THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610190453
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION '96
LENGTH: 233 lines
ABORTION: Where do you stand on abortion rights?
John Warner - Pro-life with exceptions: He could support abortions only in cases of incest, rape or danger to the mother's life. According to the National Right to Life Committee, Warner has cast 53 anti-abortion votes and 29 pro-abortion rights votes since joining the Senate in 1979.
Mark Warner - Pro-choice: ``Abortions should be legal in accordance with the principles set forth by Roe v. Wade.''
BOSNIA: What should the role of the United States be in Bosnia?
John Warner - Voted to oppose President Clinton's decision to deploy 20,000 U.S. ground troops to Bosnia. Sen. Warner argued that the United States has no vital national security interest in the region.
Mark Warner - Believes that the use of American troops in peacekeeping missions should be limited to places where the parties have agreed to a cease-fire and are genuinely seeking peace.
CRIME: What specific steps would you recommend to deal with crime?
John Warner - Introduced legislation in the Senate that eventually became the law allowing the seizure of assets of convicted drug dealers. Supported bill that toughened sentencing options for repeat sex offenders, provided funds to states to combat violent crimes against women, and contained other provisions to reduce such crimes and assist victims.
Mark Warner - Supports longer sentences, adding police officers and boot camps for young offenders. Believes that juveniles age fourteen and above who commit murder and other serious offenses should be tried as adults. He supports extensive evaluations of crime prevention programs to make sure that we spend taxpayer dollars only on programs that work. He supports the new national domestic violence hotline.
DEFICIT: How should we best deal with the budget deficit?
John Warner - Has consistently supported supply-side economics. Throughout the 1980s, he backed the Reagan and Bush administrations on almost all budgetary issues. He has supported cuts in the capital gains tax rate. Has sponsored legislation providing for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Mark Warner - To get government spending under control, Mark supports the line-item veto. He also believes that if the nation's executive and legislative branches cannot find the political will to balance the budget, then a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution may be required, and he would support it.- ENVIRONMENT: What is the best approach to environmental protection?
John Warner - Has cosponsored legislation to continue the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort by restoring eroding islands and shorelines, creating wetlands, and removing barriers to fish passage. Is committed to reforming the Superfund hazardous waste clean up program to reduce wasteful lawsuits and to allow cleanups to occur more quickly and efficiently.
Mark Warner - Believes that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive goals, and he supports a balanced, cooperative approach to environmental protection. He will oppose efforts to eviscerate important environmental protections, and he believes that new environmental technologies represent a unique opportunity for economic growth in Virginia and the nation. Supports more effective Superfund laws so that we spend more of our money on environmental cleanup.
FINANCING CAMPAIGNS: Does the United States need campaign finance reform? What form should it take?
John Warner - Has not always supported it in the past, but does now. All told, PAC contributions account for 30 percent of the total $3.4 million he has raised.
Mark Warner - Thinks there should be campaign finance reform and has pledged not to accept special interest PAC money during his campaign. Will work for reform like the bipartisan bill rejected by the Senate that would have limited special interest money.
GUN CONTROL: Where do you stand?
John Warner - Supported the Brady Bill, which imposed a waiting period for gun purchases. Supported the ban on certain semiautomatic weapons. Did not support the ban on assault weapons.
Mark Warner - Thinks we should maintain current federal laws with respect to firearms.
HIV TREATMENT: What else can we do to prevent the spread of HIV and take care of those with AIDS?
John Warner - Voted to pass a bill to provide funds for five years for medical treatment and support services for individuals with HIV. Backed a bill for condom distribution in public schools without parental consent. Supported giving $20 million in additional funds for AIDS research that speeds proposed and supposed AIDS remedies.
Mark Warner - Believes education and research are key. Notes that research has shown some drug therapies are slowing the disease's progress in some patients. Wants to move new drugs as quickly as possible through the FDA approval process.
IMMIGRATION: Should the United States further restrict legal immigration? Should illegal immigrants' children who are born in this country be granted citizenship?
John Warner - Supported legislation to fight illegal immigration and to improve the effectiveness of the nation's legal immigration policies.
Mark Warner - Supports restricting the eligibility of legal immigrants for certain social programs (i.e., Aid to Families with Dependent Children, HUD housing, food stamps, etc.). Believes children of illegal immigrants, born in the United States, should not automatically receive U.S. citizenship.
JOBS: Where do you stand on the minimum wage?
John Warner - Has opposed raising the minimum wage, arguing that it would lead to layoffs.
Mark Warner - Supports an increase in the minimum wage.
KEEPING the trade embargo on Cuba: Do you favor it?
John Warner - Voted for the Helms-Burton bill in 1995 to strengthen economic sanctions against Cuba. Would continue to support the trade embargo.
Mark Warner - Does not believe the U.S. should have diplomatic relations with the government of Cuba and does not support lifting the trade embargo imposed against them.
LAW ENFORCEMENT: How can we best support and strengthen law enforcement?
John Warner - Cosponsored legislation strengthening penalties for gun and drug crimes, providing flexibility to states in using federal grants to fight crime. Has supported legislation to provide local law enforcement the tools and resources they need to keep communities safe.
Mark Warner - Supports COPS, the Community Oriented Policing Service program that provides for 100,000 new police officers on the street nationwide and will fight to preserve it from proposed cuts. Believes community policing works. Supports tougher penalties, including the death penalty.
MEDICARE: Where do you stand?
John Warner - Voted for a 1995 Republican budget that would have slowed Medicare spending by $270 billion over seven years. Believes that budget, which was vetoed by the president, would have been a good first step to ensure Medicare's solvency.
Mark Warner - Criticizes the Republican effort as hostile to senior citizens and argues the budget should be balanced through other methods, including an unspecified $150 billion in government cuts. Would support a bipartisan commission to study the issue.
NAVY CARRIERS: How many Navy aircraft carriers should the United States have in service?
John Warner - Believes the Navy needs at least 12 carriers and possibly 15, due to the multiple smaller military operations the United States has been engaged in over the last few years.
Mark Warner - Believes we should maintain at least the current complement of 12 carriers, 11 active plus one reserve. Notes that political instability around the world means we can't always rely on having an airbase near a trouble spot, and carriers would serve the same purpose.
ON PRAYER IN SCHOOL:
John Warner - Cosponsored a Constitutional amendment to guarantee the right of individuals and groups to pray in public schools and institutions while prohibiting compulsory participation in prayer and prohibiting the Federal and state governments from composing the words of such prayers.
Mark Warner - Said he would never support organized prayer in public schools.
POLITICAL CIVILITY: How do we maintain it?
John Warner - ``I have dedicated myself to sharing with Virginians my vision on the issues. While others may engage in name-calling and berating their opponents, that has never been my style, nor will it be.''
Mark Warner - ``I don't believe personal attacks should have a place in today's political arena, so I have pledged not to engage in that type of campaigning. Campaigns are about ideas, issues and voting records.''< QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP: What is the most important quality of leadership?
John Warner - ``I have always put principle over politics, nation above political party. In my decision-making, those are my priorities. I never stray. At the same time, I listen carefully to what the voters of Virginia say, and weigh their views against these priorities in making my judgment on issues before the Senate.''
Mark Warner - ``In the business world, I've learned that failure to act is an act unto itself. In an evolving environment like the high-technology business community, I know that a successful person must have the ability to make decisions and implement them, to surround himself with good people, empower good people and to listen to sound advice.''
REFORMING WELFARE: Where do you stand?
John Warner - Strong advocate of meaningful welfare reform: ``More money is spent on welfare programs than on national defense.'' He voted for the comprehensive welfare reform bill, moving people off of welfare and giving more power to the states.
Mark Warner - Has praised Republican Gov. George F. Allen's effort to slash welfare rolls by cutting off benefits to women and their children after two years. Would require welfare recipients to accept some form of government-sponsored job after two years if unemployed in the private sector. Would require that unwed teenage mothers live with a parent or guardian (if possible) and attend school to receive benefits.
SCHOOLS: How do we improve the schools?
John Warner - Opposed Clinton's ``Goals 2000'' and school-to-work federal educational programs. Vows to protect Virginians' right to pursue home schooling. Sponsored legislation directing the National Science Foundation to establish summer academies providing math and science training to talented, economically disadvantaged students.
Mark Warner - Feels we must make sure soaring tuition costs do not prevent deserving students from attending college. Will fight efforts to cut funding for student loans. Strongly supports Head Start and National Service and will fight for continued funding of the Safe and Drug Free Schools Act. Supports alternative educational placements for violent or chronically disruptive students.
TUITION TAX CREDITS: Do you favor tuition tax credits?
John Warner - Promised to support tuition tax credits to let parents send children to private schools.
Mark Warner - Called tuition tax credits ``the final knife through the heart of the public education system.'' Has proposed tax breaks for college tuition and vocational training.
UNITED NATIONS COOPERATION: How can U.S. forces best work with the United Nations?
John Warner - Opposes putting U.S. troops under UN command. Opposes requiring American troops to place any UN insignia on their uniforms.
Mark Warner - Believes the United States should participate in U.N. peacekeeping missions only when vital U.S. interests are directly threatened.
VIRGINIA'S FARMERS: What would you do to preserve and improve Virginia agribusiness?
John Warner - Played an active role in writing the 1995 Farm Bill, which will determine farm policy for the next seven years. Fought new tobacco taxes and increased federal regulation of tobacco. Fought to allow Virginia poultry producers to compete in markets across the nation.
Mark Warner - Will work to make sure that federal agriculture policy continues to recognize the importance of Virginia's farmers.
WORLD TRADE: How can free trade work best for America?
John Warner - Endorsed trade policies that will open a bigger share of the global marketplace to American - and Virginian - goods and services. He has supported free trade agreements with Canada and Mexico.
Mark Warner - Believes we must continue to work to open foreign markets. Unwilling to close our markets to other nations, but believes trade agreements must include provisions to protect our environment and workers' rights.
EXON AMENDMENT: Do you favor government regulation of ``indecent'' parts of the Internet?
John Warner - Voted for the Exon Amendment. Believes it is important to restrict ability to distribute pornographic materials to children on the Internet.< Mark Warner - Supports the use of software to block indecent parts of the Internet. Concerned that the Communications Decency Act borders on censorship and can't be effective, given the nature of the Internet.
YOUTH: What's the most important thing we can do for the future of the country's young people?
John Warner - Balance the federal budget, begin reducing the national debt, and provide tax relief to their parents so they can spend less time working and more time with their children.< Mark Warner - Two things: provide the best education and job training to make our young people competitive; and balance the budget so future generations won't be saddled with debt.
ZONES, ENTERPRISE: What do you think of urban enterprise zones? Should they be expanded?
John Warner - Cosponsored legislation creating ``enterprise zones,'' which would provide tax incentives for businesses to start up, expand or rebuild in economically distressed areas. Believes inner cities must not be allowed to fail, or the whole economy will be damaged.
Mark Warner - Supports the implementation of enterprise zones in communities with high unemployment.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA U.S. SENATE RACE
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