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Voters had the opportunity to see the candidates for the new Third District Monday during a commercial-free debate aired on NBC33 television station.
The half-hour-long debate, featuring Republican Congressman Mark Souder of Grabill, Democrat challenger Jay Rigdon of North Webster and Libertarian candidate Mike Donlan of Fort Wayne, was held in the Fort Wayne Area Chamber of Commerce auditorium.
Hosted by television personality Linda Jackson of NBC33, the program also was aired on PBS39 and carried by WOWO radio station.
Asking questions were Phil Laux, president of the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce; Dave Kurtz, of the Auburn Evening Star newspaper; and Marianne Holland, of WVPE Public Radio.
The candidates were quizzed on six topics, from permanently removing the inheritance tax to the recent Congressional resolution of war against Iraq.
Kurtz asked if America has done enough to guard against another Sept. 11-like attack.
Souder said we need to balance expensive costs of security and maintenance of civil liberties against the "war" on terrorism. He said the borders have been strengthened. Pressure is being put on Iraq and still a sniper terrorized the East Coast.
"I think over the next few years it will be a difficult challenge," he said, noting work with local law enforcement is the best option and such a network is very expensive.
Donlan said it is foolhardy to believe we can protect ourselves against all attack. He suggested airline pilots be armed, calling searches of old ladies at every airport excessive.
"We've almost deputized cable company employees and utility meter readers," he said.
Rigdon said he was in support of president George W. Bush's efforts to secure the country. "We're safer than we were a year ago and there are a lot of ways to improve. It's a continual learning process. We're working in the right direction."
Laux asked if any of the candidates would support legislation to move large lawsuits, of more than $2 million, from state courts to federal courts.
Rigdon and Donlan were concerned about the rights of states to set their own limitations. Souder blamed liberal trial attorney associations for not allowing the federal government to set limits.
The Republican and Libertarian agreed the inheritance tax should be rescinded permanently. The Democrat said it benefits only the top 1 percent of wealth-holders.
When asked by Holland, Rigdon said he would have voted no on a war against Iraq because the public hasn't seen the evidence of an immediate threat. He maintained enough information should be declassified now to convince the American people of the rightness of military action.
"A war will cost $9 billion a month to fight this war, when do we get a look at some of the evidence?" he asked.
Souder said much of the information has been declassified that the Iraqis have added facilities, that they have long-range missiles and the capacity to have underground facilities.
"Here is a leader willing to gas his own people. We're in a dangerous spot. The resolution was the toughest vote I've ever cast," he said, adding that he read every letter and e-mail on the subject and held a town meeting to hear people's opinions.
The candidates were asked if they would back development of energy sources that would also hurt the environment. Rigdon said it depends on what the companies were trying to accomplish - gathering energy or to put a couple of more dollars in the utility company's pocket.
"We would continue to support renewable energy, energy we can produce here, in Indiana - gasohol, ethanol, wind and solar power. That is environmentally safe and doesn't require drilling."
Regarding off-shore drilling for oil, he said that has improved over the last 25 years and should be pursued over drilling in the Anwar Nature Preserve in Alaska.
Souder compared the state of Alaska to the area of his speaking podium and the drilling area under consideration in the Anwar a spot the size of a straight pin head.
"No issue is more important to this area. We make things that consume gas - pickups, RVs, huge trucks, trailers. These industries are directly at risk if we impose mileage standards at too fast a rate. If we don't have low gas prices, we can't have boats, steel or RVs. If we don't become dependent on solar, sun and ethanol."
Donlan suggested the market direct the energy situation, not the government. "We can't force more regulations on people. Allow drilling, let the marketplace work.
"Let's let the companies do what they do best, within the restrictions we have. The proper form of government is to take them to court if they're in violation."
During closing remarks, Souder thanked the other candidates for their energetic campaigns. He said he appreciated the last few years to serve northeast Indiana and had the advantage of experience to continue the service.
Rigdon said it was time for a change and he would be a strong leader to preserve Social Security 20 and 40 years down the road, work to keep jobs in the region and promote economic development.
Donlan asked that voters keep the Libertarian Party viable by giving them 2 percent of the vote. In the end, he endorsed secretary of state candidate Rebecca Sink-Burris.
