Kuhl, Massa sparring over kids' health program

U.S. Rep. John "Randy" Kuhl, R-29, and Democratic challenger Eric Massa don't see eye-to-eye on many issues, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program is no exception.

Kuhl has issues with how the program would be funded - primarily through a 61-cent tax on cigarettes - and the potential for insurance not to reach the poor children the program is designed to cover. Massa says Kuhl is simply making excuses for not voting for the bill while following the orders of President George W. Bush.

About the only similarity between the two is how strongly they feel about the other's thoughts being wrong. That didn't change last week, as Kuhl, prompted by questioning from a reporter on his weekly telephone press conference call, took some shots at Massa.

When asked about a Massa comment about how Kuhl voted against the SCHIP bill because he gets campaign contributions from tobacco companies, the congressman responded that was "ridiculous."

"It doesn't even deserve a reply because it's so ridiculous," Kuhl said. "One of those tobacco companies, Altria, they own Kraft Foods, which has some plants in my district. The Farm Bill is one of the reasons they would support me.

"Tobacco companies have nothing to do with this," he added. "The proposal is a tax on people, there is no impact on tobacco companies."

Massa said Kuhl is simply looking for excuses to explain how he let the 29th Congressional District down by voting against the bill.

"He is grasping at straws. The other day he said he didn't want to do it because poor people that smoke would be paying for it," he said. "This is a self-funding bill that does not add to the deficit. Meanwhile, he goes and votes to send $190 billion to Iraq. Who's going to pay for that?"

As for Kuhl's feeling the cigarette tax revenue plan may not work because buying of smokes would likely decrease with an additional tax, Massa disagreed.

"I can only go with what the story has shown us, and historically there has not been a loss in revenue," he said. "I wish this would lead people to quit smoking, but historically that has not happened."

Kuhl questioned where Massa was when political ads, paid for by MoveOn.org, attacked Gen. David Petraeus, who reported back to Congress on the progress of the troop surge in Iraq. He said maybe he should be questioning where his potential opponent is getting contributions, since he didn't protest the attack advertisements.

"If you want to talk about that kind of thing," Kuhl said. "Has he given up his support of the military, you wonder with that outrageous ad that accused Gen. Petraeus of betraying us.

"The silence is deafening ... not to get political," he added.

Massa said Kuhl's comments were merely a way to deflect criticism over not supporting the SCHIP bill.

"What MoveOn.org does has nothing to do with tobacco money to Randy Kuhl," he said. "This is what Republicans do, instead of defending their choices, they shift focus.

"MoveOn's ad has nothing to do with children's health care, and he doesn't want to talk about that, so he's changing the subject," Massa added. "I think it was a very poorly worded ad, I think they lost their message. I don't support it and have not supported it, but, by law, I am not allowed to talk to MoveOn.org."

He also took issue with the fact Kuhl has not declared himself a candidate.

"How can you ask somebody for a check for $10,000 if you haven't decided to run," Massa said. "What are you going to do with that money if you decide not to run.

"Either you are a candidate or not, if you are raising money, why wouldn't you declare yourself a candidate," he added. "People of the 29th District want straight answers to straight questions, such as 'Are you going to run or not?' But, he won't answer them."

Kuhl was asked if he had decided whether or not to run yet. He declined to tip his hand, saying he was focused on working in Congress, not campaigning.

"I'm taking every step I need to take to be a candidate next year," Kuhl said, "but I won't make a decision on whether to run until next April or May."