Schauer the better choice for Congress

The following is a Jackson Citizen Patriot editorial for November 2:

Voters in the 7th Congressional District might express relief more than anything else at the end of the $6 million-plus campaign between Mark Schauer and Rep. Tim Walberg. Their scorched-earth battle of misinformation and even outright lies has not been worthy of two honorable men or the district they want to represent.

The choice for voters Tuesday is made more complicated by the fact that neither Schauer nor Walberg truly represents this seven-county district. Both veer toward ideological extremes.

Schauer has carried the water for a Democratic Party that has raised taxes in this state and stands poised to do the same to the entire country.

Walberg has been faithfully conservative on social and fiscal issues, yet so much so that he borders on irrelevancy. He nicely articulates a vision for limited, low-tax government, but has little record in the Legislature and in two years in Washington of governing practically.

Ideology may well shape many voters' decisions in this high-decibel race, but we offer our endorsement using another standard: Who can better serve this district in Washington? In that respect, Mark Schauer is the better choice.

We do not suggest that voters choose the person they believe can bring home the pork. Whoever is elected goes to a Capitol that needs a fresh start, to cut back on gluttonous Bridges to Nowhere and pet projects that benefit nothing but politicians' chances of re-election.

Even so, this congressional district — and every district — deserves an advocate. It needs someone who can identify priorities and fight to see they are met.

The Jackson area needs money to modernize I-94. Michigan's automakers (and, by extension, their local suppliers) need federal assistance. Economic development projects involving government contracts or regulations need attention from a local lawmaker.

Walberg's record in this regard has been spotty. Schauer's has been exceptional.

As state senator, Schauer was vital to the recent creation of a SmartZone in Blackman Township. From various accounts, he was the one who lobbied the governor to expand the number of these business-friendly zones in Michigan and to make sure that Blackman got a fair shot. Local economic-development leaders identified this as a priority, and Schauer delivered.

It has not been the first time. Schauer supported tweaking the state's tax code to persuade companies like Production Engineering to stay and, in fact, expand their operations in Michigan.

From the day he was elected six years ago, Schauer has courted Jackson County like few other elected officials. He has been visible and worked time and again for local projects. While he lives in Battle Creek and is a Democrat, Schauer has drawn support from many Jackson-area Republicans.

Walberg, who lives in Lenawee County, has been sincere in getting to know this congressional district, and Jackson in particular. But delivering money for local projects simply is not in his DNA.

A telling example of that came last year when Walberg helped secure $350,000 in federal money for Jackson's public buses — but then voted against the bill that included that money.

In that case and almost any other, Walberg deserves credit for standing on principle. We wish that after two decades in politics, however, that the congressman could see the need to be more pragmatic.

There are drawbacks to a Schauer victory. He would become the fourth congressman in four terms for this district, and turnover does not translate into clout in Washington.

We also fear Schauer will provide little resistance to the Democratic tide that appears likely to sweep Michigan and the nation Tuesday. If Barack Obama wins the presidency, and the Congress becomes overwhelmingly Democratic, where will be the counterweight against raising business, capital-gains and individual taxes? That type of action would threaten already fragile hopes for a quick economic rebound.

Schauer is nothing if not effective, however. He has shown throughout his political career — as a Battle Creek city councilman and spending six years in the state House and six years in the Senate — that he cares about improving people's lives in a personal, tangible way.

He and Walberg share a priority of creating jobs. Schauer has been relentless in delivering results, even if they are compromises. Walberg would sacrifice what his constituents need at the cost of a principled defeat.

Much as we respect Tim Walberg and his two years in Washington, we endorse a better candidate for his seat: Mark Schauer.

Read the original story here.