Metro

Turner, Weprin have first debate in race for Weiner’s seat

The two candidates vying for disgraced ex-US Rep. Anthony Weiner’s seat squared off in a packed, raucous first debate in Queens tonight — disagreeing on everything from taxes and spending to immigration to health care and unemployment.

Republican hopeful Bob Turner said he would work to slash the federal budget by 35 percent during the next seven to 10 years but not increase taxes if he wins the special Sept. 13 election, insisting, “It’s not only possible, it’s absolutely necessary.”

He said he’d particularly target the education, environment and agriculture departments for cuts.

But Democratic state Assemblyman and foe David Weprin scoffed, “That’s an impossibility,” blasting Turner as nothing more than a radical Tea Party Republican whose measures would drastically affect Medicare and Social Security.

On the nation’s new health-care plan, Turner vowed that if elected, “The first thing I would propose is the repeal of Obamacare.”

Weprin acknowledged that Obamacare “wasn’t perfect” but still defended it as the right thing to do.

Around 400 people packed the event, sponsored by several Queens civic groups, at the Young Israel Synagogue in Kew Gardens Hills, and 100 more residents chanted outside on both sides.