The leading Democratic candidates for Governor traded barbs over business issues at a debate today.
The candidates focused as much on what each thinks he can do for business as they did on pointing out their opponent's flaws.
A coalition of 18 organizations along with the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii hosted the forum, where Neil Abercrombie and Mufi Hannemann, who have strongly courted the labor vote, now turned to business owners and managers hoping for their backing too.
The debate covered topics from agriculture and the environment to health care insurance mandates and taxes.
"The prospect of raising the get has got to be off the table initially because we have no idea how deep our problems are," says Mufi Hannemann, (D) Candidate for Governor.
"The Mayor indicated that he'd be against it initially. I'm against raising the get tax without equivocation. You swim in the water you're in," says Neil Abercrombie, (D) Candidate for Governor.
Each pointed out other industry-related support they've received including rival Venture Capital Association endorsements. after the Hawaii Venture Capital Association backed Abercrombie in July, a splinter group with a similar name was formed last month and endorsed hannemann.
Much of the time was spent with each trying to point out flaws in his opponent's business-related record.
"I don't know about the streamlined permitting. If the permitting system that the Mayor is talking about is going to be taken to the state, I think everybody ought to start quaking," says Abercrombie.
"His overall cumulative score in his 20 years of Congress on issues important to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was 30%?" says Hannemann "That high?," says Abercrombie.
In answering what they'd each seek to accomplish in their first 100 days on the job, each referred to what's become their frequent debate props -- their 10-point and 43-page plans respectively.
"The only candidate that came out with a specific, understandable, readable plan," says Hannemann.
"I assure you ladies and gentlemen if you go to Neil Abercrombie.com this is readable," says Abercrombie.
The chamber says it will not be endorsing candidates.
The Chamber of Commerce plans to host a First Congressional debate in mid October.
