Less than two weeks before Election Day both candidates for the hotly contested eighth congressional district squared off in their final debate. Democratic Congressman Steve Kagen and Republican challenger John Gard met at Lawrence University.
Gard claims during Kagen's tenure, the federal deficit more than doubled. He says the incumbent is partially responsible because of voting in so many spending packages.
Kagen blames Republicans for current financial woes saying it was Gard's party that preached deregulation which allowed Wall Street honchos to "gin up" profits for the CEO's rather than shareholders.
The former Assembly Speaker criticized Kagen for supporting for an energy bill which did not include provisions for more oil drilling. He accuses the Democratic House member of changing his tune recently to support domestic drilling.
Kagen says he authored a bill that requires all oil tapped on US territorities to go first to the American market. However, he says it will take more than drilling to make the country energy independent and everything should be on the table.
Contributed by Mike Kemmeter-WHBY
