Congressional debate comes to Purdue

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Candidates hoping to be sent by voters to Washington D.C. debated the issues Monday night - not for President, but for U.S. Representative.

The three candidates in District 4 took the stage in Mallett Theatre at Purdue University's Pao Hall.

Incumbent Republican Todd Rokita said he's focused on cutting the national debt.

Democratic candidate Tara Nelson said she wants to create jobs and even out the pay for men and women.

Libertarian challenger B.J. Gehlhausen said he's a concerned citizen who supports the ideas of Ron Paul.

The debate was organized by WBAA and took questions from about 50 audience members and social media on topics like health care, immigration and small business.

"Business owners are being strangled," Rokita said. "They are being strangled by an over-zealous federal government that regulates in areas that they never have before and regulates to a degree that we have never seen."

"The more money that we have to commit to complying with federal regulations is the less money that they get to keep and save for a rainy day or spend on other goods and services that their family may need," said Gehlhausen.

"To provide better tax incentives so they are hiring American workers instead of off-shoring jobs," said Nelson.  "As a manager, when I was asked to offshore my team, I created a business case to keep their jobs here. I think we need more people fighting for our jobs here and that's what I intend to do."