Post-Bulletin - Walz, Davis Wrangle Over Energy, Economy

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Post-Bulletin - Walz, Davis Wrangle Over Energy, Economy

By Matthew Stolle

DFL Congressman Tim Walz and Republican challenger Brian Davis sparred over the root causes of the nation's financial meltdown and the measures needed to resuscitate an economy now careening toward life-support in a debate Thursday.

Walz, a Mankato Democrat, defended his vote against a $700 billion financial rescue that passed last week, saying the legislation failed to address one of his key concerns: the lack of government oversight that he said led to the economic turmoil.

"I don't believe the government should be a player in the market, but there needs to be a referee on the field, and there hasn't been one," Walz said.

Davis, a Mayo Clinic doctor, said the financial crisis had plenty of culprits, including Wall Street banks that were allowed to overleverage and a federal government that pushed financial institutions into subprime mortgage lending.

"I believe a bailout bill must first address some of these underlying problems, including getting rid of the subprime mortgage lending practice," said Davis, who also proposed reforming or dismantling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The candidates also differed on a wide range of other issues, including energy policy, partially privatizing Social Security, a proposal for certifying unions called "card-checking" and how to revive the flagging economy. The debate, sponsored by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in southwest Rochester.

The debate took place 26 days before the Nov. 4 general election. Walz is seeking a second two-year congressional term after defeating Republican Gil Gutknecht two years ago.

Energy philosophies

Even though the moratorium has been lifted on off-shore drilling, both candidates battled over its merits.

Davis said he strongly supported a "drill here, drill now" philosophy, reciting a mantra that has become identified with his campaign. He noted that a decade ago the price of oil was $10 a barrel but rose to as high as $147 per barrel this past summer. He said Walz has done nothing to bring down gas prices, voting 12 times against off-shore drilling during his two years in Congress.

But Walz said such a proposal would have done nothing to alleviate gas prices.

"I'll tell you what, I did vote 12 times against that, because I'm not going to give Big Oil a free ride again," Walz said.

He said the key was not simply to focus on oil drilling, but to begin a process for transitioning to the next generation of renewable fuels, such as biofuels, and wind and solar power. He said bipartisan legislation he supported would have accomplished that, taking the royalties from off-shore leases and funding an "alternative and sustainable future" based on renewal energy.

In the process, it would have created jobs, powered the economy and enhanced the country's security, he said.

"That's a real solution. That's not a slogan," Walz said.

Candidates hit themes

The candidates hit key themes. Walz, a former Mankato High School teacher and retired National Guard command sergeant major, emphasized his leadership style of building bipartisan coalitions. He said these were serious times that needed serious solutions.

Davis, a Mayo Clinic doctor, presented himself as the candidate more in sync with the district's values of low taxes and small government than Walz. He said he would be more upfront with voters, suggesting that there was a gap between what Walz said and what he did.

"I will never tell you that I support domestic drilling when I've already voted against it nearly a dozen times. I will never talk of wanting to cut taxes and then voting for the largest tax increase in history. I will never vote for a recess in the midst of an energy crisis," Davis said.

Walz stressed his accomplishments in the last two years. Referring to the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad project, Walz said "we were able" to stop what he called the "most unsafe, fiscally unsound" railroad project in the country. He cited his role in securing the largest funding increase in the 77- year history of the Veterans Administration.

"I believe I've done an awful lot in two years. The first year I was coaching, we scored one touchdown at Mankato West. The second year, we won three games. The third year, we won the state championship. We're on our way," Walz said.

During the hour-and-half debate, they also clashed over several other issues, including the following:

What should we do about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States?

Davis: "If you want to have a debate about legal immigration and a guest worker program, that is a legitimate debate. But illegal immigration has to stop by almost any means necessary, 'cause we're losing our country. Unlike Congressman Walz, I do support building a border fence."

Walz: "Let's have an open and honest discussion among our workers and businesses about what we need for labor in this country. Let's have them go through a legal system that gives them a biometric card. We'll have the workers necessary, and our resources will go to stopping at the border those things that we want to stop."

Is global warming man-made, and should efforts be made to control it?

Davis: "I contest (the idea) that the majority of global warming can be proven (to be caused) by fossil fuel combustion. Some of it, yes. All of it, no. I would also contest strongly that by burning fewer fossil fuels, we're going to control the climate."

Walz: "The vast majority of Americans who do see (the threat of global warming) see the concern to move toward (energy) alternatives, not only for economic reasons, not only for security reasons, but for the (purpose) of handing our planet to children in a livable, sustainable manner."

What's your view on partially privatizing Social Security to allow young workers to invest part of their contributions?

Davis: "We are heading toward some insolvency of Social Security. I do support one idea that's worth investigating... a partial privatization, an optional privatization."

Walz: "I would have to think that Vegas might have been a better bet than Wall Street."

What's your view on the issue of rising health care costs and increasing the number of the uninsured?

Walz: "Getting everyone covered is not only a good moral goal. It's good economics, because if we (have) preventative care, we can get children the immunizations they need. So we don't get these developing problems."

Davis: "I think we need more competition rather than less. We need portability of insurance. We need malpractice reform, just like the chamber recommends."

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