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John Mahonry

(From Pagel) rates and significantly reduce the national debt. "The need for a balanced budget has become more important in the last six months than ever before," he said, charging that "special interest groups can't be sticking their Ifttlc fingers into every bill that goes through the House." Continuing, Mahoney said that his opponent, incumbent William Hughes, supports requiring the federal budget be balanced through legislation rather than constitutional amendment. "It's (budget legislation) been passed a half dozen times before, but they're (Congress) not obligated by law to stick to it," he said. ENCOURAGING SMALL businesses to operate in the region by removing the maze of regulations they confront, "should be our number one target." Mahoney said. "Small businesses employ BO percent of all the people employed in America, the candidate explained, emphasizing that if federally supported ‘enterprise zones’ could be ^.et up within the district, that would encourage small business growth. "If you can keep inflation and interest rates down, as President Reagan has done so fantastically, then small businesses are going to be able to borrow the money they need to expand and update... I hope to be a voice to speed that up for people. A strong voice." Speaking about what he refers to as 'give away programs' — including food stamps — Mahoney indicated that he believes the overall effect of the * government’s welfare programs has been to take away individuat initiative and desire to better oneself. "In trying to create the great society we’ve destroyed individual initiative.” he said. "Lyndon Johnson was absolutely wrong in his entire philosophy... vehemently wrong. He created a welfare state... almost a socialist society." In the same manner, the candidate voiced opposition to the federal government's Comprehensive Employment and Training ACT (CETA). "I think CETA wasted more money than was ever beneficial." he charged, pointing out that the Federal funds were used to employ people short term, while the intended training part of the program was more often than not ignored. Mahoney said, if the CETA program had been properly carried out, there would now be trained, skilled people off the welfare rolls.” He asserted that such training programs should be the responsibility of the private sector, rather than being funded through tax dollars. Questioned whether he had any specific proposals that might help eliminate some of the problems surrounding the Social Security System, the candidate indicated he will fully support President Reagan to never let it fail." He acknowledged that he would* support the conclusions of a bi-partisan committee currently looking into the system as long as it "makes sure the seniors that use Social Security as the sole source of theii income never lose a cent." Mahoney said he has "mixed emotions" concerning whether he Supports - Governor Thomas Kean’s efforts to permanently prohibit federal leasing of several sites off the coast between - Atlantic City and Cape May for oil and natural gas exploration "Even though I disagree with a large

The Congressional Race

number qf (U.S. Department of the Interior) Secretary Watt’s concerns, I'm not certain he isn't thinking about using our resources to benefit people, and then make sure the natural resource is preserved." he noted, adding that. "Oil companies don’t want to destroy the environment they work in because they live there.,, so let’s make it easy for them to make a living." An educator in the Vineland school system, Mahoney is an advocate of the "home rule" concept. Using as an example administrative problems with the Pinclands Management plan and the riparian lands issue, the candidate charged that, "The guys in Washington and Trenton don’t know the particular problems of the district... Control should be at the local level." Askeb about his views on development. Mahoney responded with, "I don’t think anything is ever overdeveloped if it’s developed properly. That's all you need. Some good, plahning. T don’t mean that it's never overdeveloped, .you must designate areas... certain areas have to be kept natural. Certain areas should be kept the same." According to the candidate, two of the major issues on which he and Bill Hughes differ is that of freedom of prayer for dbildren in schools, and the right of citizerts to bear arms. "I support the right to keep and bear arms," Mahoney asserted, emphasizing that "you can't legislate against objects." n Although noting it was an extreme example, the candidate asked, "Suppose people start hurting each other wifh chairs. Arc you going to legislate against chairs?” In regards to the issue of prayer in schools, Mahoney indicated that he believes the U.S. Supreme Court has misinterpreted the sentence in the Con(Page 19Pleasef

(From Pagel) the toll bridge near Wildwood Crest, for Portugal. "One of the problems has been that our foreign fisheries have taken advantage of the underutilized species such as squid." the Congressman explained, noting that although the Cape May area is said to Ik* ontmf the best quid fishing regions in the world, the local fishing in dustry to date has failed to take advan tage of the commodity's marketing potential overseas. "FOR TRE FIRST time we haVe an American industry that has shown tremendous interest in capturing what < should bo an American market." he said, adding, "I look upon this as a major breakthrough, and hopefully it will be the first of many efforts to utilize what we call the underutilized species." Hughes, who is currently seeking his fifth Congressional term, went on to stress the importance of a vital fishing industry to the Cape's economy “I think there’s a lot of work yet to be done trying to rebuild our commercial fisheries so we reduce our dependerite upon the foreign fldcts, and provide the kind of encouragement and support that American fisheries need tocaputre the bigger share of the resources off our beaches.” he asserted- “There are a number of different programs that need additional support.. progaRns that provide guaranteed loans for fisheries that need help to reprofit, or need technical assistance. The loans provide technical assistance to many of our fishermen to try to get them to imple ment the latest technology,” the Con gressitian pointed out, adding that the programs are similar tq thase now pro vided farmers'through the laical Extension Service. ASKED WHAT UK feels has been his major accomplishments during his eight years on Capitol Hill, Hughes singled out his efforts to acquire a ban on ocean dumping.

William Hughes

"My ban on harmful ocean dumping - effective after December ^l. l!Wl has tremendous significance for our region where We experience a great deal of ocean dumping " "Even though it's undergoing stormy weather right now, certainly thf* I'.Wl ban is still the law of the land,” he asserted, noting that even'though the Environmental Protection Agency "isn't enforcing . the environmental laws as they're supposed to l>e enforc cd.” that trend is expected to change In another marine related matter, the Congressman emphasized He “wholeheartedly'' supports Gov Thomas Kean’s efforts to block the federal government ‘ from leasing several tracts off the New Jersey coast for oil and natural gas exploration THE GOVERNOR IN July filed a lawsud against U.S. Interior Secretary JamesVatt and several major oil com panics ii) an effort to stop the leasing of some 23 sites off the Jersey coast l>et wqen Atlantic City and Cape May He contended that drilling in this, en vironmenlally sensitive area would have devastating economic efforts’, on both the commercial and recreational , fishing industries Recently, however, a federal judge ruled against the state, claiming economic hardship is not a legitimate reason Jo permanently prohibit drilling

in the area.

"I think Gov. Kean was absolutely correct in his assessment that those tracts presented too high a risk for the potential benefits that might flow to the federal offers.” Ifughes said "These particular areas are very fertile fishing grounds 'in many instances they're highly sensitive' ‘and that could Ik* damaged by (M'S (outer continental shelf) development. According to the Congressman, his most successful initiative while in the House other than legislative hqs lieen "in working with others" toward the successful operation of NAFEC (National Aeronautics Facilities Engineer ing Center) in Pomona lie said that the facility "is presently the largest employer in this region "The research and development that takes place at the FAA 'Federal Avia . tion Administration) Technical CcnloT is world reknowrvand brings to our area tremendous skills skills that help us in many other ways," the legislator, continued "The ripple effect of /he manpower skills we have at NAFEC q. just tremendous It spills over into our community Many of those folks 'trained at the copter) have gone on our plan ning boards and boards of adjustment IVIqny have gone on to participate on ad vi.sory committees ' Qucstionsed about his ideas for encouraging small businesses to operate in the South Jersey area-, Hughes pointed out that he was a major author of recent regulatory reform legislation aimed at helping small businesses deal with the ‘ regulatory maze they

confront "

"I also was a major author of the Trad jpg Company JUiw (legislation supported by President Reagan) which would make it possible for small companies to ban together and form trading companies to compete in the international market," he added, stressing that he also supports the recently passed legislation requiring a percentage of federal contracts to be set aside for small businesses THE CONGRESSMAN asserted he has always supported the idea of a (Page 19 Please i

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