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SUNNY Temp: 78 °F Wind: SSE at 5 mph Friday, August 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 23, 2003 Two local legislators take opposite sides in dispute By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — Two Jackson County legislators had different takes Tuesday on the impasse between House Republicans and Democrats on the budget that has stalled the session. Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, is supporting Speaker Karen Minnis, who wants to bypass the Joint Ways and Means Committee and route the GOP majority’s school funding and social service programs through a special budget committee consisting of four members —three Republicans and one Democrat. "We’ve got to do something, and I believe given the current standoff, this is the right approach," said Patridge, a Ways and Means member who also serves on the truncated budget panel. Rep. Alan Bates, an Ashland Democrat and member of Ways and Means, said his caucus is supporting a $5.3 billion appropriation for schools and another $50 million for social services over what the majority Republicans are proposing. The GOP wants to spend no more than just over $5 billion for K-12. Advertisement "After seven months into the session, we were given less than 24 hours to respond to the Republican offer," Bates said. "When we did, we got an absolute no." Bates had harsh words for Minnis, a Troutdale Republican. "She reminds me of the kid who takes his ball home because he can’t get his way," said Bates. "She’s going to find out after awhile that she won’t have anyone to play with." Bates said the minority Democrats agreed to support Republicans on tax increases if they would accept the higher school spending. "We would have given them a lot of votes for taxes," said Bates. Republicans are proposing some selective tax increases — roughly $1.17 billion — to finance state programs. But any tax increase will require a super majority to pass, and that means Republicans need at least one Democrat to vote with them. "They need 36 votes for any revenue proposal. We’ve asked everyone in our caucus to vote no," said Bates. Republicans have a 35-25 edge in the House. Patridge appeared with the House leadership at a news conference and expressed his support for Minnis. "We tried to craft a reasonable budget solution, but every time we try to negotiate with the Democrats they move the numbers," said Patridge. The Medford Republican said two major budgets from his subcommittee — corrections and the courts — have not cleared the full committee because of opposition from Senate co-chairman Kurt Schrader, D-Canby. "Kurt has his foot on the air hose," said Patridge. Part of the problem is that Ways and Means will have to find additional funds to support the money bills sent out by Patridge’s committee, such as legislation to increase court fees and provide for temporary surcharges. The senior member of the Jackson County delegation, Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, also weighed in on the controversy, saying Minnis is "making a tremendous mistake." Hannon said he wasn’t sure how the Senate will react if it gets a budget from the House Budget Committee instead of the full House. "I think we will have an appropriate response when the time comes," he said. Hannon is Senate president pro tem and second in power only to Peter Courtney, a Salem Democrat and the Senate’s presiding officer. Don Jepsen is a free-lance writer living in Salem. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times