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The
The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2012
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Wednesdays of each month
by The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St.,
Vernonia, OR 97064. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Deadline is noon the Friday before each issue.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes
Opinion
What public hearing?
Did you hear about the public hearing held before
the Vernonia Planning Commission on June 7 about
parking? Neither did we. The only places the city now
posts notices about their public hearings is on their
website, in the window at city hall, and in the window
at the Vernonia Community Learning Center.
The council was talking Monday night about a city
goal to improve communication with the public, but
failed to identify a very simple mechanism that was
used effectively for 20 years…putting their public no-
tices in this paper.
A public hearing on the parking change will be held
before the city council at their July 16 meeting. I guess
we’ll find out what it’s about then, just before they vote.
Police car costs add up
Vernonia police have been commuting in city police
cars home for a long time. Chief Conner told us that
only he would be taking home a car (as he’d be on call)
after new Officers Brady and Thompson finished their
training. When they got out of their state training, we
asked about the car issue and Conner said once they
were done with their Vernonia-specific training. We
asked again in May, and he said that would be over by
the first of July. Monday night, he told council that the
cars going home would stop after Jamboree. We’re not
sure why it’s been such a moving target, but we know
it’s costing the city. Estimate the cost at 15 miles per
gallon with Brady and Carnahan each living about 35
miles away and gas at $3.99 a gallon, the money is
adding up. There’s also the cost of maintenance need-
ed for the extra miles; oil changes, filters, tires and oth-
er wear and tear. Plus the additional risk of accidents
to city owned vehicles during those commuter trips.
We wonder if they really will stop commuting in city
cars after Jamboree?
Have a safe 4th of July
We hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July.
Our commemoration of independence has become a
great summer celebration, so have a barbeque and
enjoy the fireworks. Don’t use illegal fireworks, though,
people can be hurt and fires can be started. Enjoy the
great, legal fireworks displays. Be sure your pets stay
home and stay safe. And, please don’t drink and drive.
Out of My Mind…
by Noni Andersen
It has been a little over
two years since five U.S.
Supreme Court Justices
decided, in Citizens Unit-
ed v. FEC, that corpora-
tions can funnel unlimited
sums of money into politi-
cal campaigns. These five
overturned decades of bi-
partisan law that had
slowly, and with great consideration, developed
some limits on political donations. And they did
so with the stunning declaration that corpora-
tions are “people” and money is “speech”. Their
decision also removed limitations for rich peo-
ple, although the rest of us have limitations im-
posed by economic reality.
Last year, there wasn’t a lot of time for the big
money groups to develop their strategies,
though they made their presence known in some
Oregon elections, primarily in attempts to defeat
Congressman Peter DeFazio and Congression-
al candidate Suzanne Bonamici.
Now they are in full swing with Super-Pacs
(PAC is an acronym for “political action commit-
tee.”), which grew out of Citizens United, and
we’re beginning to see how much money it takes
to buy an election.
If the corrupting potential of unlimited political
spending isn’t sufficiently disturbing, add this to
the recipe: The biggest spenders are organiza-
tions that hide behind the IRS 501(c)(4) designa-
tion of social welfare organizations (ie., U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, Crossroads GPS and
Americans for Prosperity), and don’t have to
identify their donors.
As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision,
all corporations, including 501(c)(4) corpora-
tions, may pay for independent expenditures
that encourage the public to support or oppose
federal and state candidates. An independent
expenditure is any communication that is not co-
ordinated or made with the cooperation, consul-
tation, or at the request of a candidate or politi-
cal party. Anybody who believes there is no “co-
ordination, consultation or cooperation” between
superpacs and candidates lives in fantasyland.
Last month in a recall election, Wisconsin
Governor Scott Walker spent $30.5 million to
beat Tom Barrett, who personally raised $3.9
million. Adding superpac spending, the race
generated about $63.5 million.
There’s no denying that the court’s decision
opened the floodgates for campaign contribu-
tions to help Walker. Forbes estimates that 14
billionaires donated to Walker; one of them lives
in Wisconsin.
Earlier this year, $12.5 million went into cam-
paigns for Iowa’s Republican caucuses. That
was about $102.50 for each of the 122,000
votes.
This month’s California primary election in-
cluded a ballot measure to increase the state tax
on cigarettes by $1.00 to $1.67 per pack, to fund
cancer research and smoking cessation. In
March, polls showed 67% approval for the in-
crease. After the tobacco industry spent $47 mil-
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