Apr 19, 2016 By This Is The Second Of Several Stories Related To A Recent Forum Hosted The For The Two Gop Candidates In The 9th Congression 5 min read

The two Republican candidates vying the the GOP nomination in the 9th Congressional District race support a strong stance against the nations that have vowed to destroy the U.S. and Israel, but disagree how the issue of illegal immigrants should be addressed.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, who is seeking a ninth term, squared off with his challenger, retired U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Art Halvorson of Manns Choice, about their respective stances on the issue of national security, the economy, presidential race and their views about conservatism, during a recent candidate forum hosted by the Herald-Standard at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

Both candidates will appear on the April 26 primary election ballot, with the nominee virtually assured to be the district’s representative in Washington, D.C., barring a successful bid in the fall by an Independent candidate.

There are no Democrats listed on the primary ballot.

The 9th Congressional District includes all of Fayette, Indiana, Bedford, Blair, Fulton and Franklin counties and portions of Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset counties.

On Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the U.S. will send an additional 200 extra troops to Iraq to fight the Islamic State of Iran (ISIS) and also dispatch Apache helicopters to aid in the battle.

As the war in Iraq rages on, eyes are also on Iraq and North Korea as they continue to develop their respective ballistic missile systems.

Shuster told the forum audience that the lack of leadership by the president is to blame for much of the turmoil around the globe, while Halvorson believes that Congress should be held accountable.

“There will be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East,” said Shuster, adding that the recent treaty reached with Iran allowed for it to access the needed funds to continue developing its weapons system. “Today Saudia Arabia and the UAE are looking to buy (a weapons system) because they know their mortal enemy — the Iranians — are going to have one someday.

“This president has made bad deals and Congress has tried to stop him, but under the Constitution, the president has that power to negotiate (a treaty) with the Senate in the position to approve or disapprove these treaties.”

Shuster, a member of the Armed Services Committee, described himself as a “defense hawk.”

The nation, he added, is in need of a leader similar to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who would not tolerate the bad behavior of rogue nations or their threats.

“We need someone in the White House that can lead this nation. The Chinese are spreading out in the South Pacific (and) the Russians are doing whatever they damn well please in their part of the world.

“ISIS is on the march. My strategy (to end the ISIS threat) is to find them, kill them, (and) destroy them. We need a president that is willing to do that.”

Halvorson termed the national response to ISIS, Iran, North Korea and Russia as “tepid,” and said that Shuster and Congress are responsible for both the condition of the country and the world.

“He is passing the buck,” said Halvorson. “(If you can’t take responsibility) step aside and let someone that will serve in Congress.”

Halvorson said that because of his nearly three decades of service in the Coast Guard, his masters degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Air War College and his experience that included re-organizing the Coast Guard, he is well-prepared to address national security issues.

Shuster, said Halvorson, has failed to protect the U.S., during his tenure, citing the yet-to-be-completed U.S.-Mexican border wall.

“He’s been in office for 16 years and (the border wall) was authorized since the Bush era,” said Halvorson. “But, it has yet to be built.

“He has failed to protect us.

The two candidates offered differing views on amnesty with Shuster stating that those that have entered the country illegally, should be returned to their home country and made to adhere to the process that would permit them to be here legally.

The cities that harbor them, too, must allow the laws to be enforced.

“I have a voting record that shows I am opposed to amnesty in any way, shape or form,” he said. “We need to build the wall to protect our border and make sure we know who is going back and forth.

“There is a will to send them home.”

Halvorson said that he would support a more “compassionate” path.

“Many of these issues require compassion,” he said. ” I’m not a brute that’s going to go around knocking on doors, jack-booted, and ask people if they are illegal and drag them over the border. That’s not the way to do it.”

A video of the forum can be viewed on the Herald-Website at www.heraldstandard.com.