WOODLAND — Ken Koch stood to ask his question about health care toward the end of the debate between U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and her Democratic challenger, state Rep. Jim Moeller, on Tuesday.
His voice cracked.
The 67-year-old from Ridgefield noted the congresswoman had voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act dozens of times.
“You’re adamantly opposed to this bill, and you have benefits from your insurance. … Excuse me, I’m emotional here. I’m the father of a dead child. … If I had a gold star insurance, I might also have a child,” he said.
It’s a question critics often have of Herrera Beutler, who is serving her third term in Congress.
Her daughter, Abigail, was the first baby to survive bilateral renal agenesis, commonly referred to as Potter’s sequence or syndrome. Abigail’s survival of the previously fatal syndrome garnered national attention. But it’s caused some to question why it’s fair for Herrera Beutler to benefit from experimental treatments and costly health care, while at the same time voting to repeal health care benefits that could help others.
Herrera Beutler said she was pleased to answer the question.
“I’m on Obamacare. I’m on the exchange that’s available to you,” Herrera Beutler said, adding later that’s why she knows “firsthand Obamacare doesn’t meet our needs.”
Many of the plan’s promises, Herrera Beutler said, such as low prices and being able to keep your doctor, turned out not to be the case. She said there are too many barriers remaining to receiving care. She co-sponsored a measure to create a nationwide network of providers to help medically complex children.
Moeller, a liberal Democrat, has criticized Herrera Beutler for her efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and for not hosting traditional town hall meetings.
Moeller served eight years on the Vancouver City Council before being elected in 2002 to a 49th Legislative District seat in the House. As speaker pro tempore, Moeller holds a powerful position, often presiding over the House. He called the Affordable Care Act a good first step, admitting it wasn’t perfect.
Moeller championed the idea of moving toward a single-payer system that will cover every American from cradle to grave.
“The GOP plan is basically: you’re on your own,” Moeller said.
It was the first time the two candidates have faced each other. They spoke to a full room at the Oak Tree Restaurant in Woodland.
Herrera Beutler touted her efforts to scale back government regulations and create jobs. She pointed to her work to help reduce the time veterans have to wait before receiving care.
Moeller promised if elected he would be an accessible congressman, available to host town halls and have an open-door policy. He also pointed to his legislative history of working across the aisle and promised to work to restore confidence in Congress.
“Congress is less popular than root canals,” Moeller said.
Overall, the two split along party lines on most of the most contentious issues. Moeller is a left-leaning Democrat. Herrera Beutler, of Camas, is a conservative Republican, but won’t be casting a vote for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. She plans to write in House Speaker Paul Ryan’s name.
Both candidates are against privatizing the Social Security system.
They both said they would work to revive discussions of replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge, although Herrera Beutler said she wouldn’t support light rail, since the citizens have made it clear they are against it.
At one point, Herrera Beutler’s microphone seemed to cut out.
“Oh my, I’m having microphone problems,” she said. “It’s a conspiracy.”
The crowd chuckled at the joke directed at Trump.
