Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1982)
October 2 5,1982 Page 7 Page 6 October 25,1982 Difficult issues discussed by gubanatorial candidates Governor Vic Atiyeh Warm Springs has always been very cooperative with Oregon Oregon’s economy, the major issue of the ’82 campaign Atiyeh commended the Warm Springs tribes for their far-sightedness last year they closed the Deschutes during the Spring fishing season. “ Last year we had a real problem, it was Warm Springs that said they were going to stop fishing. Usually it starts at the other end. Effectively, Warm Springs said to the state, we are leading the way in this because we know we have to do something about it. Actually, Warm Springs has been very cooperative. They’re trying to enhance the resource...we have a totally cooperative effort with Warm Springs, realizing they are entitled to fish, and at the same time, knowing we have to enhance the resource...in working together, we’ll be able to solve it.” “ The major issue, of course, is clearly economic development...getting jobs, getting things going,” says Atiyeh. The Governor listed several things that will attribute to getting the economy on the upswing again. Trying to get the timber industry going, says Atiyeh, will not only help the entire state, but Warm Springs as well, “ If the rest of the timber industry isn’t selling lumber, you (Warm Springs) aren’t either.” “I’m excited about the future of Oregon’s timber industry” Atiyeh suggests a timber comm odity commission because of the state’s great reliance on the tim ber industry, sim ilar to the wheat com m odity commission. I’m more excited about the future of the tim ber industry than some people in the timber industry. The agriculture industry has such a commission.” The commission collects wheat, then sells it, either within the state (s) or internationally. “ We established a market in Japan and now we sell wheat to Japan. I suggest we do the same thing with lumber.” So much for a board food or thousand board feet, would be put into a pot and then the commodity commission would sell the lumber...on the quality because of the “ very high quality” wood such as Douglas Fir and Pine. “ We’d sell this way, rather than just sell it in competion with anybody else’s tw o-by-four.” We could also enlarge the market, said Atiyeh, to include, “ Europe, the A ra l countries. We’ve got markets over there even today, and of course the Far East. I see a really bright future for it, I really do.” Atiyeh continued speaking of improving the economy and what he hopes to do and what has already been done. “ Trying to get the interest levels down at the national level, so that things can get stirred up,” says Atiyeh, is very important. “ Now,” says Atiyeh, “ we’re doing what we can in Oregon. We just sold more veteran bonds and that does offer an opportunity for selling lumber. “ But we can’t do business with just ourselves and survive, we have to get business outside of Oregon. Again, if the economy is good, people are going to go to Kah-Nee-Ta more often, they’re going to buy more lumber and both of these things will be a help to the Tribes.” Atiyeh says this economic recovery won’t be limited to reservation Indians. “ For the Warm Sprinas Indians who are not on the reservation, “ it’s an opportunity to get jobs.” Atiyeh sees more businesses coming into Oregon Atiyeh sees more outside businesses coming into Oregon. “ We positioned Oregon. Now, Oregon’s ardence has been changed dramatically, where they (businesses inside Oregon as well as outside) know very clearly that we’re very interested in business. But then, that doesn’t happen overnight. We’ve been working at it.” Speaking on human resources and education, Atiyeh stated, “ Of interest to Indians of course are both education and human resource positions, particularity since the human resources and federal funds are being cut back. We made a very specific point of trying to make sure that those who had other sources of income and were on welfare, got o ff of it. That allowed us to take care o f those who really needed help. Because we couldn't have done it with the downturn of the economy...we would have really watered the soup. “ Because when you water the soup the one who doesn’t need it (welfare) they’ve got food somewhere else they can eat.” According to the voter’s pamphlet, “ since he took office the welfare rolls have been cut by 14,000 people. The total savings is $133 m illion over a two-year period.” On drug and alcoholism programs, Atiyeh stated, “ It’s a program that has reallysuffered throughout these budget cuts. I’m aware of it. We’ve made some cuts, but in the next budget, we’re going to try to beef that up again.” Atiyeh opposes ballot measure #3. “ I’m against it... it would severely harm education. If that comes along, it’s going to hurt all education, including the Indians.” Indian Rights and Issues Fishing problems fo r Indians and non-Indians, as well, are of concern to Atiyeh. “ For several years as a legislator, I kept running into a variety of petitions and it was sports, commercial and steelhead fishermen. They kept asking when the seasons m ight be. I finally became convinced in the 1978 primary. Somebody stood up at one of the meetings and said they were going to have a petition that limited the commercial fishermen and asked where I stood on the issue. Just at that point, I said, ‘look, I'm getting sick and tired of this whole thing. As a Governor, I’m going to work on the enhancement of the resource because all we’re doing is fighting over what is left and what is left is less every year...and who’s going to get the last fish.’” Enhancement of the resource, says Atiyeh, is the most Im portant thing, because it will be beneficial to all fishermen, whether it be Indian, commercial or sports. He supports the Indian fishing rights, “ and they’re entitled to those rights.” export trade. “ It is my belief that the future economic security of this state is in an export trade, not only nationally but internationally in the Pacific Rim nations.” He feelsthat in order to have effective exporting, Oregon’s port systems must be improved and improve Oregon’s transportation system, its highways and railroad systems. “ It’s not a short-range solution." W ood p ro d u c ts in d u s try w ill continue to be a big part of the economy Oregon Commission on Indian Services During this time Atiyeh realized, he said, that there were services that Indians needed but because of a lack of trust, “ the Indians were not w illing to work with non-Indians." Atiyeh recognized the need of a “ bridge” of sorts to make sure “ that they could deal in confidence with our state agencies.” The bill which Atiyeh introduced to the state was a culmination of long hours of work by both the Governor as well as many Indians. “ We sat in my office and worked out the bill together. Then, it became a reality and there was representation of all the reservation Indians...and one House member and and one Senate member. I was the Senate member from day-one to the time I resigned when I became Governor. " It’s (the Commission) kind of identifying where the problems are and tries to build that bridge and deal w itii those problems.” The commission, says Atiyeh, has dealt with human resources, alcohol and drug problems and education. Atiyeh has not served on the Commission for four years. “ I’ve always been very supportive. It started off with really no budget and we actually operated out of my office and my secretary was the secretary for the Commission until we got it off the ground...now they have their own budget.” Atiyeh identified the real problems he felt were inhibiting solving fishing problems. “ Where our problems are comir.g from is that we’re constantly in court, (and we’re dealing with) contentious, angry people and we separate the parties instead of putting them together.” There was a coordinating body, said Atiyeh, the Columbia River Compact, and the Indian fishermen were involved But the Indians were trying to break it off. “ I advised them to stick in with it. They've hung in there so far. That’s the k nd of effort we ought to promote. There was a lot of distrust. The Indians felt they were out voted...! made it clear that I had no intentions of them being out-voted and I had no intentions other than an equal opportunity to their voice in there and that I wanted to keep that team of people together.” Atiyeh is confident that the problems can be worked out. “ I know we can solve it...we can all sit down, in good faith, and work it out. There are still the suspicions that go on, but that’s one of the things I have a degree of pride in knowing, thatthey know they can trust me...I’m not out to get them as Governor. If they have a problem, they can call me and let me know that.” Commercial Fishing Dealing with commercial fishing “ comes down the same way,” says Atiyeh. “ I have a different problem because basically the commercials aren’t even now talking about the Indian fisheries except, of course, on the Columbia and where the gillnets go in and who gets the gillnet rights.” Atiyeh says credibility is lacking in the fishing world in Oregon. “ The commercials don’t trust the private hatcheries and one of my major problems is credibility. We’re trying to restore it. I talked to the Pacific Fisheries Management and I talked about the enhance ment of the resource and the fact that we manage it together and we should improve it and what I’d do in Oregon to improve it.” Republican incumbent Governor Vic Atiyeh was elected to the post in 1978 and is seeking reelection. He is president of Atiyeh Brothers, Inc., ah import carpet business. He attended Portland public schools and attended the University of Oregon (pre law) for two years. His prior governmental experience listed in the Oregon voter’s pamphlet is; Member of the Oregon legislature for 20 years, Oregon House of Representatives from 1959 to 1965, Oregon Senate form 1965 to 1978. He also served as Republican floor leader for the House and Senate and was Senate Republican leader. very proud of that relationship. |t’s a relationship I personally prize very much...I sure have no intentions of changing it.” During his years in the Oregon legislature, Atiyeh has always supported Indians and tried to help alleviate problems. Atiyeh introduced the bill in 1975 that established the Oregon Commission on Indian Services. “ Indians were first of all suspicious,” said Atiyeh, “ particularity the reservation Indians, in the sense that too few non-Indian people understand the relationship of the tribes, the state and federal government.” Capital Punishment Atiyeh’s view on capital punishment is, “ I support it. I support the measure that passed in 1978 which was declared unconstitutional... to restore because of a technicality.” Atiyeh says he plans to submit that measure to restore capital punishment during the next session of the legislature, correcting the constitutional problem. Atiyeh supports capital punishment, but wants to abolish the plea of insanity as a defense. “ I’ll add another dimension. I’m going to recommend that we abolish the plea of insanity as a defense. There are some other parts of the crime package, like beefing up the investigation of the state police, which would relate to drugs as well as our laboratories, helping local government, D.A.’s and things like that.” All fishermen need set times, not just Oregon’s Economic Future quotas Atiyeh feels that the commercial and sports fishermen need set times for fishing, not just quotas. “ I suggest there be a minimum time period for sports fishermen because the motels and hotels could gear up for it and the charter boat people could gear up for it. If you say number of fish you know what happened this year, they ran out of fish and they ran out of time...they don’t really need fish, they need time,” remembering also resource enhancement and streamside management. State/Tribal Relationship Currently, Warm Springs and the state of Oregon enjoy a very good working relationship and Governor Atiyeh sees no reason to change that relationship unless to better it. “ I’m not going to change it unless we could do something to do it better, but I’m not sure quite how because what we have is a direct line...we have a direct line with non-reservation Indians as well,” Atiyeh has always been supportive of Oregon Indians. Aityeh is proud of the relationships he developed with Indians over the past years. If Indians have a problem, he says, “ they just call on the telephone to the Governor. They don’t have to cut through anything to get to me. I am Atiyeh is very optim istic about Oregon’s economic future. The “ economy is turning around...Oregon is in a pretty good position fo r the future. It’s taken a long time to change, so now we have an opportuniy to get customers we never had before.” “Oregon’s government is in good, lean, efficient condition.” Atiyeh commented on the present state government and the cutbacks that have made it lean and efficient. “ The state government is in good shape in terms of working with, and encouraging, not discouraging, economic development... it’s in good, firm, lean, efficient condition. Our future looks very good. I think it looks better than most states because we have weathered this fiscally, and I think it’s pretty clear that we’re lean... “ It’s a good atmosphere in which to break business or expand business. I think Oregon is coming out of this as we compare ourselves to Idaho, Washington and California alone. Oregon is a good, well-run state and government, and I think that’s going to be an attractive tool for us in the future.” Interviews with the gubanatorial candidates conducted for Spilyay Tymoo by Donna Behrend Democrat Ted Kulongoski is vying for Oregon’s governorship. He is currently a state senator and an attorney with offices in Eugene and Portland. He has worked as a bricklayer, steelworker and long- haul truck driver. He received a B.A. in 1967 and a J.D. in 1970 from the University of Missouri. His prior governmental experience is listed in the Oregon voter’s pamphlet as: U.S. Senator nominee in 1980, elected Oregon state senate in 1978, elected Oregon State House of Representatives in 1974 and 1976, chairman of the Agricultural and Natural Resources committee, chairman of Sen ate Insurance and various other committees. Senator Ted Kulongoski Oregon’s economy, the major issue of the ’82 campaign Not unlike Governor Atiyeh, Kulongoski, too, feels that the present economy is the major issue. “ In surveys we’ve taken, the major issue is that 75% of the people are all concerned about the same thing. It has to do with the economy. They may phrase it in different terms—jobs, unemployment, inflation, recession. The economy is the issue.” ¡Kulongoski feels the problems are not only in Oregon, but in the Northwest region of the United States, as well. “The problems with this state are not a phenomena just to Oregon, it’s a phenomena to the whole Northwest, particularly when you look at it and realize since after WWII the federal government, to make the Northwest part of the United States econmically competitive with other areas of the country like the Northeast and the South realizing we are miles and miles away from major population market areas, engaged on a series of subsidies to the Northwest.” Kulongoski says that federal subsidies are not going to continue as they have in the past. “ I think what basically is happening is that the federal government says they aren’t going to continue to do that and that the states in the Northwest are going to have to develop their own economic bases that basically do not rely on a federal subsidy...I don’t think it will ever be the magnitude it was before 1975. It think what Oregon is going to do is basically engage in a program of economic development which I distinguish from economic recovery...The issue of economic recovery is largely tied to a federal economic policy of high interest rates.” ■ He continued, “ I think we all understand that as long as you have mortagage interest rates out at 14, 15 or 16 percent, you’re not going to have a movement that fosters housing construction across this country. This means that not only does the wood product industry go back to work but the construction trades go back to work...this is g oing to d e te rm in a tiv e o f w hen th e fe d e ra l government decides you can't fight inflation with high unemployment.” Kulongoski feels the future of Oregon will depend on where the state is at the turn of the century. “ What type of industrial base do we want here in Oregon? What type of an environment do we want? What about our fish resources, what about our system of higher education, community college, kindergarten through grade 12?” Oregon must put itself on the crest of the economic wave Kulongoski feels that Oregon must prepare itself fo r the anticipated economic boom. “ I think what the state does in its economic development effort is put itself on the crest of the wave that, when recovery does come, the state will be in the position to break with the wave and we will be able to utilize and do a number of things that we haven’t done in the past.” Kulongoski stressed the importance of international T rib a l s o v e re ig n ty autonomy p re s e rv e d “ I think that tribal sovereignty, and the way that these reservations were set up, I think they were given some autonomy,” said Kulongoski. He continued, “ I think there was a reason tor that, legally to protect the integrity of the Tri be...I think though,that you have to look at it on an issue by-issue basis.” Kulongoski questioned the authority of states over reservations. “ What’s the legal authority of the state to do it—taxes, fish and game laws—things like that?” In preserving fish and game animals, Kulongoski says that reservations, as well as the state, must look at conservation. For instance, he said, “ the fish and game laws, particularly those m igratory-type game animals that move from the reservation out into the general population of the state, the tribe has an interest in maintaining an adequate harvest as the people of the state do. They understand...that if the resource is eliminated, that not only do they lose, but all of us lose. That’s why I said it was a cooperative effort in managing those programs. But still within the framework of the soveriegnty of the people who live on the reservation.” Kulongoski is highly supportive of the wood products industry. “ I still believe the wood products industry will continue to be a major element of this state’s economy— not in the way it was before 1980 when the recession hit.” In the Oregon voter’s pamphlet, part of Kulongoski’s stand in his opposition of “ the export of unprocessed Oregon logs, which ships jobs overseas.” And he says that Oregon, in the future, “ will be engaging in an export market... industry is not only going to have to rely upon a domestic housing market but it’s not to rely on a foreign export market as well. Not of raw logs but of finished wood products.” Kulongski is critical of Atiyeh’s proposed “ high-tech future. “ One, I don’t think high-tech is necessarily a Oregon Commission on Indian Services substitute industrial base for the wood products industry. Secondly, there is not a transfer of skills from woods Kulongski says he has been highly supportive of the products industry over to high-tech...we ought to see Commission and other minorities as well. “ I’ve been what other types of industrial bases could complement highly supportive of that in the past in the legislative the high-tech. High-tech is probably oureconom ic future. process. In fact, I have probably been one of the principle Not necessarily electronic high-tech, but bio, genetic, spokespersons in the legislature fo r the issues fo r the medical, things like that. But I can tell you this, high-tech minorities in the state—whether they’re native American, isn’t going to put food on the table in John Day and in Hispanic, the Blacks, Indochinese.” He feelsthat m inority Burns and in Coos Bay. I’ve got to look at something else support can come through “ representation on boards and to get those communities going...that’s the direction we’re commissions...on policies that relate to health care, legal going.” services. Things like that are major areas of concern that I’ve always had to see to that the citizens in this state are Indian Rights and Issues all given opportunity and treated fairly.” Kulongoski stated his beliefs in tribal sovereignty. “ Tribal sovereignty is one that I think...is a legal relationship as to whether the state and federal government basically is going to exercise some sort of Capital Punishment jurisdictional control over those matters that relate to affairs on tribal lands...the federal government basically is Capital punishment is punishment given that authority and it’s the right of self-determination for those without capital within the reservation. Kulongoski stressed the importance of the trust Kulongoski is against capital punishment. “ I can give responsibility and whether the fishery problems stem you a lot of reasons, morally and personally, why I oppose from the Indians rights or from the federal government’s ■ the death penaliy...capital punishment is punishment for lack of direction. “ I think that the problem is a general people without capital and it’s been highly discrim inatory management problem that deals with a lot of different across the country, with basically the low-income and the issues and I don't think you can sit and point fingers at any m inority being the ones who suffer.” one particular faction involved. If you really want to get to Kulongoski says the crimes, “ that people are engaging, pointing fingers, I think that the bottom line is that when a lot of them are a direct reflection of the economy. If the they built the dams, in 1930, they really didn’t understand governor wants tofight crime, he’s going to have to come the long-run implications of what that would do to rivers in up with an economic program to try to put people to work. the Columbia Basin as far as fishery resources.” It’s statistically known that a one-percent rise in is a four-and-a-half rise in crime rate.” Enhancement of fish runs is essential unemployment He went on to say also, that the Governor’s proposal of a for survival. constitutional amendment on the death penalty will be voted upon by the people of the state. “ It isn’t anything He stressed the importance of enhancing the fishery that I stop or prevent or anything else...as Governor of this resource. “ Under the Northwest Regional Power Bill, the state, I take an oath of office to uphold the constitution fisheries issue is, and the mandate is, to provide a fish run and the laws of the state and I intend to do that...I think it’s that would be at the pre-1953 levels and I think that’s more campaign rhetoric more than anything.” extremely important. I’m very committed to attempting to provide input from this state into those decisions that will Oregon’s Economic Future replenish the runs in the Columbia Basin.” Kulongoski supports natural enhancement of the fish Kulongoski is optim istic about Oregon’s economic runs and says that those programs are extremely important. However, he does not support the independent future but he says things have to happen on the national level before Oregon will begin to recover. “ What I think aquaculture program. “ I do believe we should continue the moritorium on aquaculture...The Oregon production will happen to the economy, relying on the federal index, which is the quote figure they use to determine the economic policy, is that the current euphoria on the stock catch, basically is not acurately determined so that...there market and on interest rates is going to be very short lived. As long as congress develops budgets and the is a clear reflection of how many fish are out in the water to president proposes large deficit budgets, you're never base the run on.This country obligated itself to certain going to get the interests rates down.” agreements and they’re bound to to live with them.” Kulongoski, like Atiyeh, says that increasing the size of The federal government will have to the fish runs is more important than who’s getting what fish” ...you have to regulate the season so, in fact, the continue its commitment agreement this government entered into with those Indian tribes years ago, an adequate catch, supply, an adequate Kulongoski continued, saying that the problems the harvest is provided...The tragedy right now is that we’re state has to deal with in “ that intervening period of dealing with a very limited resource and there is time...is that the government will have to continue to make competition between commercial fishermen on the a major commitment in the area of unemployment mouth and those people who have rights further up the insurance, other than in banks.” He compared 1982 to river...you’re trying to regulate a dim inishing resource...” 1932, saying that in 1932 banks failed, in 1982 savings and He suggests that“ capitol improvements” be made on the loans failed.” dams so that fish could more easily make their way up He said the state has to be aware of the problems and river. “ In the long run, it’s in the best interest, not only of “ has to be looking at ways to try to alleviate some of the the Indian tribes, but it’s also in the best interest of all the hardship of our current economy. It’s very d ifficu lt people in this region to do that.” because the state’s in a tough financial situation itself with the budget deficits and things like that.” In his opinion, says Kulongoski, the interest rates on Tribal and State Relationships loans must stabilize. “ That would start a housing boom. I Kulongoski believes strongly in tribal sovereignty and think it’s possible in two or three years that that’s going to stresses the importance of the state and tribes working be happening.” cooperatively. “ It’s a legal entity w ithin the State of oregon which has certain rights under the federal law. I think it should always be a cooperative attitude with those people who live there.” Kulongoski went on to praise the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, saying that the Tribes were, “ a showcase of what you can do economidhlly and socially within the state...I don’t see the issue únder the law. That’s why it’s a legal issue as to who regulates their authority. Every year there are cases that come out of the Supreme Court of the United States dealing with a state’s attempt to regulate some particular activity on tribal lands.” VOTE NOVEMBER 2 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Community Center «SI
