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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2016)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 7, 2016 The hole in Brown’s budget T here is a gaping hole in Gov. Kate Brown’s proposed budget, released last Thursday. Brown’s fi nancial road map for Oregon has nothing to say about the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and its burgeoning costs to local governments and school districts. To propose a fi nancial plan for Oregon and omit PERS is a bit like offering a battle strategy and leaving out ammunition costs. In a nutshell, the PERS challenge is about an unfunded actuarial liability of more than $20 billion. To close that gap, school districts and local governments will face extraordinary budget strains. For some school districts, the new PERS payroll burden will mean dismissing teachers in order to pay the retirement liability of those retired from the profession. Once more Gov. Brown has failed us. Fortunately there are legislators who are willing to think about solutions that will pass constitutional muster. The proposal most actively being discussed would invite three constituencies to participate in a solution: public sector employers, PERS members and Oregon taxpayers. It is a realistic coalition of shared sacrifi ce. The greatest political advances in history have occurred when a leader goes against his or her native values to break new ground. President Richard Nixon, the arch anti-Communist, opened diplomacy with what was then called Red China. President Lyndon Johnson, a Southerner, passed landmark Civil Rights legislation. For there to be a breakthrough and a remedy on PERS, a similar act of courage must come from Oregon Democratic leaders, because they are most beholden to the public employees unions. Gov. John Kitzhaber did that in 2013. Kitzhaber proposed PERS reforms, which the Legislature enacted. Elements of that package were subsequently thrown out by the Oregon Supreme Court. Gov. Kate Brown seems to lack the courage to take up that fi ght and win new ground. Leadership on PERS must come from someone or some group in the statehouse. To ask local governments and school districts to strip services because of a fl awed pension system is unacceptable, yet it is the current predicament that looks to only get worse in the future. G UEST C OMMENT Why I want to hunt By Jeff Barnard To the Blue Mountain Eagle Over the course of 33 years living in Oregon, I have caught salmon and steelhead with bait, lures and flies, rowed whitewa- ter big and small and backpacked through wilderness where a herd of elk thundered across my trail. But I have never hunted. Now that I am retired, I want to change that. This is something I have wanted to do since I was a kid. Hunting was not a tradition in my family. I did persuade my par- ents to let me buy an Army surplus 1903 Springfi eld. The .30-06 rifl e cost about $20, and my plan was to sportsterize it to hunt for deer. I got part-way through the pro- cess, but never even fi red it until a couple years ago, after a gunsmith fi nished it for me. My father nev- er hunted, there was no uncle who had ever hunted and I moved away from the few friends who grew up to hunt. With no mentor, there was no hunting for me. I moved to Oregon in 1983 to take a job as southern Oregon correspondent for The Associated Press, based in Grants Pass. Rais- ing a family, I barely had time to teach myself to fish, let alone to hunt. But that changed when I re- tired last October. In trying to understand why I want to do this, I have been read- ing a lot. I have found it is not that unusual. Tovar Cerulli, author of the book, “The Mindful Carnivore, A Vegetarian’s Hunt for Suste- nance,” has even coined a term for this condition: “Adult Onset Hunt- ing.” I have killed plenty of fi sh. But I am less certain about killing a warm-blooded mammal — some- thing with big brown eyes that can look at me and focus. People tell me they felt a combination of re- morse and elation at their first kill. Do I really want that? With all the anti-hunting sen- timent out there, defenses of hunting abound. Hunting con- trols wildlife that damage crops and keeps populations at a point the diminishing habitat can sus- tain. Hunters take true responsi- bility for the meat they eat. Guns and ammo sales generate serious money for restoring wildlife hab- itat and helping non-game spe- cies headed for extinction. Since 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act has drawn a surcharge on guns and ammunition that goes to states for wildlife conservation and hunter safety. Ironically, the surge in sales of assault weapons and pistols is generating record amounts of money for conser- vation. This year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributed $695,141,699 nationally, accord- ing to the website. Oregon’s share was $15,457,600. But what motivates me is more in line with the late Spanish phi- losopher Jose Ortega y Gasset, who concluded that “The hunter is the alert man.” Similarly, natural history writ- er Pete Dunne writes in his es- say, “Before the Echo,” that as a birdwatcher, he is part of the au- dience watching the great play of the natural world. But as a hunt- er he is on the stage, one of the actors. Fishing demands alertness and attention to detail. But I want to see and feel what comes from the hunt. Jeff Barnard wrote for The As- sociated Press for 35 years, 33 of them based in Grants Pass. Since he retired last fall, he has been writing a blog about teach- ing himself to hunt for the Or- egon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mutual understandings in marriage By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle W HERE TO W RITE 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@centu- rylink.net. • Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541- 987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.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@cityofl ong- creek.com. • Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net. • Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net. • Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net. • Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com. SALEM • Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY • State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario (Dis- trict: 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 — (District 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington 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 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202- 228-3997. Oregon offi ces include One World Trade Center, 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 — (Second District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash- ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email because of spam. Website: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Medford offi ce: 14 North Central, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. Waiting to get my trailer of wa- termelons unloaded, I sat in the shade and listened to a radio pro- gram about failing marriages and how to fix them. Several wives had even admit- ted to hiring detectives to follow their husbands. The melons were unloaded before the program was over, but as I got in the pickup to continue on my deliveries, I couldn’t help but think what would happen if I was to hire a private detective to follow my husband. I think the only thing the pic- tures would prove would be that he didn’t really use the coupons that he said he had. And maybe of him feeding the lunch I packed to the dogs while he hit Taco Bell. Marriage really isn’t that diffi- cult; it’s just a matter of coming to mutual understandings. He has to remember which hand towels are for every day use, and which are for (in the words of my husband) “the better people who visit my wife’s home.” And I have to keep my mitts off his shop towels; he says I use too many, and I never bring the roll back. The only time that understand- ing wears thin is when we’re pack- ing for trips. And it doesn’t matter if it’s an overnight trip or a two- week vacation, this seems to be the packing formula: I pack my stuff, the kids’ stuff and make arrange- ments for the pet care. Meanwhile, my husband has clipped his toe- Brianna nails. Walker Then I clean out the food in the fridge that might die in our ab- sence and straighten up the house, because if something happens, I don’t want the neighbors to know we’re slobs. And while I’m dump- ing the garbage, I see that my hus- band has found a chore entirely unrelated to our trip, and deeming it the utmost importance, insists it must be completed before depar- ture: something like organizing the sockets in his toolbox, chang- ing the filter in the heater, sorting through the pile of magazines in the end table or calling some long lost relative he hasn’t talked to since last vacation that he sudden- ly needs to talk to now. Then I will call the family to say goodbye and give them a rough itinerary (just in case), ask friends or neighbors to keep an eye on the house and pack the pickup with some last-minute toys and books for the kids. And before I make my last trip out of the house, my hus- band is standing beside the ve- hicle asking why I’m not ready yet? I remember when I was little and would spend a weekend with my grandparents. My Grandma would be scurrying around getting ready all us grandkids ready for church, and my Grandpa would be sitting in the car honking the horn. When I was little, I found it funny. I must say, with age and under- standing, it’s a lot less funny than it used to be. One of the marriage tips in the radio program I’d been listening to said, “Before you assign blame, take a breath and ask your partner for his perspective.” His perspective? I didn’t know how he wanted the sockets, so that was a job he needed to do. I would have thrown away the wrong magazine — such as the Fastline — so that was also a job he needed to do. And he’s never heard me vol- unteer to clip his toenails — al- though he’d be willing to let me, if I was that upset about it. And as far as me packing all the kids’ stuff? Well I was doing such a great job, why interfere with perfection? AHHHH!!! Take a breath, take a breath. I think I’m going to dou- ble my coupon clipping, just to give him a few more opportunities to feel guilty about throwing them away! Brianna Walker occasionally writes about the Farmer’s Fate for the Blue Mountain Eagle. 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 .................................... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ J ACKIE O SBORNE , JACKIE @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... R YLAN B OGGS , RYLAN @ 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 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 MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offi ces. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Copyright © 2016 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. 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