Politics

Rob Handy was scary-clueless!

Hope — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:58:28 GMT

I was a guest yesterday at the debate between Commissioner Bobby Green and his challenger Rob Handy. I don't know much about either of them, but it was obvious that Mr. Handy wasn't comfortable answering the questions. One of them, a question about which county services were most important, and which he would curtail or eliminate to fund the most important services, he simply refused to discuss it. (Green said critical public safety functions were the highest budget priority and he would follow the county strategic plan in deciding which cuts to make. There was nothing evasive or confusing about that.)

Several times during the debate my host shook his head and said, "He's wrong", or "That's just not true", so I asked him to explain on the way back to the car after lunch. He said that Mr. Handy wasn't even close on the numbers or the other facts central to running Lane County government. For example, Mr. Handy was asked to explain the "structural deficit", a term which describes one of three core problems the county has to address to recover from it's current crisis. Handy had no idea what it was, so he said it was "$3 million dollars" and then prattled on about what it's like to own a business. But "structural deficit" is a condition which produces an annual shortfall, not a specific dollar amount that remains constant from year to year. It refers to a split between the rate of growth in costs (between 6% and 7% and the increase in net revenue (at or below 3%). On a $425 million dollar adopted budget, the associated dollar amount would be closer to $14 million, not $3 million, and that doesn't account for the loss of the secure rural schools money.

Handy also completely misunderstands the principles and the math underlying the property tax incentives that are offered to large employers like Sony and Hynix when they agree to move move to our area and build large manufacturing facilities. He touted the "cost per job" of tax breaks for companies like "Glory Bee" while criticizing the cost of larger breaks provided to the larger companies which bring thousands of jobs with average salaries several times higher than those provided by Glory Bee, a small local company that produces food, candles and gifts. He completely missed the point that Hynix converted rural land that was producing almost no tax revenue (in deferral) into commercial property that was producing hundreds of thousands in property taxes. He sees it as "giving money away" rather than competing for an employer that will provide hundreds or thousands of high-paying jobs and millions of dollars in property tax revenue. Mr. Handy simply understood none of it.

The scary thing is that I didn't know it either, so I didn't know how confused and lost Handy was until my host, a CPA, pointed it out and I had a chance to come back and compare the numbers on the county website.

Even I could tell that Mr. Handy wasn't particularly sophisticated or comfortable discussing numbers and financial principles -- he's a high school graduate who works as a landscaper -- but I didn't know how ignorant he was about county challenges and government finance until somebody else pointed me back to the real information. That's scary, because the commissioners have to make hundreds of decisions that effect the management of our money and critical services.

Handy probably gets away with being completely clueless about this stuff about 95% of the time. Unfortunately, he only needs 51% of the voters to buy his line to win. I found that very, very scary indeed.

Why Liberal?

outonalimb — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:33:04 GMT

I was thinking of a story my neighbor told me about when she was a kid. She and her sister (one year younger than her) had to pick berries one summer to pay for their winter coats. Her sister only lasted a few days, while my neighbor stuck it out the whole summer. At the end of the summer, she had to use her money to buy herself a winter coat. However, since her sister did not have the money for a winter coat, their mother bought her one. My neighbor expressed how she thought that was unfair. Yet she is a Liberal. How can she see that childhood situation as unfair, yet consider it right for the government to do the same thing to us. The only difference I can see is that with a Liberal government, the person that worked all summer to buy their own coat also has to pay for the coat of the non-working community member. I am honestly at a loss for an understanding of why people vote for Liberal candidates and causes. Is it because they benefit from it and therefore don't care about the fairness of it? Is it because it does not cost them personally to support others so they can be charitable with someone else's money? I would actually appreciate an explanation from a Liberal for this discrepancy because I truly do not understand and would like an insider's view of the Liberal principles.

Obama sets funding for overseas abortions

Ricky — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:32:31 GMT

This is a GREAT day to be an American. We can now hold our heads high and know that the world sees us in the true light of charity.

Now, a woman can walk into a clinic in a foreign country and say “Give me an abortion, funded by the taxpayers of America! No longer will I be forced into motherhood by the evil George Bush and conservative Republicans of America! They MUST pay for my abortion, even if they disagree with it and even if I am NOT a citizen of their evil country!”

We should be proud that this pressing issue was one of the FIRST issues our new president addressed. In this time of financial disaster and world strife, THIS was one of the worst problems facing Americans from coast to coast. We can now proudly open our wallets and insure that mothers anywhere on the planet can receive a American taxpayer funded abortion.

Our new president is showing us the stern stuff he is made of.

He is showing us and the world how He can tackle the truly important and dire problems of today.

Yes, hold your head high America, our new president is showing the world WE care.

Wednesday's Tea Party at the Gateway Post Office -- PICS

LanceSpring — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:54:23 GMT

Here are some photos that I took Wednesday at the big Tea Party 2009 protest that was held in the evening at the Gateway Post Office in Springfield:

Republican/Constitution Party?

outonalimb — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:10:39 GMT

Now that many Republican leaders are voting on a more Liberal basis, is the Constitution Party the "New Republican Party?" Has the Republican Party lost Conservative votes to the Constitution Party? I am interested in hearing the opinions of Conservatives regarding the Republican Party's increasingly Liberal stance and thoughts on the Constitution Party's founding beliefs.

This is truly a sad day for the USA...

Jeff M — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:07:34 GMT

... as we rush headlong into Socialism, something that thousands of men ended up giving up their life to protect us again. Now we are willingly embrasing a concept that has failed everywhere it has been tried as a nation... how sad.

Be careful what you ask for because you may end up getting it.

Springfield Cat Petition

outonalimb — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:59:50 GMT

For those that believe cats, as with every other type of pet, should not be allowed to roam, visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/springfield-cat-ordinance to sign the petition. If enough people sign, I will take the petition, along with sample ordinances from other cities in Oregon, to the city council meeting during public speaking. You must be a Springfield resident to sign. Eugene residents will have to start their own petition.

The Petition:

Roaming domestic cats are not only a nuisance to community residents, but they are also a danger to local wildlife. http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/materials/predation.pdf

To The Springfield City Council:

We the undersigned request that ordinances restricting free roaming of domestic cats be established in the city of Springfield. Roaming cats are a health concern, leaving their excrement in flowerbeds and sandboxes where people are likely to come in contact with it. Some individuals have severe allergic reactions requiring the use of an Epi-pen after roaming cats leave hair on their patio furniture or door mats. These cats have also been known to cause damage to various plants and personal property, costing residents unnecessary expenses. Their roaming infringes on the rights of other pet owners that could otherwise set their bird cage outside on a warm sunny day or allow their pet rabbit to romp in the back yard. But, the inconveniences inflicted on the citizens of Springfield are only part of the issue. According to the American Bird Conservancy, scientists estimate that nationwide, cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, including endangered species, as well as more than a billion small mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks, each year. The "pests" killed by domestic cats can take food sources away from wild animals such as snakes, hawks and owls. In addition, it is in the best interest of the cats to be kept indoors. In Springfield, many cats suffer shootings from residents that do not want them on their property. Even a small pellet gun has been known to cause paralysis in cats. Traffic also poses a threat to cats. Furthermore, roaming cats add to the feral cat population in Springfield. It is in the best interests of all involved for domestic cats to be kept indoors. It is time cat owners are subject to the same restrictions as all other pet owners. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Discuss the Election Results

Buzz Blogger — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:07:31 GMT

What do you think of tonight's results? Post your thoughts here as the returns come in.

Open Letter to Senator Wyden on Stimulus Bill

Buzz Blogger — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:16:45 GMT

Dear Senator Wyden,

Who has the power in Washington? Who is leading the Democratic party? Who is leading our nation? I'm hoping it's Obama, but Nancy Pelosi sure is trying to shove him aside.

Despite Obama's work to create a bi-partisan stimulus bill that will get our economy back on track, Pelosi has passed a bill that is full of wasteful spending.

This really is a line in the sand moment. Is Obama really going to take us into a new era of politics, or are we going to live forever in the Bush/Pelosi era?

I'm hoping the Senate can get this stimulus bill shaped into something more useful, and get this country on the right track.

Senator Wyden, I appreciate your stance the last time you had to stand against the Pelosi machine during the ugly TARP bills that got pushed through. I urge you to help Obama and America in this matter.

Handy is a disaster

horsey — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:46:51 GMT

Lane County's financial problems are large and complex.

Rob Handy, is a man with a high school education who mows lawns for a living. There is nothing wrong with that, but it's not a background that has prepared him to balance hundreds of millions of dollars, complex financial decisions, and competing legal mandates. Should the county dip farther into it's meager reserves at the risk of adversely effecting it's bond rating? Which would cost more and why? Why have DA and Sheriff operations been slashed over the last thirty years while human services funding has remained comparatively stable, and why can't that money be moved around? Why can't Lane County's property tax base be fixed? Handy is absolutely clueless. My twelve year old daughter looked at me with surprise and said, "He didn't answer the question... doesn't he know?" No, he doesn't know, and he doesn't have the tools or inclination to figure it out.

His recent debate highlighted just how comprehensive his ignorance is. He couldn't even identify the highest priority county services. He doesn't understand the county budget, or the most threatening and challenging influences. I'm not talking about the little minutia. Handy doesn't even understand the big stuff -- the central challenges of the executive job he seeks. Why can't property taxes can't solve the county financial problems? Why does Lane County get less than all the other populous counties? In short, he knows NOTHING about the substance or origins of the county fiscal problems, nothing about the public safety crisis, and nothing about how to fix any of them.

He has a nice smile, and he spends a lot of time walking, nodding and smiling -- a luxury of having no kids, a job that isn't demanding and no other significant commitments. He has nothing better to do than walk abound town with the political cause of the day.

Bobby Green is a fine man. I don't agree with everything he has done, but I agree with most of it, and I know why he made the few choices I didn't support. He made reasoned decisions and he followed his conscience. His biggest challenge is the fact that the citizens don't understand the challenges, though most of them probably understand them better than Rob Handy does.

Nice smile just isn't enough. Rob Handy is completely ignorant. He would be a DISASTER for Lane County. I hope the citizens are not THAT poorly informed.

Smiths TV ads

badgerrr — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:17:47 GMT

Lately, it has become almost impossible to avoid Smiths TV ads; where he brags about all his Democrat buddies and how he is always advocating for their loony left crusades.

Fellow Republicans; are you as sickened and embarrassed by these as I am?

Lately, it seems as if the Smith and the President are doing their damnedest to destroy the GOP.

Frontline and "THE TANK MAN"

Panspartner — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:20:59 GMT

Did anyone watch "Frontline" tonight?

"THE TANK MAN" of Tiananmen Square. In 1989, in China, it was feared that all such reports coming out of China by any foreign journalist would be "confiscated" or "filtered"...and they were correct. Here in the USA, it is simply confiscated, filtered, fabricated, implied, coherced, pushed, and even threated...until it comes true.

I have read and watch as the circus came to town. I watched and listened and read all the previews, and reviews and all the deluge, the critics and their kissin-cousin idiots, in their, easily replaceable stage armchairs, waterboarded us into selecting who looked and sounded-bited the best for their own gratuitous needs--not for ours. [US broadcast TV Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Television Stations · MyNetworkTV; KVAL News is simulcast on local MyNetworkTV affiliate KEVU at 11 (Fox and KVAL) and Rupert Murdock; "Rupert Murdock heaps praise on Barack Obama", Guardian.co.uk, by Jemima Kiss {honest}; Center for American Progress--"Who Is Rupert Murdoch?"; and always, Wikipedia; and oh so much more...]

Think of what all these students in China went and did back in 1989...what they were willing--and gave--to have democracy (and ultimately what ended up happening to them...they really didn't have a say in anything and still don't and WE think we do? Biggest joke in the world. HA, HA!). This one man, who had had enough of a bunch of political thugs (Democratic Party Leaders, the DNC--who by the way had already had made up their minds, but had to "save face" for public and political reasons of their own accord...just the shortness of the deliberations reeks of it--and individual "senior" party heads), stood in front of a line of TANKS. Putting his life on the line, because he'd had enough of being pushed around, told what he was going to do, what to think, how he was going to dress, WHO he was going to VOTE for...when there were any voting being done...

COME ON PEOPLE!!!!

When did the USA become drones???

Oh yea. When children where allowed to live their lives in video games and not in the real world...when someone else started to tell them what their rights were, and the parents became nothing but a bank account for the social services...the one's who will make us do whatever they want...oooOOOooo....

But really...when did you stop using your mind that sits on you head and start using the one...never mind...I think it was in the '60s'...and all those wild mushrooms...

The one we had who was OUR own "TANK MAN", the one who was there during our own time of trials and tribulations that set our nation on its head, you all let the commies run over our "TANK MAN" [must have been the a mushroom rebound...) and now...another 4 years...compromise, secrecies, and eventually, even the news people who made the nomination will find themselves...out in the cold...like the rest of us.

May we may have help from somewhere. Iran?

We'll need it.

By the way...Who is the one who was willing to stand up and "take a stand" against rules that are no longer true to the "voice of the people"? And who was the one who "went along to get along"? and yet the campaign slogan is: C.H.A.N.G.E.? Change government...not while running. Gotta get that nomination first and THEN...

Ya...right...

...sigh...

Panspartner

Operation Santa USMC

Chefluv08 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:32:38 GMT

Hi there I am new here and I have a huge favor to ask. I have the pleasure of working again this year with an awesome bunch of people that send packages overseas to our troops. Last year we had an awesome turnout as far as donations and help stuffing the stockings. We are hoping to do even better this year. Last year some friends and I baked 1,700 cookies and packed them in tins to send to the troops. It gave me such a good feeling when I got the cards and letters from the ones that received them. What I am asking for is donations of items that are needed by our troops, this project has nothing to do with your support or nonsupport of the war, politics or personal opinions about any of it. Our troops are there and we can't ignore them, they need these things and it means so much to them to receive these packages from home. I am enclosing a list of items that we really need and would be appreciated by them. If any of you can find it in your hearts to help us make Christmas a little nicer please contact me and I will pick up your items or let you know where you can drop them off.

Thank You in advance

Sherrell

Items Needed: Granola bars, Snack Bars, Packaged Nuts, Gum, Mints, Packaged Cookies, Candies, Beef Jerky, Canned meats, lifesavers, small packets of asprin or antacid, hot chocolate mix, tea mix, Gatorade mix, Paperback books, Eye drops, Magazines (New or Old), Pepperoni Sticks, Frisbees, Nerf Balls, Fruit snacks, Crackers, Hand warmers, New White socks, Light weight gloves, Batteries (AAA, AA, 9volt), Toothpaste/Brushes, Lip Balm, Nail Clippers, Razors, Disposable Camera, Word Game books, DVD's & CD's (New or Used). Anything helps and will be appreciated.

Is the Democratic Primary Over?

Buzz Blogger — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:01:18 GMT

There seems to be a big push, amongst the national media, to proclaim the Democratic primary over, despite the fact that nobody has enough votes yet to secure the nomination. What do you think? Should Hillary stay in? Are you glad she is staying in for the Oregon primary? Let us know.

Sound Off on the Eugene Mayors Race! and vote in our Poll.

Buzz Blogger — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:50:16 GMT

We've posted the interviews we did with Kitty Piercy and Jim Torrey. Now it's your chance to sound off on the race. What are the big issues that are pulling you toward one candidate or the other? Let us know.

Also vote in our poll on who you are currently supporting.

[Please visit the site to access the poll]

Green is losing and he's desperate

Ivote — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:27:42 GMT

I can tell when someone is desperate - He's having "town hall" forums - NOW?! Isn't it a little late? And he's recruiting unsuspecting county employees to these so-called town hall meetings but really they're campaign events.Where has he been all these years?..Certainly not listening to us when he voted for that IDIOTIC INCOME TAX....After 13 years of Bobby not fixing the county's money problems, I'm ready for a change.

C.H.A.N.G.E.--According to the Obama and Democatic Party Dogma

Panspartner — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:05:42 GMT

C.H.A.N.G.E.--According to the Obama and Democratic Party Dogma

{Personal opinion only expressed here}

C (ross): splenetic, annoyed, irritated, vexed, out-of-humor, snappish, querlous, testy (captious)

H (ollow): void, empty, insincere, hypocritical, spurious, unsound, flimsy, a hole, a crater, a pit, a valley...

A (ssumptive): arrogant, presumptive, conceited, presuppositional, hypothetical [no, that's purely the "arm-chair commentaries and their co-horts posteriers place], impertinant[ hmmmmm....], theoretical [...again...see above with hypo-]...

N (iave): gullibe, overtrusting, childlike, unsophisticated, unworldly, unsuspicious, deceivable, immature, wet-behind-the-ears [Oh my, don't they truly wish!!! And yet...???].

G (rave): critical [...peeerrrrhaps...], pivital, life & death, [most definately...after 8 yrs of...???] acute, weighty, sober, severe, serious [...again...8 yrs of...].

E (verlasting): neverending [ We at the END don't think so], eternal, "boundless" [She most surely IS], interminable, incessant [I can be...WELL...excuuuuuse ME! {channelling Steve Martin}].

OBAMA

From the Wikipedia, Obama is Hawaiian born, and not native Illianoin (or Illinian, depending on your "intellect"). I've lived there. Right along the Great M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I. The Chicago Magazine in an October 2007 article entitled "The Audacity of Hillary" mentions her invasion into "Obama" territory...although I got the impression that the article was NOT against Hillary...on the contrary...it made mention that Hillary is a "native" sister Illinian. So, why the abnegation by her home-town peers to an out-of-towner? Well, Michael Kenney has a thought or two about her claim to her "roots" in his Tuesday, May 20, 2008 article "The Roots of Hillary Rodham Clinton". I found the Star Bullitin, July 7, 2004 concerning homeboy Obama interesting as well. Obama, after the age of ten, never lived with his mother, and it appears he live in a bit of a cocoon on the Islands--a cocoon by Chicago standards. So, is he really as much of a real, every-day kind of guy/person as those he accidentally misrepresented in a couple of states not too long ago??? You know...gun-lovin, traditionalist-lovin, church-lovin...Oi! ;op

Well, if you got the time, haven't voted yet (or have and want to see what you got, or what you've missed) Google these.

HILLARY

Same as above about Wikipedia, only, you will be amazed as I to see just how much she has accomplished, and how much she has not gotten the media for any of it, or the support; and just how much "friends" can be nothing more than "smoke in the wind" when you really need them.

By the way, when I think of Portland, I also think of the suburbs as a part of Portland, only not as Portland proper--that is, the "heart of Portland"...sort of like the "Heart of the BIG APPLE--NY, NY"; but you've got Manhattan, tight? It's like London, England...exactly WHERE in LONDON??? Picky, picky, picky...I can read a map...can you?

So...

Go and vote...

Don't mope...

Cuz you've got your dope.

Panspartner

Open Letter to Obama

akerrvalentic — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:26:05 GMT

Mr. Future President,
I am posting this today because I would like you to address a serious problem in our country: healthcare. I was recently accepted to medical school, which is a great accomplishment, but there is still a major obstacle in my way of becoming one of tomorrow's doctors: money.
As a graduate student I can borrow $8,500 in subsidized loans via FAFSA and another $40K in unsubsidized loans. My expected budget is $62K. With $20K in loans from my undergrad degree, I will not be able to borrow from private lenders hit hard by the mortgage crisis, and loans I will receive will have high interest rates.
The Oregon Health & Sciences University only accepts 100 students a year. Many of those students come from out of state, because they pay higher tuition to fund school programs. There are thousands of very bright, motivated, and caring Oregonians that would make wonderful doctors, but there is currently no room at the inn.
I work for the Volunteers In Medicine Clinic, and volunteer with the HIV Alliance. I volunteered last summer in Kenya and Uganda. How can I continue to provide low cost/free health care when I will graduate owing $300K?
Catching up will take almost a decade, as it takes time to nurture and train a bright, compassionate, and intelligent provider. By making a medical education more available, affordable, we will assure America's healthcare system is the best in the world
As President of the United States of America, it would be foolish not to invest heavily in educating more doctors. By sending doctors abroad we will revive our reputation as heroes and altruists worldwide. We will overcome diabetes, AIDS, and Hep C if we are given the chance just to focus on the problem, not the funding. Making more doctors makes good sense, and Presidents, like Doctors, are chosen for their judgment.

Learn more at www.mypersonalscholarship.com

services discrimination against fathers

wildstruct fireman — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:00:45 GMT

having troubles with state agencies discriminating against me cause i'm a male with custody of my two daughters from two seperate relationships what to take this issue to Governor Kulongoski need all, especially men with similar problems with child support enforcement and children protective services and the department of human services

false allegations of abuse in retaliation

enforcement not enforcing

and fraud not being investigated

you can e-mail me at wildstruct_fireman@yahoo.com and i'll forward to the governor.

want fair treatment

Money & Politics

Buzz Blogger — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:07:24 GMT

We hear about it a lot in the media, and it is a fact that money influences politics. Do you feel that it is out of control? Is there anything that can actually be done? Anyone have any good ideas on how to fix the system?

What Would You Ask?

Buzz Blogger — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:16:50 GMT

If you had a chance to ask one of the candidates a question, what would the question be and who would you ask?

Prez Primaries - Who you rootin' for?

badgerrr — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:22:37 GMT

That big Federal election is coming up. So much rides on who the dominant parties will nominate to run for the highest office in the land. Wonder who folks are rooting for?

I've long felt that the real chance America has for a good chief executive lay in the Republican Nomination. Real world - this is the only place we realistically can hope for a true statesman to begin to assume the Presidency. Most of us will admit that the poor 3rd party candidates don't stand much of a chance in America in the dawn of the 21st century. The Democrats, on the other hand, would refuse to Nominate a good man ....even if one ran for it.

The Republican party CAN nominate a good candidate. The current state of American politics still tolerates it there. But this is certainly not a sure thing. So the real fight for a good President happens in the Republican nomination.

This year, to me, there is one steller candidate. He's a long shot unfourtunately. This is because he is, in his heart, a Constitutionalist, but is now working thru the Repub party. He believes in the Constitution and won't endorse legislation he believes that document prohibits the government from passing. He's an uneasy fit in the party; but this year, after all the ill will generated by the Bush administration....a Dark Horse/Maverick republican may be just the ticket.

I root, Ladies and Gentlemen, for Ron Paul.

Universal Health Care?

Lengo — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:53:23 GMT

This is NOT a rhetorical question.

Why are none of the presidential candidates suggesting anything besides insurance for everyone? Insurance does not guaranty that people get diagnosed and treated correctly. It only protects them from high prices, and guarantees that the medical group gets paid. Why are none of the candidates saying we need to revert to free market forces?

It seems to me that real reform would abolish the AMA's price fixing; their quotas on the number of new doctors trained; and abolish the no-competition policy set up by the AMA. Competition always brings prices down, doesn't it?

No candidate is saying affordability will come from a free market. Why? Is insurance for everyone the answer? I don't think so. So why doesn't anyone say "I'm gonna get big pharmas and the AMA's hands out of government's pockets, and the government's out of the pharmas' and medical groups'?"

PC Speech - Do you use it?

badgerrr — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:36:14 GMT

I have long marveled (and been distressed) at how quickly Media is able to get people to alter their vocabulary. The political manipulation of language is a powerful tool and most everybody seems to give into it.

Do you call Hobos - Homeless?

Do you call Homosexuals - Gays?

Do you call Blacks - African Americans even if the guy/gal has never even BEEN to Africa or America?

Do you feel compelled to use this kind of language? Do you feel resentment? Do you pick up the latest PC talk as soon as you encounter it, or does it take a period of weeks before it sinks in?

I myself won't use PC speech and find it offensive. Take "Homeless" as an example; in the old daze "homeless" might be used to describe a family who had lost their home to a fire. Today we lump these folks in with the rail riding Hobos thru this "Homeless" business.

How do, you confront this problem of Politically manipulated speech? (Or do you?)

Is a 42% Meal Tip By An Elected Official Too Much?

Vote Trisha Barnes for Springfield School Board — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:10:41 GMT

Dear Blog-mates: As you can tell by my screen name, I am running for the Springfield School Board. I've enjoyed these forums, and until now I've tried really hard to post "down-the-middle" items that may pique interest and not bore everyone with election-related issues. I promise that this will be my only post that may go down that road -- but I would like feedback on the following item.

In the course of this election, I requested budget documents from the Springfield School Board -- including the expense reports of the current Board Members -- because on the face of it, it looked like a lot of money was being spent on things either marginally related to education or not related at all. I found several things -- like payments to a Washington DC lobbying firm that rarely does anything for the District [only lobbied for us in 6 out of the last 72 months, but was paid for all 72] and other substantive items -- but one minor item really stuck in my craw.

The following receipt was submitted by a Board Member after a trip to Portland. In addition to the 18% tip ($22), the Member added on $30 "for cheese steward". This resulted in a total 42% tip for the meal (or $52). When a news reporter asked the Board Member about the extra $30, he told her it was a FEE. Shocked, I personally called the restaurant myself, and the maitre'd assured me that they would never or had never charged a customer a Cheese Steward Fee. I am not disputing the meal -- on per diem it's perfectly acceptable to be able to eat dinner -- I'm disputing the cavalier tipping!

I guess some computers won't show the image, and if yours can't you can see it at my website ( www.trishabarnes.clearwire.net) under the "42%" tab on the left side. (If anyone has a suggestion on how to get this to show to everyone please let me know how...)

[Scan of actual receipt copy received from a Public Records Request to Superintendent Golden at the Springfield School District about three weeks ago. This was attached to an expense report submitted by a Board Member for the Board trip to the Oregon School Board Association's Conference last November.]

My questions to you are: Do you think that this really isn't a big deal (and that maybe I just think it is because I'm running against this person)? Or do you think that it's indicative of an out-of-touch official, when coupled with the other spending problems? Do you mind that our tax dollars are spent that way? Have you ever tipped a cheese steward $30 with your own money or with someone else's [taxpayer's] money?

Thank you!

[Shameless plug: See more at my campaign website at www.trishabarnes.clearwire.net .]