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Detroit – Democrats Gretchen Whitmer and Abdul El-Sayed clashed early and often in a televised debate on Thursday, Whitmer retaliate against a series of scathing attacks.
El-Sayed accused Whitmer of "bribery" for raising campaign funds at an evening organized by health insurance executives, lambasted a group supporting her in television commercials for not not having revealed the donors in a timely manner and called the former head of the state Senate minority a "status quo" politician.
Whitmer, the presumptive favorite in the August 7th primary, held his land – and launched several counter-moves – in an hour-long debate on WDIV that also featured Shri Thanedar, an entrepreneur from Ann. Arbor.
"I'm hard, I can take it," Whitmer said from the start. "What we deserve in Michigan is better than that – I stay focused on important issues."
El-Sayed advocated for a single-payer state-level health care system and attacked Whitmer for having benefited from a fundraiser organized by leaders of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the largest private insurer in the state, calling it a form of "corruption" that should not happen in Democratic primary.
Whitmer "takes credit for health reform, but the fact is (she) takes money from the same companies and those same people who want to maintain the status quo", said El- Sayed, former director of the Detroit Department of Health and a progressive leftist favorite.
Whitmer extolled his work in the state Senate on a bipartisan law to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act and decreed Laré that she was going to fight Trump administration attempts to reduce the law. Nearly 670,000 residents now enjoy insurance under the Healthy Michigan plan promoted by time-limited Republican Governor Rick Snyder.
"I will not be listened to by anyone at this stage or even by the other party. Whitmer, the daughter of a former general manager of the Blue Cross
Asked about civility in politics, the Democrat of East Lansing says her main rivals have "slipped" by "turning" stories against her with "the most divisive language. "
" I do not do that, "said Whitmer." I got up for them when they were attacked too. "
The debate was summed up in a two-person contest between Whitmer and El-Sayed, said Aaron Kall, director of the debate at the University of Michigan. He gave El-Sayed a small edge over Whitmer, but said it's unlikely that the performance will change. the trajectory of the race.
El-Sayed "seemed more confident, while Whitmer was looking at the notes and seemed stunned to be directly confronted," Kall said, Thanedar "seemed nervous and uncertain throughout the evening, it's never been beyond the message of being a successful and self-taught business man. "
On the roads, Thanedar said it would reduce incentives would introduce penitentiary reforms and try to introduce a progressive tax to help pay a 30 billion dollars over 30 years to "take it to the next level." [19659006] Whitmer repeated his campaign mantra that it's time to "fix the damn roads" and said that she would ask voters to approve a bond if the legislature is "too weak" to approve new revenues. It supports the increase in the gas tax and registration fees in the Senate.
El-Sayed notes that Whitmer served 14 years in the state legislature, but that "the roads are still not fixed."
roads. When asked to explain why taxes should be waived, El-Sayed says that people are frustrated that the state government is not giving them value for their taxes on business. education, roads and health care.
"All I see is tax cuts for the rich," he said, adding that he proposes that "everyone pay their fair share", "the Government is working for the people. "
Questioned and attacked Republicans for not repairing roads." You pay a tax if you get a fixed tire "or get an alignment, she said.
C & # 39; is a road tax that Republicans have "transferred to us," said Whitmer, adding that the lead-contaminated water at Flint and 71 [traduction]
Thanedar acknowledged that it would raise taxes on High income individuals by introducing a graduated income tax system while eliminating state income. According to him, the new tax structure would generate enough money to invest in it. early childhood education. "There are a number of things in which Michigan needs to invest, and the Education is the number one, "said Thanedar.
El-Sayed accused Whitmer of using "Republican tricks" in the Democratic primary. it has not yet released a donor disclosure report that was due before Sunday. Whitmer said that El-Sayed also received $ 170,000 of contributions from business leaders in other companies
"You can not be half-pregnant with it", she said. While Michigan's economy rebounded under the short-term Republican government of Governor Rick Snyder, Democrats argued that his administration was focusing too much on businesses at the expense of average residents.
"If we want a good business climate We must have a good climate for people," said Ms. Whitmer, emphasizing her intention to improve education and offer two years of free classes to eligible students. "We are not a prosperous state until we succeed."
Thanedar, who started and developed businesses in Missouri and Michigan, said that he knew what was needed to create jobs. does not create jobs, "he said. "Giving skill sets to the people of Michigan will create jobs."
El-Sayed said that he would reshape the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to focus exclusively on the growth and incubation of small businesses rather than on large corporations seeking tax benefits . "This has never been supposed to be a government for businesses and businesses," he said. Democrats agreed on abortion rights, saying they would fight for the lawsuit to remain legal in Michigan if President Donald Trump's second appointment to the Supreme Court of States United helped to overthrow Roe v. Wade "I will use every ounce of my power as governor to protect the right of women to choose," said Whitmer, suggesting that she could propose and defend an amendment to the Michigan Constitution. "I've already done it for stem cell research."
million. Whitmer said the education systems of Michigan and Detroit were the best in the world, but that they have become among the worst. She was referring to when Detroit was considered a model for the nation in the 1920s.
She said that she favored early childhood education, tripled the number of coaches of literacy and raised the profession of teachers. "We went from the top 10 to the bottom 10," he said, without mentioning exactly when Michigan was last in the top 10.
El-Sayed said he wanted to break the "Bypass" "charter schools run by companies and eliminate them.
Thanedar said that he was going to push universal child care and early childhood education for Michigan families, and pay teachers well.
I came out of poverty, but this scale is broken "for too many Michiganians," he said.
The winner of the Democratic Party will face the winner of the Republican government, Bill Schuette, Lt. Governor Brian Calley, Senator Patrick Colbeck and Saginaw Obstetrician Jim Hi nes.
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