Candidate addresses questions

By Jerry Lawrence

Before Carol Moseley Braun hurried off to her next campaign stop in Edwardsville, she answered questions on a variety of issues at a press conference.

Although specifics of the plan were not contained in her speech, Braun talked about her plan to fund college tuition. Braun said her plan involves a revolving fund that allows students to take out loans which they can repay either in installments or by doing military or civilian service.

Braun also responded to allegations her Republican opponent Rich Williamson has made by saying, “Williamson is full of it, and I just went on record saying it.”

Williamson said in a debate Sunday night that he wanted to see family documents related to a report which revealed Braun had not reported an inheritance that would have jeopardized her mother’s public aid.

Braun also downplayed a Chicago Tribune report that stated Braun had refused to disclose 1988 tax documents that would reveal whether or not she had worked as a lobbyist that year. Braun said she had already disclosed enough. “I don’t know what else these people want,” she said.

“This campaign is too important to get bogged down in this type of mud. I have now gone for six months trying my level best not to throw (mud) back,” she added.

Braun also addressed proposed cuts in state public higher education. “The reason for the cuts is the state is teetering on bankruptcy. The reason the state is teetering on bankruptcy is the program that my opponent administered out of the White House,” she said. “You have cuts in education, $366 million, and cuts in support for higher education.”