NH's 2nd CD candidates tackle economic issues
Boston Globe: NH's 2nd CD candidates tackle economic issues
By Holly Ramer
Associated Press Writer / August 11, 2008
CONCORD, N.H.—When Congressional hopeful Jim Steiner attended a recent family reunion, the crowd was significantly smaller than in past years. And the campground where they gathered had far more open sites than usual for a midsummer weekend.
"Clearly, families had to balance the gas costs and their other monthly costs in making a decision whether to attend," he said in responding to an Associated Press survey on economic issues.
Steiner, a lawyer from Concord, is one of five 2nd District Republicans competing in the Sept. 9 primary for the chance to challenge Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes in the general election. Whoever wins will face a nation struggling with high fuel prices, rising unemployment, a housing crisis and other economic woes.
National and state polls show that voters are clearly more concerned about the economy and gas prices than about the Iraq war and national security. In New Hampshire, three-quarters of adults expect the country will face bad economic times in the next year, and 60 percent say they are worse off financially now than they were a year ago, according to a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll last month.
Though the candidates generally agreed that pushing the country toward energy independence and helping small businesses are key to reviving the economy, they offered different ideas on how to achieve those goals.
Hodes said the economic stimulus package Congress passed this year provided a small but significant help to working families, and that he supports a second round that would triple funding for a program that helps low-income people heat their homes.
"It should also include investments in job creation and infrastructure, to help build new jobs and invest in the competitiveness of our businesses," he said.
Republican Jennifer Horn of Nashua said she would support "anything that leaves more money in the pockets of those who earn paychecks" but that sending checks to people doesn't address the larger problems. "The real problem here is that Congress failed to act until there was a crisis," said Horn, a former newspaper columnist.
Steiner echoed those comments, saying the stimulus checks helped a bit, but the true solution lies in lowering tax rates so people keep more of their paychecks in the first place. Republicans Grant Bosse and Bob Clegg were more blunt.
"The economic stimulus package this spring gave taxpayers back $600 of their own money. But in order to get it, those very same taxpayers spent millions of dollars so Congress could tell us they were giving us our money back and then millions more actually delivering it," said Clegg, a state senator from Hudson. "This wasn't an economic stimulus package, this was a PR stunt."
Bosse, a former legislative assistant to Sen. John Sununu, said Congress threw money at the struggling economy without lessening the taxes, mandates and over-regulation that slowed it down in the first place.
"This year's economic stimulus package seemed designed primarily to stimulate campaign contributions to incumbent Congressmen," he said. "The first and best step Congress can take to stimulate the economy is simply to get out of the way."
To bring down fuel prices, Bosse, Horn and Steiner said they support lifting the federal moratorium on drilling for oil and gas offshore, building more refineries and nuclear plants and looking at alternative and renewable energy sources.
By Holly Ramer
Associated Press Writer / August 11, 2008
CONCORD, N.H.—When Congressional hopeful Jim Steiner attended a recent family reunion, the crowd was significantly smaller than in past years. And the campground where they gathered had far more open sites than usual for a midsummer weekend.
"Clearly, families had to balance the gas costs and their other monthly costs in making a decision whether to attend," he said in responding to an Associated Press survey on economic issues.
Steiner, a lawyer from Concord, is one of five 2nd District Republicans competing in the Sept. 9 primary for the chance to challenge Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes in the general election. Whoever wins will face a nation struggling with high fuel prices, rising unemployment, a housing crisis and other economic woes.
National and state polls show that voters are clearly more concerned about the economy and gas prices than about the Iraq war and national security. In New Hampshire, three-quarters of adults expect the country will face bad economic times in the next year, and 60 percent say they are worse off financially now than they were a year ago, according to a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll last month.
Though the candidates generally agreed that pushing the country toward energy independence and helping small businesses are key to reviving the economy, they offered different ideas on how to achieve those goals.
Hodes said the economic stimulus package Congress passed this year provided a small but significant help to working families, and that he supports a second round that would triple funding for a program that helps low-income people heat their homes.
"It should also include investments in job creation and infrastructure, to help build new jobs and invest in the competitiveness of our businesses," he said.
Republican Jennifer Horn of Nashua said she would support "anything that leaves more money in the pockets of those who earn paychecks" but that sending checks to people doesn't address the larger problems. "The real problem here is that Congress failed to act until there was a crisis," said Horn, a former newspaper columnist.
Steiner echoed those comments, saying the stimulus checks helped a bit, but the true solution lies in lowering tax rates so people keep more of their paychecks in the first place. Republicans Grant Bosse and Bob Clegg were more blunt.
"The economic stimulus package this spring gave taxpayers back $600 of their own money. But in order to get it, those very same taxpayers spent millions of dollars so Congress could tell us they were giving us our money back and then millions more actually delivering it," said Clegg, a state senator from Hudson. "This wasn't an economic stimulus package, this was a PR stunt."
Bosse, a former legislative assistant to Sen. John Sununu, said Congress threw money at the struggling economy without lessening the taxes, mandates and over-regulation that slowed it down in the first place.
"This year's economic stimulus package seemed designed primarily to stimulate campaign contributions to incumbent Congressmen," he said. "The first and best step Congress can take to stimulate the economy is simply to get out of the way."
To bring down fuel prices, Bosse, Horn and Steiner said they support lifting the federal moratorium on drilling for oil and gas offshore, building more refineries and nuclear plants and looking at alternative and renewable energy sources.
Clegg didn't mention new refineries, but said his long-term energy plan
also would include looking at clean coal technology, while Steiner
would add a temporary suspension of the gas tax to the mix. Steiner and
Hodes said they also want the president to release part of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Hodes, who has sponsored legislation to promote carpooling and to help businesses invest in energy efficient heating systems, disagrees with the Republicans on allowing new offshore drilling leases.
"There are 68 million acres of federal land already leased by oil companies for energy production now but sitting idle," he said. "Oil companies should drill on these lands that are leased, environmentally permitted and ready to go."
Though the recent run on IndyMac Bancorp Inc. and its takeover by the federal government has left many consumers jittery about the security of their finances, none of the candidates said the FDIC guaranteed amounts for bank deposits or retirement accounts should be increased. Most said Congress should focus on long-term economic recovery, not short-term bailouts.
"We have to start addressing the real problem and stop attacking the symptoms," said Horn.
Clegg pointed out that consumers with deposits over the FDIC guaranteed amounts can purchase insurance.
"Congress, thereby the American taxpayer, cannot be expected to jump in every time a poor financial decision has been made," he said. "Personal responsibility must be required to function in a successful economy."
Bosse said the current protections are adequate to provide a safety net for consumers and promote faith in our banks. Bailouts only undermine that confidence, he said, but showing that bankers who make bad decisions won't have to pay the consequences.
"Failure is as important to market capitalism as success," he said.
Steiner described his family reunion in explaining why he believes the federal government should not be "the insurance company of last resort."
"Few of the people debating vacation choices or family reunions are worried about deposits in excess of current limits provided by the FDIC," he said.
Republican Alfred L'Eplattenier did not respond to the survey.
Hodes, who has sponsored legislation to promote carpooling and to help businesses invest in energy efficient heating systems, disagrees with the Republicans on allowing new offshore drilling leases.
"There are 68 million acres of federal land already leased by oil companies for energy production now but sitting idle," he said. "Oil companies should drill on these lands that are leased, environmentally permitted and ready to go."
Though the recent run on IndyMac Bancorp Inc. and its takeover by the federal government has left many consumers jittery about the security of their finances, none of the candidates said the FDIC guaranteed amounts for bank deposits or retirement accounts should be increased. Most said Congress should focus on long-term economic recovery, not short-term bailouts.
"We have to start addressing the real problem and stop attacking the symptoms," said Horn.
Clegg pointed out that consumers with deposits over the FDIC guaranteed amounts can purchase insurance.
"Congress, thereby the American taxpayer, cannot be expected to jump in every time a poor financial decision has been made," he said. "Personal responsibility must be required to function in a successful economy."
Bosse said the current protections are adequate to provide a safety net for consumers and promote faith in our banks. Bailouts only undermine that confidence, he said, but showing that bankers who make bad decisions won't have to pay the consequences.
"Failure is as important to market capitalism as success," he said.
Steiner described his family reunion in explaining why he believes the federal government should not be "the insurance company of last resort."
"Few of the people debating vacation choices or family reunions are worried about deposits in excess of current limits provided by the FDIC," he said.
Republican Alfred L'Eplattenier did not respond to the survey.
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