BY VINCENT PATERNO

The following article appeared in October 29 Courier-News, a daily published in northern New Jersey, under the headline "Candidates debate health care, taxes."

NORTH PLAINFIELD - Taxes and health care were the big issues Monday night as the four candidates for the 7th Congressional District met in a debate at the Italian-American Club.

Republican incumbent Bob Franks and his three challengers - Dorothy De Laura of the Conservative Party, Democrat Larry Lerner and Robert G. Robertson of the Socialist Workers Party - handled a variety of topics before about 100 people. However, most of the talk dealt with economics rather than social issues.

Asked about tax reform, Franks said, "My priority with tax reform begins with ending the IRS as we know it .... We need to make the tax system fairer and simpler. There are tax loopholes that run rampant which have been bought by the special interests of America."

Robertson said, "The working people shouldn't pay taxes. We should tax the wealthy people." He expressed his opposition to a sales tax.

De Laura responded by saying such policies would hurt "the grit and initiative to get ahead." She endorsed a flat tax - "everyone should be taxed equally" - and also supported a capital-gains tax.

Lerner called taxation "a necessary evil, the way our government works," but added, "We need targeted tax cuts," including deductions for those who buy new homes.

On health insurance, Franks said more than 80 percent of Americans without health coverage do have jobs.

"We need to make it more affordable and acceptable for employers, particularly small-business people ... to be able to purchase health insurance for their employees," he said.

De Laura said she concurred with Franks' attempts to make health insurance more portable when employers change jobs, but added, "I do not favor government health policies. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Lerner said the U.S. was "the only country in the Western world" that does not have a health-care system for its citizens. We need to look at how we could afford it," he said.

Robertson said his party's campaign was "for free health care for all, period." Of portability, he said he was offered health care when he was laid off from U.S. Steel, but said the amount was "more than my unemployment compensation."

Franks said he was one of only 20 Republicans to support President Clinton's crime bill, although Lerner said the congressman had voted "six times" against cops-on-the-street programs.

De Laura said crime had dropped drastically in states where citizens were allowed to carry guns, so she said it was time to "give everyone a fighting chance."

Robertson said he opposed gun control because "I think the criminals are at the top, not at the bottom." The debate was sponsored by The Courier-News.

The same daily published in the voters guide of its November 3 edition a biographical sketch of Robert Robertson, Socialist Workers Party candidate in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, as well as of Stephanie Trice, SWP candidate for the state's 6th C.D. Robert G. Robertson, Socialist Workers Party
Background: Age: 35. Address: 57 Lake St., Bloomfield. Occupation: Chemical operator. Political experience: None. Community activities: Active in supporting job actions, including Hormel Meatpackers strike, United Mine Workers strike and Eastern Airline strike; activist against police brutality and former apartheid system in South Africa; member, Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers.

Issues: Opposes stationing of U.S. troops in Mideast; opposes federal welfare overhaul, prefers expansion of health care, pension and minimum wage protections; supports shortened work week and creation of large-scale public works program to guarantee jobs for all.  
 
 
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