Gov. Dannel Malloy and Tom Foley Debate Jackson Laboratory in Farmington Grant

Republican nominee for governor Tom Foley criticized Gov. Dannel Malloy for “corporate welfare” that was given to the Jackson Laboratory on the campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington during a televised debate Tuesday night.

The debate, broadcast on WFSB, touched on a number of issues, including employment.

The state approved a $291 million grant for the laboratory in 2012 to construct a new building that was predicted to create 300 bio-science jobs, according to the Hartford Courant. Some Republicans criticized the plan then and said it was too much money spent on too few jobs.

Malloy argued in 2012 that the grant wasn’t just about jobs, but was an investment in the future that would keep Connecticut competitive with other states in the burgeoning field of bio-science.

Malloy said during the debate that Foley is out of touch with what it takes to keep jobs in the state. He added that he is proud of his record.

Foley also criticized the United Technologies deal made between the state and the company. The law opened up $400 million in tax credits to the company and in turn the company promised $500 million in new capital investments, including new buildings, the Connecticut Post reports.

“If you just stopped scaring businesses away from the state and be more accommodating and supportive of employers, particularly small businesses...we wouldn’t have to be paying these millions and millions of dollars to corporations to save jobs,” Foley said.

Malloy said the deal saved 26,000 United Technologies jobs and 75,000 supply chain jobs in the state. He also criticized Foley and said some of his companies have taken government incentive deals.

“You can’t have it both ways,” he said to Foley.

Watch the full debate below.