Sherrod Brown in 2012 Ohio Senate Debates

On Social Security: Don't raise retirement age; system has been reliable

Mandel said he "has not come out in support" of Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan's budget plan, which called for reshaping Medicare."I believe it is unfair to change Medicare or Social Security for my grandmother and her generation and my parents and my generation," he said, before accusing "politicians in Washington" of stealing from the Social Security Trust Fund. "We need to make common sense cuts in other parts of our government in order to fund Social Security and Medicare far into our future." He said he'd consider raising the retirement eligibility age for "folks at least my age, probably some who are older," but not for baby boomers.

Brown, meanwhile, said he wouldn't raise the retirement age for either program, saying it's unfair to ask working class people to work until they're 70. He said the programs are "reliable and will be reliable for this generation and the next generation."

Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate Oct 25, 2012

On Abortion: Women should make their own health care decisions

Asked about abortion, Mandel said, "I am pro-life, I believe in protecting life," and then pivoted to say the real issue for everyone was creating jobs.

Brown said, "I trust women to make their own health care decisions," and said Mandel also opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest.

Source: Toledo Blade on 2012 Ohio Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Corporations: Supported auto industry bailout as fighting for middle class

Brown said he promised when he ran in 2006 to fight for the middle class and he renewed that pledge if elected to a second term. He said he's listened and learned from Ohioans in visits to the state's 88 counties. "This job is about real people and real problems," he said.

Brown touted his support of the auto industry bailout and criticized Mandel for calling that support un-American. That was a reference to news reports in late August when Mandel called Brown's vote for the auto bailout "un-American" and six days later said Brown "should be ashamed of himself" for voting for the rescue plan. "How you would be so out of touch with both parties boggles the mind," Brown said, facing Mandel.

"I would not be the bailout senator," Mandel said, meaning he would have voted against the auto bailout and the federal stimulus package.

Source: Cincinnati.com coverage of 2012 Ohio Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Free Trade: Trade agreements have sold out the middle class

When asked about voting for bipartisan foreign trade agreements, Brown said he takes "a back seat to no one when it comes to bipartisanship."

"These trade agreements clearly have sold out the middle class. Ten years ago, we had a $1 billion trade deficit with China on auto parts. Today it's $10 billion," he said. "Now we have a new steel mill in Youngstown, more steel jobs in Cleveland and in Lorain, and more aluminum jobs in Heath, Ohio, and Sidney, Ohio."

Mandel countered Brown's claim of bipartisanship. "I need to correct your first comment. You take a back seat to everyone when it comes to bipartisanship," he said. "Since Sherrod Brown's gone to Washington, our trade cap with China has grown 16 times greater. One out of every four kids living in Ohio is in poverty. That is a record of failure."

Source: Cleveland Jewish News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

On Tax Reform: Anti-tax pledges handcuff budget decisions

Brown criticized Mandel for signing a pledge not to raise taxes, saying it would handcuff him in making budget decisions to balance the budget and reduce the federal debt. He said it ran counter to Mandel's pledge not to be beholden to any interest group.

"I'm proud to stand up for lower taxes," Mandel said, adding that he would do anything to "lower taxes across the board for the middle class and for job creators."

Source: Cincinnati.com coverage of 2012 Ohio Senate debate Oct 15, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 Ohio Senate Debate. Click here for other excerpts from 2012 Ohio Senate Debate. Click here for other excerpts by Sherrod Brown. Click here for a profile of Sherrod Brown.
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018