Excessive corporate welfare squeezing middle class

Monday, April 7, 2008

(Oskaloosa Herald)

By DUANE NOLLEN

OSKALOOSA— Democrat Ed Fallon believes there’s too much corporate welfare in America, which puts a squeeze on workers and the Middle Class, and if he’s elected to Congress, Fallon says he would put working families first.

Fallon is challenging incumbent Congressman Leonard Boswell in the June primary election. Fallon made a campaign stop at Smokey Row Saturday afternoon to talk about the economy.

“I’d like to get back to a free market economy,” Fallon said. “The free market is a casualty of a government controlled by big corporations.”

Fallon points to the $14.5 billion in tax breaks oil companies received in the 2005 energy bill, now that gas is more than $3 a gallon. Also, the federal government’s bailout of Bears Stearns investment bank is another example of corporate welfare Fallon used.
“Why is it my responsibility to bail them out?” he said.

Fallon also opposes the economic stimulus package President Bush has signed to give money back to people.

“I’m always glad to give people back some of their taxes,” but when the government has to go $180 billion further into debt to do it, it’s not a good idea, he said.

Instead, Fallon favors creating a WPA-style program for workers.
Although America faces some tough economic times, Fallon says he is still optimistic because America is strong, especially Middle America.

“We have to make some sacrifices ... the government included,” he said.
On the issue of foreign trade, Fallon believes the North American Free Trade Agreement was a mistake.

“NAFTA has been a disaster for our manufacturing base and Mexican farmers,” he said. “We ought to put an end to that right away.

“We ought to rewrite the trade agreements,” he added.

On the issue of illegal immigration, Fallon believes the solution to the problem lies south of the border.

“Our government needs to pressure the Mexican government to do more for its own people,” he said.