>> this week on q&a, two former parliamentarians, one british and one american, compare and contrast the house of representatives and the house of commons. william mckay and charles johnson, sunday night on "q&a." >> american history tv takes a look at pre civil war virginia and how it struggled with the abolition of slavery. we will visit richmond for one of the largest civil arms and antique shows.

we're back to the classroom with former civil rights leader and professor bond for a unique look at the montgomery bus boycott. >> voters head to the polls in less than two weeks. debates every night right until election day. archive the debates online at the c-span video library. follow election coverage right through election day. >> each night on c-span, we are showing debates from key races across the country. at 7:00 p.m. eastern, the final and second televised debate between pennsylvania's senate candidates. at 8, a profile of indiana's

ninth congressional district race. president obama in nevada for a get out the vote rally with harry reid. president obama is on a five- day, four-day campaign swing, his longest of the season. he has been rallying voters and raising money in washington state. in california, for senator barbara boxer. tonight, in nevada for harry reid. along the way, president obama is also campaigning for other democratic candidates. he scheduled to return to the white house tomorrow night. a new poll shows pennsylvania's gubernatorial race is tightening up. a poll released today says republican, state attorney general, is holding onto a

slight lead, with support from 49% of voters. the county executive with 44%. the same pollster found the republican leading in september with a 15-point lead. many of the debate we're showing you are tossups. the race for arkansas first house district is one of them. they are running to replace democratic congressman barry, who is retiring. we will show you one of her 1 hour debate shortly. first, a look at the candidates. >> c-span's local content of vehicles are traveling the country as we look at some of the most contested house races leading up to the midterm elections.

>> how are you doing? i love this. thank you. i need your help. >> when you get there, do what you know to do. >> i will. i will. you could look at that a couple of ways. sometimes no is a good thing. the other thing is, the party of know -- know what is in the bill before you vote on it. the first district of arkansas is very diverse. we have 26 counties. it is made up of the delta on the eastern part of the district, and the other parts on the western part of the district. it's a very stark contracts in -- contrast in geography, and

this is one of the poorest districts in the united states. they work for a living and the balance their budgets. they provide good living for their families. >> voters in the first congressional district typically vote conservative at the national level, but they will elect democrats at the local level. that has been pretty historical. there's not been a republican elected to the first district since reconstruction. the two primary candidates are republican rick crawford, who is a radio broadcaster with a bit of a media empire that crosses the agricultural part of the district. and chad causey is the retiring congressman's former chief of staff.

you have the quintessential person who understands washington, d.c. and how it works versus a first time republican candidate in rick crawford. if you ask for some up and down votes on the big issues that have been dominating the american political agenda this year, health care, the stimulus, cap and trade, card checks, and those issues, i think you'll find the whole agreement on those issues. how much of that is how they truly feel about the issues is debatable. i think that is the message they're sending to voters. >> this race is about the people of arkansas. this is not about me. this is not about my opponent. this is not about the national parties. this is about the values of the people in arkansas have and what they want to see in the person who will fight for them. it's about sending someone to

washington who shares their common sense thou use. i do. >> the difference between the candidates -- chad causey has deeper working knowledge of some of the big projects. the higher education issues they've been working on for years, the agricultural and water projects. i think rick crawford has a broader populace of field. i will pose some of these bigger agenda items. i think you could see him as that type of a member of congress. >> looking for a genuine citizen legislator that reflects the values, that has been here, that has made a contribution here, and that is not entrenched in washington and is not a bureaucrat.

i'm not doing this to try to get a job. i already have a job. i want to keep that. i want to make sure everyone in this opportunity has the opportunity that i have. >> the first congressional district is the one that everyone will feel like a coin toss. it may be your best way of guessing who will win that election. as the voters decide -- who do i like in that race? as the television and radio ads run, you will not hear either one identified themselves by party affiliation. it will be by name, rick crawford or chad causey. i would not be surprised to see a close final in this tally. it could be close. >> c-span's local content of vehicles are traveling the country as we look at some of the most closely contested house races leading up to the midterm elections in november. for more information on what the

local content of vehicles are up to this season, visit our web site. >> good evening, everyone. welcome to debate a week on the arkansas educational television network. tonight, two sessions. the first will include the candidates from the first congressional district, and then from the second congressional district. our candidates are ken adler, the nominee of the green party, chad causey, democratic party nominee, and rick crawford, the

republican party nominee. it will be questioned by a panel of arkansas journalists. each candidate will have two minutes to respond to a question. rebuttals are limited to one minute. after the conclusion, each candidate will have two minutes for a closing statement. the order of opening statements, questioning, and closing statements was determined prior to this broadcast by a growing. our time keeper tonight -- with that, our first opening statement is by ken adler. >> for those of you who were expecting arkansas outdoors or

the "antiques road show" i apologize. in 2008, there were some rumors going around that you could not put lipstick on a pig, but you can put an old hippie into a suit. for that, i would like to thank you for inviting me. i represent the green party of arkansas. i think it's very important that i'm here and involved in this debate. other than this election, there have been very few green party candidates on the ballot. we'll have some others later in the week. i hope you'll give us the attention and consideration that you offered to the candidates from the democratic and republican parties. grass-roots democracy is one of our key values. the fact that i've been invited to participate and give voters a choice -- and not just vote for

the person who is the lesser of two evils, but someone who represents the way you feel, that's an important thing in arkansas politics. when you make your choice in november, i hope you will not decide by the d, r, or g, but chooses the person who best represents your views and can represent the best interest of arkansas. >> thank you. mr. causey. >> thank you for having us here. thank you to my fellow candidates for being here. thank you to both of you for your service in the armed forces. like all americans, i appreciate that. and i'm running for the united states congress. my mother raised me and my

brother. she did this on a school teacher's salary. she worked hard to make ends meet. she taught me from an early age what hard work is. i spent my early age working part-time jobs to make my way to a high-school and work my way through college on more part- time work and student loans. i know what hard work is. i know what sacrifice is. i learned it from my mother. i learned from my grandfather, a world war ii veteran. he started a small business with a few hundred dollars. my family still owns the business. we know the challenges we face in this country. we are over $14 trillion in debt. we're struggling through the worst economy since the great depression. we're still waiting to the wars in iraq and afghanistan that we must win. people of arkansas are working hard to balance their checkbook

every month. most people in washington are fighting. the people of arkansas are frustrated with that. i know i am. its time that we get back to work. take our values to washington, d.c.. that is what i will do for the people of the first district. we will make jobs and grow the economy right here in arkansas, work hard to protect social security for future generations. i will work hard to make congress tightened its belt, like arkansas families are tightening their belts. thank you for having me tonight. >> mr. crawford. >> thank you. my name is rick crawford and i'm asking for your vote for the first congressional district of arkansas. isve heard for years -- this the most pivotal election in history. this is the most pivotal

election in my lifetime that i can ever recall. i'm a small business owner. i live and work in jonesboro, arkansas. my dad was a career military man and served the country for 24 years. i grew up all over the united states and overseas. i have a unique insight to issues across the country and around the world. i'm a small business owner, as well. i know what it takes to sign the front side of a paycheck. i know what it means to restore own money and build the jobs. i'm proud to live there. i choose to live there. i was educated at arkansas state university. that is where i met my wife. we are raising our children and growing our business in the first district of arkansas. i'm the only candidate on the stage who has taken taxpayer protection pledge, endorsed by the u.s. chamber, and numerous veterans groups. i've been endorsed by national rights of life.

i'm a candidate that understands what it takes to bring common sense values to washington. the real story about the debt deficit in washington is that the unfunded liabilities total up to over $55 trillion. we are not told that story in washington. we are on the hook for $56.5 trillion. we need common sense solutions and someone from the first district of arkansas to take those common-sense solutions to washington. >> mr. crawford, thank you very much. the first question comes from richard irving. >> there are a lot of critics out there this year. they seem to be fond of saying that there's not a difference between the various members of congress. it occurred to me from looking at your website and your stance on various issues that you all are running on pretty close to the same platform.

you all talk about small businesses as the key to helping the economy, protecting social security and gun rights, so some people might have a hard time picking out which candidate might be best. can we start with a discussion of any new ideas or approaches that you feel that you take that set you apart? >> mr. adler, we will start with you. >> thank you. the green party does not see ourselves like the republicans and democrats. on some issues, there's not much room to wiggle at this point. everybody knows the economy needs to be fixed and there are certain issues that you cannot get around -- constitutional rights and things like that. we would not argue with those. i see a difference in that we consider ourselves to be true progressive party.

i do not feel that the democratic party of today is the same progressive democratic party that it was when i was a youngster. it is certainly not in the same vein as the progressives that i look back on his starkly. i think that puts us a part to begin with. there are certainly some issues, things like the death penalty, and probably some differences in terms of gay rights, abortion, the freedom of choice, and things like that. i think the green party stands very much apart from the republican party, and also, to some degree, the democratic party. in terms of the economy, i hear a lot of talk about -- we are at a crossroads and we need to make a choice. when one or the other in a major party gets put into office and takes over control of the congress, the other party spent all their time trying to break those people down, and then the cycle repeats the next time we come around. we have to throw out all the

incumbents and put new people in. the whole process starts again. involving a third party or a fourth party would force the government to rely more on coalitions and working together. everyone has good ideas. i'm not saying that my ideas are any better than other people's ideas. by putting some alternative candidates in and creating more than a two party system, we could force people to work together in some different ways that might be more productive. >> mr. adler, thank you. mr. causey. >> i have a new idea. maybe this is a older idea, but it seems like it has been lost, and that is common sense. we have to get back to common sense. arkansans have a lot of good common sense. i share that. i'm ready to take arkansas common sense with me to washington. we have to start living within our means. congress spends beyond its means.

it's not a good steward of taxpayer dollars. we have to change that. i want to introduce a constitutional amendment on day one to balance the federal budget. there's no reason that congress should not be better stewards of taxpayer dollars. also, i believe it is time for members of congress to tighten their belts. i will introduce legislation for a 10% pay cut for congress next session. there's no reason congress should be getting automatically pay raises when people in arkansas are struggling every week to make the ends meet. they do not get that automatic k pay raise in most cases. they do not get the choice to make that happen like magic. we have got to get back to common-sense principles. those are some that i hear. i also believe that we need energy independence in this country. that's a comprehensive solution.

i would not support a cap and trade bill that passed congress last year. i believe it would have raised fuel costs and prices on arkansas farmers and small businesses. that is the wrong policy. we need energy independence in this country to make comprehensive solution, through new nuclear power, clean coal- fired plants, and wind and solar. those are some new ideas that i will carry with me. they are based on arkansas common sense. thank you. >> mr. causey, thank you. >> mr. crawford. >> the biggest threat that we face right now that anderhinders arkansas or anybody is obamacare. we need to focus on that first and foremost. i would replace it and repeal it. i've committed in writing to

repeal obamacare. it is a job killer. it threatens quality of care. it cuts $500 million out of medicare. if we are going to protect the unborn, protect seniors, protect jobs, and the economy, the first order of business should be the obamacare.g we have already seen this happen. i have a very close friend who needed back surgery. he went to see his neurologist. the doctor said he did not take medicare patients anymore. we are already seeing health care rationing take place. i'm committed to helping seniors, protecting life, and protecting jobs in the first district of arkansas. >> mr. crawford, thank you. mr. adler.

>> i agree with several of the things they've stated. i do not think a 10% cut in pay in congress would be anything more than a drop. in. personally, i would like to see them cut 50% and get more in line with the salaries of average americans. i agree that arkansas is in a unique situation in that we had a strong agricultural base in northeast arkansas. we have an opportunity to lead the way in using those agricultural products, not only for food, but also for developing alternative fuels. i would also like to suggest that the government look into using a nuclear source, rather than uranium. it uses up uranium in some ways. in terms of health care, the green party is a strong supporter of universal health care. i'd be willing to elaborate on

how we would like to pay for that, if given the opportunity. >> thank you. next question. >> mr. causey, you've attempted to make social security issue in this race. the question of privatization, which was an idea that did not get anywhere in the bush administration. over the past few days, there was a press reports that mr. crawford favors privatization early in his campaign. in -- notnterested only privatization, but what else can we do to ensure the solvency of social security for people my age and older? i would like to ask all of you to comment on that. >> thank you. sulzer security is a safety net that thousands of -- social

security is a safety net that thousands of arkansans and millions of americans, that's all they have. i have a friend who sent me a note the other day. he said, "i wish i could do more for you then vote for you. i'm only on social security and it is all i have. at the end of the day, after a pay my light bill and by my medicine, i'm lucky if i can get to the grocery store." there are thousands of people like him all over the first congressional district, the state, and the country. i adamantly opposed the privatization of social security and will fight at every turn against it. we have a balanced budget amendment region that's one way i believe we can set priorities in this country and move forward in balancing the budget to protect programs like social security and strengthen medicare. i'm strongly opposed to privatization. unfortunately, mr. crawford has

stated that he is for privatization. he has said that several times. privatization is moving designated social security funds for people receiving the right now and moving them onto wall street, onto the stock market. imagine if plans to privatize social security had been put in place a few years ago before the greatest economic downturn since the great depression. what would have happened to social security if it was on wall street? it would not be there. that's why we have to protect it. seniors out there have worked hard and paid into social security. they deserve to have that. it's not arkansas seniors or americans in this country that have caused reckless spending in congress. it is congress. we need priorities that balance the budget. >> mr. causey, thank you.

mr. crawford. >> mr. causey is either misinformed or lighying. i have two parents on social security. i will be the last guy to cut social security. if we're really committed to helping seniors, we need to repeal and replace obamacare. >> mr. adler. >> i would also come down on the side of social security. i think that is a progressive program that was put in place back in the franklin roosevelt administration. a lot of people said it was a communist and that it would never work. obviously, it has. any candidate who would say they're for doing away for social security at this time would be shooting themselves in the foot. i'm a capitalist. i have no objection to people having private retirement funds. i have one.

i've been fortunate enough room in plymouand through my employment to participate in a retirement program. i think social security will augment that, in addition to the funds i already have. i would like to see strengthening of social security and other domestic programs through extreme military spending cuts. as mr. causey mentioned earlier, i'm a veteran and i understand the importance of strong national defense. i strongly support our military and people in the service. i think we are currently operating under some ancient and archaic philosophies. we are spending abroad in places we do not need to be spending. we have 150 different ways that we can destroy the world. let's cut it down to 100 different ways and take all the money that we save and apply that to things we can use for better purposes at home. >> thank you. mr. causey. >> private accounts is the same

as privatization. if you divert the designated payments for social security, you're diverting them away from seniors. there's no way to do this without cutting social security. mr. crawford said he's supporting private accounts. that is privatization. mr. crawford supports privatization. i do not. i will work to protect and strengthen social security. arkansas' years have worked their whole lives. they paid into social security. it is barely enough to buy food, medicine, and electricity, and sometimes it is not, but it needs to be there. it is the last safety net that keeps millions of americans out of poverty. i will fight every day to strengthen buy bony balancing te

budget. >> sir, you can use your follow up time. our next question is for mr. crawford. >> arkansas's rural economies rely on the success of their agriculture. what would you like to see happen to federal funds made available to farmers? what percentage, if any, should be devoted to renewable energy technology? >> if you say a lie long enough, it does not make it true. i do not support privatization of social security. it sounds like -- is a subject for another time. the point is that i do not support privatization. on to agriculture. i think the role of the federal government should be to support agricultural producers.

we need to reduce the impact the epa has on the federal regulation of our farmers. farmers cannot cash flow the regulatory burden today. for example, best mitigation, fuel containment -- things of this nature are counterproductive to our food and fiber production. the federal government needs to strengthen their role in the production of our food and fiber. we need to level the playing field globally. that is what the role should be of the federal government. if we're going to help our agriculture producers compete in the global marketplace, we need to have trade agreements that are good for every sector in the united states. we certainly need to reduce the regulatory burden. >> mr. crawford, thank you. mr. adler. >> northeast arkansas, the backbone of the economy is agriculture. i do not see any way that we can

have a viable society without having the strongest support of our farmers, especially local family farms. i think we need to find new crops and new ways to use the crops that are being grown in order to create new opportunities for farmers and possibly even some new industries. i think the growing field of biofuels and products of that nature will be somewhere that we can really do well to spend government money in investigation and research and development of those products. i also agree that we need to open new markets and take advantage of some of the markets that we are not fully taking advantage of right now. i do not believe in funding farmers that get paid to not grow things. i do not agree with that policy. i think there are ways the government can look at tightening its own budget as it exists right now.

primarily, looking into finding new ways and better ways to work smarter and not harder. >> mr. adler, thank you. mr. causey. >> early next year, the next congress will begin work on the next farm bill. that farm bill, through history, has provided a safety net for. american. -- safety net for american agriculture. we must keep secure the ability of this country to produce food and fiber. that is a part of her national security. we must provide that. that is what a good, strong farm bill does. i will work tirelessly, and will pursue a seat on the agriculture committee if i'm elected to help craft the next farm bill. i've been proud to work, a couple of some farm bills. we need to make sure we keep that safety net for producers strong. that is done through direct

payments aborts. we'll keep fighting for them. we have to grow our export markets. q. what should have been opened years ago. there's no reason why we should not open it. it's a huge market for arkansas. panama and colombia will provide access. i would support getting those things done now. conservation is one of the more successful programs. farmers in arkansas are the most efficient in the world, period. they will provide the food supply for the world in the coming years. we must continue to support them, not only for national security, but for global security as well. they will provide the breadbasket for the world. conservation programs in the farm bill are incentivize. they're not punitive. they are voluntary. they are of the most successful

conservation programs we know. we must continue that on a voluntary basis, thank you and i thank. . >> mr. causey, thank you. >> the farm bill missed the mark. if you go around to coffeeshops and test them, they'll tell you the same thing. at the beginning of this year, president obama put forward a budget with big cuts in the commodity title. but it reduced the payment 25%.ations froa he is preparing to implement obamacare. he had to pay for the summer. the farmers are paying on their backs. farmers and seniors are directly affected by obamacare. if we want to help farmers today, we can start by reviewing

obamacare. >> our next question is from richard irving. >> i want to return to the issue of health care reform. democrats and republicans in congress seem to agree on the fact that the nation's health- care system needs to be fixed and there's great urgency to it. some say that until we bring health care costs under control, the economy may never write itself. i know that you feel that the package that was passed missed the mark. is there not the possibility that we could use the reform package as a starting point and change things as we go along, rather than throwing out years of wawork? >> personally, i do not think so. as a quick example, i was talking before the show to the other man and i was relating that i broke my leg badly last

year. it acquired surgery. fortunately for me, i work someplace that has a good health program. it covers a lot of my health costs. at the same time, about 25% was not covered by my health care and it had to come out to my pocket. it was a sizable chunk of change. even though i have adequate health care through my work, it did not really do the job for me. it hurt me very severely in my day-to-day spending. i think that's a problem that we have, in addition to the fact that millions of people do not have any kind of coverage at all. i do not think the new obama health care plan addresses people in need of that health care. personally, i would like to see another system that we already have in place, and that is medicare, and extending that to everybody who needs it. i do not think we should take away a person's opportunity to acquire healthcare, if that's what they want. if they decide they want to

stick with an established health-care providers through the private sector, that's fine with me. i do not want the government to force people to do anything they do not want to do. would like to see medicare for everyone who needs it. i think that is a system that's already in place. it can be built upon and would supply the universal health care for all citizens that the green party stands for. >> mr. adler, thank you. mr. causey. >> i would not have supported that bill, had i been a member. i cannot support it because of my concerns with the long-term cost. i certainly would not stand to repeal the $500 billion in cuts to medicare. i fear that puts seniors at risk. i will work vigorously to a change that. at the end of the day, we know that health care in this country cost too much. health care is too much for families. it's too expensive for businesses that want to offer it

to their employees. every year after year, 10% increases in cost. we have to work to make sure that we go at the root cause of what increases the price of medicine and services. a fine chosen to represent the people of the first district, i lower the price of what health care cost, and to lower the price of prescription drugs. i've seen seniors make the decision between buying a medicine that they've been prescribed anti in a light bill. this is america. we should not have seniors making this decision. i will fight for them. interestingly, mr. crawford supports, or has shown support, for a 23% national sales tax on almost everything we buy. madison, gas, -- medicine, gas,

homes, cars -- i do not think there's anything interesting about that. what we do not need to do is raise the cost of prescription drugs by 23%, which is what the plan would do. we do not need to raise the cost of doctors and how much it cost for them to do business already. that's a bad idea. let's work to lower the cost of health care at its root and move from there. thank you. >> mr. causey, thank you. >> mr. causey is on record saying he would work within the framework of obamacare. i think the framework of obamacare is built on a broad and timbers. we need to tear it down before it falls down on us. let's repeal it with something that works. he uses obamacare to divert our attention. he uses things like a 23%

increase in taxes. i signed the taxpayer protection pledge but i'm the only candidate on the stage that has done that. i've been endorsed by the u.s. chamber of commerce. in am the only candidate. again, what he has shown is his inability to go from distortion to flat fromlies. i've never supported a flat tax. that's not part of my platform. the real problem is, you're either with obamacare or you are not. i'm not for obamacare. i support repealed and replaced. immediately. what ever we can do to not do further harm to our small businesses, to our quality of health care, and our seniors. the commitment to seniors is right here. i have two parents that are on social security. i have a mother in a nursing

home and she receives the medicare. who will be more likely to have a commitment to seniors? i will let the voters of the first district decide. >> mr. adler. >> i think have already made my position clear. the green party supports the universal health care system. i personally support a universal health care system. i would like to see something in place that allows for people to have health care who need it, and not force them to buy something that they do not want, or use something that they do not want. unfortunately, i have seen pledges broken in the past. mr. crawford keeps referring to the pledges that he signed. i think that his first responsibility, if elected, is going to be to his party. i do not necessarily know that either the democratic for the republican party is going to bow to the people who fund their campaigns in big pharmaceutical

companies and health-care companies and so forth and go against the grain when they decide to do something that's not necessarily in the best interest of the constituents. >> our next question goes first to mr. causey. >> one of the issue still on the table is the extension of the bush tax cuts of 2001. congress recently adjourned without taking any action. it's possible that even after the election there will be nothing done about that. the next congressman might have to deal. . its the basic position is that the -- most democrats favor extending them for people with income of $250,000 or under and republicans extendinfavor exten. the difference is about $4 trillion that adds to the deficit. you've mentioned a balanced budget amendment. that could take years to pass.

i would like to know what you will do with the tax cuts if you are faced with that. what else will you do to cut expenses so that we do not go so far into the hole? >> sure. the economy is struggling across this country, here in arkansas is no different. people are trying to balance their checkbooks. they're worried about the job they have. small businesses are strolling to survive in this economy. i do not think that we can raise taxes on small businesses, on farmers, businesses in arkansas. i think that is a bad idea. i think that one thing i hear from small business owners is -- as i travel through the first district, they need certainty. they need certainty to make the decision so they know what is coming around a corner. i favor fully extending and

permanently extending the tax cuts to give them that certainty. those tax cuts, i believe, will spur economic growth in arkansas and across this country. what i believe will spur growth even more than a tax cut itself is a certainty that it provides. to know what small business can expect. they know what is coming around the corner for them. that does not provide certainty. you have got to give small businesses and farmers the certainty to make business decisions. i think we've got to tear down some of the red tape surrounding small businesses. they struggle through red tape all the time. we have to steal some of that back. i strongly favor that. regulation needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom and make sure we are not -- i will support those things because we have got

to get our economy growing. getting the economy growing, creating jobs in arkansas and across the country is what will spur economic growth and lead us to the pathway of a balanced budget. unlike mr. crawford, who wants a 23% sales tax on everything we buy. >> mr. crawford. >> i want to address the taxpayer protection pledge safe. that the nonpartisan group. each one of us have had an opportunity to sign the pledge. i'm the only person who did that. i'm committed to lower taxes. the continued drumbeat that mr. crawford wants to raise taxes by 23% is a diversionary tactic to take away from mr. causey's lack of ability to support the repeal and replacement of obamacare, which is the greatest threat that we face, not only in the first district of arkansas, but across the country. i'm moving on. do i support the tax cuts? absolutely, to the fullest extent. make those permanent. i do not think the market can

stand the last 30 days of this year without the uncertainty being addressed. >> thank you. mr. adler. >> in support extending the tax cut for the lower class and middle class. i do not support extending those tax cuts for people that make more than $250,000. i do not think it affects them quite as much as those in the lower tax brackets. personally, i would like to see our current tax structure overhauled and come back with a flat tax. i do not mean a fair tax we've been talking about with the 23% sales tax. i'm talking about a flat tax on income with no loopholes and no need for deductions and that kind of stuff. you make $25,000 per year and you pay a certain percentage of that. the guy who makes $250,000 would pay the same percentage and all the way up the line.

i've heard a lot of talk about trickle-down economics and how the people at the top of the tax brackets are the ones that keep the economy rolling. i have no objection to wealth, as i said earlier. i have a lot of friends that are wealthy. they do a lot of tremendous flow ophilanthropic work. a lot of them invest in things. these people use their money to generate more income for people in lower class is. i think we have a very obvious and distinct growing division among the extremely wealthy and those who do not have anything. that has been the case for quite some time now. ier, iointed out early tom support extreme cuts in military spending to make up for any sort of deficits that we may have in terms of the government being able to provide for the things that they do, which is what taxes are supposed to be about anyway. that is our duty as a citizen to

pay into a program that then provides the most good for the most number. >> thank you. mr. causey. >> a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget will force congress to set priorities in this country and work within those priorities. to reduce the long-term debt liability of this country. we are over $14 trillion in debt. we are over $50 in unfunded. we have to start working now to address these problems before the country moves rapidly into bankruptcy. we have got to do that. i strongly favor a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. mr. crawford talks about pledges. he signed a pledge, which included a plan to privatize social security. that is on his facebook page. you can see that yourlf. he has also signed a pledge to

privatize social security. i will not do that. i will not fix the problems of this country on the backs of seor i social security willocial. mr. cauy, tnk you. our next question goes first to mr. crawford. >> we understand originally so much money made available at any given time. if you had the opportunity to cut one federal program and put those funds into another program, which one would you cut, and which one would you move the funds to? >> i would cut obamacare first and foremost and really put some teeth into helping seniors. i'm the only one on the stage that i know of that as parents receiving social security benefits and medicare benefits. the. lies about the fact that i support privatization of social security or that i support 23% tax across the board -- they are flat out false. they're making those claims because they're not willing to go on record to defund

obamacare. they would like to keep obamacare. if you're for obamacare, you're basically standing against seniors. there are federal funds for abortion provided in obamacare. i am pro-life. i've been endorsed by the national right to life and arkansas right to life. i am pro low tax. that's why i'm opposed to obamacare. i'm pro senior. that's why i am opposed to obamacare. we can see the the immediate threat to seniors right now is obamacare. i'm the only one on the state willing to stand up and commit to working hard todefund that so that we can help our seniors today, not 10 years from now. >> mr. crawford, thank you. mr. adler. >> i've already mentioned this price. the most obvious place to make cuts in military spending. we need to go overseas to some

of these bases there leftover from the cold war mentality that are no longer necessary, like in italy, spain, and places like that where we are really not necessarily wanted anymore, much was needed. closing some of those things down and bringing the people back here and the money back here where we can put it to work. the other thing i would like to see done -- once we have those funds diverted, the will fund a lot of things, like health care, social security, and rebuilding the national infrastructure. i would like to see a rebuilding of the american passenger rail system. i do not know about you, but i do not like to fly anymore. i do not have any alternatives. if i want to go from here to washington, d.c., have to fly. if we rebuild the american passenger rail system, it will

put people to work. it will be funded by it that cuts in military spending. it will also provide an opportunity to find alternative fuel sources, like i draw electro power -- hydro-elect ro power, and build a system akin to what they have in france and switzerland. it will provide jobs for people building the system, building the infrastructure for the system, building the power infrastructure, and providing an alternative method of transportation, thereby cutting down on the need for fossil fuels and a single occupant vehicles and things of that nature. >> mr. causey. >> thank you. certainly, we need a top to bottom scrub in federal spending. congress has to be better

stewards of taxpayer dollars. we have got to live within our means, like arkansas families are tightening their belts. congress should be doing the same thing. that's why i started a balanced budget amendment to force congress to make the tough decisions. the state of arkansas balances its budget every year. arkansas families balance their budget probably every week. in washington, they need to do the same thing with taxpayer dollars. i will work to make sure that happens. congress should tighten its own bill. that's why start with a 10% cut in their pay. i will introduce that legislation early. congress must show they are willing to make tough choices for the american people lined up *. -- tough choices for the american people in tough times. cutting specific programs, i was star with the departments of waste, fraud, and abuse. $15 billion in fraud alone in

new york city in medicaid alone. that is fraud. people work hard and that is fraud. that is just one city. we have to get control of waste, fraud, and abuse through vigorous enforcement. i believe that is where we shall start cutting. a balanced budget amendment gives us the framework to do that. >> mr. causey, thank you. mr. crawford. >> i came out in support of a balanced budget amendment in the primary. i did not wait until the general election to adopt that position. i've been clear on that. that's a long-term proposition. if we're going to do anything, it has to do with the not increasing spending. do not buy we cannot pay for it we cannot pay for obamacare. >> we -- have we thank you very

much for your -- thank you very much for your answers. we've reached the point in the broadcast for closing statements. again, by the decision earlier in the evening by the candidates themselves, we begin with mr. adler. >> i've been thinking quite a bit about my dad. friday would have been his 81st birthday. i told him i was running for congress, i think the first thing he would say to me is, "get a hair cut." the thing that i would have said, do not tell me what to do. he would tell me that i was chasing rainbows and that congress is not a real job. we have a few differences. i think congress is a real job and i take it seriously. i would hope that the voters of arkansas would not take a look at me and say i'm not serious. i'm extremely serious. i look back to the time that i was a little boy in camden.

when i was about seven, i remember seeing an arkansas license plate. it said, "land of opportunity." he was on his way to work and i asked him what opportunity meant. he told me that it meant that people could do things -- whatever they wanted to do, and use the resources that were available. i think that arkansas is a land of resources. we have so much potential in agriculture and in bright, talented people, and people that are willing to give and provide service. it is a remarkable thing. we wake up every morning with the power to make arkansas and the rest of the world whatever we want it to be, but we do not really make good use of that power. as a representative, i think that would be a voice to remind people that we are able to do that. as i pointed out, a long string of green party candidates here

coming in during the week. they will be espousing green party values and how we feel we are different from the democratic and republican candidates and how we can serve you. i can serve you by listening to the people of arkansas and take that opinion to washington and represent them to the best of my abilities. >> thank you. mr. causey. >> thank you. i am chad causey and i'm asking for your support on november 2. this last sunday after church, i was out with my fiancee. we were looking for a deer stand. as i was thinking about this campaign, i began to realize that this campaign is not about me. it's not about my fellow candidates.

it is about you. maybe you just got home and your in your recliner. you are worried about the job that you just came home from. or your at the kitchen table and you just read your kids -- fed your kids and you're worried about whether or not you'll be able to save the money to get them the education you want them to have. that's what this election is about. it's about you and who will work for the people of the arkansas first congressional district the. i've never been handed a thing in my life. i've worked for everything i've been given. i'm ready to go to work for you. i will fight to make sure that we protect social security, not just for the greatest generation, but for future generations. tonight we've learned that mr. crawford has signed a pledge to privatized social security, turning it over to wall street, and i think that is wrong. i'm ready to go to work to create jobs and grow the economy right here in arkansas, so we can create jobs for people like you to work here.

mr. crawford has indicated his support for 23% national sales tax. that would raise the price of gas, food, and medicine. i will work hard for you. i do not have all the answers to all the problems that we face in this country. no one will take this responsibility more seriously. no one will mr. crawford. >> thank you, steve. i want to start by setting in a washington insider. i'm a working person, a small- business owner. the last thing we need in washington is another washington insider. i know what it's like for cash flow and health care benefits for my employees and what it's like this on the front side of a paycheck. the median income is $28,000 in arkansas in the first district. you made $148,000 last year, mr.

causey, a highest paid in the house. when we hear about a camp in pay, that falls flat on the ears of folks working hard in the first district and trying to stretch $28,000 across 12 months for them and their families. i understand that. the first congressional district is not for sale. this seed belongs to the people. the person that occupies it does so at the pleasure of the citizens of the first district. it is a public trust. it is not inherited. the people of the first district give that seeds and their trust to the representative and they hold that seat temporarily. this is not about sending a the washington insider and to continue the status quo in washington. we need somebody with common sense solutions, real-world

experience, free-market ideas, somebody who lives in the first district and wants to represent the first district in washington and not washington in the first district. that's why i'm asking for your help. thank you. >> thanks to our candidates and panelists and special thank you to the university of central arkansas. coming to you from but reynolds center. we will be back with the candidates in the second congressional district after this on aetn.

>> c-span goes to local content vehicles are traveling the

country as we look at the most closely contested those races leading to the november midterm elections. >> its has been a very interesting race for the sixth district congressional seat. both parties were hotly contested. both nominees won the primaries by the slimmest margins. this has been an area dominant lead democrat. now it may go republican. it has been good old-time southern politics from the get go. standing on the street corner holding signs, kissing babies, shaking hands, all you can imagine, the six congressional race has had. >> i am running for the seat vacated. i was in the square one evening and i asked everybody and it's

got alexander i have not left the barbecue. not very good. >> that is so amazing. >> thank you. >> dianne black is the state senator. she knows politics. she has been around. she is a former nurse and has been able to use her medical background to appeal to the anti-obamacare, someone with an alternative, someone who is a mother and grandmother, down-to- earth. >> the federal government is spending too much money, getting into places they should not be, taking over the banking industry, automotive industry, healthcare, cap and trade, energy. people are telling government to stop, a slowdown, don't spend so

much. >> rick carter is an unknown group came of know where. during the democratic primary it was a given that the military candidate was pretty much going to women and all of a sudden rick carter comes and gets the nomination. people were attracted to his down-home appeal, riding a tractor, connecting with rural people and residents plainspoken. does not seem to be a politician, presided. just the average joe talking to everybody, trying to get the vote. >> the people of this district are tired of career politicians, they want new faces in washington. i have an accounting degree and i will make sure the money we have in washington is being spent wisely. i am a veteran who's going to

stand up to the special-interest doing things that are stopping our economy from getting turned around. i have the backbone to do what we need to do in washington. >> and several counties included in the upper cumberland, with cookeville being the hub. 14.5 counties are included in district 6. it has always been democrat. one held the position 26 years. when he decided to retire, it was pretty much a given that a republican would take over his seat in the house. you take somebody like berset carter, not a politician, who has not been involved in politics, you know what,, democrat -- i am a democrat and i will try to keep the seat democratic.

two others are running on the transformer that when they go to washington, they're not going to be part of the washington regime, they are going to try to make a difference for our area. they are both similar in a lot of things. carter has a press conference asking for nancy pelosi's resignation. in doing that, he is trying to disassociate himself with the washington democrats and focusing on the issues that people around here care about like jobs, obamacare. i think dianne black is against that. she wants to go through the reform with health care thing over again. you don't see carter talking so much about that, more on the economics of cutting taxes, let's decrease spending. i think they agree on a lot of things. you don't hear a lot of back- and-forth between them so far.

we are pretty to none of polls, but i would say dianne black has to have at least a 10 point lead on carter right now. he's definitely the underdog, but i think that he relishes bedroll because -- he relishes that, because he came to live nowhere. she was in a nasty primary race with some other republicans, you have to wonder has the party come together? it will be interesting to see who wins. >> keyspan's local vehicles are traveling the country as we look at some of the most closely contested house races leading up to this november's midterm election. for more information on what the local content vehicles are up to

this season, visit our website, c-span.org/lcv. >> house republican whip eric cantor is taking exception to democratic assertions that tea party members are "outside the mainstream of american politics." he says they are concerned about fiscal responsibility. he says if republicans recapture the house, he would be willing and able to work closely with the new tea party-backed republican members as they're likely new majority leader. bill clinton is campaigning for democratic candidates. the former president has campaigned this year for 65 candidates at 95 events. president obama can draw bigger crowds, but a recent poll shows voters are more likely to be swayed by mr. clinton policy endorsement then president obama's.

each night on c-span they are selling debates from the races across the country. lives at 7:00 eastern, the second and final televised debate between pennsylvania oppose the u.s. senate candidates, republican pat toomey and democratic congressman joe sestak. at 8:00, a profile of indiana's ninth congressional district debate, the debate. and at 9:00, president obama as a rally with democratic leader senator harry reid. then a debate between wisconsin senate candidates. >> whether american media with its financial goals and need to entertain is good for democracy? and another author believes president obama poses a threat to the u.s. because of his father's entire colonial ideology.

and an examination of the feud between presidents nixon and investigative journalist jack anderson. look for the entire "book tv schedule online. supremeday's landmark court's cases on c-span radio. >> christmastime in 1965, they decided that they would wear a small black armbands to express certain views which they had with regard to the vietnam war. >> the principal suspended them, which led to tinker versus the des moines independent school district, looking at the constitutional rights of students, that argument saturday at 6:00 p.m. eastern on c-span radio. nationwide on xm channel 132. ander online at c-span radio .org. >> the obama administration is

laying out the new multi-year military aid package for pakistan. this comes as the u.s. questions the islamabad government to step up the fight against extremists in pakistan and afghanistan. secretary of state clinton announced the plan this morning at the end of the latest round of u.s.-pakistani strategic talks. it is about a half-hour. ho[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> good morning and welcome. we are on the eighth floor of the state department in washington, d.c. it is an honor for me to open our third cabinet level meeting this year of the strategic dialogue between the united states and pakistan. i am particularly delighted to have a number of u.s. cabinet

officials joining us this morning as well as so many ministers who has made the long trip from pakistan. the number of agencies and ministries participating in this dialogue is a testament to our shared commitment to a deep, broad, and enduring relationship between our two countries. i would particularly like to thank my colleagues, the foreign minister for his stewardship of this expanding enterprise. former minister kareshi. and ambassador ann patteson, who has done an extraordinary job in representing the united states in islamabad at a critical time in our history. its will be my privilege to present you with the secretary's award for outstanding service. welcome home. [applause]

i would also like to introduce our distinguished ambassador who will be departing on sunday to islamabad. chemlawn comes to the post with a great deal of experience. -- cameron is looking for to working with all the pakistani officials. in march began to gather off in the strategic dialogue to discuss how to help the pakistani people in the areas that pakistani people, themselves, identified as their most important concerns. we thought we would try something different in the history of our relationship, and that is listening to each other and learning from each other. in july we announced a series of signature projects in water and electricity. this week we are going even further with new agreements to cooperate on projects ranging

from building dams and water storage systems to expanding national radio coverage. in the time since we last met, one event, however, has dominated all of our work together, the terrible floods of this summer, which covered more than one-fifth of the entire country and affected more than 20 million people. the american people were deeply saddened by the loss of life, destruction of so many houses, farms, and businesses, and long- term damage to pack as don's infrastructure and economy. when i visited pakistan and the first time last year, i met people whose lives had been shattered by the violence in south waziristan in the swat valley. many of those same areas have been flooded and my heart goes out especially to those who have endured such terrible

calamities. i know that there are so many stories of individual challenges, but also so many of resilience. one woman that i had met lived in the village where all of the roads and bridges have been washed away. the people have moved into temporary housing, but winter is approaching. if they need concrete houses. after the snow falls and temporary roads are blocked, villages if will be cut off and cement trucks will not be able to enter. communities throughout pakistan are having similar problems. so we are celebrating efforts to help provide cash to people whose houses have been destroyed so that they can quickly rebuild. this morning i want to send a special message to the people of pakistan. we have stood with you and we will keep standing with you to help you not just cope with the aftermath of the floods, but to

get back on the path to prosperity. the united states is very proud working with the pakistani government and military to help with the rescue operations and to help pick up thousands and thousands of stranded pakistanis and to deliver millions of pounds of its beauty supplies as well as -- refugee supplies as well as relief and recovery 8 in the millions. there's so much more work to be done. in some places, aid has yet to lives and millions of people are still homeless. but we are working closely with the government of pakistan and international partners. we will continue to do all we can to help you. i believe that the need to look beyond that theto the future -- beyond the immediate to the future is a very important part of this help, because we have to begin to figure out how to help

you rebuild the infrastructure and once again get commerce going, get the agricultural community replanted, and building toward a better harvests. since our last strategic dialogue meeting in july in islamabad, each of the 13 working groups has finalized a plan, a blueprint for cooperation between our two countries. now we have a plan to immunize against disease for 90% of pakistani children. we have a plan to improve the reliability of electricity supplies for pakistani people. yesterday we began distributing wheat and vegetable seed as part of a broader plan to help half a million sunni families get back on their feet. families.ming they are shoring up the country's existing energy

structure and develop new sources of power. we have ordered equipment for four power plants. we will soon complete a public- private partnership that will build a 150 megawatt wind farm in a province to tap the enormous potential of the wind that blows down the texas tanit that blows down the pakistani coast. we will look to them to implement systematic reforms of the energy infrastructure. working groups have been involved in collaborating on new scientific projects. in fact, 27 of them, including research on deadly diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis, with joint funding from both governments. tomorrow, 6 water experts from paths tanit provinces will visit new orleans to study released and reconstruction

after hurricane katrina. we hope that pakistan can benefit from painful lessons we have learned and efforts we have made to rebuild a great city. finally, we are cooperating on military matters. i want to say publicly that the united states has no strong gardner when it comes to counter-terrorism efforts against the extremists who threaten us both a than pakistan. -- no stronger partner. we appreciate the sacrifice and service at the men and women, particularly the soldiers of the military in pakistan, have made in order to restore order and go after those who threaten the institutions of the state of pakistan. the military working has -- the military working group has had a productive discussion about arlin together

to combat terrorism and eliminate violence extremism and organizations that promote it that are operating in pakistan. these groups threaten the security of the people of pakistan first and foremost, of neighbors of the united states and of the world. in keeping with arkansas in during commitment to help pakistan plans for its defense needs -- defenseour enduring commitment, i am pleased to announce our multi-year security commitment. we will request $2 billion in foreign military assistance from congress for 2010 through 2016. this will complement the $7.5 billion in billion projects that has already been approved in legislation. later this morning, secretary gates will update you on other aspects of our bilateral military discussions. so, this is a full and

comprehensive agenda. in this dialogue, we are very proud to be your partner. we will continue to support you as you take the tough decisions necessary to create progress and prosperity for the people of pakistan. x systemn pakistan's ta is one area where tough decisions will have to be made, because it will serve a broad double purpose. a broader tax base will mean more funding for roads, bridges, power plants, airports, all essential elements of a growing economy. and it will demonstrate to the international community that all segments of thought is done in society are willing to do their own parts to rebuild their country. so we are tackling some of the toughest problems. nothing is being swept under the rug. i am so impressed by the quality of our engagement from both the

government and the people of pakistan. as we move ahead, let us be inspired by the people whose lives we have a chance to touch. the little boy recently heard about who goes back every day to play in the pile of bricks that used to be his house, his parents will soon be able to rebuild. the farmer whose fields were flooded will soon have seed and fertilizer to start again during the baby's who will grow healthy, girls who will go on to get an education, and all the people who will see that they can become part of a new future for pakistan. i want to invite my colleague and friend, minister kareshi, who has coached in a dialogue with me to begin making comments. minister.te

>> secretary clinton, dear colleagues, ladies and gentleman. thank you, madam secretary, for your gracious remarks. i am delighted to be in washington again. grateful for the warm welcome and the gracious hospitality afforded to us since our arrival here. my delegation includes senior colleagues from the civil and military institutions of pakistan making an enormous contribution. i thank them for their efforts. i also stressed our association for with contributions of so many senior members of the u.s. delegation who have been associated with this process from the ostart. this is the third time we are meeting for the and strategic dialogue within a year. this, in itself, it is a

significant achievement. but essentially it reflects the importance that both our nations attached to this vital relationship, so critical for peace and stability and beyond. it is a description of the broad range of areas in which we want fannie need to work together to broaden and deepen our multifaceted cooperation and to advance our share of goals of strategic partnership. madam secretary, your personal support for this shared endeavor, thank you. your personal reaching out to the people of pakistan has left a deep imprint on the hearts and minds of our people. abiding good will and friendship among our people is indeed a critical parts of the success of

our efforts. madam secretary, we are meeting today in the backdrop of the devastating floods in pakistan. this has been a national calamity of unprecedented proportions. a few weeks and months, ravaging floodwaters ravaged our lands and displaced tens of millions of our people. the floods did not just claim buses lives and caused damage to homes and infrastructure, it still dreams of millions of baucus sunnis and shattered to their hopes for a better future. the floods, also, decelerated the growth of our national economy and set back policy efforts and reversed years of development gains. madam secretary, the flood disaster has hurt the nation

again and our people have proved their resilience yet again. the whole pakistani nation will mobilize with the government, armed forces, civil society, the media, and profits citizens actively participating in the countrywide national effort for rescue and relief. what we could not have done, what we have not been able to do without the support and solidarity of our friends abroad. madam secretary, we truly appreciate the international community's efforts which were spearheaded by the united states. i would be remiss if i did not acknowledge on behalf of the people and government of that is done, your personal leadership and contribution to the efforts to keep a global spotlight on this disaster and to mobilize international support and assistance.

i take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude for your role. i also express sincere thanks to loseamerican people wh compassion has been deeply appreciated. remember the 2005 earthquake where the angels of mercy helped save thousands of lives. such angels of mercy reappeared on the horizon to evacuate tens of thousands of people to safer locations and to deliver relief supplies to many more. this is a testament to the innate goodness of the american people and their commitment to humanitarian values. madam secretary, the waters are receding now and we have initiated a recovery phase. a long and hard road to rehabilitation and reconstruction lies ahead.

the challenges are immense. we must help millions of evicted people to rebuild their houses, businesses, and communities. above all, we must help them renew their hopes. and restored their hopes it will be difficult, we know, but we also know that we would not be alone in this undertaking. pakistan and the united states have been friends before. we have a history of cooperation in meeting some of the greatest challenges of the first and second world wars. the kind of engagement we have as of the last few years has never been with us before. this is the first time that the relationship is founded on shared ideals of democracy, mutual respect, and trust. this is, also, the first time that on the pakistani side, the

relationship is driven by a democratically elected government. this is the first time that the two sides are making a deliberate effort to place the citizens of pakistan as the main beneficiaries of this relationship. i know that a relationship built on such foundations is bound to endorse. -- endure. just look at the range of issues we are looking at in the dialogue. 13 areas. each of them is a world in itself. we are working groups on each of these areas. we have had at least two extensive sessions on identifying areas of cooperation. words and documents have been exchanged. i think this strategic dialogue marks the foundation of our partnership. this is an earnest exercised to

create a better understanding of each other's predicaments. this is necessary to bring about the policy alignments and take a pragmatic steps for required cooperation and cooperation of the operational level. we have to move toward timeliness and benchmarks to measure progress and lend a result-oriented approach through the process. 10 of the 13 working groups met in the last two days. the report i received of their deliberations are encouraging. tangibles should be coming out of these deliberations soon. there is much to celebrate in the pack a stun-u.s. friendship. -- pakistan-u.s. friendship. never forget, we are once again engaged as partners in a moment as challenge, a momentous

struggle. the defining struggle of our times. i am referring to our joint fight against terrorism. we are fighting an enemy that offers no borders, follows no laws, and holds nothing sacred. we have both lost valuable lives. in the case of pakistan, nearly 30,000 civilians have lost their lives. ordinary pakistanis citizens face the daily threat of suicide bombings as they go about their lives. nearly 7000 of valiant law enforcement officials have perished in this fight. more than the combined loss of lives of military forces in afghanistan. nonetheless, it unfortunately seems easy to dismiss what was done's contributions -- to be dismissed pakistan's

contributions and sacrifices. there's been questions about not reallyheart being in the fight. we don't know what greater sacrifice then the blood of our people. the vast majority of citizens don't want to live this wide. we have no doubts on who the enemy is and what we must do to defeat it. i wish to show you pakistan will not allow any terrorists on its territory. violence against innocent people is unacceptable. it cannot be justified on any grounds. there can be no distinction between good and bad terrorists, as such. pakistan and the u.s. share the

goal of defeating terrorism. this requires close contact and constant coordination at the policy and operational levels. policy alignments and better communication and coordination rt to our mutual success. -- are key. we need to cooperate more closely in bringing peace. we also hope our consultation and cooperation on these and other areas will make an impact on the overall environment. i take this opportunity to underscore the importance that we attach to your support for pakistan's economic recovery and sustained development. the elected government continues to pursue a macro economic stabilization program that has been formed in cooperation with

international financial lobster institutions. we are reorganizing financial priorities. natural resources are being mobilized for the reconstruction effort. we are mindful of the need for a cost-effective program delivering, accountability, prosperity, and sufficient distribution of resources are important and we have developed mechanisms for these goals. when we launched the dialogue earlier this year, we were cognizant of the challenges and the opportunities that lay before us. we recognized that they would be scepticism -- there would be scepticism. and scepticism we knew that as friends and allies that we would have different opinions at times and honest disagreements. but we also knew that we have

the requisite political weight and robust engagement to help us resolve such momentary and junctures'. today more than ever we remain engaged in a comprehensive, long-term, and enduring partnership is in the strategic interests of both our countries. such a partnership rests on the principle of mutual respect, trust, and mutual benefit. we have stated this before and i reiterate, a pakistani's sovereignty will remain non- negotiable. i have no doubt, madam secretary, that we can surmount any momentary challenge with sensitivity about our respective countries concerns and core interests. some recent developments have prompted certain quarters to speculate on the strength and resilience andour relationship.

-- of our relationship. they are wrong. i also have no doubt that we will prove the naysayers wrong. prove the death of our engagement and endurance of our alliance. madam secretary, the stun and the united states -- pakistan and the united states and was aeered iinterest -- shared interest in peaceful negotiation. people have protested the use of force against the defenseless people of kashmir, in particularly the of the targeting of the a young people, which has taken 400 lives in the past few months. mothers are baffled at a deafening silence of world leadership. history has proved that the

force of arms cannot suppress legitimate aspirations of the kashmiri people. it is in the u.s. strategic interest to work for peace, stability, and resolution of the disputes in south asia. justice for the kashmiri people is the issue. president obama has always understood the importance of kashmiri solution. his coming visit to the region is a time to redeem the pledged that he made earlier. i wish to underline that this dialogue and the pakistani-u.s. partnership has profound principles for peace and security. a heavy responsibility falls on us to nurture it carefully. i reaffirm our determination that pakistan will do its utmost to contribute to this and to make our partnership a critical factor of peace, stability, and

prosperity in the region and at the national level. i want to express our appreciation and gratitude to your team for their painstaking efforts to make sure this round of meetings is a success. the most impressive program designed to extract the most benefit out of the process. i look forward to welcoming you in islamabad for the next round and i hope that we will see a the same professionalism that has been. >> there's no worry about that. having been in islamabad for the last meeting and received the excellent work that your team has been doing. as the pres leaves, we will begin our discussion and i will turn first to secretary gates

and then he will be followed by the defense minister. >> there will be more on this, this afternoon with a live news conference. the c-span networks provide coverage of politics, public affairs, a nonfiction books, and american history. all available on television, radio, online, and social media networking sites if. find c-span content any time through c-span pose the video library. and we have the digital bus and local content vehicle, bringing our resources to your community. the c-span networks, available in 100 million homes, created by cable, provided as a public service. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> there is an accusation that

nancy pelosi violated ethics rules, citing news reports in which speaker pelosi vowed to seek help from -- leaning organizations and it lists political expenditures by those groups after her comments. a spokesperson for nancy pelosi calls this a stunt. the illinois candidate for governor is leading the incumbent democratic governor pat quinn by one point. there are reports mr. brady has 42% to 41% for pat quinn. voters supporting third-party candidates don't care for the democratic incumbent, but cannot bring themselves to support the republican challenger. each night on c-span, we are still in debates from key races across the country. live at 7:00 eastern, the second and final televised debate between the pennsylvania u.s. senate candidates for republican

pat toomey and democratic congressman joe sestak. at 8:00, a profile of indiana's 9 thomas phister rate, followed by if the candidates debate. at 9:00 eastern live, president obama for a get-out-the-vote rally with senate candidate harry reid. followed by the third and final debate in another race. in washington state posted third house district, two candidates vowing to replace --. it is a tossup. anddebate between democrat republicans, right now, just over 20 minutes. >> home to one of the hottest political races in the country, the fight to replace a retiring congressman has turned into an explosive and expensive battle, pitting the democrat, a five-

time state legislator turned entrepreneur against republican state representative janie herrerra, for the right to represent washington post third district. this is a news channel 8 exclusive. debating jobs, health care, and the aggressive tone the race is taking. from news channel 8, this is "straight talk." >> good evening, thanks for joining us. tonight, the two candidates and what many political analysts are calling one of the hottest congressional races in the country, the race in southwest washington's third district. with no debate currently scheduled in vancouver, this may be the only chance for some viewers to see the candidate side-by-side. the democrats and republicans, thanks for joining us.

>> thank you. >> we appreciate it a very much. we will be here for the next half-hour. i want to keep it moving. a lot of things to discuss. i want to get into dails on what you both would do in congress. i want to start by talking about the economy and jobs, but everybody is concerned about. let's put up a graphic to show what's going on in your district. 13% unemployment in clarke county as of august. children living in poverty up 4%. awards -- emergency food distribution up 8%. some say things are getting worse. let's talk about jobs and how they are created. i am curious on your philosophy. how are jobs best created? >> over the last 200 years in our nation's history, we have a tremendous model to follow. the government used to let small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed or fail, based on the

value of the merits of their goods and services. that has changed completely. this congress, through overspending and inserting itself into the banking, auto, and healthcare industries, it has thrown off. when the government picks winners and losers, all of us lose. >> you are telling congress to get out of the lead? >-- the way. >> i am setting modest taxation. we want good roadways. right now they are overtaxing and overspending. the epicenter of the meltdown, the ones who said you need to loan to people regardless of creditworthiness, the government, republicans oversaw some of this as well, but it is time to let small businesses and entrepreneurs bulldogs.

>> css get out of the way. -- she says. >> 72% of jobs are created by small business. let's go back to that graphic that you put on the screen and remind people, if clarke county were estate, it would have the second highest unemployment rate in the country. people are hurting. that's because of health care insurance. the federal government could regulate less, but they could do more to be a partner by improving cash flow and credit to small businesses. i support the small business funds that the president has just signed, but we could do more to support the small business administration. we could take away the deduction to tear down plants and send them overseas. and laid the foundations for economic growth going forward. >> would you have voted for the

stimulus? >> yes, but not without reservations. one-third of the stimulus is tax cuts. one-third of the stimulus was tax cuts. >> that was supposedly a job creator. >> every mainstream economists says it saved or created between 1.4 and 3 million jobs. it was not perfect. i have had reservations that i stated from the beginning. they promised it would be timely and targeted. half of the infrastructure of dollars did not get spent. and it was not targeted in that it was not connected to a high unemployment areas like southwest washington. the third congressional district has the highest unemployment rates of any congressional district in the state. they need the federal their apartments as a partner. >> would you still vote for it? >> i would have fixed it. you have to ask what we would

have done to make it better. >> you are running for a congressional seat and not the white house? >> yes. i would not have voted for it. $18 million has gone to dead people. we talk about tax cuts. 2.3 billion in tax cuts went to small businesses, but those are foreign firms that did manufacturing overseas with green initiatives i want that done in the united states. unfortunately, when government thinks it knows better than a small business owner or an individual, it's not right. the vice president was posting a fundraiser for my opponent. he said the stimulus bill did not work because we were not able to spend enough. i don't want to abolish the federal government, but i advocate for balanced budget amendments that restrict

politicians reaching into your back pocket and mine and spending money to pass the litical process. that is what the stimulus. stimulus >> that is the vice president's speaking and not you. >> a website that checks out to these kinds of allegations like my opponent just made just concluded that the charge of $2.3 billion going to overseas corporations is 100% untrue. that is a pulitzer prize-winning website. that is simply not true. >> i will not argue with a website or blog. >> where did your news comes from? >> from a university study. it was a simple test. find me 10 or 15 people on main street or in vancouver who are

finding more employment opportunities and asking them whether spending millions of your money has helped? that bill over the next 10 years will cost southwest washington family's $350 billion in interest. we don't have the jobs to show for it. >> talking about cutting spending, both of you. the deficit is not sustainable even in the short term. where do you cut spending? >> $270 billion of stimulus funds is significant. rather than to continue to see that squandered, i would like to pay down the deficit. to enact a pay freeze for federal employees is a $30 billion savings immediately. i would vote to overturn and

replace obamacare with free- market solutions. 1.2 trillion dollar bill is increasing premiums for small businesses, individuals, families right now, and is restricting access to health care. those are three tangible immediate things that can be done to rein in and out of control federal spending. the way to get out of this debt is get the economy flowing again. get contador is and innovators the freedom to succeed and grow jobs. >> what would you do? >> the congressional budget office has said that the health care bill would reduce the federal budget over 10 years by $140 billion. it is not true to say that it added to the deficit. there are problems with the health care bill. >> we will in the second segment. >> $30 million in freezing federal employees and that

deficits, this is not amenaba meaningful contribution. toward the 1.3 deficit. you are not going to balance this deficit. need to put more meaningful cuts on the table. i would think it's important that congress take this seriously. we ought to give the president a line-item authority to get rid of these bridges to nowhere. second, i think congress should not fund those things in the department of defense budget that the department of defense says they don't want. third, we are not going to balance this budget until we 6 seriously health-care cost inflation. for medicare and medicaid. health care inflation is four times more than regular inflation. >> extending the bush tax cuts?

>> absolutely, yes. >> that is a big expenditure. >> $700 billion. over 10 years. the current spending money opponent has advocated for, right now the devil budget over the same time its 31.9 trillion. let's put $700 billion in context of that. >> i want you to pay for the $700 billion? >> i would start with $270 billion for stimulus funds. million that $30 billio folks in the private sector are not receiving. it's not saying not to sund core government functions, in sync with the government overspending. 1.2 trillion dollars on the health care bill that no one believes is not going to add to

the deficit. >> middle-class incomes when adjusted for inflation have declined 5% in the last decade. middle-class needs tax help as well as small businesses. i will allow the top two brackets tax cuts to expire. if politicians were subject to a chapter 11, the republican advocacy for bush tax cuts would constitute a bankruptcy filing. the conservative budget director for ronald reagan said that. let's get serious about it. >> we have a lot more after this. stay with us. >> jamie herrerra used taxpayer

money like her own keybanc. she bought furniture, formal note cards. >> putting nancy pelosi's agenda ahead of our needs. >> the stimulus failed to save and create jobs. >> when asked if she supported social security privatization, herero was a resounding yes. >> heck supported the health plan that cut billions from mmedicare. this november your vote could help heck disappeared. >> those are campaign commercials running right now in the district in washington. welcome back to "straight talk." a lot of clarke county voters will know that about you on election day. why are you two not debating?

>> we agreed to debate, but it did not work. we will make sure that we are in and around clark county and throughout the district. >> what she's referring to is not a debate, it is a form with all candidates. we accepted the invitation for the league of women voters for the third congressional district candidate-only debate in clarke county. we will be there. >> can you say whatever it takes on a streetcorner somewhere at 3:00 the morning and get together? >> i am out there at 3:00 in the morning shaking hands. this is a tremendous way to get our message out. >> what about a commitment from both of you? >> it is important for voters. >> i would be glad to do it.

i am optimistic it will happen. >> let's talk about health care. about eight minutes left. i want to get to a lot of issues. would you have voted for the new health-care reform law? >> no. republicans missed the chance to talk about free enterprise solutions in health care when they get control. >> army to interrupt. >> when democrats made it a priority, i have to applaud them because the cost of health care is rising. however, there were other ways to do it. i would replace this bill with free-market solutions like purchasing health insurance across state lines. that will help fair market competition and reduced costs immediately without raising taxes and growing government. >> what does your plan to to help the uninsured? is that the role of government? >> i believe in safety nets,

but health care is a tremendously large issue to deal with. i believe in making sure people have safety nets. this is america, everyone deserves access secure the way we go about it is the key. i don't believe we have to decimate felt care for most americans. you make sure the middle income families that are struggling have a way to get quality affordable health care and that seniors are protected. don't cut 500 million out of medicare advantage. 40% of seniors in southwest washington will lose their choice in medicare advantage because of the bill my opponent supports. lead since used the free enterprise solution. we have a government safety net of medicaid being threatened and endangered by overreaching federal spending that could take care of free enterprise solutions. >> you support this law as is?

>> it is a work in progress. >> would you have voted for it? >> yes, a with a workforce and changes in it. this bill does build on the free enterprise system. my question is, given the last hundred years of our health-care system, which leaves 51 million people not covered, how is that working for you? it is an incredible burden on small businesses right now. i know this as a businessman. we have to make real world trade offs. family budgets are being hammered by this. unless we get a handle on this and move forward, that will continue to be the case. >> why do the majority of people in every poll i have seen opposed this new law? if it is so good, why do the

majority that i have seen in polling not like this lot? >> i have seen a poll that shows that as people learn more about it, they have in fact flipped to be more in favor of it. americans want americans to have access to health care and not be denied on the basis of a pre- existing condition. americans do not want someone on a health care policy to be kicked off because they get sick. i believe any tax credit, so that more small businesses can provide health care. that is what americans want. >> here is the thing. i believe americans want access to quality, affordable health care. i believe in a plan that would allow small businesses to pool their resources statewide. but here is the reason people in our region do not like this bill.

small businesses are going to pay for it. if you do not believe in a -- if you do not get a government- approved plan, you have to pay a fine. there are better ways. there are solutions that do not increase government role, do not raise your taxes, but give more americans access to health care. >> let's be clear about what it means to purchase health care policies across state lines. it means consumers will be subjected to the standards of policies and premiums as decided in mississippi. if consumers have a problem and the insurance company is not treating them fairly, try collecting from the insurance company in mississippi. >> the thing about it is if you do not like the health care you get, you can walk away and get a different plan.

you are not locked into a government plan. americans can choose the best plan for them and their pocketbook. >> i have to switch gears and ask you about the afghan war. the taliban is on a path that is getting more violent nine years into this war. >> we need to get on the right path? . >> what is the right path. >> i remember that feeling just after 9/11. >> what is the right path? >> general mmitt crystal and general petraeus but together a plan -- general mcchrystal and general petraeus but together a plan that worked in iraq.

we need to do the same thing in iraq. we should have a surge. it is time to keep efforts and resources there so that counterinsurgency measures work. >> this is now the longest war in american history and i am not sure what we have to show for it. i thought the reason we went in there and originally was to hunt down the bad guys that carried out the attacks on the world trade center. our best estimate now say that there are about 50 of those operational cells left in afghanistan. i have grave and growing concerns about the war. my family has paid the ultimate price for involvement in a war that was not thought out. i can only say to voters in my district, if i were to ever vote to send american men and women into harm's way it would only be

after the most critical deliberation. >> would you commit federal money to the columbia bridge? coste lion's share of the of this bridge should be within the existing transportation budget. here is my concern. right now, the way this is being put together, alliance share of the cost would be put together by -- the lion's share of the cost would be put together by cook county voters. that is unacceptable. >> this would allow for the freer flow, more efficient flow of not just people, but commerce. i do not like tolls.

nobody likes tolls. >> we have to go. i am sorry to cut you off. we are out of time. good luck on your debate. begin with the pennsylvania senate race. dy debated elier this week. what came out of it? how did the voters react? guest: you saw both of the people paint each oth out of the mainstream and that is a lot of narrative and attack that has g gotten sestak with traction. he was attacki ining taoply for business ties and working for the club for growth in washington. toomey tried to argue that sestak's votes on stimulus and healthcare and the democratic congress is what is making the

congressman out of the mainstream. it is a battle for both sides. you look at the new polls from pennsylvania, you see that the democratic base has come home. they have overwhelmingly decided to support sestak. toomey has an overwhelming support from the republican base and thisill be decided by independent voters who are debating who isore mainstream and reflective of my values. you look at the quinnipiac numbers, they favor toomey by over 20 points. so the argument of who is more mainstream will be played out in the elections and 20-plus-point lead for toomey is good for him. we will see the messages attacking each candidate as extreme in the coming final weeks. >> the two also are going to have a debate tonight. we are covering it live on c-span. what do you expect to be the issues tonight? >> i think you will hear a lot

about trade and china from sestak. the one narrative we are hearing from democrats across the country especially in blue color states and districts is that the trade message is the only thing they have left. the notion that republicans are businessmen and favor business and will be rponsible for the mess we are in. you saw sestak talk about toomey favoring outsourcing jobs to china and he will probly hammer that home tonight. but the mental for the republicans -- the message for the republicans is sile. they will try sestak and to his votes and stimulus is not popular in pennsylvania. healthcare is not popular and the financial reform bill is not a plus. so it will be an issues oriented messageor toomey and attack from sestak on business, china. host: hat is live tonight 7:00

p.m. we are covering this debate between the pennsylvania senate candidat candidates. let'move on to nevada now. president obama will be in that state tonight for a rally wit the senate majority leader harry reid. why is he going there again? >> nevada is one of the states where democrats feel if they can get the base energized and labor, public sector, hispanics which comprise a pretty decent size ofhe electorate there, if they can get them excited about harry reid h has a shot at winning. if not, they are in deep trouble. this is a race where democrats absolutely need to get the base rallied. on the other side, this is a very polarize iing election and sharon angle's election is a national one. they have the highest unemployment rate in the country, she is out with a really devastating hit connecting reid to obama.

so, ironically the mental that the democrats want is the same message that sharon angle and the republics. it will be a very close election. but the base of both sides will be the key. host: the latest poll on october 18 shows that sharon angle is leading harry reid by three points. >> yes, if you look at the most recent polls there's a slight momentum to the republican though i would caution that this is still a very close race. both candidates are very unpopular and this is probably going to be one of the closest races we see election night. the big turning point looks like it could be the debate last week, the one debate they held in this contest where hry reid, for a senate majority leader looked awfully unprepared and ill at ease. that was his one big advantage is he knows how to bring the money home to nevada. he has a lot of clout in washington. he didn't look like it in the

debate and angle who people say is not ready for prime time and not ready to be a politician in washington, she seemed like she passed the bar. she had a low bar to pass but sealed to do it -- seemed to do it. so the trend is favoring the republicans but it is close. host: they say it will come down to a ground game in nevada. how do you watch it? >> see how much money the unions are spending in the final weeks of the election. so far colorado has been the one state where a lot of third parties have spent millions of dollars. expect a ton of money the final week into nevada. the ground game is essential for reid to win. we are seeing a lot of boasting from labor it is not so much the ads but the turnout. getting their core members to the polls. look at early voting and how many democrats have gone early. if if behind past elections, that is not a good sign for reid. host: josh, thanks for your

time. for more information about josh, thanks for your time. for more information about >> each night on c-span, we are showing debates from key races across the country. live at 7:00 eastern, the pennsylvania senate debate. at 8:00, the indiana ninth congressional district debate followed by president obama in nevada for a get-out-the-vote rally in support of senator harry reid. that will be followed by the third and final debate between wisconsin candidates. tomorrow, we will have live coverage of the colorado senate debate.

this race is rated as a tossup. watched live coverage of that debate tomorrow night at 8:00 eastern. >> this week on "q&a," two former parliamentarians, one british and one american, compare and contrast the house of representatives and the british parliament. that is sunday night. >> of this weekend, c-span-3 american history tv takes a look at pre-civil war in virginia and how the most populous state in the south dealt with slavery and secession. we are back to the classroom with former civil rights leader and a professor julian bond for

a unique look at the montgomery bus boycott. >> new mexico's candidates for governor participated in their first televised debate last night. they are running to succeed bill richardson, who is term limited. this race is rated a toss up. the debate is just under one hour. >> thank you for joining us tonight. >> of this race is historic. one of these candidates will make history by becoming the first female governor of new mexico. >> republican susana martinez

works in the county. >> you will have to cook minutes to answer each question. you will each be given 8 -- you'll have two minutes to answer each question. you will each be given a one minute rebuttal. >> ms. martinas, you will have the opening statement. >> thank you. thank you to all of you for allowing us to take this opportunity to share with you our vision for the state of new mexico. growing up as a young girl, my family struggled paycheck to paycheck. we grew up in a community that was very simple. however, my mother worked in an

office all her life. she had to work, as did my dad, in order to make ends meet. my mom worked in an office. my dad was a deputy sheriff. in high school, my parents decided to start a business. that was very frightening to me because i knew how much we had in the bank. however, they pulled together a business. we expanded that business. my parents went to law school and grew that business to over 125 employees in three states. when i graduated law school, i had to make a decision. i had to decide whether i wanted to be a private attorney, corporate attorney or prosecutor. i decided to be a prosecutor because i wanted to be the voice of the most vulnerable are around us, our children. that began a career of which i am very proud.

i worked very hard on delivering results. my opponent has asked you to avoid the last eight years of her record. i am going to ask you to focus in on that record. what she has done for the last eight years is a good indicator of what she is willing to do in the next four years. i hope you will listen carefully and join me, and a vote for me november 2nd. >> these elections are a lot more important when times are tough like they are right now. those of you watching us tonight on this debate are worried about your families. i am here to tell you that i am right there with you. frequently my grandmother says to me -- frequently my granddaughter says to me that she wants to grow up and be an

artist. i hope she says. i have argall -- i hope she does. i have her artwork all over my house. you see all of the negative ads, all of the clutter, all of the noise, and it is easy to forget what this election is about. it is about you and your family, and who will help you get ahead. the choice is very clear. i have spent a lifetime fighting for new mexico families, first as a young single mother with my own small business, and then for all new mexico families as lieutenant governor. my opponent has a different agenda. listened very carefully. she will cut money from public schools. she will let big corporations or roll over our families and pollute our water and land. that is not what we need in new mexico. as governor, i will put in new

mexico families first every single day. i will fight predatory lenders. i will fight insurance companies and anyone who takes advantage of our families. because, you know why? times are tough and new mexicans deserve a governor who will be on their side. i hope to earn your vote tonight. >> each of you just spoke briefly about yourself in your most newstatement, but none mexicans know you through your attack ads on your opponents. as a voter, i do not want to know what you cannot do. i want to know why as -- what, as governor, you can do. tell us why you're the best candidate. >> i have always focused on results. i want to make sure that everything i work towards is delivering results. i have handled some of the worst

cases that this state has ever seen. i fight hard for those who cannot speak for themselves in the courtroom. i had a case about a baby who was murdered and raped by people in her own family. take it beyond that case and go forward. we need laws that will protect other children in our state. that is what i bring new mexicans here in new mexico. i am hoping to earn your support because i deliver results. i fight hard for those who cannot fight for themselves. i want to make sure to make a difference in people's lives as i have for the last 24 years in my career. i want to fight for you, your family, i want to return to mexico around and make sure that we fight in ways that educate our children, bring back the jobs we need to bring back to new mexico. we have lost over 55,000 of

those jobs. i want to make this a competitive environment in the state of new mexico so that we can keep the businesses we have and make sure we bring back those we have lost. we have to be more competitive. i have no doubt that together, we can take back our state. it is our state, and together we can make differences possible and be competitive within our own region and nationally. >> ms. denish, without attacking your opponent, why are you the best governor? >> i am a small business owner. i was taught how to open my own business and i did it. i learned how to create jobs, and for 12 years, i ran my own small business. when you run for elected office, you can only take a few things with you. one of the things i took was my experience as a small business owner. as lieutenant governor, i

traveled around the state, community to community, talking to small business owners and asking what they need. they said they need access to capital. they need credit and collateral. they need to be able to get their businesses started and live their dreams. i worked across the aisle with republicans and democrats, and we created a micro-loan program that today has 2000 success stories all across new mexico. you can ride down to the south valley of albuquerque and talk to karl, who owns a small mobile home parts business. he said that without our loan program he would not even be in business today. we need more of that. as governor, i propose that we have a $2,500 tax credit for small businesses so that they can go out and hire somebody in their community. what does that mean? that means more money circulating in your community. let's get community banks some

of new mexico's money so that they can invest in their communities and in small businesses. there is really only one job creator in this race, and in that job creator. that is why i am the best candidate to the governor this year. >> we have made history. four minutes without a candidate attacking each other. ms. martinez, would you like to add anything? >> new mexico has lost over 55,000 jobs. we cannot afford to lose another job. we have expanded the growth of state government by over two billion dollars. we cannot continue on this path. it is all about policies and making sure that we are making a difference every day in state government, cutting back on spending, making sure that inflation is justified, and

making sure that we are more competitive by getting rid of those job killing taxes. we have lost a lot of businesses to texas, colorado and oklahoma. i am committed to creating an environment in new mexico where jobs can be built. government does not create jobs. we can do this together. >> ms. denish. >> she is right. the government does not create jobs. the private sector creates jobs. i have been a private sector creator. my family has been in new mexico for 80 years cocreating jobs. we are small business employers who took care of our employees, who made it possible for them to have a good life in their community. in a job creator. i know how to do it.

let's get into our communities and give tax incentives to small businesses and community banks. let's do one more thing. let's make sure that we are cutting the red tape and getting our small businesses a one-stop shop to get their licenses, their permits, their tax and permission. i am the only job creator in this race and i want to get up there and create new jobs for new mexico. >> new mexico has serious money problems right now. in fact, the latest projections that came out yesterday showed a $260 million shortfall over the next fiscal year that one of you will have to deal with. both of you have said that if elected you will not raise taxes or cut education or medicaid. how will you pay the bills? >> new mexico is part of a global economic crisis. families across mexico are

tightening their belts and state government needs to do the same period a few months ago, but that a 36 point plan that said that we could save over $450 million over five years, $90 million a year. here are a few of those points. first of all, we can stop having i paid political appointees. we can/state -- we can slash state car payments. we can reorganize state government and get rid of several cabinet secretaries. yes, i can cut. we do not need a personal chef at the mansion. how do you know i will do it? in my office, every single year i came in under budget and i returned $300,000 to the state budget. my philosophy is this. use what you need.

give back what you do not need for other priorities. my opponent has a different philosophy. her purse has grown by 70% in the last eight years. she never gets any money back. she spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury cars, one of which she drives to and from work, and you pay for the gas. one other thing we can do to close the budget gap, we can close the tax loopholes allow corporations to pay nothing on their profits. those corporations have an unfair advantage in new mexico. the cost our families and businesses $7 million. let's close the corporate tax loophole. my opponent says she will not do that. >> ms. martinez, how are you

going to pay the bills if you're not going to raise taxes or cut education or medicaid? >> state government cannot continue to grow at the rate it has grown in the last eight years. we must determine where there is waste and fraud, and make sure that we cut back from that spending. when you talk about closing tax loopholes for out-of-state corporations, that is just another word for increasing taxes. both diana and i have made a commitment to not raise taxes. closing that loophole is exactly doing that, raising taxes. we cannot do that if we are going to improve economically in the state of new mexico. we have to get rid of these positions that have over $100,000 in salary. we could save $10 million.

that should have been done long ago under this administration, and it did not take place. you talk about the economy being a global economy that has impacted the mexico. it has actually been made worse in new mexico by the excessive spending that this administration has taken, and also the taxes that have been imposed. $107 million in additional taxes have been imposed on new mexican families. that is unacceptable. my priority is to keep people in my community safe. that is why my business has grown. i have to make sure that law enforcement is available to take care of prosecuting and investigating two cases that i have. we have had a rise in crime. the number of murders in our community one-year went up over 130%.

which police officers should i let go? which prosecutor should be handling those cases to cut my budget back? >> the solution to our budget problem is job creation. just today, a freeport was proud to announce that they are going to bring the mine back and 575 jobs are going to come back to silver city. that is going to help our community. my opponent has been going around telling everybody she will cut the budget by 50%. medicaid and education are 70% of our budget. that will not work. those numbers do not add up. she cannot cut 50% and not cut money to our public schools and not cut critical services in new mexico's -- to new mexico's families. the real solution to our problem is to put a job creator in the governor's office.

i am that job creator. >> i really not sure what commercial or debate or forum you have been watching that says i would cut the budget by 50%. what i have said is that the richardson administration has grown government by over 50%. that was not justified by the population. i have said that there is room to cut and that we need to cut. the government has grown up way beyond what is necessary. i never said we were cut government spending by 50%. that is irrational. i have a full commitment to the public schools. you're going to say that i will ask for vouchers to take money out of the public schools. let me be very clear. that is not my intent. my intent is to make sure we have a full commitment to public schools so that they have a world-class education.

that is my focus, and i know we can do it. >> it is easy to talk about creating jobs, but as we have all seen, it is much harder to actually do that. what is your plan to get new mexicans back to work? >> my focus is on small business. government does not create jobs. diane denish waslettthat a job creator more than a decade ago is not the focus. the focus is this. corruption kills jobs. we have to tackle corruption and we have to do it quickly. we have no time to waste. in 2006, the richardson/denish

administration said they would tackle this. they have not done it. people are being shaken down for $5,000 here, at $10,000 there in order to do business in new mexico. that is unacceptable. only six states in the the nation tax over 100 services. we tax 158. we have to get rid of those tax es that are killing our jobs. we cannot afford that anymore. we have to cut back on spending. we cannot go around spending money, tax dollars, as though it is theirs. when bill richardson came into

the administration, the budget $3.8 billion. now is $5.8 billion. we have overspent what is necessary. there is an additional deficit. obviously, having a job creator as the second-in-command has not gone as anywhere in creating jobs in the state of new mexico. >> i started out saying that that is the reason i should be governor, because i am a job creator. this is about our families jobs and their economic security. i would reinstate the micro-loan program to make sure that we could still give mom and pop shops, dry cleaners, the person who really wants the opportunity to work for themselves the chance to live their dream. give them a tax credit for hiring someone, $2,500.

i would continue to invest in innovation, the new green energy economy. in new mexico, we are on the president of being able to have a green energy economy -- on the process of being able to have a grain energy economy in solar, wind and hydro. we have money to train and retrain people so that people can go out and take those jobs. there is something else we can do to make our families economically secure, and my opponent will not do it. we will say no to predatory lenders, to people who take advantage of our families and charge 600%, 800%, 1000% interest. taking advantage of somebody who needs a mortgage payment and ends up paying five times the cost of the loan. here is how i know that.

i brought along with me tonight this invitation from a predatory lender of lobbyist. this person yesterday hosted my opponent. susana martinez has assured us she will not end predatory lending or even limit predatory lending in new mexico. >> would you like to respond? >> certainly, i would like to respond and say that i think the private sector is what actually create jobs. we should let the private sector do what they do best, and government get out of the way. they can expand and invest in businesses and make sure that they have an environment in which they can thrive. those jobs they create, those people who make our groceries, make our clothing, make our homes, they buy cars.

they spend money because they can make money. the rules in this simple debate were to not bring anything to the table from the outside. obviously, the rules did not apply to you. you brought something to the table that was not allowed. instead, you wanted to make a point and you brought something that was not there. this is what i want people left home to understand. you are not willing to follow the rules. i do. i will fight for you every day. i will follow the rules and by the correction. >> there you have it. she is going to stay on the side of the predatory lenders. i am going to put them out of business. do you know what she is going to do? she is going to let them continue to take advantage of new mexico families. she is going to roll back all of the rules that let them take advantage of new mexico families so that they can

continue to charge a widow trying to get a second mortgage on her house 1000% interest. she ends up losing her home anyway. my opponent has made it very clear. she is on the side of the big, out-of-state corporations, the people that take advantage of our families. i am proud. i have been a fighter for new mexico families all of my life. i will continue to fight for you, for new mexico families. >> we are going to take a quick timeout. asked for agns break in the middle of the debate in order to collect their thoughts. >> we will be back with more on the key issues that are important to the voters. >> welcome back. we have received more e-mails and comments about state-funded day care than any other issue. many people have said that if

state funding is cut, they will have to quit their jobs to take care of their kids. >> others say that the state should not be funding day care at all. what do you think the state role should be? >> i was one of the first ones to speak out when they said they were going to cut day care in new mexico. here is what we know. when a family or a single mother and it loses their day care, they cannot go to work and they lose their jobs. under the johnson administration, he cut day care subsidies to the bare buns. i worked hard to get that back up so that more families can go to work and have jobs and take care of their families. the real issue here is to make sure that we resolve the budget crisis here in new mexico. how do we do that? we tighten our belt. we change our priorities. we make sure that we are cutting back on high paid political

appointees. we must do things we need to do to give families the services they need. in new mexico, families are struggling. government has a role to help them get out of that struggle. we must first make sure that we are creating jobs. second, make sure that our families can actually go to work. 3, when they need a little help, make sure that they have access to child care subsidies so that their kids can be taken care of in a safe, warm and charming with quality pre-k. as lieutenant governor, here is what i did. i made it possible for 17,000 kids to go to for year-old pre- k's in new mexico. that is important for parents to know that their children are in a quality environment where they're taken care of. i want to do more of that, and here is how. we create jobs.

we give more people a chance to go to work and we give their children quality education opportunities. >> i think subsidizing child care is a temporary solution. we have to get new mexicans back to work. sometimes they are not able to get a full-time job at a salary that allows them to pay for child care, which can be expensive for families. sometimes single moms do not get any kind of child support and they need that assistance. but they cannot -- but that must be a temporary fix. we also need to cut the state budget in a way that allows for an environment of job creation. a month for so ago, this is administration purchased a wild horse rescue ranch for $3 million instead of putting that money toward the day care system.

we do not want people out of work. we do not want them to be part of a welfare system that is a permanent way of life. we may want to give them a handout, but not a permanent way of life that state assistance can give them. we of solutions being provided today by this administration better eight years too late. where were they -- we have solutions being provided today by this administration that are eight years too late. where were they when families started tightening their belts? we needed to talk about this long ago. this crisis took place because priorities were not being set by this administration. money was being spent. government was growing. when there was a surplus it was being spent. we did not have priorities in line. one of those is making sure that our children are being taken care of.

i think that we can turn this around if we just tighten our belts immediately, and not just when we are running for office. >> first of all, let's be clear. nobody bought a horse ranch. the reason we did this was because i said we have to have other priorities. families are struggling. i have always given money back, unlike susanna, who did not given money back -- did not give any money back. instead she bought luxury cars. she wants to cut the budget by 50%. guess what one of the first things to go will be? critical services like child care for our families, money to our public circles -- public schools.

that is what will happen under her administration. you will not have child care anymore. sure wherely not you're getting the 50% cut. i am not sure where you're getting at not having critical care for children, other than your making it up. i want to talk about the past, because that is the greatest predictor of the future. i have delivered results for the people in my community, for people who do not have a voice in the courtroom, for families. i've taken it be on the courtroom -- taken a bit beyond the courtroom. you want to get a promotion, but there is no greater predictor of how you are going to govern than what you have done for the last eight years. we have had a government that is one of the most corrupt in the country. we do not deserve that reputation. we of a beautiful state with great people, and we deserve

better. together, mexicans -- new mexicans can pull together. we can make a difference. >> new mexico ranks 49th in the nation when it comes to education. that is one spot away from the very bottom. we do not seem to have any more money to throw it the situation. if you cannot spend $1 more on education, what are your and innovative ideas to turn things around? >> for too long this administration has measured success by how much money is being spent. that is not the way of measuring success. i want to focus on results. we are not only 49th in the nation, 80% of our children in fourth grade do not read professionally. a commitment you made, diane, as part of your chairmanship of the

children's cabinet, was that all children in the third grade would read proficiently. obviously, you have failed. we cannot allow nearly 40% of our children to drop out. look at it this way. children who were in the fifth grade in 2003, when you took office, are now seniors, and we have lost 40% of those children because they have dropped out. it is unacceptable. my plan is to move $0.40 of every education dollar from the bloated bureaucracy into the schools. when we moved that four since, we increase the budget for schools by 78 -- when we moved that for sense, we increase the budget for schools by 70%. the is wewithout increasing

budget by $1. we have to make sure that we are giving kids an opportunity to change the curriculum, for teachers to change the curriculum so that they can progress throughout the year. we need to focus on after-school programs and put them into classes for math and reading. we have to make sure that we are holding everyone accountable so that we can educate our kids the best way possible. >> first of all, let me just say where i get the figure that she is going to cut the state budget by 50%. she thinks the lieutenant governor makes all of the decisions.

her lieutenant governor is saying that they're going to cut the budget by 50%. her plan is to take money out of public schools and put it into a wealthy private schools. here is my plan. i know what your question is, but the truth is, we need to fully fund public education. we need to put money into quality teacher training, coli fund early education, -- fully fund early education. we need to transform the middle school and high-school experience in a way that is meaningful to our students. we need partnerships with the construction industry, the finance community. what does that do?

that gives students a meaningful, hands-on experience. they learn about working. they learn the finances of selling a house. they learn how to design a house and they learn how to build a house. that is the kind of meaningful high school education that we need to be giving our young people. we need to be giving every child the best start they can get. as lieutenant governor, here is what i have done. i have focused on early childhood education, and now 17,004 year-old all over the beautiful state of new mexico are performing on average, 20% better than any other 4-year-old to do not go to pre-pay. -- pre-k. >> we have increased the education budget but we remain at 49th in education in the entire nation.

our kids are not graduating. it is unacceptable to continue to throw money into a program that is not working. however, let me be very clear. but have no intention of taking money out of the public education system and putting it into private schools. let me also be very clear that we are not going to cut the budget by 50%. what i have said is that you have increased the budget by 50% when population and inflation did not justify it. we have to focus on results. how are the kids learning? we have to measure that throughout the year. that is my plan. focus on results and children. you are beholden to special interest groups. at the end of the day, our kids are the ones who lose out. >> if our kids are a special interest group, you are darn right i am beholden to them. i am going to take care of our kids in new mexico.

in 2003, she likes to say we put all that money in, and the mexicans but all that money in. we went to the voters -- new mexicans put all of that money in. we went to the voters. they said they wanted us to increase the education budget by 6%. there is someone who did not even vote in that election, and it is my opponent. the records show that she did not even care enough in 2003 to vote on public-school funding and what it would mean to new mexico. you bet i will am going to be beholden to the special interest group of our children and their families. i want to give them the quality education they deserve, investing in early education and making sure they have a meaningful high school experience so that they can choose to go to college, a career or the military.

>> what does your opponent said about you that has bothered do -- what has your opponent said about you that has bothered you the most? this is your chance to set the record straight. >> we all know that my opponent has been running smear ads against my family. she has been called out. independent fact checked organizations have called those ads false. they are false. my husband and i are small business creators. the reason she runs these attack ads is because she does not want you to know something. she is on the side of big corporations. her plan is to roll back regulations that hold big corporations accountable. she is going to let out of state corporations take advantage of a tax loophole so that our families and our businesses have to pay the difference, $70 million. she is going to take money out

of public education. all spring, she went all over this state supporting vouchers. vouchers take money out of new mexico's treasury and good public schools. then they become tax credit. tax credits take money out of new mexico's treasury and put it in to public schools. -- into wealthy private schools. an independent fact check organization has said her ads are false. i believe it is because she does not want you to know that she is going to be on the side of big corporations and i'm going to be on the side of new mexico families. >> there was an ad that ran actually that called me susana tejana. i am fluent in spanish.

i know that those ads are running in certain parts of the state. many journalists have called those ads in cities and race baiting. i do not believe that those -- nsidious and race baiting. i do not believe that those ads should be running. i am in favor of small businesses. let me speak about the large, out-of-state corporations for which her husband is a registered lobbyist in albuquerque. those corporations that it is proven that he works for, and that the money he lobbies for comes to your household, and your administration makes the decisions and has given out one of the largest tax deals in the state of new mexico, $500

million. fact check did not say those were incorrect facts just not scandalous. if a lobbyist is working in your mom and the money is going into your household -- in your home and the money is going into your household, that seems like a conflict of interest. >> since susanna works in the private sector, i guess she objects to getting paid for the jobs you do. my opponent injected texas into this race when she took the single largest contribution in new mexico history from bah perry -- bob perry, a good

friend of karl rove, the architect of the downfall in this economy. he is the single largest contributor to her campaign. she took texas money, and that is bad for new mexico. >> i am very proud of where i was born. but i am proud that mexico is my home -- that new mexico is my home. i do not have personal wealth, and because i do not have personal wealth, i am not able to put that money into an account to run for governor. however, i am not beholden to anyone, let me be very clear, to anyone who has ever given me a contribution, which is different from this administration.

that is the reason this government has grown. it is nothing but political patronage. i have taken the nation but i know him nothing -- the donation, but i owe him nothing and he owes me nothing. i have run for office four different times and i have never made a political decision based on u.s. contributed. -- who has contributed. >> smart leaders pay attention to history. >> looking back over the last eight years, what do you think the richardson administration has done right, and what do you think they have done wrong. >> what they have done right is to cut back the income tax and level of income tax for families in new mexico. however, they have raised taxes

everywhere else to the point that we are ranked 13th in the nation in total taxes paid by individuals per capita in the state. corruption, pay to play is now a common word into the household of this state and this country. that is what he has done wrong. i do not believe in making commissions where politicians will watch politicians talk about politicians. we need to treat violation of the public trust like the crime that it is and make punishable in prison. that is my plan. i am also not going to allow any lobbyists to hold positions for two years after having left state government.

if they do that, we cannot have to trust that while they are holding those governments positions, they will not make decisions the will impact their lives later as lobbyists and allow them to earn money to take home to their families where they are not keeping the public first in mind. that is what is important to me, making decisions that are best for the people of new mexico. this administration forgot that long ago. it is embarrassing to see and hear because the mexico is a wonderful place. people -- because new mexico is a wonderful place. people deserve better. we are going to turn that around and make sure that we lose pay-to-play in the household of new mexico. >> the richardson administration, under bill richardson