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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2010)
Page 22 The INDEPENDENT, June 3, 2010 Salem Scene From page 3 continue to send me your input. You can contact my of- fice via email, phone or snail mail. Your comments and suggestions help inform my decisions as we negotiate these difficult times together. In the meantime, I returned to Salem for three days of scheduled interim hearings. These meetings give us the opportunity to do some in-depth investigations into issues that undoubtedly will come up next session. Here is a snapshot of what is going on in a few of the committees: • What state government can do to generate job creation: Perspectives from business and labor lead- ers • Status report: Career and technical education in Oregon Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron DELO 400 ™ PLUS MOTOR OIL The name you trust for: • Gasoline • Diesel Fuel • Oils • Solvents • Additives • Greases • Job training collaborations between Community Colleges and businesses • Changes to the bottle bill; Umatilla Project update; Portland Harbor update • Update on health care in Oregon and impact of federal health care reform • The roll of athletics in the University System • Government waste reporting; ethics updates; travel and conduct policies • Review of the Citizen’s Initiative process • Statewide energy plan; electric vehicles; the “green” supply chain As you can see, there’s something here for every- one. We will meet again in September and December in anticipation of the next session in January. In addition to committee hearings, we received the May Revenue Forecast, the first forecast to include actual tax collections for the 2009 tax year. Remember that 2009 was the height of the recession. The numbers re- veal an additional budget shortfall for the remainder of the 09-11 biennium of $576 million. It’s important to understand that com- pared to last year, we are in a better eco- nomic position: Jobs are up, the unemploy- ment rate is down, corporate and lottery revenues are up and withholdings are on pace. But better than last year still does not pay the bills. Effective immediately, the Governor an- nounced an allotment process in rebalanc- ing the budget. We will immediately begin to assess the impact of these cuts on edu- cation, health care, public safety and other services, and possibly make recommenda- tions on how to lessen the impact of these cuts. We will also assess what additional resources we can bring to bear, including about $175 million in reserves and other funds left unspent. Finally, this from the Department of State Lands… For those who have been involved in discussions with the Department of State Lands re- garding changes in the terms, fees and policies involv- ing submersed and submersible lands leased from DSL, the following update is of major importance (and relief) to you: The department’s recent effort to update administra- tive rules governing waterway leasing on state lands has been suspended indefinitely. “We believe we need more time to listen and re- spond to the public’s issues and concerns relating to the waterway authorization process,” said Louise Soll- iday, Department of State Lands director. At statehood in 1859, Oregon gained ownership of all land underlying navigable and tidally influenced wa- ters. Upland property owners must have authorization from DSL to place a structure on this state-owned land. The department issues authorizations for such uses as docks, boat houses, marinas and recreational cabins on state-owned “submerged and submersible” land. Rules governing these authorizations have been in place since 1972, and changes have been made over time to reflect new types of uses or to clarify rule provisions. The last major revision occurred in the late 1990s. Until further notice, the existing administrative rules governing waterway uses will be in effect (OAR 141- 082- 0000 through 141-082-0210). Last but not least… My newsletters will be more spur-of-the-moment over the summer; however I know that I will be seeing many of you at the various parades and fairs being planned throughout the district. WEATHER REPORT Thanks so much to the many volun- APRIL 2010 teers who work long DATE TEMPERATURE PRECIP. hours to make sure HI LO AMT. these events take 1 50 29 .36 place. Music, 2 47 33 1.10 laughter and cotton 3 44 32 .10 candy…it doesn’t 4 50 37 .17 get any better! 5 46 32 .78 Is concept of honor now outdated? S EE US FOR H EATING O IL D ECK & S HINGLE O IL A NTI F REEZE CALL (503) 429-6606 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia From page 20 is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft…When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife’s right to a hus- band, rob his children of a fa- ther. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.” Of course fraud is theft, and any way in which someone de- frauds another is wrong. Today, however, I feel as if fraud is the new coin of the realm. That it has become an accepted part of our culture. I hear so many conflicting claims from govern- ment officials – whether it is about global warming or the cause of terrorism or how to re- pair the economy – that some- times I don’t really know what to believe. It reminds me of a bit of graffiti I saw years ago: “Believe nothing of which you hear and only half of what you see.” I also like this observation by former U.S. President, Herbert Hoover, “When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.” In other words, if we feel like our government is cheating us, then a kind of a trickle-down corruption starts to exist. Now that is frightening in- deed. Others say that honor is something that we are born with, and that we must strive to keep it. German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, said, Please see page 23 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 52 51 47 50 59 60 56 55 62 61 66 63 72 66 51 53 59 60 54 65 58 55 54 54 54 35 40 30 30 27 41 38 32 28 34 34 39 42 42 45 35 34 30 34 31 38 41 36 35 35 .10 .45 .13 .05 .17 .40 .04 -- .25 -- .06 -- -- .22 .02 -- -- .05 .03 -- .96 .05 .26 .09 .03 Temperature and precipitation amounts are from the official U.S. weather station at the Vernonia wa- ter plant. Measurable precipitation in April totalled 5.87 inches.
