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Preserving Scientific Integrity
February 12, 2007
74th Session, Issue 4
Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett Newsletter
An issue that seems at first glance to be rather insignificant may actually carry tremendous
implications for a free society. That issue is freedom of speech and the continuation of separation between the state and scientific freedom.
Oregon State University has a climate laboratory which has been in existence for many years. This laboratory comprises a non-partisan group of very well educated earth and meteorological scientists who are, and have historically been, instrumental in predicting the climate trends of the state. George Taylor is the meteorologist who is in charge of the laboratory. He has been known for many years as the state’s chief climatologist. He has earned the position through his and the laboratory’s accurate work prognosticating winter snow pack, precipitation trends and overall climatology from year to year.
Oregon’s governor and his policy advisors now seek to strip George Taylor of the unofficial title of state climatologist and bestow the title on someone else because Mr. Taylor dares to engage in valid scientific debate regarding global warming. We as a society and government are starting the slide down a slippery slope when we invalidate the work and personages of legitimate scientists and quell scientific debate in favor of “political” agendas. Under the guise of political correctness and an advancement of his political legacy, the governor and his advisors appear willing to go to any lengths to ensure that Oregonians are not presented with the two sides of the anthropogenic causation of global warming debate.
Throughout history, science, religion and the state have often times been at odds with each other. During the Middle Ages, the Inquisition in Europe often had scientists being burned at the stake – or otherwise condemned to death – as heretics for suggesting that the earth was round, that the earth revolved around the sun, and many other facts that are now commonly accepted. We are seeing an age of “dis-enlightenment” if you will, where governments are castigating scientists who don’t believe in their agendas and Oregon is at the leading edge of this movement.
There are many well educated scientists who do not believe that global warming is caused by humans, if it exists at all over the long term. Through censorship and intimidation, our governor appears to be attempting to regulate our scientists to expose only those notions that support his agenda. The debate rages on and scientists on both sides of the issue should be allowed to represent their work and opinions and continue to be held in high esteem for their work. Science does not have a preset, preconceived agenda; its outcome is not a political “goal” to be attained; and the individuals who work in the field of science should not be politically manipulated, threatened or subjugated by politicians.
Immigration
A group of immigration bills were introduced last Friday at a rally on the steps of the capitol.
House of Representatives, Kim Thatcher and Linda Flores, were chief co-sponsors of these legislative concepts which are expected to become bills.
The content of the bills include:
LC 1399
Directs Employment Department to work closely with the nursery industry concerning H-
2A temporary agricultural worker program.
LC 1403-1
Permits law enforcement agencies to verify immigration status of person. Permits law
enforcement agencies to detain person based upon probable cause that person is in
violation of immigration law.
LC 1396
Prohibit state contracting agency from awarding public contract for services to contractor
that knowingly employs illegal alien to perform work under contract or that contracts
with subcontractor that knowingly employs illegal alien to perform work under contract.
LC 1398
• Prohibits state government from employing individual who is not legally present
or legally employable.
• Prohibits state contracting agency from awarding public contract for services to
contractor that knowingly employs illegal alien to perform work under contract or
that contracts with subcontractor that knowingly employs illegal alien to perform
work under contract.
• Prohibits Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission,
Economic and Community Development Department and financial institution that
contracts with commission or department to make loans or grants from making
loan or grant to person that knowingly employs illegal alien to perform work
funded by loan or grant.
LC 1404
Urges Congress to reimburse Oregon taxpayers for cost of incarcerating illegal
immigrants.
LC 1708
Makes English official language of state.
LC 1401
ID Conforms Oregon Vehicle Code to provisions of federal Real Act of 2005.
LC 1402
Requires Department of Human Services to verify lawful presence in United States of
applicants for public assistance. Lists documents that satisfy verification requirement.
Exempts specified types of assistance.
LC 1388
• Creates crime of subjecting another to involuntary servitude in first degree. Punishes by
maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, $375,000 fine, or both.
• Creates crime of subjecting another to involuntary servitude in second degree. Punishes
by maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both.
• Creates crime of subjecting another to involuntary servitude in third degree. Punishes by
maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine or both.
• Creates crime of sexual servitude of minor in first degree.
• Punishes by maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment, $375,000 fine, or both.
• Creates crime of sexual servitude of minor in second degree. Punishes by maximum of
20 years’ imprisonment, $375,000 fine or both.
• Creates crime of trafficking in persons. Punishes by maximum of 20 years’
imprisonment, $375,000 fine or both.
• Expands definition of “economic damages” for purposes of restitution for certain crimes.
I have signed on to support these legislative concepts and urge your support also. These bills are not discriminatory in any way, but are sound policy for our state and nation.
Senate Bill 505
Public hearings are presently being undertaken at the capital regarding Measure 37.
Senate Bill 505 has been introduced, which would
essentially “gut” the intent of Measure 37. The people of Oregon
overwhelmingly voted to implement Measure 37 and their will should not
be overturned by a partisan legislature and governor intent on
implementing their own goals.
As always, my office appreciates input from the district. After all, if we don’t stand up for rural Oregon, who will?
Keep in touch,
Doug
Please Contact or Visit us in Salem
Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-302, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett
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