A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Overtime rule promises more than it will deliver T he president wants to change the rules on when workers are eligible for overtime pay. And as with attempts to increase the minimum wage, he wrongly assumes that government can increase worker income E\¿DWZKHUHWKHUHLVQR corresponding increase in economic output. The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that hourly wage earners be paid time- and-a-half when they work more than 40 hours in a regular work week. The act exempts salaried and some hourly workers — managers, executives, administrative staff and professionals — from receiving overtime if they meet QDUURZO\GH¿QHGFULWHULDDQG are paid at least $455 a week. That’s $23,660 a year. The criteria, including the wage levels, are set by Department of Labor regulations. The president wants to increase the minimum salary to $970 per week, or $50,440. The president also proposes mechanisms that would increase that minimum automatically over time. The administration said as many as 5 million U.S. workers will become eligible for overtime under the rule, and will collectively receive more than $1.2 billion in extra earnings. “It’s one of the single most important steps we can take to help grow middle-class wages,” the president said. A lobster in every pot, and a unicorn in every garage. While it makes a great headline, unless the president is writing checks he can’t guarantee anyone a pay raise. The operative word in all of this is “eligible.” Though many politicians would have us believe otherwise, businesses don’t have a magic pot of money WKDW¿OOVXSWRPHHWQHZ government mandates. And they don’t employ people as part of a social welfare scheme, but to accomplish work that contributes to the SUR¿WDELOLW\RIWKHEXVLQHVV Aren’t there some employers who take advantage and classify workers as “exempt” just to cheat them out of overtime? Yes, unfortunately, there are. But most employers are fair, and try to offer pay competitive in the local market commensurate with the duties performed. This mandate raises no new revenue, delivers no new customers, produces no additional goods or services. So rather than get a pay increase, most workers will probably see their base wage fall so that everything remains equal. The assistant manager working 50 hours now and making $35,000 as a salaried employee will still work 50 hours and make $35,000 as an hourly employee. And if it did the math on its RZQ¿JXUHVWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLRQ knows this. That $1.2 billion in extra wages averages out to $240 per new eligible worker. Hardly the stuff that middle class dreams are made of. All Americans could use more money in their paycheck. But most Americans are smart enough to know that won’t happen unless there’s more money coming into the business. Too bad the president and his advisers haven’t ¿JXUHGWKDWRXW W HERE TO WRITE Washington, D.C. The White House, 1600 Pennsyl- vania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456- 1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 +DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVK- ington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202- 224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@ wyden.senate.gov Website: http:// wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228- 2717. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 +DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVK- ington D.C. 20510?. Phone: 202-224- 3753. Email: senator@merkley.sen- ate.gov. Fax: 202-228-3997. Oregon RI¿FHVLQFOXGH2QH:RUOG7UDGH&HQ- ter, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541- 278-1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R — (Sec- ond District) 1404 Longworth Build- ing, Washington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct e-mail because of spam. Website: www. walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225- 0HGIRUGRI¿FH1RUWK&HQ- tral, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779- 0204. Pending Bills: For information on bills in Congress, Phone: 202-225- 1772. Salem Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503- 378-3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Web- site: www.governor.state.or.us/gover- nor.html. Oregon Legislature — State Capi- Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY tol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986- 1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario (District: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state.or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/ home.htm. State Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R — (Dis- trict 30) Room S-223, State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-986-1950. Email: sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us. Email: TFER2@aol.com. Phone: 541-490-6528. Website: www.leg. state.or.us/ferrioli. Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800- 332-2313. Grant County Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541-575-2248. Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575- 0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centurylink.net. Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-987-2187. Email:?dville@ortel- co.net John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541-575-1721. Email: cityjd@ centurytel.net. Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@ FLW\RÀRQJFUHHNFRP It’s time to change the breast cancer conversation breast cancer, especially in October, many people are not aware that breast cancer is not the “easy, curable can- On the cusp of Breast Cancer cer” it has been portrayed as by or- Awareness Month, I’m grateful for ganizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and others. the opportunity to check in. Many are not aware that up to 30 I’m still above ground, as they say, percent of early stage breast cancer so that’s a plus. patients will have a metastatic re- After a year of stability on my currence, at which point the disease ¿UVW OLQH WUHDWPHQW IRU P\ +(5 becomes incurable. Up to 30 percent. metastatic breast cancer (MBC), I Unfortunately these numbers are abruptly changed treatments because extrapolated from early stage diagno- those drugs were no longer effective sis numbers and mortality statistics, at keeping my cancer at bay. Laura Snyder as SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiol- This is typical with metastatic patients. Our treatments work until And this was where the new orga- ogy and End Results) and most state WKHFDQFHU¿JXUHVRXWDZD\DURXQG nization MET UP (www.metup.org) cancer registries do not track meta- them, and we have to move on. I have was born. MBC Exchange to Unleash static recurrence at all. As my friend Beth pointed out so to say, I was hoping for more time on Power is modeled after ACT UP, the WKDW¿UVWUHODWLYHO\GRDEOHUHJLPHQ AIDS activism group, and has men- succinctly in a blog post, “If all you want to do is to say ‘Hey you, there This is life with mets, for all of the tored MET UP in the best of ways. estimated 155,000 people in the U.S. I’m not sure the organizers of this is a thing and it is called breast can- living with this disease. ¿UVWWUDLQLQJDQWLFLSDWHGWKHVFRSHRI cer’ then yes, awareness is the right Enough about me though. As I the die-in planned in Washington, tool.” Why would we want only that? have become a full-time cancer pa- D.C., for Oct. 13, the day in Octo- We don’t need cute pictures of dogs tient and lost my ability to work for a ber dedicated to MBC. 1,430 peo- in bras (For real. Check the Komen living, I thought I would try to be of ple will lie down at the Capitol and website.) We need education and we need use in this, my new normal, my new “die” to symbolize the number of occupation. people worldwide that die of MBC money for research for a cure. I hope to change the paradigm of I was privileged and grateful to at- every day. Meetings with legislators tend Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s are scheduled the day of the die-in, to breast cancer awareness in our com- Annual Metastatic Breast Cancer demand that more federal breast can- munity to one of action and focus on Conference this past April. Over 300 cer research funding go to MBC. We WKH WKLQJV WKDW PDWWHU OLNH VFLHQWL¿F of us “metsters” dragged our broken have more than enough awareness. UHVHDUFKWR¿QGDFXUHDQGWUHDWPHQWV bodies to Philadelphia to participate It’s time to work for real change and less toxic to prolong life and enhance quality of life. in breakout sessions and network and a cure. Let’s maybe stop buying pink trin- be with each other. Many of us across the country not Alongside the conference I was traveling to D.C. are organizing die- kets and registering for races. Money raised this way does NOT go to re- fortunate to be accepted into LBBC’s ins in our own communities. ¿UVW+HDU0\9RLFH$GYRFDF\7UDLQ- I have partnered with Astoria High VHDUFKWR¿QGDFXUH Susan Komen died of metastat- ing, with about 25 other participants. School to organize our own local die- ic breast cancer, causing her sister to These included a 24-year-old pro- in Oct. 13 as a senior project. fessional ballerina; a 35-year-old civil I am scheduling meetings with found Komen to raise more aware- rights attorney and mother of young Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley ness of breast cancer. It was well in- children, who was forced to retire; and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici’s staff- tentioned and a wonderful cause at a 34-year-old former AIDS social ers to share with them the realities of the time. However, it has become worker (also retired), among others, MBC and the distinct lack of research clear that the corporate partnering and all living with MBC. funding going to this incurable disease. marketing of stuff has taken the front It was an amazing experience, cul- Former Presidential candidate burner at this and other breast cancer PLQDWLQJZLWKD³GLHLQ´RQWKHÀRRU Scott Walker said the biggest threat charities. I’ll say it one more time. We are of the Philadelphia Loews Hotel. 110 to American lives is radical Islamic of us laid down to show the number terrorism. Not true. Heart disease and all aware of breast cancer. It’s time to of people dying from MBC every day cancer are actually the biggest threats change the conversation to curing it. Laura Snyder lives in Astoria and in the United States. There was a eu- to American lives. Federal dollars was diagnosed with breast cancer in logy, a somber silence and a sense of need to go to medical research. the surreal. Because of the “pinkwashing” of 2012. By Laura Snyder For EO Media Group L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR We have a great service in our area To the Editor: We live in one of the most beau- tiful and special counties in Oregon. We need to be grateful and appre- ciative of what we have in Grant County. The People Mover is a great as- set to our county and beyond. They go out of their way, within reason, to accommodate the traveler. I had a lady friend who lived with me for a while. There were a IHZWLPHVVKHZRXOGÀ\IURP5HG- mond to Portland. The People Mov- er would pick her up at my home, take her to the airport and help her with her luggage. On her return trip, they again would pick her up and bring her back. That always a schedule to keep, I felt I needed to drive to Pendleton to get her. But, I decided to call the People Mover RI¿FHWRWHOOWKHPDERXWWKHODWHDU- ULYDO7KHRI¿FHFRQWDFWHGWKHGULYHU and said he would go back and pick her up. He delivered her to my door and helped with her luggage, too. Where else in Oregon or any- where could you get this kind of ser- vice? All of our People Mover driv- ers are friendly, accommodating and willing to make your trip on their bus pleasant. We are blessed to have such an accommodating transportation ser- vice as our People Mover. We also need to respect, protect and be so grateful we live right here at this time. Bonnie Hester Mt. Vernon L etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............................... M ARISSA W ILLIAMS , MARISSA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITOR .................................... EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ K RISTINA K REGER , KRISTINA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITORIAL A SSISTANT ................ C HERYL H OEFLER , CHERYL @ BMEAGLE . COM C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE M ANAGER ..................... L INDSAY B ULLOCK , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION amazed me! Where else could you ¿QGVXFKVHUYLFH" Recently a dear friend from Portland was coming to visit me on a Tuesday. Our People Mover goes to Pend- leton and Washington on Tuesdays. The arrival of the Greyhound bus in Pendleton was scheduled to arrive at 4:30 p.m. and the People Mover was returning through Pendleton at 4:40 p.m. A perfectly timed con- QHFWLRQWREULQJKHUWR0W9HUQRQ and the People Mover was willing to pick her up from the Greyhound bus stop. I received a phone call at 4:40 p.m. from my friend that the bus had left Portland an hour late and was still 35-40 minutes from Pend- leton. Knowing the People Mover has 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Periodicals Postage Paid at John 'a\ and additional Pailing oIÀces POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 wwwMyEagleNewscoP Copyright © 2015 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. 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