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Heated gubernatorial debate on education and economy

In the race for the Governor’s mansion, the two candidates faced off in the first debate at the Hershey Lodge in Derry Twp., Dauphin County Monday night. ...

In the race for the Governor's mansion, the two candidates faced off in the first debate at the Hershey Lodge in Derry Twp., Dauphin County Monday night.

Democratic challenger Tom Wolf arrived leading in the polls by a 21-point margin. Governor Tom Corbett took the offensive during the debate, often addressing Wolf directly in his responses.

Education has been a heated issue in campaign ads. Wolf says the Governor cut education funding; Corbett says Wolf can't lay out a plan.

"It's clear he doesn't want to talk about statistics," says Corbett. "The cut in education occurred in the administration before me."

Corbett says up to 40 percent of the state budget goes to schools and he has a plan to evaluate school and teacher performance. He questioned Wolf's plan for education.

Asked to name the amount of funding schools should be getting, Wolf said he didn't know.

"We can do a better job than we're doing," he added. "I know you can't throw money at any problem and expect a good outcome, but you can't keep dis-investing in it either."

The two debated taxes. Corbett says his record on taxes should speak for itself, and that he has avoided tax increases repeatedly.

"We're in a much better position than we were when I took office, no more $4.2 billion deficit, we eliminated that, no more reliance on one time money from the federal government to balance our budget," says Corbett.

Wolf says he wants to cut taxes for the middle class while raising taxes on some, calling for a "fair tax system." He also said he wants to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour; Corbett says he wants to stay with the federal minimum wage.

"As a citizen, I look at my state and I don't like the report that the auditor general and state treasurer put out last week," says Wolf. "I don't like the cash balances that seem to be deteriorating."

The next debate will be held October 1 in Philadelphia.

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