Republican congressional candidate Jackie Auringer challenged Rep. Pat Ryan over his opposition to legislation aimed at lowering construction insurance costs during a Thursday forum in Newburgh, arguing that the proposed changes would make building projects more affordable without weakening worker protections.

Ryan defended his opposition, arguing that the legislation would allow the federal government to override New York’s construction safety rules, which hold property owners and contractors responsible for certain injuries involving falls and other elevation-related hazards.

“I think the law is good and protects workers and we should continue it,” Ryan said.

The disagreement centered on New York’s Scaffold Law, which places strict liability on property owners and contractors for certain construction-related injuries. Auringer supports a federal proposal that would change how those liability requirements apply to federally funded projects, while Ryan argues that the issue should be decided at the state level.

The exchange came during an Oct. 22 candidate forum hosted by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce at Mount Saint Mary College, where the candidates for New York’s 18th Congressional District also discussed housing affordability, transportation, economic development and federal spending ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Auringer, who has worked in her family’s construction business, argued that New York’s liability standards have increased insurance premiums and made construction more expensive for businesses and developers.

She expressed support for the proposed Infrastructure Expansion Act, which would change how the state’s liability requirements apply to certain federally funded construction projects.

“I think that they need to reform that because that is contributing to a lot of insurance costs and other construction costs,” Auringer said. “And making it harder for the business here in New York, while making it easier for attorneys and negligent workers to just go to the bank and get an easy check.”

Ryan acknowledged disagreements surrounding the law but emphasized its importance to construction workers, particularly those involved in potentially dangerous projects.

He said the federal proposal would interfere with New York’s ability to establish its own safety standards and argued that lawmakers should instead consider ways to balance affordability with worker protections.

Business costs and workforce development
The candidates also differed over how Congress should address rising costs for businesses throughout Orange County.

Ryan pointed to federal tariffs as a significant source of financial pressure, arguing that taxes on imported goods were increasing expenses for employers and consumers.

“Tariffs are taxes,” Ryan said.

He described conversations with local business owners who feared that rising costs could force them to close, and called for repealing the tariffs.

Ryan also highlighted his support for the Small Business Relief Act, which he said would provide relief to smaller businesses affected by tariffs rather than primarily benefiting large corporations.

Auringer focused on reducing regulatory requirements, insurance expenses and energy costs, arguing that New York had become increasingly difficult for businesses to operate in.

She called for greater oversight of government spending and changes to regulations that she said discouraged investment and increased operating expenses.

On workforce development, Ryan emphasized partnerships between educational institutions, employers and government agencies.

He pointed to federal funding secured for a food technology training program at SUNY Orange’s Newburgh campus, which he said was preparing students for employment in the food, beverage, hospitality and tourism industries.

Ryan argued that federal workforce development programs should provide greater flexibility for communities to direct resources toward local employment needs.

Auringer advocated expanding vocational education and teaching students how to establish businesses after completing their training.

She said students pursuing careers in skilled trades should also learn about securing financing, obtaining permits, hiring employees and managing business operations.

Auringer also emphasized the importance of preparing students for an economy increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, saying the technology should support rather than replace critical thinking skills.

Housing Affordability
Housing costs emerged as another area of disagreement, with both candidates acknowledging the difficulty many Hudson Valley residents face in purchasing homes.

Auringer linked housing affordability to property taxes, particularly school taxes and called for independent audits of school district budgets.

She questioned whether rising education spending was producing corresponding improvements in student performance, arguing that districts needed greater transparency and accountability.

Auringer said examining school budgets could help identify unnecessary expenditures and potentially ease the financial burden on property owners.

Ryan focused on increasing the housing supply and reducing construction expenses.

He pointed to a package of housing legislation he introduced in Congress, saying the federal government needed to play a larger role in addressing housing shortages.

Ryan also criticized tariffs on construction materials, particularly Canadian lumber, arguing that they were increasing the cost of building homes.

He said expanding housing construction, reducing material costs and addressing mortgage rates would help make homeownership more attainable.

Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation improvements were another priority discussed during the forum, particularly the need for better connections between Orange County and surrounding communities.

Ryan highlighted his work on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and discussed efforts to secure federal support for roads, bridges, rail service and Stewart International Airport.

He reiterated his opposition to New York City’s congestion pricing program and called for additional transportation investment west of the Hudson River.

“We need to get the ferry back going again between Newburgh and Beacon,” Ryan said.

Ryan also discussed efforts to improve bridge safety throughout the Hudson Valley and strengthen Stewart Airport’s role in the regional economy.

Auringer emphasized accountability in infrastructure spending, arguing that elected officials should ensure projects are completed rather than simply announcing funding.

She questioned the practice of describing money as delivered before projects have progressed through the necessary approval and grant processes.

Auringer called for better systems to track infrastructure projects and allow residents to monitor their progress.

She also referenced the severe flooding that struck Highland Falls in 2023, arguing that governments needed stronger emergency funding arrangements to respond to natural disasters without placing additional financial burdens on affected communities.

Stewart Airport and Economic Development
Despite their disagreements, the candidates found common ground on a proposal to attract a federal space-related facility to New York Stewart International Airport.

Auringer urged state and federal officials to pursue the opportunity, arguing that Stewart’s long runway, available land and proximity to military installations made it a strong candidate.

She said attracting emerging industries could create jobs in engineering, technology, research and other specialized fields.

Auringer also called for bipartisan cooperation on the proposal, noting that an application deadline was approaching.

Ryan expressed support for the idea and described Stewart as an important part of Orange County’s economic future and emphasized the need to attract industries offering well-paying employment opportunities.

Ryan also pointed to efforts by the Orange County Partnership to attract pharmaceutical manufacturing to the region, arguing that expanding domestic production could strengthen supply chains and create jobs.

Beyond industrial development, Ryan identified early childhood education as an important long-term investment.

He advocated expanding access to early education programs and highlighted federal funding for the Newburgh Boys and Girls Club.

Energy Costs and Development
Energy policy also drew contrasting approaches from the candidates.

Auringer advocated expanding domestic energy production, modernizing the electrical grid and supporting additional natural gas infrastructure.

She criticized the development of large solar installations, raising concerns about their effects on farmland and natural habitats.

Auringer argued that energy policy needed to balance environmental protections with affordability and reliability, particularly as businesses faced rising operating costs.

Ryan also emphasized the importance of domestic energy production but focused part of his response on the potential effects of large data centers.

He opposed the development of such facilities, arguing that their substantial electricity demands could increase utility costs for surrounding communities.

Ryan said companies seeking to develop data centers should bear the costs associated with their energy needs rather than passing those expenses on to residents.

He also raised concerns about the environmental effects of the facilities and the broader risks associated with artificial intelligence.

Federal Spending and Medicaid
Ryan criticized Republican-backed legislation that he said reduced health care and food assistance funding while providing tax benefits to wealthy Americans.

Ryan argued that the legislation would increase the national debt and place additional financial pressure on working families.

He called for reversing the reductions and requiring wealthy individuals and corporations to contribute more in taxes.

Auringer focused on government waste and potential fraud within Medicaid programs.

She pointed to concerns about New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which allows eligible Medicaid recipients to receive care from personal assistants.

Auringer said stronger oversight was needed to prevent improper payments and ensure public funding reached people who required assistance.

Ryan acknowledged that Medicaid fraud was a legitimate concern and said individuals who abused the system should face consequences.

However, he argued that instances of fraud should not be used to justify broad reductions in health care funding.

“Medicaid gets demonized,” Ryan said, emphasizing that the program remained an essential source of health coverage for millions of Americans.

Both candidates concluded the forum by emphasizing the importance of maintaining communication with Orange County businesses and residents.

Ryan highlighted his office’s engagement with Orange County businesses, including roundtable discussions and forums, and pledged to continue meeting with employers better to understand their concerns about federal policies and regulations.

He also emphasized his office’s constituent services, saying his staff had helped recover more than $48 million for residents through assistance involving the Internal Revenue Service.

Auringer said her campaign had focused on listening to residents and business owners who felt their concerns were not being adequately represented in Washington.

She pledged to remain accessible and open to different perspectives, arguing that elected officials should be willing to reconsider their positions after hearing from constituents.