2 years ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - Congressman Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, said the U.S. could very well be in a recession right now, and claimed the Democrats' plans to expand government spending is a "prescription for disaster" that could push the economy into a depression.
Lungren claimed his Democratic opponent, Dr. Bill Durston, is trying to avoid a discussion on the economy by creating an issue out of Lungren's military deferment during the Vietnam War.
Lungren, who's running for re-election in the 3rd Congressional District, appeared on Monday's Live_Online with News10's Sharon Ito. Durston will be Tuesday's guest on Live_Online with News10's Kelly Jackson.
Lungren said his deferment was based on a knee injury and he's fed up with Durston's insinuation that Lungren's father pulled some strings on his behalf.
John Lungren was President Richard Nixon's doctor at the time, and Lungren said the attempt to smear his father's reputation and memory were out of line.
While Lungren claimed the Democrats' economic plan would be disastrous, he's also been "very disappointed" with the deficit spending under President Bush.
Lungren said Bush "made his biggest mistakes" on the spending side, but that on foreign policy, the president "a tremendous job on the war on terror."
Lungren said he plans to vote "yes" on Proposition 8, the proposed ban on gay marriage in California. He said he's willing to extend rights to gay couples through civil unions, "but don't call it a marriage or change the essence of marriage."
The congressman said if the Massachusetts' experience with gay marriage was any indication, California schools will be teaching same-sex marriage in the classroom unless the ban is passed.
Opponents of Proposition 8, including California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, say teachers won't be required to teach same-sex marriage in California and that Prop 8 has nothing to with public education.
Lungren said he put off surgery on his Achilles tendon in order to debate his Democratic opponent twice last week. But now that he's recovering from surgery, Lungren has no further plans to debate.
News10's Candidates Forum continues all week on Live_Online at 11 a.m. Durston appears on Tuesday, followed by Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo on Wednesday, and her challenger, Kevin Johnson, on Thursday.
On Friday's Live_Online, the two sides in the gay marriage debate will face off and take viewers' questions.
Click here to join the online conversation.
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