Posted on 02/23/2004 5:05:26 PM PST by Libloather
Race For Boxer's U.S. Senate Seat Heats Up
Fri Feb 13,12:10 PM ET
TheKCRAChannel.com
There was more sharp jousting Thursday between Republican hopefuls who want Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat. Bill Jones and Rosario Marin each accused the other of failing to protect taxpayers.
Her campaign calls a motor home the "Adios Boxer Express." But U.S. Senate candidate Rosario Marin's target Thursday during a Sacramento stop wasn't incumbent Barbara Boxer, it was fellow Republican Bill Jones.
"He supported the biggest tax increase in the history of California -- over $7 billion. In fact, he voted for the largest tax increase in the history of any state government," Marin said.
Jones voted in favor of that package in 1991 at the request of then-Gov. Pete Wilson. Further details presented by the Marin camp Thursday said Jones votes in favor of measures to raise income, sales and car taxes.
Jones struck back Thursday. His campaign called Marin a "hypocrite" on taxes.
"Rosario Marin, when she was on the Huntington Park Council, voted in one year to raise utility taxes by 130 percent, and opposed the car tax reduction the following year. So, I think she has to discuss her record on taxes," Jones said.
According to the Jones camp, Marin cast the deciding vote on the utility tax in 1997; she opposed the car tax cut in 1998; and she supported Proposition 26 in 2000, which would pass local bonds with a simple majority vote, instead of two-thirds.
There are two other major candidates in the primary race -- former legislator Howard Kaloogian and former Los Altos Hills Mayor Toni Casey.
"I am going to, in fact, run on the idea of being both pro-life and pro-woman," Kaloogian said.
"I have challenged Bill Jones to show up at the debates that we had scheduled," Casey said.
But Jones, who has been endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is considered the frontrunner, and has agreed to just one debate with his opponents.
Marin accuses Jones of taking the nomination for granted.
"I will not take anyone for granted. And I certainly would not be presumptuous, thinking I don't really need to fight a primary," Marin said.
"I'm focusing on all Californians, and this is obviously a Republican primary. So, the goal is to go out and reach out and talk to the people who have supported me," Jones said.
(KCBS) Republican Senate candidates hoping to unseat US Senator Barbara Boxer took part in a forum this weekend as part of the GOP spring convention in Burlingame.
KCBS reporter Ron Naso says four Republicans are vying to become the GOPs nominee for the Senate seat.
Former Secretary of State Bill Jones, former Los Altos Hills Mayor Toni Casey, former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian and former US Treasurer Rosario Marin shared their views on several issues, including homeland security, education, healthcare and the economy.
Marin would like the state to enforce existing immigration laws.
It cannot be a one way street, she said. In California, where we are continually the repository for Mexicos unemployment high, this can no longer be accepted.
Casey said Californias approach should complement the national stance.
After a guest worker permit program is in place, tough economic sanctions and dont just turn our heads, Casey said. We cannot have open borders.
Kaloogian told the convention, we should not have to apologize to ask people to obey our law when they desire to come here into this country. We need the will to enforce that law.
Bill Jones said enforcement cannot be done unless resources come with it.
We need to make sure we have the resources on the border, he said. The last time we tried this, ten or 15 years ago, it did not resolve the issue.
Each of the candidates also addressed the question of President Bushs tax cuts and the economy.
The first thing I will do is make them permanent, said Marin.
Kaloogian said, even Bill Clinton (news - web sites) campaigned on a tax cut. The question is who is conservative when it counts. That would be me.
Casey told the convention she would focus on small business. I understand very well that small businesses are the backbone of this economy and they are job creators.
Jones said tax relief can only happen if there is a check on spending. By keeping down the spending, which is the other side of the equation, we will grow the economy.
None of the four candidates came out with a definitive statement on the gay marriage issue.
Republicans at the convention proclaimed unity behind Schwarzenegger. His $15 billion bond measure, Proposition 57, was expected to be formally endorsed by delegates today.
For more Bay Area news and information, visit kpix.com and www.kcbs.com.
Was the author referring to the forum at the GOP convention last weekend? I didn't see it reported on TV at all.
This afternoon there is supposed to be a radio debate on Roger Hedgecock's show (AM-600: M-F, 3-6PM). The debates are usually at 4PM, but sometimes are at 5PM, but it's really too short between the commercials to hear a substantive debate among the four candidates. Anyway, they post the debates in mp3 format here: http://rogerhedgecock.com/debates04.html
If they take questions, here are the phone numbers:
SD Metro 858-569-TALK (8255) Toll free 1-800-600-KOGO (5646) Sprint PCS digital #(pound) 600
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