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SUNNY Temp: 50 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, September 30, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection 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 Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 4, 2002 Speaker bends on budget plan Kitzhaber, too, says he is willing to compromise to solve state’s fiscal crisis By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune SALEM — After bucking the Republican House leadership, Southern Oregon legislators were thrilled Tuesday when House Speaker Mark Simmons backed off his no-new-taxes stance and said he may put forward a budget package that includes tax increases. Related story: � An RCC teacher is among hundreds at a rally on the Capitol steps Elk River Hatchery on closure list The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will close the Elk River Hatchery near Port Orford and lay off 14 more people across Oregon if forced to absorb $877,000 more in cuts to balance the state’s budget. The Elk River Hatchery raises salmon and steelhead that are released annually into the Chetco and Elk rivers as well as the South Fork of the Coquille River, which are three of the more popular destinations for Southern Oregon anglers venturing outside of the Rogue River basin. The facility is one of four tapped Tuesday for closure Sept. 30 in response to Gov. John Kitzhaber’s directive to state agencies to prepare for across-the-board cuts to help eliminate the state’s $482 million shortfall. The others are the Cedar Creek Hatchery near Hebo, the Salmon River Hatchery near Otis and the Trask Hatchery near Tillamook. The hatcheries were picked because they are funded out of the state’s general fund, they have a backlog of maintenance needs, their operating costs are high, and they need to be upgraded to meet new state and federal water pollution discharge requirements, said ODFW Director Lindsay Ball. Of the 18 positions for elimination in this round of cuts, 14 are currently filled. None are in southwestern Oregon. A fish biologist position in Klamath Falls is the closest cut to the Rogue Valley. Speaker cancels hearing in Medford A public hearing headed by state House Speaker Mark Simmons, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled. Simmons, R-Elgin, planned to tour the state and visit Medford to discuss the budget crisis, but the Legislature convened for a special session over the weekend. Because of the special session, Simmons had to cancel his tour, according to Trish Conrad, a spokeswoman for Simmons’ office. "This is the break we needed to come up with a solution that can get the votes to solve the problems in this state," said Rep. Cherryl Walker, a Republican from Murphy. The Legislature on Tuesday was in its third day of its fifth special session this year. Legislators must find a way to balance a budget with a $482 million deficit due to the economic downturn. Because budget bills must originate in the House, the Senate has had little to do, although it did begin considering some legislation Tuesday, including a bill to drastically revise the state’s Public Employee Retirement System. The real action in the Capitol on Tuesday was in the House and on the steps of the building. At a rally on the steps, Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber signaled his willingness to give up his no-borrowing stance in a speech to advocates for schools, seniors and the disabled. "In an effort to help forge a solution that can garner bipartisan support, I am willing to compromise," Kitzhaber announced, "as long as the net result is to substantially mitigate any further cuts in this biennium and to dramatically reduce the projected deficit in 2003 and 2004." After the speech, Republicans met behind closed doors for five hours to hash out their response to the budget crisis. As recently as Monday, Simmons had insisted he would bring his own budget plan to a vote Tuesday. His plan involved selling $250 million in bonds and making $232 million in cuts. But Democrats and at least a half-dozen Republicans weren’t willing to go along with his plan, including Walker and Medford’s Rep. Rob Patridge. Walker and Patridge favored a plan floated by a more moderate Republican that included an income tax increase to avoid further crippling schools, state police and social services. Simmons said the governor’s decision to compromise and the position of his caucus forced him to look at the temporary income tax increase option, even though he won’t vote for it himself. He said it would go to a vote of the people. "I think it’s a mistake to raise taxes during a recession, but we need to move this process forward," Simmons said. "We need to get this problem solved for the people of Oregon." "I think it is appropriate to allow the people of Oregon to weigh in on the question." Simmons declined to give specifics on the plan Tuesday, saying it was still being worked on. Several Republicans said the plan will include elimination of the capital gains tax as a way to garner conservative Republican votes. They said it would also include an income tax increase, bonds and budget cuts. Although he was concerned no solid plan had come forward Tuesday, Rep. Alan Bates from Ashland said he was "cautiously optimistic" that this unfolding compromise could become reality and further cuts could be avoided. "This thing we are putting together is looking better all the time," said Bates, a Democrat. Simmons said he expects to meet with the governor today and together they will create a detailed plan. The House will meet again at 11 a.m. today. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] 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. 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