A4
East Oregonian
Friday, November 22, 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
Climate bill must take all Oregonians into consideration
O
regon Democrats look like
they will once again try to
roll out a plan to regulate the
state’s greenhouse gas emissions in
February when the Legislature con-
venes for its monthlong session.
While the effort to limit greenhouse
gas emissions is an idea with merit,
any plan to do so should be one with
a lot of input from state voters. Voters
should expect a well-crafted, methodi-
cal plan that addresses greenhouse gas
emissions but also takes into account
the unique needs, lifestyle and culture
of the rural portions of the state.
During the last session, the debate
over a greenhouse gas emission limit
ignited frustration and eventually led
to a walkout by GOP senators.
The plan then was touted as the
best way forward, a thoroughbred that
would solve lots of problems all at
once.
Upon closer examination, though,
the greenhouse gas emission plan
pushed by Democratic lawmak-
ers was hopelessly complicated and,
instead of a race horse, voters greeted
a one-trick pony.
AP Photo/Sarah Zimmerman, File
Protesters flood the steps of the Oregon Capitol in June to push back against a Republican
walkout over a climate change bill. Oregon Democrats look like they will once again try to
roll out a plan to regulate the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in February when the Legis-
lature convenes for its month-long session.
Now, Democratic lawmakers appear
poised to put the bridle on the same
one-trick pony and pull it onto the
political stage.
That’s not a good idea.
Clearly, a suitable blueprint to limit
greenhouse gas emissions is in order.
Climate change is a fact and while we
can all argue about its cause; the real-
ity is we need to do something about it.
But a wide-sweeping, hopelessly
convoluted plan, such as the one tossed
in legislators’ laps last session, isn’t the
answer.
Lawmakers need to spend time —
lots of it — configuring a plan that is
workable. They need to spend even
more time going out into the environs
of the state and explaining the blue-
print and why it is crucial.
Instead of kowtowing to environ-
mental groups and donors, lawmak-
ers who support a climate change bill
need to listen to voters. Not just voters
in a few counties in Oregon, but voters
from across the state.
Ramming a climate change bill
down the throats of voters and law-
makers — as was the case during
the last legislative session — isn’t the
answer.
This is a complicated subject that
deserves careful, prudent study and
review. There can be no rush to judge-
ment on such an initiative.
We all want to do something to help
the Earth and to limit climate change.
But instead of hoping this pony will
have more than one trick, let’s strive a
bit higher and seek a compromise that
works for everyone.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
We’re committed to local news
et your facts first, then you can
bias tell as much, or more, about the person
distort them as you please.” —
making the accusation as it does about the
Mark Twain
object of the accusation. Bias is often in the
In this vitriolic, hyper-partisan state in
eye of the beholder.
which America currently finds itself, I’m not
The five individuals comprising our edito-
rial board (listed at the top of page A4 every
sure we’re following the sage advice from
day) represent a wide swath of political and
Twain. Sure, there’s lots of distortion going
philosophical beliefs. Hence, we only editori-
around. I’m just not sure how open we are to
alize when there is general consensus among
getting the facts anymore. Can we all even
the group. In a practical sense, this means
agree on what the facts are?
that we are likely to anger readers on either
I recently received a visit from an angry
the right or the left of the political spectrum
subscriber. After inviting this gentleman into
from time to time.
my office, I was given notice that the East
If you subscribe to a local newspaper,
Oregonian was full of liberal tripe and was
thank you for your commitment to support-
engaging in a deliberate effort to destroy our
ing local journalism and being an informed
president. The question put before me was
citizen. But dear reader, please be advised: If
why the successful assassination of an ISIS
you have strong political beliefs one direction
terror leader three days earlier did not make
or another, it is not only possible,
the front page. Why were we not
but highly probable, that you will
giving Donald Trump proper credit
eventually read or see something
and accolades for all the good things
in the pages of this newspaper that
he was doing?
will make you angry — a sharply
I explained that our stock and
worded letter to the editor, a cartoon
trade was local, state and regional
that pokes fun at your political hero,
news (in that order) and on that par-
an editorial that comes to a differing
ticular day, the EO was so full of
conclusion than you would like.
local news, features and sports sto-
C hris
In this angry political season that
ries about Pendleton, Hermiston,
r ush
we currently find ourselves, it seems
Umatilla County and the region that
COMMENT
that otherwise reasonable men and
there was no room for national or
women are compelled to lash out at
international news. Truth be told,
one another. So many of us have already dug
we strive for this result every issue. My vis-
itor admitted he had already been exposed
in our heels and made up our minds that the
intake of new information (facts) has stopped.
to wall-to-wall TV coverage of the events in
We’ve quit listening to one another.
question on Fox News and many other media
For this reason, and because the EO‘s pri-
sources that follow these types of national
mary mission is to inform our readers about
and international events.
news in their own backyard, we will tempo-
The point I try to make in such cases
rarily suspend any further newspaper edi-
is there are almost limitless resources for
torials from our local editorial board related
national and international news. One can
to what is happening at the national political
even pick and choose the tone they would like
level. The rhetoric has become too overheated
their news delivered — with a conservative
on both sides of the political aisle to engage in
or liberal slant. But there are precious few
a meaningful dialogue.
media outlets that care about and consistently
Instead, we will focus on our local,
report on Northeast Oregon. That’s the niche
county, and state governments. We will con-
the EO strives to fill.
tinue to publish syndicated columnists rep-
A few days ago, the newspaper received a
resenting multiple viewpoints and who may
letter strongly disputing a recent EO editorial
hold forth on any number of national topics.
in which we predicted the ultimate fate of the
We will continue to also welcome letters to
House impeachment hearings, and suggested
the editor, as we do not wish to abridge the
the best way to settle the question of Mr.
right of others to speak out publicly if they so
Trump’s leadership was at the ballot box in
desire.
2020. In a message to our editor, a very agi-
tated and longtime subscriber not only took
Lastly, you may see a national or interna-
tional story occasionally make the pages of
us to task for expressing that viewpoint, but
the East Oregonian, but it will be the excep-
also made it quite clear that they considered
tion. Our primary focus will continue to be
the newspaper nothing more than a mouth-
piece for the Trump administration.
the type of local news and information that
So, depending on the source, the newspa-
you just won’t find anywhere else.
per is either a left-wing, Trump-hating, “fake
———
Chris Rush is the regional publisher for
news” organ or it’s a right-wing, Trump-lov-
ing, corruption-enabling propaganda
the East Oregonian, Hermiston Herald, La
Grande Observer, Baker City Herald, Wal-
machine. Which is it? The answer depends
lowa County Chieftain and Blue Mountain
on the reader’s personal bias.
Eagle.
As I’ve learned over the years, charges of
“G
YOUR VIEWS
Impeachment editorial
very disturbing
The editor of the Pendleton East Orego-
nian wrote an opinion in the Nov. 19 edi-
tion stating the impeachment proceedings
are a waste of time and just out to make a
statement. He says we should only remove
a president by voting him out. Are you kid-
ding me? That’s like saying we shouldn’t
indict and take to trial Roger Stone or
Paul Manafort or Michael Cohen or Rudy
Giuliani because they are going to die even-
tually anyway, so why bother.
This isn’t just about removing Trump as
an inept president, it’s about holding any
citizen responsible for crimes he has com-
mitted. The evidence is pretty damning that
Trump has committed crimes that violated
the Constitution and tried to cover them up.
In the process he tried to help Russia and
damaged the ability of Ukraine to protect
itself while trying to use his power to influ-
ence his re-election.
The impeachment investigation is about
weighing the facts on whether Trump broke
laws and committed constitutional viola-
tions. These hearings are very important
and at the very least they show how corrupt
this administration has been behaving. He
may not get impeached and removed, but
hopefully by the time it’s over the public
has had a stomach full of him.
I am very disappointed that the EO edi-
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.
torial staff makes light of the impeachment
proceedings.
Dave and Viki Lange
Pendleton
School success determined
by good teachers
I was pleased to learn that Hermis-
ton passed the school bond to build a new
school. Good buildings are important, but
it is the teacher who makes the school, and
a school is wherever a student can learn.
Anyone can learn from mountains, riv-
ers, trees, birds, and just by listening, look-
ing, and hearing the talk of other people,
but it is the teacher who guides students to
think, analyze, and determine.
Good teachers educate in many ways.
Their base is usually a book, and good
books are available. If a student cannot
afford to purchase a book, there are pub-
lic libraries filled with books on many sub-
jects and for all ages. They are free to use
and return.
Hermiston has a fine city library, as do
most regional towns and cities. Libraries
are places teachers often refer students go
for learning. A school is as successful as
the teachers who work there and the stu-
dents who learn there.
Dr. Dorys C. Grover
Pendleton
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 the editor to
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave.
Pendleton, OR 97801