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Editorial: Emergency package is a good first step Maybe they're getting the message - at least part of the message. House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, last week introduced legislation to restore more than $15 million in cuts that were made to human services and public safety programs in the aftermath of Measure 28's failure at the polls in January. Minnis didn't stop there. On Friday she appointed a new Special Committee on Budget to ramrod the bill through the Legislature. The committee's makeup includes: Representatives Alan Bates, D-Ashland, Rob Patridge, R-Medford, Gary Hansen, D-Portland, Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, Tom Butler, R-Ontario, chair Randy Miller, R-West Linn, and vice-chair Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek. While this committee looks a tad partisan, there is nothing in Minnis' emergency care package that suggests that is the case. The committee responded immediately, unanimously passing the bill out of committee Monday. The contents of the package - totaling $15.49 million in restored funding - has as its centerpiece $6.98 million for the medically needy of the Oregon Medical Assistance Program. In fact, all the money save $1.2 million to the Oregon State Police, will be spread throughout mental health and seniors and people with disabilities. The funding will come from the projected Lottery Fund ending balance ($9 million), the remaining Emergency Fund balance ($3 million), the remainder of the Master Tobacco Settlement Fund ($2.5 million) and additional tobacco tax revenue ($950,000). Minnis has no illusions about the package solving Oregon's budget woes. But as the title suggests, it provides vital emergency care. "Voters rejected Measure 28, but they did not vote to throw seniors out of nursing homes, eliminate housing and medications for the most seriously mentally ill and to severely hamper the ability of our state police to investigate violent crimes," Minnis said. HB 5075 will go a long way toward aiding those in the most need. It is not revolutionary, but it addresses life and death services that otherwise will be eliminated. Getting this package approved is critical. Time is of the essence. Many of these services will be interrupted starting in March. We applaud Minnis' and the committee's effort. And once HB 5075 is enacted, finding a new revenue source for education should take center stage. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -