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Show Hamm Predicts sClmm GOP wmjf By GARY R. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor BOUNTIFUL -- U.S. Congressman James V. Hansen made some bold predictions when he addressed the Lakeview Association of Life Insurance Underwriters last Tuesday morning. , HE SAID he would predict a "landslide victory" vic-tory" for President Reagan: that Norm Banger-ter Banger-ter would be elected Utah's next governor; and that the Republicans would "make a clean sweep" of congressional seats in this year's election. "Republicans are really on the roll," said Congressman Hansen. "I am confident that the GOP Party w ill be triumphant in a vast majority of the elections across the country." REFERRING to the Presidential race, he said Geraldine Ferraro was a "poor choice for (Walter F.) Mondale to have made, especially if the choice was made because of her gender." "I like her, and I have debated with her on several occasions," but I do not believe she was the right choice for Mondale," said Rep. 11 "' 1 i i Hansen. "I FURTHER believe that George Bush could step in and take over as president if that ever became necessary. But frankly, I would hate to see our country run by Ms. Ferraro if Mondale was to be elected and should anything happen to him." Congressman Hansen then spoke out against Speaker of the House Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neil. "THAT'S THE man who runs Congress. He takes command and does things his way regardless re-gardless of party affiliation. He's the boss on the hill and no one seems to want to take him to task," the congressman reflected, and added: "Tip is an honest individual, but he's very liberal li-beral and very, very influential." Rep. Hansen, who is seeking a third term in ' Congress, said he supports the Health and Welfare Wel-fare programs but w hen voting on these issues he follows a personal theme: "vote to help those in need to help themselves." "Beyond that, I am not in favor of all of Mondale's giveaway give-away programs designed to help people permanently." HE SAID HE also supports a balanced budget and tax-incentive cuts that have been used by the president, but opposes Mondale's tax bracketing proposal. "Last year persons in the higher income brackets (over $50,000) paid 13 percent more than the year before while those in the middle tax brackets were struggling to keep pace with even the slightest cost of living raises because usually the raise would put them in a higher tax bracket and more than eat up any raise." REP. HANSEN struck out at Mondale's military spending approach saying the presidential pres-idential candidate voted aginst all the bills presented pre-sented in Congress for National Defense, and his own proposals failed to gain support. "If his defense spending proposals were so good and as popular as he says, then why didn't they get Congressional support when they were originally debated?" Rep. Hansen asked. MONDALE voted against the B-l bomber -and that is one strategic weapon we need, Rep. Hansen noted. "We used to be a strong nation with a respected military defense, but that is not the case any more." He said the threats of Communist (Marxism) reign in Central America are real and "if we allow these aggressive forces to continue, we in America will someday see an influx of immigrants immig-rants from the south much more alarming and in greater masses than ever before." REP. HANSEN agreed that the, national budget deficit is a real problem, but is being dealt with by Congress. "Remember," he said, "the budget is decided by Congress and is the Congress' budget, not the president's. The president doesn't have a whole lot of authority except to veto bills he feels are excessive.'' In this respect, Rep. Hansen said he felt the president should be granted authority for "line- j . item" veto power -- putting the veto stamp o" just one section of a bill, rather than having to veto the entire bill because of one section. REP. HANSEN said he still favors a limit of six terms -- 12 years - in Congress, but said he would like to see Representatives elected to 4-year terms instead of having to campaign every ev-ery two years. |