By Hilary Niles, VTDigger.org
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and his Republican challenger, Scott Milne, sounded familiar chords Wednesday evening, Oct. 9, in their first one-on-one live debate.
None of the other five gubernatorial candidates, including Libertarian Dan Feliciano or Liberty Union Party nominee Peter Diamondstone, was included in the hour-long event televised live by WCAX.
Wednesday’s debate was the second of the day for Shumlin and Milne, following a web-streamed session with the Burlington Free Press.
Shumlin emphasized what he believes is the need for health care reform to save Vermont’s economic future and touted his record on the economy, citing the state’s low unemployment rate. Milne called Shumlin’s urgency for single-payer health care “reckless” and “a failed experiment” and said that Shumlin’s record in the state senate and the governor’s office has left Vermont with a reputation as not being business-friendly.