The following statement is made in a document
that we picked up at the Lane County Fair, although it's been seen at others, and bears
the aegis: "Authorized by: The Oregon Republican Party, 8196
S.W. Hall Blvd. #101; Beaverton, Oregon 97008"
"The information in this
publication was obtained from the official platforms of the Oregon Republican Party and
the Democratic Party of Oregon. The DPO platform is a single page. The parenthetical
material and emphasis were added." (sic)
This is a half-truth at best. The DPO platform IS one page, but this change was made to make a
broad philosophical statement, with the DETAIL (which the Republicans allege is MISSING)
moved to the Legislative Agenda, which, combined with the Platform, comprise a document of
similar length and detail to the Republican platform.
They have been making this claim for
at least the past two years!
click
here
HERE
IT IS ONLINE!
click
here
In other words, this is, at best a false
accusation made without bothering to check their facts, or else it is a conscious
distortion, or, in plain language, a LIE!
Example:
Here's what the Republican pamphlet
says:
(Quoting Democrats) "Education 'We
support excellent public education that is adequately funded and available to all.' (This
is the entire Democratic Party of Oregon platform plank on this important issue)"
This is MEANT to be damning, but the Republicans didn't bother doing their "homework" on Education. Here's what they
didn't bother to either include or find out:
EDUCATION (Democratic legislative agenda click to see entire document)
6.1 We support the state adopting a flat grant policy that
provides equal funding for students attending public or private colleges and universities.
Current policy favors private institutions.
6.2 We support repealing the "corporate kicker
law," and giving the revenue to all levels of education.
We support increased funding for community college and
vocational education that allows Oregonians to receive the training or re-training
necessary to enter or re-enter the work force as the best trained citizenry in the nation
and the world.
We support the rights of students to determine the use of
student fees through a democratic process, and oppose any attempt to restrict student
recommending power of the building or incidental fee.
We support the return of local control to schools by
allowing local school districts to raise local taxes to enhance education opportunities
not funded by the State equitable funding formula.
We support legislation to bring the Oregon tax code into
congruence with federal tax regulation regarding the tuition tax credit.
6.8 We oppose vouchers, private charter schools, and other
efforts to finance private education with public funds
6.9 We support increased funding for all levels of
education.
6.10 The state should pursue a strategy of reducing
dependence on the lottery for education funding.
6.12 We support a teacher-student ratio that maximizes
learning. We support additional state funding to reduce all class sizes, and specifically
reduce class size in grades K-3 to no more than 20 students.
6.13 We support the elimination of the double majority
requirement for education funding ballot measures.
6.14 We support funding technology in institutions of public
education for K-12 through higher education. We support electronic networking all
institutions of learning together.
6.15 We support funding for equitable compensation for
part-time and full-time educators in Oregon's community colleges and throughout the
educational system
6.16 We support the reinstatement and/or retention of
funding for art and music education in public schools.
6.17 We support Executive Order 12999 that gives school
districts computer systems and software whenever federal computer systems are upgraded,
and encourage all Oregon public and private institutions to do the same.
6.18 We support an increase in faculty teacher salaries for
Oregon University System employees with the goal of being no less than 25th in the nation
in funding salaries.
6.19 We support "just cause" policy language
within all education districts and college collective bargaining agreements.
6.20 We support funding for a loan repayment assistance
program for graduates of Oregon institutions of higher education who remain in Oregon and
dedicate themselves to community service/public interest employment.
6.21 We oppose the attempts to tax tuition waivers,
stipends, graduate teaching assistantships and fellowships.
6.22 We support the Oregon University System and oppose any
attempt to dissolve it.
6.23 We support fully funding the Oregon Need Grant.
6.24 We support the reauthorization of the Federal Higher
Education Act of 1965 and within that act support a redistribution from loan programs to
grants.
6.25 We support increasing the required school year from 9
months to 12 months for all children assigned to the criminal justice system of the state
and the counties, and support increased funding to the appropriate agency.
Hmmm. Looks like the Democrats had something more to say on
Education than the Republicans claim! For SOME reason, the Republican pamphlet does not
trumpet the following portion of the Republican platform:
4.3c Science [education] shall include scientific
creationism.
The remainder of the Republican pamphlet represents distortions of the Crime,
Taxes, Economy and Health Care planks of the Democratic platform and legislative agenda,
and concludes with this:
"Conclusion: The Democratic Party of Oregon has
produced a platform of platitudes with few real stands on the important issues we face
everyday." (sic)
