Posted on 10/03/2006 7:20:03 PM PDT by SmithL
Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Jim Bryson, staked out their positions Tuesday on issues during the campaigns first televised debate, focusing on immigration, education, TennCare and budgeting.
At the West High School debate, the two made clear their differences and some issues they agree on.
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, 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.
What do the polls say at this point?
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