HOW TO RAISE A BILLION

What if, by election, the Oregon Legislature and the governorship were
taken over by rabid environmentalists? And these elected officials
outlawed all timber sales. Now let us suppose the state came into hard
times and the citizens went to these leaders and said, "Please let us
cut some timber. It will raise money to pay our bills."

Gov. Kitzhaber has called a special session of the Oregon Legislature
to "find" $1 billion. As we have come onto hard times (and they may
get harder), maybe it is times to re-visit the idea of legalizing
marijuana. Legalize it, tax it, and raise a billion dollars.

I would be pleasantly surprised if this Legislature and this governor
would consider this option. Instead I am sure they will find a way to
raise property taxes, raise income taxes, raise gas taxes and make
cuts in education, human resources and public safety.

Chris Pender

Eugene