157th District candidates share views at Cape forum

Republican candidates in the 157th District primary shared their views on taxes, immigration, budget issues and more Thursday night at a forum sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club at Dexter Bar-B-Que in Cape Girardeau. Gerald Adams and Donna Lichtenegger answered seven questions created by the club's committee members.

The first question pertained to supporting efforts to reform state employee benefits, specifically changing retirement plans from state-funded to contributory for new hires. Lichtenegger said while she did not know enough about that to answer, she would learn more and would be willing to present her answers later. She said she did know that she would not change the teachers' retirement program.

Adams said he has talked to many teachers who are happy with their current retirement program and he supported that.

The question of replacing the state income tax with a sales tax, commonly referred to as the Fair Tax, drew somewhat different views.

Adams said he feels the issue has not be thoroughly examined but should be. He has concerns with its impact but said he has heard it can generate up to 10,000 jobs.

"Any program that can do that needs to be looked at," he said.

Lichtenegger supports the idea. She said she has studied the growth in states with similar programs, like Texas and Tennessee, and that she knows what the results will be.

"The Fair Tax will bring jobs to this area, and it will bring growth," she said.

Both candidates were asked to name their top three spending priorities or budget items they deemed untouchable.

Lichtenegger said many budget cuts have been made to programs but that administrative cuts also need to be explored. That was the only priority she mentioned and she did not mention any untouchable areas.

Adams said it was impossible in the current economic climate to name an untouchable "sacred cow," but he would strive to make cuts to education and health care minimal. These were the only two areas he mentioned.

On teacher retirement plans, both candidates said they did not support moving funds into the state's general retirement system. On immigration, both said they supported laws similar to Arizona's.

"We are only cutting our own throats in education, in Medicare, in Medicaid, in Social Security. In so many areas we are cutting our own throats by allowing illegals to come in here and take our jobs," Lichtenegger said.

"We spend far too much money in every state in the union on free health care, free education for illegal aliens. They don't pay taxes. Most of their income is sent back to their home country," Adams said.

The last question of the evening had the candidates admitting not only their weakness, but their opponent's strength.

Lichtenegger said her tendency to "run off at the mouth" is a weakness and said Adams' current position on the Jackson School Board is an asset. She added she does not know if he can balance both the board and state legislature.

Adams said Lichtenegger's strong campaigning skills were her strength and his tendency to take on too many projects was his weakness.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Address

236 S. Broadview St., Cape Girardeau, MO