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Peekskill Native Pataki Prepares For 'Undercard' Presidential Debate

GARRISON, N.Y. -- While former New York Gov. George Pataki will not be in the main, prime-time Republican presidential debate Thursday, he is still making sure his voice will be heard.

Gov. George Pataki

Gov. George Pataki

Photo Credit: File photo

Pataki, a former Peekskill mayor and three-term New York governor who now lives in Garrison, was not one of the 10 candidates who qualified for Thursday's 9 .m. debate on FOX News based on positioning in polls.

Instead Pataki will participate in a candidates forum with South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Carly Fiorina, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday at 5 p.m. on FOX News.

Pataki has been critical of current frontrunner Donald Trump though he has gained little traction in the polls and lags behind in fundraising.

In an interview with Newsmax, Pataki said he could get Democrat votes to defund Planned Parenthood, noting that he worked with Democrats in New York to advance legislation. 

At a candidates forum in New Hampshire, Pataki said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), get rid of Common Core and reduce the size of the federal government by 15 percent.

"(Affordable Care Act) has to be repealed," Pataki said. "It's just going to get worse and worse. It's one of the reasons our economy is not growing. There are millions and millions of Americans working 28 or 29 hours a week because Obamacare would kick in if they worked 30. 

Pataki said he worked in a factory in a "small town" growing up and that the United States needs to have the lowest tax on manufacturing in the world, at 12 percent.

"The federal government is the biggest single impediment," Pataki said. "We can grow manufacturing jobs here."

For more on the "undercard" debate, check this story from politico.com.

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