ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606070015
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
Republican primary voter guide
ON Tuesday, Virginians will have the opportunity to go to the polls to choose the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate - three-term incumbent John Warner or former federal budget director Jim Miller.
What's this election about?
To hear Miller and his supporters tell it, the problem is that Warner isn't a "true conservative," or much of a Republican, either. For many Miller supporters, Warner's lack of party loyalty - his refusal to support Republican nominees Oliver North for U.S. Senate in 1994 or Mike Farris for lieutenant governor in 1993 - is paramount.
To hear Warner and his supporters talk about the primary, the main issue is whether it's possible to put principle ahead of party - as he contends he did in those instances - and still survive politically.
But those aren't the only issues Virginians are interested in. The Roanoke Times and its sister paper in Norfolk, The Virginian-Pilot, invited citizens to send in their own questions for the candidates; here's what the candidates had to say about those issues.
TAXES
Please address tax relief on the severance pay of downsized employees. Usually taxes claim about 43 percent of the package. Income averaging or a freeze at the previous year's rate would help.
- Lorraine Bratton, Vinton
MILLER
"I've never thought that doing away with income averaging made sense, and so I would bring it back - for many reasons, not just to ease the unfair tax burden on severance pay. As an aside, though, if we had a flat tax with a single marginal rate, the excessive tax "hit" on severance pay would be minimal."
WARNER
"Forty-three percent is too much to the government in any situation. I support a flatter and fairer tax code, and I will work to ensure that it is enacted. If we are successful in reforming the tax code - and I believe we well be successful - tax rates will fall.
"Your ideas merit consideration. We should make it as easy as possible for those who are laid off to meet their obligations and remain on their feet financially. The government should not stand in their way. If downsized employees are provided with some form of tax relief on their severance packages, however, the benefit should be available only to those who are truly downsized, not to those who are fired or leave by choice."
SPENDING
What can you do to hold all federal spending to a limit of 10 percent less than all federal revenue? Both sides are talking about seven years before spending and revenue equal. Can we stand this financially?
- Harris C. Simmons, Roanoke County
MILLER
"Seven years is too long. I'd make it five or even less. Yes, we can stand that financially. But, as I explained in my most recent book, "Fix the U.S. Budget!," I'd want to embark on a plan to pay off the debt over a single generation. I'd do this by making payments as with a conventional mortgage - during the first years, most of the money would be for interest, whereas toward the end, you'd be paying principal for the most part. A constitutional amendment to balance the budget and pay off the debt in a generation is perhaps the only sure way of making certain of this outcome."
WARNER
"The Republican Congress sent a balanced budget to the president this past fall, and it was vetoed, causing the government shutdown. It has taken us this long to get a general agreement on a timetable for a balanced budget, but what is contained in that budget is yet to be agreed upon. In general, the Republicans want less government and therefore, not tax increases. On the other hand, the Democrats want more government, which would cost more, needing higher taxes to balance the budget."
DEFENSE SPENDING
"If you had to reduce military spending to balance the budget, what would you cut?"
- Charles Jordan, Boones Mill
MILLER
"This is a hypothetical that just doesn't 'compute.'
"I simply wouldn't cut military spending to balance the federal budget. Since I left Ronald Reagan's Cabinet as budget director in 1988, federal spending on defense (adjusted for inflation) has fallen one-third, whereas federal spending on domestic programs (inflation adjusted) has risen by one-third. The world is not a safe place. Our readiness is compromised because of weapons systems that are growing obsolete. And we are becoming highly vulnerable to missile attacks from rogue regimes the world over. No, I would not consider cutting defense."
WARNER
"I would not reduce the defense budget any further than it already has been. While defense has been reduced nearly 40 percent in the last decade, other segments of the budget have grown. Our military has not seen a lessening of commitments, but they have given at the budget table, and are making do with significantly reduced resources. The savings needed to balance the budget must come from other areas, particularly including entitlements."
GOALS 2000
Virginia Gov. George Allen strongly opposes the Goals 2000 federal program and refuses to accept the $6.7 million from the program. Yet most Republican governors support the program, as did President Bush. What is your position on accepting these funds? Do you agree with Allen or the 90 school boards that have passed resolutions asking Allen to take these funds?
- Dan B. Fleming, Blacksburg
MILLER
"Governor Allen is correct to refuse the funds. He's standing up for what is right. I want to repeal Goals 2000 and abolish the U.S. Department of Education."
WARNER
"I have supported Virginia's governor in [his] opposition to the Goals 2000 concept of intrusive federal education standards. Education has historically been the domain of state and local government, working in partnership with local government, working in partnership with local families. It should remain that way. I am proud that Virginia is leading the way in protecting the rights of states to govern education."
TERM LIMITS
The overwhelming majority of Americans favors imposition of term limits for members of the Senate and House. However, Congress has continually thwarted the will of the nation in this regard. Would you support a constitutional convention to consider drafting an appropriate amendment to the Constitution.
If not, what alternative would you suggest?
- Claude E. Stewart, Jr., Vinton
MILLER
"I support term limits for members of Congress. However, I think it unlikely that Congress, on its own initiative, will put a constitutional amendment for term limits before the states for ratification. Until last year's ruling by the Supreme Court, it was thought that the states themselves could limit the terms of their federal officials (a 5-4 ruling that would have come out differently had Judge Bork been on the bench). So, it would seem the only avenue left is to have the various state legislatures call for a constitutional convention to consider an amendment to limit terms. Once 33 have done so, Congress will act on its own expeditiously."
WARNER
"I believe term limits is an issue which should be decided by the people at the state level, and I have voted to place the issue before the American people. During the recent vote on term limits for members of Congress, I and every Republican senator supported a procedural effort which would have allowed a vote on the constitutional amendment. If the Democrats had allowed such a vote, I would have supported the amendment which would allow each state to consider this issue. If at least 48 states voted for term limits, the amendment would become part of the Constitution. The best way to get this issue before the state legislatures is to vote Republican this fall.
"I believe, however, that voters should always have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, whether a political newcomer or a veteran of many terms. I have worked to end the advantages of incumbency by supporting gift reform and lobbying registration, both enacted in this Congress. I also support campaign finance reform which would make it easier to challenge incumbents. With these reforms, I believe voters will have a better chance of exercising their own form of term limits by electing the candidates they support."
VOTER GUIDE
DISCRIMINATION
What turning points can you identify in your life that increased your understanding of racism, sexism and bigotry?
- Charles Jordan, Boones Mill
MILLER
"My dad was elected chairman of the Rockdale County (Georgia) school board just after I went off to college. As chairman, he oversaw the racial integration of the entire school system. Although he was the object of tremendous abuse from racial bigots and received far less support from local leaders than he deserved, my dad stayed the course because bringing an end to segregation was the right thing to do."
"For my dad, racism and bigotry were not only demeaning, they were beneath a person of character."
"I owe to my wife a heightened sensitivity about sexism. It's easy to recognize the abilities of the opposite sex when you are married to someone who is smarter than you, more resilient than you, and probably would make a better U.S. senator than you."
WARNER
"As a young sailor in World War II, I experienced segregation in the military.
"I have always been committed to increasing opportunities for women and minorities. I recommended the appointment of the first female federal judge in Virginia, Rebecca Smith and also the first African-American federal judge in Virginia, James Spencer. When I was secretary of the Navy, I was heavily involved in allowing the first women to attend the Naval Academy which opened up many opportunities for them in the military as well as increasing opportunities for minorities in the Navy.
"As administrator for the nation's bicentennial celebration, I had the opportunity to learn more about the tremendous contributions that all Americans - women and minorities included - have made to this great country."
STANDARD OF LIVING
I am a 20-year-old college student. What I see is that the standard of living in this country for my generation is going down.
I want to know which candidate is best for the job, regardless of ideology and who is best at ensuring that my generation will economically be able to survive, have a balanced budget and ensure that the standard of living will move forward? How are you addressing getting a balanced budget, getting government off our backs and creating economic opportunity for Generation X?
- Jason Redding, Norfolk
MILLER
"A growing economy creates jobs and other opportunities. Since you were born, U.S. income per capita (adjusted for inflation) has increased by more than 40 percent. However, the ability of the economy to repeat that record is in jeopardy. The present recovery is the slowest in recent history. We must boost real economic growth to 5 percent annually, and not settle for 2 percent. At 2 percent, the economy doubles in 35 years; at 5 percent, it doubles in only 14 years. To put things in perspective, by doubling the economy we'd be able to maintain our standard of living, balance the budget, pay off the deficit and have money left over.
"To get our economy growing faster, we need to replace our Internal Revenue Code with a flat tax that lowers marginal rates and that taxes consumption, not saving and investment. We need to abolish counter-productive regulatory laws, scale back regulatory thrusts that are excessive and adopt more cost-effective, market-based approaches to achieving those regulatory goals that are justified. We need more and better schooling - competition and parental empowerment through vouchers or tax credits for K through 12, and greater availability of loan guarantees for college tuitions. And, we need to reform our welfare programs - to have a greater proportion of the population contributing to society rather than living off society."
WARNER
"My most important goal as your senator, after national defense, is to do whatever I can so that your generation will have better jobs and a higher standard of living. I am a co-sponsor of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget and will continue to work for its passage. We came within one vote last year and with Bob Dole in the White House I look forward to passing the amendment next year. A balanced federal budget will result in lower interest rates so that more Americans can purchase their own homes and more, better paying jobs will be created.
"I am a strong supporter of regulatory reform to make certain that regulations are cost effective and make common sense. We need a fairer, flatter tax code so that American families can keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better life for their children."
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