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2010 MAJOR PARTY DEBATE LIVE BLOG
By Luke Hellier | January 27, 2010
Tonight is the Major Parties Gubernatorial Debate sponsored by the Minnesota News Council, the League of Women Voters, and Minnesota Coming Together.
Tonight’s debate will feature 20 candidates from the DFL, RPM, and IP.
The 20 candidates will be grouped into 4 sections to allow for each candidate to address a set amount of questions.
Tonight’s debate will be moderated by Al Edenloff – Editor of the Echo Press, Gary Eichten from MPR’s Midday, and Lori Sturdevant from the Star Tribune.
The debate will be live-streamed by KSTP. Click here to watch.
Group 1:
Sen. David Hann (R)
Tom Horner (IP)
Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL)
Steve Kelley (DFL)
Mark Dayton
Group 2:
Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL)
Phil Herwig (R)
John Ulrich (IP)
Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL)
Rep. Marty Seifert (R)
Group 3:
Mayor RT Rybak (DFL)
Rep. Tom Emmer (R)
Bill Haas (R)
Rob Hahn (IP)
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL)
Group 4:
Sen. John Marty (DFL)
Leslie Davis (R)
Ole Savior (DFL)
Rahn Workoff (IP)
Susan Gaertner (DFL)
Debate Starts 6:30 PM
6:28 PM: The candidates are starting to be seated on stage.
6:30 PM Debate starts with introduction by representative from News Council
6:33 PM Representative of the League of Women Voter’s outlines the rules.
“The views expressed here are those of the candidates…”
All major party candidates who have filed with the Campaign Finance Board were invited.
All video will be available on the League and News Council websites later this week.
No opening or closing statements from candidates in respect of time.
Round 1 – Group Questions
Round 2 – Quick Fire Questions
For more updated information. Follow on Twitter.
6:40 PM Group 1 – Sturdevant Asks “What philosophy do you use to balance the budget”
Hann: My philosophy is to cut cost. We have a spending issue. Not a revenue issue.
Horner: 1. Commit to economic reform 2. Invest in social infrastructure 3. Invest in physical infrastructure. Raising the sales tax
Bakk: I am believer in the progressive tax rate. The real problem is that we have a poorly operating economy. We will not get revenue until we get people working.
Kelley: Education is the key. Should be highest priority. Raise some taxes, including income taxes. Create a carbon tax.
Dayton: Raise taxes on Minnesotans.
6:46 PM Group 2 – Edenloff – How will you prevent the increase in property taxes?
Thissen: Something we have to fix. We need to rely on fair state level taxes for schools and public safety.
Ulrich: My approach there is nothing off the table. I’d like to follow Mark Dayton and tax the rich.
Rukavina: Renew the Minnesota Miracle. Need to look at formulas for local taxes
Herwig: Cut taxes and cut spending. I’m not satisfied with where we are.
Seifert: We need to understand that government must learn to live within their means just as families and small businesses are all over Minnesota.
6:52 PM Group 3 – Sturdevant asks: what assurance can you give to voters that you will be willing to work across the aisle..
Haas: I wouldn’t call a special session until we had a deal figured out with committees. Only need to call in legislature for one or two days.
Emmer: We have to get the business done first. And that’s balancing the checkbook.
Kelliher: It starts with respect. We need to respect everyone. Building relationships.
Hahn: I know what it’s like to balance a budget. I kno
10:03PM Due to technical difficulties, the rest of the post was lost. Trying to recover.
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Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
January 27th, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Luke, is this thing going to be over by the time the State of the Union Adress starts?
It seems odd to schedule the debate tonigh, but I guess no one really cares what the arrogant bastard is going say.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Meanwhile, back in Washington D.C. the arrogant bastard is addressing has been addressing the nation for the past ten minutes.
The Minnesota News Council, the League of Women Voters, and Minnesota Coming Together are giving Obama exactly the respect he deserves.