With two weeks left until the U.S. Senate special election for Massachusetts, Democratic candidate Ed Markey and Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez squared off on economic polices and the Keystone XL Pipeline Tuesday night in the second of three televised debates.
Markey said in order to fix unemployment in Massachusetts, the government should invest more funds in colleges and life science projects as well as create an economic plan to cut out any influence from Wall Street.
“We need to take away tax breaks from corporations and oil companies,” he said. “We need to have taxes take a bigger bite out of Apple and a smaller bite from families’ incomes.”
Gomez said the region should focus on increasing manufacture productions.
“We need to foster more trade agreements so we can have manufacturing come back to western Mass. and have markets open and ship our products,” he said. “We need to return to becoming a manufacturing hub.”
For taxes, Gomez said all ideas should be put on the table for a bipartisan discussion.“I think we need a fair and simple approach and we need to put everything on the table and take the best ideas from both sides,” Gomez said.
Markey said he would not change mortgage deduction and healthcare.
“Owning a home and healthcare is essential,” he said. “I would not touch those tax breaks. People should rely on the promise that they can afford the home of their dreams and the healthcare policy they need. These are essentials that the American people expect from their government.”
Both candidates said the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help women negotiate with employers for equal pay, should be passed without delay.
“It’s a disgrace that we have to have an act that makes women equal to men,” Gomez said. “It’s just common sense.”
Markey said some women make 70 cents for each dollar men make, which is a terrible truth.
“When you work the same job you should receive the same pay without having to worry, negotiate, or protest,” he said. “It is a right, not a privilege.”
The candidates explained opposing views on the Keystone XL Pipeline Project to bring Canadian crude oil to ports in Texas via a pipe through the U.S.
“This project is worth investing in,” Gomez said. “It creates jobs, lowers energy costs, and makes us more energy independent. The pros outweigh the costs and those opposing this project are short-sided and narrow-minded.”
Markey said the project served no benefits to the U.S. economy, as the oil was being sent to Texas to be shipped out to other countries.
As they did in the first debate, Markey and Gomez clashed on gun control.
“All weapons need to be banned from getting in the hands of the wrong people,” Gomez said. “I am in favor of a background check bill. I’m ashamed that there were only four other Republicans that agree with me. This bill solves the problem.”
Markey said although Gomez supports the background check bill, he does not support the ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
“I want to turn the NRA [National Rifle Association] irrelevant in American politics,” Markey said. “Assault weapons and magazines should be banned. It’s time to put common sense gun laws on the books so that families don’t have to worry that there are guns in schools. I want to go to the Senate to fight the NRA on a daily basis.”
The next debate is scheduled for June 18 with the special election to take place on June 25.
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