After toying with it a while, Gov. John Kitzhaber finally pulled the plug on Senate Bill 215, the bill that would have allowed school districts to keep team names and logos with Native American themes, despite a state ban, as long as local tribes gave permission. After weeks of saying he planned to veto the bill, Kitzhaber finally did so on Friday. Kitzhaber could have allowed the bill to become law without his signature, and we still think that would have been the best option for the governor. At issue is a rule approved last year by the state Board of Education that prohibits Oregon public schools from using American Indian names, symbols or images as school mascots. Offending schools run the risk of losing state funding.Get the Story:
Editorial: Veto of mascot bill is a missed opportunity (The Corvallis Gazette-Times 8/19) Also Today:
Kitzhaber vetoes mascot bill (The Salem Statesman-Journal 8/19) Related Stories:
Editorial: Debate over Indian mascots far from over in Oregon (8/13)Editorial: Oregon governor must veto Indian mascot measure (8/12)
Oregon governor announces veto notice for Indian mascot bill (8/7)
Oregon governor to veto bill allowing some Indian mascots (8/5)
Se-ah-dom Edmo: Indian mascots a dishonor to tribal people (07/03)
Oregon governor set to veto bill with Indian mascot exception (7/2)
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