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October 20, 2006

Carcieri, Fogarty spar over spending cap, education, corruption

LINCOLN -- Republican Governor Carcieri and Democratic challenger Charles Fogarty clashed over spending limits, education funding and corruption scandals during a debate today.

Speaking before the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Carcieri touted his credentials as a former CEO of Cookson America. He described himself as a governor who holds at bay a Democrat-dominated General Assembly he frequently calls corrupt.

"This state has suffered for so long from a bunch of insiders who constructed a system just to benefit themselves, take care of themselves," he said.

Fogarty criticized Carcieri for backing a tax cut for the richest Rhode Islanders while authorities raised tuition rates at the state's colleges and universities and the ranks of those without health insurance grew.

"That doesn't make sense. It's poor public policy," Fogarty said. "Governor, you're out of touch on that issue."

With two weeks before the election, Carcieri stuck to his anti-corruption platform while Fogarty faulted Carcieri for policies that he says hurt the poor, the lower middle class and the state's cities, reliable Democratic bastions.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Sheila Lennon  at 2:50 PM | Permalink

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