GOP debate for Hefley's post

Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 18, 2006 at midnight

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COLORADO SPRINGS - As five local Republicans struggle to gain an edge in their race for retiring Rep. Joel Hefley's congressional seat, they are venturing deeper into the conservative thicket.

Not only are they against raising the minimum wage, some now want to abolish the minimum wage entirely. Not only are they against all tax increases, one wants to abolish the Internal Revenue Service.

The candidates' tones had a certain urgency during an afternoon debate Monday at the Broadmoor Hotel. The Republican primary is just three weeks away, and campaign contribution reports filed last weekend clearly delineated leaders and followers.

The rhetorical race intensified to win favor among the 5th Congressional District's voters, who have never elected anyone but a strong conservative since the district was formed in 1972.

Only Jay Fawcett, a retired Air Force pilot, combat veteran, and the lone Democratic candidate, offered many answers at variance with the field.

One Republican candidate, retired El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson, could not attend because of a business obligation.

Fawcett also sensed the political pulse on the latest hot-button issue - immigration. He and the five Republicans called for stronger border security, stronger sanctions on employers who hire illegal immigrants, a temporary worker program and better methods of verifying citizenship.

On other issues, candidates seemed to compete for the toughest conservative positions.

"We need to get rid of the IRS," said candidate Jeff Crank. "We've got to allow people in the free market to make choices, choose whether they want to pay taxes."

Some Republicans also voiced support for the proposed "FairTax" that would replace all income, payroll, capital gains and inheritance taxes with a 23 percent sales tax on new goods. All five Republicans also favored abolishing the inheritance tax.

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera said it was time to end the minimum wage and "let the market drive what the prevailing wage should be."

While other Republicans opposed raising it, Duncan Bremer said, "I'm in favor of doing away with the minimum wage. Its time is over, and we ought to get rid of it altogether."

Fawcett, the only proponent of raising the minimum wage, said, "I would point out that Congress has gotten three raises since the last time anyone on the minimum wage had one."

All favored balancing the deficit-swollen federal budget by cutting spending, eliminating waste and halting "earmarking," or spending for each member's pet projects.

The candidates suggested a variety of solutions for rising health care costs, including small business pools to gain economies of scale, tort reform and caps on malpractice lawsuits. Health savings accounts and free market competition for insurance plans were proposed.

Fawcett again advocated a nationalized health care program: "We're already paying for a national health care system. We're just not paying for it very efficiently."

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