Horn goes after Hodes at 2nd District debate

Horn goes after Hodes at 2nd District debate

By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

Economic issues dominated a televised debate last night between the 2nd District's candidates for Congress, U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes and Republican challenger Jennifer Horn.

The bailout of the financial industry, tax reform, predatory and sub-prime lending and Congressional ethics were the focus of most of the exchange. The two also touched on Social Security, stem cell research, foreign policy and union organizing.

Hodes, 57, of Concord, is a first-term congressman who took office when he defeated incumbent Republican Charles Bass in 2006. A former state prosecutor, he ran unsuccessfully against Bass in 2004.

Horn, 44, of Nashua, is a political novice whose background includes work as a radio talk show host and a column in the Nashua Telegraph.

The meeting was one in a series of debates the New Hampshire Union Leader and WMUR-TV are sponsoring before next week's elections.

Debates continue tonight at 7 p.m. with candidates for governor, and tomorrow for U.S. Senate.

Horn took an aggressive approach, at times batting aside questions from a panel of reporters to disagree with answers Hodes had given.

That forced moderator Tom Griffith to give Hodes a chance to respond in turn.

Hodes tried to distance himself from business-as-usual in Washington, saying he listens to New Hampshire voters and then works for changes that will make their lives better.

He cited passage of the Northern Borders economic package for the North Country, Michelle's Law, which protects health insurance for severely ill college students, and a military veterans ombudsman bill as examples of his accomplishments.

Horn attempted to tie Hodes to voter dissatisfaction with gridlock and partisan politics in Congress, calling him "a poster boy for the 10 percent approval rating."

Hodes, she said, promised to go to Capitol Hill with a backbone, "but I've yet to see him use it."

She said his voting with the Democratic leadership to let Bush administration tax cuts expire on schedule in 2010 creates the largest tax hike in history.

Both opposed the financial bailout bill, agreeing it was passed in what they termed a legislative panic.

Horn said Hodes missed his chance to pass reforms that could have avoided the $700 billion price tag, noting he sits on the House Financial Services Committee.

"He did nothing," she said. "He didn't take the appropriate action."

She also criticized Hodes for taking campaign contributions from the financial services industry his congressional committee oversees.

Hodes said when he got to Congress in 2007, problems in financial markets had been developing throughout the six prior years of the Bush administration.

"Mrs. Horn would like to blame me for all the ills of the world. If I had the power she says I have, why wouldn't I use it to simply levitate the stock markets?" he asked.

As for finance company contributions, he said: "If I was in their pocket, then why would I vote against the bailout bill, twice." He added later, "I've followed the strictest ethical standards in all my work."

Horn said the way to get the economy moving is to cut taxes and let families and businesses find their own ways to spend money.

She said she favors a flat tax that would make sure all taxpayers contribute their fair share.

Hodes said the plan sounds good, but it would eliminate home mortgage deductions and child credits.

He said he favors jobs and infrastructure programs as a form of economic stimulus that would be more effective than a previous stimulus program that sent checks to households.

The two disagreed on abortion, with Horn saying she supports most existing laws except those on partial birth abortion, which she termed a 'horrific procedure."

She stood firm against embryonic stem cell research, citing successful use of adult stem cells.

Hodes said 80 Nobel prize winners disagree with her on the value of embryonic stem cells.

He said he is pro-choice, and said it is important that women control their bodies and follow doctor's advice.

While Hodes said Horn was relying on "the Bush playbook" in many of the positions she has taken,

Horn tied her opponent to Barack Obama, most directly when he referred to the need for "muscular diplomacy" in the Middle East.