Hopefuls air tax, spending, economic ideas

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 14, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The three 6th U.S. Congressional District candidates’ views on raising taxes, limiting federal spending and saving the economy overlapped some during a forum Monday.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, and state Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, said they would not raise taxes.

But state Rep. Michael Jackson, No Party-Baton Rouge, said it’s irresponsible to rule out the option completely.

Cazayoux and Jackson said they do not support a $700 billion bailout package passed by Congress to help financial institutions with their debts.

Cassidy said there were problems with the bill, but he would have voted for it.

Jackson put a concrete dollar figure to the middle class, while Cazayoux and Cassidy measured it by the sweat off a person’s brow.

Cassidy, Cazayoux and Jackson are vying for the seat in a Nov. 4 election. The winner just needs the most votes, not a 50 percent plus one majority.

Most of the candidates’ responses to media questions during a Baton Rouge Press Club forum addressed helping the middle class.

When asked to define “the middle class,” Jackson had the most direct answer, saying it is made up of families who earn between $75,000 to $250,000 annually.

Cazayoux said the middle class is those “trying to make ends meet … who are literally trying to get through this economy.

“That if they are injured or laid off, that they are not positive they can keep their house,” Cassidy said.

He added that sometimes those people may appear well off but their savings could be quickly exhausted.

Cassidy said the financial bailout is not about the billions of dollars, but the people who rely on a functioning economy.