Casey and Smith on the issues

Economy and Jobs
Bob Casey (Democrat)
-Pushed for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to include $90 million in funds for the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
-Proposed an extension of the Child Tax Credit, which helps more than half a million families in Pennsylvania.
-Plans to extend a 2-percent payroll-tax cut for 150 million wage earners

Tom Smith (Republican)
-Has five-point economic plan, “Restoring the American Dream,” that includes reducing federal spending to 20 percent of GDP. He ran a television ad saying he would “never vote to raise the debt ceiling.”
-Supports the Balanced Budget Amendment, which would require the federal government not to overspend.

Environment
Casey
-Hopes to accelerate the development and implementation of technologies that would capture and store carbon dioxide from power plants.
-Intends to create private-public partnerships to assist industries that use natural gas to counter the demand for foreign oil.

Smith
-Wants to curb government regulation, including shutting down the Department of Energy and ending government subsidies for alternative energy.
-Supports closing tax loopholes for the oil and coal industries.
-Wants to rely on oil and clean coal for energy.

Women’s Rights
Casey
-Opposes abortion.
-Secured $250 million for the new health care law to support pregnant women.
-Hopes to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would increase penalties for employers who pay different wages to men and women for equal work.

Smith
-Opposes abortion in all circumstances, including rape and incest.
-Caused controversy in August by comparing rape to an extra-marrital affair. “I lived something similar to that with my own family,” he said, referring to “having a baby out of wedlock.” He subsequently backtracked on the statement.

Experience
Casey
Casey was elected state auditor general, serving two terms from 1997 to 2005. He served briefly as state treasurer before he was elected U.S. Senator in 2006. There he has served as chairman of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee panel that deals with the Middle East and Central Asia.

Smith
Smith was involved in local politics on the Plumcreek Township Board of Supervisors. He entered the race for the Senate seat in September 2011 as a Republican. He has no political experience at the state or national level.

Endorsements
Casey
Casey has been endorsed from the Sierra Club, the National Education Association, United Steelworkers and PennEnvironment.

Smith
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, numerous state representatives and commissioners, Fox News contributor Dick Morris, the Citizens United Political Victory Fund and Tea Party Express.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.