Register Guard-- Jim Hale and 40 others are referring to Lane County's "public safety" [buzzword alert] tax income tax initiative If the voters want to rebel against that and shoot their county government in the foot, that will be their decision, said Hale"
The Lane County commissioners are considering the first ever county income tax that could raise up to $25 million annually for "public safety [buzzword alert] to replace the $20 million in discontinued federal-aid pavements as compensation for federal land that cannot be taxed which would be dedicated to public safety.Jack Roberts, executive director of the Lane Metro Partnership, told the board to enact the tax to ensure that incoming businesses aren't turned off by an inferior public safety system. including our current policy of not responding to burglar alarms by the police
Oregon's business climate ranks among the nation's best, and "a modest income tax won't change that," Roberts said.
The tax would not apply to people filing a gross income of $20,000 or less, and single filers with a gross income of $10,000 or less.
Lane County managers however, may be forced to cut more than 300 jobs by July 1, if voters do not approve the "public safety tax" [buzzword alert] to make up for the loss of federal funding.
Historically, voters have shot down 12 straight county measures for public safety since 1996, including the recent income tax proposal. This sent a message to the county commissioners who are considering seeking more than twice the $23 million annually that they wanted in November, the tax rate may be only slightly higher - 1.6 percent, for example, up from 1.4 percent in November's proposal, feel that the initiative should be placed back on the ballot in May or, just be enacted and bypass the voting process altogether.
The Lane County commissioners may decide whether to just enact the income tax or put it on the May’s ballot.
The next public hearing for the dedicated, "public safety tax" [buzzword alert] is at 1:30 p.m. February 21, 2007 in Harris hall.
we have been told thus far that the "public safety" [buzzword alert] tax would be dedicated to "public safety." (And to fighting illegal drug activity, reducing family violence, enhancing treatment programs and providing prevention programs){KVAL}--
Others however would like to earmark the tax to include maintaining or strengthening prevention programs such as "birth to three teen parent", making parenting a pleasure", "4-H youth farmers", "at risk programs for youths" and the "OSU/Lane County extension service", just to name a few very
Why the push now for the "public safety" [buzzword alert] at this time? Could it be the economy, or the fact that we are severely understaffed to handle the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics trials in Eugene? Hummmm
Mother Jones--
five-year-old Inmate Faten Ibrahim lives with her mother at a compound built as a prison for Texas worse criminals which includes parameter razor wire, an 8 x 8 foot cell, and a toilet in an open corner.
The prison is actually a detention center that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agencies (ICE) uses as a detention center for illegal immigrants being held on immigration charges. The agency's decision came in August in response to the controversial practice of "catch and release" in which immigrants with children who were detained on US soil were typically set free and told to show up later in court only to disappear instead. Additionally, the agency will now detained families until their asylum and deportation cases are resolved in an effort to keeping the family units together.
Lawyers and human rights advocates questioned the ethics and legality of imprisoning children. "It's clearly not a setting that is appropriate for families," says Michelle Bran'e, an investigator for the women's commission for refugees women and children who recently toured the facility, "it's deftly a penal environment."
A 1993 Supreme Court decree to the immigration agency requires it to do its best to detain children in the parents together, yet the government argues that family detention centers are generally the most humane way to enforce immigration laws effectively.
In March, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff , said that he plans to open more detention centers in part from a concerned that children are being used as foils to facilitate border trafficking.
The ACLU contends that this problem could be addressed more cost effectively and humanely if the government provides better incentives for immigrants to show up for court dates. "There have been studies that show if you combine general monitoring with other social services you get a good return rate that is cheaper than detaining people," said Tom Jawetz, an attorney with the ACLU's National Prison Project.
I have said it before... it is the children who are the victims of illegal immigration. Their parents, crossed the border illegally fully knowing the risks. On the other hand, children are left to deal with the consequences that their parents have unfairly placed them into. We have read many articles about children that were brought here at a very young age not knowing that they were illegal only to be traumatized later in life and risk being deported to a country that they have never known.
The end result, is that the children become punished for their parents action in so many different ways.
As far as detention centers go, while I do agree that something has to be done on both sides of the border, I have also expressed concerns in the past of the return of the Japanese internment centers.
As per this article, which is a must read, well I do not have a problem with detaining illegal immigrants while they await deportation, I do have a problem with them not being treated humanely during that detention.
{related article: immigration detention facilities -- ICE}--
KVAL--
Rep. Linda Flores, R-Clackamas along with Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer are the major sponsors of an immigration package aimed to crack down on illegal immigrants being able to vote, get state jobs and received some state benefits.
"We need to act now," Flores said. "We can't wait a few more months, because it is going to be too little, too late."
Other issues include making English the state's official language and a proposal to require Oregon to comply with the Federal Real ID Act in which Oregon driver's licenses currently falls short for the standards to be used to board an airplane.
Flores said such states would likely fall into line if the federal government fully funded the Real ID Act, adding, "What is really important is that we are able to prove you are who you say you are."
Registerguard-- Two bills that come before the committee next week proposed to ban the use of cell phones were driving.
One bill cosponsored by Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, would fine drivers up to $360 for talking on the phone or putting on makeup while driving. ''It's one thing to pick on cell phones, but there's a lot of other amazing things people do behind the wheel,'' Burdick said.
One of the bills being presented goes a step further to prevent "distracting activity" such as "reading, writing, performing personal grooming, and interacting with pets."
Troy Costales, the administrator of Oregon's Department of Transportation's safety division says "basically your head leaves the car when you're on the phone... you tune out."
Michael Bagley, executive director of public policy for Verizon wireless, said that Verizon supports the ban because they don't include hands-free mobile phone devices that allow callers to make voice activated calls.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2005, five of Oregon's 487 car-related fatalities were linked to cell phone use, as were 234 of its 44,877 crashes, according to state statistics. I'm not a math wizard, but isn't that an awful low percentage?
While three other states including the District of Columbia outright ban cell phone use for drivers, lawmakers in Vermont are considering a bill that would prohibit not just the use of cell phones, but everything from smoking to playing a musical instrument while driving.
KEZI--
A question that I have brought up in the past about the EmX, is what about safety? The bus is designed for maximum capacity of 100 passengers. 44 passengers sitting, while the remaining 56 (including the three bike maximum limit) stand and hold a overhead guardrail.
The question that I have is about safety. What would happen if the bus got into an accident or had to stop suddenly for whatever reason?
We got an insight into this question Thursday morning when the new EmX bus traveling at full speed collided with a van that turned into the bus at Onyx and Franklin Boulevard in Eugene. "This one was a little bit of a surprise because it is a controlled intersection. Clear signs he was in a through travel lane and that has been posted like that ever since construction started," said Andy Vobora, LTD Spokesperson.
Even though there were no injuries reported, in my opinion, that could have been a different story if the bus was at full capacity at the time of collision.
looking at the road system for the new bus, in my opinion, it is just an accident waiting to happen, just like that stupid roundabout in Springfield.
LTD--
Lane Transit District (LTD) will be holding public hearings Monday, February 12, 2007, and Monday, March 12, 2007 both at 5:30 p.m. in Eugene library/Bascom room.
The primary focus of the meeting will be on minor route and schedule changes.
The public hearings give the public an opportunity to comment and make suggestions directly to the LTD Board of Directors about the service and fare recommendations.
Pricing: 80% of the funding provided to LTD is provided from payroll taxes and miscellaneous income generated from advertising. Only 20% of the revenue comes from ridership.
I would think that this would be a good opportunity to come on down and share your input about the EmX project
press of Atlantic City--
BRIDGETON --Lazaro Perez Velazces, 25, was one of the more than a dozen city residents taken into custody Monday morning after a weeklong federal sweep dubbed "Operation Return to Sender", which seeks to capture alien fugitives who have ignored court orders to leave the country.
The raids has prompted Hispanic residents to withdraw from civic life and not leaving the house unless it's absolutely necessary.When I saw them, I just left,” said Virgilio Soto, 25, a city resident who works at a fruit-packing plant in Vineland,. “We're afraid to go out, we're afraid to open the door. I still work, but I'm afraid that I'll leave and never come back.”
To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do,” Luria Hernandez Escobar said in Spanish, adding that other women whose family members were taken were also given the same notice.[to appear Feb. 12 at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, office in Marlton] “I'm scared to be here.”
agents raided the home of Escobar at 4:30 am.
He has no record,” said Bernarda Escobar , 68, of her daughter's fiance as she was sitting on her sofa, flanked by images of the Virgin Mary on fabrics used as window coverings. “He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke. He's a good man.”
Michael Gilhooly, spokesman for ICE says that there is nothing illegal about the way in which ICE agents conduct their arrests, referring to section 287 of the immigration and nationality act, which gives ICE the power to investigate without a warrant. "... Were not breaking the law. If we have an opportunity to arrest someone who's here illegally, were going to take it."
The Observer--
WASHINGTON -- the Department of Veterans Affairs and a lawmaker said Friday that a portable hard drive used for backups containing personal information of 48,000 veterans personal information was stolen from an employee at the VA medical Center in Birmingham Ala.
Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., said that 20,000 of the 48,000 records were not encrypted.
The incident is under investigation by the Veteran Affairs administration. The VA plans to notify those persons affected and to offer one year of free credit monitoring service.
yet another example of how security for personal information is taken for granted. Perhaps, it should be a law that
#1 no personal information used by a governmental agency is to be stored on any portable device such as a laptop or external/removable hard drive.
#2 all personal information is to be encrypted and password protected with limited access.
#3 severe penalties for misuse
Our representatives in the Oregon Legislature have proven once again just how closely they listen to the will of the people of Oregon by proposing ANOTHER 5% sales tax.
HB 2530 which needs 36 votes to pass the House includes a 3% cut in the state's income tax to reduce the rate from 9% to 6% if the sales tax is passed.
Governor Ted "tax-and-gouge-me" Kulongoski said that he'd support a consumption tax as long as it was part of a broader package on tax reform. A spokeswoman for Kulongoski said that the governor's focus would be on narrower issues such as raising the minimum tax paid by corporations, and eliminating the corporate kicker.
Sponsors of the bill include Representative Bob Jensen, along with Republican representatives Sal Esquivel of Medford, Scott Bruun of West Linn, Chuck Burley of Bend and Vicki Berger of Salem.
Last fall, Jensen noted that Oregonians voted against ballot measures to limit state spending and put in new tax cuts. Jensen suggests that perhaps there is a change in voters’ attitudes and that a sales tax would allow the state to collect money from out-of-state tourists and from what he calls "the underground economy".
I'm really confused now... Ted "tax-and-gouge-me" has been telling us for some time (after he was reelected) how much better Oregon's economy is doing, so why do we need a sales tax if Oregon is doing so well?
KEZI--
Washington, DC --
A bill which includes spending increases for education, veterans, and the AIDS battle in Africa which covers 1/6 of the federal budget swept through the House on Wednesday by a 286-140 vote, with 57 Republicans voting in favor of a $463.5 billion spending bill
The content is a heck of a lot better than most expected we'd come up with," said the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. David Obey, D-Wis. He worked with his Senate counterpart, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., to add money for initiatives popular with both Democrats and Republicans.
It (the bill) would grant remarkable flexibility to the administration in determining how much money would be an agency accounts. They were especially pleased with a $260 boost, to $4,310, in the maximum Pell Grant for low-income college students, and with a 40 percent increase, to $4.5 billion, for fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis overseas.
here is what I get confused at. Locally, voters continue to vote down any increases in taxes and spending , yet we have no say (except for writing our representatives of course) on what happens at the federal level.
We're being told by the government at least locally, that the economy is getting better although I am not seeing it personally as I watch my personal expenses go up with increased taxes and fees. Additionally, Oregon's unemployment rate still remains the one of the 10th highest in the nation at 5.5% as of November 2006{OLMIS}--
I guess my point is, even though they say it "federal" money, is still boils down to that it is still "our" tax dollars.
