N.J. Gubernatorial Debate, Pt. 3

" would turn out to be a better positioned himself. We're having Chris Christie do -- I was smiling during his answer yeah anything legalize same sex marriage after earlier hitting particularly in the -- mind was smiling finally violently -- on game victory was saying about it won't -- justifiable in the -- have been accusations -- Supreme -- Court has -- awards legislation when New Jersey leads the league and -- this is this is again this game engineer we have the opposite opinions there by accident and listening to. Men and women are created equal should be treated -- I know I mean nobody answered this question before right -- CNN -- and it does. Hopefully yeah they're ready for life. -- yes he was a lot better than I mean between one man. Deeply held these that I have also the -- unfortunately in humans this afternoon will make its way from the floor. With doing a lame duck session after the election if with the new legislation takes its place in January I think. Christi right though that the civil union line does address the issues that the gay marriage would did you -- that the Supreme Court it is going to say if it doesn't. Then you have there. That the Supreme Court said. And in the first ruling. Was that the legislature has to do something that gives them the same rights whether he wants the PR forty in -- moment possible voter's right. Chris -- and I think -- and there was a study group. That -- civil rights division. That took a look at gay civil unions -- in the first year and decided. There's competitive -- another thing lives. From the audience I'm Chris Christie's and how well Harriet asked -- to handle them. It's your jacket but yes sign. -- in the end this person that he thought I think that's out there civilians were not giving the same rights like access. Hospitals for spell there are real answer. That's -- acted as -- it comes my way -- and I believe in less I received the letters about age group from Vermont. State house asking -- telling us why you should -- him for consumers looking for eccentricity is it was overwhelming. Majority. -- it definitely is not an -- When the principles yeah. About one half right and -- ivory was passed in December a majority might feel."

" Affect governor thank you tell -- and a half before you talk about personal beliefs but my question I want you to answer this directly please if you will. If not how do you justify calling the principal. That all Americans should be afforded equal rights I believe that civil unions afford same sex couples. The same rights that I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. Now listen we can have differences of opinion about this that's what our society's all about. There are probably people who -- and it's that are evenly divided on this issue we all have differences of opinion but I believe the civil union laws is structured now. Does permit. Equal rights for people who are saying sex couples and that's where -- answer your question it's right we need to move on. Just ask your father applause please this is an email from the WTXF viewer frank -- But Trenton and frank wants to know what are you going to do to stop out of control hiring of illegal or system of using. Aliens and this goes to mr. -- While."

" Listen first and foremost there's the issue of immigration is a federal problem. And it's a federal problem that needs to be dealt with by the president the congress President Bush failed to do this in the congress then failed to do it. I hope the President Obama and the current congress do -- that because until we have systematic. Change in the immigration system. It is gonna place the burden on each and every state to be doing things that the federal government should be doing. And that's just simply wrong from my perspective the way to deal with the hiring issue is that the federal agents should be going in. And looking at employers who are hiring people who are not in status now that's something that's provided for -- wall right now the federal government has the side. Are they gonna spend the resources or not I do not believe that's something the state should be spending are limited resources are right now to do. It's something that's a federal issue and a federal problem. And the federal government should be dealing with the the state has limited resources in -- public safety which include putting those are keeping people safe and secure New Jersey."

" And mr. Decker. High. It is indeed if that militia primarily -- me do a better job sealing the borders in the first place. And preventing. The flow of illegal immigrants but I also believe that this so called 287 G program the deputized as -- local officials to. Round up people if you will. That are illegal aliens or two somehow. Put them in some fear that they have to go underground. And put us and put them in a position. Where they fear any part of coming out and our society I think he's not a wise public policy I think the attorney general's opinion. In that -- how to do I deal with illegal aliens in traffic stops and others is a good effort it needs some clarification needs some better. Definition. It's too. How to handle some of those situations but it's generally along the right path and it does most of -- what the 37 -- program does. And finally I think we have to have a humane way. To deal with people particularly those kids who were here within illegal parent -- in this country we can't be running up -- to sending back to. Some other country again we've got to tell you today got good way. To bring people together and move them towards citizenship."

" Governor -- you don't first of -- I get. Little things are antsy when I hear the word -- believe it actually it's human beings are aliens are undocumented. In the circumstances ever doubt. I don't believe that local law enforcement state law enforcement should be enforcing federal laws. Matter of fact I think it undermines. The effectiveness of law enforcement in the communities. Forces people in the shadows and then won't actually have the kinds of communications that you have. My normal street corner with at. Other people who interact with law enforcement. Obviously don't have spoken out. We vigorously against 287 G is an important to your attorney general's he. Interpretation that violent criminals and door with -- people that don't want drunk driving should happen. They have their documentation to show but I don't believe we -- leave -- in that business. And I also resonate with god and the fact is that our constitution it. The Supreme Court has suggested that we have to educate all of these undocumented children if they go through our school system do well we ought to have instant."

" wish to thank you governor mr. Christie thirty seconds -- well sure. Listen I've spoken out very forcefully as US attorney against giving a local police officers to 87 G authority. I think that it takes away from what they're supposed to be doing every day which is keeping the streets of our neighborhoods and our city safe. They should be focusing selves on that and should not be focused himself on doing what is federal work. The president the congress needs to finish this job and come up with comprehensive. And humane smart immigration reform if they do the states."

" We'll follow along. Thank you mr. perceive that -- round two of our question and let's move on around three right now listen. Evolves executive power how much power would you have as governor and how would you -- our first question in this category goes to Thomas straighten fox 29 to mr. -- Mr. -- 2500 public schools and nearly one point four. Million children attending them the -- and there's no shortage of educational issues. What is the right formula."

" occasional reform in the state. That question first sixty seconds it. Correct forum for education reform first of all we need to. Taking good hard look at the money that we've been spending in our urban areas we've had good. Successfully Supreme Court decision I -- to -- Supreme Court decision that said we equalize spending in our school district so that the wealthy districts in the poor districts give kids an equal opportunity. The good decision but we have spent literally billions of dollars in the last. Thirty years and we still have a number of urban areas that have. High school dropout rates of over 50% and then the remaining 50% only half of them -- a high school graduation test. So we need to ask questions about why and how we spending that money we ought to try to figure out. How to fix those schools either by replicating the schools that are doing well. And because there are a number of urban schools doing very well. Or if we can't get that done that way we are expand. Options for kids let them have more charter school opportunities. And if necessary yes maybe we give them some money to go to school of their choice so that they can get the education they deserve because focus on each kid. Is the most important thing that we can do."

" And governor Corzine. Well first of all it's it's Freeman. City New Jersey has the best performing schools almost anywhere in the country -- top 2345. Matter fact we just had reports that -- this week that. Showed our eighth graders moving out and our fourth graders at the top of the ranks among the states. There are. There is a task ahead and some of urban schools. The single most important educational reform and I feel passionately about this is to make sure every child has preschool education. -- do that you get them started early get vocabularies and capacity to learn. Kids will do well all through the system. He gets you in school days in school years were doing that right now we need wrap around services afterschool programs and other things. Urban schools and I have no problem with charters a matter of fact when they are high quality that's fine. But I'll tell you I am opposed to vouchers which mr. Christie has supported I am opposed to not taking federal dollars when they offer us. Dollars to put indoor educational system that's a mistake that will undermine our education thank governor mr. Christie."

" for working for the urban children in New Jersey who are being failed. By -- school system that believes that they and their parents because they don't have the economic wherewithal other people in the state. Did not deserve the same education and that's what's going on in New Jersey right now. You go to places like search for high school in Newark last year 55%. Of the seniors could not pass the graduation exam after three tries. Despite the fact that it only requires them to read an eighth grade level. This is an obscenity in our state and we aren't signing an entire generation of urban children. The second class citizenship because we're not addressing their needs. Has been going on for years and it has to stop at the stock but we have to challenge the status quo. We need more Charter Schools and we need -- immediately I agree with President Obama on this we need to make sure. That if the schools will not change and reform then yes we need to give parents the choice to send their children to another public school district. War to a private or parochial school with a voucher we need to help these children."

" Thank you mr. -- to mr. dagger 32 flight doctor and education by the great passion for education. I went through the public schools my kids went through the public schools. But I am also. Very passionate about accountability we have to make sure that every single kid gets an education -- suburban schools. As well as our urban schools and we should be unfailing in that commitment. Whatever it takes whether it is fixing the schools that aren't working properly whether it's expanding Charter Schools whatever we can't give up on one kid. Thank you mr. -- and our next question comes from Joanne -- for governor Corzine."

" But. Governor Corzine. When it -- store state business tax climate New Jersey ranks last. -- to specific ways you would change the State's business tax structures so that New Jersey can be more competitive. In attracting new businesses."

" we've we've done more on corporate tax reform in the last four years than any governor in the in memory we just changed the net operating loss carryforwards from seven years for twenty years -- Change gross receipts tax to go on we just instituted an -- than tax credit. That will get business to come to New Jersey we just saw that happen with the GCC one of the major New York. Financial firms moving to Jersey City we just had Pfizer decide to keep its YS headquarters in Madison because we're working with them. On the tax environment. Now there are problems in history but we are working on a regular basis to make sure that businesses feel comfortable. Matter fact we've. Move forward with licensed site professionals to make sure brownfields are turned back into economic productivity action. That's that's designed to reduce regulatory. Hardships and how we operate in the business for -- We are winning. Our fair share of business solicitations."

" Governor thank you. Mr. Christie I think the operative words words were too specific words sure over the next four years we should get rid of the corporate business tax surcharge. In my first day -- government. I will sign an executive order. That's freezes any new regulation from any department or agency and state government for period and I -- days. And then my lieutenant governor will convene a bipartisan group of business leaders environmental leaders and municipal government leaders to talk about. How many of those regulations are outdated and over burdensome and can be eliminated. That would not cost the state of nickel and within ninety days to come back and get rid of a lot of those regulations because that answer the cost the business is well. Compliance with all those regulations and that's that cost. Lifting those regulations off immediately in the first ninety days -- administration. We'll send a clear signal for the business community of this community that you rightly point out suffering fifteenth and business tax climate. Fifties the small business survival the highest unemployment in the region. -- New Yorker Connecticut part of Pennsylvania or Delaware. We need to change course ladies and gentlemen we can't continue in the same failed policies."

" I don't achieve it governor I'm sorry but the business climate in New Jersey I don't think is that good at all. We had 9% nine point 8% unemployment rate that we just found out this week. We've got several specific things begin to implement the tax cuts I talked about not for years mr. Christie just said but right away. And my tax cut plan cuts corporate taxes by an average of 25% and importantly is on small businesses to which is at the heart of the New Jersey economy. That's the group that is really suffering and needs help we need to. Take on the regulatory burden not with a ninety day freeze I mean it's gonna take two to four years to do this it's not a ninety day process -- to squeeze that's gonna happen. Better start thinking again because it won't happen in ninety days we've got to take a long hard look at the long slog to deal it. But it takes rolled up our sleeves and saying where our regulations working at cross purposes squarely overlapping. Where they working in contrast to one another we've got to get on top of that now takes a tough job and I've done that before -- the DEP I've done it elsewhere. We can do that and that's the best way we can do to improve the business climate. Thank -- governor."

" Corzine that my opponents like to pretend that the recession is only in New Jersey. Twenty out of 23 months. During the recession we have been under the average of the national unemployment rate. And the fact this is places like -- Unilever and religious adviser and GT CC are coming into New Jersey. We can't afford to have tax cuts for the big business insurance companies and the folks that mr. Christie is suggesting. And not have that translate into skyrocketing property taxes little local level. That's how our system works income taxes go to property tax relief. Governor thank you our next question from -- up. --"