U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and Republican challenger Steve Obsitnik are keen on touting their individual commitments to bipartisanship, but that didn”™t stop them from taking shots at one another at a debate Oct. 18 in Norwalk.
While Himes, a Greenwich Democrat, said the economy has made positive gains since the recession, Obsitnik, a Westport businessman, boldly asserted the stimulus failed, pointing to the 9 percent unemployment rate in Connecticut.
“Things were bad but how much more time and money do we need?” Obsitnik said. “Do you need two years, four years, six years? Ten trillion (dollars)? Twenty trillion (dollars)? How much more do we need?”
For the bulk of the debate the two candidates traded barbs over the key issues ”“ from Medicare and the Affordable Care Act to the job market and the role of government in spurring economic growth.
However, few new policy proposals were brought to the forefront, with Himes repeating a call for increased infrastructure investment, and Obsitnik proposing to address Medicare fraud and abuse through a verification system that could utilize credit card technology.
Held at the Norwalk Inn & Conference Center, the fourth congressional district debate was hosted by the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, the Bridgeport Regional Council, the Business Council of Fairfield County and News 12 Connecticut.
Comparing the economy to casino gambling, Obsitnik said the government has made too many $1,000 wagers when $2 bets would have been more beneficial to the private sector.
Obsitnik said many businesses are projected to have their worst year ever in 2012, which he said is an indicator the government”™s policies have failed.
Himes contended Obsitnik was simply politicizing the issue.
“Talk to any economist and they”™ll say it (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) saved or created some 3 million jobs, which is pretty important to some 3 million households in this country,” Himes said, noting funds went to struggling businesses and put $1,200 on average back into citizens”™ pockets.
Himes acknowledged that small-scale investments in the form of U.S. Small Business Administration loans and funding for job training programs are important and should be expanded, but said it is also vital to invest in education and the country”™s infrastructure, which he said the stimulus and subsequent measures accomplished.
Himes also said Quintel Technology Ltd. took $4 million of government funding during Obsitnik”™s tenure as CEO to create jobs in Rochester, N.Y., and not in Connecticut.
Prior to heading up Quintel, Obsitnik served for five years in the U.S. Navy and worked in the technology industry for Sarnoff Corp., and later for Sarnoff parent company SRI International. Himes was a vice president of Goldman Sachs and vice president of the nonprofit Enterprise Foundation prior to being elected to Congress in 2008.
The opponents agreed Simpson-Bowles may be the answer to addressing the fiscal cliff, that defense spending cuts are necessary ”“ though not necessarily the cuts detailed in the approaching sequester, and that the scare tactics surrounding Medicare are counterproductive.
Himes said the fiscal cliff would be the first issue addressed by Congress after the election, noting that he has worked with representatives of both parties to push for the adoption of Simpson-Bowles for the past two years.
The key to any agreement is for every area of government spending ”“ including the defense budget ”“ to be on the cutting block, Himes said, adding that everyone would need to make sacrifices.
Obsitnik agreed on the need to address the approximately 40 tax measures that will expire after Dec. 31 and the billions of dollars in spending cuts contained in the sequester that begin to take effect Jan. 1, but said Himes”™ efforts to promote Simpson-Bowles were not genuine.
He also jabbed his opponent by quoting a 2008 campaign speech during which Himes professed a commitment to lowering the debt. On the contrary, Obsitnik said the country has added $3 trillion of debt since Himes was elected. He suggested a third podium was needed for Himes to debate himself on the issue.
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