The Capitol chaos created by the Wall Street bailout package presents voters with a rare opportunity just weeks before the election day. They get a chance to see how their representatives in Congress act under very public pressure, and what their challengers offer as an alternative. Voters should be watching closely.
Voters in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District have two choices Nov. 4 whose stances on the bailout bill mirror the clash going on in Washington right now. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, voted Monday in favor of the bailout bill, while at the same time lamenting some of the bill's shortcomings. Her position represents the 60 percent majority of the Congressional Democrats that voted in favor of the package.
"Today's legislation was not perfect," Baldwin said, "but it was a significant improvement over the unacceptable blank check requested by President Bush a week ago."
Baldwin's challenger, Republican Peter Theron of Madison, said Monday he was thankful the bill did not pass. He sides with the faction of House Republicans who derailed with bailout package with their opposition Monday.
Theron says that spending taxpayer dollars is not the answer. Eliminating capital gains taxes and cutting bureaucratic red tape are better solutions, he says.
His opposition certainly is more in line with popular public opinion nationwide. It may not be as much in line with the views in Madison. That remains to be seen.
It's somewhat disappointing to hear Baldwin say the bill she supported Monday is simply "a first step." It's equally disappointing to hear Theron tout the same kind of tax breaks and deregulation that helped usher the economy into its current mess.
But Baldwin is right when she says it's time to aggressively confront the challenges of job losses, lack of affordable health care and increasing prices of energy and food. As we said Monday, those are the root causes of the failing economy.
And Theron is right to chide Congress for trying to rush a flawed bill.
The two candidates are on opposite ends of the spectrum on a lot of issues, but no issue is more relevant than the economic future of the district's residents. Hopefully, voters are paying attention on where they stand.
Voters in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District have two choices Nov. 4 whose stances on the bailout bill mirror the clash going on in Washington right now. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, voted Monday in favor of the bailout bill, while at the same time lamenting some of the bill's shortcomings. Her position represents the 60 percent majority of the Congressional Democrats that voted in favor of the package.
"Today's legislation was not perfect," Baldwin said, "but it was a significant improvement over the unacceptable blank check requested by President Bush a week ago."
Baldwin's challenger, Republican Peter Theron of Madison, said Monday he was thankful the bill did not pass. He sides with the faction of House Republicans who derailed with bailout package with their opposition Monday.
Theron says that spending taxpayer dollars is not the answer. Eliminating capital gains taxes and cutting bureaucratic red tape are better solutions, he says.
His opposition certainly is more in line with popular public opinion nationwide. It may not be as much in line with the views in Madison. That remains to be seen.
It's somewhat disappointing to hear Baldwin say the bill she supported Monday is simply "a first step." It's equally disappointing to hear Theron tout the same kind of tax breaks and deregulation that helped usher the economy into its current mess.
But Baldwin is right when she says it's time to aggressively confront the challenges of job losses, lack of affordable health care and increasing prices of energy and food. As we said Monday, those are the root causes of the failing economy.
And Theron is right to chide Congress for trying to rush a flawed bill.
The two candidates are on opposite ends of the spectrum on a lot of issues, but no issue is more relevant than the economic future of the district's residents. Hopefully, voters are paying attention on where they stand.
