Pelosi, tax cuts, ACA at center of congressional debate between Brown and McHenry

Mark Barrett | The Citizen-Times

ASHEVILLE – Candidates in the congressional district that includes most of Asheville clashed sharply over House leadership, tax cuts, and health care during a debate Tuesday.

Democrat David Wilson Brown, an information technology consultant from Gaston County, was the aggressor for much of the debate put on by the Council of Independent Business Owners for candidates in the 10th District.

But in front of a crowd of about 200 at Highland Brewing Co., incumbent Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Lincoln, the favorite in the predominantly Republican district that stretches from Asheville to Charlotte's western suburbs, also questioned Brown's support for Medicare for all and opposition to President Donald Trump.

McHenry, who as deputy majority whip is a member of the House's Republican leadership team, said retiring Speaker Paul Ryan has "done a fine job." He said he would support House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California to lead the House if the GOP retains control.

Previous coverage: Brown, McHenry disagree on tax cuts, health care in 10th District race

McHenry, Meadows play key roles in health bill passage

Brown said he would not support House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the top Democratic in the House. "We need new leadership across both parties" more focused on the needs of the middle class, he said.

He said McHenry should apologize for a campaign email that Brown said "claimed I was hand-picked by Nancy Pelosi, and honestly, I've never met the woman. I've never had conversations with her staff."

"You certainly were not telling the truth on that one," Brown told McHenry.

McHenry responded that if Democrats gain a majority in the House, Democratic House members will have to choose between McCarthy, the Republican, and Pelosi for Speaker.

"She ain't going anywhere. She's going to stick around," he said.

Brown then asked McHenry again about an apology for saying Pelosi picked him to run.

"Was it an insult to you?" McHenry said.

"Yeah, it was. It's not true," he said. "I think the people of this district are ready for politicians that tell the truth and don't try to make up lies to smear their opponent."

McHenry then declined a chance for a rebuttal.

Who benefits from tax cuts?

On taxes, Brown said more than 80 percent of the $1.5 trillion tax cut Congress passed in December 2017 "went to large corporations and the wealthy. It did not make a difference for the middle class."

Instead of investing tax savings in the American economy, the wealthy "offshore their money, they buy yachts in Europe," Brown said.

McHenry said low unemployment and other favorable economic indicators are proof the tax cut bill is working.

"It's good for jobs and it's good for families and it's having a positive impact," he said.

He said a typical middle-class family of four in Western North Carolina got a $1,800 tax cut from the bill.

Brown and McHenry also had a back and forth discussion on support for Trump that touched on health care and the unsuccessful attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

McHenry recounted Trump signing the tax cut bill and recent hurricane relief legislation plus helping win the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson of Black Mountain from prison in Turkey.

Recalling a statement by Brown that he couldn't think of anything Trump has done he agreed with, McHenry posted a one-word question to Brown: "Really?"

Brown said he disagrees with the tax cut bill and that Trump had done what any president would do on the other issues.

He then criticized McHenry for celebrating with Trump at the White House the May 2017 passage in the U.S. House of a bill that would have repealed the ACA "with no plan to replace it."

"You were excited about knocking people from your own district off of their own health care. That's not something I would get behind," he said. "How dare you call yourself pro-life, sir?"

McHenry said there was a plan to replace the ACA that failed in the Senate. He said the ACA, also called Obamacare, "is an absolute disaster."

Brown has backed extending Medicare coverage to the entire country. McHenry said that would be far too expensive.

Instead, he said he would favor measures like letting small businesses buy health insurance plans jointly, allowing individuals to purchase insurance from out-of-state companies and forcing some health care providers to list prices so consumers can make better choices.

The candidates also dealt with several questions about immigration, whether Trump should be impeached, Trump's trade policies and climate change, but their differences on those issues were not as stark.

McHenry said he has seen no evidence that Trump has committed any impeachable offense but awaits the results of a special counsel investigation. Brown said he is waiting to see what investigators find.

Both questioned the wisdom of Trump putting tariffs on products from Europe. McHenry was more supportive of Trump's actions toward China while Brown said they will hurt the U.S. econom