The Republican and Democratic candidates vying to replace Minnesota' s outgoing governor Tim Walz sparred in their final debate Wednesday over the massive fraud scandal that has unfolded in the state, health care and rising gas prices.
asserted
that → vie → state
"A vote for Amy Klobuchar is a vote for a Tim Walz third term," Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth said in her opening statement after painting Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar as the "status quo" candidate in a "state in crisis" over the $ 9 billion fraud scandal.
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Demuth → say → scandal
Klobuchar pushed back in her opening statement, saying, "I don't like the status quo.
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I → push → quo
I hate the status quo."
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I → hate → quo
The first question of the debate focused on fraud, a recurring topic throughout the night, and what each candidate would do to combat it.
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candidate → focus → it
"Fraud unchecked here in the state of Minnesota has gone far too long, and it has finally come to the surface," Demuth said.
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Demuth → go → surface
"The thing that I will do on day one is I am going to be firing all commissioners, choosing new commissioners that are expert in their field, that will carry out the accountability and transparency that is needed in our state.
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that → do → state
We have to change the culture of fraud."
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We → have → fraud
Klobuchar attempted to distance herself from Walz when addressing the issue.
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Klobuchar → attempt → issue
"The fraud is simply unacceptable and as a former prosecutor, I'm going to send those fraudsters to jail," Klobuchar said.
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Klobuchar → go → jail
"Tim Walz should have caught the fraud earlier and he should have done more.
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he → catch → more
He said it himself.
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He → say → it
And by the way, when my opponent references Tim Walz, I will say one thing.
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I → reference → thing
He is not seeking a third term.
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He → seek → term
Fraud came up again later in the debate, with Demuth criticizing Klobuchar's close relationship with Walz.
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Demuth → come → Walz
"You have not heard my opponent differ from one policy bill that Tim Walz, who she calls an incredible governor, has allowed to go forward," Demuth said.
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Demuth → hear → who
"I would love to hear one bill, one area, child care, fraudulent funding.
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I → love → bill
I would love to hear that.
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I → love → that
If she is separating herself specifically from Tim Walz, Tim Walz allowed the child care fraud and other fraud here in the state of Minnesota to explode to $9 billion, never firing any of his commissioners or agency employees.
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fraud → separate → commissioners
But yet you have someone standing here tonight that is supporting everything from the incredible governor, as she has said he is.
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he → have → governor
"
Klobuchar responded, "Rewind the tape on this debate please; you will see exactly how I said I differed from Tim Walz."
RISING GAS PRICES
In another tense moment, the candidates turned to rising gas prices, with Klobuchar attempting to link Demuth to the policies of the Trump administration.
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Klobuchar → respond → administration
"I can tell you the fastest way to bring down your gas prices, and that is to stop this War in Iran," Klobuchar said.
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Klobuchar → tell → Iran
And when you look at what my opponent brings up, when we had a debate earlier this week, she actually brought up and blamed it on the Keystone pipeline.
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she → look → pipeline
Then she blamed the health care costs on Barack Obama.
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she → blame → Obama
I don't know what will be next.
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what → know → ?
Maybe Thomas Jefferson, but what I know is that Minnesotans understand what's happened at the pump."
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what → know → pump
Demuth blamed high costs in Minnesota on the Minnesota DemocraticâFarmerâLabor Party's (DFL) control of state government.
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Demuth → blame → government
"We can talk about that Keystone pipeline that my opponent has voted against.
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opponent → talk → that
That would have brought in 830,000 barrels of oil.
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That → bring → oil
It would have helped with the supply that we have here, yet she voted against it," Demuth said.
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Demuth → help → it
"But you have to ask yourself, why are things so expensive here in Minnesota?
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things → have → Minnesota
They are expensive because of overspending by a one party control in 2023 and 2024, I will bring down prices.
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I → bring → prices
I will right-size our state budget and make sure that you can afford your lives, that you can grow, thrive, and businesses will be coming to Minnesota to provide the jobs that are needed.
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that → size → jobs
It's common sense, and that's the decision that you have to make as you're looking to this election this year.
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you → have → election
"
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND INSULIN PRICES
As Minnesotans continue to grapple with rising health care costs, the two candidates sparred over ObamaCare, which Klobuchar voted for in the U.S. Senate.
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Klobuchar → continue → Senate
"It's important to realize that we're looking at all of the inputs and all of the reasons why our health care is more expensive," Demuth said.
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Demuth → realize → reasons
"Senator Klobuchar supported the Affordable Care Act.
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Klobuchar → support → Act
She promised that it would bring down our health care.
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it → promise → care
Unfortunately, we have seen anything but all of our health care since the Affordable Care Act has increased the health care cost to all Minnesotans."
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Act → see → Minnesotans
Klobuchar didn't address ObamaCare in her response, instead pointing to Demuth's position on abortion and accusing the Republican of being beholden to Big Pharma.
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Klobuchar → address → Pharma
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
