MONROE - Area voters got a chance to hear from federal and state candidates at a forum sponsored by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tuesday at the Monroe Arts Center.
About 100 people came to listen to candidates answer questions about everything from health care reform to how to cut spending from the state's budget.
The forum allowed candidates running for United States Senate, the Second Congressional District, the 27th Senate District and the 80th Assembly District a chance to introduce themselves to voters. They were given one minute to answer questions and three minutes to make a closing statement. There was no time for rebuttal and the candidates didn't address each other.
No one from the audience was allowed to ask questions.
Some of the people who attended the forum already know which way they'll vote next Tuesday.
Nancy McGuire, Monroe, came to the forum with an idea of which candidates she supports, but she said she still wanted to see them answer questions.
"I came tonight to validate my decision, but I still want to see how they handle themselves," she said.
Hans Sulzer, Monroe, said he knows who he'll vote for, but said he wanted to see the candidates actually speak on the issues.
"I'm tired of the negative ads I see all the time," he said. "I want them to work together to get things done."
During the forum, all the candidates said they would work with politicians from across the aisle to get things done. The candidates said there needs to be more bi-partisanship in government.
U.S. Senate
Neither Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold nor Republican challenger Ron Johnson were able to attend the forum. Kathleen Falk, Dane County executive, answered questions on behalf of Feingold.
Falk called Feingold one of the most "principled" people she knows and said he's been a "maverick" in the Senate.
"Russ Feingold remembers every day who he's working for," she said. "When he thinks something is right, he's willing to buck his own party."
Falk said Feingold has kept his promise to visit every county at least once a year since he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
In regard to issues, Falk said Feingold supported the health care law because it ends insurance companies rejecting customers who have pre-existing conditions and has helped families; he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement because it hurt businesses; and he's worked to reduce the federal deficit.
2nd Congressional District
Chad Lee, R-Mineral Point and Bill Murat, chief of staff for Rep. Tammy Baldwin D-Madison, stressed the difference between the two campaigns.
Lee said he supports partial privatization of Social Security.
"People under 40 probably think (Social Security) won't be around," Lee said. "I'm not in favor of privatizing Social Security, but we could privatize some of it."
Murat said Baldwin has worked to preserve Social Security and said Lee favors privatization.
"Even if it's only partial, it's still privatization," Murat said.
Murat said if people had been able to put their Social Security into the stock market, they would have lost most of it in 2008.
On health care, Murat said the recent law was a good first step, but added that Baldwin supports a public option.
"This isn't government-run health care," he said.
Lee said the recent health care law is unconstitutional. He said he supported the portion of the bill that ended restricting coverage for pre-existing conditions, but he said the bill should have gone further to include tort reform and allow people to shop for health insurance across state lines.
27th Senate District
Incumbent Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and challenger Kurt Schlicht, R-Cross Plains, agreed that jobs is the main issue facing Wisconsin.
Schlicht said the state needs to help create and grow businesses by providing incentives to business and by giving tax credits to train workers.
Erpenbach said the state should provide tax credits and tax breaks to business. "We need to target incentives to businesses that create and keep jobs," he said.
He said the state also needs to help schools to ensure it has an educated work force.
The candidates said the state will have to make tough choices to help reduce the state's deficit, which is expected to be about $2.7 billion.
Erpenbach said the legislature needs to look at the state budget to find areas to cut, but cuts shouldn't be made for people who are struggling.
"We have to make sure the safety net programs are saved," Erpenbach said.
Schlicht said the state could save money by having state employees pay more for health insurance and by not hiring people for vacant jobs.
80th Assembly District
Dan Henke, R-Monroe, and Janis Ringhand, D-Evansville, both seeking the open Assembly seat, also spoke on how to reduce the projected deficit. Henke called for more budget oversight and Ringhand said there are no easy answers.
"I want to look at every line item in all 60 (state) departments and cut where ever we can," Henke said.
Ringhand said one thing the state should do is make businesses pay their "fair share" of taxes. "We have businesses that aren't paying their fair share of taxes," she said.
The two candidates differed in their approach to how to create jobs.
Henke said the government needs "to get out of our back pocket." He said there is too much "red tape" which makes it difficult to create jobs.
"If we could get them to leave us alone, we can create more jobs," Henke said.
Ringhand said the state needs to provide incentives through low-interest loans or tax breaks to businesses that create jobs.
About 100 people came to listen to candidates answer questions about everything from health care reform to how to cut spending from the state's budget.
The forum allowed candidates running for United States Senate, the Second Congressional District, the 27th Senate District and the 80th Assembly District a chance to introduce themselves to voters. They were given one minute to answer questions and three minutes to make a closing statement. There was no time for rebuttal and the candidates didn't address each other.
No one from the audience was allowed to ask questions.
Some of the people who attended the forum already know which way they'll vote next Tuesday.
Nancy McGuire, Monroe, came to the forum with an idea of which candidates she supports, but she said she still wanted to see them answer questions.
"I came tonight to validate my decision, but I still want to see how they handle themselves," she said.
Hans Sulzer, Monroe, said he knows who he'll vote for, but said he wanted to see the candidates actually speak on the issues.
"I'm tired of the negative ads I see all the time," he said. "I want them to work together to get things done."
During the forum, all the candidates said they would work with politicians from across the aisle to get things done. The candidates said there needs to be more bi-partisanship in government.
U.S. Senate
Neither Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold nor Republican challenger Ron Johnson were able to attend the forum. Kathleen Falk, Dane County executive, answered questions on behalf of Feingold.
Falk called Feingold one of the most "principled" people she knows and said he's been a "maverick" in the Senate.
"Russ Feingold remembers every day who he's working for," she said. "When he thinks something is right, he's willing to buck his own party."
Falk said Feingold has kept his promise to visit every county at least once a year since he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
In regard to issues, Falk said Feingold supported the health care law because it ends insurance companies rejecting customers who have pre-existing conditions and has helped families; he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement because it hurt businesses; and he's worked to reduce the federal deficit.
2nd Congressional District
Chad Lee, R-Mineral Point and Bill Murat, chief of staff for Rep. Tammy Baldwin D-Madison, stressed the difference between the two campaigns.
Lee said he supports partial privatization of Social Security.
"People under 40 probably think (Social Security) won't be around," Lee said. "I'm not in favor of privatizing Social Security, but we could privatize some of it."
Murat said Baldwin has worked to preserve Social Security and said Lee favors privatization.
"Even if it's only partial, it's still privatization," Murat said.
Murat said if people had been able to put their Social Security into the stock market, they would have lost most of it in 2008.
On health care, Murat said the recent law was a good first step, but added that Baldwin supports a public option.
"This isn't government-run health care," he said.
Lee said the recent health care law is unconstitutional. He said he supported the portion of the bill that ended restricting coverage for pre-existing conditions, but he said the bill should have gone further to include tort reform and allow people to shop for health insurance across state lines.
27th Senate District
Incumbent Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and challenger Kurt Schlicht, R-Cross Plains, agreed that jobs is the main issue facing Wisconsin.
Schlicht said the state needs to help create and grow businesses by providing incentives to business and by giving tax credits to train workers.
Erpenbach said the state should provide tax credits and tax breaks to business. "We need to target incentives to businesses that create and keep jobs," he said.
He said the state also needs to help schools to ensure it has an educated work force.
The candidates said the state will have to make tough choices to help reduce the state's deficit, which is expected to be about $2.7 billion.
Erpenbach said the legislature needs to look at the state budget to find areas to cut, but cuts shouldn't be made for people who are struggling.
"We have to make sure the safety net programs are saved," Erpenbach said.
Schlicht said the state could save money by having state employees pay more for health insurance and by not hiring people for vacant jobs.
80th Assembly District
Dan Henke, R-Monroe, and Janis Ringhand, D-Evansville, both seeking the open Assembly seat, also spoke on how to reduce the projected deficit. Henke called for more budget oversight and Ringhand said there are no easy answers.
"I want to look at every line item in all 60 (state) departments and cut where ever we can," Henke said.
Ringhand said one thing the state should do is make businesses pay their "fair share" of taxes. "We have businesses that aren't paying their fair share of taxes," she said.
The two candidates differed in their approach to how to create jobs.
Henke said the government needs "to get out of our back pocket." He said there is too much "red tape" which makes it difficult to create jobs.
"If we could get them to leave us alone, we can create more jobs," Henke said.
Ringhand said the state needs to provide incentives through low-interest loans or tax breaks to businesses that create jobs.