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District 8 Democrats get one last chance to jab at each other District 8 Democrats get one last chance to jab at one another
(35 minutes later)
Maryland’s District 8 Democratic Congressional candidates held their 25th and final forum Sunday, winding up an estimated 37 hours of discussion and dispute in total, with a format twist that allowed them to ask questions of one another. The Democratic candidates for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District held their 25th and final forum Sunday, winding up an estimated 37 hours of discussion and dispute in total, with a format twist that allowed them to question one another.
Del. Ana Sol-Gutierrez zeroed in on Kathleen Matthews, challenging, with no apparent foundation, her position supporting abortion rights. Del. Ana Sol-Gutiérrez zeroed in on Kathleen Matthews, challenging, with no apparent foundation, her position supporting abortion rights.
“We understand that you have not always been pro-choice, that you were pro-life for a long time,” Gutierrez said. She acknowledged after the session, held at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville, that she had nothing to support her “understanding.”“We understand that you have not always been pro-choice, that you were pro-life for a long time,” Gutierrez said. She acknowledged after the session, held at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville, that she had nothing to support her “understanding.”
[What happens when two Latinas run for Congress in the D.C. suburbs][What happens when two Latinas run for Congress in the D.C. suburbs]
“I have always been pro-choice,” said Matthews, the former WJLA anchor, who has received an endorsement and financial support from Emily’s List, the political organization that backs Democratic women who support abortion rights. She speculated that her service on the board of Catholic Charities might be the source of “some confusion,” but said her involvement was focused on programs to address poverty and homelessness. “I have always been pro-choice,” said Matthews, a former WJLA anchor who has received an endorsement and financial support from Emily’s List, a political organization that backs Democratic women who support abortion rights. She speculated that her service on the board of Catholic Charities might be the source of “some confusion,” but said her involvement was focused on programs that address poverty and homelessness.
Wine retailer David Trone initially misfired his query, asking Del. Kumar Barve why he voted earlier this month for a bill that exempted nail salon workers from unemployment insurance. Wine retailer David Trone initially misfired his query, asking Del. Kumar Barve why he voted earlier this month for a bill to exempt nail salon workers from unemployment insurance.
The problem was that Barve voted against the bill, sponsored by state Sen. John Astle (D-Anne Arundel). It passed the House of Delegates 106-28. The problem was that Barve voted against the measure, sponsored by state Sen. John Astle (D-Anne Arundel). It passed the House of Delegates 106-28.
Trone’s intended target was state Sen. Jamie Raskin, who did vote in favor of the measure, which barred the manicurists and pedicurists — mostly immigrant women of color — from unemployment benefits because they are considered independent contractors. It passed the Senate 43-1. Trone’s intended target was state Sen. Jamie Raskin, who did vote in favor of the legislation to bar manicurists and pedicurists — mostly immigrant women of color — from unemployment benefits because they are considered independent contractors. It passed the Senate 43-1.
[Fact-check site says Raskin overstated record on environment][Fact-check site says Raskin overstated record on environment]
Raskin had no real response. “I’ll go back and check it,” he said.Raskin had no real response. “I’ll go back and check it,” he said.
Trone got his question from former State Department official Joel Rubin, who asked how the beer, wine and spirits retailer can run as a reformer (taking no campaign contributions) when he’s spent millions “hiring PACs and lobbyists” to benefit his business. Trone got his question from former State Department official Joel Rubin, who asked how the beer, wine and spirits retailer can run as a reformer (taking no campaign contributions) when he has spent millions “hiring PACs and lobbyists” to benefit his business.
This time Rubin was wide of the mark, since Trone has never hired a PAC. This time Rubin was wide off the mark, because Trone has never hired a PAC.
Trone pointed out that Rubin “has a nice PAC funding him,” referring to a super PAC formed by a Pittsburgh friend that has purchased advertising on Rubin’s behalf. Trone said his only goal in retaining lobbyists was to open up states where he had stores to consumer improvements, such as sales of craft beer. Trone pointed out that Rubin “has a nice PAC funding him,” referring to a super PAC formed by a Pittsburgh friend who has purchased advertising on Rubin’s behalf. Trone said his only goal in retaining lobbyists was to open up states where he had stores to consumer improvements, such as sales of craft beer.
Moderators Josh Kurtz (Center Maryland blog) and Bruce DePuyt (NewsChannel 8) did their best to sharpen up the few existing policy differences among the contenders.Moderators Josh Kurtz (Center Maryland blog) and Bruce DePuyt (NewsChannel 8) did their best to sharpen up the few existing policy differences among the contenders.
On recent U.S. trade deals, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there was some daylight. Trone, Matthews and nonprofit executive David Anderson support them. Gutierrez, Raskin, Rubin and former Obama White House aide Will Jawando said they lack sufficient labor and environmental protections. Barve said the costs and benefits are “kind of a wash,” and called for more investment in training programs to offset job losses caused by such pacts. On recent U.S. trade deals, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, there was some daylight. Trone, Matthews and nonprofit executive David Anderson support them. Gutierrez, Raskin, Rubin and former Obama White House aide Will Jawando said they lack sufficient labor and environmental protections. Barve said the costs and benefits are “kind of a wash,” and called for more investment in training programs to offset job losses caused by such pacts.
[For wine mogul Trone, running for Congress is unfinished business][For wine mogul Trone, running for Congress is unfinished business]
And on the nuclear agreement with Iran, only Anderson said he was opposed to it. And on the nuclear agreement with Iran, only Anderson said he opposed it.
In a discussion about Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allows corporations and unions to open their treasuries for unlimited independent political expenditures, there was general agreement that winning the White House and changing the composition of the court was the best option to overturn the ruling. Trone agreed with the calls for reform, but also used the moment to defend what he described as hostility toward his business success.In a discussion about Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allows corporations and unions to open their treasuries for unlimited independent political expenditures, there was general agreement that winning the White House and changing the composition of the court was the best option to overturn the ruling. Trone agreed with the calls for reform, but also used the moment to defend what he described as hostility toward his business success.
“There’s three millionaires on this panel (referring to Raskin and Matthews),” he said. “Yup, I’m guilty as charged. So I started a business with nothing, created a successful business. I used to think that was a good thing in America, a really good thing. You sometimes hear that’s bad, or you’re a bad person because you created 5,000 jobs around the country.” “There’s three millionaires on this panel,” he said, referring to Raskin and Matthews. “Yup, I’m guilty as charged. So I started a business with nothing, created a successful business. I used to think that was a good thing in America, a really good thing. You sometimes hear that’s bad, or you’re a bad person because you created 5,000 jobs around the country.”
Anderson, outspent by nearly all of his opponents in one of the nation's most expensive House races, added one final plea, asking the audience to look beyond the millions of dollars in advertising. Anderson, outspent by nearly all of his opponents in one of the nation’s most expensive House races, added one final plea, asking the audience to look beyond the millions of dollars in advertising.
“I advise you to vote your conscience, not your calculator,” he said.“I advise you to vote your conscience, not your calculator,” he said.