Politicians generally try to use debates to improve their own electoral prospects. But in , incumbent Democrat Peter Shumlin seemed as interested in boosting the profile of one of his opponents.
In their bids to knock off the second-term governor, Republican Scott Milne and Libertarian Dan Feliciano are going after the same conservative base.
Feliciano only won about 14 percent of the vote in a GOP primary last month. But Shumlin seems intent on raising Feliciano鈥檚 profile among Republican voters. And in the question-and-answer portion of Tuesday鈥檚 debate, Shumlin offered up softballs to Feliciano.
鈥淎nd I just wondered whether you could speak to why you feel Vermont Republicans would be making a better choice choosing you over Scott Milne for governor,鈥� Shumlin said.
Feliciano appreciated the opening.
鈥淲ell thanks for the question governor,鈥� he said.
Feliciano said his core platform differentiates him from GOP nominee Milne.
鈥淚鈥檓 a small government guy. I want to stop single-payer. I want to cut total spending. And I want to reduce property taxes and provide school choice,鈥� Feliciano said. 鈥淢y whole platform is about reducing government, reducing cost and ensuring that people have the right to choose.鈥�
While Shumlin appeared to use the debate to try to split the conservative vote, Milne focused his efforts mostly on Shumlin. He criticized the Democrat鈥檚 proposal for single-payer health care, and chastised the governor for failing to tell voters how he鈥檇 raise the estimated $2 billion in taxes needed to fund the new program.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no way that I鈥檓 convinced it鈥檚 going to save money,鈥� Milne said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way that I鈥檓 convinced that the data鈥檚 there that it鈥檚 improving access.鈥�
But Milne hasn鈥檛 yet articulated an alternative to Shumlin鈥檚 health care reform agenda. And his own critiques notwithstanding, Milne says single-payer may yet prove the best way to go.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 go so strong as to say I don鈥檛 like single-payer,鈥� Milne said. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a possibility way down the road that single-payer could be something that makes sense to look at.鈥�
The sharpest contrast between Milne and Shumlin came on the issue of property taxes.
Milne has proposed capping statewide property tax rates. The move would create a deficit in the public education system of about $50 million next year.
But Milne said he鈥檇 tell legislators to come up with an alternate means of funding that gap.
Shumlin said he鈥檒l solve what he calls a 鈥渟pending problem鈥� in public schools by appealing directly to the boards that draw up their budgets. As for Milne鈥檚 plan, Shumlin was dismissive.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to say that that is a terrible gimmick. It does nothing about spending and it shifts the cost somewhere else,鈥� Shumlin said.
Liberty Union candidate Peter Diamondstone said many of Vermont鈥檚 budgetary problems could be solved by raising taxes on capital gains, and eliminating deductions in the tax code that tend to benefit the state鈥檚 wealthiest residents.
Dan Feliciano called for the elimination of government interference in the private market. Feliciano said he would disband the five-person Green Mountain Care Board that now has broad authority over health care spending.
He said he鈥檇 eliminate regulations that lower insurance costs for higher-risk patients by increasing costs for younger, lower-risk residents.
