started today. >> c-span's coverage of the 2014 campaign continues with the michigan governor race. incumbent governor rick snyder faces mark s my vote, the town hall. it is sponsored by wayne state university. the william h smith family leadership circle. >> make your pores heard on election day. -- make your voice heard on election day. >> we are on the campus of wayne state university with governor rick snyder and mark schauer.

the audience will ask questions of the candidates. henderson of the detroit free press. and markrick snyder schauer [applause] gentlemen, welcome. as kristy noted, there are a few rules in this format. , but we do us that you keep your answers concise. you have foregone opening statements. we can get right to questions.

the coin toss behind the stage puts the first question to mark schauer. cutsaid your opponent has one billion dollars from education spending. where do you come up with that number? >> it is great to be at wayne state university. teacher and my mom was a nurse. i saw the difference being made. they taught me that the key to a good job is a good education. now, it is true that governor rick snyder got $1 billion from public schools. 80% and 90% pay raises to his top executives treat i think that is wrong. the key to a good job is a good education. it is my number one priority. there are some verifiable services that source and you can look to. budget cut $930

million from public schools. he even told the kalamazoo gazette that those costs would be difficult. he is right. classroom -- he cut $300 per pupil. that puts our kids and more cabinet -- cluttered classrooms. basic programs have been eliminated. schoolst is a fact that when have less per pupil he started four years ago. i will close with this, don't take my word for it. talk to any teacher. talk to school board members. parents. school districts around the state. i even met with a group of parents. they are going door-to-door, raising money on social media, and even holding bake sales to raise money for music, arts,

special education, foreign languages. that is wrong. that hurts our kids. that hurts our economy. >> did you cut $1 billion out of education? >> no. lets make this simple. you hear a lot of different things. let me make this as simple as possible. the year before i became governor, the state budget for k-12 was $10.6 billion. that is a number that does not change. the budget i just signed into law was $11.7 billion. is $1dget i just signed billion higher than the year i took office. if you take those three years in between and look at those budgets, it is $1.1 billion more than if you would have taken that $10.6 billion each year. that is not an argument i can dispute.

i would look to the free press. the free press actually covered it to say i have been true full. broken political system has people making up lies. that is not good for any of us. inis important to invest education because the kids are our future. i believe in it. not only is k-12 important, but have made the largest investment in the united states for preschool of any state in the nation. thatould we make investment if we are cutting education? it is to reinforcement. we are doing better in michigan. we are at 70%. we need to get that number high. that is what i want to work on in a second term. education some other issues to get to. i don't think you will ever agree on that billion dollar cut.

beener schools have another area of contention of the last several months. you feel charter schools need more rigid regulation? >> the first thing i would do as governor is put the money back. it is irrefutable. you can check the sources. there are less dollars in the classroom. there are less dollars to educate our kids than before he became governor. another problem hurting our schools, school district over the state, 48 school districts that are in deficit. there will be more. they went broke. were allowed to expand with no oversight. that was a big mistake by this governor. it is hurting our kids. the free press did in a day toies on what has happened

our public schools. 80% of the charter schools are run by for-profit companies. let me be clear, public education should not be a profit-making venture. dollars should get to the classroom and our kids. these schools have sweetheart real estate deals, lack of accountability -- it is hurting our kids. yes, i would not expect my opponent with his record to sign into law oversight of charter schools. i will do it when i am governor. charter schools hurting education? >> they are giving parents choice. we have had a lot of failing schools in our state. point behind charter schools is to get -- give parents the opportunity to have their kids get an education. that is important. they are not unregulated. there are alterations behind them and the department of education provides oversight did one thing i can to you is that we need higher standards for all

schools, charters and traditional public schools. we need to raise that bar. we need to raise those standards. when you talk about school, i am a strong believer in public schools. when you talk about that funding i did it in a fashion that gave an extra slice to traditional public schools more than charter schools. the other part i did it for was to make sure those hard-working teachers actually have a well funded retirement system. that has been one of the huge problems and issues, but that was not properly funded. when you see teachers complaining, hopefully they can also recognize that we have done more to ensure they have a well-funded retirement plan, not ,ust them, but all employees then they would otherwise have. i believe in that. that is important. >> we have an audience question. >> tell us your name in question. what are your plans to

support higher education and job training so that we make sure that michigan workers are ready for good jobs? >> thank you. you go to school here? >> yes. great. i just met a student who was to become a teacher. educators of the most important profession in our society. she will be graduating with $32,000 in student loan debt. she also told me about her boyfriend. they are going to get made. it sounds like to me -- he is a law student. withll be graduating $100,000 in student loan debt. it is a fact that with rick as governor, to wish and has increased every year for college students. you are wracked with student loan debt. things.do three first, we will keep our commitment as a state to our state universities to increase funding. -- wayne state

was cut $42 million. second, i will provide more need-based financial aid so everyone who was to pursue higher to patient can do that. put together a student loan fund to help students. we will help you refinance that student loan debt. they can spend more of their income in our it economy. we have to build our economy from the bottom up. >> good luck in your career. that is fabulous. a couple of key things i will tell you. it is too expensive. first of all, we need to be more innovative and what we do, what we work on.

when i was in battle creek, they in --200 students enrollment. think about that. we will increased financial base resources. lets be innovative. think about this. you can drop the cost of a bachelors degree by 25% and an associates degree by 50%. the other thing that is important is career tech education. that is important for me, creating those middle-class job opportunities through training, reestablishing career tech education. we can do much better. one example is math squared. a michigan advanced technician training program.

how does it work? >> you start working for the company, you're already going to school. the company pays your tuition cost why you go to school. at the end of three years, you come out with an associates degree, certificate, a guaranteed job, and a were committed for two years. talk about a great career opportunity. your tax reforms resulted in about 1.7 alien dollars less in revenue. more is also $1.6 billion coming in from middle and low income earners. is this good policy? why is that fair? >> we had a billion and a half dollar deficit when i took office. we have seen a big recovery. what was the point of the business changes? to make it fair. it is about fundamental fairness. those remember all

coveted closing up? part of it was they had a big tax burden. when you have to pay your taxes, you know how tight it was. we were paying and it should tax on our businesses. not only do they individual income tax, where going to stick you with a second tax. , why weret to indiana all business is going to indiana? they were marketing their great economic relevant tool. it was killing jobs. why did we do? we got rid of that unfair tax. we replaced it with a simple fair 6% tax. the big companies are still paying the same. i got rid of those tax credits. for the small and medium-size businesses -- do we have any small and medium-size business people here tonight? we have a few. you know what it was like to think about this. we built a taxes done that said the people who create jobs should pay more than we pay on

our salary and wages. that is not her you create jobs. what we made was a fair system to increase job creation. the congressman voted for the attacks. -- for that tax. congressman, you said you want to repeal the pension tax. how would you make up the revenue? is that fair to be taxing 401(k)s? >> thank you. read what ie you to wrote about this issue. 95,000 businesses in michigan that page zero and taxes. he talked about balancing a budget. hole $1.8 billion deeper and then turn around and cut a billion dollars from our schools. on workingaxes

families, low wage earners, and pensioners by $1.4 billion. repeal the pension tax. it is wrong. it is bad tax policy. it is breaking a promise. it is causing seniors to leave our state. it prevents others from coming to our state. couple, born 1952 are after, are paying $3100 more a year in tax because of his policies. he think that is fair. it will be the easy thing i do as governor. there are a number of republican legislators that want to repeal it. what we are going to do is provide tax fairness in our state. to pay for it, we start by cutting all the wasteful programs and sweetheart contracts that this governor has the $41 starting with million furniture contracts. breaks tog tax

companies that send jobs overseas. that is just for starters. >> is that true? >> lets talk about the pension tax. a mischaracterization of what we did. we created a fair system and what do i mean by that? we build a system that actually had wonderful benefits. have a pension, you did not pay any michigan income tax regardless of your age. definedappen to have a in a fit plan through a private employer, you did not get the same deal. you were excluded up to certain limits. if you work at a place or you had a 401(k), and you started taking distributions that you left work, part of it was taxable, part of it wasn't. the people who did not have a retirement plan, they were paying michigan income tax. i don't think that's fair.

is that make any sense? what did we do? one, we realized we had a big benefit for a group of people. we grandfathered in the seniors. provision foral anyone 60 and you're older. it excluded up to $40,000 for married couples. what else did we do? we put in a new senior exclusion. we actually help those people who were still having to work not to pay tax. exclusion that they don't have to pay. we help seniors. >> ferry quickly. our governor is missing some columns on his spreadsheet. .eanette is retired her husband is retired. that pension.n iran into a general and who voted for you last time and was

sorry. his general motors pension is being taxed $133 more a year in tax. a utilityat is payment. i can afford it. it is wrong. it is bad policy. if you think that is fair, no wonder our economy is not working. did not happen to have a certain retirement account, they need help. that is what we provided them. a couple ofht up other things that had nothing to do with the question. he brought up my cozen and a furniture contract rate i would like to straighten that out. lets get the back straight on that one. that contract, my cozen is a distributor. i think it is discussing that he is in pinching on a good person's name. -- in pinching on a good person's name. it has been with him for 20 plus years. , itlast time it was renewed

went through the process of being reevaluated, that was before i was governor. it had nothing to do with me becoming governor. this is a professional politician making up stuff. he mentioned was the investment officer. i went to be fair about this. he said i gave huge raises to my officials. they are civil-service employees. that was approved by the bipartisan civil service commission. they are managing $60 billion -- let me get one more line on this. this is important. $70e people are making billion -- do we have any uaw members. >> we are moving on with this issue. we could fight all night. we are not done. we will talk about transportation.

congressman, michigan has some of the worst roads in the nation. how do we fix them? who pays? how? >> that is an incredible question. counties -- our 83 school cut, pension tax, and our roads. of 50 in per capita spending on a roads. it shows. $2.5 billion a year corrective ly in repairs on our cars because of the roads. process, whentive democrats and republicans were trying to put a solution together, i will not be in manhattan. is spendingd why he $2 million on his campaign. my first term in the legislature, we solve this problem. that is the last time it was done.

he was not awol. we had bipartisan legislature. we did this together can let me to you what i would do. we will get our fair share from washington. brought backere, i $850 million to help fix our roads. we have much more to do. we have some people here that will help us do that. >> we have to hear from your opponent. governor, how would you fix the roads? >> we will get a solution done. it should be a top priority greed i have been calling for this years. that badpeople have tire in the last year? was thelenge legislature was having a hard time addressing this issue. potholes brought it home.

we got farther than had been done in a lot of years. it was an election year. you found many legislature saying they were not going to vote for a revenue increase going into an election season. lets get it done. it is for everyone's benefit. better roads lead to better jobs. it makes as much better off. that is what i have been calling for. if the congressman and people back in 1997 -- we would most likely not have been having this discussion today. >> thank you. you have an audience question? what is your stance on implementing mass transit? >> thank you. that is a great question. run a nonprofit community development organization to provide transit services for the elderly and handicap. it is critical to help detroit comeback. we need transit.

one of the reasons we need to fix our roads -- it is a question of leadership -- and i will lead in a bipartisan way to get this done. my time in the legislature will help me do that. there is funding in the transportation package for transit. >> i am happy with what we are doing. bipartisanugh legislation to do a regional transit authority. it was one of the great missing needs for detroit. we got it done. we will move forward with that. i want rail. we are helping transportation all over. i am proud of the track record i have. it is a great opportunity for the future. it is one of those things that attracts and people to michigan. detroit has an emergency manager and is trying to get through a compensated bankruptcy. is this the right policy and

approach? is there more the state needs to do? what do they need to do to help them out? >> that was a big question. me start the other way. what we are doing now is working on early warning systems to help communities. it is not a subjective process. it is an objective process. i don't something decide that. certain conditions have to exist first. with respect to detroit, i want to see that in of a systematic way. we will work together. we get a consent agreement. those things were not done. they came to an emergency manager. it came to the question of actually putting detroit into bankruptcy. that is one of the toughest decisions to be made in the

united states. it was the right decision to make. look at where we are today. we are within one month or two months of coming out of bankruptcy. we would have shed $9 billion in liabilities. if we had not done that, the operating budget for the city of destroyed, more than 60% would go to paying past debt. there would be no money for services. going up.ts have been trash is being picked up. public safety is improving. and doubleme is down digit percentages and detroit played all these things are going on. now we transitioned back to upgrade my goal is to have the emergency manager come in, do the job, and get out. think.d did you ever think you would see detroit posed for such a bright future as you see today? have opposedn, you the emergency manager legislation. how would you handle this differently?

>> i believe in democracy. the people voted in 2012 to overturn the law. i would have abided by the role of the voters. i would have personally led. i will be in to try. will be in detroit and be a full partner. me.mayor is supporting he knows i will be a strong and active partner. we need good jobs in our communities. put together a financial transition team where we can be proactive. current fight fires done is , address crises. the second thing, i would never

have cut retiree pensions. our constitution is clear. pensions are guaranteed. it is wrong. it is hurting people. that is no way to build a strong economy. >> you have a chance to respond about democracy. you are suspending local democracy. people in the state voted not to have emergency managers. i do you address that? emergency had managers going back to 1988. i inherited a number of them. set so theyhe skill could come do the job and get out. certain aspects of people did not like. we listen to that. think about this. emergency managers were there way too long. in detroit, other than the

bankruptcy, the city is now .unning the state of detroi it is working. we are getting back on our feet. we know how big the messes were. if you're not going to do things like looking at bankruptcy as a and it is resort -- constitutional, a federal judge said that -- what would you do to pay the liabilities? >> congressman? >> if i would have been governor, that would not have changed the books for the city of detroit. i am not questioning whether the city needed to go bankrupt. leduld have personally rather than let an unaccountable person do it. i would never have thrown detroit pensioners under the bus. that hurts them.

>> we did a grand bargain. we did not leave them under the bus. retirees did take us. we minimize them. they ended up supporting the agreement. i respect them. >> we need to go to the audience. believe thatd, i our cities are struggling with their budgets for public service. how can the governor's office assist and providing revenue for police, fire, and rescue services? >> that is a great question. revenue sharing been cut significantly by this governor. fewer police officers and firefighters on the job. that is critical to building strong, healthy communities. what we need to do is have a strategy to support our cities. entrepreneurship,

having adequate basic services like roads, infrastructure -- that is critical to attracting people and investment. what i would do -- seeing that this current system we have is broken -- we need to put together a strategy for minas of all finance. we are not adequately funding our schools. we need to pull together our best ideas come involving to design a partnership between the state in our local communities. the fact is our cities, villages, and counties -- we are in this together. i will close with this. what i have seen under this governor is a reverse trickle-down. while the state has cut funding for local communities, what i see in community after community

is they are raising taxes. this governor is passing the buck. i'm sorry. [laughter] we had 1.5 billion dollar deficit. we had to make some tough choices. i did. since then, we have been investing back in our cities. we have been critically focused on public safety. that is really important. we have four of the most violent cities in the united states. are seeing double-digit progress in terms of reducing violent crime. of whether an idea the public safety people support the work i am doing, i have been endorsed by police and police

officers association of michigan. they understand what i am doing. they are supporting me. >> thank you, governor. lets put the next question to you. job growth been more robust in the state? what will you do to get people working and get house hold incomes working? trucke track of my record. 300,000 jobs. we led unemployment in this nation for how many months? how many years? we have improved dramatically. when you hear about the unemployment rate, how many people recognize that the jobes we lost went south. they went to southern states. how many people from detroit went to atlanta? to give you a gauge as to how

well we have improved, we have the fifth largest number of new jobs in the country . we are number 13 in rate increases. that is coming back fast. to give you and i did a perspective, we now have the same unemployment rate as those states where those jobs left. we match tennessee and california. alabama has a higher unemployment rate than michigan. georgia has a much higher on upon the rate in michigan. we have come back hard. those jobs we lost to the south? them here ing michigan. we are bringing them back to michigan. that is exciting. >> thank you, governor. this economy get growing at a greater speed? >> put the money that was cut for our schools back. snyder pension tax.

i think we understand the key to building a strong economy is from the bottom up in the middle out. our governor's dashboard is broken. he admitted that in his television commercial. to claim success or come back, when you have the fifth worst unemployment rate in the country , the last national jobs report showed michigan losing the most jobs of any state in the country. 900-5000 jobs. 900 and 5000 jobs. start by making public education the number one priority. we provide tax cut for middle class families.

we reverse the snyder job killing pension tax. i will help small business. we know how to do it. i will provide tax incentives to companies to great job here in michigan. if they send their jobs overseas, they will repay every penny to the taxpayer. economyhow we create an that works for everyone. >> congress and, you have talked about the school tax. what are you doing to our race ?hat debt? what woul >> it is a huge opportunity. it is about middle-class jobs. we are doing that in michigan. he likes to talk about the job killing tax. in terms of job creation, the top priority as unskilled trades. manufacturing to agricultural. , the apprentice

ship program we have in place. there are so many great opportunities to create a job after eight we are doing that. it is working in our state. upt is why i want to ramp the chance for people to become career connected. we are helping the people that really need help her. opportunities to people and putting them to work. there is a 70% retention rate. we are putting programs on top to give them upward mobility. it is a giant opportunity in detroit. the bridge coming. m1. the entertainment district. what a great opportunity for skilled jobs in our state. that is my top priority in the second term, to bring back skill-based training and tech education. >> great question. one of the industries here that most needs skilled, trained

workers if the auto industry. i was there and congress when it counted. we rescued the auto industry. rick said that was overblown. i think he is wrong. a skilled workforce is the key to making michigan competitive, create high wage, high skilled economy. that is my goal as governor. businesses in michigan through the union construction trades. they are building a new energy economy. i have seen it firsthand. these aren't exactly the kinds of partnerships that i will support as governor. line, a skilled workforce is the key that will drive us forward. community colleges play a critical role in this partnership. that eliminate basic vocational programs are hurting our economy and workforce.

>> you have a question from the audience. you believe the raising of the minimum wage is good for the economy in michigan? >> we did. that was a good bipartisan effort. we work together. it was a good thing to do. and terms of increasing the minimum wage. both parties came together. both chambers came together. we had a good discussion and did something to help the people of michigan. >> congressman? >> i am pleased that the minimum wage was raised. i began my campaign early in november last year. i propose an increase in the minimum wage. i think it is wrong. we are better in michigan to see parents raising their children in minimum wage jobs in poverty. i complement all the citizens of

michigan the collected signatures to raise the minimum wage. my opponent was worried about that being on the ballot. it is so important that we support good wages for workers. most minimum-wage earners are parents. are women. they are driving michigan's economy. the minimum wage is the right thing to do. we know that businesses can hire more employees when people have money in their pocket that they businesses,th small gasoline, groceries, diapers. i championed it. it was the right thing to do. congressman, if you are elected to governor. you could face the possibility of a legislature that is controlled by the opposite party. how we get anything done? >> the premise of that is based on the selection and who votes.

i think the democrats are in a good position to win the state house, but we will set that aside. they are making incredible gains in the state senate. i served 12 years in the legislature. 10 of those years in the minority. i know what it is like to work together. -- choose homer over mexico to create jobs there -- i was able to work with members on the other side of the aisle, governor's office, to get it done. experiment of a ceo governor who does not really understand how to work with legislators -- i will value the legislative body. i will spend time with them with my sleeves rolled up. fixing the roads, helping to

invest in our schools, but we would need bipartisan solutions. i think our best solutions are bipartisan ones but we need a governor who understands how the legislature works. we need a governor who is willing to roll up his sleeves to find bipartisan solutions for you let me say one more thing. there was a time before democrats and republicans were genetically predisposed to dislike each other or disagree. i think we need to change the political culture in lansing. i plan to do that when i am governor. >> governor, some of your harshest critics would say that you have been pushed into issues that you may not have agreed with by a legislature that is more conservative than you are. how do you answer that? >> it has been about partnership. know theu

congressman's record, he was here when we shut down the governor. government. i am proud of being bipartisan. support thergain to bankruptcy. list ofgive you a long different bills. one that touches my heart -- i remember a senator who was with me, we were together. we stood up against bullies. if you don't do the research on the bills that have passed -- over 75% of them have been bipartisan. there have been some polarizing bills. there are bills that some of us don't like. when iot support bills did not think they were right. it happens rarely. i have a great working relationship with legislators. we had heated arguments.

when we come out, we try to work together, because were trying to bring up a higher level of civility and respect than you find in washington. we have done a good job of that. >> this is about leadership. one of my former colleagues was here. he was quoted in the press saying every time the governor lobbied the legislature about extending medicaid, he lost votes. leadership counts. important for a governor to reach out and work for the legislature. our kids deserve that leadership. our economy deserves that leadership. our seniors deserve that leadership. i look forward to it. i will be in lansing, where the legislature is, and i will work each and every day to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. >> the congressman is good at soundbites. up anotherght

one. to give you an idea of perspective. i am proud of my track record. i have worked out of my office in detroit more than 130 days and i have been governor. that is a lot. in terms of working in the capital building -- it's not a ceremonial office, it is a working office -- over 170 days. they make fun of me sometimes. quiet often i will wear a tie on tuesday. [laughter] the sixthr, if circuit court of appeals upholds judge friedmans ruling of the gay marriage ban, will you pursue the appeal further? would you allow it to rest? >> i will wait for the opinion to come down. happens inect what

our court system. that is where the issue will be decided. >> where do you stand on the issue? >> i am waiting for the outcome of the court's. >> congressman? >> i think the voters deserve to know where the governor stands. you may not agree with me on every issue. you may not agree with me on the issue of marriage equality. discrimination will play no part. as governor and does not have a place. his statement lead you to believe he has no position. this governor through his own legislature banned domestic partner benefits for gay and lesbian employees. his choices are tough on all the wrong people. i support marriage equality. -- after judge it is not decision --

only the right thing to do, but it is an economic issue in our state. to discriminate against talented people we need to help build the city of detroit. it is wrong. i talked to parents who have adult children's who are professionals and live another state -- we have backward policies. you have challenged, appealed, judge friedman's decision. in oppose marriage equality michigan. i think that is wrong to >> i think you disagree. . >> i disagree. how'd you cut that without compromising public safety. ? i will get rid of the prison food service contract. that contract should never have been awarded. it has been a debacle. i can understand why he has not terminated the contract after

smuggling contraband, inappropriate sexual relations, staffhis own chief of asking the director to back off. here's what we need to do. -- education is the best remedy to preventing people from entering the criminal justice system. it is a front door strategy. we need to educate people. for headponsible start. startition, i helped to to drug treatment court. these are ways they give judges and communities tools to provide treatment, whether it is mental or evensubstance abuse, veterans with rheumatic rain injuries. , in terms of reducing the population, folks that are

there, we have to look at our environments. as one corrections employee told me when i was on the judiciary theretee on the senate, people in ourick prison who may not pose any danger. effortsto fully support to help people when they come back home. 80% of prisoners come back home -- it is in our best interest to not have them return. can you talk about sentencing reform? spent more on higher corrections -- i'm sorry more on corrections in higher education. if you look at the actual number

, it has not come down in terms of numbers. are properly funding retirement programs that was not done before. we have significantly reduced our costs. we need to do it in a smart way. public safety needs to come first. states where they are doing their food service at a lower cost. there is another state they have been in. if you have someone -- a problem with someone on a contract, thrown them out. i try to work with them first before i throw them out. i did find them $200,000. officer wasrections brought in to get the solution to work. corrections, the congressman has been reading my white papers. reform is actively underway.

ports, records, veterans court, specialty court's. we are helping to leave the effort in terms of a mental health commission. they did outstanding work. too often we are locking people up when they have a mental health issue. we are getting on top of that. we are being proactive. we're not talking about it. we are doing it. prisoner entries -- we did pretty well in michigan. we're improving that. >> give us your name in question. i have a question about the environment. i would like to ask each candidate what is your position on fracking, and what plans would you put into effect in the event of contamination? >> we are coming to the end. >> let me be clear part of my reachlan -- which you can

-- talks about the energy and environment. i will never sacrifice the environment for jobs. it is both or neither. -- after ourf life people -- is our most precious asset. we must protect the natural resources. i also want us to stop spending $24 billion a year on imported energy. grow the renewable energy economy here. let me point out that the proposed rules from rick's department of environmental quality -- >> governor? >> we do what energy independence in this country. fracking is one of the most effective tools to do that, but it does need to be done right. it needs to respect the environment. in michigan, we do fracking

right. michigan, we frack over 10,000 wells in our state and never had a problem. we have the toughest rules and enforce them. we get results and more energy. >> we have to get to our final question. -- our michigan residents better off than they were four years ago? how will they be better off in the next four years? >> i'm going to say something that no one knows. taken wherepoll more than half of people in michigan were now feeling good about the future. the last time that happened with during 9/11. that is over a decade ago. people are seeing a bright future in michigan. we need to keep that up. and a second term our priorities are more and better jobs, with a

key focus on the skilled trades, career tech education, creating middle-class job opportunities. we can do it. preschool test going to that process -- getting the most effective strangers in the classroom. -- teachers in the classroom. good government. we are financially responsible. we are paying our long-term debt. if you want a really cool job in michigan, run for governor in 2038. that is when we have a payment plan in place. we do 50 are forecast to make sure that we are not dropping debt on our kids likely inherited. we are taking care of those issues. we are building a foundation for decades to come through that is exciting. lets not go back to the lost decade. that's not let professional mess that michigan again. it is time for us to work together. look at what we are doing at detroit.

the progress is happening. it's get going. >> congressman, you have a minute and a half. >> i have spent my entire life working for an economy to support regular people. i have fought outsourcing. i helped to rescue the auto industry and help make sure we create good middle-class jobs. i am running for governor because i believe that we together can build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. rick snyder's of economy may work for you if you are a big arporation, but if you are student, teacher, parent, grandparent, it is not working for you. fore policies will work you. i have outlined a detailed jobs plan. firstly things. one, restore the customer our schools. i will make public education

mineable one budget priority. second, cut taxes for the middle class. i will in the pension tax. third, i will help small is is is an entre nous is an provide tools and tax incentives to companies to great good jobs here in michigan. or sendeliminate jobs them overseas, they will repay every penny. i am here to tell you that as governor, i will wake up each and every morning fighting for an economy that works for everyone, not just for the wealthy. thank you berry much. >> general and, that was a lot of fun. thank you. >> that will do us for the gubernatorial town hall. thank you to governor rick snyder and mark schauer. thank you. us at detroit public television, have a great night.

[applause] ♪ >> find out where candidates to then issues important people of michigan. make your voice heard on election day. is a look at some of the campaign has that are running in michigan in connection with that race. >> first thing is first. when you elected me governor there was a budget deficit. spending was out of control. battles were an annual, and nursing nightmare. we reversed all that. for balanced budgets in a row. we are rebuilding michigan's foundations to help us in ways that help everyone. education, health care, jobs, our kids. this recovery will last for

generations. .> i am mark schauer i'm running for governor because asvernor rick snyder -- governor, i will cut middle-class taxes. i will reverse governor rick snyder's tax breaks for companies. our economy should work for everyone, not just the wealthy. >> jennifer granholm signed one of the largest tax increases in history thanks to mark schauer. the deciding vote for her painful services tax, mark schauer. a newspaper called mark schauer her go to guy. rockstar? with 300,000 jobs lost in crippling debt, the tax-and-spend ways left michigan

drowning in debt. cut $1rnor rick snyder million from education. did he in preschool funding? >> not in my classroom. >> not in mine. >> the education cousins met my classroom got more crowded. >> it hurts the economy. good jobs come from a good education. cut $1id 2014 is bringing you more than 100 debates. here are some of your comments on the michigan governor debate from our facebook page. john asks, where are the other candidates? anthony says just two?

and another john ads, tax credits are not the answer. attend ayou could michigan university full-time. the system needs change. says that a flat tax is the only way to go. follow us on twitter and mike us on facebook -- like us on facebook. 2015 a student jam competition is underway. mt will -- student ca competition is underway. creativity on the topic "be three branches and you." byries must be submitted january 20, 2015. grab a camera get started today.

on "newsmakers" is ty. their goal is to keep the democrats in the senate. trina is up first. start with the chances for the democrats to keep the senate. what is a chance to retain the majority? >> i am very confident that we will keep the majority. i think that we have a strong path. i know that the pundits are saying that this is a lot of red states. this is arguably the most favorable environment that either party has had since 1980. but we have a strong