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Minnesota gubernatorial candidates debate farm issues Thursday, August 3, 2006
REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and three men who want his job sparred Wednesday over jobs, roads and other rural issues in the campaign's first debate.
Before an audience of farmers at the Farmfest agricultural fair, Pawlenty came out swinging, almost immediately taking a dig at the DFL's Mike Hatch for quoting a big-city newspaper on his campaign Web site.
"He cites the New York Times on his Web site on his campaign as the source for good ag policy in Minnesota. We should make that in St. Paul and in Minnesota," said the governor, who's seeking a second term.
Hatch, the attorney general, is the DFL-endorsed candidate. The Independence Party's Peter Hutchinson and the Green Party's Ken Pentel also participated in the debate, which was limited to party-endorsed candidates.
DFL state Sen. Becky Lourey, who's challenging Hatch in a September primary, watched most of the forum, but wasn't invited to participate.
On feedlots, Hatch said a governor's task force recommended giving the state Agriculture Department more power.
"I don't think St. Paul ought to be making decisions for rural communities as it relates to zoning issues," he said.
Pawlenty and Hatch also clashed over the JOBZ economic development program. Pawlenty said the program has brought jobs to rural Minnesota, while Hatch said it unfairly rewards select companies and has mainly moved jobs from community to community.
After they went back and forth several times, Hutchinson said: "I'm astonished how long you guys can spend arguing over a program that affects almost no one."
Both Hatch and Hutchinson attacked Pawlenty's record on health care, rural roads and local government aid.
During the 2003 budget crisis, Pawlenty's administration eliminated the MinnesotaCare health program for thousands of people. Hatch also mentioned several times that the state Transportation Department took $100 million earmarked for rural projects and spent it in the Twin Cities.
"I would never cut MinnesotaCare. I would never transfer the rural highway account and I would never have property taxes go up to the degree that they have," Hatch said.
Hatch and other critics say Pawlenty's stance against taxes doesn't include property taxes, which are imposed by local governments and which have been rising rapidly in recent years.
Hutchinson, a former Minneapolis schools superintendent, blamed Pawlenty for breaking a promise made by his predecessor, Jesse Ventura, to have the state take over more education costs.
"The person who led part of the charge to break this deal is sitting down at the end of the table, and he ought to be held accountable for what happened," Hutchinson said.
Pawlenty warned that the others' proposals would lead to higher taxes, and he took credit for leading the state back into the black after a historic budget deficit.
"By the way, I'm not going to raise taxes," he said. "If you add up the promises that are being made in this campaign, particularly by the attorney general, it's going to lead to massive tax increases."
The candidates also played to the rural audience, with Pawlenty praising farmers not only for being an "economic engine" but also for adding an element of common sense. He claimed to be the "most active and forward-looking governor on agricultural issues in modern times."
The governor also said he wants to go after oil companies' contracts that prevent more gas stations from installing E85 ethanol pumps.
Hutchinson said he would involve representatives of local governments in decision-making in St. Paul. In contrast, he said relations between the state and local governments under Pawlenty are at their "most poisonous."
Pentel promised to eliminate property taxes for organic farmers who follow sustainable agricultural practices. He said he would govern as a "protector of the state."
Hatch -- who grew up in Duluth -- said he is from rural Minnesota and understands its value.
But that prompted another dig from the governor, who said, "He loved Greater Minnesota so much the first thing he did in public service was to move to Wayzata and run for mayor."
There was some levity when Hutchinson praised Pawlenty's efforts to promote foreign trade.
"Thanks, Peter -- I love you, man," Pawlenty said.
"You can love me, but you can't have my beer," Hutchinson responded, referring to an old Bud Light advertising campaign. |
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