Governor reacts to health care revisions; Gas prices rising; Rotary Auction offers unique opportunity; PTA to show off student talents; State budget writers seek input from coast and Eastern Oregon.

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Governor says health care revisions could be harmful

Kate Brown says the Republican health care replacement proposal for the Affordable Care Act is shortsighted and moves health care backward.  In a statement released yesterday, Brown criticized the proposal, saying it would reduce Oregonians access to care and increase costs for women and seniors.  According to the Governor, Oregon’s uninsured rate has dropped from 17-percent to five-percent since Obama Care took effect and 95-percent of Oregonians are now insured.

The Republican proposal does preserve coverage for Oregonians on Medicaid through 2020, or until they no longer need it.  The feds will also continue to pay the lion’s share of Oregon’s costs for that coverage.

That news was welcomed by state lawmakers in Salem who now believe they won’t have to deal with a substantial cut in funding for low income health insurance… at least not in the upcoming biennium.

Gas prices rise again

The average cash price for regular gas in Florence jumped up again this past week, increasing three-cents a gallon to $2.52 a gallon.  The average price across the state, as measured by Triple-A, went up a nickel a gallon.  It’s at $2.61.

Marie Dodds with Triple-A says retail prices across the country continue to fluctuate, but have “remained in a narrow window” for more than a month as U.S. production continues to counter OPEC production cuts.   She added that seasonal price hikes are coming in the next few weeks however as refiners switch from less expensive winter-blend to cleaner, but more costly summer-blends.

The national average price went up two cents in the past week.  It’s at $2.31 a gallon.

Winning bidder can help out two ways

One item on the block for Saturday’s upcoming Florence Rotary Club Auction actually offers two ways for the bidder to contribute.   Your winning bid will go towards local scholarships and programs; and the trip that you buy will be a working holiday helping to provide dental and health care to residents in the Andes Mountains.

Florence dentist Brian Holmes has been making an annual trip each fall to Ecuador.  He and several other volunteers spend a week providing care.

Holmes is going again next fall and this time, he will take someone with him… and pay their expenses.

That’s airfare, lodging, and meals.  But there is one requirement:  you’re going to be working alongside him and his team in some way.

The Florence Rotary Auction is expected to raise more than $100-thousand Saturday night for local scholarships and programs.  As of Tuesday afternoon there were just four-tickets remaining… at $65 each.   You can check with Hoberg’s Complete Auto Repair if you’re interested in going.

PTA Talent to showcase students

Some of the finest talent at Siuslaw Schools will be on stage this week at the Florence Events Center.  It’s the Florence Community PTA Talent Show.  Natalie Lyda (LIE-duh) is quite excited

Natalie Lyda – “We have an amazing show lined up.”

Lyda says the selection of talent was broad enough, they’ve had to spread the show over two nights..

Natalie Lyda – “What’s really cool this year is that we have enough acts that we have two totally different shows both nights.  So you can come Wednesday and Thursdayif you like.  Tickets are on sale right now at the Elementary School Office.”

Lyda calls ticket prices “super affordable” at $4 for non-PTA members… members get in for just two bucks.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

Budget writers seek input from across the state

Oregonians on opposite sides of the state will have a chance next week to provide some input to lawmakers in Salem as they prepare the budget for 2017 and 2018.

The Joint Ways and Means Committee will be meeting in Salem, but video links with two community colleges will provide rural residents a chance to watch and listen… as well as chime in.

The budget hearing is set for Thursday, March 16th beginning at five pm.

On the coast, you can go to Tioga Hall on the Southwest Oregon Community College campus from five to six and participate via an audio-video link.  In Eastern Oregon, the hearing will be available between seven and eight pm Mountain Time on the campus of Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario.

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