Feingold hits Bush on dairy issue during debate with Michels U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, left, and Republican challenger Tim Michels debate at Wausau East High School's auditorium Oct. 9. Sunday's debate was in Oshkosh (AP file photo/Wausau Daily Herald, Butch McCartney) By XIAO ZHANG Associated Press Writer OSHKOSH, Wis. - U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold blamed President Bush for failing to extend a program that helps dairy farmers, as he and Republican challenger Tim Michels debated Sunday night. When asked about how he will ensure the extension of the federal program that provides help for farmers during times of low milk prices, he said: "My answer, quite frankly is, get a new president." The Democratic two-term incumbent said even though Bush expressed support for extending the program while campaigning recently in Wausau, he "didn't lift a finger as the Republican House and Republican Senate removed those provisions." Provisions to extend the program, which is to expire in a year, were removed from a House bill Oct. 8 _ the day after Bush's comments in Wausau. Feingold promised to work on extending the program next year to support Wisconsin farmers. Michels said he would support the farmers through opening up the markets. "They are not looking for the government to subsidize their industry or their business," said the millionaire construction company executive. "What they do want to have, they want to have open markets. They want to be able to export their products." Feingold and Michels sparred Sunday night at a local high school auditorium. The fourth of six scheduled debates leading up to the Nov. 2 election was sponsored by the Oshkosh Northwestern and attended by several hundred people. Libertarian Arik Khan of Fond du Lac and independent Eugene Hem of Green Bay are also seeking the seat but have been excluded from all six debates. The debate touched on some issues seldom brought up in previous debates, such as the influx of Hmong refugees to Wisconsin. Michels emphasized his 12 years of military service and his background in small business, calling himself a "proven job creator." He took swipes at Feingold's 22 years of public service _ 12 years in the U.S. Senate and 10 in the state Legislature _ saying all Feingold wants is 28 years as a politician. Feingold said he has the experience of representing Wisconsinites in Washington and can get things done. Michels said he supported privatizing baggage screening at airports as more efficient, but Feingold said based on that logic, the military should be privatized. He contended that business practices driven by the bottom line are not necessarily the best for national security. "(Before Sept. 11) we had privatized screenings at the airports and those 19 Saudi went through with their box-cutters," Feingold said. "They had people there who couldn't speak English handling this." Both said they would provide support for Hmong refugees coming from refugee camps in Thailand to the United States but had different approaches to addressing human rights violations in Laos. The Hmong people from Laos fought with the United States against Communist forces during the Vietnam War. Many have settled in Wisconsin. "If we are the most powerful nation in the world and we do have the ability to right the wrong around the globe, we have to provide leadership," Michels said. Feingold said he has been working with Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., in securing federal aid for the refugees who are moving to Wisconsin. The human rights violations can be addressed through economics and trade measures, he said. "We should not pass most favorable nation status for Laos, just like we shouldn't have done for China, until they clean up their human rights acts," he said. Mike Danbeck, 55, of Oshkosh, asked the candidates if they would support a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget. Michels said he would support such an amendment but allow for flexibility in spending in situations such as the war in Iraq. Feingold said he doesn't support such an amendment and that the Senate has been able to balance the budget in the past under the right leadership. Danbeck said both had valid points. The retired government employee said he wants to see restraint in spending to cut the enormous federal deficit, but he fears a mandate of a balanced budget might shut down all government services. He said he would vote for Feingold on Nov. 2. "I admire his stance," Danbeck said. "He sees the United States the way I do." But military veteran Joel Walker said Feingold had an "extremely poor" record voting for veterans. "Mr. Michels knows what it's like to be a veteran," Walker said. "He knows their needs."