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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1996)
i MONDAY: Opinion TUESDAY: Politics WEDNESDAY: Opinion THURSDAY: Politics FRIDAY: Opinion a voter’s guide to the 1996 election and life on the campaign trail As a student voter in Oregon, what do you feel is_your impact on the local, state and federal government? ISSUE: ENERGY - A 1 (J lJ ill). J JljJ Question: To what extent should the gov ernment encourage the use ot non-fossil fuel energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions? [he administration favors continuation of selected tax incentives that spur greater private development and uti lization of alternative energy and conserva tion technologies.... The administration will continue to back re search as well as on diverse ways to im prove the efficiency of energy use." —President Bill Clinton, Democratic candidate "My proposed tax cut will do more to encour age marketplace-driven investment in our ener gy future than all of the government subsidies combined.... Until more research is completed, it is not appropriate to commit to international ly binding mandates or other government in tervention. " —Bob Dole, Republican candidate "The United States needs national leader ship that will develop a long-term energy policy to decrease our depen dence on oil and in crease our research into alternative energy sources. The govern ment can—and must — help in accomplishing these goals. Our nation must take the lead in researching and developing new technologies that will allow us to enjoy nature and reap its benefits with out causing destruction." —Ross Perot, Reform Party candidate Student voters mobilize for 1996 election ■ ELECTIONS: More than 9,000 University students are registered for the Nov 5 election By Doug Irving Community Reporter There are rallies and marches and protests. There are discussions in classes and discussions in coffee shops. There are student interest groups and even a few in terested students. The University long has been considered a politically active campus, but the coming elections are testing formal student politi cal participation. About 5,300 University students have registered this fall, said Leslie Gray, the ASUO state affairs coordinator. About 4.000 students were registered last spring for the special election, she said. “The drive for the fall isn’t so much as it usually is,” she said. “But we haven’t ever done so much registration before.” Many students who were registered in the spring are still current in their registra tion, Gray said. Because of this, at least 9.000 students are registered for the Nov. 5 election, she said. That number is more than half the Uni versity student population of about 17,000, she said. However, student registration nationally has been down, Gray said. This is because laws, such as the Motor-Voter, are allowing students to register off campus, slowing down on-campus registration drives. The Motor-Voter laws allow people to register when they apply for or renew their drivers’ licenses. However, all students must get involved in politics, said June Katel, a spokes woman for the League of Women Voters. The Nov. 5 election will be especially im portant for students because several of the issues on the ballot could affect them, she said. Students can’t afford to take a pas sive stance in politics, she said. "1 think students need to vote,” she said. “You need to get involved and get the kind of government you want.” EMERALD About 4,000 students were registered to vote last spring. This year’s numbers are up to about 5,300, said Leslie Gray, the ASUO state affairs coordinator. The major ballot measure facing stu dents this election is Measure 47, Katel said. The measure would cut property tax es and could seriously reduce higher edu cation revenues, she said. Katel also suggested students look at Measure 36, which would increase the minimum wage; Measure 32, which could expand rapid transit between Eugene and Washington; and some House bills. “Study the ballot measures,” she said. “Look who’s writing the pros and cons. It’s really something you need to start doing.” Not all students play such an active role in politics, said Michael Olson, a spokesman for OSPIRG, one of the larger interest groups on campus. “Many people are apathetic to partici pating,” he said. “Then there are students who realize we do live in a democracy, and we can participate in the system.” Students who drop out of politics usual ly feel alienated and decide their vote won’t matter, Olson said. They often see government as working for special inter ests, not for the good of the people, he said. “It seems [to them] like corporate gov ernment is just taking over,” he said. “They see that government is working for corporate America.” However, many students are returning to politics this year because of the elections, he said. Students involving themselves are fairly active this year, he said. “There seems to be a resurgence of the civic-minded person,” he said. “It does seem like there is a lot of student involve ment in the political arena this year.” SOURCE: Science magazine, AP. P.O.BOX 3159. EUGENE OREGON 97403 The Oregon Daily Emerald is published daily Monday through Fri day during the school year and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. Inc, at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. A member of the Associated Press, the Emerald operates independently of the University with of fices at Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. Editor-In-Chief: Steven Asbury Managing Editor: Jennifer Carter Night Editor Ryan Frank Community: Jennifer Schmitt, editor. Jean Bond, Christian Hill Entertainment: Nicole Kreuger, editor. Jesse Stephenson Higher Education: Tamyra Howser, in-depth. Laura Cadiz, Benjamin Kwasney Opinion: Ashley Bach, editor. Chris Hutchinson, illustrator. Politics: Shana Cohn, editor. Doug Irving Student Activities: Kristin Bailey, editor. Angie Suchy, Tom Potter Sports: Mark McTyre, editor. Andrea DeYoung, assistant editor. Chris Hansen, Ryan Frank, Ryan Halvorsen Copy Desk: Thom Schoenborn, copy chief. Trevor Kearney, Sarah Kickler, Mike Schmierbach, Kendra Smith Presentation: Dennis Bolt, editor. Matt Garton Photography: Mathew Stiffler, editor. Andrew Brackensick, Joe Bunik, Amanda Erickson, Shannon Kilduff, Chad Patteson Freelance: Lara Pittman, editor. On-Line: Nicholas Stiffler General Manager: Judy Riedl Advertising: Becky Merchant, director. Anne Amador, Lee Yen Beh, Marco Ching, Yujin Chi, Matt Johnson, Anne Miller, Trina Shanaman, Rose Soil, Matt Solomon, Greg Walsh Classified: Tara Sloan, manager. Natasha Lumpkin, Debbie Levy, Heather Moye Production: Michele Ross, manager. Ingrid White, coordinator Shawna Abele, Laura Daniel, Tara Knight, Melissa LeBahn, Molly McCanta, Allison Stormo, Mike Young Business: Kathy Carbone, supervisor. Judy Connolly Distribution: John Long, Yancey De Young, Ferenc Rakoczi Newsroom.(541)346-5511 Display Advertising.(541)346-3712 Business Office.(541) 346-5512 A look at some of the 23 ballot measures in the November 5 election THE MEASURE WHAT IT WOULD DO Reinstate the collective bargaining law that was in effect before a 1995 change. The changes made in 1995 included limiting required issues, reducing the categories of public employees that could unionize, and changed the process for union arbitration. The measure would define classes of public safety employees and prohibit all from striking. It would also return collective bargaining rules to those before 1995. ARGUMENTS FOR Will reverse a law that puts public safety decisions in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. The current law can impede public safety officials from correctly do ing their jobs. Ensures quality policing, fire service, and emer gency response. ARGUMENTS AGAINST Current law improved collec tive bargaining practices and limited power of big employee labor unions. Public safety of ficials must currently be ac countable to the people for their actions; measure would limit this. Measure could affect tax dollar spending if unions are given the power to demand more money. THE MEASURE WHAT IT WOULD DO Amends the state constitution to raise the mini mum normal retirement age to 67. This would be the same retirement age as the federal Social Security retirement age. The measure would also bar medical benefits to non-disability re tirees. Does not apply to benefits accrued be fore effective date. ARGUMENTS FOR Makes public employee retirement plans more equal to non-public re tirement plans. Eliminates interim health care coverage between ear ly retirements and when Medicare takes over. Protects working fami lies from paying higher taxes if the pension fund goes bankrupt ARGUMENTS AGAINST The Oregon Supreme Court has already found that such a measure is unconstitutional because the state cannot over turn agreements made during collective bargaining. Unfairly singles out public employees even though they work hard, also. Attacks health care op tions for retirees. SOURCESiThe National Coalition for Public lands and Natural Resources. Oregon State Public Interest Research Group. Americans for the Environment, Cascade Business News
