>> THIS IS THE "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" DEMOCRATIC
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE.
CANDIDATES COMPETING IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TAKE
CITIZEN QUESTIONS ON STATEWIDE
ISSUES.
THE DEBATE IS PRESENTED BY THE
"VOICE OF THE VOTER"
COLLABORATION: WXXI PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, WOKR NewsSource
13, AND THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
NOW FROM THE WXXI TV STUDIOS,
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PRESENTS
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
>> Michael: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS REMAIN
UNTIL PRIMARY DAY, AND THE TWO
DEMOCRATS WHO WANT TO BE
GOVERNOR APPROACH THE END OF
THE FIST LEG OF THIS ELECTION
RACE.
TONIGHT "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
BRINGS YOU A DEBATE BETWEEN
THESE TWO CANDIDATES, H. CARL
McCALL AND ANDREW CUOMO.
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" IS A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN WXXI,
WOKR NewsSource 13 AND "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
QUESTIONS WILL COME LARGELY
FROM A CITIZEN PANEL, PEOPLE
VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO BE
WITH US TONIGHT.
ALSO JOINING US ON THE PANEL
ARE POLITICAL REPORTER JOE
SPECTOR FROM THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" AND REPORTER JANE
FLASCH FROM WOKR NewsSource
13.
THE FORMAT FOR TONIGHT'S
DEBATE IS AS FOLLOWS: EACH
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PANELIST
WILL ASK ONE QUESTION.
THE ORDER OF CANDIDATE
RESPONSE WAS DETERMINED BY A
COIN FLIP.
Mr. McCALL WON THE COIN TOSS
AND WILL ANSWER THE FIRST
QUESTION FIRST, FOLLOWED BY
Mr. CUOMO'S RESPONSE.
THEN Mr. McCALL WILL HAVE THE
CHANCE FOR REBUTTAL.
THE ORDER OF RESPONSE WILL
REVERSE FOR THE SECOND
QUESTION AND ALTERNATE FOR THE
REST OF THE DEBATE.
EACH CANDIDATE HAS ONE MINUTE
30 SECONDS FOR THE INITIAL
ANSWERS AND 30 SECONDS FOR THE
FINAL REBUTTAL.
BEFORE WE START, LET'S
INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES.
ANDREW CUOMO IS THE FORMER
FEDERAL HOUSING SECRETARY IN
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
A PRACTICING ATTORNEY, AND
ALSO FOUNDED A PROGRAM THAT
AIDS THE HOMELESS.
H. CARL McCALL IS THE CURRENT
STATE COMPTROLLER.
BEFORE THAT HE WAS A VICE
PRESIDENT FOR CITICORP, A
PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY
SCHOOL BOARD AND A STATE
SENATOR.
WE'LL START WITH OPENING
STATEMENTS FROM THE TWO
CANDIDATES, ALSO DETERMINED BY
A COIN TOSS.
THESE WILL BE A MINUTE 30
SECONDS IN LENGTH.
FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM
Mr. McCALL.
>> MICHAEL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK TO THE PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK ABOUT THE
ISSUES AND IDEAS THAT WILL
MOVE OUR STATE FORWARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE
OTHER JOURNALISTS.
AS MUCH AS I RESPECT
JOURNALISTS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE
REAL CITIZENS HERE AND TO KNOW
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A
CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE AND ASK
THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE
GOING TO CHANGE CONDITIONS FOR
ALL PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
MY CANDIDACY, THE REASON I'M
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IS ALL
ABOUT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE YOU
SEE OPPORTUNITY HAS REALLY
BEEN THE HALLMARK OF MY LIFE
AND MY CAREER.
I WAS RAISED BY MY MOTHER, WHO
RAISED ME AND FIVE SISTERS ALL
BY HERSELF.
WE WERE POOR.
WE WERE ON WELFARE.
SO MY MOTHER COULDN'T GIVE ME
A LOT OF MATERIAL THINGS, BUT
SHE GAVE ME SOME GOOD ADVICE
AND PASSED ON SOME GOOD
VALUES.
SHE TOLD ME I HAD TO WORK HARD
AND HAD TO EARN ANYTHING THAT
I EVER ACHIEVED.
SHE ALSO TOLD ME THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING I COULD DO IS
GET A GOOD EDUCATION BECAUSE
IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER WAS
RIGHT.
BECAUSE OF MY EDUCATION, I'VE
BEEN A STATE COMPTROLLER.
I'VE BEEN AN AMBASSADOR.
I'VE BEEN A BANKER.
I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION AND I'VE
BEEN A STATE SENATOR.
ALL THOSE THINGS CAME ABOUT
BECAUSE OF EDUCATION.
AND I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
BECAUSE I WANT EVERY CHILD IN
THIS STATE TO HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY I HAD, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASURE TO BE WITH
COMPTROLLER CARL McCALL, WXXI,
WOKR, "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TUNED
IN TODAY, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND
GETTING THE INFORMATION
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A CAMPAIGN
AND A PUBLIC DIALOGUE IS ALL
ABOUT.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN
ROCHESTER TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A FEW
DAYS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND
IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
BUT I ALSO THINK IT IS
PROBABLY THE CLEAREST
DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT THIS
CAMPAIGN IS ALL ABOUT.
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, WE HAVE
THE SLOWEST ECONOMY IN THE
UNITED STATES, DESPITE ALL OUR
BEAUTY AND ALL OUR ASSETS.
AND THAT IS NOT BECAUSE ALL
THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK HAVE
FAILED OR THE BUSINESSES OF
NEW YORK HAVE FAILED.
IT'S BECAUSE THE STATE
GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED.
IT HAS BEEN GRIDLOCKED.
IT HAS BEEN INACTIVE.
WE'VE SQUANDERED AN
OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE PENSION
FUND.
THAT'S WHY THE UPSTATE NEW
YORKERS ARE SLOWEST IN THE
UNITED STATES.
I'VE SPENT EIGHT YEARS WORKING
ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALL
ACROSS THIS NATION.
APPALACHIA, THE DELTAS,
LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO.
I KNOW WE CAN DO IT HERE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I'VE CREATED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS USING
INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNIQUES, TAX
INCENTIVES, TAX CREDITS,
SEEING STATE GOVERNMENT THAT
WERE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTUALLY
ATTRACT JOBS TO THEIR STATE.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN NEW
YORK.
WE HAVE TO.
I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.
I WANT THEM TO GROW UP IN THIS
STATE AND HAVE THE SAME FUTURE
THAT I DID.
I DON'T WANT THEM MOVING OUT.
I WANT THEIR FUTURE TO BE AS
BRIGHT AS MINE.
>> Michael: OKAY.
NOW WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST
CITIZEN QUESTION.
THE TOPIC: THE ECONOMY.
>> I THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING
TODAY.
MY NAME IS STEVE RODRIGUEZ,
I'M 29 YEARS OLD, AND I'M AN
ENGINEER AT XEROX CORPORATION.
AS A PERSON WHO WANTS TO STAY
IN WESTERN NEW YORK, MY TWO
BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE KEEPING
MY JOB AND THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN THE STATE.
HOW WILL EACH OF YOU CREATE A
BALANCE BETWEEN LOWERING MY
COSTS OF LIVING WHILE MAKING
THE STATE MORE FRIENDLY TO
ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT QUESTION.
IT'S AN ESSENTIAL ONE.
IT'S ONE I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
ANOTHER THING THAT I -- REALLY
IS MOST DISTURBING IS EVERY
TIME I COME TO UPSTATE NEW
YORK, PEOPLE SAY TO ME, YOU
KNOW, I RAISED MY CHILDREN
HERE; I SENT THEM TO SCHOOL
HERE BUT THEY LEFT AND WENT
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.
YOU'VE SEEN IT FROM YOUR
FRIENDS, THE FLIGHT OF YOUNG
PEOPLE, PEOPLE BETWEEN 21 AND
34 WHO ARE LEAVING IN DROVES
FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I HAVE A PLAN TO CHANGE THAT.
SO YOU REMEMBER GEORGE PATAKI.
HE CAME UP HERE IN 1994, AND
HE SAID HE WANTED TO BE
GOVERNOR AND HE WAS GOING TO
CREATE JOBS AND CHANGE THE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK, AND HE HAS UTTERLY
FAILED TO DO THAT.
MY PLAN IS TO BE IN BY PUTTING
PROFESSIONALS IN CHARGE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST
PEOPLE WHO RAISE POLITICAL
FUNDS.
AND ALSO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
OUR GREAT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
LET'S GET OUR COLLEGES AND OUR
UNIVERSITIES IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THE
RESEARCH, THE DEVELOPMENT, THE
INTELLECTUAL INPUT TO DEVELOP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE
SUSTAINABLE.
ANOTHER THING WE HAVE TO DO IS
WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND PROMOTE
THE ASSETS AND RESOURCES OF
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
GEORGE PATAKI SPENDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS ON TELEVISION
PROMOTING GEORGE PATAKI, BUT I
WANT TO PROMOTE UPSTATE NEW
YORK.
I WANT TO TELL BUSINESSES ALL
OVER THIS COUNTRY ABOUT THE
FACT THAT HERE YOU'VE GOT A
WELL-TRAINED WORK FORCE WITH A
GOOD WORK ETHIC.
YOU'VE GOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE, A
GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL
ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO COME TO
UPSTATE NEW YORK, TO STAY
HERE, TO GROW HERE AND PROVIDE
JOBS; AND I'M GOING TO BE THE
SALESPERSON WHO'S GOING TO
SELL UPSTATE NEW YORK.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
I THINK THAT IS THE CENTRAL
ISSUE: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
ECONOMY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK?
HOW ARE WE THE SLOWEST IN
UNITED STATES, SECOND HIGHEST
OUT-MIGRATION SECOND TO WEST
VIRGINIA?
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
AND WHY ARE WE THE SLOWEST?
THERE IS NO DISABILITY THAT WE
SUFFER FROM THAT WOULD MAKE US
THE SLOWEST ECONOMY.
IT'S BECAUSE THE STATE
GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ACROSS THE NATION.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
OTHER STATE GOVERNMENTS, AND
THEY ARE MORE CREATIVE AND
THEY ARE MORE ACTIVE AND THEY
ARE MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL.
THEY LITERALLY SEE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AS A MAIN MISSION,
AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT HERE
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST STATE AND
LOCAL TAXES IN THE NATION.
WE HAVE A STATE GOVERNMENT
THAT GETS VERY LITTLE DONE.
WE HAVE A STATE PENSION FUND
THAT IS NOT AS -- INVESTING AS
CREATIVELY AS OTHER FUNDS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A STATE
GOVERNMENT WORKING WITH YOU
NOWADAYS, YOU HAVE A STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT'S WORKING
AGAINST YOU.
I PUT FORTH A FULL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
I BELIEVE WE CAN CREATE
900,000 JOBS.
I START WITH A TAX CREDIT FOR
BUSINESSES WHO CREATE NEW
JOBS.
THEN WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON
AND HAS WORKED IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY IS SOMETHING
CALLED A REGIONAL CLUSTER
ANALYSIS WHERE YOU DEVELOP AN
ECONOMY REGION BY REGION.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ONE
UPSTATE ECONOMY.
REGION BY REGION, USING THE
TAX INCENTIVE TO DO IT, AND
THEN GOVERNMENT AS THE
CONVENOR, STATE GOVERNMENT AS
THE CONVENOR TO MAKE THIS ALL
HAPPEN.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL, 30
SECONDS.
>> YOU'VE HEARD SOME MENTION
OF THE PENSION FUND AND THE
ROLE IT CAN PLAY.
AS THE SOLE TRUSTEE OF THE
PENSION FUND, THE BEST
PERFORMING PENSION FUND IN THE
COUNTRY, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
I WAS HERE IN ROCHESTER LAST
WEEK, AND I BROUGHT A $25
MILLION CHECK FROM THE PENSION
FUND AND INVESTED IN A COMPANY
CALLED DELTA KAPPA.
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN THEIR
OWN $25 MILLION, AND THAT'S A
$2 MILLION FUND IS GOING TO GO
TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN SMALL
BUSINESSES RIGHT HERE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
>> Michael: FIVE SECONDS.
>> AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS
CONTINUALLY, INVESTING IN
COMPANIES TO PROVIDE JOBS AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
>> Michael: THANK YOU,
Mr. McCALL.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM SUSAN
DICKENS ON HEALTH CARE.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
MY NAME IS SUSAN DICKENS, AND
I RECENTLY SPENT FIVE HOURS IN
AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN A
LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH MY
16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, WHO WAS
WAITING FOR CARE WHILE
EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT.
SINCE THAT EXPERIENCE, I HAVE
LEARNED THAT FIVE HOURS IS NOT
UNUSUAL, AND IN METROPOLITAN
SETTINGS, THE WAIT CAN BE UP
TO 13 HOURS.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IMPROVING
HEALTH CARE IN NEW YORK, AND I
WONDERED WHAT YOU WOULD DO AS
GOVERNOR TO KEEP SKILLED
PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND OTHER
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FROM
LEAVING THE STATE SO THERE
WILL NOT BE THESE EXTENDED
WAITS FOR EMERGENCY CARE.
>> I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
I THINK THE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS FIRST FIT INTO
THE DISCUSSION THAT WE WERE
JUST HAVING ABOUT YOU NEED A
FUNCTIONING ECONOMY.
YOU NEED A HIGH QUALITY OF
LIFE, AND THE ECONOMY HAS TO
BE STRONG; OTHERWISE HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS, ET CETERA,
WILL ALL BE FORCED TO MOVE.
ON HEALTH CARE SPECIFICALLY,
AGAIN WE HAVE SERIOUS
CHALLENGES IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED PEOPLE
WITHOUT HEALTH CARE HAS
ACTUALLY GONE UP OVER THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS.
THE COST OF HEALTH CARE HAS
GOTTEN OVERLY BURDENSOME; AND
THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS, WE HAVE THE
THIRD-HIGHEST COST IN THE
NATION, A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM
ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS.
WHAT I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IS,
ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, I
BELIEVE WE CAN USE THE
PURCHASING POWER TO ACTUALLY
REDUCE COSTS ON AVERAGE OF
$500 PER FAMILY -- PER SENIOR
CITIZEN.
FOR UNINSURED, I WOULD USE THE
STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POOL.
WHEN WE GO TO THE STATE
EMPLOYEES HEALTH ACT, WHICH WE
WOULD INCLUDE THE UNINSURED OR
PEOPLE WHO COULDN'T AFFORD THE
COST OF INSURANCE AND USE OUR
BARGAINING POWER TO INCLUDE
THEM IN THE POOL, REINSURE
WHAT THEY CALL THE HIGHEST
CASES, THE WORST RISK, AND
COVER THEM THAT WAY AT A
REDUCED COST.
>> Michael: TEN SECONDS.
>> ALSO, IF YOU WANTED TO, IF
GOVERNMENT REALLY WAS
INTERESTED IN GOING OUT AND
REACHING OUT AND COVERING THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE TECHNICALLY
ELIGIBLE WITHOUT PROGRAMS,
CHILD HEALTH PLUS, FAMILY
HEALTH PLUS, WE COULD GET THEM
ENROLED IF WE WENT OUT AND DID
IT.
IT'S A QUESTION OF POLITICAL
WILL, I BELIEVE, AND THEN THE
MANAGEMENT AND THE RESULTS
ORIENTATION TO MAKE GOVERNMENT
ACTUALLY WORK.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL?
>> YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED
ABOUT KEEPING HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THEY
GET THE PROPER KIND OF
BENEFITS AND TRAINING.
THE GOVERNOR MADE A DEAL WITH
ONE OF THE HEALTH CARE UNIONS
WHERE HE ONLY PROVIDED
BENEFITS FOR SOME OF THE
WORKERS, NOT ALL OF THEM.
AND ANOTHER THING WE HAVE TO
DO, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON THE
ISSUE THAT MANY PHYSICIANS
LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS
IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO
PAY FOR MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.
THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO
PAY THOSE PREMIUMS, AND WE
HAVE TO PUT A REASONABLE CAP
ON THE AWARDS THAT ARE GIVEN
IN MALPRACTICE CASES.
UNLESS WE DEAL WITH THE
MALPRACTICE ISSUE AND ARE
WILLING TO PUT CAPS ON AND
RECOGNIZE THAT DOCTORS ARE
GOING TO LEAVE HERE AS THEY
LEFT OTHER STATES, UNLESS WE
DEAL WITH REFORMING THE TORT
SYSTEM.
A TOUGH ONE TO TAKE ON, BUT
I'M PREPARED TO STAND UP AND
MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
30 SECONDS.
>> FIRST, ON THE TORT REFORM,
I AGREE.
TORT REFORM IS ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT A DOCTOR WILL
SPEAK TO, BUT THERE ARE A HOST
OF ISSUES HERE, AND THE
COMPTROLLER'S POINT ABOUT THE
PENSION FUND, IT IS NOT
CORRECT TO SAY IT'S THE
HIGHEST PERFORMING PENSION
FUND IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S NOT.
AND A PENSION FUND, WE HAVE TO
BE CREATIVE ABOUT USING
GOVERNMENT.
USING THE PENSION FUND TO DO
INVESTMENT IS A REAL TOOL ON
THE STATE'S SIDE.
OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
HAVEN'T BEEN CREATIVE AND WE
HAVEN'T BEEN COMPETITIVE.
>> Michael: THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE IS A REPORTER QUESTION.
THIS COMES FROM THE "DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE'S" JOE SPECTOR.
THIS IS TO Mr. McCALL.
>> THANK YOU.
RECENTLY THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE
SHIFTED IN SOME CASES TO
PERSONAL ATTACKS.
FOR EXAMPLE, Mr. McCALL, YOU
WERE RECORDED RECENTLY AS
SAYING THAT Mr. CUOMO RAN HOME
FOR DAD WHEN HE SOLICITED HIS
FATHER'S HELP IN THE PRIMARY.
AND THIS WEEK'S Mr. McCALL'S
CAMPAIGN ACCUSED Mr. CUOMO'S
CAMPAIGN FOR LEAKING THE STORY
OF Mr. McCALL'S RUNNING MATE,
DENNIS MEHIEL, FOR HAVING TWO
CHILDREN WITH TWO DIFFERENT
WOMEN OUT OF WEDLOCK.
AS A RESULT, I'D JUST LIKE TO
ASK YOU HOW MUCH OF A
CANDIDATE'S PERSONAL LIFE
SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO A
CAMPAIGN?
AND DO YOU THINK DISCLOSURES
LIKE THE ONE MADE BY
Mr. MEHIEL SHOULD BE WEIGHED
HEAVILY WITH VOTERS WHEN THEY
ENTER THE VOTING BOOTH?
>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO
DISAGREE WITH YOU.
I HAVE NOT MADE ANY PERSONAL
ATTACK ON ANYONE.
YOU MENTION Mr. CUOMO'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER
AS HIGHLY A PERSONAL ATTACK,
AND I HAVE GONE OUT OF MY WAY,
AS I THINK MY OPPONENT; WE
HAVE NOT BROUGHT PERSONAL
ATTACKS INTO THIS ELECTION.
I THINK A PERSON'S PERSONAL
LIFE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
SOMEONE SHOULD ATTACK.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO DISCLOSE
THINGS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL
LIFE, AS Mr. MEHIEL DID, I
THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
Mr. MEHIEL WAS VERY UP-FRONT
AND CLEAR, DID NOT TRY TO
CONCEAL THE FACT THAT HE HAD
TWO CHILDREN WHILE HE WAS
SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE BUT
NOT YET DIVORCED, AND HE TAKES
CARE OF THOSE CHILDREN AND IS
INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES AS YOU
SAID BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND
FINANCIALLY.
AND THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO
JUDGE WHETHER THEY THINK
THAT'S AN ISSUE OR NOT, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT HELPS IN TERMS
OF THE NEEDS WE HAVE IN THIS
STATE AND THE IMPORTANT
CHALLENGES BEFORE US TO GET
ALL BOGGED DOWN IN TERMS OF
PERSONAL ATTACKS.
WE'VE GOT TO BE POSITIVE.
PEOPLE, YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
ISSUES.
YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR
IDEAS, DON'T YOU?
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE PLAN
TO DO TO MOVE NEW YORK STATE
FORWARD.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO TO IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR
OUR CHILDREN, HOW WE'RE GOING
TO HELP OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'VE GOT
TO FOCUS ON, AND THAT'S WHAT
I'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THIS
CAMPAIGN, TALKED ABOUT THE
SPECIFIC ISSUES AND IDEAS THAT
I HAVE BASED ON THE WEALTH OF
EXPERIENCE I HAVE IN TERMS OF
USING THAT EXPERIENCE TO
REALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT,
AND THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT ANYBODY'S PERSONAL LIFE.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND
INTERESTING AS I GO ACROSS THE
STATE IS PEOPLE ARE TURNED OFF
IN MANY WAYS ON STATE
GOVERNMENT AND STATE POLITICS
TO BEGIN WITH.
THEY'RE DISCONNECTED.
THEY THINK THE STATE
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK; IT'S
ALMOST IRRELEVANT, AND
POLITICS IS UGLY AND NEGATIVE
AND PERSONAL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO DO IN THIS CAMPAIGN
IS CHANGE THE TONE; CHANGE THE
TENOR; INVITE PEOPLE IN,
ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO IN
MANY WAYS ARE ALWAYS THE
CATALYST FOR POLITICAL CHANGE;
INVITE PEOPLE IN, AND STOP THE
NEGATIVE PERSONAL -- WHICH IS
SO DISTASTEFUL IN POLITICAL
CAMPAIGNS.
AND THEY'LL SAY, BOY, YOU
DON'T TALK ABOUT ME AND MY
ISSUES.
YOU TALK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR
OWN PERSONAL ISSUES AND THAT'S
IRRELEVANT TO THE PROBLEMS OF
THE STATE.
I HAVE NOT, IN THIS CAMPAIGN
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY, ATTACKED
MY OPPONENT OR ANY MEMBER OF
HIS FAMILY.
I DO BELIEVE, WHEN THE
COMPTROLLER SAYS HE HASN'T
PERSONALLY, I THINK WE SHOULD
ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
PEOPLE IN OUR CAMPAIGN.
THE CAMPAIGN HAS ATTACKED MY
WIFE.
IT WAS UNFORTUNATE.
IT ATTACKED MY FATHER.
I DIDN'T LIKE IT.
I LET THEM KNOW.
I SAID DON'T GO THERE, BECAUSE
THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE -- YOU
ARE SPEAKING ABOUT FAMILY
MEMBERS.
I THINK IT HURTS THEIR
CAMPAIGN.
I HAVEN'T DONE IT.
ON Mr. MEHIEL, THE COMPTROLLER
JUST SAID THAT Mr. MEHIEL
DISCLOSED THE INFORMATION.
BY DEFINITION, IF HE DISCLOSED
THE INFORMATION, NOBODY COULD
HAVE LEAKED IT, AND NO ONE IN
MY CAMPAIGN DID LEAK IT.
I THINK IT WAS A DIVERSION TO
DISTRACT FROM THE ISSUE, AND
THE ISSUE WAS Mr. MEHIEL'S AND
IT'S Mr. McCALL'S AND IT'S THE
VOTERS'.
I HAVE NO COMMENT.
IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS.
I'LL RUN MY CAMPAIGN AND I'LL
LET THEM RUN THEIRS.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL?
>> AS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
USEFUL TO ATTACK FAMILIES.
WE OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE FAMILIES IN NEW YORK WHO
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEIR
KIDS ARE GOING TO GET
EDUCATED.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FAMILIES IN NEW YORK WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEIR
SENIOR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO
GET AFFORDABLE QUALITY HEALTH
CARE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FAMILIES HERE IN UPSTATE NEW
YORK WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS LACK OF JOBS AND THE FACT
THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
LEAVING.
THESE ARE THE FAMILY ISSUES,
AND I'M GLAD THAT WE BOTH
AGREE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT
TO FOCUS ON.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO UPLIFT AND
HELP THE FAMILIES OF NEW YORK?
>> Michael: THANK YOU,
Mr. McCALL.
NEXT QUESTION WILL BE ON
SUBURBAN SPRAWL.
IT'S A CITIZEN QUESTION, AND
IT GOES TO Mr. CUOMO.
>> HELLO, GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS LISA COVE.
I'M THE NEW REIGNING Mrs. NEW
YORK AMERICA.
AS NOW A ROCHESTER CITY
MARRIED RESIDENT, RAISING MY
THREE SONS, I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THE CONTINUED
DISINTEGRATION OF UPSTATE NEW
YORK'S CITY CENTERS.
AS CITY TAXES RISE, SCHOOL
SYSTEMS FALTER, RETAIL MOVES
OUT, CRIME INCREASES AND
POLITICIANS ARGUE ABOUT
DOWNTOWN GROWTH.
I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY
RESISTING THE URGE TO FOLLOW
MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES UP
TO THE SUBURBS.
WHAT WILL YOU DO AS GOVERNOR
TO HELP ENCOURAGE AND RETAIN
RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS AND
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN YOUR
UPSTATE NEW YORK CITIES AND
PUT A STOP TO SUBURBAN SPRAWL?
>> I'VE SPENT EIGHT YEARS
DOING JUST THAT.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOP OUR URBAN AREAS; AND
YOU RAISED A LOT OF
INTERESTING POINTS IN YOUR
QUESTION.
THE SPRAWL IS A PROBLEM THAT
AFFECTS THE ENTIRE STATE AND
NATION, BY THE WAY.
WE'RE CONSUMING MORE AND MORE
GREEN SPACE EVERY YEAR, AND
WE'RE LITERALLY CONSUMING THE
PLANET.
AS HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY, I USED
TO SAY WE HAVE TO MAKE A
U-TURN ON THE DEVELOPMENT
HIGHWAY.
RATHER THAN BUILDING MORE
HIGHWAYS FURTHER OUT, MAKE A
U-TURN AND REDEVELOP OUR
CITIES.
SPRAWL IS VERY, VERY
EXPENSIVE.
IT NOT ONLY COSTS THE
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, ET
CETERA.
IT COSTS US ROADS, ADDITIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER AND
SEWER SYSTEMS, ADDITIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND IT COSTS
ALL OF NEW YORKERS.
WE HAVE TO INVEST BACK IN OUR
CITIES, BACK IN OUR URBAN
AREAS RATHER THAN BUILDING NEW
AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES, AND
IT WILL ACTUALLY BENEFIT ALL.
HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT
REDEVELOP URBAN AREAS,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
THAT REDEVELOP URBAN CORE,
WHERE THEY CALL URBAN CORE,
DOWNTOWN URBAN AREAS; THE
BROWN FIELDS PROGRAM WHICH IS
NOT FUNDED IN NEW YORK; THE
SUPERFUND PROGRAM WHICH IS NOT
FUNDED IN NEW YORK; CLEANING
UP THE OLDER URBAN SITES FOR
ECONOMIC USE, RESIDENTIAL USE
RATHER THAN DEVELOPING NEW.
AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IS GOING
TO BE KEY TO THAT.
ONE OF THE REASONS MANY PEOPLE
MOVE FROM THE CITY IS BECAUSE
THEY WANT A BETTER SCHOOL
SYSTEM IN THE SUBURBAN
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE
HAVE TO FIX THE URBAN SCHOOL
SYSTEM; OTHERWISE, YOU'RE
PUSHING PEOPLE OUT TO THE
SUBURBS.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL?
>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GOOD
THINGS YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU
IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF
ROCHESTER IS BILL JOHNSON,
YOUR MAYOR, WHO IS ONE OF THE
LEADING NATIONAL PROPONENTS OF
SMART GROWTH.
AND SMART GROWTH IS ALL ABOUT
JUST THAT, DEVELOPING DOWNTOWN
CORE AREAS AND NOT FORCING
PEOPLE OUT TO THE SUBURBS.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU
SHOULD HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS
WITH MAYOR JOHNSON, WHO WILL
TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY THE
THINGS HE'S GOING TO DO TO
KEEP YOU IN ROCHESTER, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHERE HE WANTS YOU TO
RAISE YOUR FAMILY.
AND I HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT.
I HAVE TRIED TO BE A PROPONENT
OF SMART GROWTH, TO INVEST IN
OUR URBAN AREAS, AND MY --
Mr. CUOMO SAID IT CORRECTLY:
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO
DO IS IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
WILL KEEP PEOPLE HERE.
AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT A
GOVERNOR LIKE GEORGE PATAKI,
WHO EMBRACES A COURT DECISION
THAT SAYS THAT THE STATE'S
ONLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING
EIGHTH-GRADE EDUCATION FOR OUR
KIDS, THE ROCHESTER SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND OTHER SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE ARE
NOT GOING TO GET THE RESOURCES
AND ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED
SO THEY CAN PROVIDE THE
FIRST-CLASS EDUCATION THAT YOU
CAN GIVE YOUR CHILDREN WHILE
STAYING IN THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THE
UPSTATE URBAN CITIES WILL TELL
YOU IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
STARVED BY THE STATE.
I WAS WORKING ON THE FEDERAL
SIDE AND I WAS... SIGNIFICANT
ASSISTANCE BUT THE STATE
GOVERNMENT WASN'T THERE.
WITH THE PENSION FUND, WE
ACTUALLY DID LESS WITH THE
PENSION FUND OVER THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS THAN WE DID WITH
NED REAGAN.
GOVERNOR PATAKI IN MANY WAYS
WAS NOWHERE PRESENT IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK.
WE NEED A STATE GOVERNMENT
THAT IS ACTUALLY A FUNCTIONING
PARTNERS -- FUNCTIONING
PARTNER WITH CITIES AND THIS
IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SAME
FEDERAL COMMITMENT THAT WE HAD
DURING THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION WHEN I WAS
THERE.
SO REALLY IT'S GOING TO BE UP
TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO
NOW GET ITS ACT TOGETHER TO
MAKE THE CITIES WHAT THEY
SHOULD BE.
>> Michael: THANK YOU,
Mr. CUOMO.
THIS IS THE "VOICE OF THE
VOTER," DEMOCRATIC
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE.
WE'LL BE BACK AFTER THIS
BREAK.
(Music)
>> WELCOME BACK TO THIS "VOICE
OF THE VOTER" DEMOCRATIC
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE.
OUR NEXT CITIZEN QUESTION IS
ON THE PUBLIC VIEW OF
GOVERNMENT.
>> I'M DANIEL O'HANLON,
PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
STUDENT SENATE, STUDENT AT
MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, THE
BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN PASSED IN
18 YEARS AND WE KNOW THAT.
TAXES ARE HIGH AND CORPORATE
INTERESTS ARE HURT IN ALBANY.
AS GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU PLAN
TO DO TO BRING BACK THE VOICE
OF THE VOTER AND LISTEN TO
UPSTATE NEW YORK?
>> I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR
THE LAST NINE YEARS WHILE I'VE
BEEN COMPTROLLER, AND LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT I'VE HEARD OF
GEORGE MONROE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
THE COLLEGE STUDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE
REALIZED THAT THEIR VOICE HAS
NOT BEEN HEARD IN ALBANY.
EVERY YEAR GOVERNOR PATAKI HAS
DECIDED TO CUT THE BUDGET FOR
UPSTATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
LAST YEAR HE DID SOMETHING
ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.
HE TRIED TO CUT THE TUITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BY 24% AND
SAID TO YOU AND OTHER STUDENTS
THAT HE REALLY DIDN'T CARE
WHETHER YOU COULD AFFORD TO GO
TO COLLEGE.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT
IS THAT OUR COLLEGE SYSTEM,
PARTICULARLY OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, ARE PART OF THE
ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT CAN TURN
THINGS AROUND IN THIS STATE.
IF WE REALLY DEVELOP THE KIND
OF PARTNERSHIP IN OUR
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND OUR
COLLEGE AND OUR BUSINESSES, WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK.
AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO TELL
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE
SUNY SYSTEM AND IN PRIVATE
COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
THAT WE NEED A GOVERNOR WHO'S
GOING TO STAND UP AND SUPPORT
HIGHER EDUCATION.
YOU KNOW, NEW YORK IS 47th IN
THE NATION IN TERMS OF OUR
PER-CAPITA COMMITMENT TO
HIGHER EDUCATION.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO GET
BUSINESSES TO COME HERE,
BUSINESSES TO STAY HERE IF WE
CAN'T GIVE THEM THE
WELL-TRAINED PROFESSIONAL WORK
FORCE THAT THEY NEED?
SO THE VOICE OF THE VOTER AND
THE VOICE OF THE STUDENT HAS
NOT BEEN HEARD IN ALBANY, AND
WE NEED A GOVERNOR WHO IS
GOING TO LISTEN AND WORK WITH
YOU TO INVEST IN OUR HIGHER
EDUCATION SYSTEM BECAUSE IT
NOT ONLY UPLIFTS OUR STUDENTS
BUT IT IMPROVES OUR ECONOMY.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUNG
PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE ON
THIS, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHEN I WAS IN THE PRESIDENT'S
CABINET.
AND I THINK IT WORKS ON TWO
LEVELS.
GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO THINGS
AND SO DO YOUNG PEOPLE, SO DO
VOTERS.
WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE, I'M
TRYING TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE
BACK INTO GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT HAS TO CLEAN UP ITS
OWN ACT.
I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE
DISILLUSIONED.
NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS, KEEPING
FINANCE SYSTEMS, CALL IT THE
PAY-TO-PLAY SYSTEM IN NEW YORK
WHERE THE SPECIAL INTERESTS
OWN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE FEEL
DISCONNECTED.
PEOPLE WHO TAKE MONEY FROM
BUSINESSES AND THEN GIVE STATE
WORK TO THEM.
IT'S UNPRECEDENTED IN NEW
YORK.
IT'S A CRISIS.
WE FIXED IT NATIONALLY, BUT WE
COULDN'T FIX IT IN ALBANY.
ALBANY HAS TO CLEAN UP ITS OWN
ACT.
BUT ALSO PEOPLE HAVE TO STEP
UP TO THE PLATE AND VOTE AND
COMMENT AND COMPLAIN.
THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
BEEN THERE FOR YOU IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK.
YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST STATE AND
LOCAL TAXES, SECOND-HIGHEST
OUT-MIGRATION.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND
GIVE AN HONEST CRITIQUE OF THE
STATE GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHEN GOVERNMENT WILL
RESPOND.
IT DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE
PEOPLE.
IF PEOPLE DON'T EXPRESS THEIR
OPINION, DON'T EXPRESS THE
POLITICIANS TO FOLLOW.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BUDGET
AND YOU'RE UNHAPPY, VOTE
AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE.
THAT'S HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.
I BELIEVE THAT IT DOESN'T WORK
WITHOUT THE VOTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO
DO IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
ALBANY MUST CHANGE.
WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS HAS NOT WORKED.
GOVERNMENT FAILED UPSTATE NEW
YORK.
CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT.
CHANGE THE PRACTICES.
CHANGE THE CULTURE.
CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL, 30
SECONDS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE GOT
TO CHANGE, AND VOTERS CAN HELP
US DO THAT, AND WHEN I'M
GOVERNOR IT'S GOING TO BE ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS I DO IS TO
INSTITUTE REAL CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM.
GOVERNMENT PATAKI HAS TALKED
ABOUT IT BUT IT HASN'T
HAPPENED.
WE HAVE TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY PEOPLE CAN SPEND IN
CAMPAIGNS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP SOFT MONEY
DONATIONS, AND WE'VE GOT TO
STOP ALL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
PEOPLE WHO DO BUSINESS WITH
THE STATE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF CAMPAIGN
FINANCE REFORM THAT I'VE
SUPPORTED AND, AS GOVERNOR,
I'M GOING TO PUT THAT IN PLACE
SO THAT THE VOTERS AND THE
PEOPLE WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO
HOLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
>> Michael: THANK YOU, IN
McCALL.
NOW WE'LL HAVE A REPORTER
QUESTION FROM WOKR's JANE
FLASCH.
>> AT THE RISK OF ASKING A
LONG QUESTION, I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE STATE OF MANDATES
TODAY.
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR GOT INTO THE HABIT OF
PASSING PROGRAMS THAT MAKE
THEM LOOK GOOD, TURNING AROUND
AND PUTTING THE COSTS OF THOSE
PROGRAMS ON COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS.
A COUPLE OF FACTS ABOUT
MEDICAID, FOR EXAMPLE:
BECAUSE OF OUR LAWS, THE
STATE'S MEDICAID BURDEN IS
HIGHER THAN THE STATE OF TEXAS
AND CALIFORNIA COMBINED, AND
NEW YORK STATE PASSES ALONG 25
-- OR RATHER OTHER STATES PASS
ALONG 25% OF THE MEDICAID
COSTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
WHILE NEW YORK PASSES ALONG
50%.
A LOT OF COUNTIES, INCLUDING
OURS, ARE HAVING TROUBLE
BALANCING THEIR BOOKS THIS
YEAR.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THESE
COSTS THEY HAVE NO CONTROL
OVER?
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD POINT
AND YOU'LL HEAR THIS COMPLAINT
FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALL
ACROSS THE STATE, THE UNFUNDED
MANDATES.
BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO
NEW YORK STATE.
THE STATE WILL ACCUSE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF UNFUNDED
MANDATE IMPOSED ON THE STATE,
AND I WAS THE PERSON, AS A
FEDERAL OFFICIAL THEY USED TO
POINT THE FINGER AT ME AND SAY
YOU'RE IMPOSING ALL THESE
UNFUNDED MANDATES.
SO I'VE SEEN THE ISSUE FROM
BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE.
AND IT IS TRUE, AND BOTH SIDES
HAVE AN ARGUMENT, JUST SO WE
ARE FAIR.
AN UNFUNDED MANDATE IS A GOOD
IDEA IN ALBANY.
IT'S A GOOD IDEA IN
WASHINGTON.
IT TURNS OUT TO BE BURDENSOME
ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT IT'S A
GOOD IDEA THAT A GOVERNMENT'S
TRYING TO DO, A GOVERNMENT IS
TRYING TO FORCE THE LOCALITIES
TO DO.
WE HAVE TO CUT THEM BACK IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BECAUSE
THE COST OF GOVERNMENT IS TOO
HIGH.
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK IS WE'VE CUT
THE STATE TAX BUT WE'VE PUSHED
THE BURDEN DOWN TO THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A REDUCED
STATE TAX BUT, WHEN YOU ADD
THE STATE AND LOCAL TOGETHER,
WE'RE THE HIGHEST IN THE
NATION.
AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE
THE LAST ONES WHO CAN ACTUALLY
AFFORD TO PAY THESE HIGH
TAXES.
THE STATE WAS A BETTER
EQUALIZER OF THE BURDEN.
SO WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE COSTS
AND WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE
MANDATE.
IF YOU'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING THE
FUNDS, YOU CAN'T ASK THEM TO
BE DOING THINGS THAT YOU'RE
NOT PROVIDING MONEY FOR.
ALSO WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY
WE THINK OF GOVERNMENT.
WE NOW HAVE 10,000 GOVERNMENTS
IN NEW YORK.
THERE ARE TOO MANY.
IT IS A NEW WORLD.
WE DON'T NEED AS MANY
GOVERNMENTS.
I HAVE A GOVERNMENT
CONSOLIDATION PLAN THAT CAN
START TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
HELP EASE THE COSTS.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL?
>> WE DO HAVE TO CERTAINLY
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNFUNDED
MANDATES.
WE WANT COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW
THE LEAD OF THE STATE AND
PROVIDE NEW SERVICES.
WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM
RESOURCES TO DO IT.
AND THE KEY AREA THAT I WILL
FOCUS ON AS GOVERNOR, IN TERMS
OF RELIEVING THAT BURDEN, IS
MEDICAID.
YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT.
THE COST OF MEDICAID THAT WE
PASS ON TO THE LOCALITIES IS
TOO MUCH.
THERE'S ANOTHER THING WE CAN
DO.
WE CAN REFORM THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE MEDICAID
PROGRAM AND REDUCE ITS BURDEN
AND IT COST.
I'VE DONE AUDITS AND MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
WE CAN GET MORE MONEY FROM
THIRD-PARTY PAYORS, AND WE'VE
GOT TO STOP PEOPLE FROM
OVERCHARGING THE STATE IN
TERMS OF MEDICAID COSTS TO
VARIOUS PATIENTS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO IMPROVE THE
WAY WE... THE MEDICAID AND
REDUCE THE COSTS AND PASS LESS
OF THAT BURDEN ONTO THE
LOCALITIES WHO SIMPLY CAN'T
HANDLE IT.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> I THINK THERE'S SOME LITTLE
THINGS WE CAN DO BUT I ALSO
THINK WE HAVE TO DO BIG
THINGS.
THE GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATION I
THINK COULD BE A MAJOR REFORM
INITIATIVE.
10,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
DESIGNED AT A MUCH DIFFERENT
TIME WHEN THE STATE WAS IN A
DIFFERENT PLACE.
LET'S ENCOURAGE AND, AS A
STATE, WORK WITH THEM TO
CONSOLIDATE THEMSELVES AND
WE'LL GIVE TAXPAYERS AN ADDED
TAX BONUS, 20% OR WHATEVER THE
SAVINGS ARE FROM THAT LOCAL
CONSOLIDATION.
WE HAVE TO GET CITIZENS BACK
INTO THE GAME.
WE HAVE TO GET CITIZENS
EMPOWERED, AND I WANT TO SAY
TALK TO YOUR LOCAL MAYOR.
SEE IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO
CONSOLIDATE ON WHATEVER BASIS
AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A TAX
REFUND IF THAT HAPPENS.
>> Michael: THANK YOU,
Mr. CUOMO.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION NOW
FROM A CITIZEN WHO'S IN CHILD
CARE.
>> MY NAME IS MARSHA DUMKA.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
ROCHESTER CHILDREN'S NURSERY
HERE IN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER.
UPSTATE CITIES HAVE WELL OVER
50% OF OUR FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY.
HAVING THE OPTION FOR SAFE
QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE CHILD
CARE IS A CRITICAL FIRST STEP
FOR MANY OF THESE FAMILIES TO
MOVE OUT OF POVERTY.
TO QUALIFY FOR CHILD CARE
SUBSIDIES, YOU MUST BE WORKING
OR GOING TO SCHOOL.
YET MANY FAMILIES ARE BEING
DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THESE
SUBSIDIES, ARE BEING ASKED TO
PAY A PARENT FEE THAT'S UP TO
35% OF THEIR INCOME.
DO YOU CONSIDER THESE
SUBSIDIES TO BE FISCALLY
SOUND?
AND IF SO, WHAT EFFORTS WOULD
YOU INITIATE TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES AS THEY MOVE FROM
WELFARE TO WORK?
>> LET ME TELL YOU, THE WHOLE
PLAN PROGRAM OF WELFARE TO
WORK IN NEW YORK STATE UNDER
GOVERNOR PATAKI HAS BEEN A
FAILURE.
THE GOVERNOR TOUTS NUMBERS:
700,000 PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OFF
WELFARE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOVERNOR PATAKI CAN'T TELL US
WHERE THEY ARE, WHAT HAPPENED
TO THEM, HOW MANY ARE IN
PERMANENT JOBS, HOW MANY OF
THEM HAVE GOOD-QUALITY CHILD
CARE?
AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE
ESSENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THAT MOVE THAN CHILD CARE.
WE'VE GOT TO INVEST IN CHILD
CARE.
WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR
DID?
WE HAD A WINDFALL IN TERMS OF
WELFARE REFORM.
WE HAD LITERALLY BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS THAT WERE MADE
AVAILABLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
USED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES
THAT PEOPLE NEED, LIKE CHILD
CARE, LIKE GOOD JOB TRAINING.
INSTEAD, THE GOVERNOR USED
THAT MONEY TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, TO PAY FOR ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS RATHER THAN REALLY
SUPPORTING THE HARDWORKING
FAMILIES.
IN PARTICULAR THOSE FAMILIES
THAT WERE HEADED BY SINGLE
MOTHERS, WHO WANT TO GO TO
WORK.
I TALK TO THEM EVERY DAY.
AS I TOLD YOU I'VE LIVED WITH
ONE OF THEM.
I KNOW WHAT A SINGLE MOTHER
WANTS TO DO, BUT SHE CAN'T GO
TO WORK UNLESS SHE'S GOING TO
BE ASSURED THAT HER CHILDREN
ARE GOING TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY
CARE.
WHEN I'M GOVERNOR, I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU THAT MOTHERS ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE QUALITY
CHILD CARE, THAT THEIR
CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE WELL
CARED FOR WHILE THEY GO OUT TO
EARN A LIVING.
WE'VE GOT TO INVEST IN CHILD
CARE.
WE'VE GOT TO SUPPORT IT.
THEY'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THE
TRAINED PEOPLE TO PROVIDE
THOSE SERVICES.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> I THINK YOU PUT YOUR FINGER
ON A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
IT'S AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.
IT'S A FAMILY ISSUE.
IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE.
FIRST CHILD CARE SPECIFICALLY,
I HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
REDUCE THE COSTS OF CHILD CARE
FOR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES.
ALSO A CHILD CARE PROPOSAL
THAT ADDS AN ACCREDITATION
ASPECT.
NEW YORK STATE HAS VERY FEW
ACCREDITED CHILD CARE
AGENCIES.
THERE'S A NATIONAL
ACCREDITATION SYSTEM THAT DOES
THAT, WILL WORK WITH THE LOCAL
PROVIDERS BECOME NATIONALLY
ACCREDITED, AND THEN WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A CONSUMER
INFORMATION SURVEY SO YOU CAN
FIND OUT WHAT THE QUALITY OF
CARE AT THAT CHILD DAY CARE
CENTER IS TO MAKE SURE THE
CONSUMER IS SHOPPING AND HAS
THE BEST INFORMATION THEY CAN.
ALSO I WANT TO FULLY FUND
PRE-K.
GOVERNOR PATAKI SAYS HE HAS
UNIVERSAL PRE-K, BUT 22% OF
THE CHILDREN ARE IN PRE-K, AND
I PROPOSED 3-K TWO DAYS AGO
WHICH I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
3-K, THE FIRST STATE IN THE
NATION TO HAVE KINDERGARTEN
FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS, AND WE'LL
MAKE IT UNIVERSAL AND WE'LL
BUILD TOWARDS THAT.
ALL THE STUDIES SAY THAT THE
BRAIN GROWTH AND THE ABILITY
TO ACTUALLY ASSIST THE CHILD'S
DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE FIRST FEW
YEARS IS CRITICAL.
I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD HERE
WITH ME TODAY.
THEY'RE LEARNING EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT.
75% OF THE BRAIN GROWTH BY THE
TIME THEY'RE FIVE.
FIRST STATE TO HAVE 3-K FOR
THREE-YEAR-OLDS, WHICH WILL
ALLEVIATE THE CHILD CARE
BURDEN BECAUSE IT WILL BE A
PUBLIC SERVICE.
>> ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO,
TOO, WE CAN PROVIDE JOBS FOR
PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING SMALLER
PRE-K AND SMALLER CHILD CARE
FACILITIES.
I HAVE SEEN PROGRAMS CONDUCTED
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN
CO-OPERATIVES AND GET THEIR
TRAINING SO THAT, RATHER THAN
IN A SETTING WHERE THERE'S BIG
PHYSICAL OVERHEAD, BUT IN
SMALLER SETTINGS, PEOPLE CAN
BE TRAINED TO PROVIDE QUALITY
CHILD CARE FOR THEIR FRIENDS
AND FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE
CREATIVE IN TERMS OF HOW WE
EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES OF
QUALITY CHILD CARE.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL, THANK
YOU.
I'LL TAKE THE NEXT QUESTION
THAT'S GOING TO GO TO YOU,
Mr. CUOMO.
TALK ABOUT GOVERNING STYLE
USING THE REFORM OF THE
ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS.
EVERYONE IN ALBANY HAS TALKED
ABOUT REFORMING THESE LAWS,
SAYING THAT THEY'RE TOO HARSH.
YOU HAVE GONE THE NEXT STEP
THOUGH.
YOU HAVE CALLED FOR THE REPEAL
OF THE MANDATORY MINIMUM.
BUT IF ELECTED YOU WOULD BE
DEALING WITH A DIVIDED
LEGISLATURE.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WOULD
YOU STAND FAST ON THAT
POSITION, OR WOULD YOU GIVE IN
ORDER TO GET SOME REFORMS
DONE?
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
FIRST, I'M A RESULT-ORIENTED
PERSON, AND I BELIEVE, AS I
SAID ON THE QUESTION OF YOUNG
PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
CITIZENRY THAT DEMAND RESULT.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I FEEL IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK IS WE'RE NOT
SETTING THE BAR HIGH ENOUGH
OURSELVES.
WE HAVE TO DEMAND PERFORMANCE
FROM GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE TO
SAY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT WE
DON'T ACCEPT THIS GRIDLOCK
ANYMORE.
I WAS AT HUD.
I DEALT WITH A VERY DIFFICULT
CONGRESS, WITH THE NEWT
GINGRICH CONGRESS THAT WAS
HOSTILE TO BILL CLINTON.
I GOT MORE SIGNIFICANT REFORM
LEGISLATION PASSED THAN HAD
BEEN PASSED IN 20 YEARS,
MICHAEL.
AND THIS WAS A CONGRESS THAT
WANTED TO IMPEACH THE
PRESIDENT.
I GOT A VERY BIG BUDGET
INCREASE FROM A HOSTILE
CONGRESS THAT STARTED BY
WANTING TO ELIMINATE MY
DEPARTMENT.
SO I KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS
DONE WITH THE LEGISLATURE, AND
PART OF IT IS ASKING.
PART OF IT IS BEGGING.
PART OF IT IS PLEADING.
PART OF IT IS THREATENING.
BUT THE PART THAT WORKS IS
BRINGING THE PEOPLE BACK INTO
THE PROCESS AND SAYING TO THE
LEGISLATURE IN ALBANY, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO STAY HERE IN
GRIDLOCK AND YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO PASS THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO?
I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND TELL
THE PEOPLE, AND I'LL GO TO
YOUR DISTRICT AND I'LL GO TO
THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND I'LL
INFORM THEM ABOUT WHAT'S
ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN ALBANY.
PART IS COMPROMISE, BUT ALSO A
DEMAND RESULTS AND
PERFORMANCE.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL?
>> I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT
GOVERNOR PATAKI HAS TIME AND
TIME AGAIN SAID HE'S GOING TO
REPEAL THE ROCKEFELLER DRUG
LAWS OR REFORM THEM, AND HE
HASN'T DONE IT.
AND IT'S REALLY TIED UP IN THE
SENATE WHERE HE HAS SOME CLOUT
THAT HE'S NOT WILLING TO USE.
I SUPPORT THE ASSEMBLY BILL
BECAUSE I THINK IT CAN
ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.
YOU'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.
THE ASSEMBLY BILL WILL IN FACT
ALSO MAKE SURE THAT JUDGES
HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DECIDE
WHETHER A PERSON SHOULD BE
INCARCERATED OR GO INTO
TREATMENT.
WE HAVE TO FUND THE TREATMENT
PROGRAMS.
I WOULD START WITH THE
ASSEMBLY BILL BECAUSE IT'S
ALREADY PASSED THROUGH THE
ASSEMBLY AND I WOULD WORK ON
THE SENATE, AND I BELIEVE WE
CAN GET THAT PASSED.
IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT WE MUST
MAKE.
THERE ARE JUST THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN
DISRUPTED, AND WE'RE WASTING
MONEY PUTTING -- WAREHOUSING
PEOPLE IN JAIL WHEN THOSE
PEOPLE COULD BE IN PROGRAMS SO
THAT THEY COULD BE
REHABILITATED AND THEY COULD
BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS,
AND THAT'S THE RESULT THAT WE
WANT.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO, 30
SECONDS.
>> MICHAEL, I THINK THE BASIC
POINT HERE IS, WHEN YOU LISTEN
TO THE COMPTROLLER SPEAK, IT
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE'S BEEN
IN ALBANY FOR THE PAST NINE
YEARS.
HE WAS THERE.
HE WAS THE COMPTROLLER.
HE WAS THE TOP DEMOCRAT IN THE
STATE.
AND I'M SAYING WE DIDN'T GET
ENOUGH DONE OVER THE PAST NINE
YEARS.
WE DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH
PROGRESS.
ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAW, MINIMUM
WAGE, UPSTATE ECONOMY, ALL OF
THESE ITEMS; AND WE'RE SEEING
OUR CHILDREN LEAVE BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT FAILED, AND IT'S
NOT ENOUGH, AND IT'S NOT GOING
TO CHANGE.
THE SYSTEM ISN'T GOING TO
CHANGE, MICHAEL.
SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO
CHANGE THE SYSTEM IN ALBANY.
>> Michael: THANK YOU.
THIS IS A "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL
DEBATE.
WE WILL BE BACK AFTER THIS
BREAK.
(Music)
>> Michael: WELCOME BACK TO
THIS "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL
DEBATE.
HERE'S OUR NEXT CITIZEN
QUESTION.
IT'S ON MENTAL HEALTH.
>> GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS LENA SHIAO AND I
WORK FOR THE ROCHESTER
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER
AS A CHILD CARE SPECIALIST.
MENTAL ILLNESS HAS AFFECTED MY
FAMILY IN SEVERAL AREAS.
MENTAL HEALTH CARE SIMPLY IS
NOT ADEQUATELY COVERED BY
INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NEW
YORK STATE.
AS GOVERNOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO
TO ENSURE THAT MENTAL HEALTH
CARE CONSUMERS GET SIMILAR
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AS THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE PHYSICAL
AILMENTS?
>> LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I
WOULD DO.
I'VE ALREADY BEEN VERY
OUTSPOKEN ABOUT IT.
A BILL THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED
BY RICHARD GODFREY, WHICH
PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH PARODY
SIMPLY SAYS THAT THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE
INSURANCE TO COVER PHYSICAL
ILLNESS BUT ALSO COVER MENTAL
ILLNESS.
AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY MENTAL
ILLNESS, BUT THEY DON'T GET
THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND
THE HELP THAT THEY DESERVE.
PASSING THE MENTAL HEALTH
PARODY BILL, A BILL THAT'S
BEEN PASSED, THE CONCEPT IS IN
PLACE IN SOME 20 OTHER STATES,
IS NOT IN PLACE IN NEW YORK.
AND YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU
WHY?
BECAUSE GOVERNOR PATAKI HAS
ALLOWED THAT AND MANY OTHER
MEASURES TO GET STALLED IN THE
SENATE IN THE REPUBLICAN -- IN
THE SENATE THAT'S RUN BY THE
REPUBLIC.
IT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY
OVERWHELMINGLY.
ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH
ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT WOULD COST JUST PENNIES
MORE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'D
HAVE TO PAY FOR HEALTH
COVERAGE, FOR WHAT YOU PAY FOR
PREMIUMS.
SO FOR JUST A FEW PENNIES
MORE, WE COULD HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH PARODY, AND PEOPLE WHO
ARE AFFLICTED WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS CAN GET THE HELP AND
THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE.
AS GOVERNOR, IT'S GOING TO BE
A PRIORITY.
WE'VE GOT TO DO IT.
IF WE CAN JUST GET RID OF
GEORGE PATAKI AND HAVE A
GOVERNOR WHO'S WILLING TO TAKE
ON THE SENATE AND WORK WITH
YOU AND THE OTHER ADVOCATES TO
GET THESE GOOD THINGS DONE,
THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS
PROBLEM.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HELP US.
YOU'VE GOT TO ELECT A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO'S
COMMITTED TO MENTAL HEALTH
PARODY.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> IT IS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM.
WHEN I RAN HEALTH THROUGH
SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION,
HELPING DISPLACED FAMILIES,
MANY OF THEM WERE SUFFERING
FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND
IT'S AN ADDED BURDEN CRISIS
WHEN THE FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD
TO PROVIDE THE MENTAL HEALTH
ASSISTANCE.
IF YOU'RE HIGHER INCOME IN
THIS STATE, IN THIS NATION,
THEN YOU COULD GET THE BEST
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
PROBABLY ON THE GLOBE.
IT'S LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE WHO
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE.
I SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH
PARODY BILL.
BUT ALSO THE STATE WAS
SUPPOSED TO GO -- GOING BACK
30 YEARS AGO, THE STATE WAS
SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEM CALLED
COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENCES FOR
PEOPLE OF LOWER INCOME.
THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
IT NEVER MATERIALIZED, AND NOW
THE PROMISE HAS EVEN VAPORIZED
INTO THE ETHER.
WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEMS, BOTH
RESIDENTIAL AND WALK-IN, AND
THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
IT IS THE SQUEAKY WHEEL THAT
GETS THE GREASE, AND WHEN YOU
LOOK AT WHERE THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
PAY ATTENTION, IT TENDS TO BE
WITH THE LOWER-INCOME NEEDS
ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, BE IT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BE IT
MENTAL HEALTH, BE IT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND WE DO NEED
THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE
MORE RESPONSIVE.
THAT IS GOVERNOR PATAKI, BUT
IT IS NOT JUST ONE MAN.
THIS IS A CULTURE OF
DYSFUNCTION IN ALBANY.
AND PEOPLE HAD A CHANCE TO
TAKE ON GOVERNOR PATAKI, AND
THEY DIDN'T.
NOW LET'S GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A
CHANCE WHO WILL ACTUALLY GO IN
AND TAKE ON THE SENATE AND
TAKE ON THE GOVERNOR AND BE AN
EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP WHICH
HASN'T HAPPENED OVER THE PAST
NINE YEARS.
>> Michael: Mr. McCALL, 30
SECONDS.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE
HAVE TO DO.
THE GOVERNOR IS DOING
SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE
EARLIER THAT DIDN'T WORK, AND
THAT IS CLOSE DOWN MENTAL
HEALTH FACILITIES OPERATED BY
THE STATE, MOVING MORE PEOPLE
INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S FINE, AS LONG AS THE
SERVICES FOLLOW AND THAT THERE
ARE COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES
AND RESOURCES AT THE COMMUNITY
LEVEL TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO
ARE BEING PUSHED OUT OF
STATE-OPERATED RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES.
AND UNLESS WE MAKE SURE THAT
THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED, WE'RE
GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN
HOMELESSNESS AND AN INCREASE
IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT
BEING ADDRESSED.
>> Michael: WE HAVE ANOTHER
CITIZEN QUESTION NOW.
THIS ONE WILL GO TO Mr. CUOMO
FIRST.
IT'S ON EDUCATION.
>> WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU.
MY NAME IS ALPHONSO DRAYTON
AND I'M A LOCAL PASTOR HERE IN
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER AT THE
PRAISE TEMPLE CHURCH.
MY QUESTION THIS AFTERNOON IS
IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PROGRAMS,
SUCH AS MUSIC AND ART, BEING
CUT FROM ELEMENTARY
CURRICULUMS.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE AS CRITICAL
AS BASIC MATH, READING AND
WRITING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ELEMENTARY-LEVEL STUDENTS.
WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM
TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN
WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXPOSED TO
A WELL-ROUNDED ELEMENTARY
CURRICULUM?
>> THANK YOU.
EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE ONE
OF, IF NOT "THE" TOP PRIORITY.
YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC
EDUCATION, TALK ABOUT THE
UPSTATE ECONOMY, DOWNTOWN
MANHATTAN REDEVELOPMENT AND
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE TOP
PRIORITIES I BELIEVE GOING
FORWARD.
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
PROBABLY THE MOST ESSENTIAL
FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING THE
STATE DOES.
EDUCATION IS THE ULTIMATE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IT'S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE BASICALLY HAVE TWO
EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THIS
STATE: ONE IN THE WEALTHIER
DISTRICTS AND ONE IN THE
POORER DISTRICTS.
MY KIDS GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL.
THEY'RE NOT HAVING A PROBLEM
GETTING THE RIGHT SERVICES
BECAUSE THEY GO TO A PUBLIC
SCHOOL IN A RICHER DISTRICT.
THIS STATE HAS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A HIGHER
LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANTS, NOT A LOWER LEVEL.
WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO'S
FOUGHT AGAINST REFORM.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A
QUESTION OF FUNDING AND IT'S
GOING TO BE A QUESTION OF
MANAGEMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST MONEY.
IT'S MONEY PLUS MANAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW THAT HERE IN
ROCHESTER BETTER THAN ANYONE.
IT'S NOT JUST WRITING A CHECK
AND SENDING IT DOWN THE ROAD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE LOCAL
MANAGEMENT AND STATE
MANAGEMENT THAT'S GOING TO
MAKE REAL POSITIVE RESULTS.
I'VE SAID AS GOVERNOR I WANT
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
EDUCATION SYSTEM.
I WANT THE OPERATING CONTROL,
BECAUSE THE BUCK HAS TO STOP
SOMEWHERE, AND WE HAVE TO STOP
THE ALBANY DANCE OF EVERYONE
POINTING FINGERS.
IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT.
I WENT TO HUD.
I TOOK ON AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC
HOUSING.
THERE WERE GHETTOS ALL ACROSS
THE NATION.
NOBODY WANTED TO GO NEAR THEM.
THEY FAILED FOR DECADES.
NOBODY WANTED TO GO NEAR THEM.
I WENT IN AND I DID IT AND
I'LL DO IT AS GOVERNOR.
>> AS YOU KNOW I SERVED AS
PRESIDENT OF THE LARGEST
SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY,
AND I LEARNED A LOT THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IS
THAT, IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF
EDUCATION WE'VE GOT TO INVEST
MONEY, TO BE SURE.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
ELSE.
THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO HELP
US, PASTOR, AND THAT IS WE
HAVE TO HAVE PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.
THE SCHOOLS I SAW THAT WERE
SUCCEEDING IS SCHOOLS THAT HAD
PARENTS AS PARTNERS.
SCHOOLS THAT WERE FAILING WERE
SCHOOLS WHERE THE PARENTS
WEREN'T INVOLVED.
AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S GOT A
BIG JOB OF EDUCATING AND
TRAINING PEOPLE AND PARENTS.
WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE REALLY GOT TO
ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT AND HELP
PARENTS REALLY GET INVOLVED IN
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS PARTNERS,
PARTICULARLY IN THOSE EARLY
GRADES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE GOT TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, BUT WE'VE GOT TO
BRING PARENTS IN.
YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM.
YOU AND I HAVE SEEN IT IN OUR
CHURCHES.
WE'VE GOT TEENAGERS WHO ARE
PARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR KIDS IN
SCHOOLS.
THESE TEENAGERS THEMSELVES
DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION.
WE'VE GOT TO REACH OUT TO
THEM.
THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO BE SO
DIFFICULT TO TURN THIS AROUND,
BUT WITH THE HELP OF YOU AND
OTHER PASTORS AND OTHER
COMMUNITY LEADERS, WORKING
WITH PARENTS, COMING INTO THE
SCHOOLS AND HELPING OUR
TEACHERS DO THEIR JOB, WE CAN
IN FACT MAKE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM WORK.
>> THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND I
WOULD URGE THE VOTERS LOOK AT
THE REPORT CARD.
THE COMPTROLLER WAS THE HEAD
OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN
NEW YORK CITY AND LOOK WHAT
HAPPENED.
32 DISTRICTS, SCORES WENT DOWN
IN ALL 32 DISTRICTS AND CLASS
SIZE WENT UP.
I WAS THE HEAD OF HUD.
I WENT INTO PUBLIC HOUSING,
WHICH IS A LARGER INSTITUTION
THAN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN NEW
YORK.
I WENT IN.
I TOOK DOWN THE WORST 100,000
UNITS.
I TURNED IT AROUND AND MADE A
MASSIVE CHANGE IN THAT SYSTEM
WITHIN THAT INSTITUTION IN
FOUR YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO IN ALBANY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING A
CULTURE, CHANGING A SYSTEM.
STOP THE EXCUSES.
STOP THE REASON WHY YOU
COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR NINE
YEARS.
YOU WERE THERE.
YOU WERE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
LEADERSHIP, THAT'S WHAT IT'S
ABOUT, AND DEMANDING AND
GETTING RESULTS.
>> Michael: WE HAVE TIME FOR
ONE MORE QUESTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE ONE WHERE YOU
BOTH GET 45 SECONDS TO ANSWER
AND THERE WILL BE NO REBUTTAL
ON THIS ONE.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES TONIGHT, AND I'D
LIKE TO KNOW WHY YOU, NOT THE
OTHER GUY?
Mr. McCALL?
>> LET ME TALK.
IT'S BECAUSE OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHAT I'VE
DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF STATE
OF NEW YORK.
MY OPPONENT TALKS ABOUT THE
PENSION SYSTEM.
IT DID PERFORM BETTER THAN THE
OTHER FIVE IN THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BE
COMPARED TO.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS HAS
ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE
RIGHT HERE IN MONROE COUNTY.
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS I'VE
SAVED THE PEOPLE OF MONROE
COUNTY OVER $90 MILLION.
THAT'S THE MONEY THEY NO
LONGER HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THE PENSION FUND AND MONEY
THEY CAN USE FOR EDUCATION,
SUCH AS BUILDING THEIR ROADS
AND HIGHWAYS, SUCH AS
INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH AND
CHILD CARE.
I HAVE A RECORD OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
LETS ME TELL YOU WHAT I'VE
DEVELOPED FOR PEOPLE OF STATE
OF NEW YORK.
THE COLLEGE SAVERS PROGRAM SO
YOU CAN INVEST MONEY TO MEET
THE ESCALATING COSTS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
THIS WAS THE BEST COLLEGE
SAVINGS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY
AND YOU GET A TAX BREAK FOR
PARTICIPATING IN IT.
I HAVE BUILT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF NEW YORK AND INVESTED TO
CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
A LONG LIST OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I'M PROUD OF THEM, BUT I'LL DO
EVEN MORE AS GOVERNOR.
>> I'LL TAKE THE COMPTROLLER'S
CHALLENGE.
LOOK AT THE RECORD.
LOOK AT THE RESULT.
THE COMPTROLLER SAID HE WOULD
MANAGE THE PENSION FUND TO THE
BEST OF THE TOP FIVE.
NUMBER SIX WAS BETTER.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL
PENSION FUND, THERE WAS ABOUT
NUMBER 20th IN THE NATION.
ALSO PENSION FUND COULD HAVE
BEEN USED TO DO SOCIAL
INVESTMENT.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN DOING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WE
DIDN'T DO HERE IN NEW YORK
LIKE OTHER PENSION FUNDS.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN INVESTING
IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, WHICH IT
DIDN'T DO WHEN UPSTATE NEW
YORK WAS DESPERATE.
ACTUALLY DID LESS THAN OTHER
PENSION FUNDS LIKE CALIFORNIA,
DID LESS THAN THE
COMPTROLLER'S PREDECESSOR, NED
REAGAN, DID LESS THAN THE
LEGISLATURE PAST CAN DO.
MY RECORD IS THE EXACT
OPPOSITE.
I WENT.
I TOOK A DEPARTMENT.
I TOOK THE PORTFOLIO.
I WAS AGGRESSIVE, USED THE
PORTFOLIO.
MORE HOME OWNERSHIP THAN EVER
BEFORE, MORE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
1.6 MILLION TO UPSTATE NEW
YORK WHILE I WAS AT HUD.
>> Michael: WE WILL NOW ALLOW
EACH CANDIDATE 90 SECONDS FOR
CLOSING REMARKS.
Mr. McCALL WILL GO FIRST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY JUST A
GREAT CHANCE FOR ME TO TELL
YOU ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO.
AND I GUESS I GET BACK TO MY
ORIGINAL POINT IS EDUCATION.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
EDUCATION MADE A DIFFERENCE
FOR ME.
IT WAS A SLEDGEHAMMER THAT
KNOCKED DOWN OBSTACLES, AND
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, KNOCKING
DOWN OBSTACLES, FIGHTING TO
HELP PEOPLE, TO HELP OUR
SENIOR CITIZENS, TO HELP OUR
CHILDREN, TO HELP WOMEN WHO
WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
ACTUALLY IN OUR STATE PENSION
FUND, BUT I CHANGED THAT AND
TURNED IT AROUND.
BRINGING MONEY BACK INTO
COMMUNITIES SO THAT THOSE
COMMUNITIES COULD BE TURNED
AROUND.
LEARNING LESSONS FROM
GOVERNMENT, THE VERY MANY
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT THAT I'VE
BEEN INVOLVED IN, MY PRIVATE
SECTOR INVOLVEMENT.
ALL OF THAT WEALTH OF
EXPERIENCE HAS PREPARED ME NOW
TO BRING THAT TO GOVERNMENT AT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL, TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE SO THAT THE PEOPLE
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL
FULFILL THEIR ASPIRATIONS,
WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN TO
REALLY ONCE MORE FEEL PROUD TO
BE A NEW YORKER, TO BE A PART
OF A STATE WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT LISTENS TO PEOPLE,
WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS
ACCOUNTABLE TO PEOPLE AND
WHERE THE GOVERNMENT DELIVERS
FOR PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT
SO THAT I CAN DO THAT AS THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Michael: Mr. CUOMO?
>> THANK YOU.
TO ME THIS ELECTION IS NOT
ABOUT ME OR MY FUTURE OR
Mr. McCALL AND HIS FUTURE.
IT'S ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FUTURE
AND WHO CAN GET YOU THE HELP
AND THE RESULTS THAT YOU'LL
NEED.
UPSTATE NEW YORK NEEDS
ASSISTANCE DESPERATELY.
SLOWEST ECONOMY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
YOUNG PEOPLE LITERALLY
LEAVING.
MY OPPONENTS, BOTH GOVERNOR
PATAKI AND COMPTROLLER McCALL,
WERE THERE FOR THE PAST EIGHT
YEARS.
THEY COULD HAVE DONE THIS.
THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS.
THE GOVERNOR GAVE YOU THE
HIGHEST STATE AND LOCAL TAXES,
HIGHEST DEBT PER INDIVIDUAL,
SLOWEST ECONOMY.
THE COMPTROLLER HAD A
122-BILLION-DOLLAR PENSION
FUND.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE
CREATIVE AND AGGRESSIVE LIKE
OTHER PENSION FUNDS IN
INVESTING IN THE UPSTATE
ECONOMY.
IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT OVER THE
PAST EIGHT YEARS, WHAT MAKES
YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO
IT OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS?
WE CAN'T RUN THIS RISK.
I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
I KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK BECAUSE I'VE
DONE IT EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE
COUNTRY.
I RAN A 30-MILLION-DOLLAR
DEPARTMENT, A
500-BILLION-DOLLAR MORTGAGE
FUND.
I CREATED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS WORKING WITH
THE BEST, MOST INNOVATIVE
TECHNIQUES TO BRING JOBS TO
POORER COMMUNITIES.
IF I CAN DO IT IN APPALACHIA
AND DELTA AND SOUTH CENTRAL
L.A., I CAN DO IT IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK, WHICH HAS THE
GREATEST ASSETS, THE GREATEST
GEOGRAPHY.
WE REALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO
BUILD ON AND WE'LL MAKE THE
FUTURE BRIGHTER THAN THE PAST
IF WE WORK TOGETHER.
>> Michael: THANK YOU,
Mr. CUOMO.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS DEBATE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK Mr. CUOMO
AND Mr. McCALL FOR COMING AND
I'D LIKE TO THANK ESPECIALLY
OUR "VOICE OF THE VOTER" PANEL
FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PRIMARY
DAY IS SEPTEMBER THE 10th.
THANK YOU.
GOOD NIGHT.
(Music)