Neel Kashkari in The Wall Street Journal

On Education: Side with poor kids, not union bosses

The two candidates clashed perhaps the most strongly over their positions on a recent court ruling that declared the state's strong teacher-tenure laws unconstitutional. Gov. Brown last week appealed a California judge's decision invalidating the state's teacher-tenure laws. The ruling, in Vergara v. California, said the state's rules on tenure for teachers threatened "students' fundamental right to equality of education."

Kashkari assailed Brown's decision to appeal that ruling saying "the judge got it absolutely right. You had the choice between fighting for the civil rights of poor kids and fighting for the union bosses who funded your campaigns. You sided with the union bosses, you should be ashamed of yourself governor."

"No. That makes no sense at all," Brown responded, clearly frustrated with his opponent. "That is false."