Gomez and Markey traded views on topics ranging from equal pay to women to tax policy to the Keystone XL oil pipeline
Updates a story posted Tuesday at 8:49 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD — Economic issues took center stage as U.S. Senate candidates Edward Markey and Gabriel Gomez sparred in their second debate.
Markey, a Democratic U.S. representative, and Gomez, a Republican private equity investor, met at the WGBY-TV studios and traded views on topics ranging from equal pay for women to tax policy to the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Both candidates acted less aggressively than in their first debate last week, and there were several substantive exchanges.
Markey showcased his political experience, often answering questions with more specifics than Gomez. For example, when asked about jobs in Western Massachusetts, Markey cited some of his standard talking points – keeping in place regulations on Wall Street and requiring oil companies and corporations to pay their “fair share” in taxes. But he also referred to policies specific to Western Massachusetts – investing in the community college system in Springfield and Holyoke, completing the Union Station railroad renovation project in Springfield, funding a life sciences project through UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center and completing a railroad line between Boston and Springfield.
“We need economic planning that will ensure we put in place the kinds of programs, beginning with education and health care, life sciences, the other major industries, that will ensure that this is an area of vibrant economic activity,” Markey said, adding that Western Massachusetts should be a location for a manufacturing hub.
Gomez said some of the policies he has championed generally would help Western Massachusetts – repealing a medical device tax included in the Affordable Care Act, lowering the corporate tax rate and signing more trade agreements.
The candidates have frequently sparred on tax policy, with Gomez arguing in favor of lowering the corporate tax rate while closing loopholes, and Markey arguing in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy and eliminating tax breaks for oil companies. One additional difference emerged when the candidates were asked about proposals to eliminate two popular provisions in the tax code – the mortgage interest tax deduction and the exclusion of employer-paid health insurance premiums.
Markey said he would not touch either tax break. “Owning a home, protecting the health care of your family, those things are essential,” Markey said. “Those things go right to the heart of what it is that gives families real hope their future can be different than their past.”
Gomez said he would fight to make sure both deductions are kept. But, he said, “I’m not going in there with any preconditions ... You have to go in there willing to discuss everything.”
The candidates also had a spirited exchange on the minimum wage. Markey said he would support increasing the minimum wage to $10 an hour, from its current $7.25.
Gomez agreed, but added, “The problem is you think that’s the American dream, you think people should be satisfied with a $10 minimum wage. I’ve lived the American dream and I can tell you I wouldn’t be satisfied with a $10 minimum wage.” Gomez said people want “a chance at the American dream and that does not include being stuck at earning $10 an hour.”
Markey responded that 580,000 Massachusetts residents currently earn at or near the minimum wage. “Let’s just start there. Let’s just agree that the minimum is that those people deserve a raise,” he said.
One surprising point of agreement came regarding the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill introduced in Congress that would require companies to show that disparities in pay between men and women are due to job performance, not gender. Almost every Republican in Congress opposes the Democratic-sponsored bill, and many have dismissed it as a political stunt to perpetuate the Democratic claim that Republicans are anti-women. Former Massachusetts Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said the bill would be harmful to small businesses.
Markey said he would support the bill. He called it “wrong” and “immoral” that a woman earns 77 cents for every $1 a man makes. “It should be a right and not a privilege that a woman is paid the same as a man for the same work,” Markey said.
With women likely to be a key constituency in this election, Gomez broke with his party and said, “Obviously, this bill needs to pass. It’s one of the important bills down there.” Gomez called it “a disgrace we even have to have an act that makes women equal with men. It’s just common sense.”
One departure from economic policy came in the first question, when moderator Jim Madigan of WGBY asked about former intelligence officer Edward Snowden, who leaked documents showing that the National Security Agency had secret surveillance programs monitoring Americans’ phones and Internet records.
Gomez said he was “appalled” by what was going on. He said more facts are needed before determining whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor. But, he said, if the information that was leaked put anyone at risk, “He is not a hero. He’s a traitor.”
Markey said Snowden broke the law. “I’ll leave it up to the prosecutors to determine what the appropriate punishment is, what he’s charged with,” Markey said. On the surveillance programs, Markey said that while looking for the “guilty needle,” law enforcement should not compromise “the innocent haystack.”
One significant point of disagreement came on the Keystone XL pipeline, a proposed oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast, which is opposed by environmentalists. Gomez supports the pipeline, saying it creates jobs, lowers energy costs, makes the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil and can be done in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Markey opposes the pipeline, arguing that the oil would be exported outside the U.S., so it would not lead to energy independence, but it would create an environmental risk.
Another stark difference emerged on the Citizens United ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which allowed corporations and unions to make unlimited political expenditures.
Gomez defended the decision, saying, “I think it’s just free speech.”
Markey derided Citizens United as “one of the worst decisions in the history of the U.S.” because it allows undisclosed money into politics.
Both candidates said they support the use of medical marijuana.
