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LOCAL & STATE FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A Campaigns seeking to recall Gov. Kate Brown are optimistic By Aubrey Wieber and Claire Withycombe Oregon income tax refunds in 2020 to reach record $1.6 billion Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Jolly old St. Nicholas doesn’t care much for the governor. Dressed in a stocking cap, black boots, red velvet pants and vest, he signed the petition to recall Gov. Kate Brown in between proffer- ing photos with Santa in the stifl ing August heat at the Oregon State Fair. His holiday booth was next to one where people could sign petitions to recall the Brown governor, who won re-election in November. “The main thing is being able to have an opinion when you think something’s not right,” Santa said. He declined to fully identify him- self, saying he fears being attacked. Santa had a very specifi c grievance: He said the gov- ernor’s offi ce imposed a $400 annual fee on him for having a water well at his property east of Salem. At a time where right- wing populists from Boris Johnson and Jair Bolsonaro to Donald Trump have ac- crued mainstream appeal and have secured real politi- cal power, Brown’s opponents are fi nding an outlet for their dissatisfaction by trying to put her on the ballot through a recall petition. Two, to be precise. The Oregon Capital Bureau interviewed about 30 people signing petitions at the fair in Salem over three days. Most were from the Willamette Valley, many from more rural areas such as Molalla or Monmouth. Petition signers carried a variety of grievances to the two booths offering recall pe- titions. They named business taxes, environmental policies, and legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. The state GOP’s petition outlines its issues on the back, saying Brown over- turned the will of the voters by allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses and approving new taxes. She attempted to vio- late peoples’ medical freedom and impose environmental regulations, it says. She failed to fi x an underfunded pension system or a troubled foster care system, and sup- ported use of the emergency clause on bills to keep policy from being referred to the voters, it says. Brown, they say, is the person responsible for turn- ing Oregon into a tax-happy, gun-hating, business-killing liberal haven. At the state GOP’s booth, the traffi c to sign the peti- tions ebbed and fl owed. Salesmen hawking beef jerky and massage chairs competed for the attention of fairgoers streaming through the pop-up mall. ■ State’s unique tax ‘kicker’ law requires rebates when personal income tax revenue exceeds projections by at least 2% Claire Withycombe / Oregon Capital Bureau Volunteers at the Marion County GOP booth at the Oregon State Fair with petitions seeking the recall of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. To the south of the GOP booth, a woman demonstrat- ed dirt-repelling welcome mats. To the north a team of men pitched people on the benefi ts of Dish satellite TV. The massage chair salesmen aggressively defended their territory. But when people saw the large cardboard cutout of Trump or the “recall Kate Brown” banner, many seemed giddy. “They can’t sign it fast enough,” said Sam Sapp, who was working the booth on a recent morning. They rushed over, eagerly asking where they could sign, often following up with “I hate her” or “She’s ter- rible.” Disliking politicians is an American tradition, but the recall process is generally reserved as a response to corruption or scandal, not a rejection of policy. In fact, no recall of a state offi cial has ever made it to the Oregon ballot. The Oregon Republican party claims it is on pace to get more than 300,000 signa- tures by the Oct. 14 deadline. According to volunteers, the party has reported averaging a signature per minute, though the party has not released how many sig- natures it’s actually gotten. To many seasoned political observers, the prospect of re- calling Brown is as likely as Santa Claus and eight tiny reindeer fl ying around the world every Christmas Eve. Thomas Wheatley, Brown’s campaign adviser, believes Republicans are juicing the stats. “I’m extraordinarily dubi- ous about this claim, though they do operate in the world of alternative facts,” he said. The majority of those interviewed at the fair about signing the petitions struggled to specify why they wanted to recall Brown, and seemed to be doing so based on a gut feeling. Most commonly, people brought up cap and trade — a failed effort by the Legis- lature that Brown backed to curb greenhouse gas emis- sions. “My understanding is GRANITE GULCH that a lot of people just don’t think Salem cares about them right now,” said Linn County GOP Chair Adam Keaton, pointing to that county’s agriculture, timber and trucking industries. There was also a hefty degree of conspiracy monger- ing. Some affi liated with the effort say they fear retali- ation. They shared rumors that people signing the peti- tions or volunteering with the campaigns have been targeted for arson, beat up or had their cars vandalized. Opponents sometimes cite Brown’s unconventional path to the governorship: as sec- retary of state, Brown moved into the job as directed by the state constitution with John Kitzhaber’s resignation in February 2015. The next year, 985,000 people voted for Brown, giv- ing her 139,418 more votes than Bud Pierce, the Repub- lican nominee. Last year, about 934,000 people voted for Brown. She beat GOP opponent Knute Buehler by 119,510 votes, ac- cording to the state Elections Division. While the petition signers often said Brown isn’t follow- ing the will of the voters, she won re-election campaigning heavily for the policies they oppose, such as greenhouse gas capping and an educa- tion funding package. “We are proud of the ac- complishments from this year’s legislative session,” Wheatley said. “Historic investments in our schools, stable health care funding, bold steps to make housing more affordable, tackling dirty diesel, campaign fi nance reform, and much more.” Though some doubted Brown really did campaign on such policies. “You know, I don’t believe that,” said Lincoln City resident Dee Right. “I don’t believe it was in full detail. I think she lied.” Right stopped by the fair booth, but had already signed the petition. “She’s only benefi ting the metropolitan areas and not the rural cities that make up Oregon,” Right said. Alan Miller, a fi sheries biologist for the Eagle Cap Ranger District, said he believes Continued from Page 3A the fi re will benefi t fi sh habitat in the Mi- “Fire growth was in the direction and nam River. Burned logs that end up in the amounts we had expected, with the majority river can slow the water and create refuge of growth being on the east side,” Wing said. habitat for fi sh, he said. The fi re’s perimeter is estimated at 5,400 In the interests of public safety, an area acres. closure remains in effect for the area Although the Forest Service has been between Rock Creek Trail and Trail Creek employing a “confi nement” strategy with the Trail which drains into the Minam River, ex- Granite Gulch fi re, which means it’s mainly cluding Elk Meadows. The complete closure allowed to burn naturally, on several days order, map and updated fi re information can earlier this summer offi cials summoned be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/inci- helicopters to drop water on the west side of dent/6498/ the fi re to prevent it from spreading farther The other large fi re in the area, the 204 west, down the Minam River Canyon. They Cow fi re burning on the Malheur National also want to keep the fi re on the north side of Forest about 17 miles southwest of Unity the river. near the Baker-Grant County border, grew “The east face of the fi re has moved about by about 400 acres Thursday, moving mainly half a mile in the past week,” fi re behavior to the northeast and southeast. analyst Bret Ruby said. “It’s hardly moved at The fi re, started by lighting on Aug. 9, has all to the west, at most a quarter mile.” burned about 5,500 acres. Right was especially both- ered by the cap and trade proposal, which she said would kill the logging and trucking industries. Right said she’s been a registered Democrat her whole life, yet when she saw a recall booth in Lincoln City, she pulled an illegal U-turn to sign it. She’s never been political, she said, but spoke with passion when disparaging Brown. “She’s making a mess, and she doesn’t listen to the people,” Right said. Two months ago, Right switched her affi liation. “Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do,” she said, adding she took several sheets to get friends and family to sign as well. SALEM (AP) — Oregon taxpayers will see the largest-ever state income tax refund next year, thanks to state revenue coming in at more than 9% above projections, state economists said Wednesday. They say the top 1% of taxpayers can expect refunds of $15,214, while the median refund will be $346. The average payout to all taxpayers is expected to be $739. A total of more than $1.57 billion is expected to fl ow back to personal income taxpayers after they fi le their 2019 returns. That compares to a refund projection in May of a little more than $1.4 billion. The latest tally given to lawmakers continues a trend over the past two years, as state tax revenue outpaces expectations, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported . Money fl owing into the state’s general and lottery funds came in $2.6 billion above what offi cials expected in 2017. That created a situation where Oregon reserve funds are at an all-time high — at more than $3.7 bil- lion — even as economists warn of a possible economic slowdown on the horizon. Oregon’s unique refund policy also means the state can’t use all of the unexpected money. Under state law, a “kicker” is triggered whenever actual personal income tax receipts come in at least 2% higher than initial projections. In such cases, any money collected above initial forecasts fl ows back to taxpayers in the form of tax credits. The unprecedented revenues have roots in a num- ber of factors, including federal tax changes that led businesses to put off paying taxes until this year and ratcheting up corporate tax receipts by around 50%. Economists say those impacts are likely short-term. “Even without a recession, we’re expecting that it’s going to be hard to match the revenue we saw in the last biennium,” state economist Mark McMullen told lawmakers on the House and Senate revenue commit- tees. “You’ll love the work we do. I guarantee it.” - JR 225 H Street • East of I-84 • 541-523-3200 • grumpysrepair.com Customer Appreciation Days! Wednesday, September 4th 3931 10th Street, Baker City FREE LUNCH 12 - 2 pm Enter to win door prizes, including: $250 Gift Card 75 Qt Orca Cooler ($350 Value)
