Talk Business - Fourth District Candidates Discuss Wide Range Of Topics In AETN Forum

News Article

By Michael Wilkey

The three candidates for Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District race discussed the Farm Bill, the Ebola virus, ISIS and the legalization of marijuana Tuesday during a debate at the University of Central Arkansas.

Republican State Rep. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs, former Federal Emergency Management Agency head and Democrat James Lee Witt of Dardanelle, and Libertarian Ken Hamilton of El Dorado answered questions during the 60-minute debate moderated by Steve Barnes.

The debate aired Tuesday on AETN with the winner vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle.

Cotton is not running for re-election and is instead running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Mark Pryor.

FARM BILL

Hamilton, an accountant, called the Farm Bill a "form of crony capitalism" that is weighted heavily toward large farms. He said former President Grover Cleveland vetoed a bill that would help farmers because what was being asked was not in the Constitution.

Hamilton also said he believes states can provide help to farmers while the federal government should not.

Both Westerman and Witt spoke about their upbringings of living on a farm and the importance of farming in the Fourth District.

Westerman said he would seek to reform the farm bill "because it is more of a food stamp bill than a farm bill."

Witt said he supports the farm bill and the programs that are a part of it.

IMMIGRATION

All three candidates said they would support plans to secure the nation's borders.

Westerman said the issue of immigration was "extremely important" but said it was also important to follow immigration law. He said he was against amnesty and that the border issue was also important for protecting against terrorism and health concerns, like Ebola.

Witt said he would like to streamline the workforce labor visa program and called an immigration reform bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "a good bill."

Hamilton said he also wants to secure the border but "would support the free travel of anyone along the border."

EBOLA

Witt, who worked in emergency management under then-Governor and also former President Bill Clinton, said emergency officials should work to contain the disease in Africa as well as looking at flights into the country.

"It is scary and not easy, but it must be done," Witt said.

Witt also said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should do more including helping with decontamination of medical suits.

Hamilton said people should be careful, but not scared.

"It is a very scary situation but people should not panic," Hamilton said, noting officials should be looking at the proper protocols.

Hamilton said people have often become too dependent on government doing things for them, but said people should be prudent in their daily lives.

Westerman said if elected, he would call for hearings and ask tough questions about why the disease ended up in America.

"I would also ask why we were sending troops to Africa. The American people are at a loss. I would call for hearings and ask tough questions," Westerman said.

MARIJUANA

Westerman and Witt said they were opposed to the legalization of marijuana, while Hamilton said he would support the legalization by the federal government and leaving the issue to states.

Witt also said he believes it is up to the states to decide on the medical or recreational use of the drug.

NATION'S ROLE IN WORLD

Westerman said the nation faces several key issues on the world stage.

"Right now, our friends don't trust us and our enemies don't fear us," Westerman said, calling President Obama "weak on foreign policy."

Westerman said he would also question the generals helping to formulate the policy with ISIS and other trouble spots.

Witt said the issue with ISIS "was a serious problem, but the U.S. cannot be the policeman of the world." Witt said he would support a coalition sending a message to terrorists like ISIS.

Hamilton said he was wary of the United States getting into another battle on the world stage. Citing the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of former Libyan leader Moammar Quadafi, Hamilton said he would support asking the Syrians, Turks and others going after the terrorist group.

ROADS

All three candidates were asked about the I-49 and other infrastructure projects.

Witt said he would support a so-called "infrastructure bank" that would allow the federal government and businesses to partner up on major projects.

Hamilton said he believes the states should handle infrastructure needs and that the days of the federal government "doing this will stop soon" due to an $18 trillion federal debt.

Westerman said the projects would help bring jobs to the district and that he would work on the I-49 and river projects, if elected.

"However, the last thing we need is another government program. We need a budget," Westerman said.

The AETN debates will continue Wednesday with debates for the Attorney General and Secretary of State's offices.

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