Tonight's debate: A preview and translation

Since 2004, little about the rhetoric or substance from Republican Dino Rossi has changed. Though he tries to hide it, Rossi is a Republican in the mold of George W. Bush, whose priorities and values are out of step with those of Washingtonians. As a service for those watching tonight's first gubernatorial debate, Washington State Democrats have taken the liberty of putting together a preview, along with a translation of what Rossi's rhetoric actually means.  

On the Budget

What Rossi will say:  "I balanced the largest budget deficit in state history without raising taxes, and I did it while protecting the most vulnerable in our society.  I've done it before, and I can do it again."

What it really means:

• Rossi wrote a budget that led to a $2.2 billion deficit, raised taxes and "fees" (read: more taxes), and cut education and healthcare for children
• When Rossi says he "didn't raise taxes," he means "except for the gas tax, the liquor tax, and a hefty bed ‘fee' on nursing home residents."
• The "most vulnerable" doesn't include the developmentally disabled whose services he slashed or the 40,000 low-income kids that he cut off healthcare.
• Cutting funds for education and healthcare; cutting services for the most vulnerable in tough times; leading our state back into debt: that's what he's really done before, and that's what he'll do again.

On the Economy

What Rossi will say: "I want to make Washington the best place to start a business and the worst place to commit a crime."

What it really means:

• Rossi wants to follow the disastrous Bush policies that allow deregulation and give tax breaks corporations instead of supporting working families-the people being hit hardest in these tough times.  Rossi believes so strongly in Bush's economic policies that he sponsored a resolution in the state senate asking Washington to pray for those policies to pass (SJM8006).  

On Education

What Rossi will say: "When it comes to education, I have one simple test: what's in the best interest of our children?"

What it really means:

• Rossi will make education decisions based on his own interests, not the interest of children or their parents.  As a state senator, Rossi ignored the voice of parents and refused to fund to voter-approved initiatives to reduce class sizes and increase teacher salaries.
• Rossi's transportation plan will take nearly $1 billion from the general fund, which funds education, health care and other social services.  That's nearly $1 billion that Rossi would take away from our children and schools.
• Rossi's record shows that his real test is, "How much can I cut education funding and still get away with calling it ‘finding efficiencies?'"

On Women's Health

What Rossi will say: [On Plan B] "Just as government shouldn't tell Safeway they need to stock certain brands of sports drinks or hardware store owners that they have to sell certain types of tools, it shouldn't tell pharmacists which drugs to sell."

What it really means:

• Rossi is deep in denial on women's health.  He either doesn't understand or doesn't care that pharmacies are a critical link in our healthcare system, not just any old business, and that there's a fundamental difference between a woman who needs emergency contraception and a man seeking his favorite flavor of Gatorade.
• The real reason that Rossi thinks certain pharmacists should be able to deny access to Plan B is because Rossi shares their desire to insert his personal religious beliefs onto others.
• Rossi will put his own personal beliefs before the health of Washington's women and use this kind of empty rhetoric to rationalize his actions.

What Rossi will say: "I'm not running for the Supreme Court."

What it really means:

• "...but that doesn't mean I wouldn't overturn Roe v. Wade if I got a chance." 

On Healthcare

What Rossi will say: "I believe in putting people in charge of their healthcare, not the government."

What it really means:

• Rossi believes that the government should be free to cut and run when Washingtonians have trouble getting access to healthcare.
• Rossi put 40,000 low-income kids "in charge of their healthcare" by cutting them off of Medicaid.
• Rossi really wants to put insurance lobbyists in charge of healthcare, letting insurance companies offer Washingtonians as little coverage as they please. 

On Transportation

What Rossi will say: "I've offered a transportation plan that's the most comprehensive plan a candidate for governor has ever put out."  

What it really means:

• Rossi's plan has been panned by experts and editorial boards statewide, including language like "complete silliness" and "completely divorced from reality."
• Rossi thinks it's possible to build an 8-lane bridge for cheaper than a 6-lane bridge.

What Rossi will say: "My opponent wants to force people out of their cars, while my vision is rooted in freedom and giving consumers more choices."

What it really means:

• Rossi will give us a choice between driving a car and staying home.  Rossi doesn't support any new public transportation projects and dismisses mass transit as a "local issue" that he will refuse to be involved in. 

Additionally, his plan is to take $690 million away from Sound Transit and use that money to build more roads for more cars, instead of creating new options for mass transit.