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Davi$' Opening

And now, Governor Davis, you have two minutes.

DAVIS: I, too, want to thank the LA Times, and I welcome this
opportunity to discuss with my opponent our starkly different
vision for California.

It has been a great honor to serve the people of this state as
your governor. And despite tough challenges from energy and the
national recession, we've made real progress in California in so
many areas.

In education, we have raised standards, imposed strict
accountability, improved teacher training. Yes, there's more to
do, but test scores are up four years in a row.

On health care, 1 million children-1 more million children have
health insurance today that are the children of working families.

On choice, I've signed seven new laws ensuring this state remains
a strong pro-choice state. I've signed the nation's toughest gun
safety legislation. I've signed strict laws cleaning up our air, water
and beaches. And over the last four years, according to the state
economist, California's economy has grown from the 7th to the
5th largest in the world.

With your help, we'll continue to make progress.

Now, I don't question the sincerity of Mr. Simon's beliefs. Mr.
Simon is a true-blue think-tank conservative. He is the son of the
first family of the far right in this country.

What I do question is the direction he wants to take this state.
He is simply out of step with the values of most Californians. He
opposes a woman's right to choose, even when her health is at
risk. He opposes the sensible gun safety legislation I've signed.
That's why he earned the endorsement of the National Rifle
Association. He wants to weaken our toughest-in-the-nation
environment quality law. He wants to privatize our roads and
water, turning our freeways into toll roads and selling off our
water to the highest bidder.

My friends, it's not the sincerity of Mr. Simon's belief I question,
it's whether those beliefs are good for California, and I suggest
they are not. You may not agree with everything I've done, but
I'll work hard with you to keep moving this magnificent state
forward.

MODERATOR: OK, Governor Davis, that is exactly two minutes.