Guinta, Shea-Porter Clash in Debate

Republican incumbent Frank Guinta's rival accused him of being in lockstep with the Tea Party a half dozen times in their latest congressional debate, this one a free-wheeling affair in which both claimed to best support New Hampshire businesses.

Guinta, first elected in 2010 to represent the state's 1st District, bemoaned "personal attacks" as he cast former U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter as a "big government" defender. 

The debate was broadcast live Monday morning on New Hampshire Public Radio from the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.

The candidates offered competing philosophies, though they described themselves as champions of "pro-growth economic principles."

Shea-Porter said President Obama did try to pass a comprehensive jobs bill, "but Frank Guinta and his Tea Party partners wouldn't accept that..."

The key, Guinta responded, "is the size of government, how we spend your tax dollars. They are not the federal government's tax dollars, they're your tax dollars."

Shea-Porter fired back: “Mr. Guinta’s philosophy is that no government is probably the best, and he’s been working his way toward that.  No regulation, no government. Mine has been, I think there is a role to play to support private enterprise, to help launch … small business, but ultimately, private industry is the engine driver.”

Guinta then cited some economic markers to argue that government has a role, but a limited one.

"What I heard in my opponent’s answer was a lot about what federal government can be doing for you," he said. "So let’s just take a look at the federal government through a couple of facts. You have 8.1 percent unemployment. You have unemployment over 8 percent for 43 consecutive months. You have a debt at $16 trillion which is equal to our GDP of $16 trillion..."

The two differed on the Affordable Care Act, with Shea-Porter supporting it and Guinta, who has called for its repeal, referring to it as economic trouble.

Shea-Porter supported commuter rail service, while Guinta seeing no need for it in the Northeast.

As he has done in previous debates, Guinta said raising the age of eligibility for Social Security should be on the table as Congress reviews protecting the entitlement program. Shea-Porter said she would not support raising the age.

Other exchanges in the hour-long debate include:

Do you support a voucher system for medicare?

Shea-Porter: “I don’t but he does. It’s called the Ryan plan and you can call it premium support, you can call it voucher, but as Paul Ryan said, it’s the same.”

Guinta: “I would love to explain the difference between premium support and voucher because there is a very stark difference. Voucher is a direct payment to the employee. Premium support is you get a choice, and you make your choice as the check is sent directly to the carrier; two very different programs.”

Talking about the federal government:

Shea-Porter: “There is a role and to suggest that there isn’t is not accurate."

Guinta: “I didn’t say there was no federal role. No. 1, I said we’ve got to deal with tax policy and we’ve got to deal with energy policy which is a direct impact on manufacturing here in New Hampshire and across the country. But secondly, what you’re hearing here, from my opponent, is big government solutions all the time and I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“It doesn’t always have to be a big government solution. You can actually focus on working collaboratively here in the state to try to address the issues and deal with fiscal policy on a federal level to get the economy moving.”

Shea-Porter: “That’s the problem with the Tea Party right there...

The debate is one of a series organized by the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire's series, in partnership with NHPR, Union Leader, and NHPTV. The 2nd Congressional District candidates debate Tuesday and the gubernatorial candidates debate Wednesday, both beginning at 9 a.m.