2nd District Debate
The Daily Circuit live chat
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Five-term incumbent Republican Rep. John Kline is facing a challenge from former state Rep. Mike Obermueller in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district. They joined Kerri Miller in our studio.
Want some more background on the candidates? Read MPR News coverage of the race here. -
We've already gathered questions for today's debate from the audience. But you can still submit questions here - on our blog - for the 2 other debates we have this week.
Tuesday, October 30: 3rd District debate with Brian Barnes and Erik Paulsen
Thursday, November 1st: 6th District debate with Michele Bachmann and Jim Graves
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Here is Rep. John Kline's homepage.
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Here is Rep. Mike Obermueller's homepage.
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Kline on the Affordable Care Act. Kerri asks "What would he replace it with?"
Kline says he has supported and co-sponsored legislation that expands high risk pools, medical liability reform, and that he does support letting young people stay on their parents' plans. He supports what he calls these "simple" ideas that can make a change and he calls the ACA "a huge drag on the economy."
He says he doesn't think we need a bill as large as the ACA. He thinks smaller pieces like covering pre-existing conditions, supporting association health plans, health savings accounts and enabling people to buy health care coverage across state lines can make a big difference. -
Kerri asks Rep. Mike Obermueller what changes he would like to see in the ACA:
Obermueller says that the law needs improvement. It didn't "work on payment models enough." The law is weak in how it controls costs. We need payment reforms to change the health care system so that it works to keep people healthy rather than only help people who are already sick. -
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Kerri mentions that Rep. Kline has pharmaceutical companies as donors and asks "are you worried about the appearance?"
"I tend to get contributions from people who are supportive of the private sector...I get small dollars and big dollars." He says "contributors look to see the incumbent and where they stand on policy" and "it's not the reverse." -
Obermueller has a lot of trial lawyers as contributors.
Obermueller says that he is a lawyer and gets contributions from friends and colleagues who are lawyers, too.
"I think people do come to you because they believe in what you are trying to do and not the other way around." -
"The big drivers of deficits and debts are entitlements," says Kline. "Medicare: you've got to turn the spending curve down. Social security has to be addressed. You've got to do something so you could slowly start raising the retirement age."
He adds that raising the retirement age has bi-partisan support. -
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Kerri to Kline: "You are a strong ally of Boehner's. When have you not voted with the Speaker?"
Kline cites his vote against No Child Left Behind. Kline says he works with George Miller, a House Democrat, on charter school lto help legislation. Says he's "bucked John McCain" to work with Senator Klobuchar on getting aid to troops. -
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Kerri did a great job moderating this, specifically in stopping both candidates when they tried to rely on "cookie cutter" responses and sound bites and making them supply specific details.
Unfortunately, when they were forced to give specifics, there was not alot of good information they could give. I am not excited about either of the choices in my district.
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