WEARE--State Sen. Harold Janeway (D-Webster) and Andy Sanborn (R-Henniker) participated in their only debate on Weare public television.

In the debate the projected budget deficit and the tax pledge took center stage.

Sanborn said that he does not favor an income or sales tax, while Janeway said that he has not taken the "no tax" pledge because he wants an "open and honest" debate about the budget.

When asked if by refusing to sign the pledge Janeway favors an income tax, Janeway said, "It does not mean I favor an income tax."

Janeway explained, "What I favor is an open discussion of an issue that's been blocked by the pledge. When I explain that people, most people say thank goodness, good for you, it's high-time."

Sanborn said that he wants to protect the "New Hampshire Advantage" and also criticized Janeway for starting a political action committee that donated money to candidates who refused to take the pledge.

"I don't think that most people want an income tax, that's what provides our New Hampshire Advantage today, that's one of the fundamentals of who we are," Sanborn said.

Sanborn added, "In 2000 he established a committee that was specifically designed to encourage and financially support candidates who wanted an income tax."

Janeway said the group, The Courage and Leadership PAC, "wanted to encourage discussion" about the tax pledge.

"Going back to this group that supported candidates, which incidentally Governor Walter Peterson was a member of, again, this group was again encouraging people, this was called the Courage and Leadership PAC," Janeway said. "We provided funding to candidates who did not take the pledge because we wanted to encourage discussion about it."

The two candidates also discussed the property tax, health insurance and education funding.

Both candidates also said they support the Second Amendment but Janeway said he did not return an NRA questionnaire because he said the group "goes too far" in their political activities.