All three Republican candidates for Ohio's 6th District of the U.S. House of Representatives advocated their experience as veterans and their conservative views as they squared off at last night's panel hosted by the Athens County League of Women Voters.
Donald Allen, Bill Johnson and Richard Dick Stobbs all cited a need for a sweeping change within Congress.
Republicans
leaders from both parties and Democrats have the opportunity this year to redefine what leadership and politicians are supposed to do - which is to solve our nation's problems said Johnson, a U.S. Air Force veteran.
Allen, a U.S. Air Force reserve veteran, said the faults found in Washington are traceable to the current administration.
Unemployment is at a 26-year high and rising. Our national security is being neglected in the name of political correctness. One-fifth of our economy
our health care system
has been taken over by our socialist administration
he said.
The three vocalized their support for the Fair Tax plan, which calls for repealing the 16th Amendment and abolishing income tax.
I've dropped around to different Tea Parties and different groups
and learned about the Fair Tax and the Flat Tax. We need to do something when we're elected to review all of these and make some changes
said Stobbs, a Vietnam veteran.
Allen spoke about his mother raising two children with the help of social security.
The system in place is a temporary fix to help people get back on their feet. But today it has become a lifestyle
and we cannot allow this to continue. Our entitlement mentality is bankrupting our country and disillusioning our children
he said.
Johnson and Stobbs called for an end to out-of-control government spending. Jobs were another major problem tackled by all three.
Stobbs proposed creating a 6th Congressional District jobs task force to bring together the chambers of commerce and development partners.
I believe the very character of our nation is at risk. We're creating a debt we cannot fund. We're creating an economy that is not competitive on a global scale
Johnson said.
