SPOKANE - Washington's two gubernatorial candidate met today for their fourth debate of the season. Democrat Chris Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi were asked questions from local citizens and a panel of Spokane-area reporters about many of the usual issues like education, tribal gaming, stem cell research and the state budget as well as a handful of issues more pertinent to Eastern Washington.

See below for a recap of today's debate.

Did Gregoire really take a quid pro quo from local tribes?

Gregoire defended her action on negotiating the tribal gambling issue saying, "Our job is not to be a partner in gambling, it is to be the police." She also adamantly denied any wrongdoing, and said the "whole thing was distorted way out of proportion."

Rossi mainly cited newspaper reports that suggested there was a fishy deal, and mentioned that Washington is only state that allows tribal gaming but does not get any revenue sharing. He also said that in 2004 he refused to accept money from tribes and non-tribal casinos.

What will you do to save money in the face of the coming deficit?

Rossi's answered mainly contained the principles of re-emphasizing priorities of government and reducing the size of the governor's office.

Gregoire again brought up the notion that federal policy had put Washington in this position, then listed off a number of things she had done in the last few weeks. She said she reluctantly cut the family leave program, froze hiring, contract and out of state travel that would save hundreds of millions of dollars. She also accused of Rossi of not answer the question with any detail, and added that his current proposals would add over a billion dollars to the coming deficit.

Will the North-South freeway happen even with the impending budget cruch?

Gregoire said the project was one of her top four priorities, and said that the state was en route to make it happen in a three-step process.

Rossi accused Gregoire of lacking the funding for the projected and speculate that she would add a toll to the project, while stating, "we're gonna build this."

How will you win over voters who chose your opponent in 2004 with such negative ads?

Rossi again talked about what he calls a "citizens movement" and touted the large number of "Dinocrats" in the state.

Gregoire highlighted her record as governor as the main reason people would vote for her this time around, and continued on to say she was appalled by the latest Republican Governors Association ads that falsely state her record on sex offenders, and said it was the "lowest of low".

At this point, Rossi asked Gov. Gregoire if she was being about not raising taxes vis a vis his transportation plan, suggesting that she would either have to be for his plan, totally against it, or for raising taxes.

"Mr. Rossi, I am being honest with the voters of Washington," Gregoire shot back.

She then said the plan was called fantasy by experts for its funding numbers before going back to the idea telling the truth.

"I think you have to be honest with the voters and I have been," she concluded.

What will you do with the federal government if milestones are rolled back at Hanford?

Rossi said the last resort would be going to court. Instead he said would build relationships, including with Barack Obama if he were elected, and suggested that was why he was successful in Olympia.

Gregoire highlighted how important Hanford was to the entire region because of the danger of nuclear material seeping into the Columbia River. She said the state was making progress toward building a plant, transporting waste there and keeping it from getting into the river, which she said were crucial steps. "If the federal government fails us we have to sue," she said, because there is too much at stake.

What do you like about your opponent?

Gregoire said that she had seen Rossi with his family and felt he was a "good spouse and a good dad." She used that to pivot into talking about her own family values, and proceeded to say she did not really care for any of his policy positions and rolled off a list of things he had done as a state Senator.

Rossi said the two of them had no personal animosity toward each other, but that they worked well together when he was in the Senate and she was the attorney general. He then refuted some of the things she said about him, and agreed they differ greatly on policy.

Do you support embryonic stem cell research?

Rossi said that he did not support it, and suggested that no significant results have come from embryonic stem cell research compared to adult stem cells, research on which he supports.  Rossi then brought up the failed life sciences institute Gregoire talked about in 2004 and called the issue a political tool.

Gregoire disagreed, and said that embryonic stem cells showed the most promise, but argued that Bush has not provided enough grant money to really look into the them. She feels that Washingtonians ought to look into because of the promise of a breakthrough, and touted the money she has put into a life science discovery fund.

Should adult illegal immigrant receive social services?

Gregoire said that Washington is not a border patrol and that doctors don't want to be border patrol. Instead she said the federal government needs to do a better job.

Rossi said that his overhaul of state agencies would somehow help the situation, and reiterated that he would care for the less fortunate and that citizens services would be covered under a Rossi administration.

Gov. Gregoire then asked Rossi about getting rid of mandates in health care, specifically about what mandates he would get rid of and how they would save money?

Rossi first said that it was misguided for Gregoire to call his plan "deregulation" because Washington has an elected insurance commissioner who would still regulate the industry. He suggested instead that cutting mandates would increase choice and access, and offered the idea that too often small businesses have to choose between having health care and closing their doors because of the few and expensive options.

Gregoire then asked for a rebuttal and stated flat out that Rossi did not answer her question about what he would eliminate and how it would save money.

What would you do with the WASL?

Rossi suggested that the WASL had irreparable brand name damage and said the state needs to get a better test.

Gregoire said that early childhood educational preparation would help in the long run, and the state is working on that.

"To completely change that will set us back," she added about the WASL.

Would you add teacher merit pay or possible increase the student-to-teacher ratio?

Gregoire said the state was already putting in merit pay by way of board certification and needy school bonuses, but said she wanted to reduce class size, not increase it.

Rossi said that he was going to do "what is in best interest of children. "

What is to do about foster care deaths in the sate?

Gregoire said that she cut number in half, but there should be none. She then disputed the Rossi ad that says she cut money from foster care.

Rossi also said that there should be no preventable deaths, in line with this mantra of taking care of the least fortunate.

Both candidates closing speeches contained much of the same material as their speeches from the previous debates, with Rossi asking for change and Gregoire touting accomplishments and the need for strong leaderhip going forward. The main exception came from Rossi who appealed to rural Eastern Washington voters by telling a story about going to Wauconda where his sign was on both of the town's buildings, and said there is "no town too small for me to go to." He will be in Dayton and Quincy on Saturday.