Candidates stress economic relief in 9th District race

Democrat Judy Baker and Republican Blaine Leutkemeyer are competing for the seat.

By Greg Young

Published Sept. 26, 2008

In the race for Missouri's 9th U.S. Congressional District, the candidates are emphasizing different economic themes.

Democratic candidate, state Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, has stressed change in the economic system while former state Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, the Republican contender, has focused on lowering taxes.

One of the biggest areas of contention in the campaign is the issue of taxes. Baker's campaign has focused on bringing tax relief to middle-class families, while Luetkemeyer has stressed bringing tax relief to people in all income brackets. Both campaigns have accused the other of wanting to raise taxes, with Luetkemeyer accusing Baker of being a "tax-and-spend liberal."

"The difference between our campaign and Judy Baker's campaign is that we want to cut taxes, and raising taxes is not going to boost the economy," Luetkemeyer campaign spokesman Paul Sloca said.

The debate follows the contours of the presidential battle, where Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are debating about where to focus tax relief and whether to extend or repeal President George Bush's tax cuts.

"She is trying to capitalize on what all Democrats hope will be Barack Obama's coattails," MU political science professor William Horner said. "People love to talk about coattails. In reality, very few presidential candidates have actually done congressional candidates much good."

Baker has, like most Democrats, come out against the Bush tax cuts, saying that they favor the wealthy against the middle class. Baker also wants to reward companies that keep jobs in the 9th District. To do that, Baker has proposed a "Made in America" tax credit.

"Our opponent has said that he wants to continue these same economic policies and Judy believes that it is time to start changing those policies so that we reward work as well as wealth," Baker campaign spokesman Paul Tencher said.

However, Luetkemeyer has said Baker does not understand the tax code.

"If you look at Judy's ad, she wants to lower taxes in the 9th Congressional District while raising taxes on other states, while she obviously has no comprehension of federal tax code because you can't do that," Sloca said.

Another economic issue in the campaign is the current mortgage crisis. Both campaigns have stressed their appeal to the working class families, with Baker's campaign stressing the need to crack down on corporations who made the bad home loans.

"These are bad decisions by corporations," Tencher said. "That is all about the need to change the regulatory practice. Predatory companies should not be going after people that don't have the money to be taking out mortgages. People have to have personal responsibility, but also corporations are marketing these bad loans to good people."

Luetkemeyer's campaign is focusing on his experience in economic matters.

"Blaine is a former state bank examiner whose job it was to ensure that Missouri's banking system was sound," a Luetkemeyer campaign news release stated. "That experience provides him with a unique grasp of the situation that would obviously serve the people of the 9th District well in Congress."

Both campaigns have expressed some skepticism about Bush's proposed $700 billion bailout of the country's financial giants.

The releast states Luetkemeyer wants to wait and see the details of the new bill.

"Many of the details of the government's plan have yet to be released and Blaine believes Congress should proceed cautiously and thoughtfully to safeguard against any unintended consequences that any action or lack of action may cause taxpayers," the release stated.

Meanwhile, Baker's campaign stressed three things that any bailout needs to gain her support.

"The first would be no bailing out billionaires," Tencher said. "The second is that we have to restore oversight and regulation. The third is that we have to protect families."

It's unclear whether either could actually initiate a fundamental change in the economy when either candidate reaches Congress.

"It is unlikely any freshman member of the House of either party will have a big impact," Horner said. "New members have impacts sooner then they used to, but it is still unlikely either will take a prominent leadership position on the economy."