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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2019)
OPINION Wallowa County Chieftain A4 Wednesday, August 14, 2019 IT’S ONLY FAIR… I t’s only Fair… It’s always a joy, and too often a surprise, when hard work pays off. In Wallowa County we have two supreme examples of that this week. In a world fraught with contro- versy, rancor, and cynicism, the Wal- lowa County Fair is a refuge and a shining example of what we can be at our best: collaborative, coopera- tive, charitable, kind, and even coura- geous. Families all pulled together for the sake of one another and for Wal- lowa County’s most precious and valu- able resource—children. There was lots of laughter and play. But when there was work to be done, it got done. If someone needed help, it was there. Volunteers worked, and are still work- ing, long, laborious hours to ensure that the fair’s many and complex com- ponents worked smoothly. The whole thing went off without a hitch. Judges emphasized the positive things that VOICE of the CHIEFTAIN each hard-working entrant had accom- plished. Animals were treated kindly and respectfully. People were too. And when it came to the very diffi cult task of saying goodbye to the lamb or steer or pig or turkey that each young- ster raised, all of the kids found the strength to do so with dignity, although for some it was extremely diffi cult. Now its over, and we are back to ordinary lives. It’s only Fair, after all. Or is it? True, a spirit of collaboration and can-do togetherness pervades our Ag community, and each of the other philosophically cohesive groups in the county. It would be nice if the spirit of the fair could linger—maybe con- tinue for all of us all year, and maybe help us enlarge the circle of those we converse with, visit with, work with. Maybe in the spirit of the Fair, be fairer? To anyone who is feeling down- trodden by current events, the Fair is a place to escape, to recharge, and to witness, and perhaps absorb the vibrant energy of a new generation ris- ing. If you didn’t get there this year, you ought to go next year. Free is a pretty fair price. (Or maybe you’d like to volunteer?) The other example of hard work and persistence that paid off comes from our medical community and our legis- lators. Our providers, including Chan- tay Jett, Nic Powers and others, per- severed in the belief that they could bring a new and more effective kind of medical center to Wallowa County. One that would be a model for com- prehensive, integrated care across Ore- gon, the northwest, and the nation. They spent four years--in fact almost a decade--thinking, talking, and plan- ning. And to their enduring credit, our two legislators, Rep. Greg Bar- reto (R-Cove), and Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena), were key fi gures in secur- ing the new $2.5 million appropria- tion that virtually assures project suc- cess. They lobbied their colleagues hard, and Wallowa County will be the benefi ciary of their efforts—and those of our medical community. As Wal- lowa County Commissioner Susan Roberts has noted, “Senator Hansell and Representative Barreto worked hard for Eastern Oregon and deliv- ered for us, even though they were in the super-minority in Salem. We are very grateful for their leadership and representation.” So there it is. Hard Work. Per- sistence. Attention to Detail. Collab- oration. Kindness. Courage. For Wal- lowa County these time-honored ethics have paid off handsomely. But, after all, it’s only fair. To leave or not to leave: That was the question facing Oregon Senate Republicans Chieftain price increases to $1.50 per copy M You probably noticed that the price of the Wallowa County Chieftain increased last week. The Chieftain’s per-copy news- stand price is now $1.50 instead of $1.00. The Chieftain would rather not increase its price, but the costs of paper, delivery, and simply keeping our doors open have increased. The good news is that our sub- scription rate, which went up by $5 per year for local delivery in June, will remain stable for the foreseeable future. We thank you for reading the Chieftain, the most reliable and accurate source of news in and about Wal- lowa County, and pledge to continue our 120-year-old tradition as one of the West’s most respected rural newspapers. uch has been written, discussed, opined, and debated about the deny- ing of a quorum for 9 days, when the 11 Oregon Senate Republicans made the decision to leave. Since I was one of what became known as the “Ore- gon 11”, and as I have tried to do with every decision I have ever made as an elected offi cial, I want to explain why I did what I did. It is also important to explain the events leading up to that decision. With all I have read or listened to, especially social media, I have come to the conclusion I am either a hero or a zero. There isn’t much in between. My purpose here is not to debate the mer- its and fl aws of HB2020, the Cap and Trade bill, that precipitated the deci- sion to leave. I personally believe there were huge problems with HB2020 as it was written. But that is not the reason I walked. My primary reason for leaving was the refusal of the majority party to refer this bill to the people for a vote. Oregonians deserved to be able to vote on this bill. I believed the costs, the impacts, and the insignifi cant results of actual carbon reduction, needed to be decided by the citizens, not the super- majority of one party. There were two ways Cap and Trade could have gone to the vot- ers. First, the legislature could have amended the bill to refer it. I believe such a referral was included in sev- eral of the 117 proposed amendments offered to the bill but all were turned down by the Joint Committee on Car- bon Reduction. The second way was for the legislature to remove the infa- mous “Emergency Clause.” Without getting too far into the weeds, when an emergency clause is attached to a bill it becomes law upon signature of the Governor. It makes it much more dif- fi cult for citizens to refer it to the bal- lot. Technically it is not impossible for the referral but much harder and more diffi cult. In my opinion, that is why the emergency clause was attached to HB2020. I was hard pressed to see any reason to justify an emergency. There was none. Without an emergency clause, any bill becomes law six months after the governor signs it. In those six months, signatures can be gathered and a vote Senate President to not second read HB2020 in order for negotiations to continue. However, HB2020 was second read on Wednesday, with the emergency clause intact, and it Sen. Bill Hansell would be third read the next day, June 20. That meant the walkout was taken prior to the bill becoming law. on for Thursday unless negotiations The referendum process is a check could hammer out something of a and balance Oregonians have on their compromise. Legislature. Oregonians have used it Three individuals began meeting on to repeal or adopt legislation over the Wednesday morning at 10:00am and years. for the next seven plus hours came up On Tuesday, June 18, a good friend with some kind of a proposal. Those and member of the Senate Demo- individuals were Senator Cliff Bentz, cratic leadership came to my offi ce and vice chair of the Carbon Committee, asked me what it would take to keep Nik Blosser Chief of Staff for Gover- me from “walking.” I replied, remove nor Brown, and Representative Karin the emergency clause from HB 2020. Power the Co-Chair of the Carbon Let the people have the opportunity Reduction Committee. Two Demo- to vote on something this monumen- crats and one Republican, worked into tal. It needs to be on the ballot. That the early evening. Fifteen minutes after senator indicated that made sense and the proposal was presented to Gover- they would try and see what could be nor Brown, House Speaker Tina Kotek done. I believe my friend tried, but to and Senate President Peter Court- no avail. ney, a call was made to Senator Bentz informing him that the proposal had ‘IF YOU BELIEVE IMPEDIMENTS been rejected. Had either of these two events produced a different result, we SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN would have stayed. REMOVED ENABLING THE On Wednesday evening the emer- GOOD PEOPLE OF OREGON THE gency clause remained in HB2020. It OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS would be third read on Thursday, and the citizens, for all practicable pur- PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THEN poses, would be denied the opportu- WE DISAGREE AND I’LL CONTINUE nity to consider and debate the merits TO BE A ZERO. BUT AT LEAST YOU of the bill in the referendum process. I felt this was wrong and I joined my KNOW WHY I DID WHAT I DID.’ fellow Republican Senators in leaving and denying a quorum on Thursday. The Republican Caucus was also So there you have it, why I decided informed that three of our colleagues to leave. If you believe impedi- across the aisle were no votes, but we ments should not have been removed were unable to satisfactorily confi rm enabling the good people of Oregon their position. Later, when Senate Pres- the opportunity to vote on this pro- ident Courtney publicly announced he posed legislation, then we disagree and did not have the votes, it set the stage I’ll continue to be a zero. But at least for our return. you know why I did what I did. This is Next on Wednesday, June 19, two what I owe all my constituents whether events happened which might have I’m a hero or a zero or something in averted the walkout. The fi rst would between, and with apologies to Mr. have been delaying the second reading Shakespeare regarding how I answered of HB2020. The Oregon Constitution the question to leave or not to leave. requires every bill be read three times before voting on it. The bill is fi rst read State Senator Bill Hansell rep- by title only and then sent to a commit- resents District 29. He grew up on a tee. If the bill survives the committee wheat and cattle ranch and he and his process, it comes back to the fl oor for wife Margaret live in his hometown of the second reading again by title only, Athena. His Senate District is the size and the next day it is read for a third of the State of Maryland, and is the time and a vote taken. leading Ag producing senate district in Republican leadership urged the the State. GUEST COLUMN Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884 M EMBER O REGON N EWSPAPER P UBLISHERS A SSOCIATION Published every Wednesday by: EO Media Group VOLUME 134 USPS No. 665-100 P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828 Offi ce: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore. Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921 Contents copyright © 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. By Ellen Morris Bishop Wallowa County Chieftain LETTERS to the EDITOR Becky A. Hauskins will be missed On July 14, 2019 Valley Bronze of Ore- gon, Inc. lost a dear part of our family, Becky A. Hauskins. Valley Bronze had the pleasure of employing Becky since Janu- ary 4, 1994. Becky was an important part of a team that completes a process where each step is dependent upon the other, she took high pride in this. Becky moved to Oregon from California in hopes of leav- ing busy California behind. Becky loved the tranquility of her small home on Green Valley Road, which she shared with her Mini Aussie Beulah up until a few days prior to her passing when she was taken to Wallowa Memorial Hospital. She loved to be outdoors and enjoyed all ani- mals. Becky was artistically gifted beyond words. In high school she made and sold beautiful papier Mache animals, was a master ceramist in college, and also did magnifi cent wall abstracts using vibrant colored tissue paper. Becky is survived by her Brother Rusty, Sister Terri, Broth- er-in-law Tom, Best Friend Audrey Druss and all of her family here at Valley Bronze, Inc. Valley Bronze of Oregon, Inc. Joseph, Oregon CJD Jokes demeaning Dear Editor of Wallowa County Chieftain, After attending the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo for the fi rst time both Friday and Saturday nights, my wife and I cannot rec- ommend it to others. Both of us are senior citizens and Oregon natives who enjoy rodeo and love the Joseph/Enterprise area. As a Vietnam era veteran, I was offended by the video promoting one view of patrio- tism, and similarly my wife found many of the announcers jokes demeaning to women. Yes we are from the west side of the state, but please don’t pigeonhole us; we live on a farm and hunt elk in our big back yard. However, we don’t think politics and sex- ism have a place at an athletic event. Lee O’Banion Gales Creek, Oregon Periodical Postage Paid at Enterprise and additional mailing offi ces Subscription rates (includes online access) Wallowa County Out-of-County 1 Year $45.00 $57.00 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery General manager, Jennifer Cooney, jcooney@wallowa.com Editor, Ellen Morris Bishop, editor@wallowa.com Publisher, Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Reporter, Stephen Tool, steve@wallowa.com Administrative Assistant, Amber Mock, amock@wallowa.com Advertising Assistant, Cheryl Jenkins, cjenkins@wallowa.com See the Wallowa County Chieftain on the Internet Wallowa.com facebook.com/Wallowa twitter.com/wcchieftain POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wallowa County Chieftain P.O. Box 338 Enterprise, OR 97828
