The partisan divide on Obamacare showed up in a debate between state legislative candidates Dawn White, a Republican opposed to the federal law, and Robert “Bob” New, a Democrat who supports the act, according to the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.
The two are competing to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives 37th District in the upcoming Nov. 6 presidential election that starts with early voting Wednesday. The two exchanged views on health care, taxes, jobs, education and other issues during a 45-minute debate organized by the League of Women Voters Murfreesboro/Rutherford County at Murfreesboro’s City Hall.
While White sees Obamacare as a law that is killing jobs and economic development in Tennessee, New contends the Affordable Care Act is leading to more jobs in a state with a large healthcare industry, such as the way Hospital Corporation of America recently announced it was adding 2,000 jobs in Nashville.
“Any time people have health insurance, it’s good for the healthcare business,” said New, who has a 37-year background as a registered nurse. “Insurance reform is good for Tennessee. It will add jobs in Tennessee.”