drug enforcement administration. this is live campaign 2014 coverage on c-span. >> the governors square off. two candidates with explosive political history. the attorney turned up lawmaker. the small businessman who became a congressman. tonight, your chance to see where they stand and how they differ. democrat mike ross. >> there are big differences. >> republican hutchinson. >> we want to expand opportunity and reflect our values. >> the debate begins now. form your local election

headquarters, we present a live presentation. the arkansas governors debate. >> good evening and thank you for joining us tonight. i am actually. -- ashley . we are coming to you live, and what happens next could decide who is the governor of arkansas. in the democrat stay governors mansion with mike ross, or will it be a republican transition with hutchinson? is november 4. tonight's debate will look a little different. there will be no podiums and the time limits will be flexible. the goal is to get to the heart of major issues. join us on twitter and let us know who is making an impression or who isn't. #argov. us at

we will take you to our moderators to get things started. >> thank you very much. we are joined by the candidates or governor. thank you very much. also, capitol hill political reporter david. our goal for the next 60 minutes is to cut through the clutter, and get to the issues that matter the most for the next governor of the state of arkansas. >> each candidate will be afforded two minutes for an opening statement. there was a coin toss and mr. ross won the toss. a short introduction, he is the democrat in this race. inis the governor and was the congress at a time when voters seemed fed up with washington politics. your two-minute opening, what makes you different? >> well david, thank you very much.

this is the first time that i have run for statewide office, so i would like to begin the night by sharing who i am and why i want to lead. i will start with family, which are very important. on my moms side, my grandpa had a third-grade education. --raised five children's children on the 100 acres of land. they did not have a lot financially. they made sure they were in church every sunday, and they made sure that they received the kind of educational opportunities that he never had. on my daddy side, grandpa passed when i was about a year old. drivea first learned to her car and then got her ged and then went to nursing school. she was a nurse at our county owned hospital well into her 70's. teachers, were school and after a lifetime of teaching, my dad became a united methodist minister.

he still pastors a church in florida today. me the valuesht of faith, family, hard work, and personal responsibility. i think those values have served me well over the last 35 years, and it will serve as my moral compass as i do my best to hopefully lead to this state. my parents were school teachers. they taught me the importance of education. be thei want to education governor, because that is how we create more and better paying jobs. to talk about employment opportunities or good jobs, a hunger, homelessness, poverty, crime, it all starts with education. we have to start sooner and finish stronger. we need more career opportunities for those who do not go to college. we need to continue to make college within reach for more young people. i am going to be the biggest

economic ambassador the state has ever had, and i will work with both parties to get the job done. >> we will get too many of those issues this evening. we will introduce the republican, asa hutchinson. he served as a federal prosecutor and in congress, several appointments under different presidents. , we were in the debate last time you ran. what is different this time? >> i would like to say that those are good memories, but this is a new day in arkansas politics. tonight,to join you and thank you for joining us for this debate. am very proud, i of my history in arkansas and my parents as well. my parents -- we grew up on a farm. my parents were not rich. they were not poor. ,hey were truly middle-class

and went to find her family was hard work. i understand hard work. it was community, it was faith, it was church. that is what bound us together. when you look at the work that we did, i started my first job in the shoe -- in the shoe shining. i worked in a factory when i was in high school. all of these things just to try and get ahead a little bit in life and have some spending money. going to college, i actually cleaned up a gymnasium as a janitor. in law school, i was dating my sweetheart in memphis and i could not buy textbooks and put gas in the car, so i hitchhiked. our marriage has lasted 41 years. but i think about my parents, who were truly middle-class, and that brings me to today's debate, because the defining

issue in the race for governor is who can best support the struggling middle class and give them more opportunity for spending money, more and better economic opportunity. i want to be the jobs governor, because i believe everything hinges on a growing economy and better paying jobs. today you see the middle-class squeeze because the government takes more, and the government spends unwisely. i want to make sure that we can create jobs in arkansas. my plan is for computer science at every high school, career education, lowering the tax rate, and refining education. >> jobs candidate, education candidate, we have a lot to get to. arkansas's unemployment rate has peaked out at just around 8% three years ago, it currently sits at 6.3%. it is in line with the national average. the bureau of labor statistics shows there are fewer of them

today than years ago. what can you do from the governor's office? >> a lot. economy,, to grow our it is about the private sector. it is about individuals taking risk and making a difference. i have a specific plan that will work and produce jobs. one of the statistics today is int we were declining arkansas technology jobs. axiom create 150 jobs in austin because of the talent pool. that is why my plan for growing the economy is on target, it will work and produce jobs. we have to have a competitive tax rate, and my plan is to lower it starting with the middle-income. secondly, i want to have computer science in every high school. that is technology education

that will give our young people better paying jobs, opportunities. and it will help our growing industries that need that talent that is declining. there are unfilled jobs in the future in that field. we also need to talk about career education. plan.s an economic growth finally, let's reduce the power of regulations on a business and make sure we partner with them instead of trying to punish them. ok, mr. ross, your thoughts on jobs. ini have been involved economic development all your life, and i can tell you you can have the best industrial side and infrastructure and interstate. at the end of the day, before an industry locates in your town, they will do a job market or labor survey. too many times, across the state, there is just not unavailable, educated, and trained workforce. when i say i want to be the

education governor, that is how we create more and better paying jobs all across the state. that is why i feel very strongly about my pre-k plan. if you are a parent with a four euro than you want them any pre-k class, there should be a desk. regardless of your income and zip code. graders,ok at ninth 20% do not graduate. we need to increase the college education rate. noon emphasis on science and technology and math. for those who do not go to college, we need a renewed focus on career tech -- i still call it vo-tech. we greater partnership between colleges, technical schools, and industry. so the young people can learn a trade and get a certification and get a good paying job. rideing so, it helps to the state with an educated and trained workforce.

is backed up by my plan for lower and fairer taxes and reduce government regulations. i will send a message loud and clear to america and the world, that arkansas is open for business. realll put on that -- quick on that. what about retaining the people that graduate from college? >> absolutely, that is one of the challenges. i will say, historically, we are keeping more of our talent here in arkansas. we are also having students from other states that come here and find their future here. but it troubles me whenever we are losing some of our best talents here. but we have to concentrate on education, the engineering fields that are important in the future. i mention computer science, one million unfilled jobs in the next 10 years. it is a combination of things. we need to make sure the

industry is here to use the students that we graduate, but it starts with those students and the gallup poll that we have. -- talent pool we have. my jobs first plant, and you can read the entire thing on my website, one of the things that i called for is fully funding the governors to sing which scholarship so we keep the best and brightest in arkansas. i am from a small town, prescott, arkansas. more times than not, when someone goes to college they do not come back. that is what we see in rural towns across arkansas and america. we need to create more and better paying jobs so that these young people have a job to come back to. obviously, we talked about education and jobs, it all blends together. on,thing i wanted to touch it is money the governor has at their discretion. at one point you called it a

slush fund. your thoughts on the continuation of that money. is that something the governor needs to bring a business to arkansas? >> the governor needs to have the ability to recruit industry, to use some incentives to get them here. that is very important for our state. what i said about the click action closing fun is that it is important, but we need more transparency, so we know how that is used. and in hindsight we can measure it better. we need better fallback provisions. in instances in which we lost the industry. there need to be some adjustments in it, and that is what i have advocated consistently. in terms of the amount, i do not think we should be a lot -- should be locked in. we need to have adequately funded, as to the exact amount, we should not be definitive. we should look at the needs for

the next year and balance the other needs of the state. governor'st the quick action closing fund, i support the position of the chamber of commerce. it has worked. congressman hutchinson, this is his second consecutive decade running for state office. when the governor proposed this idea, to compete against other states, anderson hutchinson said it would be nothing more than governor beebee's slush fund. the fund has put 30,000 people to work in arkansas. if we want to be competitive with surrounding states, and get more and better jobs to arkansas, we have to provide the incentives that other states are providing. fallback processes and procedures are already in place. with theotally

governor and support the quick action closing fund. i have already contacted a couple of them. >> and they are? >> i will say this, i was at the nra convention. i was visiting with gun manufacturers. they are leading some in northeastern states because their product is illegal under the new gun laws. said, make me a promise that when you leave you will consider arkansas before you make a decision. they made that commitment to me. i have passed that on, but i will follow-up personally. >> he has some people on deck. mr. ross, do you? >> we will not wait for industry to contact us, we will do due diligence. we will identify companies in

america and the world that are looking to expand and relocate. i will spend time on the phone reaching out to these businesses, telling them why they should do business in arkansas. if i need to get on the next commercial flight and fly to their town and make a pitch, i well. metal include -- we have a lot of success stories in arkansas. people who have done well here. i will ask those who have done well in arkansas to give back and to become economic ambassadors for arkansas. and ask them to reach out to these folks and let them know why they do business here. taxes, jobs,out education, and all blends into tax. each of you has proposed a cut to the state income tax. here is a graphic that highlights your plans. some similarities. there are some new ones differences. big picture, they are similar, but i am sure you will tell me that they are quite different. mr. hutchinson, and your plan, the bottom of 41% of earners do not see any reduction.

how do you characterize that as middle-class tax relief? >> because the tax relief is for between those who make 20000 and $75,000 a year. that is the middle class. i made the point that i think the defining question in this race is you can do the best to up the middle class, and this is a way to do that. >> the middle class is not a majority of arkansasans? >> it is. it is targeted towards them. if you want to promise something to everybody like mr. ross. i wanted to make it something that is doable, and that is $100 million. when you limited to that, it is targeted, and towards the middle class. the lower income are already in a low tax bracket. the high income can wait for

later. but give it to the middle class first, the sweet spot in arkansas, and there's a huge difference between my plan and mr. ross's', because it is a competitive issue. we have a 7% tax rate in arkansas, the highest in the region. mine will reduce that from a 7% to 6% and then 6% to 5%. that makes us more competitive. plan, came out with my from the very beginning, mr. ross said i will be letting rapists out of prison and and education in arkansas. all this fear because he wanted to do a tax plan. and then he proposes something larger than what i propose. >> mr. ross, your tax plan, and what you think about mr. hutchinson's assertions? >> taxes are too high for the middle class and the working poor. i never thought i would see the day when a republican candidate in congressman hutchinson here

would criticize me for wanting to cut people's taxes too much. i subscribe to the governor bee bee model. this is a similar debate to what they had eight years ago, when the governor said we will save on the sales tax on groceries because we can afford that. anderson hutchinson said it was an empty promise. fast-forward, 80% of the tax has been taken off and the law has passed to take the remaining 20% off. i subscribe to the same model. will balanceis, we the budget first, fund education and public safety. with revenue growth we will in the let my plan for lower and fair taxes. have manufacturers, pre-k, and a third one that escapes me. a three-pronged approach. which one takes precedence? >> here is what i think is

important, and his campaign, i have said here are my priorities. here is my vision. here is what i want to accomplish in the next four to eight years. we will meet the priorities of the state and provide tax relief for working families. here is the difference between my plan and congress and hutchinson's. he has promised every voter in the state that he would cut taxes $100 million in his first year in office when the department of finance and revenue will tell you that at best we will have a $50 million net revenue growth. that leaves a $50 million deficit. that is the kansas model. do you want our rating downgraded? >> veterans income is the third one. one of those obviously has to be the first to be cut. if the revenues are there, which one is most important? >> i think we can do some of all

of that. that is what i called for and it is in my plan and i waited out on my website. it is about priorities, and those are my priorities and we will meet them with revenue growth. i will not promise $100 million in year one, that is the kansas model. this is a very important point. plan is all, my something that can be absorbed in our recurring revenue. we grow about $200 million a year. the $100 million, if you look at thebudget, it goes in impact of 2016 fy. it is manageable. mr. ross has promised something to everyone, but he will not be definitive as to what he wants to do next year. i have been clear. said it $100 million, and this is where we will start. i want to ask mr. ross, what

will you do next year? i have said but i will do next year. if you are going to present something to the legislature next year, but will it eat, and what is the amount of that? i have been very specific, and i think we owe it to the voters of arkansas to be specific, particularly when we are talking about the middle class. one thing you have been specific on, education. on hutchinson, your plan tubular science. mr. ross -- computer science. mr. ross, it your plan on pre-k. one thing that has raised concern, the common core. most folks think it works. a lot of controversy. mr. hutchison, the use of or common core in its full implementation? >> i support a review of common core. it is very important that we have high standards and education in arkansas, and i

want to make sure we have the highest expectations for our student. want arkansas to dictate its own education policy and not coming from washington dc. >> you think that is happening in common core? >> look at oklahoma who rejected it and now they are withdrawing the waivers for no child left behind. there is a lot of washington pressure on this. i want to make sure that we determine high standards for arkansas based on our values. , topeat you a quick story stories of high school asked me about common core, so i asked them. you want the next governor to modify common core or keep it as it is? 95% raised their hand and said it needs to be modified. it is just an anecdote, but my pledges this. i will have my commissioner of education review where we are, set high standards, and i want parents and teachers together to see what kind of tweaks we need to make to maintain high standards but controlled and directed from arkansas. >> mr. hutchinson, are you

concerned about online testing. your thought on its implementation? >> i support the concept of common core. the concept is that we want to teach young people to think for themselves, in a way they can apply to college and careers and workplace. here is what common core is not, there is a lot of misinformation. number one, it is not a curriculum, it is a standard. it outlyingss of multiplication tables is false. second, it was written by people and governor huckabee governor jeb bush, and implement it and endorsed by the national governors association in poor nation with a lot of people that have been successful -- in coordination with people that have been successful in the business world. people like bill gates. it may need to between, i am receptive to that, but i think the concept is good. >> gentlemen, sticking with

education, let's move to pre-k. that is something that is very big on mr. ross' campaign. everyone in five years, after you leave office. this coming in a. where schools are taxed for budgets. how would you pay for something like that? >> that is a good question. i hope we can do it sooner than that. the first thing i want to do is fully fund the program that we have -- this is not a new program, this is the abc program. nation inh in the terms of quality, quantity is the issue. oklahoma has figured this out, i think it is the right thing to do. this is how i would pay for it. number one, we would increase from 200% to three and percent of poverty those who were eligible with net revenue growth, and there will be net revenue growth. congressman hutchinson wants to spend more than we would have in

net revenue growth and put us on the path of fiscal responsibility and have our credit rating lowered like kansas, as well as huge cuts to public education. we are going to do this, we are going to pay for this as we can afford and have revenue growth. for those between 300 and four and percent of poverty, they would pay half the cost, which is less than daycare today. poverty,r 40% of $48,000 a year, they would pay the full price, which would be comparable to what they are paying for daycare now. we will implement it as we can afford it. >> mr. hutchinson, you called the plan a fiscally responsible, but you support the plan that exists. >> there is a distinction. an existing program that funds pre-k up to 200% of poverty, it means we are targeting towards those who need it the most. mr. ross wants to expand that to up to 300% of poverty and even

up to 400% of poverty with taxpayer money. and so, whether they can afford it or not, you will get taxpayers to pay for it, and we have to prioritize. the governor was not able to find the money to fund the existing program. i want to fund the existing abc expand, not expanded, -- it, and target the money were beneath it the most. we have a revenue stabilization act. obviously we are going to fund education and balance the budget. we will fulfill our commitment to services. but with the revenue growth we have had historically, we will be able to pad that with tax cuts. the biggest difference we can make for the middle income is to raise our income here and the best way to do that is technology education combined with career education that teaches these skills for a workplace. , heumbersome hutchinson

says one thing in arkansas and does something else in washington. he voted against free gay programs. he says that -- pre-k programs. he says that my program is the wrong direction. and now he is for increasing access to pre-k. is this the washington asa or the arkansas asa. i wish the real asa would stand up. >> i'm not sure that a negative attack along those lines -- mr. ross spent 12 years in washington. he voted for nancy pelosi for speaker four times and voted against or twice. -- her twice. >> the only time she had an opponent, i gave the nominating speech for her opponent while she was in the front row. >> i said you voted for her four times, i did not say anything else. do not get so defensive about your flip-flopping.

those are just the facts. we both have a record in washington. i have had a record of balancing the budget, for example. when i left congress, are washing -- our nation had a balanced budget. when mr. ross left, we had a deficit. >> we are just getting started tonight, the congressman -- candidates getting comfortable. coming up next, something we will see a lot of other. and some of the other issues the candidates will face. >> the debate between the candidates will continue in a moment. while we wait, here are a look at the campaign as being aired in arkansas. democrat gazette said that the attacks on mike ross are not true, and a sneer on his family business.

so why is hutchinson attacking ross' family for building their small-town business for success? the cover-up the fact that he cheated on his taxes, and that he was a lobbyist who has a record of putting millionaires before arkansas's middle-class. this cover-up will not work. >> for schools, a choice for governor. asa hutchinson. >> he voted to cut. >> and he opposes the pre-k plan. >> it is the wrong direction. >> but mike ross as education must be a priority. a focus on career tech training and college opportunities. >> that is why teachers have endorsed mike ross for governor. >> on education, mike has a record i can trust. piece you seen the smear paid for by allies of barack

obama? here is what they do not want you to know. asa hutchinson found a mistake in his taxes and reported it himself. many of us have made mistakes on taxes. but that does not stop team obama. so they hope it works for mike ross as well. fortunately, arkansas knows better. industry, $16 billion and arkansas's largest. of our farms family-owned, our governor must fight on their side. when some criticize free-trade, it only hurts our farmers. rice, wheat, or poultry, i want to keep arkansas open to the world. it is the best way to grow our economy and create jobs. i am asa hutchinson. as governor, we will hit the ground running and never come back. >> and that we resume the debate

to any democrat mike ross and republican a's a hutchinson, who are running for governor. they both served in congress. >> from the victory building studios in downtown little rock. >> we wanted to give you a live look at mike ross' campaign headquarters, supporters are gathered and looking on this evening. >> do not forget to join in on the conversation on social media. we will monitor your tweets. gov.the #ar any time have spent around a television set in the last year, you have been in you

dated with political ads. to take a quick look at some of the ads that have been dominating this race. >> some things should not be for sale. gazette" says that the attacks are not true. >> when it came out, he did not tell the truth. meet mike ross. fifth-generation p arkansan. >> the next governor will have to stand up to washington liberals. >> we need a proven leader that middle-class families can count on, that is mike ross. >> just a sprinkling of what has been out there. is key in politics, it is a monster and it is being fed very well. mr. hutchinson, your take on the ads?

too much, or is it useful? >> well, the negative ads are what is the problem. i think what the voters want our positive ads. i have people tell me all the time, just tell me what you want to do as governor. played some of the ads with my granddaughter talking about computer science. we were talking about agriculture and arkansas. i talked about my truck and my wife. my wife has been on television to talk about my marriage. positive messages are what i believe were cap there. i am very disappointed whenever the negative ads turn the fans -- motors off. >> are you worried about the onslaught of negative ads? a majority of them -- i look at all of them -- have been positive. are you worried about everything else overshadowing it? >> kirsten hutchison and his

wealthy out-of-state friends has spent millions trying to convince you i am something that i am not. lying about me and my record, i have been disappointed in that. i want to talk about my positive vision for the future of the state. improving education and creating more and better paying jobs for middle-class families. ringing jobs back to rural arkansas. lower and fairer taxes. my senior citizen bill of rights, my veterans matter plan. all those plans are based on life experiences that i had growing up in southwest arkansas in places like prescott and emmett and hope. i love this state and i know we can do better. >> we went from talking about the state stupor -- talking about the ads and producing a couple. >> than me just come back to what mr. ross's speaking of. positive, and he is talking about an ad from an out-of-state group we do not have control over.

but you played an ad in which mr. ross attacked my character. -- never advocate that happening, i think it is encouraging an 18-year-old to vote. does it encourage people to participate in the political process? that is the test for us. we have an obligation for candidates to make sure that we are encouraging people to say that public service is good. i think negative advertising does not work that way. can control the senate race, i cannot control out-of-state groups, i can control my own message, and that is what i want to do. mike is right, it is about our vision for what we will do for the middle class, are tax cuts, our veterans. >> now wait a minute. asa wants to say poor me. he says he cannot control ads that are being run by the republican governors association? when he came out with this ad, my wife is a pharmacist. she spent 14 years every day

going to build a business. sold herrica, she business for a profit in america, imagine that. he attacked her for that. me,him to say, that is not that is the governor's association, do you know when that had began airing? when the chairman of the governor's association was in arkansas raising money for cumbersome hutchinson's campaign. he could have said that that is not fair. the house ethics committee and said there is no truth to this. but he did not, he kind of wink and let it continue to go and go after my wife. i think he owes my wife an apology, right here and right now. do you, mr. ross, control the democratic governors association, the ads they run attacking me? you know better than that. i have no control over my ads it is illegal to coordinate those. i will let you answer the

questions. i have never, never attack you on the issue. if you remember me attacking, tommy right now. -- tell me right now. >> we will look forward to more positive as in the future. onto health care. the affordable health care act we use federalo, tax dollars. ns now have 200,000 arkansa receiving coverage. a small portion are going the medicaid route. mr. hutchinson, we will start with you. what happens if you are in the governor's office? >> i'm in the best position to negotiate with the legislature and to stand up to president obama's administration as to

what we need to do in the future. i positioned myself to make sure that we can measure the costs clearly, without any question. the private option has helped our hospitals and expanded health care in arkansas. but any governor has to look at the cost for the future, down the road. when i'm governor, we will have taken up 10% of that. i think the costs are unpredictable. that thecame out private option might cost more than the pure medicaid expansion. we are also still getting in numbers as to what the insurance rates are going to be. and so we are still measuring it. i think the governor has to be careful. let's wait till next year. >> but the legislature lead the way? -- let the legislature lead the way? >> i expect to lead the way with the legislature. the republicans help to create

the private option. i think i can bring together as well as the democrats and say, let's figure out the right way for the future. we also have the question of waivers, which is not just excepting the status quo but doing better. we may have to ask for more waivers from washington. i wholeheartedly support the medicaid expansion and the private option. feel aboutof how you the aca, the only part we have a say over is the medicaid expansion. to create anworked innovative, market-based, bipartisan solution known as the private option. fast forward one year, we are ranked number one in america. we reduced the uninsured rate in arkansas by half in just one year. nearly 200,000 people. am i point out that these are working arkansans. people who do not work, they get medicaid.

they are trying to do the right thing and get off welfare but are working jobs with no benefits. i will fight to protect it. congressman hutchinson here, he spent a year saying he had not read it, and then he went on npr to say that the only getting about the private option is that you put these folks -- as he called them, that it would be a simpler process to take them off of private insurance and medicaid. this is a lifeline to our world hospitals, that is why every hospital supports it. 200,000 arkansans will be healthier now, which will help us create a more educated and skilled workforce to bring more and better paying jobs to arkansas. as governor, i will be a leader. i will tell you clearly where i stand on the issue, he continues to dodge it. yes i know, do you support the private option? i do. >> in that diatribe that we just heard, you will notice that there was never one mention of what it cost. and i think that any governor has to be responsible to look at the cost to the taxpayers when

we do the things. and clearly the private option is doing good things out there for our world hospitals. but -- rural hospitals. but i would be responsible to talk and pledged 100% support without modification, without looking at it closely and when it costs down the road. so my pledge to the voters is that i will work with the legislator to get the right solution and get a solution that we can afford. and also to push back to see how we can improve it. it is not about the status quo, it is not about accepting what we have been doing. mr. ross would've accepted the medicaid expansion surely as it was. under his leadership, we would never have had a private option, because he would've supported the expansion. it was the republican leadership that came in to look at in an innovative fashion. >> we talk about these issues and successes of past governors. your predecessors, all the way back to clinton, have come into the governor's office through state government.

one of these have been involved but are removed. >> i spent 10 years balancing the state budget. >> tummy, from your point of view, how do both of you forge those relationships and work on something as important on the private option? canirst of all, if i respond, i have mentioned numerous times that we will balance the budget first. the most the state ever pays a 10%. afford thatble to because of the growth that will occur because of the jobs it creates. 20,000 people having health care creates more jobs in the health care sector. any economist will value it will more than pay for itself. i am committed to protecting it and still, right here tonight, he will not give us a straight yes or no whether or not he supports these 200,000 working arkansans keeping their health insurance. look, i have a history of being

bipartisan, and congress and hutchinson has a history of being partisan. "the national journal" consistently listed me as one of the most independent members of congress. i earned an a plus rating from the national rifle association. at a history of working with democrats and republicans to get the job done, and that is what i will do as governor. >> sit tight. >> you have another question? because he just unloads a barrage here. >> i will try and slow down a little, i apologize. >> you're going a little bit long. one, when you talk about bipartisanship, i have been in state government and have worked across the aisle, and i have the opportunity -- ability to do that. >> we will be back after a short break, we will tackle the twitter reaction.

here's a live look at another watch party for asa hutchinson. there are his supporters cheering their candidate on. the broadcastg of the statewide governor debate. >> the debate between the candidates for arkansas governor will continue in a moment. while we wait for it to resume, a look at a couple of the campaign ads that are being aired in arkansas. "democrat gazette" said that the attacks on mike ross are not true and a smear on his family's business. there was never in investigation and the house approved his sale. so why is hutchinson and criticizing building a business to a success?

because he got caught cheating on his taxes. he was a lobbyist with a history of putting millionaires before arkansas's middle class. >> for our schools, a choice for governor. there is asa hutchinson. >> he voted to cut loans. >> and he expands the plan to increase the cap. -- pre-k. a focus on career tech training and college opportunities. i know that my children will have what it takes to get ahead. >> have you seen this latest smear these paid for by allies of barack obama? asa hutchinson reported the mistake himself. many of us have made mistakes on taxes. but that does not stop team obama.

they hope it works for mike ross as well. arkansas knows better. it is a $16 billion industry, and arkansas's largest./ and with 97% of our farm family-owned, our next order must fight on their side. while some criticized free-trade, it only hurts our farmers. i want to keep our businesses open to the world. it is the best way to grow our economy and create jobs. hutchinson. betweenebate resumes the mike ross and asa hutchinson, who are running for governor of arkansas. they both served in congress. welcome back.

you are looking live at another mike ross watch party for my this one in the little rock. we did want to welcome you back to the governors debate. we have asked you to share thoughts on social media using the #argov, and it is trending right now. what question is -- but candidate is making an impact in my? here are some of the questions. what is hutchinson's plan for the delta since he wants to govern the entire state? , he says thatve asa hutchinson's tax plan is immediate not a down the road taxed you like mike. look at the grocery tax, never completely gone. josh saying that i guess mike ross cannot name any businesses that he would contact if elected. thank you, josh, for your comment. will turn arkansas and

kansas with his unrealistic tax plan. just like a kansas today. -- at kansas today. here's another comment, she is saying it 75 k a year, what about a larger family? middle-class. that is just a snapshot of what we are seeing in the conversation on social media. before theuick, break, i pose a question about working with the legislature and getting back in the state government. you got shortchanged on your time, we want to give you plenty of time. >> you are terrific. when you look at experience, i think that my experience does lend itself to work will legislature. i not only have legislative experience but executive experience. president bush appointed me the dea.of the eea. -- i helped set up the department of homeland security.

i had to work with the legislative branch. that experience as an executive leading a large agencies, as well as legislative, helps me with the state legislature. i have already talked with them. i think it is very important, when you work in a bipartisan , not to say here to the opposing party, here's what we need you to help or support after you have drafted it. you need to bring them in early on the process. that is what i would want to do, whether private option or computer coding or a whole host of things we need to address, including the crime law that we face. here's a quick series of issues, looking for concise responses. minimum wage. it is on the november 4 ballot. it ross, how important is for folks to support this measure. >> working folks deserve a

raise. i support increasing the state minimum wage. congressman hutchinson opposes raising the minimum wage, and he says he was against it in this campaign until a few weeks ago. then he says he is for it. i was derailed congressman hutchinson would stand up. deserve aass families pay raise, and i will work hard to make sure that we increase the minimum wage. working and are earning 13,000 a year. >> can i stop you right there? in 30 seconds. >> i support the minimum wage and will vote for the ballot initiative. i said we needed to raise the minimum wage from day one when he was undecided. we have had a debate about process. are we supporting a minimum wage increase -- we have done a historically, but we have to talk about more than minimum wage. we have got to be able to have a rate in wage

arkansas, and my technology initiative will help to do that. >> an issue that came up this week, we have seen advocates for the disabled protest across little rock. do you support this? >> i support those with disabilities having more options, including the option to live at home and independently. my mom had polio when she was a year old. she spent more time growing up in children's hospitals than she did at home. i understand the challenges that those who face disabilities have, and i believe they need more choices, not less. if they choose to live and evidently, they should be allowed to do so. >> and i agree that choices are important. -- cfco is one part of obamacare that states have an option in. not many states have excepted the option. cost is an issue in this.

but it is something you need to look at. i support more options for those that qualify for them. >> let me switch row quick, we would be remiss if we did not touch on prisons and crime. we will start with mr. hutchinson. is a new prison inevitable, and how does that play into what the state needs to do? >> this is where i want to use my experience. probably no one has been governor of arkansas with the kind of law-enforcement experience i have had. from being a prosecutor to leading law enforcement agencies. we have a drug problem and a crime problem. we need to change behavior, lockup violence, and look at alternatives for those who might fit into the rehabilitative programs with accountability. we need to reform our parole system. the question is, is a $100 billion prison inevitable? not under my watch. i know that as a recommendation that is being studied, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. we need to look at every

creative alternative an option before we do that. >> mr. ross, we have talked about prisons. kind of the same question, is it an inevitable path? >> we have a lot of pressure put on our county jails, nearly two dozen inmates backed up in county jails. some say it -- 2000 inmates act up in county jails. it will be taking million dollars a year to operate it. -- $50 million a year to operate it. the jury is still out on it. whether we build a prison or not, i want to see meaningful reforms were criminal justice system. we need smarter sentencing, alternative sentencing for nonviolent and first-time offenders. we need more drug treatment courts and the veteran treatment courts. that will come at a fraction of the cost of a new prison. >> will move on right now. we appreciate the dialogue. thank you for coming in and discussing things with us.

hopefully it helps the and decided voters take a stand. as the end of the broadcast, we want to give each of you a chance to directly appeal -- look directly into the camera. mr. hutchinson? i appreciate and all arkansans who have taken time to listen to this debate tonight. it has been heated from time to time, because it is so important what we are trying to accomplish. the test is, what can we do most to help and grow the middle class and their income level in arkansas? passion, economic growth and job creation. i have a specific plan that will work for arkansas. .com. asaplan includes lowering tax rates, career education classes tied to a job. we need to make sure that we offer stem education including computer science. if only 20% of our students to

computer science, computer coding, that would be 6000 graduates a year that would move into our economy. that could dynamically change the economy of arkansas with a very low cost investment. we need to reduce regulatory burden. i have been blessed in arkansas. i have served two presidents in high positions. but the highest honor i could have as a public servant would be to serve the people of arkansas as your next governor. and i am here asking for your vote and i look forward to the closing days of this campaign has me really tell what we want to do for the state of arkansas. thank you very much. >> mr. ross? >> well, bob, david, thank you very much for hosting me this evening. saying like to begin by hello to my mom and dad and all of my family and friends back home in ascot -- prescott. growing up in a small town, i never dreamed i would be sitting

in a debate as a candidate for governor of this great state. it is happening for one reason. it is happening because i had the opportunity to receive an education that is second to none. that is what i want for your family. that is what i want for your children, for your grandchildren. i have a positive vision for the future of this state, and it starts with education. . my parents were school teachers, i am passionate about education because i believe that is how we create more and better paying jobs. that is how we move the middle class and allow more people to become a part of the middle class in the state. job creation. i want to be the biggest economic ambassador and the state has ever had, and the we do that is by having an educated workforce. --ber two, i have a loo land for lower and fairer taxes. we will balance the budget first , do things in a fiscally responsible manner as the state can afford it,

we will fund education, medicaid, and public safety. as we have revenue growth, we will cut taxes for hard-working folk all across the state. want my daughter and your daughter, i believe all women in the state deserve to make same amount of money as their male counterparts. with the same education, doing the same jobs. i feel very strongly about giving women in the state the opportunity to be able to earn what their counterparts earn. and a mystic violence, we will send a message loud and clear all over the state that domestic violence will no longer be tolerated in arkansas. i have a positive vision, and i hope you'll read all about it at ross.com. >> want to thank you for joining us. >> thank you for spending your night with us here at the arkansas governor debate. feel free to continue the conversation on social media and

gov.the #ar you will be old to deal d laswell is any other episode on view app. capital ♪

>> tonight at 10 p.m. eastern, coverage continues with a debate between taxes and governors candidates. abbott.vis and gregg this is the first time in 14 years that taxes will elect a new governor. the texas governor candidates debate, starting in about an hour on c-span. tomorrow night, live coverage of the iowa debate. shows the governor with a wide lead. live campaign 2014 coverage from burlington, iowa starts at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span.