Congressional hopefuls clash in debate

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The two candidates for the 21st Congressional District sparred over energy policy and drilling, universal health care and transportation issues at a debate Tuesday sponsored by seven area chambers of commerce.

In their first meeting since the Sept. 9 primary, Republican James Buhrmaster, president of Buhrmaster Energy Group and a second-term Schenectady County legislator, tried to paint Democrat Paul Tonko as a career politician and himself as small businessman not afraid to take shots at either major party. The hourlong question-and-answer session took place at Mallozzi’s Restaurant.

Tonko, a 24-year assemblyman and former chairman of the state Energy Research and Development Authority, responded by calling Buhrmaster’s attacks divisive, driven by half-truths and empty solutions.

During the event, which started with a handshake, Buhrmaster repeatedly attacked Tonko, a tactic his campaign intends to use to define their differences, said Buhrmaster spokesman Josh Hills.

“You will find that I am against regulation, against spending, against taxes and that my opponent is for them,” Buhrmaster said.

Tonko waited until the end of the event to deliver a rebuttal: “We are friends, but I would ask you to share the whole story. It is not business against the rest of the world, it is not Paul Tonko against business and Buhrmaster. It is about working together.”

Tonko has history and numbers on his side. The 21st District has been in the hands of Democrats for 50 years and is considered by political observers to be a safe seat for the party. Republicans counter there are 100,000 people not affiliated with either party who could swing the election.

Tonko and Buhrmaster, who will face each other Nov. 4, contrasted on almost ever question during the event organized by the Chamber of Schenectady County. They are seeking to replace Rep. Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, who is retiring in January after 20 years in the House. He was preceded by Sam Stratton.

The questions focused on issues of primary importance to small businesses that form the backbone of chamber membership, said Chamber of Schenectady County President Chuck Steiner. He said the forum is the first to focus on a congressional race and to include the various chambers. Representatives from chambers in Southern Saratoga, Schoharie, Fulton and Montgomery counties as well as those from Bethlehem and Guilderland attended. Together the chambers represent more than 7,000 businesses in the region comprising the 21st Congressional District. The Albany and Rensselaer chambers declined to participate.

Here is a synopsis of Tonko’s and Buhrmaster’s responses to questions:

u Identify the top three issues in the 21st Congressional District.

Tonko: Dealing with the energy crisis; establishing universal health care; and creating and retaining jobs.

Buhrmaster: Getting a handle on energy costs by drilling offshore, building more nuclear power plants, developing alternative energy sources; ending gridlock in Washington; reducing regulations, cutting taxes and controlling spending.

u Employee Free Choice Act (Proposed legislation to make it easier for workers to unionize. Labor unions support the measure, chambers and many businesses oppose it).

Buhrmaster: Opposes. “This issue clearly defines the difference between my opponent and myself.”

Tonko: Supports it, saying it streamlines the collective bargaining process and allows for the growth of jobs. “Unionized labor is a powerful tool that helped build the region and the nation.”

u Universal health insurance costs on small business and mandates such as Timothy’s Law. The law requires smalls businesses of 50 or more employees that offer insurance to provide mental health coverage.

Tonko: A healthy workforce saves employers money in the long run. He also said a single-payer health care system can help small business achieve greater savings through group rates, thereby resolving the issue of unfunded mandates.

Buhrmaster: Small businesses cannot afford universal health care, the cost is exorbitant.

u How should the country’s federal Highway Transportation Trust Fund be maintained, and how do you balance the competing needs, like canals, roadways and railways?

Buhrmaster: Money raised through leases to drill for energy in the continental U.S. and offshore should go to the fund. There also needs to be investment in fast freight and fast rail and a major reconstruction of Route 5.

Tonko: Develop a master plan to repair bridges and roadways and use bonds to pay for the work. Invest in mass and public transit. Establish high-speed freight and passenger rail in area.

u What incentive programs do you support to create a green marketplace?

Tonko: Use tax credits and incentives, rather than penalties, for people who produce alternative energy; return of production tax credit for renewable energy; work with local institutions of higher learning on research and development of alternative energy sources; invest in the power grid.

Buhrmaster: Develop alternative, renewable energy sources and begin drilling for oil today.

u How would you create jobs in the 21st Congressional District?

Buhrmaster: Decrease spending, decease the size of government, decrease taxes.

Tonko: Establish a $100 billion, 10-year plan to research and develop alternative energy sources and invest in fast freight and passenger rail.

u What would be your goals during your first six months in office?

Tonko: End the war, get assigned to the right committees, work cooperatively on solutions.

Buhrmaster: Be careful in spending “your money”; would place more oversight on energy markets; would start drilling immediately and building nuclear power plants; would not vote for new taxes on income or on capital gains.