The proposal, a key initiative of the Obama administration, would restrict greenhouse gas emissions as a way to deal with global warming — establishing a cap on pollution and allowing polluters who clean up their operations to sell credits to those that don't.

And because of the potential harm it might inflict on Kentucky's coal industry, the two top Democrats and two top Republicans in the May 18 Senate primary all oppose the idea.

“It would be tantamount to political suicide for a candidate of either political party to support it,” Republican campaign consultant Ted Jackson said. “ … It would have a severe punitive economic impact on everyone in the state.”

Mongiardo, Conway and Grayson all pledge to defeat al-Qaida, the Islamic terrorist organization that was behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Paul says his primary foreign-policy focus is securing the borders to keep illegal immigrants and potential terrorists out of the country.

On the economy, Grayson and Paul say they want the government to get out of the way and let the private sector create jobs. Conway and Mongiardo call for targeted tax cuts and incentives for small businesses to help them create jobs.

One issue that Grayson and Paul differ on is the use of federal budget earmarks. “I am the only candidate in this race who has taken a firm pledge to reject all earmarks,” Paul wrote in response to the newspaper's questionnaire.

Grayson defends earmarks, saying that to do away with them would give too much power to unelected bureaucrats and the executive branch.

“Some of these attacks might work in other election years, but I don't think they are going to work this year,” he said. “It seems to me there is way too much gimmickry.”

As for cap and trade — the one issue that all four leading candidates can agree on — their views are largely shaped by the fact that Kentucky is the third-largest coal-producing state. Coal supporters fear the legislation could force electricity producers to move away from coal to alternative sources such as wind, solar or nuclear.

“I feel that the plans being discussed in Washington will not work for Kentucky and is the wrong direction for the future of our country,” said Mongiardo, a Hazard doctor who is the only one of the four major candidates from the coalfields.

Conway left the door open to support some sort of cap-and-trade bill as long as there are protections for Kentucky's coal industry and consumers, who pay energy costs that are among the lowest in the nation.

Sourced from www.courier-journal.com