RINDGE — Republican candidates for New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District seat squared off Tuesday night, discussing their plans to tackle the nation’s economic issues and revive America’s faith in Congress during a debate at Franklin Pierce University.

The Fitzwater Center at Franklin Pierce University and the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript co-sponsored the first round of The Monadnock Debates, a three-part series of Congressional and Senate debates.

Tuesday’s event included candidates Jennifer Horn, Wesley Sonner, Bob Giuda and Charlie Bass. While cutting spending and limiting the power of government was a common theme, each candidate brought ideas to the table that reflected different experiences and varied approaches.

Government spending

Bass, who had served 12 years in Congress prior to losing the Second Congressional District seat four years ago, said the Obama administration has had 20 months to turn the government around and that people should stop blaming the previous Bush administration.

He proposed making the Bush tax cuts permanent and reviving a committee in Congress that solely focuses on reducing spending. This committee would have the jurisdiction to bring spending reduction proposals directly to the floor and would act as a deterrent.

“I think it is a system that would work,” said Bass.

Horn, former radio talk show host and columnist, criticized Bass on his plan to revive an old commission, which she said would not help America get out of its $13 trillion debt.

“The first thing we have to do is get the spending in Washington under control,” said Horn. “We have to stop spending; it really is as simple as that.”

Seeing her status as a Washington outsider as a strength, Horn said her plan to cut the size and expense of government across the board would be the best course of action.

Giuda challenged Horn on her plan to cut spending, asking if that would include programs like Social Security, Medicaid and military benefits.

Without specifically mentioning any of the programs, Horn replied that she supports taking a look at all programs and agencies because the government has gotten too big and there is a need to cut wasteful spending.

“All [programs] should be looked at for waste, abuse, fraud and redundancy,” said Horn, who when questioned added that even military spending should be looked at. “We need to protect and fund our nation, but that doesn’t mean we need to spend $1,200 for a toilet seat.”

Giuda believes that, because he is a former small-business owner, he understands how taxes and regulation hurt businesses.

“Businesses are the backbone of the American economy,” said Giuda. “We need to free up the genius of the American entrepreneur.”

He also said he wants to reduce the federal income tax to 15 percent or less and establish financial independence as a nation.

“Forty cents of every dollar our federal government is spending is borrowed,” said Giuda.

Sonner said he sees himself as representative of the average American. He said he has talked to other small business owners and they all say, “Lower taxes.”

Sonner also wants a “flat, fair” consumption tax and to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service. He said he is looking to get money out of the government and in the hands of the public.

“The people who know how to spend money — businesses and people — don’t have it,” he said. “It has gone to the government.”

Improving the job market

Sonner said the time has come for alternative energy to be turned into an American industry. Besides creating jobs, it would create a national identity and give America the power to become “the Arabs of the next century.”

Sonner also believes that bringing the money to the people of America will create jobs, because they are the ones who know how to invest and innovate.

“I think the biggest issue confronting employers today is uncertainty,” said Bass. He does not approve of the government trying to fix the job market by offering government jobs. His plan is to “make real jobs, not government make-work jobs.”

“Very simply, we need to throw out the nonsense that government creates jobs,” agreed Giuda. “The only jobs the government creates are government jobs.” He believes reducing regulations will free up American businesses and create more opportunities for potential employees.

Horn agreed that small businesses are the key to creating new jobs. “In the past 15 years, 64 percent of new jobs came from small businesses,” she said. “We have 50,000 unemployed neighbors today. Here in New Hampshire we have an extraordinary opportunity for growth, especially the field of alternative energy.”

Restoring Congress’ image

“The failures of this Congress hurt real people every single day,” said Horn. “I think one of the most encouraging things weve seen happen in this election cycle is across the country, outsiders are running for office.”

She supports shorter term limits in Congress, suggesting only four terms in the House and two in the Senate.

“We must have term limits,” she said. “It goes to the heart of what is corrupting Congress and corrupting Washington.”

Sonner believes politicians have replaced the needs of the people with their own personal agendas.

“Politics has become a career, a winning lottery ticket paid for on the backs of us taxpayers,” he said.

Bass agreed that Congress needed to connect with the people of the country.

“Congress is on a trajectory that is so divorced from what American people want,” he said. “It is heading somewhere between Saturn and Jupiter, certainly nowhere around here.”

Giuda said he has been working with 60 other like-minded candidates to form a coalition that will initiate change in Congress.

“One person can’t make a difference. I dont plan to go to Congress alone,” he said. “We need to fight this fight before we even get there.”

Analysis

The questions asked at the debate were based on input from local residents, which was then organized by three panelists, FPU professors Heather Weibel Tullio and Robin Marra, and Monadnock Ledger-Transcript editor Steve Leone. The moderator for the debate was attorney and Rindge Town Moderator David Tower.

Marra, who teaches political science at FPU, said that some questions relating to foreign policy threw the candidates off a bit, but overall they performed well.

“It flowed well. I don’t think anyone left feeling like they hadn’t gotten their fair share of talk time.”

He also said the candidates were eager to challenge each other on issues.

“I think the candidates themselves were looking forward to questioning each other. That is not something they usually get to do,” said Marra.

Rindge resident Jack Mitchell came to the debate with a preferred candidate in mind, but said he was impressed by the other candidates. He now feels like he could vote for one of the other candidates based on their performance.

“I’m proud of all of them. I thought that every one of them did a really fine job,” he said.

The next debate in the series will take place on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Franklin Pierce between Democratic Congressional candidates Katrina Swett and Ann McLane Kuster.