LITTLE ROCK -- Republican Asa Hutchinson and Democrat Mike Ross on Friday used a forum to draw distinctions between their plans for managing the state budget and their priorities for cutting taxes.
Speaking before a convention of the Arkansas Association of Counties, Ross attacked Hutchinson's plan to cut $100 million from the state income tax. Hutchinson has pledged to make the cut as a way to help middle class families.
"Then he's going to worry about balancing the budget and funding education, Medicaid and public safety," Ross said, arguing that would leave the state in financial trouble.
Ross said the plan would put Arkansas $60 million in the red in 2016, based on estimates of available revenue. Instead, Ross said he'd first see to the needs of the state and look to annual revenue growth for any tax cuts.
"We're going to protect our counties first and do it in a fiscally responsible manner," Ross said.
Hutchinson, who, like Ross is a former congressman, blamed Ross for having a role in large federal deficits.
"You have very little credibility in talking about balanced budgets," Hutchinson said to Ross. "When I left Congress, we had a balanced budget. When you left Congress, we had a $1 trillion deficit."
Hutchinson invoked the name of Gov. Mike Beebe, saying Beebe called his tax cut plan "credible" and "prudent."
Ross noted that he has the endorsement from Beebe, a fellow Democrat.
Beebe spokesman, Matt DeCample, said the governor's comment in support of the GOP candidate's tax cut was on an earlier proposal from Hutchinson, whom Beebe defeated in 2006.
"When Governor Beebe was asked about Mr. Hutchinson's plan, he said the incremental approach was more prudent than Hutchinson's 2006 proposal, which was all-at-once and, in Governor Beebe's opinion, fiscally irresponsible. He does not back Mr. Hutchinson's plan and continues to endorse Mike Ross," DeCample said.
Hutchinson also worked to tie Ross to President Barack Obama's administration, saying Ross backed "heavier government burdens on us all."
Ross countered by saying he opposed Rep. Nancy Pelosi as House speaker and nominated an opponent to Pelosi "with her sitting in the front row."
Speaking to reporters afterward, Ross repeated an assertion that he is a conservative and is working to run a campaign without partisanship.
"I am not running to be governor of the Democratic or Republican parties. I am running to be governor for all the people in this great state," Ross said.
State Desk on 08/23/2014