Baker chides Boozman in debate

LITTLE ROCK — State Sen. Gilbert Baker on Saturday stepped up his criticism of U.S. Rep. John Boozman for voting for the 2008 Wall Street bailout.

Baker of Conway and Boozman of Rogers were among the eight Republican U.S. Senate candidates who participated in a debate on Saturday in Little Rock sponsored by the Associated Press Managing Editors of Arkansas.

Baker’s criticism followed Boozman’s statement that he is opposed to a bill to further regulate the financial industry, in part because of a proposed $50 billion fund to help banks in trouble.

“I think that sets up a situation where it’s almost an invitation for banks to take risks because you’ve got this permanent bailout fund in place that will go on forever,” Boozman said.

Baker said he also opposes the bill.

“I am encouraged because Republicans are trying to get in the bill what will prevent future bailouts,” he said. “But Congressman Boozman said he didn’t support the bill because of the $50 billion fund. But how different is that from the $700 billion fund that was set up by Republican leadership? That is a definite policy difference between myself and Congressman Boozman.”

The 2008 Wall Street bailout authorized aid of up to $700 billion and was proposed by the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Boozman didn’t respond to Baker.

Baker also differed with Boozman on congressional earmarks in the national budget. The issue came up on a question about programs that should be cut to reduce the deficit.

“The Republicans have put a year moratorium on earmark programs,” Boozman said. “Everybody agrees that Medicare has 10 percent waste and fraud. You turn on the television and you see a commercial [for] an ultradeluxe wheelchair, and they say it won’t cost you anything.Those kind of things. The other thing is administrative costs.”

Baker said, “I absolutely disagree with the current Republican proposal that Congressman Boozman supports that would just have a one-year moratorium on earmarks. I say to every city I’m in - Springdale, Conway, Jonesboro, wherever - that I oppose the earmarks process and those are things I’m not going to be a part of.”

Baker said he also favors a “hiring freeze that results in a 10 percent cut in federal employees through attrition.”

Other than that, the GOP candidates offered no direct criticism of one another but Sen. Kim Hendren of Gravette seemed to offer an indirect swipe at Boozman.

Hendren said he had no examples of where to cut the budget because as an “industrial engineer” he’s been “trained to look at what you’re cutting” before you “try to get votes.”

He said Arkansas’ congressional delegation should have done more to fight abortion that some say could be funded in the health-care legislation.

“Nobody I know from Arkansas raised a hand,” Hendren said. “They can come back now and say, ‘Oh, I’m opposed to that.’ One thing I’ve learned is ... you’ve got to get in the game. It’s not only how you vote. It’s what you say on the floor and how you get along with your colleagues. It’s absolutely ridiculous that we let this stuff go on and come back here and put our head down, being a coward if you will. We need to stand up and speak up.”

Hendren said afterward he wasn’t talking about Boozman, and Boozman said he didn’t take offense.

Regarding the Second Amendment right to beararms, most candidates said that current laws regulating firearms are appropriate.

Conrad Reynolds of Conway said he had a concealed carry permit and “some” gun laws “are overreaching,” such as the high price for a concealed carry permit. He declined to say whether he was carrying a gun at the debate.

Jim Holt of Springdale said he would like to see current laws on concealed carry permits “loosened just a bit.”

Randy Alexander of Springdale said, “The only constraint I think is reasonable is an age limit to purchase [a] weapon and people who commit violent crimes shouldn’t be able to purchase a weapon.”

The other candidates are Curtis Coleman of Little Rock and Fred Ramey of Searcy.