Health care still a key issue in Spratt, Mulvaney race

“Let’s talk about this at a national election, at a national level,” he said. “It’s not just about health care. It’s about jobs, it’s about spending.”

Mulvaney predicted that the U.S. House of Representatives will pass a repeal bill that will either die in the Senate or be vetoed by President Obama. He further suggested trying to block funding for the bill and preventing the regulations from becoming law, a tactic argued for by other opponents of the Obama administration’s agenda.

Spratt also highlighted that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has projected that the bill would provide a budget surplus over the first ten years but acknowledged the surplus may still be in doubt.

“That may or may not happen, but those are the projections from CBO,” he said.

Spratt cited that the bill will give coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, allow young people to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26 and prevent companies from hiking premiums after a customer’s major illness.

“As you delve into this package, you find some things that clearly everybody, almost everybody likes, appreciates and thinks is good policy,” said Spratt, who in March announced he was in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease.

At the same time, he acknowledged that some aspects of the bill should be implemented ahead of schedule to ensure that the policies are effective.

“I’d like to see some of these things implemented ahead of time so that we can find out how well they work,” he said. “It would be difficult to go back and start over again. In time, as different problems are noted, I think there will be a movement to go back and make some perfective changes.”

The crowd was decidedly more supportive of Mulvaney, offering tepid applause at Spratt’s comments and loud cheers for Mulvaney’s comments.

The debate also demonstrated how Spratt has chosen to highlight his experience as a legislator as an asset, unlike some of his Democratic colleagues.

“These times call for leaders who are seasoned and experienced,” Spratt said in his opening statement. “I have a record to prove that I can bring people together. I’ve put my seniority to work.”

Mulvaney and the state Republican party have sought to portray Spratt as out of touch with the voters who sent him to Washington, D.C., and Tuesday night was no different.

“He voted for the bailouts, for cap and trade and for health care, and it’s completely out of line with the principles that we share in the 5th congressional district,” Mulvaney said. “The only reason I’m in the race is because of his voting record.”