look at reality. look at facts, not what al franken said. i will go to washington to fix things. i will roll up my sleeves. ..salesman.

we lived in a two bedroom. i fealt like the luckiest kid in the kid in the world was i was. i thought the world was my oyster and it was. i could do anything i wanted. i don't think a lot of kids feel that way anyway. and i want to make sure every kid in minnesota feels that way. that they have a shot and they can bet on themselves and that they have the opportunity to get

a good job. and to put a roof over their family's head and food on the table and have access to quality health care and be able to go on a vacation and have a secure retirement and that their pension and social security will be there. that is what i want. i want minnesotans to bet on themselves. and i know the people of minnesota. and if we bet on ourselves; we have great innovators, research universities and we can do this. >> thank you to the moderators

first. i want to thank al franken for being here and i want to thank the audience. this is an important part of the american politic system; that we can come together and have discourse. i am running for the senate because i want to go forward and set the world on fire. i am running for my six kids and t minnesotans who believe this county isn't going into the right direction and don't believe president obama is leading us in the right direction. and i am running against al franken who has voted with the president 76% of the time and he is a supporter of the democratic

party. he is for more government, regulation, high cost energy, obamacare and he is for a school system that doesn't work. i am for efficient government, smart regulation, low-cost energy -- i will build pipelines. i am for a health care system that works for all of our citizens that is run by minnesota and not the federal government and i am for radically redoing the education system in the inner city. i make a promise as your next senator from the great state of minnesota i will not be invisible or keep my head down. i will keep my head high. i will lead. i have a plan. i would be independent and i will go to washington to do

something. i will fight for you. i am running for the united states senate and i would love to have your vote on november 4th. >> thanks for joining us. >> we hope you found this inf m informitive. >> we will bring you more debates tonight starting at 7:30 on c-span. we will go live after that to the illinois governor and this race is rated a toss up. some polls showing both candidates in the lead. our campaign 2014 coverage

continues with a week full of debates. friday night live at 8 eastern, the wisconsin governor's debate will take place. and

>> our audience has agreed to hold applause. we will applaud right now as they enter. one minute to respond to questions, some will be redirected to both, some one candidate and redirects and rebutles at my discretion. there will be a short answer section and candidates will be allowed to pose one question to the opponents and we will have a closing session. we have not shared the topicwise the candidates. and one last note we should disclose is that worked at nine news previously. let's start. the u.s. supreme court has

greenlighted same-sex marriage including here in marriage. first to you, congressman, there the a danger for conservative republicans like yourself who have found yourself squarely at odds with american public opinion and some would say with history? >> i am a legislature. the courts have spoken and i respect the decision of the courts. >> should americans who oppose same-sex marriage on religious ground be force today participate in such ceremonies and facilitate marriages between same-sex couples? did you believe in freedom of conscious? >> i support the first amendment but what i think every americans should ask themselves if a friend or loved one, and i have a cousin who is gay and i think we all know someone who is,

shouldn't they have a right to marry a partner? it is not enough to suggest i am part of the legislature branch when congress has sought to outlaw marriage equality. dr. king said the ark is long but it bends to justice. >> do you believe in any type of freedom of conscious provisions? >> i am not interested in telling a religious institution what it should do. but i do believe in full equality under the law. >> moderator: i a question on what is described as issue number one. what is something congress can do to promote job growth and how would you get as it done? >> i would stop giving tax breaks to ship to countries

overseas. you said you could not remember casting the votes at the first meeting and i providing a list in the second debate. instead of subsidizing, we should repair roads and bridges and put more people to work here in colorado and across the united states. >> well you are destroying my record exactly like you did before. no difference in 2010 when you did it and the denver post called you out saying it was misleading and below the belt. let me talk about what you know i have done. you know i fought to cut the red tape that is strangling small business and hurting their ability to promote jobs and grow the economy. you know i worked across the

aisle for the aero space industry here in colorado so we can grow jobs at home. and you know i fought for program tax reform to end special credits in exchange for marginal rates to make american business more comp petitive. >> one thing congress can do for the economy? >> tax reform. i think it is complicated. a burden on business and let's take about the special reductions and grow the economy and have more revenue at the end. >> notice he did not defend the votes he casted for the tax cuts for companies that ship jobs overseas. >> the fact is the biggest issue

that is causing jobs to move overseas is the u.s. tax code in the fath -- fact -- that we are unique because when we try to give the revenue back to the united states to create jobs and economic opportunities here they are taxed again. that is the biggest issue that is driving jobs overseas. >> moderator: we will move on to the next question. you announced personhood initiatives but say you are a pro-life candidate. what should we expect to you? >> i think the question is too broad and i think there ought to be exexceptions. there is a balance and i support blat.

i am pro-life and proud of it. i voted for the bill up to 20 weeks and after that for rape or life of the mother. >> moderator: next question. in this case and in your last one in 2010 you spoke about the corrupting influence of pac money. during your rise to power in the house you accepted money and i am curious how this corrupted your opponent but never you. >> the influence of special interest has corrupted the system. i have not suggested you can trace a particular vote anyone has cast to a particular contribution from a political

action community. but it is obvious special interest wouldn't be giving so much money to both parties in congress if they didn't get anything from anyone in return. the question for all of us is do we want to be part of the solution or continue to be part of the problem? i recognize it is easier to take shots at someone who tries to be part of the solution and offer no solutions of your own. but the system is never going to change unless someone steps up to try to change it and that is what i am doing. it comes at considerable expense as well. more than 15,000 people have stepped out and allowed us to outraise congressman and everyone else. >> moderator: we appreciate you sticking to the time. some are yes or no and some call

for more and you should know when you hear it. i have the first one. it is this. what single issue does congress spend too much time and energy arguing about? >> if congress would do its job and balance the budget and pass a bill or even live on the rules the american people i think con too much time trying to decide who gets credit. >> moderator: what is an issue that congress spends too much time discussing that is not an issue? >> i focus on reaching across the aisle and finding solutions. so i am proud of my record on

veteran's issues and making sure the administration honors the obligations to the veterans on had armed service committee and small business. >> moderator: so that was a meaty first round. congressman, coffman, can you name a democrat you voted for? >> i think when i was a lieutenant in the marine core i voted for anderson for president. i cannot remember this first name. >> moderator: are you talking about '80 against reagan? >> he was an independent. >> moderator: a republican you have voted for? >> no, i cannot recall. >> moderator: when was the last time you fired a gun and can you

tell us what kind? >> in high school, i think we had rifle practice. >> moderator: mr. coffman? >> m-16 sharp shooter and 9 millimeter and the last time i think i fired a pistol at a practice range about significance months ago. >> moderator: everything going on in the school days has us thinking about the civil obe obedience and i am curious if you have every broken a law to make a point mr. coffman? >> no i have not. >> moderator: and you? >> no. >> moderator: what are the books you are reading? >> i am reading unwinding and it talks about what collapsed the middle class and this is what

happens if you priveatize social security or make education more expensive. >> moderator: and prior to that? two books? >> prior to that i read a book, it is difficult in the course of the campaign to find much time for reading but i read a book about presidential elections. >> moderator: mr. coffman? >> i read a book about history and civilization. and before that -- i cannot remember. >> moderator: should congress grant states like colorado a blanket exemption from federal laws related to marijuana? >> i am conservative and i believe it is a state of

interstate commerce. i didn't support or vote for the initiative as a representative for the state of colorado i have been advocating for that in terms of making sure federal law comports with states law. >> moderator: go ahead, sir. >> a blanket exemption, no. congress ought to allow marijuana's businesses that engage in marijuana sales to use the interstate beeping banking system. i don't want to drop and let them pray on children. >> moderator: amendment 68 would allow casino style gambling. do you support amendment 68? >> no. >> no >> that does it for the short answer section. we will go back to individual

question. when have you had to show your financial preference outside of forced by the law? >> sure. what i suggested was the constitution isn't the best place to put our budget on automatic increases of auto pilot. that was a mistake folks on the left made and we relaxed it. on my watch, we brought democrats and republicans together. balancing the budget in colorado, isn't a good idea, it is the law but requires tough decisions. we were willing to make the decisions without balancing the budgets on the backs of the middle class. the budget plan that congress coffman supported would allow millionaires tax breaks while

forcing middle class families to pay more. hard to understand if you meet with folks who are struggling why you believe the middle class families are not paying enough. >> you are running the same campaign you did against senator bennett. this takes courage to make cuts in the budget and i think it is insane saying crow are for a balanced budget but not show how you are getting there. the best answer you have is you are going to strengthen the yoo

step frord and talk about the -- forward -- programs you are going to cut. >> how do you balance the budget is the question and this is a difference in the race. in my view, the best way is to grow the economy and put more americans back to work. you are right, congressman, i think we should crack down on tax evasion. i don't know why you want to let the richest americans off the hook and drug companies off the hook. >> moderator: without the personal attacks the question is how do you get there. >> eliminating duplicate

programs would eliminate millions. and getting rid of programs we don't use, allowing medicare to negotiate prices would generate savings, growing the economy would generate 12.6 billion for every 100 billion increase of gdp. >> spending increase, and every solution is more spending, regulation and taxes. for you to claim you are a fiscal conservative is an out and out fraud. >> you are saying these words over and over again but it doesn't make the acquisitions true. it discourages people from voting. maybe that is your goal. the truth is the math works. what doesn't work is a plan forces people to pay more, seniors to pay thousands more by dismantling medicare, privatizes social security and increases the cost of higher education.

that is the wrong way to balance the budget, grow the economy and stregthen the middle class. >> moderator: congressman coffman, you were praised for breaking the gop leaders and calling for a vote on the clean resolution that allowed the government to open and then you had an opportunity to join with democrats by forcing them to not chose not to. isn't there a difference from saying you are bipartisan and doing the work of a bipartisan? >> i think both parties were at fault. washington has a spending problem. and i voted for keep the veterans getting their benefits and third at the end i stepped forward saying this has to end.

>> moderator: do you support the law of letting illegles get driver license in the state observation colorado? >> i think washington, d.c. is trying to do too much and as a result don't do it well so i will leave it up to the state of colorado. >> moderator: mr. romanoff? >> i support it for the same reason the law enforcement community does is because they believe it will improve public safety if they know who is driving. >> moderator: gentlemen, just a brief time before you can ask each other time. let me ask you a brief sentence. why do you think so many people hate congress and what is the number one thing you can do about it, mr. romanoff? >> i think people are diss

dissenchanted with congress because they see politicians not fighting for them and are focusing on the top and allowing the middle class to suffer. when i get to the u.s. house of representatives in january i will do everything i can to strengthen the middle class, increasing pay, transitions to a cleaner economy and making higher education more affordable which is the ticket to the middle class. not by cutting pell grants or opposing common sense measures like the equal pay act. >> i am in a group called no labels. it is republicans and democrats who want to bridge the partisan divide in washington, d.c. and i hope the group grows. i am proud to be a part of that and i have been able to reach

across the aisle and find solutions to the important challenges that have been before congress. i was part of the reform for the vetera veterans administration the president signed on september 8th. i just passed a vote with everyone agrees to reform the practices of the veterans administration so we can get the hospitals here in colorado and across the country fixed. we need more bipartisanship like that. >> moderator: we have asked you to limit the questions to 20 seconds to allow time for respond. >> congressman, why did you vote for a budget that allowed lavish tax breaks for the rich and taxed the middle class more? >> in order to have a lower

marginal rate and benefit the economy and help grow the economy and benefit the middle class through increasing jobs and opportunities. >> moderator: your question for mr. romanoff. >> three weeks ago you were for a government-led health care system and now you are for obamacare. would you vote to repeal the law? >> the truth is we ought to be fixing the affordable care act and not repealing it and allow insurance companies to discriminate on the bases of pre-existing conditions, or charging women more or throwing people off once are sick. we need it take on the health

insurance company and get lower rates and access. >> the answer is no? >> i just gave you the answer. >> the answer is no, you will not repeal the mandate. >> moderator: we have time for one more question. do either of you actually think your opponent as it wrong when it comes to isis or can we put that to bed as a campaign issue that separates you? >> i tell what. i am proud of my military service. i came home from my last assi assignment in 2006 with the marine core where i worked in iraq and worked in an area that has now fallen to isis. i think at the end of the day there is no solution absent a political solution whereby we have the pressure and the

dominated government in iraq and baghdad to reach out to the sunnis and if they feel like they have a path into the government i believe we can prevail and beat isis. >> moderator: congressman coffman, didn't answer the question about is there any difference in where you stand. >> this might be the area we agree. we all recognize that isis represents a great threat and not just to the middle east but to the united states as well. >> here is the difference. it is only in washington that you get interupted for trying to agree with your opponent. we ought to recognize that isis is a terrorist organization and they are not an entity you can negotiate with and contain.

it is as a threat that has to be eliminated. i am glad the united states is building a coalition around the world and they remain an indispensable nation. >> moderator: each candidate gets 90 session -- seconds -- for a closing statement. >> i want to thank channel 9 for allows us to present our views to the sixth congressional district. i am proud of my record being the only member of congress to serve in both iraq wars and being the only member of the colorado delegation to have served in the military and to bring that experience to the congress of the united states, to the armed services committee where i have been able to shape policy and make sure we maintain a military that is second to

none while at the same time cutting waste from the budget. to serve as a national leader on veteran's issues so we honor our obligation to the men and women who sacrifice so much and put forward the reforms put into the law. and lastly as a former small business owner i learned to run an organization efficiently enough to make a product and that is not found in washington, d.c. but i can bring that into the congress of the united states and fight to cut the red tape that is strangling small businesses and hurting the ability to create jobs and grow the economy. i am proud of my work in the congress as well as being a member of no labels.

the republicans and democrats coming together to bridge the partisan divide and i ask for your vote on november 4th. >> moderator: mr. romanoff? >> thank you, channel 9 again: it is going to be difficult in washington to forge common ground from the scorched earth campaigns we have seen even tonight. we need men and women who are more interested in solving problems instead of pointing fingers or picking fights. the biggest problem we have now is the struggles so many families in our district are facing to stay or join the middle class. unfortunately they have a congressman who is making that problem worse. what we need instead is an effort to make higher education more affordable, not more expensive, we need an effort to ensure equal pay for equal work

instead of subjecting women to 77 cents on the dollar and advance to a clean energy by increasing our reliance on sun, bio general resources. you cannot get there if you deny the nature of climate change. the good news is we are creating thousands of middle class jobs in colorado by taking that approach and need to do the same in washington, d.c. and that is exactly what i will do when i get there in january with your hope. >> moderator: mr. romanoff, thank you. we hope everyone will join us with our final debate coming up thursday live at 7:30. and also the exclusive senate race will be aired as well. join us nine news at nine and ten for detailed analysis of

what we have seen and heard here tonight. thank you, gentlemen, for being here and thank you for being here. [applause] >> during the campaign 2014 season we will bring you a hundred debates from across the country. we continue with the illinois house debate tonight. that starts at 7:30 eastern. then we will go live to the illinois governor's debate. real clear politics rates this race a toss up. we ask america poll shows one candidate in the lead and then another poll shows the other in the lead.

friday night, the wisconsin governor's debate between scott walker and mary burke. and then the iowa senate debate on saturday. and sunday live at 6 p.m. eastern the michigan governor's debate. more than hundred debates for the control of congress. this weekend on the c-span networks, friday night, a memorial service for james brady. on saturday night at 9 p.m. former secretary of state collin powell talks about world affairs. and sunday evening at 8:00 author kim talks about a mine explosion almost killed him and

changed his life. and ralph nadir calls for america to take on the issues plaguing america. and on saturday we talk about why medical science should be doing more for the aging and dying. and on sunday, we talk about free market capitalism and its impact on climate change. and friday at 8 on american history tv curator and director of the cia museum in virginia explains the museum's mission of preserving and presenting the agency's history. and saturday at 8 p.m. the king george's war and how it helped american collonies establish individualism. and president ford's congressional testimony on the nixon pardon. find our schedule and let us know what you think about the

programs you are watching. more campaign coverage. >> this debate is sponsored by

arrp, the west virginia press association, the west virginia metro news and west virginia public broadcasting. here is your moderator. >> moderator: good evening, i am pleased to welcome you inside the walker theater for this 2014 united states senate debate. tonight's event is presented by the aarp and the west virginia press. during the next 60 minutes you will have an opportunity to hear from the democratic and republican candidates for the united states senate in their own words. tonight's debate includes an opportunity for you the voters to engage in the discussion on social media by using the #wvsenatedebate. we have natalie tennant to the left and she is the democratic

candidate for the seat. secretary tennant was sworn in as west virginia's 29th secretary of state and reelected. she is a native and attended a bachelor and masters and represented the school as the first female mountaineer. she worked in media and was a co-owner of a firm operated with her husband west virginia state representative erin -- eric wells. to my right is congresswoman shelley moore capito. she attended duke university and the university of virginia. she is a senior member of the house infrastructure and transportation committee and is

the chairwoman of the consumer credit subcommittee. she served in the house of delegates two terms. she and her husband charlie have three children and two grand children. each candidate gets two minutes to open. and congresswoman capito will deliver the first. >> thank you for moderating tonight's debate and i i want to thank the west virginia press association, west virginia public broadcasting and there aarp and thank secretary tennant for being here and most of all the viewers at home. our fellow west virginians who are interested and want to know about the future this election holds for 2014. west virginia is at a turning point. for the last six years our economy has been under assault by the policies of president obama. i have travelled the state north, south east and west and seen folks who have lost their

job, worried about loosing their job, people who can't pay their health care premium and people who are concerned about the state. we need a change in the united states senate. i am running to be a senator from west virginia because i believe our best days are ahead of us. we have vast natural resources and so many people who know the value of hard work. my west virginia work plan helps us reach our potential. i will continue to fight for west virginia coal and i think we need to use our natural gas to benefit the economy. and we need to make sure west virginian citizens old and young have the tools to manage the economy. but this race is about our future. a future of continuing to have washington pick winners and losers and we are losers or are we going to elect a senator who

is going to fight for us? i decided to run because i believe i have the experience and practical way we need to solve problems in this dysfunctional congress. i believe west virginia needs to work and washington needs to work for us and the way to do that is to lect a senator who will get rid of harry reid, the agenda of president obama and i look forward to discussing the issues with secretary tennant. >> moderator: thank you. your opening statement, secretary tennant. >> thank you for being here and thank you for all of you at home for tuning in because this race is about you. the congresswoman wants you to believe this race is about washington politicians. but this race is about west virginia. not president obama or harry reid. they are not on the ballot. i am on the ballot and congresswoman capito is running

against me. so every time you hear the congresswoman say something about harry reid or obama i want you to ask yourself what is he hiding? she is hiding the votes she has taken that hurt you. you know i grew up on a farm, the youngest of seven kids where we had nine people in a house with one bathroom and you know i will stand up to politics in washington just as i have done in charleston as secretary of state. in 2010, i led an investigation to put three democrats who tried to steal the election and put them behind bars. i don't answer to a party. i answer to the people of west virginia. i saved money, saved $3 million and gave it back to the taxpayers. i gave it back while the congresswoman vote today give

taxpayer dollars to ceo's on wall street while we were bailing out the banks. she did that twice. i am proud to be endorsed by senator joe mansion, rockefeller, the united mine workers, west virginia teachers, and aflcio. i know what it is like to work a minimum wage job and run a small business and i know what it is like to send a husband to war and i am asking to be your voice in the in the united states senate. >> moderator: thank you, secretary tennant. the remainder of the evening will focus on questions posed on a rotating bases. each candidate has 902nd congressional district -- 90 seconds to respond -- and two opportunities for a candidate to pose a 30 second challenge. this cannot be challenged and it

will be the final words. secretary tennant, one of your ads turns out the lights at the whitehouse saying you will push back against the president and the epa on coal. we have heard things from joe mansion, congressman hall and all office holders and all democrats and many of them with senior status. why should west virginians believe you will be successful as a new person when members of your own party haven't been successful? >> thank you for that question. i did have that commercial and it got a lot of attention. coal is 40% of the electricity source in the united states and 90% here. i have been endorsed by the coal minors because they trust me to help save their jobs.

they know i have a plan to save their jobs and that is what i have done is challenge the president to invest the $8 billion we have in the department of energy to retro fit our coal-fired power plants. that is one way to save the jobs and the coal mines endorsed me. they know i will stand up for their health, safety and pension and they know that congresswoman capito was the only one to vote against the coal mine safety act and she voted to cut mine inspectors in a dangerous voter and still votes that way. that is how i am going to make a difference. >> moderator: congresswoman,

your response, 60 seconds. >> the president is supporting a president that is putting our workers out of jobs. i don't think that while, you know, she went to washington to try to talk to the epa and came home and the explanation was we have a failure to communicate. i will stand strong on my record of defending west virginia coal. we have passed bill after bill and the obstruction of president obama and harry reid who support my opponents campaign is trying to stop us at every time and the only way to change this is to elect a senator for created the coal caucus, stood for minors and knows this ad min --

administration is out to destroy us and our jobs. >> moderator: congresswoman capito, you talk about the obama administration and the job-killing regulations imposed. figures from the west virginia bureau economic research shows in 2000, wisconsin virginia was 49th in per capita in income and we are still at 49th. hasn't there been economic stagnation occurring under republican and democratic administrations and during your term so why should voters think this will be different than the last 16 years? >> the president caused us to lose 7,000 coal minor jobs and that is four jobs for every coal

mining jobs it is said and that is 28,000 west virginians out of work. talk to the 1,000 coal minors who just lost their job. we have a health care bill moving us to a part-time economy and 63% of those part-time jobs are women. our salaries are going down. our extendible dollars are going down. we are spending more on energy, health care, and uncertainty

their pensions but i will stand for the coal miners and the congresswoman hasn't stood up for them because the most important part is the coal miner. >> moderator: one of the challenges? to >> this is a myth that my opponent keeps pushing forward on to the media and otherwise. let's start with black that was discovered in the plasticity and i enjoyed with congressman manchin to convince the president, president obama who was going to cut a the million dollars from the program. the president at my opponents

supported was going to cut the program. i joined my colleagues to do that. >> moderator: we continue on the economic front, and let me get into regulations, leadership and impact. secretary tennant, the announcer said on the financial services committee, congresswoman capito says health singers get rich while west virginians were losing their jobs to wall street she gave her husband a wall street banker inside tips and they need more than $100,000. you said that capito personally benefited from her position in congress. what precisely did capito due to enrich herself and her husband and are you implying that congresswoman capito is correct? tennant: i'm sayirect? tennant: i'm saying that congresswoman capito broke the trust of west virginia because this is what it's about, it's about the trust that the people of west virginia deserve to have

in their elected officials. now, congresswoman capito served on a committee that is supposed to oversee banks and at the same time protect customers and consumers at the same time. the charleston gazette had the headline out where it says whether they are large or small, capito tends to side with banks. but as breaking the trust because if you find in the banks that she isn't signing with west virginians and even the politico magazine stated that wall street lobbyists say that that congresswoman is there go to person. who is your go to person. i will fight for the kind of future that you want for your children. >> moderator: a point that i have the ability to do. did your husband personally benefit from the position in

congress cracks tennant: you can see she made money. here's the point and here's the fact. congress has access to information that regular west virginians don't have access to and the fact is that during the financial crisis they were losing their retirement, they were losing their savings into their homes in the congresswoman was making money. >> moderator: your response? capito: b's attacks that were not true and were undocumented and unable to have any kind of factual basis supposedly the the person the prison that she is using as a factual basis as i wasn't at the supposedly meeting and i didn't have insider information. this is just a desperate attack by desperate candidates that want to shift the conversation away from jobs, education, healthcare, energy, all the things that they are tuning in tonight to talk about so i'm not

surprised because i understand she will do and say anything to get elected. if you want to talk about trust, 18 years of trust with west virginians. they know me and my family. i don't appreciate my family being attacked. that's not a west virginia value and i'm going to stand up and fight back and i think that the personal attacks were just a despicable and i would like to ask the secretary tonight if she would stop with the nasty personal attacks and let's talk about the issues. tennant: i can use a challenge. thank you. first what is she talking about a meeting that she's talking about i never mentioned a meeting. there is no mention of a meeting in my hands and i'm not sure what she's talking about but i think that she confirmed that congress has access to west virginians don't have access to. and the center for public integrity called the wall street

secret weapons and sure you want to stop the personal ads i believe you were the one that began the personal and back in july. >> moderator: leading to the personal question to you. your opponent criticized u.s. being too cozy with the banks and financial industry. you said you voted against the bank bailout twice however you voted against the pay-for-performance act of 2009 that was aimed at controlling the bonus is that the bankers received while they were getting taxpayer bailout money. why should financial companies that made poor decisions and then saved by the taxpayers be able to reward that behavior? capito: i was the only member of the west virginia delegation that voted no twice to the big banks to say no bailout and i've been fighting this in the committee to big to fail we

cannot bail out the financial institutions. i also voted to tax any bonus that may come forward at 90%. the bill that you're talking about and the statements that i made at the time was a very broad-based bill not just executives getting bonuses but somebody in a local office that might be an administrative person. i didn't think i was fair they that was fair they had no bearings in the wall street debacle but you know what i'm going to defend, i'm going to defend the west virginia community banks and at the credit union. we need to have a full financial system here in the state that doesn't include big banks that includes the ability to get a car, to get a mortgage, afford to go to school. all these things i've looked out for in the community banking or credit unions in west virginia and i stand by that because

that's important to west virginia. >> moderator: congresswoman capito said she voted twice against the bailout. she's correct when they came out and she voted against the bailout but they kept coming and they knocked again and not only did she opened the door, she left it wide open and voted twice to give our taxpayer's dollar to those ceos in the form of those bonuses. that is a distinction. i gave back $3 million give it back to the taxpayers dollars while the congresswoman is giving money to the ceos. and here are west virginia and. they are suffering. they deserve a pay raise to. why don't we increase minimum wage. i'm for increasing minimum wage for the workers and not worry about the process, the profits of wall street before the west

virginia workers. >> moderator: you argued for expanded benefits and last april when the senate voted to restore federal funding for the jobless benefits you said economic experts agree that extending unemployment insurance would be a boom for the economy generating economic growth and increasing consumer spending. if that is true if the economic principles behind that argument are solid why not extend the benefits for even longer to even more people generating even more economic growth. what is behind your argument? capito: i think about unemployed west virginians and about the networkers, those in the northern panhandle who lost their jobs and the company was overcome in and the business was over but in the county a lot of the employees and the impact that it has on the economy in west virginia, so i'm worried about the coal miners that

received those notices and so folks lost their job out of no fault of their own they worked with the company and the union and they tried to keep their jobs and try to keep it going. what they need now is a little help while they are trying to look for other jobs and you're right, it is an economic boost into the estimated $20 million to the economy of west virginia to the congresswoman has lost that and we have 16,000 west virginians who could use the unemployment extended in for firm david granger and while they are looking for jobs and then comes the next steps that create good paying jobs and we certainly have all the possibilities to do that with our energy resources that we have and the research and the technology and/or manufacturing know-how and that's why i'm running to support into the high-tech manufacturing that we have in our community and technical colleges to work.

>> moderator: congresswoman capito? capito: i think about the workers that are out of a job and i think about the real workers. i think about the shop workers and the electricians come at the tire manufacturer. this is directly attributable to every single mining job is lost is attributable to the policies of president obama and harry reid who are supporting my opponent. she may say the president is not on the ballot but guess what the president said the other day he said point-blank every single one of my policies is on the ballot. so who is his representative on the ballot? the secretary. and i believe that west virginians who are out of work know that and they are going to vote like that in november. >> moderator: congresswoman capito, you supported raising the minimum wage and president obama in the state of the union address early this year called for a higher minimum wage and

use that i believe congress should debate whether the minimum wage would be raised again. in 2013 you joined the republicans voting against the congressman's proposal to raise the minimum wage. do you support or oppose raising the minimum wage to $10.10? >> i will have to check on that because i don't think we had a direct vote on raising the minimum wage. i did vote in 2007 to raise the minimum wage and i believe in the minimum wage absolutely. it's not meant to be the way to raise the family and create a life for the family. but i believe that we need to look at the ramifications of raising the minimum wage. west virginia took it upon themselves to do a three-part gradual raising of the minimum wage and i believe that it may be 875 and i think that is a good start. i think the studies show that if you raise the minimum wage and as many as a half-million jobs, i don't think that we are in the

economy we can cost ourselves a half a million jobs. i didn't say we should debate this on the house floor and i would look favorably on the minimum wage. >> moderator: your response? capito: we are always taught that actions speak louder than words and you'll see this a lot tonight from congresswoman capito saying that something here but her votes have said something different in washington. and right here she says that in this boat for the minimum wage. i will vote for an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour because they deserve that. she wants to give bonuses to our taxpayers dollars and bonuses to ceos on wall street and i want to give minimum wage increases to our working families because you can't survive on $15,000 a year that's how much you make right now if you are working a 40 hour workweek and that isn't right for those that work so hard. and you know the congresswoman

says yes we should have a debate. certainly we should. what's congress doing right now they are sitting at another vacation. congress is on a six week vacation for what, the campaign? i don't know but they just came off another vacation earlier this summer. so certainly we deserve a debate and congress to get to work and debate this for the people of the country. >> moderator: let's move on move on to foreign policy. president obama ordered against the islamic state that includes bombing targets in iraq in this area in arming the ought to go. you said i'm not her votes on the ground. if the threat becomes greater which is possible and/or in the senate you may be called upon to vote whether to send west virginians into battle can you define as accurately as possible you are lighting were lying in the sand at which point he would support sending the troops from west virginia across the

country? tennant: i support whatever it takes to keep america safe using the fewest numbers of americans by putting them in harm. but i'm not ready to put that on the ground because i don't believe that we have exhausted our resources and all of our options. as a wife that has sent a husband to the war i know when we talk about it on the ground with a national security, the bedrock to the national security is the men and women that serve in uniform. so we can have all of the technology in the world that we want, but our men and women in uniform are the basis for the national security and i would like to mention tonight that we have already had our first fatality in this war on isis with the corporal that we lost

when his aircraft lost power. so that is a tragic reminder that airstrikes and boots on the ground it's still our men and women in uniform but we must be standing up and debating. you're right you're asking me for a definite line in the sand that's not an easy answer and that's why there should be a debate taking place in congress for the american people to be able to hear all of the information. once a year all that information i will be able to make that line in the sand. >> moderator: your response? capito: the visual of isis isis and beheading of two americans and now threatening to behead another and the british journalists and aid workers is just jarring to all of us. and i think that because of the president's weak policies in

iraq we find ourselves in a position where this terrorist group has been fermenting without raising money and raising memberships i find it frightening in terms of what could happen on our homeland and i think that has to be what you think about. i think the secretary is right there is nothing more valuable for us as americans that our servicemen and women and i appreciate her husband service to the country. so i take these decisions very seriously. i did vote arm to have the president's training this year in rebels because i feel like we needed a coalition of people to go in and basically stop this terrorist group from further growth. >> moderator: let's move onto health care and be the affordable care act. congresswoman the house voted over four dozen times to revamp coming repeal or take the fall and i counted at least five times he voted with republican majority of the house.

what you wrote again today to repeal the aca which would mean that 160,000 west virginians with insurance? capito: i would vote repeal and replace. to repeal and replace. but i also recognize that the aca has very good things about it they don't get cut off for the pre- existing conditions. it was for that before the president decided to take it in a larger and much more detrimental direction. there are good things and so we need to keep them good, replace it with what will work with the business mandate and make sure that the businesses are not having a 30% increase in premiums that are seen.

the president who i remind you my opponent supported and supports the policies and his healthcare policy said if you like your healthcare plan you can keep it, period that didn't work out so well. the deductibles have gone up into the thousands of dollars in its unaffordable. something's wrong clicks yes. i wish we'd worked together in a bipartisan way to find a way to keep the folks that are on insurance now and the 140,000 medicaid. that's important to us, not just to them that it's important to us as a state. >> moderator: secretary coming your response? tennant: here she goes again. i wish that -- she says one thing and then goes another way. she said that she is for all of these things in the aca yet she's voted to repeal it.

i won't go to appeal it because i know what it's like to go without healthcare. my daughter had open heart surgery when she was a week old and many folks across west virginia prayed for her and those prayers were answered because the surgery saved her life. she is a happy and healthy people of your old right now. but when my husband and i started or small business, we wanted to buy insurance, so he called and i can remember the day that i came home and he said i talked to the insurance company, trying to get insurance for us and the business and the family and he said they will cover me and you but they won't cover delaney because of her pre-existing condition. i was devastated because i thought what a parent takes something that their child can have? so i will never go back to the days that insurance companies can be my kay hagan ivory pre-existing condition. if she can say that she is for that too and she's voted to take

that away. >> moderator: social security, we know problems of social security faces and in an interview tuesday that you favor raising $1,017 on income taxable for social security to make the program solving. the 2,014th studio report said if you raise the payroll to $240,000 it would help but you still wouldn't eliminate the actuarial balance and that is an enormous tax increase comes at you support more than doubling the cap on the taxable income and if not, what specific measures do you support to try to make social security solvent and? tennant: i'm supportive of raising the cap. we will work on the number. another way that we can keep it solvent is quite simply raising the minimum wage because if you

have more people getting paid, they are going to pay into social security more. i will tell you this right now, and i will look at the people in west virginia and this is what i will tell you that i will not do for social security. i will not privatize social security. i won't take your social security and put it in the hands of those on wall street so that they can gamble it away. that's not very secure. and imagine what would have happened if that had been done. that's what congresswoman capito wanted to do before the financial crisis. she will sit here and tell you that she has never wanted to privatize social security and that she doesn't want to do it now with most recently as 2011, congresswoman capito voted to keep the option on the table for privatizing social security. remember what i learned on the farm actions speak louder than words, those speak louder than words, too. she would take social security and privatize it for our seniors in west virginia.

i will well protected and helped to strengthen its. >> this is just an attack to scare seniors and social security. i've been in office for 14 years and i have opposed privatizing social security on down the line to the congressman and leader of the democratic party when he wrote to president bush in 2004 and said republicans are against privatizing like the congresswoman shelley moore capito. i do believe that we should bust a cap on the social security taxes and i would be willing to take it up over the 200,000 number that was mentioned. we have to find solutions here. if we don't -- i have younger children. the secretary has a younger child. there will be no social security for those. we have to lay down the arms, work together as republicans republicans and democrat involve the difficult problem because in 2037, the social security is

going bust and for those workers now that are working towards that in their future, it's going to be a difficult future if we don't have the promises made or the promise is kept and i will keep the promise of the social security. >> moderator: congresswoman capito early this year the house passed the poor ryan budget and you voted for the budget. the plan had a number of reforms to the entitlement spending and "the wall street journal" reported mr. brian called for overhauling medicare for those that turn 65 on or off the lead after january 15 with the government supported premiums. we are staying on the traditional medicare and the cost is rising. do you support through the budget the partial privatization of medicare tax capito: i support reforming medicare and keeping it were not just a generation of the medicare rights now. i've been facing this in my own family in terms of trying to help senior care.

the wrong way to go is the way the president has gone through the aca. and where there is a 700 billion-dollar cut to medicare. they've lost their medicare advantage option. that's what the secretary supported. what we need to do is to look at the budget that you're talking about is the options for the seniors to stay in traditional medicare. if that's what you like you can stay in traditional medicare and that's fine. if you want to look at another option maybe we ought to look at another for future generations. this is not for anybody that is 55 or older. it's for the younger

generations. again our children and grandchildren is going to be no medicare if we don't lay down the arms. stop the name-calling and the scare tactics and really face the problem. the problem is there's not enough of the working people to support the baby boomer generation like you and i that are going to be in the medicare system before we know it. >> moderator: secretary tennant? tennant: there is no one more serious about approving the budget and i am. i've given up to the taxpayers but i will not balance the budget off the back of seeing congresswoman capito has done. it's my priority. her priority as she has shown time and time again is wall street. now, she talks about medicare. she talks a big game but the dangerous budgets that she voted for four times cuts and makes medicare a voucher program where she's handing over to the seniors to say you're on your own when it comes to buying

insurance. don't take my word for it. this is the record. the lifetime score they give for the congresswoman capito. she talks about being on the side of seniors are certainly not. she has a lifetime score of 18% for our seniors. that's the proof. >> moderator: secretary tennant, next question is for you. the state court recently ruled five to go nothing to the state election commission which you are a member of and not allowing the republican party to fill the vacancy on the house of the ballot. they said the commission blatantly ignored the law and the justice allen said the actions. it's both disturbing and unconscionable. why should west virginians have faith in your leadership when according to the two state supreme court justices you and your office fielded to interpret

the law in this matter. tennant: i want to make it clear that i stepped up. our office has absorbed the balance and it's now adding out in the hands of the voters in the appropriate district in the 35th district. as district. as these head and as you have read their this was a decision in the bipartisan member of the group of the commission of which the chairman is a republican and we looked at the evidence that was out before us. we studied it, we questioned and asked questions to those that chose to come to the meeting and we made a decision based on the evidence that we had. and as you know the supreme court said that we didn't get it right and so we got back to work. we got to work and we corrected the problem and the secretary of state's office would absorb the

cost of those ballots. now, what i have done is i have been a good steward for the people of west virginia. i've cut my budget, saved money, given $3 million back to the taxpayers of west virginia and cut fees for businesses in west virginia to make it a whole lot easier. i've made it easier for our military members to be able to vote when they are deployed and i'd aggressively i've aggressively gone after election fraud when we have seen it and investigated it. >> moderator: your response? capito: when you're asking for a promotion to first thing people want to know is how you've done your last job. they basically told the secretary of state it was the chief elections officer of the state. she got a blatantly wrong and it was obvious it was for the political reasons and so now she's saying that they are going to be reprinted and she's going to absorb the cost. where does she get her budget backs that the taxpayers. i'm astounded at the

explanation. basically what i would say we made a mistake. it's october. i don't think that it's been treated fairly. and if you talk about using the office and competence lets talk about cutting social security numbers on the website, putting a conference call number on your website but ran up the bill of over $400,000 to the taxpayers. let's talk about reprinting the ballot. this isn't the first time we have had to reprint the ballots. your job is the chief elections officer and you're getting it wrong. so i don't know why they would think that is a as a reason to promote the united states senate >> moderator: the ahead, 30 seconds. tennant: thank you so much. congresswoman capito is throwing out a lot of numbers and hoping some of them stick. the number you need to remember his $3 million that's what i gave back to the taxpayers. she talked about a conference

call. she doesn't have her facts right and she is just purposefully misleading u.s. citizens. the call she's talking about was from the board of physical therapy and i have a letter here it's a letter from at&t and it says that conference call was their fault and they are paying the bill. so the people in west virginia never paid it and hear is that information. >> moderator: okay congresswoman capito in january of 2011 there was a mass shooting in tucson that killed six people and wounded 14 others including a fellow member of congress gabby giffords. he used a glock 19 with a high-capacity magazine containing 30 rounds. it opposes any restrictions on the capacity magazines.

do you support the position on this and can you make an argument for why an individual has the right to buy the magazine racks? capito: i'm happy to add the endorsement. the second amendment to state that is reflected in the endorsement. i served with her and she's a remarkable individual to have recovered and she's working hard everyday to every day to get back as much wealth as she can. you know what i think the main problem is is basically the mental health system in this country. we saw that in newtown and we saw this in arizona where the mental health system has failed us tremendously and why i work with my fellow members of congress to get the mental health system that makes sure that those who shouldn't have access to firearms that are not

a mental health system should be disallowed from ever having access to anything, any kind of firearm we need to make sure that it that is the word invaded with all of the different background checks and other things that we do. we have seen that the virginia tech shooting where he was in the mental health system as well but fell through the cracks. we worked hard to make sure that we were coordinating the mental health system to make sure that these types of incidents don't happen again. >> moderator: your response? tennant: if you are a law-abiding citizen, you need to purchase a weapon. of course we want to keep guns out of the hand of terrorists, criminals and those that have been deemed mentally incompetent. i grew up like so many west virginia is with my brothers going hunting and shooting with

them and of course being the mountaineer and having a muzzleloader myself i can use and keep it around. so i don't need the nra. in many west virginia and style certainly agree they don't necessarily need an outside group to tell them how they stand with guns because i represent the second amendment. i am strong in saying that west virginians have a right to have the guns if they are law-abiding citizens and i myself have a concealed weapons permit and the guns of my own. >> moderator: let me continue on the gun track. secretary manchin expands background checks for sales at gun shows and in the internet and use it you said in the interview with msnbc this year he wanted to get on the campaign trail to talk to a lot of people

so now do you support or oppose the bill? capito: i said that i'd opposed the bill because they should be making the choice of what they want to happen in west virginia. capito: i proposed the bill although he threw into the secretary had a change of heart on the bill but i've been consistently opposed to the bill. >> moderator: in july 2014 article in the gazette is that of an internet speeds for the frontier that covers most of the state meet federal and state standards 12% of the time. they lag in both the speed and availability first of the country according to the numerous studies. the internet is vital to the creation of new business. does the federal government have a role in expanding internet in west virginia and if so what would you do to secure funding and where would the money come from? tennant: that is an interesting question because yes the internet is so important for

the role of hearts in parts of the state and especially for job creation as well and we are seeing this opportunity and the stimulus money that we had and we need to continue to work on the lines that have been put through and continue to add not just of the middle but to the middle but let's finish the whole why all the way through. just last week the economist said that our job creation is going to come through small businesses here in west virginia. and i am a a small-business owner so small business owner so i look through the eyes of a small business and that's why i cut fees in the secretary state office. compare that to what the congresswoman has done. she has championed and has written legislation to raise the white fees on businesses.

every time you have a credit card or debit card used and there is in that there is a charge associated with it and it is either the customer who is paying it for the business that is paying it. and as i travel around the state, i talked to business as whether it is the burrito shop or lewis for lewis county these are some of the words i hear. it's terrible. it's killing us. it's our worst enemy. now those are coming from small businesses. the congresswoman champions the increase. wells fargo spent $6 million lobbying to raise those fees. she saw it with wall street and wells fargo. >> moderator: a rebuttal? capito: i'm going to answer the question. i don't know how he got from the draft white fees. i guess that was in a predebate talking point but i will say that we need broadband. the stimulus didn't result in any job creation and the

broadband money that came in to west virginia. it wasn't able to be used. the businesses could probably use that but it was unusable. when i was in keeping bridge, they don't hardly have any connectivity so how are you going to draw people from the area and into this area for job creation if you don't have the connectivity and this is part of the infrastructure of tomorrow that we have to have or actually that we needed today. and this is one of my passions for the next several years >> moderator: but who you and your opponent has spoken out against ppa regulations on the carbon emissions. the epa and the obama administration say they are trying to reduce carbon omissions and get others to follow to save the planet. another governmental plan will on the climate change concluded

icecaps are melting and water supplies are coming under stress, the heavy rains are intensifying and coral reefs are dying. do you believe the scientists are simply wrong and if not wrong if they are correct don't they have an obligation to do something about it. in west virginia because we are so heavily blast in the natural resources that cover this country. the new clean effort for the existing coal-fired power plant isn't one power plant in the state that meets those parameters set out by the president who my opponent supports his policies. so let's have something that makes sense. let's have technologies that are actually reachable and affordable. and let's -- the president said that we need to lead on this. well, if the president is

leading the globe on this issue and china and india and japan and all the other nations are not following, then he's us taking a walk at the expense of the men and women in the west virginia coal field. 7,000 jobs is more to come. this is a travesty. we have got to stop that. >> moderator: do you think the scientists are wrong tax capito: i don't necessarily think the climate is changing but we have to find a balance that would address it without hurting the heartland of this country without hurting west virginia families. tennant: i know that there is a consensus and i do not disagree with them but at the same time i don't think think many to we need to choose between clean air and clean coal or good paying jobs rather because i know that we have the technology that can meet the demands and that's why i

challenged the president and ppa. we have a technology lab that can develop the carbon capture storage. i challenge the president to use the $8 billion in the department of energy and the guaranteed loans that take the money directly invested in have this technology that is going to save our jobs and is going to have technologies around the world that will make cold more competitive and that is why they have endorsed me. they've looked at me in this race where the coal miners know but i will save their jobs. >> moderator: we have about three minutes left into going to ask each of you to give a one minute response if you can. the supreme court struck down a section of the federal defense that prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriage and since then we've had these court decisions and they are paving the way for same-sex marriages

in west virginia. both of you opposed same-sex marriage but secretary tennant let's start with you for 60 seconds, maybe a little bit less. do you support or oppose same-sex marriage and does what is happening in the courts change your opinion backs of tennant: you know, i have thought about this and prayed about this. how do i want to be treated trying to live by the golden rule and do unto others as you would have them do unto you and how do i want to be treated? i want to be treated equally and fairly and i think that under the law people should be treated equally and fairly. does the church of against the doctrine? no, not at all. church shouldn't go against the doctrine and it shouldn't be forced to. i think that we as west virginians know about fairness and we know about freedom. >> moderator: is that a support for same-sex marriage? tennant: it has support for a quality and for the law being equal under the law.

capito: my voting record and my personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. i had a long history dating back when i was in the west virginia legislature but i believe that the decision that has been made his peace be staying the states will make their decision and i will decide what is in this matter. >> moderator: i think you very much. we appreciate you coming by. it was a spirited discussion. the congresswoman capito, thank you. and secretary tennant, thank you. good luck on the campaign trail. thank you very much.

>> the campaign 2014 coverage continues with a week full of debate. friday night live at eight eastern the wisconsin governors debate between incumbent governor republicans got walker and democrat mary burke. saturday burr. saturday night on c-span at eight eastern coverage

campaign 2014 coverage with another debate. over 100 people have this campaign season. next of the candidates to represent california's 17 house district. the critic incumbent congressman mike honda and his challenger another democrat, ro kanna met for the first and only debate in the race.

california 17th congressional district is located in the western portion of the state and it's in the heart of the silicon valley. california is one of three states to use a blanket primary. the process allowing voters to choose which candidates advance to the general election without regard to party lines. this is just over one hour and 20 minutes. the 17 to district congressional debate. this is the heart of innovation. what happens in the civil cabal he not only influences the country but the world. the shadow of technology there are serious concerns about a struggling metal clasp. tonight two men want to leave the charge shaping the policy for the diverse 17th district the district the incumbent congressman mike honda and a challenger ro kanna. the one and only debate before the november 4 election.

>> moderator: thanks for being with us. welcome to the studios. this is a special night in just a few minutes both men will take their places behind the podiums. vb leave this race and this debate transcends politics. the local congressional race is getting national attention. there are many representatives from the outlet that are watching tonight. curious to see the future of the silicon valley. district 17 or nbc studios nbc studios located is among the most dynamic and powerful district in the country. so here's what we are going to do. we are going to meet the panel and go over the ground rules in just a few minutes but let's begin with congressman honda. a familiar face seeking the eighth term but his story didn't start on capitol hill. mr. honda and his family were forced to live in a japanese internment camp during world war ii. a graduate of san jose state and member of the peace corps, he had a distinguished career as a science teacher and school

principal. some of his key offices, the santa clara board of supervisors, the state assembly command correctly one of the house democratic senior with us. and he comes into tonight's debate with the endorsement of nearly every local state and national elected democrats. this includes senator feinstein and boxer, minority leader pelosi, governor brown and president obama. adding another layer to all of this this on the election is between two democrats in the same party but as we will see tonight both candidates with differences. a ro kanna wants to infuse a new direction and voice for the silicon valley. the 38-year-old was born and raised in philadelphia and is the son of indian immigrants. he relocated to fremont in 2011. he's looking to win his first elected to public office. kanna and attorney any major law firm in colorado is also a part-time lecturer at stanford and adjunct professor at santa clara university. his relationship with president

obama dates back to 1996 while at the university of chicago, kanna volunteered for the state campaign and many years later, 2009, president obama appointed him as the deputy assistant secretary in the u.s. commerce department. kanna is endorsed by nearly all of the major area newspapers including the chronicle and mercury news and he also has the support of dozens of silicon valley executives among them yahoo!, google, sheryl sandberg of facebook and mark from salesforce. what should we expect to see tonight and what is really at stake? at spring and jessica alongside the political analyst. >> moderator: thank you. let's talk about the race. you call it a race to watch in california. you have to incumbent mike honda challenged by ro kanna. >> two candidates separating the

candidates. the old liberal that cares for those that have nobody caring for him come up to her, the immigrants. all these people that are uneducated versus the young guy that says it's time we look ahead to the future and think about technology and how we can use it. they each have an agenda that's good for the state but the question is which one is more important at this time. >> moderator: what does each one have to do tonight to pull away from the debate and making marks? >> moderator: m-mike has to show he still hasn't. he's been has it. he's been there 14 years, 73-years-old. he has to show that his experiences with wireless and that is a good reason to elect him because he knows how to get things done. a ro kanna has to show it's not always experience. sometimes it is youth, vibrant, energy, all the things people need in order to get things moving, how to get things done to get things moving. they are both important

qualities. one is that he is doing it and the other says he can't. we have to see which one comes out ahead. >> moderator: for both of them need to bring it tonight. ready to begin let's throw things back. >> moderator: we are live and we are ready a full house tonight inside of the studio. mr. kanna and congressman honda are are at their respective podiums. they've agreed not to use any electronics were previously written notes. they can, however, take notes during the debate. we are happy to be cohosting with the huffington post, the university and kqed. while ago to discuss important topics. the "washington post" "washington post" of your chief ryan grim is with us. he is the lead panelist. the associated students director of the external affairs at san jose state she's a junior majoring in advertising and a longtime journalist and a host the host of the newsroom and grew up in santa didn't come san jose and the associate professor

of political science at san jose state. here are some of the guidelines. 75 minutes in length from a 92nd , 92nd response is in the 62nd rebuttals. there is a possibility of a 62nd follow-up question and we have shared the topics with both men but the specific questions haven't been revealed. we've also instructed the audience to hold applause until the end. no cheering were other reaction except for right now we want to officially welcome congressman mike honda and mr. ro kanna. ' which mac >> it's nice to see you and have both of you in the studios. we have agreed based on the coin flip the first question goes to mr. kanna. so much wealth and innovation but if you cross the street there are a lot of people and families struggling to make ends

meet. if elected how can users both sides and that is number one on the goal? kanna: thank you for participating. it's the test question of our times, income inequality. what we need is real solutions about how we are going to create opportunities for folks to go to college, for the college and bring jobs back to the bay area. the economics instructor i got the opportunity to talk to many folks about the economy and talked to students that are working hard but worried about the debt that they are going to have when they graduate. i've talked to so many employees that have great skills but they will tell you for any application online there are 150 applicants. these folks get that when we are living in the global economy, changing and intensely competitive, yet congress seems

to have no leadership or ideas and is stuck in the past, dysfunctional, small moving. so tonight i ask imagine if we had a new standard. imagine if our elected officials were as hard working and entrepreneurial as the people in the district. that the change that we need and that's why i inspired to represent this area in the united states congress. >> moderator: to be clear that this was number one on your goals. kanna: it it would be how to get people the skills to compete in the new economy. you know, automation and globalization are changing things. we go down to the electronic civic being in a science-fiction movie. the factory floor has changed. you have to know how to operate the machines and three d. printing and robotics and even to drive a taxicab you now have to know how to operate

programming and that is why i've called for specific skills teaching coding in the classroom , helping them and gets technology. >> moderator: your response you have 60 seconds. honda: i was a sharecropper and now i'm a congressman. nobody in the silicon valley that works here full-time should live in poverty. they should have enough money to put food on the table and send their children to school. i think in the last few years the city had 62% agreed with me. i had the money to make sure we had a link between. the number one priority is to jobs and the economy here. to make sure that they are going to get their education in

prekindergarten and $1.7 billion for youngsters having trouble to continue their career. >> moderator: a big topic here is the citizenship and with that we bring in the panelists from the "washington post" with a question for the congressman speaking with them. >> moderator: congressman honda of the republicans take the senate and manage managed to pass meaningful immigration reform that does not include a pathway to citizenship for those here without papers, would you vote against it and would you urge the president to veto its? honda: certainly what we have right now i worked on for over ten years now and it is a wonderful package of the communities that came together and the chamber of commerce, labor agricultural workers and owners they have a package the

senate passed. it's not the bill that i would have written that it's but it's much better according to president obama. he said it's better than what is going on for the 11 million people living in the shadows but the question is if the senate then comes back with the package that has no citizenship that they have the pathway towards legalization. we have to look at the whole thing and see if we can get the first step but just legalization and the undocumented. they are -- and the california college system also, they need a pathway to citizenship and they should have a shorter path to citizenship because they have accomplished everything that we all expect the citizens to be able to do to be productive,

being able to give back to the community. they should have citizenship ended my opinion the day that the bill was signed. >> moderator: mr. khanna? khanna: i agree i'm getting the pathway to citizenship for those that are dreamers and that are undocumented but the question is how are we going to get something done. one of the things i hear when i'm knocking on doors of the frustration is the congress adjourned after eight days in the session, two months in recess to the campaign. people are talking about immigration reform for the last ten years and nothing is getting done. and here there is an honest difference of the with the congressman. i would work across the aisle with republicans in the mold of someone like tom campbell to have a piecemeal approach to getting something done on immigration because i get that it's important for the competitiveness that we may not get everything but that's what

people are frustrated about in washington. >> moderator: follow-up? you will never get that way to citizenship. what would you say to that? khanna: look at canada and australia. they have the priority for the immigration. and it's crazy that we have people here that are coming that go to stanford or santa clara come up we give them engineering degrees and have a shortage and then we say go back home and create jobs overseas. that is until we are going to grow the economy. i say let's get a deal on what's going to make the country competitive and then let's make the case that this is a nation of immigrants and even most immigrants help strengthen the country that will help create economic growth >> moderator: let's move onto the next question that you will have the appropriate time. we are going to talk about

education now and the rising cost there are major universities a few miles away from the studio and with that we will bring in san jose state with a question. >> moderator: hello mr. khanna. the program has been cut in the recent years. traditionally this program remains affordable and accessible to low-income students. would you fight to increase the reduce or eliminate the program to program and why? khanna: thank you for the question. i would like to increase the power grid program. this is not a theoretical issue for me. unfortunately i'm still paying off my student loans and i have the opportunity most folks don't. i got to work for the president, i teach for stanford and they have a lot of privilege that i'm still paying off student loans. we have a country that we have almost $27,000 of debt for one student, 1.2 trillion is the federal debt on student loans

and i've proposed three things. number one, we need a student increase rates for students that is the same as the banks. if we can build a wall street research we can get the students interest rate to pay back their loans of 2%. we need changes right now. home mortgage and home value is considered part of what they can pay. if they are forced to choose between selling their home and paying for their kids education. at the time the students state in its less. this is an issue that i felt passionately about. our economic competitiveness as it could be based on a strong military. it's going to be based on educating the next generation it is one of the reasons i'm so passionate representing the area in congress. >> moderator: you have 60 seconds to respond.

honda: we made sure we increased significantly but let's go beyond that. we have to be able that we change the bankruptcy law. the student law is one thing you cannot dismiss. we have to change that for the students. now we can talk about a better interest rate but let's be more specific. the federal reserve bank has $600 million for the federal reserves and the banks receive this loan at .7%. this is what we should be providing the students. that kind of a load that's going to be the equivalent to what we are giving to the banks. they will be paying much larger than the banks would be.

is this something you want to propose when you get back into session? honda: yes i would. >> moderator: the next question is an issue that hits in the silicon valley with all these companies perhaps more so than anywhere in the country and it is going to the congressman honda. >> moderator: there's been much controversy granted for the workers and their supporters say that it's necessary to fill the need for the skilled workers into the critics charge the companies that are just using the excuse to hire the foreign workers for less. where do you stand on the program and what changes would you like to see? honda: is initiated with those problems. it wasn't portable. people couldn't have access to the pathway to getting green cards today. we have a package that includes a generous h. one b. visa

allocation to just about double the amount. the skills gap that we are looking at has to be looked at in two different ways. we need to have the immigration law changed so that we can invite for students who come here, go to the graduation coming and then invite them to stay longer through the easy process of the green cards. once they get get a green card onto citizens. 25% of the ceos that we have in the country are foreign-born. why do we want to turn that around? we should -- that and welcome these people cannot look at it as a bad thing. it's created all kinds of jobs. on the other hand come, on education, we have to do more on stem. that's why when president obama had that universal pre- k. proximately $6.8 billion as the

universal pre- k. so that we could start generating the system that we want to see that get involved in that kind of a science career. >> moderator: your response to the issue? khanna: there is a shortage of computer scientists. we graduate 40,000 we need many more, so we need the h1b visa that we need to prepare folks for the jobs. i respect his career in public service. he talks about things he has proposed and wants to do. the frustration that people have though is that nothing is getting done. the record and the reason it's in the chronicle is they've said he's irrelevant on the policy debates because the earmarks no longer exist and he has passed one bill in 14 years that is in contrast.

he got two bills passed. they passed seven bells. i respect the congressman's public service but the question is on these major issues of the time who is going to lead and who is going to get the job done? >> moderator: we have heard from a lot of first-time congressman they say i'm going to go and work across the aisle. it will be really together. but then they get there and realize they can't. what makes you different? ..