Why should Utahns elect you to Congress instead of your opponent?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
Simply put, I believe that I am the candidate who will most effectively represent Utah's values and interests in Congress.
RON HOLT(D)
I chose to run for Congress after determining Congressman Hansen isn't getting the job done for Davis and Weber counties and the rest of the 1st District. As an educator since 1979, I am uniquely qualified to listen to citizen concerns and work with people to find solutions.
How would you balance the federal budget?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
First and foremost, I support a total freeze on federal spending at current levels for at least three years. This would mean no increase for any reason, including inflation. A freeze would be better than any other method used because the pain would be spread over the entire budget. In addition to a complete freeze, I continue to support other budget reforms. Those reforms could include a balanced budget amendment, line-item veto and rainy day funds (so that tax hikes are not required during budget emergencies).
RON HOLT(D)
I favor a balanced budget amendment, but I won't balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, disabled and poor. I favor a line-item veto to cut waste and inefficiency and to control health care costs, which currently are driving the federal budget deeper into deficit.
Do you favor or oppose congressional term limitation? If yes, at what lengths?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
I support a national limitation for members of the U.S. House to six two-year terms or three four-year terms. Further, I would enthusiastically abide by such legislation once it is enacted. However, the key to my support of this limitation is that it must be enacted for all states, applicable to every member of Congress. Utah is relatively small in population, therefore, it has only three votes in the House, while California will have 52 by 1993. A unilateral decision by Utah to apply term limits to its federal representatives would take Utah's relatively modest influence and make it minute.
RON HOLT(D)
I oppose mandated term limits. We already have term limitation in the form of elections - if citizens want new representatives, they can vote them in.
What federal campaign reform do you support?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
I propose the following: 1) Require that a majority of candidates's funds be raised from local sources; 2) reduce the allowable political action committee contribution from $5,000 to $1,000; 3) require union members to approve in advance a portion of any dues withheld for political activities and allow those members to cancel authorization for withholding for political purposes with written notice.
RON HOLT(D)
I want to limit political action committee contributions to $1,000 and make the first $100 of individual contributions tax-deductible. I also want to cut congressional perks that are allowing Congressman Hansen to campaign at taxpayer expense - things like congressional mailings and the use in campaigns of government offices, phones, fax machines and employees. I am willing to consider limits on total spending and public financing of congressional campaigns.
What kind of tax changes do you support?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
Tax legislation should give priority to easing tax penalties on work, saving and investment, rather than focusing on parochial concerns. This could be accomplished by reducing the capital gains tax, making IRAs tax-deductible, providing a tax deduction for first-time homebuyers and increasing the personal exemption for children to $3,500.
RON HOLT(D)
My agenda includes indexing of capital gains and a cut in the capital gains tax. I also favor an income tax freeze for the poor and middle class but would increase the rate to 36 percent for those earning more than $200,000 a year.
How would you reduce military spending?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
I don't support defense cuts greater than the 25 to 30 percent already proposed. To the extent that reductions occur, I prefer selected overseas troop reductions and base closures, phased downsizing of our active duty forces and increased reliance on reserve units.
RON HOLT(D)
I favor a more mobile military that would include expanded roles for the Marines and more airlift/sealift capability. I would cut unneeded projects like the B-2 bomber, the Seawolf submarine and the "brilliant pebbles" phase of the SDI. Also, the United States can save with a nuclear-testing moratorium.
What would you do about rising health-care costs?
JAMES V. HANSEN(R)
First, people need to become educated consumers of health care - willing to pay for quality care but informed about their options. Prevention and wellness need to be emphasized and rewarded. Administration costs could be reduced by standardizing paperwork for all companies. I would support 100 percent deductibility as well as access to individual medical savings accounts.
RON HOLT(D)
I was the only candidate in this race to oppose Gov. Bangerter's plan to cut Medicaid benefits. I won't reform medical care by forcing the poor to do without hospital and doctor care and needed medications. I would work to require arbitration for malpractice lawsuits and to create tax credits for doctors who treat Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Question to Hansen from Holt: Although you deny it, both Salt Lake newspapers insist that you vowed not to run for a seventh term. You made this promise in conjunction with your own proposal to limit House members to six terms. You're running for a seventh term, you're violating your pledge. Why should voters believe any of your other pledges?
Mr. Holt seems to be distorting my long-held position on limitation and twisting it to state that I took some sort of pledge not to run for another term. Seniority, for better or worse, often dictates a member's ability to be effective in Congress and tends to enhance the ability of small states to impact federal legislation and policies.
Question to Holt from Hansen: The issue of BLM wilderness designation has been the object of years of study and scrutiny by many and diverse groups. It is past time for action. How many acres of BLM wilderness do you favor and why?
I'll work for a compromise in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 million acres. But to identify a specific number would be irresponsible. Congressman Hansen and his staff have had 12 years to inspect each proposed wilderness area. I haven't had that opportunity. I will broker a compromise after touring each potential area and meeting with interested parties.
Question to Hansen from Holt: Couldn't you have accomplished more for Utah during your 12 years in Congress by trying to work with the Democratic majority, instead of bad-mouthing them? Wouldn't Utah's Thiokol and military jobs be safer if the 1st District congressman had a better working relationship with Democrats?
Mr. Holt, your premise is wholly incorrect. My working relationship with Democrats has been productive and satisfying for the vast majority of my experience. Because I speak out plainly in my differences with the other party doesn't mean that I do not have great working relationships with some very honorable Democrat members.
Question to Holt from Hansen: Do you agree with the legislative agenda of your principle financial backer - the Teamsters Union, which includes opposition to Davis-Bacon ap-pren-tice-ships, the North American Free Trade agreement and campaign finance reform and support of legislation making it illegal to replace striking workers?
I'm proud that my campaign has received support from the working men and women of Utah, union and nonunion. I have a pro-labor and pro-business agenda that calls for family leave. I support campaign finance reform and want the North American Free Trade agreement changed so U.S. manufacturers can compete with Mexico's lax environmental standards and $1.73-per-hour wages.