Topeka ? U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, on Tuesday said she wanted an apology from Democratic challenger Tobias Schlingensiepen for a comment he made when referring to the influence of money in Congress.

Schlingensiepen, a minister from Topeka, ignored Jenkins’ comment, which came during a 2nd Congressional District debate that was taped at KTWU and will be broadcast Oct. 17.

As he has at previous campaign appearances, Schlingensiepen decried the influence of money in Congress, saying a congressional representative can sit on a committee in the morning and then take money from the corporate lobbyist with business before that committee in the evening “over cocktails.”

He said that Jenkins has taken campaign contributions from powerful banks, such as Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, and then voted in their interests.

Jenkins alleged Schlingensiepen was saying she shouldn’t be allowed to accept campaign funds from small banks in the district.

She then said that she didn’t drink alcohol and that her parents were once almost killed by a drunk driver. “I expect an apology,” she said.

Later, Schlingensiepen’s campaign spokeswoman Diane Silver said the point of Schlingensiepen’s comment wasn’t about drinking alcohol, it was about taking campaign contributions from powerful special interests and then voting in their interests.

Libertarian Dennis Hawver, an attorney from Ozawkie, got his first chance to appear on stage with Schlingensiepen and Jenkins.

Hawver said to balance the budget he would cut defense spending by as much as 50 percent and “stop these stupid wars.”

The general election is Nov. 6 with early voting starting Oct. 17.