Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she's not ready to decide if she made the wrong decision in supporting Bush administration efforts to attack Iraq, beginning with a vote in October 2002.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she's not ready to decide if she made the wrong decision in supporting Bush administration efforts to attack Iraq, beginning with a vote in October 2002.
"The greatest judge will be history. Mistakes have been made," Capito said on Monday during a meeting with Gazette editors.
"My original vote was based on intelligence we were given by the president and the intelligence community that was flawed....
"I don't think I could say, knowing what I knew then, that I would have voted against it at the time.
"I have regrets," Capito said. "It may end up to have been a mistake. But I can't make that judgment now."
Anne Barth, running as a Democratic candidate against Capito in the November election, believes the Iraq war "distracted us from Afghanistan," which has a growing al-Qaida presence and where Osama bin Laden may still live.
"We spend $12 billion a month on the war. Iraq is getting new roads, new bridges and new schools. Their government has a surplus."
Barth believes that money would be better spent at home. "We need to invest in our infrastructure....
"The Bush administration had grossly mismanaged our economy. They destroyed a $5.6 trillion surplus. We have $10 trillion in national debt."
Barth remembers talking with worried parents who called Byrd's office. "We sent troops to Iraq without body armor. We sent them in and did not provide that for them. I would have voted against it [the Iraq invasion]."
Capito said she has routinely voted for funds to protect our troops.
Barth worked for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, for 21 years before deciding to run for a seat that represents residents of Putnam County all the way to the Eastern Panhandle.
Capito won that seat in 2000, when Democrat Bob Wise stepped down to run for governor, and has been re-elected three times.
Today, Capito is the ranking Republican member of the Housing and Economic Development Subcommittee in Congress.
"I am honored to be elected four times," Capito said, recalling that one of her first efforts in office was to work for improvements along U.S. 35 in Putnam and Mason counties.
Barth focused on the increasing economic problems under the Bush administration.
"Today, 81 percent of Americans think the country is moving in the wrong direction. My opponent represents the status quo," said Barth, who favors extending middle-class tax cuts and limiting taxes on Social Security income.
Capito said she has often voted against Bush-backed health-care legislation.
"Today, small business owners cannot afford health insurance.... If you allow small businesses to ally in buying powers, that can put pressure on prices" they pay for health insurance for their employees.
Capito said she supports personal "health-savings accounts" that can be especially helpful to individuals who frequently change jobs and employers.
"But I do not think universal health care is the way to go," she added.
Barth believes "everyone should have access to health insurance" and "no one should be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she's not ready to decide if she made the wrong decision in supporting Bush administration efforts to attack Iraq, beginning with a vote in October 2002.
"The greatest judge will be history. Mistakes have been made," Capito said on Monday during a meeting with Gazette editors.
"My original vote was based on intelligence we were given by the president and the intelligence community that was flawed....
"I don't think I could say, knowing what I knew then, that I would have voted against it at the time.
"I have regrets," Capito said. "It may end up to have been a mistake. But I can't make that judgment now."
Anne Barth, running as a Democratic candidate against Capito in the November election, believes the Iraq war "distracted us from Afghanistan," which has a growing al-Qaida presence and where Osama bin Laden may still live.
"We spend $12 billion a month on the war. Iraq is getting new roads, new bridges and new schools. Their government has a surplus."
Barth believes that money would be better spent at home. "We need to invest in our infrastructure....
"The Bush administration had grossly mismanaged our economy. They destroyed a $5.6 trillion surplus. We have $10 trillion in national debt."
Barth remembers talking with worried parents who called Byrd's office. "We sent troops to Iraq without body armor. We sent them in and did not provide that for them. I would have voted against it [the Iraq invasion]."
Capito said she has routinely voted for funds to protect our troops.
Barth worked for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, for 21 years before deciding to run for a seat that represents residents of Putnam County all the way to the Eastern Panhandle.
Capito won that seat in 2000, when Democrat Bob Wise stepped down to run for governor, and has been re-elected three times.
Today, Capito is the ranking Republican member of the Housing and Economic Development Subcommittee in Congress.
"I am honored to be elected four times," Capito said, recalling that one of her first efforts in office was to work for improvements along U.S. 35 in Putnam and Mason counties.
Barth focused on the increasing economic problems under the Bush administration.
"Today, 81 percent of Americans think the country is moving in the wrong direction. My opponent represents the status quo," said Barth, who favors extending middle-class tax cuts and limiting taxes on Social Security income.
Capito said she has often voted against Bush-backed health-care legislation.
"Today, small business owners cannot afford health insurance.... If you allow small businesses to ally in buying powers, that can put pressure on prices" they pay for health insurance for their employees.
Capito said she supports personal "health-savings accounts" that can be especially helpful to individuals who frequently change jobs and employers.
"But I do not think universal health care is the way to go," she added.
Barth believes "everyone should have access to health insurance" and "no one should be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition."
Differing sharply with the Bush administration, Barth said Medicare and Medicaid "should be allowed to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices. The VA [Veterans Administration] already does that."
Barth believes "everyone should have access" to health insurance and that physicians should be charged lower medical malpractice premiums.
"We need tax breaks for small business and tax credits for individuals" paying for health insurance," Barth said.
Barth also opposes Medicare plans with "doughnut holes" requiring many seniors to pay about $4,000 a year for drugs until Medicare assumes 95 percent of all future costs.
Barth added, "The Bush budget proposed Draconian cuts in the new Medicare budget."
Capito stressed that she strongly opposes Bush's efforts to cut Medicare benefits.
Both Capito and Barth support increased drilling for oil.
"I am for offshore drilling...," Barth said. "Congress should also provide more money to determine how to use coal more cleanly.
"But we need more of an energy policy than giving Big Oil companies more tax breaks."
Capito is currently working with a coalition of 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats to develop new legislation about energy, conservation and environmental protection.
"We need to open up the outer continental shelf for drilling. We have to be energy independent," she said.
Capito criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for saying "coal makes him sick" and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for talking about "saving the planet."
Capito said she also disagrees with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's opposition to offshore drilling.
Barth said, "I support drilling on the outer continental shelf. But we also need to crack down on speculative trading and price gouging by Big Oil companies."
To achieve energy independence, Capito added, government must promote renewable energy and look toward expanding nuclear power plants.
On Monday, USA Today called the Bush administration takeover of giant mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac "a bold attempt to stabilize financial markets," but warned that action will transfer trillions of dollars in debt to average taxpayers.
Barth said the government probably had to take that action. But she added, "Sound policy does not result in bailouts. The administration worked to help Wall Street. We need to help Main Street."
Capito said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are involved in more than three-fourths of all mortgages in the country. "But the rate of foreclosures in West Virginia is very low, ranking 47th or 48th in the nation."
Capito believes the federal action was "right and proper."
Reach Paul J. Nyden
at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.
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