I will be blogging the debate as it happens (hopefully), so check here for analysis and updates.
*Update*
Sorry, but I just couldn't type fast enough to have it live. I should have my notes posted very shortly.
*Update*
Okay, I tried to my best get as much as I could include here. It was very difficult to type fast enough to catch it all. I got what I felt were the most important parts. Everything in italics is my opinion. Nothing here is quoted word for word, it is all summarized. What I am posting right now is just the first portion of what I have.
Bob Beers introduction
Bob Beers talked about TASC in his introduction. TASC had the most signatures of any petition ever.
Loraine Hunt introduction
Hunt was very scripted. She hit on education and health care but she gave no details. It was like she knew those were hot buttons and she hoped she would earn votes just by mentioning them.
Jim Gibbons introduction
Gibbons just kissed butt. He thanked everybody with a pulse before he started. He appealed to blue collar talking about his dad being a railroad worker.
Beers first question
What is your stance on immigration?
Beers wants secure our border. On the state level, Beers wants all government documents to be in English only. He wants immigrants to learn English first, before being taught other subjects. Beers would require people to present ID prior to voting.
Loraine Hunt (same question)
Hunt comes out saying she has a better understanding of the immigration issue because she is from a family of immigrants. It's America, aren't we all? She would like to secure borders first. She proposes no public benefits to illegal immigrants. She had a very similar message to Beers. That's a good thing. It's a good message.
Jim Gibbons (same question)
Gibbons proposes to secure borders first. Then he said he opposes amnesty, but supports a guest worker program. Is your politician speak detector going crazy like mine is?
Loraine Hunt question
What is going the wrong direction in Nevada?
Once again, lots of sizzle, no steak. The economy is the key to everything, but she gave no details. She is doing an excellent tap dance to avoid taking a real stance.
Gibbons (same question)
He says he wants to keep our taxes low.
Bob beers (same question)
Bob said thank goodness for California. They are causing our economic growth. He says our biggest problem is that government is growing at twice the rate of growth of citizens plus economy.
Gibbons question
What would you do to fix education?
Gibbons says accountability is the key. He was quite clearly trying to throw a buzz word out there. He gave no details as to how he would increase accountability. Gibbons would give freedom and flexibility to teachers and schools. He would get more money to classroom. He would also shrink administration to ensure more money gets to the classroom. He is on point right there.
Beers (same question)
One of Beers' solutions was to break up Clark County school district.
Hunt (same question)
She says education is the highest priority. Teachers are most important tool for education. She would create financial incentives to hire better teachers. She seems to have all talking points and no substance.
Beers Question
What would you do with the budget surplus if we had another one?
Beers would eliminate the gas tax. He says it is a poor designed tax because based on pennies per gallon. As the price of gas goes up, the tax does not. Also, as gas mileage improves, the tax becomes less effective.
Question: So would you rebate the surplus?
Beers says he would ensure the state had a large enough rainy day fund. Then he would ask the voters if they would like to apply the surplus to a special project. That worries me! After that, he would rebate the rest.
Hunt (same question)
She is clearly reading talking points.
Gibbons (same question)
Gibbons say the surplus cannot be used to grow government. He said surplus means we are overtaxing Nevadans. He really hit the nail on the head there.
*Update*
Hunt question
How would you balance demand for water between rural and urban Nevada?
She hit on talking points about bringing Nevada new businesses. She wants to protect rural area water and would protect it in urban areas. She really didn't say anything.
Gibbons (same question)
He is looking for alternative sources to water. He talked about working an exchange with California.
Beers (same question)
He went to fast for me to catch any substance.
Gibbons Quetion
Defend your stance on minimum wage.
He says it takes more than 5.15 per hour to get people out of poverty. Gibbons said housing, gas, and food can not be bought on that. Gee Jim, has it ever crossed your mind that minimum wage wasn't meant to support a family? Did it ever occur to you that you may want to learn a skill before starting a family.
Question: Do you think a minimum wage of 8.25 per hour would hurt economy?
Gibbons doesn't believe it would hurt Nevada's economy.
Beers (same question)
Beers outlines that minimum wage increase is being proposed by the culinary union. The proposal would keep minimum wage in Nevada a buck higher than the federal minimum wage. The bill also exempts unions. Beers says there are better way to raise wages. He proposes provide better education including vocational training for those kids not fit for college. Can you hear the teachers union cringing? With this plan people would be able to build their own lives. Are you sure Bob? I mean self sufficient people? What a revolutionary concept!
Hunt (same question)
She said minimum wage does not take people out of poverty. Since when is the purpose of minimum wage supposed to lift people out of poverty? She said giving them an extra buck will not take them out of poverty. She would rather put it toward health care.
Beers question to Hunt
I didn't catch the whole question, but he brought up cease and desist letters. He asked her to defend the charges. Yeeeees! Homerun question, Bob!
Hunt
She said they are not just charges, they are facts and she can defend those facts. She said Gibbons flip flops on issues.
Hunt questions to Gibbons
Her question was to fast to follow.
Gibbons
He said his vote not for sale.
There was a great exchange here where Hunt nailed Gibbons, but I couldn't catch it all.
Gibbons question to Beers
Why did you vote for record budget increases? This was an easy one. Bob better nail it.
Beers
He told Gibbons to be honest with voters. Every budget in the last 60 years has been a record budget. Gibbons voted for records as well. Beers says record growth required record budget. Did Gibbons really think that question was fooling anyone?
Gibbons says Beers voted for more spending than Dina Titus.
Hunt Question to Beers
Will deconsolidating the Clark County school district put the new smaller districts at risk of falling behind No Child Left Behind?
Beers
Beers said the optimum number of students between six and thirty thousand. Deconsolidating would leave the district between those numbers.
Gibbons question to Hunt
Explain your tax increase in 03
This lead to Hunt talking in circles for a while.
Beers questions to Gibbons
Beers started by saying Gibbons 2/3 initiative was poorly written. He outlined too much pork for me to keep up with. Then asked Gibbons, how can you win?
Gibbons was very condescending to Beers. Not the way I would expect a elected official to talk to anybody. He spoke about all of his votes to lower taxes.
Beers said 70% of Nevadans support TASC. Why do you oppose it?
Closing statements
Gibbons
He did a good job of playing the experience card and talked about being a fighter pilot. He really played up the military roll.
Hunt
Thanked Gibbons for finally showing up and Beers for always showing up. I laughed about that one for quite a while. She doesn't believe Gibbons has the leadership. She also took on TASC. She very discreetly used the tired old children will starve line.
Beers
He addressed his own pay hike. He mentioned that every one of Gibbons pay raises exceed what a congressperson makes in the state of Nevada.
