Hi Chuck –

Please see the article written by Senator Bates from Sunday’s Medford
Mail Tribune:

Red-light cameras add to public safety
By Sen. Alan Bates
March 24, 2009 6:00 AM

On March 7, the Mail Tribune printed an article by Chris Conrad, “A
stoplight on traffic cameras?” While the article certainly gained a lot
of attention, it fell short in describing the bill that is actually
before your legislative body, and why I chose to be a chief co-sponsor.
I make this distinction because I would not have sponsored HB 2701 if
its passage would end Medford’s photo red-light program, nor is that the
purpose of the bill. Further, the Medford Police Department operates a
stellar program, and I would support an expansion of its efforts.

HB 2701 addresses two basic concerns to protect you, the consumer:

First, the bill would prohibit cities that use red-light and photo-radar
equipment from compensating manufacturers and vendors of red-light and
photo-radar equipment based on the number of citations issued or on a
percentage of monies collected from payment of fines. Six U.S. cities
(Dallas and Lubbock, Texas; Union City, Calif.; Nashville and
Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Springfield, Mo.) have been found guilty of
shortening the yellow-light cycles on intersections equipped with
cameras meant to catch red-light runners. According to the National
Motorists Association, when Virginia officials added 1.5 seconds to the
yellow light at an intersection with red light cameras, the number of
violations went down 94 percent.

When the Government Accountability Office did a nationwide survey (2003)
of photo traffic enforcement programs that received any portion of
federal funding, it found that 40 jurisdictions operating cameras on
federal-aid highways generated $50.4 million in fines. Of that, $46.2
million was paid to the private contractors who owned and operated the
photo equipment. In 2001, the Office of Majority Leader Dick Armey
published its findings that red-light and photo-radar equipment speed
traps are “a hidden tax levied on motorists” to boost revenue in times
of budget shortfalls. Quite simply, when the yellow-light cycle is
calibrated so as to be more likely to turn red as you drive through it,
revenues increase. HB 2701 seeks to remedy this incentive: Public safety
should be our goal, not increasing the profits of private contractors.

Second, the bill would prohibit any city that uses red-light and
photo-radar equipment from collecting more than 5 percent of its annual
budget from the citations issued using it. Tim George, deputy chief of
the Medford Police Department, is quoted in the article as saying “We
don’t come anywhere close to generating 5 percent of our budget from the
red-light cameras or the two speed vans.” It is my understanding that
the most recent statewide average for revenue generated from traffic
citations is 3 percent; however, there is no cap in place. HB 2701 seeks
to remedy this incentive: Public safety should be our goal, not
generating revenue.

I wholeheartedly support the operation of red-light and photo-radar
equipment to increase and enhance public safety, as in Medford. I
co-sponsored this bill because I believe taxpayers in Oregon deserve to
be protected from both reckless drivers and the documented abuses
inherent to an unregulated system. That said, it is one of many bills
that I have co-sponsored and it is not one of my top priorities. There
are literally thousands of bills introduced in legislative sessions that
never make it out of committee – and this may very well be one of those.

In this unparalleled economic downturn, when your elected officials in
Salem are grappling with revenue shortfalls, double-digit unemployment,
and skyrocketing homelessness, hunger, domestic violence, child abuse,
and lack of health care, I view the focus on this particular piece of
legislation as a distraction. We face much more important problems here
in Oregon and across the country. If we are able to come together for
the good of the whole and stay focused on the big picture, I believe we
can – and will – come out of these economic difficulties better for
them.

Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, represents District 3 in the Oregon Senate.

Erin Fair
Policy Advisor
Senator Dr. Alan Bates
Capitol: 503.986.1703
Fax: 503.986.1140

Red Light Photo

Hi Alan,
The Red light photo tickets should stay. It helps make us all safer from

speeders like you. I think that if it makes us safer and the city makes
a
couple of bucks out of it then it’s a win win.
Chuck
Medford,Oregon

PRESS RELEASE
February 23, 2009
Contact:
Samantha Post
Senator Alan Bates

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 passed in memory of Hank Collins
Collins honored for dedication to health care reform

SALEM, Ore., – Hank Collins, a long time Jackson County resident who passed
away last February, was honored by with Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 in
recognition of his hard work and dedication to his community. Today, joined
by Hank’s wife of 26 years Cydne Bean Collins, Sen. Alan Bates (D-Ashland)
presented the resolution on the Senate floor. Bates said, “Senate Concurrent
Resolution 4 is overdue. I’m standing here today to finish something we
began more than a year ago.”
Medford Mail Tribune
Collins moved to Oregon in 1987 to become the head of the Jackson County
Health Department. In 1989, he was appointed to Health and Human Services
Director, where he was responsible for everything from restaurant
inspections and mental health care to animal control and sexually
transmitted diseases. “The community of Jackson County knew he cared deeply
about ordinary people and worked tirelessly to help them help themselves,”
Bates remarked.
Medford Mail Tribune
Throughout his time in Jackson County he worked to improve the quality of
life for every citizen. His work to integrate the social service system in
Jackson County has become a national model of effective collaboration.
Collins instigated the changes that made Jackson County go from one of the
worst air quality environments to consistent compliance with the Clean Air
Act. He was also the driving force behind the Jefferson Regional Health
Alliance, Family Drug Court and the Methamphetamine Task Force.

Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) worked along side of Bates to draft this
resolution during last year’s special session. Due to schedules and timing
the resolution did not make it to the floor, but with the help of both
Buckley and Bates it was revived this year. Buckley said, “Hank Collins was
a visionary who believed that one person could make a difference and change
a community.”

The Medford Mail Tribune sucks

Four Cats
————————-

Four men were bragging about how smart their cats were.

The first man was an Engineer,

The second man was an Accountant,

The third man was a Chemist, and

The fourth man was a Government Employee.

To show off, the Engineer called his cat, “T-square, do your stuff.”
Medford Mail Tribune Sucks
T-square pranced over to the desk, took out some paper and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle.

Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.
Medford mail Tribune
But the Accountant said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said,

“Spreadsheet, do your stuff.”

Spreadsheet went out to the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal piles of 3 cookies.
Medford Mail Tribune
Everyone agreed that was good.

But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said, “Measure, do your stuff.”

Measure got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop into the glass.
Medford Mail Tribune
Everyone agreed that was pretty good.

Then the three men turned to the Government Employee and said, “What can your cat do?”

The Government Employee called his cat and said, “CoffeeBreak, do your stuff.”

CoffeeBreak jumped to his feet…….
Medford Mail tribune
Ate the cookies……..

Drank the milk…….

sh*t on the paper…….

Screwed the other three cats…….

Claimed he injured his back while doing so…….

Filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions…….

Put in for Workers Compensation……………and
Medford Mail Tribune
Went home for the rest of the day on sick leave…………

AND THAT, MY FRIEND IS WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!!

On the other hand Obama is paying back the union members that elected him by
stimulating a jobs program. All high wage union jobs.

Obama said he would bring change to the White House. Did you get suckered
into voting for him? The Medford Mail Tribune sucks and is pro union.
The Medford Mail Tribune Censures letters to the editor. Bob Hunters wife is a union member. He is
the editor of the Medford Mail Tribune. Now all the states want handouts too.
Our governor Ted is paying back the unions that elected him by creating high
wage union jobs in Oregon. Where is all the money coming from?