Whatchama Column
By Jeb Bladine

Our United States Congress is broken.

Unfortunately, one key solution is term limits.

I say “unfortunately” because I’ve never been a big fan of term limits. They remove great leaders from office; they eliminate experience and institutional knowledge from a process that needs both; they ignore the fact that our ultimate term limit is a free, democratic election system.

It’s unfortunate, but understandable, that issues surrounding Riverbend Landfill are so polarized.

For those who want the landfill closed, rhetoric aimed at almost any solid waste development tends to become pointed and derogatory, with landfill owner Waste Management and two county commissioners squarely in their sights. The result is a public debate often featuring one-sided arguments that don’t take the larger picture into account.

For more than three decades now, Oregon has been engaged in a struggle to protect the hallmarks of its rural tradition from urban encroachment — its orchards and vineyards, woodlands and wetlands, hamlets and villages, beachfront and streambanks. Its main weapon has been an innovative but contentious land-use program.

Interestingly, one of the great industrial cities of the American Midwest, the so-called “Motor City,” is about to embark on a like process, but in reverse. And the undertaking promises to rival Oregon’s for fascination, frustration, duration and difficulty.

Commentary
By Chris McLaran

As Oregon continues to struggle through tough economic times, I’ve found that it’s become quite easy to take a glass-half-empty approach to everyday life issues. I see the concern on the faces of my customers and around the community as I talk to people about local issues affecting them.

Commentary
By John Barnes

The city of McMinnville is looking for 200 swimmers, bikers and runners to participate in the first Mac Sprint Triathlon. Scheduled for May 22 at the city’s aquatic center, the event will consist of a 500-yard pool swim, a 13.1-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Entrants can be individuals or three-person relay teams. A duathlon, consisting of the bike ride and run portions, is also an option. Proceeds from the events will support Parks and Recreation Department programs.

It’s hard to understand why the recently passed Senate Bill 1055 qualified as emergency legislation.

The new law relaxes land use restrictions for rural wineries wanting to stage an unlimited number of onsite events, but groups such as the Willamette Valley Winery Association and the Oregon Farm Bureau still can’t even reach consensus on the issue.

In February’s special session — technically called an emergency — this land use bill passed. We think it was rushed through without adequate citizen input and leaves many questions unanswered.

Something about the Polk County commissioners’ money-shifting from education to roads just doesn’t pass the smell test. For the past decade, the same trio — commissioners Mike Propes, Tom Ritchey and Ron Dodge — have funneled timber receipts meant for local schools and other taxing districts into road maintenance for “timber roads.” They claim it’s perfectly legal, but we’re not so sure.

Here’s how the law is supposed to work:

Suppose the Oregon Legislature hadn’t met in a special session in February.

The state budget would be out of balance, partly because Oregon still would be granting tens of millions of dollars in unwarranted tax giveaways through the costlier-than-anticipated Business Energy Tax Credit program. Inmates still would be getting out of prison early because of unintended consequences of a sentence-reduction plan approved by lawmakers last year. Oregonians would be demanding action that only the Legislature can take.

Commentary
By Leonard Pitts

“At some point, you have to use the word ‘crazy.’”

It will not surprise you to hear that the speaker is referring to extremists within the tea party movement. What might surprise you is that the speaker is Erick Erickson, editor in chief of RedState, a prominent conservative blog.

Whatchama Column
By Jeb Bladine

McMinnville police recently made their first arrest at a municipal court proceeding. I don’t know the details, but it reflected what City Manager Kent Taylor called a growing level of conflict in normal day-to-day activities.

I’ve seen it myself, even in me. Tough economic times spawn conscious and subconscious frustrations that erupt into excessive responses to minor aggravations. As McMinnville police see bigger squabbles over small annoyances, the MPD needs to improve its own conflict management skills.