Candidates debate economy

Candidates for both the State House District-13 seat and the State Senate-7 seat gathered at the Llano theater in Plains Monday night to discuss issues facing mainly dealing with the economy.

Senate-7 candidates Paul Clark, the Democratic candidate, Greg Hinkle, the Republican candidate and Judy Stang, a write-in candidate all participated in the debate.

Also participating in the forum were House District-13 candidates Pat Ingraham, the incumbent Republican, Jim Elliott, the Democratic candidate and Ren Bodecker, the third party Constitutionalist candidate.

All six candidates were given a list of six questions in advance, so they would have time to prepare them. They were first given two minutes to give an opening statement about themselves to introduce who they were and what they wanted to accomplish if they were elected to their seat. Once they did that, each candidate was asked the six questions in a rotating basis, giving each person a chance to answer a question first.

Once the prepared question session was over a short recess occurred to give moderator Tom Eggensberger, along with organizers Nick Lawyer and Deb Warren a chance to collect audience questions and filter them for content and bias. Once the recess was over, the audience member question and answer session began, with Eggensberger reading the questions in the same format as the prepared ones.

In the opening statement portion all the candidates took time to explain why they were running for their respective audience, as well as their qualifications.

Elliott said that this was the most critical election in the last 50 years in the state of Montana because of the current economic situation. “I have 16 years experience and know what it is like to be in Helena,” he said.

Stang said that she has been a county commissioner in Mineral County for 18 years. She said that even though she was defeated in the primary, there were still a lot of people who wanted to vote for her and she didn't want to have their votes be wasted. “It is going to take a lot of non-partisan work to bring the state around,” she said.

Hinkle said that he has held a wide variety of jobs in his lifetime including commercial fisherman, logger, mail-carrier and volunteer firefighter. He said that he knows what it takes to adapt to changing times. “Our nation is in great peril,” he said. “Not just economically but liberty is at stake.”

Ingraham said that this whole process is about “we the people.” She said that she was elected two years ago after 18 years in county government. “Local government is the best form of government because you serve the people. This is my opportunity to give back,” she said.

Bodecker admitted that the debate was way out of his comfort zone. “I have no desire to spend any time in Helena,” he said. “We need to put an end to corruption in our government…we have no freedom.”

Clark cited his experience as a former House representative would help in the Senate seat. He said that his work to protect and educate Montana's youth as well as his energy policy are two of the things he was most proud of. “I watched what happened in the last legislature,” he said. “Changes need to be made.”

The first prepared questions was about the economy and how while the nation's economy was declining rapidly, Montana's economy was still holding pretty steady, however, the candidates were asked if they believed that it would spread to Montana and how they suggest we should prepare for it.

Elliott said the economic downturn hasn't spread to Montana because the businesses that are closest are the best. “Global companies have taken advantage,” he said. “I can't imagine that it won't spread to Montana and my advice is to spend less, stay close to home and be careful.”

Stang said that she disagreed with the question and believed Montana was already feeling the effects. “I am a real estate broker,” she said. “And trust me, we're feeling the effects.”

Hinkle said that he expected the failing economy to spread to Montana, because it is spreading everywhere else. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “I'm expecting more bailouts and we need to prepare for that.”

“Montana will not go untouched,” Ingraham said. “We need to work with each other and watch our budgeting process.”

Bodecker said that he did expect Montana to be hit with “the same lack of credit that is now worldwide. It is important that we focus on our needs.”

Clark said that this is not something we'll escape from. “There is a crisis in Sanders County,” he said. “We have to fix our budgets and settle down and I am committed to cutting down energy costs. However, I am optimistic about the future.”

The candidates were also asked about the very high unemployment rate in Sanders County and what accounts for the fact that the state economy is growing, yet the county economy is shrinking.

“This is all related to alternative energy,” Stang said. “We need to promote natural resources and we need to promote more jobs and economic development.”

Hinkle said that he believed the state's economy would follow the way of Sanders County. “There is a boom of natural resources in the area,” he said. “We have the means to mine in safe and effective ways, and we need to do that.”

“We need to look at utilizing natural resources,” Ingraham said. “Sanders County has lost the timber industry base and businesses are stepping in the best that they can.”

Bodecker said that there is a big difference between “was” and “is” in the economy. “The only growth we see is in the government,” he said. “We need to re-vamp and eliminate most controls.”

Clark said that the state's growth has exceeded the growth in Sanders County. “We've lost jobs in construction, alternative schools, real estate and timber,” he said. “Small businesses haven't been getting a good break.”

Another prepared question the group was asked dealt with the business equipment tax and whether or not they support eliminating it.

“We need to really be careful with this subject,” Clark said. “I am for a reduction of the tax, but we need to be careful.” He proposed looking at lifting the cap to a higher level, therefore not making it a tax cut, but a tax shift.

“The burden has fallen on county governments,” Elliott said. He said that they need to cut it that impedes the growth of small businesses. “I would propose excluding the first $50,000 of equipment from taxation.”

Stang said that she wasn't sure if she would support an elimination of the tax, because it would all come back on the backs of the local taxpayers. “Counties have lost a lot of federal revenues,” she said. “I'm not sure if I would support eliminating this tax.”

Hinkle said he supported eliminating the tax entirely. “There are lots of farmers out there with $200,000 pieces of equipment that sits there for half the year and I don't think they should have to pay taxes on it,” he said. “The county governments need to evaluate their needs, not their wants.”

Ingraham said the was in support of eliminating the business tax. “Small businesses need some help with that, we'll look at ways to adapt to that and the money should come.”

Bodecker said he agreed with eliminating the business tax. “We are tax and control heavy,” he said. “Let us investigate every job to see if it is really needed.”

Once all six of the questions were asked, Eggensberger moved onto the audience question portion of the forum, with eight questions being asked.

The first question they were asked was if they were members of the United States Congress, would they have voted for the economic bailout package.

All six of the candidates gave a resounding “no” to answer that question.

The questions were also asked whether or not they would change the minimum wage and make it higher.

Stang said she believed people should be paid based on the work that they do, and that raising the minimum wage didn't seem necessary.

Hinkle agreed and said that we “need to teach people to be more caring of people” and that people should be paid for the work they do.

Ingraham said that pay should be based on work and the merit people put in and not based on some government set wage.

Bodecker said he did not believe in a minimum wage as it was set out. “I firmly believe you should be paid what you're worth,” he said.

Clark said that there should be dignity in all work and that everyone should be able to support their families. “We should gauge pay on experience and what small businesses can afford,” he said.

Elliott said that he has never paid an employee minimum wage. “Employers can't find anyone who will work for less than $8 an hour,” he said. “Montana leads the nation in people working two or more jobs.”

The candidates were also asked about the fact that in Wyoming all in-state tuition is paid for residents and whether or not that was something that could happen in Montana.

Clark said that the natural resource industry in Wyoming supports a very high quality of life, and that the two states are very different. “I would easily support an education trust fund,” he said. “Energy is going to become a big issue.”

Elliott said the difference between Wyoming and Montana was simple. “Wyoming taxes the natural resource base, we give tax breaks to ours,” he said. “I don't understand why 12 years of education is guaranteed, but education at the highest level isn't.”

Stang said that she believed loans were absolutely ridiculous. “We can give people a 1 percent loan to get a house, but we can't do the same for our students,” she said. “I think students should have a zero percent loan.”

Hinkle said that schools should be financed off of natural resources. “We need to look at developing our coal bed more,” he said.

Ingraham said we should look towards are natural resources and at tax incentives to ease the costs of higher education for students.

“I think the education system is Draconian,” Bodecker said. “I would change the whole school system, from first to sixth grade then three years of high school and then three years of college. Plus we need to get rid of socialist professors.”

The last question of the evening dealt with helping low income families, and how they can be helped.

“We do have some programs available to help with heating and food and we need to promote those,” Stang said. “Although this isn't just going to be for low income families, middle class families are going to need help to.”

Hinkle said that people needed to help their neighbors, but it wasn't the government's job to step in. “It isn't the role of the government to supply our personal needs, that's socialism folks,” he said.

Ingraham said that it all is about helping your neighbor. “We need to make sure that we're accountable to our neighbors,” she said.

“Everyone could use the same helper I do and my helper is God,” Bodecker said. “He has never failed me and people need to learn to take care of yourself.”

Clark said that he believed in taking care of the poor. “I've always believed in helping people who need help and are unable to help themselves,” he said.

Elliott said that there was a time when there weren't programs for elderly people and the poor. “Sometimes its bigger than what one neighbor and the community can do,” he said. “Government ought to go along and help people.”

The forum lasted a little over two hours and will be the only forum where all six of these candidates will share a stage together.