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Video Report - Vaughn, Shipley spar over issues at debate
Nathan Vaughn, left, and Tony Shipley.
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KINGSPORT — Democratic incumbent state Rep. Nathan Vaughn and GOP challenger Tony Shipley debated illegal immigration, state spending, Memorial Boulevard upgrading, raising the minimum wage and electing state Supreme Court judges before about 200 people at Dobyns-Bennett High School Monday night.
Tennessee’s two 2nd House District election rivals appeared civil to each other but gave spirited arguments supporting their positions while responding to questions developed by D-B’s Junior Statesmen of America.
In his opening statement, Shipley said he believes in the values of East Tennessee, limited government and low taxes.
“My beliefs are in line with this district,” Shipley, of Colonial Heights, insisted. “I will vote to make English the official language of Tennessee, deny a driver’s license to those who cannot take or pass written portions of a driver’s test and can’t do it in English.”
Vaughn, in his opening statement, said he also shares the values of district residents.
“One of the things that I think has been so unfortunate about this campaign is it has just been so negative,” Vaughn, of Kingsport, said. “I’ve had the lieutenant governor (Ron Ramsey of Blountville) say negative things to me as it relates to Highway 126 (Memorial Boulevard). I’ve had the minority leader (Jason Mumpower of Bristol) say that my values aren’t consistent with yours. I’ve been criticized ... that somehow I ought to represent inner-city Memphis.”
Shipley said the state’s biggest challenge is illegal immigration.
“There is little doubt that when you look at the numbers this is Tennessee’s perfect storm,” said Shipley. “In 2007, Tennessee actually consumed about $285 million of your taxpayer dollars to support illegal immigrants in the state. ... The thing we need to consider is what could we do with $285 million. ... Health care? Education? Better roads? The bottom line is until we get control of that problem, it is going to continue to get bigger and bigger.”
Vaughn indicated Tennessee’s revenue downturn is the state’s biggest challenge.
“We are two months into our new year, and we are already about $142 million under the amount of our projections for our budget,” he said. “When our economy turns down, our revenues go down because we have a sales-tax-based economy.”
Vaughn argued that illegal immigration is a federal issue.
“The thing that I believe my opponent needs to do is run for Congress, and they then can address this issue,” he said. “The state of Tennessee has limited resources in terms of being able to fix this issue. ... One of the things we have done, though, is have tougher sanctions against employers, and we have seen many of those illegal immigrants from places like Mexico go back home.”
On spending priorities, Vaughn pledged to protect health care for young people while Shipley said the state needs to cut funding to groups like Planned Parenthood and projects like an underground ballroom at the governor’s executive residence.
“Do we have a troubled economy? Sure,” said Shipley. “But don’t let people scare you when you ... can’t go to Nashville with a sharp pencil and make choices.”
Shipley called Memorial Boulevard the “most lethal road in the district” and pledged to make it a front-burner issue.
Vaughn insisted his work after going to Nashville in 2003 has moved the highway project forward.
“Our state senator, Ron Ramsey, has served that (Indian Springs) community for 18 years and nothing has been done, and now he criticizes me,” Vaughn said of Memorial Boulevard.
Shipley criticized Vaughn’s legislative vote for a minimum wage increase.
“The minimum wage is a starting place (for employment). That’s all it is,” Shipley said.
Vaughn suggested a $5.25 per hour minimum wage contributed to the illegal immigration problem.
“Do you know why we have so many illegal immigrants here? It’s because they were taking jobs people here didn’t want,” Vaughn maintained.
On electing state Supreme Court judges, Shipley said the current system of picking judges has given Tennessee the most liberal abortion laws in America.
Vaughn, however, said it might not be a good idea to have judges raise money to run election campaigns.
“Do we want justice at the highest cost?” Vaughn asked.
Vaughn also took Shipley to task for a direct mail piece attacking his values.
“He says Nathan Vaughn’s values are not consistent with the values of Tennessee and then he stands up here and says he’s not going to challenge my values. ... He says one thing and does something else,” Vaughn said of Shipley. “That’s the kind of representative the 2nd District does not need.”
In his closing statement, Shipley responded: “I submit that I, (GOP presidential nominee) John McCain and Ron Ramsey hold the views of how government should be, which is distinctly different than (Democratic presidential nominee) Barack Obama, (Democratic House Speaker) Jimmy Naifeh and Nathan Vaughn.”
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I don't know Mr. Vaughn personally, but I do believe that his support of giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens is unconstitutional (both U.S. & TN). Just imagine if one of these illegals, who couldn't read a stop sign, were to T-Bone your car injuring or killing one of your family members. If they want to live among us, let them learn the language of prosperity---ENGLISH!
What is wrong with Memorial Blvd? I drive it every day and have for years. The only reason people get hurt is because people don't pay attention, pull out in front of someone, or drive at excessive speeds. There is nothing wrong with the road it's the people that don't know how to drive. Just like guns don't kill people, people kill people... why waste $90 million dollars on a perfectly good road and take people's homes and businesses in the process?
Mary - I'm not sure where you're getting that Mr. Shipley was reluctant to debate Mr. Vaughn. Increasing the minimum wage is insituting government control in a command economy, something that your high school Economics and Government class should have taught you is less than desirable. When business owners have to pay their employees more by government demand, this increased cost has to be balanced out in the budget from one of two areas - a cut in staff or an increase in prices. If you cut your staff you're putting people out of work to pay others more, which doesn't really benefit the area as a whole. If prices increase the dollar loses its buying power and then another wage increase across the board, not just at the lowest paying jobs, would be necessary to combat this inflation. What does that cause? See above. It's a dangerous cycle, and is why market forces have always done such a great job regulating pay. If you want good people, you pay more than the business next door and you keep your good workers. It's just that simple. I've talked with Mr. Shipley about this issue and he understands how forcing a wage increase hurts business, our livelihoods and our state as a whole because of these same problems. As for judges: when you start "interpreting" laws and end up making laws from the bench, that's when it's time to have elections instead of lifetime appointments. Make them accountable to the people they are there to protect. Mr. Shipley's keen understanding of these and other core concepts and issues that are so important to our region is why he has my support.
I attended this debate to hear what the reluctant-to-debate opposition candidate had to say. Mr. Shipley has constantly brought up the "values" card by saying Rep. Vaughn does not represent E TN values. He shows no proof, and this rhetoric seems to be code for "he's not Republican" rather than having anything to do with values.
Mr. Shipley stated that the Supreme Court judges do not judge cases according to the "values" of the citizens and should be elected. The purpose of judges is to interpret law according to the Constitution, not prevailing ideology. Judges should not be chosen because they are right or left wing. He described the Constitution as being "200 years old," perhaps indicating that it was no longer valid. Frankly, the Republican party has been trying to dismantle the Constitution of the state and the nation for quite a while.
Concerning his views on minimum wage, Mr. Shipley forgets that most of the higher paying industrial jobs have left Kingsport and the area. No JP Stevens, no Quebecor, no General Shale, no Holston Builders, and many, many more. The new jobs that are supposed to take their place, retail and restaurants, fail miserably. No one can make a living on minimum wage, let alone support a child. I know college graduates that were not able to find equitable employment here and had to take those minimum wage jobs until they finally just left. For those who cannot afford college costs which are rising, there are not many choices left except minimum wage jobs, which incidentally rarely offer a full-time opportunity.
Rep. Vaughn has served us well, and his priority is the people of this area. I'm afraid Mr. Shipley's agenda is merely a Republican majority.
I also attended the debate last night. I found it ironic there is no mention in this article that Nathan Vaughn declined to sign the final CSS team recommendation for the 126 upgrade, which is essentially going against the community's wishes and values. I have to travel 126 every day and Mr. Vaughn's mishandling of this project is appalling. Mr. Shipley showed proof of this in black and white, and I personally like people who make claims and back them up with serious proof. I was actually impressed with Mr. Vaughn's ability to spin his voting record, but sorry, the record speaks for itself. Thank you Mr. Shipley for informing this community of what is going on in Nashville. You sir, have my vote.
My vote wil be for Nathan Vaughn.Mr Shipley's smoke screen is not quite thick enough.
I attended the debate last night. Nathan Vaughn did an outstanding job and he is wonderful speaker. Nathan Vaughn displayed a great understanding for the way things work in Nashville and what he can do to continue fight for the people of East Tennessee. The people of East Tennessee need to support Mr. Vaughn so that he can continue to represent us in Nashville. I also met Mr. Shipley and he is a nice gentleman, Mr. Shipley focused on larger issues like immigration ?while important- It is a problem all across the US and not just Tennessee. In a larger scale environment, BIG government needs to step up and take care of that type of issue. Nathan spoke more about our local issues and economy. Mr. Vaughn has a true understanding of the local people and supports our local needs.
I applaud Rep. Vaughn. Pointing out Ramsey and the fact nothing had been adressed about Memorial Blvd. before 2003 was an excellent point. Mr. Shipley came to Rep. Vaughn not that many years ago asking his help with some Medicare issues re. Mr. Shipley's ambulance service. Mr. Shipley's respect for Rep. Vaughn was very apparent then. Is Mr. Shipley just a yes man for the GOP? I believe so. I look at it as the higher ups just want a Republican royal flush in the house. Rep. Nathan Vaughn has proven over and over that the people of the 2nd district are his priority. Vote for the best candidate. Which I believe to be Rep. Nathan Vaughn.
Shipley is in for a well-deserved defeat November 4. East Tennesseans may hold a majority of so-called "Republican values", but to attempt to place Nathan Vaughn beside Obama and Naifeh is just ignorant. The people of East Tennessee aren't stupid, Mr. Shipley, and that little piece is a slap in the face. Mr. Shipley seemed to attempt to spin every issue into "Illegal Immigrants". Thank you, Mr. Vaughn for your selfless representation of the ideals of the people of Kingsport, and good wishes in your new term as representative.