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
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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.
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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