When Republican Congressional candidate Gail Kohlmeier says she wants to decrease the size of government, she isn’t kidding.

In a debate with primary rival Bill Price Wednesday, Kohlmeier called for the phasing out of most federal social programs, including welfare, Social Security and Medicare, and the elimination of several federal agencies, including the Department of Education and National Endowment of the Arts.

You could go right down the line with all the departments, she said. They could all be cut. It would get rid of some government jobs, but We just don’t need them. Everything is done better on the local level.

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Price echoed these sentiments, saying:there’s a scat of things. Certainly the Department of Education would be a good place to start. Price did not specify any other agencies but argued that he would have to look at all the programs before making a decision.

About 50 people assembled in the Thebes Room of the Student Center to witness the battle of the conservatives, sponsored by the College Republicans.

Though each candidate fought desperately to distinguish himself and herself, what emerged from the confrontation highlighted the field’s homogeneity rather than its ideological divisions. In the words of Price, we’re both fiscal and social conservatives. Nothing really separates us.

Kohlmeier railed against the Belleville orthopedic surgeon for defecting to the Republican party after 43 years as a Democrat; Price is now 44. In his defense, Price said he has been deserted ideologically by the Democratic party and has found a safe home with the GOP.

Kohlmeier furthered her attacks on Price, contending her opponent not only maintains Democratic ties but actively supported the Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., in his last re-election bid.

Bill’s too much like Jerry, she said. He was a friend of Jerry Costello’s. He was a contributor to Jerry Costello. What does that say?

Price ignored the attack, merely repeating the line, I’m a fiscal and social conservative. When asked though why he would be the best candidate to unseat Costello, Price responded, I would be the best because of my father’s (former Congressman Mel Price, D-Ill.) long-standing service for southwest Illinois in the House of Representatives. Dad served us all very well. Price added that his experience as a physician, military officer and family man also qualify him to be the Republican nominee.

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Besides wanting to abolish a host of federal entitlement programs, Kohlmeier would work to expand economic development by revitalizing the coal industry, bettering transportation schemes and attracting small business to the region. No specific plans to bolster these initiatives were forwarded, however. Instead, Kohlmeier said she would continue research in these areas and detail plans at a later date.

I said the coal industry I would certainly look into that, she said. There is some new technology out there dealing with the coal industry. I don’t have all the particulars because there’s a lot of research being done right now. I would look at the highway system because we have a lot of trucks going through here.

I would look also at whatever else we could pull into the district once we break up the stranglehold in St. Clair County so we could get some new businesses in here.

Price responded swiftly to these proposals:I don’t really disagree with my opponent on economic development for our area. We need to be committed to developing infrastructure and transportation. We need to find out what kind of businesses we’re trying to attract. I would need a lot data and information that I’m not privy to answer that.

Both candidates, when asked if they would vote to amend the Clean Air Act, legislation that in part regulates industry’s release of pollutants into the air, were uncertain as to the nature of the bill.

I would have to take a look at the Clean Air Act and look into it more before I answer that, but I think we have some good laws on the books as far as cleaning up the air.

Price also was unfamiliar with the law, but said he opposes hefty environmental restrictions on industry.

I would like to know the tenants of the Clean Air Act also and read through it, he said. Philosophically, I would love to loosen some of the restrictions which I’m sure are coming from the Clean Air Act which prohibit us from burning our Illinois coal.

Price did say, however, he would look for alternative outlets for the Illinois coal industry if the government continues to restrict its activities.

Perhaps there’s some way we could open up our coal industry a little bit more, he said. Perhaps we could get coal out of this country and being burned overseas. There are a lot of other win-win situations we might look at.

In education, both Price and Kohlmeier say the government should play a limited role. Private education, they say, should be encouraged. Both support vouchers for families sending their children to private and parochial schools. Kohlmeier is the founder of the Christian Community School in St. Clair County and favors school prayer extended to public institutions. Price also supports school prayer and would work to increase school choice for families. Eliminating the Department of Education would constitute a good first step, he said.

I hate seeing children trapped in schools where they cannot learn, Price said. That is not an indictment of the entire public school system. But, I do believe that the federal government’s role in education should be minimal.

In international affairs, both candidates contend the United States should bomb Iraq if necessary and play an increased role in securing peace throughout the world. These efforts would be complimented by a dramatic increase in military spending. Fearing an international U.N. tax on all participant countries, Kohlmeier favors America’s withdrawal from the United Nations. Peace keeping missions sponsored by the United Nations are wrong, she said.

My son said he might want to go into the military someday, maybe be a marine or whatever and I said that’s fine with me as long as you serve for your country, not under the U.N. banner, Kohlmeier said. The U.N. is not an entity that does us any good.

Both candidates are staunchly pro-life and in favor of repealing Roe v. Wade. Kohlmeier opposes abortion in all cases, while Price makes exceptions for cases of rape, incest and endangerment of the mother.

Audience member reactions to the Wednesday debate ranged from enthusiasm to perplexity. College Republican President Eric Woehrmann was pleased with the turnout and level of interest in the candidates. Woehrmann is confident whoever emerges as the Republican nominee likely will defeat Costello.

They both did a very good job, he said It’s great that they both came.

I think they both have a very good shot at winning.

Marco Orozco, a junior in political science from Chicago, left the debate bewildered by some of the candidates’ responses. He was disheartened by the apparent lack of knowledge on the part of Price and Kohlmeier when answering questions about the environment and civil rights.

I asked them both about two important bills (Defense of Marriage Act and the Line Item Veto Bill) that were passed by Congress a couple years ago and both of them did not know anything about them, he said. Somebody who wants to be a representative should be familiar with the laws and at least should have read the Constitution.