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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2010)
Page 22 The INDEPENDENT, January 21, 2010 Letters From page 21 Center has received funding through the Oregon Tax Check- off program for many years. These funds were passed from the State through the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to agencies like ours. Every time a taxpayer marked off the box to help do- mestic violence victims, it pro- vided funds for the many serv- ices so desperately needed by our clients. These services in- clude housing in our 26-bed shelter, The Starting Place, 24- hour crisis line response, out- reach, counseling, support groups, information and refer- rals, etc. This is the first year that Stop Domestic & Sexual Vio- lence will be rotated off the front page of the Oregon Tax Form. In order to maintain some of the funding we’ll be losing because of this change, please write Code 22 on your tax form. Please encourage others to do the same. Your help in maintaining this funding is very much appreciat- ed. Jessica Halberg Executive Director Columbia County Women’s Resource Center Writer thinks others don’t need services To the Editor: During the month of Decem- ber, I attended a debate in the Loowit Room. It was very inter- esting. The topic was on Mea- sures 66 and 67. The vote con- cerning them will be on January 26th. The two speakers FOR the measures tried to make them appear harmless and benefi- cial. They said big businesses should pay their fair share, and that it would increase from $10 to a mere $150. (Wow, a 15 times mark up.) The AGAINST speakers brought up the actual fact that Boise would have to pay $100,000 a year. Not really fair at all! More job losses also. The FOR speakers brought up terms like “Sustainable” communities (I was warned to beware of the word Sustain- able, as it has a hidden mean- ing). They also said the legisla- ture created these two meas- ures to maintain the “status quo in these challenging times”. The speakers kept reiterating the words, “we need Govern- ment Services.” They threw in a couple stories for sympathy for their cause. The speakers AGAINST the two measures, 66 and 67, spoke. I was impressed by their straight forward answers. No beating around the bush. They were well informed and had their facts straight. These are some of the quotes I wrote down that made a lot of sense: “Rather than a fight, this should be a search for truth.” “Just be- cause they want more money does not mean they need more money.” “We are not prosper- ing, and don’t need to be taxed more.” “The time to put the brakes on is now! Increasing taxes is what these two meas- ures are really about!” “You should not raise taxes in a Re- cession. If anything, you should decrease them!” “We need to reprioritize the budget struc- ture, and dial down tax increas- es.” “Oregonians have put far too much trust in ‘programs’.” “Bureaucracy is not the an- swer.” “we are moving in the di- rection of Socialism, until they run out of everyone else’s mon- ey!” “The state needs to cut back just like everyone else.” “Real tax fairness means cut the budget, don’t increase the taxes!” “Do you really want a government that can give you all you want. That kind of gov- ernment call also take ALL you have!” Pappy Yokum had a penny. A gambler said, “I’ll flip you for that penny.” Pappy said, “I don’t want to flip for my penny.” The gambler said, “Ah come on; if it lands on it’s side, it’s yours. If it stands on it’s edge, it is mine!” They flipped the penny, it rolled, fell in a crack and stood on edge. “The penny is mine!” hollered the gambler. Pappy started to cry. “Oh you just want sympathy,” said the gambler. Pappy answered, “No I don’t, I just want my penny back.” This scenario relates to what measures 66 and 67 do. The taxpayer is Pappy, putting up his own money; which is most likely to fall into the crack. The gambler is those pushing to get 66 and 67 deceptively through, so they can keep Pappy’s pen- ny and run! Pappy, the taxpay- er, will be left crying, wanting his penny back. It’s mighty easy to get taxes added, but have you ever noticed, it is im- possible to get them removed? Don’t be Pappy! Vote NO on 66 and 67! One thing I did not like about the debate, which also hap- pened at the David Wu Town Hall meeting in St. Helens. Questions were not from the floor, and had to be written out. I asked, “What is ROP’s real agenda, and would you be giv- en a ‘grant’ from the increased taxes if 66 and 67 passed?” Surprise of surprises! They overlooked that question! So now I ask YOU, the voter and the taxpayer, a question asked at the debate. “How do you feel about paying more tax- es so someone else can re- ceive all the benefits?” Stop this scam, vote No on 66 and 67! Sincerely, Marie Hatcher Scappoose Action Ads RENTALS RENTALS Blue Heron Hollow. 2 & 3 bdrms now available. All new appliances. Water, sewer, garbage paid. Tax credit. 503-429-6052. BTFN Duplex! 2bd/1ba w/garage on a fenced parcel! Minutes to Vernonia Lake! $600/mo w/$300 refundable cleaning deposit! Tenant pays elec- tric, water & sewer! Equal housing opportunity 2 bed, 1 bath, 700 sq ft house. $600 mo. plus deposit. 503-4297554 B01/21 -------------------------------------------------- 3 bed, 1 bath, with garage. All appli- ances included, woodstove. Just re- modeled, very comfortable, 1 block from town in Vernonia. Pets OK. $825 per month. 503-806-4454. BTFN -------------------------------------------------- 3 bedroom, 1 bath, fenced yard. $900 a month + deposit. 503-467-9379. 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