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GOP Candidates for 5th District Nomination Face Off WEB FIRST
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Each of the three Republican candidates seeking the GOP’s nod to challenge two-term Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy for the 5th Congressional District seat stressed in a debate Monday night in Brookfield, sponsored by The Housatonic Times and The Litchfield County Times, that he has what it takes to help effect change at the federal level for the country to regain economic stability, the central concern of this year’s campaign.
State Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), the GOP convention-endorsed candidate, pointed out at the debate, held at the high school and moderated by staff reporter Scott Benjamin, that, arguments made that evening notwithstanding, “we usually agree more” and that on the “substantive issues” we are “all in fundamental agreement.” He said he has the clout of political experience, adding that no matter who wins the Aug. 10 primary, they must unite in the fight to take back the seat previously held by long-term Republican congresswoman Nancy Johnson until 2006, when Mr. Murphy wrested it from her in a stunning upset. “Chris Murphy is vulnerable” now, he said, adding that the party has this year to do it “if we do it the right way,” which he said would be by “picking our strongest candidate on the issues and politically.”
Justin Bernier of Plainville, who had the support of about a third of the delegates at the GOP convention in Hartford in the spring, said he is the only candidate with military as well as economic experience, which would give him a significant advantage in Washington. Mr. Bernier served in Afghanistan as a reservist and held a cabinet position in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, as director of the office of military affairs, and pointed out that he had job experience ranging from working in construction to being employed later for a Fortune 500 company. The “greatest threat today,” he said, “is economic survivability. We need policies that are pro-growth … . We need to grow the economy at 6 percent, not 2 percent, not 1 percent.” He stressed that it “would take a positive message to beat Chris Murphy” and said that “if we don’t have a positive agenda,” the party would not be able to attract the support of independents and conservative Democrats.
Political newcomer Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield real estate developer, said the district does not need “career politicians or wanna-be career politicians” to be a strong voice in Congress. He said he would bring the perspective of 35 years in business—“35 years creating jobs”—to bear as well as be “your citizen’s voice … an independent voice in Washington with a conservative aspect” to “bring back freedom and liberty.” Pointing out the children in his family as an example, he stressed the need to effect change—“to stop this runaway train”—for the sake of their generation, which is “defenseless,” unable to “talk” or “respond” to the “entitlements” placed upon citizenry daily.
On the question of how to reduce unemployment, Mr. Bernier said his three-part plan would be to “get down spending [and taxes,” particularly regarding investments and savings; to “get the cost of health care down,” noting that there is “not one page of tort reform in place,” referring to medical malpractice litigation; and “bring energy costs down,” which he said were the “second highest in the state.”
He added, “I don’t think America is over the hill.” He said there is “no wage problem” but “a politician problem”—that the business environment is poor “because of career politicians.”
Mr. Caligiuri said the federal government should “get out of the way and stop passing policies that are antithetical to job growth.” He stressed the need to “get spending under control," reduce the deficit, “extend the Bush tax cuts,” referring to former President George W. Bush’s 2001 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cuts; and “engage in broad-based tax cuts.” He noted that “when the Republicans were in the majority” in Congress, they put “a tough enforceable spending cap in place.”
Mr. Greenberg drew applause with his comment to give “pink slips to the guys in Washington” who created the current situation and, on a more serious note, said that the way to create a stable environment would be for there to be a “government of less policies, less regulations, less taxes … . Get government off our backs.”
Saying that those who make investments should be rewarded, he said that “the American system will take care of itself."
On the question of how they would better regulate the financial services industry, Mr. Caligiuri said he “opposed the [recently passed] reform bill” as it “did absolutely nothing to reform Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac],” referring to the two government-sponsored lending programs that were taken into federal control in 2008 at the time of the subprime mortgage crisis. “They’re the reason the housing market imploded,” he said. Mr. Caligiuri called for reforming Fannie and Freddie and making “structural changes.” Continued...
State Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), the GOP convention-endorsed candidate, pointed out at the debate, held at the high school and moderated by staff reporter Scott Benjamin, that, arguments made that evening notwithstanding, “we usually agree more” and that on the “substantive issues” we are “all in fundamental agreement.” He said he has the clout of political experience, adding that no matter who wins the Aug. 10 primary, they must unite in the fight to take back the seat previously held by long-term Republican congresswoman Nancy Johnson until 2006, when Mr. Murphy wrested it from her in a stunning upset. “Chris Murphy is vulnerable” now, he said, adding that the party has this year to do it “if we do it the right way,” which he said would be by “picking our strongest candidate on the issues and politically.”
Justin Bernier of Plainville, who had the support of about a third of the delegates at the GOP convention in Hartford in the spring, said he is the only candidate with military as well as economic experience, which would give him a significant advantage in Washington. Mr. Bernier served in Afghanistan as a reservist and held a cabinet position in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, as director of the office of military affairs, and pointed out that he had job experience ranging from working in construction to being employed later for a Fortune 500 company. The “greatest threat today,” he said, “is economic survivability. We need policies that are pro-growth … . We need to grow the economy at 6 percent, not 2 percent, not 1 percent.” He stressed that it “would take a positive message to beat Chris Murphy” and said that “if we don’t have a positive agenda,” the party would not be able to attract the support of independents and conservative Democrats.
Political newcomer Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield real estate developer, said the district does not need “career politicians or wanna-be career politicians” to be a strong voice in Congress. He said he would bring the perspective of 35 years in business—“35 years creating jobs”—to bear as well as be “your citizen’s voice … an independent voice in Washington with a conservative aspect” to “bring back freedom and liberty.” Pointing out the children in his family as an example, he stressed the need to effect change—“to stop this runaway train”—for the sake of their generation, which is “defenseless,” unable to “talk” or “respond” to the “entitlements” placed upon citizenry daily.
On the question of how to reduce unemployment, Mr. Bernier said his three-part plan would be to “get down spending [and taxes,” particularly regarding investments and savings; to “get the cost of health care down,” noting that there is “not one page of tort reform in place,” referring to medical malpractice litigation; and “bring energy costs down,” which he said were the “second highest in the state.”
He added, “I don’t think America is over the hill.” He said there is “no wage problem” but “a politician problem”—that the business environment is poor “because of career politicians.”
Mr. Caligiuri said the federal government should “get out of the way and stop passing policies that are antithetical to job growth.” He stressed the need to “get spending under control," reduce the deficit, “extend the Bush tax cuts,” referring to former President George W. Bush’s 2001 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cuts; and “engage in broad-based tax cuts.” He noted that “when the Republicans were in the majority” in Congress, they put “a tough enforceable spending cap in place.”
Mr. Greenberg drew applause with his comment to give “pink slips to the guys in Washington” who created the current situation and, on a more serious note, said that the way to create a stable environment would be for there to be a “government of less policies, less regulations, less taxes … . Get government off our backs.”
Saying that those who make investments should be rewarded, he said that “the American system will take care of itself."
On the question of how they would better regulate the financial services industry, Mr. Caligiuri said he “opposed the [recently passed] reform bill” as it “did absolutely nothing to reform Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac],” referring to the two government-sponsored lending programs that were taken into federal control in 2008 at the time of the subprime mortgage crisis. “They’re the reason the housing market imploded,” he said. Mr. Caligiuri called for reforming Fannie and Freddie and making “structural changes.” Continued...
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Mr. Greenberg, calling himself “the repeal and shred candidate,” said a bill that is “over 800 pages” is too big, too “complex,” to be useful.
Mr. Bernier, who interjected several notes of levity during the debate, said who would have figured that the financial regulations bill would be written by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank,” two legislators “who caused the problem.”
Mr. Bernier said the problem was “accountability”—there’s “none in Washington, none in New York” or financial centers. We wants to “hold large banks accountable” and “audit the Federal Reserve.”
On the question of what they would do to make America more energy independent, Mr. Greenberg said this country’s resources should be tapped, from “drilling on the East Coast and Alaska” to “nuclear power plants again.”
Mr. Bernier, noting that “energy policy is part of his platform,” said that “this country was built on cheap energy” and that a broad range of alternatives should be explored, from nuclear to wind and solar sources.
Mr. Caligiuri stressed the need to “explore all existing resources, invest in transmission infrastructure and use tax policies to create economic incentives.”
“We need to do a combination of things,” he said, including “looking for alternative resources” and encouraging “research and development.”
On the question of what they would do to make health care more affordable, all three candidates said they would seek to repeal “Obama Care,” the health-care legislation proposed by the Barack Obama administration.
Mr. Bernier, who said he believes that “we can reduce health-care costs by 20 to 30 percent,” said the “bill doesn’t make it affordable” and that it would increase the national debt. He stressed the need for “tort reform.” He said that small businesses should be allowed to pool together to get better health-care plans, suggested establishing of health savings accounts, and recommended “finding ways to reduce costs in no-cost or low-cost ways” for businesses.
He said the bill could be prevented from moving forward, in fact, by taking back control of the House of Representatives so that “We can strangle the funding.” Continued...
Mr. Bernier, who interjected several notes of levity during the debate, said who would have figured that the financial regulations bill would be written by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank,” two legislators “who caused the problem.”
Mr. Bernier said the problem was “accountability”—there’s “none in Washington, none in New York” or financial centers. We wants to “hold large banks accountable” and “audit the Federal Reserve.”
On the question of what they would do to make America more energy independent, Mr. Greenberg said this country’s resources should be tapped, from “drilling on the East Coast and Alaska” to “nuclear power plants again.”
Mr. Bernier, noting that “energy policy is part of his platform,” said that “this country was built on cheap energy” and that a broad range of alternatives should be explored, from nuclear to wind and solar sources.
Mr. Caligiuri stressed the need to “explore all existing resources, invest in transmission infrastructure and use tax policies to create economic incentives.”
“We need to do a combination of things,” he said, including “looking for alternative resources” and encouraging “research and development.”
On the question of what they would do to make health care more affordable, all three candidates said they would seek to repeal “Obama Care,” the health-care legislation proposed by the Barack Obama administration.
Mr. Bernier, who said he believes that “we can reduce health-care costs by 20 to 30 percent,” said the “bill doesn’t make it affordable” and that it would increase the national debt. He stressed the need for “tort reform.” He said that small businesses should be allowed to pool together to get better health-care plans, suggested establishing of health savings accounts, and recommended “finding ways to reduce costs in no-cost or low-cost ways” for businesses.
He said the bill could be prevented from moving forward, in fact, by taking back control of the House of Representatives so that “We can strangle the funding.” Continued...
Mr. Bernier added, however, that “We need to make Medicare work for future generations.”
Mr. Caligiuri said that, if elected to Congress, he would “vote to repeal it” or, if that fails, to withhold funding.
He suggested a “50 percent refundable tax credit for small businesses” to make it cheaper for them to offer health care to their employees. He would also want to “levelize the tax treatment market,” pointing out that those who buy into group health-care plans pay with pre-tax dollars and individuals who now pay for their health-care plans with “post-tax dollars” would be obtaining their coverage operating from the same basis.
Mr. Greenberg stressed, too, the need to repeal the legislation he labeled an “Obamanation.”
“The health-care bill,” he said, “is way too large,” which he quipped was like “destroying the Taj Mahal to fix the kitchen floor.”
He said, “Bring about tort reform, portability of policies, selling products across state lines,” and he pointed to a need for catastrophic insurance, which he said was available in Connecticut although not in such states as New York.
The debate was streamed live on The Housatonic Times’ Web site, www.housatonictimes.com.
It was also filmed by Charter CommunityVision 21 and will air Sunday, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15 at noon and 7 p.m.
The GOP primary will be held next Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the usual polling places, but the debate will be aired after as well as before that so voters will have an opportunity to revisit the winning candidate’s comments as he goes forward in challenging Mr. Murphy for the 5th District seat.
Mr. Caligiuri said that, if elected to Congress, he would “vote to repeal it” or, if that fails, to withhold funding.
He suggested a “50 percent refundable tax credit for small businesses” to make it cheaper for them to offer health care to their employees. He would also want to “levelize the tax treatment market,” pointing out that those who buy into group health-care plans pay with pre-tax dollars and individuals who now pay for their health-care plans with “post-tax dollars” would be obtaining their coverage operating from the same basis.
Mr. Greenberg stressed, too, the need to repeal the legislation he labeled an “Obamanation.”
“The health-care bill,” he said, “is way too large,” which he quipped was like “destroying the Taj Mahal to fix the kitchen floor.”
He said, “Bring about tort reform, portability of policies, selling products across state lines,” and he pointed to a need for catastrophic insurance, which he said was available in Connecticut although not in such states as New York.
The debate was streamed live on The Housatonic Times’ Web site, www.housatonictimes.com.
It was also filmed by Charter CommunityVision 21 and will air Sunday, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15 at noon and 7 p.m.
The GOP primary will be held next Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the usual polling places, but the debate will be aired after as well as before that so voters will have an opportunity to revisit the winning candidate’s comments as he goes forward in challenging Mr. Murphy for the 5th District seat.
Each of the three Republican candidates seeking the GOP’s nod to challenge two-term Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy for the 5th Congressional District seat stressed in a debate Monday night in Brookfield, sponsored by The Housatonic Times and The Litchfield County Times, that he has what it takes to help effect change at the federal level for the country to regain economic stability, the central concern of this year’s campaign.
State Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), the GOP convention-endorsed candidate, pointed out at the debate, held at the high school and moderated by staff reporter Scott Benjamin, that, arguments made that evening notwithstanding, “we usually agree more” and that on the “substantive issues” we are “all in fundamental agreement.” He said he has the clout of political experience, adding that no matter who wins the Aug. 10 primary, they must unite in the fight to take back the seat previously held by long-term Republican congresswoman Nancy Johnson until 2006, when Mr. Murphy wrested it from her in a stunning upset. “Chris Murphy is vulnerable” now, he said, adding that the party has this year to do it “if we do it the right way,” which he said would be by “picking our strongest candidate on the issues and politically.”
Justin Bernier of Plainville, who had the support of about a third of the delegates at the GOP convention in Hartford in the spring, said he is the only candidate with military as well as economic experience, which would give him a significant advantage in Washington. Mr. Bernier served in Afghanistan as a reservist and held a cabinet position in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, as director of the office of military affairs, and pointed out that he had job experience ranging from working in construction to being employed later for a Fortune 500 company. The “greatest threat today,” he said, “is economic survivability. We need policies that are pro-growth … . We need to grow the economy at 6 percent, not 2 percent, not 1 percent.” He stressed that it “would take a positive message to beat Chris Murphy” and said that “if we don’t have a positive agenda,” the party would not be able to attract the support of independents and conservative Democrats.
Political newcomer Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield real estate developer, said the district does not need “career politicians or wanna-be career politicians” to be a strong voice in Congress. He said he would bring the perspective of 35 years in business—“35 years creating jobs”—to bear as well as be “your citizen’s voice … an independent voice in Washington with a conservative aspect” to “bring back freedom and liberty.” Pointing out the children in his family as an example, he stressed the need to effect change—“to stop this runaway train”—for the sake of their generation, which is “defenseless,” unable to “talk” or “respond” to the “entitlements” placed upon citizenry daily.
On the question of how to reduce unemployment, Mr. Bernier said his three-part plan would be to “get down spending [and taxes,” particularly regarding investments and savings; to “get the cost of health care down,” noting that there is “not one page of tort reform in place,” referring to medical malpractice litigation; and “bring energy costs down,” which he said were the “second highest in the state.”
He added, “I don’t think America is over the hill.” He said there is “no wage problem” but “a politician problem”—that the business environment is poor “because of career politicians.”
Mr. Caligiuri said the federal government should “get out of the way and stop passing policies that are antithetical to job growth.” He stressed the need to “get spending under control," reduce the deficit, “extend the Bush tax cuts,” referring to former President George W. Bush’s 2001 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cuts; and “engage in broad-based tax cuts.” He noted that “when the Republicans were in the majority” in Congress, they put “a tough enforceable spending cap in place.”
Mr. Greenberg drew applause with his comment to give “pink slips to the guys in Washington” who created the current situation and, on a more serious note, said that the way to create a stable environment would be for there to be a “government of less policies, less regulations, less taxes … . Get government off our backs.”
Saying that those who make investments should be rewarded, he said that “the American system will take care of itself."
On the question of how they would better regulate the financial services industry, Mr. Caligiuri said he “opposed the [recently passed] reform bill” as it “did absolutely nothing to reform Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac],” referring to the two government-sponsored lending programs that were taken into federal control in 2008 at the time of the subprime mortgage crisis. “They’re the reason the housing market imploded,” he said. Mr. Caligiuri called for reforming Fannie and Freddie and making “structural changes.”
Mr. Greenberg, calling himself “the repeal and shred candidate,” said a bill that is “over 800 pages” is too big, too “complex,” to be useful.
Mr. Bernier, who interjected several notes of levity during the debate, said who would have figured that the financial regulations bill would be written by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank,” two legislators “who caused the problem.”
Mr. Bernier said the problem was “accountability”—there’s “none in Washington, none in New York” or financial centers. We wants to “hold large banks accountable” and “audit the Federal Reserve.”
On the question of what they would do to make America more energy independent, Mr. Greenberg said this country’s resources should be tapped, from “drilling on the East Coast and Alaska” to “nuclear power plants again.”
Mr. Bernier, noting that “energy policy is part of his platform,” said that “this country was built on cheap energy” and that a broad range of alternatives should be explored, from nuclear to wind and solar sources.
Mr. Caligiuri stressed the need to “explore all existing resources, invest in transmission infrastructure and use tax policies to create economic incentives.”
“We need to do a combination of things,” he said, including “looking for alternative resources” and encouraging “research and development.”
On the question of what they would do to make health care more affordable, all three candidates said they would seek to repeal “Obama Care,” the health-care legislation proposed by the Barack Obama administration.
Mr. Bernier, who said he believes that “we can reduce health-care costs by 20 to 30 percent,” said the “bill doesn’t make it affordable” and that it would increase the national debt. He stressed the need for “tort reform.” He said that small businesses should be allowed to pool together to get better health-care plans, suggested establishing of health savings accounts, and recommended “finding ways to reduce costs in no-cost or low-cost ways” for businesses.
He said the bill could be prevented from moving forward, in fact, by taking back control of the House of Representatives so that “We can strangle the funding.”
Mr. Bernier added, however, that “We need to make Medicare work for future generations.”
Mr. Caligiuri said that, if elected to Congress, he would “vote to repeal it” or, if that fails, to withhold funding.
He suggested a “50 percent refundable tax credit for small businesses” to make it cheaper for them to offer health care to their employees. He would also want to “levelize the tax treatment market,” pointing out that those who buy into group health-care plans pay with pre-tax dollars and individuals who now pay for their health-care plans with “post-tax dollars” would be obtaining their coverage operating from the same basis.
Mr. Greenberg stressed, too, the need to repeal the legislation he labeled an “Obamanation.”
“The health-care bill,” he said, “is way too large,” which he quipped was like “destroying the Taj Mahal to fix the kitchen floor.”
He said, “Bring about tort reform, portability of policies, selling products across state lines,” and he pointed to a need for catastrophic insurance, which he said was available in Connecticut although not in such states as New York.
The debate was streamed live on The Housatonic Times’ Web site, www.housatonictimes.com.
It was also filmed by Charter CommunityVision 21 and will air Sunday, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15 at noon and 7 p.m.
The GOP primary will be held next Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the usual polling places, but the debate will be aired after as well as before that so voters will have an opportunity to revisit the winning candidate’s comments as he goes forward in challenging Mr. Murphy for the 5th District seat.
State Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), the GOP convention-endorsed candidate, pointed out at the debate, held at the high school and moderated by staff reporter Scott Benjamin, that, arguments made that evening notwithstanding, “we usually agree more” and that on the “substantive issues” we are “all in fundamental agreement.” He said he has the clout of political experience, adding that no matter who wins the Aug. 10 primary, they must unite in the fight to take back the seat previously held by long-term Republican congresswoman Nancy Johnson until 2006, when Mr. Murphy wrested it from her in a stunning upset. “Chris Murphy is vulnerable” now, he said, adding that the party has this year to do it “if we do it the right way,” which he said would be by “picking our strongest candidate on the issues and politically.”
Justin Bernier of Plainville, who had the support of about a third of the delegates at the GOP convention in Hartford in the spring, said he is the only candidate with military as well as economic experience, which would give him a significant advantage in Washington. Mr. Bernier served in Afghanistan as a reservist and held a cabinet position in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, as director of the office of military affairs, and pointed out that he had job experience ranging from working in construction to being employed later for a Fortune 500 company. The “greatest threat today,” he said, “is economic survivability. We need policies that are pro-growth … . We need to grow the economy at 6 percent, not 2 percent, not 1 percent.” He stressed that it “would take a positive message to beat Chris Murphy” and said that “if we don’t have a positive agenda,” the party would not be able to attract the support of independents and conservative Democrats.
Political newcomer Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield real estate developer, said the district does not need “career politicians or wanna-be career politicians” to be a strong voice in Congress. He said he would bring the perspective of 35 years in business—“35 years creating jobs”—to bear as well as be “your citizen’s voice … an independent voice in Washington with a conservative aspect” to “bring back freedom and liberty.” Pointing out the children in his family as an example, he stressed the need to effect change—“to stop this runaway train”—for the sake of their generation, which is “defenseless,” unable to “talk” or “respond” to the “entitlements” placed upon citizenry daily.
On the question of how to reduce unemployment, Mr. Bernier said his three-part plan would be to “get down spending [and taxes,” particularly regarding investments and savings; to “get the cost of health care down,” noting that there is “not one page of tort reform in place,” referring to medical malpractice litigation; and “bring energy costs down,” which he said were the “second highest in the state.”
He added, “I don’t think America is over the hill.” He said there is “no wage problem” but “a politician problem”—that the business environment is poor “because of career politicians.”
Mr. Caligiuri said the federal government should “get out of the way and stop passing policies that are antithetical to job growth.” He stressed the need to “get spending under control," reduce the deficit, “extend the Bush tax cuts,” referring to former President George W. Bush’s 2001 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cuts; and “engage in broad-based tax cuts.” He noted that “when the Republicans were in the majority” in Congress, they put “a tough enforceable spending cap in place.”
Mr. Greenberg drew applause with his comment to give “pink slips to the guys in Washington” who created the current situation and, on a more serious note, said that the way to create a stable environment would be for there to be a “government of less policies, less regulations, less taxes … . Get government off our backs.”
Saying that those who make investments should be rewarded, he said that “the American system will take care of itself."
On the question of how they would better regulate the financial services industry, Mr. Caligiuri said he “opposed the [recently passed] reform bill” as it “did absolutely nothing to reform Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac],” referring to the two government-sponsored lending programs that were taken into federal control in 2008 at the time of the subprime mortgage crisis. “They’re the reason the housing market imploded,” he said. Mr. Caligiuri called for reforming Fannie and Freddie and making “structural changes.”
Mr. Greenberg, calling himself “the repeal and shred candidate,” said a bill that is “over 800 pages” is too big, too “complex,” to be useful.
Mr. Bernier, who interjected several notes of levity during the debate, said who would have figured that the financial regulations bill would be written by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank,” two legislators “who caused the problem.”
Mr. Bernier said the problem was “accountability”—there’s “none in Washington, none in New York” or financial centers. We wants to “hold large banks accountable” and “audit the Federal Reserve.”
On the question of what they would do to make America more energy independent, Mr. Greenberg said this country’s resources should be tapped, from “drilling on the East Coast and Alaska” to “nuclear power plants again.”
Mr. Bernier, noting that “energy policy is part of his platform,” said that “this country was built on cheap energy” and that a broad range of alternatives should be explored, from nuclear to wind and solar sources.
Mr. Caligiuri stressed the need to “explore all existing resources, invest in transmission infrastructure and use tax policies to create economic incentives.”
“We need to do a combination of things,” he said, including “looking for alternative resources” and encouraging “research and development.”
On the question of what they would do to make health care more affordable, all three candidates said they would seek to repeal “Obama Care,” the health-care legislation proposed by the Barack Obama administration.
Mr. Bernier, who said he believes that “we can reduce health-care costs by 20 to 30 percent,” said the “bill doesn’t make it affordable” and that it would increase the national debt. He stressed the need for “tort reform.” He said that small businesses should be allowed to pool together to get better health-care plans, suggested establishing of health savings accounts, and recommended “finding ways to reduce costs in no-cost or low-cost ways” for businesses.
He said the bill could be prevented from moving forward, in fact, by taking back control of the House of Representatives so that “We can strangle the funding.”
Mr. Bernier added, however, that “We need to make Medicare work for future generations.”
Mr. Caligiuri said that, if elected to Congress, he would “vote to repeal it” or, if that fails, to withhold funding.
He suggested a “50 percent refundable tax credit for small businesses” to make it cheaper for them to offer health care to their employees. He would also want to “levelize the tax treatment market,” pointing out that those who buy into group health-care plans pay with pre-tax dollars and individuals who now pay for their health-care plans with “post-tax dollars” would be obtaining their coverage operating from the same basis.
Mr. Greenberg stressed, too, the need to repeal the legislation he labeled an “Obamanation.”
“The health-care bill,” he said, “is way too large,” which he quipped was like “destroying the Taj Mahal to fix the kitchen floor.”
He said, “Bring about tort reform, portability of policies, selling products across state lines,” and he pointed to a need for catastrophic insurance, which he said was available in Connecticut although not in such states as New York.
The debate was streamed live on The Housatonic Times’ Web site, www.housatonictimes.com.
It was also filmed by Charter CommunityVision 21 and will air Sunday, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15 at noon and 7 p.m.
The GOP primary will be held next Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the usual polling places, but the debate will be aired after as well as before that so voters will have an opportunity to revisit the winning candidate’s comments as he goes forward in challenging Mr. Murphy for the 5th District seat.
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