The full, unedited debate can be heard at SeehaferPodcasts.com or viewed in video form on the Seehafer News Facebook page.
Two candidates vying for the 25th assembly district have some similar beliefs but want things done in different ways.
Republican Paul Tittl and Democrat Steve Welch debated on WOMT and WCUB radio for a SeehaferNews.com debate yesterday morning (October 10th).
Both were asked questions about topics including healthcare, agriculture, and spending.
Both agreed that more needs to be done to get mental health services in Manitowoc County after the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution asking the state to provide more funding.
“I will take that resolution and go down to Madison and advocate for more money for mental health for counties,” Tittl said.
Welch explained during the debate, “I am very for the mental healthcare. I think it should start in schools. I think schools are having a real tough time doing that because we don’t pay enough.”
Tittl and Welch were also asked about funding the UW System.
System President Jay Rothman asked Governor Tony Evers for more than $800 million to stop tuition increases and keep some two-year branch campuses open.
Tittl says during budget time, the state will look at every aspect.
Tittl stated, “If there is an intelligent reason or a good reason that they need $800 million, then we should really consider giving it to them because, really, our UW System is a world-class system.”
Welch says the money should be given so the university can support itself.
“We had a problem before where we lost a lot of the teachers which meant, we were not going to get the scientific grants that we need,” Welch stated, “The more grants we get the more the university can grow and the better it can take care of its own finances.”
There were a couple of areas where Tittl and Welch disagreed.
One topic was on expanding or keeping voucher schools and the voucher school program.
Welch said the program was a big mistake.
“The school voucher program is, I think, thriving and doing very well in Wisconsin,” he said.
“And I still believe in giving that power back to the parents and not take it away from them.”
Tittl said that parents deserve a choice.
“Every couple of years we have to run a referendum to make up for the money that goes to the voucher schools, Welch described. And it shows that voucher schools are not keeping up with the standards we want for education,”
Another topic of disagreement was abortion in Wisconsin now that Roe Vs. Wade was overturned at the federal level and given back to the states.
Welch said Wisconsin needs to provide women with this option.
“We want the women to be protected; we want them to get the care that they need,” he said.
“A non-viable pregnancy, there’s no reason to make a woman suffer like that.”
Tittl explained that a bill for a 20-week abortion ban is what he stands by.
“After 20 weeks, that five months,” he said.
“That baby is a baby. And it could easily survive. So, after five months, if you decide that you are five months and a day pregnant, then you might have to go to a different state.”
You can find the full debate online at the Seehafernews.com Facebook page.
We will have another debate, this time for the 6th Congressional District, between Glenn Grothman and John Zarbano on Wednesday, October 16th, beginning at 1:05 that afternoon.
