By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER – U.S. Congressman Chris Pappas, D-NH of Manchester, and former Republican Executive Councilor and state Senator Russell Prescott of Kingston met for a final time to debate mostly economic and foreign policy issues during a WMUR-TV debate Wednesday night.

Both are small business owners in southern New Hampshire who have differing views on sourcing energy, abortion, Ukraine, Israel, gun issues and cannabis among others which were explored during the hour-long debate. 

Prescott said being a person of integrity is the most important thing and said he is a family man, has been in business for 40 years and asked voters to look at his personality and record when considering who to vote for.

Pappas said he respects Prescott but did not hear a lot of answers to questions that are pressing to working families today during the debate. 

He said Prescott supports many matters that benefit the rich instead and said there is a stark difference between the two on a woman’s right to choose, which Pappas supports.

Pappas said having a payroll and workers gives him a perspective of the workforce issues.

He said addressing the childcare crisis is important to get more people in the workforce. He said he has worked on education efforts to get more into jobs.

Asked about broad tariffs, Prescott said he would stand up against any efforts in that regard as former President Donald Trump has suggested, if Trump is elected to another term.

Pappas acknowledged President Joe Biden kept a number of Trump tariffs in place, but he said each has to be considered individually.

He talked about New Hampshire businesses like NEMO and Revision Energy which are being negatively impacted by tariffs.

On the energy mix, Pappas said he wants to see a mix of renewables and more homegrown sources can help while Prescott said he would support more domestic natural gas infrastructure here to allow for options to foreign oil.

On abortion, Prescott was asked if he had given up on his pro-life beliefs. He said he would not take away the state’s rights for abortion laws because of the Constitution. He said he would not vote for any abortion laws in Washington.

Pappas was asked if there is a line for a viable fetus when terminating a pregnancy.

Pappas said he believes women should be trusted to make their own decisions and that the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Roe v. Wade was wrong.

“It’s not good enough to be hedging on this,” Pappas said. Women deserve “bodily autonomy.”

“I do appreciate your position but it is wrong,” said Prescott. “I believe in state’s rights,” he said.

Pappas said he has yet to meet a woman who wants a politician in the room with her and her doctor to deal with these personal reproductive issues.

On illegal immigration, Pappas said people should be deported immediately if they are violating the law. He said any change in the border policy has been thwarted by Congress and Republicans who are listening to former Republican President Donald Trump who wants no change as a political tool to get another term.

Prescott said mass deportations of illegal immigrants are needed to enforce the laws and could be a deterrent to further illegal immigration.

Otherwise, Prescott said, it is saying it is OK to “cut in line.”

On the war between Israel and Gaza, Pappas said the U.S. should not hold back help to Israel and support humanitarian aid.

Prescott said when the nation does its budgeting it needs to consider the country’s greatest ally, Israel. 

“We need to make sure we stand with them,” he said.

Asked about Ukraine, Prescott said he would vote “no” to more help if the U.S. does not deal with its domestic needs first.

He said we should stand with them as long as we can but with strict budgeting protecting our needs first.

Pappas said the $175 billion in assistance to Ukraine from the U.S. is an important investment and future help is something we need to do with other allies.

“They are fighting hard,” he said, asking not for soldiers but for money and weapons systems. This allows for jobs here in developing those systems that can be sent to Ukraine.

Mass shootings were also discussed. 

Pappas said the country is not incapable of reducing these tragedies.

He said there are things that can be done while being consistent with Second Amendment rights.

On tuition reimbursements Prescott said people should be sure that they go to a college they can afford before going there and if the federal government is going to pay down student debt that is the wrong thing to do.

Asked about legalizing cannabis, Prescott said it is not the time for the nation to legalize cannabis but allow it to be a state issue.

The election is Nov. 5.