Senatorial candidate Steve Pearce said the veterans benefits system is like a water pipeline full of leaks.
"If you visualize, let's say, a pipeline running along from Washington to here, we put a lot of water into the pipeline, but there are a lot of leaks, and so very little water actually gets out of the end of the pipeline to the veteran," Pearce said. "That's because bureaucracies always try to fund themselves first."
Pearce, who is running against Democrat Tom Udall, spoke to students during a forum in the SUB on Monday.
He said the government needs to make sure current veterans benefits are used efficiently before offering more.
He said veterans benefits could also be improved if veterans were allowed to have local health care providers instead of having them travel to out-of-town doctors.
Pearce said he has increased the mileage amount paid to veterans for these out-of-town visits but that it would be better if they didn't have to travel at all.
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He said he worked with the veterans hospital at UNM to make sure veterans find out earlier when their appointments are canceled. This has reduced unnecessary travel for older veterans, he said.
Student Patrick J. Dylan said he has followed Pearce for about two years to find out what he stands for.
"I've talked to him a lot, and we've had major discussions," Dylan said. "I actually went to a luncheon with him one time, and I talked to him there, and I've seen him ever since then every now and then."
Dylan said one of his and Pearce's disagreements is about the war in Iraq.
"I think the whole Republican ideal - and of conservatism, too - is to stay out of foreign conflicts as much as you possibly can and to win wars as much as you can without committing troops, lives and money, and that's possible," Dylan said. "I knew from the very beginning it would take a major toll on the American image around the world and on lives - and not only on lives, but on injured soldiers."
When students asked how America can get out of Iraq, Pearce said Iraq is the central front of the war on terror.
"Believe me, I don't wish we were in war either. I really don't," he said. "You can't just consider it one-dimensionally. I know that you are frustrated like every single American is, but we can't just let our frustrations rule our actions."
Pearce said he wouldn't cut off troop funding, despite the economic crisis, because of his experience in Vietnam.
"In that period of time is when Congress began to choke off funds to us," Pearce said. "I can remember not being able to fly training missions because we didn't have enough money to buy the fuel.. It really was affecting our ability to do our job over there."
Pearce said the dollar's weakness is its savings rate, as Americans don't save very much money.
"The first cure to the dollar would be to save more," he said. "Now, the problem with that is that our
economy is 70 percent retail, and what happens when you save more? You spend less and weaken our economy at the same time you weaken the dollar."
Pearce said there will be financial benefits to using renewable energy but that it will take time to realize them. He said the U.S. needs to find a short-term solution to high energy costs.
"My solution was to drill offshore and in Alaska . take the money and pour it into wind, solar and
nuclear in order to accelerate development (of other renewable sources)," Pearce said.
Student Emily Lunderman said she disapproves of Steve Pearce's stance on issues, including the energy crisis, and prefers his opponent Tom Udall for senate.
"I'm for Udall," Lunderman said. "I like the whole drilling on American soil, and it just seems more like he thinks more about what's good for the people, not for (the government) and what they want."
