Candidates for North Dakota’s lone US House seat met in their first formal debate of the season.
It was sponsored by the North Dakota Newspaper Association, and held in Bismarck. Incumbent Republican Kevin Cramer, Democratic challenger George Sinner and Libertarian Jack Seaman discussed health care, energy and fiscal policy.
On the issue of raising the debt ceiling, Seaman got a laugh when he interrupted the questioner with a firm "No."
"we're $17.5 trillion in debt," said Seaman. "We've been hearing about the debt for a long time. When are we going to actually address the problem?"
Sinner took the opportunity to criticize Cramer for the most recent government shutdown.
"Somebody sitting at this table voted to shut down the government, and still took his own paycheck," said Sinner. "I don't think that's right."
Cramer said he has never voted to shut the government down, although he did vote against the debt ceiling increase. And he said he worked every day through the shutdown.
"I took my salary, and for every week that I worked, I gave two weeks away to charity," said Cramer. "I just didn't put out a news release to brag about it, because I don't think that's what charitable people do."
On the issue of the Affordable Care Act -- known as "Obamacare" -- Cramer and Seaman said they would vote to repeal it. Sinner said the act has its flaws, which need to be corrected, but it has a number of good things that need protection.
Another issue discussed at the debate was federal funding for the proposed F-M Red River Diversion project. Cramer says the House has already voted to authorize the project.
"If somebody can get Barack Obama and OMB to put the funding in his budget, and it comes to us, I will certainly vote for it, absolutely," said Cramer.
Sinner says he, too would support federal funding.
"With all the study that's been done, years and years of study, there's only one solution," said Sinner. "That's the F-M Diversion. It will protect our community."
Sinner said he's also in favor of helping people south of Fargo that will be affected by the diversion.
Seaman says he’s concerned about what the diversion would do to landowners south of Fargo.
"What about the rights of those citizens?" said Seaman. "In its current form, I don't believe it's designed well enough to where I would vote for federal funding."
