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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1979)
t . FOURTEEN The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday April 12, 1979 tax check' or politics may oe repeal v -s Tl Dollar off f ByKathy Glanville Eagle Netctpapers SALEM It may give some people a bit of satisfaction to be able to check off $1 of their state income tax as a contri bution to a political party. After all, at income tax time there's not much else you can do to direct the flow of money from your pocket to the government's. More than one Democrat put forth the argument last week during hearings to repeal the $1 checkoff adopted by the 1977 Legislature. At least one Republican wasn't having any of it. Rep. Bill Rogers, D-Vida, wryly asked if the taxpayer wouldn't get more satisfaction with checkoffs for things like road repair. Debate on the issue has been fairly lively as Democrats talk about "reviewing the two party system" and curbing the power of "special inter ests" while Republicans and dissident Democrats question the use of public tax money to subsidize political parties. But for all the talk, it's doubtful the $1 checkoff will be repealed this year. A Democratic-controlled Legislature passed the measure two years ago and this year's Democratic-controlled Legislature isn't likely to let it die. The $1 checkoff pulled in $285,000 in 1977, and the Democrats got $2 for every $1 checked off for the Republi cans. Naturally, the Republicans would like to do away with the system. And not all Demo crats are solidly behind it. Chief sponsor of the bill to repeal the measure is Max Simpson, D-Baker. Al together, nine Democrats and 31 Republicans are co-sponsors of the repeal bill. Simpson went after the $1 checkoff because he doesn't like the way the Democratic Party distributed it during the last election. "It is a fact that less than one-half of the state's party checkoff funds went to direct aid for the candidates," said Simpson. Simpson didn't get any of the money, but he says that's not why he opposes the system. "It is also a fact that 20 of the 34 Democrats now serving in the House didn't get a dime of that fund." Simpson charges that those Democrats with conservative views were the ones left out of the pot. "The conservative ap proach best represents the thinking of most Democratic Oregonians," said Simpson. "Yet the Democratic party funds the liberal viewpoint." The intent of the $1 checkoff was to strengthen the state's political parties and the law isn't specific about how the money is to be spent. The State Democratic Party gave direct contributions to 33 state representative candi dates. Fourteen of those Democratic candidates won their elections. The task of dividing up the money stirred up a lot of controversy, something Dem ocratic party leaders say shows how well the $1 checkoff fund is working to revive the party. Rep. Wayne Fawbush, D Hood River, said it's true that the $1 checkoff fund was used as part of a move to get the "Hornets." the conservative Democrats who formed a coalition with the Republi cans during the last session. Simpson was a member of the Hornets. "The revolt among the Hornets upset a lot of party people, so there was a move to get them," Fawbush said. "Things are entirely different this year, there won't be any breaks in the ranks. People are going to get money based on need." Fawbush says the furor over the $1 checkoff misses the Gazette-Times Classifieds Bring Quick Results Phone 670-H22X main point: The ever increas ing cost of running for public office. "The whole question is who gets elected and who pays for it?" says Fawbush. "The trend in elections is to spend more and more money. I'm not optimistic about the $1 checkoff changing that. My goal is to get some kind of expenditure limit." Fawbush received almost $4,000 from the $1 checkoff fund. He said his opponent spent almost $26,000 to his $14,000 in the last election. Fawbush said his case is the exception. He points out to statistics which show that by and large, the candidates who spent more were the winners in state elections last year. "If something's not done, elections are going to go to the highest bidder," Fawbush says. Limits on campaign spend ing have been thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional infringe ments on the right of free speech. Proponents of campaign limits argue that the poor candidate has a right to be heard by as many voters as the rich candidate who can afford television and radio time. But the Supreme Court hasn't been willing to stretch constitutional guarantees in that direction. Fawbush said the $1 check off may be amended this session to appease opponents with a different distribution system for the funds. Whatever they do, the $1 checkoff won't help curb campaign spending. The $1 checkoff has a sunset provi sion which means it is automatically repealed in 1981, and Rebublic - Gov. Atiyeh has said he would repeal any attempt to resur rect it. OUR IFRflOILV RnrFAwiiiET 1 0 fl I A If mill . - $W lJhs$ BONELESS MAMS fTlK fyUrTri WESTERN FAMILY, 5-7 LB. VERAGE, WATER ADDED 7 EASTEH UULUHINU UJ LB. y$ IF SLICED Lb 1.89 'ST BEEF TOP SIRLOIN STEAK BONELESS, USDA CHOICE BEEF L3 BEEF TOP ROUND ROAST BONELESS, USDA CHOICE BEEF I LB. SPEEDI-CUT BONELESS H AMSr :S. $2.03 $1.69 CUREMASTER BONELESS HAM Hormel. .h Lb. $3.49 HURRY! ENTER THRIFMAY'S EASTER COLORING CONTEST Pick up an entry form and more details in the store. Contest will be divided into 3 age groups with a winner from each group. 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