Daniels, Long Thompson clash in gubernatorial debate.
Brian Bultema
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: News
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The sparsely attended debate at the Star Plaza Theatre featured questions from Indiana voters ranging from economic blight in Gary, to making college more attainable for Indiana students. Nearly half the theater remained empty due mostly to the cleanup of flooded areas in northwest Indiana, Tuesday.
The two candidates painted the picture of a state divided. Daniels claimed Indiana's economy is on the upswing, while Long Thompson rebutted. She said over 60,000 jobs have left the state.
She also took full advantage of Daniels' former position as budget secretary under President George W. Bush saying, "Governor Daniels is the architect of the largest deficit in the world."
"Governor Daniels would have you believe we are doing just fine," Long Thompson said. "But we are losing jobs faster than any other state."
Daniels, who had largely ignored Long Thompson's slams at his record, responded, saying that disagreements in policy do not bother him, but that outright falsehoods do.
Long Thompson attributed her claims to a recent Department of Labor statistic, which includes the elimination of seasonal jobs. In actuality 27,800 jobs have been added under Daniels' watch. She also criticized him for the swelling of the unemployment rate of 6.3 percent which now exceeds the national average of 6.1 percent.
Libertarian Party candidate Andy Horning also took part in the debate. His stance: anything limiting the growth of government.
"I'm here for one reason: to put the Constitution of the U.S. on the ballot." Horning said.
Horning said he encourages the privatization that has occurred under Daniels because it limits government involvement in historically private enterprises.
Both Daniels and Thompson agreed the economy is the most important issue facing the state, though Daniels disagreed with Long Thompson's assessment of Indiana as heading in the wrong direction.
Horning said eliminating unnecessary government to let the free market reign is his top priority.
Addressing education, Daniels pitched his plan to use money from the Hoosier Lottery to create a fund for all Indiana students to attend a community college for two years.
Daniels said education is one of the largest shortfalls in Indiana, saying the state has some of the lowest college attainment in the country.
"This could be what holds us back from the great economic future every other indicator points to," Daniels said.
Long Thompson accused the governor of relying on an inconsistent source of funding and encouraging the privatization of another state-run program in order to displace his tax cuts.
Her plan includes expanding the 21st Century Scholarship Program and increasing funding for vocational and trade schools to better equip high school students who may not consider college to learn a skill.
Candidates tackled the issue of economic blight in areas of northwest Indiana, particularly in Gary. All three acknowledged blue-collar jobs in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago greatly affect the overall health of Indiana's economy.
Daniels blamed local politics.
"The current state of Gary is the product of overspending and - I hate to say it - corruption," Daniels said.
The governor did not accuse any local politicians in particular, but said the Democratic machine of Lake County exemplifies the inefficiencies occurring when one party reigns for decades.
Long Thompson took exception. Instead, she places blame for Gary's economy on Daniels' one percent sales tax increase, a higher tax on cigarettes and property taxes still remaining unusually high compared to other states.
Thompson said Hoosiers make unusually low wages compared with those from other states -88 cents per dollar on average.
Debate moderator Dan Lowry encouraged the crowd to register to vote before the Oct. 6 deadline. The three candidates will debate again on Sept. 23 in Jasper and on Oct. 14 in Bloomington.
Daniels currently leads Long Thompson in the polls, by 53.4 percent to Long Thompson's 39 percent.
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