Kirk, Giannoulias trade views and barbs at election forum
They actually agree on a few things but that didn't mean any Kumbaya moments Monday for U.S. Senate candidates Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk at a forum sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Council.
What started as a tough campaign has gotten more visceral every week with revelations about each candidate giving the other more ammunition. However, Kirk ducked media questioning after his remarks, outrunning the press through the kitchen of the Hyatt Regency Chicago into a waiting vehicle.
On the issues, both men said President Obama's six-month moratorium on offshore drilling after the BP oil spill disaster made sense and they each disagreed with raising the gas tax to pay for transportation, however, neither offered any alternate sources of funding.
But Illinois Treasurer Giannoulias, a Chicago Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, differed on cap and trade policies and whether to change the course of the Chicago River.
"We need to put a price on carbon emissions," said Giannoulias, referring to legislation limiting the amount of pollution companies can emit or allowing them to buy "credits" for energy use from others.
Kirk said cap and trade would hurt business and deter job growth. He advocated building more nuclear power plants instead.
Reversing the course of the Chicago River would send pollution into the region's drinking water supply in Lake Michigan, Kirk stated, while Giannoulias contended over the long term he backed cleaning up the river and letting it flow to the lake.
The Green Party's candidate, LeAlan Marvin Jones. also spoke at the event. Jones disagreed with cap and trade, saying it "would put an undue burden on industry." Regarding reversing the Chicago River, he said it was difficult to say yes or no at this point. As for increasing the gas tax, "I would have to seriously look at it," he said.
During the race, Giannoulias has taken blows for lost investments in the Bright Start college fund program - facing protesters Monday at the hotel - and the FDIC takeover of his family's Broadway Bank. Kirk is fending off criticism over embellishing his record as a Naval Reserve intelligence officer and as a teacher.
While the forum format prevented any direct exchanges between the candidates, Kirk jabbed at Giannoulias' plan to create a National Infrastructure Fund to allocate transportation dollars fairly. "I guess the FDIC won't close that bank," he said.
Giannoulias spokesman Matt McGrath retorted, "Congressman Kirk ought to leave the comedy to the comedians. What was funny, however, and just as lame, was his mad dash through the kitchen and out the back door."
The National Infrastructure Fund would be made up of experts like engineers, economists and urban planners who would prioritize public works projects deserving funding. "We need to get the politics out of decision-making," Giannoulias said. "Decisions would be based on merit - no more bridges to nowhere."
Kirk focused on several transportation projects he supports including the STAR line, a commuter rail system connecting the north and south suburbs to O'Hare International Airport, and the CREATE program to reduce regional freight train congestion. "This is central for Illinois to compete in the global market," he said.