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Congressional hopefuls agree Iraq top priority

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 26, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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2nd Congressional District Democratic primary candidates debate Friday at KBDI-TV. From left, Will Shafroth, Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald.

Photo by Brian Lehmann / The Rocky

2nd Congressional District Democratic primary candidates debate Friday at KBDI-TV. From left, Will Shafroth, Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald.

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The often caustic 2nd Congressional District primary race took a civilized turn Friday when the three Democrats frequently agreed with each other during a taped debate.

Former state Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, former Colorado Board of Education Chairman Jared Polis and conservationist Will Shafroth agreed the first issue the new Congress must address is ending the Iraq war.

Each spoke against increasing domestic drilling, and each also opposed public vouchers for private schools.

The debate instead was about nuances. Should the U.S. set a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq or yank funding for the war immediately? Which renewable energy should the nation develop?

Here is a look at some answers given by the three people looking to succeed Democratic Congressman Mark Udall, who is running for the U.S. Senate:

* How can we lower gas prices?

Fitz-Gerald: We need to develop an energy policy that focuses on mass transit and hybrid vehicles rather than on cheap oil because increasing domestic drilling will reduce gas prices by no more than 5 cents a gallon. "That drilling's not going to make a damn bit of difference at the pump right now."

Polis: Gas prices are high because of the weakness of the American dollar and because of price speculation. We need to regulate the commodities market more and reinvigorate anti- trust provisions against oil companies.

Shafroth: "We need to look internally in our country at renewable-energy resources." We specifically need to investigate cellulosic ethanol and to invest more in hybrid and electrical vehicles.

* What is the first thing Congress should do in January?

Fitz-Gerald: It should cut off appropriations for the war and let the generals decide how they will fund and withdraw our troops; otherwise, "we find ourselves in this thing ad nauseam."

Polis: It needs to bring our troops home but also ban the use of mercenaries in future combat and craft a GI Bill to help returning soldiers.

Shafroth: It must set a timetable for a "safe and phased withdrawal" but don't undo the good we've done by just yanking funding from the troops.

* Should recycling be mandatory and should we ban plastic grocery bags?

Fitz-Gerald: "I'd love to see us ban those little plastic bags" and discuss national recycling, though we'd have to ensure all states return the same deposits for recyclables.

Polis: The federal government should offer grants for innovation in recycling. (He did not address plastic bags.)

Shafroth: We need to go beyond championing recycling and reduce waste overall. (He did not address plastic bags.)

* What was your favorite TV show growing up and why?

Fitz-Gerald: I Remember Mama, a show about Norwegian immigrants that she watched every Friday with her mother and siblings, enjoying sodas and candy bars. "I think it was the combination of food, family and watching something that was totally different for me."

Polis: M*A*S*H. "It explored real human nature in a lot of detail. There were a lot of very thoughtful themes. . . . It has a lot to say about our journey through life."

Shafroth: Star Trek. "I was totally into that show."

sealovere@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

Watch it Monday

* The debate airs at 8 p.m. Monday on KBDI Channel 12. It was sponsored by KBDI, CBS-4 and the Rocky Mountain News.

Comments

  • July 26, 2008

    1:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    Every barrel of oil we pump from U S sources is one less barrel we will have for later to do the things only petroleum can do. Right now there isn't a supply problem. There is an artificial demand problem caused by investors looking for short term profits with zero concern about anyone else. Fix the market and cut real demand. For vehicle fuel replace petroleum as quickly as possible. If the supply chain needs a quick fix then use the reserve. No amount of drilling is going to have an immediate effect on prices without lowering demand. Supply side economics won't work here now. Demand in the U S is down nearly a million barrels a day and supplies from Saud Arabia are up nearly a half million and the result is gas only dropped ten cents.