us to do? that is it. i do not think that is the proper role of a legislator award. i believe the proper role is once again to partner with all the stakeholders in the product. we need to follow the law of god, number one. [applause] >> my opponent wants to talk about jobs. we have an administration that

wants to abolish four out of 10 jobs right here in our district. it is not just one vote. when you go to make nancy pelosi speaker of the house, you get for the power to wage war on coal and take four out of 10 jobs away. when you spoke with her, it is 98% of the time, not one vote. when he bowed to some 98% of the time, you empower them to do whatever they want. barack obama him my upon a strongly supports is the most anti coal entitle, pro- abortion, anti military presence in which it had in my lifetime. my opponent supports him. he campaigned with him. i will oppose him. i will oppose their policies.

it is simply anti-american. >> this concludes our debate tonight. we live like to think candidates for participating. would also like to thank our partners and those watching at some. >> thank you for serving as our timekeeper tonight. the night everyone. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] behal>> the midterm elections ae

less than a week. we are showing debates from key races around the country capita here are debates from the 17 house stressor, one of the most heavily republican sisters in the u.s. represented by a democrat. they are being challenged by republican. in an hour, the candidates running -- a democrat gman caprio. after that, the candidates in florida charlie crist, kendrick me, and republican marco rubio. later, a debate from new hampshire and.

we are covering a couple of campaign related evince tomorrow and how it will affect what american say are there key priorities. here on c-span, the committee for economic development post a discussion of undisclosed political spending by corporations and trade associations. participants will examine new business attitudes toward campaign spending. >> presidents do not manage crises. they use and exploit them to build as an emotional bond. lincoln and churchill -- that is a test of leadership. i am not sure we have seen that from recent presidents. >> the obama presidency, the

midterm elections and politics in america the. >> what is ahead? we talk about the potential to become a viable third political party. we interviewed them saturday night. it is part of this weekend's booktv. go to booktv.org. and texas, democratic congressman is learning for a third term.

>> the 17 congressional debate. >> good evening. welcome to the only live televised debates. i will be tonight's moderator. we are joined by news channel 25 is audience. let me be candidates. bill floras is on the republican side. they agree to state their case. we will be given an opening statement that is two minutes long. then we will have a series of questions. them will go back to the candidates themselves. we will have a lightning round with quicker questions and answers. we will close it out with

closing comments. the candidates cannot interrupt each other. they will stay on topic. i will be enforcing it. here is the panel. on the far left of your screen, you have mark wiggins. in the middle, elizabeth o'neal. on the right, bill whitaker. this debate will be an entire hour long. we will not take any commercial breaks. it is now time for opening credits. >> we have an important election. forreason i'm running congress is because i watched barack obama assumed the presidency and nancy pelosi become speaker of the house. i watched with great concern that they began it seemed the american dream was in the process of being destroyed. i watched the job killing an

agenda. it began to unravel. i watched unemployment go up. i was in number of people on food stamps go up. we took care of the primary issues. i decided to run at that point in time. you are going to hear a lot of attacks. instead of focusing on the issues, my opponent is elected to attack me personally. you hear several things from me. usa he is independent. we have a new website of. you can see how things will turn out. this decision is simple. if you like the direction the country is going, then you

should vote for mr. edwards. on the other hand, if you want to restore the american dream, and i would be umbel to have your vote. thank you. >> good evening. i like to begin tonight by sharing with you two things, who i am and what i believe. on a personal note, i am an aggie methodist mi. i've been a cowboys got and little lead dad. central texas is 80 part of who i am and what i believe. my education gamy opportunities i could never imagine. here in waco, this is where her father married a special this is where our sons were born. however is a deep part of

central texas. i learned what i am and how to believe. for 2000 jobs, it is a much- needed new hospital. this is why i worked with n.m. and bather. it supports thousands of jobs to our district. i believe my job is to represent of the people of our district. that is why i voted on the cap and trade bill. it took too much. these are sacred programs. the bonds should not be broken.

i will be great for your support. the one now begin our media question each question will get 90 seconds. there'll be 30 seconds for rebuttal. they have not been briefed on what kind of questions are coming. >> thank you. my compliments to both candidates for showing a and having the. it is crusaded for the privatization of social security. you also campaign with a prominent congressmen who also supports privatization. you have made some complected statements during the campaign about that topic. in detail, what is your position on these two matters.

how does it tie in with entitlement reform? >> if you look at social security, they are programs they are really stand several generations. we need to protect them with today's recipients. the problem of social security and with medicare is said they are unsound. the unfunded liability of social security is $19 trillion. that is 100 -- 130% of our current gdp. the unbundle liability is $80 trillion. we cannot fulfill the promises of those to entitlement to current generations unless they fix it. in addition, the payroll taxes that been deposited in trust funds. it has been replaced with an iou. my view is that it should not be

done. i have never said the we should privatize social security. i still we still get out to better fix it. i do not believe we should raise the retirement age. i am not a politician. i misspoke a couple of times. i would look raising the retirement age or not. we should leave those alum. you will see raising it does not insure the long-term survivability. >> you have 90 seconds. >> i believe social security and medicare are social bonds that we should not break. that is why i have fought actively against those would want to privatize social security and medicare, putting

at risk the security of our finances and health of our seniors in their later years. mr. flores said he never came out in favor of privatisation. he is on record saying he supports private accounts. private account according to experts is exactly that, privatization of social security. the problem with the social security plan is that over the next decade it could take up to $2 trillion outer revenues needed for the trust fund to fund today's benefits for today's seniors. he should explain to our seniors whether he would cut benefits for our seniors, raise taxes, or increase the deficit or all three. i have consistently opposed raising the retirement age to 70. a week and a half ago, he said he is philosophically have no

objection to raising the retirement age. we found a reporter reported that mr. flores said a similar thing a few months ago. >> it is time for a rebuttal. >> mr. edwards has his facts wrong again. i said i was not philosophically opposed. i never . the age 70 never came into it. in terms of privatization, having private accounts is not necessarily include privatizing all of social security. we have got to fix social security. it has a $19 trillion unfunded liability. the best way we can fix it today is to put people to work. the reason it is running the deficit is because we have to high unemployment. let's focus on jobs to improve the pay rate. >> it is time for the rebuttal. >> i have been a strong and

consistent opponent of privatizing social security and medicare. privatizing social security would be a terribly harmful thing to do to our seniors. it to take trillions of dollars out of funds needed to provide benefits for today's seniors or it would raise taxes or it would increase the deficit or a combination of all three. he is not just once but on several occasions that he is open to raising the retirement age to 70. and he misspoke, he misspoke more than once. >> this is coming from elizabeth o'neal. >> what is the federal government need to do to pave the way for the creation of private sector jobs? >> what i would first suggested that we stop over regulating our community banks that provide loans to the small businesses. decrees to out of every three jobs.

-- it create two out of every three jobs. wall street banks did that. would -- we could create a lot of new investment. i think we ought to repeal tax laws that encourage u.s. companies to shift their american jobs overseas. i think we need a credible bipartisan deficit-reduction plan in order to create the kind of confidence that can encourage businesses large and small to hire new people to invest in our future. if we could do those three things, i think we can make some great steps forward. a job begins at home per them i know how important they are to our family. unemployment today is 20% below the national average. >> boat times nancy pelosi was

paid to the speaker of the house. we have lost 7 million jobs in the united states. it is supposed to create jobs that were voted for by mr. edwards. the stimulus plan has not worked. the federal government does not create private sector jobs. the way we will creek private sector jobs is remove the uncertainty that crew closes the minds of people that run businesses. some of the will include repealing ofc obamaare. he is steering a 30,000 entries in his medical premiums the next thing we need to do is extend

today's tax rates permanently. me to stop cap and trade and spending. thank you. >> yet 30 seconds for rebuttal. >> he would have voted against the $1,600 tax cut. he said the bill created no new jobs. and local repairman said it help them save 3000 jobs in our district to give you would have voted no to 4000 new construction jobs. it would have supported 300 vital research jobs at texas a&m university. we are not where we need to be. and still losing jobs, we have gained more this year. >> mr. edwards has his facts

wrong. you will see that they got about $350 million in federal stimulus. the only treated 1200 jobs. stimulus bill do not create jobs. the private sector does. we need to remove the uncertainty from the minds of people that run businesses so that they have the confidence. >> are there questions once remarked rare occurrence -- comes from mark wakens. >> some parts of the bill are likely to be popular with the public. some parts are likely to be unpopular. what part did the bill would you favor retaining? >> you cannot take a bill which 2700 pages and take the fibers six pieces out of it that you like and then tried to put it back together.

the best way to fix obamacare is to repeal and replace it. in need to be replaced with common-sense health care reform. we need to look at medical malpractice reform. this left out of obamacare. we also need to look a wellness care and ways to take care of pre-existing limitations. texas law fixed to issues that obamacare does fix. we did not have to have zeroca bombre here in texas to take care of this issue. any problem we have means to have two goals, to increased

accessibility and improve affordability. that is what it was supposed to do. instead, we are going to cut five and a billion dollars from medicare. that is not magic of what he said before. you are going to take five and 60,000 seniors of their programs. how is that taking care of seniors? >> thank you. >> i voted no twice to the health care reform bill. i believe it is been too much money. secondly, it cut too much of the medicare that was needed to be supported. the problem with your peeling the health care reform bill is that you raise taxes. it is providing health care. what you do is you get rid of the protection against discrimination and families that have a loved one that might have had cancer or heart attack.

i liked the fact of the bill. we ought to retain that bill. i like the fact that there is a private exchange in that bill that will help provide more competitive prices using the private sector. their negotiations has buying power. i will suggest that we not repeal the entire bill unless it can help families and small businesses and then get rid of the bad provisions like the medicare programs for our seniors. >> you have 30 seconds ahead >> we need to repeal it and

start over. let's make sure we understand the facts. the first time a bomb care came to the floor, mr. edwards voted to bring it to -- obamacare came to the floor, mr. edwards voted to bring it. it is the best thing for the software company here in waco, texas that is looking for a premium increase. >> when it comes to providing tax cuts for small businesses to provide health care for employees and stopping discrimination by big insurance companies, this is not a jellybean story. it is a real story that affects the lives of our families. i think we ought to protect the popular thing zapat. we should repeal the things and

would hurt our seniors. >> time for question numbers 4. >> navy is because i'm the closest one to retirement age. congressman edwards proposed a cost-of-living adjustment for social security recipients. how can we believe you are serious about entitlement reform minear so willing to put aside the economic mechanism that is there to control social security costs? where do you stand on the issue that is currently in play right now as to whether source security increases should be raised? >> >> and do nothing we ought to balance this on the back of our citizens.

not only did today supposed to propose the privatization of social security, they also say that the utility bills have gone up. i think there is a real question to be raised. i want to raise it about the basket of goods being used by economists in washington, d.c. that say our seniors that have cost of living that have not gone up. i think we can have entitlement reform. in the meantime, i will not support privatizing social security or raising the retirement age to 70 of freezing cost-of-living increases for our seniors. maybe costs have gone down for those still have new cell phones every year.

i'm sure those costs have come down. as i listen to seniors, their costs have gone up and not down. i think we should stem by the seniors who have made this country what it is today. >> he now had a minute and 30 seconds. >> i do not believe that it to be fiscally prudent at this increase that the in the current formula. is not fair for those that have to pay for the tax. also, the best way to fix social security is to grow our economy. we have an economy that has 9.6% unemployment. it has been the way for 14 months. we also have -- the rate is

17.1%. that is one out of every six of our neighbors in america that are out of work. how are we dealing with that? if we would deal with those issues, we would have much more in the way a payroll taxes. until we can find a long-term solution that protect the benefits said seniors are expecting today. we need to have a comprehensive program. let's do triage first. >> 30 seconds of rebuttal time. >> i'd just do nothing what he is proposing is fair to our seniors. he wants to freeze and for our seniors. a few moments ago, he said he would make permanent a temporary tax cuts including for families making over $1 million a year.

that tax cut alone would add $250 billion to our national debt. we cannot afford the cost of living increase. it is not fair. quite to have 30 seconds. -- no one is trying to hurt seniors. the same benefit should be fine. we need to work on growing our economy. we need to maintain tax rates.

>> members of the texas legislature and other legislators are contemplating immigration enforcement laws and led to the one that was passed our congress and our administration have not been serious about securing our country. we start by securing our borders. in the immigration discussions start with securing the border. it is a matter of national leadership to get it done. we liberated iraq in less than two weeks. we have the means to secure our borders. what we also need to do once we

secure the borders -- and it will take the states stepping in -- we need to also process illegal immigrants according to the laws we have on the books today. there is no illegal act that is ever giving someone a legal right -- we should not be talking about amnesty for illegal immigrants. >> mr. edwards? 90 seconds. >> we must secure our borders. while it is impossible to literally steal them given there are thousands of miles, we must do more. that is exactly why for the last six years i have helped to lead the fight to increase the number of border patrol agents by 70%. we have expanded the p3 program,

the airplane but will allow us to protect hundreds of miles along our borders. secondly, we need to make sure we have an employee verification system so an employer can find out if a person is illegal. once we have that in place, we hold employers accountable and to enforce the laws against hiring those who are here illegally. if people cannot find a job when they got here, they would not come here in the first place. detection devices along the border. we must protect our borders. we must ensure that our laws are enforced. we can do that. we can make progress. it is an important effort to stop the huge flow of illegal immigrants into the united states. >> mr. fluoresce? your 32nd rebuttal. >> it damages -- it endangers our security. it displaces americans from some

jobs. what mr. edwards says a minute ago does not jive with the facts. he has voted 17 times against measures that would have strengthened border security. that is reprehensible. if you elect bill flores to congress, they will vote every time for more border patrol agents. >> what is reprehensible is for mr. flores to misrepresent my votes on border protection. we have dramatically increased funding for border security. that is a fact. i think that is the kind of false charge that mr. flores has told the "dallas morning news." i have been a strong supporter in increasing our commitment to protect our borders including increasing the number of border patrol agents for the last six

years by 70%. >> thank you. we will go to question no. six. back to marc wiggins. >> there is a sentiment among some that the federal government has grown more interested over the years. nasa defense, border security, immigration, and entitlements -- what areas do you think should remain the domain of the state's and we should beat the federal government -- which should be the federal government's? >> i have been a national champion for a strong national defense. i am proud that the national commander of the vfw said that our nation's defense has no better friend in congress than chet edwards. the government cannot -- those

kind of values come from our faith and our families, not from the federal government. i do believe in programs that help people help themselves. that is why i believe in programs like head start and funding for our public schools as well as financial aid that helps college students try to achieve the american dream for their families' lives. i believe in limited government. in cases of medicare and social security, i believe those are important programs that we promised our senior citizens. we should keep his promises. >> mr. flores, you have 90 seconds. >> thank you. the domain of the federal government is to protect us and our general welfare. unfortunately the federal government has expanded his duties. today it seems like it there is a problem in the country that barack obama and nancy pelosi have been out for that. that is not what the federal

government was intended to do. i am reminded of the 10 amendments of our constitution. all powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government belong to the states. the federal government has gotten deeply involved in several parts of our state and local governments. they do it surreptitiously by saying they will give you money. then they add strength to the money. pretty soon you see people in washington pulling the strings. that is not what was intended. we need the federal government to shrink back to its original role. that will not hurt state and local governments because the governor and -- the government that governs best is the one closest to the people. our federal government in washington, d.c., is about 1,000 miles from here. it does not govern as well.

i would rather return those usurped power is back to the state and local governments. >> mr. edwards, 30 seconds. >> i did not hear anything specifically mr. floras would support changing. i do-that he has proposed eliminating the department of education. it is a supporting partner of our local schools. it provides about 10% of funding needed for our schools. it provides the largest single source of college financial aid in our country. to eliminate the u.s. department of education would hurt our local public schools here in central texas and make college affordable for tens of thousands of our students. >> mr. lawrence, 30 seconds. >> the department of education was created to improve student'' education.

at that time, three out of every four educators was in the classroom. today, two out of every four educators is in the classroom. it has cost hundreds of millions of dollars. students' scores have gone down. a huge bureaucracy has been created. we can do better in this country. >> and ideological divide seem to open up this summer when congressman edwards was attacked for helping baylor university try to keep the big 12 conference together. looking ahead, what criteria should dictate when a congressman should get involved in a local or regional battle and when should he simply bought out? >> i did not attach commerce grin edwards on this particular issue. -- i did not attack congressman edwards on this particular issue. mr. edwards played a part in helping hold the big 12 together. it was a joint effort of local

officials, baylor officials, other officials that wanted to see the conference hold together. it did not involve -- i do not think there was any one person that was more important than another. at the end of the day, i am glad that mr. edwards got involved. i am glad that local leaders got involved. i am glad at baylor and texas tech leaders got involved. i take that we need champions like that. but again, we need to pay attention to the primary fax the were not being addressed. the unemployment was close to 10%. we have deficits of $1.30 trillion this year. nobody is paying attention to the big issues while we are trying to take care of the big 12. it is great we took care of the big 12, but you is taking care of the business at home that we also care about? we need to take care of those

things while we are taking care of baylor. >> mr. edwards, one and half minutes. >> to people here in central texas and the greater waco area, it was a big issue. for those that care about employment, this 1600 jobs that local economists said were at risk if baylor lost out in the big 12 fight was a big issue. it was important to families. it was important to baylor's future. it was imported to the future of central texans. i am glad that mr. flores and i agree that i was involved in that light. if you check the record, while i was working in partnership with baylor as part of a great team working together, mr. flores said that the constitution does not allow a congressman to get involved like that. i strongly disagree.

the constitution talked-about the first amendment and my freedom of speech. if i cannot talk about issues that impact balers future, then what is the title of rep all about? i am glad that rather than sitting on the sidelines when baylor's future was at risk and so many jobs were at risk, that i joined hands with those at baylor to help win that fight. i did not do it alone. i was just part of the team. i was certainly proud to be part of that team. >> mr. flores, 32nd severable. >> i did not say he was constitutionally predicted from helping baylor. i am glad baylor held together. but the my in-laws are baylor graduates. i cherished the intrastate rivalry is that we have among

texas tech and baylor and the university of texas. i am glad the big 12 held together. if you listen to my interview, i also said that i was particular concern -- i was particularly concerned about what would happen if the big 12 broke apart. i am glad we had the right outcome. >> i listened to what mr. flores said when baylor's future was at risk. he said the constitution does not allow congressmen to get involved in a fight like that. i disagreed with and then when he said it. i disagree with them today. it was a privilege for me. we save 1600 jobs and the future of baylor university. >> time now for our final media panel question. >> everybody supposedly pace in march, yet some better than others.

-- ever by supposedly hates your marks, yet some better than others. how this one is sure future funding for these crucial projects? >> mr. edwards, you have 90 seconds. >> i believe we ought to reduce the number of earmarks. we have reduced that number by 40%. they are wasteful. we need to cut them when we possibly can. the constitution in article one gives congress the responsibility to write an appropriations bill to a lot -- to write an appropriations bill. if we did what mr. edwards said, we would put all the power in the hands of the obama

administration to decide where our tax dollars go. positionlores' prevailed, universities would have been denied money in vital research money that would have created hundreds of jobs. baylor university would have lost funding for a new research and innovation collaborative. we would have lost money -- vitally important money for roads and highways. i favor reforming the processes. mr. flores has said that he opposes all earmarks. but with stopped a program i suggest that would have addressed mental health programs. i want to reform earmarks. i do not want to get the power to the obama administration when

it comes to deciding where our tax dollars of debt. >> eric cantor recently read an op-ed. he said that earmarks were a symptom of a problem in washington, d.c. mr. edwards has voted for every appropriations bill that has come across the house floor since 2007. that is the reason we have grown the scope and size of government by over 40%. what we need to do, i think it is fine to use federal dollars for local projects as long as we meet a test. that test is that it is a critical national priority. examples of art research for baylor, a radio system for hood county, where it could be food science research at texas a&m. those projects will survive.

the next thing is that process needs to be transparent. it needs to have a name on it and it needs to say how much is going to cost, to whom it is going, and the return the taxpayer can expect to get at the end of the day. his dollars were either taken from him for this project or we borrowed 3 cents on the dollar. we need to treaties dollars as precious. >> mr. edwards, 30 seconds. >> nearly two years ago, i help to pass transparency reform for earmarks. mr. flores cannot be against all of them and for some of them. if you believe what he said throughout this campaign, he would get taken away $232 million from texas a&m on vital research. in 2002, our largest private employer was at risk of shutting down.

it was an earmark i fought for it to help save those jobs. >> mr. flores, 30 seconds. >> mr. edwards is confusing a broken process with a clear, transparent appropriations process that provides greater transparency and visibility to the taxpayer. right now, in order to get a food science research grants for texas a&m, mr. edwards is having to pay $2 million to the charlie rangel center in new york. i do not consider that a good use of taxpayer dollars. >> it is time for cross- questioning. one candidate will ask a question, then the other candidate will have 90 seconds to answer that question followed by the question are getting 60 seconds for rebuttal. we'll start with mr. flores asking mr. edwards a question. yvette 30 seconds for your

question. >> mr. edwards, thank you for joining us today. he wrote a letter in february of this year, a fund-raising letter. you said this election was about securing our future and protecting our kids from a growing see a national debt. unfortunately, six days earlier, you approved the largest single increase in the history of the national debt. you voted for an $800 billion stimulus bill. he said during a fiscal conservative. can you explain the difference between what your letter says and how you are actually a fiscal conservative? >> let me first say that nothing could be more irresponsible for our nation's economy than to not extend the debt limits when our nation is approaching those limits. that would put us in default for the first time in our nation by

street history, creating an .vernight recession not to raise the debt ceiling where we are reaching that ceiling would be absolutely irresponsible. i voted for the budget in the 1990's that left the balanced budgets. i voted against the effort to get rid of the pay-as-you-go rules. i voted against a tree and some of dollars in spending that has increased the debt that we have seen in recent years. the stimulus bill that mr. clore as opposed was supported by the u.s. chamber of commerce in 2009. they said our economy was in a freefall. they said we needed a defibrillator to get our private sector back in place. the stimulus bill mr. flores opposed, gave a 1006 and a

dollar tax cut to 95% of americans and helped to improve our economy. >> mr. floras, you have one minute for rebuttal. >> i did not hear mr. edwards say how he was a fiscal conservative. he voted for every appropriations and spending bill that has come across his desk since 2007. he has voted 114 times against amendments that would have reduced wasteful spending. also, injuring the time since the first voted for nancy pelosi to be spending -- to be speaker of the house, we have increased the debt. mr. edwards does not get it. if you want to have a fiscal conservative, you have to work on balancing the budget. the budgets he mentioned have

been balanced twice out of 20 years. >> mr. edwards, you now have 30 seconds to ask a question of mr. fluoresce. >> mr. flores, you talked about how important it is to reduce the deficit, yet your social security privatization plan would actually increase the national deficit by $2 trillion over the next decade. unless you agree to raise taxes or cut benefits that today's seniors need, you have proposed tax cuts that would add trillions of dollars to the national debt above the present projected deficit, including tax cuts for people making over $1 billion a year, including completely eliminating the estate tax even for people that are billionaires. how would you pay for those increased deficits that your proposals would create? >> mr. flores, you have one

minute 30 seconds. >> there were two questions that i heard there. helena paper social security? i have not proposed privatization of social security. that was off the table. in terms of paying for tax cuts, everybody says we have to pay for tax cuts. those taxes started out in the taxpayer's pocket. the tax rates for the highest two tax brackets that i am talking about freezing along with all the other tax brackets include 48% of small-business jobs and 60% of small-business employees. 51 to have a lower job growth, raise taxes on those people. when you have lower job growth, you have lowered economic activity. it has been proven for *. -- it has been proven for times. -- it has been proven four

times. it is not a zero sum game. when you lower tax rates, you get increased activity and you get higher revenues. it is good for the economy. it is good for the federal government. >> mr. edwards, one minute rebuttal. >> one reason i was called a fiscal conservative is because i do not make promises on fiscal issues that lead to higher and higher deficits because they are good sound bites on the campaign trail. if we are going to balance the budget, cutting taxes is not true. national economists would agree with that point that it is simply a false promise. the fact is, mr. flores can call it what he wants. the experts call it social security protestation. he was able to put their social

security taxes in a private account rather than a social security trust fund. that would add two trillion dollars to the national debt over the next 10 years -- $2 treen to the national debt over the next 10 years. mr. flores is the one being fiscally irresponsible by posing easy answers to complex, important fiscal matters. >> mr. flores, you have 30 seconds to ask another question of mr. edwards. >> mr. edwards, you voted for the stimulus bill. in the stimulus bill, we had a much like a dollar billion for a railroad for nevada and $54 million for the napa valley red river. we also had millions of dollars to pay for aig executives. did you read the stimulus bill? >> yes, i did. the chamber of commerce asked me to vote for the stimulus bill.

did i support everything in it? no i did not. the chamber said our country was in a freefall in the private sector needed a jump-start. let me remind you what mr. flores would have voted no on. of americans. 3000 jobs saved or created here in our district according to local economists. a $700 tax credit for 92,000 college students at the eight colleges and universities in our district. was the stimulus bill everything i wanted it to be? nope. at least it has helped to move us from losing 25,000 jobs every single day to a situation where this year we are gaining 863,000 private-sector jobs.

our economy is still struggling. we have to keep moving forward. but i did not vote with president obama on the stimulus bill, i voted with the u.s. chamber of commerce and other conservative business groups like the realtors and homebuilders who thought the stimulus was needed to prevent a deeper recession, which would have given our deficits much higher. >> mr. clore is, you have one minute rebuttal. >> first of all, the stimulus bill has not worked. even president obama and admitted early last week that there was no such thing as a shovel ready project. it took him a long time to realize that. 40% of the people who got the task that do not pay taxes. they basically got a welfare check. did it improve the economy? we have seen economic growth at a 1.6 per sign annual rate of growth or less. this recession -- we are not coming out of this recession the

way we have in the past because we have the federal government spending too much. we have too much regulation. we have obama care. we have an administration in progress that has caused substantial uncertainty for employers. we could have done a lot better with a payroll tax on the day than to waste the money on a stimulus bill. i think everyone widely in this that it has failed. >> our final cross question is for mr. flores. >> let me go back to social security. it is so important to seniors in our district. you are on record as supporting private accounts. most all the privatization, you can call it what you want. it will take $2 trillion out of the social security trust fund for the next 10 years. that is money needed to pay monthly benefits to today's seniors. you say you want to it decrease the deficit, but that would increase the debt by $2 trillion.

would you cut senior's benefits, raising the deficit, or by increasing taxes on americans, or all three? >> i have not proposed privatizing social security. what i do want to do is to strengthen social security. it has a $19 trillion unfunded obligations. if you do not believe me, look at the statistics for yourself. the best way to improve the financial status of social security today is to put more people to work and have more protects is going into the trust fund. the other way to improve the sanctity of social security is to keep congress from reading these trust fund. over the past several years, $2.50 trillion of everybody's payroll tax is out there except for people in congress to or not under social security, have gone into the trust fund. the federal government has spent the money and left and i.o.u.

we need to either raise taxes or we will have to borrow money from people like the chinese. we need to do a long-term solution to fix social security. it will take a bipartisan effort, but the easy way to start right now is to grow the economy, put more people to work, and have more people paying payroll taxes into it. >> mr. flores is denying that he does not support privatizing social security, but he is on record this year as supporting private accounts and letting people like me and others who do pay into social security's letting us put our money into 401k type of investments. the reality is that his privatization plan would take $2 trillion in revenue away from the social security trust fund in the next 10 years. i hope you noticed he did not

answer the question. it will have to be paid for by cutting benefits for today's seniors or by raising taxes. i think that proposal is harmful to our seniors. it is harmful to our nation budget fiscal picture. it is harmful to our country's richard -- country's future. >> it has been a long and grueling campaign. what misperception about this entire campaign most troubles you? . .

>> you have different backgrounds. it's just one accomplishment you are most proud of. >> i would say that my 32 years of marriage is the first accomplishment i am proud of. >> and we are proud to have been married above ourselves and we love our families deeply.

one of the things that i am excited about this giving a scholarship to those children of the fallen soldiers. we can never replace what those magnificent families have lost. this was an honor to the softness speak for a warhead >> time for closing statements. each will have two minutes. the time starts right now. >> i want to think the host for this debate and thank-you for listening. i consider this as a privilege to work for the people of texas. i know what a job means to the family.

hoesch whether it is fighting for the 2000 new jobs or for working the for the six and a jump in the waco area. it has been ho cockfighting for -- it has been good fighting for the texans. many businesses including texas realtors and homebuilders, the leaders of our veterans organizations have said that they have no better friend in congress than chet edwards.

i've been proud to being independent minded person fighting for jobs, educational opportunity, respect that our seniors deserve. i am grateful for the support of republicans, independents, and democrats alike. >> our country has many challenges currently. the most difficult challenge we have is to restore the american, prosperity and security. today, only one in four of every american's thinks that this is still available. for 234 years, every generation of americans astride to leave the country better off.

we are not doing that today and that is why i am running for congress. i am not a politician. i am human. i make mistakes. i grew up in a small town and with a modest family. i put myself through texas a&m. i have been able to create jobs and balanced budgets and many payrolls. in a few months, we will have a granddaughter. we want her to save this -- have the same opportunities that we had but that granddaughter will not be to it with a crushing debt we have today. we will not be able to do this if we don't get the federal government off the back of the private-sector.

we have to focus on these key issues. the route the campaign, focused on this. this election has it very clear choice. if you like the policies of barack obama and nancy pelosi, vote for my opponent. if you want to restore the american dream for our children and our grandchildren, i would be honored to have your support. please remember to pay for our country during these difficult times. also pray for our troops. thank you, god bless you, and god bless america. >> that closes our debate. thank you for taking time at your busy schedule to be with us and we would like to think our media panelists. -- thank our media panelists.

[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] >> the midterm elections are in less than a week and each night on c-span we're showing debates from races around the country. our lineup tonight includes the candidate is looking to be the next governor of rhode island. after that, the senate candidates in florida. after that, a debate from the hampshire between the candidate for the second house district. later, the candidate for the third house district.

on "washington journal," we will talk about a key senate races in the upcoming election. then we will look at governors' races. we will also discuss the role of independent voters. "washington journal," is live on c-span every day at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> presidents don't manage crises, they use and exploit them to build an emotional bond. lincoln in the early months of his presidency. that is the acid test of leadership. i am not sure we have seen that from recent presidents. >> this week, historians on the obama presidency, midterm elections, and politics in america.

>> the candidates running to be the next governor of rhode island. president obama campaigned for rhode island candidate sought on monday. this debate is an hour. tonight seven men face off. only one will become the next governor. it is up to you to decide who. thank you for joining us. with their combined 90 years of expertise, they gather with all the candidates. so glad you could join us.

i would like to thank the seven candidates who are here. the debate will last one hour, until 8:00. it'll stream live on abc6.com. we will follow up with a post- debate analysis until 8:30. let's begin by introducing the seven candidates. first we have ronald algieri, john robitaille, frank caprio, ken block and chafee. the order has been determined by a drawing.

>> my name is ronald algieri. i want to be our next governor. ideas are the cornerstone of our democracy. i have many ideas concerning taxation, education, social issues, energy, and government. our state government is too large. there is a multiplication of bureaucracy between the government. this is passed on to all of us through some combination of income sales and property taxes. i know this cannot be changed overnight. it'll take the dedication of our government and allocating some of our resources to problems that have been neglected. i want to make a difference in our world. please come and go to my web site to read on my details.

i thank you for your consideration on tuesday. >> mr. robitaille. good evening. i would be honored to be our next governor. i graduated from providence college. next governor. i graduated from providence college. i was an officer. i spent 10-years in labor relations where i said the arbitration cases and grievances. i came back to rhode island and started a business. ryland is in tough financial stress. as your governor, we need to cut spending, lower taxes, and create jobs. career politicians created this mess the we are in. they cannot fix it. together we can. >> mr. giroux. >> i want to be your next governor. i have a family owned business

that spanned 50 years. i understand labor. i want to be the people's governor. there are small business economic development. folks can have the opportunity to refund their loans and the banks will not modify burda all homeowners and small business owners need access to cash. i will create a private work administration and bring back the wta. i want to create a citizens war bond program in which they give a tax freeze for participating i will implement a statewide job steady where we listened to the state workers. we will get the vendor start taking away the major purchases. >> mr. lusi.

>> i like to thank channel 6 for having the integrity to include all the candidates. this is a historic election in my opinion. the country faces some immense challenges. they are showing up in every single state. in the first day, it is money and politics. i'm going to put the challenge to every undecided voter. this is a jumble. i challenge all the voters to take the money out of politics by not voting for politicians put a more than $100,000 in this race. there is no necessity for having money and politics today. i can have a youtube video out as effective as a television ad that cost $10,000. as get the money out of

politics. this is the future. let's vote for someone that is a true independent. >> mr. caprio. >> good evening. i want to be your next governor. i want to thank all of you for tuning in. your of linemen on this podium. we have to make a big decision. and the most qualified person to lead this state. i have met with so many rhode islanders. i found one thing we all have in common. my grandfather came here and did not speak english and had no money or education. yet the ability to get it every money and reduce morning and were car. it was a neighborhood milkman. that did not matter to him. this state afforded him the ability for his kids to get a good education when i get to the state house, i will fight every

day for you. i know that you are wondering how you might pay the mortgage last week -- next week. things are tough out there. we are going to turn this state around. >> mr. block. >> i and to small businesses. i have a first grader and a third grader. i have a wife and has the understanding and tolerance of a saint. i have not been happy with the job that our elected officials have been doing. i am running because i feel like the two-party system design give us a good choice. we all want what is in the middle. we won the job is. we want prosperity. we want a quality education we do not get that. state governments come to me to get help. i want to help our state

governments do better. i believe we can fix the problems we have. when disney quality individuals running you are not wrapped up in politics. we can work together. we can cooperate together. we can make a difference. >> you have one minute. >> thank you. thank you league of women voters. i would like to think channel 6 for hosting us here. through the course of this campaign, i've been talking about the challenges that face us in this state. we have high unemployment. we have a budget deficit that might exceed $300 million. how will we turn it around? yet the focus on the abc's. today we cut a ribbon on the train station that will connect

to the airport and the people mover. it is a huge economic development that will occur around this options that countries will have. we have to solve our budget deficit. the key is jobs for rhode islanders. a necklace explain the format. we will begin with discussions. some of these questions were submitted by the be worse. they will have 45 seconds to respond. the rest will have seven wild cards. these will give the candidates another 30 seconds to talk on an issue. we will keep track of them here. i would like to introduce the debate panel.

>> and people thought it was brilliant and that it was time someone told off the president. where do you fit in that? >> i and stand the leader of his own party who is denying him an endorsement. he is not enabling him or

senator chafee. i think that it is inappropriate comment. a harvard graduate should be able to speak more eloquently on the issue. >> i have respect for president obama. this was not about judging the president in his official role, this was about politics. i was just looking for the courtesy of the white house and letting them look at the endorsement. so, with that, --

you have 30 seconds. >> i feel like i'm playing blackjack. this is about what is going on in your living room right now and about sending someone of that will fight for you. what i meant was that i want to go to that state house. it they are not looking out for the best interest of rhode island, i am blind to tell them shoved it and we will change this state. i look forward to your support. >> anyone else care to use a wild card? >> i think the fact that we are even talking about this is ridiculous. i think the real issue lyles deeper.

-- lies deeper. president obama is a guide that is spending $1.40 trillion more than we are bringing in. when you tell someone to shove it, his money as well? we have to bond issues as loven has a lot of federal money coming in. i say we do not take that. i think no thank you would have worked just as well. >> he should have known that we work together in the senate. we were friends. for i was co-chair been traveled around the country. it is a difficult position. he should have recognized that the bill president obama did not make any endorsements. he is standing up for the road islands can grow. certainly you'd have a bad relationship with the president of the united states. that will not be good for rhode

island. >> for president obama to come into this state and not understand the pain and suffering that people across our state are going through, i found that unacceptable. i was not going to let that pass. anybody on the other side of the table, we will continue to fight for what is right in rhode island. for senator chafee to say he was working for president obama, that is good. when you have a democrat working hard, i think you need a much better reason and what he gave to not endorse. >> if our viewers could see that. mr. caprio use another wildcard predict.

>> if only these candidates will spend more time on the substantive issues. the whole idea of an endorsement, the headline to scream they have no idea how to fix the problems we have. they do not. we need to get this together and move on. let's get some substantive answers. where are the jobs? >> i was disappointed this week when i heard the governor talking about have the managers are wining. i was disappointing to hear mr. caprio say that. sometimes the need to say what is on your mind. i wish more political leaders would reach out. they have certainly struggle to

stay up. i was hoping to hear the message. i appreciate this. >> anyone else? >> your question for mr. robitaille. >> nearly half of the public didn't are eligible for lunches. what is the main thing we need to change to deal effective with the increasing poverty in our public schools? >> the greater cause of poverty in our country -- 97% of the families living in subsidized housing in this state are single mothers with multiple children. where are the fathers? we need to find them and hold them responsible for the decision they made to bring children into this world. we need to enforce the laws that we have. it is not the government's responsibility. >> mr. giroux.

folkse met all sorts of that can barely wait for a paycheck. day labor is an important issue. we need to address that and make it easier to hire an employee without red tape. we grew up hungry. no one can go to work hungry. we need to understand these issues. >> in an excellent use a wild card? >> the question said that happen rhode island students are eligible for free lunches. i do not think have a pro island student -- what happened to our economy.

we are cutting our revenue. we are spending money. that is what he is advocating. >> your time is up. >> you have a wild card. >> i have a plan to bring jobs educated work kate force. i want to bring them back to the state by creating venture- capital funds. they are going out in attracting the businesses. >> today we cut the ribbon on the connector to the train station, the clauses amtrak to an airport in the country. jobs are going to go around. since the dawn of time, economic development has occurred around

transportation. we have the highway, the trains, and the airport all right there. finally connected them to the leadership. >> you had your hand up earlier. >> i do understand the problem. you want to raise taxes a you can pay for everything. we spent $3 billion on social welfare problems. we spent too much. we have very generous problems. when 60% of the children are eligible for a free lunch, that is wrong. we have to find out why and not throw more money at it but find out the root cause. >> mr. mr. block. but i've a plan to put it back into the business. there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of empty officers.

it does not mean jobs are going to come. what can we do proactively to bring jobs to the state? how can you bring them in? >> did you want to use one? you look at you had your hand up. but i find it absurd that this idea of borrowing money to create jobs is an economy. essentially, borrowing money for economy is not right. it to be in a healthy environment. anyone who is voting needs to reject the bond issue. first we do not have it. when you are in the whole, stop digging. i do not think we ought to spend it like this. >> anyone else on this topic?

>> we have a private word spread it. they have access to a revolving fund. homeowners have access to revolving funds. we have long-term unemployment in the state. those folks who have been out of work will continue to get a benefit. they need to participate in the works project program. we need to provide loans to homeowners and business owners. >> there are questions about political corruption. do you think that cronyism and political favors affect hiring practices in the public sector in rhode island? if so, what policies to you support for addressing these problems? >> every job i have had i had to go out and get it.

i knock on doors to get my work, hoehling construction. -- peddling construction. i would have a difficult time getting a job without knowing someone. that is how i feel. some are not connected to the core group of families. i absolutely want to create a job in steady to lower our money, to listen to the employees in the trenches brita they know where the waste is. most jobs are used to compare one wage provider with another. we need to listen to these workers. they need to feel free to speak out of turn. that way we will know where the waste is. >> i have applied for positions

with the state. i've never gotten a call back. got never gotten a "we've the job build." there must be some problem somewhere. i think we need an external auditing to see why homegrown talent is not being used. >> anyone else on this subject? >> your question? >> jobs in the economy have been a major focus . by 2008 teen comedies but three of the jobs due 2013, 2/50 jobs will require -- by 2013, 2/3 of the jobs in new england will require a degree. an educated work force is

essential. what do you do to ensure the education system gets more of our students ready for college? >> you expect people to do their jobs. wintus last three of the students coming in -- when 2/3 of our jobs cominstudents cominn need remediation, what does that say? we need to figure out what is going on. we are in over educated society. beyond literacy and math, we have relegated the physical realm. not everyone is a great student. not everyone to continue on.

we should have functions of government essentially. >> thank you. mr. robitaille. >> the state of our public schools is in need of radical transformation. i am really excited about the commissioners approach. i'm also excited about the race to the top funding. we need to insure that the skills of our children need our alliance with the curriculum they are being taught. we need to make sure that what we are teaching our kids is them an opportunity to go for the jobs that the need. i am not sure i agree with that study. i believe we have advanced manufacturing in rhode island. we also have tourism. we do not need to be stuck on

one segment of the job growth. >> for those of you at home, mr. robitaille two while cars which is why he had extra time to speak. -- wild cards which is why he had extra time to speak. >> i would initiate a contact with our teachers' unions. well we have our blue collar contracts. it is not appropriate to the mission. we need to assess our teachers and ensure we have good ones working in our classroom. there needs to be a peer review. >> we can use another wild card. >> i will come back. >> the question was about k-12. it is funded by property taxes. we have a backward in this state. he is going to have to cut state

aid to cities and towns. we are seeing where sports are being cut. you cannot have it both ways. i am the only one that has talked about revenue that can come in. >> would you like to use a wild card? >> yes. most of my opponents are blaming teachers and the system. perhaps we need to look at students in families as well. maybe it is just not enough. we are the fifth highest in the nation in terms of funding. yet we are for it in terms of what we get out of it. -- 40 in terms of what we get out of it. perhaps we need to go back in

time when hteachers have authority and we respected it. >> she is been there for 18 years. she tells us the struggles they have and how we need to listen to the teachers who are in the classroom and execute a plan that works. i also support the commissioner and the work she is doing and winning the race. i will be a strong supporter of her and holding teachers accountable. >> anyone else? >> i would like to see consolidation in the school system. i support a five county reason regionalization plan. we have to realize the model contract inconvenience ago to out of state funds are with the school's board oa i think there is tremendous

amount of savings to be had. in the consolidations, i am not talking about firing people. i am talking about utilizing it. -- utilizing the consolidation to provide the best of what we have learned in a charter school programs. i think the consolidations will reveal and allow us to find the solutions and give the time to the kid. one can handle several schools. it can be spread to support the teachers'. >> mr. algieri. >> i fail to mention -- as a pharmacy technician, what i do is i have to get continuing education. teachers are not required to get

continuing education. this to help them drastically. it will be mandated by the state to do that. >> your question for mr. caprio. >> let's talk more about jobs. and let people are angry, feeling the setting $5 million was only given to occurred because he is a famous baseball star. mr. caprio, does that still need to be modified or rescinded? >> 38 studios is a bad deal for rhode island the way it is structured. that deal has not closed yet. that is a little secret that does not have much attention. on november 3, i will go through that agreement. we will find a way to put that deal on hold. if it will survive, it will be a much different deal. it will have upside for the taxpayers. right now there is only downside. this is the type of leadership i

will bring. and bring in a point plan. the points need to be incorporated. we need to give credit to the existing small-business is. these companies will turn the economy around. this is the kind accredit i will provide. >> anyone else? >> it is pretty preposterous. we are given 100 million. we are borrowing to loan it out. it makes no sense. we do not have the luxury of abc doling out millions of dollars. against thehey were exis

stimulus package. this is not the solution to our problem. >> the one question that was not passed, are the games going to be worth it? is the product line to sell? we talked about a dream teams. the reality is is a market of young people. will these games make money? i do not think that is the question that is asked. >> anyone else on 38 studios? >> the deal, even with the new board of directors, is an inside deal.

i would like to personally donate and old video game pacman -- it will make more money faster. it is fantasy based. a need to go away. >> and the only can it be fair to look at the curt schilling dill and came up with a better alternative. isn't that what we are looking for? we should not have struck the deal. the state has to be consistent. much more important that we do not make the mistake again and that we do better. my program is all of that. the combined it on my website. >> anyone else? >> do you favor changing the state constitution said the governor and lieutenant governor

run as a team? who to pick as your lieutenant governor? of the idea.rteive it is not make any sense what we have right now. the lieutenant governor is likely to be pulling his or her in a different direction . the governor of state is difficult. two qualified candidates, you get twice as much were down. for me, i would be an advocate for it. i will push it as hard as i could. and for succumbing to the woman i thought would be best for me had medical problems and had to -- and forcefully, -- unfortunately, the woman i thought would be best for me have medical problems and had to drop out. >> i believe the governor and

lieutenant governor should be bringing new business to the state. i would support robert. he is a facility manager. bob was out there meeting folks and young professionals in the city. he offered an open hand 50 minutes ago. i consider him a very charming ambassador of the state. >> anyone else? >> your question for chafee. >> this about the burden of prison on our budget. do you think there are too many people in prison? what policies would you support for reducing the population? >> it is a huge cost to the taxpayers. one thing i learned from mayor is that anytime you have 24-hour a day, three ended 65 days a year service, that is expensive

-- 365 days a year service, that is expensive. it is very expensive. i think some of those lesser crimes, we might have to look at these costs. it is a difficult issue. there are heavy costs. they call them victimless crimes. low-level marijuana use. this is costing the taxpayers so much money. >> here is the last question in the issue around. this is the only route in which you can use your wild cards. >> sinister chafee begins the discussion on legalization on to

the things i believe should be legalized but the. it will provide as revenue up immediately. it takes time to develop. the best thing we can do is to use -- is to get revenue right away. the way we can cover it up for dinner million dollar deficit. i do not know how much money will be made. i know it is better off in clogging our jails in keeping people in prison and not giving them any chance of redemption. they can choose their destiny these people, the souls, that have turned to these professions. >> thank you. mr. chafee. >> i clarify myself. the key would be to make sure

that they are given support, care, and going to some other way of dealing with the crime. there is counseling and support to keep the a out theci of the. -- keeping a aci out to. of the -- keeping them out of the aci. there is a lot in this area. we do fundamentally need to decrease the population i've been an avocation for the legalization of marijuana. we will take a victimless crime out of the jails and courts. >> the reason why prisons are overflowing is because we have a bad economy in rhode island. people have nowhere to turn to make ends meet.

they are turning to crime. i put out a detailed jobs plan. i was one of only six candidates that have their jobs highlighted in the u.s. times recently. they have endorsed me based on the ideas i deal with. i ask you to look at my business plan at my web site and see how it will stimulate our local economy. >> in five years, they are down about $1.5 billion. that is not a very good record. when you talk about spending machines, you should talk about money. this date is bankrupt. this city of providence should be putting in information to declare their bankruptcy. this whole city is bankrupt. the rest is nonsensical talk. >> i have to respond to that.

i have been cited nastily for the returns we put into the state pension fund. the state pension fund is outperforming. the problem with the pension fund is that it is paying out a quarter of a billion more year than it pays in. that is why my reform system will sustain that system. mr. chafee has one that will bankrupt the system. >> the rate of return on the pension is estimated to be a point%. to five at --8.25%. that is a pipe dream. no one knows how bad it is. the candidates are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the unions in their pocket.

>> that is it. we will change things up in the canada it will ask questions. this time, the candidates will only have 30 seconds to answer. no wild cards will be used. but go to our panelists. >> minister algieri, in the 1990's, our economic development was pretty good. what was the economic development corporation during their that it has not done in this previous administration? >> part of it is probably the general economy overall. you had the birth of the internet. you had the birth of technology that took off. the economy on a whole is better. probably taxes were a little bit cheaper. my property taxes were a lot

less. there were a lot less than they are now. >> i was not making enough money to pay the state tax. i cannot testify to that one. >> do you favor a full-blown casino? >> i am concerned the rhode island is number one of four lottery sales. the neckties the south dakota -- the next highest s.d.. s --outh dakota. it is a tax of people who can least afford it. >> are you offended by all of the anonymous money that is being spent on political ads?

>> i spent $3,000 on my campaign. the percentage of that is the bumper stickers outside. though free to check them out. it to be nice to have a more fair election process. my messaging of bringing back a wpa goes so well with the older generations who remembers the sidewalk. my message is for protecting folks in the home. it is so important. >> your questions lusi. mr. >> the state in massachusetts credit bank of local aid raise the sales tax 1.25%. their economy is doing much better than ours. they have a better educated workforce. they lead the country in job creation.

what is wrong with load island? >> i think the sales tax is a good idea. let your realistic. if we are going to pay collectively, have a large population does not pay anything. when the institute a sales tax, it brings them on board. i'm not against the sales tax. i'm against when it is being used to go into the coffers of contract that unsustainable and bankrupting the state. it cannot have a sales tax and sustain the union contract. >> how do we solve the gay marriage controversy in the state? should the general assembly decided? should the court system decided? >> i would sign it into law. >> do you favor the 10-point

plan that has been introduced by citizens? >> absolutely. we need systemic reform their out our government. -- throughout our government. out the press canada for governor to sign on. my name was on there. i would do it again in a heartbeat. >> thank you. your question? >> this question is about health care. what is the most decision you have to make about healthcare? >> i believe working with the new exchange that has to be formed. there is a great deal of flexibility to the state and forming an exchange for the central part of this new health care law. we are working to make sure it is the best in the country. >> now the clock has wound down.

we are almost up their time wise. we want to get candidates one last time to address you. they will have one minute plus whatever time they did not use with their wild cards. >> i want to think the league of women voters for the king has standings to put this together. i want to praise my fellow candidates. ken understand how technology can save millions. frank is experience in our legislature and and help us reduce waste and make our pension sound. he is unique perspective to utilize washington's power to our advantage. todd singleminded effort is to ensure that homeowners are not overrun by banks recklessness and greed. joe has healthy skepticism of power.

john has a knowledge of the branch. it'll be of great experience. me, a jack of many traits, and many believed the best qualities of these men can be combined into a team that working together will not is bring a state out of recession but the shining example to the rest of the nation as to what can happen when the people but their differences aside and work together. if you share my decision, both for me on december 2. my name is robert algieri. mr. robitaille. >> when i am governor, at a clear list of priorities. the purses create jobs and ensure the wicking a rhode islanders back to work. the only way we can create jobs is to become competitive so business owners will want to bring the businesses here and

expands the jobs we need. the only way we will do that is to cut spending. we spend too much money in rhode we spend $10 billion on government for the size of rhode island. rhode island is not have a revenue problem. we need to cut spending. we need to fix our social welfare program. we have started a social welfare problem but traps people in the code dependency with a government. when young women turned down raises at work for fear of losing their child care subsidies, something is wrong with that. we need to empower people and not enslave them. we need to take a book that these programs and ensure we are giving them iincentives for pathway.

we can take a look at each one of these programs and make sure if they have the educational opportunities and the training they allities that h can have. we also have to fix this employee pension program that has been allowed to turn into a ticking time bomb. we have what is estimated to be a 6 ft. $1 million liability. we have to honor the promises to our employees. we have to change the program. i will work with members of the general assembly to stop this program where it is coming to fulfill the promises we have made to public employees but go with a plan that is fair to them and affordable to all taxpayers. i am going to in the first 90 days sit down with each department director and have

been submit to me three budget scenarios, a 15% reduction, a 10%, and pfizer. 5 --%. -- 5%. if i do not believe the tax dollars are being spent wisely, i am not going to approve the funding of those programs are departments. you will need a governor who is tough. i am that man. i love to have your boat. thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you. i applaud you for cleaning out the good aspects of all the candidates. we need a team. i want to disagree with you. i'm not single-minded. i agree we need to cut spending. we do not have a revenue problem in the state. i want everyone to know that in

my job, that is on the job training for the long-term unemployed in the state. .t traded property tax freeze these are all ways to discover the waste in our state. that walkaway with tens of millions of dollars in contracts. we need to hire people to oversee them. we do not need construction workers wasting their time on the side of the road. the contract need to reflect this. every town and foreclosure that is happening, about to happen, accountability, budget, and consolidation.

>> thank you. mr. lusi. >> i like to think the league of women voters. this has been a high honor for me i think of the candidates to be able to participate like this. the process has been not exactly democratic. i do not want to use all my time. it does boil down to money. i'm running this campaign on $50. we and millionaires spending millions of dollars. stay independent. boat with me. >> thank you for listening tonight. this was an important debate. if you have seen the choices. the choice is simple next tuesday. if you want someone is going to raise taxes, chafee. is your man if you want someone that double talks like mr.

robitaille, he will raise the car and property taxes. now he says he will cut property tax. we need someone that has been in that state and understand how it works. they are going to go through the budget line by line and make the necessary changes. you make the tough choices. you balance your budget. if you hire me, the most common phrase will be "you are hired." >> of rhode islanders are in a political pawn. we are so used to voting for the lesser of two evils. we are not voting for the best the best. we need to adjust our thoughts.

we need to expect more. we need to vote for the best. we have to adjust our expectations. our political process is broken. it is difficult to express how you'll fix problems as broken as our educational system in 30 seconds. this is an about bumper stickers, and lack of focus. this is nothing to indicate the character or ideas for the leader was going to best address the problems that we have. we have to knock it off. we have to expect more. i have done to the hardest things an individual can do in this state. i started a political party entered out to be the toughest state in the country to do so. i can open a high-tech business.

i resisted the urge to move across the border to massachusetts and say the fortune in tax. that is the root cause of our problems. we have to correct our economy. we cannot do on we are not tax competitive. we need to expect more from our leaders. as voters, i really urge you to listen carefully to what has transpired all the way through on this election, to try and understand has a real idea. you cannot talk about the business and say that is a plan. you cannot do it. bumper stickers are not policy. please come to got my website. >> mr. chafee. >> thank you for your service.

i do believe one of the problems is in too much fighting. the government has been fighting with the legislator. as mayor, i have four different council president. i worked well with all of them. i had to get it through the city council. as voting in the war in iraq.

i was able to work well with my party even though i was voting against them. for every dollar that goes out and rhode island, $220 comes back. out is goodell working with my party even though on many -- i was good with working with my party even though on many occasions i would not sign with them. rhode island gained 500 jobs because of my ability to work well with everybody. i respectfully ask for your vote. >> thank you to of the candidates for joining us. we do appreciate it. who would like to take our partner for making our wonderful debate here on abc six. this wraps up tonight's debate. where does the time go?

the thank you so much for joinin >> with the election in less than a week, kohl online to c- span.org/politics to see debates. here are some in the ads airing in rhode island. >> i know what it was. lincoln chafee knew who i was. that is why i oppose this war. lincoln oppose this war. >> that is the kind of leader lincoln chafee is. he has the willingness to stand

up to tell the truth to the public. >> i will never forget this. a couple came into my office and said that set of keys and an insurance card. i said, i am one to run for office. i pushed those items back. people in rhode island are working hard enough to pay for their run. we're not going to rely on taxpayers but front that bill for me. my opponent is doing what politicians do, running negative ads. these are tough economic times because we have record unemployment. they will say anything to get elected. to turn rhode islander brown, we need a bold direction. many take have lower taxes and

work to create jobs. together we can. every weekend experience american history tv. 48 hours of people and events telling the american story. hear eyewitness accounts of events that shaped our nation. historical sites and college campuses. leading historic and -- leading historians still been to america's past. all weekend, every weekend on c- span3. >> a political pollster talks about the potentials of the tea party to become a viable third party. an interview on after words. for the complete schedule of authors and times or to watch previous programs, go to our web site.

>> out overnight skills of political debate continues in a moment with the senate candidates from florida. in all little less than an hour, a debate from new hampshire between the candidates for the second house district. after that, the candidates for west virginia's third house district. nick rahall is running for an 18th term. we are covering a couple of campaign-related events to mark. the national journal holds a forum on how the election will affect middle american's key priorities. here on c-span at noon, the community for economic development holds a discussion on the undisclosed political spending.

it will examine a new poll on attitudes toward campaign spending. now the final debate among the senate candidates in florida. charlie crist is running as an independent. kendrick meet marco rubio. former vice presidential candidate sarah palin campaign for marco rubio last saturday. gov. crest has been endorsed by california gov. ronald shorter nature. this is an hour. this is an -- arnold schwartz. this is an hour. >> i am david gregory moderator of nbc's meet the press and we

are live tonight from orlando for the final face-off, one week from election day, it all comes down to this and the fight for florida's u.s. open seat is one that continues to garner national attention. this is the last time that the top candidates for the senate will publicly debate each other. joining us former florida house speaker, marco rubio, the republican candidate, governor charlie crist, the independent candidate, and congressman kendrick meek from the 17th district, the democratic candidate. a quick review of the rules tonight. you all have a one-minute opening statement and then we're going to questioning, "meet the press" style. you have two minutes to respond, but i'll be able to follow up as i like to do. i kind of think of this and you should be all be given credit for how many debates you have done. floridians have benefited from this and i want to approach this not to rehash what you have done but to follow up on some of the important questions and pin you down on some

answers to floridians have an idea of what they're voting on as they go to the polls next week. mr. rubio, you are chosen to go first. >> thank you for tuning in tonight. we are on the verge of one of the most important elections in american history. literally a week from tonight, we're going to be voting to send someone to washington, d.c. to speak for us at a time when america is confronting challenges as great as it has at any point in our modern history. for too long, washington has had us on the wrong road. both parties are to the blame for that the result is that washington is a mess. if we stay on this rode that we are on right -- road that we are on right now that makes us unique could be lost. it's important we send people to washington, d.c. people that will stand up for us and give an alternative. throughout the campaign, the 80 some odd ideas we have on our website, our travel and speeches throughout the state or over the last five debates, we have focused on the issues

and given people clear ideas of where we would like to take our country and our state. i look forward to taking the opportunity to do that tonight on an important debate on the eve of an important election. i would like to thank all of you for tuning in. >> governor crist, opening statement. >> david, thank you for coming here and be a part of this debate. it's important for the people of florida to see what this is all about. this is an important election. it will decide who is our next united states senator to represent our beautiful state of florida. there are choices in this race and it's important that you understand what your choices are. one choice will give us an attorney to have an president miss particular point of view, have -- an optimistic point of view. my friend marco rubio talks about raising the retirement age for our senior citizens in terms of social security. he talks about overturning euro

versus wade roe versus wade. in addition, i think that this race gives you an opportunity to declare your independence as i have done. i have run as an independent in this race because the parties are broken. far too long and far too much, we have seen political parties in washington, d.c. be more about them, whether it's the democratic party or the republican party than they are about you the people of florida and the people of america. i believe what abraham lincoln said was right, that government should be of the people, by the people and for the people. he never said of the party. that's what this race is about. i would invite you to go to our website. you have seven days to make up your mind and your decision. i would humbly ask for your vote. "thank you, governor, congressman meek your opening statement. >> david, thank you for being here and i'm looking forward to a great debate. this is the final debate. i want to thank those that have already voted, some by absentee, some by early vote.

we have a week ahead of us in voting. i want you to make an educated decision of who is going to stand for you. the next united states senator should not be a person who is going to stand up for special interests because they have representatives in washington, d.c. they're called lobbyists. someone is going to stand up for you, you will find that candidate in me. i can be a great united states senator for this state. i qualify by petition. i went throughout 67 counties in this state. i'm endorsed by the veterans of foreign wars p.a.c. that are veterans that are throughout this state of florida. i'm the only person here at this table that actually fought against george w bush when he wanted to privatize social security. i'm against offshore oil drilling before and after the spill. go to our website and look at the issues. make an educated decision on who would be the best representative for you. i ask for your vote and i look forward to receiving it. i will continue to work hard throughout this campaign until next tuesday central standard

time when the polls close. >> thank you. let's get to the questioning. i will hit all of these issues, rest ashowers, and -- assured, i want to start what was single-handed responsible for the economic collapse of this country. i spent some time going through the papers in there and i see some pretty tough numbers that prices continue to dip around the state. the charlotte sun, sales give mixed signals, home sales here keep falling. the headlines go on and on about area existing home sales drop from last year. speaker rubio, americans have lost $6 trillion. the centerpiece of their savings and their lives were wiped away when equity prices in their homes were evaporated in this financial collapse. the obama administration has frankly not done very much to mitigate that problem, the foreclosure problem continues

in florida especially. what would you do to solve the foreclosure problem? >> let's analyze this in three parts. let's talk about what created this problem and it was a lot of difference things going on in the marketplace. one was about the policy that began under the clinton administration. it was made easier and demanded that banks made certain loans that aren't going to be paid back. it was compounded by easier monetary policy. they made it cheaper to give bad loans. that created this bubble. florida had a huge real estate market. we suffered more than any place in in country. it created a crash in terms of what our economy has suffed. the obama administration has tried a number of different plans. we have seen the figures over the last couple of weeks and days and they're alarming. the stuff that is being tried isn't working. those $1.3 temporary workouts that were worked of those over half have defaulted. >> mortgage modifications. >> the temporary mortgage

modification. there are 500,000 permanent and 11% have already defaulted. it's clear that these plans haven't worked largely because they're focused on lowering the interest rate or pushing the period of the loan back. for example, if you owed five months, they added five months to the back of the loan. there is no easy answers. i do believe that one of the critical answers is going to have to be modifications of principal. working out the principal on a loan is cheaper for the bank than the foreclosure process would be. we can't mandate this on bank. we can incentivize them to do that. on many cases working on the principal, lowering the principal for some people is better for the branch. >> that is an interesting issue. what would you think -- the big issue is people won't go into the market. why do you want to buy if the value is going to plummet here in florida? what would you say about a government program that would actually insure new homeowners' down payment on a home so they have some insent tiff to get back in the market?

>> it's an idea of first impression. i like to study them and understand them well. >> you talked about principal. >> these are existing homeowners. the existing homeowner, for example, on a loan, what you're going to do is add five years. let's say they miss five payments. you add five payments to the back of the loan, that doesn't help them especially if they're unemployed. the lowering of the principal idea is in many cases is going to be cheaper for the bank than going through the foreclose ire process. >> governor crist a lot of floridians may not know what fannie mae and freddie mac actually do. they guarantee 90% of this nation's mortgages. when the government moved in on those two companies, they assumed the risk for all of those mortgages. what should done with fannie mae and freddie mac? should the plug be pulled? >> there should be greater regulation to make sure it doesn't happen again in the future. we saw in a real alarming way in florida is because of the fact that we are so dependent on the housing market for our economy and tourism. and what happened in the

sunshine state is our prices of our homes got inflated all over the state and the bubble burst. when that occurred that, caused a real problem that floridians are facing. it's an epidemic. some at this table have faced close to foreclosures. it's not something that is rare in the sunshine state. we ought to address it several ways. we need to reduce the tax burden on the people of florida. we have done that in the sunshine state. i have led the charge on reducing property taxes. not as much as i would like yet, but we have started to do that we have amended our constitution to double the home state exception from $25,000 to $50,000 for our fellow floridians to ease the property tax burden that they suffer in florida. we have to continue on that path. other ideas that have started to work in terms of getting the housing market moving again is theless 8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit that the administration put forward. this is an illustration where you support tax cuts but also understand that the administration can do some

positive things that i only as an independent candidate can offer. >> what about the issue of fannie mae and freddie mac? this is a huge issue. should the united states be honest to taxpayers and say we're going to take all of that risk on to our balance sheet and incur the risk as taxpayers for 90% of america's mortgages? >> we have fdic already that utilized and gives a guarantee so that there is a problem with a mortgage or with a loan, that there is government backup for it that's prudent and smart in order to forestall a collapse. we had a run on the banks years and years ago. part of the reason is there wasn't security. security and confidence is one of the things that we suffer from so much in the economy today. >> congressman, what about the role of government here? you can touch on any of these things, but should government insure new home buyers' down payments so that they'll feel confident enough to buy a home? >> the governor spoke of $8,000

credit to homeowners and move into a new home. that was an attempt to accomplish that kind of goal, not necessarily taking responsibility -- >> what happened when it was pulled? it went down. >> but it's important that we continue to show leadership here. for the floridians that own their homes right now, they're suffering because homes are falling around them and their property values are going down. we have cities and counties in the state that hurting more than ever. we have verbal fights at local county and city commissions. it's very, very important for the next united states senator to embrace the real florida, what is going on right now. there is going to have to be some serious federal involvement here because those that are paying taxes and sending their tax dollars to washington, d.c., they need a return on them. >> congressman, would you support insuring somebody's down payment if they want to buy a home? >> i wouldn't go as far as insuring a down payment. >> how do you get them to buy a home in florida? >> we need more work on making sure we can deal with those homeowners that are failing right now. the first thing we need to do

is stop these loan officers from taking 10,000 foreclosure documents all at once. that must be reformed the industry has to look at what is the industry standard so we can have some sort of real evaluation there. you are having people foreclosed on in florida right now that are not deserving of it. >> more on these big issues in just a moment. i want to talk about party politics. this is unique, three-way race. governor, you're running as an independent. in the debate on sunday, i paid careful attention. you left the g.o.p. to run as an independent because the party had gone so far to the right. you cited two receive issues, roe v. wade and stem cell research. you called them extreme views. here is a copy of the republican platform in 2008. both those views are well spelled out in this party platform. were you unaware that was an entrenched part of the

republican party or did you change for political expediency? >> no, i haven't changed. what changed was the right wing of the republican party pushed those issues so much to the forefront now. it's something that the speaker and i debated about in miami back in the spring. we are talking about the issue of being pro life. i am personally pro life, david, but in spite of that, i don't feel it's appropriate to impose my will on others. it's way we have worked so hard on adoptions. >> governor, you campaigned talking about tradition family values and abortions, are you a problem as a republican for pushing it so far to the right? >> no, sir. i have got an opponent in the republican party who wants to overturn roe versus wade, take away that decision from women in my state. while i'm pro life, i don't feel that big government that he advocates and to stop stem sell research. i'm a -- stem cell research. i'm a campus man. if you do more scientific research for stem cell, you

might find the curious for diseases. that is very important. >> do you think floridians should say something changed in 2008 that all of a sudden the opposition of stem cell he is r, or overturning roe v. wade is an extreme part of the party when it's been part of the platform for years? >> it's been part of the platform for years. the republican party has gone hard right. look at the other republican nominees around the country tonight. those people, christine oh, done -- o'donnell, rand paul, sherron angle in nevada, they have gone so far to the right, it's a position that i'm not comfortable with anymore. my republican opponent with, all due respect, said at one point that some people don't like this country enough. if they don't like it, they should leave the country and he cited keith olbermann from

msnbc. >> i brought out the republican platform for 2008. is there any part of that platform or the republican platform today that bothers you that you disagree with? >> i'm not sure there is a part that we disagree or agree with. it's based on the things that i believe in and stand for. that's why i have gone out of my way to outline specific ideas. if you go to our website, we have 80some odd ideas of things i would like to do if elected. those are the things that i believe in and stand photograph and i'm running on. i think the republican party is to blame for much of what has happened in washington largely because republicans got elected as a majority in 1994 with the contract with america. she slowly began to forget about that. by the middle part of the last decade, republicans basically became indistinguishable from the democrats they chose to represent. republicans get in trouble when they forget about the ideas and the principals that they ran on or an individual ran on and think that the basis of your public service is to be re-elected.

your re-election should be a by-product of your public service, not the purpose of it. >> how about the claim that the party left? >> that's silly. we were debating six months on fox news. the governor has run his entire career as a republican. this has been well covered over the last few months in the debates. everybody sees it for what it is. what voters deserve is we not spend a tremendous amount of time trying to convince people and he found this new path to politics. he switched because he couldn't win the primary. >> congressman, before we take a break, i want to ask you about your party. you said you have been a public servant who has been about the middle of the road. congressional quarterly crunched numbers for us and you voted with democrats 98% of the time since they took control of congress in 2007. as you look back at that, where do you think the democrats that were swept into power starting in 2006 and president obama in 2008, what do you think democrats have lost their way to a point where this is the political environment in which

you're operating? >> i just want to say, also, congressional quarterly also found me as one of the most, within the number of members of moderate voters within congress -- >> you're with the party. >> let me tell you something. i'm a democrat for sure. you can count on that i can tell you this. if it's making sure that we bring down health care companies that have ran this whole issue on insurance, who gets it and who doesn't get it and when they drop them, you can count me in that number. when it comes down to when a woman can be paid the same as a man federal law, i'm for that, too. that's the 98% voting for democrats, it presents an opportunity to see who is ready representing them when it comes down to the real issues that are facing florida and the people of goodwill in this country. >> how do you think democrats lost their way to the point where the country is this angry with democratic rule? >> when you're losing 700,000 jobs per month and we took the

realm of all three levels of the legislative branch of government, it takes a lot to get out of that. that's a mighty deep hole. you don't get out of it in 18, 19 months. people logically as they approach the polling place are going to remember that. the kind of idealology that marco rubio is talking about and charlie crist embraced a few weeks ago is the ideology that got us here. the speaker is talking about i'm convinced, i'm upset with republicans and democrats, they lost their way. he was the speaker of the house of representatives in florida. the governor of this state who was dualy elected as a republican embraced the same ideas that he embracesed when he was elected as a republican. but as a democrat, the reason why veterans are in behind my campaign, working people are behind my campaign because they know that i will provide the kind of leadership, this race, david, in my opinion comes down to leadership. we stood up against george w

bush when he wanted to privatize scorle security. i stood up against tallahassee when he had had to make class sizes smaller here. >> on this big point, would you each just take 30 seconds, and i got to get to a break. would be interesting to here how did we get to this place? >> the country? >> where there is a lot of disaffection with democratic rule, it's not if they have been hanging back, they have done quite a bit. >> how the country got to this point is clear. washington, d.c. has been overrun by people that don't want to face the issues of our time. both parties are to blame for that there are serious problems that confront america. they don't go away on their own or solve themselves. every generation before us have faced their problem and solved them. they have left their children better off than themselves. we might be the first in political leadership that says let's leave our problems to our children. let's not talk about them in a

serious way. >> washington is broken. everybody understands that. everybody at this table comprehends that. >> i haven't heard congressman meek say that it's broken. >> i am. they can't get anything done. george washington, our first and last independent president said it best. if we allow the political parties represented here at this table to become too powerful and too strong, we may cripple the country that we have created. we're there they can't get anything done. it needs to stop. that's why i'm running as an independent. that's what wrong. >> we're going to take a break and come back and talk more about the i understand and talk about social security. we're going to come back for florida's final debates between these senate candidates after this break. >> we're back. i'm david gregory moderator of "meet the press" i'm here with

the candidates for the senate open seat. governor crist, i want to go back with you before i get to social security and ask you about the evolution of some of your views. this is an attack against you. politicians change views. why. let me ask you about gay adoption in in 2006 you said on the record i don't think gay adoption is appropriate. last month when the ban on the state was overturned, you said it's a great day for children. why did you make that change? >> i think as we get older, i call it the convergence of life experience and wisdom. and when you learn through the time of life more tolerance and become less judgmental, i think that's a good place to be. and that's how i am. >> four years did that for you? >> i can't tell you the exact amount of time. it's different for everybody and it depends on your heart. >> what about don't ask, don't tell -- >> let me finish on adoption. there is more to that explanation. i served as attorney general of the state as well.

as one of the duties of the attorney general is to enforce the laws on the books. that was a law that was on the books. so i was duty bound by my oath to enforce that law. >> you did enforce it. you took a political position, not a legal position and saying it was inappropriate. >> i addressed that part. i have changed. >> as people do. it's a pattern and not evolution, don't ask, don't tell, you say in may the current policy has worked well for america. i really do. you support the current efforts to end don't ask, don't tell. the criticism is this is a pattern, that this is political expedroia si, this isn't a expediency. i said when i went independent back in april that come september and october, i was going to have two cannons aimed at me. that has happened. i am up to the task. that's all right. people understand sometimes people change their minds about

different things on all kinds of issues. there is nothing wrong with that. it's called being honest. theory video, they have to -- they're rigid, they have to stay where the party bosses tell them. >> why is that unacceptable? >> people change their minds in politics. of course, they can when you see it as a political calculation is when people get troubled by it. voters know this. they see this and understand it and they make decisions based on that. in the meantime there are critical issues facing our country. people want honest answers and serious solutions to the problem our country faces. >> you want to make a comment? >> i think it's important that people understand and we have had this debate before amongst the three of us the fact that i do believe that marco rubio and what he stands for coupled with another candidate in this statewide race for governor is a dangerous combination for florida. but what the governor is

talking is the reason why a number of democrats throughout this state who he has said, i have changed, i have done this, that, and the other,ieve that i have taken. i believe that a woman has a right to choose. i believe in the fact that so many kids are in foster care right now and everyone it evaluated and taking advantage of being able to raise that child. that's been my position. gay adoptions didn't chain for me when i started running for the united states senate. i have always been for it. the governor, he has a public policy person, i'm really bothered by some of these positions because the fact when i hear flip-flops in the hallway, i think it's the governor walking down the hall. i am using it as an analogy, it's gone to a level where that it really blemished what we're trying to do here on standing on behalf of the issues. i strongly disagree with marco rubio and he knows it and florida knows it, too. as it relates to the governor,

it's this gray area that no one knows and he is on all sides of the issues. >> being flexible is not a sin. and understanding that facts and circumstances change as being a thinking person with an open mind. it's much better to be a senator with an open mind than the opposite. it's what the people of florida want. it's frustrating for my partisan opponents to understand that. that's how i am and i think that's how most of florida is. they look at things. they take in the facts and circumstances and make a decision about it. as i said the other day, i'm an old quarterback. sometimes you call a play in the huddle and literally as you're walking up to the line of scrimmage, you have to change the play and call an audible because the defense is different in what we're doing. >> let me move on to social security. you have all been outspoken on this. i want to move it up to the follow-up stage and let me begin with you, congressman meek, how is it responsible position to look at floridians

in the eye, we can tinker with social security. it's not that much of a crisis. doesn't it immediate to be dealt with in a very responsible way with clear plans, you're going to raise taxes or cut benefits? >> david, it's important that you use the word responsible because that's what we have been right now. we're in a deep recession right now. florida is hovering above 2% of the national average. it's important that we look at this and have a true evaluation of it. i talked about expanding middle class jobs in the state to hopefully push this whole green economy that we have been talking about -- social security is making sure, as you know, someone who has been in washington for a long time, you don't file a bill and oh, the social security problem is over. you set the tail. you talk about the issues. >> health benefits, raise taxes, you put retirement age increase on the table. >> you don't raise taxes, you don't put the retirement

agency, moving the goalposted on the table. >> why do you tell seniors it's going to be ok? >> i'm not saying it's going to be ok. 2037 it's going to be ok. we have to deal with this issue in a bipartisan way. >> raising the retirement age is not on the table? >> not with me. we don't move the goalposts. >> governor, you agree with this. why would you take raising the retirement age off the table? republicans and democrats have talked about it. how is it a responsible position to say, we're basically ok until 2037? >> because i think we are. i think that's the truth and the reality. paul krugman wrote a great piece about it not lopping ago. what is interesting about social security, this is the one program in washington, d.c. that is actually working. politicians typically want to attack it. he laid out and it's been reported by different commissions it is solvent until 2037 or 2041. this is a promise to the people of our state. this is a promise to the people of our country.

social security is something that keeps them safe and secure. my view is that we need to preserve it and protect it as it is. it's an obligation as an honest individual, as somebody who wants to represent the scene i don't understand in the state of florida that they understand where we are. my republican opponent to his credit says -- not really his credit, he wants to put raising the retirement age on the table. he wants to put privatizization on the table. >> he has said that privilegization was tried by the bush administration, it did not work, they had accounts privatization. that is no what he is for. he is for raising the retirement age. let's be specific. what about the same age, you're 39. when would you raise the retirement age and what to? >> the issue of social security and it's merits of the program don't need to be explained to me. i see it every month. my mom who would kill me the

next time i said her name on the air turns 80 november 2. i know how important that program is. i have said consistently despite the governor misstating it over and over again that we should not make any changes for anyone who is 55 years of age or older. that attack that he has used so false that "u.s.a. today" wrote an editorial attacking you for saying these things when they're not true. this is an issue for younger workers like myself. we have a very simple choice. we can purry our head in the sand -- bury our head in the sand which is what they're doing, we have 2037 or 2041. we can bury our head in the sand and do nothing or begin to fight the issue. the congressional budget office has laid out 30some ideas. the governor's and the congressman's plans -- there

are different ideas of how it could be said. >> what is your idea? >> first of all, the way you look at it, you can't throw out a number and hopefully -- one of the ideas that is out there as a starting point, you could say how about adding one month every two years for the next 100 years. that means i would get to retire at 68 instead of 67 which is my retirement age given current policy. >> is it reasonable to think, governor crist, that retirement with social security benefits at this level will be there for someone who is 40, 45 years old today? >> i believe so, yes, i do. i'm an optimist. you're hearing from my worthy opponent sort of a pessimistic view of america going forward. really, that's true. he has talked about it all the time during the course of this campaign. i don't share that view. i believe our better days are ahead. >> is this an objective analysis when it comes to this

program? >> solvent under 2037. let's face what the facts are. facts are suburban things. it's important that we deal with them. what is happening with this program that is a promise to our seniors. marco, people 55 depend on it, too. they're looking forward to being able to receive it. my sister just turned 56. >> i think when you are looking at the issue, david, you look at it and what muddies the water on this issue, i'm not talking about doing nothing and i'm sorry that somebody may be talking about doing nothing, i'm talking about expanding the middle class workforce in a state that has 12% unemployment and to create blue and white collar job in this country. we have given up on that. that is a goal as marco rubio describes it. rubio on january of this year in tallahassee said he agreed with representative ryan's bill that calls for privatization of social security, privatization of medicare, privatization of

medicaid, but he is not talking about that now because he sees it as something that will rock the boat. fact versus fiction, those of us who defended social security to where we had to fight the bush administration, i am the only one sitting at this table that can say that, i don't know what you were doing at that time, but i'm pretty sure in journalism you were calling out what it was to deal with social security now in this deep resection, folks will make hazy decisions that will aaffect floridians. 40% would go into poverty without it. >> do you think private accounts make any sense the way that the bush administration proposed them? >> i'll tell you why the answer is no. i said it as early in march in the "wall street journal" and fox news. i studied that issue. it takes payers out of the system. it makes it worse, not better. the governor being optimistic, here are the facts. we are paying out more than

we're taking in in social security. here are the facts. congress has consistently raided the sorely security trust fund year after year taking all of these additional funds and using it into general revenue. the facts are that every year that goes by, we have more and more retiring taking out of the system and less and less people paying into it. 2037, 2041, that's when it explodes. every year it gets easier. we need a real solution. the plan you offered is amnesty for illegal aliens. >> thank you. what i talked about is we have an awful lot of people that are here illegally in our country. some say maybe 12 million to 14 million. it's not amnesty, but an earned path to citizenship for those people, not sending them back to wherever they came from. it's a responsible way to get them actively involved in the american economic. this was a plan that was talked about dissect rice, maybe not

for the same reasons, but to get people to participate and helping scorte securely go beyond 2036. it's a serious plan and the right thing to do. what is not right is privatizing it. what is not right of raising the age of eligibility. it's not right and fair for the people who depend on it. >> that is not right. he said that makes it worse, not better. he supports your plan -- >> i never said he supported the plan. it's an idea that i wanted to give him credit for. >> the button up is this and i'm the only one at this table that has been a true defender of social security. if anyone says they have the total answer and how to resolve social security, they're platout lying. the only new idea to solve sorely security is an idea you don't like from speaker rubio, is that fair? >> that's not the only idea. it's an idea that he embraces.

what i do know is we can't move the goalposts on those who are planning on retirement when it comes down to social security. that is not an option. social security will be resolved between the next two to four years. >> i want us to be out of this deep recession we're going in before we start making hasty decisions. the only income that many floridians may have -- >> a little tension break before we go to a break. the heat are debuting up in boston tonight. does anyone think that the heat with lebron and this dream team has a chance to go all the way this year? >> absolutely. [laughter] >> the championship trophy! >> ok. we're going to come back with our senate candidates right after this short break. >> we are back in our remaining

time we want to move into something of a lightning round it. may not be quite that fast. i want to get through some additional issues and keep this conversation going. congressman meek, on the issue of afghanistan, is this an outside threat to america? >> i think so if we allow the taliban to take control of the country and have a safe haven, that can actually threaten the entire world. the world has to be a part of the solution. i like the fact that the taliban and afghanistan officials are talking to one another, pakistan must be a part of that. it's important that nato has to continue to play a stronghold there as far as a military presence. >> how about when next july when the president wants to withdraw troops, the general says just can't do it here, not if you want to achieve the goals that you set out. do you support or -- >> we should challenge the world community to put in their resources and their troops. >> they're not going to do that. >> i'm a member of the

parliamentary, nato parliamentary assembly, one of 12 in congress. we can't do it alone like we did in afghanistan. >> iraq, you mean? >> yeah, iraq. there are too many military families that have paid the price the last 10 years, some the ultimate price. it's up to the congress to stand up for those families for a change. >> if we win in afghanistan, what are we going to win or lose? >> the congressman started touching upon it a little bit for afghanistan. it's not just atch, it's its neighbor, pakistan, which is a nuclear power. a nightmare scenario is somehow pakistan's government false into the hands of an -- falls into the hands of an extremist element and they get the weapons. and pakistan can be a staging place for that to occur. that's really the biggest danger in the region. i think the president is right on the troop surge. we have to see it through the success. general petraeus is the right man for the job.

an artificial timeline, setting a date and saying this is when we want to leave is the wrong approach. the surge is the right approach. >> my question is -- what do you win if you win in afghanistan? >> first of all, what you accomplish hopefully is a stable afghanistan that can be a country that prospers in the region and a strong ally of ours in the region. you prevent a base of operations for those that would choose to destabilize and ultimately overthrow the pakistani government. if it falls in the hands of extremist -- >> would you support more troops? >> absolutely. >> more troops? >> absolutely. >> how long? >> we don't say that lightly. first of all, they're never endless. the goal has to be in mind. no one would advocate an endless war. the goal is something we have to keep our eye on. let me say this with all respect and gratitude of the servicemen who are serving overseas. the truth is that we have great gratitude and blessed to have families and young people that are willing to step up and

serve in this capacity. >> i'm certain that's an area of agreement with everybody. i want to move to iran. under what circumstances should united states consider military action against iran? >> that always has to be on the table. our greatest allies on the face of the world is israel. what concerns me about iran, number one, is the mad man who leads the country, mahmoud ahmadinejad. what is happening with their potential to achieve nuclear weaponry. it was announced this week for power they have been able to start putting in the nuclear capability as it relates to electricity. what we need to be cognizant of is what we understand in florida. i was proud as governor of the state of florida to sign the first divestment bill to diversity any funds in iran and sudan. that's the kind of economic pressure you want to continue to have on iran. >> let's move back to domestic. speaker rubio, do you think tax cuts, should they be paid for? >> they don't pay for

themselves. i say that repeatedly. they have to be combined with significant fiscal discipline. what i believe and a number of other people believe as well, the way we get america out of this predicament is a package with strategies and fiscal discipline. >> what is the painful cut you would make? >> i believe in a balanced budget amendment. >> what would you cut? >> let me walk through that process for you. you don't just sit on a talk show battle or on a debate and start identifying programs without a thoughtful process. that's what states do all the time with balanced budgets. they have to examine it, see what programs justify themselves or not. i believe in freezing discretionary spending. a 10% cut to congress and white house budgets. for every two civilian that leaves the federal workforce, let's hire one to come back. tonight, all of the discretionary stuff in the world is not enough. the things you have outlined today regarding social security and the entitlement programs

are so critical for our future. >> congressman, if you believe in cutting the deficit, what's a painful choice you would make for floridians, this is tough, we have to cut spending in this area. >> not extending the push tax cuts. i want to say for a fact check, i said $6,000 per family, it's $600 per year per middle class family to pay for the $700 billion that mr. rubio and mr. crist would like to borrow. those are the kind of painful cuts that we're going to have to make when it comes down to being able to balance for budget. i voted for pay as you go. we get to fiscal discipline. china, japan, india, we're going to be beholden to them as long as we continue to run this cake and ice cream government. i think it's important that we have two wars that are going on even though combat operations have ended in iraq and we have this so-called let's continue

to extend the tax cuts. >> nowhere near to balancing the budget. >> we have to start somewhere. we have to look at making sure that we're fiscally disciplined. when we look at this war, afghanistan war cost a lot of money and i voted to make sure that our men and women are secured in harm's way. we have to be legislatively responsible when it comes down to the spending. if we invest half of the money in the economy than war -- >> a painful choice on spending? >> get the economy moving. we can have all of this discussion about what we're going to reduce and balance. we need it balance the budget. i think that's exactly right. we do it here in florida. we are constitutionally bound to do so. i'm proud to tell you that we slashed our budget by $7.4 billion. >> what would you cut out of the federal budget to somehow bring it into taxes? >> i think we need to cut taxes. that's one of the first things i would do if elected to the u.s. senate.

it's important to give the people the cuts they deserve and small businesses as well so they can start hiring people. that's the first thing we need to do is get this economy going before we can look at the kinds of things that can be reduced. >> the president gave a recently interview. after next next tuesday, if it's a bad result for the democratic party, i want to work a little harder at building consensus. where do you think you could build consensus with democrats in the senate? >> all have to build consensus behind this deficit problem. it's not going away on its own. it has to be dealt with. it will double by the middle of the decade and triple by the end of it. we're forced to reach consensus on that. >> where would you do that? you're a candidate and thinking about the issues? >> i think that the grown-ups in the political process are going to realize that some of these difficult decisions are upon us. the day of reckonning is here. we are going to have to start embracing fiscal discipline at the federal level. we cannot continue to spend more money we take in and

hopeful to survive. there are other areas that i am pleased what the president has done, race to the top programs. >> would you keep the education money where it is, that level of spending? >> the level of spending is determined by what our budget allows us to do. the role of the federal government is not to dictate to states. i hope that's not the role and the direction they are taking in race to the top. i hope the direction they're taking is a direction that incentivizes states to undertake the kind of reforms that we are able to accomplish here in florida. >> who would you caucus with if you're senator? >> are you with republicans or democrats? >> it depends on the outcome and the answers. >> is your vote for sale? >> if i get elected, i will go to the republicans and the democrats and have some very difficult questions, what are you going to do to help the florida economy? what are you going to do to get

more jobs for my fellow floridians? what are you doing about getting us a catastrophic fund from storms going forward? on the answers, i would make the best decision in the best interests of fellow floridians or not. >> we are going to leave it there in terms of my role in this. we turn this over to you. speaker rubio, your closing statements. you will have a couple of moments to address the audience. >> david, first of all thank you to you and the others for being in these debates. i have a lot of respect for the hard work that you have put into your campaign. a week from now, one of us is going to be the next united states senator. i hope it's going to be, i'm working hard to accomplish that. the next senator is going to washington. we are facing generational issues that need to be solved if we hope to leave our children with what they deserve, a life better than our own. that will not happen on its own.

it requires the next united states senator from florida to go to washington, d.c., stand up to this agenda that is coming from there and in its place offer a clear and genuine alternative. throughout the campaign and the six debates that we have had, that is what i have done. if you go to our website, you'll see our specific ideas. if you have watched these debates, you have seen me answer those questions. tonight i'm asking for your vote, for the opportunity to go to washington, d.c., to stand up to the mess that they are creating and to offer a clear alternative, an alternative that we will leave for our children what they deserve to inherit from us. god bless you all and god bless the united states. >> i want to thank my colleagues who is running for the united states senate for the campaign and we'll see what happens next tuesday. i think it's important that ever floridian pay close anticipation to what was said here tonight and what wasn't said. i'm the only democratic in this race. i'm the only candidate again at