Document text
Bates, Hannon offer congrats, note of caution By Sean Wolfe Ashland Daily Tidings Congratulations were the order of the day at the weekly legislative hotline from Salem this morning, as Rep. Alan Bates and Sen. Lenn Hannon were unified in applauding the success of the Youth Activities Levy at the polls. But both also sounded cautionary notes about how that success would be received in Salem. "The message that some will hear up here is that it's OK to not get the job done. We don't have to raise taxes if people are willing to tax themselves," Bates, D-Ashland, said. Hannon, R-Ashland, concurred with Bates' view adding that local levies - whether conducted in Portland or Ashland - creates a "damned if you do, damned if you don't situation in Salem." "If measure like these pass, people in the Legislature are going to get the wrong message - that they're off the hook and not responsible. "If they fail, it sends a message to the naysayers, to say 'See? People don't want any more taxes,'" Hannon said. "Frankly the election around the state isn't so much about what's in this building, as it is a signal to what may or may not be down the road on the part of the electorate," the long-time Ashland lawmaker said. "My job is to find a solution to the budget regardless of the election. And the passage of a local option doesn't relieve me or the other 89 legislators from that task." 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 -