LEXINGTON, KY. — Candidates in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District squared off in their only debate of the year Monday on Kentucky Educational Television with a discussion that focused largely on the role of the federal government.
Republican Thomas Massie argued for a smaller role for the government and would only say that government should spend money on infrastructure in the district.
Democrat Bill Adkins called for a more expansive role for government that involves spending on infrastructure and a range of other programs, including the bailout that President Barack Obama has claimed saved the American auto industry.
But the two candidates couldn’t agree on a key point — whether or not Massie accepted nearly $170,000 worth of government grants when he was starting up a business after he graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Adkins said that Massie has argued that “government shouldn’t be involved in promoting business” yet he said that he “got $170,000 in government grants” from the U.S. Department of Education.
Massie shot back that Adkins “got his facts all wrong” and that the assertion was “completely ludicrous. We didn’t take money from the Department of Education.”
But upon further questioning from Bill Goodman, the host of the debate, Massie acknowledged receiving federal government funds “to the extent that any company that does business with the federal government is a recipient of federal funds.”
The company came out of his work at MIT, where he earned engineering degrees, and involved a touch-based computer interface. He has since sold the company.
He likened it to a transaction with the government. When asked afterward what services or product he provided to the government for the $167,402 he recieved from the Small Business Innovation Research Grant program, Massie refused to answer and rushed out of the KET studio lobby.
“Talk to my campaign manager, but congratulations on endorsing Bill,” he said, referring to The Courier-Journal Editorial Board endorsement of Adkins, which appeared in Monday’s newspaper.
According to information provided by Adkins’ campaign, the grants are administered by 11 federal agencies. Massie’s grant was administered by the Department of Defense.
The two candidates disagreed on a number of other domestic topics ranging from abortion to the economy.
Adkins said he favors abortion rights while Massie said he believes that life begins at conception.
Massie said Congress needs more businessmen and fewer lawyers. Adkins, a lawyer, said the U.S. House of Representatives needs one more.
Massie said that the powers of government are governed by the U.S. Constitution and that the government has “lost its mission.”
Adkins argued that govenment isn’t just limited by the Constitution but by more than 200 years of case law.
Massie has a huge financial advantage in the race and looks to be the favorite.
Democrats have won the 4th District for only three terms since Republican Gene Snyder wrested the seat from Democrat Frank Chelf in 1966. The district comprises 20 counties and runs from Spencer County, north to Oldham and along the Ohio River to Boyd.
Both candidates said they oppose using tolls to pay for the Brent Spence Bridge in Northern Kentucky, although Massie said that decision should be left to state officials.
And Massie said he would vote to put in place more than $100 billion worth of budget cuts as part of the federal sequestration deal that kicked in when the so-called “super committee“ couldn’t reach a budget deal.
Adkins said he favors compromise to work out a budget agreement.
