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Barr, Jensen Clash Early, Often In KET Forum

kyforward.com

Candidates in Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District clashed over a number of issues during a forum on statewide TV.

Monday night on KET's Kentucky Tonight, hosted by Bill Goodman, Republican incumbent Andy Barr continued to hold his ground against the Affordable Care Act, claiming it is one of the reasons the state hasn't seen a recovery in the labor market since the Great Recession.

"2.6 million Americans who make less than $30,000 a year are either at risk of losing their jobs or having their hours cut.  People are losing their choices of doctors and hospitals because these new networks are more narrow.  And then finally, premiums are going up.  It's called the Affordable Care Act, but it's anything but affordable," Barr said.

Meanwhile Democrat challenger Elisabeth Jensen who is trying to unseat Barr, said the Affordable Care Act is working and it isn't going anywhere.

"It's time to stop fighting.  It's not going to get repealed.  We have too many people enrolled.  It's working in many states across the country.  We need to start thinking forward now into the next step and looking at the real costs of healthcare, looking for more transparency in healthcare.  We need to start going to the pharmaceutical companies and letting Medicare start negotiate volume discounts with pharmaceutical companies, and looking for transparency in hospital costs, and doctors' costs," Jensen said.

The two also offered differing opinions on raising the minimum wage, banking regulations, and government subsidies.  While both Jensen and Barr were on the same page when it came to dealing with Kentucky's growing illegal drug epidemic.  Jensen pointed out that many drug addicted patients are currently receiving treatment through Kynect.

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