SALEM — Ted Ferrioli, the Senate Republican leader in Oregon until he stepped down in January, was presented with a beautiful wool blanket by leaders of Native American tribes as a parting gift, throwing him into an ethical quandary. The issue confronting Ferrioli, who represented a huge swath of eastern Oregon covering canyonlands, mountains and high desert with cowboys, loggers and Native Americans among his constituents, is detailed in an Oregon Government Ethics Commission report.
To the editor: I’m writing in favor of Measure 101. What I don’t see mentioned a lot is that eastern Oregonians will benefit disproportionately because we use the Oregon Health Plan more often than other parts of the state and so we depend on the funding we are voting on.
Two newly appointed state legislators representing citizens in the area will tour Maupin on Monday and then introduce themselves to community members at a “meet and greet” forum. Senator Clifford Bentz, R-Ontario, and Rep. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, will be in south Wasco County from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 23.
To the editor: Deschutes Rim Clinic in Maupin has exciting news! Thanks to Senator Ted Ferrioli and Representative John Huffman and all of Rep Huffman’s work on our behalf, our ask of the State Legislature is in the process of being fulfilled!
To the editor: For the second time in the last five elections, we’ve elected a president who lost the popular vote. Fifty-eight percent of eligible voters voted in 2016, 42 percent didn’t even bother. That’s 90 million people. Pretty sad.
One of the lesser known steps in government “sausage making” happens after the Legislature passes new laws, when state agencies responsible for working out the details step in to determine how to implement and enforce them.
Citing economic concerns, not a single Republican in the House or Senate voted for the tiered system of raising Oregon’s minimum wage, including all of the elected state officials who serve Wasco County.
Six students from Sonrise Academy in The Dalles spent the day in Salem Monday serving legislators as honorary pages.
Britt Storkson is making a second run for the District 59 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives based on the belief that holding a public office is the only way to reform the way that Wasco County Electric Co-operative does business.
A good rule of business: This week is National Golden Rule Week, based on the simple biblical tenet “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
