Democrats Chris Murphy And Susan Bysiewicz Square Off In Final Debate In New London

Democrats Chris Murphy and Susan Bysiewicz squared off Monday night on taxes, the middle class, Social Security, soaring college tuition costs, and a controversial television ad in their final debate before the August 14 primary.

The first question centered on the extension of the federal tax cuts passed and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush, a Republican who was replaced by Democrat Barack Obama in 2009. The tax cuts have been extended at various times in recent years, but the debate is now stirring again in Washington and in the presidential election because the tax cuts will be expiring.

“For families making $250,000 per year or less, this is not the time to raise taxes,” Murphy said during the one-hour debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London.

As he did several times during the debate, Murphy brought up Republican frontrunner Linda McMahon as part of his answer – saying that the tax cuts would amount to a $7 million tax cut for McMahon.

In response to the same question, Bysiewicz said, “I support the President’s proposal, which is to leave in place the Bush tax cuts” for middle-class families earning up to $250,000 per year.

Both Democrats refused to call upon embattled House Speaker Christopher Donovan to step down from his Congressional campaign. After indictments last week, eight people related to Donovan’s campaign have been arrested in a campaign finance scandal that was linked to a move to try to block a tax increase on roll-your-own cigarettes. The tax hike was initially blocked, but then it was passed in a special session.

“That is his decision. His decision is his decision. The decision should be left up to the voters. They get to decide. I believe someone is innocent until proven guilty. The voters will have the opportunity in the primary to make their decision.”

Murphy said, “I think the voters are going to make this decision.  I continue to hope this is an instance of one very reckless and irresponsible staffer. … What we’re really talking about is a broken system.”

In her closing remarks, Bysiewicz recited the words of one of her 30-second commercials about holding Wall Street accountable.

“Wall Street wrecked our economy, and now they have to fix it,” she said.

In his closing remarks at the end of the hour-long debate, Murphy said, “Susan Bysiewicz has focused on me. I’m focused on you.”

Both Democratic candidates said they favored a transaction tax on Wall Street stock trades as a way to reduce the federal deficit in order to make investments in housing, science, and other areas.

“By keeping the hedge fund loophole open, you support not only [Republican presidential frontrunner] Mitt Romney, but also Mrs. McMahon,” Bysiewicz said of Murphy’s vote in 2010 that Bysiewicz has criticized constantly for about 18 months.

Murphy responded that it was a “very tired attack that Susan Bysiewicz has made about the hedge fund loophole,” noting that he voted three times to close the loophole. “I voted against it because it wasn’t strong enough. … No one is buying this attack. … There’s a sloppiness to this claim that is pretty much unprecedented.”

Murphy and Bysiewicz squared off once again regarding a high-profile, controversial TV ad by Bysiewicz against Murphy.

“I would absolutely stand by that ad, the premise of which is that you have become Nancy Johnson,” Bysiewicz said. “You don’t dispute that you’ve taken more Wall Street money than any other Democratic Congressman. Does it matter if you’re number 4 in terms of hedge fund money or number one? … I stand behind the idea of the ad. … You chose to stand with Wall Street” on the hedge fund loophole.

She noted that the controversial TV ad is currently off the air.

Murphy quoted The Hartford Courant, saying, “Shame on Susan Bysiewicz.” He added, “This is a new low in Connecticut politics. … I think, in the end, this ad has done more damage to Susan Bysiewicz than it has done to me.”

Murphy added that a series of organizations that support the middle class, including the state AFL-CIO and the liberal Connecticut Citizen Action Group, are supporting him. He has also been endorsed by MoveOn.org, one of the most liberal groups on the political scene. Murphy supports the Dodd-Frank reform bill, which has been sharply criticized by some on Wall Street.

Regarding soaring college costs across the country, Bysiewicz said she has two children currently attending Wesleyan University in her hometown of Middletown. Cutting costs could be done by allowing more students to finish college in three years instead of four, she said.

“My wife and I are both paying back our student loans,” said Murphy, who attended Williams College, one of the most elite colleges in the nation.

Regarding saving Social Security and Medicare, the two candidates debated over what they do not want to do. But Davis pressed them on what they would do – whether raising taxes, cutting benefits or raising the wage cap that is currently about $106,000. As a result, workers earning $110,000 per year or $3 million per year would pay about the same in Social Security taxes at 6.2 percent of their income.

“Really, we need to get more people working. We have anywhere from 8 to 20 percent real unemployment in our state,” Bysiewicz said. “I would also reform our immigration system so we can start a process where the 11 million undocumented workers have a path to citizenship.”

Murphy responded that he would adjust the cap, saying about 82 percent of income is captured as a percentage of Social Security taxes. As such, people like Linda McMahon have upwards of 95 percent of their income tax-free as far as Social Security taxes. For example, her combined income with her husband, Vince, was about $30 million in 2010, based on their federal tax returns that were recently released. Above the annual cap of $106,000 per year each, they would not pay any taxes for Social Security.

Concerning the chances for a low-turnout for an August 14 primary when many families will be away on vacation, both candidates said they have concerns about the date.

“It is hard to get people to wake up and realize there is a primary in the middle of August,” said Murphy, who favors a September primary. “That being said, I think we’re going to have a great turnout in two weeks.”

Bysiewicz said she had pushed for a June primary, but the legislature decided to hold it in August. In 2006, there was a 43 percent turnout in the barnburner race between Greenwich cable television entrepreneur Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman.

Concerning Afghanistan, Murphy said that he has been there three times. He has voted against additional spending for Afghanistan in order to bring the troops home sooner. Like Murphy, Bysiewicz said that the nation should move up Obama’s timetable in order to bring the troops home faster.

“It’s time to bring our troops home,” she said. “We brought Osama bin Laden to justice. It’s time to move on.”

Concerning the military, Bysiewicz said, “We need fewer troops and bases overseas.”

Murphy noted that submarines can reach the South Asian theatre faster from Groton than from San Diego. 

Murphy said that 600,000 jobs could be created in America if the “Buy America” concept was imposed that he has pushed for.

Regarding the 2010 statewide election that was marked by Bridgeport running out of ballots, Bysiewicz said, “It was the registrar of voters’ job to order enough ballots. She didn’t.”

She added, “Neither candidate, Mr. Foley or Mr. Malloy, contested the results of the election.”

Murphy thanked his wife for attending Monday night’s debate, saying, “This is what passes for a date these days in our family.”

The debate moderator was Darren Kramer, a news anchor for Channel 8. The panelists on the stage were Mark Davis, the longtime political correspondent for Channel 8 and Paul Choiniere of The New London Day.

 ”Save your cheers and the rallies for after the program,” the crowd was told about one minute before the debate started on television on the sister station of NewsChannel 8.