Rhine Lander Daily News - Congressional Candidate Says Duffy has Only Contributed to Washington "Gridlock'

News Article

By Kyle Rogers

Rep. Sean Duffy was only a few months into his first term as a United States congressman when he learned he had a challenger for the 2012 election that is now only a month away.

That challenger, former Wisconsin state senator Pat Kreitlow, said in an interview with the River News Thursday that he made the right decision in declaring his candidacy for the state's 7th Congressional District so early.

"It was the right decision to declare and get in the race early because of all the resources you need to take on an incumbent member of Congress," Kreitlow said, noting that the early start gave him plenty of time to meet people in the district's 26 different counties and set up the infrastructure of his campaign.

The trigger for Kreitlow's candidacy was Duffy's support of the Paul Ryan budget. With Ryan now being on the Republican presidential ticket, Kreitlow said it has only bolstered his campaign.

"As people learn more about what's in the Ryan budget, the more they see it's the wrong direction for this country and why Duffy was wrong to support it," Kreitlow said. "They understand it's wrong to balance a budget on the backs of seniors and the middle class in order to protect tax breaks for a privileged few."

During a visit to the River News' office last week, Duffy said he is focused on job creation and the economy. Kreitlow said those are his priorities, too. Both candidates talk about the need for tax code reform, but Kreitlow said he's focused on tax relief for the middle class whereas Duffy's policies create more tax cuts for the wealthy.

"The last round of Bush tax cuts grew our national debt by $1.6 trillion over 10 years," Kreitlow said. "Where are the jobs to show for that? There aren't any because trickle down economics has never worked and would not work, which is why we can't afford Duffy's way of thinking in another term. We need to focus on smaller businesses. Give them incentives to hire workers rather than giving more tax breaks to corporations that shift jobs overseas which is what you have in the Ryan budget. Tax code reform and relief should go to the middle class and small businesses first."

Kreitlow said that recent polls indicate voters are open to electing new leadership in Washington. One poll from Public Policy Polling showed Duffy with a 48-44 lead among likely voters. The four points is just outside the poll's 3.72 percent margin of error. Another poll of 509 likely voters released earlier this week had Duffy with a 44-41 edge, which was within that poll's 4.4 percent margin of error.

Kreitlow said it's because the race is so close that there's a clear divide between the candidates. Both candidates have made pointed remarks about the other, and attack ads have been circulating.

"It's an animated race," Kreitlow said. "It's an active race because it's up for grabs. This is one of the closest congressional races in the country. The polling has consistently showed it to be a statistical dead heat. As a result, not only does it energize me and my opponent, but the people."

In the end, Kreitlow said he thinks it won't be about money or political ads but who voters think will work harder for them in Congress. On that point, Kreitlow said Duffy has been a part of the "usual games and gridlock" that have occurred in Washington recently. In his campaign, Kreitlow has charged Duffy with not being an independent voice for northern Wisconsin and simply voting along party lines. In response, Duffy has also charged Kreitlow with following party lines during Kreitlow's time as a state senator.

"It's not so much about voting along party lines," Kreitlow said. "Democrats are going to vote along Democratic Party lines and Republicans the same. It's about where do you show your independence and how. I stood up to my own party leaders (as a state senator) when I fought to preserve rural job creating programs. Congressman Duffy had a chance to stand up to his party by being an independent voice against the wrong approaches in the Ryan budget, but instead toed the party line. As a result, we don't have progress on job creation or debt reduction. When you need to stand up for your district, you stand up for your district."

The first thing Kreitlow says he would work on if elected is getting the American Jobs Act reintroduced and passed. Part of that means an investment in infrastructure.

"On infrastructure alone, people could go back to work," Kreitlow said. "Those people are working lower paying jobs right now because we're not making the investment. Not to mention energy efficiency upgrades in public buildings. Right now, tax payer dollars are being wasted in high energy bills. Those (energy upgrades) create jobs in the short run and they save tax payer dollars in the long run. Again, it's not a partisan idea, just a good idea. But Congressman Duffy is content to have people sit idle and let our future literally crumble."

"You start by electing more rank and file members who are dedicated to the real mission of public service rather than just party politics," Kreitlow said of the change he thinks Washington needs. "That's what I think people will do on Nov. 6."

Source