Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany met on Wednesday for the only debate of the Wisconsin governor race, with the general election set for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The state is sitting on a budget surplus of about $3 billion, and the two men split on what to do with it. Crowley said a governor has to work with the Legislature to get plans passed, and pointed to education, child care and health care as priorities. Tiffany said households do not have a surplus in their own bank accounts, and argued the money should go back to taxpayers as long-term tax relief rather than one-time checks.
Crowley attacked Tiffany's votes in Congress on fuel costs and tariffs, saying they raised prices for families, farmers and manufacturers. Tiffany answered that his opponent was focused on President Donald Trump, while he wanted to put more money in taxpayers' wallets instead of creating new programs that raise taxes.
On data centers, Tiffany said projects should not be approved unless utility rates are protected, there are no subsidies, local residents have a say, and sites are kept off farmland. Crowley also said communities should have a seat at the table and that land, farmland and waterways need protection. On schools, Crowley opposed expanding the state voucher program and called for more public school funding and a smaller special education reimbursement gap, while Tiffany said a child in a failing school should be able to choose another school regardless of ZIP code.
Asked about paying for transportation, Tiffany answered no to new user fees, no to tolling and no to indexing the gas tax to inflation, which has not happened since 2005. Crowley said he was open to user fees and to tolling, but no to indexing the gas tax.
A Marquette University Law School poll released Sept. 30 put Crowley ahead among registered voters, 46 percent to 45 percent, with 9 percent undecided. Among likely voters, Crowley led 49 percent to 46 percent, with 5 percent undecided.
