Just to be fair, I thought I would post a press release from the Republican Party of Texas. Is there actually a Republican in the house today? I even have long-time GOP friends who were coveting debate tickets. 

Austin- Today the Republican Party of Texas issued a challenge to both Senator Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama in advance of the potentially tie breaking debate.  Texas taxpayers across the state are asking how both candidates plan to pay for all of the new spending programs they have proposed.  

“Senators Clinton and Obama have both proposed billions of dollars in new government spending in their quest for the Democrat nomination.  Today we challenge them to answer to the taxpayers of this state where is that money going to come from?” questioned Hans Klingler Texas GOP Spokesman.

Senator Clinton has proposed $888.6 billion dollars in new spending proposals since announcing her candidacy, including one billion dollars for intercity rail services over five years and seven billion dollars in new monies for state grants for controversial family leave programs. (Source: Hillaryclinton.com 10/07/07, 11/26/07)  Senator Obama has proposed 874 billion dollars in new spending programs since announcing his candidacy including but not limited to a 265 billion dollar nationalized health care scheme. (Source: NYT Article 5/30/07)

“Senators Obama and Clinton should be ready to tell even this liberal audience of supporters, but more importantly hard working taxpayers across Texas, how much all this spending is going to cost and how onerous it will be to the continued and sustained economic development of this state.  Simply put level with Texans this evening,” Klingler concluded.

With their nominations hanging in the balance, Senators Clinton and Obama will face off in a nationally televised debate this evening on CNN from the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.