‘Town-hallers’ to Merkley: No
government run health care
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Bessie Wet/ell Newspaper I ibrarv
University of Oregon
Eugene. OR 97403
By David Sykes
With nationwide
public support for the gov
ernment take over of health
care falling, and general
dissatisfaction w ith govern
ment spending on the rise.
HEPPNER
imes
Heppner 10th graders second
in state for math scores
VOL. 128
NO. 36
8 Pages
The Oregon Depart
ment of Education recently
announced the Oregon As
sessment of Knowledge and
Skills (OAKS) test scores
for the 2008-2009 school
year. Tenth graders at Hep
pner High School ranked
second in the state for their
math scores w ith 89% pass
ing. Riverdale High School
in Portland ranked first.
“1 am absolutely
delighted to hear the news,”
said Morrow County School
District Superintendent
Mark Burrows. “The teach
ers and kids have taken the
standards seriously and
were prepared. Troy Mor
gan has done an outstanding
job as a math instructor.”
Math scores for
all Morrow County high
schools are listed to the
right. County scores for
Reading and Lit., Writing,
and Science can be found
on Page FIVE.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
M orrow County High School Math Scores
10th G rade
School
School % D istrict %
H eppner H.S.
88.90% 58.20%
Riverside H.S.
71.40% 58.20%
lone H.S.
57.10% 57.10%
Irrigon H.S.
36.20% 58.20%
State %
53.60%
53.60%
53.60%
53.60%
8th G rade
School
School % D istrict %
H eppner H.S.
75.70% 61.10%
Irrigon H.S.
60.30% 61.10%
Riverside H.S.
54.10% 61.10%
lone H.S.
>95%
>95%
State %
70.60%
70.60%
70.60%
70.60%
7th G rade
School
School % District %
H eppner H.S.
92.90% 72.70%
Irrigon H.S.
76.30% 72.70%
lone H.S.
88.90% 88.90%
Riverside H.S.
68.80% 72.70%
State %
77.80%
77.80%
76.50%
77.80%
Gutierrez takes 6x6 elk
an overflow crowd echoed comments.
plan should start with tort
A good portion of reform. “There are heart
these same concerns to Or
egon Senator JetY Merkley the discussion was about surgeons paying out 100
at a town hall meeting last health care, but many in the grand a year in liability in
audience also asked surance. It's ridiculous. We
Merkley about the have to get the attorneys off
premise that the the backs of our doctors,”
government has the he said.
right not only to take
Merkley responded
over health care, that he has seen studies
but also take over that show that in states
private businesses which have limits on dam
such as the automo age awards, it makes no
bile companies and difference in the cost of
Wall Street banks health care.
and brokerages,
"We also need to
which were bailed stop regulating these insur
Sen. Jeff Merkley: “Health
out by Washington ance companies to the point
eare costs doubling every six earlier this year.
we can’t have competi
to seven years. ”
One young man tion throughout the United
asked Merkley where it States," Smith said. “The
was in the Constitution more people we have in
week in Boardman.
that gave the federal
A recent Gallup government these
poll shows only 37 percent rights. “You mean
of Americans support the you w ant me to site
pending health care legisla a specific clause?"
tion. This was pretty much Merkley respond
the mood reflected by the ed. “Yes,” the man
capacity crowd of about said. Merkley end
220 people jammed into ed up only saying
Port of Morrow Meeting the government did
hall last Thursday to let have the right.
their senator know what’s
Kerry Riet
on their minds. The crowd mann oflone asked
Mark O Weill: “I am paying
was civil, but adamant in its Merkley to answer two for someone else to hay a
views, often clapping and questions. “It is not the _______ car. ”
cheering in agreement w ith American way for the
speakers.
government to take over these pools, the easier it
Mark O'Neill, the health care. Free enterprise is for them to absorb pre
first man to speak, summed will take care of this. Do existing conditions.”
up the mood of the crowd, you believe in the free en
P olls are now
terprise system? And if show ing support for Obama
so how do you justify and his health care agenda
these takeovers?” she dropping among moderates
asked. She also asked and independents and many
if Congress, the Senate law makers from sw ing dis
and their families were tricts in the suburbs and
going to live under rural regions find constitu
the same health care ents fearful of increased
plan they pass for the government involvement
American people.
in the private economy.
Merkley re That view extends from
sponded that the the potential government
health care plan (actu option in health care to the
Kerry Rietmann: “Will
congress live under the same ally there is not just
health care plan?"
one plan, but as
he himself admit
ted, at least four
telling Merkley he was not plans) would cause
a Nazi, member of a mob, increased competi
or a racist, as town hall go tion. He also said that
ers across the country have health care costs are
been labeled by Democrat doubling every six
leadership this summer, years and the system
but just a retired person, a is “unsustainable”.
veteran and a person with
“ You
haven’t answered
an opinion.
“Spending, spend my questions,” Ri
ing, spending,” O’Neill etmann said. “Yes I
Clyde Smith: “He have to
said. “Nine trillion dollars, have,” Merkley re
get the attorneys off the
and that worries me.” He sponded.
hacks of our doctors. ”
went on to say that the
Merkley stated
government should not be several times he is in
bailing out companies that favor of the public option, bailout of the financial sec
should be allowed to fail, which Republicans and tor, the takeover of Detroit’s
and he was tired of paying moderate Democrats have carmakers and the $787
for people to buy cars. He said will eventually lead to billion stimulus plan. From
was referring to the “cash for a takeover of the country's crowd reaction and those
clunkers program” where health care system, which who spoke, this seems to
the government was giving amounts to about one sixth be the view of the majority
people who qualify up to of the economy, by the fed of people who attended the
$4,500 to buy new cars. “I eral government.
town hall meeting. Only
am paying for someone else
Clyde Smith, a one woman spoke directly
to buy a car,” he said. The veteran from lone, told in favor of government run
crowd responded with loud Merkley that the health health care.
applause and cheers to his
Chip seal work begins on OR Highway 207
Oregon D epart
ment of Transportation
maintenance crews began
chip sealing a 12-mile sec
tion of Oregon Highway
207 between the Morrow/
Umatilla County line at
mile point 19.6 and In
terstate 84 at Exit 182 on
September 8. Depending
on weather conditions, the
project is expected to be
completed by the morning
11.
Justin Gutierrez got this 6 * 6 bull elk with his bow on Sunday. August 30. -Contributed of September
The
work
will re
Photo
sult in loose rock on the
and pilot cars will direct
traffic through the construc
tion zone. Motorists are
reminded to slow dow n, be
mindfid of loose gravel on
the highway and drive w ith
extra caution.
“On b eh a lf of
the highway maintenance
crews working on the proj
ect, we would really appre
ciate everyone's patience
and support as they drive
through this highway work
zone," said ODOT Public
Information Officer Tom
the area."
The chip seal ap
plication will help preserve
and extend the useful life
of the existing pavement
surface.
This project is
one of over 45 highway
construction work zones
throughout eastern Oregon
this summer. For updated
highway conditions and
travel information visit
www.TripCheck.com or.
call 511 or (8(H)) 977-6368.
If calling from outside of