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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2019)
A4 East Oregonian Thursday, June 27, 2019 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Let voters decide on cap-and-trade legislation T he Magical Mystery Tour that has become the Oregon Legislature during the past week took another dramatic turn Tuesday when Senate President Peter Courtney announced he did not believe there are enough Dem- ocratic votes to pass House Bill 2020, the state’s controversial car- bon emission proposal. The announcement by Court- ney came after 11 Republican sen- ators, including Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, jumped the political ship last week and went into hiding to compel changes to the proposed bill. The walkout is in its eighth day Thursday and while Court- ney’s announcement marks a defi- nite plot point in the latest Salem political drama, questions remain about whether GOP lawmakers will return. Key Republican leaders dubbed the walkout as a “peaceful protest” and while we still firmly believe GOP lawmakers probably had lit- tle choice, we also still contend that lawmakers need to find a compro- mise and get back to work. A fair criticism of the walkout is that it was the equivalent to staging a political temper tantrum because Republicans didn’t get their way. Fair, but not entirely accurate. Insiders point to the reality that AP Photo, File Oregon Gov. Kate Brown speaks during a rally in Portland. A lot of political fingers are being pointed and wide-sweeping proclamations made about how the Republicans have damaged the political system with their walkout. Yet, we should not forget the Republican tactic isn’t a new one. It was a method used by Democrats in the early 2000s. key Senate Republican lawmakers — such as Malheur County’s Cliff Bentz — were not only sought out for input on the bill, but encour- aged by people like Courtney to help craft the carbon emission legislation. But that never happened. Bentz is key because there is probably no other lawmaker — on either side of the political aisle — that understands the carbon bill better. And, perhaps more impor- tantly, he represents one of the poorest counties in an already eco- nomically disadvantaged Eastern Oregon. To ignore his input illustrates that Democrats were never all that serious about seeking a compro- mise. The message they sent is they are in power and might makes right. That’s a dangerous concept for a democracy. A lot of political fingers are being pointed and wide-sweep- ing proclamations made about how the Republicans have damaged the political system with their walk- out. Yet, we should not forget the Republican tactic isn’t a new one. It was a method used by Demo- crats in the early 2000s. At the time, Democrats in the state House staged a walkout to protest efforts by the then-majority House Repub- licans to redraw Oregon’s legisla- tive districts. A June 25, 2001, arti- cle by Charles E. Beggs of The Associated Press quotes then-Sen- ate Democratic Leader Kate Brown calling the actions of House Dem- ocrats “very appropriate under the circumstances.” Some argue that lawmakers should allow the majority to win out in a debate such as the one revolving around the carbon bill. But we also should be mindful of what James Madison — one of the important framers of the Constitu- tion — said about the “tyranny of the majority.” The political farce in Salem is playing itself out but, in the end, the people of Oregon should make the final decision on the carbon bill. YOUR VIEWS Senate Republicans right to walk out Your opinion piece about the carbon bill is spot on. This morning I heard “Our Oregon” radio ads denigrat- ing Senate Republicans for the walk- out, in particular Senator Alan Olsen, R-Canby, a swing district in the greater Portland metro. So cheap and transpar- ently political by “Our Oregon.” The Senate Republicans are right to walk out. Oregon’s carbon emis- sions are among the lowest in the nation without cap-and-trade legisla- tion. In spite of more than a decade of materially lowering carbon emis- sions through groundbreaking invest- ments in renewable energy (wind and solar) and energy conservation (Ore- gon Energy Trust), Oregon’s body pol- itic agreed to pass a needless carbon bill this session. That’s a major victory for the climate change zealots. And, because the Dems have overwhelming majority rule, they don’t have to listen to rural Oregon to make any improve- ments to the bill. That’s not the Ore- gon way. “Taking critical action now,” according to Gov. Brown, just doesn’t line up with the data. The bill is too extreme, lacking common sense since Oregon ranks 38th in the nation for CO2 emissions. And having walked out of the building herself during the 2001 session over political redistrict- ing (small potatoes), Governor Brown lacks empathy for the minority party. Why should Oregon’s rural citi- zens take the hit for their foolish urban cousins who want to lead the nation when Oregon already does so? Good for rural Senate Republicans for having the backbone to stand their ground. I hope they keep fighting the good fight. Greg Miller Salem A sane course of action New reasons to call for an impeach- ment inquiry of Donald Trump include ordering former White House staff not to testify to congressional committees and routinely appointing unqualified long-term “acting” appointees to cabi- net positions, bypassing congressional oversight. Worst of all, Trump is illegally and systematically cracking down on immigrants by continuing to sepa- rate migrant children from their par- ents, denying them basics like soap, mattresses and toothbrushes, depriv- ing them of sleep and failing to ensure their safety. These are torture tech- niques. This systematic dehumaniza- tion increasingly seems “normal” as we grow weary and numb to new acts of incompetence and cruelty. Enough. Whether Republican, Dem- ocrat or Independent, please join me and ask Representative Greg Walden (541-776-4626) to support an impeach- ment inquiry in the House so we can begin to restore our values, defend American rights, reclaim some sense of dignity and protect the weakest among us. Carl Darnell Medford CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. PRESIDENT GOVERNOR Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 whitehouse.gov/contact/ Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 503-378-4582 U.S. SENATORS Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 La Grande office: 541-962-7691 Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 Pendleton office: 541-278-1129 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE Greg Walden 185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6730 La Grande office: 541-624-2400 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. 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. REPRESENTATIVES Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us SENATOR Bill Hansell, District 29 900 Court St. NE, S-423 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1729 Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us Send letters to the editor to editor@eastoregonian.com, or via mail to Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
