MONROE - Candidates in the race for Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District seat are focusing their campaigns on the economy ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.
Incumbent Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said his background as a small business owner for the past 25 years makes him the best choice to tackle tough economic issues facing the state. Pocan, who will face Republican challenger Peter Theron, is finishing his first term in the House after taking Tammy Baldwin's seat when she left for the U.S. Senate in November 2012.
"I think with the downtrend we've had a few years back, we're coming back now, but people are getting left behind," Pocan said. "There are specific measures I've proposed that I think can help. Wisconsin is dead last for job growth, so I think we need to invest in infrastructure, education, research and development. Those are the big three."
Theron, a math instructor at Madison College, is running in the district for the fourth time. He is focusing his campaign on both the economy and foreign affairs, two issues he said go "hand-in-hand." Theron said working to make America more energy dependent would include more fracking in the U.S. as well as exploration in offshore drilling.
"Not only will that help our economy in keeping our energy prices low, but it helps our national security because nations like Iran will have less money to fund terrorism," Theron said, adding that there are "many places we should be exploring" for oil production.
Theron also supports repealing the Affordable Care Act, and in its place he proposes a refundable health insurance tax credit. He said under this plan, anyone who is not covered by an employer-sponsored plan would have the tax credit available to purchase private insurance.
"I think it's very important that the government be involved as little as possible in our health care," Theron said. "The VA is an example of poorly run government health care. There are many problems with government-run health care, but one of them would be, if you have problems within bureaucracy, it's very hard to soothe them. Whereas, if a private entity has a problem, you would at least be able to pursue a lawsuit in court."
Pocan said that when it comes to Green County and Monroe, his repeated visits to the area have demonstrated that voters across the district have been well-represented during his tenure.
"We've been down to Monroe at least a dozen times over the last couple years, and down to Green County as well," Pocan said. "We have spoken at the area schools, the head start program at high school, and I think what you find is that a lot of the issues, it doesn't matter so much if you're in Monroe or Madison, they're similar issues.
"It's been helpful to do those visits in Monroe and to get the Green County perspective."
Pocan added that his visits with cheesemakers throughout his district were instrumental in the work he did to help ensure the FDA would back off its declaration in June that cheesemakers must stop aging their cheese through the use of wooden boards.
"It's an issue that is applicable to other counties as well, and we're trying to make sure that process will continue," Pocan said of the wooden boards issue. "In general I think what you'll find is that things common in Monroe are common in Reedsburg, are common in (many areas). We're making sure you have affordable access to health care - standard issues that are really relevant to the district."
Incumbent Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said his background as a small business owner for the past 25 years makes him the best choice to tackle tough economic issues facing the state. Pocan, who will face Republican challenger Peter Theron, is finishing his first term in the House after taking Tammy Baldwin's seat when she left for the U.S. Senate in November 2012.
"I think with the downtrend we've had a few years back, we're coming back now, but people are getting left behind," Pocan said. "There are specific measures I've proposed that I think can help. Wisconsin is dead last for job growth, so I think we need to invest in infrastructure, education, research and development. Those are the big three."
Theron, a math instructor at Madison College, is running in the district for the fourth time. He is focusing his campaign on both the economy and foreign affairs, two issues he said go "hand-in-hand." Theron said working to make America more energy dependent would include more fracking in the U.S. as well as exploration in offshore drilling.
"Not only will that help our economy in keeping our energy prices low, but it helps our national security because nations like Iran will have less money to fund terrorism," Theron said, adding that there are "many places we should be exploring" for oil production.
Theron also supports repealing the Affordable Care Act, and in its place he proposes a refundable health insurance tax credit. He said under this plan, anyone who is not covered by an employer-sponsored plan would have the tax credit available to purchase private insurance.
"I think it's very important that the government be involved as little as possible in our health care," Theron said. "The VA is an example of poorly run government health care. There are many problems with government-run health care, but one of them would be, if you have problems within bureaucracy, it's very hard to soothe them. Whereas, if a private entity has a problem, you would at least be able to pursue a lawsuit in court."
Pocan said that when it comes to Green County and Monroe, his repeated visits to the area have demonstrated that voters across the district have been well-represented during his tenure.
"We've been down to Monroe at least a dozen times over the last couple years, and down to Green County as well," Pocan said. "We have spoken at the area schools, the head start program at high school, and I think what you find is that a lot of the issues, it doesn't matter so much if you're in Monroe or Madison, they're similar issues.
"It's been helpful to do those visits in Monroe and to get the Green County perspective."
Pocan added that his visits with cheesemakers throughout his district were instrumental in the work he did to help ensure the FDA would back off its declaration in June that cheesemakers must stop aging their cheese through the use of wooden boards.
"It's an issue that is applicable to other counties as well, and we're trying to make sure that process will continue," Pocan said of the wooden boards issue. "In general I think what you'll find is that things common in Monroe are common in Reedsburg, are common in (many areas). We're making sure you have affordable access to health care - standard issues that are really relevant to the district."