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Deep political contrasts surfaced Tuesday between Republican Lehigh Valley congressman Charlie Dent and his two challengers when they clashed over trade policies during a debate at PBS39 studios. Dent, who supports fast-tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership, said the United States needs new markets for companies to grow. He said he supports rule-based trading, in which rule violations have consequences. If the United States doesn't write the rules, he said, China will and, consequently decimate American jobs. Libertarian Paul Rizzo denounced such trade agreements, saying they would erode American sovereignty and allow foreign governments to sue U.S. companies. Democrat Rick Daugherty argued that trade agreements over the last 20 years have led to job losses because Third World countries have unequal labor and environmental standards. Daugherty repeatedly returned to the issue during the hourlong debate when fielding questions ranging from global warming to student debt. He argued that trade agreements would send jobs and manufacturing plants to China, which has a poor environmental record. On another question, Daugherty said students need to find good-paying jobs to pay off their student debt and they can't do that if manufacturing supervisor jobs are being sent overseas. Daugherty then took aim at Dent's political fundraising, chiding the six-term 15th District congressman for spending $1 million two years ago when he faced no opponent. "He spent a million?" Rizzo quipped. "That's quite impressive if you didn't have to run against anyone." Dent attacked Daugherty, who had a little more than $4,381 in his campaign war chest in June, for not raising much money. "You're not getting a lot of support because they don't believe in your candidacy," Dent said. Dent then turned the tables, reminding Daugherty that he had called a congressman's job "foolish" on a radio show. Dent asked Daugherty why he wanted a foolish job. "What's foolish is that they're spending half the time begging for cash," Daugherty said. "I don't," Dent said, cutting into Daugherty's answer. In making his case for re-election, Dent cast himself as a moderate Republican with the experience and tone to get things done in a dysfunctional Washington, D.C. While partisan bickering has dominated election cycles, the 56-year-old congressman said governing requires people to reach across the aisle and create consensus. He pointed to his work on the House Appropriations Committee in getting a spending bill passed and his work on a bill to combat synthetic drug problems. He said he would spend his term supporting policies that lead to job opportunities. Daugherty, a 55-year-old senior center executive, portrayed Dent as a career politician and himself as an outsider who would tear down trade agreements and bring manufacturing jobs home. Rizzo, 42, argued that both the Democrats and Republicans have failed the country, and it's time to give someone with America's best interest in mind a chance. Another issue where the candidates diverged was on raising the annual salary to accrue overtime from $24,000 to $48,000. Daugherty said he supports the measure because managers with small salaries would no longer have to work 60 to 70 hours a week without compensation. Dent said the decision would devastate not just small businesses but also nonprofits — the type that aim to help people of modest means. Rizzo said he would not support the change. Rizzo and Dent oppose Obamacare. Dent said the program raises health care costs, raises taxes and stifles innovation. Daugherty said some of the problems with Obamacare will get fixed after more young people participate in the program, but he said he'd support changes. Some of those changes include extending the ban on the medical device tax and supporting certain exemptions for religious organizations. Dent and Rizzo said they support lowering the corporate tax, saying it might entice more companies to produce goods in the United States. Daugherty said he would rather see corporations pay their fair share and eliminate some of the loopholes that have allowed "a certain presidential candidate" to take advantage of. The 15th District stretches 100 miles from the Delaware River to the Susquehanna River. It includes all of Lehigh County and parts of Northampton, Berks, Dauphin and Lebanon counties. The debate was produced by PBS39 and The Morning Call in cooperation with Muhlenberg College and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Read the full article here.