4th District Candidates Share Opinions

Voters heard a variety of different views from both sides of the political aisle Tuesday night at in Easton when Democratic and Republican candidates for the 4th Congressional District, which includes Attleboro and Seekonk, squared off in separate debate forums.

In the first round, Democrats Rachel Brown, Joseph Kennedy III and Herb Robinson answered questions from a media panel ranging from the economy, taxes, the Affordable Care Act and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Kennedy and Robinson were in agreement on most issues while Brown, a supporter of longtime unique political figure Lyndon LaRouche, often provided a different perspective.

Brown, who said she supported nominating a new Democratic candidate for president, was the only one opposed to the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. health care system overhaul recently upheld by the Supreme Court. She said she would "definitely repeal" it immediately.

"I would say health care is not something based on cost," she said. "Health care is something human beings deserve. This is an attack on the basic principals of this country."

Brown said she hadn't considered the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and felt the economy was the top priority. Kennedy and Robinson supported its repeal.

"I would definitely repeal the Defense of Marriage Act; I have a number of gay friends and I want them to stay my friends," said Robinson, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Kennedy said he supported a bi-partisan plan similar to Simpson Bowles to stimulate the economy while eliminating national debt. While he said modifications should be made, like the removal of the social security component, he supported "the overall framework."

Kennedy also said he supported "getting small businesses back on their feet" by providing access to capital and creating an educated workforce while reforming the tax code to eliminate uncertainty in the marketplace.

For Robinson, he supported spending because it was a proven method through the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.

"It’s the only proven technique for fixing the economy," he said.

An hour later, the Republican forum took on a different tone.

Sean Bielat, Elizabeth Childs and David Steinhof agreed they supported federal spending that is allocated properly.

Steinhof said he favored federal spending on infrastructure and biodiesel fuel while decreasing regulations from entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

"The EPA's job was to clean up air and water and all they've done is scare manufacturers out of this country," he said.

Steinhof also said schools should be controlled at a local level and voucher programs for private education should be offered.

Bielat agreed with Steinhof, adding that constitutionally, the federal government "has a very limited role" in education.

Childs said the federal government should be separated between "structures" and "functions."

The function of the government has to be defined and we have to know what that function is," she said.

She added, "What function do you need the government to provide?"

All three Republican candidates joined Brown's sentiment from the first forum and said they did not support the Affordable Care Act.

"It's very important for us, I think, to repeal and replace that bill with one that is visionary and make sense," Childs said. "This bill is not."

The candidates criticized the stipulation that requires companies, including religious organizations, to give patients access to preventative services.

"In this case the administration seems bent on dividing people along certain lines," Steinhof said.

When Republicans were asked what they admired about current seat-holder Barney Frank, Bielat (who ran against Frank in 2010) said he was good at providing constituent services, but not good at federal legislation.

Steinhof agreed with Bielat, while Childs said that at times Frank worked with leaders across the aisle, but she wished he had done it more.

When asked about campaign spending, the Republicans agreed that the Democratic Kennedy would spend more. That wouldn't stop them, however, from moving forward.

"It’s people that vote, not dollar bills." Steinhof said.

Both Democratic and Republican primaries will take place Sept. 6.