held responsible for this. why would they repeal a bill that franklin roosevelt installed bill clinton ought to face up and be responsible for that repeal of the act. >> it's an interesting issue and there is a lot of shifting politics. >> next on c-span to the final debate in campaign 2014. we take you live to baton rouge louisiana for the senate debate between senator mary landrieu and challenger bill cassidy courtesy of wfab. live coverage on c-span2. >> between the senator mary landrieu and the congressman bill cassidy. we have a panel of questioners

tonight from the station across louisiana. greg meriwether in baton rouge, cynthia in lake charles and doug warner in shreveport. we will take questions from twitter to join the conversation and send your questions using the hash tag the final debate greatly encourage you to get your commentary and occasionally you will see them flash on the bottom of the screen at hash tag the final debate. for tonight's format of the candidates have one minute to respond to questions at the moderator's discretion for academic way to do that there is a follow-up with no set time limit. we begin with the candidates specific question one for each of the candidates and by luck of the draw tonight that goes first to senator landrieu. he made it pretty clear today that you would like to talk about congressman cassidy. but i must tell you that when i hear from the cassidy supporters, the feedback i get is make sure that you ask mary landrieu about her travel into the idea that you refer to the

most $35,000 to the claims that were billed to the senate office going back to 2002 when the rules changed. why isn't there an inconsistency demanding the congressman does bring all 63 months of records for his work when we don't know how you traveled in the first six years of office? landrieu: thank you for the question and for hosting this important debate. i brought the record tonight for the time that was not to give in just a few weeks ago. i turned over all of the wrecker it. as a bookkeeping error and i taken for response ability for it and it has been completely repaid. a very the very big difference is that congressman cassidy has padded his own payroll for the last 60 years entering into an agreement with one of our

hospitals and it is absolutely no record of the work that he has done. that is a very serious matter. so, one was a bookkeeping error which i take full responsibility and turnover a complete set of records which document tonight. congress has taken over $20,000 a year in addition to his congressional salary and maybe even more than that if we pay for the malpractice without reporting it properly and turning over the new records and i don't think from what i can see that he brought the tonight and i think that is a shame. >> moderator: let me ask a quick follow-up. landrieu: i guess i shouldn't have brought them to give to you. >> moderator: the flight from new orleans to wake charles, that is one that broke out for

people. if that had happened in the business world i think most business as people would have been laughed out of the room if they suggested that a company. landrieu: first of all every senator and every congressman gets the budget. we can allocate a budget within those guidelines as we see fit. they are legal expenses. the only difference is that with a bookkeeping error. that is a far cry from the congress patting his own payroll >> moderator: has the scrutiny changed your view about how quickly you arrange for a charter? landrieu: i want you to know that nothing is illegal. it is not allocating it. i fully reported it. i've taken full sensibility and i turned over all the records. i hope tonight we will get to a

much more serious matter in this debate. the story just broke this week. i would have talked about if the story just broke this week of my opponent who has shown himself foretold that he was a doctor for the poor but he's not coming he's a doctor for himself. >> moderator: congressman after your election as we have now well established, there was an arrangement where you were would continue working and teaching medical students, residents have $20,000 a year from seven and a half hours a week. lsu has produced timesheets for 63 months, 16 of the 63 months that you work there say they can find the almost other 50. on more than a dozen locations that affects ours in the clinic on days when there were votes in washington. address if you were would questions this has raised about how you can be in two places at once.

cassidy: it is absolutely false and my direct supervisor and i have made multiple comments regarding this. note the camp whatever they can't take these comments and they twist them around, i'm proud of the work that i've done. during flying into dc and voting that evening that's it. the work that i've done teaching medical students there is an irony she justifies the vote for obamacare and it wouldn't have passed without her. she's for the poor into the uninsured even though demonstrably obamacare has hurt the economic prospects of the poor. now, that said, there's also the issue of transparency. we get the record but actually it was illegal. actually violated the ethics law and then a question to follow up with is what i was doing

benefited the poor and uninsured, when she used taxpayer dollars to pay for the private charter jets to the campaign, who did not benefit? >> moderator: we have questions you can ask that we better stick with the format here. let me follow follow-up, congressman. as i understand, this was supposed to be documented. did you personally find these timesheets, and the other question i have is getting louisiana colorful political history if you history of the welcome is understandable that there would be some questions raised about some potential for abuse in some cases if there were no safeguards when a congressman was employed by an entity of state government. it's understandable if you heard this past week.

they did everything they can to keep the story alive. even helping the poor and the uninsured week of made multiple savings about this in the public. did you sign the timesheets? the cassidy: it looked like there might have been people who there was conjecture that you didn't sign them. to speak directly to the question let me ask you this if you were elected to the senate, would you like to be employed and would you like to go back to lsu? cassidy: i am the only one in the lsu system. there are others but i'm the only one that has the particular subspecialty.

they continue to treat the poor into the uninsured in the hospital system. >> moderator: i have a visit we will revisit. congress then we will start with you. are there any provisions for were exceptions where you think that abortion should be considered and also at what point should the government draw the line? cassidy: one of the clear distinctions is i am pro-life and i get 100% right to life and she gets zero. she gets 100% on the groups and

i get zero so this is the kind of choice in the campaign. there is evidence that such a yacht is able to feel pain. at that point we can all agree whether we are pro-choice or pro-life but that is a life and it should be saved in michigan to be aborted. i am pro-life. so the mothers life is at risk. i am pro-life and that is one of the choices senator landrieu. >> moderator: you're quoted as saying 20 weeks isn't the norm for a child to be outside of the hospital. landrieu: i do not support abortion.

i think it is tragic and i don't think the government however should make those decisions. i think abortion in almost every case is immoral. i believe the government shouldn't make the choice. that is why these labels are not very accurate because the person in consultation with their doctor or god should make that decision. my record has been misconstrued. i am the chair of the adoption caucus and i have two adoptive children into the congressman knows this very well. we both have adopted children and i support that option and i do not promote the abortion and never have. but that 20 to 26 weeks is a very, very fragile time.

and i sure don't have the congress in the hospital room. >> let's go to cynthia. >> we all witness to the events of ferguson missouri before our very eyes. it's about the issue of race relations center stage in america. would you say that things are better, worse or the same and what you think needs to go about to bring the true feeling? but start with your response senator landrieu. landrieu: that is an important question because it is built on multiethnic unity for us to be the strongest country and the diversity of the strength not weakness. a weakness. and i actually think that the race relations have deteriorated a bit in this country.

and i think that we have to continue to work on it decade after decade in the generation after generation. what happened was a tragedy for michael brown's family as well as for the officer and his family. so, i hope that the community will continue to talk and review the police action and continue to have dialogue. but this countries strength is our diversity. it's not our weakness and i think that we needed a better job need to do a better job as a nation to understand each other and work together. what you say things are better, worse or the same? cassidy: clearly it is better. new new orleans is prominently african-american and white mayor and the governor was in a predominantly white and have a black city parish president. so, we have made strides in terms of acceptance and understanding of others. is there more to do, of course. the parable of the good samaritan is about the good samaritan reaching across the

racial and religious divides to create unity with another person that is in need. that scripture should attempt to reach across and make things better. senator landrieu says somehow barack obama wasn't being viewed favorably because we have a history of racism in the south. i think just because you disagree with the president doesn't make you a racist and i would point out that when senator landrieu by the application would say she has been elected to the public office since i was in college. so i think we've made great progress. we shouldn't and i said, but of course there's more to do. landrieu: he makes things up as he goes along and he's made of the statements of anybody being a racist. you know what i said, i sit at the south said south has not always been the friendliest

place for african-americans and it's also been a region that hasn't quickly recognized the leadership of women. i will make no apology for something that is a historical fact. that is what i said that was taken out of context and i also answered the question. i was asked why he is president obama so unpopular in the state. i said he was unpopular among some people in the state because of the energy policy and i went on to say he's not for keystone, i am. we are all for it. and then i said those words. he has spun them out of context for his own political benefit and i'm not the only one that is tigerdirect listening to his rhetoric. the cassidy: people can look at themselves and make their own decision.

>> moderator: this question deals with what he will bring back to dc whether it elected a senator or congressman cassady i will begin with you with your tv, radio and newspaper ads you run a campaign against president obama yet he will only be there for a fraction of your term if you are elected. it will be another four years after office, so what what do you want to do with this job if elected? the cassidy: unfortunately the senator couldn't get past. also, i've been working with the uninsured and poor whatever the senator says you can talk to my patient for the last 25 years. i would like to repeal and replace obamacare with something that actually works for people instead of working against them. i work in a public institution.

i would like to be in the veterans committee selected look at the va system bringing my expertise working in the public hospital system. how can we get over to the patient and not leave it to the bureaucrat administrator and as the va system does. these are my life experiences to benefit all americans. >> moderator: senator landrieu. landrieu: he voted against the veterans hospital when he was a senator in louisiana. he voted no against the medical complex and now he has the merit to say that he supports the veterans hospital. let me say one more thing. i don't believe that he will be elected but if he is he will be doing a lot more than fighting president obama. because he padded his payroll he took money without accounting for it and he doesn't have a supervisor and he didn't find

much as the window he does not have a signature, he does not have the account for his work and he will not turn over his wreck or. this is a serious issue. and he will talk about everybody else's record and his own and so whatever happens in this debate, the questions must be answered. cassidy: the truth of the answer can be judged by this. to get the va hospital to the va hospital in new orleans i wasn't in congress when that was approved. referring to the hospital that i thought was too big of a va hospital is totally a different issue. so you can judge the truthfulness based upon that i won't affect affect of the questions i asked earlier if i'd been working to benefit the poor and the uninsured, we know the poor and the uninsured.

the campaign events food benefited their? senator? >> is a vote not so much against the veterans hospital as what they did for example fold is an overblown veterans hospital. he voted against the complex. that is a part of the complex when he was a legislator. i didn't say when he was in congress. now he shows up to take credit for how the veterans. i came to build two new clinics in lafayette and like charles. but john, i really want to get back to this issue of truthfulness. >> moderator: and will have an opportunity for you to ask a question of one another. let me bring up a pie chart of how we spend our money in america. this is -- the numbers will change slightly in the proposed budget, 20%, defense, 19.

unemployment 16, medicare and medicaid are 21. i've seen interest high your damn that come up high here than that, but the point is when you get to what we think of as the rest of the government, the cdc, the park service if it is within percent or so, there were times that the visit was going crazy that this little portion you could have wiped out what we think of the government and you wouldn't have balanced the budget. social security and the entitlement come you talked a lot about social security but if we don't cut benefits or raise taxes or do something, we are on a path where these entitlements will devour the economy and the budget, aren't we? landrieu: my opponent and many of the republicans have decided they don't want to fix that because they want to continue to get the tax cuts that make over a million dollars. they want to find the space on the pie chart to cut out and run

up the debt. they also brought us into the war they put on a credit card. so, the republican party is just as much at fault and we need to work together. we need to give tax breaks and raise the social security age to 70. i am not going to do that. it will hurt people in the state. people cannot work the people cannot work until they are 70-years-old playing concrete, paving the highways, building bridges, lifting heavy objects even in spite of the hospital. they cannot do it. there are other ways to solve this problem and let me say the annual deficit under president obama has been reduced by 50%. >> moderator: isn't that because of the louvre and so greatly in its first year? landrieu: no, it has not. they lifted it up but it's still coming down over time because of

the economy and the good budgeting. now we do have a debt problem that raising the age to 70 is not the solution. >> moderator: congressman? the cassidy: i have many patients and the only thing they have is their medicare and social security. my mother lives with me and i understand the importance of the safety net programs. my commitment to you is to work to preserve and strengthen these programs. the problem is that obamacare, which senator landrieu wouldn't have passed but a $760 billion out of medicare to spend it on obamacare. we've got to do something or else medicare and social security will go bankrupt. now when that happens that the benefits that you are receiving were decreased by as much as

25%. there are things we can do. louisiana's own a senator 20 some years ago came up with a plan for medicare which on a bipartisan basis has been brought forward again. if you were to keep medicare exactly as you have it now, you can but if you've been to this new program they estimated the congressional budget office saves money for the beneficiary and it preserves the life of the trust fund. >> i gave you the leeway that you said you wanted to respond. >> the 750 billion-dollar document but he suggested was supported by both republicans and democrats. of the money was wasted and inefficiency and it went back into the medicare program. i have seen those for a fact strengthen medicare. it still does not excuse his wanting to solve that problem and not on the backs of the coke brothers or the billionaires, but on the backs of the poor and

the elderly raising the social security age to 70. it's wrong. there are other things that we can do. >> of the money wasn't taken to the medicare social security trust fund was spent on obamacare. my team will be cut off right now. it doesn't have to be like he's not telling the truth and i am sort of thing. you will see it. let me ask you this and maybe we can try to do this as quickly as possible. give me your view of tax reform, just a rough outline of what it might look like what they be revenue neutral and who would pay more and who would pay less? landrieu: the revenue makes up since world war ii. when it was deluged with 21 or 22%. the last time we have a balanced budget that is the problem. they continue to cut the programs for everyone, for the

low income, middle class and then turn around and give tax cuts. then we have to take out waste, fraud and abuse and do it efficiently. the taxes were raised by $1.6 trillion. and senator landrieu said she plays with tax reform but only if it raises by a trillion. what did the president's bipartisan commission adjusted is that we do away with exemptions and loopholes and we brought in the amount of money that is being taxed between over the rate and so by doing legal work we will further press and create more revenue. that is in the presidents of bipartisan that commission. that's a good idea. a

landrieu: i didn't say by raising revenue. every independent group that says it has to be a combination of additional revenue by shutting down the offshore loopholes which you support and many people in the republican party you can also take out the waste and fraud and abuse act and cut the budget as well as raising revenue. i didn't say that we would solve that by adding money. >> moderator: what would you cut? the landrieu: we reduce some of the waste and fraud in medicare to strengthen it. that is something john that john mccain and your leaders in the republican party support and that is a bipartisan effort to try to take out the wasteful fraud and abuse and put it back into the program and strengthen it. i am not going to stand here and allow them to continue to get the tax breaks after tax break after tax break for people that make over a million dollars a year and then put the burden in louisiana that have the incomes

of 50 to, 60, 70 or $80,000. >> the one i voted for $1.6 trillion in taxes over the last six years supporting barack obama 97% of the type i suppose all those taxes. you can decide for yourself who is picking up for the middle class. >> moderator: what's go to greg meriwether. what about the testing for the welfare recipients? >> i voted i think i have to go back and look at the welfare recipients but you might also want to ask for drug testing for people to have special contracts or other people that get special give special benefits from the government. those things that's picking on welfare, the population of welfare is inappropriate.

so if they get the special tax break from the government or other subsidies from the government to be drug tested i think that would be fine but beating up on the poor isn't going to solve the problem of the country. educating people, giving them access to high your education. working for jobs for the middle-class. middle class. and beating up on the poor is blaming them for the problems of the world when really it's i guess my catholic faith comes out it's just not right. >> moderator: most people have to get a drug test before they get a job and that would be their primary source of income. a landrieu: i didn't say that i would oppose that i just think it has to be allocated fairly. if you're talking about a government subsidy, okay. but you're comparing apples to apples.

one is a job and the other is a government subsidy. there are many people that get government subsidies. many. the film industry gets government subsidies, millionaires get subsidies. so if you want to put everybody back everybody that gets a government subsidy and drug test them, fine i don't have a problem with it. but comparing a program, government program to a job are two different things. >> in the house we voted to allow the states to begin pilot programs the state would be about to put in a pilot program which they would be able to drug testing. there is at least some evidence out there people that can hold a job go on public assistance and to get on drugs and because they never pass a drug test they never get off of public assistance. that is unfair to the hard-working taxpayers. i would also say it is unfair to

the person to enable them to continue the supposed destructive lifestyle. at some point, the government becomes a problem. if you couple that with the academy to move out of that lifestyle you save their lives. it is outrageous to suggest people that are receiving food supplements for their children of drug abusers there is nothing to suggest they use drugs any more than anyone else. it's outrageous rhetoric and it's not going to solve any problem. should people be responsible in their life, yes. should wealthy people be responsible for maintenance. middle-class people and the poor. they are beating up and

demeaning the person that is just in between work or a woman who went bankrupt because she couldn't get health insurance or a person in the family that should get health insurance because he and bobby general said no they have assurance for themselves and their children they said no 252,000. senator landrieu began by saying that she thinks she voted for drug testing for welfare recipients. when i say the house voted to allow the states to do a pilot program in which the able bodied adults would have the opportunity to have a level of accountability, we began to hear all these terrible things about what republicans are about. we are trying to protect hard-working taxpayers and to bring a measure of accountability. i am all for caring for books.

i've been doing it for 25 years and hopefully will continue to do so. >> moderator: i want to backtrack to the affordable care act. there are some parts that are popular with many voters including the coverage for the pre-existing conditions and also the ability to keep your 26 or under on your health insurance. if the affordable care act is ever repealed it is willing to support those provisions that are so popular. cassidy: there are portions of the healthcare bill that can be repurposed by the underlying premise of obamacare is that the government knows best.

when the patient has the power button when the bureaucrat or the politicians of the power coming good example is the phoenix va allegedly. it tells you there for how much to pay. i spoke for a family of spam has gone from 21,000 couple of thousand dollars to $21,000 now they have a 20% increase upon that better insurance for because obamacare says that government is best. >> moderator: cynthia has a slightly different version of the question. >> moderator: i do have a different version for senator landrieu touching on the topic that the congressman just started on. on the other side of that, there

are a lot of people who feel that they are now forced into a situation where they are over insured and they are paying for coverage that but they don't necessarily need or want. what do you say to those whose premiums have gone over the roof? landrieu: though the law is perfect. i voted for this affordable care act because it was much better than the system that we had. what i said as i voted for the care. cope affordable care act that should be approved but the congressman misleads everyone when he says that this is a government run system. it is a public-private partnership where people can choose the entrance and places that it's been put in place by

republican governors and democratic governors and the healthcare has been expanded. it is working for the first time in our country. they paid a $9 a month, so it is a perfect flaw though it's much better than people taking medical bankruptcy or other of having to the other of having to choose the kind getting a mammogram and taking care of their breast cancer or feeding their children or paying rent. it is an awful system that is supportive and we are not going to go back to that. an individual can have a deductible of $6,000 that they found in the gallup poll that people are forgoing the needed care now more than before obamacare.

presumably these deductibles that are proposed in the article they cannot afford it but it is a policy that if you don't take you are going to be fine. the government is going to tell you what you have to have it if you don't get the policy 1% of your income or a set amount of dollars will be taken from you, that is government run. >> moderator: i will give you 30 seconds to respond. landrieu: a woman came up to me. we have never had it before. i $759 a month. so, for some people it is working very well. we have to fix and can we tweak

it, yes. all that he's voted for its repeal 50 times. we need to fix it, not repeal it. and i'm proud that we try to help everyone in the portrait poor, the middle class and the wealthy. cassidy: talking mainly highways and bridges i believe it is one out of every nine that is structurally deficient. i drove over one here tonight and i say that because louisiana is $12 billion behind in the bridge and road way compares. in the senate transportation committee chair. where does the money come from to fix this problem and we begin with senator landrieu. landrieu: first of all of the bills have already passed with six problem in louisiana.

for the first time it gets louisiana a portion of the gas revenue. it could be used for the energy infrastructure. so i've thought about this for a long time and i try to bring it into louisiana. we should look at the gasoline tax. i'm not prepared to say raise it tonight but additional funding has to be brought in to fix the structure. we are $800 million laying on the table right now. the chamber of commerce, the shopping centers, main street, small businesses are put at a definite disadvantage because of the taxes not being collected. so if you are looking for income, which she's probably not going to support any of because

she just wants to talk about infrastructure that you're looking for income i would suggest we go to the marketplace -- >> moderator: time for congressman cassidy. cassidy: we would drill in the continental shelf and when it was expanded a certain amount would be put into the infrastructure and if you would. it would create jobs and would also increase the amount of drilling in the outer continental shelf because the states would be able to keep a portion of that money. now, the democrats in the senate opposed the bill and they didn't want to drilling drilling to have been off the happen off the atlantic coast for example. unfortunately some of those that led the charge gave a substantial campaign contributions. over the last six or seven years

if we can pass that that ended to get the royalties to the highways we can create jobs and build highways. >> can i respond to robert menendez he doesn't support drilling off the coast of new jersey and if he's waiting for some people in new york and new jersey to drill the highways we will be building a long time but you know what he did do, he led the fight for us to save 450,000 people. you should thank senator menendez and not criticize him for doing something. it's a fixed flood insurance so they wouldn't have to go through the work. i do think he used my dell to save you money and secondly i can say that he's all for trying to ban drilling off of the

entire. they want wanted to drilling to create jobs and money. >> moderator: we've reached the point where we come to each of the candidates to one another you said that you would for obamacare. he recently recently somebody as he was compared to consider the american people in such a way to raise taxes on the middle class basically forcing people out of the policy that they were told they could keep if they wish. did you know when they had written this to see the american people and now you do know it would use the work for obamacare

again tomorrow landrieu: i would say that he didn't have this issue he didn't have any issue to talk about. that's all that he's talked about in this campaign. let me say it isn't perfect. it needs to be fixed and approved but it is better than the system that we have. he was not the first person. mitt romney, the presidential candidate for the republican party instituted a version. it is working in arkansas and it is working in california and it is working in new york and the saddest thing is that our state, the people of our state that

need it the most work for and they have to pay for everybody be for everybody else to be able to go see their doctor >> moderator: when did you decide that he'd written this so that the congressional budget office and the american people would you vote for it again tomorrow? landrieu: i don't agree with what he says so they've been represented for 18 years and we are tired of not being able to afford insurance. they are tired of having to choose between food and health care, tired of seeing people take bankruptcy. as a doctor coming you should know this. it is heartbreaking to me that he would claim to be a doctor for the poor but yet when they come to him begging for help he closes the door and says no.

they devote to deliberately -- they said we were too stupid to catch it and now we would like to know at some point that was the intent of the writers would you still vote for it again tomorrow? >> moderator: everybody at home can decide whose answer they like. you have a if you have a question for the congressman? this is doctor double-dip or something. landrieu: did you fill out records that you were supposed to fill out for the $20,000 that you received annually for five years, which is over a hundred thousand dollars a year did you fill out those records.

cassidy: i filled out the records. you fill out the chart and find sheets and everybody knows where you are. it's been twisted into this construed i've been trying to help the uninsured and the poor for the last 25 years. sony doing this it is a privilege to do it. cassidy: if senator landrieu wants transparency than i will ask again. clearly those patients benefit. when she takes the jets on the taxpayer dime through the

campaign events -- landrieu: i hate to use this word but i have to. the sheets that we have that have given to the public come in your signature is not on them. there are 16 that have been released to the public. the signature is not on any of them and the signature that is on some of them is questionable enough his. the records were not completed. i don't know anyone in this state that works on the salaries for 20,000, 40,000, 100,000 that doesn't have to do the work to receive the check. there are no records. he said he would keep the records. these e-mails have been given out. it's public knowledge.

they also pay for medical malpractice. he's the only doctor in the congress to cut a sweetheart deal. the only one. cassidy: again making multiple comments and we have addressed those with senator landrieu has consistently turned around to put it into words the possible like that again for 25 years i've been caring for people in the hospital for the uninsured and poor. if we want transparency we will say who's benefited and in my case it is my patients. i returned to senator landrieu. when she takes the charter jets that you and i pay for in the campaign events, who benefited from that? landrieu: let's talk straight to the heart of the merit in people where they live. the average american is struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put their kids through college. what are you saying to the person sitting out there right

now who perhaps is watching this debate and is really struggling with those issues. congressman, with "you. it is so pervasive in the society. they allow the substitute teacher to work more than 30 hours a week. if they reduce their hours to full-time to part-time. statistically the lowest fifth of people earning wages have suffered under the the president's health care law. but it's also his appointees.

the government has been the obama landrieu part of the problem that we need to reverse the agenda. landrieu: i'm working to create energy jobs in this country. americans are on the verge of being energy independent which is why i fought so hard with the keystone pipeline. the republican leadership couldn't get it up for the vote. i did. i wish it would have passed but we got it up for the vote in the senate and that is the leadership that i bring and when i get it back to the senate will pass the keystone pipeline. that is important because it will signal. these jobs are not minimum-wage jobs. the people struggling at home and working for many of these are labor unions that supported the keystone pipeline.

and in addition i support full access to the colleges and universities. he will not support the full grant increase. he will not reduce. not only has he brought the hospitals but in the way of the colleges and universities he joined $700 million a reduction -- >> moderator: i'm going to get my producer a coronary. the keystone pipeline is 42,000 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs. it's easier and cheaper to transport van got chemical corridor. but isn't that big of a deal and what is the fuss about. let me respond to that.

landrieu: it's a big deal and it needs to be built because to build the infrastructure but if we cannot transport it and move it from where where its founder to where it needs to be, then we are going to be energy independent. that's why there's such a big fight about it. >> moderator: it has to be the past and senator landrieu couldn't get it. that said my dad moved to louisiana in his 40s and didn't have a college education. he he sold life insurance to people that work at the federal federal co. plant. now those jobs are fantastic and seemed to be good jobs. we love those, but it's someone like my dad who didn't serve those that have the job and in so doing he created prosperous life for his family. i can tell you it is more than 40,000 construction and it's more than the 50 permanent.

>> moderator: we have 45 seconds for the next question. >> moderator: dealing in the second amendment rights to the both of you in the week of the school shooting in connecticut where a semi automatic weapon was used to kill 26 students and teachers tell me your stance on gun ownership beyond the basic handgun or shotgun to go hunting with him specifically talking about a semi automatic weapons. landrieu: i support the second amendment and peoples rights to have guns to protect themselves and support some of those type of things that we used. what i voted for which is supported by 90% of the people even in our state is too close the loophole so people with mental illness or criminals cannot get easy access. i voted for the two main engine amendment to close the loophole that needs to be closed.

i support gun ownership and the second amendment. >> moderator: congress and ask cassidy: senator landrieu has a d.. it wouldn't have been prevented by the bill. people do mentally ill or criminal aren't going to look at the wall book to see whether they should have a gun. that would have criminalized the law-abiding to address the issue of the non- law-abiding and those who were mentally. a better way to address those issues are to address the issues of mental illness. and i have a passion for this. almost every family watching, so the connected when he could respond to that with compassion but we have to also recognize that it wouldn't have stopped it >> moderator: given the colorful history, who is your

favorite louisiana political figure or public figure from the past and why? cassidy: mike foster created a system that gave opportunity for folks trying to move to the next level of education and it's also a good deal for the states that save the money. in this administration was put into the good government initiatives. do i agree with everything, of course not but if you look at the legacy that he did at the community college is a great legacy. >> moderator: i would have to say of course. she was a great mentor and a wonderful friend. her grace and strength has inspired women and men in public office. she served with dignity and integrity and i just think our state has been blessed by her leadership. we missed her and she did a marvelous drop. job. >> moderator: the final question from mr. meriwether. >> moderator: i asked both of

you about a personal setback in what you do to overcome its so let's talk about your professional career senator landrieu would have been what has been your greatest mistake in your professional career and what did you learn from its? landrieu: i've given several speeches that didn't turn out very well and one in particular that i can remember as a young legislature and i never forgot to be prepared and to not take anything for granted and to be prepared. and and i've tried in all of my public presentations to provide good information. it was a good experience in and terribly embarrassing and it served me well to be able to be prepared and know your material and show up and debate. the cassidy: i'm a big belief or in those that love the lord says in retrospect maybe it wasn't a

bad problem. as an international conference thinking about the vaccine research supposed to speak for 20 minutes i finished my speech in for. i was so nervous and i sat down and everybody looked at me and thought i never got invited back to give a similar type of speech. it was total. on the other hand it created a possibility to serve my state and our country in public office so i do think as that ended perhaps opened up the opportunity to serve him and other means and it has been a privilege to serve as a member of congress. >> i was almost tripping over the monitor when i walked back but i avoided that. we have reached the point where we come to a closing statement and congressman cassidy goes first.

>> families are struggling and they are struggling because of the agenda. obamacare is one agenda. we were told we could keep their interest if we wished. premiums have increased some things by 300% created now, you cannot keep the doctor even though we were told to cut. people have had their full-time jobs decreased decreased part-time or even lost their job altogether. suddenly the epa regulations are coming after the wheel and gas drops and bringing prosperity to so many of us and then the agenda is beyond and has taken away the second amendment rights senator landrieu supports barack obama 97% of the time. if you want a center that will work to repeal and replace obamacare with these job killing regulations and create a culture of two defend your second amendment rights and vote bill cassidy because senator landrieu represents barack obama and i represent you. i ask for your vote.

landrieu: there is a clear contrast in this election. my opponent has spent 18 months hiding from the voters and now will not submit records of his double dipping in a public hospital where he has his own salary at taxpayer expense over $100,000 he will not own up to that. he's good to be fighting more than president upon if he gets elected which i doubt. he will be fighting subpoenas because this is going to be under investigation. the contrast is for 18 years working with integrity, delivering for every part of the state he's been very disrespectful to the president and to the office of the president. we need someone that will respect our views, go to washington and go to the betterment of the state on energy, education and on healthcare. i ask for your vote and thank you for your consideration. >> moderator: thank you both for joining us this evening.

remember the election is this saturday. thank you for watching and good night live coverage from the louisiana debate in baton rouge louisiana. incumbent democratic senator mary landrieu and the challenger bill cassidy. above the runoff election is this saturday. here's a look at some of the airing in the race. >> i am mary landrieu and i approve the message. >> bill cassidy case a speech that was nearly incoherent. >> senator landrieu may get -- but his record is crystal clear voting to cut social security benefits, to pay for the tax breaks for millionaires like

himself. will it be for this quick >> before the end of the year we are going to take whatever actions. >> promising executive amnesty for many that are here illegally. as your senator i will fight to the amnesty plan. your tax dollars should benefit you. and remember, mary landrieu, barack obama, 97%. i will stand up to obama. i am bill cassidy and i approve this message. >> every morning i say a prayer for my kids. i just want him to be happy and do their best. bill cassidy is a doctor but he still voted to cut $86 million from louisiana schools to pay for a tax break for millionaires like himself. i don't know what kind of dr. would do that to