State
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
A9
Community HEALTH BEAT
A GOP plan to reform the federal tax code could cost
Oregonians the deduction of state and local taxes, which
totaled $5.9 billion in 2015.
Federal tax reform plan
could cost Oregonians
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Oregonians
could see their federal tax
bills increase if a key deduc-
tion is overturned by Con-
gress, as a tax reform plan
unveiled this week suggests.
The tax break, called
SALT by tax wonks, allows
taxpayers who itemize their
deductions to subtract the
amount they pay in state and
local taxes from their taxable
income.
In 2015, Oregonians de-
ducted nearly $5.9 billion
in state and local taxes from
their federal income taxes.
About half of the money de-
ducted came from filers who
earned between $100,000 and
$500,000 that year.
Paul Warner, the head of
Oregon’s nonpartisan Legis-
lative Revenue Office, said in
a Sept. 20 presentation to the
Oregon Senate Finance and
Revenue Committee that the
repeal of the deduction could
“disproportionately
affect
taxpayers” in Oregon.
The policy affects states
differently because state taxes
differ.
Oregon, for example, has
a relatively high income tax,
but no statewide sales tax.
About 29 percent of Ore-
gon taxpayers could see fed-
eral tax increases as a result
of a repeal of the deduction,
according to figures Warner
cited that were compiled by
State Tax Notes, a specialty
publication. State Tax Notes
calculated an average in-
crease of $573.
The change wouldn’t
likely take place in isolation,
though, as the tax plan made
public this week also calls for
other changes, such as reduc-
ing federal personal and cor-
porate income tax rates.
Oregon would likely see
dramatic effects if any sub-
stantial changes are made to
federal tax policy, legislative
economists said earlier this
year.
“While the ultimate form
of federal tax reform is highly
uncertain, Oregon is uniquely
positioned to experience sig-
nificant revenue effects, both
positive and negative,” they
noted in a March report.
Not only does Oregon au-
tomatically connect itself to
any change in federal tax bas-
es, but economists also cited
the state’s “heavy” reliance
on the personal income tax
and its “one-of-a-kind” kick-
er policy that refunds income
tax revenues when they ex-
ceed projections.
Key Oregon lawmakers on
both sides of the aisle have
criticized the state’s reliance
on the income tax for some
time now.
But the Legislature is un-
likely to make big changes
to state taxes until 2019, due
both to the issue’s complexity
and political sensitivity.
Warner made his presen-
tation last week on the heels
of a legislative session where
lawmakers, the business lob-
by and union groups were
still smarting from a tough
union-backed ballot measure
campaign to create a tax on
corporate sales.
Uncertainty about federal
reforms was another reason
for legislative “foot-drag-
ging” when it came to big
changes to the state’s system
in the 2017 session, said state
Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaver-
ton. Hass is a leading advo-
cate for restructuring state
taxes.
Could the repeal of the
state and local deduction by
a Trump White House and
a Republican-led Congress
actually provide fuel for
largely Democratic Oregon
to tinker with its tax struc-
ture?
Potentially, Hass said.
But he’s not holding his
breath to see what Congress
does on taxes. He pointed to
congressional efforts to over-
turn the Affordable Care Act,
which have thus far fizzled,
and, he said, could have had
a bigger impact on Oregon’s
budget.
BLADE RUNNER 2049 R
Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling. Young blade
runner’s discovery leads him to track down
former blade runner Rick Deckards, who’s
been missing for thirty years.
FRI - SUN
(1:20) (4:00) 7:30 9:40
MON - THURS (1:20) (4:00) 7:00 9:45
THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US PG-13
Kate Winslett, Idris Elba. Two strangers
must forge a connection to survive after their
plane crashes.
FRI - SUN
(1:20) (4:10) 7:10 9:35
MON - THURS (1:20) (4:00) 7:10 9:45
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE R
The Kingsman’s journey leads them to the
discovery of an allied spy organization in the
US.
FRI - SUN
(1:20) (4:20) 7:20 9:30
MON - THURS (1:20) (4:00) 7:20 9:45
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
14826
By Claire Withycombe
Quality Healthcare Close To Home
170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org
“A Mammogram
Really Can Save
Your Life”
by Cyndy Fox, M.S., R.N.
My beloved piano teacher died of breast cancer.
My aunt and mother-in-law were also diagnosed with
breast cancer, but they are still with us and healthy
more than 10 years later.
What accounts for the differences in these outcomes?
Mammograms.
My piano teacher did not participate in the
recommended breast cancer screening mammograms.
In fact, she had never had a mammogram. When she
felt a breast lump in her late fifties, unfortunately the
cancer was no longer localized in her breast, but had
metastasized, or spread to other parts of her body.
Even chemotherapy couldn’t tackle her cancer.
Like millions of other women, my aunt and mother-in-
law had their cancers first detected by a routine
screening mammogram. Because the cancers were so
small and found very early, both women were able to
have them surgically removed. And then they went on
living their lives.
As the saying goes, “A Mammogram Can Save Your
Life.” Statistics have proven that screening mammograms can decrease mortality, or deaths from breast cancer.
According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute, if a breast
cancer is found early when it is localized (confined to the primary site and not spread), there is a 98.9% five-year survival
rate.
So, if early detection is the best prevention, when should I start getting mammograms?
The 2017 recommendations from the American Cancer Society for women with average breast cancer risk are as follows:
• Women ages 40 to 44 with average risk should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with
mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so.
• Women age 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
• Women 55 and older may switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.
• Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.
**These guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer. Women at high risk – because of family history, a
breast condition, or another reason – need to begin screening earlier and/or more often.
Dr. Keith Thomas, board-certified general surgeon at Blue Mountain Hospital is a fellow of the American College of
Surgeons (ACS) as well as President of the ACS Oregon Chapter, and thereby follows the ACS guidelines. The ACS
supports the recommendations of the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology and the Society for
Breast Imaging, who concur that women of average risk should be able to begin having mammograms at age forty.
In addition to these professional organizations, there are many other medical groups and organizations giving their
advice on when to start getting a mammogram.
Some of these breast cancer screening guidelines have been modified throughout the past several years and there are
also variances among the groups. This has created challenges for both patients and providers in choosing or
recommending the most appropriate approach.
But, there does seem to be a consensus or common thread throughout:
• When deciding at what age to start screening mammograms, you should consider any personal risk factors
for breast cancer.
• Weigh the benefits and costs to you.
• Then talk with your medical provider. A patient–provider discussion will help you to make an informed,
individualized decision that is right for you.
Remember… A Mammogram Really Can Save Your Life.
Debbie Ausmus
245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
9 am - 5 pm
541-575-1113
**Mammograms are available at Blue Mountain Hospital (541) 575-1311. To schedule an appointment with a primary
care provider, call Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic @ (541) 575-0404.
24 hrs/7 days wk
debbie.ausmus@
countryfinancial.com
Attention Grant County Veterans:
Did you know Grant County Veterans
Services Officer is available to assist
YOU in applying for all VA benefits
you may be entitled to?
See your Grant County Veteran Services
Officer today for more information,
located at Grant County Court House.
Katee
Hoffman
Call 541-620-8057
for an appointment
06175
BLUE MOUNTAIN
CARE CENTER
Resident of
the Month
• Veteran Owned
• Competitive Pricing
• Serving Central & Eastern Oregon
541-620-1405 Burklevi@yahoo.com
14812
JACK
COGGINS
Jack was born on June 21, 1926 in
Denver, Colorado. Jack and his sister
Corleen were raised in Denver. Jack
married Carol Jean Avery on
October 12th. They had two
children, a daughter, Shawn, and a
son, John. They raised their children
in Eugene, Oregon. During his
younger days, Jack drove a gas
tanker and was a manager at
Montgomery Ward. After he
retired, he became a shuttle driver
for Hilyers Ford in Woodburn,
Oregon.
Jack and his wife loved to go to the
beach every chance they got. They
also liked to travel to visit family.
Jack and his wife also loved raising
boxer dogs and always had a couple
of them around.
Jack came to the Blue Mountain
Care Center on May 19, 2017.
Presents...
October
Visiting Specialists
October 4th
Dr. McLellan
Bend Cardio
Dr. Takle
Bend Urology
October 9th
Dr. Rushton
Baker/Podiatrist
October 18th
Dr. McLellan
Bend Cardio
October 23rd
Dr. Rushton
Baker/Podiatrist
14860