Hannibal, MO – One of the candidates for a US Senate seat from Missouri is praising the Tea Party for creating interest in politics.
Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) wants to replace Democrat Claire McCaskill in the Senate. He said he was a true conservative before the Tea Party movement.
"I've met with a number of Tea Party people. They can be kind of bristly at times. They say, 'Hey I don't want any excuses. I want to know the answers about this, that and the other thing.' That's OK,"Akin said.
Akin agrees with a number of Tea Party goals such as cutting federal spending and reducing regulatory burdens. He said debt pays about 40% of the federal budget, which he said cannot continue.
Akin would also like to see free markets decide America's energy future instead of the federal government. He supported subsidies for ethanol in gasoline to launch the industry. He said now ethanol production is mature and should stand or fall on its own merits.
Akin said, "The less that the government tampers in the marketplace the better off we are."
Akin did not say specifically whether he favors eliminating all subsidies for ethanol production.
Akin made his comments during a campaign stop in Hannibal.
Akin will vie with former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman for the Republican nomination.
Akin is in his 6th term in the US House.