Posted: Oct 15, 2012 7:18 AM by Marnee Banks - MTN News
Updated: Oct 15, 2012 7:15 AM
HELENA- Saturday night we brought you a live broadcast of the debate between U.S. House of Representatives candidates Kim Gillan and Steve Daines.
MTN Political Reporter Marnee Banks was in Bozeman for the debate and did some digging and fact checked on the candidates.
The debate between Gillan (D) and Daines ® heated up when the two candidates asked each other a question.
Gillan asked Daines why he supports the Ryan budget plan, which she says cuts Medicare and hurts seniors.
"The budget plan that you support Steve does have an immediate and negative impact for seniors who are currently on Medicare," she said.
"If you are 55 or older it won't be touched. This is the problem, and this is where Senator Gillan and I would disagree, it's the demagoguery during an election to scare the seniors for the sake of winning an election." Daines responded.
The Ryan budget plan does dramatically reform Medicare for people under the age of 55, giving them the option to either take the Medicare coverage or buy health insurance on a private market.
However, the Ryan plan would also cut all funding for the Affordable Care Act. If that happens, current seniors will see an immediate increase in their prescription drug and preventative health care costs.
The question Daines asked was, "why have you voted five times in favor of a sales tax, when the people of Montana oppose a sales tax?
Gillan voted with Republicans, while a state senator, on a tax reform package which reduced property taxes and created a sales tax for Montanans. The bill later died in the Legislature.
"One of the biggest challenges that I have heard over the years, are the challenges of property taxes. So, working with both Republicans and Democrats I try to promote tax fairness," Gillan explained.
Both candidates do have a different take on taxes. Gillan says she will work to make sure big corporations pay their fair share of taxes while Daines says he does not support tax increases under any circumstances.
The next MTN-sponsored debate will feature the candidates for U.S. Senate and will air on Saturday at 9 p.m. on Montana's News Station. We will also be live-streaming the debate on our websites.
Click here to watch the full Daines-Gillan debate from Saturday night.
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