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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2020)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 8, 2020 Clarno gets it right again O regon Secretary of State Bev Clarno rejected two initia- tive petitions in December because they included more than one topic. It’s the sec- ond time recently she’s told would-be petition sponsors they must stick to the state’s single-subject rule, which says petitions must be limit- ed to only one change. Clarno won the first case, which involved three pro- posed initiatives, in Marion County Circuit Court in late November, though the ruling is being challenged in the Court of Appeals. Clarno recently tossed out Initiative Petitions 48 and 49 for the same reason she denied the earlier pair. The two measures are roughly identical. Each would require that all elec- tricity sold in Oregon be from renewable sources and carbon-free resources. That is, presumably, what really matters to the folks at Renew Oregon, who are pushing the bills at least in part to make their goals law no matter what the 2020 Legislature does. Unfortunately, the mea- sures don’t stop there. They include all sorts of rules on working conditions, the sorts of things that are the result of labor negotiations, not a statewide vote. The rules cover everything from pre- vailing wage requirements to mandatory participation in apprenticeship programs and proof the utilities have a his- tory of obeying existing state and federal wage and hour laws. And, during the switch to 100% renewables, utili- ties would be charged with working to see that everyone benefits from the switch. They are, in other words, multifaceted proposals that deal with multiple subjects. And that, the state consti- tution says in several places, is not the way the system works. The state constitution clearly says that “a proposed law or Amendment shall embrace one subject only and matters properly con- tained therein” [Article IV, Section 1 (2)(d)]. That’s not particularly ambiguous language, in Clarno’s view. The only judge to rule on the issue so far has seen it her way. With luck, a new round of judges will agree. BUILDING BLOCKS Big guns versus small guns B ig guns have a specific pur- pose and usefulness as do small guns. Similarly, big chain corporate businesses have their specific purpose and useful- ness as do small businesses. Small businesses have a big impact on the U.S. economy through job creation and innova- tion. According to the Small Busi- ness Administration, small busi- ness is defined as a privately owned corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship widely mea- sured by having fewer than 500 employees. As of Nov. 4, 2019, the SBA reported there are nearly 30 mil- lion small businesses in the U.S. employing 47.8% of U.S. work- ers. Oregon small businesses employed 852,983, or 55% of the private workforce, creating 37,592 net jobs. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees expe- rienced the largest gain, adding 22,203 net jobs in 2016, accord- ing to the Census Bureau. South- ern and Eastern Oregon, and more specifically Grant County, are alive because geographically our small businesses employ less than 500 employees. We are the “Lit- tle Guns.” Can you imagine not having “Little Guns” available? Imagine, for a moment, living without your downtown and local businesses. Think about the impact of just one business closing, or one business opening, in Grant County. For $5,000. “Costco focuses on sup- porting charitable programs and community activities in the mar- kets where we do business. All 501©(3) nonprofit organiza- tions focusing on children, edu- cation, and/or health and human services are eligible to apply for consideration, regardless of their distance from our locations, but are very competitive.” The building blocks of Grant County are the “Little Guns” made up of small businesses employing you and your spouse, teens, college students, grand- children and your neighbors in Grant County. They are the entrepreneurs who have grit, compassion, perseverance and heart for Grant County. Yes, heroes of our time, serving and working hard for families, non- profit organizations and the com- munity as they provide jobs, goods and services, and dona- tions to Grant County schools, health care, 4-H, fire depart- ments and other local community fundraisers. When you support the “Lit- tle Guns” — the small businesses in Grant County — you are mak- ing a big impact on our commu- nities’ economic sustainability, growth and existence. Economic development starts with you as the consumer. Dorothy Nestlerode is a Grant County resident, mother and local author. every dollar spent at a small busi- ness in the U.S., approximately $0.67 stays in the local community. In addition to dol- Dorothy lars spent, local Nestlerode businesses donate hundreds or thou- sands of products and money to local community fundrais- ers and events. Where would all the schools, nonprofit organiza- tions and family crisis fundrais- ers be if there were no baskets, or guns, or gravel, or money — goods and services — donated by Grant County businesses? This is where the “Little Guns” become the “Big Guns” and the “Big Guns” become the “Little Guns” or non-existent guns. The facts are “Big Guns” donate to communities, but the communities must meet specific requirements or guidelines. “At Amazon, we are committed to ensuring all children and young adults, especially those from underrepresented and under- served communities who reside in areas where we have a physi- cal presence, have the resources and skills they need to build their best and brightest futures.” Costco and Walmart/Sam’s Club offer grants through annual grant applications. Walmart 2019 grants range from a mini- mum of $250 to a maximum of LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WHERE TO WRITE 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@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@ cityoflongcreek.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: governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800- 332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: oregonlegislature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@oregonlegislature.gov. • Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503- 986-1460. Website: oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202- 456-1111; Switchboard: 202-456- 1414. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by ‘Our government is fundamentally altered’ To the Editor: The Hillsdale College Impri- mis tells us that today the form of our government is fundamen- tally altered — the Constitution has been largely replaced with an alternative form. This alteration is based on the fact that the great majority of our laws at the federal level are not made by Congress, as is com- monly claimed and dictated by law, but by the people we elect delegating the work to some- one else. Actually, they delegate it to many people, collected in about 150 independent executive agencies. These agencies make a very great number of laws, and there is no ready way for the people to correct those laws. It is made to appear that the authority of those developments have taken a new and dangerous turn because they are set along partisan lines and possibly by foreign interests and United Nations dictates. We know that because the people in law enforcement and intelligence at the federal level have said so. We need to understand this when it becomes time to vote. Judy Kerr Canyon City A landmark gone To the Editor: Saw the smouldering remains of the tennis shoe tree Jan. 2 on Highway 26, about milepost 88. It has been the source of smiles and pictures by visitors for years, but someone decided to torch it. It took some effort to drive up there and do that. Too bad the person, or persons, who did this couldn’t direct their efforts to something good. Pretty sad. Mary Brown Prairie City 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 Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Community News .................................editor@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................editor@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Administrative Assistant ..................Christy Smith, office@bmeagle.com Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION who hold these unelected offices is made legitimate by the fact that they are under the control of peo- ple who are elected. The “unelected” give them- selves authority by passing amendments to the rules, laws and directives, such as adding more to the Code of Federal Reg- ulations (CFRs) to give more authority or to “clarify,” add- ing “supplements” to manuals or handbooks, leaving interpretation to all levels of “unelected” all the way down to a local level. As of 2013 there were 175,496 pages, with 50 titles in the CFRs, which contains current, in-force rules and regulations promulgated by the departments and agencies of the federal government. Those who founded our nation and the thinkers upon whom they drew believed that such an arrangement would destroy the accountability of the govern- ment to the people, and therefore destroy the ground of government by consent. In recent years these Online: MyEagleNews.com 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Phone: 541-575-0710 Copyright © 2020 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
