6th Dist. candidates talk economy

Third in a series on the issues facing 6th Congressional District Democratic candidates Jill Morgenthaler and Stan Jagla in the Feb. 5 primary.

While Jill Morgenthaler believes cutting fat from the federal budget will rescue the limp economy, her primary opponent, Stan Jagla, advocates dropping free-trade agreements as the solution.

Both Democrats are vying in the 6th Congressional District primary Feb. 5 for a chance to take on incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in November.

Morgenthaler is a former top state adviser on homeland security from Des Plaines. Jagla is a Roselle businessman.

While President Bush's tax cuts for wealthier Americans have been in the sights of many Democrats, Jagla says tax cuts aren't the villain.

"The problem is the free trade agreements," he said.

Since 2001, Congress has adopted 12 free-trade agreements with other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Jordan, Chile, Singapore, Israel and Australia.

Jagla argues that the pacts are turning the country into "a Banana Republic" and outsourcing jobs belonging to the middle class.

He wants to rescind the current trade deals and replace them with "fair trade" agreements.

"We have to stop the bleeding," he said. "We need to reinvest in our own country."

Asked whether canceling those pacts would raise the price of consumer goods, Jagla said, "Nike doesn't manufacture a single pair of shoes in the United States and they still cost about $100."

"For the most part, it's simply legalized tax evasion by certain corporations."

Morgenthaler contends the government doesn't need more money to spend.

Instead, she advocates cutting pork, reducing tax breaks for corporations and returning money to taxpayers.

"I can't believe we're subsidizing energy companies that are having record quarters," Morgenthaler said.

"I can't believe we're subsidizing pharmaceutical companies yet Congress made a law where we cannot provide competitive pricing for Medicare," she added, referring to the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for seniors.

Morgenthaler also supports putting more money into science and technology.

"That is our edge in the world," she said.

On the subject of repealing the president's tax cuts for those in the upper-income bracket, Morgenthaler wants to study the issue but would strongly favor tax breaks for middle-class individuals.

Jagla recommends eliminating tax cuts for top earners.

"I believe the middle class and small business are already overtaxed," he said.

With the Baby Boom generation starting to retire, numbers of Americans receiving Social Security are expected to jump from 40 million to 70 million. The government reported in 2007 that Social Security expenses will exceed the taxes collected for the program by 2017.

Some proposed solutions include upping the payroll tax for Social Security or raising the retirement age.

Jagla recommends eliminating income caps and exclusions on Social Security to make it solvent.

Morgenthaler disagrees with pushing the age limit up, arguing it penalizes seniors and people who have planned their retirement in advance.

She supports a "comprehensive plan" to fix Social Security but did not give specifics.