U.S. House Candidates Speak At Forum

Candidates for the 9th District U.S. House seat in northeast Georgia face off in a town hall meeting.

All five men running as Republicans for the 9th District seat spoke to voters at the Schaefer Center during Thursday’s town hall meeting sponsored by AM 630 WNEG and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Congressman Doug Collins said that he wants people to know that there are no easy answers to the big problems facing America.

Collins did say he is proud that Republicans have cut discretionary spending in recent years.

“Do not let anybody tell you that the Republicans have not been able to push back because we have seen, like I said, 66 percent cut in discretionary spending since 2011 and we are going to continue to cut,” said Collins. “We also have to get at the biggest spender, 80 percent of our budget, goes to mandatory spending. That is Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, debt, and Obamacare.”

Challenger and former northeast Georgia congressman Dr. Paul Broun said he does not see that spending cut, instead saying Collins and the establishment Republicans are spending out of control.

“The greatest example of our out of control philosophy of our leadership and establishment in Washington, D.C. and our congressman, Doug Collins, is the omnibus bill he voted on back in December,” said Broun. “It created another half trillion dollars worth of debt.”

Candidate Mike Scupin also criticized Collins’ support of that omnibus bill.

He said that entitlement spending and unfunded liabilities are putting the nation’s finances at risk.

“Our government has tripled, quadrupled over the years,” said Scupin. “If you go back to the 60s, you will see that 13 percent of our budget dealt with entitlements. Around 2013-2014, it had jumped to about 49 percent and in some instances, it is more than that.”

Challenger Roger Fitzpatrick said he would look at agencies to cut based on whether they fall in line with the Constitution.

“The IRS is one of them that does not,” said Fitzpatrick. “Education is another that does not agree with the original intent of the Constitution. Education needs to be moved to back to the state level or the local level.”

Finally, Candidate Bernard Fontaine said he wants to start with what he says is wasteful spending in Washington.

“A lot of times, there is so much fraud, waste, and abuse,” said Fontaine. “That is one of the things I really want to go after. It is a culture of contempt, really.”

Only the five Republicans are running, with no Democratic opposition, so whoever emerges from the primary will be unopposed for the 9th District U.S. House seat in the Fall.