Gore sticks to core issues in Iowa appearance

Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore appeared on Cedar Rapids television for an hour last night in a town-hall meeting. During the appearance on K-C-R-G T-V, Gore was asked about health care, teacher pay, racism, farm policy and taxes. Gore spoke out against the Republican-sponsored tax cut which would erase the so-called marriage penalty. He says the bill goes beyond the marriage penalty and affects people who are not married.Gore expressed opposition to a republican-led effort to completely eliminate the estate tax. Gore supports tripling the amount one can inherit, tax-free, but not total elimination of the so-called death tax. He says the cost to the country to completely lliminating the tax would be horrendous.Gore deflected a question about who he might choose as a running mate, and talked in general terms about the goals for a Gore presidency.Gore leaves Cedar Rapids this morning, headed for Texas — the state that’s home to his likely Republican rival, George W. Bush. Gore plans to question Bush’s tax cut package.