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1st District candidates meet in forum Date published: 9/3/2010
BY CHELYEN DAVIS
First District congressional candidates Rep. Rob Wittman and Krystal Ball both want to restrain federal spending, although they don't necessarily agree on how to do it. Federal spending--and the idea that the government is spending too much--was the basis for several questions at a candidate forum sponsored by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. It was the first joint forum of the fall campaign season between Wittman, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger Ball. Several dozen people listened to the exchange, held in a community room at Falls Run. Both candidates gave opening statements, then took questions from the audience. In response to federal spending questions, Wittman said he has co-sponsored a bill to require the federal government to keep a balanced budget. He said his time in Congress has taught him that unless it's an actual law, Congress won't do it. He also said he favors reforming the "earmark" system in Congress. Ball said she would like to see budget cuts removed from the hands of politicians, so they can't become political favors. Asked what specific program each would cut from the federal budget, Ball said she would let the tax cuts on the top 1 percent of earners expire--a statement that earned both scattered applause and boos. Wittman, on the other hand, wants to extend tax cuts. He didn't specify a program he would cut, saying instead that trimming the budget requires a conversation between Congress and constituents about what programs should be priorities. Questions about federal spending also led to questions about federal programs to help retirees, specifically Social Security and Medicare. Ball promised she would maintain Social Security and Medicare in their present forms, and would never support privatizing either program. She said that Republicans in Congress would. Wittman said the problem is that Social Security, especially, is running out of money, and that some sort of solution is going to have to be found to return it to sustainability. "If we don't do anything, those funds run out of money," he said. At the same time, Wittman said the government has a "moral obligation" to stand by commitments made to retirees. Both candidates said they disagree with federal Social Security offset rules that can deprive some retirees of their full benefits. The audience also posed several questions about the sharply partisan political climate.
State government is just a tad closer to the people than the feds. As a matter of fact a lot more than a "tad". But the many tentacled monster living in DC is entrenched and will never be defeated. So it must be modified with a million small cuts. we need to nominate and elect the right people to represent us in congress and the casa blanca.
She's like all the other democrats, spend, spend, spend. Now that the dems know they are going to lose big all of a sudden they have the "cut spending" attitude. Don't fall for it Virginia.
She's like all the other democrats, spend, spend, spend. Now that the dems know they are going to lose big all of a sudden they have the "cut spending" attitude. Don't fall for it Virginia.
since it is supported by payroll taxes. But one thing that will cause us to go broke is the Iraq war, which is estimated to cost 3 trillion. And Afghanistan isn't even over with. If Wittman wants to talk "sustainability", he needs to talk about the expensive wars overseas. How we will sustain them without more taxes on the higher income brackets and the estate tax? Does he propose to finance them on the backs of the elderly and those who have paid into the Social Security system for years?
how many new residences would be needed to support that kind of service . . .maybe better we do without.
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