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Budget cuts could affect everyone By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune After three and a half days in a conference room with boarded-up windows, state Sen. Lenn Hannon led a group of Republicans and Democrats in trying to cut $472 million from the state's budget. Why the cardboard taped over glass? "It was to protect our identity," joked Hannon, R-Ashland. "Like the one who pushes the final lever in a death penalty." The package of cuts, pared down to $350 million, was approved by the Senate late Thursday night and scheduled to go to the House today. And though they were crafted by a bipartisan group, the budget cuts will still draw blood. "Any time you make reductions, it's near and dear to you," said Hannon, the chairman of the Senate Budget Reconciliation Committee. "To say anyone won't be impacted by this is a foolhardy statement. "Each and every citizen of our state, regardless of their status, is going to be impacted in some way." And while the Senate appeared Thursday to be moving in a bipartisan direction on cuts, the House, which must come up with a revenue package, was being fractured by partisan fault lines. Democrats refused to vote on a package of tax increases, delaying by at least a day a solution to the budget crisis brought on by a recession and falling state revenues. Rep. Alan Bates, D-Ashland said the latest revenue package - including increases to cigarette, beer and wine taxes and postponement of Measure 88 - was "set up to fail." He said the tax increase proposals were written without allowing legislators to refer them to the ballot. Measure 88, passed in 2000, would postpone an increase in the federal income tax deduction. "What we want is a referral so people can make a decision on this," Bates said. "The Republicans are playing games and it's not good process." Bates called the situation a "log jam." But Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, said he believes there will be enough Republican support to put a cigarette tax increase on the ballot. He said he would consider referring the measure to voters if it was part of the right kind of budget package. "Some of the cuts that have been proposed would be devastating to disadvantaged groups that can't help themselves, like the mentally ill," Patridge said. Republicans realize that the governor will veto a budget that includes only one-time revenues, Patridge said. "I think everyone has Oregon's best interests at heart," Patridge said, "but there are different methods of getting there and whether we want to pass a tobacco tax or beer and wine tax or Measure 88 delay remains fluid at this point in time." Hannon said, though, that the package of budget cuts is well-balanced and fair to Democrats, Republicans and the governor. He said it trims about $100 million from elementary and high schools, $100 million from human services, and spreads the rest throughout the budget, including the governor's administrative office. "We tried to draft a proposal that was sensitive, compassionate and reasonable," he said. The package retains Project Independence to help seniors remain independent, as well as parts of Gov. John Kitzhaber's Healthy Start program. State Sen. Jason Atkinson said Hannon's efforts haven't gone without recognition. "The caucus voted Lenn our most valuable player," Atkinson said. "He is the anchor of the budget." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.