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The INDEPENDENT, June 19, 2003
The
INDEPENDENT
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Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, by
Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia,
OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Publishers, Dirk & Noni An
dersen. Editor, Noni Andersen. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410,
e-mail: noni@vernonia.com Display Advertising, Clark Mc-
Gaugh, 503-429-9410, e-mail: clark@vernonia.com
The INDEPENDENT rarely uses guest editorials, but we did it last is
sue and will again in this edition. The topic in this editorial could not be
made more clear or concise than it is presented here.
9-1-1 tax should not go to
fund Poison Control Center
By Sally J. Jones, Administrator
Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District
It is clear that the Oregon Poison Control Center
(OPCC) has set their sights on the 9-1-1 excise tax as
the source to fund their operations by proposing
HB2709. Dr. B. Zane Horowitz, the medical director of
the OPCC has been circulating a letter requesting sup
port of HB2709. His letter highlights the value of the
OPCC and promotes the use of the 9-1-1 excise tax for
replacement funding since OHSU dropped their fund
ing for OPCC. No one disputes the value of OPCC.
But, Dr. Horowitz letter contains flagrant false informa
tion about the 9-1-1 excise tax. Dr. Horowitz is promot
ing the false concept that there is excess money in the
9-1-1 excise tax revenue. There is no excess revenue.
The 9-1-1 tax collections are only enough to pay for
what is needed.
As you may be aware, the 9-1-1 excise tax is a ded
icated tax that should be used to fund 9-1-1 service—
the public expects that it will be used for its intended
purpose; this includes providing 9-1-1 centers with the
ability to locate wireless calls.
The number of telephone access lines have in
creased significantly with the popularity and availability
of wireless technologies (ie: cell phones) — this has
not come without a cost to the existing 9-1-1 system.
More access lines = more 9-1-1 calls = more net
work and services cost.
There are added complications involved in process
ing cell phone calls to 9-1-1. For example, there is no
location information, and sometimes not even a phone
number for reference. Connections are often not con
stant and clear, and "phantom" or accidental 9-1-1 calls
from cellular phones add to processing and network
activity. Additional network connections and services
are necessary to carry those calls through the system
as call volume rises.
Oregon also faces implementation costs of the next
phase of wireless technology, which will provide loca
tion information for cellular telephones, just as we have
with wireline 9-1-1 calls, only the location is provided
and mapped showing the location within approximate
ly 100 yards. Diverting 9-1-1 funds reduces money that
is expected to fund this Federal Mandate.
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Lack of health care does harm to small businesses
By Noni Andersen
Last week, the Congressional Budget Of
fice, a non-partisan fiscal watchdog for Con-
gess, reported that nearly 60 million Ameri
cans lack health insurance at some point in
the year. An estimate released earlier this
year by the Census Bureau reported that 41
million had no insurance.
The numbers, whether 60 million or 40
million, are alarming. If the United States,
the richest nation in the world, chooses to
deny health care for 40, 50 or 60 million cit
izens, its elected representatives should at
least pass the Small Business Health Fair
ness Act (S.545), introduced March 6, by
U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), to of
fer small businesses the same market-
based advantages enjoyed by large compa
nies and unions.
The Small Business Health Fairness Act
would significantly expand access to health
coverage for millions of Americans working
for small businesses, by creating Associa
tion Health Plans (AHPs). These health in
surance plans would allow small businesses
to pool resources and leverage their bar
gaining power to negotiate affordable health
insurance rates for employees through a
bona fide trade or professional organization.
There is a desperate need to pass legis
lation providing affordable healthcare plans
for small business owners and employees.
Small businesses employ half of America’s
workforce and, according to the Census Bu
reau, almost two-thirds of Americans re
ceive health insurance coverage from their
employer. But most small businesses either
can’t afford health insurance for employees,
or have had to reduce coverage because of
12 to 72 percent increases in their health in
surance premiums.
The Small Business Health Fairness Act,
would allow AHPs to operate under the
same uniform rules that currently govern
Fortune 500 companies and unions.
In the House, the Employer-Employee
Relations Subcommittee forwarded the Act
(HR 660) on April 8 to the Committee on Ed
ucation and the Workforce. The Act has bi
partisan congressional support, plus en
dorsements from a broad and diverse coali
tion of more than 100 groups.
Americans are asking for the opportunity
to BUY their own health care, they are not
seeking a handout, but it must be affordable.
It is truly reprehensible that a nation as
wealthy as the U.S. fails to provide ade
quate health care for its citizens. But it is tru
ly criminal that our elected officials will put
no brakes on runaway health care costs, nor
even put health care within the realm of af
fordability for the millions of people who
earn their living in small businesses.
Unfortunately, the Republican leadership
in Congress rarely considers a fiscal posi
tion that actually helps small businesses
and their employees. They already have
great health care — and we pay for it.