HERALD EDITORIAL: Levin’s focus on education, ending war and energy earn him Herald’s vote

We are endorsing the current five-term incumbent, Carl Levin-D, in the federal senate race.  Levin faces Republican challenger, Jack Hoogendyk, a three-term state representative from Texas Township.

We feel Levin shares a perspective more in-line with the Western Michigan University community, where Levin is a centrist Democrat and Hoogendyk leans far to the right.  More importantly Levin has a proven record of bipartisan cooperation allowing him to implement legislation.

Levin has fought for a deadline to withdraw our troops from Iraq for over two years but was unsuccessful while the president maintained opposition.  The current strategic framework agreement (SFA) and status of forces agreement (SOFA) between the United States and Iraq have brought the president to agree on a timetable.  “The president’s reversal on the subject of a timetable is welcome and overdue,” Levin said in an e-mail interview.  Levin expects legislation to implement a pullback beginning next year and withdrawal of our forces by the end of 2011.

In contrast Hoogendyk prefers to leave the timetable to the discretion of the ground command and the president.  Hoogendyk said in an e-mail interview, “We should not telegraph to our enemies …”

Both candidates acknowledge the bailout bill does not specifically address access to higher education.  However, Levin notes he supported the College Cost Reduction Act and identifies an extra $80 million in assistance will be brought to Michigan through 2008.

Levin and Hoogendyk both acknowledge the loss of talent from Michigan to other states after graduation from Michigan universities.  Their solutions to retain talent are also identical, where Michigan needs to grow its business environment and offer jobs to recent graduates.  They differ on the path to grow the Michigan economy.  Hoogendyk approaches this through reducing the constraints on Michigan businesses.

“Michigan has poor tax, regulatory and labor climate. State and federal policy changes need to be modified to make Michigan a more attractive state for employers to locate,” Hoogendyk said.

Levin endorses promoting green technology within the state as well as encouraging university graduates to enter the education sector. “Alternative energy and ‘green collar’ jobs are new career paths for recent college graduates,” Levin said.

Regarding the bailout and benefits to Michigan, Levin is encouraged by tax benefits for alternative energy.  He specifically identifies the new credits for plug-in hybrid and all electric vehicles.

“These tax incentives are key not only to the development of these technologies, but also to consumer acceptance and widespread use of these vehicles,” Levin said.

Hoogendyk is a strong proponent of the free market and encourages a business environment where private industry wishes to locate.  He supports his position noting, “… the largest investors in research and development of alternative energy are the big oil companies.”  It is clear that Levin and Hoogendyk have adopted dramatically different models regarding how the economy should work.

Their economic divergence is most evident in their response to the ailing automotive industry.  According to Hoogendyk, “the government should not be in the banking business.”  He describes a slippery slope, if we help this industry we create a precedent where every other industry may look for a hand-out.

Levin identifies the advanced technology retooling loan program designed to get capital into the hands of the big 3 as they move their business models toward alternative technology.  Sometime after Dec. 1, “…we expect that companies will be able to submit applications for retooling loans,” Levin said.

Finally, regarding the I-94 expansion Levin noted that the state has already spent all the federally appropriated funds for this project.  Currently, funding must come from the state level and this project is competing with other projects.

Hoogendyk supports the I-94 expansion and prefers for Michigan to retain its infrastructure funding for projects like this.  He criticizes Levin for not getting Michigan back the entirety of what we pay into the federal allocation system.

Our support for Levin is largely derived from his ability to cross the aisle and move legislation forward.  Further, his positions regarding the Iraq war and access to higher education are shared by the Western Herald.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=1719

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 28 2008. Filed under Editorial, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com