4 of 5 Mich. GOP Gov. Candidates Debate
Four of the five Republicans competing to be Michigan's next governor addressed questions Tuesday about public pensions, illegal immigration, right-to-work laws and the economy during an hourlong televised debate.State Sen. Tom George, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and Attorney General Mike Cox spoke to a packed theater at Oakland University in Rochester Tuesday night. Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder skipped the debate, opting to hold an evening town hall meeting in Grand Rapids instead. The primary is Aug. 3.
The most pointed question asked by moderator Devin Scillian of WDIV-TV was about the pensions held by the four candidates - all elected officials.
Bouchard said he and all his employees at the sheriff's department were on defined contribution pensions that involved only 401(k)s. He appeared somewhat taken aback when Scillian noted he seemed to be forgetting that he had been getting a defined benefit pension as well from his nine years in the state House and Senate. ``I've never even looked at it,'' Bouchard said, somewhat at a loss.
Hoekstra said he has the same defined benefit pension as all federal employees and thinks everyone employed by the federal government should be moved to a defined contribution system.
Arizona's pending immigration law also was a hot topic, with Cox pointing out that he is ``leading the charge'' among state attorneys general to support Arizona against a legal challenge filed by the U.S. Justice Department. ``I will stand up on this issue as I stood up against Obamacare,'' he said, referring to President Barack Obama's federal health care changes.
The Arizona law, set to take effect July 29, would require state and local police to question and possibly arrest illegal immigrants during the enforcement of other laws such as traffic stops. Bouchard said the federal government needs to do a better job of protecting the country's borders, and said he supports Arizona's law.
``If it starts with illegal, I'm going to be against it,'' he said of illegal immigration. ``Somehow that's not clear to the people in Washington.'' George, however, pointed out that many Michigan growers depend on migrant workers to help harvest their crops.
``Michigan would be best served by a temporary worker program managed by the federal government,'' he said. ``We need to protect our borders, but we can't turn our backs on our agricultural'' sector.
WDIV-TV aired the debate live in the Detroit area. It was the third debate sponsored by the Michigan Republican Party.
Democratic candidates Virg Bernero and Andy Dillon had their last TV debate June 28.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
