4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| OCTOBER 13, 2018
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
C
The First Amendment
ongress shall make no law respecting an es-
tablishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
Is Oregon truly a vampire that feeds on taxation?
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis-
sions on this and other topics are always
welcome as part of our goal to encourage
community discussion and exchange of
perspectives.)
Florence Mayor Joe Henry might
consider asking State Legislators differ-
ent questions if he has serious concern
about perceived levels of tax burden in
Oregon. His Guest Viewpoint (“Time
to Ask Serious Questions of State Legis-
lators,” Oct. 3) appeared to summarize a
stated fear that we may become “the #1
spending state in the nation.”
Florence residents might also ask
if his apparent focus on per-capita
“spending” risks an example of a city
“pot” calling the state “kettle” black?
The most recent research available
through the Oregon Legislative Reve-
nue Office, states: “Oregon’s taxes are
near the national average. Taxes are
25th highest on a per-capita basis and
21st highest on a percentage of income
basis.”
See page A4 of Oregon Public Fi-
nance: Basic Facts: Research Report
#1-18, published last February (link is
www.oregonlegislature.gov/lro/Pages/
publications.aspx.)
Many reasons exist such that a mayor
may want to distinguish general spend-
ing levels from taxation levels. The
City of Florence, for example, appears
to have significant spending beyond
its own tax revenue. The city receives
significant funding from the state, in
many forms.
Guest Viewpoint
By Rand Dawson
retired healthcare industry lawyer
A cursory assessment appears to
show over $5,270,000 of such funds in
the current city budget — a significant
proportion of the 2017-2019 budget
total of $14,754,000. Similarly, state-
wide, Oregon provides over $6.7 billion
dollars to supplement city revenues of
$21 billion, according to recent Census
Bureau data.
Should residents criticize the mayor,
councilors or city staff for their efforts
in obtaining such funding for the bene-
fit of local residents? If one focused on
rating cities by “per-capita” spending,
would that not be the impact?
Likewise, should the mayor serious-
ly criticize state legislators for similarly
obtaining significant funding — be-
yond state tax revenue — which is then
passed to cities, or school districts, or
for Medicaid or similar uses?
Such a criticism is implicit in mere-
ly looking at state ratings by per-capita
“spending.” Nation wide, recent Cen-
sus Bureau data states: “Federal dollars
made up just under one-third of state
revenues — 30 percent.”
Have not ‘local’ or city leaders bene-
fited from the state undertaking to pro-
vide Medicaid health support for over
1 million lower-income and disabled
residents of cities through the state?
For the 350,000 additional Oregonians
having Medicaid coverage because of
Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion,
the state paid 5 percent of costs for
that population during 2017, 6 percent
during 2018, and 7 percent through
2019.
The rest was matched by federal
funds.
Yet this all totals as state “spending”
— having no bearing to direct state tax
burdens — but jointly representing the
highest element of the state budget:
about 22 percent.
LETTERS
Daughtur could not havu
navigatud currunt school
Think of the many modern pub-
lic buildings in Florence that provide
benefits to residents and visitors: An
Events Center with auditorium, full
stage and conference rooms; a state-of-
the-art hospital and medical buildings;
a beautiful library; a senior center for
activities and lunch; a fire and rescue
station with large meeting rooms; a
new public works building; a city hall
currently being grandly remodeled; a
justice building that houses the munic-
ipal court and police department; Lane
Community College; and the Siuslaw
schools.
Then look inside Siuslaw High
School.
I did.
I looked around in disbelief, pictur-
ing my daughter trying to navigate in
her wheelchair; so many obstacles, so
many inaccessible areas.
I am proud to say she graduated
from Sacramento State University but
could not have successfully attended
Siuslaw High School.
If we want to attract young profes-
sional staff with families to work in
the field of health care, education and
many thriving businesses in Florence,
we must provide quality schools that
all children can attend.
I will be thinking of others like my
daughter when I vote “yes” on the Siu-
slaw Schools Bond.
—Sue Jones
Florence
Prusidunt Trump plays golf
The Five Ws: Who, What, When,
Where and Why. As an independent
voter, these are the questions I ask my-
self when trying to get answers on po-
litical issues.
These issues can be simple or com-
plex. Case in point: Recently, a few
folks have written to the Siuslaw News
saying that Donald Trump has played
golf 25 percent of the time he’s been in
office.
I found this figure hard to accept.
At the time of research, I checked
over 13 golfing websites. Once I elim-
inated the political chaff, Trump visit-
ed his golf resorts approximately 157
times. He actually played 18 holes of
golf less than six times. He played 2 to
3 holes less that 11 times.
So what was he doing on the other
140 visits? No one knows, but in my
opinion he was taking care of the busi-
ness of running the country in com-
fortable surroundings.
I also applied the Five Ws to the
alleged 4,000 to 5,000 lies that are
claimed on statements he’s made. I
didn't read through every statement so
I don’t know what they all say. But in
my sampling of 100, they were simply
a difference of interpretation based on
political viewpoints.
During this search I focused on who
was interpreting the statement. Was
it friend or foe? Naturally, all the the
negative interpretations I found were
made by his foes and mostly taken out
of context.
You know, one man’s lie can be an-
other man’s truth.
This same Five Ws approach I used
to research Trump’s illegal immigra-
tion policy vs. Obama’s illegal immi-
gration policy. I also used it regarding
the Senate Supreme Court hearings of
Judge Kavanaugh vs. previous senate
hearings on Thomas, Bork and Gar-
land.
I’ve also used this technique on the
upcoming Kate Brown vs. Knute Bue-
hler race. I believe every voter should
do this.
If only a little time researching was
spent before writers regurgitate the
late-night talk show host rhetoric or
rely on op-eds by known Trump main-
stream media foes, we all might be-
come better informed voters.
—Michael J. Davis
Florence
Singlu carry-out plastic bags
In regard to a most informative arti-
cle in the Siuslaw News (“EMAC Pro-
poses to Curb Single-Use Plastic Bags”
Oct. 6), a thank you to Mark Brennan
and EMAC Chairwoman Maureen
Miltenberger for conveying what the
misuse of these bags do to our envi-
ronment.
Just think: The average use of these
bags is only 12 minutes, with only 1
in 200 being recycled. I didn’t realize
other major, and some small, U.S. cit-
ies and five major countries “... have
instituted a major ban or fee for using
a single-use plastic bag.”
We can all buy those colorful, unique
and inexpensive bags to use over and
over. And, with no tax on groceries, it
makes them all the more affordable in
helping our environment.
I hope EMAC helps get the ban
done.
—Rudy Kramer
Florence
What about thu rust of us?
I thoroughly enjoyed Mayor Joe
Henry’s Guest Viewpoint (“Time to
Ask Serious Questions of State Legis-
lators,” Oct. 3), regarding Oregon on
the road to be the No. 1 spending state
in the nation. However, he left out one
key component in that discussion: The
impact Oregon’s legendary land use
system has on our state, both finan-
cially as well as constraining property
owners.
Kudos to the City of Florence for
partnering with NEDCO for grant
dollars to lessen the impact of new de-
velopment in the struggle to attain af-
fordable housing (Siuslaw News, Sept.
26). The very fact that developers can
receive up to $75,000 per unit to offset
development costs is a prime example
of how our land use regulations and
their financial burden are totally out of
control.
The irony is that bonds through
another state agency are funding this
band aid approach. So, more state-lev-
el bureaucracy; adding more to the
PERS obligation for the rest of us to
pay — all in order for communities
struggling with affordable housing to
solve their need.
Don’t get me wrong, I applaud our
Florence staff and elected officials for
taking advantage of this opportunity
for our community. But what about
the rest of us that don’t get that oppor-
tunity?
Here’s an idea: Let’s lessen the regu-
latory constraints by replacing the ex-
isting land use law, or at least re-writ-
ing it, so it helps all of us and levels the
playing field. It will help private home-
owners, renters, business community,
i.e., all manner of property ownership
across the board.
I had the opportunity years ago to
address attendees at Senator Arnie Ro-
blan’s first Coastal Caucus Economic
Summit, and shared a similar message
with the local, county and state per-
sonnel. They didn’t like hearing that
message and I was never invited back.
One state representative (from anoth-
er Oregon district) told me point blank
that no one in Salem will address the
Oregon land use system because it’s a
sacred cow.
I think its time we slaughtered that
cow so the rest of us can eat at the ta-
ble.
—Cal Applebee
Florence
USPS# 497-660
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Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon.
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Jenna Bar tlett
Ned H ickson
Erik Chalhoub
Publisher, ex t. 318
Editor, ex t. 313
Co n s u l t i n g E d i to r 8 3 1 -7 6 1 -7 3 5 3
echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com
M ar k e t i n g Di re c to r, e x t . 3 2 6
O ffice Super visor, ex t. 312
Pro d u c t i o n Su p e r v i s o r
Pre s s M a n a ge r
Su s a n G u t i e r re z
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Je re my G e n t r y
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Lutturs to thu Editor policy
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Emal letters to:
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WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
(4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
(Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@state.or.us
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us