On this day, May 21, 2001, in Seattle, Wa., members of the Earth Liberation Front torched the Univ. of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture causing about $6 million in damage. An Oregon tree farm owned by Jefferson Poplar Farms was also burned. four people were later convicted of taking part in the firebombing. One later committed suicide in prison.
Also on this day, May 21, 2002, The George W. Bush administration said it will allow new mining to resume on nearly one million acres of the Siskiyou region.
Also on this day, May 21, 2006, demolition crews destroyed the 499-foot cooling tower of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant. Demolition of the containment dome was scheduled in 2008.
Also on this day, May 21, 1998, 15 year-old Kipland Kinkel killed one classmate and wounded 19 more at Thurston High School. His parents, William and Faith, were found shot dead at home and a 2nd student died the next day. He had been expelled from school the previous day for bringing a gun to school. Kinkel dropped an insanity plea in 1999 and pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and 26 counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced over 111 years in prison.
Legislators disappointed at no pay increase
The Oregon State Senate Committee on Rules passed
SB 1566 to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for possible funding.
This bill establishes an annual
salary for members of the Legislative Assembly equal to an annual
occupational mean wage estimate for Oregon for the prior year and
adjusted once every two years.
The bill allows for annual cost of living
adjustment to the interim expense allowance, and adds up to $1,000
per month reimbursement for child care expenses for members who
have one or more children or dependents under age 13.
State legislator salaries would go from $32,839 to about $57,000, and
applies a cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly interim expense
allowance received by members. It also provides for a child care
allowance of $1000 per month for members who have children or
dependents under 13 years of age.
Three Democrat legislators announced they will not seek re-election assuming
that SB 1566 has failed. Representative Anna Williams (D-Hood River), Representative Karin
Power (D-Milwaukie), and Representative Rachel Prusak (D-West Linn/Tualatin) all
said their base salary was not enough to compensate for the amount of
work required as a state representative. The three have professional
jobs outside of their legislative duties.
The salary for legislators was set to be a servant of the people and a
part-time commitment.
It was never intended to be a career job. SB 1566 salary increases would change legislators to full-time careers.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
In 2010, voters approved legislator’s plea for a short session to adjust
budgets and deal with issues that couldn’t wait. That has not changed in the eyes of the public, but the legislature has manipulated legislation with studies and programs that report back to them adding meetings
and work until it has exceeded its boundaries.
COVID shut downs have kept the public voices silent making the
legislature more powerful than ever intended.
The state would benefit with new blood that will put the brakes on new programs and do a
complete audit of programs to determine the value of our "servants"
representing us.
--Donna Bleiler| Post Date: 2022-03-01 11:26:58 | Last Update: 2022-03-01 13:26:30 |
