, -A t . k ' i
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 10, 1979
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Senate Approves Own
Version of Tax Relief
r
j - J i 1 r
; - V
: (
"J
Eagle Newspapers
By Kathleen Glanville
Reporter
SALEM After four hours of debate,
the Senate passed its own version of tax
relief last week, voting to pay 30 per cent of
every homeowner's property tax bill and
limit increases in property tax assess
ments. The S664 million plan must still win
approval in a House-Senate conference
committee and be signed by Gov. Vic
Atiyeh.
Debate in the conference committee is
likely to center on the Senate's limits on
residential property tax assessments
something the House plan did not
address and income tax indexing which
the Senate cut out of its plan.
The major part of the Senate plan,
which passed 20-10 after three alternatives
had been voted down, follows the basic
thrust of the original House plan with a few
key differences.
'There has never been a popular, easy
way to enact tax policy," said Sen. John
Powell, D-Halsey, chairman of the Senate
Revenue and School Finance Committee
which worked six weeks on the plan. "But
you and I heard a resounding voice from
the people that something has to be done
about taxation," he said. "If (this plan) is
passed, it will be done."
If the plan succeeds it will go into
effect immediately, providing tax relief
this year in an attempt to head-off
initiative measures to bring a California
style tax limitation to Oregon.
The major provisions of the tax plan
are the following:
The state will pay 30 per cent of every
homeowner's tax bill up to $800, beginning
this November. Equivalent relief is
provided renters.
Annual increases in property assess
ments will be tied to increases in the cost
Powell said those concerns
covered in the Senate plan.
were
But the day before the Senate voted on
its plan Atiyeh held a press conference to
throw his support behind an 11th hour plan
proposed by Senate Minority Leader Bob
Smith
The plan, proposed as a minority
report, concentrated on income tax relief
and limiting tax rates.
It was defeated 20-10.
specifically at schools.
A one-time four per cent income tax
rebate and an increase in the personal tax
exemption from $750 to $1,000. After
January 1981 the personal tax exemption
would increase along with the Portland
Consumer Price Index.
Print juvenile
delinquent names
From the
Milton-Freewater
Valley Herald
Juvenile, (joo've-nil): 1. Young. 2.
Relating to or suitable for youth.
That's how Mr. Webster defines it, but
when most of us hear the word, we think of
a kid in trouble with the law.
I've been thinking a lot about that
lately. ..kids in trouble with the law.
Last week, city police caught three
juveniles who are charged with inflicting
about $2,000 damage to nine vehicles. And
for no apparent or real reason.
Special mention of this case was made
at the City Council meeting two days later
to ask them "to see what happens."
And we hear a lot of that lately,
too. ..things are too easy for juvenile
offenders in Umatilla County. The lax
attitude toward juvenile offenders goes
back a long way. "He's just a wild kid,"
some would say. "he'll straighten out on
his 18th birthday." Now, things are
different.
Juvenile criminal cases and the
newspapers of Oregon have a peculiar
relationship, too.
Let's get this straight. It is NOT
against the law for a newspaper to print
the name and age of a juvenile offender. It
is, however, against the law for police
agencies to release the name and age of a
juvenile offender. The only way this can be
different is if the appropriate judge takes
the appropriate action to release the kid's
name and age to the press.
There is a movement in some states to
repeal similar laws. We think they ought to
be repealed in the case of felony crimes.
Why do we keep the kid's name a secret,
anyway? That, too. goes back a long way.
When those laws were written, we had a
"thing" about keeping the kid guarded,
saving embarassment to family and
friends. It is my feeling that if a kid is big
enough to commit the crime, he or she is
big enough to read their name in the
newspaper.
Such a move would also release
important information as to how juvenile
cases are handled. Now, the understand
ing is a very vague thing to the public.
Why am I hammering on juvenile
offenders this week? I was fortunate to see
the film, "Scared Straight," on teevee
Sunday night. It made a lasting impression
on me and I think everyone should see it.
I don't want to see any kid go to jail.
Therefore, we need to take juvenile crimes
out of a locked box, call for stricter
punishment and more "Scared Straight"
programs.
of living. If the properly is sold it would
automatically be reassessed at tair
market value.
Benefits under the Homeowner and
Renter Relief Program (HARRPi will be
involved by raising the maximum income
level from $16,000 to $17,500.
A split ballot for local government
budget elections which would separate
existing spending programs from new
programs to give voters more of a choice.
The split ballot provision is aimed
specifically at schools in the personal tax
exemption from $750 to $1,000. After
January 1981 the personal tax exemption
would increase along with the Portland
Consumer Price Index.
Powell said he believed the governor
would be able to support the Senate's
version of the tax plan.
Atiyeh almost threatened to veto the
plan passed overwhelmingly by the House
because it didn't limit local government
spending or the rise of assessed property
values.
Picture Credit
Pioneer Memorial Hospital Auxil
iary members review posters ad
vertising the Open House at PMH
this Friday. With her back to the
camera is Betty Brown and seated
across the table. 1 to r, Carley
Drake. Martha King and Sandy
Murray. The Auxiliary will be
seeking new members during the
Open House and free blood pressure
and pulmonary screening clinics
will be given. The reception noting
National Hospital Week will be
from 3-5 p.m. and refreshments will
be served.
tilt y" "
LETTERS from our readers
JVo on hospital
Editor:
RE: PIONEER MEMORIAL HOSPI
TAL BUDGET $598,587.
Following information is pertinent
and should be known to! voters when
voting:
1. Not true that a yes vote is necessary
to KEEP our HOSPITAL. If hospital
budget voted down three times County
Court obligated by law to keep hospital.
County Court might need to ask for a
supplemental budget if needed. To vote
Hospital budget down does NOT mean loss
of hospital. It could mean that we could
have a more responsive board and
management.
2. Items in budget that should be
questioned is Boardman Clinic ($157,140),
Budget is for PIONEER MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL not Morrow County health
facilities. Boardman Clinic should be in
County budget. Another item is $70,000 for
a mangement group. Since Board has
stated they do not plan to go management
group route, this item should' not be
included now. There are many other items
that need study and some that I feel need
to be added.
3. Last June at a public meeting
attended by approximately 250 persons,
Chairman Fred Martin promised those
attending to appoint an advisory eommitte
representing medical persons, employees,
and lay persons. Board has been reminded
of this promise many times. No action to
date. Now they have obligated themselves
for $500 per month for a management
consultant to tell them they need to do this.
No monies in last years budget to cover
this $500 per month. I believe this to be
irresponsible if not illegal handling of
public funds.
4. Many things in last years budget
have not been done. Less than two thirds of
"capital" monies expended per needs in
last years budget as of March, 1979. These
monies so budgeted and not used should
still be on hand. Are they?
These and many, many more ques
tipns should be answered next Wednesday,
May 16, at Budget hearing at the
Courthouse. YOU COME and be an
informed voter when YOU vote.
I want to state that Hospital Board is
very earnestly trying to run our Hospital to
the best of their ability. They are not
asking the people whom use the hospital
(Doctors. Nurses, Employees) for advice.
When it is offered as Dr. Gifford did at last
meeting, they did not listen. This is where I
feel they are completely "missing the
boat."
Jewel Hager
Heppner, Oregon
Reform Eyed for
Injured Worker Care
A third-term Oregon Legislator is
discovering how difficult it is to effectively
reform a government program that has
become institutionalized through longev
ity. Rep. Jim Chrest (D-Portland) has
introduced a bill in Salem that would
extensively change the system by which
Oregon administers care and compensa
tion for injured workers.
The system is known as Workers'
Compensation Insurance and along with
tax relief, has become a top priority
legislative target for a growing number of
lawmakers. '
The reason? Staggering increases in
program cost.
Premiums for Workers' Compensation
Insurance cost Oregon employers a
paltry-by-comparison $74 million in 1968.
Premium totals had doubled by 1972,
doubled again by 1976 and exceeded an
astounding half-billion dollars in 1978!
The nearly 7' a-fold increase (643 per
cent) has earned Oregon the dubious
distinction of being the highest Workers'
Comp cost state in the nation. And when
one considers those premiums are wholly
paid by employers and become a cost of
Hospital budget questioned
Editor:
Election time is just around the
corner. I feel the public is entitled to know
a few things about the hospital budget.
First of all, I want to say one thing.
The hospital, to exist, must have doctors.
These doctors must have some place to
bring their patients, and we must bring the
patients back into the area to the
practicing physicians.
We just . don't need a general
practitioner. We need a surgeon, and the
surgery dept. reopened. The grant does not
provide for the needed facilities. The
patients are the taxpayers and need to
know where their money is going.
The budget that is coming up for the
taxpayer approval reflects several import
ant things. The hospital board is asking us
to guarantee physician salaries for both
the hospital and the Boardman-Irrigon
clinic. That totals $100,000.
The grant came up $60,000 short. They
are asking the taxpayer for this amount to
improve the emergency facilities at the
hospital.
This study was decided upon after the
budget was submitted for approval by the
county budget committee.
Prior to this time, the hospital board
asked for $70,000 for a management plan.
This money still remains in the budget and
we the public are expected to approve.
The hospital board has also asked for
H ONPA
Oregon Newtpoper
Publnhun Atiocialion
The Official Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Published every Thursday and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office
at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March3, 1879. Second-class postage
paid at Heppner, Oregon
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
$8.00 In Morrow, Unatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere
G.M. Reed, Publisher
Terry M. Hager, General Manager
Eileen Saling, Office Manager
Melissa Scott, Composition
Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
De lores Reed, Co-publisher
Rick Steelhammer, News Editor
Gayle Rush, Composition
Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice
Ron Jordan, Printer
Public Officials
U.S. Sen.
Mark O. Hatfield
ltiii'll SciKili- Oilier Mlity . Uiishmylmi.
I' Jn'ilii Mrmlicr nl .mpruiliun?
('(iniiiiilU'c. IiiUtmu (nmnulliT. Huli Com
niilli'c. .iikI hull. in I'nliix Kcviru ('mnmis
Sinn I'iipiIjmiI nlluc. I'liincri ( 'hum hulls',
lini l"7. ")jn S U MiirriMin. I'nrl.inil Die
HTL'iM. pliiinc JL'I :'.:!
U.S.
Bob
Sen.
Packwood
State Sen.
Ken Jernstedt
Mnncm. (iillmm and other counties).
M.ilc C.ipilnl. Km SlIT. Siilcm. (Ire. 97310.
nit- :!7!( iW.Mi
State Sen.
Robert Smith
Wlu'ilcr. liiiint iind other counties).
Slide Capitol. Kin St.'!. Salem. Ore. 97310.
phone :t7H-H17i;
$6,000 for its own legal advisor. Because of
his work load, the District Attorney cannot
at this time drop everything for them. The
D.A.'s budget reflects this and an assistant
D.A. is requested in his budget. Duplica
tion of services costs money. At the going
rate of an attorney the $6,000 would buy
less than 75 hours of an attorney's time.
The study made by Northwest Medical
Foundation was very conclusive. The
$60,000 for the finishing of the addition and
the X-ray leaves a great deal of questions
to be answered. The fee is a duplication of
services. These requested monies total
$236,000 alone.
There is such a thing as going to the
public at a later date for a supplemental
budget.
Remember the lawnmowers I
mentioned in previous writings and
how they sat out in the weather
during winter. A new riding mower
is asked for because the others must
be replaced.
1 feel the taxpayer should know
what he is voting for and not just
dollars and cents published because
it has to be before an election can be
held.
Merl Cantin
Heppner
Dirksen Senate I illice Hldn . Washington.
DC Ji)." in Member of Kinance Committee
and Commerce Committee Portland office.
HHI2 K Holladay. Km 7ihi . I () Box :i21 '.
Portland, lire HT.'OK. phone 21.1-4471
U.S. Rep. Al Ullman,
Of The Second District
Mouse ottice BIrig . Washington. D C
lo.")1."i Memher of Was and Means Commit
tee Salem oil ice. Center St.. Rm 331) i P.O.
Box 247). Salem. Ore 97308. phone 399-5724.
Gov. Vic Atiyeh
State Capitol. Salem. Ore. 97310. phone
378-3100.
State Rep.
Bill Bellamy
'Morrou. Gilliam and other counties),
State Capitol. Km II3K4. Salem. Ore 97310.
phone 37H-K853.
State Rep.
Max Simpson
i Wheeler. Grant and other counties).
State Capitol. Km H4H1. Salem. Ore. 97310.
phone 378-K789
Pertoo wanting information on bills,
hearings, and other doings of the
Oregon legislature may call,
tollfree, 1-800-452-0290
RUBBER
STAMPS
Mad To Order At
The
Gazette-Times
676-9228
doing business, it is easy to understand
why the situation has achieved such high
legislative priority. And this concern
becomes even more apparent in view of
the fact a legislative remedy appears the
only method of controlling those rocketing
costs.
Repeated studies have revealed Ore
gon's Workers' Comp costs are largely the
result of liberal judicial interpretations of
existing state law and the expense of
medical treatment.
Successive sessions of the Assembly
have addressed the problem but with
minimal effectiveness. Costs continue to
escalate.
With this situation uppermost in his
mind, Rep. Chrest accepted chairmanship
of the House of Representatives' Labor
Committee fully committeed to solving the
problem. Armed with blue collar work
experience, information gained as a labor
union official and knowledge forged during
two previous legislative sessions one as a
member of the Labor Committee Chrest
figured the best way to tackle the issue
was as objectively as possible.
He employed an attorney with little
previous knowledge of Workers' Comp but
a reputation for an ability to conduct
effective research. For nearly four months
the researcher studied systems for
compensating injured workers nation
wide. Chrest and a legislative assistant
met clandestinely and regularly to sift and
sort and ultimately piece together a plan
they hoped would achieve their goal.
It was revealed last week. Initial
reaction was generally favorable. Particu
larly as far as the plan's concept was
concerned.
Dubbed the Workers' Recovery Act,
the Chrest bill proposes a philosophical
change that would reward injured workers
for trying to work instead of providing
awards for not working.
It would force employers to re-employ
injured workers for less demanding tasks
if necessary and provide wage-loss
benefits designed to maintain pre-injury
compensation. It would reform the
medical care process to establish treat
ment fees and recovery schedules. It
would slash litigation by doing away with
present awards and reduce the number of
methods by which employers purchase
insurance.
Employers now buy Workers' Comp
insurance from private carriers, from the
state or self-insure. Under the Chrest plan
the private insurance companies would be
eliminated.
He explained much of what he hopes
would develop into a cost saving involves
elimination of profit on the parts of those
involved in the present system. This
includes private carriers, attorneys repre
senting workers who appeal benefit
decisions and the medical profession.
Although hailed initially and concept
ually, Chrest's bill is now undergoing the
fine-toothed comb treatment that is the
Legislature's prerogative. Bolstering in
tense examination by lawmakers them
selves will be representatives of all
concerned employers and employees,
business and labor interests, doctors,
lawyers, insurance people and administra
tors of the current system.
And the current legislative session
probably won't last long enough to hear all
the arguments and alternative proposals.