Emmer is main target at DFL debate

Jul 31, 2010 — Star Tribune

Baird Helgeson

Jul. 31, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- MANKATO -- With the primary less than two weeks away, Minnesota's three Democratic gubernatorial candidates saved their harshest jabs for a man not in the room: Republican Tom Emmer.

"Any one of the three of us would be a vastly better governor than Tom Emmer," former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton said during a 90-minute debate Friday sponsored by Debate Minnesota, a nonpartisan organization.

Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza and Margaret Anderson Kelliher spent the rest of the time laying out their differences on the budget crisis, the role of education in economic growth and what kind of leader the state will need in coming years.

The debate was one of the few remaining high-profile events in which all three candidates had a chance to distinguish themselves before the Aug. 10 primary. The winner will face Emmer, who has no major primary challenger, along with one of two Independence Party candidates, endorsee Tom Horner or Rob Hahn.

The candidates warned that Emmer would slash aid to cities, butcher health care for the poor and exact severe budget cuts that would leave the state unable to climb out of its economic doldrums.

Dayton took aim at Emmer's proposal to trade tax credits for charity care for the state's poor, an idea he called, "ridiculously indecent."

While previous debates have turned heated over the budget and taxation, the subject of education reform offered the night's most pointed exchange and drew the sharpest contrast for the 300 spectators at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Entenza wants to scrap the federal No Child Left Behind program and retool the state's education standards based on our own formula.

Kelliher said the state risks losing $500 million in federal funding by opting out of the federal schools mandate.

"Matt, we have to be honest, no state has opted out of No Child Left Behind," said Kelliher, speaker of the House. "Do we think President Obama is going to allow Minnesota out? I don't think so."

Playing to the crowd, Entenza, the former House minority leader, said he hopes the state could opt out without a penalty. "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," he said. "NCLB is a big, giant pig." Even if the federal government cut the money, Entenza said it would be worth it to ensure better education.

Dayton renewed his call to raise taxes on Minnesota's highest earners, his signature proposal. He said the move would resolve most of the estimated $6 billion shortfall in coming years and help boost funding for other prized initiatives, like education. He talked about working as a teacher in New York City and pledged to increase school funding every year he's governor. "No excuses, no exception; I will find the money," he said.

Kelliher played up her hometown credentials, noting former teachers in the room and reminiscing about local schools. Many attendees were friends and family in red campaign shirts. Kelliher's 300-acre family farm is just a few miles from where the debate was held.

When talk turned to leadership, she described herself as a consensus builder, the "calm within the middle of the storm." She talked about overriding Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto on the 2008 gas tax to pay for roads and bridges, and about being elected state 4-H president. "There's not a lot of Democrats in 4-H, in case you didn't notice," she said, drawing laughter.

Entenza touted his Worthington roots, noting that he would be the governor from the most southern outpost of the state.

Entenza, who has been the least the confrontational of the three in previous debates, said Minnesotans want a leader who will bring people together. "That's why I don't talk about fighting," he said, taking a nudge at Kelliher, who has described herself as a fighter. "We are going to put this state back together again."

Dayton framed himself as a principled statesman willing to take unpopular stands. He noted his much-criticized opposition to the Iraq war after 9/11 and his bypassing of his party's endorsing convention. "If I am elected governor, it will be by the people of Minnesota," he said. "I'll stand on my principles, whether they are popular or not."

Baird Helgeson --651-222-1288

THE NEXT DEBATE

What: Live political debate between the three DFL gubernatorial candidates

When: 6-7 p.m. Sunday

Where: KSTP-TV studios, Minneapolis

How to watch: The debate will be broadcast in the Twin Cities on KSTP-TV, KAAL-TV in Rochester/Austin, WDIO-TV in Duluth and KSAX-TV in Alexandria

Newstex ID: KRTB-0281-47489782