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January 24, 2008 Opinions |
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Letters
Endorse Strommer For State RepresentativeTo The Record-Courier:With the recent resignation of our very fine State Representative, Tom Butler, you are now considering the replacement to represent District 60 in the Oregon State Legislature.
I would like to share with you why I believe that Deon Strommer is ideally suited to represent us in Eastern Oregon.
I have known Deon and his family over the past 10-15 years through his many contributions to Baker County and Eastern Oregon. Deon is one of those rare people who exhibits hard work and integrity to the point that I have found no one questions his motives or competence despite some difficult and somewhat controversial decisions that he has had to make as a member of the Baker School Board and the Education Service District board.
People see a sincerity and deep empathy from Deon as he works to understand local issues.
I believe that Deon understands the people and economy of our District, and will be a quick study to comprehend many of the complex details that the Oregon Legislature must confront at each session.
I believe that Deon will be a breath of fresh air in Salem, exhibiting a problem solving approach that is so desperately needed in this era of partisan politics.
The State of Oregon needs leaders who are dedicated, as Deon has constantly been traveling throughout District 60 to meet people and understand the issues of our day. You can expect this level of dedication everyday that Deon will be on the job for all of us.
Also, I would like to mention that Deon is very multi-dimensional in his interest of issues whether they relate to our natural resources, human service issues, or community/economic development needs and opportunities.
I invite you to get to know Deon as best you can. I believe that when you do, you will agree with me that our four counties will be very well served in the Oregon Legislature.Brian ColeBaker CityRestore Lost Tax BaseTo The Record-Courier:Oregon counties find themselves in a budget dilemma as a result of the inability to use our O&C Lands to provide funding for public safety and federal Forest Service timberlands to provide funding for vital public services like road maintenance and schools. The reality is that Oregon taxpayers cannot make up the huge difference in the lost timber receipts that used to finance these important county services, and it is time to reconsider whether we should restore that lost tax base by reopening those areas for economic use and timber harvesting.
In an attempt to restore a portion of the lost county revenues, the Bureau of Land Management has come up with an Alternative Plan 2, and the public comment deadline is Jan. 11th. Oregon taxpayers have an opportunity to restore this lost tax base by supporting Alternative 2. Without this new plan in place, Oregon counties will have to further reduce essential public services or ask voters for additional taxes.
Public lands should provide funding for local county services. If this means privatizing those lands or finding a way to return them to local control, then those options should be reviewed. Unfortunately, in the West much of our public land is federally owned and that puts our region at a distinct county service funding disadvantage.
For rural areas, the loss of the federal timber tax base has already meant less education opportunities for children. Further, roads will continue to decay and the cost of those repairs is rapidly increasing while funding continues to plummet. For Oregon counties that don't have enough revenues now for jail space for criminals, the impact of the loss of timber receipts from the O&C tax base is real in terms of public safety.
Congress decided not to renew the Secure Rural Schools & Community Self Determination Act recently because it was originally supposed to be a temporary fix. Due to ongoing environmental litigation and the resulting lockup of much of the O&C and Forest Service lands, without SRS, 36 Oregon counties will lose a total of $257 million in funding. Before environmental litigation, timber receipts provided this funding to Oregon counties.
If the economic use of Forest Service lands were restored, then funding for Oregon county services like maintenance for schools and roads would also be restored. Since the promises of the Northwest Forest Plan for timber harvesting were never delivered, this also put pressure on Oregon county finances for lack of timber receipts.
The proposed BLM's Alternative 2 Plan, if adopted, would replace about $107 million of the lost revenues for 17 Oregon counties because it would allow for timber harvesting again on those O&C lands. By choosing the BLM's Alternative 2 plan, we have an opportunity to professionally manage our public timberlands again while providing economic benefits for our counties and citizens, and vital funding for public safety.
The domino effect of not using our timber tax base is becoming increasingly evident. It is foolish to continue to lock up this important tax base for non-economic use at the expense of vital county services. We have laws that mandate the restoration of harvested areas and sustainable use like the Oregon Forest Practices Act.
For those of us who are concerned about public safety, the BLM's Alternative 2 plan would restore much of that funding to Oregon counties. We can help restore this funding for Oregon counties by submitting public comments supporting Alternative 2 by Jan. 11 to the BLM website, or by mailing your comments to the BLM office in Portland.
As Oregon Senator Ted Ferrioli, Senate Republican Leader, R-John Day says, "For those Oregonians who really care about public safety and services to seniors and veterans, this opportunity to direct BLM to select option 2 is the most important action they can take."
Oregonians cannot ignore the issue of depleting county revenues any longer. By supporting the BLM's Alternative 2 plan, Oregon citizens can make a difference that benefits our state at a critical time in our history. Suzanne L. PenegorGiene AssinkLane County Rubicon SocietyEugene, Ore.We Support Cliff Bentz For State House RepresentativeTo The Record-Courier:We strongly support Cliff Bentz for the appointment and election for Oregon State House District 60 Representative.
We have ranched in both Baker and Malheur Counties for 35 years and have known Cliff Bentz the entire time. As a friend and a professional, Cliff has integrity, experience, a strong business sense, and good family values. With his background and hard-work ethics, he has the ability to meet challenges, make tough decisions, and get the job done. He would well represent the district across all county lines.
Cliff Bentz has served on numerous boards and committees representing all walks of life. His background in agriculture and his experience have made him a valuable member of the Oregon Water Resources Commission, the 8-C School Board, Eastern Oregon University Foundation Board of Trustees, Project Dove, the Oregon Historical Society Board, and numerous others. He protects and is experienced in natural resources and water matters. Cliff is from a ranching family...he knows the issues we face here in Eastern Oregon and will go to work for us. We will be giving Cliff Bentz our full support and hope that you will too. Please contact your county commissioners and give him your support. Cliff will do the best job for us in Salem...he represents the Eastern Oregon way of life and will fight to protect our interests and sustainability.Wannie and Beth MackenizeBaker CityDirty PoliticsTo The Record-Courier:Well it is interesting to note that even though I don’t like getting into the political issues of life I couldn’t help but write one more time on this issue.
It makes me wonder why no one can come out with a clean slate on their card running for office? You know how the old saying goes, about hidden agendas that come later that get denied all along.
One issue seems to be the racial aspect, which doesn’t surprise me because I do wonder how far that one will go, and religious issues that have been brought up, now the economy, so on, and so on, do any of them really know what change is all about for the good of mankind? It seems like things have gotten worse and how much worse can it get? Everybody seems to have their ideas about issues of life etc. Now all of a sudden the Dow Jones, etc., are coming out in full force that I have never seen before, and explaining what our country is headed for.
Then the issues of cloning humans, (awk!), how much more can we take of that one? Thank goodness there is just one of me and that when I go nothing will be left behind on my account. Then what about eating cloned meat, what in the world are we headed for?
It is kind of like playing leap the frog, remember that little game? I guess it is anybody’s game at guessing who will come out in the end and what it will do for our country and around the world of how communication will get handled. I don’t think we can afford to let anything just slip by without knowing the whole story and nothing but the truth. There is a favorite saying that I like when I listen to some of his commentaries, it goes like “good day, Paul Harvey, and that is the rest of the story.” His issues are just as fun to listen to, too.Coffee Anyone?Brenda DickisonBaker CityAt The Mercy Of The Bush AdministrationTo The Record-Courier:FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover planned mass jailings, wanted to suspend habeas corpus and imprison 12,000 Americans in 1950; and 97% of the people on the lists were U.S. citizens who had irked Hoover over the years.
Following suit, Bush and Republicans in their six year power surge passed legislation that seems to classify civil disobedience as terrorism. Most know of the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Less publicized are amendments to the Insurrection Act, the Posse Comitatus Act authorizing the president to declare martial law using the United States military to repress domestic insurrection, conspiracy, disorderly citizens and other undesirables. Add to this the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act (VRHTPA) passed by the House in 2007. Since violence, radicalism, extremism and disasters are undefined almost anyone is at risk and at the mercy of the Bush administration.Ron LoweGrass Valley, CA Supporting Strommer As State RepresentativeTo The Record-Courier:I have been asked for my support with reference to the election of the next State Legislator for District 60. I am advising Deon that he can enjoy my full support.I feel that Deon has a variety of qualities that will lend themselves to his ability to represent this district and those qualities would generally be the following:
a. I believe that education is an important concern of the State Legislature and Deon brings to those issues a background in having served and presently serving on the Education Service District and the School District for Baker County.
b. Small businesses of necessity need to be a focus of this Legislature and again, Deon brings insight and a background of experience of having operated small businesses past and presently with success and demonstrated experience in the business world.
c. Nature resources are a very important consideration for the people in eastern Oregon. It is my understanding that Deon has previously worked as a ranch manager and of course, because of Deon’s residence in eastern Oregon you have a thorough understanding, I believe, of farm and ranch operations and the communities in which they function. In this regard I believe there needs to be less regulation and Salem needs to understand the importance of a reduction of regulation of these small operations. We need to have an understanding and be able to access our forestlands.
It is with all of these qualities that I have no hesitancy in supporting Deon as our next State Legislator from District 60.Dan Van ThielBaker City |
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