BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
On some key issues, 6th Congressional District candidates Ted Strickland and Nancy Hollister share common ground.
When it comes to taxes, for instance, both want significant changes. They consider national defense a top priority. And the candidates consider perjury -- if it was actually committed -- an impeachable offense.
But on two issues near and dear to voters' hearts -- health care and education -- there's a chasm between incumbent Mr. Strickland and Lt. Gov. Hollister.
The differences on those issues will play an important role in how the notoriously fickle voters in the 6th District cast their Nov. 3 ballots. Every election since 1990, residents in the largest -- and poorest -- congressional district in Ohio have thrown out the incumbent. But the 1994 and 1996 elections came down to 2 percentage points, fewer than 6,100 votes.
This year should be no different.
In a meeting with The Cincinnati Enquirer's editorial board Wednesday, the candidates detailed their positions on the touchstone issues. The paper intends to announce which candidate it endorses Sunday.
On the issues of health care and education, Mr. Strickland thinks the federal government should have a pivotal role in changing the systems. A staunch advocate of the Patients' Bill of Rights, the Democrat said managed care systems and insurance companies need to have the same degree of liability as doctors and hospitals.
But Mrs. Hollister, a Republican, said she fears the bill starts health care on a slippery slope toward unlimited liability. While Mr. Strickland supports an external appeals process for patients who think they've been wronged by managed care companies, Mrs. Hollister said grievances should be addressed "doctor to doctor," not doctor to lawyer.
Repeating a frequent mantra of her campaign, the former mayor of Marietta said any health care reform should come not as federal mandates, but as guidelines, allowing states to set the regulations. The philosophy of decentralization is evident as well in her stand on education. Mrs. Hollister supports the Dollars to the Classroom Act, which passed last month in the House of Representatives. Mrs. Hollister argues the measure increases federal funding for Ohio schools by more than $40 million and gives the state more decision-making power in spending.
But Mr. Strickland said he fears the state will continue to repeat its mistakes with education. The federal government can focus on the fundamental problems within education, he said, instead of getting sidetracked on peripheral issues. Further, he said Ohio would lose $11 million with the classroom act.
On issues of tax reform, national defense and even impeachment, the differences between the candidates boil down to semantics and which routes to choose in achieving the goals.
Neither candidate is pleased with the current tax system, and both said they support reforms of the IRS. But Mr. Strickland thinks some form of progressive taxation should remain. Mrs. Hollister said she does not support replacing the current tax system with a national sales tax and she is "not a firm believer in the flat tax" proposals.
Phasing out the current tax system would spark a needed national debate on what form taxation should take, Mrs. Hollister said. Both candidates said they support a strong national defense. Mrs. Hollister has led the charge for increasing defense spending and criticized Mr. Strickland for voting for a 3 percent reduction in the intelligence budget. Mr. Strickland countered that he wants a strong military, but one with wise spending habits.
The candidates agreed the issue of impeachment is complicated and serious. Neither said how they would vote should it come before the House. However, Mrs. Hollister has publicly asked for the president's resignation, saying it would save months of controversy. Mr. Strickland has more of a wait-and-see attitude. While he condemned President Clinton's actions in the Monica Lewinsky matter, Mr. Strickland said the question remains whether the evidence supports the allegations of perjury.
Nevertheless, he said, "If I can conclude in my own mind that an impeachable offense was committed, I would vote for impeachment."
