ROTHMAN-SEROT STRESSES JOBS, REBUTS NEGATIVE ADS ON VISIT HERE

U.S. Senatorial candidate Geri Rothman-Serot took issue with several campaign ads aired by Sen. Christopher Bond during a visit to Cape Girardeau last week. The Democratic candidate said she is making progress in the race because she has been successful in exposing Bond's lack of a strong record for Missouri the last six years.

"He is running a very desperate campaign of vicious attacks and lies because he has no record to stand on," declared Rothman-Serot at a news conference in Cape Girardeau last week.

Among those on hand to greet Rothman-Serot was Thad Bullock, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th district. Bullock said he felt it was appropriate for him to try and welcome statewide candidates who visit the 8th district whenever possible.

In her campaign, Rothman-Serot said she has been crossing the state focusing on issues like jobs and the economy. "If people are better off now than they were six years ago, they ought to vote for Kit," said Rothman-Serot. She noted that many jobs in Southeast Missouri have been lost including 1200 jobs at Brown Shoe company plants.

Another proposal offered by Rothman-Serot is to accelerate spending for infrastructure in the federal highway bill and spend the first two years of funds in the first year. Such an action would create jobs and stimulate the economy in a dramatic way," she observed.

The Democratic candidate is also calling for a stronger emphasis on programs to re-train workers who lose jobs, or who are about to lose jobs.

Rothman-Serot also re-stated her belief that health care needs to be provided for everyone. "Too many people are tied to jobs they don't want and are unable to reach for the American dream because they are afraid of losing their health insurance coverage," she remarked.

Rothman-Serot was also sharply critical of Bond for supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement, which she contended "is sending Missouri jobs on a fast track to Mexico. Kit Bond's vote will help export jobs to Mexico and import unemployment to Missouri."

If elected, Rothman-Seropt said she will oppose the agreement.

"We've already lost 5,000 jobs in the shoe and garment industries in the last two years. More will follow if this agreement passes the way it is," she declared. "I'm in favor of improving the economic situation in Mexico, but not at the expense of U.S. working men and women."

She added, "I support free trade, but only if it's fair trade."

Rothman-Serot was sharply critical of some of Bond's ads, including one that contended she and her husband were worth $4 million. "He is an absolute liar. We're still looking in the back yard for our $4 million."

Bond's charges that she has been weak on regulations with a St. Louis County landfill as a member of the county council are also untrue, she contends. When Republicans controlled the county council, there were three and a half pages of regulations, but since Democrats took over there are 29 pages.

Bond's ads also depict trees in a state park that he charges were killed because of pollution from the landfill. But Rothman-Serot said the trees died in 1982 - eight years before she was elected to the county council - and the park is not adjacent to the landfill as Bond's TV ads shows it is.

Rothman-Serot said she has been encouraged by her support and points out that newspaper endorsement have come from Springfield, St. Louis and Columbia.