CRIME, POVERTY DOMINATE DEBATE

Senate Hopefuls Offer Solutions to Scourge

The four major candidates for U.S. Senate took on crime and poverty in a
televised debate Sunday night specifically targeted at issues important to
New Orleans.

Reducing crime was the first issue to hit the candidates at the debate,
which aired in the New Orleans area on WDSU-TV and was co-sponsored by the
station along with the National Council of Jewish Women, the League of
Women Voters, the Business and Professional Women of New Orleans and the
Young Leadership Council.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said crime is inextricably linked
to education. "We are in many ways failing in our education system, and our
prisons are filled," she said.

Giving young people more opportunity is essential, she said, but added:
"That's not to say we don't have to be tough on crime."

State Elections Commissioner Suzanne Haik Terrell, one of Landrieu's three
Republican challengers, said fostering stronger communities is vital to
reducing crime.

"It really comes down to strengthening our neighborhoods, our churches and
our schools," she said. "We have to partner together. We are not winning
the war on drugs."

State Rep. Tony Perkins of Pride said drugs are the impetus for a number of
crimes, and "the best thing we can do on the national level is try to stem
the drug tide" by beefing up security along U.S. borders.

The federal government also needs to give police more freedom and "let
locals do their jobs," he said.

U.S. Rep. John Cooksey of Monroe agreed that the influx of drugs into the
country is spurring more crimes, but he also suggested, like Terrell, that
communities play a key role.

"We need to go back to strong family values," he said.

On the issue of welfare reform, Terrell said Washington can only do so
much. "There are very few American dreams that are built on government
programs," she said.

Enhancing economic development efforts that create new jobs is crucial to
reducing poverty, she said: "We need to cut taxes and help small businesses
grow."

Perkins said he believes welfare reform efforts started during President
Clinton's administration are working but agreed that their impact will be
limited.

"More children who live in single-parent homes are in poverty than any
other children," he said. "I think it's important we strengthen the
families at home."

Cooksey, again agreeing with Terrell, said job creation is vital.

That's a goal best met by growing an even more experienced work force that
will attract more high-paying jobs, he said. "Education is fundamental," he
said, to making that occur.

Landrieu said she has supported welfare reform as a senator but that making
it work requires continued financing of programs that help people get back
on their feet.

She questioned whether her challengers would be willing to approve money
for programs that she said are integral to effective welfare reform, such
as increasing the minimum wage and adding to dollars for day-care programs
that are crucial for working parents.

During a later question specifically about the candidates' positions on
financing for child care, Landrieu said she has offered amendments to bills
filed in Congress aimed at increasing that money.

Perkins, on the other hand, said the federal government might be better
advised to offer tax incentives to corporations that offer child care to
their employees. "With government money comes government regulation," he said.

Terrell agreed with Perkins' idea for tax incentives "so they can offer
their employees what is really needed," she said.

Cooksey also backed Perkins' point that the federal government needs to
stay out of America's living rooms. Washington, he said, "should not tell
mothers how to care for their child."