Who Pays? Who Plays? Shaheen Dodges On Medicare For All, Girls Sports In Final Debate

By Leonard Robinson, NH Journal

Democrat Stefany Shaheen promised radio host Jack Heath more than 18 months ago that, if she ran for Congress, she would have an answer to his question about allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports.

“If I get into the race, I am prepared to give you my position on every issue that’s going to impact the district,” Shaheen said. “I appreciate that this is one of those issues.”

During Thursday night’s 1st Congressional District debate on WMUR, Shaheen was still stumbling over that same question as her opponent, Anthony DiLorenzo, challenged her to give a yes-or-no answer.

It was just one of several issues, including Medicare for All, that stumped Shaheen during a contentious debate, one where she hit DiLorenzo hard over his support for President Donald Trump and his personal wealth.

On Medicare for All, Shaheen was asked by Union Leader reporter Kevin Landrigan how she intended to pay for the program’s estimated $35 trillion or so price tag.

“So how will you pay for it, and who pays?” he asked. “And we’re not talking about overall system costs. At what family income level will people see their costs go up, not down, to pay for Medicare for All? And please be specific.”

Shaheen declined to do so, refusing to name a single revenue source or a dollar figure. Instead, she called for increasing spending on Medicaid and Medicare, and she insisted that going to a government-run, single-payer system would pay for itself.

“Well, I believe when we rebuild the system, we’re going to save Americans money,” she said.

DiLorenzo argued for more competition and innovation to bring down health care costs, and he reminded viewers of the details of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All plan Shaheen has endorsed.

“They want to take away your doctor. They want to make it illegal for you to have private health insurance. They want to provide insurance to illegal aliens and pay for gender-affirming (sex change) surgeries. It is a ridiculous idea to have the government run your health care.”

Shaheen also struggled to give a clear answer on whether she supports abolishing — or, in her words, “dismantling” — the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

In response to DiLorenzo’s claim that she wants to dismantle ICE, Shaheen said, “My opponent is making things up.” She said she had called for “reform of the Department of Homeland Security. I stand by that position.”

DiLorenzo then quoted back to her multiple occasions when Shaheen has said she wants to “dismantle ICE,” including on a secret camera video.

“I said just like I said earlier a few seconds ago, I stand by my position to dismantle ICE,” Shaheen answered.

The most heated exchange came when moderator Christa Delcamp asked, “Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling in June allowing states to legally ban transgender women and girls who are biological males (sic) from taking part in female interscholastic sports, and should Congress intervene in this issue?”

“I believe these decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis with the coaches, the superintendents and teams that are impacted by trans athletes,” she said. “I don’t believe we need a federal law here.”

DiLorenzo said he opposed biological males participating in women’s sports and would prefer states to address the issue. He said he would support federal legislation if states and local communities failed to act.

He also challenged Shaheen’s response and accused her of “proposing legislation” allowing biological males to play in women’s sports while serving on the Portsmouth City Council.

Shaheen disputed that accusation.

“First of all, when you serve in the city council, you don’t propose legislation,” she said.

DiLorenzo continued to press her for a direct answer on whether males should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. “It’s a simple question. Yes or no?”

Again and again, she refused to answer. “I have made my position very clear,” Shaheen responded.

“You do not propose legislation when you’re on the city council, and you just totally lied. You just made that up. I have never proposed legislation on the issue.”

DiLorenzo continued pressing.

“Why don’t you answer the question? The people want to know where you stand.”

She declined.

DiLorenzo was referring to a 2014 pro-transgender resolution Shaheen voted for, along with eight other Portsmouth City Council members. He was mistaken about its connection to the specific issue of girls’ sports.

DiLorenzo had his own difficult moments when he was asked whether voters deserved a fuller account of his family’s wealth than the assets listed on his financial disclosure.

DiLorenzo said he had transferred businesses and real estate into trusts as part of estate planning and no longer owned those holdings.

“I’ve never hidden from the fact that I’m successful,” he said, citing businesses he had started and jobs he had created.

“I don’t have a problem with Mr. DiLorenzo’s $40 million mansion on a private island, or his $18 million yacht, or the fact that he shows up in a helicopter to campaign events. My problem is that he is hiding 90% of his assets in offshore tax havens,” Shaheen said.

“He is cheating the system and not paying his fair share, while the teachers, the firefighters, the electrical workers I talk to are paying their fair share. That needs to change. He owes New Hampshire voters an explanation.”

DiLorenzo denied the allegation.

Shaheen faced a direct question of her own: Did she believe being the daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen played absolutely no role in obtaining her high-level job at ARMI?

She initially defended the institute’s research and economic development work.

“I have never been paid with a dime of federal money,” she said. “I raised millions of dollars from foundations to do the work that’s happening right here in Manchester.”

Moderator Adam Sexton returned to the question.

“Do you believe that your mother played any role in you getting that job?”

“I do not,” Shaheen said.

In his closing statement, DiLorenzo complained that Shaheen made “every single answer, every single problem” about the president.

“Rarely a solution, just the president,” he said.

Shaheen didn’t change strategy.

“This election is about whether Donald Trump can continue to maintain his stranglehold on our country and on Congress, or if the families in New Hampshire are going to get the change they need. I’m going to be fighting for that change.”

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.