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I will be attending the debate tonight at Illinois State University to live blog the debate between 11th Congressional District Candidates Marty Ozinga and Debbie Halvorson. The event is to be held at the Bone Student Center in the Brown Ball Room. You would think they could of picked a better room given politicians connection with the color brown.
THe fun is to begin at 6:30pm but I probably will begin updating this thread at 6:15pm or so. This hinges of course on one, if they let me in and two if I can get a wireless connection. I have a call into the debate contact to see how things will play out.
Before the Debate.....
A light crowd was mulling around about 10 minutes before the debate but more filed in as things got started. The Illinois State University people have about 500 chairs set up. Three podiums for Ozinga, Halvorsen, and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace. The crowd has not been instructed to hold their applause. They have asked no signs to be held up. About 60% of the crowd is ISU students.
7:26pm Last question is Iraq. Timetable? Terrorist in Pakastain? Strikes across the boader.
Wallace says bring them home now. Ozinga says bring them home as soon as possible but we must secure the country and know that Iraq can govern themselves. Halvorson says "That's what I think to." Not really, but she has nothing different to say that is different than Ozinga. She does take the Obama line that our focus should have been Afganistian and Pakistian all along. As far as raids across the boader into Pakistian she makes a comparision to having to stop at the Indiana State line if we were pursuing a criminal. By far the oddest statement of the night.
7:22pm Third video question. ISU student. Health Care.
Halvorson first. Mentions her mom having cancer and having trouble paying the bills. Typical Democrat talking points but nothing really in depth but get a luttle shrill when talking about keeping people out of teh Emergency room. An obvious reference to her commercial critizing Ozinga for saying people can go to the emergency room for care. The ad is disengenous given Ozinga's sound bite but she still seems to think she needs to make the point. The audience does not get her reference.
7:18pm Second video question. How to make college more affordable. Ozinga says we need to make working with the student loan people easier. Halvorson says everyone deserves a college education. Mentioned she went back to school after her kids went to college and says student debt has to be addressed. Wallace says two year of service in America Corp, military or Peace Corp then you should get free college.
7:10pm Debate goes You Tube. Video question from ISU student about energy independence. Wallace says we can be carbon free in 10 years. Ozinga mentions impact on business and families....grocery bills....in regards to gas prices. Says we have not had an energy policy that makes sense in this country for 10 yeras. All energy options need to be pursued. Drilling for oil off shore. Nuclear power. Mentions that he toured a nuclear power plant recently and learned about how clean it is. Halvorson says Mclean County has the best wind ever. Mentions becoming more green and slams drilling in ANWAR because of land already leased that is not being drilled on.
7:04pm Veterans Questions. Disabled Vets. Moderator makes the point that Illinois does not get enough help to Veterans in the past. Halvorson "This adminstartion has done to much to create veterans." Confusing statement. Halvorson promotes gambling by mentioning Illinois Lottery scratch ticket because one of the games goes to funding Veteran programs in Illinois. Wallace says the VA funding should not be non-discretionary. An entitlement. Says they should get a VA card and not have to go to a VA hospitials but any hospital in the US to get the care they need. Ozinga makes mention he participates participating in a program that helps Veterans find jobs.
7:00pm Earmark question. Ozinga starts. Says we need a one year stop to earmarks and calls for transparency. Halvorson says earmarks have been abused but their is nothing wrong with helping your community. Wants the sponsor of the earmark added to legislation. Mentions earmarks being added in the middle of the night. Sort of showing she dosen't understand that earmarks are added in the conference committee after bills are passed.
6:56pm Corporate Tax question. Wallace says both Ozinga says he dosen't like paying alot of taxes as a businessman. Says 40% of his company profit as tax. Says most companies don't pay the taxes it just gets added onto the product and it's the consumer that pays the bill. Ozinga says create jobs and those people will become tax payers and not have a need for incresed taxes. Halvorson says we need to overhaul the tax system and makes a point about companies going overseas. Kind of off topic from the original question but the crowd likes her point.
6:52pm Farm Question. Halvorson dosen't say much...really. Says she has met with farmers. Wallace says he's from Hudson, IL and played on combines growing up and it was fun. Wallace mentions getting off forign oil but dosen't strongly come out for Ethanol. Ozinga mentions ethanol but has no strong statement toward ethanol either.
6:50pm Wallace plays the populist card and says the 700 billion should go to the American people which would be $24,000 for each American. Asks crowd how they would like that. Smattering of applause. I think the crowd is shocked he said it.
6:48 Halvorsen answers that she would have opposed the first one because it was bailing out Wall Street and giving out golden parachuttes. She says the second bailout bill is better because it includes some tax braks and we need to infuse money onto main street.
6:45 pm First question. How would you vote on the bailout. Ozinga says "Without a bailout we would be faced with increasly chaotic times and he dosen't like it but he sees it as necessary. Swipe at Halvorson saying she thinks this will just work itself out.
6:43 pm Wallace speaks. Says he ran for Board of Trustee and was approached to run for something else and decided to run for Congress. Mentions he is ashamed of being from ther 11th because Weller hasn't show up for the last week to vote. Mentions being a Veteran of the Air Force.
6:41 pm Halvorsen speaks. Says she won her first race because her opponent knew the bankers but she knew the tellars. Mentions that a ISU grad was recently killed in Iraq.
6:38pm Ozinga goes first to introduce himself. Emphasis on not being a politician. Smattering applause. A minute in Ozinga draws contrast with Halvorson as Blago's favorite politician. Voting for his and her pay raise.
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