(7 of 13)
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Working families are constantly being attacked by the extreme policies coming out of Congress. That simply isn't right."
DICK CHRYSLER (R) District 8 (Central--part of Lansing)
BORN: April 29, 1942, St. Paul, Minn. EDUCATION: Brighton High School, diploma, 1960 FAMILY: Wife, Katie; three children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Vehicle-manufacturing and auto-parts executive POLITICAL CAREER: G.O.P. nominee for U.S. House, 1992; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1518, Brighton 48116. Tel.: 810-220-0960
Chrysler, elected as a supporter of the Contract with America, sponsored bills to cut House committees and staff by a third. He pushed unsuccessfully to eliminate the Commerce Department and last spring proposed replacing income and capital-gains taxes with a 15% federal sales tax. The Democrats think Chrysler is vulnerable; the Eighth was represented by a Democrat for 12 years before he was elected.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The only way the [House] freshmen are extreme is that we are extremely in touch with the American people, who want us to keep our word and balance the budget."
DEBBIE STABENOW (D) District 8
BORN: April 29, 1950, Gladwin EDUCATION: Michigan State U, B.A., 1972, M.S.W., 1975 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: United Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Management consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Ingham County Commissioner, 1975-78; Michigan House, 1979-91, Senate, 1991-95 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4945, East Lansing 48826. Tel.: 517-336-8500
As a popular former State Senator, Stabenow poses a decent challenge to incumbent Dick Chrysler. She is a moderate, and emphasizes her work on behalf of business. As a Michigan legislator, she sponsored an amendment that scrapped the state's old property-tax system and led to a tax cut, and in the early 1990s she helped strengthen Michigan's drunk-driving laws.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NR Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NR Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Nearly one out of four freshman Republican members of Congress are millionaires. That simple fact speaks volumes about this Congress. Out of step. Out of touch. Not getting it--and not understanding why they should."
DALE KILDEE (D) District 9 (East central--Flint; Pontiac)
BORN: Sept. 16, 1929, Flint EDUCATION: Sacred Heart Seminary, B.A., 1952; U of Michigan, M.A., 1961 FAMILY: Wife, Gayle; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Michigan House, 1965-75, Senate, 1975-76; U.S House, 1976- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 317, Flint 48501. Tel.: 810-742-6882