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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2020)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Voters should approve Measure 107 to limit campaign contributions ampaign finance reform seems like a no-brainer. Everyone says they are for it — even the politicians and candidates who benefit from unlimited campaign donations. Oregon voters have approved limits by three statewide initia- tives since 1994. And yet, the money pours into campaign coffers. As reported by our Ore- gon Capital Bureau last week, Gov. Kate Brown’s politi- cal action committee donated $50,000 to the Democratic secretary of state candidate, Shemia Fagan. Incumbent Treasurer Tobias Read’s three largest contributions are from out-of-state law firms, total- ing $60,000. Incumbent Attor- ney General Ellen Rosenblum received over $138,000 from the Democratic Attorney Gen- erals Association, $10,000 from Nike Inc. and a num- ber of other large donations from businesses, law firms and labor unions. There are many more examples of candidates from both major political parties all around the state accepting large donations. For statewide ballot mea- sures, there’s more big money rolling in. Multiple hospi- tal systems and hospital asso- ciations have each donated between $500,000 and $3.29 million to the political action committees backing Measure 108, which would raise taxes on cigarettes, cigars, e-ciga- rettes and vaping devices and use that money to fund health programs. How can Oregon allow unlimited contributions to can- didates and ballot measures, if the voters first approved strict limits in 1994? Well, Oregon’s Legislature never adopted these limits. In 1997, the Oregon Supreme Court said campaign lim- C its violate the state’s consti- tutional protections for free speech. Then, in 2006, Oregon vot- ers passed Measure 47, cap- ping donations for statewide races at $500 and donations for other races at $100. But voters simultaneously rejected Measure 46, which would have made these limits legal under the state constitution. Then, this April, the Oregon Supreme Court decided that limits on campaign donations do not violate the state consti- tution. This ruling referenced a 2016 vote in Multnomah County that placed limits on contributions to candidates. (In 2018, Portland voters passed a similar measure.) Some believe this is a clear rever- sal of the court’s 1997 deci- sion, and so allows contribu- tion limits. Others believe it doesn’t go that far. Before the May election, Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno and the Depart- ment of Justice decided that candidates can continue to accept donations that exceed the limits voters approved in 2006, 2016 and 2018. And the money keeps pouring in, in advance of the November gen- eral election. So where does this leave us? Will Oregon continue to be without campaign finance limits, or will the voters’ will prevail? Oregon voters: It is up to you. On the November ballot, Measure 107 would amend the state constitution to allow laws limiting political cam- paign contributions and expen- ditures. We recommend a yes vote. But that will just be the start. Then, it’s up to the Ore- gon Legislature, local govern- ments and/or voters (by initia- tive) to set limits. Setting those limits should be a top priority for all Oregonians. 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. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by GUEST COMMENT Small manufacturing firms drive economy L ocal manufacturing busi- nesses and jobs have experi- enced a resurgence in recent years that needs to continue for our state’s livelihood and connection to the global economy. Before the pandemic, the manu- facturing sector employed 11.6 mil- lion workers in the United States. During the past three years, approx- imately 500,000 manufacturing jobs were added to the economy. In 2018 alone, 264,000 manufacturing jobs were added, the most created in any single year in more than two decades. In Oregon, there were nearly 175,000 manufacturing jobs. Of those, 48% were employed by small firms. While manufacturers have not been immune to the hit we’ve seen many sectors take during 2020 due to the pandemic, we’re already see- ing the manufacturing sector start to rebound. In fact, 29,000 manufactur- ing jobs were added in August 2020 alone. This is both encouraging and necessary for our region as con- sumers worldwide are increasingly seeking “Made in the USA” prod- ucts and services. On a macro level during the past couple decades, U.S.-manufactured goods that are exported to other countries have Jeremy Field marketplace. In North America specifically, the passage of the U.S.-Mexi- co-Canada Agreement earlier this year has and will continue to drive job creation and strengthen manu- facturing in Oregon. And since the USMCA establishes a committee on small business issues for the first time in any U.S. trade agreement, it will ensure small manufacturing voices are heard. As local manufacturers are piv- oting and innovating to operate in a new environment — and in some cases, switching production to sup- port critical needs of medical equip- ment and personal protective equip- ment — it takes public and private entities working together for small manufacturing firms to succeed. The federal government is clear- ing red tape out of the way for small manufacturing firms by reducing regulations. During the past few years, federal agencies have issued multiple deregulatory actions for every new significant regulatory action, saving businesses billions in regulatory costs. In light of the coronavirus pan- demic, many federal regulations have been temporarily lifted, and regional advocates from the SBA Office of Advocacy are talking to businesses to explore opportunities to permanently clear some of these regulations if they have been bur- densome to small firms. In the span of a week this past spring, the SBA rolled out one of the largest economic recovery programs the country has ever seen. Financ- ing programs like the Paycheck Pro- tection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and tradi- tional SBA loan programs have pre- served Oregon jobs and infused approximately $9.7 billion into Ore- gon small businesses in 2020. With federal programs, local government and industry and busi- ness organizations working together — combined with the ingenuity of Oregon small businesses — the manufacturing industry will prevail and ultimately thrive. Jeremy Field is the regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration Pacific Northwest Region, which serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Editor ‘should look with who I bought my horses from, restaurants and most of the retail stores are open (except the many and any political connections that for another line of would benefit them. Then there were that have been looted and destroyed by people who are too lazy to hold a the judges without bias, who knew work’ To the Editor: In the past months, photos have been posted on the front page of the Blue Mountain Eagle featuring thieves, drug dealers and murder- ers. But “Sex talk” with its large let- ters and red-letter subtitle is right up there with tabloids that have the title of “yellow journalism.” Not one nor two photos but three of the same people were in the arti- cle. The courthouse was prominent covering a quarter page (does any- one not know where the courthouse is?). Is it important to know where the sheriff parks, except for showing a ballot receiving box prominently in the foreground of the photo? A subtle reminder that the sheriff is up for reelection. If this is the best that the edi- tor of the Blue Mountain Eagle can do for a weekly newspaper, perhaps he should look for another line of work. Ron Bright Mt. Vernon ‘Vote for Rob Raschio’ To the Editor: I’m writing to remind ourselves of the qualities a person must have to become a judge. I spent a lot of years in front of judges. I showed horses. I learned quickly there are at least two types of judges in the arena. Some were more concerned what a good performance should look like. They were really tough to find favor with. They couldn’t be swayed by who I knew, or how much I paid for my horse. If I won, I earned it. If I lost, I had work to do for next time. Being a judge in the circuit court arena is like the example of those judges at the horse show; bias has no place in the court- room. The Rob Raschio I know and worked for is open-minded and impartial, not hypocritical. He will not hold it against or favor a per- son for who they support politically or their position in the community. Further, I know him to be honest, caring and respectful. The important part is that he will decide fairly with much thought and research. Attor- neys have attitudes or we wouldn’t have those wonderful attorney jokes to share at parties. In some ways I am saddened that the attor- ney personality part of Rob is fading out. He is turning into an individ- ual ready to become the Honor- able Judge Raschio. Vote for Rob Raschio this November. Crish Hamilton Mt. Vernon The elite DMV To the Editor: I just have a few comments and then a few questions that maybe someone out there can help me with. First, the comments. It has come to my attention that our banks are open, grocery stores are open, Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................... Steven Mitchell, steven@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................sports@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Online: MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 job and therefore need to find enter- tainment on the streets). I also noticed that state highway employees are on the job along with Oregon Department of Revenue folks. Oregon Department of For- estry seems to be working. Now for the questions. Do the employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles consider themselves to be part of an elite organization that needs to be treated as royalty? Why would I pose that question? Here is why. There is a number of transac- tions that cannot be performed over the mail or the internet. If you buy a vehicle out of the state of Oregon, it must be inspected by DMV before it can be titled. If you want to take a driver’s test, forget it. If you want to talk to a real person on the phone, be prepared to be on hold for up to two hours. That option has also been removed as of two days ago. If you call the DMV number now, you will get a recording that says they are no longer excepting any calls due to smoke from the fires that are burn- ing. Hmmm. Will the smoke come through the phones? The truth of this mat- ter is that DMV employees are hid- ing under their desks. Maybe since DMV uses the virus and smoke as excuses to draw their pay while not working, do we really need them at all? Ed Butler Prairie City 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 Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION quadrupled. Plus, nearly six in 10 U.S. export dollars come from man- ufacturers, estab- lishing them as a crucial compo- nent to our role in the international 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
