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Esty, Greenberg cite importance of manufacturing, clash over energy, Social Security [New Haven Register, Conn.](New Haven Register (CT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 22--WATERBURY -- Tuesday's second debate between Fifth District Democratic U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty and her Republican challenger Mark Greenberg provided less of the verbal sparring that marked their first encounter earlier this month. The latest debate, hosted by the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce at the Mattatuck Museum, focused heavily on economic issues. In particular, both candidates spent much of the early stages of the debate talking about the importance of the state's manufacturing sector. "There are great jobs with 5,000 manufacturers right here in Connecticut," Esty said. "But they need an educated workforce. We need to be working from elementary school on up; bring back shop class in middle school, I kid you not, will actually help us reinvigorate American manufacturing." Greenberg said that the state manufacturers would benefit from a tax code overhaul that would reduce tax rates for small manufacturers. "There are some great companies in this district that need skilled workers," he said. "Now, unfortunately, some young people think it's best to go to liberal arts college and pile on debt. I would like to try to tell these young folks, go to vocational schools, learn these skills, manufacturing is clean now." The two political rivals also agreed about the need for a federal tax code overhaul. "I think about all the family business here," Esty said. "You don't have lobbyists who are getting the little loopholes that allow you not to pay taxes." Greenberg said he and Esty "both agree that 80,000 pages of tax code is 75,000 too much." The two disagreed, however, over energy issues that contribute to the high cost of doing business in the state. "We do need to increase our investments on basic R&D (research and development)," Esty said. "We need to ramp up our commitment on efficiency. The cheapest energy source is the one you don't have to provide because you're using energy more efficiently." Greenberg criticized Esty for having voted against oil drilling off of America's continental shelf and against the use of "clean" coal technology, which reduces the harmful emissions produced by the burning of the fossil fuel. "It belies me to see what she says versus what she has actually done," he said of Esty. Esty said asthma rates in Connecticut have been at historically high levels over the past 20 years, in part because of the past use of coal fired power plants. "We should not go back to that," she said. "Clean is an oxymoron and it's not a direction we should be going." Esty and Greenberg also disagreed on how to reform the nation's Social Security system. Greenberg called on Esty to stop running television commercials that accuse him of wanting to dramatically alter Social Security and cut benefits to seniors. "These are lies and distortions," he said. "We must increase the retirement age gradually to 70. We would not effect the Social Security benefits for anyone 52 or older." Esty said increasing the age at which people can collect Social Security is impractical. "I know plenty of people who work with physical labor who cannot be expected to work five years longer," she said. "They're just not going to be employed." Call Luther Turmelle at 203-680-9388. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com. ___ (c)2014 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) Visit the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) at www.nhregister.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |