4th District GOP Candidates Talk Taxes, Health Care and Gun Control

Although they had less than a half hour to make their voices heard, the Republican candidates for Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District fit in a full plate of issues and opinions during . 

Sean Bielat, Elizabeth Childs and David Steinhof joined Braude for a series of questions on topics, including gun control, taxes, health care and their potential Democratic opponent. 

Check out the NECN debate online. 

Just a couple of weeks after the , Braude started off the debate by asking the candidates whether they would support legislation for increased gun control.

"I think it's a mistake to rush down a legislative path," said Bielat, . 

, agreed that legislation is a "knee-jerk" reaction and said he believes in Second Amendment rights.

Childs, , argued that increased legislation is not necessary and instead states should work more on providing services to people with mental disorders. 

The candidates differed slightly in their opinions on some tax issues.

When asked whether they would support extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class, both Childs and Bielat agreed that compromise is the best option, even if it means keeping or raising some taxes.

"We have to stop going into our corners and go with a compromise," Childs said. "I would do what’s in the best interest of the country, not party politics."

Steinhof said he would not support extending the tax cuts and stood by his "no tax pledge." 

While all three support repealing President Obama's health care plan, Braude asked what the candidates would like to adjust if the whole plan could not be repealed.

If elected, Steinhof said he would like to see the plan broken down to apply "state by state", rather than a nation-wide health care option.

Childs argued that it is the funding mechanism for the plan that needs to be addressed.

"I think the budget for the funding for [the health care plan] is a smoke and mirrors issue," Childs said.

Bielat, who said he does not agree with a plan that is a "mandate," said inner-state competition for health care plans will be an important issue if Obama's plan is not repealed.

Another key point Bielat stressed was the idea of "giving people and businesses back their money" by cutting taxes and allowing businesses to invest.

"That's how you do stimulus the right way," Bielat said. "Not having it government-directed, but having the people make decisions."

Steinhof agreed, saying taxes should be cut for small businesses and regulations for those businesses should be reduced. 

Coming in from a different angle, Childs underlined her support for simplifying the tax code, closing loopholes and implementing "systemic spending reform on major entitlement programs" such as Social Security and Medicare.

As for their potential opponent, Democrat Joe Kennedy III, the three Republicans seemed to brush off the competition.

"He doesn't say anything on his website, he's not out in the public talking about what he believes ... until then, we can't really judge if he's qualified," Bielat said.

Steinhof, who said he is the only Republican candidate who has lived in the 4th District his whole life said Kennedy just moved to the district a few months ago.

"He has no private sector experience and he probably hasn't had to pay a single bill in his life," Steinhof said.

"I don't think he's the most qualified in this race," Childs said. "He has no experience working across the aisle … which is what it's going to take."

Broadside will host a similar debate with the three Democratic candidates— Kennedy, Herb Robinson and Rachel Brown—on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.