Patriot-News - Setting a Course of Accountability

News Article

By Ivey DeJesus

Drawing upon his experience as a Naval vice admiral, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak on Monday said Washington must apply the military principal of accountability.

He said accountability is needed to address the ailing economy, set a proper course for the protracted campaign in Afghanistan and regain the nation's trust.

In a meeting with The Patriot-News Editorial Board, Sestak said his priorities remain the same as when he set off on the campaign trail.

He aims to create jobs by focusing on small businesses and extending tax cuts to the middle class, rather than the wealthiest 2 percent of the population, he said.

Sestak said Democrats and Republicans must compromise to iron out tax cuts and tax credit differences.

"I'm concerned we're going to miss the boat again," said Sestak, a congressmen from the Philadelphia area. "We tend not to address the issues until they become crisis. What we need today aren't leaders that take us out of crisis. What we need are leaders willing to do the right things so we don't get into crisis. The kind of leaders we value in the military."

Sestak, who is vying for the open Senate seat against Republican nominee Pat Toomey, said that to shore up the country's massive federal deficit, he would continue to support the "pay-as-you-go" policy and put a cap on discretionary spending.

"You want a new program? You have to cut another," Sestak said about pay-as-you-go.

He said he would endorse pilot programs that would reduce spending on entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Sestak said generating government revenue was critical, but just as critical was identifying its source.

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