by John Shearer
posted October 3, 2006
Gov. Phil Bredesen told debate watchers in Knoxville Tuesday night that he wants to build on the foundation he has set in his first four years, while his Republican opponent, state Sen. Jim Bryson of Franklin, pointed out several times the problems of the scandal-plagued Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Although the debate – televised live on Knoxville’s Channel 10 and held at West High School’s auditorium – was generally less confrontational than either of the previous two Republican U.S. senatorial debates held during the summer here, Sen. Bryson did question on several occasions the governor’s handling of the scandal, which has involved ticket fixing, political favoritism, etc.
On one occasion, Sen. Bryson wanted to know why an administration official has been held in contempt of court in a case involving a highway patrolman and has not cooperated with authorities.
On that particular case, the governor said he was first letting it work its way through the court system. Of the scandal in general, he said, “What I have tried to do is put it out on the table. I am the governor who, after 50 years, professionalized the Highway Patrol.”
Another issue in which disagreements occurred dealt with TennCare, the insurance program for low-income Tennesseans. Sen. Bryson said people have come up to him while he has campaigned saying that some are committing fraud with TennCare, and that illegal immigrants are being covered by it.
“The No. 1 issue four years ago was to elect someone who would come in and fix TennCare,” said Sen. Bryson. “But TennCare has not been changed. A year out from the election he makes cuts. But TennCare is basically the same program as four years ago.”
One person had e-mailed a comment to the debate that an individual with cancer was cut from TennCare. Gov. Bredesen responded that TennCare is very complex and the government had to focus on categories in its cuts and was unable to deal with individual cases.
“We have tried to use safety nets and find ways to plug in those candidates,” he added. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
The issue of taxes was also discussed, with Gov. Bredesen saying he is for the current tax system, while Sen. Bryson said he is against any additional taxes, including a state income tax.
The two also offered ideas for dealing with the surplus that has come from the Tennessee Lottery. Gov. Bredesen said a portion of it has been used to develop a universal pre-K program as well as increase the individual scholarship money available from $3,000 to $3,800.
Sen. Bryson suggested using the money to let individual school systems improve their facilities and technology equipment and capabilities.
On the issue of state Supreme Court justices, Sen. Bryson said they needed to be elected, while Gov. Bredesen said a statewide campaign for the position might result in campaign money coming from special interest groups. “The current method is a good method,” Gov. Bredesen said, endorsing the current selection commission.
Gov. Bredesen said he was for raising the state minimum wage, while Sen. Bryson said the issue related to pay should be more about creating jobs. The senator said that creating jobs would bring the employment rate down where it should be.
Regarding illegal immigrants in Tennessee, Gov. Bredesen said he has tried to combat the problem by such actions as working with law enforcement and social service agencies to find those who are in the state illegally. Sen. Bryson said that bills combating illegal immigration were passed, but that Gov. Bredesen came out against them and the House killed them.
Sen. Bryson also tried to say that Gov. Bredesen had not supported a recent resolution saying that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But Gov. Bredesen disagreed. “The resolution never came to my office,” the governor said. “I’m not in favor of gay marriage and Jim Bryson knows that.”
Both said problems related to unclean air and water need to be combated, and that teacher pay in the state needs to be increased.
More people attended this debate than either of the previous two U.S. senatorial Republican debates, as the entire auditorium had only a handful of empty seats.
Both before and after the debate, several Bredesen supporters chanted, “Four more years.”
Approximately 5 minutes before the debate aired, two young women held up a banner that said Rocky Topless and shouted “Stop mountain removal” several times, referring to the practice of strip mining that has taken place in a number of states. They soon left the auditorium.
Prior to the debate, both Gov. Bredesen and Sen. Bryson spoke cordially to each other. In the two U.S. senatorial Republican debates in Knoxville, the candidates kept to themselves.
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