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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For the better part of the past year, accusations -- mostly anonymous -- have monopolized the race for Staten Island's seat in the United States Congress.

Incumbent Rep. Michael Grimm has been accused of everything from illegal campaign fundraising to associating with unsavory business partners, while challenger Mark Murphy is accused of shady real estate deals in California to failure to pay child support.

Largely lost in the debate has been a discussion of both mens' positions on issues next month's winner will be confronted with when Congress reconvenes.

On Wednesday, for the first time, both squared off before the Advance Editorial Board for two-and-one-half hours, where they laid out their positions on everything from Obamacare to Medicare, from the New York Wheel to immigration and Iran, and on those troubling accusations fundraising and personal issues.

Little common ground was found during the sometimes heated debate. Here is a report.

BATTLING OVER REPEAL OF OBAMACARE

Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said he would repeal Democratic President Barack Obama's signature health-care law.

He said Obamacare would cost city hospitals $16 billion in funding, and takes $716 billion from Medicare.

"Taking money out of Medicare, and taking so much money out of our hospital systems would be devastating," he said.

TAKING THE WHEEL FOR A SPIN

Murphy, a former aide to Democratic Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, said he supports the Wheel project on the St. George waterfront, saying it will get tourists off the ferry.

"We need people to invest in our waterfront," Murphy said. "It's the key to seeing Staten Island thrive."

But he added that the economic benefits need to spill "up the hill" beyond the immediate ferry area.

RELATED: Murphy, Grimm respond to personal attacks.

Grimm also supports the Wheel but said he is concerned about the traffic that the outlet mall also planned for the site will generate.

He pointed to narrow roads that lead to the site, and wondered what traffic there would be like during the Christmas shopping season.

"I want to see what traffic studies are being done for the outlet mall," Grimm said. "We need to make sure the developers are doing the right thing."

ON THE ISSUES



ON OBAMACARE:

Grimm: "Taking money out of Medicare, and taking so much money out of our hospital systems would be devastating." Said he would look to repeal. A

Murphy: Said coverage for pre-existing conditions and other components "make it something that I would support and would have supported and voted on two years ago."

ON MEDICARE:

Murphy: Said GOP Rep. Paul Ryan's plan would increase costs by $6,400 per year. "Seniors deserve to not have their Medicare taken away."

Grimm: "It's a farce that it will end Medicare as we know it."

ON THE WHEEL:

Grimm: Approves but says, "I want to see what traffic studies are being done for the outlet mall. We need to make sure the developers are doing the right thing."

Murphy: "We need people to invest in our waterfront. It's the key to seeing Staten Island thrive."

ON TOLL RELIEF:

Murphy: Would introduce legislation to give tax deduction for tolls. "Stop complaining about it. Do something about it."

Grimm: "If you knew Congress at all, it's not possible." His legislation would make the MTA ineligible for federal funding if it raises taxes more than 10 percent over five years.

ON IMMIGRATION

Grimm: Opposes "blanket amnesty." Says American citizenship "has to be something earned."

Murphy: Favors DREAM Act. "I think you have to give these kids the opportunity to succeed and work their way out."

ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

Grimm: "The Arab world respects strength. We have been anything but strong."

Murphy: Obama "made a very, very clear point" that Iran should "never have the ability to acquire a weapon of mass destruction."

GIVING ISLANDERS TOLL RELIEF

Murphy said that if elected, he would look to introduce legislation to give a "dollar-for-dollar" tax deduction to all Islanders for tolls.

"Stop complaining about it," Murphy said. "Do something about it."

But Grimm said the chances of that "are slim to none" because the break would be seen as an earmark, and earmarks are banned.

"If you knew Congress at all, it's not possible," Grimm said.

Saying there's no easy solution at the federal level, Grimm said he has legislation that would make the MTA ineligible for federal funding if it raises taxes more than 10 percent over five years.

"That's a more realistic goal," he averred.

SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO REFORM IMMIGRATION

Murphy said he favors passage of the DREAM Act, which creates a path to citizenship for immigrant youth brought to the U.S. by their parents.

He also backs giving those children state tuition aid.

"I think you have to give these kids the opportunity to succeed and work their way out," Murphy said.

Grimm said he opposed the DREAM Act because passage would take "the idea of really reforming immigration off the table."

He said the country needs to increase border security and give immigrants a path to citizenship.

But Grimm, a former FBI agent, opposes "blanket amnesty," which he said would "devalue" American citizenship.

"It has to be something earned," Grimm said.

JUDGING THE THREAT POSED BY IRAN

Murphy said that Obama "made a very, very clear point" that Iran should "never have the ability to acquire a weapon of mass destruction."

But he said he would exhaust all diplomatic options before contemplating any military action against Iran.

He said the U.S. should wait until Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is out of power before meeting with Iranian leaders.

Grimm said that Obama's policies of "appeasement and apologies" have weakened America.

He said the administration had "put daylight" between the U.S. and Israel and was "in turmoil" over the deadly attack on the Benghazi embassy.

"The Arab world respects strength," said Grimm, a Marine veteran of the Gulf War. "We have been anything but strong."

IDEAS ON HOW TO CREATE JOBS

Murphy said the country should invest in rebuilding bridges and rail to spur job growth.

"This infrastructure needs to be invested in," he said. "These are long-term infrastructure jobs that create middle-class jobs."

Grimm said his legislation allowing the building of a natural gas pipeline in Brooklyn would mean hundreds of jobs in the district.

He also said that he would look to lower the corporate tax rate, and to do away with some of the city and state fees and fines imposed on small businesses.

"We are nickel-and-diming our small businesses to death," Grimm said.

DEBATING GOVERNMENT COLLEGE TUITION

In response to a question from Advance reader Matt Signorile, a Great Kills resident, Grimm said that federally guaranteed college loans "give no incentive to institutions to lower rates."

Murphy slammed Grimm for a budget vote that cut $115 billion in education funding.

"That is a crime," Murphy said.

But Grimm said the U.S. is already spending more than any nation in the world on education, and "we're still not getting results." In what became another sharp exchange, Grimm said he's opposed to "the idea of continuing to throw money at the problem without fixing it."

"I take great offense at 'throwing money' at children," Murphy put in.

"Take as much offense as you like, just don't interrupt," Grimm retorted. (Related: Murphy, Grimm respond to personal attacks.)