The INDEPENDENT, March 17, 2011
Where to Find Them
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(Dem)
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585
Portland OR 97232
Phone: 503-326-7525
223 Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510-0001
Phone: 202-224-5244
E-Mail: http://wyden.senate.gov/
contact
Website: http://wyden.senate.
gov
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
(Dem.)
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St., Suite 1250
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-326-3386
107 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3753
E-Mail: http://merkley.senate.
gov/contact
WebSite: http://merkley.senate.
gov
U.S. Representative David Wu
(Dem) OR District 1
620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: 503-326-2901
2338 Rayburn House Ofc. Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-0855
Website: http://house.gov/wu
Senator Betsy Johnson
(Dem) Senate District 16
PO Box R,
Scappoose, OR 97056
Phone: 503-543-4046
900 Court St. NE, S-314
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1716
E-mail: sen.betsyjohnson@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/johnson
Representative Brad Witt
(Dem) House District. 31
21740 Lindberg Road,
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Phone: 503-728-4664
900 Court St. NE, H-373
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1431
E-mail: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/witt
Representative Deborah
Boone
(Dem) House District 32
PO Box 926
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Phone: 503-717-9182
900 Court St. NE, H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-1432
E-mail: rep.deborahboone@
state.or.us
Website: http//www.leg.state.or.
us/boone
Letters
Out of My Mind
From page 2
the sacrifice.” Many also claim
that attempts to change cur-
rent tax levels so the wealthy
pay more is “class warfare”!
Here are more economic
facts:
• According to the most re-
cent information, the Forbes
400 (Forbes magazine annual
list of the 400 wealthiest peo-
ple) now have a greater net
worth ($1.37 trillion) than the
bottom 60% of U.S. households
combined ($1.22 trillion).
• Bank of America, with 114
offshore tax havens, paid no
taxes in 2009, and its CEO ex-
pects a profit of $35 billion this
year.
• 25% of American home-
owners are “under water”, ie.,
what they owe on their mort-
gages is now more than the val-
ue of their homes. This doesn’t
Page 3
include those who have already
been foreclosed.
• Economists at Goldman
Sachs estimate the GOP’s pro-
posed budget cuts for the re-
mainder of 2011 would reduce
economic growth by 1.5% to
2%, which would mean a loss
of 1.2 million jobs.
Yes, there is class warfare, it
has been going on for a long
time, and the middle class is
the target.
Policy on Letters
The INDEPENDENT will
not publish letters with per-
sonal attacks on private citi-
zens. Preference will be giv-
en to brief letters, 300 words
or less.
All letters must be signed
and include a verifiable ad-
dress or phone number.
Scammers claim to
be helping students
To the Editor:
I first want to thank our com-
munity for all they do to support
our school district fundraisers.
Without you, our students
would not be able to do many
important and enriching things
like purchasing uniforms and
equipment needed for a sport,
raising money for prom, and
traveling to California, Europe
and Costa Rica.
Pop Can and Bottle collect-
ing is an important fundraiser
for many of our groups. Recent-
ly, a few high school groups
have been misrepresented by
individuals soliciting donations
for cans door to door. My apolo-
gies go out to anyone who has
been misinformed by these in-
dividuals.
Please know that any Ver-
nonia High School pop can/bot-
tle drive fundraiser will never
happen during school hours.
Most of the drives are held on
Saturdays and are advertised
beforehand on the school dis-
trict reader board and/or in the
local newspapers. School
groups participating in the
drives will have a school
ID/Lanyard
with
“VHS
Fundraiser” printed on it. If they
don’t have the fundraising ID
card, they will be wearing team
sweatshirts identifying them-
selves properly.
Our students are grateful for
all the time and effort Vernonia
community members put in to
help them reach their fundrais-
ing goals. If you have any ques-
tions or concerns, please con-
tact me at VHS. Thanks for
supporting our students!
Sincerely,
Teri Willard
Vernonia High School
Student Activities Director
Salem Scene
By Representative Brad Witt
Oregon District 31
As Co-Chair of the Veterans’ Com-
mittee, I am often called upon to join with
various organizations to advocate for vet-
erans’ needs. On Wednesday, the United
Veterans Groups of Oregon (UVGO) held
their 2011 Veterans’ Muster on the steps of
the Capitol. These service men and
women come from every branch of the mil-
itary and from every community in Oregon.
I was honored to be able to address them
and I’d like to share my remarks with you this week:
First and foremost, I want to personally thank each and every one of
you for your service and the contributions that you have all made in pro-
tecting our country, preserving our democracy and guaranteeing this and
future generations our liberty. I live in a free and open country because
of your service and I thank each of you for this cherished opportunity.
As one of the House Veterans’ Committee Co-Chairs, I am pleased to
report that our committee is making every effort to promote:
• Awareness of your benefits and how to get them
• Access to the medical, dental and mental health benefits that have
been promised to you
• Turning the tide on suicide rates, especially among our Viet Nam, fe-
male and recently returning service men and women
• Safe and warm housing, adequate nutrition and clean clothing
• College credit for the things that you’ve learned, the skills you’ve
acquired and the life experiences that you’ve been through; and lastly
• The successful reintegration of our veterans back into jobs and our
larger civilian society
On this last point, ODVA Director Jim Willis told our Committee just
yesterday that there are literally thousands of veterans most of whom are
Viet Nam vets, who won’t “come in from the cold” because they are
adamantly distrustful of our government.
It is my intention along with Co-Chair Esquivel, that by example and
with proof of our Committee’s deeds, that all Oregon veterans be recog-
nized for their service, at ease with the past and comfortable with the
government that they have preserved. You have all earned our respect
and it is my heartfelt goal to earn yours. Thank you, ever so much for
your service, my invitation to join you for this muster, and may God
bless the United States of America.
I’d like to add, these remarks apply to all veterans reading this
newsletter. Your service to our country and its citizens is deeply
appreciated.
Items of Interest...
A new state website makes it easier for Oregonians to find in-
formation about health care and health insurance. Oregon Health
Connect lists programs to help pay for coverage, file insurance
complaints, find coverage for pre-existing conditions and locate
help with Medicare questions. This is funded with a federal con-
sumer assistance grant and is produced by the Oregon Health Au-
thority and Dept. of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) In-
surance Division. For more information call 1-855-999-3210, or go
to http://www.oregonhealthconnect.org
I’ve just been informed about a new program for dog owners.
It’s called Fences for Fido, and is fully funded by the Banfield
Charitable Trust. In an effort to improve the quality of life for dogs
that are kept on chains, Fences for Fido will build a fence, as well
as an insulated dog shelter, for dogs that are chained for 8-10
hours a day. The work is done by volunteers and they have un-
chained 156 dogs so far. You can find out more by going to
http://www.fencesforfido.org/index.php.
I want to tip my hat to Jeff Kemp, owner and CEO of Pacific
Stainless in St. Helens. Jeff was in the middle of site construction
for a new building when the economy went south. Instead of
pulling back, he chose to invest both in his operation and his com-
munity, hiring locally at every turn. When no local concrete com-
pany was big enough to handle the job alone, he split the contract
and hired two. He also provides health care benefits for his em-
ployees. Jeff reminds us that priorities like these move beyond the
individual company and improve the economic health of the entire
region. Good job, Jeff and Pacific Stainless!
Finally, thank you to all who responded to my questions regard-
ing the kicker. There was overwhelming support for the creation of
a rainy day fund with kicker refunds, up to a certain percentage,
and with anything above that to be returned to the taxpayer. I re-
ally appreciate the detailed and thoughtful comments that you sent
me and I will bear them in mind as we go about reconciling our
budget and stabilizing our economy.