Chafee for U.S. Senate
While we are disappointed at the lack of attention that either Senator Lincoln Chafee or his opponent Congressman Robert Weygand have given business issues, we believe that the stronger of the candidates for our business community is Senator Chafee.
We recognize that Senator Congressman Weygand has in the past demonstrated support for business issues, and has a small business background as owner of his landscape architecture firm.
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But we believe that Chafee, when asked the business questions, has demonstrated a better understanding of those issues.
On page one of this issue we profile the race, specifically asking the candidates about certain business issues and why the small business community should support their candidacy. While there is little to compare, one area of disagreement between the two has been their stand on OSHA’s proposed ergonomics regulations. These are regulations that business proponents have suggested will be far more costly than OSHA estimates, and that were written before the completion of a study by the National Academy of Sciences.
Senator Chafee opposed the OSHA regulations, while Congressman Weygand supported them. Over the last year this has been a key issue with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which has taken a position consistent with Senator Chafee’s.
When asked the same question – why the small business community should support his candidacy– Congressman Weygand, for his part, said it was because he was once a small business owner, believes in small businesses, and supports legislation that supports small business. No specifics. We would have hoped for a more thoughtful answer.
We also come away from this election concerned that neither candidate, at times, fully grasped important state issues. In our question and answers, it is clear that Senator Chafee did not understand the question, and maybe the issue, relative to income tax reform for higher wage earners. And for Congressman Weygand’s part, it was a considerable gaffe in a radio debate that he was unaware of the inventory tax phase-out.
When weighing the candidacies of those who we feel will better represent our business community, our inclination is to support Senator Chafee.
Congressional elections
It seems foolish to make any endorsement in the races for the U.S. House Representatives in the first and second districts. While there are names on the ballot, there has been no general election.
Secretary of State James Langevin after winning the primary election, faced no active competition. And Rep. Patrick Kennedy, in the first district, had virtually invisible opposition.
It is disheartening when there is no active election. We have said often that the election process is as much about ideas as it is about who wins. Without active elections there is no one to challenge the incumbent or front-runner to confront important issues and, develop creative solutions.
What sets this country apart from the dictatorships around the globe are our freedoms – of speech, a free press, and the ability to choose. Paramount in those choices is the election process. We have been deprived of that in the U.S. House of Representatives. Add to that the fact that more than a third of those running for 150 General Assembly seats are running unopposed.
The political parties that have let this sorry situation develop should be embarrassed at their lack of commitment and lack of understanding of the value that contested elections bring to the process and to our society as a whole.
