Televised Debate : Beilenson, Marmillion Square Off

West Hollywood businessman Val Marmillion criticized Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Tarzana) Friday for opposing some veterans’ benefits and a major expansion in health care for the elderly.

Beilenson, meanwhile, countered that Marmillion was irresponsible for backing costly new programs without explaining how he would reduce the massive federal budget deficit.

The Democratic 23rd Congressional District opponents exchanged charges during a spirited, though cordial, hourlong television debate dominated by discussion of issues concerning senior citizens, the federal budget deficit and AIDS. This first and only joint appearance of the campaign occurred on “Cable Television Press Conference” four days before the Tuesday primary.

Airing of Differences

In general, the forum allowed the candidates to air differences that previously were debated only in the press.

At one point, Beilenson even disputed Marmillion’s characterization of the race as close. “I don’t consider this to be a hot political contest,” he said.

Marmillion attacked Beilenson as one of only nine House Democrats who voted against a measure Thursday to grant 32 million Medicare beneficiaries unlimited days of hospital care, a ceiling on their personal expenses for doctors’ bills and partial payment for prescription drugs. The so-called catastrophic-illness bill sailed through the House on a 328-72 vote and is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Reagan.

“That really bothered me, and I think many millions of seniors who need catastrophic care,” Marmillion said. He added that the program was necessary “to save people’s lives.”

Supports Concept

Beilenson, seeking nomination to a seventh term, said that he supports catastrophic-health care for those whose extended hospital or nursing-home stays have left them destitute. He said, however, that less than $2 billion in the bill passed this week would cover acute-care hospital costs for catastrophic illness.

“More than $7 billion or $8 billion a year included in this bill is going to be for drug costs and for doctors’ costs,” Beilenson said. “We should save that money. We should put it next year . . . into true catastrophic coverage for long-term nursing homes and long-term health care. That’s where the true catastrophic problem is.”

Despite Marmillion’s concerted bid for the support of the elderly, Beilenson noted that he is endorsed by many senior-citizens’ groups.

Article Quoted

Marmillion, a public relations and marketing executive, also reiterated his contention that Beilenson has opposed veterans’ interests on numerous occasions. He quoted from an article Beilenson wrote for the Wall Street Journal opposing the elevation of the Veterans Administration to a Cabinet post. He asked Beilenson why he called veterans “a special-interest group that is already so politically powerful that it gets virtually everything it wants.”

Beilenson responded, “I am totally supportive of those who have been injured or disabled because of their service-connected injury or their involvement in service. . . .

“Unfortunately, our veterans’ programs now cost $28 billion a year, and they are rising rapidly. Also, there are a large number of benefits to people who have veterans’ status . . . but are not disabled, because of their relationship to their service to our nation. For example, 70% of the people who are being treated these days in Veterans Administration hospitals are there for injuries or illnesses which are not in any way service-connected.”

Budget Deficit

Beilenson, who has long been outspoken on the dangers of the budget deficit and unusually specific in his proposals to reduce it, asked Marmillion what taxes he would raise or programs he would cut to wipe out the projected $170 billion in red ink.

Marmillion responded that he opposes tax increases until spending is brought down. He said he would reduce foreign aid by asking America’s allies to pick up more of the burden and by cutting funds to Central America. He said he would also impose a five-year spending freeze on any new defense spending that would produce a savings of 10%.

“I don’t think it was a responsible response,” Beilenson replied, estimating that these reductions would save less than $40 billion. “Your figures as you give them don’t come out anywhere close to balancing the budget deficit.”

Marmillion then countered: “I think we need some courage to say that some of the programs are right. . . .”

People Programs

Beilenson interrupted: “You’re suggesting very properly that we have to get into some other people programs . . . I quite agree. But they are going to cost more money. That’s not going to help the budget deficit situation.”

The most intense exchange occurred during a discussion of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Marmillion, who is gay, has sought to make this a major issue even though Beilenson has supported the positions of homosexual groups on every AIDS measure that has come before the House.

“Congressman, until I began running for this office, we can’t find on the record you talking about AIDS at all,” Marmillion said. “And that is failed leadership. Until I began exposing the issue as something critical because you have thousands of AIDS cases in your district, you did not testify, you did not talk about AIDS. And that’s failed leadership.”

Beilenson responded: “I resent very much your saying these things. . . . As you well know, I’m one of a couple of dozen members of Congress, of 535 members, who has a 100% voting record with respect to support for these programs. . . . I have been speaking out on it for years. I never heard of you, Val, until this year.”

Marmillion replied that he has developed public information programs on AIDS during the past eight years through his marketing and public relations firm. As a congressman, he said he would push for an emergency initiative, analogous to the Manhattan Project that led to creation of the atomic bomb, to find a cure for AIDS. He did not say how much this would cost.

Increased Spending

Beilenson noted that Congress has dramatically increased AIDS-related spending in the past six years to a figure of $1.6 billion. He said more money is needed for education, research, treatment and speeded-up testing of new drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

During a commercial break after this exchange, Marmillion said: “I’m not trying to be disrespectful to you on this.”

Replied Beilenson: “You’re not being disrespectful. Don’t worry about it.”

The debate will be rebroadcast on Century Cable Television’s Channel 10 at 6:30 this evening, at noon on Sunday and at 8 p.m. on Monday. It will also be shown on American Cable’s Channel 28 at 7:30 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. on Sunday and on Cablevision’s Channel 65 or 67 at 7 p.m. on Monday.

These cable franchises cover most of the district, which extends from West Hollywood to Malibu and over the Santa Monica Mountains to the West San Fernando Valley.