Attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) said the current economic crisis is a perfect example of why Washington needs new leadership.

Neuhardt is running against state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Hobson (R-Springfield) in Ohio's 7th Congressional District.

Neuhardt was speaking in response to the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Hobson had voted in favor of the legislation.

"This economic crisis is a perfect example of why Washington needs new leadership," Neuhardt said. "We must take immediate action to solve this problem. We cannot leave our families on Main Street to foot the bill for the greed of Wall Street. Republicans and Democrats need to work together and solve this national crisis. The economic stability of our nation depends on immediately putting partisan politics aside and focusing on help for working Americans and reform for Wall Street."

Neuhardt said that a future version of the bill should include the following provisions:

• Protect taxpayers from carrying the weight of this multi-billion dollar burden
• Enact strong oversight and accountability of Wall Street
• Keep families in their homes
• Eliminate golden parachutes for Wall Street executives who helped create this disaster