By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ELMIRA — Technical troubles overshadowed the livestreaming of the 23rd Congressional debate between Rep. Nick Langworthy and Democratic challenger Aaron Gies of Olean Tuesday night.
The candidates answered questions from Jim Turpin, news director at WETM 18 News in Elmira, which livestreamed its broadcast and provided the feed to WIVB TV in Buffalo, which livestreamed it from 7-8 p.m.
The problem was, many people — including reporters — were unable to find the livestream via links provided on facebook.
One woman posted that she had called WIVB more than 30 times before reaching someone to complain about the livestream of the debate.
An Allegany woman who invited friends to a debate watch party was unable to connect to the livestream until part way through the debate when someone texted her a working livestream link.
The good news is that by Wednesday morning, the debate was visible at WIVB.com. It was the top trending video on the livestreaming news site.
The station will air the debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday on its sister station WNLO in Buffalo.
During the second half of the debate, the candidates fielded questions on Medicaid, Regents exams, federal minimum wage, national debt, healthcare, the New York budget, social media, taxation and redistricting.
Gies argued that the Big Beautiful Bill’s Medicaid cuts extend to children’s lunches, which leads to a rise in hunger among the young and impacts their learning potential.
In a question about whether New York should eliminate its Regents tests, Gies replied that it is supported by the New York State United Teachers union, which has endorsed him. Langworthy opposed the removal of Regents exams, arguing that eliminating them undermines academic excellence and student challenges.
Responding to a question on the federal minimum wage, Langworthy said it is an issue for the states. Gies replied that the $7.25 minimum wage has not been changed since he was in high school. It needs to be increased to $15 an hour, like New York has done, he said. Otherwise, New York is put at a disadvantage by neighboring states with a lower minimum wage, like Pennsylvania. Gies added that workers should not have to rely on tips and overtime to have a living wage.
Questions on the national debt and healthcare found the candidates at odds.
Gies, a St. Bonaventure University theology professor, said tax cuts for billionaires and corporations have increased the deficit. He urged a more fair tax structure to protect vital public programs. Langworthy said the one-size-fits-all healthcare programs are unsustainable drivers of debt. Excessive federal spending, he said, arguing that fiscal restraint is necessary to curb mounting national obligations.
Gies advocated a single-payer healthcare system as a way to lower out-of-pocket costs for rural families. He proposed universal single-payer healthcare as a way to save money and relieve financial pressure on small businesses and farmers. Langworthy advocated for market-based solutions, saying reduced regulatory burdens would foster competition and lower coverage expenses. He said single-payer healthcare would eliminate choice and innovation, and result in rationed care similar to the Canadian systems.
The candidates also addressed matters surrounding the New York State budget during the debate.
The debate included a question on the New York state budget. Langworthy said the state had a spending priority problem, not a revenue problem. He cited state support for immigrants’ healthcare as a reason to restrain spending. Gies said the Trump administration had hurt New York by withholding federal funds for healthcare. Medicaid and Medicare cuts will hurt the 23rd Congressional District more than any other in the state, he said.
Langworthy, he noted, was a founding member of the House DOGE Committee. Gies said that 700,000 African children born with AIDS have died since DOGE cut the USAID program. Langworthy said opposition to DOGE was ridiculous, because the goal was accountability in government. He said it was dismantled because it mismanaged programs and misled the government. The State Department has taken over the USAID program, he noted.
On holding social media platforms responsible for harm done to youth, Gies said they should be held accountable. Parents who have seen their teens lose self esteem from watching photos on Instagram or other platforms know what he is talking about, he said. Langworthy agreed, saying, the companies should be held to the highest standard and there should be protections against young people on social media platforms.
The candidates differed on a question about New York’s high taxes.
Gies said that while this is a state issue, the federal tax code allows the wealthy to get away without paying their fair share. Everyone suffers when the federal government doesn’t have enough to fund its programs. The U.S., he said, needs a progressive tax so the wealthy pay a fair share. Langworthy said high taxes are driving Wall Street banks out of New York. The state depends on Wall Street to balance its books, he added.
The last question of the debate asked for the candidates’ position on redistricting.
Langworthy said simply redistricting should be done once a decade. Gies was more expansive, saying he agreed and that he would like to see national legislation to stop states from gerrymandering. He said the people should choose their politicians rather than the other way around.
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