Politics

Begich says reduction in federal deficit shows progress, but Sullivan disagrees

Where Sen. Mark Begich sees clear evidence of national economic progress, with a 70 percent reduction in the federal deficit, more jobs and growth in the housing industry, challenger Dan Sullivan says the country is still headed in the wrong direction.

Sullivan said the economy has seen one of the "slowest recoveries in American history from a major recession."

"We have to do better as a country and we can do with less government, more freedom and regulations that are not from the federal government. If we have to make regulations, let the states decide," said Sullivan.

In a forum Tuesday before the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce, the two exchanged sharply different views on the U.S. economy.

Begich said the deficit for the fiscal year that ended in September was below $500 billion, down from $1.4 trillion in the years after the economic collapse, he said.

"Is it perfect? Is it good? It's better than where it was six years ago, I can guarantee you that," Begich said. "Is it going to take more time? Absolutely."

Sullivan countered with a grim portrayal of the situation.

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"Mark Begich just mentioned we've made progress on the deficit," he said. "The debt of the country in the last six years under President Obama, Harry Reid and Mark Begich has gone from $10 trillion to 17-and-a-half-trillion dollars, on our kids' backs. That's not progress."

Begich responded, "The national debt and the deficit are two different things."

He said the reduction in the annual government deficit from $1.4 trillion to less than $500 billion is due to a growing economy. He also said that the national debt did not appear overnight -- blaming much of it on two unfunded wars and unfunded tax reductions starting with the Bush administration.

He said it will take years to deal with the problem, but "we're headed in the right direction when we deal with the annual national deficit."

In a wide-ranging forum that also included Libertarian candidate Mark Fish, Sullivan and Begich answered questions on fish policy, education, the gas line and other issues. Sullivan spoke repeatedly about his opposition to "federal overreach" and said there is "nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with Alaska."

Sullivan said the professional achievement he is proudest of is working with Gov. Sean Parnell on the "Choose Respect" campaign. Fish said his proudest moment was working on a Black Hawk helicopter crew that put pumps on the Exxon Valdez to limit the oil spill. Begich pointed to a program he backed to allow veterans to get health care anywhere in Alaska at tribal clinics that has become a model for the nation.

Sullivan and Begich both said they support the Alaska initiative to raise the minimum wage. Begich said he also supports the effort to raise the minimum wage nationally, but Sullivan said he opposes it. Sullivan had opposed the initiative to raise the Alaska minimum wage, but changed his mind after winning the GOP primary.

Both candidates said they oppose the marijuana initiative, mentioning that it would be harmful for children. The initiative would legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 and older.

Begich said that if the initiative is approved, federal action would be needed to recognize the wishes of Alaska voters and to open access to the banking system for marijuana businesses.

Sullivan again mentioned that Begich was the "deciding vote" on approval of the Affordable Care Act, a claim that Begich said is made by Republicans against every Senate Democrat.

Sullivan has said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something else.

"What I would do is I would focus on the issue of freedom," Sullivan said, adding that decisions should be made by a family and a doctor, not "federal bureaucrats telling you what your health care plan has to be."

"This means transparency. This means the ability to buy health care across state lines, more competition. This would mean tax deductions for families. This would mean tort reform. There's a whole host of ways we could move forward here," he said.

Begich said when he ran for office six years ago, 34 percent of Alaskans trying to get individual health insurance coverage were denied.

"Today, no one gets denied," he said, adding that anyone who thinks the law is going to be repealed is "dreaming."

"What are we going to do to fix it? That's your question," he said.

He said numerous improvements have already been made and he doesn't want to go back to the days when so many Alaskans couldn't get coverage. He also said the state should expand Medicaid to allow 40,000 more Alaskans to be covered and added he supports new plans with lower premiums.

Dermot Cole

Former ADN columnist Dermot Cole is a longtime reporter, editor and author.

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