Page 4AThe Battalion/Monday, October 1, 1984 Sparks fly in senatorial TV debate By JAMES WALKER Staff Writer Sparks flew in both directions as Democrat Lloyd Doggett and Re publican Phil Gramm exchanged al legations during last Friday’s tele vised debate in College Station. KAMU-TV hosted the confronta tion that lasted nearly an hour with the senatorial candidates covering topics ranging from budget deficits to prayer in public schools. Doggett, a state Senator from Austin, initiated the assault saying he was “committed to those working their way up the ladder ...rather than those who are already at the top.” He said Texas voters would choose between a “senator who works hard on behalf of the David’s of our society ... or a person who is teamed up with the Goliath’s of this world.” Doggett has compared his cam paign to the biblical story of David against Golaith saying he will slay Gramm with “five smooth stones”. Gramm responded to charges cit ing his co-sponsorship of the Reagan economic program in the House. “We brought the inflation rate down from the highest level in American history to the lowest level in twenty years,” as well as creating seven mil lion jobs, Gramm said. “That’s more jobs in the private sector of the economy ... in three and a half years of the Reagan- Gramm program than all the gov ernment programs adopted since 1946 put together,” he said. Gramm also noted his sponsorship of two defense budgets that “helped us recruit and maintain some of the finest young men and women” in the military. In response to the question of re ducing the federal deficit, Doggett said he had never voted for a bill causing a deficit, as his opponent has, and would pursue a pay-as-you- go policy similiar to what is being used in the state of Texas. Gramm replied, “my opponent never talks about voting for a deficit because he never had that option be cause it’s in the Constitution of Texas that he can’t.” Doggett said he also wants to cut tax loopholes and government subsi Workshop aid researchers in money hunl jury, Fanch MSC Counc meets tonig Lloyd Doggett, left, and Phil Gramm, right, debate issues for the senate race as Ron Stone of KPRC in Houston mediates. dies such as the one for tobacco farmers. Doggett said, “I don’t think there is a simple short cut.” Gramm accused his opponent of advocating the Mondale tax plan to which Doggett said, “I don’t agree with Mr. Mondale’s tax plan and you know that Phil.” Gramm said he would not raise taxes on the working people of Texas. He said more money could be saved by increasing competitive ness in defense bidding, imposing tight purse strings on the federal government and implementing fur ther provisions of the Gramm-Latta bill. Doggett lashed out against Gramm’s support for the other 50 percent of the proposals excluded from the Gramm-Latta bill. Doggett said, “the heart of that 50 percent is minimum social security benefits to some of the poorest of poor of our senior citizens.” He further criticized Gramm’s support of a federal sales tax on li quor, and the flat-tax rate, saying it would eliminate mortgage interest rate deductions. Gramm corrected his opponent’s understanding of the tax proposal saying “the flat-tax rate bill that I have co-authored in the House ... preserves the ability to deduct the in terest rate on your mortgage. “This is a case and point in which your trying to present a picture that is totally alien to my record,” Gramm said. In reference to being the target of campaign propaganda, Doggett said, “He is trying to give the impres sion that one person has family on their side, yet my family has been my strongest asset in the course of this campaign.” His wife and daughter watched from a few feet away. Responding to a question about gay rights, Doggett said, “I’m com mitted to the whole process of non discrimination, whether it’s ex pressed in the Equal Rights Amend- :tn ment ... or whether it’s with regard to a group that I don’t share their perspective.” Later, Gramm accused his oppo nent of “pandering” support from gay activists. “My opponent went out and filled out a questionnaire, pledged to support their special in terest legislation, ... and then he went out and denied it,” Gramm said. Doggett responded, “He has made this the only big issue in his campaign because there are more Gramm wrongs than gay rights.” On the school prayer issue, Dog gett said he was committed to volun tary prayer in public schools and anywhere else but indicated he would not support a constitutional amendment for it. In response Gramm said, “The bottom line is that my opponent voted against voluntary silent prayer in public schools.” SIGN UP NOW! Sign up information and event details are now available at: Sign ups for Men’s, Women’s and Co-Rec’s Volleyball will take place: Date: October 1-October 9, 1984 Place: 159 East Kyle Intramural Office Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy the fun!! /