Feeney, Kosmas talk bailout, veterans during testy debate

By Rachael Jackson, Orlando Sentinel

October 22, 2008

In a sometimes testy debate, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney and challenger Suzanne Kosmas met face-to-face Tuesday as they battle to represent District 24.

It was the second and likely final debate between Kosmas, a Democrat from New Smyrna Beach, and Feeney, R-Oviedo. The race has attracted national attention, and some independent observers favor Kosmas, a former state legislator, over Feeney, a three-term incumbent.

Here are some of the topics discussed at the event, sponsored by the Volusia County Tiger Bay Club.

Wall Street bailout

*Feeney: Voted against it. Said he has created a seven-point plan to save the economy that includes a measure allowing Congress to lend money to banks. Blamed "liberals in Washington" for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae's backing of loans to people who couldn't pay them back.

*Kosmas: Said she would have voted against the bailout because Congress also should have included regulatory reforms and protections for taxpayers.

Veterans

*Feeney: Said he has fought for veterans but voted against earmark-filled bills (including one authorizing money for an Orlando veterans hospital) and said, "I would like Rep. Kosmas to explain how the Veterans of Foreign Wars has been fooled." The political action committee of that group has endorsed Feeney.

*Kosmas: Said she opposes the war but supports our troops. She criticized Feeney for votes against bills that benefited veterans.

While Feeney will be at a groundbreaking for Orlando's first veterans hospital Friday, she said, "That hospital is being built in spite of you, not because of you."

Small business

*Feeney: Said he wanted to reduce regulations and lower taxes for small businesses and pointed to his endorsements from business groups.

*Kosmas: Said she understands small-business needs because she owns her own real-estate business and wants to lower taxes and give incentives to small business.

Earmarks

*Feeney: Said he would push for meaningful earmarks, such as the veterans hospital and for bridges, but said the process needs to be made more transparent. Pointed out that he gets high marks from Citizens Against Government Waste.

*Kosmas: Said this might be an issue they agree on. Also said that, if elected, she would never lobby after leaving office and would support a five-year moratorium on outgoing representatives becoming lobbyists.