Congressional foes square off at Farm Bureau forum

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Republican Geoff Davis and Democrat Nick Clooney presented their views Tuesday on farm policy in their first face-to-face exchange in a hotly contested race for an open congressional seat.

Appearing at a forum sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau, the rivals for the 4th District seat in northern Kentucky found common ground on a tobacco buyout and international trade geared to help U.S farmers.

The two candidates answered questions from Farm Bureau leaders. The only friction during the nearly two-hour event arose when Davis accused Clooney of staking out a position on environmental regulations that was contrary to his writings years earlier as a newspaper columnist.

Davis said that Clooney had "come on over to the way of thinking that we believe." Clooney, a former Cincinnati television anchor and columnist, accused Davis of launching an unwarranted attack. "I'm sorry to see that entered into this discussion, which is a civil forum," he said.

Clooney promised to support farmer-friendly environmental regulations.

"I certainly do not believe that the environment trumps the family farm," he said.

"We're going to stay out of your way, if I have anything to say about it," Clooney added. "And we're going to clear out the regulations that are hampering your prosperity, and then we'll hold on to the ones that are going to help you grow."

Davis said environmental regulations should be based on "sound science" and "not driven by a political agenda."

If elected, both candidates promised to work closely with the Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization. Agriculture remains an economic linchpin across much of the sprawling 4th District.

The two are vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Democrat who is retiring after three terms. Lucas accompanied Clooney to the forum, and the congressman sat on the front row near Davis.

Lucas narrowly defeated Davis two years ago.

Clooney and Davis also differed on the estate tax.

Davis said he wants to make a full repeal permanent. Clooney said he supports exempting up to $12 million of an estate. Clooney called it "a fair number" that fits with his goal to balance the federal budget.

Davis said that putting limits on the estate tax exemption would hamper some families wanting to pass their land to the next generation.

"It's important that we provide incentives so that the government doesn't take your tax dollars to some other part of the country," he said. "What is critical is that the dollars stay in our communities."

Davis also called for making President Bush's tax cuts permanent.

The two candidates offered different prescriptions to make health care more affordable.

Davis advocated health savings accounts and association health plans in which small groups band together in a bid to lower insurance premiums.

Clooney referred to health care as "the elephant in the living room" - an issue so big that he said it threatens to be a drag on the economy.

Clooney expressed support for limiting health care cost increases to federal cost-of-living increases.

Both promised to push for a tobacco buyout if the proposal fails to pass Congress this year. The Senate and House have passed different versions of a buyout as part of a corporate tax bill. A conference committee is expected to meet to try to work out the differences.

The buyout would pay farmers to leave the Depression-era federal system that sets price and production controls on U.S. leaf.

Davis said he supports the House version, which excludes a provision allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco. The Senate version would give FDA oversight of tobacco.

Clooney said he would prefer that the buyout not include the FDA regulation.

Each candidate also offered biographical glimpses.

Davis recounted his military service as an assault helicopter pilot and Army Ranger and his experience as a manufacturing consultant.

Clooney spoke of his long ties to northern Kentucky. Clooney's name and face are well known across much of the district, partly because of his years as a TV anchor in Cincinnati. He is also the brother of the late singer-actress Rosemary Clooney and the father of actor George Clooney.