|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
News
GOP candidates talk issues at Geneva forum : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisGOP candidates talk issues at Geneva forum
| Five in race for party's nomination to challenge Foster
| by Tony Scott
| 11/19/2009
|
Four of the five Republican Party candidates who want to beat Rep. Bill Foster in November made their case before a friendly audience Sunday afternoon.
14th Congressional District candidates Jeff Danklefsen of Geneva, Ethan Hastert of Elburn, State Senator Randy Hultgren of Winfield, and Mark Vargas of Elgin answered six set questions at a candidates' forum sponsored by the Kane County Republican Advisory Council at the Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.
Candidate Jim Purcell of Batavia could not attend because of a previous commitment, but submitted answers in writing via a press release.
The winner of the primary, set for Feb. 2, will challenge Foster, D-Batavia, in the November general election. Foster's lone challenger in his party's primary, Jim Pistorius of Aurora, withdrew from the ballot last week, according to the State Board of Elections. Foster represents the 14th Congressional District, which includes Kendall County.
The candidates railed against the health care reform bill that has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives (one candidate said the measure will "kill people"), as well as what they perceive as excessive spending by the Democratically-controlled Congress, and other issues.
Each candidate was given the opportunity to talk about why he is "the best candidate to beat Bill Foster."
Hultgren, the only elected official in the group, said he has the legislative experience.
"I've been working hard for you in Springfield; very frustrated," he said. "The reason I'm running in this race in the last 30 seconds that I have a chance to talk here is I can't stand having Bill Foster be my congressman."
Vargas said that elected officials in both parties "continue to disappoint us by their corruption, greed and desire for more power, forgetting where they came from and who they represent."
"What we need most right now is the values and decency of the people I grew up with right here in the Fox Valley to get us through our current difficulties," he said.
Danklefsen said he is trying to "take back my government."
"I want to stop the spending, the tax increases and the anti-state agenda," he said.
Hastert said he pledged to support whichever candidate comes out of the February primary.
"And if I'm that candidate, I will work my tail off to beat Bill Foster in November of 2010, and if any of these other gentlemen are the candidate, I will do the same for them," he said.
Hastert described himself as a "mainstream Midwestern conservative: pro-family, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment."
The first question posed at the forum dealt with government spending via the federal stimulus bill, and unemployment in the district. The candidates were asked, "What do you feel really needs to be done to grow the economy and put America back to work?"
Hastert, a Yorkville High School graduate and attorney who is the son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, said the country "can't borrow and spend (its) way to prosperity."
"At the time our economy is struggling, the last thing we need to be doing is engage in deficit spending, and add new, huge spending programs to the books," he said.
Hastert said he would propose "common sense reforms" for the budget that would "shrink the size of government, lower spending and, eventually, lower our taxes." That includes providing the President with line-item veto authority and "common sense earmark reform," he said.
Hastert said Congress should enact a comprehensive national energy policy and "common sense health care reforms that hold the line on health care spending and increase the quality of care we have in this country, and do not cost us a dime."
The country also needs to "stem the tide on" the Federal Reserve's policies, Hastert said. He also said regulatory reform is needed that "allows companies that make good decisions to succeed and allows companies that make poor decisions to fail."
Danklefsen, a maintenance manager for a St. Charles property management firm, acknowledged that the country is in "an economic crisis today, because so many people have borrowed more than they can afford to pay back."
"In return, our government has borrowed billions of dollars we can't afford to pay back," he said. "The spending bills have failed because they don't offer the incentives and solutions that encourage economic growth. What happened to all the shovel-ready jobs the stimulus package promised? The heavy construction sector is shedding jobs."
Danklefsen said the government "punishes profit-makers."
"Creating wealth isn't a crime," he said. "Wealth creates jobs and benefits everyone. The recession will continue as long as businesses are reluctant to or can't invest capital."
Danklefsen said he supports cutting or suspending the capital gains tax indefinitely to "encourage economic growth" in addition to balancing the federal budget and cutting spending.
Vargas, a former civilian staffer with the U.S. Department of Defense, noted that the home foreclosure and jobless rates are both high in Kane County and the rest of the 14th District. He suggested that the federal stimulus and bailouts hurt businesses.
"You spend lots of money bailing out a business, and what happens? It gets smaller," he said.
Vargas said he also opposes the cap and trade environmental legislation, which he called a "national energy tax," and the health care bill.
"We need to take the burden off our small business owners," he said. "We need to allow them to open up their doors, and create jobs."
Hultgren, a state senator and attorney, said the issue of the economy is "the most important issue we're going to be dealing with this coming (election) year."
Hultgren criticized the Cash for Clunkers program and stimulus packages "that really didn't go for anything, except bumping up pay raises for bureaucrats."
Hultgren said he wants to create a business tax credit, a research-and-development credit, an extension of the new markets tax credit, and renewal of the Bush tax cuts. He said he also wants to see the extension of the $125,000 expensing limit for small businesses, as well as an increase in the child tax credit, a reduction in the rate for married couples and also more credits for domestic production and foreign taxation.
"Absolutely I want to see the death of the Nancy Pelosi health care bill that's going to cost more than 40 percent of businesses and business owners," he added.
Discuss Afghanistan,
Iran and national security
The candidates were then asked about the right course to be taken on Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea, and what steps to take to "ensure that our armed forces have the resources necessary to ensure our national security."
Hultgren suggested that the United States should help overthrow the leadership in Iran.
Hultgren said he is "really frustrated that the Obama administration has not done more to empower our friends that our within Iran that could go in and overthrow the current leadership with a little bit of help from America."
On North Korea, he said the United States should be "ever-vigilant," and to "push China and Russia to keep accountability."
On the issue of Afghanistan, Hultgren said the United States shouldn't "back away" and should "listen to our generals who are on the ground. General Stanley McChrystal, the commander in Afghanistan, recommended in September that the United States commit more troops to that war.
Hultgren said he is thankful to the veterans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces.
"Although I have not had the opportunity to serve in the military, I feel like this is my call, our call, to step up for what is right here in America, and to make sure we fight back liberal policies that are going to destroy all that you've fought for," he said.
Vargas said he has made many trips to Iraq and received intelligence briefings as part of his job. He said the biggest threat to the United States is in Afghanistan, and also said he supports McChrystal's recommendation.
"I have no question in my mind that the next 9/11 is being planned right now in Afghanistan," he said. "What the president is doing right now is playing politics with our soldiers' lives."
Along with a military effort in Afghanistan, the United States must help the Afghani government in providing jobs, he said.
"The best way to secure an area is to make sure that folks are working," Vargas said. "An important statistic, nearly 40 percent of Afghanistan's population is under the age of 14; all they've known is death and destruction. We need to make sure that we have a plan that not only secures the area, but also provides opportunities for education and jobs."
Danklefsen, however, said that leaders in Afghanistan and Iraq "have to take stronger roles in defeating the opposition so we can bring our troops home."
"If the additional 40,000 troops General McChrystal is requesting lead to Afghanistan's sovereignty, then I support it," Danklefsen said. "If it won't, then my thought is, whether we left tomorrow or 100 years from now, and Afghanistan would return to the chaos it was before we got there, then I wouldn't support it. We can't continue to be a security force."
Danklefsen said the United States needs to have "an effective, long-term plan that includes radicals in our own country as well."
"Political correctness cannot be a barrier," he said. "The radicals count on our fear of offending to implement their agenda."
Hastert said the United States "learned a brutal lesson" on Sept. 11, 2001.
"We learned that there are people in this world that want to see the American way of life come to an end," he said. "We also learned that there are countries, governments in this world that are more than happy to provide those types of people with the safe haven and the resources so that they can gather and train, and come to our shores and murder thousands of our citizens."
Hastert said Obama should listen to McChrystal and that the "time has come for (Obama) to lead."
"I believe that we have no business ever fighting a war that we do not fully intend to win," Hastert said. "Regardless of our way forward in Afghanistan, we need to give our fighting men and women the resources they need to get the job done."
Against energy bill
Asked about concerns related to the environment, Vargas said the cap and trade measure in the energy bill (the American Clean Energy and Security Act) approved by Congress earlier this year is "nothing more than a national energy tax."
Vargas also said he supports drilling for oil in the United States, noting that drilling technology has improved over the years.
"Let's lead the rest of the world in being an energy independent country," he said.
Hultgren said that any international agreements the United States make - including the Kyoto Treaty - "can't put American businesses at a disadvantage, and can't saddle American families with higher costs for necessities such as food and energy."
Hultgren also said he opposes the cap and trade measure. The measure caps emissions from factories nationally; businesses can then buy permits to emit gases such as carbon dioxide.
"It's fine for us to listen to Berkeley liberals talking about their ideas on energy policy, but when we allow them to dictate how we are going to buy and produce energy and run our businesses, and have access to energy in our homes, it's gone way too far," he said.
However, Hultgren said firms should be looking for energy alternatives. He said he recently toured a wind energy farm in LaSalle County and was "very impressed."
Hastert said cap and trade is "another burden to our businesses." He said energy legislation like cap and trade "kills jobs" and places limits on manufacturers, and such firms will go to other countries that don't have strict energy policies.
Hastert said the United States should do more to adopt future sources of clean and dependable energy, including wind, solar, geothermal and even nuclear.
He also said the United States should drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and off our intercontinental coasts, as well as tapping into natural gas fields in the Dakotas.
Danklefsen said the United States should not "relinquish our sovereignty under any international treaty, whether it relates to water rights or environmental laws, just because other countries feel that they're being cheated."
He said such treaties "would subject the United States to rogue international courts, international taxation and a loss of freedom."
Danklefsen also said, to hearty applause, that, "Global warming is a farce. It's a scheme for politicians to grab our wallets."
All oppose
health care bill
The candidates all voiced objections to the current health care bill that was recently approved by the U.S. House.
Danklefsen said it is a "government-run" plan and that "our health care will be rationed." He said there should be a "consumer-driven market without mandates," along with health savings accounts and tort reform.
"In 2005, 40 million Americans were covered by Medicaid or SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program)," he said. "We've been conditioned to think that we're not responsible for our own health care. The problem is not that most people can't afford it; the problem is that most people don't want to pay for it."
Vargas said he was opposed to any government-implemented health care reform. He said health insurance needs to be portable, and supports tort reform.
"If I wanted national health care, I would have moved to Canada," he said.
Vargas said the Cash for Clunkers program was mismanaged, and asked, "What makes the government think they can manage a trillion-dollar health care (program)?"
Hultgren said what he called "the Nancy Pelosi health care bill" is "absolutely the wrong way to go."
"Health care is something we do have personal responsibility for," he said. "We absolutely make decisions on our own health care."
Hultgren said he also supports portability of insurance, and "allowing the free market to work."
"Putting government into this is absolutely the wrong direction to go," he said. "Literally, I promise you, it will kill people. It will cost lives. Maybe elderly (people) will no longer be able get dialysis. Maybe children who... someone determines doesn't deserve to live. And that is not the America that I want to live in. And that is the America that I will fight against."
Hastert said the only portion of the health care bill that he likes is the amendment that says no federal funds should be used to fund abortions.
"(The health care bill) is not for me, and it's not for my district," he said.
Hastert said Congress should "do things that will increase choice and competition." He said he supports buying insurance across state lines, pools, and tort reform.
However, Hastert said employees should not lose their insurance if they lose their job.
"We need to increase portability and accessibility," he said. "If you maintained insurance throughout most of your life, you should not lose it if you lose your job or become ill."
The candidates were also asked how important it is for a congressman to "fight to get our fair share of those dollars for the 14th District?"
Hastert said it's "very important" to get local share dollars back from Washington. He said a congressman should "bring infrastructure to the district." But he said he also should fight for smaller government and less spending "which ultimately results in lower taxes."
Danklefsen said the solution is less "pork."
"Ultimately, I would prefer sending less to Washington and not having to beg to get it back," he said. "Congress is robbing us blind."
Vargas said more money should be secured for transportation and infrastructure in the district.
Hultgren said a congressman should be active in obtaining funding for local infrastructure and homeland security projects.
"Beyond that, earmarks and bargaining for money does not serve you well," he said. "I've seen it in Springfield time and again."
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
