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— Robert Huberman, Bend

Plowing issue could have been avoided

I read with interest the editorial from the Nov. 10 ÅÝֱܽ²¥. It concerned the lack of funding for ODOT road maintenance as we enter the winter months and the resulting reduction in plowing that will affect all of us. I think all Oregonians need to be aware of this situation. Here is an excerpt.

“ODOT has a lot of money. Much of its money is rigidly dedicated to certain purposes, such as construction projects. Not operations and maintenance.

The mess should not come as a surprise to legislators who have been listening to ODOT budget presentations. ODOT warned about it coming during the last legislative session. It has warned it was coming for years.

State Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, summed things up. “This is where we are today,� he said. “This does not mean that it has to stay this way. ... But it is a mess.�

He’s right — except Oregon is in this mess because legislators overseeing ODOT funding failed to act.�

As you will recall, our own Sen.Tim Knopp, a Republican, led a historic six-week walkout of the state Senate this last session accompanied by Republican Dennis Linthicum. I expect they could have tackled this issue during those six weeks. I’m going to put Tim’s number on speed dial so I can call him from the ditch this winter and ask him for a tow, and maybe a plow.

—Tom Kelley, Sunriver

Not another federal shutdown

I see there’s another shutdown looming. What I know about them from Gingrich’s time is that they destroy private credit ratings. And with this one coming up right now, and affecting the pension plan I paid into since 1974, it’s clearly a war on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tell your representative and senator to pass a clean bill and no more prancing about.

— Katherine Bowman, Millican

Fixing the Legislature

While I think the ÅÝֱܽ²¥â€™s recent recommendation to lower the quorum requirement to a simple majority for the Legislature has merit, perhaps the quorum should be based on those present in the chamber. It absolutely defies common sense that Tim Knopp and company believe they should just walk back into the chambers they spent so much time running away from.

It is a slap in the face to voters who approved Measure 113. We’re sick and tired of politicians focusing on political theater instead of working to solve the problems that face Oregonians.

We expect consistent representation and integrity, not petulant kids who are just going to take their ball and go home because they don’t like losing. It takes a lot of arrogance and an infatuation with power to behave counter to the will of the people and to defile Oregon politics in this way. It’s time for the gang of five to move along.

— Robert Currie, Bend