In last night?s First Congressional District debate, the candidates discussed everything from the widening I- 93 to the feasibility of missile defense systems. But as NHPR?s Dan Gorenstein reports, taxes and social security dominated the race?s final televised debate.
Democratic candidate Martha Fuller Clark came to the debate with an agenda. She wanted to know just exactly where Republican Jeb Bradley stood on privatizing social security. The seacoast Democrat, who says she has always opposed privatizing the fund, got her chance early in the evening.
Track 1
9:21 last week you never answered that question as to why you filled out a questionnaire on privatizing social security as undecided. So, I thought I would give you another chance.
Bradley says he doesn?t favor privatization, raising the retirement age, or reducing benefits. Last night, he talked of the need to modify social security to make it more sustainable over the long term.
That answer didn?t satisfy Fuller Clark. Nor did subsequent answers on the same topic. Toward the end of the debate, after Fuller Clark suggested Bradley?s position was compromised because of campaign contributions from Wall Street, Bradley?s patience was visibly thin.
Track 5
00:00 Representative Clark, once again, and I apologize if I sound like a broken record, I oppose privatization of social security. I propose we get beyond that, and talk about other issues. How we get our economy back on track and how we strengthen our military.
Indeed, Bradley said strengthening the military and bolstering the economy are his top priorities. His plan for a brighter economic future hinges on tax cuts.
Track 4
2:24 what we need ot do is make sure we have a lid on spending. I would look to cut agricultural subsudies? Beyond that, we need to get more money in the economy. To stimulate the economy, President Bush?s tax cuts are doing that job, I believe. What it will mean for a NH family is 1200 dollars in additional monies they don?t have to pay the IRS this year?and it will mean 800 thousand jobs across the country.
For her part, Clark says corporate scandals have hurt the nation?s economy. She also stressed the need for increasing middle-income exemtions.
3:32 the best thing we can do is strengthen corporate accountability, provide pension protection, so corporations are not able to borrow against those retirement funds, and to provide tax relief for middle class families and businesses, for education, health care.
Tax differences aside, Bradley and Fuller Clark did agree affordable housing is crucial to improving the New Hampshire economy. Fuller Clark says this issue has long been a priority.
25:10 ? I am proud of my record in Concord. I supported investment in NH housing, for workforce housing, I supported a study to look at the local barriers, and I supported the minimum wage. In Washington, I will look at ways to make Fannie Mae mortages more available. And I will look for ways of tax incentives for housing?
But according to Bradley President Bush?s tax cuts have already laid a foundation for improving the nation?s housing stock.
24:12 The president has also articulated a need for more dollars to go into down payment for people who want to own their first home. We should accelerate the depreciateion allowance for this type of housing so we create more incentives for people to build it. Beyond that, greater block grants. We need to build more affordable housing, and using those tax incentives, rental assistance, and housing assistance will help that problem.
Bradley also pledged his support for the president?s position on Iraq. So did Fuller Clark. The candidates also agree on a range of issues. Both describe themselves as pro-choice. Both are concerned about wetland mitigation as I-93 expands. And both are on record saying they wouldn?t run negative campaigns. But one anti-Fuller Clark ad was called into question last night.
6:53 Well, here comes Martha. That?s the ad we?ve heard on the airwaves from R. colleagues, it says bringing an income tax to every town. We hear circus music playing, images of a parade. You promised you?d stay positive in this campaign, yet when Clark asks you step in and pull that ad, you said no. isn?t that breaking your promise? Well, the only thing a campaign has control over is their own advertising. ? What I don?t have control over is that type of ad run by the GOP, Clark does not have the same control over similar advertising, targeting me run by Dems.
8:23 what Jeb has said is simply not true. I have asked D to take down the ads he objected to. They agreed to do that. J. broke his election night promise to run clean campaign b/c he said he had no influence over his own party. If he has no influence over his own party here in NH, how can we expect him to standup to party interests in Washington.
At this point no other debates are scheduled between the two candidates. For NHPR News, I?m DG.
