Health care, minimum wage, Pelosi topics in 4th District debate

The two major party candidates for the 4th Congressional District disagreed about health care policies and the minimum wage in a debate at the University of Central Arkansas Monday (Oct. 8).

In a debate sponsored by AETN, Democrat Hayden Shamel said Medicare should be allowed to negotiate with drug companies for better prices; that the government should end the practice of “pay for delay,” where drug manufacturers pay generic companies not to produce versions of their drugs; and that consumers should be able to buy drugs imported from other countries such as Canada.

Westerman said House Republicans tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. He criticized Democrats’ support of a “Medicare for all” system, saying it would destroy Medicare, shut down the Veterans Administration, and end private insurance.

He said he has filed legislation that would protect individuals from losing their insurance if they have pre-existing conditions, would allow students to stay on their parents’ insurance while they attend college, and contains a bipartisan prescription drug proposal. That bill’s costs currently are being scored by the Congressional Budget Office.

The candidates disagreed about raising the minimum wage. Shamel said it should be increased, saying individuals should not have to work 2-3 jobs and that there shouldn’t be a category for “working poor.”

“That’s the difference between myself and my opponent. I’m working for the people, not for profits,” she said.

Westerman said minimum wage-paying jobs are starter jobs and that many jobs are currently available. He said market forces should dictate wages, which are increasing thanks to recent regulatory reforms and tax cuts.

“I’m for the people,” he said. “I’m for businesses. It’s businesses and individuals that grow our economy.”

In response to a question about President Trump’s tariffs, Westerman said he had communicated to the administration how the tariffs are hurting Arkansas. He said he doesn’t like tariffs but understood that the administration is trying to reduce trade deficits. He said the policies will eventually result in an agreement with China, and that American producers will be better off in the long run.

Shamel said the trade policies have resulted in lower soybean prices and are increasing prices paid by consumers. She said farmers have been given “welfare” in order to “make up for the problems that we created.”

Westerman charged that Democrats are focused on being part of the “resistance” and that some in Congress are already seeking to impeach President Trump and new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He tied Shamel to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Shamel distanced herself from the California-based former speaker of the House, saying she is not Pelosi and that she would not vote for her in a leadership race.

The Libertarian Party candidate, Tom Canada, did not participate and did not inform debate organizers of his plans. They learned of his absence minutes before the debate began.

The full debate is available at this site.