COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 8, 2017 3A
Blackberry Pie Society hosts state rep. town hall
Senator Floyd Prozanski and Rep. Cedric Hayden answered questions from the audi-
ence during a Jan. 27 town hall meeting hosted by the Blackberry Pie Society.
State representatives Cedric Hayden and Floyd
Prozanski held a town hall style meeting on
Thursday, Jan. 27 with the Blackberry Pie Society
sponsoring the event.
Hayden and Prozanski took questions for over
an hour ranging in topics from the state budget to
possible state regulations concerning vaping cig-
arettes. A constant theme, however, was how bills
made their way through the two chambers.
While Hayden explained that the House is re-
sponsible for obtaining a written signature from
representatives sponsoring the bill, Prozanski not-
ed that the Senate has moved onto an electronic
method that eliminates the need for a physical
signature on the bills.
Currently, Oregon’s congress is working on
thousands of bills with the head of each com-
mittee dictating the possible legislation that will
move forward.
Both representatives sit on multiple commit-
tees with Prozanski noting his chairmanship of
the judiciary committee, the joint committee on
marijuana legislation, the environment and natu-
ral resources committee and the legislative coun-
sel committee. He also co-chairs the task force
on public safety and the justice reinvestment
grant review committee. When asked what bills
and issues ranked as his top priorities this legis-
lative session, Prozanski said issues concerning
the grand jury process and the recording of those
proceedings were paramount. He also mentioned
revenue and transportation bills would top his list
this session.
For Hayden, behavioral health took priori-
ty with the representative serving on several
health-related committees as well as higher edu-
cation this session. Hayden spoke at length about
both committee assignments noting that, “We’ve
waited too long for it in Oregon,” concerning be-
havioral health and that. In regards to education,
Hayden told the audience he has returned from
dropping his daughter off at college in Washing-
ton and the cost of textbooks far outweighed the
online system Oregon implemented in the past.
“There’s the 40/40/20 rule where 80 percent of
Oregonians are expected have a four-year degree
but there are other technical jobs like electricians,
plumbers, in construction that are technical jobs
and if you have a good technical job, you should
be considered a success.”
Several questions concerning the budget were
raised with the state facing a shortfall of nearly
$2 billion. Hayden noted that the economy in Or-
egon was strong and that defi cit may shrink while
audience members inquired as to the possibility of
using the marijuana tax to close the gap.
The State of Oregon legislative session began on
February 1 and is scheduled to last 160 days.
Oregon legislature to tackle issues
State legislators began the
2017 legislative session on
Wednesday, February 1. Ore-
gon's lawmakers had a packed
agenda ahead of the session with the state facing a nearly $2 billion
defi cit, transportation needs and confusion over the state of health
care funds. Moreover, local governments have suggested potential
laws and raised concerns over bills they say could greatly affect
their ability to govern and run their cities. The following is run-
down of some of the major bills and issues currently working their
way through both houses:
Raising the tobacco age: Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward and
Rep. Rich Vial are the chief sponsors of a bill that would raise the
age of legal tobacco purchasers to 21 from 18. The pair cite the
health risks of smoking and the mountain of data tied to the eventu-
al heavy costs of the habit both fi nancially and physically. The issue
was raised at a local town hall event where Rep. Cedric Hayden
and Senator Floyd Prozanski took questions from local residents.
A suggestion was made from the audience that increasing the age
of legal tobacco sales and adding a tax to vaping products would
improve the state's fi nancial outlook on health costs and the overall
shortfall.
The budget: Oregon is facing a $1.7 billion budgetary shortfall
and the legislature is scrambling for funds to cover the gap. Among
the top issues the houses are facing in balancing the books is the
Public Employee and Retirement System (PERS). The system has
been a point of contention as the legislature geared up for the 2017
BY CAITLYN MAY
cmay@cgsentinel.com
session with over 100,000 individuals currently receiving funds
from PERS. Senate Bill 590 and Senate Bill 560 aim to address the
system's funding shortfall with 559 altering the way the employees'
fi nal average salaries are calculated and 560 would shift money
from employee-owned retirement accounts to their pensions.
Transportation: The Joint Transportation Preservation and Mod-
ernization Committee reported the state of
Oregon should spend an additional $1.3 bil-
lion a year on its transportation infrastruc-
ture. However, with a defi cit nearing $2 bil-
lion, the legislature says that fi gure is out of
reach and projects must be taken off the long
list of needed upgrades and repairs which
include seismic upgrades in the face of so-
bering reports that Oregon is due for a major
earthquake. It is unknown what projects the
legislature is set to set aside due to budgetary
restrictions.
Distracted driving: Senate President Peter
Courtney planned to head a bill that would
introduce additional fees and possible jail
time for individuals who drive while dis-
tracted. Early reports of the bill would have
fi rst-time offenders facing up to a year in
prison and fi nes up to $6,250. Those who are
found to have multiple violations in 10 years
will face up to fi ve years in prison and up to
$125,000 in fi nes.
Pre-existing conditions: While Oregon's houses are debating
bills, the United States Congress in also in session with Oregon
representative Greg Walden introducing a bill to maintain a pro-
vision of the Affordable Care Act which prevents companies from
denying insurance based on pre-existing conditions.
Dr. B
Benjamin
j i R.
R Thornton,
T h t
DDS
DDS, M
MS
Locations in both
Encourage
children
to fl oss
Eugene and Creswell!
Give us a call to schedule your
complimentary consultation!
541-686-1732
Children should learn
that fl ossing is just as
important as brushing.
Brent Bitner, DDS
earning to brush their own teeth is a lesson
all children must master. Although parents
ultimately may have children who become
profi cient at brushing their own teeth, getting them
to fl oss is generally more diffi cult.
L
not experience cavities at an early age, and it
can establish practices that promote oral health
throughout life. Despite being so important, many
parents fail to encourage fl ossing or are at a loss as
to how to make it enjoyable and effective.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention found that 41 percent of children aged
2 to 11 had tooth decay in their fi rst teeth. Dental
caries are common among children, likely because
they have not become profi cient at taking care of
their teeth.
Although regular dental fl oss is one of the fi rst
tools for fl ossing, the dexterity required to wind
the fl oss around little fi ngers and then thoroughly
clean the teeth may discourage children.
Parents can look into the wide array of fl ossing
helpers available at the store. In fact, many age-
appropriate fl ossers are now available that feature
fun designs and smaller profi les to fi t into kids’
mouths more easily. Flossers may be attached to
a handle to make back teeth more accessible and
promote more effective fl ossing. Manufacturers
such as DenTek, Butler GUM, Plackers Kids, Dr.
Fresh, Oral-B, and Brush Buddies offer children’s
fl ossers.
Soft, sticky foods are commonplace in young
kids’ diets, and these can promote decay. Even
well-intentioned gummy vitamins can be sources
of dental decay. Oftentimes, these foods become
lodged between the teeth or on the surface of
molars. If left in contact with the teeth for too long,
food particles become a source of carbohydrates
for oral bacteria, and cavities may appear as a
result.
To remove food particles from between the teeth,
children must fl oss, advises the American Academy
of Pediatric Dentists. It is recommended that
parents help their children to fl oss as soon as two
teeth are touching and continue to do so until the
child is around the age of 8, when a child should
have enough dexterity to do it on his or her own.
Flossing is essential to making sure children do
Kids who shy away from fl ossing may be more
likely to use a children’s water fl osser. In lieu
of string fl oss, a water fl osser uses a pressurized
stream of water to dislodge food from between
teeth. Although a water fl osser may be more messy,
children may enjoy the opportunity to “play” with
water and the cleaning sensation provided.
To prevent the buildup of plaque and the
development of dental caries, parents should
educate children about proper fl ossing techniques.
Dentistry with Family in Mind
C ALL U S T ODAY !
541.942.7934
350 E. W ASHINGTON A VENUE • C OTTAGE G ROVE
WWW.CGSMILES.COM
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
Brightening Lives
One Smile at a Time
914 South 4th St. • CG • 541-942-1559
douglasgmaddessdmd.com