POLITICS

Whitmer, Dixon duel over abortion, COVID orders, gas tax in final debate

Rochester — Abortion, pandemic school closures and rising costs took center stage during the final hour-long debate between Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican Tudor Dixon in Oakland County.

The televised debate at Oakland University saw the candidates standing toe-to-toe on critical issues facing Michigan two weeks out from the election as they attempt to sway undecided voters in a tightening race.

The incumbent governor and her opponent sparred on Whitmer's record and what Dixon promises she'll deliver if elected governor on Nov. 8.

Here are five key areas where Whitmer and Dixon clashed in Tuesday night's debate:

School closure debate

Dixon and Whitmer fielded several questions from debate moderators over pandemic-era school closures, parental involvement in education and school safety.

Whitmer at one point maintained schools were closed for no more than three months during the pandemic. Schools were closed via Whitmer's executive order for about three months at the onset of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, but additional state-ordered closures occurred that fall through state health department orders tailored to high schools. From there, the governor let local school boards decide whether to keep schools closed in the winter and spring of 2021.

“The reason kids were out of school during the pandemic was because we were working off of knowledge from 1918, when kids died from the last global pandemic," Whitmer said. "As a mom, all I was thinking about saving the lives of our kids.”

Finley & Buss: What Michigan gubernatorial debate showed us

Dixon disputed Whitmer's comments on the length of the closure and argued Michigan suffered worsening test scores because of the closures. The Republican challenger said she would work to reverse those losses and "make sure that they get back on track from the years of online learning that they endured under this governor’s policies.”

Whitmer countered that Dixon would guarantee an agenda pushed by the DeVos family of west Michigan for public schools. The family of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has long sought to allow taxpayer funds to be used for private school education.

Dixon told reporters after the debate she would have prioritized in-person learning.

“We saw other states opening their schools, and the children were safe. And they ended up having much less learning loss than the state of Michigan,” she said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during the debate with Republican challenger Tudor Dixon at Oakland University in Rochester on Oct. 25, 2022.

Abortion debate continues

Right out of the gate Tuesday, Whitmer and Dixon dueled over what's become a stark contrast between the two candidates: Abortion rights.

Whitmer attacked Dixon for her beliefs regarding abortion, referring to Dixon's comments surrounding her stance on exemptions for abortion. Dixon has said she does not support exemptions for rape or incest, but only to save the life of the mother.

Republican candidate Tudor Dixon speaks during the debate with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at Oakland University in Rochester on Oct. 25, 2022.

Whitmer touted her lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court that has led to one of two court decisions stopping enforcement of Michigan's 1931 abortion ban after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision.

“The only reason it’s not in effect right now is because of my lawsuit," Whitmer said.

Dixon defended her position and accused the Democratic governor of supporting late-term abortions, citing her past legislative votes on the issue of partial-birth abortion.

Dixon said she would accept the results if voters pass Proposal 3, a Nov. 8 ballot measure that would enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, including abortion, in the state Constitution.

"If this is what the people want, then I will enforce that," Dixon said.

Inflation and tax relief

Dixon and Whitmer argued over how the governor's office has addressed nationwide inflation.

Whitmer said she had helped to pass legislation that would lower the cost of daycare and helped fund a tuition-free post-secondary skills training program. She also noted several tax proposals she'd put forward, including eliminating the pension tax and increasing the earned income credit for low-income workers.

“A governor cannot fix global inflation, but what I can do is put more money in your pockets," Whitmer said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, left, and Republican candidate Tudor Dixon shake hands before the debate at Oakland University in Rochester on Oct. 24, 2022.

Dixon noted Whitmer had vetoed several tax proposals from the GOP-led Legislature, including a pause on the state gas tax and a decrease to the state income tax rate. Whitmer responded they were "gimmicks" that wouldn't take effect until the spring.

The Republican also criticized Whitmer for proposing to raise the gas tax by 45 cents at the start of her first term. The governor's proposal was rejected by the GOP-controlled Legislature.

“It was one of the first things she tried to do when she was in office," Dixon said.

No-fault auto insurance reform

On the issue of the no-fault auto insurance reform passed in 2019, Whitmer said the legislation gave options to drivers in terms of insurance coverage and improved affordability. She acknowledged that the issue of depleted services for those injured in crashes prior to the law's passage was one the courts are currently contemplating.

Dixon also acknowledged that some legislation has “unintended consequences” but criticized Whitmer for touting a $400 rebate check with a lawsuit pending that could affect the ability to continue the 2019 law's cost controls.

Whitmer argued the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association authorized the rebates, not the governor. Dixon countered that Whitmer had been touting the checks as if she was the one giving them out.

“I’m glad she admitted that,” Dixon said.

Dixon noted the MCCA is now planning to raise its annual per-vehicle assessment by $48 as a result of a court ruling in favor of injured drivers.

"The governor knew there was going to be a lawsuit when she decided to give away the catastrophic injury fund. ... She gave you those ($400) checks just a little too soon," Dixon said.

Energy affordability

On energy costs, Dixon attacked Whitmer on her unsuccessful 2020 lawsuit seeking to shut down Enbridge Energy's Line 5 dual oil pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac. A second lawsuit filed by Attorney General Dana Nessel, also seeking to shut down the line, is ongoing.

“That would be catastrophic and raise our energy costs at a time when people are having trouble heating their homes,” Dixon said.

Whitmer countered that there had been no change to Line 5's operation during her four years in office, and permits for the construction of a tunnel beneath the straits are currently pending before the Michigan Public Service Commission. Whitmer did not say whether she support Enbridge's project to build a tunnel to house Line 5 under the bedrock of Lake Michigan.

The governor argued investing in energy independence through renewable sources was critical.

“We know that costs have gone up,” Whitmer said. “That’s why building out energy alternatives is really important.” 

Dixon said the state should be careful not to “knee-cap our economy with a radical energy agenda.” 

"Line 5 hasn't been shut down but that's not because Gretchen Whitmer hasn't tried," Dixon said.

'The stakes are higher'

The second debate came closer to Election Day and as some public polling shows Dixon cutting into Whitmer's lead.

"I think this one carries a good deal of weight," said David Dulio, director of OU's Center for Civic Engagement, which helped organize the debate.

Dixon, a political commentator from Norton Shores, has raised less money than Whitmer, a former lawmaker from East Lansing, and has faced millions of dollars in negative TV advertising. Tuesday's debate was "critical" for Dixon's chances of unseating a sitting governor, Dulio said.

The larger potential audience and proximity to Election Day made Tuesday night's debate more significant than the first debate hosted by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, said Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan.

That pressure seemed clear in the candidates' performances Tuesday night, as each sought to one-up the other.

"Both candidates, given the narrowing of the race from the first debate to this, they clearly sensed that and saw how important the stakes were,” Kall said.

Asked if she had changed her strategy from the first debate, Whitmer told reporters Tuesday night she didn’t think so. Then she added that there are “serious issues” facing Michigan.

“There’s so much good work happening in terms of building the future economy. … She’s worked against it every step of the way,” Whitmer said of Dixon.

Afterward, Dixon said she felt her performance Tuesday was "strong."

"We were able to call out the governor on her record," Dixon told reporters. "And she didn't seem to have many answers."

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