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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2017)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Tax debate requires a sharp eye I t’s hard to cover the machinations of Washington, D.C., from the friendly wide open spaces of Eastern Oregon. It’s doubly hard when the issue being discussed in the Capitol is the American tax code, a mess so complicated that most Americans can barely make limited sense of it. Now how in the world could a reader translate the whispers, rumors and actual reports of possible changes to the system — and not just what effect those changes would have on you and your family — but on millions of other Americans, our national debt, the Federal Reserve and the global economic system? It’s near impossible, but that doesn’t mean we intend to give tax reform short shrift. Perhaps nothing is as important to our readers, and to the fi scal strength of our country and its inhabitants. Republicans are in control of all levers of the federal government, having secured the White House and a majority in the Senate and House of Representatives in 2016. Thus far, that hasn’t translated into any meaningful legislative victories, but tax reform is by far the best chance. Most Americans don’t trust Republicans when it comes to health care, but a majority do when it comes to fi scal policies. And tax reform also unites both the Trumpian and traditional wings of the Republican Party (who were divided on health care) as well as many moderate non-affi liated voters who yearn for simpler and lower taxes. “Tax reform,” at its core, is supported by a majority of Americans. But how you slice and dice “reform” moves its acceptability ratings. If a majority of the tax cuts and “reform” is perceived to benefi t corporations and the rich, its popularity plummets. Therefore, it’s curious to see the different tax packages currently being debated in the House and Senate, which are both centered around cutting taxes for corporations and the rich. That’s especially disappointing due to the fact that low-income Americans were the voters who swept Trump into the presidency. Republicans argue that those tax breaks will eventually trickle down, but on that fact many economists remain unconvinced, and history hasn’t done much to Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY sway them. An analysis of the House plan by the Tax Policy Center concludes taxes would decrease for all income groups in 2018, but by 2027, 50 percent of the tax benefi ts would go to those with incomes in the top 1 percent. Both bills would almost double the standard deduction. But at the same time, they would eliminate the personal exemption for each taxpayer and dependent, which could actually cause large families to pay more. Removing the medical expense tax deduction, as is proposed in the House plan, would be good for the defi cit but bad for many Americans already struggling with high medical costs. The student loan interest tax deduction to be eliminated in the House plan is a signifi cant help to many young people who pursue higher education. The Senate plan currently retains these deductions. The Senate plan to eliminate federal deductions for state and local income and property taxes would affect taxpayers differently, based on local and state taxes. After opposition to a similar proposal in the House plan, it was amended to allow up to a $10,000 deduction for state and local property taxes. There are hundreds — maybe thousands — of nooks and crannies in these proposals, each of which will have real- world effects on the wallets and budgets of all Americans. And as they wend their way through Congress, the bills are sure to change form many times over in ways both obvious and obscure. The Republican party establishment will have their go at it, as will lobbyists and special interest groups, and the White House holds key powers as well. Americans should remain positive about the possibility of true reform and its ability to improve our broken tax system. But we should demand fairness, simplicity and reasonableness from the tax code. And we should demand that the needs and desires of taxpayers outweigh the lobbyists and special interests, the corporations and the rich. It won’t be easy. But if it’s done, the American people and economy — as well as the political party that ushers it into being — stand to benefi t. G UEST C OMMENT Pass Oregon Clean Energy Jobs bill to help our rural communities and Tribes By Don Sampson To the Blue Mountain Eagle As a fi shery biologist, I have worked on Columbia River salmon restoration for over 30 years. As an enrolled member of the Confeder- ated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, I grew up on the Res- ervation hunting elk and deer, and fi shing for salmon. My work has involved studying changes to our river system. The impact of climate change became apparent almost 20 years ago as our Tribes studied the fl ow of water in the river at different times. Since then, our Tribes have worked ex- tensively to document the impact of climate change on our salmon and Oregon rivers due to reduced snow- pack and increased drought. For many of you reading this, you know summer wildfi res fi ll our skies for weeks with smoke — affecting our air, our children, our elders. It is projected the intensity and mag- nitude of wildfi res in the West will increase due to climate change. We are seeing it now. Native Americans and rural com- munities in Oregon are affected by climate impacts on a daily basis. The salmon run sometimes arrives late — or not at all. The migration patterns of birds and elk, which we have hunted for generations, are changing. The native roots in the foothills and mountains that we have relied on for food arrive earlier and for a much shorter pe- riod of time. Last year the huck- leberries were few, arrived early, and the window of time they were available decreased from three months to two and a half weeks. These native foods have great cul- Contributed photo Don Sampson and grandson Loren. tural and ceremonial signifi cance, and to lose them due to climate change means losing part of who we are. We’re working on adaptation strategies, but many tribes have also begun to focus on how to pre- vent and mitigate climate impacts by reducing carbon pollution, increas- ing the use of wind and solar energy, and developing innovative projects like at the Tamástslikt Cultural Insti- tute, which is so energy effi cient it produces nearly as much energy as it uses. The Clean Energy Jobs bill, a policy I’m advocating that the legis- lature pass in 2018, is important to Tribes and rural communities like Pendleton, because it will reduce climate pollution by making large emitters pay for what they pollute, and use the proceeds to invest in clean energy solutions. Investments will be prioritized to help Native American communities and other low income, rural and communities of color that are hardest hit by the impacts of climate change and air pollution. The Clean Energy Jobs bill will also help tribes protect the forest. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, and companies can “offset” some of their contributions to global warm- ing by paying to protect the trees. The Warm Springs Tribe in central Oregon just completed a 20,000- acre forest land project on the east side of Mt. Jefferson. This project will help mitigate carbon emissions for the next 100 years while bring millions in revenues to be reinvest- ed the reservation’s rural economy. But this project is being developed under California’s cap and trade program. With Clean Energy Jobs, tribes could participate in the offset program, right here in Oregon ben- efi ting the Tribe and all Oregonians. Most Tribes in Oregon are de- veloping climate mitigation plans, and the reinvestment resources from Clean Energy Jobs would create an exciting opportunity for Tribes to implement those plans. These plans are being developed with our local city, county and state partners. We could invest in expanding renew- able energy like wind and solar and in land preservation, which creates jobs and protects our culture, food and watershed. Our lives and our way of life are interconnected with the climate. It’s time to transition Oregon from dirty to clean energy while creating jobs and business opportunities. Find out how you can help at RenewOregon. org. When the legislature convenes in February, they should pass the Clean Energy Jobs bill. Don Sampson is the former chairman and executive director of the Umatilla Tribe. He currently serves as the climate change project director for the Affi liated Tribes of Northwest Indians, a consortium of 61 Tribes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Cali- fornia. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Hunter should confess to wolf killing Ferrioli appointment a big opportunity for rural Oregon directed to the actual cause of envi- ronmental problems. If the truth fi - nally comes out, it could really help the resource industries. Rep. Bentz would be an excel- lent replacement for Ferrioli. He has fi rsthand experience in the is- sues that greatly effect rural Ore- gon. He is very accessible and, most important, listens to the concerns of his constituents and acts on it. A very intricate part of saving Mal- heur County from the federal gov- ernment would be just one example. His staff is very professional and al- ways has time for his constituents. What all this boils down to is that an opportunity like this does not happen very often for the peo- ple of rural Oregon. Hopefully all of these pieces fall together. Loren Stout John Day To the Editor: Recently, there have been several articles written on the appointment of state Sen. Ted Ferrioli to a federal board that oversees huge amounts of money and Rep. Cliff Bentz taking over Ferrioli’s senatorial seat. What has not been fully explained is the importance that both of these moves has on the well being of rural Eastern Oregon communities. Ferrioli’s job will be to direct how money is appropriated from sources such as the Bonneville Power Administration. Who knows, maybe some of the money may be Editor’s note: State Sen. Ted Ferrioli has been appointed to the Pacifi c Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Coun- cil, but the Senate Rules Commit- tee must confi rm the appointment and was scheduled to take up the matter Nov. 13-15. If confi rmed, Republican precinct committees in his district will submit the names of three to fi ve candidates to the coun- ty courts or commissions in his dis- trict. The commissioners will then choose Ferrioli’s replacement, with the votes apportioned by the total number of electors in each county. To the Editor: In regards to the hunter who shot the wolf, why can’t he be honest? He’s obviously lying about shoot- ing it. Charging straight at him but the bullet passed through the front sides. I wouldn’t issue him a hunting license because I wouldn’t trust him to properly harvest and fi ll the tag for the animal he intends to harvest! In my opinion, he should just confess and face the consequences if any. John Melland John Day Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............................... M ARISSA W ILLIAMS , MARISSA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITOR .................................... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... 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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 Honoring our vets To the Editor: I am a director on the board of the Long Creek Cemetery mainte- nance district, and I apologize for the fact that there were no flags put out on the veterans’ graves on Veterans Day. The person who has a contract to take care of the cemetery was supposed to put flags out, weather permitting, but didn’t feel it was important on Veterans Day. There was no rain nor two feet of snow on Veterans Day, just cold, and we were told by the John Day radio station and it was on the Portland news that Veterans Day will not have snow nor heavy rain. It was cold, but as I watched ceremonies across the country in some places a lot colder than Long Creek, the people had flags and honored their vets. Flags should have been on every grave of a veteran, and if there were two feet of snow, a flag should have been on each of the gates. One gate was even locked. In the past, volunteers from the school and our community have helped put the flags out on Me- morial Day, Fourth of July and or Labor Day. To me, one of the most import- ant is Veterans Day. Wanda McHatton Long Creek 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 © 2017 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. 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