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Welch and Sellers talk economy, Iran

PHILADELPHIA—Republican 6th District candidates Steven Welch and Patrick Sellers courted conservative activists here Tuesday evening, airing their positions on labor laws, cap-and-trade legislation and the threat posed by Iran.

The two spoke during a candidates’ forum hosted by a coalition of Tea Party groups in the state. Incumbent Jim Gerlach was not present at the event across the street from City Hall. A prepared statement read on his behalf cited unspecified commitments in Washington.

Taking turns answering the same questions, both candidates warned against deficit spending and expansion of the federal government. Sellers, a Tea Party activist himself, was particularly zealous in his desire to cut programs.

“We can start with the easy ones,” he said, “like the Department of Education, which teaches no children… and the Department of Energy, which produces no energy.”

Both candidates decried President Obama’s economic stimulus bill. Welch pledged to never request any earmarks if elected, but Sellers said he would support sensible spending that would help the district. The two also differed on Iran. Although Sellers said the country is not an imminent threat, Welch said he would not rule out military action to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

February 9, 2010 at 8:49 pm

--Donald Hoegg

Tags: Jim Gerlach, PA-6, Patrick Sellers, Steven Welch

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