Northwest

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Do you have a news tip? newstips@heraldnet.com | 425.339.3400   Published: Friday, October 10, 2008 Rossi, Gregoire exchange barbs, with one compliment By Nicholas K. Geranios Associated Press SPOKANE -- Gov. Chris Gregoire said Republican challenger Dino Rossi seems like a good husband and father. Rossi said he and the Democratic governor have worked well together in the past and he had no personal animosity toward her. But both said Thursday during their fourth debate that they have fundamental differences on policy, and spent most of the hourlong session battering each other with familiar attacks. "The incumbent has spent most of her time taking credit or assigning blame, but has not taken responsibility for the problems in our state," Rossi said during the debate taped at Spokane public television station KSPS for broadcast around the state later Thursday. "Jabs and one-liners. Mr. Rossi is really quite good at that," Gregoire said at one point. Gregoire beat Rossi by just 133 votes in the 2004 election, which was decided after three counts and a court challenge. Primary results and polls indicate they're in another tight race. Their final debate will be next Wednesday in Seattle. Both candidates appeared to say little new in the debate, instead relying on the content of their attack ads. But they were asked at one point to describe something they liked about their opponent, leading to the exchange of pleasantries. Then it was back to business in the hotly contested campaign. Rossi said Gregoire had spent her career in state government and had an "Olympia-centric" view of the world that would not lead to solving problems like traffic congestion and budget deficits. "I'm going to solve the budget deficit without raising taxes," Rossi said. Both candidates said they favor the North Spokane Freeway, a project that has been kicked around for five decades but is only now in the beginning stages of construction. Rossi said his budget plan includes money to finish the highway and address other traffic choke points around the state. Gregoire said it was a fantasy to think huge highway projects could be funded without raising taxes, as Rossi has promised. Both candidates have said during the campaign that they won't raise taxes if elected. A question submitted by a viewer asked Gregoire about allegations that she had received big campaign contributions from American Indian tribes after negotiating compacts that expanded tribal gambling. Gregoire said she negotiated with tribes because federal law allows them to operate casinos, but she has not received large contributions from them. "The idea that I have taken money from casinos is an out and out lie," Gregoire said. Rossi said the money the tribes gave to the Democratic Party has been "laundered" into Gregoire's campaign, in exchange for a large expansion of gambling. State Democrats deny the allegation that any money was "laundered." Asked about how he would deal with the state's projected $3.2 billion budget deficit, Rossi said he would not raise taxes but would protect "the most vulnerable people in our society." "I would reduce the size of the governor's entourage," he said, referring to the governor's office staff, and match income with spending. Gregoire said the state budget has been battered by forces out of her control, primarily the financial meltdown on Wall Street and Bush administration policies. She said she has frozen state hiring and travel and made other cuts that would reduce the deficit to a projected $1.7 billion. Rossi called that "budget gimmickry," but Gregoire accused him of declining to say what specific cuts he would make. "All that mumbo jumbo you heard didn't in any way answer your question," Gregoire said. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Good grief! 2. Swine flu lingers, making traditional flu season unpredictable 3. Two vie to serve as Snohomish County prosecutor 4. Last hurrah for Huskies’ Locker? 5. Koster for Congress? He’s still undecided 6. Here’s how home foreclosure sales really work 7. A store credit card can save you cash, but is it worth it? 8. New site sought for Snohomish pool project 9. Families get an early gift: free Christmas trees 10. Prep Roundup: Lake Stevens wins two wrestling meets 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis • ‘Nutcracker' times three • Road warrior • Mavericks reloading • Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Cities prepare for winter blast repeat • Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney • This Weekend in Your Town • Tips for the stormy season • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million