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Each candidate accuses other of extremism during debate

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, and Democratic challenger Tracy Mitrano squared off in a debate last week at The Post-Journal while criticizing each other for being too extreme on either side of the political spectrum.

As a co-chair and founder of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group consisting of 24 Republican and 24 Democratic members, since early 2017, Reed opened by saying seeking solutions both sides of the aisle can agree on is part of his mission as a congressman. Mitrano called the caucus a public relations stunt and said his actions don’t correlate with the bipartisan rhetoric he delivers.

Reed disagreed and shared results from the caucus, including gathering consensus that helped support a bipartisan health care plan, proposal to rebuild American infrastructure, immigration proposal that would help support DREAMers and investors in border security and the aversion of two government shutdowns.

The caucus votes as a whole when a 75 percent majority is reached; it has also reached consensus on gun safety and prison reform.

“We talk about issues,” said Reed, who thinks the caucus can be a tool to help get Washington working again. “The Problem Solvers Caucus is about developing deep relationships across the aisle. More members are reaching out to us to join the Problem Solvers Caucus.”

Mitrano pointed out Reed’s tendency to label her and others in the Democratic Party as extremists and said that has caused more division. She asked if whether Abraham Lincoln or Franklin Roosevelt would act like Reed has during his campaign, “peddling fear” and exaggerating her positions.

Reed said Democrats advocating for more government involvement is extreme as his advertisements claim.

He also doubled down on his labeling of Mitrano, saying he felt it was his responsibility to fight extremism. Reed said he has fought extremism on both sides of the aisle and isn’t afraid of not always aligning with his Republican contemporaries.

Mitrano called many of Reed’s positions strong-man arguments. She accused Reed of not being able to lead the bipartisan charge; she called him out for what she sees as refusing to listen to his constituents at town halls and in the general public.

The challenger said she has plenty of experience learning to compromise and work with others. She cited her career as the director of information technology policy at Cornell University from 2001 to 2014 and shared her record of results, including the creation of many information security policies.

“I have done this work, and I have done it successfully,” Mitrano said.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, talked highly about Reed, with whom he co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus. He described his partnership with Reed as “a really meaningful relationship” and highlighted how Reed would be willing to go against party lines to vote for a new Speaker of the House who would support new House rules that would break government gridlock.

“He’d vote for someone from across the aisle,” Gottheimer said. “It shows you the kind of leader he is.”

Reed endorsed Gottheimer for re-election earlier this year. Gottheimer gave no official endorsement for Reed.

“Everything I have learned about bipartisanship, I have learned from Tom Reed,” Mitrano said. “In the opposite, because I’m afraid that Mr. Reed uses that concept facetiously.”

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