Coakley, Brown clash over taxes

"Martha isn't running against Bush and Cheney, she's running against me," Brown responded. "I'm living and working to address the issues of today, not yesterday. And the issues of today are very simple: It's about overspending and high taxation."

The debate, which also included independent candidate Joseph L. Kennedy, was the last major campaign event before voters turn their attention to opening Christmas presents and buying champagne for New Years. The special election to fill the seat of the late Edward M. Kennedy is Jan. 19.

The debate was held tonight at the WBZ-TV studios and streamed live on the station's website. It will be broadcast on WBZ-TV Sunday at 8 a.m., and on WSBK-TV 38 Monday at 7 p.m.

Kennedy, who is an active Libertarian running as an independent, demonstrated tonight why Brown has sought to minimize him and Coakley has wanted him involved in the debates: he used nearly every speaking opportunity to challenge Brown from the right, saying the state senator hasn't done enough to cut spending, limit taxes, and make his voting record accessible.

"I challenge him to show me three bills that he has personally submitted that cut $1 billion on spending," Kennedy said.

The line of attack clearly frustrated Brown, who said, "My record speaks for itself."

Much of the focus, though, was on Brown and Coakley, who also continued previous disputes over health care policies, abortion rights, and increased troop levels in Afghanistan.

Brown offered a robust defense of President Obama's plan send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, chastising Coakley several times for not supporting a president from her own party.

"Martha does not support her own president, her own party. And I find that disturbing," said Brown, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts National Guard.

"The president was right, we need to finish the job," Brown added. "I think it's naïve to think that he doesn't know what he's doing and he's not providing the adequate resources."

"I support the president in many of his approaches, I will do that when it's appropriate," Coakley said. "But when I disagree with him, I'm going to speak out and say that."

Coakley and Brown also disagreed on the current health care legislation pending before the US Senate. Coakley supports the plan, even though it contains some restrictions on abortion, which she opposes, and does not feature a government health plan, which she wanted.

Brown opposes the bill, saying it would undercut Massachusetts's own effort at universal coverage.

"It's going to result in higher taxes, longer lines, lesser care, and it's going to cost Massachusetts jobs, and I'm not supporting it," Brown said.

Kennedy also opposed the legislation, saying, "we're going to end up bankrupting the country."

But the sharpest exchanges occurred over tax policies. Brown repeatedly said taxes needed to be lowered in order to create jobs, and he said Coakley would only further burden the country by expanding government programs.

"If you calculate all the tax increases that Martha is supportive of it's $2.1 trillion," Brown said. "Those are taxes we cannot afford because when you lower taxes, you're going to have more jobs."

Coakley countered by saying that Brown was unrealistic about the problems the country now faces.

"What Scott is talking about is a lot of investments that are necessary to come out of an economic recession that he doesn't seem to acknowledge has really happened," Coakley said. "It's an investment in health care that he denies we need. And it's dealing with a climate change problem that he denies even exists."

Last night was the second debate in as many days, and it continued the feisty exchanges that were largely absent from the primary campaigns. Coakley was largely unscathed and stayed above the fray in her debates with her Democratic primary rivals, and Brown didn't have any major debates with his Republican primary challenger.

Coakley heads into next month's election as the presumptive front-runner, running in a state that has three times more enrolled Democrats than Republicans. The state has not elected a Republican to the US Senate since Edward W. Brooke III was re-elected in 1972.

The seat Coakley and Brown are vying for was a held for 47 years by one of the Democratic Party's most vocal champions, Edward M. Kennedy.

There are several other debates being planned next month, though most have not been finalized in part because Coakley has insisted that Kennedy be included in the debates.

The candidates were also asked how they would each react when they're approached on the street by a panhandler.

Coakley said she rarely gives them any money, choosing instead to donate to charities and supporting other state services.

"I offer to buy them a sandwich," Kennedy said.

"I've given money, I've given coffee, sandwiches, and pizza," Brown responded. "I enjoy doing that."

He then used the point to pivot once again and recite his anti-tax mantra.