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East Oregonian
Thursday, January 2, 2020
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
Clarno gets it right again
O
regon Secretary of State
Bev Clarno rejected two ini-
tiative petitions on Thurs-
day, Dec. 19, because they included
more than one topic. It’s the second
time this year she’s told would-be
petition sponsors they must stick to
the state’s single-subject rule, which
says petitions must be limited to
only one change.
Clarno won the first case, which
involved three proposed initiatives,
in Marion County Circuit Court in
late November, though the ruling
is being challenged in the Court of
Appeals.
Last week, Clarno tossed out Ini-
tiative Petitions 48 and 49 for the
same reason she denied the earlier
pair.
The two measures are roughly
identical. Each would require that
all electricity sold in Oregon be
from renewable sources and car-
bon-free resources. That is, presum-
ably, what really matters to the folks
at Renew Oregon, who are push-
EO Media Group file photo
Secretary of State Bev Clarno has rejected two proposed ballot measures that would force
Oregon to transition to carbon-free sources of electricity in the next 25 years.
ing the bills at least in part to make
their goals law no matter what the
2020 Legislature does.
Unfortunately, the measures don’t
stop there. They include all sorts
of rules on working conditions, the
sorts of things that are the result
of labor negotiations, not a state-
wide vote. The rules cover every-
thing from prevailing wage require-
ments to mandatory participation in
apprenticeship programs and proof
the utilities have a history of obey-
ing existing state and federal wage
and hour laws. And, during the
switch to 100% renewables, utilities
would be charged with working to
see that everyone benefits from the
switch.
They are, in other words, mul-
tifaceted proposals that deal with
multiple subjects.
And that, the state constitution
says in several places, is not the way
the system works. The state consti-
tution clearly says that “a proposed
law or Amendment shall embrace
one subject only and matters prop-
erly contained therein” [Article IV,
Section 1 (2)(d)].
That’s not particularly ambigu-
ous language, in Clarno’s view. The
only judge to rule on the issue so
far has seen it her way. With luck, a
new round of judges will agree.
OTHER VIEWS
A fresh gesture of concern from the
fellowship of the furrowed brow
O
h swell. The Republican Senate’s
tion to rig the game for Trump. Are they
so-called “moderates,” who com-
terrified that Trump will tweet at them?
bine big talk with little action
Are they scared of the grassroots Trump-
and fuse noble rhetoric with hapless iner-
ists back home? Or is it basically because
tia, appear to be readying themselves for
their “moderate” image is overblown,
another year of deeming certain Trump
given the fact that as senators they vote
desecrations as “unhelpful” or “unwise.”
their party the vast majority of the time?
One member of this club — which I call
I’ll go with door number three. A recent
the Fellowship of the Furrowed Brow —
vote serves as the perfect metaphor.
spoke up recently. Alaska Sen. Lisa Mur-
Back in October McConnell nominated,
kowski said she’s “disturbed” that Mitch
for a federal judgeship, a 37-year-old right-
McConnell is colluding backstage with the winger who’d been rated “unqualified”
legal team of defendant Donald Trump in
by the nonpartisan American Bar Associ-
ation. In the ABA’s words, Jus-
advance of his impeachment trial
tin Walker “does not presently
in the Senate.
Mainstream media outlets
have the requisite trial or litiga-
think this is big news. Accord-
tion experience (and) has never
ing to the New York Times, it’s
tried a case as lead or co-counsel,
“a potentially significant crack
whether civil or criminal.”
in Republican unity.” We’ll see.
No matter. Every member of
To me, it sounds like the Fur-
the Furrowed Brow Fellowship —
rowed Brow Fellowship’s standard
Murkowski, Romney, Sasse, Col-
D ick
lins — voted to put Walker on the
sponginess, the kind we’ve been
P olman
federal bench. Just as they’ve con-
getting for the past three years
COMMENT
sistently abetted Trump’s far-right
from Murkowski and Republican
takeover of the bench.
Senate colleagues like Mitt Rom-
ney, Susan Collins, Ben Sasse, Rob Port-
Sasse, in particular, has been verbally
man, and Lamar Alexander.
upset with Trump for a long time, but he
First they mouth honeyed words, then
has voted with Trump 86% of the time and
(far more often than not) they vote with
voted (along with Collins and then-Fur-
rowed Browist Jeff Flake) to put accused
Trump and abet his abuses.
It’s nice that Murkowski is “disturbed”
sexual assaulter Brett Kavanaugh on the
that McConnell has “confused” the trial
Supreme Court.
process. But it would truly serve the pub-
One would think that confronting
lic interest if she and her furrowed-brow
McConnell on the impeachment trial rules,
brethren denounced McConnell’s goal of
and demanding witness testimony, would
granting Trump a speedy exoneration.
be easy calls. Those are popular positions.
Under Senate rules, 51 senators (all 47 cau- According to the latest Morning Consult/
cusing Democrats and a mere 4 Republi-
Politico poll, Americans — by a margin
cans) can set the terms of that trial.
of 54 to 27% — want the Senate to bring
That’s what conservative Trump critics
in additional witnesses. Independents
would love to see. Bill Kristol, the long-
are on board, 51 to 27%. Even a plurality
time conservative commentator and activ-
of Republicans are on board, 43 to 38%.
ist, co-writing with a University of Texas
Numbers like that have apparently inspired
academic in a right-leaning online maga-
Murkowski to deem herself “disturbed” by
zine, deftly frames the issue:
the prospect of a rigged exoneration.
“If a bipartisan group of public-spir-
Yes, only four Republicans are needed
ited constitutionalists on both sides of the
to ensure a real trial. But that would
aisle come together, they can tell McCo-
require them to act, so what we’re more
nnell that he will only get 51 votes … if
likely to hear are various synonyms of
he works with them to fashion a fair pro-
“disturbed.” Keep your ear cocked for
cess that allows for crucial documents to
these potential Furrowed Brow adjectives:
be compelled to be produced, and a rea-
Concerned.
sonable number of witnesses to be called.
Troubled.
…The only way to get to that outcome
Puzzled.
is if some Senate Republicans refuse to
Perturbed.
lower themselves to be the mere agents of
Disconcerted.
an unprincipled and partisan leader and
Unsettled.
instead rise to the demands of principle
Worried.
and statesmanship.”
Is there room on that list for infuriated
“Some Senate Republicans.” He’s refer-
or outraged? Not on their watch.
ring to the Fellowship of the Furrowed
———
Brow — which, Murkowski aside, has said
Dick Polman is a nationally syndicated
very little about McConnell’s determina-
columnist.
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.
Our Vietnam veterans are another year
older, still without a capital city memorial
T
he United States of America Commem-
The state of Oregon dedicated a beautiful
oration of the Vietnam War is currently World War II Memorial on the Oregon Capi-
tol Grounds on June 6, 2014. At that time, over
ongoing. This national commemora-
tion was authorized by Congress, established
95% of all World War II veterans were gone
under the secretary of defense and launched
already.
by the president in May 2012. It will continue
It has been said by several Oregonians that
through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025. This
we have an urgent situation. Time is running
program commemorates the 50th anniver-
out. The window of opportunity is slowly
sary of the Vietnam War and recognizes all
closing for the state of Oregon to honor its
who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Vietnam veterans while they are still with us.
Forces, regardless of location, during the
A Vietnam War memorial on the Oregon Cap-
itol Grounds is needed sooner rather than later.
period of Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, as a
During the 2020 legislative ses-
Vietnam veteran.
sion, it is anticipated that a Senate
While 2020 brings another year,
bill will be introduced which will
our Vietnam veterans are a year
establish a Vietnam War memo-
older and there is still not a Vietnam
rial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds.
War memorial in Oregon’s capital
Currently, the Oregon Parks and
city of Salem.
Recreation Department and the
During the Vietnam War era,
Oregon State Historic Preservation
more than 9 million Americans
Office are reviewing a proposed
served in the United States mili-
S teve
tary. More than 2.7 million served
design for such a memorial.
B ateS
in Vietnam, of which about 57,000
You can see the proposed design
COMMENT
were Oregonians. It is estimated
at www.vietnamwarmemorialfund.
that a total of 180,000 from Ore-
org.
gon served during the Vietnam War era. Cur-
It is estimated that the proposed Vietnam
rently, it is estimated with data provided by the War memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds
United States Census Bureau, that there about will cost 2.7 million dollars. A nonprofit cor-
poration exists to raise these needed funds.
100,000 Oregon Vietnam era veterans alive
The stated goal is to raise these funds from the
today.
The average age of our Vietnam veterans is private sector.
You can help. Call your state legislators and
now over 70. The Vietnam Veterans of Amer-
ica announced that the average age of their
tell them you wish for them to pass the Viet-
nam War Memorial Senate Bill. You can also
membership in 2019 was 72.
The United States Department of Veterans make a tax deductible donation to the cause.
Another year has passed and, with your
Affairs published a report that forecast 14,000
help, we are one year closer to honoring our
Oregon Vietnam veterans either have passed
Vietnam veterans with a Vietnam War memo-
away or will die between 2015 and 2020 at a
rial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds.
rate of 8 veterans per day.
———
It is inevitable that our Vietnam veterans
Steve Bates has resided in Boring for 42
will leave us.
years and is a life member of the Associates
Vietnam veteran and United Mine Work-
ers of America, International Union Presi-
of Vietnam Veterans of America. He serves
dent Cecil E. Roberts made this statement in
as chair of the Committee on Memorials &
March 2019: “With an estimated 390 Vietnam Remembrance and president of the Vietnam
veterans passing each day there will be few, if War Memorial Fund. He can be reached by
email at vietnamwarmem@aol.com.
any alive in 10 years.”
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