League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Ohio State Government November 2, 2004 Election
	Eric D. Fingerhut Answers Questions Candidate for United States Senate

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What are your qualifications for office?

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: State Senator, 1991-1992; U.S. Representative, 1993-1994; State Senator, 1998-present

2. Do you think any changes should be made to environmental policies affecting air and water quality? If so, what?

Absolutely. We must require our power plants and manufacturers to apply the most advanced pollution control technologies to their facilities. Current technology exists to greatly reduce environmental damage to our air and water. Not only would this benefit our environment and the health of us all, it would also benefit our economy. Right here in Ohio, we have companies that stand to greatly increase their business and create new jobs by producing the newest, most advanced pollution control equipment. As regulations are delayed and/or eliminated, companies like this are severely, adversely affected, to the detriment of our health and our economy. We do not have to choose between a clean environment and jobs + we can and should have both.

3. How would you address the federal deficit?

As a member of Congress in 1993, I had the courage to vote for the Clinton budget, which created the first balanced budget since 1968. While it probably cost me my seat, it was the right thing to do. I am appalled by the policies of the last 4 years that plunged this country into its worst fiscal crisis in history. As a U.S. Senator, I would reinstate "pay as you go" rules that require any new spending be paid for by cuts in other programs or through new revenues. I would create a Social Security "lockbox" to stop the raids of the Social Security surplus. I would launch an effort to reduce the costs of government through technological innovations. I would replace the recent Medicare law with a program to reduce prescription drug costs and would revise Bush tax cuts in the areas of estate and corporate taxes.

U.S. Senate: Total words in answer to the question may not exceed 100 words. The word limit must be observeds. Words over the limit will be cut off in published information.