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Krystal Ball, Democratic challenger for the 1st District House of Representatives seat, answers a question.
Les Gabriel (right) listens to comments from Rep. Rob Wittman and challenger Krystal Ball during a program last night at the Falls Run community in Stafford County.
Jack Meyer (right) greets Republican Rep. Rob Wittman before a meeting of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association last night at the community center at Falls Run in Staffordt. |
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.
Both candidates said they believe in working across the aisle to find solutions to problems.
Ball decried "the clustering of people at the far ends of the spectrum" and said if elected, she would support good ideas, no matter which party came up with them.
Wittman said he has worked hard in Congress to get to know other congressmen from both parties, sitting down with them and talking about their backgrounds and interests. He said knowing people and working with people is key to overcoming partisanship.
Both avoided partisan answers to a question about which administration is to blame for current economic conditions.
"No matter how we got here, we're here," said Wittman. "We're wanting solutions, not blame."
Ball agreed.
They also agreed on some ways to stop the loss of manufacturing and other jobs to foreign countries. Both candidates compared Ireland's corporate income tax rate to America's, and said the U.S. needs to make its rate more appealing to corporations.
Ball also said she advocates eliminating loopholes in laws that might encourage companies to move overseas, and wants more manufacturing jobs here.
"I don't want to go from importing oil from the Middle East to importing wind turbines from China," she said, saying that Virginia companies could and should make turbine parts to take advantage of offshore wind energy.
Wittman said he would help lure jobs back to the U.S. in part by revamping patent law to ensure protection of patent applications from the beginning of the process.
Wittman and Ball will next meet in a forum in Williamsburg in October, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
