
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 24, 1994                   TAG: 9407250064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FORUM INTERCEDES ON VOTERS' BEHALF

Ultimately, the election belongs to the voters. But the campaigns that lead up to them usually belong to the candidates.

How can voters make their voices heard above the din of charges and counter-charges? What mechanism do voters have to force the candidates to talk about the issues the voters are interested in - as opposed to the issues the candidates think will drive the polls one way or another?

We hope Citizens' Q&A will help.

This election year, the Roanoke Times & World-News is committed to giving citizens "ownership" of the campaign. Not the campaigns. Not the media. The citizens.

What issues do voters think are important? What questions would voters ask if they were the panelists at a debate between Virginia's four candidates for the U.S. Senate?

Call our Citizens' Q&A line, and we'll make an effort to track down the candidates and get your questions answered. Phone 981-3119 or 1-800-346-1234, ext. 9. If you have access to Internet you can E-mail us at bwarreninfi.net and be sure to include your name, address and phone number.

TODAY'S TOPIC: LYING TO CONGRESS

What do you think should happen to someone who lies to a congressional committee?

- Nancy Eddy, Roanoke

COLEMAN: "There are criminal sanctions for providing false information to Congress. I further believe that persons who attempt to mislead Congress show a cavalier disregard for the values of our American system of government that only increases the cynicism many voters feel about politicians."

NORTH: "I believe we have adequate penalties for anyone lying under oath to a congressional committee, including prison time and fines. If a person takes an oath, he or she has the obligation to tell the truth. During my testimony under oath before the Iran-Contra committee, I testified on all the issues truthfully and completely."

ROBB: "Lying under oath to a congressional committee constitutes perjury, and anyone who commits perjury should be subjected to the appropriate penalties."

WILDER: "That person should be prosecuted for perjury, to the fullest extent of the law. If that person held a public office, he or she should resign that office if found guilty of such an offense."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB