Ossoff, Collins discuss affordability in heated debate

(The Center Square) – Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff addressed affordability at the end of their second debate on Tuesday night, prompted by a question from a moderator.

Atlanta journalist Donna Lowry, moderator of the Atlanta Press Club debate, asked the candidates about their plans to ease prices at the grocery store and gas pump.

"First things first, we are going to repeal the tariffs that have driven grocery prices to their record high," Ossoff said. "We are going to end the disastrous war that Mike Collins has supported that has triggered a global energy crisis and driven diesel to its all-time high. And we're going to repeal the Medicaid cuts and the cuts that allowed health insurance premiums to double for more than a million Georgians."

Collins said the U.S. needs to be energy independent and not rely on foreign countries for oil.

"Folks are struggling with healthcare," Collins said. "We've got to get back to where healthcare is meant for the patient that they have control over, not these health insurance companies that are getting rich off our backs."

In Georgia, gas prices have dropped by 33 cents per gallon since second-term Republican Gov. Brian Kemp pushed forward a fuel tax suspension last week. Average gas prices in Georgia are $3.80 and diesel prices are $5.74 per gallon, according to AAA.