WEST UNION – The political rhetoric continued to fly during a congressional debate held at the Ohio Valley Vocational School near West Union on Tuesday, July 26.
Democrat Paul Hackett continued to label Republican Jean Schmidt as a "rubber stamp" career politician, while he relies much on his military service in Iraq to win the congressional election on Aug. 2.
Schmidt reiterated her experience as a politician, her pro-life views on abortion and a comprehensive energy policy to win the seat in congress.
Issues discussed included unemployment rates, energy policies, education and national security.
To reverse the six-year trend of increasing poverty levels and unemployment rates in Ohio, Schmidt emphasized her stance on using alternative fuels and facilities that create alternative fuels such as ethanol. She mentioned planning is underway for such a plant in Pike County.
"It's an integrated plant that is going to be developed in the very near future, bringing 107 jobs to this region. Real jobs with real incomes," said Schmidt. "That's the kind of thing I worked on when I was in the state house and that's the kind of thing I want to continue at the federal level."
Hackett targeted unemployment statistics over the last five years under Republican leadership when asked how to reverse the negative economic trend and vowed to create jobs if elected.
"My first solution is, let's stop one party rule in Washington like we should have done in Columbus," said Hackett. "The voters should ask themselves, are you better off now than you were five years ago?
"Under the administration of Bob Taft and Jean Schmidt, Ohio has lost more than 160,000 jobs over the last five years."
Hackett felt the U.S. government needs to take a closer look before offering financial incentives to corporations for out-sourcing U.S. jobs overseas.
Hackett used his service in Iraq as grounds for his moral values, while Schmidt reminded voters of how Hackett originally opposed the invasion of Iraq.
Schmidt criticized Hackett for not "standing with" President George W. Bush when the war in Iraq began, while she strongly supported President Bush's decision from the start.
Hackett's reply to Schmidt was, "I not only stood with him, I fought for him."
Hackett, a Marine Reserve major, returned earlier this year from a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq.
As far as the federal government's role in providing quality education for all children, Schmidt felt the No Child Left Behind Act was a great start to improve the quality of education in Ohio's public school districts. But she also felt the required diagnostic testing in the No Child Left Behind Act needs some adjustment.
"No Child Left Behind makes it clear whether students are learning or not learning and the teacher is accountable," said Schmidt. "There are some things that need to be tweaked. One of those things is with the test itself because that test is given to all students regardless of ability and we need to separate those children who have some deficiencies and are not able to take the test as a mainstream student is (able)."
Hackett felt the No Child Left Behind Act was not the answer to improving the quality of education in Ohio schools, claiming that school systems are over-burdened by the administrative requirements (paperwork) mandated by the act.
He said that local schools no longer have the time to concentrate on providing more education to students because "some suit in Washington needs our teacher to fill out another form.
"I'm all about getting the job done but No Child Left Behind is more unnecessary government intrusion into our communities with no benefit."
Hackett said, as he has several times throughout his campaign, that he stands for limited government, fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and fair trade.
"I don't need government in my personal life. I don't need government to tell me which guns I can keep in my gun safe," said Hackett. "If you think America needs another career politician who works so well with Bob Taft, who does as she's told and towed the line in Columbus on Taft's failed policies, then I'm not your candidate."
Schmidt said if she is elected to Congress she will work hard to continue to protect national security and jobs in the district. She said she will fight to keep borders safe and taxes low. She supports a comprehensive energy policy that she thinks will work for the district and is in favor of reducing the country's dependency on foreign oil.
Schmidt, 53, is a life-long resident of Miami Township who currently resides in Loveland, in Clermont County. She served as Miami Township trustee from 1990 through 2000. She served in the Ohio House of Representatives representing District 66 from 2001 through 2004 and lost in the Republican primary for the Ohio Senate during the 2004 election. She was chairperson for the Clermont County Republican Party from 1996 to 1998. She is a founding member of the Coalition of Large Ohio Urban Townships and of the Southwest Ohio Township Association. She is pro-life on abortion issues.
Hackett, 43, is an attorney and former councilman of Milford who currently resides in Indian Hill, Hamilton County. He is pro-choice on abortion issues.
Hackett is not a professional politician but, if elected, would be the only Congressman in office that has served in Iraq. He lived in the district as a child, but his military service and education led him out of the district. He and his wife moved back to the district 13 years ago. He is the owner of Hackett Law Firm in the Cincinnati area. He said he became familiar with people from all seven counties that make up Ohio's Second Congressional District as a child with his father, a traveling salesman.
Both are trying to fill the open seat in Ohio's Second Congressional District as a result of Rob Portman's move to U.S. Trade Representative.
The debate was hosted by Adams County Business and Professional Women with more than 100 people in attendance. Mediating the debate was Business and Professional Women's former president and employee of The People's Defender Connie McDonald.
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