Oregon's Only No Compromise Gun Rights Organization . 02.28.14

Two gun bills that started in the Oregon House passed through the Senate yesterday and were heard again in the House today.

The reason they were back in the House was because some changes were made in the Senate, and the House had to agree to the changes. They did.

HB 4068 , which corrects errors in current law and addresses CHL applicants who had a single conviction for a small amount of marijuana, and HB 4035 which allows corrections officers to travel to and from work with their own firearms were both re-passed in the House.

4068 passed without a single "no" vote.

4035, the bill to protect corrections officers, got only one "no" vote. That was from House Rep Carolyn Tomei, whose single-minded hatred for gun owners has now eclipsed even Prozanski, Dembrow and Greenlick. That's astonishing.

Representative Greenlick actually voted in favor of repassing the bill although he voted against the original passage. He spoke on the bill today, saying that it was his policy to simply vote "no" on any gun bill. (Well, any gun bill that did not call for a total ban.) So his agreement to repass the bill is quite a big deal. Remember, it was Greenlick who, last year sponsored a bill to ban virtually all modern firearms and allow warrantless searches of your home by the police. Representative Barnhart, another legislator who also defaults to "no" and had voted against this bill the first time, also changed his vote citing the addition of language that now said corrections officers would have to store their guns in lockers, if the prison provided them.  While this is far from an expression of support for gun rights, it's good to see that they behaved with a tiny shred of common sense this time.

Make no mistake, your constant efforts were the only reason these bills passed. Many thanks to each of you who took the time to make your voice heard. It made all the difference.

That leaves us with one more piece of unfinished business. SB 1551.

This bill is a dangerous gun registration bill that has been bottled up because of your extraordinary activism.

Although its sponsor, Floyd Prozanski, promised it would pass out of his committee and even promised it would pass on the Senate floor, your actions have prevented that.

Instead he was forced to move the bill to the Rules Committee where every indication is, it will die.  But, anything can still happen. The Rules Committee (unlike other committees) does NOT close until the end of the session.  It is entirely possible that, as in years past, an effort will be made to resurrect this bill and ram it through. So don't relax just yet.

But, so far, we have once again been victorious thanks to you. Keep your powder dry, and thanks.

Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2012

As a Senator, I have taken steps to rein in the EPA's war on private property. Thousands of property owners across America are facing aggressive action from the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, with no legal means to fight back. While environmental protection is important, I believe that it must be balanced with the constitutional right of landowners to do what they please with their own property. That is why I introduced S.890, The Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2013. This bill will restore common sense to federal jurisdiction over navigable waters, and place reasonable limitations on an agency that has become dangerously out of control.

A House companion of the Defense of Environment and Property Act, H.R. 3377, has been introduced by Congressman Mac Thornberry, of Texas.

Several organizations have endorsed the Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2013, including:

• National Mining Association

Summary: S.890 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)
There is one summary for this bill. Bill summaries are authored by CRS.

Shown Here:
Introduced in Senate (05/07/2013) Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2013 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to redefine "navigable waters" to specify that included territorial seas are those that are: (1) navigable-in-fact; or (2) permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water that form geographical features commonly known as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes that are connected to waters that are navigable-in-fact. Excludes from such term: (1) waters that do not physically abut navigable waters and lack a continuous surface water connection to navigable waters; (2) man-made or natural structures or channels through which water flows intermittently or ephemerally, or that periodically provide drainage for rainfall; or (3) wetlands without a continuous surface connection to bodies of water that are waters of the United States.

Prohibits activities carried out by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Army Corps of Engineers from impinging upon states' power over land and water use.

Prohibits: (1) aggregation of such excluded wetlands or waters from being used to determine or assert federal jurisdiction, and (2) wetlands without a continuous surface connection to bodies of water that are waters of the United States from being considered to be under federal jurisdiction.

Authorizes states or individual property owners to obtain judicial review of jurisdictional determinations by the Administrator or the Secretary of the Army that would affect their ability to plan the development and use of land and water resources within 30 days after such a determination.

Considers groundwater to be state water. Prohibits groundwater from being considered in determining or asserting federal jurisdiction over isolated or other waters.

Prohibits the Administrator from using a significant nexus test to determine federal jurisdiction over navigable waters and waters of the United States.

Nullifies: (1) the Corps' rule entitled "Final Rule for Regulatory Programs of the Corps of Engineers," (2) EPA's proposed rule entitled "Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Clean Water Act Regulatory Definition of 'Waters of the United States,'" (3) the guidance document entitled "Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Rapanos v. United States & Carabell v. United States (relating to the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act), and (4) any subsequent regulation or guidance issued by federal agencies that defines or interprets the term "navigable waters."

Prohibits the Corps and EPA from promulgating rules or issuing guidance that expands or interprets the definition of navigable waters unless expressly authorized by Congress.

Sets forth provisions requiring federal agencies to obtain consent of private property owners prior to entering their land to collect information about navigable waters.

Requires federal agencies that issue regulations that relate to the definition of navigable waters or waters of the United States and diminish the fair market value or economic viability of a property to pay the affected property owner an amount equal to twice the value of the loss. Gives no force or effect to such regulation until landowners with such claims have been compensated.

Related Posts:
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Congressman Peter DeFazio Votes in favor of more Land Acquisitions
Ashland, OR debates the Right to Bear Arms,  Two must see videos on the subject 
Oregon Legislative Action Alert: Vote NO on SB1538 Support School Choice
Oregon Legislative Action Alert:  VOTE NO on SB 1538, it limits school choice

Session #22: Tracking Land-Use Change Over Time
Wednesday, March 12,
2:00 - 3:30 pm, Eastern Time

Our next webinar will showcase NASA’s Land-Use/Land-Cover Change Program (LCLUC) program, exploring how time-tracking of land use observations from space can be used from a planning perspective. LCLUC’s Program Manager will give a brief introduction to the program, followed by urban, forest and agriculture presentations from researchers whose work is supported by the program.

Webinar registration is open to all and attendance is free. Please contact Sara Comas (scomas@fs.fed.us) with comments, special accommodations, or to be added to the mailing list.

Scheduled speakers to include:

·         Garik Gutman NASA Headquarters, Washington DC

·         Cristina Milesi  California State University Monterey Bay/NASA Ames Research Center

·         Chengquan Huang  University of Maryland

·         David Roy  South Dakota State University

Please register in advance for this and future webinars.

Visit our website for more information or to view past presentations.

**Society of American Foresters (SAF) Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits and American Planning Association (APA/AICP) Certification Maintenance (CM) credits are available for this webinar.

This series is sponsored by the National Open Space Conservation Group of the USDA Forest Service and Clemson University.

Thank you,
Susan Stein and Sara Comas (US Forest Service)
Susan Guynn (Clemson University)

Sara J. Comas
Natural Resource Specialist
US Forest Service
State & Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry
www.fs.fed.us/openspace

U.S. Attorney’s Office
February 21, 2014
Central District of California (213) 894-2434

SANTA ANA, CA—The former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach was charged today in a long-running health care fraud scheme that involved tens of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks in exchange for referrals of thousands of patients who received spinal surgeries. The referrals to the hospital led to more than $500 million in bills being fraudulently submitted during last five years of the scheme, much of which was paid by the California worker’s compensation system.

Michael D. Drobot, 69, of Corona Del Mar, was charged this morning in a criminal information with orchestrating a wide-ranging conspiracy and with paying illegal kickbacks.

In a plea agreement also filed this morning, Drobot agreed to plead guilty to the two counts, which could send him to federal prison for as long as 10 years.

From 1997 to 2013, Drobot, who owned Pacific Hospital until late last year, ran a scheme in which he billed workers’ compensation insurers hundreds of millions of dollars for spinal surgeries performed on patients who had been referred by dozens of doctors, chiropractors, and others who were paid illegal kickbacks. For referrals for spinal surgeries, Drobot typically paid a kickback of $15,000 per lumbar fusion surgery and $10,000 per cervical fusion surgery. Some of the patients lived as much as hundreds of miles away from Pacific Hospital and closer to other qualified medical facilities. The patients were not informed that the medical professionals had been offered kickbacks to induce them to refer the surgeries to Pacific Hospital.

Drobot and his co-conspirators concealed the kickback payments by entering into bogus contracts with the doctors, chiropractors, and others who received kickbacks. In reality, the contracts merely provided a cover story for the kickback payments.

The kickbacks were financed largely by money generated from inflated prices for medical devices implanted into state workers’ comp patients during spinal surgeries. Drobot set up a scheme that exploited a now-repealed California law known as the spinal “pass-through” legislation, which permitted hospitals to pass on to workers’ comp insurers the full cost of medical devices implanted in spinal surgery patients. Specifically, Drobot used shell companies to inflate the costs of those devices and then billed the insurers at the inflated rates.

“The spinal pass-through, the provision of California law that allowed Pacific Hospital to fraudulently inflate the cost of the medical hardware used during spinal surgeries, was a vital component of defendant Drobot’s ability to pay kickbacks to the doctors, chiropractors, marketers, and others who had referred patients to Pacific Hospital for surgeries and other medical services,” according to the charging document filed today.

As part of the health care fraud scheme, Drobot admitted in his plea agreement that he paid bribes to California State Senator Ronald Calderon in exchange for Calderon performing official acts to keep the spinal pass-through law on the books. Calderon was indicted on federal charges yesterday for allegedly accepting bribes from Drobot, as well as undercover FBI agents seeking official acts in relation to other matters.

As part of his plea agreement, Drobot has agreed to cooperate in the government’s ongoing investigation of the health care fraud scheme, which has been dubbed Operation Spinal Cap. Drobot has also agreed to cooperate in the government’s prosecution of Ronald Calderon and his brother, who was also indicted yesterday.

“Drobot has agreed to plead guilty in the health care fraud scheme, and as part of this agreement, he admits paying bribes to Ron Calderon in exchange for the senator’s help in keeping alive a law that brought massive profits to Drobot’s companies,” said United States Attorney André Birotte, Jr. “Drobot also paid kickbacks, which are illegal under both California and federal law because they corrupt the doctor-patient relationship and may encourage medical professionals to recommend procedures that are not necessary, not in the patients’ best interest, or actually harmful to the patient.”

Drobot has agreed to surrender and be arraigned in this case in United States District Court in Santa Ana on March 31.

“The charges allege that the defendant used kickbacks and other tactics to ensure the system worked to his advantage,” said Bill Lewis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The insurance scheme victimized multiple sectors of society, including insurance companies, the taxpayers, and spinal patients.”

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said, “Insurance fraud is a multi-billion dollar drain on California’s economy, which results in higher insurance premiums for California businesses and consumers. The co-conspirators lined their pockets by ripping off insurance companies to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. This is one of the largest workers’ compensation fraud cases in the history of the Department of Insurance—our successful investigation of this complex criminal scheme underscores our commitment to bring law breakers to justice regardless of who they are.”

Tom Frost, Special Agent in Charge with the Postal Service Office of Inspector General, stated, “We are committed to preserving U.S. Postal Service resources by vigorously investigating allegations of fraud and corruption. We are grateful for the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our state and federal partners in this investigation.”

The ongoing investigation into abuses involving the spinal pass-through law and kickbacks paid for spinal surgery patients is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; IRS-Criminal Investigation; the California Department of Insurance; and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

Related Posts:
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City of Bandon---Local Developer Michael Drobot Admits to Bribery & Conspiracy 
Preserving the American Dream:  Lessons in Beating Boondoggles
Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism
City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract
What is Craft3 & how does it relate to Agenda 21
INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL
Community Vs. Collectivism
Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom
Success against Agenda 21
The Smoking Gun The direct link between Agenda 21 and local planners!
The International Code Council and You...
Port of Bandon in North Bend, Why?
Urban Renewal---Tualatin council to consider plan for Cabela's 
Urban Renewal---A tale of bad planning in two Cities
Urban Renewal---Oregon schools could recoup money
Bandon---Combine Private Public Partnership w/ Urban Renewal and you get cheese...
Urban Renewal---Tax fight aims at PSU renewal district
Urban Renewal Money in the hands of the Politicians
B-Corporations: The Redefining of what it means to be a Corporation
Support  SB478
Cities are using Monopoly Utilities to Game the System 
Action Alert:---State Legislation SB 478
The Federalization of Local Urban Renewal Agencies
The Antiplanner---The Feds Want to Take Your Car #22‏

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Call for Nominations, Western Oregon, Medford District Resource Advisory Committee
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is requesting four nominations for representatives to serve on the Medford District Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The Committee will advise the Secretary, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), on the selection and prioritization of projects funded under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The BLM will accept public nominations for 45 days after the publication of this notice.

DATES:
Submit nomination packages to the address listed below, on or before March 27, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Advisory Committee nomination forms are available at the BLM Medford District Office and also on www.blm.gov/or/rac.   Send completed nomination forms to Jim Whittington, BLM Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504, 541-618-2200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Baker, BLM Oregon State Office, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208, 503-808-6306; sabaker@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1- 800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act was extended to provide stability for local counties by compensating them, in part, for the decrease in funds formerly derived from the harvest of timber on Federal lands. Pursuant to the Act, five Committees serve western Oregon BLM districts that contain Oregon and California grant lands and Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands. Committees consist of 15 local citizens representing a wide array of interests.

The RACs provide a mechanism for local community collaboration with Federal land managers as they select projects to be conducted on Federal lands or that will benefit resources on Federal lands using funds under Title II of the Act.

Committee membership must be balanced in terms of the categories of interest represented. Prospective members are advised that membership on a RAC calls for a substantial commitment of time and energy.

Any individual or organization may nominate one or more persons to serve on the Committee. Individuals may also nominate themselves or others. Nominees must reside within one of the counties that are (in whole or in part) within the BLM District boundaries of the Committee on which membership is sought. Nominees will be evaluated based on their education, training, and experience relating to land use issues and knowledge of the geographical area of the Committee. Nominees must also demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision- making. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists from serving on all Federal Advisory Committee Act

The Medford District RAC advises Federal officials on projects associated with Federal lands within the Medford District and Klamath Falls Resource Area in the Lakeview District which includes lands in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine Counties and small portions of west Klamath County.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Hey Folks,

The following articles should draw a clear line between school districts losing money to wealthy foreign corporations.  It is a case of stealing from the poor to give to the wealthy, but that is how Urban Renewal works. Detroit is a good example of how Urban Renewal creates projects that the local tax base cannot afford, which will eventually cause bankruptcy.....Rob T

Hey Folks,

I support business and believe in the free-market system, but giving money to wealthy developers could lead to some very serious problems, one being fraud and the other is bribery.  I have to point out that Greg Drobot is the son of Michael Drobot and Greg has not been charged with any crime.  Click the links below to three different articles and ask yourself if Urban Renewal is a good idea? ......Rob T.  

February 21st, 2014, 4:51pm

Bandon cheese is back
$2 million investment will employ at least 10 people
May 17, 2012 11:00 am
http://theworldlink.com/news/local/bandon-cheese-is-back/article_115dad45-8833-5394-a2e0-ce94809fc532.html

January 1, 2013

Creamery gets the backing it needs to open in Bandon
by Jennifer Janda | Dec 27, 2012
Craft3 announced its investment in Face Rock Creamery in Bandon.

SCOTUS rejects appeals of unconstitutional victim disarmament legislation

Source: San Francisco Chronicle "The U.S. Supreme rejected three appeals from gun-rights advocates, leaving intact federal and state laws that place special restrictions on young adults. The justices refused to question a federal law that prohibits licensed dealers from selling handguns to people under age 21. The court also let stand a Texas measure that bars people ages 18 to 20 from getting concealed-carry licenses unless they are current or honorably discharged members of the military. ... In a third case today, the high court refused to permit a suit over a U.S. law that bars dealers from selling a handgun to someone who lives in a different state." (02/24/14)

http://tinyurl.com/k9bsxx8

SCOTUS battle: Did EPA overstep on global warming?
Source: Christian Science Monitor "Under the US system of government, federal agencies are afforded a wide discretion to shape policies that will give force to statutes passed by Congress. But how much discretion is too much discretion? On Monday, the US Supreme Court took up a case examining whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exceeded its regulatory power when it sought to expand the use of the Clean Air Act to regulate the release of greenhouse gases that scientists say are causing global warming." (02/24/14)

http://tinyurl.com/mjz8t75

Dear Editor,  
The real question is: Why are our commissioners and would-be County leaders rushing agreements, relieving  Jordon Cove of 15-plus years property tax? 

The company has yet to acquire a building permit, prove it's reliability, or use it's initial property tax relief.    If a company proposing plans of this magnitude is solid it should not need to take our money!    

Our commissioners are poised to approve Jordon Cove's tax relief based on verbal statements they will  create 501(3)(c)'s,  yearly giving millions to verbally stipulated beneficiaries chosen by themselves.  Additionally, there would be no public oversight as their board selections, meetings, and financial decisions will all be private.  (Individuals who lost their property due to unpaid property taxes wish they had such a deal.)   

Why rush giving Jordon Cove millions of dollars?  Could Chapter 662 Oregon Law 2003 section 307.123,  modified October 16th 2013, be of interest?  The legislation allows property tax relief to be transferable.  " ....upon the property being acquired by a business firm that is different from the business firm that initially benefitted from the exemption...."   Section 9 of this legislation states  "....A determination ... that a project shall be exempt from property taxation ...must be requested by official action of the governing body of the county .." ( ie. our Board of Commissioners ).  

These rushed decisions by our BOC have a great deal to do with our present financial state.  Consider the State's  '2012  Financial Condition Review'  of  Coos County:  "...a balanced budget will become more difficult..."  " Coos County debt is primarily for the county-owned pipeline."  They further stated the 2012 commissioners' response:  "As a result, the county commissioners indicated they will need to consider liquidating  county assets in order to pay expenses"....What the report did not state was Northwest Natural's pipeline payment to Coos County continually equals our payment to them for maintenance.  We taxpayers got  $27 million, plus interest, in debt.   

The 2012 commisioners gave Oregon Rescources Corp. similar tax perks based on verbal assurances of hundreds of jobs. Four days after obtaining our transferable lease, they laid off about half of their remaining  employees.   

The list of ill thought out, rushed decisions with our money and land goes on and on.  We deserve better.  This time the commissioners must, at a minimum,  require beneficiaries of our assets use what they have already been given before asking for more.     Jaye Bell

Oath Keepers of Oregon is announcing the formation of the Coos County Chapter and Civilization Preservation Team (CPT.)

Current serving and former military, police, fire and EMS are encouraged to attend. Associate membership is available to those without the aforementioned experience.

This is a free event and open to the public. Saturday 3:00-5:00 PM at the Coos Bay Fire Department located at 450 Elrod Ave. Coos Bay, Or

Oath Keepers
Public Meeting
Saturday 3:00-5:00 pm
The Coos Bay Fire Department
450 Elrod Ave.
Coos Bay, OR 97411

Important BLM Hearings Scheduled on Sage Grouse
If you cannot attend the meetings, the draft Environmental Impact Statement is open for public comment through February 20, 2014.
Comments can be sent via email at: blm_or_gsg_planning_comments@blm.gov, or
mailed to:
BLM-Greater Sage-Grouse EIS
1220 SW 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97204


The full Oregon Sub-Regional Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/EIS can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/or/energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php.

National BLM > OR/WA > Energy > Wind Energy Development Challenges & Opportunities Map
http://www.blm.gov/or/energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php

The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Amendment/EIS is available for review and comment. The comment period will be open from Friday, November 22, 2013 through Thursday, February 20, 2014. The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS is accessible below but the files are large. For additional information, to access the document broken into smaller PDFs, or view associated maps, please visit here.

• Oregon DEIS Vol. 1 (PDF)
• Oregon DEIS Vol. 2 (PDF)
• Oregon DEIS Vol. 3 (PDF)
• Associated Maps
• Draft GIS Data

The public comment period ends Feb. 20, 2014. Comments may be submitted by the following methods:

MAIL: BLM - Greater Sage-Grouse DEIS
1220 SW Third Ave.
Portland, OR 97204

EMAIL: blm_or_so_gsg_planning_comments@blm.gov

The sagebrush ecosystem is home to unique plant and wildlife species, and is very important to the overall ecological health of eastern Oregon. Many birds and mammals depend on sagebrush ecosystems in the western United States for survival. In the last century, drastic changes caused by livestock grazing, conversion of lands to agriculture, the introduction of exotic plant species, and fire have resulted in alteration and fragmentation of sagebrush vegetative communities throughout the Intermountain West. The loss of sagebrush ecosystems are negatively affecting many of the more than 350 species of plants and animals that depend on sagebrush ecosystems for all or part of their existence including Greater Sage-Grouse as well as Pygmy Rabbit, Mule Deer, and Golden Eagles. Other examples of sagebrush dependent species include sage sparrow, ferruginous hawks, Brewer's sparrow, sage thrasher, sagebrush vole, and many botanical species.

BLM and Sage-Grouse Conservation In response to requests from state and local governments to facilitate ways to conserve Greater Sage-Grouse and protect its habitat, BLM scientists and managers met with state wildlife management officials July 16, 2011 to brief them on the agency’s National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The meeting took place at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The BLM strategy emphasizes a cooperative approach and provides a framework to advance efforts to implement timely conservation measures for sage-grouse and its habitat.

• BLM National Planning Site
• National and Oregon Fact Sheet (PDF)
• The BLM and Sage-Grouse Conservation

Comments and Feedback The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service are seeking comment on issues that should be addressed in evaluating Greater Sage-Grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 Western states. Comments for the Western Region may be sent to sagewest@blm.gov. General questions about the planning strategy should be directed to SageQuery@blm.gov. You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Related Information

• Amending the Southeastern Oregon and Lakeview RMPs (PDF)
• Core Areas and Occupied Habitat Map (PDF)
• ODFW Core Areas Map (PDF)
• Sage-Grouse Habitat in Eastern Oregon Map (PDF)
• Comment Period for Greater Sage-Grouse Scoping Extended
• Sage-Grouse Mapping News Release
• Fish and Wildlife Service: Sage-Grouse page
• Federal Register Notice March 5, 2010: 12-Month Findings for Petitions to List the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as Threatened or Endangered
• News Release March 5, 2010: Interior Expands Common-Sense Initiative to Conserve Sage-Grouse Habitat in the West
• News Release March 5, 2010: Fish and Wildlife Service to Add Bi-State DPS of Greater Sage-Grouse to Candidate List
• News Release March 5, 2010: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Says Western Sage-Grouse Not a Sub-species

Charter School ALERT!  

Public Hearing
https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2014R1/Measures/Overview/SB1538

FRIDAY February 21, 2014 1:00 P.M. RM HR D

NO on SB 1538-A Text of bill https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2014R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB1538
Track Their Vote Analysis
http://www.tracktheirvote.org/BillPage.aspx?BillSession=2014&Bill&BillNumber=1538&BillVersion=A-Engrossed
OCL Team education@oregoncitizenlobby.org

This bill still allows districts to severely and arbitrarily limit or refuse to even consider proposals for new public charter school proposals. The amendment adds that public charter school may give priority for admission to students who have historically been underserved due to race or ethnicity, students in low-income households or English language learner students. But no more than 50%. This does not change the bill significantly.


If you plan to submit testimony to the committee, please send to  richard.donovan@state.or.us by noon the prior business day.

Also send an email or call to the committee members letting them know what your opinion on this piece of legislation. Include your Legislator, they need to know you are keeping informed.
House Committee On Education  Copy and Paste the emails below to send to all, include your legislators!
Chair                     Rep.SaraGelser@state.or.us   Representative Sara Gelser
Vice-Chair            Rep.JeffReardon@state.or.us  Representative Jeff Reardon
Vice-Chair            Rep.SherrieSprenger@state.or.us  Representative Sherrie Sprenger
Member               Rep.ShemiaFagan@state.or.us Representative Shemia Fagan
Member               Rep.DavidGomberg@state.or.us Representative David Gomberg
Member               Rep.ChrisGorsek@state.or.us  Representative Chris Gorsek
Member               Rep.JohnHuffman@state.or.us  Representative John Huffman
Member               Rep.JulieParrish@state.or.us  Representative Julie Parrish
Member               Rep.GeneWhisnant@state.or.us  Representative Gene Whisnant
Staff
Committee Administrator  richard.donovan@state.or.us Richard Donovan
 

Related Posts:
Oregon Legislative Action Alert:  VOTE NO on SB 1538, it limits school choice 

Hey folks,

April will soon be here and so will a million mosquitoes.  Are we going to hope for the best or are we going to demand the one and only solution for the Bandon Marsh mosquito infestation.  The USFWS must dike the marsh and drain the swamp.  Adding more channels that will cause more salt water intrusion will only make a bad problem worse. It is time to ask The Service to take a hike.....Rob T. 

Hey Watchdogs,
You better buy Grandma long johns,  the EPA is taking away the ability of people to heat their homes and in some cases, cook their meals.  Property rights are under attack. Your yard is next....Rob T. 

• Comment on the NSPS for Residential Wood Heaters
• Attend the public hearing for the proposed standards

On January 3, 2014, EPA proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Residential Wood Heaters.

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.

• Proposed Standards for New Residential Wood Heaters (PDF)(354 pp, 1 MB)
• Proposed Wood Heater NSPS Overview Fact Sheet (PDF)(4 pp, 419 K)
• Fact Sheet: Proposed Requirements for Wood Stoves and Pellet Stoves (PDF)(2 pp, 101 K)
• Fact Sheet: Proposed Requirements for Hydronic Heaters and Forced Air Furnaces (PDF)(3 pp, 108 K)
• Fact Sheet: Proposed Requirements for Masonry Heaters (PDF)(2 pp, 81 K)

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

EPA will accept written comments until May 5, 2014.

"The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is in the process of revising the Resource Management Plans (RMP) for western Oregon. These 2.5 million acres have an important role to the social, economic, and ecological well being of western Oregon, as well as to the greater American public. Recognizing this importance, your engagement is important to us. Thus, we are striving for a whole different approach of engaging the public through outreach and community collaboration. We want to engage you in ways that are in your best interest and communicate where we're heading based on science, public inputs, regulations, and guidance.

There are a lot of important and complex issues that need to be addressed during this revision process. Needless to say there are also very diverse and strong opinions on how these lands should be managed in the future. In an effort to try to change the dialogue, besides changing how we engage the public, I want to focus our discussions around outcomes, not outputs. We realize we can't do this alone. Nor does the BLM have the sole 'solution.' Rather, we want to work together, across the board, to explore those solutions. Please join us in this exciting process of developing the RMPs for western Oregon to manage public lands for present and future generations."
— Jerome E. Perez, BLM State Director, Oregon/Washington

The Resource Management Plans (RMP) for Western Oregon will determine how the BLM-administered lands in western Oregon will be managed to further the recovery of threatened and endangered species, to provide for clean water, to restore fire-adapted ecosystems, to produce a sustained yield of timber products, and to provide for recreation opportunities.

There are approximately 2.5 million acres in western Oregon that are part of the BLM-administered public lands included in the RMPs for Western Oregon. These lands provide forest products, fish and wildlife habitat, and countless recreation opportunities. Unlike national forests, BLM western Oregon public lands are generally not large contiguous blocks. A "checkerboard" pattern of public land is what makes up the federal lands.

Why is the BLM engaging in this effort? Emerging environmental, economic, and social impacts are making the last plans unable to meet the needs of people, plants, and wildlife that depend on these public lands.

Public Comments Before including address, phone number, email-address, or any other personal identifying information in your comments, be advised that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request that the BLM withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so. If you wish us to withhold your personal information you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses available for public disclosure in their entirety.

Throughout the planning project, you may send your thoughts on this RMPs for Western Oregon planning effort via email to: BLM_OR_RMPs_WesternOregon@blm.gov.

In addition to always being able to send your thoughts and input through the email address above, there will be formal public comment periods related to specific stages of the plan revision process. These public comment periods are opportunities to provide the planning team with direct, formal feedback on components of the plan as well as on the effort's overall direction.

When a formal public comment period is open, you will be able to submit comments electronically, via email or a form on our website, or by mail during a specified amount of time. Once the public comment period closes the comments will be consolidated, summarized and included as part of the record.

To facilitate review and comment on the Plan, the comment deadline is being extended through March 10, 2014.   The input received in the open houses, as well as written comments submitted, will be used in developing a Proposed Plan for presentation to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in late Spring 2014.

Both the full Plan and an Executive Summary can be found at:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/coastal_multispecies.asp

Please submit comments to:  ODFW.CoastalPlan@state.or.us through March 10, 2014.

The draft Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan, which outlines conservation and fishing management direction for salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout along much of the Oregon coast, is now available for public review and comment. Click here to obtain a copy of the draft and learn about public open houses and written comment opportunities.

The draft Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan is now available for public review and comment.  The draft Executive Summary and full plan are located below on this web page under Documents: Public Review Draft of CMP. The public may provide comments by attending a scheduled open house (dates, times, and locations are at the bottom of this web page) or by submitting comments by February 10, 2014 to: ODFW.CoastalPlan@state.or.us. Note that there will be further public input opportunities when the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission reviews and potentially adopts the plan during several of their regular monthly meetings (tentative dates and times for these meetings are also indicated at the bottom of this web page).

Receive Updates of the Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan by E-mail
(when prompted in the sign-up process, select this update under "Fishing Resources")

The Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) is being developed to understand and determine the fish management needs for the conservation of anadromous salmonids along much of the Oregon coast. The CMP will also be used to determine fish management actions relative to present and future fishing opportunities in this area.

The CMP will address the following Species Management Units (SMU): Chinook salmon (spring and fall populations), chum salmon, steelhead (summer and winter populations), and cutthroat trout. The area covered by the plan ranges from the Necanicum River in the north to Elk River in the south. A conservation assessment and plan for coho salmon have already been developed and adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (OFWC). Therefore, the CMP will not assess or address coho populations, although some coho information will be included for a complete “picture” of all anadromous salmonids. Given the inherent complexity of incorporating the management of multiple species for both conservation and utilization (e.g., harvest and hatcheries) purposes into a plan, a time-sequenced public process is being used to ensure stakeholders and the general public have multiple opportunities for review and input as ODFW develops the CMP. The initial focus of plan development was on technical analyses and preparation of an initial draft plan (dated 6/5/13, available below) that depicts the full, coast-wide conservation and utilization approach across basins and species. The initial draft CMP was developed with the input of four Stakeholder Teams distributed along the coast, an independent, scientific opinion survey west of the Cascades, and habitat experts working on the coast. The stakeholders and an independent science team (i.e., the Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team [IMST]) have reviewed and commented on the initial draft, and the plan is currently being revised and another, second draft will be distributed for wider public comment (scheduled for late 2013 or early 2014), including approximately six to eight town-hall meetings in coastal communities. After public input is received, the plan will be revised again and presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for final review and adoption.

In a related process, public proposals, submitted as part of the 2012 public process to develop statewide angling regulations (which will take effect in 2013), that addressed conservation or fishery management issues for species covered in the CMP received initial ODFW staff review. Those proposals which passed review were deferred into the CMP development process in order to assure that they did not conflict with the direction which will be established by this CMP. These deferred proposals will be considered and evaluated during the plan development process. Proposals that are consistent with the CMP will be presented to the OFWC for inclusion in angling regulations taking effect in 2014 or 2015.

Species/Units covered

• Chinook salmon (Coastal SMU, spring and fall populations)
• Chum salmon (Coastal SMU)
• Steelhead (Coastal SMU, summer and winter populations)
• Cutthroat Trout (Coastal SMU)

Contact
ODFW.CoastalPlan@state.or.us

Hello all,
The Coos County Republican Central Committee is happy to announce that we will be hosting a candidates forum featuring the GOP primary candidates for the US Senate that hope to face Democrat Jeff Merkly in the 2014 general elections.  

The door will open at 5:30 PM with the candidates taking the stage at 6:00 PM on february 27th at the Red Lion Hotel in Coos Bay. 

If you would like to ask the candidates a question please email them to me at ccrccpayne@gmail.com. 
Hope to see you there!

Hey the party has a new twitter page. 
Sign Up here:  www.twitter.com/CoosGOP 


Repbulican Party of Coos County
Candidate Forum
5:30 pm no host dinner
6:30 pm Meeting Begins
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Red Lion Inn
1313 N Bayshore Dr,
Coos Bay, OR ‎
Google Map

For Liberty, 
Jason Payne Chairman CCRCC
PS. Feel free to forward this message around.  Please bring your friends.

Hey Folks,

Below are a few links from the US Department of Agriculture.  Apparently in the 2010 NRI Summary Report, the state of Oregon has less land for agriculture.  One of the reasons for this is the amount of land that has been taken out of production for agriculture and used for wetland restoration.  One good example is the current Bandon Marsh, which was a working farm just a few years ago and the planned expansion would have taken another 4500 acres of farmland.  Now, it is a mosquito pit.  Can you imagine what it would be like if the expansion had not been suspended?......Rob T.  

  A statistical survey of land use and natural resource conditions and trends on U.S. non-Federal lands.

NRI Results
These documents are in Adobe Acrobat format:
New! 2010 NRI Summary Report
(PDF; 7.7 MB)
2007 NRI Summary Report
(PDF; 1.8 MB)
Supplemental Caribbean 2007 NRI Summary Report, May 2012
(PDF; 0.2 MB)
Supplemental Hawaii 2007 NRI Summary Report, June 2012
(PDF; 0.3 MB)
Alaska 2007 NRI Summary Report, December 2012
(PDF; 0.1 MB)

• 2007 NRI - Land Use Status and Trends
• 2007 NRI - Development of Non-Federal Rural Land
• 2007 NRI - Soil Erosion on Cropland
• 2007 NRI - Wetlands
• NRI Rangeland Resource Assessment (October 2010)
• 1997 NRI Archive

NRI Process

• Statistical Design
• Data Gathering
• Statistical Estimation
• Glossary

 

State and Regional profiles based on the 2007 NRI can be found through the RCA data viewer.

The Resource Inventory Division leads the NRI effort in cooperation with Iowa State University's Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology and support from:

• NRCS National Geospatial Center of Excellence
• NRCS Information Technology Center

2013 NRI-CEAP Survey of Farming and Conservation Practices in the California Bay-Delta Watershed Area

NRCS is partnering with USDA-NASS to deliver the 2013 NRI-CEAP survey, which collects information from agricultural producers in the California Bay-Delta watershed area, with a primary focus on the Sacramento River Watershed, the San Joaquin River Watershed, and the Tulare Lake Basin Watershed, about farming and conservation practices on cultivated and non-cultivated cropland. NASS representatives will visit nearly 1,764 farms in California and Oregon between September 2013 and February 2014 to collect information on farm production practices; chemical, fertilizer and manure applications; integrated pest management; and installed conservation practices.

The farmer questionnaire, NRCS questionnaire, and respondent booklet are available online.

Send comments, questions, or requests for additional data summaries to the NRI Help Desk.

Hey Folks, 
The Coquille Watershed Association is working with students from the Bandon and Coquille High Schools on the "Going Native" project and the group is having a public meeting on February 22, to display their work. 

Since these are students and young minds, it is important that there is a balance of people with differing ideologies in attendance to make sure that extreme environmentalism is not taught to the children.  The CWA have a few members on their Board that put the needs of plants above the needs of the people, so people need to be aware of who is doing the teaching in these school programs.  Please, come out to this event and enjoy the day, because there  is a need to have a good balance in the environment....Rob T.  

PRESS RELEASE
February 12, 2014

Coquille Watershed Association
223 N Alder, Suite D
Coquille, OR 97423
Phone: (541) 396-2541
Contact: Kelly Miles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Event – The Coquille Watershed Association, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Stewardship and Coquille Booster Club have planned a tree-planting party for Saturday, February 22, in Coquille at the soccer and football practice sports fields along Cunningham Creek. Students, volunteers and local contractors have been clearing invasive weeds and planting native species along the creek and will wrap up the project from 9am-12 noon. The public is welcome to come by and learn about the student’s work, grab a shovel and enjoy a hot dog as we help to restore the creek that runs through the school’s fish hatchery.

The Coquille Watershed Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring salmon habitat and is working on this project under funding provided by OWEB’s Small Grant Program, an easy-to-engage-in, competitive grant program that awards funds of up to $10,000 for on-the-ground restoration projects to landowners funded by Oregon Lottery dollars. For more information on either the CWA or OWEB, please see www.coquillewatershed.org and www.oregon.gov/OWEB. Oregon Stewardship is a non-profit membership organization that works with students in five counties of SW Oregon, and students do hands-on projects like the riparian restoration of Cunningham Creek. For more information on Oregon Stewardship, please see www.oregonstewardship.org.

Hosted by the Coquille Watershed Association, Oregon Stewardship, Coquille Booster Club

Location: Coquille High School soccer & football practice fields, Coquille

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2014

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Please call CWA Director Kelly Miles at (541) 396-2541 if you have any questions.
-END-

Hey Folks,

Mary Geddry has written another article targeting the Jordon Cove Plan.  The Port of Coos Bay is going to create a hyper-urban renewal district.  The money will be used like a petty cash drawer for the local politicians, so the voters had better wake-up and smell what the bureaucrats are cooking up now.  Below the link to Mary's article are two other articles to show the pattern of Oregon ports and back-up the claims of their detractors....Rob T. 

EDUCATION VOTE ALERT!  

Contact your Senator NOW
let them know you are watching there vote!
Don't know who your senator is CLICK HERE!

Senate Second Reading
https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2014R1/2014-02-12

Session Details for Wednesday, February 12, Third Reading February 13

SB 1538 Text of bill https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2014R1/Measures/Text/SB1538/Introduced
Allows school district board to place limitations on proposals for public charter schools that board will evaluate if specified percentage of students of school district are enrolled in public charter schools and specified number of public charter schools are located in school district.

VOTE NO
SB1538 "allows districts to severely and arbitrarily limit or refuse to even consider proposals for new public charter school proposals"   Link to TTV 

Personal Choice
limits freedom of parents to choose their preferences in schooling by allowing school districts the power to refuse to consider charter school proposals.

Fiscal Responsiblity
allows districts to deny the opening of charter schools which cost less to run per pupil than the districts.

Limited Government
gives school districts the power to refuse to hear proposals from parents and charter school operators that don't meet the district's arbitrary goals (invented goals which don't apply to the district's schools)

Local Control
97% of the parents can be denied the right to make charter school proposals that meet their needs rather than the district's "goals."

Free Markets
restricts the ability to create a free market in K-12 education to a token 3% of the students. This proposal by Portland Public Schools, which has 4% of its student in charters already, would effectively end the growth of charter schools--while giving the appearance of simple altruism on the part of the district. 

Contact education@oregoncitizenslobby.org for more information.

Hey Folks,

The following article is from The Oregon Catalyst, so click the link to read the entire piece.  Most committees for cities and counties are absolutely useless and are used to shelve the ne'er-do-wells and goody-good doers. However, the Budget Committee is where all the skeletons are revealed. Usually, these meetings are not filmed by the local public access TV station. Remember to always follow the money and that is done by checking the books.  Dave Berg is right on the mark with his current article.....Rob T.

by In the news Tuesday, February 11. 2014
by Dave Berg
“The best way out of a difficulty is through it.” - Will Rogers

Hey Folks,

Below are some really good videos of the gun debate in Ashland, OR.  They have a city councilor there who would have made the Nazi's proud.....Rob T. 

Related Posts:
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OFF---Obey The Law, Go To Jail
OFF---Gun Bills Officially Posted‏
OFF---Five Years In Prison For Giving a Gun to Your Best Friend‏
OFF---More on Portland Slime Moving South‏
OFF---Update on anti-gun bill introduction, suggested message, troubling video.
OFF---IS PORTLAND EXTENDING ITS TENTACLES?
OFF---Santa Claus is Coming To Town.  So Is Michael Bloomberg.
OFF---ACTION ALERT:  Comment On Obama's Anti-gun Rule Proposal‏
OFF---Supreme Court to Hear "Straw Purchase" Case

Hey Folks,
Congressman Peter DeFazio has been one of the main supporters of more funding to go towards federal land acquisitions.  Check out the bill's below for another example of bad management with public funds.  DeFazio voted Yes to a bill that would have removed the restriction on federal land acquisition in the Public Access & Lands Improvement Act....Rob T. 

H.Amdt. 551 (Grijalva) to H.R. 2954: To strike the restriction on federal land acquisition.

Below is the final vote  on amendment 551 to H.R. 2954 from the Oregon Legislators: 

Oregon
Aye   D   Bonamici, Suzanne OR 1st
No   R   Walden, Greg OR 2nd
Aye   D   Blumenauer, Earl OR 3rd
Aye   D   DeFazio, Peter OR 4th
No   D   Schrader, Kurt OR 5th