BUTLER TWP - Accusations of hypocrisy, dishonesty and distortion accentuated a lively debate Monday between the two candidates vying for the U.S. House of Representatives' 3rd District seat.

The debate contrasted the differences on the issues and ideology of Republican U.S. Rep. Phil English and Democratic challenger Steven Porter.

Porter, 61, of Wattsburg, Erie County, forcefully criticized the U.S.-led war in Iraq; going so far as to call for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

He argued for universal health care and accused English of failing to reform a failed health care system because of the congressman's acceptance of campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies.

The five-term incumbent English, 48, of Erie defended the U.S. policy in Iraq and championed his record on reforming Medicare.He spoke of his advocacy of tax cuts and job creation, and repeatedly urged a stronger trade policy, singling out China as the prime violator of international trade laws.About 75 spectators, including a large Erie contingent of Porter supporters, attended the debate, sponsored by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.The event was the first of four planned debates before the Nov. 2 election in the 3rd District, which includes most of Butler County, as well as all of Erie County and parts of Armstrong, Crawford, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.English called the campaign a "contest of ideas." He said as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has taken an active role in health care and tax reform, and reshaping trade policy.Porter characterized the campaign as a one of competing visions of government. He claimed his vision was "for and by the people," while English's was "for and by special interests."Specifically, he charged English has taken more than $4 million from special interest groups in exchange for supporting legislation that benefits those interests."Almost all my opponent's (campaign) money comes from political action committees," said Porter, a retired college professor and school administrator in Binghamton, N.Y, who moved to Erie County in 2002.But English noted a large portion of his campaign contributions comes from individual donors.He called Porter a "hypocrite," claiming Porter has hired a fund-raising firm to seek out PAC money for his own campaign.After the debate, Porter acknowledged he hired a fund-raiser in February but severed the relationship in May after the firm failed to collect any money for his campaign."Mr. English doesn't tell the truth about me," Porter said. "He's distorts things."The candidates differed on how to improve the economy."We need to provide disincentives for companies that leave (the U.S.) and incentives for companies that stay," Porter said.He blamed English for voting for legislation that has "outsourced" American jobs overseas.Porter called for federal assistance to develop "non-exportable industries," such as those in the health care, education and energy sectors, and stimulus funding of public works projects.English said Congress should support pro-growth legislation that encourage sensible deregulation and strengthen fair and free trade.He hailed his proposed Homeland Investment Act, which he described as "the most pro-growth idea out there." The measure would reduce for one year the tax rate on American companies' foreign earnings to 5.25 percent.Currently, U.S. firms operating overseas pay a 35-percent tax, minus any taxes they've paid abroad, when they bring foreign-earned income back to the United States.English said companies can avoid paying U.S. taxes by leaving that investment abroad. American companies overseas then are encouraged to create jobs there, instead of in the United States.The congressman said the legislation would bring in $425 billion "stranded off shore," and create 500,000 new jobs.But Porter dismissed the legislation."A bill that lowers the tax rate of businesses overseas is not going to help our people and will encourage outsourcing," he said.On taxes, Porter called for a "rollback" of recent tax cuts given the wealthiest of taxpayers.English said tax cuts are good economic medicine. His charge that Porter favors repeal of the mortgage interest deduction prompted a rebuke."Stop telling fibs," Porter told English. "I've never said anything about doing away with the mortgage interest deduction."The candidates also sparred over health care reform.

English said he supported legislation enacted last year that provides a new prescription drug benefit component to Medicare and reformed the program's delivery system to favor the private sector.Porter, however, supports overhauling, not tinkering with the system."It's abominable that this country doesn't have national health care," he said.He advocates a single-payer model to finance a not-for-profit system to ensure every American is insured."But as long as my opponent takes money from pharmaceutical industries, he will never support such legislation," Porter said.The war in Iraq was yet another source of disagreement.English said America, as the world's sole superpower, must be prepared to exert that power when necessary.He supports the war and called for a thorough investigation into abuse by U.S. soldiers of detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq.Porter, however, blasted the Bush administration for failing to seek international support for the war. He derided Bush as being "a cowboy from Texas" and accused the president of lying to justify military action in Iraq.He suggested Rumsfeld's resignation could restore what he claimed was the nation's lost international prestige due to the war.