Candidates for the 147th Missouri State House District addressed issues at a KRCU and League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri forum Tuesday at The Concourse in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Three candidates debated topics like legalizing marijuana, healthcare for the uninsured, income tax and same sex marriage.
Both Democratic candidate, Gary Gaines, and the Republican incumbent, Kathy Swan, were not in favor of legalizing marijuana in Missouri.
“I do not favor it,” Gaines said. “I fear that it is a gateway drug. I’ve tried to read up on and try to understand it and I think I would rather error on the side of caution as far as our young children as concern.”
Swan said last session the state government passed a bill regarding hemp extract oil. She explained it treated epilepsy particularly in children who did not respond to any other form of treatment.
“At this time that is the limitation that I am willing to go to,” Swan said. “I agree as well that it is a gateway drug. We have become, Southeast Missouri particularly, one of the meth capitals of the world so therefore it’s not a risk I am willing to take.”
Libertarian Candidate Greg Tlapek said he thought it should be put on the ballot to let the people decide if marijuana should be legalized or not.
Gaines and Tlapek agreed Medicaid should be expanded. Tlapek said he thinks it should be available to everyone for a short period of time to take care of any medical issues they may have.
Gaines also touched on the idea of deregulation.
“We need to relook at the way the medical system operates and find a more efficient and more productive way of operating it,” Gaines said.
In the Expanded Medicaid program, the Federal government would pay 100% of the cost of Medicaid eligibility through 2016 and gradually decline to 90% in 2020.
“There are those who would have approved receiving some Medicaid dollars knowing that the percentage of the federal government payment on those would decline over time,”Swan said. “We’re willing to institute measures that would take care of that situation as the dollars would decrease.”
Swan said Missouri needs transformation, incentives and benefits to reduce healthcare costs for the working poor.
Gaines said in order to improve Missouri’s weak economy he would propose putting a fuel tax on the ballot to fund transportation infrastructure.
“We should always be mindful that it’s the taxpayers’ money and we should be spending it wisely,” Gaines said.
Swan said Missouri’s government needs to look at the tax credit system, return on investments and the impact on the economy.
Legalizing same sex marriage was the last topic the candidates debated.
Gaines and Tlapek said it should be legalized, while Swan disagreed.
“Marriage is between a man and a woman. Period,” Swan said.
Tlapek said 19 states allow same sex marriage and people should be allowed to decide whether same sex marriage should be legal or not.
“I think equal rights should apply to all,” Gaines said. “I think if same sex couples want to get married they should be allowed to. I don't see that in any way as diminishing traditional marriage.”
The election will take place Nov. 4.