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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Tuesday, May 19 Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Makeover brings new look to old clinic Education Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district John Muir students need help producing eighth-grade yearbook Ashland High School seeks volunteers for 2015-16 Heading to Harvard Rising from the ashes Environment Demonstrators hope to save tree Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Long drought, big storm make for a dirty Bear Creek Jackson County declares drought disaster Business Makeover brings new look to old clinic Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories Ashland's CD Or Not CD will carry on Sawyer Paddles sues manufacturer, alleging breach of contract Ashland seminars focus on employment law Politics and elections Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability City of Ashland to consider making recorder position appointive, not elective Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection State News Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Death Notices Patricia Carole-Mae Perrin Alpha W. Crews Brian Erskine Fletcher Nita Day Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories AHS decathlete Thompson-Siporen overcomes knee surgery to shine at districts George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady O'Brien, Kim claim MWL doubles title Kelly McElroy: I hate this ‘game’ App Finder: Best cycling apps High school AHS decathlete Thompson-Siporen overcomes knee surgery to shine at districts O'Brien, Kim claim MWL doubles title Thompson-Siporen earns three MWL titles in first day of district meet Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Ayers pitches Eagles past Grizzlies Southern Oregon University O'Brien, Kim claim MWL doubles title Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Sen. Warren vs. Obama Letters to the Editor, May 19 Council Corner: Please help me with my list Granlund cartoon: Memorial Day and Uncle Sam George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady Editorial Other Views: Vaccine rate improves Our View: Focus on the basics Our View: Elected or appointed? Our View: Change is brewing Our View: Forest work is a bargain Letters Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 14 (No heading) Letters to the editor: Tuesday, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Guest Opinion: A good day to act Columns Council Corner: Please help me with my list George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady Chris Honoré: The journey of the African elephant Herb Rothschild Jr.: An appalling budget Jeffrey Gillespie: Shame on the high seas Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Ashland Calendar, Thursday, May 14 4 Things To Do This Weekend Movie listings: May 15-21 Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Theater Ashland-originated plays to tour throughout country Ticket Availability Ticket availability Ticket Availability Departing Ashland Independent Film Festival programmer talks about what makes a good movie Music The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Visual Art Movies Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie listings: May 15-21 'Wild Tales' is twisted, dark and lovely Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: Teaching values Food for Thought: Grapes deliver sweet healthy goodness Community Blog: God's sigh: the breath of peace Sid McKeen: A bumper crop of idle observations Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Council Corner: Please help me with my list ... Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement ... Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district ... Council Corner: Please help me with my list ... Ashland council to consider water rate surcharge, Welcome Center agreement ... Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district ... RELOCATIONS Herb Rothschild Jr.: An appalling budget Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News On May 5, the Mail Tribune ran an item in its Nation in Brief section about the federal budget resolution for 2016 that both the House and Senate passed. It ended this way: “The measure sets a potential path for a balanced budget within a decade. It promises to cut domestic agencies and safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps, carve up transportation spending and student aid, and curb tax breaks for the poor.” What! Slash programs that help, not corporations and the wealthy, but the neediest members of our society? Curb tax breaks, not for the rich, but for the poor? Can this be true? It is. Of the more than $5 trillion of projected savings over 10 years beginning October 1, about 69 percent will come from programs that assist moderate and low income people, such as Food Stamps, Pell Grants for college-goers, Head Start, home heating subsidies, Medicaid and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). And by de-funding the Affordable Care Act, Congress would drop 16.4 million people from the ranks of the medically insured. Canceling the EITC, the Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit for sending one’s kids to college — all of which help people working in low-wage jobs — will save about $159 billion over the decade. But the savings will be more than offset by the intent to abolish the federal estate tax; that will cost the treasury some $269 billion. Since the tax applies only to estates valued at $5.4 million for a single person, $10.8 million for a married couple, the benefit will accrue to the wealthiest two tenths of 1 percent of us. If you want more details about the budget resolution, go to websites such as the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). I haven’t the heart to cite more. I have become uncharacteristically upset and angry. It’s beyond me how anyone can do such things. Fortunately, you and I can do something else — and we must. The budget resolution sets caps for military spending (which will rise) and the domestic programs Congress annually funds (unlike Social Security). Later there must be appropriations for each of these programs, and bills for any changes in the tax code. In 1995, Bill Clinton faced down the Republican-controlled Congress and refused to pass Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America,” a similar but somewhat less dreadful budget. The government shut-down cost Republicans many House seats in the 1996 election. If Obama will emulate Clinton, the worst may be avoided. Even if he reverts to his “give away the store” deal-making, the projected 10-year budget can only be passed into law one year at a time. We must alert Americans to this major disinvestment in them, and especially in their children. And we must tell them exactly who is responsible: not “government,” not Congress, but the Republicans in Congress. In both chambers the budget resolutions were passed along party lines. Too many Democrats serve the interests of the wealthy, but none of them make war on the poor. Republicans do that. But they don’t want us to know what they’re doing. On May 7 our congressman, Greg Walden, sent an email touting the 100-day accomplishments of “new Republican-led Congress.” He listed four things, among them “Approving a budget that balances and reduces our national debt.” He gave no details. Small wonder. Next week I will recommend a series of actions to expose widely this appalling behavior. Meanwhile, let what I have shared sink into your soul. Herb Rothschild Jr. is chairman of the board of Peace House. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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