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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
State News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 28, 2017 A9 Oregon House advances controversial revenue bill By Claire Withycombe Capital Bureau The Oregon House of Rep- resentatives Friday narrowly passed legislation that would make it harder for business- es to qualify for tax breaks passed in 2013 as part of the so-called “grand bargain.” The bill, which now heads to the Oregon Senate, puts new limits on a tax cut for certain business owners, and should it pass, is expected to raise nearly $196 million in the next two years. It’s a far cry from the ma- jor tax overhaul many Oregon Democrats called for this ses- sion, but after a stalemate over proposals to switch the basis for taxing businesses from income to sales two weeks be- fore legislators must close the books, it now appears to be the session’s big tax vote. After a nearly three-hour debate the measure passed with 31 Democrats voting in favor. All House Republicans and three Democrats voted against it: Rep. Brad Witt, of Clatskanie; Rep. Teresa Alon- so Leon, of Woodburn; and Rep. Caddy McKeown, of Coos Bay. A fourth Democrat, Rep. Deborah Boone, of Can- non Beach, was excused. Under current law, own- ers of S-corporations, limited liability companies or part- nerships can choose to have income “passed through” to them from the business taxed at a lower rate, as long as the income they earn from the business is “non-passive,” the business employs at least one non-owner, and the non-owner employee or employees do at least 1,200 hours of work in a year. By taking the lower rate, owners give up other deduc- tions. The bill the House ap- proved Friday would limit el- igibility for the lower income rate to seven sectors, including agriculture, mining and manu- facturing. To qualify under the new bill, businesses would also need to have at least 10 non-owner employees, instead of one. In short, the bill means fewer owners would be eligi- ble to pay the lower rate, and so some of those removed from eligibility under the bill would pay higher income tax- es. By tweaking the cut as the bill outlines, the state would collect about $196 million more in taxes in the next two- year budget. That’s a significant figure in light of a projected gap of about $1.4 billion between revenues and expenses in the upcoming state budget. That figure was partially closed by an assessment on health care providers passed by the legislature Wednesday, which is projected to narrow the gap by at least $600 mil- lion, according to revenue im- pact estimates. Many Democrats who spoke in favor of the bill Fri- day portrayed the four-year- old policy as hastily compiled and failing to meet its policy objective, which was to help the state’s small businesses create jobs. Instead, they argued, the break benefited “scrubs and suits” — doctors and lawyers. “We created yet anoth- O utlook er giveaway to the very wealthy,” said the bill’s carri- er, Phil Barnhart, a Democrat from Eugene. Democrats point to figures from the Legislative Reve- nue Office, which found that in 2015, over 90 percent of beneficiaries made more than $200,000 per year, and that more than 70 percent made at least $500,000. State Rep. Janelle By- num, D-Happy Valley, said Oregon’s economy was thriv- ing before the tax break was passed in 2013. “Why is small business thriving?” Bynum said. “It’s not because of this tax break.” Conversely, many Repub- licans cast the legislation as a broken promise to the state’s small businesspeople. Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, a Republican from Scio, said the law could advance the state’s “urban-rural divide,” and said the state would be hard- pressed to find a small agricul- tural business that employed at least 10 people year round. State Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass, appealed to legislators’ self-interest and said the tax would not be pop- ular among voters. “This is not going to play well in your district, you know it won’t,” Wilson said. “...I’m talking from Brooks to Port- land, and from Grants Pass to Roseburg and Cottage Grove, you’ve got a lot of constituents that are going to be damaged by this.” For a period, the debate over the bill took a detour as legislators debated whether it required a simple majority or a three-fifths majority. The distinction, trivial at first glance, is actually essen- tial when it comes to the Leg- islature’s efforts to raise new taxes this session. Under the Oregon Consti- tution, measures “raising rev- enue” require a 3/5 majority approval in both the House and Senate. Democrats easily have a simple majority in both cham- bers, but are one seat shy of that three-fifths majority in both. So, assuming all Dem- ocrats vote for a revenue-rais- ing policy, in order to pass, it needs at least one Republican signing on. At issue Friday was wheth- er the partial repeal of the tax cut qualified as “raising reve- nue.” The debate over that ques- tion quickly turned philosoph- ical. “They call a tax rate cut an expenditure,” said House Minority Leader Mike Mc- Lane, R-Powell Butte, “As if somehow the premise is that the government owns your money.” But a June 22 legislative counsel opinion says other- wise. “...We view (the bill) as ad- justing the parameters of a tax benefit rather than enacting a new tax,” Legislative Counsel Dexter Johnson wrote in a let- ter addressed to Kotek. And some Democrats suggested it was fiscally ir- responsible to maintain what a spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus called a “runaway tax break,” or mon- ey that would otherwise be taxed and an amount that is projected to continue growing. SENI R Prairie City Seniors Rose Coombs Hallelujah! Summer finally got here. Everything that I planted on Flag Day has sprouted – except the lettuce. Hmmm. First carrots, now lettuce? Oh, well. The cabbage, cucumbers, radishes and beets are all going great guns. Have to get to the thinning process now. When you came in the door, you were met with a radical change: there were no plates or silverware on the tables. So to save your seat, you went to the coffee set-up, which is out in the dining area now, and got a cup to put at your spot. The iced tea and sweet tea were also out for your ease of serving yourself. Katie Johnson helped pass out the milk and orange juice before the meal. We now will serve the meal potluck-style. Line up and get your plate, silverware, napkin and food on both sides of the serving table. Worked really good, and it also means that we are in compliance with rules and regulations concerning serving the food. So what did we eat? Tom and Marjean prepared a rice casserole that had ham, peas, and scrambled eggs in it, a kale salad, cottage cheese with cantaloupe pieces, and rolls. Dessert – frozen banana slices with chocolate and a choice of toppings. Great meal!! Iva has taken the next 10 weeks off, so Tom will be the cook and Marjean and Julia will alternate being assistant. Monday, June 19, our faithful Jeanette Julsrud and Merry Henry were on deck to greet our friends and neighbors. We welcomed Ray and Nicky Essex Carol Rickerd as new guests, with the promise that next time they come, we will greet them as old friends. Glad you are with us. The First Christian Church of John Day served us with smiles. Rick Rhinehart and Pastor Al Altnow delivered meals in John Day and Canyon City, while Rodney Bruser and Larry Palmer from Step Forward delivered to the folks in Mt Vernon. Together, these wonderful volunteers delivered 33 regular meals and 44 frozen meals. Well done! Yog Harris honored us by leading the flag salute, and Pastor Al gave the blessing on our fellowship and meal. The Len’s Drug gift certificate was won by Jan Ellison, and Pastor Al’s name was drawn for the free meal. There were 26 diners with us. Lots going on in our community this summer. Be watchful on the roads (and on the sidewalks) with the Rainbows, BMWs and our normal summertime visitors, as well as who knows how many Eclipsers. It will be a little busy. With the weather heating up, carry water with you all of the time. If using oxygen, we are reminded to stock up; it may be difficult for your carrier to make deliveries. Call Veanne if you need help with that. John Day Seniors We are melting. The temps here are starting to rise and it is sweltering. Our thermometer said that at one point this past week, it was 111 degrees Soo Yukawa F. Eeks! Really not looking forward to this heat and I can’t believe that this is just the beginning of summer. July is just around the corner. Crazy, right? Terry Cade and Christy Howell treated us with chili dogs, French fries, a wonderful green salad, and cinnamon rolls for dessert. Ladies, thank you for slaving over the kitchen and cooking for us. We are extremely grateful. Our greeters were Bob Blakeslee, Bodean Andersen and Jimmy Cole. Bob led us in the flag salute. Bodean made the announcements and prayed the blessing over our meal. Jimmy collected and counted the money. We had a small crowd of 32 guests on the books and two takeouts. The winners for the free meal drawings were Betty Breeding and Dorothy Jordan. I’ve been using my grill cooking up hamburgers and I barbequed some pork chops the other day. It was so nice to have them cook up so quickly and not have a hot or messy kitchen to clean up afterwards. I’ve noticed though that because it is so light out for longer, we’ve been losing track of time. We seem to end up eating dinner around 7:30 p.m. and then going to Monument Seniors Another announcement was concerning the influx of people this summer. Be sure to keep your property secured. Also, our faithful persons Gary and Marlene have resigned to pursue other interests. So that leaves two spaces open on the Site Committee and board of Directors. If you would like to have a part in keeping this enterprise going, we would welcome you with open arms. Visitors included Frances and Harold’s son Levi, and my son Joel and grandson Ian. Joel got the two new doors in and replaced the outside step until the new exit ramp gets here. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the ramp company couldn’t get the ramp delivered on schedule. So Joel will have to come back later and take care of it. (Gosh, that’s too bad, isn’t it? Har, har.) The winders: Prairie Hardware & Gifts went to Nancy Viggers; Chuck’s Little Diner recipient was Royce Dotson. Tom held a contest to see which table would be first in line. Son Joel was the youngest father present and had the most children (four) so our table got to go first. The oldest father was Walt Clark. Didn’t catch how many kids he had. I also didn’t hear who led the Flag Salute, but somebody did. Jack Retherford asked the blessing. We had 65 names on the book. Lorna and helper brought Otho Laurance, Joan Metlock, Peggy Bartley and Marilyn Randall from the Blue Mountain Care Center. The BMCC also provided our rolls. Frances has strawberries for $5 a gallon from her and Buzz’s plants. The money goes to our general fund. If you want some, fling her a ring. Cor. 15:51 “…We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…” We dined on supreme pizza and fresh strawberry spinach salad with strawberry balsamic vinaigrette dressing. We enjoyed strawberry cheesecake ice cream for dessert. Thursday, June 22, found Jeanette and Merry right back on the greeter’s desk. Have you thanked them for their care of our guests? Hey! What does it cost? Thank you both for serving our seniors. St. Elizabeth Catholic Church folks were here to serve and visit. Walt and Agnes Hall, Joan Vetter and Jimmy Maple took very good care of us. Walt Hall and Jimmy Maple did the John Day deliveries while Rodney Bruser and Larry Palmer from Step Forward delivered to the folks in Mt Vernon, altogether delivering 43 meals. Before leading the salute to our flag, Walt Hall told us that although the salute had been part of our country’s life for years, it was finally ratified on June 22, 1942. Jimmy Maple led us in a grateful blessing on our meal. Marianne Morris won the Chester’s Thriftway gift certificate and Leone Meador won the free meal. Our entrée was sponsored by DP Home Entertainment, and it was delicious. Mushroom chicken with spinach and Parmesan sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and cherry pineapple dump cake for dessert…it was so good. Shay, Lisa and Danny, we love you! Next Thursday, June 29, will be barbecue ribs, cole slaw and mac and cheese. Monday, July 3, hot dogs and potato salad. www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/matthew/6-8.html “Therefore do not be like them (fancy words). For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” bed really late, too. Has that been happening to you, too? The goats have been penned up in the garden area where I was trying to weed whack and gave up. Well, they have done a fine job of trampling down and eating up the grass and weeds. They even ate up the thistle leaves right off and they are nothing but bare and naked stalks. I guess I shall have to move them soon. Maybe they have learned their lesson and not run off again? Nah, who am I kidding. I’ve got Anaheim peppers on my pepper plants and I am so excited. There is nothing like picking your own peppers from your garden and eating them fresh. I dip them in this spicy Korean chili paste called kochujang and then eat them with rice. Yum. The peppers taste a little like bell peppers but can have a little spicy bite to them. Looks like my raspberries are going to be ripening soon in this heat wave we are having. I saw the first one and it was so beautiful. I let my daughter pick it and eat it. Can’t wait for the others to ripen and savor the sweetness. The Fourth of July is next week. Hope everyone has a safe time. May we always remember the price of freedom and not take it for granted. Thank you to all men and women who served, sacrificed, and laid down their lives for this nation. May the Lord bless this nation and guide this nation. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised;).” 05851