ST. LOUIS (KMOX)– Four candidates fighting for the Republican nomination in the race to be the next governor of Missouri participated in a live TV debate Monday night.
Businessman John Brunner, former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, former US Attorney Catherine Hanaway and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder were on stage at the Missouri Farm Bureau headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri. The state primary is Aug. 2, and the general election is Nov. 8.
Here are the responses from the four candidates Monday night on some of the most important state issues:
Tax rate:
Hanaway says income taxes are too high and should be reduced gradually.
“Our tax rate isn’t just higher than Kansas, it’s higher than Illinois,” Hanaway says. “But we need to do it responsibly and over time so that we can preserve the quality of our schools, our roads and law enforcement.”
Brunner says he knows what businesses need.
“I have fought these battles and I’ve been successful,” Brunner says. “And thousands of people across this state here have got new jobs and opportunities. And I’ve brought billions of dollars of business back to Missouri.”
Kinder also says the state’s income tax rate makes it noncompetitive.
Greitens says a level playing field for all businesses, meaning no special deals for lobbyists, would help.
Race relations:
Kinder says the state’s racial issues are, at least in part, President Barack Obama’s fault.
“We must restore law and order,” Kinder says. “And that means electing a governor who will stand with, behind and along side our police and not join the Obama justice department or anyone like them who wants to tear down the police.”
Greitens says during his time as a Navy SEAL, he served with everyone from every background.
“White, Black, Asian, Hispanic; they came from every corner of the country, every economic background,” Greitens says. “What brought (the SEALs) together was a shared sense of mission. And that’s what has been lacking in government.”
Shifting toward race relations and the police, Hannaway said it’s important for police to serve all communities.
Brunner says it’s important to treat people with respect and be engaged as a leader.
University of Missouri system:
Hannaway says professors should be teaching more classes, and the university should cut some positions she sees as unnecessary.
“We need to cut the administration and invest in teaching,” Hannaway says. “We also need to stop spending money on things that aren’t necessarily the problem. We just hired another New Chief Executive Officer of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for $235,000 a year. I would eliminate that position.”
Greitens says we’re being too negative.
“We’ve got a $38 million budget shortfall now because students aren’t coming to the University of Missouri,” Grietens says. “We need a hopeful, optimistic messenger that can talk about the good things that are happening and attract students.”
Brunner wants to gather groups from across the campus system to talk about how to make things better.
Kinder says “PC foolishness” has taken over since November protests.
(TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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