Election '06 ON THE COVER Senate Faceoff The two major candidates for U.S. Senate respond to a Jewish News questionnaire. Alan Hitsky Associate Editor ebbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, won the U.S. Senate seat from incumbent Spencer Abraham in an upset in 2000. Now, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, R-Birmingham, is trying to win back the seat for the Republicans. Stabenow is a former state representative and state sena- tor who won two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bouchard is a former state Senate majority leader. The Jewish News asked the two to answer the following questions: • Do you support U.S. foreign aid for Israel? Should it be increased, decreased, kept the same? • What is your view of the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah? • What should the United States' role be in Iraq? What should the U.S. do about Iran? • How do you feel about Judge Anna Diggs Taylor's ruling on U.S. surveillance of domestic-overseas phone calls? • What is your position on abortion? What is your position on stem-cell research? • What can you do in the U.S. Senate to help Michigan's econ- omy? • Do you have ties to the Detroit Jewish community? Do you have ties to the Detroit Arab community? How do you represent both? • What should the U.S. do about immigration? And What about border protection? The candidates' answers appear in edited form. To see their complete, uncut answers, go to JNonline.us . Do you support U.S. foreign aid for Israel? Should it be increased, decreased, kept the same? BOUCHARD I believe that the U.S. should continue to sup- port the democracy in Israel. It is our ally in the Middle East and stands with us against terrorist organizations. Before I would vote for a blan- ket increase of federal funding to any sector, I would want to see a full accounting of how tax dollars are being spent. STABENOW I have strongly supported foreign assistance to Israel every year since I have been in Congress. Each year, I evalu- ate the level of funding to see if it meets our mutual security needs. What is your view of the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah? BOUCHARD The recent con- flict between Israel and the ter- rorist group Hezbollah was due, in part, to the fact that the United Nations did not properly enforce U.N. Resolution 1559, which called for disarming terrorist groups like Hezbollah. STABENOW I cosponsored a resolution that declared our support for Israel's right of self-defense and Israel's right to take appropriate action to deter aggression by terrorist groups and their state sponsors. What should the United States' role be in Iraq? What should the U.S. do about Iran? BOUCHARD Winning the war on terror and making sure that Iraq is safe and secure to prevent 14 October 12 2006 Sheriff Mike Bouchard Sen. Debbie Stabenow it from becoming a haven for ter- rorists is not something we can — or should, in my estimation — put a price on. Mistakes have been made concerning Iraq. The administration has admitted that. Now we must move forward. The U.S. needs to take a hard- line stance towards Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear program. I favor a carrot-stick approach that makes use of sanctions should Iran continue its pursuit of a nuclear program. BOUCHARD As a career law enforcement officer, I have great respect for both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need to give our law enforcement agen- cies the ability to protect us, and weakening our existing programs is not the way to do so. STABENOW We need a strong national defense and must win the war on terror, which is why I supported, our military actions in Afghanistan to hold those who attacked us on 9-11 account- able. The war in Iraq has been a detour in the war on terror. I have consistently voted to make sure that our soldiers in the field have the resources they need to do their jobs and protect them- selves. The United States must do everything it can to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weap- ons. The United Nations Security Council should consider tough sanctions against Iran. How do you feel about Judge Anna Diggs Taylor's ruling on U.S. surveillance of domes- tic-overseas phone calls? STABENOW Federal law gives the president broad powers to conduct secret surveillance by going to a special Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court for a warrant. I feel this court provides the critical pow- ers needed to combat terrorism while providing an important check against potential abuses. What is your position on abortion? What is your position on stem- cell research? BOUCHARD I am pro-life. I support continued research with regards to adult and umbilical cord stem cells. Many medical advances have come about from the studies of both of these types of stem cells and we have already seen therapeutic applications in humans from both. STABENOW I am pro-choice. Abortion is a personal and very difficult medical decision for women, and I do not feel it appropriate for government to intrude in such a personal mat- ter.