Senate candidates face off in debate

Indiana Republicans taking aim at Congress got their last and best chance to make an impression on Hoosiers before the May 4 primary during last night’s televised Senate debate.

The five Senate hopefuls answered questions posed by Hoosiers in the primary campaign’s only televised debate.

Nuclear Arms

No candidate said he supported the new arms limitation agreement President Barack Obama reached with Russia.

Coats and Bates emphasized what they say is Obama’s position to “apologize” for the U.S. military involvements.

“I feel like I’m living through Jimmy Carter part two,” Bates said.

Taxes

“Lower taxes” was the message from every candidate during the debate.

Stutzman focused on his time spent in northern Indiana and said he’s seen firsthand what big government regulation can do to a community. Elkhart has been spotlighted recently as being a community hit hard by the economic downturn.

Behney and Bates said they would vow to make the Bush tax cuts permanent in order to balance out a budget Behney said is $1.3 trillion off.

Federal Spending

Candidates did differ on how they would attack federal spending in an attempt to balance the federal budget.

Bates proposed a 5 percent pay cut for all congressmen, saying it would go a long way in rebuilding the trust between the GOP and the American people.

He also vowed to make reforms to Medicare and Medicaid and also said that the government should reexamine Social Security for those under 40 years of age.

Coats vowed to stop any new programs, “even if it’s desirable.” He also said that he would support a cut in defense spending saying that the current budget is built for the Cold War, not current military involvements.

Hostettler took a different view at military spending saying he would not vote for any cuts to national security.

Behney said that no program should be off the table when it comes to cutting spending.

“Being a Tea Party guy,” he said, “I like to go in there and rip everything out.”
First bill in office

Coats and Stutzman said they would push for a balanced budget amendment that would require a balance in projected revenues and expenditures by the federal government. Such an amendment has been introduced to congress as recently as 2007.

“If you send money to Washington,” Coats said, “I guarantee it will be spent.”
Bates said he would first push to make the Bush Tax Cuts that are set to expire this year permanent.

Behney said he would work to repeal legislation rather than create new laws if elected.
“There is not a free man or woman among us,” he said.
Behney vowed to take aim at the new health care law calling it an “economic killer.”

The candidates

Don Bates, Jr.
A resident of Winchester and financial adviser for Wells Fargo in Richmond, Ind., Bates has never sought public office. He has served on the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.

Richard Behney
From Fishers, Ind., and the owner of AttaBoy Pluming Co., Behney is the founder of the Indiana Tea Party. This is the first time he has sought public office.

Marlin Stutzman
At 33, Stutzman is the youngest candidate in the field. He has served as state senator since 2009 and also served as a state representative from 2002-2008. He currently runs a 4,000-acre farm near Howe, Ind. Stutzman has been endorsed by 51 state legislators.

John N. Hostettler
Hostettler served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2007 out of the 8th district. He recently received an endorsement from U.S. congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas. The Evansville native currently resides in Blairsville, Ind.

Dan Coats
Coats served on Capitol Hill from 1981-1999, first as a representative for eight years, then as a senator for 10 years.  He graduated from the IU Law School in Indianapolis in 1971 and served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2001-2005. After retiring from that position, Coats worked as a lobbyist for companies including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Google.