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L/RAIN Temp: 55 °F Wind: N at 5 mph Tuesday, April 29, 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 August 17, 2002 Bates on hot seat after veto votes stall By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune SALEM — All eyes turned to Rep. Alan Bates as the House adjourned Friday afternoon one vote shy of overriding the governor’s cigarette revenue veto. Despite public pressure from educators and colleagues, Bates remained adaman-tly opposed to two controversial legislative budget-balancing bills that were vetoed by Gov. John Kitzhaber. "I’m not changing my mind," the Ashland Democrat said. "I also don’t think anybody who voted publicly will change their minds." The House adjourned until Tuesday to allow time to put pressure on Bates and other lawmakers to support a bill that borrows $50 million against future cigarette tax revenues. Rep. Rob Patridge said, "I’m surprised by Alan. I viewed him as a consensus builder." Patridge, R-Medford, said he’s particularly surprised because Bates initially helped carry the original bill through the House. "It’s time for Alan to step up to the plate," he said. Bates responded, "I would tell Rob Patridge to step up and do the right thing." Bates said he helped carry the bill through the House as an expediency and fully expected the governor to veto it. While educators publicly are pressuring him to override the veto, Bates said, "Privately, they’re saying I’m doing the right thing." Bates said the vast majority of calls he’s received from constituents support upholding both the governor’s vetoes. Patridge said most of his calls are from citizens urging him to override the vetoes, which he believes are a misguided attempt by the governor to force a funding solution for education. "The governor has no clothes," he said. "He lacks credibility on the issues." Unlike Bates, Patridge thinks there is no way that additional revenues can be generated to help out schools at this time. Another vote is scheduled for Tuesday on the cigarette bill, after which the Legislature will tackle the governor’s veto of a separate bill that allows schools to borrow $267 million without the guarantee that they would be reimbursed in the next biennial budget. Bates said he and other Democrats would challenge the constitutionality of this legislation. Ashland schools Superintendent Juli Di Chiro, who spent time Friday pleading with lawmakers to override the vetoes, said the delay in making a decision was particularly upsetting because schools are almost ready to open their doors. The school board was also scheduled to meet Monday evening to discuss different cutback scenarios, depending on which veto was overridden. "Now we have to wait another four days, just before the start of school," she said. If the cigarette veto is upheld, Ashland schools would be discussing cuts of $280,000 after making almost $3 million in cuts during the past two years. Schools throughout Jackson County would stand to lose more than $2 million total if the cigarette plan loses. That figure rises to more than $11 million if both bills fail. "We should be thinking about getting schools open, not this kind of stuff," said Di Chiro. State Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, believes schools will be reimbursed for the $267 million they will need to borrow next spring if the second bill passes next week. However, the Legislature can’t guarantee the funding of the money in the next biennial budget, leaving some educators believing they’ll never get reimbursed. Hannon said, "That is a wrong assumption. It is assuming a solution isn’t going to be found." He thinks a committee of rank and file Oregonians should be formed that would hold meetings across the state to determine the best way of creating a long-term solution for education funding. "I challenged the governor, the senate president and the speaker of the house to begin immediately to appoint a citizen group and listen to what the people have to say," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Ashland weighs choice: 20 days or 32 teachers By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune ASHLAND — School board Chairman John Maurer says his district should cut 20 days from the upcoming school year in an effort to save $1.6 million. "I don’t want to spend money we don’t have," said Maurer. "I’m tired of slick accounting maneuvers that just lead you into trouble." Maurer referred to a legislative bill that shifts $267 million in statewide school funding into the next budget period and lets school districts borrow against the payment. Maurer endorses Gov. John Kitzhaber’s recent veto of the bill, while Ashland School District Superintendent Juli Di Chiro opposes it. Other districts such as Eagle Point, Central Point and the Southern Oregon Education Service District already have radically reduced their budgets because they don’t anticipate any near-term solution to the financial crisis. "This is not the time to start sugar-coating the situation," said Maurer. Even if the vetoes are overridden, Maurer would like the Ashland district to make whatever decisions are necessary to cut $1.6 million out of the budget. Maurer said the school should take advantage of a one-year waiver from the state that would allow such a drastic reduction in the school year. "It’s either that or having to let go of 32 teachers," he said. Maurer said the district has no reserves and can’t place itself in the position of borrowing money in the springtime when it can’t count on reimbursement in July. Other districts, with little faith in the Legislature to come up with a solution, already have chosen to make the cutbacks. Howard George, business manager for the education service district, termed the legislative borrowing plan a "shell game" that will fall on school districts to sort out. The state of Oregon anticipates a budget shortfall of anywhere from $1.5 to $2 billion in its next biennial budget, which will translate into cuts of $500 million to $750 million in schools, George said. The ESD earlier cut $760,000 in staff based on the assumption lawmakers would not provide the necessary funding. "It’s not an accounting question for me," said George. "It’s an ethical question. Should we be committing taxes based on future revenues?" 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