OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS
For Immediate Release
March 26, 2013
Contact: Kevin Curry, 503-986-1351
HOUSE REPUBLICANS STAND FOR INFORMATION
PRIVACY FOR OREGON MINORS
SALEM, OR – Calling for greater protection for the personal information of minors in Oregon, House Republicans voted today to support an amended version of HB 2988 which allows 16-year-olds to register to vote. The Republicans offered an amendment to protect the privacy of 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds who register to vote under HB 2988.
“As a mother, this bill gives me a lot of heartburn. Without the amendment, House Bill 2988 exposes the children of Oregon to privacy and safety concerns that make Facebook seem like the Fort Knox of personal information,” said Deputy House Republican Leader Julie Parrish (R – West Linn). “Their personal information would be easily and readily available to any individual, corporation, or religious organization who wants to know the address and phone number of any 16-year-old minor. Why would we give anybody a tool to cyber-stalk our child?”
The Republican version of the bill also would have registered minors as unaffiliated voters until their 18th birthday, when they could choose to register for a political party. Without the amendment, HB 2988 allows 16-year-olds to choose a political party.
“That means that parties will be tempted to pursue 15-year-olds to try to get them to register as a member of one party or the other in advance of that 16th birthday registration,” said Rep. Wally Hicks (R – Grants Pass). “Fifteen is just too young, too young to be involved in partisan politics. When my daughter turns 15 I don’t want the parties harassing her to try to get her to join and affiliate.”
The amended version failed with all 26 House Republicans and one House Democrat supporting these additional protections for Oregon minors offered in the amendment.
For more information, contact Kevin Curry, Communications Director, at 503-986-1351 or kevin.curry@state.or.us.
ONLINE MEDIA:
Rep. Wally Hicks speaks in support of protections for minors:
Rep. Julie Parrish speaks against HB 2988:
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