2014 OR Senate debate: on Immigration

Jason Conger: Voted NO on drivers licenses for non-resident aliens

• Directs Department of Transportation to issue driver card to applicant who does not provide proof of legal presence in United States but otherwise has complied with all requirements for [license or permit] type of driving privileges and has resided in Oregon for more than one year.
• Provides that driver card may be used only as evidence of grant of driving privileges.
• Provides exceptions.
• Limits expenditures by department, for biennium beginning July 1, 2013, for carrying out provisions of Act.

Jason Conger: Stricter rules for non-citizen college tuition equity

House Republicans unsuccessfully proposed an alternative version that would have let the bill expire in 2016 and limited tuition equity to undocumented immigrants who are in the US by July 1. Republicans also sought stricter guidelines on how students could demonstrate they intend to become lawful residents. The House rejected the alternative proposal 23-33, leading several Republicans to attack Democrats for what they saw as a wasted opportunity to compromise. "We could have achieved some admirable goals with this bill without ignoring the concerns of many Oregonians," said Rep. Jason Conger, R-Bend. "I consider this a failure."