“We are facing a demographic challenge that is really significant,” he said. Pappas talked of investing in a commuter rail line from Manchester to Boston as well as investing in programs to retain and attract young workers to the state, which has both an aging workforce and one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates. Pappas said the tax cuts were mostly helping the rich and are unnecessary at a time of strong economic growth. “The business community asked for tax cuts and they have rewarded workers, our communities.” “I do think the tax cut was effective,” Edwards said, insisting more money was coming into the general fund despite the fact the tax cuts have been found to be contributing to the rising federal deficit. He said he would work to make the cuts permanent. The two also sparred over the best way to help the state’s economy, and both said they would work in a bipartisan fashion to overcome partisan gridlock in Washington.Įdwards credited the Republican tax cuts with spurring growth and putting more money into the pockets of Granite state residents. Carol Shea-Porter in the 1st Congressional District, which has swung back and forth between the two parties over the last decade. Edwards and Pappas are competing to replace Democratic Rep.
#Gay pride shirts hot topic series
Wednesday’s forum at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce was the latest in a series of debates.
“I do believe in a future that includes everyone and that is the context I wore that shirt.” “We should oppose policies like we have seen at the federal level that tell transgender service members that they are not welcome to serve their country, policies that have undermined the progress we have made for LGBTQ members of our communities here in New Hampshire,” he said. “I believe everyone should feel welcome here,” Pappas said, as Edwards interrupted him to ask what “resist” stood for. Pappas doubled down and said the rainbow shirt stood for inclusion. Edwards, who is black, accused his opponent, who is white, of wanting to make the race “about ethnicity, race, sexual orientation and gender.” He said Pappas saying the shirt had to do with gay rights was “absurd.” Pappas continued to argue that Edwards misconstrued the meaning of the shirt. You are resisting the will of the people of this state and the will of the people of this country.” “I said ‘resist.’ You had a ‘resist’ shirt on.
“No one here said anything about you wearing a gay pride shirt,” Edwards said. “I am proud of who I am and I am proud to stand up against hate, bigotry and intolerance, and I think we need people who are willing to do that.”Įdwards grew defensive and suggested Pappas was trying to introduce his sexual orientation into the debate. “The photo you are referring to is a rainbow shirt I wore at a gay pride event in Portsmouth,” Pappas said of the photo, where he posed with two women wearing “Portsmouth Pride” hats. Pappas, a Democrat, responded that the T-shirt was worn at a gay pride event and was his way of showing opposition to federal policies that harm the LGBTQ community.
Eddie Edwards and his congressional opponent Chris Pappas spent much of a debate Wednesday talking about the economy, but the most heated exchange revolved around a T-shirt.Įdwards, a Republican, suggested a T-shirt with the word “Resist” that Pappas had been photographed wearing showed he would go to Washington only to oppose Trump’s agenda.