ATLANTA — Mike Collins and Jody Hice clashed Sunday over ways to address the federal budget deficit in their final debate of the 10th district congressional runoff.
Collins says he had a detailed plan, based on his experience running a trucking company and argues that Hice would operate by the seat of his pants. On the other hand, Hice, a preacher and talk-show host, promises to depend on his four-way test of how to evaluate every spending initiative.
Sunday’s event was organized by the Atlanta Press Club and aired statewide by Georgia Public Broadcasting. One of the reporters on the panel asked what three federal agencies with a presence in the district would each candidate would favor abolishing.
Hice didn’t name any specifically.
“My basic, right-off-the-cuff answer to that is that any program is beyond the authorization of the Constitution I would not be supportive of.” He said.
Collins favors abolishing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because he said its regulations prevent job creation and also the agencies created to administer the Affordable Care Act.
“Right off the bat, Obamacare — that’s a federal program that needs to go,” he said.
Both men faced questions about prior statements. Hice was asked about his comment several years ago that women should be subject to the authority of their husbands and whether that applied to female politicians. He said he has helped many women run for office and that his comment was simple advice for a good marriage because any candidate should have the support of a spouse.
Collins was asked about a comment made during the last debt-ceiling standoff in which he said he would have voted to raise the debt to avoid a government shutdown. In the debate, he said the Constitution requires Congress to pay off federal debt and he favored a responsible approach to honoring existing debts.
Hice said raising the debt ceiling is to allow borrowing more money.
“I believe that’s a horrible business practice,” he said. “The issue at hand is we have got to cut spending. You can’t continue to kick this can down the court.”
Collins bristled. “It’s just more examples of how he does his political gamesmanship, folks. The debt ceiling is a line of credit. When you reach that line of credit, you’re going to need to increase it or you’re going to need to pay it down.”
They did agree on several issues, such as their opposition to gun control and to expanding Medicaid. But resumed fighting when it was time for their closing remarks.
Hice took a parting shot at Collins’ fundraising and his father’s service in the U.S. House.
“Serving in Congress ought to be something that is earned, not something that is inherited, not something that is purchased,” Collins said.
Collins jabbed Hice for opposing most federal initiatives.
“He doesn’t even have a positive plan for Washington. He just wants to be Dr. No,” Collins said.
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