In the debate Perry claims voters had the opportunity to vote on the TTC.
Texas governor candidates take part in crowded debate
Oct. 06, 2006
KELLEY SHANNON
Associated Press
Copyright 2006
DALLAS - Republican Gov. Rick Perry defended a school property tax cut passed in a recent special legislative session as substantial, but independent challenger Carole Keeton Strayhorn called it "paltry" in their televised debate Friday.
The showdown came early in the candidates' one and only scheduled debate and during questioning by a panel of journalists.
Perry and Strayhorn, along with Democrat Chris Bell and independent Kinky Friedman, also responded to assorted questions about the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road plan, immigration and ethics in office.
"It is indisputable that there is a $15.5 billion property tax reduction over the next three years," Perry said, noting that he reached out to Democrats and helped pass a plan that also raised teacher pay.
Strayhorn, the state comptroller, blasted the governor while answering a subsequent question. She said teachers still aren't paid enough and that the governor is misleading the public in television commercials that claim Texans will get an average $2,000 cut.
"We need to tell Texans the truth - it's a paltry tax cut," she said repeating her assertion that the reduction amounts to only about $52 per year for most Texans.
Strayhorn later faced questions about campaign contributions she accepted from people who bring major tax cases before her agency. It's an ethics complaint she has endured repeatedly from opponents this year.
"I have abided absolutely to the letter of the law, and I am proud of what I have done. Anyone who contributes to me, who supports me, does it for one reason: good government," Strayhorn said.
Bell, trying to make a mark on the voting public after struggling to raise his profile all season, said both Perry and Strayhorn have failed in office.
"Texas is in desperate need of new leadership. It's time for Democrats and independents and angry Republicans to wake up and realize this is our best opportunity in years to take back Texas for the people," Bell said.
Friedman, a mystery writer and comedian who was dressed in his trademark black outfit and black cowboy hat, got off some of his usual humor lines, including his definition of politics.
" 'Poli' means more than one. 'Ticks' are bloodsucking parasites," Friedman said, holding a cigar, as usual.
Perry got criticism from opponents over the Trans-Texas Corridor, a massive toll road project he proposed in 2002. He said voters had the opportunity to vote on parts of the project in a constitutional amendment election and that the Legislature debated the matter.
Land owners in the toll road path are furious that the road will take farmland and other property that has been in families for generations.
Strayhorn, the challenger most critical of the project, repeated her recurring line, "I'm going to blast the Trans Texas Catstrophe right off the bureaucratic books."
In a rapid-fire questioning of candidates, Strayhorn stumbled when she couldn't name the newly elected president of Mexico.
Perry said he knew the utility bill of the Gov.'s Mansion in August was $4,000 or $5,000. But he fell a bit short when asked if he knew the average interest for a 30-year mortgage, saying it was about 5.9 percent rather than the actual rate of 6.3 percent.
Friedman didn't give an exact amount for public university tuition, but said, "I know it's too high."
And Bell gave a big grin when he paused for a moment, then correctly answered the year of the Battle of the Alamo: 1836.
All candidates were asked about immigration and border security at the start of the debate. Perry repeated his position that he has been pressing ahead with border security by sending National Guard troops to the border, even ahead of the federal government. He said he'll ask the Legislature for $100 million next year to keep border security programs going.
Strayhorn said she wants to get the Texas Rangers involved in border security. "Then we can implement a fair, legal immigration program," she said.
Friedman repeated his call to send 10,000 National Guardsmen to the border. Bell said he wants to battle illegal immigration by cracking down on employers who hire illegal workers. He said trying to deport illegal immigrants who are already here would be a difficult endeavor.
"Does anyone seriously believe we can deport 12 million people when we couldn't even evacuate the city of New Orleans?" he said.
The debate among the four major candidates took place in the Dallas studios of Texas Cable News Inc. and was shown in television markets across the state. Libertarian James Werner was not invited to participate.
Some of Perry's opponents had criticized him for only agreeing to debate on a Friday night, when Texans would be occupied with high school football or other activities. It also was the evening before the big Texas-Oklahoma football game in Dallas.
The challengers were looking to use the debate to gain ground on Perry, who leads in polls and had the most at risk entering the one-hour debate.
Perry took over as governor in 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to become president then was elected to a four-year term in 2002. If he wins the Nov. 7 election and serves his full term he will become Texas' longest-serving governor.
---
Associated Press writer Jeff Carlton contributed to this report. Kelley Shannon has covered Texas politics and government based in Austin since 2000.
© 2006 The Associated Press: www.ap.org
Oct. 06, 2006
KELLEY SHANNON
Associated Press
Copyright 2006
DALLAS - Republican Gov. Rick Perry defended a school property tax cut passed in a recent special legislative session as substantial, but independent challenger Carole Keeton Strayhorn called it "paltry" in their televised debate Friday.
The showdown came early in the candidates' one and only scheduled debate and during questioning by a panel of journalists.
Perry and Strayhorn, along with Democrat Chris Bell and independent Kinky Friedman, also responded to assorted questions about the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road plan, immigration and ethics in office.
"It is indisputable that there is a $15.5 billion property tax reduction over the next three years," Perry said, noting that he reached out to Democrats and helped pass a plan that also raised teacher pay.
Strayhorn, the state comptroller, blasted the governor while answering a subsequent question. She said teachers still aren't paid enough and that the governor is misleading the public in television commercials that claim Texans will get an average $2,000 cut.
"We need to tell Texans the truth - it's a paltry tax cut," she said repeating her assertion that the reduction amounts to only about $52 per year for most Texans.
Strayhorn later faced questions about campaign contributions she accepted from people who bring major tax cases before her agency. It's an ethics complaint she has endured repeatedly from opponents this year.
"I have abided absolutely to the letter of the law, and I am proud of what I have done. Anyone who contributes to me, who supports me, does it for one reason: good government," Strayhorn said.
Bell, trying to make a mark on the voting public after struggling to raise his profile all season, said both Perry and Strayhorn have failed in office.
"Texas is in desperate need of new leadership. It's time for Democrats and independents and angry Republicans to wake up and realize this is our best opportunity in years to take back Texas for the people," Bell said.
Friedman, a mystery writer and comedian who was dressed in his trademark black outfit and black cowboy hat, got off some of his usual humor lines, including his definition of politics.
" 'Poli' means more than one. 'Ticks' are bloodsucking parasites," Friedman said, holding a cigar, as usual.
Perry got criticism from opponents over the Trans-Texas Corridor, a massive toll road project he proposed in 2002. He said voters had the opportunity to vote on parts of the project in a constitutional amendment election and that the Legislature debated the matter.
Land owners in the toll road path are furious that the road will take farmland and other property that has been in families for generations.
Strayhorn, the challenger most critical of the project, repeated her recurring line, "I'm going to blast the Trans Texas Catstrophe right off the bureaucratic books."
In a rapid-fire questioning of candidates, Strayhorn stumbled when she couldn't name the newly elected president of Mexico.
Perry said he knew the utility bill of the Gov.'s Mansion in August was $4,000 or $5,000. But he fell a bit short when asked if he knew the average interest for a 30-year mortgage, saying it was about 5.9 percent rather than the actual rate of 6.3 percent.
Friedman didn't give an exact amount for public university tuition, but said, "I know it's too high."
And Bell gave a big grin when he paused for a moment, then correctly answered the year of the Battle of the Alamo: 1836.
All candidates were asked about immigration and border security at the start of the debate. Perry repeated his position that he has been pressing ahead with border security by sending National Guard troops to the border, even ahead of the federal government. He said he'll ask the Legislature for $100 million next year to keep border security programs going.
Strayhorn said she wants to get the Texas Rangers involved in border security. "Then we can implement a fair, legal immigration program," she said.
Friedman repeated his call to send 10,000 National Guardsmen to the border. Bell said he wants to battle illegal immigration by cracking down on employers who hire illegal workers. He said trying to deport illegal immigrants who are already here would be a difficult endeavor.
"Does anyone seriously believe we can deport 12 million people when we couldn't even evacuate the city of New Orleans?" he said.
The debate among the four major candidates took place in the Dallas studios of Texas Cable News Inc. and was shown in television markets across the state. Libertarian James Werner was not invited to participate.
Some of Perry's opponents had criticized him for only agreeing to debate on a Friday night, when Texans would be occupied with high school football or other activities. It also was the evening before the big Texas-Oklahoma football game in Dallas.
The challengers were looking to use the debate to gain ground on Perry, who leads in polls and had the most at risk entering the one-hour debate.
Perry took over as governor in 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to become president then was elected to a four-year term in 2002. If he wins the Nov. 7 election and serves his full term he will become Texas' longest-serving governor.
---
Associated Press writer Jeff Carlton contributed to this report. Kelley Shannon has covered Texas politics and government based in Austin since 2000.
© 2006 The Associated Press:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Saturday, October 07, 2006
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