Scott Bruun: Federal Budget Politics Put Oregon Fishermen At Risk

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Scott Bruun, GoLocalPDX MINDSETTER™

Motor lifeboat crews out of the Coast Guard station in Newport, Oregon knew to keep an eye on the skipper’s cigar.  You see the skipper, Tom McAdams, almost always had a lit cigar in his mouth while on duty. ‘Almost’ being the operative word because as his young crews would learn, if they ever saw McAdams spit his cigar out, it was time to hang on.  Hang on for life and hold their breath that is, because a hastily discarded cigar was sure sign that their rescue boat was about to be completely rolled-over by the brutal Oregon surf.

Master Chief McAdams was involved in at least eleven rollovers (something Coast Guard rescue boats are designed to survive).  This in the course of 5,000 plus missions and more than 100 saved lives.  And while he is one of the most famous “Coasties” of all time, McAdams is just one part of the larger history and success of the Coast Guard in Newport. 

There is a sign on the road as you drive into Newport that reads “Coast Guard City, USA”.  Appropriate when you consider that Coast Guard lifeboat and helicopter rescue teams have saved hundreds upon hundreds of lives over their long history of Newport operations. Saved fisherman, saved pleasure boaters, saved surfers, saved swimmers, saved beachcombers. Saved citizens.

That’s why the town of Newport was justifiably upset when the Coast Guard announced in early October that it had no alternative but to end its helicopter rescue operations out of Newport, effective November 30th.  The reason?  Federal budget cuts.

Coast Guard's helicopter's value

Within the federal budget universe, the Coast Guard’s single helicopter in Newport is significantly less than a drop-in-the-bucket. Yet make no mistake of its value. It can arrive on scene in minutes, much faster than rescue boats or even other helicopters based in Astoria or North Bend. And minutes matter in our hypothermia-inducing corner of the Pacific.  Lives are saved, every year, because of the Newport-based helicopter.  

Yet despite the common sense cost-benefit of this helicopter, very little is common sense when it comes to federal budget politics.  Newport’s helicopter, one that saves lives, is a victim of federal budget sequestration.  That is, victim to leaderless budgeting where “discretionary” budget items like military expenditures, national parks, medical research, and even the lone helicopter in Newport are cut arbitrarily.  

Recall how we go to budget sequestration, now in its second year.  Congress imposed this draconian budget gimmick on itself as motivation to find agreement on comprehensive budget reforms, including the potential for the gentlest of entitlement reform. Congress assumed that the threat of deep military cuts and the prospect of cuts to medical research and other vital functions would be enough to compel itself to engage in the hard work of real spending reform.

They were wrong. 

Abdicating leadership

Instead, sequestration has given congress yet another excuse to abdicate leadership.  Abdication that provides a convenient “out” on any sort of entitlement reform.  Abdication that will, among many other things, result in damaged military readiness and delays to finding cures for cancer, diabetes, ALS and multiple sclerosis. 

And beginning November 30th, abdication that will lead to far greater risk of life and limb for the fishing fleet out of Newport.  Is it irony or just coincidence that the next day, December 1st, is the first day of Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season?  A season long considered as one of the most dangerous for fishermen on the Pacific.

Scott Bruun is a fifth-generation Oregonian and recovering politician. He lives with his family in the 'burbs, yet dutifully commutes every day to Portland, where he earns his living on the fifth floor of Big Pink. 

Banner Photo Credit: iStock 

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