Tonight would have been the final debate between Professor Elizabeth Warren and Senator Scott Brown but Hurricane Sandy forced the Senate candidates to cancel. The debate has been rescheduled but both candidates have not confirmed that they would be there.
In the meantime, NTU Foundation has released a line-by-line study of Warren’s and Brown’s proposed agenda.
Key Facts:
Senator Scott Brown:
- Net Proposed Agenda: -$63.5 billion (savings)
- Top Spending Increase Item: Strengthen Border Enforcement & Employment Verification, $216 million annual cost
- Number of Spending Increase Proposals: 4
- Top Spending Decrease Item: Repeal the Affordable Care Act, -$63.9 billion annual savings
- Number of Spending Decrease Proposals: 1
- If Scored, Unknown Cost Item Likely to Make Largest Impact: Develop Domestic Sources of Energy, a possible cost
- Number of Proposals Having Unknown Budgetary Effects: 4 (44% of total proposals)
Professor Elizabeth Warren:
- Net Proposed Agenda: $13.9 billion
- Top Spending Increase Item: Invest in Surface and Air Transportation Infrastructure, $7.8 billion annual cost
- Number of Spending Increase Proposals: 12
- Top Spending Decrease Item: Repeal Agricultural Subsidies, -$1.8 billion annual savings
- Number of Spending Decrease Proposals: 4
- If Scored, Unknown Cost Item Likely to Make Largest Impact: Support Early Childhood Education, a possible cost
- Number of Proposals Having Unknown Budgetary Effects: 22 (58% of total proposals)
Though the differences between Brown and Warren have been the focus of the race, the candidates have a few policies that they, at least in principle, agree on:
- Alternative Energy Investment: They both do not give enough details as to whether tax credits or government subsidies would be used to foster greater growth in “green” or low-emissions technologies such as wind, solar, and other sources. However, taxpayers across the country can expect greater government emphasis on these sources regardless which frontrunner is elected.
- Sanctions on Iran: Supporting greater economic measures against Iran, specifically if the country continues or successfully builds a nuclear weapon, Brown and Warren agree. Neither candidate said they would support military action.
- Employ Veterans: Both have pledged to help veterans get jobs. Brown has proposed a bill to extend and expand transition and unemployment benefits for veterans but NTUF was unable to determine if Warren would support similar legislation.