Todd Akin in 2012 Missouri Senate Debates

On Civil Rights: No policy to pay female staff less than men (but he does)

The I-Team checked salary numbers. Over his 12 years in Congress, Akin paid men an average of $15,872 per quarter. Women on average made $12,152 per quarter. That is a difference of $3,720, or 31%--even bigger difference than McCaskill's campaign came up with. So on this claim, we say: true.

We did take a look at McCaskill's Senate staff salaries. We found she pays women an average of $24,405 per 6-month period. Men are paid an average of $23,966. That's a difference of $439, or 2%.

The I-Team asked Akin's office to weigh in on the discrepancies. His spokesman says there's no policy dictating a difference in pay between men and women on the staff. He also says the congressman's chief of staff is a woman who was hired as a front desk employee and promoted. The Akin camp also says right now, its female staff makes 14% more than the men.

On Abortion: Resisted stepping aside after "legitimate rape" comment

On Civil Rights: Women's pay should be left to discretion of employers

Akin did not respond directly to McCaskill's assertion, but has said he believes pay should be left to the discretion of employers. Akin said McCaskill must share the blame for the slumping economy and growing national debt.

On Immigration: Illegal immigrants receiving benefits is unacceptable

The idea of illegal immigrants receiving federal benefits like food stamps or Social Security is unacceptable to most Americans. We welcome legal immigrants who can contribute to these programs and in turn can receive benefits. But if you have not paid into the programs, and you are not legally in this country, you should not be allowed to receive benefits.

Not surprisingly, it is illegal already for illegal immigrants to receive federal benefits. Since the rule of law is under assault by the Obama administration, particularly when it comes to immigration, it is unlikely DHS would even start checking immigration status on their own initiative. That is why I recently introduced the VERIFI Act, which would require an individual's immigration status to be checked before receiving any benefits.

On Government Reform: Get rid of Departments of Energy, Education and Commerce

Akin advocated for getting rid of the Departments of Energy, Education and Commerce. The representative believes every bill before Congress should have a webpage dedicated to why a certain bill is constitutional or not.

On Government Reform: Reversing 17th Amendment gives power back o the states

Akin believed the election of senators is a state vs. federal rights issue. He believed "reversing" the 17th Amendment would put more power back into the states.

On Abortion: Life begins at conception; support Constitutional Amendment

Brunner and Steelman both said they would want to look at the wording of a proposed amendment before endorsing it while still trying to portray a strong anti-abortion stance, with Steelman saying she does believe life begins at conception and Brunner pledging support to the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

On Education: Federal government should be out of the student loan market

Akin said the government should be out of the student loan market altogether. "America has got the equivalent of the stage three cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in," he said.

Steelman said she would have to take a closer look at the proposal but said she supported more competition in the sector because "the federal government has a monopoly now on student loans."

Brunner didn't answer whether he would support keeping the rates at their lower level but said the whole college finance system needed a "fresh look."

On Principles & Values: I'm no career politician; I left a safe district

Akin, a six-term congressman, took exception. "If I were a career politician, I'd stay in a safe congressional district, wouldn't I?" While Akin listed jobs in a steel mill and for IBM, he also painted his experience in Washington, D.C., as an attribute. "I don't think the Senate is the place for on-the-job training," he said.

Brunner, who has poured more than $2 million of his own money into his campaign and has outspent his opponents, called Akin's remarks about on-the-job training "political talk." His opponents' recent job experience "is a little different than being on the production line," he said.

On Government Reform: Denounces intrusive government regulations and ObamaCare

On Principles & Values: Experienced conservative voice in Congress