Republican Senate Candidates Spar Over Health Care

The two Republican candidates for U.S. Senate debated before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning. The two disagreed on whether Massachusetts is a good example for national health care reform.

State Sen. Scott Brown praised the state for providing near-universal coverage. But Duxbury attorney Jack E. Robinson said the law has failed to control costs.

The two also sparred over how to stimulate the economy. Robinson wants to nix the capital gains tax next year.

"Millions of jobs will be created, we’ll be out of the recession in my opinion by the end of next year," he said.

Brown called that unrealistic. "But reducing the payroll tax, certainly, and doing targeted tax breaks, is certainly the way to go," he said.

The two Republicans agreed on wanting to simplify regulation of small businesses.