Rescue California

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Transcript of gubernatorial recall debate

September 24, 2003

Page 8

amazing that you will not say, you will never say that the wealthiest people should at least pay the same tax rate as the average person. You will never say those words. And in fact, you've been raising the taxes in California on the poorest people who pay the highest tax rates. And I'm the only candidate saying cut taxes on 60 percent of our people that are overpaying. I'm the only one who says it. But I want the rich to pay their fair share. And neither Tom or Arnold will say it. All you got to say is, 'Yes Peter, you're right, the rich will pay the same amount as the average person.'

SCHWARZENEGGER: Peter...

CAMEJO: It's just four words.

SCHWARZENEGGER: You know something, you talk about Bush and all this stuff. Let's talk about California. This is ... We're not in Hampshire. We're not in Washington. Arianna, it's our problem...

MODERATOR: Your attention. Your attention. Candidates, can I have your attention? I think I actually I have a budget-related question that may be on point and you can all get specific because somewhere in all of this, somebody mentioned a vehicle licensing fee. So let's, I'll jump in and see what you're going to do about vehicle licensing fees in California. Who wants to go first?

CAMEJO: Let's let Tom go first. I agree with you on this.

MC CLINTOCK: That's actually the campaign that I started five years ago, to abolish California's car tax. It is a tax on a necessity of life. Not a penny of it goes to fixing the roads. I have said from the beginning of this campaign, that the very first act that I will take within moments of taking the oath of office will be to sign an executive order to rescind the governor's crippling of this tax. If he can claim that he has the authority to raise the fee, then by God I can claim the same authority to lower it right back again. But I want to see it abolished. That's why we're circulating an initiative right now to abolish that entire use of tax and to guarantee local governments full reimbursement.

CAMEJO: Amazing, Tom, but as a Green I agree with you.

SCHWARZENEGGER: I agree also, Tom, on this because I think it's a difficult situation for you to (spend) too much money and now you want to tax the poor people. That is the problem.

HUFFINGTON: Everybody agrees with the (unintelligible) and the car tax. But I want to return to something very important because the people of California need somebody who is going to fight the Bush administration for that, because you know what? Let me just tell you the facts, let me tell you the facts. The repeal of the estate tax alone is costing us over $3 billion.

MODERATOR: We're starting the clock. Two more minutes left on this. Two more minutes on the budget.

HUFFINGTON: Right, well there's a huge connection between our budgetary problems here and the decisions made in Washington. And we need somebody who's going to fight for properly funded mandates -- whether it's on education or in health care -- and who's going to fight the administration when it's completely costing us jobs? It's completely hypocritical of Arnold to come here...

SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna, we're talking about the car tax right now and not about education.