Bilirakis - Busansky Face Off TAMPA (WUSF) - The candidates debated the Iraq War, property insurance rates and illegal immigrants.

But, the liveliest portion of the 30 minute contest came when they questioned each other. Gus Bilirakis, a Republican, pressed his opponent Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat, on tax cuts.

BILIRARKIS: Phyllis will you pledge to make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent which means the child tax credit? Would you want to keep that? Would you want to keep the elimination of the marriage penalty which we have now which we have to make permanent? Will you make these taxes that help our good citizens permanent if you get elected to Congress?

BUSANSKY: Anything that helps people with their children, anything I would support.

BILIRAKIS: So, you would make them permanent?

BUSANSKY: Yes. But, I would not make permanent the tax cut for the very rich.
I absolutely do not.

BILIRARKIS: Well.

BUSANSKY: Could I finish?

BILIRAKIS: I'm sorry.

BUSANSKY: I absolutely do not believe in that. Middle class working families need help. But, tax cuts for the very rich, in a time of war, in a time where our deficit is out of control. Why in the world would you possibly favor something like that?

Busansky is a former Hillsborough County Commissioner. Bilirarkis served eight years in the Florida House. © Copyright 2009, WUSF