Pubdate: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR) Copyright: 2004 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.mvonline.com/support/contact/DHedletters.php Website: http://www.democratherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7 Author: Sean Wolfe, Democrat-Herald Cited: Measure 33 http://www.yeson33.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) OLSON, PRICE FIELD QUESTIONS FROM BUSINESS CROWD Covering topics ranging from gay marriage to SAIF, the candidates for state representative in House District 15 answered questions Wednesday as they faced an audience of more than 300 business people in Albany. At the annual "Businesses on Display" luncheon at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, Republican Andy Olson, a former State Police station commander, and Democrat Wes Price, a retired accountant, were each given eight minutes to define themselves for the audience of 330. Olson came out against gay marriage, as he had before, saying he supports the Defense of Marriage Act and believes that marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman. Price said he was not in a position to judge others. "I think we need to treat all people equally, and give them equal opportunities," Price said. On SAIF, Olson said he and business owners he's spoken with want to keep SAIF, Oregon's publicly-owned workers' compensation company, the way it is. "They tell me please don't dismantle it and sell it to a private company. I would keep SAIF where it's at, but the voters will also make that decision in November," Olson said. He added that he would tweak the program to provide additional oversight to ensure accountability. Price's position on SAIF was similar. "I think it's working for small businesses, and working for those people like contractors who have a difficult time getting insurance. SAIF should be safeguarded," Price said. A number of questions prepared by lunch guests went unasked because of time. Interviewed this morning, the candidates responded to some of those orphan questions on issues relating to funding for state police to medical marijuana. Olson said more funding needed to be found to support state troopers, and that businesses and community leaders he's spoken with are in favor of that as well. The problem, he said, is in finding new money to support more troopers on the highways, because Oregonians have historically come out against tax hikes. He said he would look for more funding by targeting other state programs that were inefficient. "I'd like to take a look at (the Oregon Health Plan). I think we have to return to what was constructed 10 years ago, and support the elderly, the disabled, and the most vulnerable Oregonians. But from stories I've heard, there's some things about that program that are a little out of whack and need to be looked at," Olson said. Addressing the state police issue, Price said he would look elsewhere for ways to get OSP back to full strength. "The thing is, of the 150 police positions that were cut, they've already hired back 140, so as far as personnel goes, that's already happening. The crime lab is the big thing for me. I don't say we go to OHP to look for ways to get that back. In that way, Olson is mirroring me by looking for an inefficient program and take a hardball look, and generate funds in those areas," Price said. Both candidates said they favored siezing assets in drug crimes, both to fund law enforcement and to deter criminals. On medical marijuana, Olson said he was in favor of leaving the existing law the way it is, but opposed Ballot Measure 33, which would increase the quantities of medical marijuana it would be legal to possess. In contrast, Price said he wasn't in favor the new measure or the old. "I have to say that I'm against it. I just don't see any real reason for it," Price said, meaning medical marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake