Walberg vows to take on ‘big government’ in 7th District
| Brooklyn, Mich. — There’s just one thing Tim Walberg says he has in common with his 7th U.S. House District rival: They both served one term in Congress. Beyond that, former Rep. Walberg believes there’s a “night and day difference” between himself and Democrat Mark Schauer.
Unlike in 2008, when the two ran against each other in a heated race that Schauer won by less than 3 points, Walberg says now voters can compare the records of the two in Congress. The rematch between the candidates is one of the most hotly contested races in Michigan and nationwide as Republicans aim to steal back seats from 2008 amid growing discontent with Democrats and the president. “There is a clear contrast that wasn’t there before,” said Walberg, R-Tipton. Walberg has been crisscrossing the seven-county district, which includes Battle Creek, Jackson and the rural open land in between, calling himself a champion of smaller government, extending tax cuts for all and an energy-independent country, while dubbing Schauer as a liberal with a “big government agenda.” Walberg voted against the Wall Street bailout in 2008, and Schauer voted for the 2009 stimulus package. Walberg vows to fight to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care plan, while Schauer favored it. He wants to reduce government spending, while Schauer has supported Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s budget that increased the national deficit. (Schauer is more representative of San Francisco than the 7th District, Walberg quips.) “He’s overspent, he’s overtaxed and he’s destroying our economy by his votes,” Walberg said. Walberg’s message of smaller government, as well as opposition to abortion and gay marriage, has appealed most notably to conservatives in the district, including tea party followers who have been especially active this year. “I was a tea partier before there was a tea party,” Walberg said. Meantime, Schauer has attacked Walberg for wanting to “abolish” Medicare and “privatize” Social Security — allegations that Walberg called false. Walberg says he wants to put a “lockbox” around Social Security but also favors giving young people a chance to invest the funds for social security into IRAs, mutual funds and other options. As for Medicare, he says he wants to protect it, root out fraud and examine how “we can do it better,” but said, “I haven’t put a plan together for that.” The polarization of the candidates could favor Walberg in this rematch, as the Democratic base in this politically volatile district is smaller than the Republicans’, said Bill Ballenger, editor of the Lansing-based nonpartisan Inside Michigan Politics. “There are some Republicans in the 7th who look at Walberg and see someone who’s too conservative,” Ballenger said. “They look at Schauer and see someone who’s too liberal.” Born in Illinois, Walberg earned his bachelor’s degree in religious education from Taylor University in Fort Wayne and a master’s degree in communications in 1978 from Wheaton College in Illinois. He spent the first part of his career preaching for nearly 10 years, first at Grace Fellowship Church in Indiana, later in Tipton. Walberg turned from pastor to politician in 1982, winning a seat in the Michigan House. Serving for 16 years, Walberg was a member of the “no” caucus, routinely voting against tax increases, spending bills and anything else that hinted of government expansion. He was term-limited out of office in 1999. In 2004, he unsuccessfully ran for the 7th District seat. But in 2006, Walberg defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Schwarz, pounding the moderate Republican in the primary as too liberal for the district and vowing to work toward bans on abortion and gay marriage. During his term in Congress, Walberg introduced a bill to put a “lockbox” around Social Security. The bill didn’t make it out of committee. He sponsored a health care bill in 2008 that would have allowed individuals to receive tax credits for health insurance costs, health plans for professional associations and limited medical malpractice lawsuits. The inaction on the bill was a “great disappointment,” Walberg said. The current “ObamaCare” plan is “a huge takeover of freedom, liberty and choice.” Congressman Peter Roskam, R-Ill., said Walberg was known in Congress as an advocate for fiscal restraint and a fighter against runaway government spending. “He had the reputation of being conscientious and hard working,” Roskam said. “When others would be off and when they would want to go out to dinner Tim would be going back to the office to get on the phone to make a telephone town hall with his constituents.” Walberg voted against the Wall Street bailout in 2008 and didn’t vote on the auto bailout bill. He wants former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind education legislation to be tossed out, believing while laudable to have education goals based on outcomes, education is a state and local issue. “I kept my word,” Walberg said of his first term. “I said I would vote for smaller and limited government. I did. I said I wouldn’t vote for tax increases and I didn’t.” From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101008/POLITICS02/10080367/1024/Walberg-vows-to-take-on-%E2%80%98big-government%E2%80%99-in-7th-District#ixzz11mAXUM6X |