GOP candidates debate on Health Care, State Spending

Lauren E. Toney, Roswell Daily Record

 

March 19 , 2008

Republican candidates for House District 57 and Senate District 33 answered questions in front of a crowd of nearly 100 during a forum at the Chaves County Republican Women's luncheon Wednesday afternoon at the Best Western Sally Port Inn, 2000 N. Main St.

Incumbents State Rep. Dan Foley and State Sen. Rod Adair faced their respective opponents Dennis Kintigh, a former FBI special agent, and Rory McMinn, a former two-term Chaves County commissioner, in the split debate. Each of the candidates were asked the same four questions on topics including state spending and universal health care.

"We do not have a limitless supply of money," Kintigh said. "The current administration has shown hostility towards the geese that lay the golden eggs - oil and gas."

Prioritizing where state funding should be issued, Kintigh noted the need for quality public education and proper infrastructure to provide safe roads and water for homes and agriculture.

"I've worked in government long enough to know there's not much government does well," he said regarding Gov. Bill Richardson's plan for universal health care. Kintigh suggested bringing market forces back into health care by creating health savings accounts controlled by the individual.

With a state budget of about $6.2 billion, Adair said New Mexico has a lot of revenue, but no clear vision of how to prioritize its spending. He said funding projects such as the Spaceport and Rail Runner Express is a problem, and that the state should focus on what it needs - better infrastructure.

Adair said he has continued to vote against Richardson's universal health care plan and instead, supported programs which would join private insurance plans with various public programs.

McMinn also put infrastructure first, having been on former Governor Gary Johnson's infrastructure committee. He added that regarding water infrastructure, "Our State Engineer's Office does not have a clear-cut idea in regard to the aquifers within the state of New Mexico."

Also touching on the need for higher education, he said New Mexico is experiencing a "brain drain." With many young people leaving the state to attend universities outside New Mexico, McMinn said improving trade and secondary and college education is vital.

Merging workers' compensation programs with federal and state health programs to create a universal coverage is the best alternative to Richardson's plan, according to McMinn.

Taking a different approach to the question of state spending, Foley said, "There is no lack of ideas for spending your tax dollars," focussing instead on how to stop unnecessary spending. Foley said he voted against the state budget two years ago because it increased by 11 percent. This year, the budget was raised by 7 percent, while revenue coming in totaled 2 percent, he stated. "I think you can spend your money better than the government," Foley said.

Opposed to a universal health care plan, Foley said, "I don't want some bureaucrat deciding if my father, who had cancer two years ago, gets treatment... This should be a private sector solution to a public problem."

The Chaves County Republican Women will hold a luncheon April 16 at noon at the Sally Port Inn where candidates for county offices will participate in a similar forum.