Feisty debate kicks off Paulsen-Phillips race for Congress

Updated: 3:17 p.m. | Posted: 10:50 a.m.

Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen and his DFL challenger Dean Phillips tangled over taxes, health care and campaign finance reform in their first debate Tuesday.

Paulsen said Phillips would derail economic growth by voting to repeal the Republican tax cut law. Paulsen argued the tax cut was needed and that it's helping ordinary Minnesotans.

"Weak growth, which was what we were seeing under the last eight years, was not acceptable," he said. "Sure, people like Dean Phillips and those who are well off will do fine under those circumstances. But the rest of us, we won't do well in an economic depression, and that was only just around the corner."

Phillips said rather than voting to repeal the tax law, he would work to modify it, so that more of its benefits go to the middle class.

"Eighty percent of the benefits accrue to the top 1 percent of American earners," he said. "I don't think that is thoughtful. I don't think those are the principles and values of the district that I hope to represent. Furthermore, what deeply troubles me about that bill is the fact that it explodes our national debt."

Paulsen dismisses the concern about the increasing debt, saying economic growth spurred by tax cuts will increase economic activity and tax collections.

The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce sponsored the debate which focused on business and economic issues.

Democrats believe they have a good chance to defeat Paulsen this year, even though the five-term congressman has repeatedly won re-election by double-digit margins. Much of their optimism lies in the fact that Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District by almost 10 percentage points two years ago.

On health care, Paulsen stood by his belief that the Affordable Care Act is harming more people than it's helping. He also said Phillip's call to allow anyone to buy into the federal Medicare health insurance program would put it at risk.

"When Dean talks about a Medicare buy-in that's no different than expanding Medicare that's already in tough straits for the future," he said. "I want to make sure we are protecting and preserving Medicare, that we're not going to change it, so it opens up and seniors are going to be hurt."

Despite their back and forth jabbing Paulsen and Phillips agreed on several issues.

They both said President Donald Trump's tariff-heavy approach to trade is hurting Americans. Neither said he'd support increasing the federal gas tax. Both agreed that the country needs to pay more attention to post high-school options other than traditional four-year college degrees. They also both said they supported Robert Mueller's investigation of the president.

But there were other disagreements as well.

Phillips accused Paulsen of being beholden to special interests because of the money they contribute to his campaign. And he criticized Paulsen for almost always voting with Trump.

Paulsen repeatedly tried to make the case that he stands up to Republican leaders when he disagrees with the direction they're going.

Phillips repeatedly pressured Paulsen to a pledge to refuse money from political action committees. Paulsen dismissed the invitation.

Even as the two summed up, they worked in digs against each other.

"A vote for Congressman Paulsen is a vote for the status quo in Congress: disfunction, chaos and a growing culture of corruption," Phillips said.

"This election is really about a choice of someone having a record of getting things done or someone like my opponent who is now telling you a lot of things you'd like to hear," concluded Paulsen.

Watch the full debate here: