Fung, Magaziner Spar Over Economy, Abortion In RI Congressional Debate

RHODE ISLAND — With Republican Allan Fung leading in the polls for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Seth Magaziner was on the attack often in Tuesday night's debate.

The two candidates sparred over the economy, abortion rights, and more in the one-hour debate moderated by Target 12 Chief Investigative Reporter Tim White and 12 News Politics Editor Ted Nesi.

The moderators started the debate by asking both candidates if President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was too generous and having a negative impact on inflation. This was where the first major disagreement came between the two candidates.

"I don't think supporting working people who are struggling to keep up with the cost of living is a bad thing to do," Magaziner said, while attributing a struggling economy to the Russian war in Ukraine and price gouging by large oil companies.

According to Magaziner, the nation's five biggest oil companies made over $15 million in profits this year, despite prices at the pump going up.

"That is unconscionable. We have to go after price gouging," Magaziner said.

Fung meanwhile said big spending packages like the American Rescue Act fueled inflation, and said economists from both sides of the aisle have argued the same thing. The former Cranston mayor said he's worried because despite inflation reaching a 40-year-high, the spending has continued.

“We have to become energy independent once again and make sure we aren't relying on unstable regimes for our natural gas," Fung said. "Strategic dollars are what I'm about, instead of just throwing dollars into the economy. That's heating this up."

But where the debate got most contentious was when Magaziner attacked Fung for supporting Rep. Kevin McCarty for Speaker of the House.

"We should not have election deniers in charge of congress," Magaziner said, also accusing Fung of being willing to support Republicans seeking a national abortion ban and cuts to Social Security.

"I trust women to make the choice of whether or when to have children," Magaziner said. "He believes it should be up to politicians and judges."

Fung then accused Magaziner of lying about his positions. He said he doesn't support a national abortion ban. He argued his position on abortion is more moderate than House Republican leaders. Fung also said he would support "scrap the cap" policies to reform Social Security, like potentially taking it away from wealthier families.

"My mom, she worked 35 years running a Chinese restaurant," Fung argued, saying his mother relies on Social Security too."