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Debate Info

6
3

Bill O'Neill (D)


Steven LaTourette (R)

Debate Score:9
Arguments:9
Total Votes:9
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Bill O'Neill (D)
(6)
 
 
Steven LaTourette (R)
(3)

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Who should I vote for in the 2008 Ohio 14th District House of Representatives Race?


Bill O'Neill (D)

Side Score: 6
VS.


Steven LaTourette (R)

Side Score: 3
1 point

Healthcare reform is the number one issue to Democratic challenger Bill O'Neill in his campaign for Ohio's 14th District seat against Republican incumbent Steven LaTourette. With his background of a pediatric emergency department RN, O'Neill has seen firsthand the problems with the volume of uninsured Ohioans. At present, there are nearly 1.1 million Ohioans without insurance coverage and an estimated 240,000 children.

With no insurance, the taxpayers are supporting the costs of emergency room visits, or people are simply going without treatments. O'Neill has utilized his knowledge of this growing crisis to make gains in his campaign.

Supporting Evidence: Healthcare Hero in Ohio's 14th (www.openleft.com)
Side: Ohio Uninsured Have a Voice
1 point

In 2006, Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette co-authored a bill that sought to unify state and federal laws on banking. The Financial Data Protection Act of 2006 drew criticism of its weakening of the ability of consumers to freeze their credit in the event of identity theft. The bill never became law and died in debate, however, the constituency is now knowledgeable of LaTourette's stances with the banking community.

Supporting Evidence: Bill seeks to limit ID theft law (money.cnn.com)
Side: LaTourette Limits ID Theft Laws
1 point

Republican Congressman Stephen LaTourette still battles ethical challenges in his bid to retain Ohio's 14th Congressional District's House seat. In October of 2003, his wife, Susan, filed for divorce, accusing LaTourette of an extramarital affair. Soon, photographs surfaced showing the congressman spending late evenings with Jennifer Laptook, his chief of staff. LaTourette married Laptook in 2005. The escapade still haunts the congressman in a year when the morals of the Republican party are in question.

Supporting Evidence: Sweetheart deal (dir.salon.com)
Side: LaTourette Faces Ethics Battle
1 point

Democratic challenger to Ohio's 14th Congressional District's House seat, Bill O'Neill sat down with one of his supporters to discuss his positions on Iraq, amongst other things.

Pointing out that he served as the commanding officer of the National Guard in Gainesville and did a tour of duty in Vietnam, he believes his wartime experiences make him a terrific candidate for Congress. His son has just returned from a tour in Iraq and he points to the happiness he shares with other parents about being proud of their military children but ever hoping they will return home safely.

O'Neill complains about the $80 billion surplus in Iraqi oil revenue while we still pay $10 billion a month to occupy the country. O'Neill is a strong proponent of finding a responsible end the conflict and bringing our troops home.

Bill O'Neill on Iraq
Side: O'Neill on Iraq
1 point

Although being a strong proponent for the occupation of Iraq, Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette has a record of not supporting President Bush's troop surge. Despite what most analysts are calling a fairly successful operation to curtail violence in the country, LaTourette has stood firm that he believes the effort to have been a mistake.

Now that President Bush has ordered the removal of extra forces and an end to the Surge by February of 2009, opponents of the military action have had to reposition themselves or point out other factors in the success in Iraq such as the Sunni Awakening.

LaTourette may have some tough questions to answer in his bid for reelection to Ohio's 14th Congressional District.

Steven LaTourette - Anti Surge
Side: LaTourette Didn't Support Surge
1 point

Frustrated by LaTourette's inaction when he voted against the bailout, O'Neill released a statement chastising the incumbent for the apparent disregard he exhibited through his refusal to support any measure that would help save a diving economy. Despite the holes in the current version of HR 1424, O'Neill insists that the increased negative market action since the first bill was rejected is only proof that it is in Congress's best interest to do whatever may be necessary to prevent a crash.

O'Neill: “Inaction is not an option right now. Families are losing their homes, people are watching their life savings disappear overnight, and we’re facing the biggest financial crisis since the great depression. The idea that our congressman would stand in the way of this urgently needed package – especially for callous political posturing – is downright offensive."

Supporting Evidence: LaTourette receives local criticism from the media (www.ohio.com)
Side: Bill O'Neill
1 point

Incumbent Congressman Steven LaTourette's support for the Painsville residents of a 2006 flood will aid the representative in retaining his 14th District Ohio House seat. After the flood in the summer of 2006, the Gristmill and Millstone Condominium Associations were denied FEMA assistance until primary coverage was paid.

LaTourette helped reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program with retroactive coverage for the Painsville residents. FEMA was forced to grant the waivers to the flood victims, and LaTourette was able to claim a mighty victory for his constituents.

Supporting Evidence: FEMA to Honor Painesville Flood Policies (latourette.house.gov)
Side: Flood Victims Helped by LaTourette
1 point

Interestingly enough, though many of his Republican colleagues disagreed with expanding the SCHIP program this past year, Steve LaTourette (R-OH) voted in favor of the expansion, which would have made health insurance more accessible to 2 to 4 million more children in the United States.

He was also apart of a cooperative effort of Republican congressmen and women who urged the U. S. to instate an amendment aiming to balance the federal budget to the Constitution.

Supporting Evidence: SCHIP Yes and the Budget (whereistand.com)
Side: SCHIP YES and the Budget
1 point

LaTourette Votes Against Bailout

In voting against the current bailout legislation, LaTourette justifies his vote and says, “I’d rather have rich guys in three piece suits buy up this bad mortgage debt and get a tax break for doing so than have taxpayers foot the bill.”

He continued, “Something is askew when we give the people who got us into this mess hundreds of billions of dollars to navigate their way out. I don’t think they deserve a taxpayer financed do-over.”

He says a new bill should double FDIC insurance from $100,000 to $200,000. LaTourette also believes that credit will flow if the government relaxes punitive mark-to-market accounting rules.

Supporting Evidence: No Bailout (latourette.house.gov)
Side: Bailout