HARRISONBURG — Sixth District Rep. Bob Goodlatte stuck to his conservative guns during a debate Thursday, calling for energy independence and an end to wasteful government spending.
His Democratic opponent, Sam Rasoul, who is seeking to unseat the eight-term incumbent, sounded his familiar theme of ending the influence of special interests in Washington, D.C.
Independent candidate Janice Lee Allen, of Harrisonburg, said she would revamp the Internal Revenue Service and put some of these resources toward enforcement of America’s borders.
The three squared off in a 90-minute debate at the Harrisonburg Holiday Inn. It marked the second time Goodlatte and Rasoul have debated and the first time all three candidates appeared together.
Goodlatte, who has introduced legislation calling for drilling off Virginia’s Outer Continental Shelf, said the United States must end a dependence on foreign oil that now costs the country $2 billion a day.
“We can do it by drilling for oil in the Outer Continental Shelf, drilling for natural gas, using clean coal and new alternative energy sources,” he said.
Goodlatte said keeping federal taxes low will increase investment and jobs. Another key, he said, is balancing the federal budget.
The congressman, who has proposed a balanced budget Constitutional amendment, said the government has “lacked discipline” in its spending, leading to a deficit of $10 trillion. He frequently has been critical of President Bush, a fellow Republican, for failing to rein in spending.
Goodlatte voted against last week’s $700 billion government bailout, and said a long-term approach that included the use of government bonds would have been better.
If the right energy policy is in place, Goodlatte forecasts an improving economy with more jobs.
Rasoul, a 27-year-old Roanoke-area businessman, said there needs to be a stop to “business as usual” in Washington, including the influence of special interests and lobbyists.
“The lobbyists and special interests have taken control,” said Rasoul, who also wants to end federal earmarks and cut other federal spending.
While Rasoul called for an 18-to 24-month plan for the removal of troops from Iraq, Goodlatte said he would not put a time limit on the troop withdrawal.
The people of Iraq “have to take responsibility for the future,” Goodlatte said.
Allen spoke of the loss of thousands of lives in Iraq and said she believes it is time to “bring the men and women home.”
On immigration, Rasoul said he favors a guest worker program. Goodlatte does not want amnesty for those who are in the country illegally, and favors a legal temporary guest worker program if there is a shortage of workers.
Goodlatte and Rasoul had varying views on the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, which will come up for reauthorization in Congress next year.
Rasoul thinks the federal accountability law should be modified in the short-term and terminated in the long-term.
Goodlatte said because of Virginia’ strong Standards of Learning education accountability program, the commonwealth should get waivers from No Child Left Behind, and if not waivers, added flexibility.
Goodlatte favors keeping taxes low. Rasoul said he wants more tax relief for the middle class.
