Senate hopefuls stake out positions at UMass
1
2
3
4
AMHERST - Candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy discussed their positions on health care and the war in Afghanistan, among other topics, Sunday night at the University of Massachusetts.
Candidates in attendance at the League of Women Voters and WFCR/NPR radio sponsored event were three Democrats, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, Alan Khazei, City Year co-founder, and Stephen Pagliuca, Boston Celtics co-owner, and Republicans state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Needham, and Jack E. Robinson, a lawyer.
Attorney General Martha Coakley did not attend the debate, citing a schedule conflict.
During the two-hour debate, hosted by Bob Paquette of Morning Edition on WFCR, candidates pitched their proposals on immediate issues to an audience of about 250 people.
Below is a summary of what the candidates said on the topics of the economy, the environment, the war in Afghanistan and health care reform.
The primary elections for the Senate seat is Dec. 8. The general election will be held Jan. 19.
Pagliuca came out in favor of strong regulations for the financial services industry meted out by the federal government as opposed to state-by-state regulations, a situation he said would encourage service providers to hop to the state with the weakest rules.
Brown proposed reduced taxes for families and corporations to dig the U.S. out of the recession. Brown said if people have more money they will invest it into the economy, thus spurring growth. He also criticized the $787 billion federal stimulus package for its rate of job creation.
Robinson called for Congress to create a strong auditing authority for the Federal Reserve.
Capuano said the recession will not be ended by private investment, for the simple reason that few people or companies have the resources to do this. He said the government needs to invest more in job creation. The federal stimulus package, Capuano said, didn't provide enough money to create jobs.
If elected, Khazei said, he would seek to impose a tax credit for employers that would allow them to write off 10-15 percent of expenditures related to new employees for the first two years they are hired. He also said he would support a tax credit for small businesses and continue the suspension of fees to the Small Business Administration.
Capuano said he believes the federal government should be a leading player in re-creating an economy rooted in "green" fuels and technology. He said the federal government should invest more in associated research. Capuano also said he supports the Cape Wind project, which would put an offshore wind farm in the area.
Khazei said he would sign the Copenhagen Treaty, a proposed international resolution to reduce pollution, today if he could. He blamed lobbyists and corporate campaign donations for stymieing the nation's progress toward reduced carbon emissions and green fuels. Khazei said he would be in favor of creating a grant-giving institution, like the National Institutes of Health, for green technologies. He would also seek to end government subsidies for oil and coal producers.
Pagliuca said a technology fund and energy bank should be established to help small businesses go green. He added that he would support the Copenhagen Treaty and use America's economic power to encourage other countries to adopt eco-friendly policies.
Brown spoke in favor of a variety of energy options that include solar, limited drilling, wind and nuclear power. Brown said the Copenhagen Treaty is a good idea if other countries go along with it. He said America is doing the "yeoman's work" when it comes to environmental conservation. Brown is not in favor of the Cape Wind program, describing the location as inappropriate. He was also critical of the cap-and-trade program, which limits corporate pollution while providing businesses with the ability to go beyond the cap if they can offset the damage.
Robinson said he supports the federal goal of 20 percent reduced carbon emissions by 2020, but not the cap-and-trade plan politicians are eyeing. Robinson said to reach the emissions goal he would create an investment requirement scenario, in which for every ton of carbon emitted a company would have to invest a commensurate sum in green technology. Also, he supports the Cape Wind program.
Afghanistan/ foreign affairs
Robinson said America needs to define its mission in Afghanistan. Whether it is to defeat al-Qaida, overthrow the Taliban or support the current regime, the mission has to be clear, Robinson said. He added that America needs to do more to support Pakistan, a nation that is fighting Afghani Taliban forces expelled earlier by Americans. He is also in favor of a strong Israel as a deterrent to Iran's nuclear ambitions against the Jewish state. Robinson said America cannot count on other countries, such as Russia and China, to apply sanctions that would stem Iran.
Capuano said he would vote against sending additional troops to Afghanistan and would support a troop withdrawal. Capuano said America's mission in Afghanistan has been completed, because al-Qaida is no longer operating there. Capuano also called for more support for the Pakistani government as it fights the Taliban. America has to follow and defeat al-Qaida around the world, Capuano said, otherwise the terrorist organization will regroup and seek to attack America again.
Khazei said he does not support sending more troops to Afghanistan. He said America has to get back to fighting al-Qaida wherever the group may go. Khazei said Afghanistan needs roads, hospitals and schools from America to keep al-Qaida from regaining power. He was critical of Hamid Karzai's regime in Afghanistan and advocated for more support of Pakistan's military and community infrastructure.
Pagliuca said he favors exiting Afghanistan and creating an overall counter-terrorism force to find and stop terrorists across the globe. He also voiced support for women's and children's rights across the world and using micro-financing to help less fortunate countries increase job opportunities.
Brown said America needs to finish what it started in Afghanistan and ensure that the troops fighting overseas have adequate funding to reach this goal. If America leaves Afghanistan now, the nation's troops will have to go back in 10 or 15 years to fight "the same battle," Brown said. He also added that the key to dealing with Iran and North Korea is encouraging "draconian" sanctions by Russia and China.
Health care
Pagliuca spoke in favor of the "right" public option for the nation's health care system. Pagliuca said he is alarmed at how little defined the public option is at this point. He called for a less expensive system that draws savings from cutting back on administrative waste. He also advocated for a more transparent form of information sharing across medical departments.
Brown said he believes a public health care option would force taxes up in Massachusetts, and cause businesses to suffer job losses. He said people on Medicare should be "scared" if a public option were created.
Robinson does not support a public option because, he said, it would cost too much and put too much power in the hands of "bureaucrats." It would take power away from doctors and patients. He said the Massachusetts universal health care system failed the state by forcing residents to buy insurance, but not providing an avenue for affordable health care. Robinson said he has prepared a health care proposal in which people would be allowed to purchase health insurance across state lines, thus increasing competition and driving down prices; provide a prescription purchasing option; cover a primary care physician; and provide access to emergency room care.
Khazei said he favors a public option, adding that health care needs to be a right not a privilege. He said he would tax "cadillac" plans. Khazei said he is also in favor of comprehensive medical malpractice reform to help bring down the cost of insurance.
Capuano had left the debate prior to this topic.
