Sen. Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren’s 3rd Senate debate

WWLP TV

Updated: Oct 11, 2012 4:26 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — In front of a crowd of more than 2,600 guests at Springfield Symphony Hall, Senator Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren debated for the third time.

This time, there were many western Massachusetts references from Senator Brown’s lunch at Milanos in Springfield to Warren’s family trips to the Berkshires.

On the issues, Warren repeatedly emphasized that Senator Brown is on the side of millionaires. She said, "I believe that everybody pays a fair share: even the millionaires, billionaires and oil companies."

Senator Brown emphatically said he doesn't want to raise taxes on anyone, and focused on his record as a bipartisan senator. "I'm one of those vanishing breeds of senators: the ones in the middle that are trying to work together to get things done," said Brown.

Jim Madigan of WGBY moderated and despite a request to hold applause, it was a feisty crowd and both candidates got cheers and boos.

Obamacare was a big topic. With control of the senate on the line, it could be as well.

Brown opposes Obamacare, claiming it would remove a quarter of a billion dollars from Medicare. He explained, "To think that you can cut that kind of money and not have it affect your care and coverage is just wrong."

Warren responded, saying, “He raises the same old argument that there will be more than $700 billion taken out of Medicare that's the same playbook that Mitt Romney used a week ago, it was wrong then it's wrong tonight.” Warren argued that the plan actually strengthens Medicare by eliminating waste, fraud and insurance subsidies.

And while both candidates showed support for our local bases, they differed on how military budget cuts will affect them.

Warren said, "It's time to cut in our military budget. we're winding out of one war and we're done with another and realign our priorities."

Brown explained, "With all due respect, we've already a half a trillion dollars that affect Barnes and Westover, and that affects many people in this room and people watching, and I've been battling to protect those men and women that are serving."

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