U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and challenger Rick Daugherty differed most noticeably on Obamacare and how best to increase employment in a forum Friday night for the 15th Congressional District race, hosted by the Lehigh Valley Project 9/12 Tea Party Group.
Republican Dent said he will vote to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, a line which drew immediate applause from a fairly full room at the Charles Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township.
“The health care law is going to add costs … and it will also kill jobs,” said Dent, saying a Congressional Budget Office estimates that 800,000 jobs will be lost because of Obamacare. “It incentivizes employers to cut payroll.”
Democrat Daugherty said he favors the bill because he doesn’t believe quality healthcare should be tied to your income level. Everyone should have access to the same level of high-quality care, he said.
“As a society, I think that’s a good place to spend our money,” he said.
On job creation, Dent said the proper path is to lower the federal deficit and decrease job-killing regulations on business. Daugherty blamed U.S. trade policy, decrying free trade agreements with countries like China and Mexico that have sent manufacturing jobs across the border and overseas.
“We can’t have free trade agreements with countries that don’t share our culture, with countries that don’t have our labor and environmental regulations,” Daugherty said.
“It might be time to pull out of the World Trade Organization and say goodbye to China,” he added, saying that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said that we should at least think about suspending trade agreements with China.
Getting rid of rule-breaking trade partners will bring needed manufacturing jobs back to the United States, he argued.
Dent differed, saying open markets are crucial to growing the American economy. “When the U.S. competes, it wins.”
Despite the differences, the two men were cordial. Both noted that they are longtime acquaintances with lots of mutual friends.
Dent, 52, of Allentown, has served in state and federal Legislatures since 1990 and is seeking his fifth term in Congress. Daugherty, 60, of Lowhill Township, is the executive director of the Lehigh County Senior Center in Allentown.
Though he has never held elective office, Daugherty was once an aide to Congressman Paul McHale, when he represented the Lehigh Valley. He is also currently the chairman of the Lehigh Valley Democratic Committee.
The two candidates will meet again in a live televised debate at PBS39 studios in Bethlehem at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Not to change the subject but I believe Democrats have lost their way. They are not my Father's Democrat party and that is not good. There is no leadership being shown in the Senate which is controlled by Democrats. The fact that this country has not had a budget in three years is a disgrace - that is the responsibility of Congress and the Senate has shirked their duty.
We need right job job job for better economy
Charlie's secret to success has always been his trim physique and his dashing good looks. Now that he has joined the Tea Party Ideologues -- and he is gaining weight -- it will interesting to see if he can still win an election in the Lehigh Valley. P.S. I'm not jealous. I'm getting fat too!!!!
Charlie NEVER MADE GOOD on the one promise that got him into the State legislature - Giving his legislative increase, just voted in, of $7,000.00 a year to local charities. His office said "It went to over 200 places," however, they couldn't name one. (Good Shepherd clearly said, "He never gave us a cent!"
>>> And you should see his wallet from bribes!!
Regarding the economy, I think Mr. Daughtry is closer to the truth of the matter. I wish all the candidates and all the voters would look online for an education; go to the web page of Ronald Reagan's Treasury department assistant, Paul Craig Robers, the father of supply side. Then go pay attention to Max Keiser on his Financial War Reports -- he was part of the criminal financial crowd, before he left in disgust, so he knows what he is talking about, as do his guests. Then pick up a copy of Dr. Michael Hudson's newest book, explaining the whole mess. THEN go vote. Sadly, it is hard to find either candidate as being totaly on board with reality.
At the time, Paul McHale was the the LV's rookie congressman and I believe he opposed it. Charlie Dent was a graduate student then and probably had little impact on those events!
Mr. Daugherty had one main theme: undo unfair trade agreements. While unfair trade is arguably the case, restricting free trade may do more harm than good. Congressman Dent has a more balanced approach to economic growth: Lower corporate taxes, expand energy production, open markets, and lower the national debt. He expounded on the latter point to mean keeping federal spending in line with GDP. Mr. Dent also explained how EPA regulations and other federal restrictions, like Obamacare, are stifling businesses. Excessive regulation makes it harder for US companies to compete abroad and discourages them from hiring the workers needed to grow their businesses.