Rausch, Dooley debate economic development, small business and environment

NEEDHAM — State Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham, and her Republican challenger, state Rep. Shawn Dooley, discussed the economy, climate action, education and other topics Monday in what is so far their only scheduled debate before the general election Nov. 8.

Charles River Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman moderated the hourlong event, in which both candidates pledged support for small business and outlined how they intend to create change in the sector.

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The two candidates are vying for the new Norfolk, Middlesex and Worcester state Senate seat, which includes many — but not all — of the communities Rausch currently respresents in the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District. Their race is expected to be among the most competitive in the state.

While Dooley said he remained largely supportive of the Baker administration’s reopening decisions during the pandemic, he lamented that some small businesses were forced to stay closed for longer periods. He added that it felt like the government was “picking winners and losers,” which it should not do.

As a solution to help small businesses, Dooley said the Legislature should decrease price burdens, such as LLC filings.

“We should be using our rainy day funds and some of the excess revenues that we have to subsidize that and not further punish our businesses,” he said.

Rausch said she intends to continue the model she implemented when establishing the Small Business Advisory Council during the pandemic.

“I firmly believe that one of the best things I can do is listen carefully, and then turn comments from people who are running small businesses now into results that are going to actually make a meaningful difference in their business operations,” she said.

Economic development bill

When it comes to the economic development bill, the candidates agreed it needs to get passed quickly. Rausch said the bill is “very much about our district,” and that she facilitated discussion between the Senate Ways and Means Committee and her town’s small business leaders and economic development professionals to help move conversation along.

Dooley said Baker’s mention of Chapter 62F — a 1986 law that requires the government to refund about $2.9 billion in excess tax collections to taxpayers — toward the end of this year’s session stalled the economic development bill’s passing, but he’s been in conversation with multiple legislators and Baker to brainstorm how to proceed.

Looking at the state’s carbon footprint, Rausch, who chairs the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, said she is in favor of statewide mandates surrounding plastic use, including straws and plastic bags.

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“There’s different rules from town to town and city to city, and that makes it really difficult for people to do business efficiently and effectively,” she said, adding that she sees much support right now for a plastic bag ban, with many municipalities already discontinuing their use.

But rather than create statewide bans, Dooley said communities should make plastic use decisions based on their needs.

“I’m a small government guy,” he said. “I think each local municipality should be controlling their own destiny.”

Education, abortion

Reibman asked each candidate to respond to Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page’s comments in August that public education today is "a battle between starkly opposing visions" and is "tied to the capitalist class and its needs for profit.”

Rausch said she was unfamiliar with the statement, and as such could not directly comment. But she feels it's not her place to decide what students are taught.

“I can't speak to what the curriculum should or shouldn't include in terms of — other than sort of basic skills,” Rausch said. “I look to education experts to provide that insight and information.”

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While some may see capitalism as “evil, corrupt and bad,” Dooley said he does not think that is what students should be taught.

Rausch and Dooley each expressed support for abortion rights, although Dooley disagrees with lowering the age of consent to 16.

The final quarter of the debate strayed from policy issues, as Reibman questioned Rausch about her lack of endorsement from Democratic gubernatorial nominee Maura Healey, and Dooley about former President Donald Trump.

Before moving to closing statements, Reibman asked about the ballot questions. Rausch was in favor of Questions 1 (which asks voters to approve a 4% surtax on earnings above $1 million) and 4 (which asks voters whether to keep a new law that allows all Massachusetts residents, regardless of citizenship status, to apply for a driver's license), and said she needed to do more research on Questions 2 (which asks voters whether to require dental insurance carriers to refund excess premiums) and 3 (which asks voters whether to incrementally increase the statewide limit on the combined number of retail alcohol licenses an establishment can have), though she will likely vote yes on 2. Dooley said he plans to vote no on Questions 1 and 4, yes on Question 2 and is currently undecided on Question 3.

In his closing remarks, Dooley said that as a Republican he would provide necessary balance to a currently left-leaning Senate.

“It's important that we have additional voices with additional ideas and an ability to speak out and not just vote in lockstep,” Dooley said.

Rausch, for her part, highlighted her policy initiatives, including small business, women’s reproduction rights and education.

“It's a choice between ineffective right-wing extremism and disinformation, versus my proven track record of success delivering win after win after win for our district on policy on funding and collaboration,” Rausch said.

The Norfolk, Middlesex and Worcester district includes Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sherborn and Wrentham.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Becca Rausch, Shawn Dooley debate in Needham ahead of Nov. 8 election