A4
East Oregonian
Thursday, October 17, 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
Plenty to like in records fee suggestion
G
inger McCall, Oregon’s
first public records advo-
cate, left office Friday with
some suggestions for her successor,
the Public Records Advisory Coun-
cil she headed, and lawmakers and
other officials in Oregon. Public
records, she says, should be obtain-
able at prices the public can afford.
She’s right, and while we dis-
agree with one suggestion she
makes, most of her proposals are
right on the money. As she makes
clear, the high cost of records
requests can keep the public and the
press from information they’re enti-
tled to have.
That said, McCall would cre-
ate two classes of records request-
ers. The first, including news orga-
nizations, nonprofit organizations
and educational requesters, would
pay only for the cost of duplicating
requested records. All others would
pay that charge, plus the cost of
searching for requested records.
Oregonians would be better
served by a system that charges at
AP Photo/Andrew Selsky
Oregon Public Records Advocate Ginger McCall, at head of table, left office Friday with
some suggestions for her successor, the Public Records Advisory Council she headed,
and lawmakers and other officials in Oregon. Public records, she says, should be obtain-
able at prices the public can afford.
a single rate, either asking every-
one to pay the cost of searching for
records or charging no one for that
service.
But, as McCall points out, state
law allows public bodies to set their
own charges, which vary wildly
from agency to agency. Worse, she
says, they also can charge attor-
ney fees, sometimes $180 per hour
or more, to have those records
reviewed. The result is a price tag
that is beyond the reach not only of
the public and media — it may well
be beyond the grasp of many of the
lawmakers who write public records
bills in the state.
She’s right to suggest that the
state scrap the allowance for attor-
ney’s fees, then set specific, low
fees, perhaps $15 per hour or 5 cents
per page, to fulfill all requests.
In addition, McCall writes, Ore-
gon should emulate the federal gov-
ernment when it comes to first-party
requests for records related to them-
selves or a deceased family member,
and charge lower fees to that group,
particularly if they’ve been victims
of crimes. She says charging those
people exorbitant fees for records
“is a clear and uncompassionate
miscarriage of justice.”
McCall’s suggestions would
bring order and uniformity to a sys-
tem that lacks both. Lawmakers
should take them to heart, prefera-
bly during the 2020 short legislative
session.
OTHER VIEWS
Do the Democrats need Hillary
or Michelle to enter the race?
t began with 25 candidates. It’s
figure who many find untrustworthy
been reduced by half, yet concern
and unlikeable, blaming her for booting
persists among Democrats that
away certain victory in 2016.
the party should look beyond the still
Clinton entering the race would not
standing contenders and seek an indi-
clear the field but tear the party apart,
vidual capable of party unification and
reopen wounds from 2016 and deliver
persuade him or her to enter the race.
to Trump the opportunity to raise her
It is an acknowledgement that each
questionable — if not unethical — con-
duct as Secretary of State. The Dem-
of the current candidates is burdened by
ocrats would be robbed of their most
baggage — ideological or personal —
potent weapon — Trump’s behavior and
but seem determined to take the contest
possible impeachable conduct
through a string of expensive,
— by repeating the litany of
exhausting and bitter primaries.
accusations against Clinton.
Former Vice President Joe
While Michelle Obama car-
Biden, whose lead has shrunk
ries none of Clinton’s baggage
to single digits or vanished
and could clear the field, her
altogether, has been hurt by
candidacy is wishful think-
periodic mental lapses and
ing. She is the country’s most
scrambled syntax. His and his
admired woman, a bestselling
son’s involvement in govern-
C arl
mental and business affairs in
author, and an eloquent advo-
G olden
cate for the causes in which she
Ukraine hangs darkly over his
COMMENT
believes. She and her husband
head.
are financially secure (the pur-
Voters will hesitate to
chase of a $15 million beachfront man-
deliver the presidency to a 78-year-old
sion in Martha’s Vineyard, for instance)
heart attack survivor — Vermont Sen.
and both are loathe to surrender their
Bernie Sanders — despite his fervent
comfortable blend of private and pub-
and committed base.
lic life.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth War-
ren, the leader, co-leader or strong sec-
There is absolutely no reason why
ond-place finisher in polling averages,
Obama would willingly take on what
has moved steadily leftward, embracing
will surely establish a new low for the
policies with which huge swaths of the
most brutal and brutalizing campaign
nation disagree.
in American history.
Despite the party’s commitment to
If unhappy Democrats intend to
electability as the criteria for choos-
make a move, time is running out. The
ing a candidate, there remains concern
Iowa caucuses and the New Hamp-
shire primary are little more than three
that none of the three leaders measures
months off. The window of opportunity
up. The dilemma is in which direction
to persuade an outsider to step in will
should the party look for an alternative,
slam shut at that point.
someone it can rally around and con-
vince the current field to abandon their
Three years ago, voters confronted
quest.
two flawed candidates and were left to
To whom, might the party turn? Two
determine whose flaws were less egre-
gious than whose. If 2020 is Trump
names surface with some regularity:
versus Biden, Warren or Sanders, vot-
former Secretary of State and failed
ers face much the same choice.
2016 candidate Hillary Clinton, and
By the time the presidential elec-
former First Lady Michelle Obama.
tion arrives, it is likely that Trump will
In typical self-aggrandizing fash-
ion, Clinton has ginned up speculation
have been impeached by the House but
about her availability with a series of
acquitted by the Senate. His campaign
public appearances, media interviews
will be a relentless and savage effort
and a ubiquitous social media presence,
toward vindication as much as his
criticizing Trump and basking in the
re-election.
attention. But convincing the current
———
candidates to stand down for her would
Carl Golden is a nationally syndicated
be a herculean task. She is a polarizing
columnist.
I
YOUR VIEWS
Camp will be a draw for
more homeless
Well, the city council wants to have a
homeless area. I wonder if they have fig-
ured out just who is to be responsible for
any illegal activity that may go on. Will
the city be responsible for any illegal drug
or alcohol use, or vicarious liability? Is the
city going to pay for the toilets, the garbage
and electricity for cellphones? Will the
homeless be responsible for the cleaning of
the property, or just the taxpayers?
Of course, the unintended conse-
quences are when other cities or homeless
find out about the paradise the city has cre-
ated for the homeless, there will be more
homeless. There are cities already giving
the homeless “X” amount of dollars and
a bus ticket to other cities. So, I suggest
that if one cares so much about them, let
them camp on your property. I have had to
remove some from sleeping on my prop-
erty or storing their possessions. Fortu-
nately, they took the hint and have not been
back.
Let’s assume that one gets an elec-
tric heater and it starts a fire. Someone is
injured or killed, or dies of a drug overdose
— who is responsible? I, for one, would
like to know.
Roesch Kishpaugh
Pendleton
America was great before
Trump
In answer to Patricia Maier: I though
Regina Baker’s letter said a lot of truths
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.
about our wanna-be dictator Donald Trump.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., doesn’t say
much, like a lot of his colleagues. They just
bury their heads in the sand, hoping things
get better. Trump just does what he wants,
and doesn’t want to hear any advice from
other politicians who might know more than
he does.
He wants to impose higher tariffs and
close borders. He puts children in cages.
No deals if they don’t go his way. He takes
money from other agencies to finish his
southern border wall. Trump admires the
leaders of Russia, North Korea and Saudi
Arabia because he wishes he was a dicta-
tor like they are. The only reason he won
the election is because the Russians manip-
ulated social media with ads for Trump and
against Hillary Clinton. He still didn’t win
the popular vote.
He wanted to drain the swamp. He
brought his own swamp with all kinds of
corrupt people like himself. If they are
decent and don’t stand by him, he fires
them. He’s making all kinds of money in
his foreign trips. He makes his staff stay in
his hotels. All the criminals that have been
arrested for illegal crimes, he says, “I don’t
know them.” How convenient.
I admire all past presidents, Republican
and Democrat. I have respect for all of them
because compared to Trump’s morals, lies
and corruption, they are saints.
When it’s fake news it’s because they
tell the truth about him. He says he wants
to make America great again. It was great
before he came along.
Aren’t we glad Oregon is a blue state?
Minerva Bethel
Hermiston
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
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