maggie hassan running for a second term in congress and republican challenger first time politician while the havenstein kisses her reckless spending. she says he's nothing but a failed ceo. the debate starts right now. ♪ ♪ >> moderator: good evening. i'm political director paul site has her. welcome to the crucial debate in the gubernatorial and congressional election. tonight the race for governor. let's introduce her candidates democratic candidate maggie hassan was away in private practice before being elected to the state senate in 2004. she served three terms in the state senate. she was elected governor in 2012. she's the second woman following gene gene to be elected governor.

hassan 56 lives in exeter peter bergen nominate bob havenstein is a graduate of the u.s. naval academy and served a dozen years on active duty in the u.s. marines. suthers chief operating officer of national va system a defense contractor and served as ceo of applications international technology and entering company. havenstein 65 and lives in oldham. each candidate will get one minute to respond and will be about 30 seconds of rebuttal time. turning near an h. one chief political correspondent kevin landrigan and laura tonight host of exchange on new hampshire public radio. i would like to introduce one of our other media partners as well and they are in tonight's debate. as media partners or the telegraph of nashua "foster's daily democrat" the portsmouth herald the laconia daily sun and the redmond center at unh school of law. we begin tonight with a story that has been dominating the headlines for days in new hampshire.

in her usual request let's turn our attention to the video screen behind you. dozens were hurt at the violence saturday near the pumpkin festival and team. governor does questions for you. they were prepared for such an event purchasing an air cap to control the situation and still happen. should the trusty holden at the guest -- investigation into how this happened and what he doing to make sure something like this does not happen again? hassan: thank you for the question and thank you to new hampshire one for hosting the panels few polls and to mr. havenstein for agreeing to this debate. certainly would have been inking over the weekend was horrific and unacceptable and we need to make sure the people who are responsible are held accountable. while families and children were enjoying a pumpkin festival downtown our law enforcement came together, local law enforcement as well as state police to contain a very violent situation where rioters were

throwing rocks and bottles and even pool. they were a number of injuries. we are fortunate that there were more injuries. we need to hold the people responsible accountable and that includes not only students at keene state who might have been responsible are citizens from the area but also's students who came from other colleges campuses around the region. the investigation is ongoing and i think it's going to be important to gather videos so we can hope more people accountable. i am concerned that there seems to have been a social media company that invited a lot of people to a particular area that they didn't have permission to invite them to. one of the things we need to do is understand the role that company played and see if there's a way to hold them accountable assuming the facts show that they played indeed a role. >> moderator: should anyone be

held accountable for the lack of preparedness? hassan: nobody anticipated the level to which social media truth is number of people but certainly as we go to the investigation we will be asking those questions in determining whether the college had any responsibility for what happened. law enforcement contains the situation we didn't have to bring out a bare cap. families were kept safe while they were enjoying the pumpkin festival. >> moderator: mr. havenstein? havenstein: it is a sad example of what can happen when people get out of control and frankly i was at the pumpkin festival when the offense occurred. i would echo the fact that local law enforcement did a great job in keeping the disturbance and essentially what was a riot away from those of us who were

enjoying the festival there in keene. it's a very sad situation because it puts in jeopardy the future of that magnificent festival. i would say absolutely those responsible for the conduct must be held accountable but those in authority at the university must make sure that they do a lot of soul-searching in terms of their responsibility. we have seen situations where institutions like universities have to reset standards reset expectations and the good thing is in setting expectations for every year for the incoming freshmen they have a chance to reset things in a very positive way. >> moderator: mr. havenstein this question is for you. the governor claims he would seek to dismantle medicaid expansion. what would it mean to the 20,000 people who are getting their coverage and are eligible for

this new benefit? havenstein: my position as i would have never signed this medicaid expansion bill primarily because of sunsetting of it puts in jeopardy and creates uncertainty for the people who are going onto the program right now. we have as i understand about 20,000 citizens who have signed up but there is uncertainty as to what will happen when the program sunsets in 2017. we need a fix. it's not a question of going forward as it is. we have to fi fix it now so that those who are in the most need and i have always supported making sure those in need have access to affordable health care. but if you have a program that is not funded into the future it creates a great deal of uncertainty to those folks. it's kind of like lucy and the football with charlie brown.

his 2017 going to roll around and are we going to pull the benefit away or are we going to fifix it now so their certaintys know exactly what they are paying for and providing a benefit to other citizens of our state? hassan: i am proud that the business committee came together to pass a bipartisan health protection plan that already is bringing health and economic security that comes with health care coverage to 20,000 and will cover as many as 50,000. people should make no mistake. mr. havenstein has signed the koch brothers pledge which said he will do everything he can to block all elements of obamacare including medicaid expansion so he has said he would repeal it. i will make sure that our citizens are not only get the

financial and health security that comes with coverage and preventive care but also that we have a productive and healthy workforce. havenstein: it's simply not true. i've said since the bill was passed that my focus would be on fixing it. we shouldn't be taking a victory lap with the idea that we are bringing 50,000 more people into our government program. we should be finding ways to help people make sure that they can rise above that. that's what the economic development plan that i've have put forward is all about creating opportunities for people so they won't have to depend upon the government. we should be focused more on making sure people have opportunities not to be dependent upon government, not celebrating success by bringing people into the government programs. >> thank you both. let's go to laura. >> thank you. this question is for you

mr. havenstein. making government more efficient by 2.5% $90 million in revenue over the two-year budget cycle. what programs positions or services might be affected in order to achieve the savings? >> laura as you know running a big company like va systems efficiency and effectiveness targets were set at 35% year-to-year and we were able to meet those objectives and at the same time grow our business. to think that the state doesn't have 2.5% of efficiencies to be gained in our state government i think most people would say is reasonable so what i'm looking for is leadership within the state government to identify their areas that they think are most susceptible and effective efficiency gains and frankly because i have been able to do

this year after year in the private sector i can help them. i can teach them how to do that if they frankly don't know how. i believe most of our leaders and state government have ways of creating efficiency when it comes to their departments. >> moderator: governor. hassan: let's be clear that my opponent's koch brothers plan put a 90 million-dollar hole in the budget before it gets to the efficiency target. i'm very proud that we passed a bipartisan budget in over a decade in new hampshire and we have been carefully managing that budget to a surplus. my agency has carefully and responsibly managed the fiscal year 14 budget to be their efficiency target. state government already has efficiency targets. we already beat that expectation over the last year. it's really important for people to understand that in addition

to these efficiency targets my opponent would have a 90 million-dollar hole in the budget in addition to that. this. havenstein: 2.5% efficiency goals are to accommodate the tax reductions on businesses that are essential structurally. i would also suggest the governor's inaccurate when she said she met her 2014 budget. she didn't. she failed by at least $7.5 million in terms of the surplus that was expected and has identified $40 million overspending and health and human services for 2015. so frankly my view of her fiscal responsibility she has not earned his second term. >> moderator: governor do you want to respond? hassan: we managed the budget surplus. it has been approved by a bipartisan group of legislators both senators and house members. we agreed on those.

we managed to surplus. we beat our efficiency expectations and moving forward we are managing the fiscal year 15 budget carefully as we have seen the tax change from the o'brien legislature thus impacts on revenue have seen a trend downward. we have already frozen hiring and purchasing and we will carefully manage and in fiscal year 15 with a balanced budget. havenstein: again this is not about revenue. our revenue numbers for 2014 were right on target and their revenue numbers for the first quarter this fiscal year are right on target. the issue is spending. we are spending more than was budgeted and frankly we don't have the transparency you would expect to see month-to-month from the departmental legislature has complained about it. they have been complaining about it since the spring and frankly too suggests that this is a

bipartisan budget is frankly not true. the senate republicans created and pass this budget. >> moderator: a short answered governor and then we are moving on. hassan: i will add their the republicans in the senate are complaining about the budget. they're the one group that didn't meet their last target by a large margin. >> moderator: thank you both. let's switch gears and for that we will go to kevin. >> this question is for governor hassan. less than two weeks voters will be asked whether they still support the free casinos that are on line to be licensed next year. if they agree to support them are you going to deal to make the case for one high-end facility in new hampshire as a reliable source of revenue for the state?

hassan: thank you kevin for the question. since entering office i have worked in the business community to set an innovation plan. that plan has helped us pass a bipartisan balanced budget freeze tuition at our university system's double the r&d tax credit, come together to pass a bipartisan plan and bipartisan medicaid expansion plans all important for the 21st century economy. we know that there will continue to be needed investments especially around issues like holding down college education so i think it makes sense to capture the revenue that new hampshire folks who go to casinos are spending to make sure we are funding our priorities here in new hampshire with one destination casino. the analysis shows there is a market for that casino and if massachusetts goes forward with its casino. what's important is most people in new hampshire now there were

lots of their fellow citizens have fellow citizens of gotham south dakota casinos and their revenues will be funding massachusetts. >> moderator: mr. havenstein. havenstein: i oppose casino gambling and are stating the reason i oppose it is clear in the backside of that market. we see new jersey pennsylvania and delaware who were once cash cows casinos are now burdens on the state. it doesn't seem to me that we need to be making those kinds of investments on a market. having said that the real reason we are looking at a casino and the governors in support of it is she wants the revenue. she wants to increase spending and frankly it doesn't make any sense to be betting on a casino. you are really gambling with the taxpayers money. so i don't support casino gambling and frankly when the

economy is at 0.9% growth that's the reason we are having issues with revenue. we have get to get our economy moving and frankly we have a governor who does understand and do that. hassan: certainly the casino industry strengthening and you are seeing some casinos that have it done while of competition. you are seeing a strengthening in other casinos but what's important is that we bielat to make critical investments and holding the cost of higher education down and our community colleges are 5% less. my opponent has said he would give any more money ever to our universities are higher education system and that's an issue for middle-class families. havenstein: never said i wouldn't give money to higher education system. frankly that is simply not true. bodzo thank you both. let's move on. >> thanks a lot tall.

today we had a horrible tragedy in canada and our thoughts are certainly with the people there today. thinking about security in particular school security. last month we are locked out of manchester. a man walked in with a duffel bag. and in it he had a pellet gun and a knife and fortunately it ended safely. no one was hurt but my question tonight is in your opinion what is your state doing to make sure students are safe in the classroom and is it enough? havenstein: i think it is indeed unfortunate will be sans manchester and i think the response by law enforcement and other officials was very good from my perspective. i think we need to keep thinking about making sure if we are going to have security in the schools we need security and crime prevention in every dimension. one of the things that concerns me is the fact that governor hassan in the past sponsored s.b. 500 at bill that were

violent criminals loose several years ago and those violent criminals created a 12.5% spike in violent crime in our state. you can't be soft on criminals and then expect to create a secure environment in other parts of our society. it just won't work. hassan: the most important task is public safety so i'm very pleased i have received a report of the new hampshire police association and the professional firefighters of new hampshire. in terms of school safety in our bipartisan budget would increase funding for safety measures so that schools can have direct mitigation with the police department and recently in londonderry we see the development of our program that improves response time for public safety officials. and the legislation that my opponent is talking about he knows that was bipartisan

legislation supported by law enforcement and the crime statistics he talks about has been debunked. havenstein: that's simply not true. >> moderator: let's move on. calls to raise this state gas tax and we have much more ground to cover. we will be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> moderator: welcome back to the race for governor in hampshire. i think it's fair to say if

anybody has been watching television last couple of weeks there are tough ads on both sides in his gubernatorial contest. let's look at one of them right now. >> bad management fraud wasteful spending on walt havenstein's watch briga failed ceos company overture's taxpayers for project meant to train first responders and another taxpayer budget projects havenstein was over budget to massive fraud. governor maggie hassan bipartisan leadership balancing the budget with no sales or income tax and doubling r&d tax credits for businesses. maggie hassan building an innovation economy for future paid for by maggie hassan. >> moderator: that brings us to our next question by the "foster's daily democrat" edit editor. >> governor has in your campaign was repeatedly referring to yo your -- failed ceo walt havenstein. the "associated press" wrote 5000 jobs lost international

corporations and a drop in the company's value are wrong but defense industry analysts and experts say the ads ignore key elements of the full stories such as the nationwide recession and cuts to the federal defense budget. is that fair to say the allegations of mr. havenstein being a failed ceo is either wrong or at least overstated by your campaign? matzo governor let's start with you and give you a chance as well to talk about this ad. hassan: my opponent has made his experience as a ceo the cornerstone of the campaign. you need to look at what that experience is. under his watch his company implemented a strategy. his company lost thousands of jobs. the stock value plummeted 30%. the company it is split into as he left and then there were two major findings of fraud on the one hand and overcharging,

overcharging training for first responders. that doesn't speak to advancement. in fact he didn't take any action on either the fraud case until it became public in there were charges filed. havenstein: i'm glad this has come up. the fact is after 10 years of extraordinary performance at the va system i was recruited by the board of directors and saic to come in and set a new strategy reorganized the company and make sure we were efficient and competitive going forward into what we knew was going to be a very difficult period for industry. that's exactly what i did. when i finish that job i retired. certainly in the time i was there i am covered the situation in new york city that led to the discovery of fraud.

i covered it, i fixed it and made sure the city of new york was made whole, held those responsible accountable including firing three of the senior executives and then we moved on. so the work we did have fdic involves a lot of leadership and when i left the chairman of the board praised me for my management acumen in my leadership of the company. >> moderator: governor. hassan: as mr. havenstein got to fdic the budget was $100 million they were overspending that entire first year to the point where they ended up having to settle the case for half a billion dollars and he took no action until after charges were filed so that doesn't speak to good management. in fact what he would do and what he did is not something we want him to do to the state of

new hampshire. he started talking about blowing and 90 million-dollar hole in her budget and taking us back to the bill o'brien years. havenstein: again it was all about leadership. it was all about facing problems. frankly problems that needed solving and i solved them. in contrast the government -- the governors facing problems when it comes to unfunded pension liability and others that she is not willing to face into and not take aggressive action and frankly as a result in my opinion she has not earned a second term. >> moderator: i want to play another ad because it's not only the governors tough ads out there. let's take a listen. >> some second terms are mistake. maggie hassan's first term expanding obamacare new hampshire and splitting the state budget. now heard is asking for $2 billion more.

hassan supported tax and fee. support an income tax again. hassan may have no choice but you do. she has not earned his second term. vote against an income tax, vote against maggie hassan. >> moderator: governor think you want to respond to that. how do you avoid a second term slump? hassan: oh my goodness. first of all i oppose income tax and i've been clear about that. we are in the process of developing our budget for the next biennium as every governor does in the fall leading into the next two-year budget cycle. that ad is incredibly misleading. balao requires agency heads to submit certain data about how much certain things would cost if we were to do them all. i've already told them that it's a nonstarter the numbers that they need to come up with much

more realistic proposals because we need to balance the budget. mr. havenstein where they kept increasing spending on budget we have to live within our means to balance the budget. we will continue to do that. the last thing i would say is that the budget mr. havenstein has attacked as a budget that passed unanimously in the republican-led senate. if passed unanimously in the democratic house. we did at the new hampshire way and we came together and found a way forward and compromised and it's a budget invested in priorities for the 21st century economic growth. >> moderator: mr. havenstein. havenstein: our budget i'll be assigned by the governor was attacked by the governor. there was not cooperation when it came to across the aisle communication. maybe that's why the senate finance chair senator jeannie foster characterized governor

hassan's leadership as toxic partisanship, toxic partisanship that is poisoning congress. that is not me talking. that someone at the governor supposed to be working with talking. and i've got to tell you about the style of leadership that is expected to create solutions for the state frankly the governor has not earned his second term. hassan: he might understand the notion of compromise. i criticize certain aspects of the republican budget when it came out of the senate and they criticize mine but the thing about working together in bipartisanship is not that you agree on everything except that they were able to debate and then move forward and still solve the problem. that's a wiki with a budget. what is really toxic is to let the budget that walt havenstein's 90 million-dollar hole left in the level of

partisanship that bill o'brien praised exercises. mott said mr. havenstein a quick response. havenstein: it's not a question of working together. the question that the people she supposedly work together criticize her leadership. toxic partisanship. if i said toxic partisanship as many times as the governor says bipartisanship maybe people would figure this out. she's not the leader for the future. >> moderator: thank you both. let's shift gears and move to different topic and for that let's go back to kevin. >> thank you paul. this is a question for both of you. let's start with governor hassan. as you know heroin addiction is growing and a substantial problem in new hampshire. we are among the top five states in the country in terms of heroin deaths and one of the lowest five states in terms of treatment per-capita. would you spend more money and

resources to expand substance abuse treatment in this state? hassan: thank you for the question kevin. certainly heroin and prescription drug use is a serious issue in our state. it's one of the reasons the bipartisan medicaid expansion grew was so important that this is an agreement funded by the federal government, 2.5 billion federal dollars over the next seven years and it includes substance abuse and mental health treatment, critical to be able to get to those in need. in addition to the medicaid expansion plans plan and expansion plan that my opponent would repeal we just launched our prescription drug monitoring program which allows us to pull prescriptions and allows health care providers to determine whether a patient presented to them is seeking drugs are doctor shopping. have worked with the other new

england governors, for the new england governors to make sure we are working across state lines to address this particularly challenging problem and making sure that our first responders have the use of narcan so they can pull someone out of an overdose saving lives but in the long term this is about access to treatment and are expansion will allow us to do that. >> moderator: mr. havenstein. havenstein: it is about access to treatment. the problem with the medicaid medicaid expansion build the governor signed is that it terminates in less than 2.5 years. it truncates, and those people that we made these commitments who are in jeopardy. i have never proposed or suggested that we repeal or medicaid expansion law. what i proposed is fixing it in a responsible way that we can fulfill our commitments to those we are making today for the future. ..

>> >> let's start with mr.

havenstein. havenstein: i oppose the gas tax. is the wrong time for another tax on the people of new hampshire it is not just a gas tax every bit of commerce that comes through our state rights on that tax for example, in the north country $800 per yeablia

>> eight. >>.

havenstein: what i have proposed is supporting the senator's proposal to make structural changes of the money we're raising for roads and bridges is spent for roads and bridges. hassan: i do have to save the plan that mr. havenstein is talking about in terms of changing the structure, that proposal could take as mucho%e

>>éçr)y >> something that might

opponent will not do. havenstein: the key is to create job opportunities. that frankly the governor does not know how to do that. have proposed a plan to create 25,000 high taxes high-paying jobs in the first two and a half years of my administration. that includes tax restructuring that is so critical we will not be competitive unless we do it with changes of regulations to make us the business friendly state with an education system aligned for the future employment needs and energy policy to drive rates down so once again we can be competitive and the infrastructure system we can afford to support that as well as a health care cost that are competitive with the other states we compete with. we will not create

opportunities for young people without fundamental structural changes and frankly that is what the governor is not interested or able to do. >> moderator: we will have more with our debate in a moment. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> moderator: welcome back to the debate for governor of new hampshire going back to the executive director here is his question. >> both of you know, in the

1980's and hampshire had the best mental health treatment network in the united states over the last two decades that has deteriorated. what specifically would you do to repair it? what you think it would cost and where the funds would come from? thank-you. havenstein: that is an important point and i appreciate him to participate to ask that question. we do have to repair our mental health system. frankly we see more and more recidivism in more urd jails to not deal effectively with the mental health situation. and also increased drug abuse so we have to set priorities within the budget to make sure we continue to

make that a priority that is one for my id ministration simic addressing into health challenges is one of the upper important responsibilities to public health and public safety i have heard on the campaign trail how importuned it is to businesses and families to address it why we passed the medicaid expansion plan if it is critical to have enough resources for community-based health court -- health care. members of both chambers passed almost unanimously to reinvest in community-based mental health that because we demonstrated our commitment to do that we could enter a landmark settlement around the lack of community-based health care resettle that enter into -- implementing the plan coming from that's

settlement that will alleviate the acute situation and hospital emergency rooms with people in crisis waiting for care. the opponent's plan pulls us back that would jeopardize the funding. havenstein: item no your definition of short since 30 seconds means two minutes for the governor. medicaid expansion bill will sunset a little over two years and is not a solution long-term for the people that deserve it. it has to be fixed. i intend to make that my highest priority when i get into office. hassan: and ft9 understood how this works every two years the legislature comes to concord every piece of legislation can be sunset or renewed.

havenstein: to suggest i don't understand that it is also disingenuous. i have managed a budget it is three times the state of new hampshire year in and year out to. i know the choices that have to be made and programs have to be extended. but this bill with a sunset provision has no provision for funding future growth in that program. >> moderator: now a different topic. >> while many are enjoying lower prices for gas and oil also facing record high prices for natural gas and electricity to the windfarms having a hard time getting off the ground what is the governor's role to broaden that portfolio? please take two's specific action steps.

hassan: high energy costs is a longstanding challenge by a broad focus to that challenge so with the first-ever aegean over a decade that focuses on extending natural gas supplies with increased with the public private partnerships to move to more reliable and flexible grid. and and i am very glad that private sector came in with that. havenstein: the tenure strategy makes no mention of

the cleanest in the cheapest renewable energy that is hydroelectricity.j:qn we need to find a way a balanced way to bring hydroelectricity into the state. we need to find a way to make that work for new hampshire my goal is not just to answer yes or no but how to make it work for new hampshire that is sadly missing and frankly when you look at though long term they did not face into these and for that reason she has not earned a second term.

hassan: he agrees with me to find a winning solution it is important to have a diversity of sources. >> my question is for mr. havenstein. you vowed to create 25,000 private-sector jobs and cut taxes. as you know, most artists even if they are successful failed to make money at all so wouldn't it make sense the tax on payrolls and as you propose from the corporate profit tax? >> looking broadly against the economic strategy for our state it makes more sense that the tax structure

with business profits tax was competitive with the other states in the region. it drops over two's cycles from 8.5, the highest in the region for the third highest in the country at the same time to major regulations and rules on primarily the small businesses making them much more likely to start here. with the democratic leadership in the corner office and then with job creation the fundamental structural issues that have to change. >> one of the lowest overall tax burdens in the country. but most recently we were rated the best place to earn

a living in the country. our unemployment rate is the lowest since 2008 -- 2008 treating thousands of jobs but families are still strugglingjb. havenstein: we have lost 1500 high-paying jobs in our state in the last 22 months since governor hassan leadership i have created those jobs but they are still here. we know how to do this we just have to have a leader who knows how to do it to implement it. hassan: the important thing is to keep investing in the elements of the 21st century economy and elements you could not invest in if

my opponent becomes governor >> of course, we need to make investments in our future but if we don't create those opportunities it does not make a difference. 106,000 of ourw citizens leave the state every day. just imagine if they were here in new hampshire that is what i want to create the environment where those jobs can be here in new hampshire hassan: i will not tell them to give up their jobs in massachusetts to come live in new hampshire. havenstein: there of have any place to work that is why so many young people are leaving just like my son had to leave 15 months ago to find an opportunity commensurate with his skill. hassan: there are many large companies in the high-tech engineering and one of the reasons we are focused on

college affordability with 21st century education that they say they cannot find people for those jobs. there are openings here i just went to an opening at comcast last week there are families that are still struggling. >> moderator: that was a spirited discussions or want to change things up. what is your favorite web site for news governor? hassan: i guess the national telegraph is where i go1% first. havenstein: every day the first thing that pops up on my a ipad about 4:00 every morning. >> moderator: what was the last concert you attended? havenstein: zack brown on the lake about 14 months ago

the big country-western fan and zack brown is a favorite of ours. hassan: has been a long time but i was able to attend bonnie raitt and james taylor long time ago and i enjoyed them very much. >> moderator: each now one minute for closing comments. havenstein: thank you very, very much for this opportunity and our sponsors it is a great opportunity to show the contrast of leadership between 41 years of experience that i bring to this race and to bring to the corner office as opposed to my opponent9i two's leadership has been characterized by the people she is supposed to be working with as toxic partisanship by have worked in the industry in record

have 100,000 colleagues and never ever has anyone, even those who disagree refer to my leadership style as toxic hassan: this election is about a choice. we can continue to move forward buying -- but then the bipartisan effortsl answering the challenges in the new hampshire way orlov my opponent to take this / and berndt agenda that devastated our families and businesses and our economy two years ago. we have an innovation plan we need to build on and i ask for your vote i hope we will continue to do things the new hampshire way together. >> moderator: thank you for joining is tomorrow night we have issues with the debate with cnn live here in concord and

simulcast on public radio. things for joining us again tonight. ♪'h

>> medicare is on people's minds how to keep going and sustain its and as you have mentioned for your children and grandchildren and to have sustained medicare for the future. >> one of the first ways we cannot sustain medicare for the future is looking at

obamacarehu $716 billion siphoned from medicare to encourage young people to buy insurance i don't think our seniors should be subsidized the health care cost of the young americans we also have to take a look at medicare the number four waste fraud and abuse is about 9 percent the average in corporate america is 2% or 1% so to look for ways to reduce waste fraud and abuse we would see a path for word but we do nova health care cost. >> moderator: thank you. >> as far as health care in general is concerned i had my to parents 1915 and 1922 were absolutely dependent on medicare it is a good program need to strengthen and keep it going but look

at that holistic issue of health care in america whether you call it obamacare or aca and of looking at our veterans they deserve not to be homeless or hungry and have the health care that they deserve so to bring everybody to gather to bring the insurance companies to the table and to come up with a plan that provides the assurance for all americans. >> wed of the things is that is the mind we have to make sure we protect our seniors some people call that entitlement. but i believe when i got my paycheck and when they got their pay checks we could

see that they deducted that cost so how can you say it is entitlement? you earned it and you deserve it and i will support medicare to make sure it is vital to our citizens

>> moderator: good evening from kboi-tv t i am your moderator this evening we are joined from tyumen governor kitzhaber and representative richardson the only gubernatorial debate this fall begins right now

>> live from the dutch ran 20 studios between governor kitzhaber and representative richardson tonight's debate is brought to you by care source and the oregon association of real tors. -- realtors. now your host and moderator for tonight's debateh< nbc news five director. >> moderator: tonight we will cover a variety of topics in 15 days one of these men will be elected for the next four years and on behalf of all viewers thanks for being here. >> my pleasure teeeighteen before we begin though. >> representative richardson resident since 1979 an army

helicopter pilot he returned home and put itself through law school and opened a small practice. him and his wife of one son and eight daughters a representative since 2003 richardson was unanimously elected by democrats and republicans to be the speaker pro tem and in the ways and means committee fighting the repeal the largest tax increase in oregon history.m1 governor kitzhaber group bid eugene and served parts of douglas county as representative state senator and senator president before becoming governor and led the formation of the health plan and wants the ore. -- oregon business plan and he was let elected governor in the midst of an economic crisis since then they have added 100,000 jobs and extended health insurance to 95% oregonians. >> moderator: with the coin flip representative

richardson will go first to have two minutes. richardson: this is not about republican vs. democrat about the past purses' the future. governor kitzhaber was the fourth term benghazi earned it? that the unemployment rate's higher than the national average for the last 18 consecutive years, one not of five oregonians on foodiq stamps and the economic payroll going down and still decreasing over 20 years and consider education. it has continued to decline. we have a graduation rate that is last in the nation and serving students from low-income families now he promotes common court another federal program that is an experiment on our children to ignore parents

and teachers and local school board. on his watch more than half a billion dollars have been wasted on other projects it is another scandal that makes or given a national joke he thinks it is okay for his chief advisor to be paid half a million dollars by a contractor he thinks it is okay for his first lady and senior adviser to triple her in caen in one year. payments from companies that wanted access to her government connections. governor, that is not okay. it is corruption it is time for the oregonians to choose a leader that will create jobs with the new economy and move upward to reform the education system to páime÷%r world-class education it restore trust and integrity and transparency to the

office of the governor to help the oregon family is succeed is to why they're running not to change politics. we could be proud of our future vote representative richardson. >> we all want the same thing to have the basic needs to achieve the full potential and hard work to be rewarded with a better life and leave our children better off than we are. one way is based on the notion we are on our own. the other is based on the notion we're all in this together there are things we can do as a community regardless of racepñ or sexual orientation i subscribe to the second view as of legislator and i fight for it every day as a father. four years ago oregon was in

bad shape with a high deficit most people thought it would lead us to a political disaster from wisconsin but that did not happen speaks to the executive leadership that we need. we had the play book to across the divide the races of the deficit and created 100,000 new jobs in this area we are working to solve the zero -- a wednesday problem and also like the world creamery, amy's kitchen and others to support regional agriculture also looking at kindergarten 95% of oregonians have health insurance coverage. tens of thousands for the first time. in a special session to be raised money for mental health and also revise the pension system i am proud of what we have done together with the last four years and

was serious conversation about their respective divisions teeeighteen said tonight's questions are greeted by a journalist. you'll have one minute to answer questions then deal opponent will have a 30-second rebuttal at the conclusion each will have the 60 second closing statement. governor kitzhaber one of the coin toss but he will differ. >> moderator: we have several questions submitted about education the first is from a seventh grader who writes my education is important to me. want to know if you will improve q

graduation rates the problem is as a result of 20 years of bad policy in the education field. in the '90s we had student camera now we have common corps as a follow up what we could do to help increase the rates is to ensure that every student has a mentor and an opportunity. 100% focus on higher end but 25 percent of the kids go there what about the other 75 percent? they do have their education provided for as well we need to have trade, shops trade, shops, music, art, a focus so every child will have their needs met so they can be successfulú in life cannot be determined by governments that want to ensure they are in the direction that may not fit the needs of the individuals.

kitzhaber: we need a long-term investment strategy the most important is our lead turning that every child is ready for kindergarten we have increased funding over the last four years with the assessment and stars in the fall 2015 to programs that have reading level in third grade and their four times more likely to graduate high school than those who are not. then to reconnect the search to key elements so the point is to change that educational system with this state dollars coulder give the hour greatest return but those dollars spent in the right places just as

important. richardson: early learning is important but the question was about graduation rates wage elected those school districts is an oregon that have 100 percent graduation rates and we can learn from their successes we can ensure we do those things to have their cake -- their needs met common course not the answer the governor supports a but i do not because it takes away from parents teachers and school boards to control their own education and they know what is best. >> moderator: there have been many stories about your fiancee son is called the green card marriage and with the illegal marijuana growing operation. there is also banned articles written that strongly suggests that she abused her role to obtain

clients for the energy consulting business. should this matter two's oregon voters? kitzhaber: one was 17 years ago before i knew her and she has acknowledged those mistakes and has stepped up that is the right thing to do the others are personally have to work those out. i disagree with the conclusions but she had as successful professional career before i was elected and we recognized we needed transparency and to makelw sure her professional career was separate from first lady role so we set up protocols to ensure that we complete -- complied natalie the ethics laws that we believe that we have but nevertheless with campaign rhetoric over the last week passed the ethics commission to confirm the guidelines and also review the three

contracts that she had. richardson: when someone takes office it is nothing new to the governor talked about $100,000 for speeches he made as does senator dealing with the health plan now dealing with his fiancee two's sees nothing wrong with almost tripling her in town in one year by taking money from companies that want to buy influenu; with the governor and government that is wrong and corrupt. we cannot ignore that. crimes have been committed maybe the governor is composite because last july his chief legal advisor prepared the ethics letter then asked soviet to sign it that what she was doing illegal or inappropriate and unethical she refused by the end of august he had revised

though better in a way that made it okay and she signed that letter will have the authority to tell the legal counsel they should change that letter? >> moderator: should oregon consider this? kitzhaber: they should about ethics violations that is why we have passed the ethics commission's to review it somebody did file a violation in 1994 it was my opponent and those were completely discharged and i expect that will happen again. we ticket allocation that was done documented over fax. so to go down that route for what they have to offer oregon but they are not meet and that is the contested with leadership and facing a serious problems. >> moderator: you said you

become governor he would create the position of a lieutenant governor but one that is not elected. specifically the food you have in mind? richardson: it would take place out of the governor's budget but to i have in mind it depends on the qualifications and who is available. the?$ reason for a lieutenant governor is to give status to the individual to promote international trade and oregon is a leader of exports. we need to expand that to create greater demand so you hire people that creates private sector jobs so we need someone working with key export countries like japan and malaysia and japan and china to ensure marketing products and services that goes into the

close. our governor has not been on a trade mission in a couple years china and japan are the two major trade partners i organized sent missions to show that i can create jobs i will do so more as the(+ governor. kitzhaber: i think it is unnecessary. people in asia want to see a governor not a lieutenant governor and i had one to amsterdam, berlin and belgium we visited tokyo and though so beijing and hong kong and caddying agriculture to the market with those negotiations between myself and the department of agriculture and korea to export fresh blueberries into korea has

huge implications for growing agriculture and then to take that very, very seriously and then to boost trade over himself. richardson: talk is cheap three times he had the chance to expand our economy and expand sales and exports he has not even taken the trip to china effort japan may be be he has not spent time expanding accounts and that needs to be donexc why would a legislator do that because the government -- governor does not have time he is too busy doing other things to focus on exports like he should.

>> moderator: it is important for all citizens please give us the grade. >> we score of latter day in health care 95 percent have coverage their happier and healthier to pay the doctor's bill and a utility bill and saving the state billions going forward on education we're moving forward to a letter me and we're putting it in nature?<

>> >> though law enforcement

grade? richardson: c. kitzhaber: anyone who would dismiss the fact that 95 percent of citizens with health insurance coverage has to be a good coverage for quite disproportionate number are on medicaid they are hardworking families that deserve access. we have dropped our rate from 17 percent down a 5% to change hundreds of thousands of oregonians. >> thank you washington d.c. for making that happen. >> moderator: one of the major employers say how difficult it is to find workers that can pass a drug test. richardson: we need a governor who will focus on

moving the barriers that have caused so much depression and poverty on people with such high utilization we need oregon to ensure workers have a good education, an opportunity for jobs and that they have hope for the future. right now our rural oregon feels despondent and despair and they turn to drugs. we show they do not have to have that type of despair and the messages if you feel despair i would give you hope for the future if you are depressed there is a cheap and simply make a change in leadership. kitzhaber: there are two issues that we need to connect kids in high school with real job experience through shop and technical education and writing code and computer science. but it happens much earlier to cover most with health care and the early learning

hub is providing the resources with the vast majority that have drug or alcohol challenges so putting that coverage in that treatment to reflect the environment in which they grew up overtime they can reverse this problem by getting at the root cause isn't a problem? absolutely to put an policies and strategies we have the next up is to continue those investments with health care and reconnect kids in school. kitzhaber: we talk like this is the first time. richardson: he is now figuring now we have to support mental-health and help adolescents? we have known that for years. it is a result of failed policies of this governor we

need to provide opportunities for them to break the addiction and cycle of poverty that will require a new hope for education and employment and opportunity and we should not have to have a fourth term to finally get that right. >> moderator: rolled carrot -- counties have extreme difficulty they are regarded as the wild wild west. >> it is not and easy issue they have a very low tax rate and i do think that some effort is important to provide resources for law enforcement we need to increase substantially to provide that service as well but to create jobs and economic activity i would say the work they're doing

with the senators with of markup on november 17th will provide hopefully two's things up clear and sustainable area and predictable flow of resources and some conservation games also to modify to use transportation funds for law-enforcement without having to repay those is another short-term step. >> a problem with the employment and a low tax break and depression is the result of failed policies of natural resources it was the '90s when decisions were made with 40,000 jobs was

the fighting for this? you have them involved but nothing gets done. we need a governor who will line with other western governors to go back to make it an issue as to who will manage the land mass 53% is controlled by the federal government they have broken the trust with us reedy to make that a national issue. >> we're both looking at the association and with the u.s. forest service renewal because of the process is antiquated and process oriented to have a responsible level of local

economy and they're also critical to americans. >> moderator: the next question about education education, public schools battle for funding for extracurricular activities and sports to help shape the future of our ears what would you do to help reenergize extracurricular activities? richardson: make education a top priority except for the one time i was co-chair of ways and means and is funded with whatever is left of there is not enough money one party says you hate children because you will not allow tax increases if we care about all facets of education reported first we have done that one time in 2011 when i was co-chair of ways and means we need to make sure there is adequate funding for top priorities

and government has the insatiable appetite for many it is to be first best and highest priorities and education should be one of them. kitzhaber: refund education first it doesn't increase the amount of money that leaves the question what we find in the social service bases for kids to be ready for school? we have increased funding by $1 million of a 14% increase k-12 also freeing up resources for education now we're in day care model calling 3.4% per year so that intent for that coverage going forward we have 1.3 million people at a rate of 4 percent per year by 2019 we can eliminate the structural budget deficit and by -- we have of

budgetary surplus it will save $4 billion over eight years it is real money with resources coming back into public education. it should and it will. richardson: that has nothing to do with the question. we will have a balanced budget in the '90s to propose the oregon health plan that was made more expensive than we had to raise taxes now he says we save money with the new health plan? it does not work that way. there is a $1 billion whole currently sitting in the 2015 budget that we have to face next session and and also in the 2017 budget that says to be determined because we don't know where that money will come from it is all provinces and in a reality. >> moderator: and a legislative hearing you supported background checks for private parties that

shows or again as being serious. >> and guard her national attention and that the school district did not preclude me where are you on gun legislation? >> no. schools are not the place for firearms. we should not go there it does make eminence cents to give them to people who should not have them. for those that created crime

when there is the school shooting state's local and national press defend two or three days then they disappear. we need to have an ongoing conversation to identify kids setter at redskin the community early we can do that through learning patterns and organizations part of that is with a background check. >> school violence is so important but to deal with the fact that sandy hook we do with all the schools are supposed to do teaching them how to isolate kids but the death rate was astounding it is not right when the only person who is armed on the

campus happens to be a perpetrator of mass violence so my a suggestion was school districts should consider to have law-enforcement or retired military or other sitters trained to have concealed carry on board it is for them to decide background checks are important we need to ensure we do not put guns in the hands of those who are mentally unstable because of the background felonies or are not prepared to have a gun. mental health funding is crucial to make sure we have funding for mental health for adolescents to discover the before before they act out in the a courageous way. >> there is a difference between a public safety officer and a non teacher a fundamental issue but as a community and a society we

need to have a discussion about gun safety and i do think it starts and i do agree that you need to have resources and time and energy into funding those services. that is what is left out if you fund education first. . .