Letters and Comments for November 3, 2009

Letters and Comments for November 3, 2009

Going to bat for EOU 

To the Editor:

As an EOU student and part-time employee I have followed the Republican primary between state Rep. Greg Smith and Colleen MacLeod closely.

I took the opportunity to hear MacLeod speak locally and was eager to ask her a few questions. She has criticized Rep. Smith’s vote that financially helped rescue EOU, the OSU Extension and our local FFA program, as well as our hospital. This did come at a price — a tax increase on Oregon’s wealthiest.

I asked MacLeod what she would do if she had to choose between closing EOU or raising taxes. After rephrasing the question twice in an attempt to get an answer, I asked, “Even in the face of EOU closing, you would not raise taxes?” She replied, “I would not raise taxes for any reason.”

I then asked if she had raised taxes as a county commissioner. After a long pause, she admitted she “may have.”

It is concerning that MacLeod apparently would choose to see EOU close rather than support a tax increase to a small part of our population. If EOU were to close, the devastation to our community would be appalling: 375 EOU staff members would be unemployed. Their loss of jobs would severely affect local businesses and create more job losses. Apparently, this situation is more appealing to MacLeod than breaking partisanship and supporting a tax on couples earning more than $250,000 annually.

I am a married student. My wife and I are expecting our first child in a month. Our resources are limited. I look to EOU both as an income source now and as a conduit into my future. I am deeply grateful for Rep. Smith’s support for EOU and other valuable programs in our community. My wife and I will be voting for Greg Smith next May.

Silas Kelty

La Grande