MT Thoughts: Special Legislative Session

By Michael Twitty
Springfield Beacon

On Feb. 14, Oregon began its 150th year as a state. This month our legislature is meeting in a special session. The justification for this is that our representatives believe that events happen too rapidly, and to meet every 18 months does not allow them to respond to issues facing our state in a timely manner. I understand that there may be a sense of urgency in addressing some of the problems that face us yet, consider this.

In the press release concerning the session the first two goals that are outlined are healthcare for children and senior care. I concur that these are pressing issues. I wonder however how much we will solve these problems in a special session. Last fall Oregonians soundly defeated an increase in the cigarette tax that was designed to extend health care to more children. Since that time I have seen no new methods of funding this even floated to the public. All I have heard or read places the blame of the defeat on the large amounts of money spent by the opponents of the measure. The margin of defeat belies another reason. The public wants our representatives to give us a plan with a viable and equitable form of funding. I am concerned that all that will come from this session is a re-working of the same proposal. If that is the case then the legislature will disprove the need for annual meetings. For all they will be accomplishing is repackaging old ideas.

Caring for seniors either in assisted living or in their home is indeed a problem that appears to be mushrooming. I wonder what we expect our government to do. Why have we not heard a call for community and/or faith based participation? Do we really require the state to mandate and operate all aspects of senior care? How much would this cost? Where are we going to get the funds?

They mention how they want to find some form of assistance for those facing the possible loss of their homes due to the sub-prime lending that exploded in the last few years. No specific ideas, just expressing a desire to address the problem. Is this special session going to give birth to fresh ideas or are they going to just throw us an aspirin to distract the pain? What about the interest rates charged by payday lenders or some credit card companies? What about all the fees that lending institutions and banks charge for everything even just cashing a check drawn on their bank?

Another problem in relation to the housing crisis is our schools. If our schools rely on property levies for funding and the values of those properties are declining does that not translate to less operating funds for our schools?

They mention improving our roads and bridges and other infrastructure. The most obvious method that they almost always rely on is an increase in the gasoline tax. It is easy to claim this is the most equitable method of raising the necessary funds. Every study I have seen tells me that large trucks cause much more wear and tear than passenger vehicles. I am not advocating tax directly on trucks. I would suggest that there could be a way to raise monies from the industries that most benefit from the improvements to our infrastructure. Or at the very least some sort of plan that does not place all the cost on individuals and truck drivers.

We are concerned about public safety and our representatives increased our state patrol last year. Then we see operations to catch people who do not wear seatbelts? Is that really a good use of manpower? Is that the main concern of the public?

As we enter our 150th year I hope our legislature addresses these problems embracing the pioneer spirit that settled this great state and does not just follow the path of least resistance. I wonder, if our forefathers followed that path would we ever have become a state?

I wish our representatives well. But if they are going meet every year then they need to spawn some new ideas. If they are just going to talk about them and rehash old arguments then all they are doing is putting on a dog and pony show to distract us from their inability to do what we elected them to do.