The Argonaut - Senate Candidates Debate at UI

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The Argonaut - Senate Candidates Debate at UI

Written by Reid Wright

Two very different candidates for the U.S. Senate debated Wednesday for more than an hour without personally attacking each other once.
"We can be respectful of each other. This is how U.S. senators should be," said Independent candidate Rex Rammell. "You can debate vigorously and still be Americans."

Rammell and Democratic nominee Larry LaRocco are running for a six-year seat representing the state of Idaho in the U.S. Senate. They participated in the debate Wednesday night at the University of Idaho Administration Auditorium. They are two of five candidates running for the seat. LaRocco criticized Republican candidate Jim Risch for not attending.

"Jim Risch should be here at the University of Idaho tonight with Rex Rammell and me," he said.

The candidates were quick to take stances on the current Wall Street Bailout plan passed by the Senate Wednesday.

"I predict that the House of Representatives will now pass this rescue plan, which needed to be rescued by the Senate … We need someone in the United States Senate who understands the regulatory regime that needs to be constructed to move forward," LaRocco said.

He said he served four years in the House Banking Committee. This was part of two terms he had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 1990's.

LaRocco said he believed it was a "too big to fail" economic philosophy that led to the crisis, and tax payers should have never have had to bail out the failing institutions. He said taxpayers should be repaid if the purchased loans turn a profit.

"You can't blame a free market system" Rammell said. "Because we don't have one … (Congress) has voted for more government, and I disagree on that."

Rammell said he believed government regulation was to blame for the crisis because it was regulations that forced banks to loan to high-risk borrowers.
"This would not have happened if the free market were in charge," he said.

The solution, Rammell said, was to offer tax cuts to companies willing to purchase the high-risk loans.

"I would make sure that those who were responsible for this mess get punished," he said. "Surely there is some corruption going on behind the scenes here."

Rammell said after the crisis was resolved, he would return the economy to free-market control, which he believed would prevent another crisis in the future.

In contrast, LaRocco said regulation was the key to a successful economy.
"Our markets have been the envy of the world," he said. "Up until now. And the reason they have been the envy of the world is because of our prudent regulation … we're going to have to start putting together a program to regulate these markets. I'll be on the frontlines to do that."

The candidates also laid out their positions on the war in Iraq.

"Our policy should be simple," Rammell said. "Get out of there as soon as possible."

He said he supported the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the liberation of the Iraqi people, but he thought the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq now because it was draining the economy.

"Now our economy is in trouble, and we continue to pay money to re-build Iraq," he said.

Rammell said he believed the "surge" strategy worked in Iraq and he would support a similar strategy in Afghanistan if the U.S. generals called for it.
"I like President Reagan's philosophy — peace through strength," he said. "I would vote for strong military. I would use intimidation and politics more to accomplish our goals than war."

LaRocco said he was skeptical of the Bush administration's reasons for going to war from the beginning. There is no connection between the Sept. 11 attacks and Iraq, he said.

Rammell disagreed.

"The terrorists that were involved (in the Sept. 11 attacks) were in Afganistan and moved over to Iraq … I'm not sure that it was a totally unjust war," he said.

LaRocco said he was the only veteran of the five candidates running. He served in the Army from 1969-72 as a captain in military intelligence. He said a car bomb had blown up his barracks and he had lost three soldiers in his unit.

"I'm going to be very careful about what we do," LaRocco said. "I'm going to demand that we have all the facts on the table."

LaRocco said although he did not have a specific withdrawal plan for Iraq, he thought that it was very important that the U.S. government get together and form one.

"We're going to need a ‘surge' of diplomacy," he said.

"The United States of America has got to be strong," Rammell said. "And say that anybody that attacks us or threatens our freedom will pay the price … I support what we accomplished in Iraq."
The candidates debated the increasing education costs and debts from student loans.

LaRocco said the cost of higher education was "out of control" and wanted to lower interest rates on student loans, as well as taxes on families sending children to college. He also said he supported national service as a way to pay back student loans.

"This is very important for us to be competitive in the 21st century," he said.
Rammell said that he was still paying off his student loans.
"I reflect back on my ten years of higher education and all that debt, and I wonder if the student loan program really assisted me that much," he said.
Rammell said that he believed that the U.S. did not need a federal student loan program and that student loans should be handled by private lenders.

Both candidates agreed that energy independence for the U.S. was crucial, and that they were open to exploring alternative energy sources.
Rammell said traditional energy sources - such as nuclear, outer-continental oil drilling and coal should not be overlooked for expansion nor should they be restricted by government regulation.

"Every time we try to build a coal plant, somebody screams that we are going to destroy the environment," he said.
LaRocco said he would support tax credits for the research and development of alternative energies, which he believed would also help stimulate
the economy.

"Using alternative soures of energy could create 14,000 new jobs in the state of Idaho," he said.

Rammell said he was unsure if oil drilled from the currently restricted outer-continental shelf would be up for sale to other countries.
Like student loans, Rammell said social security and Medicare should be privatized.

LaRocco said that privatization was a mistake and that he supported Barack Obama's universal healthcare plan.
LaRocco also said he supported the bi-partisan effort put into the No Child Left Behind Act, but believed that it was in need of "major surgery."
"I think it needs to be euthanized," Rammell said.
Both candidates agreed that there was genocide occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan, and that something should be done about it.
"I wish the U.S. was in a better state to help," Rammell said. "To help everyone in the world."

He said he believed diplomatic pressure should be put on Sudan.
"It is genocide, and we should use all of our clout," LaRocco said.
While Rammell said he had never held public office, he believed that his experience of being involved in seven legal cases with the state of Idaho over his rights as a rancher qualified him for the position.
LaRocco said he stayed "grounded" by traveling around the state and working with average Idaho workers in their jobs and that he would continue to do so after the election. He also said he worked for a day in the warehouse of Northwest River Supply in Moscow.

Rammell said as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he believed the U.S. Constitution was inspired by God, and that he was a "strict constitutionalist" when it came to interpreting the document.
"The proper role of government is to protect life, liberty and property," Rammell said.
LaRocco said he was a practicing Catholic, and his faith helped him deal with the pressures of public life.

"Its provides me with a moral compass," he said.
Rammell said the future relied on young people and UI students.
"You represent the best we have in America," LaRocco agreed. "We can do this together … This is the most important election of your lifetime. We've got to get it right."

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