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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1994)
EDITORIAL Re-elect Defazio for District No. 4 In a bewildering election season with scant easy choic es, there are only a few races that provide an obvious vote. The race for IJ.S. Representative from the 4th District is one such case. Peter DePazio has been a force for Oregon in his four terms as representative, consistently bringing home con crete benefits for the state, which have earned him the respect of both his constituents and his colleagues in Washington. Me has the experience, commitment and intelligence necessary to servo Oregon for another term. He should bo given that chance. The debate between environmentalists and the timber industry is often simplisticaily characterized as Jobs vs. the environment. DeFazio has not subscribed to that notion. Instead, he has been one of the strongest supporters of a ban on log exports, which would keep unfinished logs from leaving the state without first being made into fin ished products or at least lumber. That generates Jobs in this state without simply encouraging the industry to keep cutting down more tnms than necessary. And ho has made efforts to ensure that displaced tim ber workers remain productive citizens. He has even donated some of his congressional pay raise — an increase he voted against — to fund scholarships at com munity colleges so those workers can get the training they need. uoiazio s opponent. Republican John l) Newkirk, is running on a platform of stopping "tax-and-spond politi cians." That argument would be more appropriate against someone other than DeFazio. who lias shown himself to bo more responsible in that regard than many other members of Congress. DeFazio has co-sponsored a constitutional balanced budget amendment — hardly the act of a tax-and-spend politician. The virtual unknown Newkirk is obviously at a disad vantage in this race. And while his list of priorities may appeal to some voters, it simply can’t compote with the proven record of Peter DeFazio. Newkirk is probably right when he describes DeFazio as a "career politician." But when a career is as effec tive as DeFazio's has been, then erne has to wonder why that's such a bad thing. According to Nowkirk, politicians are persuaded by lobbyists to ignore the concerns of the voters who elect ed them. Essentially, he's afraid that "special interests" control tho politician. But Newkirk's list of priorities show that he is just as influenced by special interests as any career politician, calling for protection Tor social security, the opening of closed forests, tho preservation of fishing rights and the right to bear arms. Whether those are worthy causos is not the issue here. The point is, DeFazio has made it clear that he gets the job done in Congress. All we have to do is hire him again. Oregon Daily The c>*gon f mnrak) t% put*%h«d Ckvty Monday through f r*Jmy during me school year an<] Tuesday ami Thursday during ih© summer by the Oregon Daily tmerakJ PufcfeVvng Co . Inc a! the l)rvy©rs/ty of Oregon. E ugene. Oregon Th© Imtrstkf opera!m indapenderrtty of the Onrversrty *»th o««c« at Su*e 300 o* the t »t) Memorial Lkson and it a member of the Associated Press The t mmtkS >* prwate property The untaartul removal c* ut© of papers * prosecute**© by taw Edhor-bvChlet Kaly Soto p o uo —iipym conor Edttori* Editor QrapMc t Editor Fr—larvco Editor I n D#pth Editor A ■bv lata F Uiivxj mom Joa Harwood Jan Paalay Alaayi Baum Ed Ktoptarotam WWI COTW MKWUfl Sports Editor Ots Moit Pt*Oto Editor fcAchaoi 9vnd« Supplsmsott Editor T ftsta Nooi Might Editor Tav\a E ichorooh* «#•' ; ' • -- —* i * * - - - -'-*■ ■■*■—-■-■ Cotnmutvty. T«ftany Snvth. H«gh«v t'&JC4t»Ot\ Adrntn#sirmtt0n Nows Staff: Lori Retimes* Wtlson Chan. Amy Columbo Tasha E<ch©n»#h©/ At>o i st'maOA. Mrimo Fontana. Gay4* Former* Christopher To* Matt Garton. Gary Gras* Sarah ♦ lenderson. Km Henry. Trevor Kearny Adam KsncNx MarV McTyte. Ben MoeOu*. Arw>© Mosar Aomleid Sherry R*m«y. Robb* Hwvm. 1* Sakocoa. Paul Van S<*ie IQm A'eu Oa/v«( Weal. Brian Womacs Goneral Manager Judy Rod Advertising Director Mv» W after Production Manager M*.h«le Rom Advertising Marco O ■'*; Tony To* firm H©r*h©f N'cor Meffmarfc. Jeremy Waw M '■**■ M S t .»•?' M v n»v Tom Mftfe-tiaedl. Kefcsey W«*©i Classified ft** *,• M<“- ♦ •a • Alar lager Jc»»‘ Se3?: •• Jod Wu Distribution y^» long. F «v ©rx: Flaeoci; Regma Zsujxw Business: Kathy Carbon©. Supervisor Judy GooooUy Production: Do**' a MCoOO ProdfciChcn CoonsneAv Shewn© At**«e. Grog Oesrnond. Tea i iauftney Brad Joss. Jennifer Roland. Nefl Thengv^i. Dayton Yee rwwwwxn Ofrto# 34*3512 Ut»p*»y Aay#rtljUnQ CtWWld Advertising 346-4343 IT'S DAO's fAULT. HE ALviAVS TOLD ME l COULDN'T Do ANYWNG PpoflERLV, HE SA»D I JUST i 0/DN'T GET /t; } THAT S A CftVeABV A*JO \SoM£TW/NG Of A W»Mp..v -=-ZT Dad miy have. been right. m * •> 1* >»* % 1 f |w\)p «>CW V &S**AU> A* flur iuooiH<>n>6l.. *'A*,u*rMro<tou/ i/p }. It g i/ ■ COMMENTARY Think twice before you vote Patrick Mitcholtrct? As you Icxik over thi* measures in the 1994 voters' pamphlet, visualise what would happen if all of them passed By doing this, you may start to notice some problems specifii alls, the combination of Ballot Mea sure 5 and Ballot Measure IS Measure S. sometimes called "the son of five." is an extension of Ballot Measure S from 1990 The first Measure 5 imposed a limit on property taxes in Ore gon and caused massive funding problems for almost all state assisted programs The new Measure 5 would inquire that all new taxes and fee increases he put before the voters for approval Measure 15. the “kid's first" measure, would require the state to maintain funding for public si hoots and community colleges at present levels and to increase funding to compensate for infla tion and increased enrollment This would help countered the fiscal problems created by the first Measure 5, and would also guarantee that the schools wouldn't be hurt. Both measures appear good on the surface Taxpayers are tired of the government popping new taxes on them to drain their hank accounts, and schools are a priority for many Oregon voters However, both measures are attracting criticism. Measure 5 would put every new tax and fee increase on the ballots That could add up to hundreds of minor taxes that need to be approved. Most won't be approved. Taxpayers are extremely reluctant to vote m favor of new taxes, and the gov ernment will be hurting for money Measure 15 also creates prob lems because the money to fund schools will more than likely come from state colleges and many other state-funded ser vices, such as law enfon ement. nursing homes, and juvenile programs That moans Universi ty students would have to pay up to 30 percent more for tuition, or the state universities would have to eliminate 8,000 students What would happen il both measures passed' Individually, they have good and bad points, but together they will create a crisis, The state will lie required to maintain funding for schools, but will have no way to do it. With inflation, the general ris ing expanses of just about every thing and the population growth in Oregon, and all state pro grams. including public schools and community colleges, are going to need larger budgets. If the government can't increase taxes to fight increased costs bet auso the voters turn down each new tax. almost all services would have to take a budget cut, or he eliminated — including puhlii education. That would be breaking the law. What would be the purpose of electing people to represent us in the state government if we tie their hands with a proposal like Measure 5? If it can’t levy taxes, then we’ve eliminated one of the main tools of the government. Because of budget cuts, we’ll also lx* eliminating a good por tion of the government. These people were elected to maintain a state system, provide services and public order. Mea sure 5 would handicap them, and Measure 15 would paralyze them. In my experience, no two peo pin agree on everything, or even on most things. That's why we have elected representatives. If it were up to the general public, there would be no taxes and very, very little would ever get done. I’m not necessarily in favor of new taxes or more government, nor uni I against maintaining funding for schools. But it seems suicidal to render the present government impotent without having some way to replace it. These measures leave no options. But it does not make sense to fund education at the kinder garten through 12th-grade level by robbing institutions of higher education. In a world that almost requires a master's degree for a well-paying job, a high school education or a piece of paper from a community col lege won't cut it. Oregon stu dents won’t be able to afford either in-state or out-of-state col lege tuition. When you vote on November H, keep these things in mind. These measures may look good, but they will hurt you in the long run. I'm not asking you to vote like me. I'm just asking you to think about the consequences of your vote. If you are not planning to vote, I strongly suggest you reconsider. Students are one of the largest voting groups in Ore gon and the group with the least votes. So vote, and vote wisely. I’ntrick Mitcheltrve is a journal ism student at the University. ■ COMMENTARY POLICY I tic (>n■i:<>n Daily Emerald welcomes commentaries from the Pub!,c tom .cm i tig (opus of interest to the University commu nity Commentaries should be between 600 and BOO words, legi ble. signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is submitted. 1 In; Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
