Oregonian editorial board: 2013 agenda
Wednesday January 9, 2013
12:00
The Oregonian: 
Welcome to our live chat. Mark and Eric will join us in a minute. Keep in mind that there will be a short delay between the submission of your question or comment and its appearance in the chat.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:00 The Oregonian
12:03
Erik Lukens: 
Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining us. We've written editorials on three agenda items so far - PERS, tax reform and business climate - and have three to go - education, the CCR and personal freedom. What do you think of the things we've chosen, and what should we have chosen that we left out?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:03 Erik Lukens
12:03
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
Does the oregonian employ an econometrician, or use one when formulating its agenda?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:03 Benjamin Barber
12:03
Erik Lukens: 
Uh, oh. what is an econometrician? You've exceeded the depth of my vocabulary.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:03 Erik Lukens
12:04
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
As an editorial board, what sort of peer reviewed research goes into your agenda?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:04 Benjamin Barber
12:04
Erik Lukens: 
We don't do peer review research. We're a group of five relatively well-informed writers with the capacity to do some good reporting.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:04 Erik Lukens
12:05
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
Firstly, thank you for pressing these issues in a timely manner. It is felt by many that Gov. Kitzhaber is making show of good faith to be in front of the PERS problem. Will the real push be to raise property taxes in some way
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:05 Bailie
12:05
Erik Lukens: 
Bailie: In a word, yes. There will be a serious push this session ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:05 Erik Lukens
12:05
[Comment From GaryGary: ] 
What is going on with PERS
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:05 Gary
12:06
Erik Lukens: 
to address property taxes in ways that increase equity and - incidentally - either raise lots of money directly ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:06 Erik Lukens
12:06
Erik Lukens: 
or allow taxpayers to do it themselves. We support some of what's on the table, but not all of it.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:06 Erik Lukens
12:06
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
I do not expect any reforms of PERS that will significantly place a dent in the PERS problem. What is "Plan B"?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:06 Bailie
12:06
Erik Lukens: 
Bailie: What is PERS plan B? We talked this morning to representatives of ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:06 Erik Lukens
12:07
Erik Lukens: 
AFSCME, who have about 25,000 members in the state, mostly at local and county governments. ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:07 Erik Lukens
12:07
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
an econometrician is a combination of an economist and a mathematician, which is qualified to analyze correlations in economic activity.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:07 Benjamin Barber
12:07
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
How about the political divide of metro oregon vs rural oregon and how the decisions in urban oregon effect rural oregon?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:07 Guest
12:07
Erik Lukens: 
Plan A for them (and maybe Plan B for some lawmakers?) is to do nothing that cuts benefits, but, rather, stretch out the amortization period of the unfunded liability to 30 years. In other words ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:07 Erik Lukens
12:07
Erik Lukens: 
kick the can down the road.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:07 Erik Lukens
12:08
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Can you just explain who an editorial board works? How does it differ from journalism? How are you separate from the newsroom? And do you just write down your opinions or do you research a given topic and then form an opinion?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:08 Guest
12:09
Erik Lukens: 
Guest; How an editorial board works. Big topic. Its members include me, Mark Hester, Len Reed, Susan Nielsen, David Sarasohn and, in an oversight capacity, publisher Chris Anderson ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:09 Erik Lukens
12:09
Erik Lukens: 
We meet daily and decide what we're going to write about, usually on a rolling weekly schedule, and ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:09 Erik Lukens
12:09
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
"Plan B" is anything that will put into the public sector that will replace the drain from PERS over the next decade.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:09 Bailie
12:09
Mark Hester: 
Guest: There's only so much you can do to bridge he urban-rural divide, but Gov. Kitzhaber is at least trying with efforts such as his public lands task force.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:09 Mark Hester
12:10
[Comment From JCJC: ] 
What are the dynamics of the post-secondary education turf wars? What are your predictions?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:10 JC
12:10
Erik Lukens: 
set about reporting and writing. Our team, which is separate from the news team headed by Peter Bhatia, includes some very experienced reporters and former news-side editors.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:10 Erik Lukens
12:10
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
in regards to peer reviewed research: meaning if your going to state that something is good or bad for the economy, do you base those assumptions on rhetoric or on a scientific empirical basis
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:10 Benjamin Barber
12:11
Mark Hester: 
JJC: By turf wars, I assume you're talking about the debate over local boards. PSU and UO want them; OSU and the small colleges don't.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:11 Mark Hester
12:11
Erik Lukens: 
Ben Barber re. peer review. Well, we don't have our own economic supercomputer or anything, but we do our own reporting, and the person who writes most of our economic editorials, Mark Hester, is a former Oregonian business editor and has an MBA. I'd say he's pretty well qualified.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:11 Erik Lukens
12:11
Mark Hester: 
JC: I'm not big into predictions, but Sen. Peter Courtney, who's skeptical of local boards, told us he thinks it'll happen in some form.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:11 Mark Hester
12:11
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Why not talk about it? May urban voters may not realize the impact their vote has on rural oregonians
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:11 Guest
12:12
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Why are Oregonians so opposed to the sales tax? The current Oregon tax system penalizes savers, with high income tax and no sales tax.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:12 Guest
12:13
Mark Hester: 
Guest: Not sure what you mean "why not talk"? I commended the governor for trying to get people to talk. I'm just skeptical on how much progress can be made. The two groups of voters see the world very differently.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Mark Hester
12:13
Erik Lukens: 
Guest re. sales tax. There are two reasons, I think, that Oregonians oppose a sales tax. One is that they don't trust government not to raise ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Erik Lukens
12:13
Erik Lukens: 
a new tax like a sales tax once it's established. The other ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Erik Lukens
12:13
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
There are big interstate bridges all over the country. It’s not like it’s never been done before. So why has the CRC planning been such a disaster?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Guest
12:13
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
Why was replacing the over 100-year-old swingspan on the BNSF rail bridge with a modern lift span not considered before endorsing the flawed CRC? A lift span on the BNSF bridge would have eliminated most of the lifts on the existing Interstate vehicle bridges.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Floyd Smith
12:13
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
It seems to me the urban rural divide is- The rural right, blocks taxes, which limits social programs that the urban left wants. Taxes get blocked because the state is essentially poor by west coast standards and that is in part because the urban left blocks economic development with environmental laws, landuse laws, nimbyism, etc. No one wants to compromise, things are just in a deadlock. Washington state does not seem to be this way so much.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:13 Guest
12:14
Erik Lukens: 
is that a sales tax is regressive. A lot of people don't like the idea of charging someone who makes $45,000 per year the same tax for a widget than guy who makes $500,000 per year.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:14 Erik Lukens
12:14
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
Today’s paper gave great news on the jobs and wages, and on the fact that start-ups are staying in Oregon when bought up by bigger companies. I don’t understand why your editorials are focusing so on the Oregon business climate as though it is a big issue that the legislature must address. Where we are failing is in class size, school year length, and school success.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:14 Jody Wiser
12:15
Erik Lukens: 
Jody Wiser: Business climate is important because businesses - which create jobs, which create tax revenue - care about it. And without tax revenue etc., you can't do much to reduce class size etc. Pretty straightforward, I think.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:15 Erik Lukens
12:15
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Any chance Kitz and Co. will recommend a sales tax and voters will actually pass it?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:15 Guest
12:16
Mark Hester: 
Guest: There's not a simple answer, but here are a few factors. Oregon is REALLY into process, which provides more opportunity for squabbles over details. Two states are involved, which isn't unique, but in this case the two primary communities (Portland and Vancouver) have some significant political differences. And there's a stronger architectural lobby here than in many places, which led to a LOT of debate over how the bridge would look.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:16 Mark Hester
12:16
Erik Lukens: 
Guest re. sales tax: Though we'd like to see a sales tax, as would the governor and lots of other people, ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:16 Erik Lukens
12:16
Erik Lukens: 
I wouldn't put any money on it passing, at least now. ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:16 Erik Lukens
12:16
Erik Lukens: 
We talked this morning with Ken Allen from AFSCME, who's been meeting with business folks and the governor's staff ..
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:16 Erik Lukens
12:16
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
Sales tax regression can be addressed through exemptions. And the argument about not trusting the Legislature doesn't square with actual practice. The Legislature doesn't have the political will to raise taxes without referring it to the people.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:16 Leo
12:17
[Comment From GaryGary: ] 
I think public employees have earned their retirement and should be paid it
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:17 Gary
12:17
Erik Lukens: 
to discuss tax reform, and he said focus group input makes a sales tax look highly unlikely. But it's still worth trying, I think. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:17 Erik Lukens
12:17
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
An MBA is qualified to manage small business and not an economy, if the purpose of paper is to serve the public good, doesn't it behoove the paper to at least public scientifically accurate statements about the economy? Many of the articles that are written, use faulty assumptions some contrary to fact Ex: lower income taxes, sales taxes, nike single sales factor, business climate, CRC
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:17 Benjamin Barber
12:17
Mark Hester: 
Floyd: In the early stages, many options were considered, probably including something similar to what you propose. Not sure the specific reasons that was rejected.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:17 Mark Hester
12:18
[Comment From JCJC: ] 
Where does the proposed postsecondary ed dept and higher ed coordinating council fall in there?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:18 JC
12:18
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
A sales tax doesn't have to be regressive, of other parts of the tax structure are adjusted. But a sales tax coupled with a capital gains tax cut would be doubbly regressive. It will be referred to the people, if not by the legislature, by someone else. Look at measure 30.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:18 Jody Wiser
12:18
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
Oregon has led the nation in unemployment for the last decade. Why is that? We have had a couple of decent years, but collectively for the last ten years, Oregon has led all states.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:18 Bailie
12:18
Erik Lukens: 
Benjamin Barber: If you disagree with our conclusions about these policies, you're always free to join the debate by writing letters and so forth. One of the most valuable features about the newspaper's editorial and commentary function ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:18 Erik Lukens
12:19
Erik Lukens: 
is the involvement of well-informed readers. We ain't perfect.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:19 Erik Lukens
12:20
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
Well, placing a lift span in the BNSF bridge is a critical solution to the upriver issue of the Interstate bridges, and this low-cost fix was ignored in the early analysis by ODOT.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:20 Floyd Smith
12:20
[Comment From Dan McFarlingDan McFarling: ] 
Fixing the railroad bridge over the Columbia could be done relatively quickly and for about $100M and would improve road, rail and waterway traffic. They have already wasted far more than $100M and accomplished nothing.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:20 Dan McFarling
12:21
Mark Hester: 
Bailie: To be fair, it hasn't literally led the nation for the last decade, though it's been in the top 5 a lot. There's not a single answer, but one factor is people don't leave here when they lose jobs, as they do in some states. Add that to the fact we don't create/attract businesses as well as many states, and it's a formula for high unemployment.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:21 Mark Hester
12:21
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
Our popularity as a destination for young, educated and seniors who want to be near their families is why our unemployment rate is down. Given the choice would you move to Nevada, California or Oregion?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:21 Jody Wiser
12:21
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
The primary problem with a sales tax is that the Democratic Party doesn't like it, nor does the Republican Party.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:21 Bailie
12:21
[Comment From guest1guest1: ] 
I see the CRC being about Portland just being full of activists and residents who are 'anti-establishment' in their politics. any sort of large structure, or large organization/business just get's painted as a hate target. Vancouver is just, you know, more suburban and resists the encroachment of the big city...because that's why they moved to the suburbs to begin with. Given that reluctance it's been hard for the players to get momentum...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:21 guest1
12:22
Erik Lukens: 
Bailie re. sales tax. I wouldn't say the parties necessarily hate the sales tax. I think ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:22 Erik Lukens
12:22
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
Allow me to expand on Dan's prescient comment. He speaks of the $160 million blown on analysis by CRC staff.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:22 Floyd Smith
12:22
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Oregon notoriously only has one Fortune 500 company – Nike. What, if anything, can the Legislature do to bring more in – or grow more?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:22 Guest
12:22
Erik Lukens: 
the tough discussions involve the kinds of things each would like in return for (or to balance out) a sales tax. Dems, I think, would like to make other parts of the tax code more progressive in order to compensate ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:22 Erik Lukens
12:23
Erik Lukens: 
more earned income tax credits for instance. And Republicans tend to want lower income taxes and capital gains taxes. Good luck getting people on the left to accept lower capital gains taxes ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:23 Erik Lukens
12:23
Erik Lukens: 
regardless of the economic arguments in their favor.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:23 Erik Lukens
12:24
Mark Hester: 
Guest: Oregon has 2 Fortune 500s. Precision Castparts is the other. The best way to get Fortune 500 companies is grow them. That's what happened with Nike and PC. Oregon just isn't going to compete with the incentives states like Texas and N.C. offer to lure existing companies.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:24 Mark Hester
12:24
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
Yes, for the collective years of the last decade, Oregon has led the nation in unemployment. I am not suggesting every year. Alaska is the only state close to Oregon for the last ten years as a whole.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:24 Bailie
12:24
[Comment From Dan McFarlingDan McFarling: ] 
The excuse given by officials for NOT looking ay the railroad bridge was that it was not within the arbitrarily drawn project boundaries, yet it was a solution that would have addressed many of the project goals. Because it did not cost very much, there was little support from people who stand to make big bucks on a major project.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:24 Dan McFarling
12:24
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
The CRC is a boondogle that will ultimately be the WPPSS for those electeds who support it.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:24 Floyd Smith
12:24
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
The Oregon Supreme Court, despite its conflict of interest, disallowed serious PERS reform. Can it not be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:24 Guest
12:25
Erik Lukens: 
Guest re. PERS reform and Supreme Court. I guess you could try, but I'm not a lawyer. I think it's more productive to look at the options that remain and get the Legislature to pass them. COLA caps for retiree benefits, for instance.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:25 Erik Lukens
12:25
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
Probably more accurate to say that both parties fear the sales tax. They fear the repercussions of supporting an unpopular idea so much that no one will actually investigate whether or not it would be better for Oregonians.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:25 Leo
12:26
Erik Lukens: 
Leo re. sales tax: The sales tax is not popular. that is true.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:26 Erik Lukens
12:27
[Comment From Dan McFarlingDan McFarling: ] 
The Common Sense Alternative to the CRC would cost FAR less, and accomplish FAR more than the proposed CRC.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:27 Dan McFarling
12:28
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
The CRC as designed will put a choke point in the Columbia that will restrict economic development upriver. See the Common Sense Alternative proposed by Jim Howell and George Crandell, and you will recognize a crossing solution that provides green development and accommodates rail, the high-efficiency passenger solution of the future.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:28 Floyd Smith
12:28
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
Ironically, property tax limitation measures were just as unpopular as sales tax measures until Measure 5 passed. I think there were nine straight defeats until M5.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:28 Leo
12:28
Mark Hester: 
Benjamin Barber: I agree with Erik that you should submit you opinion through letters, etc. But I also would like to point out that there is no one "right" economic approach. Economists disagree - A LOT. I try to talk to at least two before writing editorials. And I try to talk to ones who have different perspectives.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:28 Mark Hester
12:28
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
Where is the evidence that we don't attract businesses as do other states? I hear this, but I don't see evidence given.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:28 Jody Wiser
12:28
Erik Lukens: 
Leo re. property taxes. I think the difference between property tax measures and the sales tax is who feels the harm each would reduce ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:28 Erik Lukens
12:29
Erik Lukens: 
People voted for property tax measures because they were getting hammered by property taxes. They're not getting hammered directly by the lack of a sales tax.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:29 Erik Lukens
12:29
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
Why would it not be legal to tax Tier I recipients who receive more than 100 percent of their final salaries? That is where the problem is. We tobacco users, alcohol, and every thing else.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:29 Bailie
12:30
Erik Lukens: 
Bailie re. PERS taxes: It's hard to change the terms of a contract after the fact.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:30 Erik Lukens
12:30
Mark Hester: 
Jody: I don't have stats or links handy off the top of my head, but if you check recent relocations of large companies to Oregon, Texas and North Carolina, I'm confident the other states have more. In fact, we have no Fortune 500 companies based here that moved from elsewhere. That's not the only measur.e. Intel, of course, is based elsewhere, but it's the state's largest private employer.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:30 Mark Hester
12:30
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
Why push the CRC when it has a higher cost to benefit ratio, and the population capacity growth is better handled in clackamas county, which isn't capable of the tax dodging border economics? The total bill including toll collection and financing is going to be 10bn, in order to fix what is essentially 3 billion in congestion based externalities, that never materialized quite like the 2005 assumptions predicted. When the CSA is cheaper even without the federal money that may not materialize, can be built peacemeal as needed to add capacity, and if paid for without tolls would match the externalities after finance charges?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:30 Benjamin Barber
12:31
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
Erik, some would say the volatility in relying so heavily on the income tax is getting hammered.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:31 Leo
12:31
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
The last polling on sales tax that I saw was done for Kulongowski's Tax Reform Committee in about 009. The public then would accept a sales tax, but only if you got rid of either income or property tax. Since each of those is more progressive and easier or about equilly diffiult to collect, the group walked away without a plan.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:31 Jody Wiser
12:31
Erik Lukens: 
Leo re hammered: That is correct, but it's getting hammered in an indirect way. Getting hammered is opening your property tax bill and seeing a huge and unanticipated increase.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:31 Erik Lukens
12:32
[Comment From Dan McFarlingDan McFarling: ] 
The Coast Guard could, and should, say "No" to the proposed CRC. The proposed CRC will interfere with more than one company upstream. ODOT/WashDOT never considered a draw span bridge, which would NOT interfere with upstream businesses. While early on officials stated that the interstate highway system no longer had any moveable span bridges except for our I-5 bridges, this is easily discredited. There are about seven, including the recently constructed Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge which not only serves the major N/S east coast interstate, but also the Beltway (I-495). It carries FAR more traffic, and is a drawspan bridge.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:32 Dan McFarling
12:32
Erik Lukens: 
Dan McFarling: The Coast Guard may, indeed, say "no." We'll find out.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:32 Erik Lukens
12:33
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
If you do the research, you'll see that no state relies as heavily on one source of income as Oregon.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:33 Leo
12:33
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
re: yes there are economists that disagree alot, especially milton friedman and the austrian school who refuse the notion of empiricism as valid in economics, who often get cited and publicised alot by media, in contrast to econometricians who are forced to reconcile their beliefs with data.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:33 Benjamin Barber
12:34
Mark Hester: 
Benjamin: We, and many others, feel that a better bridge is essential over the long term, not only to alleviate congestion for passenger traffic but for movement of freight. As to, people should live in Clackamas County instead, I shudder to think of what would happen if policy-makers tried to force more growth on Clackamas County.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:34 Mark Hester
12:34
Erik Lukens: 
Leo re. one source of funding. You are correct, and it's a very volatile source of funding, which is why the Measure 66/67 hike in personal income taxes was such a bad idea. Or one reason why it was such a bad idea.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:34 Erik Lukens
12:34
[Comment From rharrisrharris: ] 
Wouldn't there be some advantage to package PERS reform and tax restructuring into a single bill? There is simply a lack of trust from many stakeholders to give in one spending and hope for reform. I know thats a big lift. But its all a big lift.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:34 rharris
12:35
[Comment From BailieBailie: ] 
Is California's tax structure considered better than Oregon's?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Bailie
12:35
[Comment From Jody WiserJody Wiser: ] 
We do have more Intel employees than any other state, and "they moved here" in a big way.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Jody Wiser
12:35
[Comment From LeoLeo: ] 
M 66/67 WAS a bad idea. But they had no other options.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Leo
12:35
Erik Lukens: 
rharris re. packaging: I think PERS reform and tax restructuring are "packaged," for lack of a better term, in a way: Everyone knows that tax reform isn't going to fly with voters if the Legislature doesn't tackle PERS. Lawmakers will have. ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Erik Lukens
12:35
Erik Lukens: 
a chance this session to buy some voter trust or squander what little they have.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Erik Lukens
12:35
[Comment From Dan McFarlingDan McFarling: ] 
Erik- would it not have been better to come up with a desigh that MET the Coast Guard goals in the first place???? Instead, we have wasted over $160,000,000!!!
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 Dan McFarling
12:36
Mark Hester: 
Bailee: Tax structures affect different people and businesses in different ways, but in general California's tax structure would be considered worse. I'm not sure "better than Calif." is a good goal, though.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:36 Mark Hester
12:36
Erik Lukens: 
Dan re Coast Guard: A design that met everyone's needs would, indeed, have been better.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:36 Erik Lukens
12:36
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
if the Coast Guard says no, how will ODOT spend the $450 million, now estimated to be in the neighborhood of $500 million, that the Oregon Legislature is likely to approve. The state agency will start buying land even as the Federal Railroad Administration says no to the project.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:36 Floyd Smith
12:37
Erik Lukens: 
Floyd Smith re. ODOT: I don't have a crystal ball. I guess we might find out.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:37 Erik Lukens
12:37
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
How much do PERS reforms that are currently being discussed actually alter the average recipient’s monthly payout?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:37 Guest
12:38
Erik Lukens: 
Guest re. PERS reforms: Well, the out of state tax fix would cost out of state folks about 9 percent, I think. But that 9 percent ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:38 Erik Lukens
12:38
Erik Lukens: 
is compensation for something they aren't paying, so they shouldn't be getting it. ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:38 Erik Lukens
12:38
The Oregonian: 
A commenter has asked: "Will the legislature get into gun control for Oregon? Should they? What will they attempt to do?"
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:38 The Oregonian
12:39
Erik Lukens: 
The other reform - capping COLAs at the first $24,000 of income - will affect each recipient differrently, but the math is easy to do on a case by case basis.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:39 Erik Lukens
12:39
[Comment From guest1guest1: ] 
Dan- Lift span or draw bridge, Woodrow Wilson bridge, etc. From what I've seen of that bridge the feds spent billions on it and are still unhappy with it because it opens more than they would like. The feds just don't seem to like those types of bridges.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:39 guest1
12:39
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
We'll find out at the expanse of Oregon taxpayers.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:39 Floyd Smith
12:39
Erik Lukens: 
re gun control: yes, the Legislature will get into gun control. They'll offer some good ideas and some bad ideas. Our Saturday editorial will discuss this a bit.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:39 Erik Lukens
12:40
[Comment From Benjamin BarberBenjamin Barber: ] 
a request: could the editorial board review the december 2012 report from the director of national intelligence, specifically the food shortages in 8 of the past 10 years, 7% lower food production over the past decade, and the peak production of phosphate combined with soil degradation and global warming?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:40 Benjamin Barber
12:40
Erik Lukens: 
Ben Barber: That sounds like some tough reading! We tend to focus on state and local issues.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:40 Erik Lukens
12:41
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Are you optimistic about the new Legislature?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:41 Guest
12:41
Erik Lukens: 
Guest re. optimistic: I don't know if I'm optimistic. I can say that I'm looking forward with great anticipation. Given the stakes, it will be an incredibly interesting session.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:41 Erik Lukens
12:42
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
What does Kitzhaber have to do to become one of Oregon’s great governors? And will he do it?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:42 Guest
12:42
[Comment From Floyd SmithFloyd Smith: ] 
Allow me to clarify: Clark County is rejected light rail, the Coast Guard may well reject the height application, the analysis of tolling with the
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:42 Floyd Smith
12:42
[Comment From rharrisrharris: ] 
What about election reform that provides for some participation by NAV's and minor party voters. Dr. Buehler was for it, and SoS Brown has at least privately supported changes that would allow the 30% of the voters who are now shut out of primary process to participate in some way. Isn't the way we elect our officials at least partly responsible for our failure to do the things you say need doing?
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:42 rharris
12:43
Erik Lukens: 
rharris: We support the reforms you mention, and I believe that changing the primary process ...
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:43 Erik Lukens
12:43
Erik Lukens: 
can lead to better outcomes in the Legislature. Sorry, that sounded a little bureaucratic.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:43 Erik Lukens
12:44
[Comment From JCJC: ] 
I'd say spinning UO off to Knight and making him the Leland Stanford Jr. of Oregon would make him one of Oregon's great governors.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:44 JC
12:44
Mark Hester: 
Guest: Well, in my opinion, his health and school plans need to work, he needs to find compromise on resource issues in rural Oregon and he needs to get unemployment down to 5 percent. I'm not particularly confident in all of that happening, but I set the bar high. That's why not many governors anywhere are considered great.;
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:44 Mark Hester
12:44
Erik Lukens: 
Thanks for joining us.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:44 Erik Lukens
12:45
Mark Hester: 
Good discussion.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:45 Mark Hester
12:45
The Oregonian: 
Thanks everyone for participating. It was a lively and interesting discussion. See you next time.
Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:45 The Oregonian
12:45
 

 
 
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