Democrats Benson, Berkowitz agree on energy, attack Young
Published Monday, June 23, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — Democratic candidates for Congress stuck largely to energy issues — and, when the chance arose, blasted incumbent Republican Rep. Don Young — at a Sunday night debate in Fairbanks.
The candidates, Diane Benson and Ethan Berkowitz, avoided attacks on each other and instead stuck the target on Washington politics and Young, whose 35 years in the U.S. House of Representatives have collected mounting political baggage.
“The whole system needs a thorough cleaning,” Benson told the crowd of approximately 60 people at Pioneer Park.
Both candidates also said the state and country should increase energy production and invest in renewable projects to insulate their respective economies. Berkowitz said lower energy costs would leave people with more money to invest, spend and put their kids through school.
“It doesn’t matter to me if it’s gas coming down from the North Slope or renewables or maybe some kind of technology that we’re just learning about today,” he said. “Let’s start doing it for ourselves.”
Berkowitz spent a decade in the state Legislature until 2006, and Benson occasionally used the 90-minute debate to paint herself as an alternative to the “career politician,” who, she suggested, gives too much consideration to big business and forgets to connect with constituents.
At one point, Benson implied Berkowitz has taken more contributions from big business, a statement that prompted Berkowitz to respond that almost 70 percent of his campaign’s 2,000-plus contributions have come from Alaskans.
“I challenge anybody running to do what I’ve done,” he said.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has listed Berkowitz as one of the candidates it expects to capture a House seat currently held by a Republican. He also recently earned the endorsement of the state’s AFL-CIO.
Benson, a onetime truck driver and the mother of a soldier severely injured in Iraq, earned more than 40 percent of the vote in the 2006 race against Young. She referred to herself Sunday as a valedictorian from the school of hard knocks.
The two candidates stopped short of criticizing candidates other than Young, who is being challenged in the Republican primary by Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell and state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux.
Energy
The debate wound through topics including foreign policy, education and health care. It seemed to return time and again, however, to energy — the price of fuel, heating oil and other petroleum products, and available options like geothermal and tidal power.
Berkowitz said he wants to be part of a “coalition” looking to help deliver a long-discussed natural gas pipeline to North American energy markets.
“Energy is going to be the answer for Fairbanks and for Alaska,” he said.
Benson said Gov. Sarah Palin’s proposed cash payout to help state residents cover energy bills this winter is “probably necessary” but acknowledged a long-term plan is needed.
Berkowitz questioned whether a one-time cash assistance would set up problematic expectations for future years and, as had Benson, said renewables have untapped potential for a state that can establish itself as a model of energy independence. He pointed to agencies including the Fairbanks-based nonprofit Cold Climate Housing Research Center as groups developing ground-level conservation plans.
“We just need to be more aggressive and smart,” he said. “That’s the Alaska way. That’s the American way.”
Benson said she’d like to see Congress focus on the use of tax credits to promote alternative energy. When asked how Congress can help strengthen a cloudy economy, she said there were “so many directions to take,” eventually citing increased domestic energy production and reducing costs associated with the Iraq war.
“By the one action of refocusing ourselves with regard to the war ... we’ll do better,” she said.
Young, Iraq
Both Democrats used a moderator’s question about Congressional earmarks to criticize Young, who has held Alaska’s lone House seat since 1973. Each said they’re not opposed to earmarks — if lawmakers start following a more transparent earmark process — and Berkowitz noted earmarks have helped fund the state’s federally supported Denali KidCare health care program.
Benson cited the unwanted attention Young’s role in securing earmarks for the so-called “bridges to nowhere” and a highway interchange study in Florida have brought to Alaska. She also pointed to his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others who have been indicted on corruption charges.
“I think that says a lot about the individual and the ethics,” Benson said.
The candidates both characterized the president’s decision to send troops to Iraq as a mistake. Berkowitz said the country should re-engage in Afghanistan, withdraw from Iraq and remain prepared to act if the country is threatened or attacked again.
“America’s continued presence in Iraq is not making us safer,” he said, adding that the Iraq war is also draining the United States’ ability to compete in tough economic times.
Benson said Congress failed in its duty to oversee war contractors and the Bush administration failed to listen to generals who sounded warning bells about the war.
“The question is how are we going to get out of it,” she said. “Are we going to pick a war with Iran? I hope not.”
Contact staff writer Christopher Eshleman at 459-7582.
Community Discussion
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Don Young has done a great job for Alaska. As our only Congressman Don has helped bring millions upon millions into our state. Don Young stands up for Alaskans and we need to send him back for another term. At this time of federal financial crisis look to Don to keep the needed federal funds flowing into the State. Don Young the answer for Alaska
Blah...Blah...Blah...No forward thinking Alaska would hire either one of these boozo's to cut the grass....
Don Young has done a good job for Alaska. However, like most things in life, there comes a time for people to move on, when their effectiveness is hindered by the bad climate they have created or by the unchallenged idiosyncrasies they have developed over the years. Too much power for too long does indeed corrupt people and Don believes that he can skirt the law and line his own pockets as long as he "brings home the bacon." He has lived in a million dollar mansion in Virginia for 30 years on Alaska's dime. Enough already.
Mr. Bussell: Of all the candidates that I have seen in Alaska in the past 40 years, Diane Benson is one of the most forward looking AND thinking that I have ever seen. She has bucked the "good old boy" network all her life and has the bruises to prove it. She has worked all of her life for the people and brought innovation and change for the better, solving REAL problems without a lot of self-promotion and fanfare. She has honesty, integrity and a titanium backbone. She has a lot in common with Sarah Palin in that regard. She has the smarts and dedication to bring prosperity to Alaska while maintaining a legacy for our grandchildren and their grandchildren. Now that's forward thinking.
"No forward thinking Alaska would hire either one of these boozo's to cut the grass"
Apparently you consider yourself a forward thinking Alaska, but you're willing to vote for a dinosaur like Don Young.
Berkowitz has more intelligence and creativeness in is little finger than Don Young has in his whole body. Although the cavemen will not agree. He's positive, knows the issues, has great ideas and would make a very good rep. Benson may take aim at him for taking outside money, but she is taking tribal money from outside alaska that have ties with the infamous Abramhoff. Nice try Benson (and crew).
As a democrat, I wonder is it easier to say, "...would have, could have, should have"? What has been done is, ... in the past. I live here! I live now! I live today! What happened yesterday has effects on me today however what I am really worried about... is tomorrow!
I must understand that what I don't do today... is what will make tomorrow! I want to make changes today so I won't have to look at my children and say, " I've been mistaken and what I did was incorrect."
I want to change from the oil based economy that has been a greater part of my life. Change to a transportation and energy system that is lower cost and that does not use oil or coal and does not pollute.
Transportation of people, food, goods and supplys must be done differently. I must build solutions and effectively use problem solving technics in the future.
As for Iraq and Iran ... its the oil. Join me and lets get away from depending on oil. ... Daniel A. Berry
hacksaw: Diane Benson has received a small amount of contributions from about a dozen Native American Tribes because of the work that she has done for Veterans, in general, and Native American Veterans in particular. At the NCAI Conference last November, Ms. Benson spent the entire conference working on a resolution for the support of Veterans and their families. For this work, she was recognized by the General Assembly with a standing ovation, and subsequently, those few contributions. Other than the fact that she is an Alaska Native herself, there is no connection whatsoever between the tribes and Ms. Benson. And Diane Benson was the candidate who pointed out the Young-Abrahamoff connections over two years ago.
Diane's outside contributions are a pittance compared to the tremendous amount of money that Mr. Berkowitz has received from lobbyists and the Rahm Emanuel crowd in DC and California. No comparison. Here is how it works: the DCCC in Washington, DC says they will stay out of things until the Primary is over. However, Rahm Emanuel has his brother, Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood agent, get all of his people in LA to donate gobs of money to Berkowitz. They probably don't know Ethan from a hole in the wall but they have the word from Rahm Emanuel, the king maker. Then, despite their pledge to the contrary, the DCCC endorses Ethan BEFORE the Primary because he has raised a lot of money. Pretty slick, huh?
Wow, looks like I will change to undeclared so I get to vote for the worst candidate in the Demo primary.
Gotta Love that 1946 mentality!
Good fer you!
jim1946....Here's the wonderful thing about the Democratic Party. We don't close our primary. We allow anyone to vote for the candidate of their choice without forcing them to change their affiliation.
Hybrid, not sure where your getting your numbers from. A mid may poll by independent "Research 2000" shows Berkowitz beating Young by double digits.
1946, turn off the am radio and enter the 21st century.
Considering all thats been said here no one can deny what Don Young has broought to the stateeconomy. Lets be real we have only 1 congressman for the largest state in the union. A freshman congressman gets assigned to the worst committees there are as oppossed to Don being the senior minority member on the House Transportation Commitee as well as the resource committee. Given the fact that the 40 billion dollar highway reauthorization is fast approaching only Don Young can bring home the bacon for us. Having actually spoken with Mr. Young on several issues over the years he always puts alaska first, if it takes being a little aggressive then so be it, Don does not let us get pushed aside by large population states and their many congressman, he fights back and stands up for this State.
If we want to see some real improvements in the transportation infrastructure of this state Don Young needs to be back in DC fighting for us. These bs rumors of links to corruption are just more
political propaganda. As seen in the disclosure of House and Senate incomes Mr. Young is at the bottom of the earnings list for his personal income. He has been and remains a loyal public servant of the people of Alaska.
SEND DON YOUNG BACK FOR ANOTHER TERM !
"These bs rumors of links to corruption are just more
political propaganda."
HA! Good stuff...keep up the good work!!
yes by all means lets reelect young so he can raise the gas tax wooohoo that will make us all feel better. and then the capital gains tax oh yea thats the ticket take all our money oh boy I can't hardly waite.
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