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Candidates: Economy’s
jump-start ranks high
John Swallow (above) and Jim Matheson (below) agree
the economy is the top priority for the 2nd Congressional
District but provide differing solutions. Swallow proposes
less infringing taxes, and Matheson said investing in
basic infrastructure is the way to jump-start the economy.
PHOTOS BY ANNIE BROWN / UNIVERSITY JOURNAL
By TASHA WILLIAMS
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL
In the only debate in southern Utah for 2nd Congressional
District, candidates John Swallow and Jim Matheson both
agreed Thursday the most important issue in their district
is the need to jump start the economy.
The candidates were asked five questions from SUU students,
detailing their passionate views on partial-birth abortion
and women’s rights.
Other topics debated included the role Congress should
play in the war on Iraq, nuclear waste storage at Yucca
Mountain, and their support to decrease the effects of
the drought on southern Utah ranchers.
Matheson, who was first elected to serve in Congress in
2000, said to boost the economy he supported legislation
to hold corporate wrong-doers accountable for their actions
and said this was a critical first step in rerouting the
economy.
“We all accept risk,” Matheson said. “We
understand that’s part of what’s a good, open,
free market. But what we don’t accept is when people
don’t play by the rules. And when they don’t
play by the rules, they need to be held accountable.”
He also said as a member of the House Transportation Committee
he has helped the economy flourish by making an investment
in “basic infrastructure,” such as boosting
roads and airports to increase economic development in
southern Utah.
Swallow, who is serving his third term in the Utah House
of Representatives, mentioned the importance of education
funding but also agreed that the economy is the most important
problem for Utah citizens.
He said the way to fix the problem is to create local
jobs.
He said he would help local commissioners work on the
growth of economic development plans.
“I think people out in this part of the state are
sick and tired of having to send all their kids to the
Wasatch Front to be educated,” Swallow said.
“Thank goodness we have SUU here so we educate in
a wonderful, wonderful institution here, but also to retain
them here.”
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Keeping taxes down is also important aspect
of a flourishing economy, Swallow said, who was recognized
as the 2000 Taxpayer Advocate bythe Utah Taxpayers’
Association. He said low taxes are a way for businesses
to flourish.
In an issue Swallow said is “probably the most sensitive”
subject among the debate, the candidates heatedly discussed
legislation dealing with late-term abortions and other late-term
procedures.
“I can’t think of a more heinous act that we
as American civilization allow to happen under our laws,”
Swallow said.
Swallow said he wouldn’t have voted with Matheson,
who he said voted against Chris Cannon and Jim Hansen in
seven abortion-related votes since he’s been in office.
Matheson said there has been more than seven votes, some
of which he voted with Cannon and Hansen. He said he has
always believed the procedure should be banned and said
it is prohibited under Utah law.
“When it comes to the issue of late-term abortions,
I have always said this procedure should be banned, just
like our Utah State Legislative law, just like the law in
40 states in this country, because it’s banned but
for exceptions of life or health of the mother,” Matheson
said. “That’s what will pass constitutional
muster, that’s the position of the state of Utah,
that’s the position I’ve taken since the day
I’ve taken office.”
He said if Swallow was so concerned he should have been
more aggressive in changing the law.
“My opponent has . . . never taken any legislative
action in his 6 years in the legislature to change the Utah
law,” Matheson said. “Now we’re in election
season, it’s time to heat up the rhetoric.”
Swallow maintained that the issues dealing with abortion
were value-centered and said he would have voted with Cannon
and Hansen. He also quoted President Bush, who said the
unborn are citizens who also have rights.
The candidates were also passionate about issues regarding
the nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain and its transportation
through Utah. Both men were adamant about preventing this
action and against temporary storage at Goshute Valley Indian
Reservation.
Matheson, who said the issue was “near and dear”
to his heart, said he is concerned about this issue and
how it has been handled in Congress.
He said because of his position on the House Transportation
Committee, he was surprised that no one noted the risk of
the waste’s transportation through Utah, which includes
the risk of terrorist attacks.
“In a post-9/11 world, we have to start imagining
things that were unimaginable before,” Matheson said.
Matheson also said he was surprised to be the single dissenting
vote for the Yucca Mountain issue.
“I’m tired of being a dumping ground for the
rest of the nation’s waste,” Matheson said.
“We have paid our price when it comes to radioactive
material in this country’s history.”
Matheson said the problem with the Yucca Mountain decision
was politics, and he said it wasn’t just coincidence
the waste ended up in one of the western states with the
least congressional representatives.
Swallow also said he would have voted against Yucca Mountain
if he had been sitting in Congress. He said Yucca Mountain
is a states’ rights issue, and Utah citizens should
have the right to vote on if they want the waste transported
through Utah.
He also said Congress should look at a way to reprocess
the waste before it is transported.
The candidates also discussed the pending war on Iraq and
what they believe Congress’ role should be in the
decision.
Swallow said America is living in a time unlike any before
and said these times require strong governmental leadership.
He urged representatives to empower the president to make
strong decisions for the country, but said if America decides
to go to war, he will support that decision.
“There’s a good chance that diplomacy might
work, we’ve empowered the president with the authority
to go to war,” Swallow said. “I would support
that under the circumstances, because I do believe that
weapons of mass destruction are being proliferated and that
this regime already has a history of doing this.”
Both Matheson and Swallow agree that America can depend
on its resources to support America if the decision is made
to go to war.
“I hope that as America, (we) can all join with faith
and prayers for America, and hope and pray we don’t
have to go to war, and then hope that America is protected
by our technologies, our resources, our soldiers, and by
our faith,” Swallow said.
Matheson said war is not the first option and he has talked
with President Bush about disarming Saddam Hussein and encouraging
a regime change.
The drought in southern Utah was also discussed by the candidates
who both said they had talked with local ranchers to get
a feel for the problem.
Matheson said he supports Conservation Reserve Programs
that have already opened up lands that were set aside and
preserved for times of need during drought.
Swallow said he wants to serve on the House Resource Committee
and supports local control, local input, and case-by-case
investigation.
He emphasized the importance of taking care of the American
farmer.
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SU students responsible for rights, officials say
By MELISSA NIELSEN
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL
Ignorance is no excuse for students who should be aware of
their rights and responsibilities, an assistant to Utah’s
attorney general said.
“We go to great lengths to publish and make available
to students the codes of conduct and other policy statements
of their rights and responsibilities so they can make themselves
aware,” said D. Michael Carter, assistant attorney general
and legal counsel for higher education affairs at SUU.
“We also make every effort to keep them in line with constitutional
guidelines that are applicable,” he added.
Student rights and responsibilities are available in the student
handbook and on the SUU Web site.
As a citizen and student, each individual is responsible to
know his or her rights and understand that, even if they don’t
know them, they still apply, the leader of SUUSA’s Judicial
Council said.
“If students don’t understand their rights, they
can’t exercise them,” said Geoffrey Chesnut, the
council’s chief justice.
A lot of students misunderstand general rights from the constitution
that are
applicable in any state institution, Chesnut said.
Some students don’t understand what the rights are. They
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think they have rights that don’t exist, such as the
right not to be offended. Then they don’t understand the
rights they do have, Chesnut said.
“I think that for the most part university policies are
constitutional; difficulty comes from applying those rights,”
Chesnut said.
The current SUUSA Constitution does not allow for student grievances
to be redressed, Chesnut said.
The Judicial Council specifically deals with the current SUUSA
Constitution discussing with the senate and the student body
in deciding what is constitutional.
In the current Constitution, the senate and the assembly are
granted supreme power and ensures no student rights. If a student
has a grievance they are advised to go to the Judicial Council,
Chesnut said.
Student rights are the same rights issued in the U.S. Constitution,
SUUSA President Matt Glazier said.
Voting for student representatives is the basis of the democratic
system, Glazier said. SUUSA officers exist to serve as the student
voice. They represent the student body while serving in an influential
position.
“There is a difference between authority and influence,”
Glazier said. “The power is where we have a vote.”
Student leaders have the power to instigate change when they
have a counted vote serving in leadership positions in groups
such ACUC, Board of Trustees, the University Journal and SUUSA.
Glazier said students may appeal to their student leaders and
to express their opinions. They need to understand that if enough
students get behind something, that is how they effect change,
he said.
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