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House hopefuls square off: Republican Housman, Democrat Renfro answer questions from chamber at forum
(Paducah Sun, The (KY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 3--The candidates vying for the 3rd District Kentucky House seat agreed Thursday that state government spending has spiraled out of control and needs reigning in with clearer focus on setting and then funding priorities.
The differences between Brent Housman, a Republican financial adviser, and Zana Renfro, a Democratic McCracken County commissioner and former Paducah city commissioner, mostly followed traditional party roles.
The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the forum at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, and it opened with a question on three business-related issues: medical malpractice and tort reform, prevailing wage laws, and designating Kentucky as a right to work state. Renfro opposes capping lawsuit awards, repealing prevailing wage laws and prohibiting so-called closed shops with mandated union membership. Housman supports all three.
Housman made clear his dislike of taxes, though he conceded if taxes must be increased, raising the cigarette tax would be his first choice. Renfro said she supported higher cigarette taxes, largely as a deterrent to smoking, but wanted the increased revenue to be used for education or health programs.
Housman said he opposed expanded gambling on moral, social and fiscal grounds. Renfro said she thought the question should go to a referendum; when pressed for a personal position, she said she didn't share Housman's strong opinion but would tend to oppose it.
Both candidates said they would favor lifting the state's ban on building nuclear power plants.
"A lot of people, say the word 'nuclear,' and they panic," Renfro said. "The technology has increased tremendously."
Housman said nuclear power could play a key role in diversifying energy resources along with projects, such as the coal-to-diesel plant Paducah seeks. "Nuclear power could be one of the best things to happen to western Kentucky."
The candidates also agreed that local governments should have the right to impose a restaurant tax to benefit tourism and recreation, a state ban cities have sought to lift, but Housman said local government should not impose the taxes even if the state allowed them to.
On education, Renfro said the state needs to spend more, citing small raises for teachers.
"We can't sit around and talk about how important education is if we don't fund it," she said.
Housman said the state needed to bolster "2+2" programs, which involve students taking two years of classes at community colleges then moving to four-year schools.
"If kids go out of state for school, the chances of them coming back are very low," he said.
Housman, echoing comments from Paducah's mayoral candidates, stressed the importance of western Kentucky seeking out economic development.
"For far too long, Paducah has been forgotten," he said. "I believe it's the best kept secret in Kentucky, but we have to go after them."
Renfro countered that securing state attention largely depended on playing a key role in legislative committees, and given the Democrats' large House majority, she would be better positioned to help.
C.D. Bradley can be contacted at 575-8617.
Voter registration deadline Monday
Monday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election.
Registration forms must be turned in to the county court clerk's office by the close of business or can be mailed and will be accepted if postmarked on Monday.
Information and registration forms are available online at www.vote.ky.gov/electguide. Registration forms also may be picked up in the local clerk's office.
To see more of The Paducah Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.paducahsun.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Paducah Sun, Ky.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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