Malloy, Foley Trade Promises, Swap Charges In Second TV Debate

NEW LONDON -- Connecticut's gubernatorial contenders spent most of their second live, televised debate either making promises, avoiding them, or predicting when their opponent would break his word.

Democrat Dan Malloy and Republican Tom Foley squared off on taxes and spending, union concessions and the death penalty in their one-hour forum at The Garde Arts Center.

Challenged on the first question to pledge their positions on taxes, Foley repeated his now-familiar assertion that the $3.26 billion deficit projected for the next state budget can be closed without tax hikes.

Then the Greenwich businessman went on to insist that Malloy, who enjoys strong support from public-sector labor unions, not only is preparing to boost taxes, but to do so significantly to protect the wages and benefits of his friends in labor.

"My opponent admits that he plans to raise your taxes and he will raise them -- a lot," Foley said. Malloy has said tax hikes are likely to be part of a larger plan to eliminate what effectively equals the largest deficit in state history.

But Malloy guaranteed that if Foley is elected and attempts to balance the budget solely by cutting discretionary spending, he would have to virtually gut the entire $2.8 billion package of state grants to cities and towns.

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