The candidates running to represent Indiana's 9th Congressional district faced off during their first debate Monday.
The Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce invited Republican Trey Hollingsworth and Democrat Shelli Yoder to debate during a legislative luncheon Monday.
"Are we going to let someone come in and buy from the highest bidder?"
The candidates answered questions from the chamber's business advisory board, as well as the audience. The candidate answering the question first had two minutes to answer, then the opposing candidate had one minute for a rebuttal.
Yoder and Hollingsworth didn't mention each other until the end of the debate, when the moderator asked if the candidates would release their tax returns in the spirit of transparency.
Yoder says she's released her returns from the past five years and she's asked her opponent to do the same.
"It does appear someone has moved in just to buy this seat in congress," Yoder says. "We only have nine seats in Congress to represent the people of Indiana. And are we going to let someone come in and buy from the highest bidder? Someone from outside of Indiana?
"I want to fix our tax code...let's figure out how to get a tax code that works."
But Hollingsworth says he's not worried about his tax returns – he's instead focused on the people of Indiana.
"I want to fix our tax code," Hollingsworth says. "I know my opponent's obsessed with my tax returns, I'm obsessed with your tax returns. Let's figure out how to get to a tax code that works."
The candidates also answered questions about transportation funding, the federal minimum wage and background checks for gun owners.
On I-69 Completion
Hollingsworth: "This is exactly why we need business experience in Washington. This is exactly why: because projects go over-budget, because we've got politicians that aren't used to budgeting, and then we've got private parties who aren't held accountable."
Yoder: "Before we talk about finishing or starting Section 6 with I-69, we have to finish Section 5. And as somebody who's living in Monroe County and going back and fourth throughout the district, driving on the mess, the debacle that is occurring right now in Section 5, this is a serious issue that we should all be talking about and addressing."
On The Affordable Care Act
Yoder: "Two of the changes, one would be eliminating, repealing the Cadillac tax, which is putting those penalties on really good health insurance plans. As well as repealing permanently the Medical Device Tax."
Hollingsworth: "We have to repeal this legislation and get to a free markets option where companies are competing for U.S. consumer dollars, not Americans forced to give their dollars to companies."
On Universal Background Checks For Gun Owners
Hollingsworth: "I believe in the rights afforded to us under that Constitution. And I will fight to protect all of those rights. You'll be the first to know, it just came out on Saturday, but I've been endorsed by the NRA because they know that I'm committed to fighting for our constitutional rights."
Yoder: "I, too, support the Second Amendment. And, I, too, support expanded background checks, universal background checks. And I have been endorsed by our first responders. We have some here -- firefighters and the FOP."
Hollingsworth and Yoder are running to replace Republican Congressman Todd Young, who's vying for Dan Coats' senate seat.
The Libertarian candidate for the 9th District did not attend the debate. Russell Brooksbank was arrested Friday in Louisville. He is preliminary charged with a traffic violation of failing to signal and a misdemeanor count of obstructions/interference with a police officer.
