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Friday, May 16, 2008

ELECTION CENTER

6th District congressional hopefuls make their cases

  • By SARAH CHACKO
  • Advocate Capitol News Bureau
  • Published: Apr 29, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

Partisan politics plays a different role for each three congressional candidates headed to a special election Saturday.

State Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, maintained his position as a “conservative Democrat” on Monday at the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

Republican candidate Woody Jenkins attempted to quash  Cazayoux’s approach, saying it would not work in the liberal U.S. House of Representatives.

No Party candidate Ashley Casey said both candidates are being led by their parties’ interests and not the district. She said real progress would not happen unless representatives “check their agendas at the door.

“No one will come and shake me down for a vote in Congress because I have not let anyone who would do that muddle in my campaign,” Casey said.

Five candidates total are vying for the 6th U.S. Congressional District seat in a general election Saturday.

No Party candidate Peter Aranyosi of Hammond and Constitution Party candidate Randall Hayes of Winnfield will also be on the ballot but were not invited to the Press Club forum.

Casey, Cazayoux and Jenkins fielded questions from reporters about health care, the war in Iraq and energy.

Jenkins and Casey, both of Baton Rouge, sided with Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s health care proposal, citing the continuation of consumer choice and competition as primary reasons.

Jenkins said health insurance payments, the cost of medication and doctor visits should be fully tax deductible.

Casey agreed, adding that every American should be able to purchase their choice of private health insurance policies through large community group pools.

Cazayoux said he did not believe McCain’s proposal for health care tax breaks would be enough, noting that 20 percent of the state’s population is uninsured.

“Tax breaks don’t help those people,” he said.


Comments (11)
Patrick McCarron
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
7:14 AM

I agree with Woody Jenkins. As a Strong Republican in a heavily populated Republican District, we can not afford to elect another Democrat to the House of Representatives, even if he is a “Conservative” Democrat. Another Democrat in the House of Representatives is just more power to the Liberal Democrats and the likes of Nancy Pelosi.
Patrick McCarron
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
7:21 AM

I agree with Woody Jenkins. As a Strong Republican in a heavily populated Republican District, we can not afford to elect another Democrat to the House of Representatives, even if he is a “Conservative” Democrat. Another Democrat in the House of Representatives is just more power to the Liberal Democrats and the likes of Nancy Pelosi.
Jeff
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
7:59 AM

Agreed Patrick. The Democrat's strategy is to get these blue dog Democrats elected then higher up party officials force them to adopt their bigger government, far left agenda. And if they succeed in taking the House and Senate and the presidency they will force this country farther to the left than it's ever been. But those who want to vote for Cazayoux fail to see that bigger picture and lose perspective on where the country is headed as a whole.
Reagan
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
10:09 AM

A vote for Don Cazayoux just gives Nancy Pelosi even more power. With that power she has done things like let the Protect America Act expire. She has effectively passed the largest tax increase in the history of this country by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire. That alone will cost the average Louisiana voter $2700 per year.
Cindy Brunet
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
10:32 AM

What is a "conservative democrat"? No matter what he says he will vote with Nancy Pelosi or he would be blackballed by the dems in Congress. That is the way it works. I certainly hope the voters understand that Don Cazayoux will be another vote for the democratic policies. The only way to protect the Constitution and the American people in the 6th District is to vote for Woody Jenkins and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to vote for Woody Jenkins. If you relish freedom, vote for Woody!
Mary
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
11:19 AM

Seven years of Republican rule doesn't seem to have done much good. Maybe with a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic Congress, the Congress will be able to accomplish some good things, like children's healthcare.
Patrick McCarron
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
12:36 PM

Seven Years of Republican Rule??? Have you forgotten Tom Daschle, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Charles Schumer – These are the ones who have ruled congress since 2002 (mostly from the Senate). You can thank the Democrats for blocking Alaskan oil production, almost blocking the Bush Stimulus Package, higher taxes, bigger government (including nationalized/socialized healthcare) = which all equals = less money in the pockets of WORKING Overtaxed Americans.
Patrick McCarron
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
12:41 PM

I further can’t support Cazayoux, even if he is a Conservative Democrat, because of his strong support from Trial Lawyers who profit via the high insurance costs that we have to pay for their malpractice lawsuits. And the fact that Nancy Pelosi, along with the trial lawyers, is another big contributor to Cazayoux’s political campaign. If this was a local office, like mayor, perhaps party affiliation would not play such an important role, but the fact that this is a national office – party affiliation is everything.
EBR Citizen
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
5:17 PM

Woody Jenkins will be an embarrassment to Baton Rouge and the 6th district. The national media will not report that Baton Rouge has elected a new congressman, they will report that 'Baton Rouge has elected a congressman with ties to David Duke. It is time for change and Woody aint it. Vote independent and send a message.
Mary
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
10:53 PM

By "Republican Rule", I am referring to the executive branch of our government, which seems to have forgotten about the separation of powers and checks and balances and acts as if Congress exists simply to rubber stamp their policies. In addition, the Republicans controlled the House of Representatives from 1994-2006 and they controlled the Senate for those same years save a brief period between 2001 and 2002. So, I think it's fair to say that the Republican Party has been mostly responsible for the leadership of the last seven years. I know everyone wants to think Congress is too blame for everything, but without a two thirds majority to override the veto of the President, it is near impossible for Congress to do anything without President Bush's approval. President Bush hasn't exactly been the model of compromise and bipartisanship. The "Bush stimulus package" did not give stimulus payments the lowest-income groups and gave larger payments to wealthy people who don't need them. But thanks to the Democratic Congress, more Americans will be receiving a check from the government. And we don't have socialized medicine and no one is seriously proposing that as an option to the healthcare crisis. Just because some right wing political pundit calls someone's plan "socialized medicine", doesn't mean that it is. But as someone without health insurance, socialized medicine doesn't sound so bad. And I do thank them for blocking drilling in Alaska.
Richard V
Saturday, May 03, 2008
8:13 AM

Mary ..simple question..do you think it is just a coincedence that since the Dems control congress the last 2 years that the economy has taken a turn south???Our economy was rolling along as a pretty good clip prior until that..I guess if a dem gets elected pres the story will be the republicans handed them a bad hand......
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