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Debate: McKenna takes swipes at Inslee

August 30, 2012 @ 3:33 am (Updated: 3:37 pm - 8/30/12 )

Listen to Debate: Rob McKenna takes a few swipes at Jay Inslee

Rob McKenna took a few swipes at Jay Inslee in Wednesday night's gubernatorial debate.

For the most part, the one hour debate, held at the Washington State University branch campus in Vancouver, was polite with candidates sticking to their talking points.

InsleeInslee steered many of his answers - even about funding public education - back to his job creations plan, and McKenna said he had a "stubborn refusal to talk in specifics."

McKenna also said Inslee "has gotten so used to the same falsehoods that he has started to believe it."

Both candidates said they would not push for any new taxes if elected.

But McKenna drew attention to Inslee's use of the present tense in the phrase "I am not proposing taxes," saying that Inslee could very well do just that in the future, once he's elected.

McKenna pointed out Governor Gregoire and former Governor Mike Lowry both said they were not proposing tax increases when they were campaigning, and then raised taxes after they were elected.

Inslee quickly clarified that he will not support new taxes in the future.

"Let's get rid of that red herring right now," Inslee said.

The issue of personal taxes also drew one of the more interesting exchanges of the evening, with Inslee asking McKenna why he won't release his personal income tax records for voters to see as they pick the next CEO of the State of Washington.

"Rob, I have disclosed 5 years of my tax returns, our previous governors have disclosed their tax returns. Why do you feel you are exempt from this expectation?" Inslee asked.

McKenna2McKenna got a round of applause when he responded, "I think I'm exempt from a lot of your expectations."

He added, "I'm not going to play this game. I have 16 years of detailed financial information that has been released." He jabbed Inslee again saying "You've heard of the Internet, you can look it up. It's ridiculous that we're even talking about this issue, when I've provided far more information about myself than you're going to find in tax returns."

"We could solve this right now. If this is a distraction, let's remove it," Inslee responded, as he explained the citizens of Washington deserve to know about the personal finances of a governor who could be leading a "multi-billion dollar" organization.

One other issue that came up, that wasn't discussed in the previous debate between the two, was the high cost of liquor in Washington. The price on the shelf may say $7.99 for a bottle of booze, but it's $12.49 when a customer pays for it at the cash register. Why?

"I wish you would have listened to me because I voted against the Initiative," said Inslee. "A lot of people have been unpleasantly surprised by what's happened in the industry. It's a lesson that when we get an initiative. We all need to think hard about them and make independent judgments not based on TV commercials."

"We're early in this process and I don't think prices have shaken out yet," McKenna said. "Voters were pretty clear that they prefer to move into the 21st century and get the state out of the liquor business."

In a closing round of rapid-fire questions. Umbrella or no umbrella? Inslee said this is Washington, and he's a "no umbrella" kind of guy. McKenna says, umbrella "of course, I'm not crazy."

Both prefer Huskies over Cougars, unless they're playing the Oregon Ducks, then both support WSU. Both strongly oppose a state income tax.

Additional debates are set for October 2 in Yakima and October 16 in Seattle. Polls show the race is close, though in the primary election Inslee had 47 percent of the vote, compared with McKenna's 43 percent.

Watch the debate:

Watch Part II of the debate

By LINDA THOMAS

Photos, screen grabs from the gubernatorial debate broadcast on KATU TV, Portland.

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (42)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    I cannot believe in the primaries
    August 30, 2012 5:29 am
    Inslee beat McKenna. Jay would be a worse version of Chrissy. Sheesh, this state is is going to hell and they want to elect another tax and spend governor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    If it was a fight...
    August 30, 2012 5:34 am
    It would have been stopped. Inslee couldn't defend himself.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    yes, he can't live up to our expectations, so he exempted himself
    August 30, 2012 5:35 am
    Washingtonians want equal rights!

    we don't need no Umbrella carrying Texan running our state!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • seasports1216 wrote...
    Washingtonians want a job!
    August 30, 2012 7:32 am
    That Texan has a plan for our schools and knows education is the future. We don't need another comfy governer cozy with the teacher's union
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Come on Jay!
    August 30, 2012 5:40 am
    ------The price on the shelf may say $7.99 for a bottle of booze, but it's $12.49 when a customer pays for it at the cash register. Why?-----ANSWER: Because the state taxes the H E Double Toothpicks out of it!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Moondoggie
    August 30, 2012 5:48 am
    don't forget the 2, count them, TWO Fees the state also tacks on. Plus the Fees and taxes the state charges the retailers and distributors. 17% of gross for Retailers and 10% of gross for distributors. They are actually making MORE money on Liquor than when they owned it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Moondoggie
    August 30, 2012 9:04 am
    You do understand that Washington has NO State tax and needs to get funds from other sources.Would you rather have a 7 or 8% State Tax and cheaper Booze?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    Inslee makes me gag
    August 30, 2012 5:48 am
    SPEND SPEND SPEND Washingtonians will keep voting these Dumbocrats in.... Good luck McKenna, unfortunately WA is to stupid to vote for a good politician. They would rather support a career politician...that is if they can break away from their TV's, facebook pages and cell phones long enough.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    we don't need the Govt to give us a job plan!!!
    August 30, 2012 5:51 am
    the Govt needs to back off so we can run our businesses...McKenna will give businesses the relief we need and not more Govt plans that don't work.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DJFavorite wrote...
    I still laugh...
    August 30, 2012 6:05 am
    every time I hear Inslee talks about the 2/3 requirement for raising taxes. If he can't even get that right (1 vote vs 1.5 votes???) how can he run the state?? Everyone get ONE vote, you just need more of them to get things passed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cougsfan34 wrote...
    HEY!
    August 30, 2012 7:21 am
    Hey, he real good with them math things there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    It's time to change directions in this state.
    August 30, 2012 6:08 am
    Vote McKenna.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @Forrest
    August 30, 2012 8:00 am
    I am totally impressed! All this time you had us fooled. I coulda sworn you were a Dem? Maybe you really are a Libertarian? My apology to you. Inslee is just more of the same BS we've had over the last 30 years. It is Time for a Change!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Fish
    August 30, 2012 9:06 am
    Yes I say stay with the Dems. This State is in much much better shape then many others. We earn a great average income and business likes Washington because its Business Friendly
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    This State is in much much better shape then many others. We earn a great average income and business likes Washington because its Business Friendly
    August 30, 2012 9:55 am
    What color is the sky in your world?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    HPD5-0
    August 30, 2012 10:50 am
    Talk is cheap. Prove to us that I am wrong. FACTs show Washington ranks 11 th among the 50 States in Average salary.FYI for mouth breathers like you out of the BOTTOM 25 States 19 are GOP States.If you want to be poor get yourself GOP Leadership and they will put you in the POOR HOUSE
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Business friendly?!
    August 30, 2012 3:50 pm
    Try telling that to my boss right after she pay the B&O tax and the head tax!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Voters in the 1st dist.
    August 30, 2012 6:18 am
    Have had no vote in the US House for several months now because Jay Inslee doesn't want them to have a vote. The voters of this state would have to be as stupid as Jay Inslee to elect him Governor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    McKenna is so clearly the better choice that he really should win in a landslide.
    August 30, 2012 6:35 am
    But because there are far more people in this state who vote "D" without knowing any of the issues than who vote "R" without knowing any of the issues, I suspect it will be an extremely close vote.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }