Both candidates in the 20th Congressional District attempted to align their opponent with destructive Washington politics in a debate last night.
Democrat incumbent Paul Tonko and Republican newcomer Bob Dieterich presented contrasting visions for the district and country at the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County’s candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Clifton Park Hilton Garden Inn. Many arguments mirrored the national debate occurring between Democrats and Republicans in this presidential election year. Members of the audience provided questions for the candidates.
Economy top topic
Each started the debate by framing the election as a fight for the middle class — and how their opponent would fail that group. Tonko stressed the economy must be improved from the “middle out” and not from the “top down.” He argued Dieterich was aligned with economic policies that led to the recession.
“The middle class has taken it on the chin and there have been unfair policies,” Tonko said. “We have learned painfully, two times over, that trickle down economics simply does not work.”
To rebuild the economy, Tonko said investments should be made in research, empowering small businesses and strengthening the middle class.
Dieterich agreed the election is a fight for the middle class, but argued the country is moving towards a “financial crisis” from government overspending.
“As our debt grows our currency weakens,” Dieterich said, “which makes the prices of commodities increase like food for our families and fuel to get to work, which actually hits the middle class more harder than anyone.”
Dieterich said simply charging the “rich people” more isn’t going to solve the nation’s debt problem. Before reforming the tax code, he said spending must be tackled.
“If you double the taxes on everyone that pays taxes, you still couldn’t afford the government that we have,” he said.
Divided on health care
The first question from the audience was on the Affordable Healthcare Act, which Tonko said is a victory along with Medicare reform, which has helped close the doughnut hole for prescription drug costs.
“The guidelines here, that speak from cradle to the most senior among our population, to be well served by access and affordable care are important,” Tonko said. “If we’re concerned about that most senior population, then we should be concerned about a (Vice Presidential candidate Paul) Ryan plan … that ends Medicare as we know it.”
Dieterich said Medicare is not viable in the long term and efforts must be made to reform the program before it goes bankrupt in about a decade.
“If we don’t do anything … we will lose Medicare as we know it,” Dieterich said. “I’ve seen the Ryan plan and you can shoot holes in it, but you’ve got to address it.”
Candidates find little common ground
Dieterich moved on to attack Tonko’s energy policy. He said subsidies can “skew” markets and lead to “distortions” in the marketplace. Once the subsidies are gone, he said it could lead to more harm than help.
Tonko said he did introduce a comprehensive energy plan during his first term. The House of Representatives passed the bill, but he said it was defeated by the “deep pockets” of special interests in the Senate.
He said subsidies to oil companies should be eliminated to help spur “homegrown” renewable energy solutions and industry.
“The subsidy that has been mindless and a century old has been the subsidies to the oil industry, the most profit-rich industry in the history of capitalism,” Tonko said.
One issue the two candidates agreed on was the need for campaign finance reform, but it lead to sparring back and forth over claims of special interests donations and influence.
Later, the candidates were refocused and asked what specific measures they would take to stimulate economic development and grow the economy.
Tonko agreed with the notion the government doesn’t create jobs, but said it can create an environment to spur job creation. The district, Tonko said, is a combination of traditional manufacturing, a high-tech economy and public sector jobs. He said research funding should be provided for clean energy and high-tech initiatives. Also, manufacturing should be modernized and workers trained to run the advanced machinery. Focusing on education is needed for these new careers, he said.
Dieterich said there are too many regulations holding businesses back from growth, along with a heavy tax burden.
“They are afraid to make a move, with all these regulations coming down at once they are afraid to do anything,” he said.
Dieterich said the government shouldn’t be creating jobs directly because the jobs disappear after the funding ends. If the jobs are meant to improve infrastructure, then he supported government efforts, however.
Tonko used his red card, which gives a candidate one chance to double their talking time, to explain the government’s role in stimulating economic development.
He said there are some jobs the private sector won’t tackle and also situations where government needs to “prime the pump” for development.
“If we continue to invest in research and product design and product discovery, we then have our best moments lying ahead,” Tonko said.
Dieterich used his extra time to respond and said the government “can’t do everything,” but it can do a lot. He said if the current path is continued then investments won’t be able to continue.
The redrawn 20th Congressional District covers most of the Greater Capital District, excluding northwestern parts of Saratoga County. The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 6.