University College Democrats and College Republicans met for a bit of verbal sparring Thursday night, debating the merits of Measure 30, gay marriage and immigration before a small crowd of students and community members.
College Democrats co-Chairman Randy Derrick wasted no time supporting Measure 30 as a savior of necessary public services.
“Measure 30 may not be the measure we all hoped for, but it is the measure that will make sense,” Derrick said.
College Republican Laura Jenkins said Measure 30 would harm Oregon’s economy and relieve state legislators of their responsibility to run a lean, efficient government.
“Clearly, with all this waste and an economy in recession, Oregon should not be raising taxes,” she said. “That’s (the Legislature’s) job, to stay within the budget and not raise taxes and take the easy way out.”
But Derrick disputed that state government is wasteful.
“The waste has already been cut,” Derrick said. “The easy cuts have been made. The next round of cuts are really going to hurt.”
College Republicans said Measure 30, which supporters often describe as a temporary tax increase, carries five permanent taxes. The group also predicted the Legislature may eventually make permanent two temporary taxes contained in the measure.
“It’s a sneaky bill,” Republican Chris Looney said. “It’s being sold as temporary when it’s not temporary.”
The Republicans also attacked President George W. Bush’s immigration proposal, saying it rewards illegal entry into the United States.
“We believe Bush is wrong,” Chairman Jarrett White said. “We should not give amnesty or worker permits for people who broke the law.
“We should shore up our border and get these people out.”
White said illegal immigrants are treated badly by their employers.
“It is new-age slavery,” he said. “They’re supporting our economy with slave labor.”
College Republican Dean Scrutton challenged illegal immigrants’ loyalty to the United States.
“Most (illegal immigrants) don’t want to be assimilated,” Scrutton said. “Most don’t want our culture and our language. Most hold allegiances for other countries that they shouldn’t.”
College Democrat Brady Miller advocated U.S. Senate Bill 2010 as an alternative to Bush’s plan. The proposed legislation would allow illegal immigrants the chance to stay temporarily in the United States in exchange for paying taxes.
“It is a good bill and a good start and, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Miller said.
The debate, which lasted a little more than an hour, remained civil. Even the contentious issue of gay marriage failed to ruffle the debaters.
College Democrat Ethan Firpo took issue with the national leaders of his party, arguing that civil unions — a term Democrats have employed to avoid the controversial question of marriage — are inadequate. He said it was “not long ago” that the legal principle of “separate but equal” was used to justify segregating blacks and whites.
“Historically, legally, genetically, it doesn’t make sense not to legalize this,” he said. “We must not leave behind a lot of people just for the sake of cultural comfort.”
Scott Austin, a 2000 University graduate debating for the College Republicans, said gay marriage is incompatible with American values.
“This country was based primarily on Judeo-Christian values,” Austin said, adding that his position is “based on religion, it’s based on an understanding of Christian doctrine. You can reject that, but you can’t reject the history behind it.”
Audience members said they were satisfied with the debate.
“I just wanted to see what students had to say about these topics,” South Eugene High School teacher Suzie Gaffney said. “I was also surprised that this didn’t pull in more people.”