Auburn Journal - Congressional Candidates Debate at Chamber Forum

News Article

By Jenna Nielsen

Campaign signs flooded the entrance of an Auburn hotel Thursday as candidates in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. John Doolittle sparred over the economy, party politics and federally unfunded mandates.

Democratic candidate Charlie Brown's supporters packed the Charbeanou Room at the Auburn Holiday Inn during an Eggs & Issues candidate forum with Republican Tom McClintock. The break-fast debate was hosted by the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 50 community leaders and residents were in attendance.

Candidates discussed their disagreement over the recently approved $700 billion Congressional fi-nancial bailout plan.

"The $700 billion bailout plan is taking our taxpayer dollars to bailout Wall Street's mistake," McClintock said. "It is money the government doesn't have that it will need to borrow. There is an economic term for that — it's called throwing good money after bad."

McClintock said federal regulators tightened up on the nation's monetary base, which is like "lighting a big fire under a big boiler and not putting enough water in it."

Brown has said he supports a rescue plan that provides no golden parachutes for corporate execu-tives and promises any profits from bailed-out financial institutions are returned to taxpayers.

"It's time to get reasonable controls back," Brown said. "The economic stimulus package (ap-proved by President George Bush earlier this year) is something that should have never been needed. We should have been taking action years ago."

Asked their positions on federal participation in solving local sewer upgrade requirements, Brown said he is opposed to federally unfunded mandates.

"If we are going to be facing new mandates, they need to happen more gradually or the federal government needs to give more money to support (those mandates)," Brown said. "We are not getting our fair share of money — our tax dollars are not coming back to the state."

McClintock said Brown missed the point.

"Tax dollars should not be shipped off to Washington, D.C. in the first place," McClintock said. "The money should stay with the state and we need to restore our principles of limited government."

Ann Rivero, a longtime undecided voter, said after Thursday's forum she is leaning toward voting for Brown, but still isn't completely certain.

"I think coming to a forum like this is so much more informative," Rivero said. "Seeing the two of them in person gives you more of an insight."

During closing statements, McClintock and Brown emphasized their differences.

"Tom McClintock and I have chosen two very different paths in life," Brown said. "I have served this country for 22 years in the military and as a policeman and Tom has been a career politician for 22 years. If you want change, vote for someone who will do the right thing for this country, not for someone who has been a part of the problem for the last 22 years."

McClintock said he has repeatedly taken on both parties and has consistently stood on principal over partisanship.

"We must be aware of the damage bad public policy can have on our nation," McClintock said. "The question is, ‘who do you trust to support lower taxes and for reform by eliminating the earmark process?' The decision we make 26 days from now will affect our nation for years to come."

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