This morning I held my opponent accountable for his big-government record in our first debate of this campaign.

No surprise – Democrat Tom Sherman lied about my record, defended his support for an income tax, admitted to opposing tax cuts, and wouldn’t say whether he would have opposed a 17 cent per-gallon gas tax increase. 

That’s absurd, but here’s what surprised me the most: when I referred to taxpayer money as your money – money to create educational opportunity for parents and families beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom – Tom disagreed with me, saying, “no, it’s [not].”

Tom Sherman thinks taxpayer funds belong to politicians – I think it belongs to taxpayers.