are looking for his plan or his strategy. we don't know it yet but we have to do this and we have to do it now. >> moderator: rebuttal? orman: the crisis is on both sides of the aisle. senator while you didn't attend the hearing is also come out you didn't attend to out of other three hearings in the agriculture committee that you want to lead someday so i think that crisis of leadership is a crisis of leadership that you share, too, sir. ..

>> moderator: now, the combined resources of kesq tv, the desert sun and tbs local news present your vote, 2014. the congressional debate with incumbents raul ruiz and challenger brian nestande. ♪ be macadamia welcome to the first and only debate between the candidates for the 36th congressional district. i am karen devine with kesq tv your moderator tonight. dr. raul ruiz and his republican challenger brian nestande take your bow. the emergency room physician, voters elected to congress in 2012 defeated longtime republican barry bo know. mr. nestande helped elect billie congressman sonny bono worked as chief of staff. he also served as chief of staff for congressman berry bo know. a term california assemblyman. alongside me to matter my two colleagues here to the left desert sun political reporter,

erica felci. to the right it may come longtime anchorman, kris long. the three of us will be asking questions tonight. candidates did not receive a copy of those questions. to the rules now come each candidate you see on the screen there will get -- get a two minute opening statement, then they get a one-man answer. they can answer from pan on questions submitted by desert sun readers and viewers on kesq and tbs too. they will minutes for rebuttal. each candidate will get 92nd to make a closing argument. let's begin tonight. a client has to determine who would go first and mr. nestande, you will go first. you may begin. nestande: congressman ruiz, good evening. thank you for watching. you believe our country is going in the right direction? i do not. that's why whenever congress. the bigger the government, the small your paycheck. two years ago, congressman ruiz,

three cut spending and reduce the budget. instead he voted three times to raise the national debt. everyone of you, children, grandchildren from each of us up $55,000 to pay this debt. congressman ruiz's first term he raised the debt by nearly $2 trillion. i believe that my spending and my first year is your state assemblyman i voted to cut $20 billion in ready built to certify that. the budget must be balanced a budget or zuniga paid. my opponent claims to be independent, yet he voted to support president obama 90% of the time. as their congressman, i have a proven record of being independent. my opponent claims to protect seniors, be supported cutting medicare by $700 billion. i will fight return money to seniors. my wife is he with me tonight with their seven children. like many parents, we are concerned about their future and their our country country is out for

wh terrorism overseas and must also protect our homeland. congressman ruiz opposes the border to secure our borders. i will protect our nation's borders. we've heard regulations and higher taxes under a bomb on trade business sobers a's. 80% of new jobs created by small businesses. i will work to get thment out o. that's lame endorsement chamber of commerce and the national federation of independent businesses. bigger the government, smaller paychecks. that's lame running for congress. thank you. >> moderator: thank you, mr. nestande. mr. ruiz coming in now have two minutes for opening statement. ruiz: i would like to start by thanking that one, the desert sun for the debate. debates are important part and they don't receive the attention they deserve. you're making an important contribution to your readers and viewers. they also want to thank assemblyman nestande for his

willingness to participate. even more importantly want to publicly congratulate him for the class and dignity with which he has conducted his campaign so far. both of our campaign to focus on the issues and even when we disagree, we have done so with respect for each other and the voters. so thank you, brian. nestande: my pleasure. ruiz: thank you are you much. as you know, i'm not a career politician. i went to medical school and became an emergency room doctor because i want to help improve the lives of people in our community. that is also why i decided to run for office two years ago. washington is broken because too many career politicians are more interested in political bickering and partisan gain from getting things done. as an er doctor, i was trained to work as a team to solve problems and is exactly what it done in congress. i work with republicans to pass a bill that improves health coverage for veterans. as part of a bipartisan group that has a lot to cut off congress pay if they don't

approve a budget on time. i hope local seniors collect nearly $2 million they were out by the government and i stood up again for every effort to cut social security and medicare. i believe in results, not excuses. i believe in standing up for the cms, small businesses and retires at the coachella valley, many who are struggling to make ends meet. assemblyman nestande has different priorities and different priorities and that is what this debate and election are about. >> moderator: gentlemen come in thank you for opening statements. a client has determined to get the first question tonight in the debate. this one will go to mr. ruiz. erica will begin. >> congressman, in august after urging speaker boehner to address the immigration crisis coming in is to give those after refusing to acknowledge your opponents call to say how he would've voted from a statement was put on your website you say you oppose it to those.

considering how important issue is for the region, don't you believe voters deserve a better explanation of where you stand? ruiz: thank you for the question. for some and make a statement that will expand my view a comprehensive immigration reform. first, it's a privilege, not a right and every sovereign nation has the right to protect its borders. those votes that were amassed would've made the problems worse. they were comprehensive immigration reform vote. they would've taken protections who suffer from sexual abuse or human trafficking. i would've definitely voted no because that is the right thing to do. i am not for amnesty. i am for comprehensive immigration reform that will protect and secure our borders that will improve our local economy that depends so much on immigrant labor with agriculture, tourism and construction and will have an earned path to citizenship or those who play by the rules, pay a fine and i've never been

arrested. >> thank you, mr. ruiz. mr. nestande, 302nd rebuttal. nestande: is a pipe is broken in your home, the first thing you do was turn off the water. with immigration we have to secure borders first and congressman ruiz voted not to -- to invoke him and said he would not have voted to secure borders first. he wanted a comprehensive fix. you have to secure the borders first before he gets the other part of immigration. he's in favor the senate bill which is a thousand page though. when they see comprehensive that is sometimes what you won't understand because like the health care bill were speaker pelosi said you have to pass it to find out what the net, it will be that though. readable, digestible we can argue and understand. >> moderator: thank you, mr. nestande. kris long will take the next question. >> thank you for participating. we should have mandatory debates. both of you gentlemen decided to

take part. my question is first to the assemblyman. a gallup poll released last month show 60% of americans approve military action in syria and iraq against the group known as isis or isil if you will. should we send them on the ground? nestande: bright out the middle east is a direct result of president obama's lack of clarity in policy. when he came to office, he decided he would pull back america from the world stage. he was not going to or did not want to be a world superpower we are. when we sat back for the world stage, with other vacuum and in the vacuum is chaos. chaos is filled with isis, a day, all these other terrorist groups because first of all when president obama said. did not use chemical weapons against her own people, he drew a line in the sand and they did and he did nothing come did nothing come of the world watching says this guy doesn't

keep his word, he is weak and with that you have seen vladimir putin walk into the ukraine and that is what has happened in the middle east right now. it's not just me saying that. hillary clinton also said it was in the date. former democrat secretary leon panetta said. henry kissinger has said it. a lack of leadership from president obama has caused this problem. >> moderator: thank you, assemblyman. congressman, 30 seconds for rebuttal. ruiz: i want to say isis poses a serious threat not only to our nation but everyone around the globe. i disagree with the president on anything and this is one of those disagreements. we need to send a message to isis.it clear that anyone killing americans anywhere around the globe will be brought to justice. i agree with a strategy that will build coalition come to use airstrikes to take down their infrastructure, prevent this on the ground and sat their financial transactions and trade

allies. >> moderator: mr. ruiz, thank you. my colleague kris long. the mac taxes and are an important housing industry. congress is again eyeing a reduction of tax benefits. one area that could face cut is the mortgage interest deduction for homeowners. it is seen by many as crucial for the continued turnaround of the housing industry. do you see yourself ever voting in favor of reducing or even eliminating the mortgage interest reduction and if not, what tax edifice would you consider cutting? ruiz: that's a good question. thank you. this is important to understand. we have a deficit and we need to really improve our budget because our spending right now is out of control. we need to make some efforts in improving it. here's the difference between my opponent and me. i want to balance the budget. we need to be fiscally responsible and reduce our deficit. but we need to balance the budget not on the backs of our seniors and middle class.

it is our middle class that has been suffering throughout these years. income inequality has grown up ms like my families are struggling and working harder and make them less. that's why i believe we need to protect tax cuts and make sure homeowners have the capital and finances the need to buy their home and we need to help this day in their home. >> moderator: thank you, mr. ruiz. mr. nestande. nestande: those are good talking points, but they don't match your record. you want to spend more money. by saying we will not balance the budget, he took $700 billion out of medicare. that is a fact. $700 billion out of medicare to fund obamacare. i would like to see a better tax system, but particularly in corporate tax where the highest corporate tax revolt developed nations. we can lower that rate in businesses would hand, money will come back. $2 trillion sitting across the

different lower tax rates, the money will come back and invest in american companies here. >> moderator: very quickly, would you consider cutting the mortgage interest reduction? nestande: no, i don't think we should. no i do not. ruiz: first of all, the 700 billion that my opponent is referring to are reductions in overpayments. that is absolutely false and not true. >> moderator: thank you, candidates. now erica felci from the desert sun. >> this is for the assemblyman. if passed, would require all california lawmakers who know the plan suffered under the federal health insurance exchange. your argument was lawmakers should have the same coverage that they are imposing on residents. based on that, had fewer family members enrolled in any such plans and would you do it as a member of congress? nestande: thank you. the idea once again is to have legislators live under law as they pass obamacare i thought

appropriate all legislators in their care so we can see a problem going on in the networks and someone, democrat legislators. congressman ruiz said he was not going to take a subsidy when obamacare purchaser health care. he said he would not take a subsidy and reverse that and decided to take a subsidy to get health care. i that is wrong. the law was written originally for commerce and not to take subsidies but you took it anyway. >> moderator: reactions, mr. ruiz? ruiz: yes, first of all that was an employer contribution. don't you take the subsidies are contributions from the state? it's very different. i'm an emergency room physician i'm >> moderator: all problems are the difference between my opponent and me as i want to fix it. that's why seductive president obama, congresswoman pelosi and delayed the mandates for a year. my opponent wants to take effect to the days were assurance companies discriminate against

people with preexisting health conditions, make seniors pay more for medicine and women pay more for insurance premiums. >> moderator: absolutely. nestande: want to get back to the doctor patient relationship. obamacare -- if you like your doctor keep your doctor, that wasn't true. if you like her insurance plan, keep it. i wasn't true. 6 million people had their insurance plans canceled to be forced to buy insurance much higher, sometimes double the rate. there were flaws in the health care's son. preexisting conditions and no one. fix those. all throughout the greatest health care system in the world. that was a big mistake. >> moderator: mr. reeves. ruiz: my opponent has said he wants to repeal the affordable care act. that means he wants to allow them take us back to a day when insurance companies would discriminate against people with existing health conditions anyone's to take away health insurance from thousands of people here in this district who

have health insurance for the first time in their lives. >> moderator: thank you, candidates. moving on now, we asked her viewers to be part of this debate a time of the subjects are important to them. education, more importantly and specifically implementation of, course standards. our largest school district is getting mixed reaction by implementing common core. candidates, are you a fan of the common core standard and is this the answer to bring our public school ranges up? the question goes to mr. ruiz. ruiz: first, i wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for high-quality and affordable education that i've utilized growing up. been able to go to ucla and medical school and back in keeping my promise. education is very import and the pillar of the american dream we all strive to achieve, i believe the solutions to our educational system is in the classroom. it is that our teachers who work

so very hard. when the vocal control. they need to access these, of course, the flexible and teach them, to their students if they are teaching them the way they will learn and use technology in classrooms. we still don't have internet in every classroom in her district and we know if we use technology and software the schools our kids will learn a lot faster and a lot more. >> moderator: okay, refuse another nestande, 30 seconds. nestande: we've had to lower standards. california has low standards in particular. we had overdosed to fit into common core. the problem is a sickly we give our school divisions to washington. that is a mistake. we have elected school boards for reason. allow the school boards to be in control of our education. i want the assemblies to make sure they go directly to the classroom. our legislation will not allow those dollars to go other parts

of bureaucracies. i'm in support of education, particularly career technical education. that is something we've lost in our schools and in fighting to get it back. >> moderator: thank you very much, mr. nestande. erica felci >> in two years the tax budget will last with 30% to 10% of the cost of solar development. the deadline has cost at least one major renewable energy project. given the polarizing conditions, what'll should the federal government do if congress is not providing the same level of financial incentives? nestande: solar power is great. it's taken over a lot of our energy needs right now. going forward, solar power in the valley will continue to grow. as a matter of fact, over and hannah, 400 new jobs of solar power and elation, a friend of mine started a solar company without any government health and now he's over 60 employees.

it's a fantastic new energy development and we should encourage it in many ways. we don't need the federal government like the stimulus plan handed money to particular companies. the $800 billion stimulus plan the president about a hack, he gave $500 million to a particular solar company that went bankrupt a year later. private enterprise work. let it go. 30 seconds for rebuttal. ruiz: we live in the best place for solar energy. our economy is booming because of the renewable energies we have. we need cleaner and cheaper energy. i agree with all of the above approach. natural gas, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy. this is our competitive advantage. waiting to fight for our district. i will fight for small businesses so we can produce more solar when the geothermal energy right here at home creates jobs.

>> moderator: mr. nestande -- next question. are there. >> thank you very much. we will talk about business and california has been experiencing a difficult time attracting new business. we have been losing businesses. proposing the salton sea area. you, congressman were critical of your opponent in his role as a california lawmaker for not doing enough to bring the plan here, yet the state government is controlled either party. do you regret the attack and is a member of congress realizes it state issue, but as a member of congress, can you do anything to bring business to california? ruiz: thank you for that. you know, i understand the value of a good paying job and how it is for families here in the district. we need to fight for an opportunity to bring jobs here. you see, it is one name to fight and lose. but assemblyman brian nestande

didn't lift a finger. this is what we need to really have. we need to focus on aleutians. i believe we need to cut red tape, accelerate business growth, make sure we eliminate redundant and duplicative humble regulations. but to focus on job creation and the middle-class small businesses. i want to raise minimum wage, and bring jobs at home. my opponent supports a plan that would give corporations tax breaks over his use voted against raising the minimum wage >> moderator: thank you, mr. ruiz. mr. nestande. nestande: once again, you're talking points don't think your record. you voted no. h.r. six, and many other bills. so while you talk about, almost ridiculous to say i have a responsibility and didn't do

anything to bring tesla here. it's your ideology, your regulation that are kicking companies out of california and america. you want to do the same policy, the cap-and-trade policy in california, give it to the rest of the nation and drive the job. it's ridiculous to get back to its citizens need to do to run. to file a collation upon regulation tax upon taxes. that is the striving to not appear. >> moderator: thank you, mr. nestande. >> guns, many across the country. congress has yet to pass legislation for universal background check on gun in the lurch into stiff opposition from the nra. they recently approved a measure that would relate to the background check system with a national database designed to keep runs out of the hands on a felony convictions in certain mental health issues. as a congressman if elected, would you do to ensure gun did not get into the hands of the wrong people?

ruiz: i believe protecting the second amendment. we let me come us in california and other states do as well. a lot of states have the highest gun regulation. the highest gun violence. we need to focus on mental health. a lot of problems with the shooters and people doing horrible names, it's a mental health issue. something is wrong there. if you can reach out to them, to counseling, that's how we solve the problem. looking up overregulation sometimes, that's not the answer. we have plenty of those in california, but let's work to throw the mental health issues for children. >> moderator: mr. ruiz. ruiz: in an emergency room physician and i think people died of gunshot wounds. a 16-year-old got shot in coachella americanized mothers against violence visual to address that and really stand firm for our efforts for peace in our communities. you know, they're responsible gun owners who should be allowed

to keep their guns. the issue or the response will gunowners and i agree we should have universal background checks to make sure to dump it in the hands of those who want to hurt other people. >> moderator: thank you, congressman. another question from the kesq face the age. matthew fernandez says immigrants to drugs to terrorist issues continue to plague our area. mr. fernandes wants to know how you represent the district and keeping us safe. that's directed to the congressman. ruiz: i believe in comprehensive immigration reform. we need to secure our borders. wheels are need to ensure that we hope to improve our economy and give our agriculture, tourism, construction industries stable workforce. no other place more than here would rely on immigrant labor. we also need to make sure we have an earned path to

citizenship. in her path to citizenship will reduce our deficit, improve our economy. that is earned, not amnesty. people have to pay a fine, get back in line and they also have to -- we also have to make sure they've never been arrested here. >> moderator: thank you gave mr. nestande, 302nd rebuttal. nestande: another big difference between honest. secure the border. you can't get to the other issues until you secure the borders for it. not just kids and mothers. it gained members. we live in a very perilous time right now and i believe we all probably named that the terrorists are looking to come into the nation and do us harm. we have a porous border. secure the border first amendment talk about the other problems of immigration. i believe we need immigration reform, the secure the borders first to >> moderator: mr. nestande, how would you secure the border and pay for a quiet transfer you

have to use the money that's been authorized. first of all, the bill that congress men ruiz voted against would've allowed states to have a national guard go down to the borders to help secure the borders. second of all, there's a lot of areas that the border regions are not allowed to enter because they are protected areas for endangered species. the criminals don't care. they go right through the border patrol can't change them. that's ridiculous. let the states choose to do so is then reimbursed a status they do. second of all, use technology like they do in afghanistan. the fences around. you don't need order agents everywhere, but with sensors and drones, you can secure the border. it not a practical engineering problem, it's a political problem. the president? the will to secure the border. >> moderator: thank you, mr. nestande. it's a political problem,

mr. ruiz? ruiz: s. come as a political problem. we need to be old comprehensive immigration. tying borders and immigration is one of the worst political fear mongering i've ever, ever heard. the attacks about this vote that i would've voted on. absolutely because it would've taken protection from children to suffer from sexual abuse and human trafficking. bashes the right thing to do. i believe we need to secure technology comments are competitive advantage. make sure that no guns or drugs or people who want to read other people come over across our borders. >> moderator: thank you so much, gentlemen. we are going to move on here. eric, next question for mr. nestande. >> will move onto the deck. you've been critical congressman ruiz to raise the debt ceiling describing the vote is given a credit card junkie and even higher credit than that even though their washington does. if you're a congressman federal

government had maximized its ability to borrow money to pay, would there be any scenario where you also would support raising the debt ceiling? nestande: the eye back to the border issue first. either you didn't read or misrepresented. they did not take away protection. they simply expedited, kids coming from mexico or guatemala or el salvador all had the same time limit. that's all they were doing. getting to your issue, we spend too much money. he's voted three times to raise the debt limit. he said we do not spend enough money. that's the key difference between eni. i. i think we spend too much money. there's many areas. the cbo, $200 billion a year is wasted money and duplication of spending and so forth. $200 billion a year will be the first l.a. right to get rid of the $200 billion a year. cut the spending. >> moderator: just so we're clear, would there be any

scenario in which you would also support raising the debt dealing? ..

>> >> the question goes to the congressman. in the combined eight years the to use certain office there have been countless promises by local democrats and republicans. why haven't there been more results delivered? and why wilson be back to congress make actual progress? ruiz: we have great memories

of my father taking us out there and we have had more than any year. the very first thing is to bring the secretary of the interior down to advocates. we have been able to designate the area as a renewable energy zone and on the verge of of the shovel read the project and we brokered the partnership between the department of interior and irrigation district. we need to make sure we have all hands on deck public private investment including states, government, a philanthropist and as a community we can do it. nestande: reached across the aisle with democrats to

create a license plate i hope you will it goes directly into the restoration. every just signed that bill last week. think of other countries and states that say save it that spreads awareness but it has been studied enough i have a plan to start acting released this week but not more studies that you want to do. >> moderator: in my mailbox i have received flyers and other people have gotten them to their paid for by the state democratic party all it does not mention your opponents names and highly critical of you in short said the businesses hit with multiple tax lien

since 2005 with $2 billion of unpaid taxes and he lied to voters. was business failed to pay more than $10,000 in taxes and hidden with tax liens and how you respond to these fires? >>. ruiz: they filtered money to the state democratic party but it is from my opponent. nestande: is started as small business and i struggled i had good years and i had bad years i had a tax lien a and i paid off but i continued and persevered. but i hired employees and i am proud of my business but it is the politics of personal distrust if you're not right on issues the new attack someone personally. day once to the tribe that but it will not work.

>> moderator: do you endorse these mailings a highly critical of your opponent? ruiz: i will have to discuss with those to make sure we get the facts right. i was aware of them. but the point is there are too many career politicians to do this with their own personal benefit. i am an emergency room physician who has dedicated my life to improve the lives of space care that is why no budget no pay and i'll also sponsored a bill to prevent congressional people flying first-class it did not make me popular but that is what i believe. >> moderator: let's talk marijuana congress has sidestepped the issue that house considered a bill but stops short of legalizing.

do support the legalization of medical marijuana on a national level? to ever perceived the nation will legalize marijuana for recreational use? ruiz: i don't support legalizing throughout the nation but medicinal marijuana is used with people with cancer to stimulate their appetite to prevent the weight loss that usually comes with chemotherapy. but as an emergency medicine doctor i have teenagers coming to meet maybe they fell off their bikes and they asked me for marijuana. we need to get real that no i do not support legalizing marijuana. nestande: i'll take my time give me a break. if you want to attack me do it up front.

the dublin to talk about the issue but with these personal attacks it throws the voters of we have had enough let's just focus on the issue and if you want to just end up to say to not hide behind them that is ridiculous. >> moderator: go back to the marijuana question. >> it is interesting was once in church i heard somebody say if you throw a rock said dog that is it is the one that barks there must me some truth because it is something.

>> moderator: now we will move on to the next question. with many residents use the area as says travel hub should the federal government be doing more during the health care crisis? nestande: i think the cdc uses of the -- is doing a good job also according with a who for a quick process for review for drug czar vaccines. but to catch this problem that is the most important thing but coordinated between the different countries a lot of times there is of lot of delay for all countries. ruiz: the ebola virus can

cause nausea and vomiting and diarrhea transmitted through bodily fluid in there is no care right now. it is important to build the capacity to contain the virus. we need to make sure to prevent the spread and supportive care. >> something on the mind of all californians is a drought short-covering dance you have to do something serious. suffering from record drought if you believe of climate change to feel it is man caused or the normal evolution of our planet? space to try a to do to alleviate the effects the

argue doing anything to maintain our water supply? ruiz: we live in the desert we know how much water is to our economy and existence. and with the reliance on fossil fuels and we need to use technology in the home to conserve water better and our field right here with this is an issue to address as the state but rest assured i will not allow other regions to siphon off our water. nestande: is partly man-made well we are dry there is water going to sacramento to save of fish and instead of

freeing it to farmers in the central bellow -- rally now thousands of acres of land and food prices have risen. lead is a direct result of environmental regulations. congress had a chance to alter those regulations and he voted no sided with the environmental to protect the fish over the food prices. >> i voted no because it would have prevented us here, i represent the people here not in the central valley. i will fight for the people here that would have prevented us long term to get some of that water here first. >> moderator: continuing with the drought if it

continues to worsen it is likely this state could impose strict limits on the amount of water used each day. what type of measures to support? >> the was the only republican and voted democrat with the depletion of the offers to start to quantify the of very proud of that. and i forgot the other part of the question. >> moderator: what measures to support. >> we have to conserve water but build dams to hold the water for the dry years.

and the ideology of the last and then we have that for the dry years. >> looking at the stroke to measures 7.3 million from the usda grant to bring clean water into infrastructure to our communities right here. we need to make sure we have measures to utilize the beauty of the desert and landscape. and with measures like that in the home. >> moderator: we although the big one could hit our area and it will be eventually. but that the congressional level can you do anything to

help people in southern california in particular to be better prepared for the big one? and there are early earthquake warning systems that help their rich they are slow with implementation ruiz: with the emergency medicine looking at humanitarian aid and i have been trained in that. i don't think we are fully prepared for the big one. i believe there are some of issues around the program we need to educate, and go back to train our kids in schools how to deal with an earthquake and what we need to keep in the home. we need communication systems available so when we do lose communication we can connect with families to identify those. and we also need to focus on the stem education to build

pipelines to help produce technology we need for the future to determine with the earthquake sooner than we do now. nestande: i agree. we should have an early warning system. there are two competing ideas how to do dash and we should implement that. but congressman ruiz said he is proud of no budget no pay they had no budget but he took his paper co so what he voted for if there is no budget by april there was no budget but he took his pay. ruiz: we voted for though law but that bill there is no law and the other thing is during that shut down i did not receive up pay teats and but you do.

ruiz: but not during the shutdown. nestande: date paid the back that money. ruiz: talk about personal attacks you are doing those. nestande: but on the issues i am sticking on the issues and irrelevant to public policy. >> moderator: the supreme court rested -- recent ruling gives legality to same-sex marriage and reduced demand? >> i support marriage equality and a strong separation of church and state. the state should not tell churches and they should marry. ruiz: voting against marriage equality in the state. i will repeat that. representative nestande but against marriage a quality i opposed to every form of discrimination including who you want to marry. i am for marriage equality.

nestande: i am not sure what bill you are referring to. ruiz: which one? deal would give you the information. nestande: why do we have to wait to get it? ruiz: ed and know the name or the number but i can get that. nestande: there has not been of bill because it is working through the court system. there has been various bills and i voted on the support bill but i don't know what you're talking about. >> moderator: we will receive clarification. now taco wage gap. the 36 district that you represent has some of the greatest wealth in this country but some of the worst poverty. last weekend the flying doctors program the leader not our east valley is the

only place in the continental united states the flying doctors come into. deal agree there is the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots and if you remain in congress, what would you do to close this income gap? ruiz: people can feel it in the pockets. the middle-class is disappearing. that is the main difference between my opponent and me i am for the middle-class and small businesses. i fight to reduce taxes on the middle class and raise the minimum wage. for the of burdensome regulations but my opponent fights floor multimillionaire's and corporations and to raise taxes on the middle-class. nestande: what plan r-utah asking about to raise taxes

on the middle-class? but when you say special break that is what you wanted to do with tesla. i am for lowering regulation on all businesses statewide or nationwide not one company over another. that is what congressman ruiz wanted to do. but those that have done a good lobbyist that planted the exception and will give you the exemption but everybody else lives under the regulations. that is the big difference. i want fairness for everybody to compete. >> moderator: can this we done to narrow the income gap by raising a the bottom up as opposed to bringing the top down? ruiz: absolutely tax cuts to the middle class they spend more and middle size businesses can flourish they are the job creators. absolutely. nestande: i am all for cutting taxes but the difference is between us the

obama policies have driven the middle-class to a lower class. the most amount of people are not looking forward to it. 64% of americans are longer working four jobs. and then it is not the right way to do a. and then not to penalize and is true that that is happening. >> moderator: the final question for tonight. >> republicans in the state assembly work across the political aisle to get legislation passed. what proposal does york appointed championed that

you don't support? >> what measures? and to lower that regulation once again into level the playing field for all to pick certain companies to give them a tax break so i went out on the whim but we have to regulate or law or regulations for all companies to make it fair. but we have to stop the special interest. region 78'' level playing field. that is how we will raise wages for people. >> for those republicans since of law to work with

democrats and republicans right here at home to launch veterans university to help educate and train veterans and to bring all 1.$5 million of benefits and republican veterans right here at home and then choose stop the use of a taxpayer money for congressional and to fix the affordable care act and also with the delayed individual mandate to stand up to congresswoman pelosi and president obama. >> moderator: need review really answer the question. it is about your opponent with understand your efforts to reach across the aisle is anything that your opponent champion said he would support. ruiz: that congressional members should use the

exchanges in the state they are from. that congressional membership uses the same exchanges from the state they are from. nestande: i would delay the mandate of five republican bill but events and a couple of months. but just to delay that hurt for one year does not make sense. >> what part of your opponent do you admirer? gimmicky has seven children. [laughter] that is one more than the brady bunch. [laughter] i recently got married and nothing more important than my family. and we hope to have children

so that is something that i appreciate. nestande: he can have a couple of kids. [laughter] obviously for the great work he has done and volunteered capacity with the flying doctors it is admirable. >> moderator: that is all the questions we have at the time now we have the closing statements with the coin toss congressman ruiz will make the closing statement last. nestande: in 1994 declaring their era of big government to be over president obama and congressman ruiz have prodded back in double down the government is larger than ever the national debt has almost doubled during the obama presidency and congressman ruiz it supports more spending. two years ago my opponent promise to balance the budget and cut spending bill voted to increase spending

and raise the national debt three times. while washington voted 90 percent of the time. we have seen scandals like the veterans administration, irs, obamaca re our country is weaker look at the rise of isis and putin and the total lack of a clear foreign policy it is time for change. president obama said i am not on the ballot that make no mistake every single one of my policies is on the ballot. he is right. that is the way it will be and will be a check and balance of president obama american ingenuity and hard work at a competitive spirit will create jobs and raise wages ultimately a smaller government for a bigger paycheck for you i am honored to have your vote for congress. thank you.

ruiz: once again i want to thank said desert sun and driven 24 hosting this debate. it has accomplished what it was supposed to to give voters the opportunity to see the differences between representative nestande and myself. i believe so security and medicare is a sacred commitment we make to and retirees that we should replace medicare with the voucher program costing thousands more per year and give tax relief to crackdown that shift jobs overseas he believes not i feel we should fix affordable katy was to return to the days when insurance companies could deny coverage to pre-existing conditions in charge women higher premiums. i believe elected officials should put themselves ahead

of partisan politics but he but reeves is more important to follow a partisan leadership even when it contributes to gridlock i am proud of a number of people who voted for my opponent and are now supporting me. i believe i represent every person in the district no matter your party and i will fight for you and i will be honored to earn your vote. thank you. god bless you and god bless america. >> moderator: on behalf of tranche 20 kesq-tv the thinking both assemblyman. representative nestande and congressman ruiz we appreciate that you came together today to debate get out and go on november 4th if you cannot get to the polls mail in your ballot state to down nine and on facebook.

have a great night. >> mary burke lied about her jobs plan now she is headed again attacking scott walker

that are false and she is twisting the numbers and it is not the first time. but the facts are wisconsin gained 100,000 jobs under scott walker. >> he made a pledge and ask us to hold it today was called sid is dead last in job growth. >> lagging behind most of the country. >> and those 250,000 jobs are not even close dead last in jobs. >> it is called the light of the year if you like your health care plan you can keep it and mary burke supports it. >> it does not mean witch

doctors to go to which plan to have. >> that many have lost their doctor and their plan but mary burke says she still supports obamacare and wants to expand it wisconsin cannot afford liberal mary burke. period. end of story. >> who had a good idea about taxes? ray again expanded and cut taxes for working families governor walker did just the opposite raising them on a wisconsin families raising taxes on working families and not just bad economics but it is wrong

incumbent democrat is not seeking reelection in leaving open house seat. the race is rated as a tossup this hour-long debate

was last week in comes courtesy of time warner news ♪ ♪ >> moderator: welcome to time warner cable debate i in your moderator this evening. this district includes all or part of 12 counties in his current represented by bill owens but he decided not to seek reelection. three candidates are hoping to replace him elisa stefanik and aaron woolf and matt funicello all three are participating. the debate will be one hour we will include as many questions as we have time for that candidate will be

given one minute to answer and the opponent will each get 45 seconds to respond. rebuttals are allowed at the discretion of the moderator. halfway through the candidates can ask one question to one or both opponents then later there is a lightning round where the candidates will only be allowed to answer yes or no. each candidate gets one minute for the opening and closing statement. the order for opening statements was selected by a drop first is elisa stefanik. stefanik: thanks for the opportunity for today's debate. i also want to take a moment that while congress ottman owens and i will disagree i commend them for his public service and constituents services representing the 21st district. i am elisa stefanik born and raised in upstate new york tonight europe and a small business family where i

learned the challenges of creating jobs in today's economy. philosophers member to graduate from college and then worked in washington for six years to focus on public policy. i chose to move from to the north country to help the small business of the family and then i announced my candidacy for congress to try running because washington is broken we desperately need more ideas and a new generation of leadership to focus on creating jobs to save the economy in the north country with their constitutional the raises specially the second amendment and also that common-sense health care reforms to put you in charge of your health care i look forward to the next hour of the debate. funicello: i and matt funicello running for congress as well on the green party ticket. i am seeking the people watching the debate the

green candidates are often not allowed or encouraged to participate with the mainstream media and i would like to thank very much time warner cable also the republican and democratic candidates aaron woolf and elisa stefanik for graciously allowing us to participate in this historic. but also then delete kennedy born in the district and raised in the district who lives in the district who works in the district and employs people in the district. and basically is native to it. that is not the only thing that is important in a congressional race but it is important to send envoys to congress that actually represents you. thank you. woolf: thanks to my panelists. i am aaron woolf i have lived here since 1968.

when our house burned down we rebuilt on the property with help of friends and neighbors. that was an investment not only in the future of my family but in the community. over the years i help to build trails and served on boards and soldan distributed products from local farmers and a problem were republicans and democrats with the jobs they support my father's ashes are here in the district my daughter's best friend is here on monday i picked her up and dropped her off at school library for congress to allow purchase of a future here as well we have to fight for top-quality education and veterans to make sure local businesses have the tools they need to succeed and make sure people who work for a living can not only survive but thrive. there is a lot of dysfunction in washington to make things better with a shared responsibility and independence and hard work

what i learned growing up in the north country. >> moderator: the u.s. is involved in action in the middle east was if airstrikes against isis. president obama says no boots on the ground but instead he wants to arm serious troubles to battle the militants. would you go to in favor of that proposal and what about the long term strategy? >> i don't like to engage in hypothetical questions but clearly this is a volatile and changing situation but i am not privy to all the information that president obama or even congress mandolins has been a deeply skeptical about boots on the ground. darr straits may be important to begin tranche 20 but we have turkey and saudi arabia with hundreds

of thousands of men and they should absolutely be the first-line we should work in concert with other countries in the region but the director the foreign policy initiative one of the most hawkish foreign policy think tanks in washington and they advocate right now for boots on the ground. i think this is what voters do not want. stefanik: and we have a promise failed leadership my opponent aaron woolf is another vote for president obama. even his own secretary of defense and secretary of state said he should acted sooner to address isis. we have a week commander in chief her card preferred to the military commanders a price that we do need a strong commander in chief to speaks clearly and

conviction. i also think the commander in chief as the executive authority to take these actions he should go to congress anytime there is a discussion around the world. and the most declared land with the consideration to be taken seriously. >> moderator. funicello: it is important to remember that george did the bush and his administration put as in the middle east unconstitutionally congress did not declare war on afghanistan or iraq. we bombed in occupied to a sovereign nations and not according to the laws of our own country we have continued since world war ii to defy the constitutional doctrine that only congress shall declare war. me answer very simply is whether or not to take isis as the serious threat but no we shouldn't unless congress will declare war.

also for nations to use military force are questionably legal. the business decision to be made whether not they are the goal internationally. they are not as a congressperson i would never do that and i would hope that my opponents would not either. >> sticking with military issues a big topic of conversation for what it does we all know the impact it has. we have the worst case scenario proposing 16,000 soldiers that it would be a disaster is. but my question is being any person on the block would have you done to make sure

your voice would be heard in congress? >> it is the cornerstone of my campaign and what is getting then nation's military the coalition fighting back against the sequester from fort drum. what i talk about on the campaign trail of requests did to serve on the armed services committee with the bipartisan basis is a real way to insure the district also at fort drum be considered for that.

i do make commitments on the campaign trail there is no greater advocate to protect fort drum and fight against the sequester. >> in the military will use of military for a number of decades as economic development which is a travesty purpose united states military is to defend the united states if under attack. the bottom line is fort drum in this district is unbelievably important. the fact is looking at the federal government to threaten to at -- threaten cuts three% one congressperson will save it or do we talk about the transition that could allow us to economically thrive? i will point out in the midst of the congressional district before redistricting when it was

closed for the federal the government decides which they will do and do it and the their party will not fix the problem by the rolling green candidate so we needed a transition to a sustainable jobs that pay a living wage. woolf: interestingly fort drum is a leader in ideas about sustainability. the military knows better than anybody how to fuel efficiency. i would be proud to follow in the footsteps to promote -- promote for drum it is sustainable homegrown energy to expand that economic partnership that represents the also remember there is no on base hospital so we have military families and

civilian families interacting and integrating with each other so that is a model of a more responsible military should go. how when we make the decision to send men and women into combat but this is what is unique in the way i could do it effectively. >> moderator: is certainly a major race but according to last month the number one issue for likely voters in this day. let's get the unemployment numbers by and large most of the county in the 21st district is performing well compared to this day average so we will start with you what could you do as a member of congress to insure their job growth is more

equitable throughout the district? funicello: it is important to note for many years the lobbying going on to the congress people in washington d.c. the four corporations are deciding like centralized farming what areas will have what types of industry. this has created an unbelievable microcosm circulation on a small amount of capital. going to market over industries like farming to be centralized and decentralized my whole point is simple. to establish the congress to create jobs, is not an answer i am 100% satisfied

with some level half to about out. >> on the small business council of america and the only candidate on the stage to make real recommendations how to promote small business with tax cuts. elisa stefanik has talked about tax cuts are regulation by and talking 20% for any small business that hires a new employee or expands payroll. but we can promote small business by raising the minimum wage. and then refusing to take as an. i'm in favor choo raise the minimum wage 25 of the 58 corporations pay no tax at

all into level the playing field we will not get anywhere. stefanik: jobs is the number one issue that hundreds of small businesses throughout the district their manufacturers we'll understand firsthand the challenge is to employ people in the north country with that fundamental tax reform to start from scratch with those loopholes to take more of their money to invest in future generations for small businesses to create those jobs. with that regulatory regime coming from and then to fight back with the fastest

rising costs in the district and then heading into next year. i will take a moment to respond to the minimum-wage issue. >> moderator: we jump to a little bit ahead obviously it is a priority of the obama administration how you do this without the national federation to lead to small businesses closing their doors. have you take up balance and also protecting jobs? >> even the most regional that is not a illiberal publication but it is the

wage inequality. this is good for small businessmen particularly good for a main street that is why we have businesses like mcdonald's and subway and dairy queen. their franchise owned all of them are in favor of raising the minimum wage because giving their customers arrays will put more cash circulating in the economy it is important to do and has the same effect as closing the gender gap with the paycheck. my opponent was the director of the 2012 republican platform that omitted closing the gender gap teeeighteen when you talk about small businesses voluntarily raising minimum wage is it fair to include franchisees'? but the question is how do small businesses get

protected? you'll hear that they cannot afford it with health care costs rising as well. woolf: and looking at the situation with the affordable care act teeeighteen it is small businesses across the district i have heard this from. >> moderator: hold on. woolf: health care costs are rising more slowly since this has been measured. and premiums are rising more slowly. there's a there is some inequity that affects business is that we need to work on but i think this is a time you be easier for small businesses to provide insurance. stefanik: actually in the primary i am open to raising

the minimum wage give small businesses have a seat at the table but the big national corporations we need to make sure small businesses have a voice my family's small business we make a conscious decision as a small business to attract the best workers and i know matt funicello does the same and i have a tremendous amount of respect but. >> moderator: you will have a chance to ask one question. stefanik: but the minimum-wage is different than national even for this district teeeighteen role have that opportunity to ask questions later if that is where you want to go. that is fine. funicello: i will apologize for my previous derailment with the great jobs program talking about taking a lot

of jobs not covered by economic development but transitioning into renewable energy jobs and infrastructure jobs to be paid for federal the but with minimum-wage there is a simple answer the there by opponents carmaking $15 an hour right now they don't know what it is to live at that level but i do. i don't have health care as a small-business owner. i'll live with my workers henry ford said i will pay my assembly line workers enough money that they can all by model t's but what has happened and if we would be there forcibly with force of consumption now wal-mart and mcdonald's determines how much we will make? i read a piece that said by 2040 almost half will be in the service industry that $10.10 per hour just enough to get you off the subsidized programs might want to give you $15. that is what we deserve.

>> moderator: we will move on. >> talking about social security the possibility to raise the retirement age has come up as well. there has been some confusion in this discussion can you clarify elisa stefanik if you support that a higher retirement age and that about your thoughts on security. stefanik: social security is incredibly important not only seniors today also future generations. seniors and natalie concern about the program for themselves before their grandchildren. i will make no changes to this program aged 60 and above the to be honest we face tough to decisions the do nothing approach of my opponent means it will not be there for people of my age group for future generations so i have the

courage to not stick our head in the santa work on a bipartisan basis for future generations and everything should be on the table. their honors that the government has made. >> moderator: also about the higher retirement age. stefanik: we will have no longer works me an issue or increase should consider that. no changes above the age of 60. >> 1029 bill takes the cap at $117,000 to raise it to hundred $50,000 which should fund social security for the foreseeable future. there is very little sponsorship for this bill and will probably be removed. why? why would they support that i know my answer as you're looking to privatize health care and medicare and social

security. we need to be careful because have you make something more efficient to take money out of the funds that is owed to us? it is our money had to make ormandy to build up profit margin into something that is nonprofit? democrats will not raise it for sarah wealthy people. just like corporate america i say period -- pay your share. woolf: not just republicans but the republicans here on the stage and to privatize social security. she says things that don't represent which she has done as a director of the republican party platform she recommended to voucher rise medicare which led to know your position today. stefanik: and i will respond >> moderator: just age of

raising retirement age decent --. woolf: lam from will not raise the age and i would like to know by her definition what about someone who was 49 paying into the system since they were a teenager? when can they retire? elisa stefanik has lived up white-collar of light by the nephew have worked and manually but can you say something to the 49 rural working with their body with their hands is the very different fate fan sitting behind the desk working with a computer. stefanik: and my name is on the ballot it is 2014 i have been very specific where voters know where stagnant this is exactly what people are tired of the political attacks. when i had the courage to work on a bipartisan basis to fix these programs we did

better to focus grandchildren had better opportunities and programs are there for them. regarding whether i have had a job, you were the only multimillionaire running for this reason i am proud of my experience working on my family's small business our trucks are loaded five days out of the week delivering to companies across the district so i am proud of my work experience and it speaks for itself. >> moderator: to change focus residency is gaining plenty of attention and i believe it is something all of you brought up in your opening remarks. at the national campaign in particular criticized elisa stefanik and aaron woolf growing up also the district of not living in the district until recently. should voters have real concerns about supporting a candidate who has lived

outside the 21st district? funicello: having met both previously not social circumstances necessarily or the artificial circumstance to be on television together but they're both human beings and i am sure in their own way either to represent you in congress. mia a better representative cassette was born here and raised here and they weren't? 4,000 miles away? we developed a system where buying a congressional seat is the norm. does it matter? do we have a unique perspective of borden raised is that well served to become one of a group of democrats were either

individual voice? my supposition is it will be noticeable with those issues that matter to workers. >> if you walk down the street to ask almost anybody they are likely to know me because my family has had a home here since 1968 and read father's ashes are their. i have been there every season for years and years. the kind of work i have done for the community in the north country leaves me so apart community work and conservation work we're all humans but for me this is where my heart is in my home is a matter what happens on november 4th it is the best place in the world with

the best people in the world and i intend to stay there. stefanik: . . and giving them the environment to grow and thrive in standing up for our servicemen and women women at fort drum. >> moderator: do you have a response? woolf: i'm proud of the work i

have done in the community and helping to save the small-town movie houses and have been involved in a community level since decades. to me dropping off my daughter at school is as big a commitment i can make to the future of our district. again i'm going to be there no matter what happens on november 4 and will continue working in the community. >> moderator: switching gears entirely. the question is for you mr. woolf. there are a number of colleges and universities in the district. they play a vital role cultural and economically. there's a problem of sexual assault on college campuses. the obama administration is trying to address it in here in new york we are trying to address it. financial penalties increase reporting. we are talking about all these things. not all politicians are aborted they say could potentially hurt them maintaining jobs that are so vital. what is your position on how to handle this issue? funicello: universities can be

closed communities and they like to be self-policing tendencies. sexual violence on campus is growing. there's an astounding number of women who are affected by it and i think it's really important that we be proactive as a society to say self enforcement is not working. unfortunately i think that's also true in the military, where we have to look at examples senator gillibrand plan so there can be objectivity. this is to live in the military structure but is creating an opportunity to have some objectivity in both of those communities you see a lot of ranks closing. i think that's really unfortunate and something we need to address. 168 republicans voted against the violence against women act. this is basic stuff for how we look at taking care of our society and the dressing on campus along with senator gillibrand is something i would like very much ado.

stefanik: as a woman's sexual violence and sexual assault are an incredibly important issue in an issue i would urge our colleges and universities not only to handle on campus but i think we need to address about the federal level. i would support an initiative to increase reporting requirements. i absolutely think they should not be tolerated and young women out there watching this today this is one of the reasons i'm running for congress. we need more women on both sides of the aisle who have a seat at the table to take on these tough issues. i would break with my party and vote for the violence against women act so i hope to be a strong voice for women not just in this district across the country. >> moderator: mr. funicello. funicello: i would have to agree with both candidates. it's easy to split decision to do different things. one is security on college campuses. community policing is something we are trying to re-enter jacked into the discussion when it comes to some of our larger urban centers. i think we are doing it with

marginal success and we have seen an increased example as we are militarizing our police forces of excessive force, brutality and outright killing. we need to make sure that our police are members of the community. this is an important idea. it goes back to the 1960s and it really needs to take root once again. if we are on a college campus and we actually start to look at outside forces coming in as gillibrand is suggesting with the military to invest these issues -- address these issues on a happen but the others a cultural issue and the objective is to women. we need to take a strong stance on schooling at a very early age that we actually are raising men and women who respect each other and don't sexualize their relationships. mata moving onto an issue issue that is unique to our area, the national joined the commission decided to endorse plan 2014.

which basically restores the law to its more natural -- it's been widely championed by most everyone but those on the southern shores of the lake are outraged by shoreline erosion and it could cost millions of dollars. i know there's money in 2014 to help with that but they are not happy with the plan. what's the correct course of action here and how do you prioritize the needs of what they want but also neighbors who want something different? ms. stefanik we will start with you. stefanik: the plan is a great way of bringing them environmental as an members of the communities together to support these issues. i support the 2014 plan to restore the waters to historic levels. not not only is it a burn permit our economy which is so dependent on a clean environment in the district. i also support having flood insurance protection for the

southern region you are referring to. i think that the next representative for this district must advocate on behalf of our economy and how we are going to create jobs and we do that by cleaning up the environment and begin returning those water levels. i support that. the 2014 plan i think is where we should have been the future and i join congressman owen and supporting the plan. >> moderator: mr. funicello. funicello: i don't have a scientific opinion on addressing the water levels but i believe we need to respect the opinion of the people that live and work in the region. there's a similar issue going on in the northern part of the district with a rooftop highway. there are a number of federal ideas that become state ideas. he began to use public money to participate in what can often become a boondoggle. because this is an environmental issue on top of everything else we interject the idea of science. it's not whether the rooftop highway is a good idea or not. we are talking about the erosion

of soil. we are talking about farmland and where people are living and this is a catastrophic issue. the point is why would we leave it to the federal government to decide? funding should come from the federal government but the regional representation should be the ones to decide what the answers to the problem, not congress. >> moderator: mr. woolf. woolf: the common ground of alliance was an amazing group born around 2007 that brings together conservationist towns and villages small villages in the north country. for years we fought about conservation issues and there was a built-in contentiousness. we used to joke that in the adirondack people would rather fight than win. that's changed a lot in one of the things we are seeing is this idea that conservation and best practices" agriculture as well can be an economic driver and not an impediment to growth. i embrace plan 2014 because i

think it's on the step and i agree with ms. stefanik that bringing together those groups is something we do well in the north country. i agree we should compensate the lake ontario homeowners with flood insurance but i do think representing our district is a win-win and it's good for business and is good for the environment and it's a great example of what we have been able to do in the north country that really stands in strong contrast to what happened in washington. >> moderator: thank you very much. agriculture is certainly a major industry in the stating given the district size quite a large percentage of new york state's farm so we are finding many of the farmers throughout the district and everywhere else are baby boomers reaching old age and they are struggling to find second-generation or next-generation farmers to look after their properties and keep the family enterprises billing. so what is a member of congress would you do to make this a more attractive and more viable industry for young farmers looking to get a start mr. funicello?

funicello: we put congresses scope of reference has more to do at the farm bill than anything else. we should as many critics have said they called the food bill. it's not commodification of the about how we subsidize farming. even though we are going to do it on a monocrop level and use fertilizers and pesticides. we are going to grow licensed and franchise forms of corn and hay. we are going to plug ourselves into a system that allows us to be in a death spiral for dairy farmers. it's a terrible system and produces food is really inevitable. what you have to ask ask yourself this would we rather have a farmland being used for major monocrops centralized agriculture farms or would we rather grow weed and water town in north country country farms in buy it? would be rather a small family farm that has organic food and bite the farmers market? why are we not subsidizing to attract the husband and wife who are 25 years old and want to

start farming their parents property. we all want good healthy food that congress has to say we are going to give you some of the money to capitalize making the food. we don't do that right now. we give it to the big guys. >> moderator: mr. woolf. woolf: i think matt is right on track with his ideas. we really want to see a lot more diversified agriculture operations. we want to see value-added products. i personally looked at ag issues before i ran for congress in my work. i supported and distribute products in the new york's 21st. i think there are ways we can greatly improve a lot of agriculture in the district. one of those is to look at some of the environmental regulations that i think have been overprescribed. calling intermittent puzzles and ditches his part is the navigable waterways and meeting

farmers at the table by passing comprehensive immigration reform something the republicans have refused to do for a long time is one of the most important things we do for our dairy farmers. >> moderator: ms. stefanik. stefanik: agriculture is the backbone of our economy in the 21st district. i've traveled to many farms across the district ranging from dairy farms to organic farmers to apple orchards. i agree with aaron that we need to address the overreaching federal regulation but a vote for aaron is another vote for president obama and nancy pelosi's overregulated agenda. finally believe we need to address the speculation and roll some of them back. again addressing the clean water act which has puddles of water that are navigable. i also think we need to cut taxes. part of the question was how to hand down farms from one generation to the next. our farms in new york have some of the highest taxes in the country. my opponent wants to raise taxes

on some of the family farms in the district. i want to cut taxes to make it easier to keep these farms and families in our country and i also think we need to have a representative who can have a seat at the table on the ag committee in order to negotiate a 21st century farm policy. when it comes to labor i think we need to address her to address eric h-2a b. visa program and ensure their certainty for dairy farmers in the district with their workforce so that three to five year program is legalized and pursued separately. i think it needs to be immediately addressed on a bipartisan basis. >> moderator: we would like to give mr. woolf a chance to respond. woolf: i certainly take umbrage at your vision that i want to raise taxes on family farmers. nothing on my record could possibly support that. stefanik: is a tax hike and it raises taxes on industries not only on farmers that manufactures like miller mechanical in glen falls.

>> moderator: let's mr. woolf rebut. woolf: it is one of the ways that i have proposed raising revenue. i'm the only candidate on this podium and stage that is talked about ways to raise revenue. we need better roads and bridges. we need rural broadband and nobody, everybody on the stage is talked about that but nobody dares to say how we can possibly raise the money. i think the rule which the roses millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share don't pay a lower tax rate than the people that work for them to me seems absolutely fair and necessary. >> moderator: now we are at the point where you'll have the opportunity to ask one another questions. it looks like you have a lot of questions for one another but you only get one. one question up one? candidate or one question of the two candidates. woolf: i take in intention with my opponent that i would do

everything that obama and pelosi say. and i stand by my work which always brought all sides of the table on issues that were both brought liberals and conservatives to the table. i have always done that and i've done that with the movie theater project. the question as you know you keep running away from your record as the director of this 2012 republican party platform. as a film director i take full responsibility for all the things in my zone. you are a director. you put your name on a document for constitutional ban on a woman's right to choose it and in the case of rape, and the life of the mother. you put your name on that. you need to take responsibility for that even if it was the only two years ago. you are running for office now and it seems like you are saying whatever you think the voters want to hear. my question is were you being

disingenuous now or are you being disingenuous now? stefanik: this is an important question. for the viewers watching this evening my name is on the ballot for 2014. aaron you and i know that i did read the platform nor did i have editorial control. i was not a delegate in new york state. this is part of the reason why i'm running for office to put forth my own ideas because i think we need new leadership in washington. i have seen first-hand how broken leadership is in washington so if you are asking what my position is i am pro-life with three exceptions, rape in the life of the mother. i prayed with him. i'm running as elise stefanik today and you are playing the partisan political attack. i hope those are paying attention to what my ideas are for the district while you are lobbing attacks in reading from the obama pelosi agenda which you will be another vote in favor of. >> moderator: to reiterate mr. funicello a question for one or both of your opponents.

funicello: i have a question for both of my i'm going to call them running mates. it's less uncomfortable. i'm going to ask something somewhat uncomfortable at both of you. i'm a working-class person. i make less than $40,000 a year. i don't have health insurance and i choose that because my workers can afford health insurance i'm not going to live off their backs. both of you are from unbelievable means. that's just reality and i'm not saying that makes you a bad person. what i am saying is if you look at congress right now it's made up of nothing but people of means. don't you think congress would be were better represented if we actually had the voice of the working people in congress as well since 96% of us work for a living on a daily basis. why should we put wealthy people in office? your latest third-quarter report shows both of you got almost 70% of your money from outside the district helping you represent the district is working people because that's what it's made up of because you are getting their

money from people that come from outside. woolf: i think matt is vast and important question i think the role of money in politics is correcting. i think there's a lot of it and i'm deeply troubled by it. unfortunately we are living in an era in which money is being used in all sorts of ways. one of the biggest examples is more than $2 million in outside groups that have been supporting the stefanik campaign and have chosen her as a kind of favorite representative. i think that represents the fact that she is being invested in by some of the wealthiest people in the country, by some of the people who are the biggest donors. she won't come out and say anything about oil subsidies because the people that donate to cross roads are some the biggest oil companies. i think matt asks a really good question. the fact is i did grow up in a middle-class family with parents

as teachers and i think i do understand one of the best things maybe we can do is to change the system and begin to look at the role of money in politics. stefanik: i would like to address the accusations and negative campaigning. aaron woolf is the only candidate who is self-funding the majority of his campaign. he put in over half a million dollars today. i've worked hard to raise the money. i have small donors throughout the district. i've been blessed with opportunity my life. my parents didn't have the same opportunity and i saw when they were seven years -- when i was seven years old they rest everything to start a small business. i'm proud that i grew up in that environment where hate seeing your work ethic matters and the amount of time you dedicate to building a business pays off. i was the first member of my immediate family to have the opportunity to graduate from college. i want to pursue policies so

more people have those opportunities so people are incentivized to start small businesses and grow their businesses but with all due respect aaron you are the only millionaire running in this race. i too and concerned with the role of money in politics but you are self-funding over half a million dollars. motzert you now have the opportunity to ask a question of your opponent. stefanik: my question will be to aaron woolf and i would like to know do you know the minimum wage for new york state and the minimum wage for your workers at your grocery store in brooklyn. woolf: $8 the workers that i pay at my grocery store is $10. stefanik: mayor de blasio just de blasio just raise it to $13.13 up to the viewers that are paying attention i know matt duss answer to this question but it's very important to know. it's very important when discussing the minimum wage that

you have a basic understanding of the policies. as i said i'm open to raising minimum wage but for the record aaron woolf does not know what the minimum wage is in city in the midst he may pay lowered the minimum wage. >> moderator: unfortunately we are running out of time and we have to move on. woolf: nothing takes away from the fact that my opponent will not commit to raising the minimum wage. this is the most essential thing we can do to begin to put money into our -- hands. motzert we are going to move on. ms. stefanik, this seat has been a battleground for several election cycles now. national parties in the past spent big to help the candidates as mr. woolf mansion. you have been the beneficiary is the largest degree of outside spending. there have been a lot of negative packs from the outside coming in. has this limited discussion of local issues distracted voters

from the actual importance of what's going on? stefanik: i focus on my campaign and what i control. as that may run our focus on the issues and not engaging in a negative attacks. i believe we need more transparency in politics today. i believe we should note for all of the money is coming from. 100% transparency to the voters. i focus my campaign on doing the hard work of traveling the district in showing the type of energy it will bring to the table and i think that's why if you compare both of the candidates on the stage and make more money from small donors in the district because they support new ideas and they are invested in our campaign. motzert to be clear you have not disavowed the negative outside attacks. stefanik: i'm focused on my campaign and what i can control. i can't control the fact that outside advertisements are for aaron aaron woolf because of his flailing candidacy. i'm focused on my campaign in raising money for donors -- from

donors to believe we need a new generation of of -- woolf: elise stefanik called me on my cell phone and she said i'm really looking forward to a campaign focused on issues. unfortunately she's not telling the truth when she says it's only outside groups that have gone negative. she brought my wife into this situation and she talked about her in an interview which i can have as a provider reference for. she has said over and over again that i'm trying to run for congress to make a documentary film. i'm running for congress to represent the people of the 21st district. both of these people have said it but ms. stefanik has said it on television and she has mention my wife on the radio. it's this kind of way of making it about personal issues that i think is being used to distract from the real issues, the real issues we are talking about tonight and should be focusing on. it's one of the hallmarks of campaigning today but we have not done that. even on our web site their

allies that the adirondack -- adirondack has challenged. funicello: i think you're question was about local issues. i think congress we are trying to represent as a congressional congressional representative the people in our district on national issues. we have spent so much time talking and this is what is getting tongue-tied about earlier. we spend so much time about what the congressman do locally what can our congresswoman do locally. you can go to your parade and feel happy that they are with you in waving the flag around. they are going to vote on whether or not you make a livi living, minimum wage. they will vote on whether or not you get good medical care. we pay with public money that's free and already paid for medicare for everybody in the entire country right now we don't have it. single-parent health care is on the table. are these people going to vote

for a? no they are not going to get it for you neither am i. 27 of us are. 54 of us are. we need to start putting independents in congress that don't take corporate money and we will save at a national level. these are the issues that matter. >> moderator: we are unfortunately out of time -- we are almost out of time. we would like to get to the lightning round. we have two minutes to do that. you want to get to as many questions as possible and we have done a lot of mixing it up here. we are going to do this yes or no and ms. stefanik i'm going to go with you first if that's okay. these are the names of congress? stefanik: yes and i have taken a -- funicello: not until we address the seniority system. >> moderator: mr. -- miss the fun it would -- make a good u.s. attorney general? >> yes. >> yes. >> moderator: have you ever climbed the peak's?

stefanik: i have climbed the cascades. woolf: ivan had the time to do that. i've been working. funicello: heavy or been to a fish concert? woolf: no. stefanik: me neither. >> moderator: mr. woolf? funicello: have you ever experienced or been to the thompson park vortex? stefanik: i follow the news clips about it. if you were state legislator would you have voted for -- absolutely not. >> no indeed. motzert leave over governor cuomo november? >> yes. >> no. >> oh god, no. >> did you vote for him in 2014? >> i wrote an expletive.

>> should roger goodell stepped down as commissioner of the nfl? >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> moderator: we are going to go to closing statements and that begins in one minute to remind you and mr. woolf you first. a. woolf: thank you for the opportunity to be here in a spirited moments and it's an incredible honor to be a candidate for congress in the 21st district. i think we have a lot to be proud of in our district and we are seeing the seeds of the new economy and so many places. small-scale manufacturing warren county ag revival in champagne valley and forest tree to provide cutting-edge forest tree for fort fort drum. i've such faith in the future of our economy in upstate new york but dysfunction and inaction and partisan extremism in washington have been a major major block. they have been a thaw on our

economy and a paralysis on our progress as a nation. i'm the only candidate on the stage that is not beholden to a concert of ideology or liberal ideology and i will work for good legislation for the new york's 21st district and i don't care for comes from a republican or a democrat or a green. i'm incredibly proud to be standing here today and would be incredibly proud to serve usa next congressional representative. stefanik: i want to thank congressman owens. in all the discussions today it's important to acknowledge the service to the district and his track record of working out on a bipartisan basis. i hope to be able to fill those big shoes and work in a bipartisan basis on so many issues we are facing. it's clear to me that president obama's economic policies have failed this district. while my opponent supports president obama i believe we need to have new ideas and a new generation of leadership to unleash job creation and promote economic growth right here in the north country by cutting

taxes and overhauling the tax code by investing in our interest richer by continuing to work with canadian businesses as partners. i also believe we need to ensure that our farmers have a brighter future in this district and i am committed to always fighting on behalf of our brave servicemen and women at fort drum and our veterans in the district. i entered this race a year ago and i'm excited about the momentum and support our campaign is gained and i humbly ask for your vote on november 4. funicello: i was born and raised in wilton new york. i have lived other places in my life but my home is definitely in cd 21. i live in it now, i work in it now and i run two businesses there. my family works here. we play here. we play hockey here. we can't hear in the farm here. this is my home. it's not the only reason why you should vote for me. because i want single-payer health care and the reality is we already pay for it and they're not being given that health care.

we are not aware of it. we need to start being aware of that. we need $15 an hour and we need a raise. we need to elevate workers because of corporate welfare. we are never going to take away that entitlement that those people are getting in the form of economic development which often comes from congress. what we have to ask ourselves is how is that going to happen. what has congress done for you as a worker that you like i would say -- are good examples of what they do when you vote for a lesser evil. stop doing it. start voting for someone who is from your home and wants to represent you. thank you. ..

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