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SUNNY Temp: 55 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 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 September 13, 2002 House expected to pass GOP budget plan, which faces veto The proposal has too much bonding for the governor’s liking By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune SALEM — A Republican proposal to plug the state’s half-billion-dollar budget deficit with $400 million in bonds and $82 million in cuts is expected to narrowly pass the House of Representatives this morning. Related story: � The long and tortured road of House Bill 4076 "We need to stop beating around the bush here," said House Speaker Mark Simmons, an Elgin Republican. "We’ve put out everything the Democrats asked for and it failed. We need to go with something that provides certainty for public schools and vital services the public needs." But when and if the bill reaches Gov. John Kitzhaber, the Democrat will veto it, said Kitzhaber spokesman Tom Towslee. "He doesn’t support that level of bonding and he never has," Towslee said Thursday night. Regardless, the GOP will go forward, said state Rep. Rob Patridge, a Medford Republican. He said Democrats are simply playing politics. "This is about the Democrats positioning for the November election," Patridge said. "We have no other alternative but the bonds and making cuts." Republicans hold a majority in both houses of the Legislature, and the bills should pass easily, Simmons predicted. The $400 million in bonds would be backed by Oregon’s share of the national tobacco settlement. The potential showdown between the governor and the Legislature capped off an emotional day at the Capitol. What had been called a "bipartisan compromise bill" aimed at balancing the state’s budget with income tax increases, bonds and cuts died an ugly death Thursday afternoon that included tears and name-calling. "I would ask this body for kids, for seniors and for people with disabilities, can we get along?" Rep. Janet Carlson, a Salem Republican, asked crying. "Can we get to ‘yes,’ or are we going to keep playing these games?" Even representatives Patridge and Ashland Democrat Alan Bates, who were slapping each other’s knees on the session’s first day and pledging to work together, degenerated into calling each other liars. But with the state’s schools, state troopers and programs for seniors in jeopardy, emotions were running high on the 12th day of the Legislature’s record fifth special session. Legislators are wrangling with ways to close a $482 million budget gap in the state’s $11 billion biennial budget. In previous special sessions, legislators used one-time funds, cuts and borrowing to patch over a gap of more than a billion dollars. The downturn in the economy has hit the state hard because of its reliance on income taxes. Already, state troopers are getting layoff notices, principals are planning on closing schools early and prisons are being planned for closure. But the compromise bill went down 17-41 after the majority of Democrats pulled their support. Republicans set Dec. 10 for an election on the income tax increases in order to simplify 2002 income tax returns. But Democrats said that didn’t give them time to sell the increases to the public. "I believe the referral is doomed to failure by rushing it out in the midst of an election and before Christmas," Bates said. He added that Democrats needed to see the finalized package of cuts. That’s what really angered Patridge, who in the past has referred to himself and Bates as the "Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden of the state Legislature." (Smith and Wyden, the state’s Republican and Democratic U.S. senators, are well known for the frequent collaboration.) "I think Alan Bates lied with impunity," Patridge said. "They are trying to hide behind the fact they didn’t see the other part of the package, but they were instrumental in crafting it." Bates, though, insisted that they hadn’t seen that final cuts list. Despite the acrimony, Bates said the so-called bipartisan plan may rise again. Democrats generally like the plan, though they’d prefer a legislative vote rather than referring it to voters. So, after the governor vetoes the bonding they’ll bring it up again, Bates said. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471 or by e-mail at [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 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S