-Russia collusion in the Most of the 32 counts against 2016 presidential campaign, has Manafort in the Virginia case yet to charge anyone with a crime concern alleged crimes that took involving Trump-Russia collusion place long before there was a Trump campaign. Some go back as in the 2016 presidential campaign. Byron far as 2006. But four of the counts The biggest of Mueller’s York involve a pair of loans Manafort indictments, that of one-time Comment took out between April 2016 and Trump campaign chairman Paul January 2017. For a few months Manafort, has no connection at all during that time period, Manafort worked to collusion. And until a few days ago, it for the Trump campaign. appeared to have no connection to Donald The loans totaled $16 million and came Trump, either. from a financial institution Mueller refers Now, though, Mueller has revealed to as Lender D. According to Mueller, why he believes the Manafort prosecution Manafort lied to get the loans, overstating is related to the 2016 Trump campaign. his income and understating his debts. It’s a small part, a very small part, of the Mueller says that some workers at overall charges against Manafort. And it Lender D knew there was a problem with has nothing to do with any actions by the candidate — now the president — himself. Manafort’s application, but that one top executive there, a man who wanted a place Mueller’s revelation came in an in the Trump campaign, granted the loan argument he is having with the Manafort anyway. From the Mueller filing: defense over what subjects can and “The government intends to present cannot be discussed in front of jurors in evidence that although various Lender D Manafort’s upcoming trial. (Manafort is employees identified serious issues with charged in both Virginia and the District the defendant’s loan application, the senior of Columbia with various counts of bank executive at Lender D interceded in the fraud, tax evasion and failure to register process and approved the loan. During as a representative of foreign interests; the the loan application process, the senior Virginia trial is scheduled to begin later executive expressed interest in working on this month.) Manafort doesn’t want the jurors to hear the Trump campaign, told the defendant about his interest, and eventually secured about any theories of collusion between a position advising the Trump campaign. Trump and Russia. Beyond that, Manafort The senior executive later expressed an doesn’t even want the jurors to hear about interest in serving in the administration of his connection with Donald Trump. Given President Trump, but did not secure such a the degree of anti-Trump feeling in the position.” heavily Democratic District of Columbia The lending company and the senior and in northern Virginia — the Manafort executive are not identified in the filing dryly notes that jurors are “likely to have strong views about President Trump” indictment, but the loans appear to fit an episode reported in The New York — that’s an understandable feeling. Times involving a small bank in Chicago, “Evidence or argument relating to the Federal Savings Bank, and its chief Mr. Manafort’s work for then-candidate executive, Stephen Calk, who was Trump’s campaign in 2016 or the Special named an economic adviser to the Trump Counsel’s investigation of the campaign’s campaign in August 2016 but did not join alleged collusion with the Russian the administration. government,” the Manafort team wrote in In May, The Wall Street Journal a June 22 motion, “is wholly irrelevant to reported that Mueller is investigating whether Mr. Manafort’s personal income tax returns were false, whether he willfully whether the loans were “made as part of a quid pro quo arrangement to secure Mr. failed to file reports of foreign accounts, Calk a job in Mr. Trump’s administration.” and whether he conspired to commit, or Calk has denied any such arrangement. committed, bank fraud.” In any event, Mueller has not suggested Mueller’s response was twofold. On that Donald Trump was involved in any the issue of collusion, the special counsel, of the actions outlined in the Manafort in a motion filed July 6, flatly said, “The charges. The two Lender D loans are, government does not intend to present apparently, the only connection between at trial evidence or argument concerning the Trump campaign and the broad array collusion with the Russian government of criminal activity, some of it more than and, accordingly does not oppose the a decade old, alleged in the Manafort defendant’s motion in that respect.” indictments. And Trump himself played no To those Trump opponents who had role in it. hoped Mueller would unveil evidence Was a special counsel needed for that? of Trump-Russia collusion involving ■ Manafort, it was a sharp and stunning Byron York is chief political correspon- admission: There’s no collusion in the case dent for The Washington Examiner. against Manafort. 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.
