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About Baker City herald. (Baker City, Or.) 1990-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 2019)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2019 Baker City, Oregon 4A Write a letter news@bakercityherald.com OUR VIEW Clarno gets it right again Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno rejected two initiative petitions Thursday, Dec. 19, because they included more than one topic. It’s the second time this year she’s told would-be petition sponsors they must stick to the state’s single-subject rule, which says petitions must be limited to only one change. Clarno won the fi rst case, which involved three pro- posed initiatives, in Marion County Circuit Court in late November, though the ruling is being challenged in the Court of Appeals. Last week Clarno tossed out Initiative Petitions 48 and 49 for the same reason she denied the earlier pair. The two measures are roughly identical. Each would require that all electricity sold in Oregon be from renewable sources and carbon-free resources. That is, presumably, what really matters to the folks at Renew Oregon, who are pushing the bills at least in part to make their goals law no matter what the 2020 Legislature does. Unfortunately, the measures don’t stop there. They include all sorts of rules on working conditions, the sorts of things that are the result of labor negotia- tions, not a statewide vote. The rules cover every- thing from prevailing wage requirements to manda- tory participation in apprenticeship programs and proof the utilities have a history of obeying existing state and federal wage and hour laws. And, during the switch to 100% renewables, utilities would be charged with working to see that everyone benefi ts from the switch. They are, in other words, multifaceted proposals that deal with multiple subjects. And that, the state constitution says in several places, is not the way the system works. The state constitution clearly says that “a proposed law or Amendment shall embrace one subject only and mat- ters properly contained therein,” Article IV, Section 1 (2)(d). That’s not particularly ambiguous language, in Clarno’s view. The only judge to rule on the issue so far has seen it her way. With luck, a new round of judges will agree. Let’s honor Vietnam veterans The United States of America Commemoration of the Vietnam War is currently on going. This national Commemoration was authorized by Congress, established under the sec- retary of defense, and launched by the president during May, 2012. It will con- tinue through Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. This program commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and recognizes all who served on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces, regardless of location, during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, as a Vietnam Veteran. While 2020 brings another year our Vietnam Veterans are a year older and there is still not a Vietnam War Memo- rial in Oregon’s capital city of Salem. During the Vietnam War Era, over 9 million Americans served in the United States Military. More than 2.7 million served in Vietnam of which about 57,000 were Oregonians. It is estimat- ed that a total of 180,000 from Oregon served during the Vietnam War Era. Currently, it is estimated with data provided by the United States Census Bureau, that there about 100,000 Or- egon Vietnam Era Veterans alive today. The average age of our Vietnam Veterans is now over 70. The Vietnam Veterans of America announced that the average age of their membership in 2019 was 72. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs published a report STEVE BATES that forecast 14,000 Oregon Vietnam Veterans either have passed away or will die between 2015 and 2020 at a rate of 8 veterans per day. It is inevitable that our Vietnam Veterans will leave us. Vietnam Veteran and United Mine Workers of America, International Union President Cecil E. Roberts made this statement in March, 2019: “With an estimated 390 Vietnam Veterans passing each day there will be few, if any alive in 10 years.” The state of Oregon dedicated a beautiful World War II Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds on June 6, 2014. At that time, over 95% of all World War II veterans were gone already. It has been said by several Orego- nians that we have an urgent situation. Time is running out. The window of opportunity is slowly closing for the state of Oregon to honor its Vietnam Veterans while they are still with us. A Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds is needed sooner rather than later. During the 2020 legislative session, it is anticipated that a Senate Bill will be introduced which will establish a Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds. Currently, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Depart- ment and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Offi ce are reviewing a proposed design for such a memorial. You can see the proposed design at www.vietnamwarmemorialfund.org It is estimated that the proposed Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds will cost $2.7 million. A nonprofi t corporation exists to raise these needed funds. The stated goal is to raise these funds from the private sector. You can help. Call your State Legis- lators and tell them you wish for them to pass the Vietnam War Memorial Senate Bill. You can also make a tax deductible donation to the cause. Contributions can be made by credit card on the website or by sending a check or money order to: Vietnam War Memorial Fund — PO Box 1448 — Boring, Oregon 97009. Another year has passed and, with your help, we are one year closer to honoring our Vietnam Veterans with a Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Grounds. Steve Bates has resided in Boring for 42 years and is a life member of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Memorials and Remembrance and President of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund. He can be reached at: vietnamwarmem@aol.com OTHER VIEWS Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the Baker City Herald. Columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the Baker City Herald. Editorial from The Dallas Morning News: Once upon a time, America felt pretty good about stories like Craig and Kath- ryn Hall’s. Here are people who have worked hard their whole lives, made good in- vestments and have given back to their communities and their country. We used to fi nd that inspiring and worth emulating. After all, Craig Hall is a guy who started off his billion-dollar development empire on $4,000 in sav- ings from mowing lawns and selling Cutco. His wife had more of a step-up in life, perhaps, but she built on her begin- nings, becoming a successful lawyer, executive and ambassador. So why did the Halls — devoted Democrats — fi nd themselves torn to bits as villains in the last Democratic debate? The Halls are the owners of the now infamous wine cave in Napa, Calif., and they hosted Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg there for a fundraiser — a Letters to the editor • We welcome letters on any issue of public interest. Customer complaints about specifi c businesses will not be printed. • The Baker City Herald will not knowingly print false or misleading claims. However, we cannot verify the accuracy of all statements in letters to the editor. • Letters are limited to 350 words; longer letters will be edited for length. Writers are limited to one letter every 15 days. • The writer must sign the letter and include an address and phone number (for verifi cation only). Letters that do not include this information cannot be published. • Letters will be edited for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. Mail: To the Editor, Baker City Herald, P.O. Box 807, Baker City, OR 97814 Email: news@bakercityherald.com fundraiser, mind you, where many around the table were regular folks who happen to have given the maxi- mum individual donation (a whopping $2,800) to Buttigieg. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, now leading the anti-success wing of the Democratic Party, zeroed in on the fundraiser dur- ing the last debate. (Nevermind that Warren has plenty history of her own with fancy fundraisers.) “We made the decision many years ago that rich people in smoke-fi lled rooms would not pick the next presi- dent of the United States. Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next president of the United States,” she said. Other candidates, including Andrew Yang and Sen. Bernie Sanders, piled on. This is a central problem for Demo- crats — the idea that success and “privilege” (an amorphous charge applied to certain people as convenient) are problems in themselves. Where does that leave people like Craig and Kathryn Hall, who have em- ployed their success to further causes of greater opportunity for all Americans, including launching a program to help women and minorities start successful businesses? For Craig Hall, it means feeling like “a pawn.” For Kathryn Hall, it means she’d just rather not. No one pretends the Halls haven’t benefi ted from their political as- sociations. But we have to wonder if Democrats really would be better off jettisoning the successful Americans who support the party. And we have to wonder if you want a party where people who know how to make it in America are treated like enemies. The American story has always included the chance to strike it big, to make it, to go from mowing lawns to owning vineyards. If Democrats don’t want that story in their tent anymore, we expect the other side will embrace it gladly and consider it a privilege. CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS President Donald Trump: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500; 202-456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; to send comments, go to www.whitehouse.gov/contact. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: D.C. offi ce: 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland offi ce: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St. Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386; fax 503-326-2900. Pendleton offi ce: 310 S.E. Second St. Suite 105, Pendleton 97801; 541-278-1129; merkley.senate.gov. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C. offi ce: 221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande offi ce: 105 Fir St., No. 210, La Grande, OR 97850; 541- 962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885; wyden.senate.gov. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District): D.C. offi ce: 2182 Rayburn Offi ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20515, 202-225-6730; fax 202- 225-5774. La Grande offi ce: 1211 Washington Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-624-2400, fax, 541-624-2402; walden.house.gov. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.oregon.gov. Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.treasurer@ ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter St. NE, Suite 100, Salem OR 97301- 3896; 503-378-4000. Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum: Justice Building, Salem, OR 97301-4096; 503-378-4400. Oregon Legislature: Legislative documents and information are available online at www.leg.state.or.us. State Sen. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. N.E., S-301, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1730. District offi ce: P.O. Box 1027, Ontario, OR 97914; 541-889-8866. State Rep. Lynn Findley (R-Vale): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. N.E., H-475, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1460. Email: Rep. LynnFindley@oregonlegislature.gov Baker City Hall: 1655 First Street, P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814; 541-523-6541; fax 541-524-2049. City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Mike Downing, Loran Joseph, Randy Schiewe, Lynette Perry, Arvid Andersen, Ken Gross and Doni Bruland. Baker City administration: 541-523-6541. Fred Warner Jr., city manager; Ray Duman, police chief; John Clark, fi re chief; Michelle Owen, public works director. Baker County Commission: Baker County Courthouse 1995 3rd St., Baker City, OR 97814; 541-523-8200. Meets the fi rst and third Wednesdays at 9 a.m.; Bill Harvey (chair), Mark Bennett, Bruce Nichols. Baker County departments: 541-523-8200. Travis Ash, sheriff; Jeff Smith, roadmaster; Greg Baxter, district attorney; Alice Durfl inger, county treasurer; Stefanie Kirby, county clerk; Kerry Savage, county assessor.
