Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 2

2A Statesman Journal Monday, December 4, 2006 NCWS ANALYSIS Tump Start Your starting point Your starting point for to for Education looms big in '07 session Parties made simpler -4 You make the call: Hosting a holiday party is torture, b. exhausting, or c. easier when you have recipes for two -a 1 simple appetizers that will keep you (mostly) out of the kitchen. Check out that story and more online at D'lish. Identity theft Eatery's ID policy stirs anger John Russo says he has been a victim of identity theft.

So when he was asked to fork over a photo ID just to be seated at a Quincy, IHOP pancake restaurant, he flipped. "'You want my license? I'm going for pancakes; I'm not buying the Hope diamond, and they refused to seat us," Russo said. The restaurant has agreed to reverse the policy of requiring customers to turn over IDs before they can order a rule that was enacted to discourage "dine-and-dash" thefts. WCVB-TV in Boston reported the Quincy restaurant's policy had been enacted without corporate approval. IHOP, based in Glendale, released a statement to WCVB that said an employee felt the policy could eliminate the problem of people leaving without paying.

Russo said a security guard at the restaurant had "at least 40" licenses in hand when he arrived to eat. "Identity theft is rampant. I wouldn't want to give my license, with my address or Social Security number, to anyone that I'm not familiar with," Russo said. "I'm going just for breakfast." The Associated Press TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ I Statesman Journal The education debate likely will be an especially large part of the state Legislature's agenda this year.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski will announce education-spending plans today. 7 month 5.07 13 month 1 Annual Percentage Yield. 7 month 5.07 APY with an interest rate of 4.96 is available through December 31 2006. 1 3 month 5.13 APY with an interest rate of 5.01 is available through December 31, 2006.

$250,000 maximum deposit. Penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal. Fees could reduce your earnings. $10 membership fee is required if depositor is not already a MaPS member. Education.

Together, the two will be largely responsible for selling the merits of Kulongoski's proposed "61 percent" model, which would guarantee a fixed level of state funding for education. Terhune and Nesbitt could help shepherd other initiatives that have won a gubernatorial stamp of approval, too, including a new proposal for funding scholarship aid for college students tying funding to student work-study paychecks, and increased funding for Head Start, paid for by a raise in the $10 corporate minimum tax. Also look for a handful of key issues to surface, including: Providing enough funding for school districts to opt Into full-day kindergarten, a pet cause for Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo, who has pointed to studies snowing the benefits of full-day kindergarten on early student learning. Kulongoski also supports this proposal and has won the approval of a key interim Senate committee, the one on educational excellence. School Impact fees, long resisted by the Oregon Home Builders Association and other powerful lobbying groups.

Such fees would be charged to builders to help defray the costs of educating students who move into newly built homes. The idea has been considered and turned back by legislators before, but a group! of education advo- ONLINE today's happenings, trips family tips D'lish A MaPS APY 503.588.0181 800.688.0181 mapscu.com APY NCUA Offer ends 123106. Controller: Jerry Scoble, (503) 399-6763; isc0bieaState9manJ0umal.com Human Resources Director: Maureen Zwlcker, (503) 399-6899; mzwickerStatesmanJoumal.com Information Technology Director: Rebecca VanderMalle, (503) 399-6693; bvmalleStatesmanJoumal.com Market Development Director: Michael Keith, (503) 399-6646; mkelthStatesmanJournal.com Online Director: Kent Ecklor, (503) 399-6887; kecklorStatesmanJoumal.com Hwnben ISSN 0739-5507 rt Kjviri aHrimm chanofle to the Statesman 1 II r- us! I Ami -1 -tr? "ssrw si MOST-READ School impact fees and insurance are among top issues By Julia Silverman The Associated Press PORTLAND When schools advocates descend on Salem in their inevitable droves during the upcoming legislative session, they'll be playing offense, not defense, for the first time in years. Today, Gov. Ted Kulongoski is expected to get the debate rolling when he outlines his proposed budget, set to include a First offer of at least $6 billion for K-12 schools, in addition to funding for pre-K programs and higher education.

The total will be equivalent to about 61 percent of the state general fund, said Anna Richter Taylor, the governor's spokeswoman. Many education-advocacy groups already have thrown their weight behind a counteroffer of $6.3 billion. That's enough, they say, to reduce class size, bring back PE, arts and music teachers who were let go during the cuts of the early 2000s, and start full-day kindergarten. In the middle likely will be the newly empowered Democrats, in control of both the House and the Senate for the first time since 1990 and equally determined to both sock some money away to shield schools from the next economic downturn and make up for some of the cuts the state's 198 school districts endured in 2002 and 2003. No matter what else is on the Legislature's agenda, the education debate tends to dominate, as a little less than half of the state's budget traditionally goes to K-12 alone.

Here's a look at some key players to watch when the session gets under way next month. The Chalkboard Project. The Portland-based nonprofit group has been researching ways to improve schools in Oregon for several years, from both a policy and a fiscal perspective. Now, the group is ready to go live with its ideas, including money for reading tutors and teacher mentors, and giving schools a guaranteed level of funding per student, instead of a number that seems to change with each new budget forecast. Chalkboard has recruited key legislators from both major parties to serve as advisers, including Republican Rep.

Linda Flores of Clackamas, who was the Taxpayers However, state's corporate rebate is on shakier ground By Brad Cain The Associated Press With Oregon's economy flooding government coffers with increased tax revenue, there's growing sentiment among political leaders to sock away some of that money for a rainy day by canceling rebates of excess revenue to corporations. But don't look for any changes in the law that requires government to send "kicker" refund checks to individual taxpayers. Those rebates, which could total $1 billion next year, are politically untouchable as far as many of Oregon's policymakers are concerned. If current revenue projections hold, the typical household will get a refund check of $272 a year from now. Home STARTING A SUBSCRIPTION OR FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE Phone: (503) 399-6622 or (800) 452-2511 Hours: 5:30 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 6:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and holidays; 6:30 a.m. to noon Sunday Your newspaper should arrive by 5:30 a.m. in the Salem-Kelzer area in am in all nthAr arnnsU and bv 6:30 a.m.

on weekends and holidays. MISSING YOUR NEWSPAPER? iuyii or IB00) 452-251 1 i Mil mam. on weekdays and until noon on weekends arro onnoiiaaya CARRIERMOTOR ROUTE DELIVERY Sunday's most-read stories at StatesmanJournal.com, as of 8 p.m.: 1. SnoBall: A time to shine 2. Beavers get ninth win with victory in the islands 3.

Death is called suspicious after body is found 4. Schools chief pushes new leadership model 5. Improv show will return to Salem Feb. 9 6. Man is accused of trying to steal gun 7.

Fire does $260,000 in damage to home 8. Mission to provide insight into migration 9. Body found east of Salem on Sunday has been identified 10. Measure 39 could boost project costs their 'kicker' refunds cates, as well as a representative of the builders lobby, have been working on a new proposal for months that looks to be gaining traction. A health-Insurance pool for school employees, an idea proposed by Kulongoski during the 2005 session but shot down by the Oregon School Boards Association, which runs its own program.

Funding for new graduation standards, including requiring all students to take three science credits and three math credits, starting with Algebra I. The state board of education looks likely to approve the new diploma requirements in January, which could lead to pressure on legislators to set aside extra money to help schools phase in the expansions. Finally, a dark-horse pick: Cutting further into the lottery profits reaped by tavern, pub and restaurant owners and directing more of that funding to schools. There hasn't been much chatter about this of late, but it's a favorite of education advocates such as the Oregon PTA and Stand for Children. And with Democrats in control of the Oregon House and Senate, the clout of the Oregon Restaurant Association, which has lobbied against the proposal, is somewhat diminished.

The same education groups also have pushed for closing off tax loopholes and directing the money toward schools, another former proposal that could resurface if the timing seems right. been refunded as credits on the following year's tax returns. During a visit to the state Capitol last week, Smith said that returning the money as refund checks has worked out as he had hoped: making it politically difficult for lawmakers to cancel the tax rebates. "When you come into this building, the mentality becomes, A dollar is better taken by government than left in the pocketbook of a mother or a he said. "That's why we did the kicker as a refund check.

It shows people in a tangible way that we are trying to run government more efficiently by returning the surplus directly to them." Democrats long have argued that the kicker law is a bad fiscal policy because it hampers sound financial planning and prevents the state from investing in education and other programs when times are good. Placing Advertisements CLASSIFIEDS Phone: (503) 399-6789 Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday Online: Statesman Joumal.com OBITUARIES Phono: (503) 399-6791 Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday-Friday OTHER ADS Phone: (503) 399-6602 Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Sonja Bill Victor Tim chairwoman of the House Education Committee last session, and Democratic Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose, who is being mentioned as a possible future gubernatorial candidate. The group also has strong moderate credentials, as it's funded by more progressive as well as conservation-leaning foundations and is led by a former aide to revered Republican Sen.

Mark Hatfield. Reps. Betty Komp, D-Woodburn, and Arnle Roblan, D-Coos Bay. Rob-Ian and Komp are former school administrators, Roblan as the principal of Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, and Komp as the principal of French Prairie Middle School in Woodburn. Democratic House Speaker Jeff Merkley has not announced his pick to lead the House Education Committee, but Komp and Roblan have been serving on interim education committees that could help set the agenda for the upcoming session.

On the Senate side, Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, has said she would be interested in a repeat performance as the chairwoman of the Education Committee. Chip Terhune. The former Oregon Education Association lobbyist just was tapped as Kulongoski's new chief of staff. He will work with newly appointed deputy chief of staff Tim Nesbitt, a former AFL-CIO Oregon leader who has been serving on the state Board of Higher, won't lose "It's the people's money That's how they see it.

So that's the way it's going to be," said Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. The corporate kicker's days could be numbered, however. Corporations are projected to get $275 million back next year, although support is building among Democratic as well as Republican lawmakers to cancel those rebates and put the money instead into a rainy-day fund. Lawmakers could vote to suspend the rebates on a onetime basis. A key Republican lawmaker, Rep.

Tom Butler of Ontario, thinks Oregon voters should be asked in the coming year to approve a constitutional amendment to move the corporate kicker money permanently into a reserve fund. "Even a squirrel has enough sense to put some-, thing aside for a rainy day," said Butler, the outgoing House Revenue Committee chairman. Delivery HOLIDAYS WeekendHoliday subscribers receive delivery Friday; Saturday; Sunday; Jan. Martin Luther King Day; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Fourth of July; Labor Day; Sept. 19; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Nov.

22; Thanksgiving Day; Dec. 26; Dec. 27. IN-OREGON MAIL DELIVERY Weekly rates: Daily and Sunday: $5.60 Monday-Saturday: $4.50 Sunday only: $2.15 Mail subscriptions not available in areas served by carrier delivery. Mall delivery rates outside Oregon available on request.

HOW TO PAY The Statesman Journal accepts visa. MasterCard, American Express and Discover card. For added convenience, we offer EZ Pay (monthly credit-card or checking account debiting). Take the Guesswork Out of Buying a Mattress Computerized comfort analysis based on your unique body nharartprictir; i -i. Still, the refusal of Courtney, Butler and other lawmakers to even consider canceling refunds to individual taxpayers shows how touchy the kicker law has become as a political and fiscal policy topic.

The kicker law was passed by the Legislature in 1979, partly in hopes of heading off a property-tax limit like the Proposition 13 measure passed by Californians. It says that at the end of the two-year budget cycle, if the tax money collected by the state exceeds the state economist's estimate by 2 percent or more, the excess must be returned to taxpayers. Because of a 1995 move by Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who was the state Senate president at the time, the surplus tax collections are returned to taxpayers as special refund checks just in time for the holiday buying season.

Previous surpluses had HOURS: MON-FR1 10-8 SAT 10-6 SUN 11-6 Salem 3960 Rickey St. SE (NexttoLa-Z-Bcqr) 503.391.5313 Keizer 3421 Del Webb Ave NE (Off Salem Pkwy) 503.391.1575 McMinnville 2275 NE 27th stm to waiMart) 503,883.0325 12 month with $699 purchase OAC. "Free Local delivery with $499 purchase. See store for details Statesman Journal StatesmanJoumal.com Administration President and Publisher: Sorensen Craig, (503) 399-6689; scraigStatesmanJoumal.com Executive Editor: Church, (503) 399-6712; bchurchStatesmanJoumal.com Managing Editor: Panichkul, (503) 399-6704; vpanichkStatesmanJoumal.com Advertising Director: Jennine Parkinson, (503) 399-6648; lperkinsonStatesmanJoumal.com Circulation Director: Coles, (503) 399-6629; tcolesStatesmanJoumal.com News Tips Breaking nam: (503) 399-6773 Business and Local: Don Currie, (503) 399-6677 or dcurriee StatesmanJoumal.com Ufa: Victor Panichkul, (503) 399-6704 or lifeSStatesmanJournal.com Mid-Valley: Dan Bender, (503) 399-6731 or dbender StatesmanJournal.com Opinion: Dick Hughes, (503) 399-6727 or dhughesOStatesmanJournal.com Photo: Diane Stevenson, (503) 399-6605 or dstevensa StatesmanJournal.com Sports: James Day, (503) 399-6700 or sportsStatesmanJoumal.com Stats: Dana Haynes, (503) 589-6903 or dhaynesStatesmanJournal.com Weekend: Anne Thompson, (503) 399-6722 or lifeStatesmanJoumal.com General Information Published dailv bv the Statesmen Journal Co. subsidiafy ot the Gannett Co.

Inc. traet addressi 280 Church St. NE Salem, OR 97301 MeMng addraesi P.O. Box 1 3009 Salem, OR 97309-3009 Suggested weekly rates: Dally and Sunday: $3.22 Monday-Saturday: $2.40 weekends ar holidays: $2.04 Monday-Friday: $1.60 Journal. P.O.

Box 1 3009 Salem, OR 97309-3009. Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon. Printed ualng eco-triendly soy Ink on 35 percent recycled newsprint. Job Openings Phone: (503) 399-6834 (603) 399-661 1 or (800) 558-3975 i hown 8 am to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.