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KnoxNews


Bredesen, Bryson tout differences in debate
Candidates spar over TennCare, taxes, lottery funds before 230 voters

By REBECCA FERRAR, ferrarr@knews.com
October 4, 2006


Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Jim Bryson, staked out their positions Tuesday on issues during the campaign's first televised debate, focusing on immigration, education, TennCare and budgeting.
At the West High School debate, the two made clear their differences.

Bredesen said a re-election is a referendum on his first four years as governor, during which he cut the budget, did not raise taxes and put discipline into the out-of-control TennCare program, a health insurance program for the poor and uninsured.

He also noted that his administration sent Tennessee National Guard troops to help secure the Mexican border, passed legislation to outlaw the hiring of illegal immigrants and the providing of state benefits to illegal immigrants.

Bryson, of Franklin, however, criticized the governor for initially saying immigration is a federal issue before he took steps to get Tennessee involved.

On immigration, Bryson would make the hiring of an illegal immigrant a felony crime and impose a minimum $10,000 fine and deny bond, parole, probation or time off for good behavior to any illegal immigrant charged with a crime.

Bredesen countered that when it became clear the federal government was not going to act on the immigration issue, his administration took steps.

The debate was sponsored by the News Sentinel, WBIR, Channel 10, NewsTalk 100, the League of Women Voters and the University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

Some 230 supporters of the candidates packed the school auditorium, with the majority on hand for the governor.

Two more gubernatorial debates will be held - in Memphis on Sunday and in Nashville on Oct. 14, the only statewide televised debate.

Based on questions from the panel, Bredesen noted that Bryson voted for three of his budgets. Bryson said he voted against the governor's budget that wound up with some 200,000 enrollees being kicked off the TennCare program - an action aimed at getting those committing fraud and who didn't qualify off the rolls and bringing the program's spending under control.

"He (Bryson) was very supportive of (budget) cuts we made," Bredesen said. Then Bryson wanted to keep the richest TennCare enrollees on the program, the governor said.

Bryson responded that legislators were told there would be a safety net, but that program was "totally inadequate" to cover all the seriously ill people kicked off the rolls.

On education, Bredesen stressed the goal of being able to offer prekindergarten programs to all the state's children, while Bryson focused on making sure all high schoolers graduate. He also said he would use surplus funds to build more schools and add technology.

The two differed on raising the minimum wage, with Bredesen favoring a $1 increase to help single mothers and others struggling to make ends meet, while Bryson said the focus should be on creating more good-paying jobs. The minimum wage is now $5.15.

"The issue should be about increasing jobs," Bryson said. "It's time we increase jobs in Tennessee to bring unemployment down."

Bredesen noted that his administration has brought many good-paying jobs to Tennessee including the new Nissan relocation.

Bryson, who runs a consulting firm, was asked if he would be willing to disclose his client list. He said he had disclosed those required by state financial disclosure statements and had asked all his clients if he could reveal their identities.

Bredesen said Bryson should reveal his clients who are doing business with the state.

On the issue of the budget, Bredesen said he will continue his policy ingrained in him by his grandmother: "Don't spend more than you've got and put aside a little for a rainy day."

Bryson favors using some of the surplus lottery money to cut the sales tax on food by one cent - a step he said would cost about $70 million.

Bredesen accused Bryson of spending that $200 million surplus "several times" over the course of the campaign.

On the issue of gay marriage, which will be on the Nov. 7 ballot as a constitutional amendment to sanction only a marriage between a man and a woman, Bryson implied that Bredesen was soft on this issue. However, Bredesen retorted that he opposes gay marriage and will vote that way.

Bredesen favors the current sales tax system, saying no tax system is perfect, and Bryson insisted the state should use its surpluses for certain programs, including school construction.

In conclusion, Bredesen said he has accomplished a lot during his four years, including getting the budget under control, dealing with TennCare and now pursuing "getting education out front where it needs to be."

Bryson said Bredesen has not always been responsible, noting that under his administration there have been problems with ticket-fixing and other issues in the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Rebecca Ferrar may be reached at 865-342-6357.

Copyright 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Copyright 2006, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.



CLAY OWEN
NEWS SENTINEL

Republican challenger Jim Bryson, left, andGov. Phil Bredesen face off in their first gubernatorial debate Tuesday at West High School. Other debates are planned for Memphis and Nashville, the only statewide televised meeting. Some of the areas of debate included Tenn- Care, immigration policies, taxes and education.