JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Beebe and Republican Asa Hutchinson clashed over the state's surplus and taxes today, with Hutchinson calling Beebe's proposal to eliminate the grocery tax an "empty promise."
The candidates' first televised debate was marked by the most pointed disagreement they've had over tax policy, with Beebe painting Hutchinson - a former congressman and federal Homeland Security official - as a Washington outsider.
Much of the hour-long debate on the Arkansas State University campus focused on the state's surplus and differing proposals on eliminating the state's sales tax on food.
Beebe, the state's attorney general, defended his call to
gradually eliminate the sales tax on food rather than eliminate it outright. Hutchinson questioned Beebe's commitment to eliminating the tax and said there's enough money in the state's surplus to pay for its immediate cut.
The debate was briefly interrupted by two supporters of
independent gubernatorial candidate Rod Bryan, protesting his exclusion from the hour-long debate. The two hecklers were removed from the auditorium after shouting at the candidates.
Bryan and Green Party nominee Jim Lendall spent the afternoon in Jonesboro to object their exclusion from the debate, as well as two others organized by the Hutchinson and Beebe campaigns.
The next governor debate is schedule for October 4th in Fort Smith and October 17th in Little Rock.
