U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Trisha Calverese on Tuesday clashed over housing, inflation and government spending in their only debate so far in the race for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

But they also agreed on a few things.

Both said they would oppose foreign interests buying up America’s farmlands.

The two candidates also want to extend existing tax cuts for Americans. Boebert said she wants to add more, while Calvarese said the middle class needs a tax break.

But Boebert, a Republican, and Calvarese, a Democrat, offered their competing visions on the economy-focused debate that took place with about a month to go before voters receive early ballots.

Calvarese went on the offensive, notably attacking Boebert’s votes against spending measures. Boebert defended her record, saying she won’t necessarily vote for major legislation just because she might support some of its elements.

Boebert blamed the federal government for many of the woes facing Americans.

“It’s important to get the feds out of the way,” she said, referring to housing.

It does not work, she added, when the federal government “comes in and controls our local communities.”

“The best thing we can do is stop spending your money,” Boebert said. “You are taxed, double taxed, triple taxed.”

And, in a not-so-subtle dig at President Joe Biden, Boebert said Congress routinely sends massive spending measures for the president to sign, “when he can find his pen.”

Calvarese said Boebert asked for earmarks in spending measures — only to then vote against them.

At point, when Boebert acknowledged pushing to end federal programs, the Democrat said she “likes to get things done,” not just shut them done.

“What about cuts to the VA?” Calvarese said. “That would hurt veterans.”

The Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, Colorado Politics, and the Denver Gazette sponsored Tuesday’s debate in Roxborough Park. Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning moderated the discussion, which focused on the American economy.

Focusing on a national issue specific to Colorado, the candidates were asked how they would address the affordable housing crisis.

Boebert said it’s important to “get the federal government out of the way” to tackle affordable housing, noting that high inflation rates have made it difficult for Americans. She said Vice President Kamala Harris’ “price fixing” solution will not work.

While challenging Boebert’s voting record, Calvarese championed the American Rescue Plan, saying it was derived from lessons learned during the Great Recession and that it has helped millions keep their homes.

On development planning, Calvarese said, “We cannot play games with our water.” Tying water to affordable housing issues, Calvarese pointed to the Sterling Ranch in Douglas County as a successful local example of “housing innovation where there are sustainable models.”

The candidates took differing approaches to handling the growing national debt, which could cost the country more than $1.7 trillion in interest rates by 2030.

Calvarese said the government needs to tighten up, start looking at redundancies, and, most importantly, find a way to give the middle-class population a break. She said the government continues to fall behind in technology, noting that it sometimes still uses fax machines.

Some cost-cutting measures could be achieved through adopting more artificial intelligence technology and becoming more efficient, she said. 

Boebert said it does not matter if Republicans or Democrats contributed to country’s debt — the issue needs to be addressed. To do that, she said some programs need to get de-defunded, listing as examples those that are focused on “diversity and equity.” She added that the federal government needs to stop picking one industry over another, calling the spending on renewable energy “unfrugal.”

Governments, for one, should stop getting in the way of the oil and gas industry, she said. 

With the tax cuts implemented in 2017 under former President Donald Trump’s  administration set to expire next year, the candidates were asked if they would keep or revise them.

Boebert stuck to her campaign message of more tax cuts, while Calvarese said she would modify them, focusing on extending them in areas that would help businesses.

Calvarese also said she supports a child tax credit, while Boebert said she draws a line on funding children born in the United States to immigrant parents who had crossed the border illegally.

While the candidates clashed on most economic issues, there was some consensus during the debate.

Both candidates said more needs to be done to help businesses in the 4th Congressional District, which encompasses Douglas County and parts of Larimer and Weld counties.

In what has become a presidential talking point, the two candidates agreed that tips should be tax exempt. Boebert pointed out that Trump brought the idea up first; Calvarese replied that she supports “a good idea” — no matter where it came from.

Boebert and Calvarese also agreed that foreign countries should not be allowed to purchase U.S. farmland, with Boebert noting that the rule should especially apply near military bases.

Calvarese and Boebert are fighting to win the CD4 seat left open by former Congressman Ken Buck, the Republican who abruptly resigned last year.

Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez defeated Calvarese in a special election in June. Lopez is serving the remainder of Buck’s term, which expires in January.

Boebert, who is currently serving as a representative for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, switched districts this year to run in the 4th CD, which is more favorable to Republicans, with 37% of voters registered as Republicans and 17% as Democrats. There are also an estimated 47% unaffiliated registered voters in the district.