not caught up what others in the world are advising and that the industry continues to invoke the same advice it has been invoking for 20 years. the fact is it is a fast-moving science. we have got to update our understanding of the issue. so many of us, including me, are using cell phones today, but i today. >> debra davis has been our guest on "the communicators." >> thank you >> if you would like to read the nih study on cellphone used for yourself, go to slash thecommunicators. thanks for being with us. -- go to c-span.org/

thecommunicators. >> congressman chris lee resigned and very after he was caught so slick -- soliciting women on line. some of the topics addressed in this debate to replace him our jobs, deficit, debate and medicare. this is about an hour. >> welcome. and i am the news director, judy phillips, and i will be

moderating tonight's debate. joining me are our panelists. and of course, we -- we have our candidates. we invited a third candidate, but he did not respond to our invitation. if we did not invite the green party candidate because he did not qualify under the inclusion guidelines. let's get started. we begin with the opening statements, the order of which was determined by a coin toss and ms. correne will go first. >> thank you very much. thanks for hosting this event. i decided to run for congress because i believe our government

is taking our country in the wrong direction. i grew up living in the american dream of. i came from a middle-class family. my parents did not have college degrees. if we had no special privileges or talents. we just worked really hard. we had some great people working alongside us and we were able to be successful. i remember delivering phone books with my friends as a kid. i used to proofread the phone pages in the graveyard shift. after going to college and getting an mba, i came back and work in the family business. i call on customers here in the rochester area. i worked alongside the ceo and making operational decisions and eventually joined the board of directions and helped with -- the board of directors and helped with a decision making-of with strategic decision making. it is something i'm very proud of. we had hard times, too.

and we almost lost our house because it was the collateral on the bank loan and its bank was threatening to pull the line. there were times we had trouble making payroll because the cash flow was tight. if we did not take paychecks to make sure that our employees were paid. those are the kinds of tough decisions that have to be made in a small business and i know what it means to have tough times, having had them myself. i look at what is happening now and i'm afraid that the art of control government spending, the excessive taxes and regulations are making it impossible for our children to have the same opportunities that we had. that is why i want to go to washington. i want to change those policies. i want to get rid of the excessive spending. i want to create an environment to create jobs and strengthen the economy for our children. those are my per ortiz and i look forward to talking about them. >> -- those are my priorities and i look forward to talking about them.

>> go ahead, ms. hochul. >> it is a rare privilege to see the true candidates in this case and of differences that lie between us. i travel throughout the district having talks with hundreds of people and the diners, grocery stores, small and businesses along main street and along the canal and here in rochester. during those conversations i do a lot of listening. what i am hearing from people is the concern that i share that we need to get people back to work. to do that, we need to help our small businesses. we also hear a lot about getting our debt under control. we also need to cut spending in washington. but i also hear from people loud and clear that they do not want the government to end the program as we know it, the medicare program that is there to protect our seniors when they most need it. this is a big concern to the seniors that i talk to.

i will work very hard to help our small businesses by cutting their tax burdens, so they can have the resources to grow and expand. and i will work to cut spending. but i also will ensure that the world -- the millionaires and billionaires will pay their share, just like the people on main street do. i have made a commitment that i will take to my grave. i will fight any plan that tries to decimate medicare. that is something that people in this district feel passionately about and i do also. i was so glad to get the endorsements that i have because they like my passion and my commitment. i did forward to doing what is right and i look for to this debate to see that clear-cut difference is between the candidates. the >> in the first round of questions, the questions will be directed to one of the candidates. there will be a two-minute response time and then there

will be a one-minute rebuttal. we will begin with miss hochul. >> in the buffalo news, your mother is quoted as saying "she is like a dog with a bone. she does not let go and does not take no for an answer." she meant that in a favorable way. if you are tenacious and fight for what you believe in. but that also indicate that a compromise might be difficult for you. many voters are frustrated about halt -- partisan politics and what often seems to be the inability to compromise on capitol hill. what examples can you offer to demonstrate you are willing to give up something in order to gain something else? >> my mother is right. i have fought for our people

with a great deal of passion, by your right. the people that i have talked to do not want partisan bickering that has created the gridlock where you get nothing done. i think i can tell by the support i have received, most of my supporters -- many of them are republican business people who trust my judgment. i work with legislators. senator dale volker and i have partnered on many issues as a committee board member and as a city council member. my budget proposal and my initiatives have been unanimously supported. my record shows that i'm willing to go down to washington, roll up my sleeves and do what is right. and i have no problem standing up to my own party when i disagree with them. all you have to do is ask elliot spitzer and david paterson if i am willing to do that. i have shown my independence and my willingness to fight for the residents.

if there is an idea that comes from washington that is a good idea, i am with them. i'm very confident i have the temperament to work with both sides of the aisle. corwin, you have one minute. >> partisanship is a problem and we see that in albany as well. in the two years i have been in the assembly i have worked very hard to work across the aisles and come up with the best solution that can be had to help the people in the community. i co-sponsored bills with assemblyman sam hoyt, working together to increase the raffle so that not-for-profit can raise money for themselves even more. i also helped with a bill to help local businesses in lockport to be able to expand and grow. those are the initiatives that we need to work on together, and certainly, that is what my track record in albany has been as well. as far as washington, and it's

-- i am an independent thinker. for example, china and their policy regarding the manipulation of the currencies, i am very much a believer that we need to go out there and make sure our trading partners are trading fairly. that is one way to do it. >> your time is up. >> the next question comes from jim. >> over the past week, much attention has been paid to a videotaped incident between your chief of staff, miss corwin, and the chief of the campaign. some have called the incident a set up. did you authorize the actions of your chief of staff? and have you considered firing him? >> i did not authorize that activity. my chief of staff was acting after hours. he was on his own time, not taxpayer funded time. he was acting as a volunteer on behalf of the gop. quite frankly, i had no awareness of it either. i was preparing for a debate the night before. i was not aware of anything going on as far as i'm

concerned, if you look at the video, it speaks for itself. i think it is up to the people to decide how they feel about that. but he is not acting as a member of the assembly. he is not acting as my employee. i have no plan on doing that. >> this hochul, do you have a rebuttal? >> if that was my employee, they would have been fired. >> the next question comes from joe. >> the 26th congressional district has long been a republican-leaning district. if you are elected, it is argued that you are at least in part a third county candidates. how will you represent the entire district? >> i am always fighting for that extra 20%. my reputation is that i always work across the aisle.

again, i am not partisan. i do not think that many people know that i have always had the conservative party endorsement every time i have run for office. this is something i subscribe to, in keeping costs under control, cutting the deficit in washington. but also, even though many of these people may be conservative and registered republicans, there with the 100% on the issue of medicare. -- they are with me 100% on the issue of medicare. our citizens, when they need our help at age 65 and above, we will be there for them. or even in the future. the rights plan would say, sorry, your honor of luck. -- the ryan plan would say, sorry, you are out of luck. >> miss corwin? >> there is another scare tactic on that -- scare tactic on the part of a political politician.

maclaine came out that my record on medicare was given a rating of "liar, liar, pants on fire. -- pants on fire." i think that speaks for itself. i have many democrats that have supported me in my last two campaigns. i would absolutely do the same thing as a member of congress, making sure i represent everybody. >> our final question comes from sean carroll. >> you have said that you support a plan put forth by congressman paul ryan that would turn medicare from a guaranteed benefit into a voucher system that would certainly cost future recipients more money. some polls indicate this is an unpopular with some americans. they will not venture a number as two percentage. it would you consider withdrawing your support of the plan, and if not, what makes that plan the best way to ensure that medicare is not insolvent? >> let's get the facts straight.

the plan that i am supporting is not a voucher system. what it does is that it creates medicare for anyone under the age of 55, it would become medicare party. -- medicare part "d." it would pay directly to the individual. there's no doctor involved. as far as the cost, -- there is no voucher involved. as far as the cause, i would be very pleased to rollout the bill at the federal level to address any additional costs in there. the important thing to recognize is that we have a problem. if we do not use of the above medicare now, the program will be bankrupt by the year 2024, 13 years from now. if we want medicare to be around for current seniors and future generations, we need to make changes now. i am very supportive of a plan that will ensure seniors

currently get the benefits that they currently enjoy or are expecting. anyone under 55, a creative program for the future. >> thank you. miss hochul? >> i think that they would be surprised in washington to find out is not a voucher program since that is how they have labeled it. here is $8,000. your on your own with insurance companies. good luck. that is not me talking. that is the "washington journal" or the "chicago tribune." medicare and as we know it. and current seniors are affected because it eliminates the plans to start shrinking that on a whole, which reduces their prescription drug costs. -- the donut hole, which reduces

their prescription drug costs. >> thank you. from this point on, the questions will go to both of you. you will each have 90 seconds to respond, and then a 45 second rebuttal time friend. before we go back to the panel, i want to do with medicare for one more question. digging into the specifics. i will start with you, miss corwin. what exactly would you do to keep medicare solvent? >> do exactly what the plan proposes, to ensure that the benefits for people 55 and older stay as they are, to ensure that under the age of 55, insurance premiums are paid directly by the government to the insurance plans on behalf of the individual. the individual would choose the plan, and it would be mandated in terms of the minimum number of services. and i would fill that don't hold with an epic-type program --

that don't have whole -- the donut hole with an ethic-anti- program. someone who is 50 years old today will turn 68 and they will have no benefits if we do not do something now. and raising taxes is not going to cover it. we need to take other actions. i am supporting the plan. i have yet to hear of any other plans coming from any other opponents, and is and that such the career politician thing to do? kick the can down the road and ignore the fact that we are facing a major crisis if we do not take action. >> miss hochul, you have 90 seconds. >> it is a traditional technique coming out of washington, scare anybody to justify what you are doing. you are trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors to continue tax breaks for multimillionaires and billionaires' in this country.

and to help corporate loopholes that help big oil get away with what they do at that time of high as gas prices in our nation's history. it is all a question of priorities. i support cutting the deficit 100%, and i have ideas. the problem that no one is addressing in washington right now in the republican-controlled congress is getting medicare under control. why is -- what are our health care costs so high in this country? i have some very solid ideas. comparative cost effectiveness research. there are new ideas that a panel put in place. i spoke to some representatives in buffalo this morning who are on this panel to find treatment options that are more cost- effective. prescription drugs. in my judgment, if the house of representatives was not bought out by pharmaceuticals, we would have quicker ways to get into the market.

we would also find ways to leverage our buying power, just like we get the v.a. hospital. there was an option on the books and the republicans rejected it. there are ways to get costs under control without scaring the seniors into believing it is going to be gone. >> you are out of time. >> we are contradicting opinions here. i am opposed to the obama health care laws. i believe they do nothing to address the real problem. and i am in support of the program that has been proposed. toward reform, that is not something that has been talked about much -- tort reform, that is not and that has been talked about much, but i think it would

be helpful. >> i am glad to respond to that because what my opponent is ignoring is that the paul ryan budget includes the same medicare costs savings and reimbursements to the hospitals and insurance companies that the obama plan included. it is very disingenuous to say that you support the paul ryan budget and not the obama budget. you cannot have it both ways. >> we will turn things over to the panel now. >> parents and other community members, particularly in cities like buffalo and rochester, are becoming increasingly frustrated over the facts that students are failing to graduate. our nation's education system is not working for many families. what would you do to speed the pace of reform and what reforms would you favor? >> miss hochul?

>> there are a lot of reforms and the reauthorization of secondary education will give us an opportunity to evaluate the no child left behind provisions. i'm getting mixed signals on this program and we need to think very carefully before we evaluate it. when i talk to teachers and administrators, not sure we have solved the problems that we need to. we do need to support our parents. a head start programs are so important because a lot of parents are both working and they do not have the resources available at home anymore. i oppose cuts to the federal budget, especially in the cities to give kids a leg up because they do not have the same opportunities as kids in the other areas. in elementary and secondary education, i oppose the plans that would cut programs. it is so important to be able to have programs.

it is so important for kids to have that education. cutting pell grants is the wrong move. >> i agree that the no child left behind act, we are not entirely clear has to how successful it has been. -- as to how successful it has been. one area i support president obama is to introduce competition in schools, particularly charter schools in inner cities. i think we have had tremendous success and i would support any initiatives that would encourage that. it is important and it gives parents the opportunity to have more active involvement in their children's education as well. it is interesting, though, because i keep hearing how my opponent wants to cut spending every step of the way, but not here, but not here, but not here. that is the reality of what we are facing. we have $14.3 trillion debt right now.

if we had to ask our children to pay back $46,000 apiece, how would this happen? we need to invest in education, but we have to do it in a smart way. i think charter schools and introducing competition in schools is a great way to go. >> miss hochul, a 45-second rebuttal time. >> i do understand the need to get spending under control, and i'm willing to have everything on the table as i've said all along. if entitlement reform, defense spending, it is something that my republican colleagues in washington just do not think is right, but we need everyone to pay their fair share. when times are tough, we all have to sacrifice. and to think that our kids, middle-class families and small businesses should bear the brunt of it -- and our seniors in particular in his plan to trim medicare into a voucher program at this time of, a tough economy

is wrong. we also need to look at our defense spending priorities, aid to foreign countries and other areas. >> as far as tax increases go, the problem is that my opponent's plan for tax increases would put taxes on small businesses. as a small-business owner, i understand what that impact would be. that is why we are calling this a jobless recovery. the policies out of this administration are against small businesses and prevent them from been able to create jobs. we need to keep more of that money in the pockets of small businesses, so they can invest in themselves and new workers. that is very important. i am in favor of simplifying the tax code, streamlining its so we make sure there are not loopholes for the big corporations to take advantage of. we need to be bringing more of our corporations profits back home from overseas and

reinvesting in the people here. >> jim, your question will be directed first to ms. corwin. >> in the buffalo-rochester area the average gallon of gas is $ 4.05. what, if anything, do you think the federal government should do about the price of gas? >> the problem is we do not have a comprehensive energy policy. we depend too much on foreign oil. what i propose is that we do more drilling domestically, both in the gulf coast, north dakota, alaska. we can also look at drilling for natural gas. we keep hearing about the marcellus shale. in my district i have vertical gas wells that farmers and property owners have. it can work, but regulations have to be in place to be done safely. i would support any initiative that would allow at the stable -- at the statesville to create

regulations -- at the state level to create regulations to make it safe. >> energy costs are high in this country and i disagree with the ryan budget once again. there are huge taxpayer giveaways to big oil at a time of record profits for them and highest gas prices in our tanks. i also agree with my opponent on the issue of getting our independence -- our dependence on foreign oil under control. this goes back to the 1970's. how many of us thought that was the last time we would be beholden to the middle east for oil? we did not learn those lessons then. i hope we have learned them out. i know i certainly have. but to continue taxpayer giveaways to big oil, which are included in the reihan budget, i think that is wrong. the people in my district agree with me on this as well. >> in addition to the drilling,

we should look into reducing subsidies for the big oil companies as well. if we should eliminate the imputed -- we should eliminate them. we should also look to create competition there as well. also, renewable energy, research and development in the private industry. i do very much believe we should be eliminating subsidies to oil companies. >> thank you. miss hochul? >> it is part of the rights and budget and you support the right and budget. -- it is part of the paul ryan budget and you support the paul ryan budget. >>, there has been a lot of talk in his race about medicare. but what about social security?

there are a number of proposals aimed at addressing the problem of long-term insolvency. what programs or reforms would you support? >> i go back to the 1980's when the long-term sustainability of social security was in question. the approach that i followed back then and sought in washington was a bipartisan approach. we had senator moynihan on the finance committee together with tip o'neill working with ronald reagan at the time to come together to come up with some solutions. part of the problem comes down to high unemployment. there are few people paying into the program for the long-term future than there used to be. medicare and social security are driven by the fact that we need to get more people back to work. i will go to washington, open of the tax code to find ways to help with small-business lending to create the jobs so that there are more employees. it is a long-term solution, but that is the direction we need to be in. our unemployment is too high in this country. heven here in the 26th district,

we have had 11.6% unemployment when the rest of the country is closer to 8%. that is bad. i had a very close sense of what is going on in this district through my county clerk. if we can't get small business to grow, a lot of these problems -- if we can get small business to grow, a lot of these problems will take care of themselves. >> president obama and the board of trustees of the social security fund, the people running the program, came out last week and said if we do not make changes to social security's, the social security fund will be bankrupt by 2026. it is not a scare tactic. it is a fact coming out of the democratic administration right now. we need to address social security. i would propose that whatever we do, we need to make sure that we are not raising social security taxes. we need to make sure we are not privatizing the fund. and i want to make sure that we

have means testing, so those who are wealthy do not receive social security checks and those who need more have it available. i am focusing on medicare and medicaid over all to come to a solution because until we solve the problem and come together to do so, we will not stop these bankruptcy from happening. i have not heard any plants from the aside. i just keep hearing poking holes. let's come up with a real solution. let's have a conversation about what we can do to solve this problem, so that seniors and those who really need these benefits and services can continue to a and future generations. >> medicare and social security, that system that we have paid into our whole lives, you are basically saying you are or to pull it out from under people when they need it. it is just not fair. if we make a problem -- a

promise to our employes that when they worked their whole lives, they can count on it. they have paid into social security and medicare. if we need to be the response once in washington -- we need to be the responsible ones in washington. stop trying to take care of the budget on the backs of our seniors when it comes to social security and medicare. i will not go there. >> you have 45 seconds. >> like i said, we need to address the big problems. if we continue to kick the can down the road and avoid making introductions of proposals, having the discussion and debate, we will never come up with a solution. that is why i got involved in government in 2008 at the assembly level anyway. how can we continue to -- you know, we recognize the problem and have the statistics to show what we are facing. but no one wants to step forward and introduce a plan. i am introducing a plan. let's put this out there. let's talk about this. let's come up with a solution.

all i am hearing is that we cannot do this or that. i have yet to hear solid proposals. the crux shawn -- >> sean carroll. >> kalla all -- all of the candidates in this race have said in a variation of one of these things. we need to create jobs and only government can create the environment to create jobs. we have heard so much it is almost a cliche. i will challenge both candidates, without falling back on one of those things, give me one thing that you will do to create jobs here in the 26 congressional districts. what will that piece of legislation like? >> i would start with some public hearings to address the regulations in the overall agencies. if you look at epa, fda and others, the regulations coming out of those agencies are interfering with what is happening with small businesses. i would start by having public hearings. look at those relations, see

what we can be paring back. i would also look at the tax code. if we cannot raise taxes on small businesses. i cannot say that enough. we need to go back to the tax code and simplify it so it makes sense to small businesses. and so they understand what they are against. >> thank you. >> universities are great catalyst for jobs. we have phenomenal universities in our area. i was at the university of rochester a few days ago taking a tour of the optics facility. because of the assistance they thatve from washington unfortunately, the paul ryan budget estimates -- and i'm talking about tax incentives -- 21 new businesses have started because of initiatives that the university of rochester started recently. the paul ryan budget would destroy those.

the proper role of government is to provide a helping hand in places like universities where they can create jobs. the university of rochester itself as a large employer around here as well it has been since 1986 since we have a major overhaul of our tax code. >> prebuttle? >> there we go, more government. that is what i keep hearing. at the end of the day, my opponent is more supportive of more government. at the heart of europe, she increased spending 21%. -- at the audobon bureau, she increased spending 21%. it is always more government, more spending. what happened to the private sector? what happened to have in partnerships with the university of rochester to make those projects happen? i am supportive of government

grants. i think the government grant process at the university would be very successful. but we cannot forget that private-sector knows how to create jobs, not government. >> this hochul? >> i guess this comes from listen to what i said, but do not watch what i do. if you had a chance in the state assembly to vote for a 10% across-the-board spending cut that enter bahaulah supported -- that andrew cuomo supported. and you're one of only two republicans that did not supported. you say you are going to washington to cut expenses. but when you have a chance to do something meaningful, you stood with 200 republicans against the majority with republicans and democrats to cut spending in our government. if we have got to look at the record. >> the next question will go to miss hochul.

>> what would you do to rein in government spending? >> a great question. it is on the minds of people constantly, that and medicare. i have said i am willing to put everything on the table. this is where i differ from my opponent. entitlement reform, getting the underlying cost of medicare under control -- and i do have plans on that. let's look at defense spending. secretary gates has proposed $178 billion in cuts. let's take a close look at those. let's look at foreign aid to countries like pakistan, who has demonstrated they are not exactly our friends these days. we need to get tougher on those alliances. this is something that my opponent and republicans in washington will not do, raise taxes on the wealthiest in our country. the millionaires and billionaires. i think it is only fair at a time of record high deficit. we have got to get this under control. we cannot keep putting the burden on seniors and small

businesses and families. lead to thelthelped problems we have right now. when bill clinton left office we had a surplus. we have to get spending under control, but we have to look at both sides of the ledger. i will in to make the tough decisions. >> president clinton had a republican congress, so i think that's of the to do with what is going on -- was going on then. my point is willing to cut entitlement programs. i am looking at a program that will preserve the entitlement programs, that will ensure they provide the benefits to seniors that they desperately need now and ensure that the program is around for future generations. that is what i am supporting, not just a across-the-board cuts to and heineman. defense spending, i agree that we should look at it. we have heard about $600 hammers

fighter jets.lion suggest we want them to be supported in their endeavors, but we do not want to be foolish about spending. as far as raising taxes, my friends who i am projecting with these taxes, that is the local gas station owner or the restaurant on the street, or the dry cleaner. that is a $500,000 business. that business would have increased taxes if my opponent was in congress. those are the businesses we need to be supporting. we do not have a revenue problem. we have a spending problem. that is how a half -- how we have $14.3 trillion in debt. it has to stop. >> my opponent says that i am trying to cut entitlements. the buffalo news and the local channel 2 affiliate's have all

said that is a flat out lied. everyone knows in this race if they have been paying attention they know i'm the one person in this race that has set i will not touch medicare. to twist getting health care reform under control, my colleague has lied on that. that is on to say on that. i'm in favor of having these tax cuts expire for those making $200,000 and above. i would raise it to $500,000. >> you are out of time. >> to get back to the accusation, just because the buffalo news said it does not make it true. we can talk about the underlying problem with medicare being the obama health care laws. price waterhouse came out today and said it is expected that the

national average increase in health-care costs for the coming year is 8.5%. and in large part due to the obama healthcare lost. clearly, the obama health care laws, which my opponent supports, is only increasing the cost and adding to the problems and medicare. and we need to repeal those laws and provide a program for medicare that will protect seniors now and future generations. >> anyone want to rebut the dig up the media? [laughter] >> uruzgan of health care and that is what i want to talk about. it is a major concern to families. keeping up with copays is a challenge. business's struggle often with the cost of providing coverage for their employees. a health reform measure was signed into law last year, but the debate continues in washington. many have said it should be repealed. my question to you is in three

parts. should we keep the current health-care law? should we change it, and if so, how? or should we repeal it? and if that is your answer, how would you address these issues? >> absolutely, and you are absolutely right. the obama health care laws passed last year are a disaster for small businesses. i have travelled throughout this country and have heard from many small businesses, their concerns about the cost of health care. those laws did not address the increasing costs. the real problem with access is that health care is getting too expensive and that is why people do not have it. if we need to reduce the cost of health care. i am advocating for a full retairepeal of the health-care . and address it through selling insurance across state lines, toward reform. the state -- tort reform.

the state reduce their health care costs and also had doctors moving back into the state. we have had a shortage unlike any of the place. i think tort reform can go a long way in helping these problems. small-business owners are telling me that in order to avoid having to address the health care issues, they will start hiring more temporary workers to avoid putting more workers into the exchange's, which essentially nationalizes health care. that is not something any of us want. that is why i have proposed the repeal of the obama health care laws. but once we get the costs under control, we can provide coverage for pre in did -- pre-existing conditions and for adults as well as children. >> the health care law passed last year is far from perfect day i have said that from a- one. it's much more needs to be done and i very much opposed the 1099 provision, which was a burden on

our small businesses. and i'm glad that was fixed. we need to continue fine-tuning. unlike my opponent, who supported the paul ryan plan, which did repeal the obama health care law, i am not prepared to see that someone with a pre-existing condition should not have the protection. that protection was eliminated in the paul ryan budget. i am a mother of a 21-year-old and a 23-year-old. they cannot go without insurance. times are tougher and i want them to have the knowledge that they can be covered until age 26. and god forbid that they get into an accident or anything happens to them. plus, the health care law passed the last year had tax credits for employers who did ensure did insure their employees. there is some good that i am not willing to throw out the window as my opponent is. >> only 15% would qualify for

those tax credits. as far as pre-existing conditions and adult children, we absolutely should be providing care for them. the problem with the obama health care lot is that it also cut $500 billion out of the medicare and medicare vantage programs. it is disingenuous to say we are going to protect medicare when we are supporting a plan that cuts $500 million. >> the ryan budget plan cut those costs of $500 million. that is washington political doublespeak. i cannot say more. check the "wall street journal" article from april 6. it explains how the republicans admit that the ball ryan budget says they are saving money, but they continue the cuts in reimbursement to hospitals under

the medicare program. they are identical. >> our next question is from joe. -- jill. >> the u.s. has reached $8.14 0.3 trillion debt ceiling. would you vote to raise it? >> only with the spending cuts. >> i would do the same. i would include some sort of spending cut, something along the lines of spending limits that would make a percentage of gdp going forward. if we want to do spending cuts as a straight cut, we would have to talk trillions of dollars. i want to ensure the -- how some measure to ensure we has been the and control in the future. >> anything to add? >> i agree, we have to have a temporary extension until early august. and now is the time that responsible people in washington roll up their sleeves and get it under control. i do not want to see a repeat of

what we had just a short time ago when our country was almost brought to the brink of shut down because people would not work together. i supported the compromise plan that would continue the budget through the end of this year, $30.5 billion in cuts. i support continuation of cuts as part of the package. democrats and republicans need to get their act together and i look forward to working with them. >> i also support the $38.5 billion in cuts, but that works out to be about a 1% cut in this year's spending. that will not get us in the right direction. we need to be talking trillions of dollars instead of billions. if we do not, we will be coming up against the debt ceiling on a weekly basis. >> we now have a question from sean carroll. it will go to miss corwin. >> i am going off script already. i would like you both to define what you see as the role in government. i hear you both talk about the

role in government. does the extra dollars and demanspent mean more of a role n government does the extra dollar cut mean less government? >> i believe in the private sector's ability to create jobs. i also think the private sector is more effective in the delivery of services. the federal government should be working on those things that have to be taking care of at the federal level, things like national defense, infrastructure. we need a safety net, absolutely. but we also have to make sure we are not bankrupt in our children's future to provide id. -- it. we need to work with others across the country to come up with solutions for the entire country, keeping in mind what makes sense for those in the 26th congressional district. as a member of congress that is what i would work toward, looking at what issues matter most to those in this country

and advocating on their behalf in washington. >> miss hochul? >> what you are hearing is the defining difference between myself and my opponent. i believe our federal government made a promise to our people, particularly to our seniors, that when they get to a certain age they will have guaranteed health care and it will not be left to the private sector. and that is why it's was started in the first place. -- it was started in the first place. our seniors were in poverty. our country said, we do not do that to our seniors. i also believe we have to have a role in educating our kids. i am not leaving that to the private sector. i want the federal government to have a role in making sure our kids have a good education. and support our universities, which create jobs. law enforcement, i have not heard anything about law enforcement in protecting our interests. national defense, that is a no-

brainer. but i also think that we need to look out for our people. that is the constitution. if we look out for the good and the welfare of our people. of course, private sector creates the jobs, guaranteed. and we have to do our best not to get in the way, but the government we pay taxes to has a bigger role than just defense. the >> i believe the government means closest to the people, which means closest on the local level. i think the states and local governments should be doing that. i think the federal government's role is to offer a larger plan, but it needs to be decided at the state and local levels. as far as a safety net, we absolutely have to have one. i am working so hard to protect the safety net that we have. i want to make sure that seniors today have the benefits that they have counted on. and i want to make sure that

seniors in the future will have the benefits that they can count on. and that is why i'm trying to protect medicare. >> a rebuttal? >> my point is to acknowledge that the health care costs went up last year 8% alone. the seniors of tomorrow are left out in the rain because the voucher program does not account for any race in healthcare costs. today's prices are what you will be dealing with for the next 10 years. and i do not think it is fair to ask an elderly couple -- the husband has a program that he can rely upon and his wife does not have the same. i do not think we should have age warfare in this country, dividing one group against another. we have promised the people we will take care of them. if we will fix the underlying cause of health care -- we will fix the underlying costs of health care. >> what is your opinion on the

repeal of don't ask, don't tell, and the administration's decision to not enforce the defense of marriage act? >> i support the administration on both counts. >> as far as the defense of marriage act, i was very disappointed in president obama's decision to do that. i believe the chief executive's responsibilities to uphold the laws of the land. when he arbitrarily decide not to do that, he is acting more as a chief justice as opposed to a chief executive. as far as the don't ask, don't tell, it is my opinion that if the military a leadership believes it is an appropriate policy for them, it is up to the military leadership to weigh in and i support what they support. >> miss hochul? >> i support the president's decision on both. >> anything to add? >> no, thank you. >> all of the candidates are

from. -- are from yuri county. but this district includes several counties. some are rural. where are the most important local issues as you see them in the 26th district? no jobs, new taxes, that is everywhere. >> we have to make sure that we allow for the university of rochester, for example, they have research going on there. we should be helping the private sector to be commercializing some of that research. that is a great area. as a federal representative i would be able to get involved and help that happen. certainly, as far as agricultural issues are concerned, we would want to make sure that agriculture, which is the number one industry in this district, that we are allowing it to be successful. we need to be working very hard on the 2012 farm bill.

we need to make sure that what we create true that is beneficial to the farms in our district. i am also in support of things such as a peace bridge, which will expand economic opportunity for the entire western new york region. it is an important way to bring over new business to help our businesses to have products to sell to others. >> thank you. miss hochul? >> i agree that agriculture is huge in this town. i'm concerned about leaving our farmers out of the cold in the paul ryan budget because it eliminates 30,000 subsidies that are currently in the law. the residents of this district are very concerned about not having the support they need. i am hoping to have its position on the culture committee in congress so that we can -- on the agriculture committee in congress that we can help our local farmers. also, if you look at infrastructure, the quality of our bibridges and roads, that ia

role for the government. we have got to ensure that our roads are safe and that we are able to transport goods and services across our highways. the other thing that would be interesting if we can delve into a deeper, not on ago a farmer came up to me and gave me a plastic bag they gave me grass pellets. >> your time is up. in your rebuttal you can finish. >> going back to the agricultural issue. is the number-one industry in our area. the former representative of this seattle a seat on the agricultural adviser -- of this seat had a seat on the agricultural advisory board. i would continue that and invite members of the agricultural community to give me advice as to what policies they are looking for to be successful. of our dairy farmers have some terrific ideas.

they are talking about solutions to the current subsidy programs, programs that would be much less costly and would still give them the benefits they need to be successful. i would look forward to working with our hearts and cultural committee. >> 45 seconds. >> i do believe gary could be a catalyst for agricultural -- i do believe that the dairy could be a catalyst for agricultural tools. between buffalo and rochester and all of the farms in between, it could be an opportunity to showcase new, innovative ideas for alternative energy research. i want to partner with the right people to bring resources back here from washington. this could be a replacement for our old reliance on the manufacturing base, which unfortunately, due to trade agreements like nafta -- which i do not support and my opponent does -- have left a lot of vacant buildings.

if we need to support new industries. >> that ends our question around. we're going to go into closing statements. we have about a minute and half for each of you. the order was determined by a coin toss. . corwin, you will go first. >> we have a clear choice among the candidates in this election. i am very much a believer in cutting wasteful spending and i have a of a track record for doing that. my opponent increased spending both at the town board and as county clerk. i support reducing taxes and my opponent made it clear she intends to raise taxes, raising taxes on small businesses will do nothing except stop a small businesses from creating jobs. that is the number-one thing i'm hearing about in this district, that people want jobs. raising taxes will kill that. i am also for getting the private sector partners more

ies to makeiversity' sure we are taking advantage of all of the wonderful research coming out of our university systems. kodak is still a significant employer. we want them to bring their overseas operations back to the u.s. and invest in the people here. we have a tremendous workforce. we want to encourage development and research and investment here. i believe we can if we get the right policies in order. i want everyone to understand i come from the private sector. i came from a family situation where i lived the american dream and i am running for congress because i want to preserve that american dream. to me, that is what this country was founded on. that is what the constitution calls for and that is what i want to fight for in washington. >> thank you, julie, and our panelists, and jane, for participating. i think these debates have given

people the ability to see the crystal clear differences that lie between us. is about priorities. you have heard my priorities. my priorities are looking out for the middle class, small businesses, main street, and you know i am looking out for seniors. people in our district are worried. they do not want to lose the guaranteed insurance and medicare that they have been promised from the government their entire lives. again, let's cut our deficit, but i'm not prepared to throw our seniors under the bus while we are letting the wealthiest in this country not pay their fair share of taxes. these corporate loopholes and tax breaks are not available to the mom-and-pop businesses on main street. i am so proud to have had the chance to run this race. it is a true honor for me.

i made passionate person, a fighter, and i promise i will look out for the people every single day. des the debateclusio for the 26 congressional districts. thank you very much for joining us. also, thank you for our panelists. the voter debates are supported by the rochester area community foundation. the special election is next tuesday, may 24. from the studios in rochester, good night. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]