when you limit it to that, it is targeted, and towards the middle class. the lower income are already in a low tax bracket. the high income can wait for later. but give it to the middle class first, the sweet spot in arkansas, and there's a huge difference between my plan and mr. ross', because it is a mr. roth said i would be letting rapists out of prison, ending education and all of the fair because i wanted to do a tax plan because i knew it was needed. now he proposes something larger than even what i propose.

>> taxes are too high for the middle class and the working poor. i never thought i would see the day when a republican candidate in congressman hutchinson here would criticize me for wanting to cut people's taxes too much. i subscribe to the governor beebee model. this is a similar debate to what they had eight years ago, when the governor said we will save on the sales tax on groceries because we can afford that. anderson hutchinson said it was an empty promise. fast-forward, 80% of the tax has been taken off and the law has passed to take the remaining 20% off. i subscribe to the same model. my plan is this, we will balance the budget first, fund education and public safety. with revenue growth we will in the let my plan for lower and fair taxes. >> you have manufacturers, pre-k, and a third one that

escapes me. a three-pronged approach. which one takes precedence? >> here is what i think is important, and his campaign, i have said here are my priorities. here is my vision. here is what i want to accomplish in the next four to eight years. we will meet the priorities of the state and provide tax relief for working families. here is the difference between my plan and congress and hutchinson's. he has promised every voter in the state that he would cut taxes $100 million in his first year in office when the department of finance and revenue will tell you that at best we will have a $50 million net revenue growth. that leaves a $50 million deficit. that is the kansas model. do you want our rating downgraded?

>> veterans income is the third one. one of those obviously has to be the first to be cut. if the revenues are there, which one is most important? >> i think we can do some of all of that. that is what i called for and it is in my plan and i waited out on my website. it is about priorities, and those are my priorities and we will meet them with revenue growth. i will not promise $100 million in year one, that is the kansas model. this is a very important point. first of all, my plan is something that can be absorbed in our recurring revenue. we grow about $200 million a year.

the $100 million, if you look at the budget, it goes in the impact of 2016 fy. it is manageable. mr. ross has promised something to everyone, but he will not be definitive as to what he wants to do next year. i have been clear. i have said it $100 million, and this is where we will start. i want to ask mr. ross, what will you do next year? i have said but i will do next year. if you are going to present something to the legislature next year, but will it eat, and what is the amount of that? i have been very specific, and i think we owe it to the voters of arkansas to be specific, particularly when we are talking about the middle class. >> one thing you have been specific on, education. mr. hutchinson, your plan on tubular science. mr. ross -- computer science. mr. ross, it your plan on pre-k. one thing that has raised

concern, the common core. most folks think it works. a lot of controversy. mr. hutchison, the use of or common core in its full implementation? >> i support a review of common core. it is very important that we have high standards and education in arkansas, and i want to make sure we have the highest expectations for our student. secondly, i want arkansas to dictate its own education policy and not coming from washington dc. >> you think that is happening in common core? >> look at oklahoma who rejected it and now they are withdrawing the waivers for no child left behind. there is a lot of washington pressure on this. i want to make sure that we determine high standards for arkansas based on our values. the meat you a quick story, top stories of high school asked me about common core, so i asked them.

you want the next governor to modify common core or keep it as it is? 95% raised their hand and said it needs to be modified. it is just an anecdote, but my pledges this. i will have my commissioner of education review where we are, set high standards, and i want parents and teachers together to see what kind of tweaks we need to make to maintain high standards but controlled and directed from arkansas. >> mr. hutchinson, are you concerned about online testing. your thought on its implementation? >> i support the concept of common core. the concept is that we want to teach young people to think for themselves, in a way they can apply to college and careers and workplace. here is what common core is not, there is a lot of misinformation. number one, it is not a curriculum, it is a standard. this business of it outlying multiplication tables is false. second, it was written by people like governor huckabee and governor jeb bush, and implement it and endorsed by the national governors association in poor nation with a lot of people that have been successful -- in

coordination with people that have been successful in the business world. people like bill gates. it may need to between, i am receptive to that, but i think the concept is good. >> gentlemen, sticking with education, let's move to pre-k. that is something that is very big on mr. ross' campaign. pre-k for everyone in five years, after you leave office. this coming in a. where schools are taxed for budgets. how would you pay for something like that? >> that is a good question. i hope we can do it sooner than that. the first thing i want to do is fully fund the program that we have -- this is not a new program, this is the abc program. we are 11th in the nation in terms of quality, quantity is the issue. oklahoma has figured this out, i think it is the right thing to do.

this is how i would pay for it. number one, we would increase from 200% to three and percent of poverty those who were eligible with net revenue growth, and there will be net revenue growth. congressman hutchinson wants to spend more than we would have in net revenue growth and put us on the path of fiscal responsibility and have our credit rating lowered like kansas, as well as huge cuts to public education. we are going to do this, we are going to pay for this as we can afford and have revenue growth. for those between 300 and four and percent of poverty, they would pay half the cost, which is less than daycare today. those over 40% of poverty, $48,000 a year, they would pay the full price, which would be comparable to what they are paying for daycare now. we will implement it as we can afford it. >> mr. hutchinson, you called the plan a fiscally responsible, but you support the plan that exists. >> there is a distinction. we have an existing program that funds pre-k up to 200% of

poverty, it means we are targeting towards those who need it the most. mr. ross wants to expand that to up to 300% of poverty and even up to 400% of poverty with taxpayer money. and so, whether they can afford it or not, you will get taxpayers to pay for it, and we have to prioritize. the governor was not able to find the money to fund the existing program. i want to fund the existing abc program, not expanded, -- expand it, and target the money were beneath it the most. we have a revenue stabilization act. obviously we are going to fund education and balance the budget. we will fulfill our commitment to services.

but with the revenue growth we have had historically, we will be able to pad that with tax cuts. the biggest difference we can make for the middle income is to raise our income here and the best way to do that is technology education combined with career education that teaches these skills for a workplace. >> cumbersome hutchinson, he says one thing in arkansas and does something else in washington. he voted against free gay programs. he says that -- pre-k programs. he says that my program is the wrong direction. and now he is for increasing access to pre-k. is this the washington asa or the arkansas asa. i wish the real asa would stand up. >> i'm not sure that a negative attack along those lines -- mr. ross spent 12 years in washington. he voted for nancy pelosi for speaker four times and voted against or twice. -- her twice.

>> the only time she had an opponent, i gave the nominating speech for her opponent while she was in the front row. >> i said you voted for her four times, i did not say anything else. do not get so defensive about your flip-flopping. those are just the facts. we both have a record in washington. i have had a record of balancing the budget, for example. when i left congress, are washing -- our nation had a balanced budget. when mr. ross left, we had a deficit. >> we are just getting started tonight, the congressman -- candidates getting comfortable. coming up next, something we will see a lot of other. and some of the other issues the candidates will face. >> the debate between the candidates will continue in a moment. while we wait, here are a look at the campaign as being aired in arkansas.

>> the democrat gazette said that the attacks on mike ross are not true, and a sneer on his family business. so why is hutchinson attacking ross' family for building their small-town business for success? right?

ross.t mike fifth-generation arkansan. >> arkansas's next governor will have to stand up to washington liberals. can need a leader they depend on. only king in politics but that is monster branded as being fed very well. your take on the ads? too much? a lot of the ads do work, naturally. >> the negative ads are what's the problem. me allpeople me telling the time, just tell me what you want to do as governor.

proud of my-- granddaughter talking about computer science. that businessbout in arkansas, number one industry. we were talking about agriculture and arkansas. i talked about my truck and my wife. my wife has been on television to talk about my marriage. positive messages are what i believe were cap there. i am very disappointed whenever the negative ads turn the fans -- motors off. >> are you worried about the onslaught of negative ads? a majority of them -- i look at all of them -- have been positive. are you worried about everything else overshadowing it?

>> kirsten hutchison and his wealthy out-of-state friends has spent millions trying to convince you i am something that i am not. lying about me and my record, i have been disappointed in that. i want to talk about my positive vision for the future of the state. improving education and creating more and better paying jobs for middle-class families. ringing jobs back to rural arkansas. lower and fairer taxes. my senior citizen bill of rights, my veterans matter plan. all those plans are based on life experiences that i had growing up in southwest arkansas in places like prescott and emmett and hope. i love this state and i know we can do better. >> we went from talking about the state stupor -- talking about the ads and producing a couple.

>> than me just come back to what mr. ross's speaking of. i have been positive, and he is talking about an ad from an out-of-state group we do not have control over. but you played an ad in which mr. ross attacked my character. that is what -- never advocate that happening, i think it is encouraging an 18-year-old to vote. does it encourage people to participate in the political process? that is the test for us. we have an obligation for candidates to make sure that we are encouraging people to say that public service is good. i think negative advertising does not work that way. i can control the senate race, i cannot control out-of-state groups, i can control my own message, and that is what i want to do. mike is right, it is about our vision for what we will do for the middle class, are tax cuts, our veterans. >> now wait a minute. asa wants to say poor me. he says he cannot control ads that are being run by the republican governors association? when he came out with this ad, my wife is a pharmacist. she spent 14 years every day going to build a business. it is america, she sold her business for a profit in america, imagine that.

he attacked her for that. for him to say, that is not me, that is the governor's association, do you know when that had began airing? when the chairman of the governor's association was in arkansas raising money for cumbersome hutchinson's campaign. he could have said that that is not fair. the house ethics committee and said there is no truth to this. but he did not, he kind of wink and let it continue to go and go after my wife. i think he owes my wife an apology, right here and right now. >> well, mr. ross, do you control the democratic governors association, the ads they run attacking me? you know better than that. i have no control over my ads it is illegal to coordinate those. i will let you answer the questions. i have never, never attack you on the issue. if you remember me attacking, tommy right now. -- tell me right now. >> we will look forward to more

positive as in the future. onto health care. the affordable health care act passed years ago, we use federal tax dollars. we now have 200,000 arkansans receiving coverage. a small portion are going the medicaid route. mr. hutchinson, we will start with you. what happens if you are in the governor's office? >> i'm in the best position to negotiate with the legislature and to stand up to president obama's administration as to what we need to do in the future. i positioned myself to make sure that we can measure the costs clearly, without any question. the private option has helped our hospitals and expanded health care in arkansas. but any governor has to look at

the cost for the future, down the road. when i'm governor, we will have taken up 10% of that. i think the costs are unpredictable. a report came out that the private option might cost more than the pure medicaid expansion. we are also still getting in numbers as to what the insurance rates are going to be. and so we are still measuring it. i think the governor has to be careful. let's wait till next year. >> but the legislature lead the way? -- let the legislature lead the way? >> i expect to lead the way with the legislature. the republicans help to create the private option. i think i can bring together as well as the democrats and say, let's figure out the right way for the future. we also have the question of waivers, which is not just excepting the status quo but doing better.

we may have to ask for more waivers from washington. >> i wholeheartedly support the medicaid expansion and the private option. regardless of how you feel about the aca, the only part we have a say over is the medicaid expansion. the governor worked to create an innovative, market-based, bipartisan solution known as the private option. fast forward one year, we are ranked number one in america. we reduced the uninsured rate in arkansas by half in just one year. nearly 200,000 people. am i point out that these are working arkansans. people who do not work, they get medicaid. they are trying to do the right thing and get off welfare but are working jobs with no benefits. i will fight to protect it. congressman hutchinson here, he spent a year saying he had not read it, and then he went on npr

to say that the only getting about the private option is that you put these folks -- as he called them, that it would be a simpler process to take them off of private insurance and medicaid. this is a lifeline to our world hospitals, that is why every hospital supports it. 200,000 arkansans will be healthier now, which will help us create a more educated and skilled workforce to bring more and better paying jobs to arkansas. as governor, i will be a leader. i will tell you clearly where i stand on the issue, he continues to dodge it. yes i know, do you support the private option? i do. >> in that diatribe that we just heard, you will notice that there was never one mention of what it cost. and i think that any governor has to be responsible to look at the cost to the taxpayers when we do the things. and clearly the private option

is doing good things out there for our world hospitals. but -- rural hospitals. but i would be responsible to talk and pledged 100% support without modification, without looking at it closely and when it costs down the road. so my pledge to the voters is that i will work with the legislator to get the right solution and get a solution that we can afford. and also to push back to see how we can improve it. it is not about the status quo, it is not about accepting what we have been doing. mr. ross would've accepted the medicaid expansion surely as it was. under his leadership, we would never have had a private option, because he would've supported the expansion. it was the republican leadership that came in to look at in an innovative fashion. >> we talk about these issues and successes of past governors. your predecessors, all the way back to clinton, have come into the governor's office through

state government. one of these have been involved but are removed. >> i spent 10 years balancing the state budget. >> tummy, from your point of view, how do both of you forge those relationships and work on something as important on the private option? >> first of all, if i can respond, i have mentioned numerous times that we will balance the budget first. the most the state ever pays a 10%. we will be able to afford that because of the growth that will occur because of the jobs it creates. 20,000 people having health care creates more jobs in the health care sector. any economist will value it will more than pay for itself. i am committed to protecting it and still, right here tonight, he will not give us a straight yes or no whether or not he supports these 200,000 working arkansans keeping their health insurance.

look, i have a history of being bipartisan, and congress and hutchinson has a history of being partisan. "the national journal" consistently listed me as one of the most independent members of congress. i earned an a plus rating from the national rifle association. at a history of working with democrats and republicans to get the job done, and that is what i will do as governor. >> sit tight. >> you have another question? because he just unloads a barrage here. >> i will try and slow down a little, i apologize. >> you're going a little bit long. one, when you talk about bipartisanship, i have been in state government and have worked across the aisle, and i have the opportunity -- ability to do that. >> we will be back after a short break, we will tackle the twitter reaction. here's a live look at another watch party for asa hutchinson. there are his supporters cheering their candidate on. you're watching the broadcast of

the statewide governor debate. 0 welcome back to the governor's did they area and we've been asking you to share your thoughts with us using #argov. is making ante impact with you and why? here's is some of what we're hearing from you tonight. what is hutchison's plan for the delta since he wants to govern the entire state? saying his tax plan is immediate, not the down the road land like mike's.

the grocery tax never completely gone. guess mike ross cannot name any businesses that he would contact or have contacted to move to arkansas if elect did governor. he will turn arkansas into kansas with his unrealistic tax plan. we cannot afford that. just look at them today. that's a snapshot and another comment we went to care with you tonight. family anda larger tax cuts for middle classes, 100 25,000-class dollars is still middle-class. that's a snapshot of what we're seeing tonight in the conversation on social media. break, i talked about legislature in getting back to state government. we want to give you plenty of time to address it.

>> my experience does lend to work well with the legislature. i not only have legislative experience but president bush .ppointed me to head up the epa i helped set up the department of homeland security. i had to lead 110,000 employees. i also worked with the legislative branch. agencies, i leading think it helps move the state legislature, but i've already talked to them. when you work in a bipartisan way, it is not supposed to bring fear to the opposing party. you need to bring them in early in the process. that's what i would want to do whether it is computer coding or a whole host of things. we need to address a number of things. >> here's a quick series of issues, looking for concise responses. minimum wage.

it is on the november 4 ballot. mr. ross, how important is it for folks to support this measure. >> working folks deserve a raise. i support increasing the state minimum wage. congressman hutchinson opposes raising the minimum wage, and he says he was against it in this campaign until a few weeks ago. then he says he is for it. i was derailed congressman hutchinson would stand up. working-class families deserve a pay raise, and i will work hard to make sure that we increase the minimum wage. some of them are working and earning 13,000 a year. >> can i stop you right there? in 30 seconds. >> i support the minimum wage and will vote for the ballot initiative. i said we needed to raise the minimum wage from day one when he was undecided.

we have had a debate about process. are we supporting a minimum wage increase -- we have done a historically, but we have to talk about more than minimum wage. we have got to be able to have a stronger wage rate in arkansas, and my technology initiative will help to do that. >> an issue that came up this week, we have seen advocates for the disabled protest across little rock. do you support this? >> i support those with disabilities having more options, including the option to live at home and independently. my mom had polio when she was a year old. she spent more time growing up in children's hospitals than she did at home. i understand the challenges that those who face disabilities have, and i believe they need more choices, not less. if they choose to live and

evidently, they should be allowed to do so. >> and i agree that choices are important. the cfco is one part of obamacare that states have an option in. not many states have excepted the option. cost is an issue in this. but it is something you need to look at. i support more options for those that qualify for them. >> let me switch row quick, we would be remiss if we did not touch on prisons and crime. we will start with mr. hutchinson. is a new prison inevitable, and how does that play into what the state needs to do? >> this is where i want to use my experience. probably no one has been governor of arkansas with the kind of law-enforcement experience i have had. from being a prosecutor to leading law enforcement agencies. we have a drug problem and a crime problem. we need to change behavior, lockup violence, and look at

alternatives for those who might fit into the rehabilitative programs with accountability. we need to reform our parole system. the question is, is a $100 billion prison inevitable? not under my watch. i know that as a recommendation that is being studied, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. we need to look at every creative alternative an option before we do that. >> mr. ross, we have talked about prisons. kind of the same question, is it an inevitable path? >> we have a lot of pressure put on our county jails, nearly two dozen inmates backed up in county jails. some say it -- 2000 inmates act up in county jails. it will be taking million dollars a year to operate it. -- $50 million a year to operate it. the jury is still out on it. whether we build a prison or not, i want to see meaningful reforms were criminal justice system.

we need smarter sentencing, alternative sentencing for nonviolent and first-time offenders. we need more drug treatment courts and the veteran treatment courts. that will come at a fraction of the cost of a new prison. >> will move on right now. we appreciate the dialogue. thank you for coming in and discussing things with us. hopefully it helps the and decided voters take a stand. as the end of the broadcast, we want to give each of you a chance to directly appeal -- look directly into the camera. mr. hutchinson? >> thank you, and i appreciate all arkansans who have taken time to listen to this debate tonight. it has been heated from time to time, because it is so important what we are trying to accomplish. the test is, what can we do most to help and grow the middle class and their income level in arkansas? that is my passion, economic growth and job creation.

i have a specific plan that will work for arkansas. it is asaplan.com. it includes lowering tax rates, career education classes tied to a job. we need to make sure that we offer stem education including computer science. if only 20% of our students to computer science, computer coding, that would be 6000 graduates a year that would move into our economy. that could dynamically change the economy of arkansas with a very low cost investment. we need to reduce regulatory burden. i have been blessed in arkansas. i have served two presidents in high positions. but the highest honor i could have as a public servant would be to serve the people of arkansas as your next governor. and i am here asking for your vote and i look forward to the closing days of this campaign has me really tell what we want to do for the state of arkansas. thank you very much. >> mr. ross?

>> well, bob, david, thank you very much for hosting me this evening. i would like to begin by saying hello to my mom and dad and all of my family and friends back home in ascot -- prescott. growing up in a small town, i never dreamed i would be sitting in a debate as a candidate for governor of this great state. it is happening for one reason. it is happening because i had the opportunity to receive an education that is second to none. that is what i want for your family. that is what i want for your children, for your grandchildren. i have a positive vision for the future of this. state, and it starts with education. my parents were school teachers, i am passionate about education because i believe that is how we create more and better paying jobs.

that is how we move the middle class and allow more people to become a part of the middle class in the state. job creation. i want to be the biggest economic ambassador and the state has ever had, and the we do that is by having an educated workforce. number two, i have a loo -- land for lower and fairer taxes. we will balance the budget first, do things in a fiscally responsible manner as the state can afford it, we will fund education, medicaid, and public safety. as we have revenue growth, we will cut taxes for hard-working folk all across the state. and finally, i want my daughter and your daughter, i believe all women in the state deserve to make same amount of money as their male counterparts.

with the same education, doing the same jobs. i feel very strongly about giving women in the state the opportunity to be able to earn what their counterparts earn. and a mystic violence, we will send a message loud and clear all over the state that domestic violence will no longer be tolerated in arkansas. i have a positive vision, and i hope you'll read all about it at mikeross.com. >> thank you for spending your night with us here at the arkansas governor debate. feel free to continue the conversation on social media and use the #argov. you will be old to deal d laswell is any other episode on the u a -- capital view app. have a great night. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

next, looking at a couple of campaign ads from the race and arkansas. 0 the democratic gazette said the attacks are not true and hurting the family business. there was never a justice department investigation and they approve the sale.

covering up the fact that he got caught cheating on his taxes and the fact that he was a d.c. lobbyist who has a record of putting them before the middle class. sorry. this cover-up won't work. 0 mike ross says education must give priority. >> a focus on career tech training. teachers have endorsed mike ross for governor. >> have you seen this latest smear piece paid by allies of barack obama? asa hutchinson found a mistake. he paid his bill in full. but its honest enough

does not stop team obama. unfortunately, arkansas needs it. a $16 billion industry. with 97% of our problems -- farms family-owned, they must fight on their side. it only hurts our farmers. is rice, wheat, or poultry, i went to keep them open to the world. it's the best way to grow our economy and create jobs. i'm asa hutchinson. as governor we will hit the ground running and never the back. weekend on the c-span networks, the campaign 2014 debate coverage continues saturday night at 8:00, live coverage of the iowa debate between terry branstad and his challenger jack hatch.

jenny beth martin from tea party patriots is on q and a. tv,c-span 2 on book columbia university director of f onobiology, caleb schar life on earth in the current debate about how it began. martin storm on his experience as a member of al qaeda and his life as a double agent. ofking the 50th anniversary the warren commission to assassinate president kennedy. they described their investigation and at 4:00 on railamerica, the 1964 two-our special report detailing the warren commission's finding with walter cronkite and dan rather. find out television schedule at c-span.org and let us know what

you think about the programs we are watching. call us. e-mail us at comments@cspan.org or send us a tweet @cspan #comments. join the conversation. follow us on facebook. like us on twitter. 0 i'm calling about c-span3. , so many good shows. president nixon, the resignation, so one and so forth . the only thing this morning i was hoping to watch the f1 hundred super sabre restoration, the first supersonic jet fighter. about themething panama canal. no big deal, it was interesting.

i'm hoping they will show that since it didn't get showed this morning. i'm looking forward to maybe c-span 3 had just so many good shows. 0 the so-called benghazi hearings on c-span three which i have no way to receive and i don't have a computer. but about the fact that there is inembassy of any description libya? why don't you make that a topic? you are my favorite station, my husband's also. andannot get c-span 3 portland, oregon. i wonder if you can tell us how we could manage to do that.

at 10:00 there was supposed to be a show on c-span three, the hearings, but we cannot get c-span three and we feel it is a very important program to watch by a lot of americans. we would like to see that repeated on either c-span 1 or 2 or made available immediately. .> continue to let us know send us a tweet. join the conversation. next democratic candidate for governor of texas when the davis and republican greg abbott meeting for their first debate in texas. they have it listed as likely

republican and the latest poll also has mr. abbott with the lead. this is about an hour. >> this is a texas gubernatorial debate live from the rio grande valley. here is your moderator, ryan wolf. moderator, ryan wolf. >> republican candidate, attorney general greg abbott in democratic candidate senator wendy davis square off in a one hour debate. good evening and welcome to this historic first gubernatorial debate in texas live from the edinburg conference center in the rio grande valley. i am ryan wolf. this is the first texas gubernatorial debate ever held in the rio grande valley and we could not be more excited about it. certainly we would not be here without the candidate so what's meet them right now.

senator wendy davis, thank you for being here, attorney general greg abbott, thank you for being here. we want to welcome our audience members watching tonight, from the auditorium, people watching this across the state of texas on tv, online, and across the nation on c-span. myould like to introduce coanchors tonight, carlos sanchez, the editor at "the gars monitor." you could be a part of this historic debate. hop online, social media and twitter and use the #rgbdebate. we would love to hear your response and also keep score tonight. lah with some words for our spanish viewers. -- spanish-speaking viewers. >> thank you. [speaking spanish]

>> carlos now with a review of the debate rules. >> the debate sponsored by doctors hospital and renaissance will last one hour. each candidate will have one minute to respond to questions in the opposing candidate 35 second to rebut. the questions have only been seen by the panelists. there will be no opening statements but the candidates will have two minutes to close. a coin toss determined that senator wendy davis will take the first question. mayors haves, expressed concern over the

reputation of the region in height of security and militia man. what would you do to join security and economic development? >> i am so happy to be here with everyone in the rio grande valley. i would start by listening to local law enforcement officials here who know what is best for their community. sheriff sue felt like we needed feltboot -- sheriff's who we needed boots on the ground and had they have deputies on the ground to assist with law enforcement. the surge that the governor supported was one that i supported as well because if the federal government will not act to protect our borders, texas must and will. at the same time, we must be sensitive to the reputation of this community. comments from my opponents calling this area third-world are inappropriate and as

governor, i will work with this community through our tourism fund to help repair the tarnished image that has occurred as a consequence. >> your response? >> i want to extend my gratitude for being able to participate in this historic debate. here in the rio grande valley, which raises the issue that you touched upon. that is whether it is in the rio grande valley are anywhere in the state of texas. secure communities promote economic development. that theo ensure community here in the rio grande valley, as well as any community in the state of texas is going to be safe and secure. that was the purpose of ensuring that we have a vision of -- have additional eps officers on the ground. it is important to point out that after those law enforcement officials came here that spacex announced it was opening operations for an entire new world for business and space exploration right here in the

rio grande valley. recently, a federal judge ruled that the school funding system was unconstitutional. should the system be defended or dismantled? >> it is clear that one thing that needs to be done is to get structure wehool had in the past. the school structure that was litigated in this case was based in part on systems that were created in the last century. what i want to do is to reinvent educations and school in the state. my goal is to ensure that texas highhe number one-ranked school and lower school education systems in the entire united states of america and we do that by focusing on the fundamental building blocks of education. i want to ensure that education ,egins with a strong foundation all the way through third grade, thathooting -- ensuring

the children have the ability to read and do math by the end of third grade. that is what i want to put the trust with the teacher. it gets rid of a one size fits all mandate. contrast, i was in protest to $5.4 billion of cuts to our public schools. mr. abbott has been defending them in court ever since and each ruling goes in favor of our children and against mr. abbott. these cuts and the cuts that you are defending that have left our classrooms overcrowded, that have left her teachers laid off, that is not liberal. that is not conservative. it is just dumb. it is shortchanging our children and selling out their future. as governor, i will make the education of our children a priority and i will fight to make sure that our schools have

more resources, not less. >> senator davis, you recently released a book in which you discuss your personal plight with abortion. what ucsf regulation on abortion? >> i have always believed that women should be able to make this most personal and difficult of decisions themselves. guided by their faith and their family and with their doctor. i stood on the senate floor for 13 hours to assure that this most privacy of decisions could be made by women. my opponent, on the other hand, has paid women in his office less than he is paid man. he has campaigned with a known sexual predator who has bragged about having sex with underage girls. he has shown that he is not favorable even for women to make decisions on their own in cases rape orl rape -- brutal incest.

that is not protecting texas women. on behalf of texas women, i say, no thank you. pro-life and i'm catholic. like most texans, i believe all life is sacred. i will develop a culture of life in the state so we can do even more to protect women and children. to directly answer your question, texas is ensuring that we protect more life and do a better job of protecting the bylth care of women providing that women still have five months to make a very difficult decision. after that time, the state has an interest in protecting innocent life. >> general abbott, in a speech in dallas you compared corruption in the valley to third world country practices.

what was your motivation behind that comparison and do you regret that many people were offended by that statement? i made thatint out statement in dallas and i made the statement about corruption across the state of texas, not targeting the rio grande valley. i have fought to root out and prosecute corruption across the state of texas. or than 100cuted instances of public corruption. it does not matter if you are in the rio grande valley or in dallas, texas. we need to have a state that eliminates corruption. as governor i will continue to outre that we root challenges like this, which is why i have proposed ethics reform so that we can prevent a situation like legislators who , but it reallyng does not matter if you are in the rgv or in the panhandle. we want to ensure that your

public officials are abiding by the law. as your attorney general and as your governor, i will ensure that is done. >> these comments mean something. they label a community. mr. abbott says he has worked on corruption in other parts of the state. other never refer to parts of this state as third world. words matter. we embrace this area of our state as a part of our state and an incredible part of the diversity of who we are. as governor, my focus will be on investing and making sure that everyone understands what i understand about the rio grande it is filled with parents who want opportunities for their children. that it is filled with hard-working people who want jobs that will pay them well and as their next governor, it is my intention to provide that. supportor davis, do you

giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants? >> i believe that everyone who was on the road should have a drivers license and should be insured. other states have found a way to make this happen, even for undocumented immigrants in their community. far too often as a public servant i have been told about incidents where people have been in an accident with an uninsured driver. as arizona does, texas, i believe, should issue driver certificates for people who pass a drivers test and prove they have insurance. way we can safest ensure that people who are driving on our roads are driving the right authority and with the right insurance. problems with regard to the conflict that these laws would have with the

federal real id act. we saw that come into play when we had another state that tried to create these drivers licenses in the form of california. the u.s. department of justice rejected california's attempt to create these licenses. i think it is simply unworkable because of the conflict with federal law. >> general abbott, a recent rgv as worstthe when it comes to wait times for veterans care. do to increase the timeliness and quality of care veterans receive? the men offensive that and women who have fought for our country are having to wait. it has been documented, sometimes losing their lives because of the and adequate care of the veteran administration. my family looks a lot like texas. it is filled with veterans. my brother served in the united states navy for 20 years.

my wife's family served in the army, navy, air force, and marines. she had an uncle who served in the army during world war ii. the men and women who serve on the front line should not have to be pushed to the back of the line when it comes to their health care needs. it is offensive that during his campaign, barack obama came down here to the rio grande valley and said that he would establish a veterans health care hospital right here. we are still waiting for the president to make true on his promise. i will work with federal authorities to ensure that we get the health care that we need for veterans. >> it is unacceptable that anyone who serves our country should find themselves here without the medical care that they have earned and that they so deserve. i will work with this community to ensure that we do bring a veterans hospital here to serve

our service members who have served us so well. right now they're are having to drive as far as san antonio. we have a great opportunity for this with the new medical school. us work withto see rgv medical school to provide a hospital specifically for veterans. >> texas has left millions of dollars on the table that would have come to the state if we had extended medicaid. would you go after that money and continuously met? plan is that we will spend $100 billion of our on california and new york in the next 10 years. there is a reason that republican governors around this country have found a way that is right for their states to bring this money cap. there is a reason that -- this money down.

there is a reason that the chambers of commerce have taken us to do the right thing and bring this money back to texas to go to work for us and create a 300,000 estimated jobs per year that it will bring. -- visitor having's california project in texas because he wants to continue sending our tax dollars to them. ,f course, mr. abbott california already has one. >> i would provide more access to more health care. i have laid out a plan that would ensure that if we increase funding for women, and increased funding for veterans, we increase funding for the disabled, and we increase funding for mental health needs. what i will not do is what will davis will you heard obamacare in texas and is laughingly. obamacare is an abject

area. , is ford for doctors taxpayers. addressing the future of obamacare with him. doctors are fleeing of dedicated medicaid is -- fleeing and obamacare is coming up. >> the you support a raise of the minimum wage in texas? >> we do not need those obama-style mandates telling businesses how to run their businesses. the one thing we know is that government does not know how to run business and proof of that is looking at the state of texas itself. i know senator davis thinks that we need to have an increase in minimum wage here. 94% of the lost fact -- the hourly wage jobs in texas are paid at the above minimum

wage already. there is a reason for that and that is because texas model works. what we need to do is get the government off the backs of businesses and let the free market do this. the wage growth we have seen in the state of texas, the federal reserve says the greatest increases we have seen are in the top two quartiles in the category. we have top-paying jobs in texas because we do not let the federal government tell us how to run our business. >> i know what it is like to work as hard as you can and yet stand at the grocery stand check out and have to put food back because you do not have enough money to pay for it. raising the minimum wage is not only good for texas families, it is good for our economy. hour, that is only $15,000 a year. that is not enough to support a family. tois good for texas for us

raise the minimal wage and to provide an opportunity for families to provide for themselves as they so desperately want to do. my opponent is looking out for his insider friends, not for texas families who would benefit if they have worked a hard day's work. they deserve a fair pay. austan is beginning to resemble washington, d.c. more and more with a lack of decision-making. --t would you do to presen prevent legislative gridlock? >> i started on a city council where i served for nine words and i did not serve with a partisan affiliation and i did not learn how to function with one. i am proud that as a member of the texas senate, i have worked across the aisle to pass, co-author, and support legislation across the aisle. as governor, i believe we need a leader who will bring people together, who will stop the

partisan division that we have seen in austin and it is creeping more and more into our everyday affairs. the people in texas deserve us put them, not partisan politics, first. as the next governor, i can ensure that i will demonstrate respect for both parties, bring them together for common solutions, particularly making sure that we fund our public schools. i will be very effective in working with members of both parties to pass legislation even though i am working from the capacity as the attorney general. senatororked with rodney ellis and passing criminal justice reform. i've worked with senator kirk watson in testing reforms to open government laws. i think the most important thing is i'm going to be focused on issues that i think affect all texas families. i will work on the fact that

texas remains number one in job creation. i will work on the roads that we need for the next generation. i will be focused on transforming education to become number one in the nation i will toe sure that we have access the water supplies that we need so communities can continue to grow. >> there have been a number of cases nationally with the death penalty opponents that have been proven innocent when they were accused. how would you ensure that an innocent person is not put to death in texas? >> i'm in favor of the death penalty. we want to ensure the death penalty is going to be enforced effectively. we have several ways that we ensure that no innocent person is put to death. one is we have multiple layers of the appellate process. system,hrough the state the federal system, and back to the state and federal system again. you will have literally dozens

of judges who are able to look at these matters before a person is put to death. i think it is important that texas continue to take a national leadership role in ensuring the accuracy and certainty of the death penalty. that is why i worked with senator rodney ellis this last edges light of session on advanced dna testing system to ensure that every person accused of a crime that faces the death penalty, we have the right person. >> i support the death penalty. as governor, i will be prepared to enforce it. this week, general abbott and i were both at an occasion, a sad, but a tribute occasion to someone who died serving a prison sentence for a crime that he did not commit. it reminds us all of the importance of making sure that before we meet out that ultimate of punishments, we make sure

that we are meteing it out for a guilty person. that is why i am proud to have helped to clear a backlog of over 18,000 rape kits in our state, making sure that victims have justice that they deserve and that no guilty person is sitting in jail. governor perry called out the national guard. what actions would you better secure the border? >> if the federal government will not act to secure the border, texas must and i will. i supported the surge of dps troops to the border. i also asked the governor, and what i would do had i been governor at the time. i asked him to convene us in a special session so we could hear from local community members what their needs were here.

not only in law enforcement, where we would have been told by the sheriff that they need deputies with arrests and detention authority. they want the right boots on the ground. we also should have asked those who have been serving the needs of folks who have been coming across the border, the humanitarian side of this issue. catholic charities and other faith-based and nonprofit andnizations need our help unless the federal government assistance,e that texas must. when i'm governor, we will. hashe federal government failed to solve this problem but texas will not stand idly by. i'm the only candidate on the stage tonight who has outlined a plan to deal with border security. my plan ensures that we have 500 dps officers to help secure the border as well as internally in the state of texas. i had 20 texas rangers.

i had efforts to ensure public integrity, plus i provide the tools, resources, and technologies we need to better address the problem. i go after the gang-related of the is a result cross-border activity and i came out with a new anti-smuggling law which will allow us to crack down on those who are harming victims the most. >> this has been a summer of immigration concerns. that has spurred anti-hispanic rhetoric. as governor, do you feel there is a responsibly to diminish it? >> i absolutely do and i feel that in part because of my family. i have been married into a hispanic family for 33 years. wife and i celebrated our 33rd anniversary last month. if the people of texas elect me the governor, my wife will be the first hispanic first lady in the history of the state and i think that is setting a new tone in our ability to connect

with voters across the state. it is essential that everyone in every geographic region, everyone of every type of background know that greg abbott is going to be a governor for them and their culture. what i have found in my marriage is that even though we come from different cultural backgrounds, we unite on common principles of faith, freedom, and the free plesrprise princi that will allow anyone to start and grow a business. across these permit state of texas and our core for the future of the state. shown hisbott has disrespect for this community by referring to it as a third world. is continue to do to provide opportunities for every single hard-working texan. everyone in our state wants their children to have opportunities and a better

future than they had. making sure that we are providing that for every child, no matter who they are, no matter where they are from, no matter how rich or poor, no matter their race is our job. i will consider it my most important job. mr. abbott has an working very hard to silence the voices of members of the hispanic community. he leads a party that is calling for the repeal -- >> for closing statements, you can add on to that. this seems like a perfect spot for us to take a quick break for texasistoric gubernatorial debate from the rio grande valley and we want to remind people that you get to make the decision when you hit the polls in november. there are important dates to keep in mind. the last day to register's october 6 and early voting starts on october 20. the big day is on november 4.

coming up next, what are my do it is a big part of the debate. the candidate to candidate question. based on what we have seen so far, the potential for the gloves to come off. it could be there. for folks watching at home, use gvdebate and be part of the debate. let us know who is winning. what you want to hear out of this debate? it is your time to chime in. [speaking spanish] >> a reminder -- the first gubernatorial debate in texas held in the rio grande valley will continue right here. be sure to stay right there. we will be back right after this. welcome back to the very first

texas gubernatorial debate life here at the edinburgh conference room in renaissance in the rio grande valley. we kick it off at the candidate to get a that question. >> senator davis, do you regret voting for barack obama? abbott, what i am working on right now is running for governor of this incredible state. bringing policies forward that will benefit the state. i'm working to make sure that every hard-working texan, the matter where they start, as far as they dream. 30 years ago i could not have imagined that i would have the privilege. when i was a young, single, struggling mother, sitting on this stage and having the opportunity to ask texas for his vote. turning point and

that is what is important in the selection. will we create a 21st century future economy that works for all hard-working texans were just some? i believe that we need a governor who will fight for all hard-working texans every single day because their future depends on it. i believe we need a governor who is going to make sure that our children w world-class -- >> thank you, senator davis. abbott, a judge has recently ruled against you and in favor of the schoolchildren of texas. ruling that our schools are unconstitutionally underfunded. the only thing right now coming between our children and appropriate funding of their schools today is you. on behalf of the 5 million children of this state, will you agree tonight that you will drop your appeals and allow our

schools to be appropriately funded? another is actually thing coming between and settling that lawsuit and that is a law that you voted on and helped pass in 2011 that removes from the attorney general the ability to settle lawsuits just like this. understandtant to that what i want to do is focus on creating, as governor, a better education system in this state. it is time we put our partisan differences aside when it comes to building a better future for the next generation what i'm is not a school system that was constructed in part in the last century. what i'm focused on is building a better education system for the next generation. goal as governor is to work towards elevating the texas education system to be ranked number one in the nation. >> attorney general's --

>> senator davis, at the end of we program -- senator davis, agree to the rules before hand. i appreciate you want to interject. we know it is a lively discussion. at the end, we have closing statements and i encourage you to use that statement to continue the discussion. these are rules that we agreed upon together. >> senator davis, if elected would you push for individuals receiving and if it's like food stamps to be drug tested? i'vesupported a -- supported a bill that would put in place a mechanism like that last session. we put need to make sure in place a mechanism that would not force people off food stamps. i am very sensitive to the fact that children should not be punished by virtue of the fact that they may have a parent who is drug-addicted and therefore

worked with the author of that bill to include a provision, if it was the case that a positive drug test was found for that person to continue to receive their assistance, if they would agree to go into a drug treatment program and to receive the help that they need. >> i do support that law. in the to do all we can state of texas to help those in need. part of what we can do to help those in need is help them improve their lives. one way to help them improve their lives if they are relying upon government benefits, we can try to help them deal with and overcome challenges they may have because of drug addiction or other challenges that may have shown up in the tests. a win-winr this to be situation, helping those dependent on government benefits to find a pathway beyond so they can begin to be a contributing

to the fabric of the state of texas. recently voted to raise taxes to create a universal pre-k program. did you support a statewide pre-k program? if so, how will you funded? -- fund it? >> i support improving pre-k. i view pre-k as the starting point in our education and what i have rolled out in the strategy i have is to have the pre-k -- premier pre-k program in the entire country. i know if we can continue educating our students at the very beginning, we will have that solid foundation that students need to build on. my education system does begin with pre-k four. it builds ontly, that to make sure that what they learn in pre-k is going to continue all the way through. that what weal have in pre-k is not just

drawing more money at it, but instead that we structure the most effective programs so that students really do have literacy and numeracy skills that they can begin to build on. support quality, full day pre-k for every .ligible child in this state unlike my opponent who would pick and choose which children are able to get off to a strong start, i would provide that strong start to every four-year-old in our state. my opponent has proposed a standardized tests for four-year-olds to demonstrate that they deserve to have pre-k support, picking and choosing those who would receive it and those which would not. under mr. abbott, four-year-olds in the state can be assured they would be subject to standardized tests. the only way they would get around that is if they hire a andyist, form a pac, donate to the great abbott campaign because that is how he works. >> governor rick perry was

indicted for abuse of power. do you agree with the decision to indict? >> i cannot presuppose whether i agree with the decision to indict because i do not know what the grand jury as before them. i do believe these are serious charges and deserve serious consideration. i won't second-guess the justice system. i will trust it to do its work and will abide by whatever decision is and respected. >> i was not a part of the grand jury and so i do not have the facts grand jury may have have. it is bizarre that a governor for exercisinged a veto of a spending master. the veto authority is a constitutional authority and i want to make sure it remains so robustly so that when i am governor, i am able to exercise that veto for what i consider inappropriate spending.

one of the key roles i will play the state ofg sure texas lives in the confines of a budget. part of being able to fulfill that role is being able to exercise the constitutional veto power. abbott, a mayor says that at the in the mayor, she expects to spend half $1 million in taxpayer funds for the humanitarian relief efforts related to the influx of immigrants this summer. what would you do to ensure voter cities are reimbursed? office ispeak, my working on a potential lawsuit against the obama administration where we are putting together all of the expenses incurred by the state of texas. one proposal that i am pondering is the possibility of being able to roll into that potential litigation, the expenses that have been incurred by the rio grande valley because these are comeses that should not

out of the pockets of taxpayers in the state of texas. the reason is because it was not mckellen or the rio grande valley that caused this. is reason why this happened because when the president stood in the rose garden in 2012 and cast a message basically telling people they would be able to come here without any type of enforcement. what we need to do is hold the president and his administration responsible for paying this bill. as we speak, i am working on getting that done. earlier, had i been whennor at that time, and i am elected governor, if i have the privilege of serving there, i will call all of our local communities before the legislature and asked them what they need. i sent a letter to governor perry asking him to convene us in a special session and to bring forward not only local law enforcement from our border communities to hear what they

needed, but also to hear from our faith-based and charitable organizations to see what it was we could do for them. it isthe case that ultimately the federal government's responsibility to secure our border and to pay the cost of the consequence of not securing it. as a governor, i do believe that the state should step in and help communities such as this one. >> what would you do to combat the influence of drug cartels in texas? >> i believe that we must focus our efforts where they belong, on drug trafficking and human trafficking. that is why i supported the the surge of dps officers, officers who have the tension and arrest authority here. focused onbe just as the economic relationship and texas.ico

when to invest more and not less in the infrastructure that will help accelerate efficiently the movement of goods to help mexico and texas. our economy is dependent on our relationship with mexico and as governor, i will make sure that we work across the border, not only on security, but in continuing to keep that economic relationship strong and vibrant. >> i'm the only candidate for governor who has a plan to go after the drug cartels. in visiting with a young latina, about college age. she pleaded with me to fill my promise to secure the border and go after the cartels because as she explained, her brother was playing a pickup soccer game here in the rio grande valley and had to play with the son of a cartel member. children should not be forced to

have to make those types of play date decisions. secure our, i will border and go after any drug cartel that tries to harm our taxpayers. >> leaders blame drought conditions and mexico's noncompliance with a treaty for forced shortage that has some regions to come back on farming. how would you make sure the mexico repays the water debt? >> i have started to work on this process. i met with an ambassador to visit about it. we talked about a number of issues. he was the ambassador from mexico to the united states. the we talked about the need for mexico to fulfill its obligation , to provide water to texas that texas deserves. you can tell he understood because you can see were mexico is today. they are growing economically and they know that part of their economic future is tied to the

economic future of the state of texas. i think mexico wants to be a good partner. i think they want to see economic development flourish on both sides of the border and just like we would with the president in 2004 to ensure that we got our access to the water from mexico, i think we can do it again. >> drought conditions have cost the rio grande valley millions of dollars. last year farmers had to turn hundreds of millions of dollars as a consequence of that. ensuring enforcement of a 1944 eaty with mexico is essential and as governor, i will create the relationship with axa go that fosters the kind of partnership -- mexico that fosters the kind of partnership that will foster that. that is why as a state senator i supported and was proud that voters supported a $2 billion water revolving fund that will

help communities to create and grow water resources and conservation efforts to ensure that drought does not have the devastating economic impact it has. >> senator davis, the texas city of -- was rocked by a terrible explosion caused by chemicals that were stored there that many did not know were stored there. what you believe the state should do in regards to informing residents of cities if dangerous chemicals are in their midst? >> let's be clear -- right now the only thing that is coming between texas families knowing whether dangerous chemicals are being stored near their homes or r whereeir school o they work is greg abbott. greg abbott, who has shown time and again who'll favor the interest of his insider friends over those of hard-working texans when he rolls, that

texas families no longer have a right to know whether these dangerous chemicals are being stored close to them. this came with him almost simultaneously with him excepting a $100,000 plus donation from his buddies in the chemistry industry, koch industries. when i'm governor, i will put hard-working texans first. there is a law in texas called the community right to know law and people in the state of texas have the right to gain information whether or not chemicals are stored in the neighborhood. there is another law competing with it. that is the texas homeland security act. i applied the texas homeland security act to make sure that information involving certain chemicals is not disclosed to potential terrorists, terrorists like timothy mcveigh who used a fertilizing element that blew up element to blow up

a courthouse in oklahoma city. i have been involved in prosecuting a terrorist member of isis. we need to be cautious about the information provided to terrorists in texas. >> do you think texas is tough enough on capital punishment? >> are we tough enough on capital punishment? we have probably the toughest capital punishment laws in the nation and our job in criminal justice is to ensure those who commit the most heinous crimes get the capital punishment they richly deserve and they deserve it because when you think about what has happened to the victims and the way the victims have been harmed and sometimes struggle before losing their lives, you need to make sure -- we need to ensure that those who commit the worst of crimes will be punished accordingly.

essential that we carry out the ultimate punishment in a way that is fair and just and certain. a statesession as senator, i voted to expand the enforcement of capital punishment to include other crimes. i do support and will carry out as governor the death penalty. we also in texas have the highest number of exonerations of any state because we have not appropriately been using dna evidence. as governor, i will make sure that we do not have guilty --ple meeting the ultimate non-guilty people, i am sorry, meeting the ultimate punishment. only those were we are sure that this is the person who has inmitted a heinous crime those instances should the death penalty be carried out. troopers along with 1000

national guard troops to protect the border is estimated to cost $20 million a month in texas. is it worth the cost? >> it is important that we put money into areas that will grow our economy. investing in education, making sure that every four-year-old in -- state has access to pro to quality pre-k to get off to a strong start, making sure that high school students have access to college and we make it affordable to them. when we spend money on something that was not requested by this local community and we put boots on the ground that don't have the tension and arrest -- detention and arrest authority, approximately costing $12 million a month, we're to dohanging our ability what will make a smart investment in the future of this state. this was an expenditure that

was necessary. because thesary federal government failed to do its job. the federal government has the fundamental responsibility to secure and protect the border. it failed in its fundamental responsibility. texas will not stand idly by. we will step up and do what the text -- the federal government has failed to do. this is one reason why we are demanding from the federal government reimbursement from the expenditures that we have to pay up to secure the border. remember the last point, and that is secure communities promote economic development. empowering thef economy in south texas even more. please state your position regarding voter identification and explain that. >> i am in favor of voter

identification loss. my office is the one representing the state of texas in this case. i favored because the are fraught israel. it must be stopped and voter identity -- i favor it because of voter fraud is real. it must be stopped. i am the only candidate that ensures -- that stands for rooting out corruption in the voting process. thisost hesitate to bring up, but you know that one of the challenges going on as we speak is the fact that the fbi is involved in an investigation about people in the rio grande valley for using cocaine to buy boats. we cannot accept or tolerate this kind of lack of integrity in the election process. the supreme court has ruled that voter identification is one of the tool state rights can use to maintain integrity in the election process. i'm the only candidate willing to fight for that principle. >> as a senator, i fought for

the principle of making sure that people with valid opportunities and identifications to vote were provided the ability to do that. mr. evan -- mr. abbott has a party was platform calls for the .ppeal of the voting rights act let's be clear what it is about -- it is about repressing the minority vote. courtbott is defending in a voter id law that has the purpose of that outcome. -- by tearing communities apart from each other, tearing minority voters across them each other, to suppress or voices at the ballot box. concludes this historic

debate at the rio grande valley. now it is time for the closing statements. you will each have two and its. >> a dear friend of mine has a grandmother who gave her the advice -- when someone shows you who they are, believe them. i have shown texans who i am. i showed it when i stood and fought against $5.4 billion in cuts to our public schools because that is not just bad for our children, it is bad for our future. i have shown up by fighting for every four-year-old to have access to full-day pre-k to get off to a strong start and every high school student to have affordable access to college. i have shown it by fighting to people paid have fairly for a hard day's work. an increase in the minimum wage is good, not bad for our economy. giving 2.8 million texans an increase in spending power and provide for their

families is terribly important. i will fight for equal pay for equal work and i will fight to close outdated tax loopholes that benefit giant corporations and send that money instead to fund our public schools. my opponent has shown that he will not support equal pay for equal work for women, that he thinks we should pick and choose which of our children should get off to a good start and that time and again he will favor his insider friends over those of everyday texas families. voters will have to ask themselves this from the ballot box. who will fight for me? who will fight for my family? i am asking for your vote tonight. if i have the privilege of serving as your next governor, you won't need a high paid lobbyists from the texas capital to represent you. your voice will be there.

im you. i have never forgotten who i am willere i come from and i fight for you every single day. hosting thisfor unprecedented debate opportunity here in the rio grande valley. as your attorney general, i have been fighting for your liberty against an overreaching federal government. the texas child support system to be ranked number one in the system. i fought to defend the 10 commandments monument on the texas capital ground and we won. now i want to fight for the future of texas as your next governor. texas is already great. i am running for governor to make it even better. texas is number one in the nation for creating jobs and i will keep it that way by keeping government small and taxes low. roads and water

projects we need to keep texas growing. i will also keep your community safe from the rio grande valley all the way to the red river. to build a work brighter future for the next generation. the way i see it, texas is number one in the nation for jobs. we are also number one in the nation for farms, for exports, for energy production, for so many different things. the time has come to set a new aspiration. texas should be number one in the nation for education our -- educating our children. toyour governor, i will work fulfill that aspiration. as your governor, i will keep texas in the land of opportunity. the place where hopes and dreams can still be realized. the place were more freedom and less government still matters. i am running for governor and i am asking for your vote to make texas even better. thank you.

>> that concludes the first texas gubernatorial debate live from the rio grande valley. what a great hour. we appreciate both candidates coming out. senator wendy davis, thank you for your time and insight. general greg abbott, thank you so much as well. we appreciate you coming tonight. this is all about arming our viewers with the information they need to make an informed decision when they hit the polls. it is worth reiterating once again the important days. the last day to vote -- register to vote is october 6. early voting begins october 20 and the big day where we will decide a new governor here in texas is on november 4. , thet to bring in carlos editor of "the monitor." your thoughts on this historic debate? >> thank you for your participation. as the post game begins tonight about who won, we should be mindful that there is one clear

winner -- that is the voters of the rio grande valley. we appreciate your willingness to come here and subject yourself to questions with your candor. your final thoughts to your spanish-language viewers? [speaking spanish] >> we all to want to thank doctors hospital renaissance for this beautiful venue tonight. absolutely amazing. also, the crew that work on the set design, thank you so much for helping out. you. you to both of >> next a look at a couple of

campaign ads from a couple of races in texas. >> a recent investigation finds that democratic candidate wendy davis didn't recuse herself from fort worth city council that prevented the business' interest. she voted for $21.5 million in tax breaks for her developers

and used her title in insurance company in the sale of the building. >> every week businesses lead california to escape high taxes and strangling regulations. they come to texas because we keep texas low and regulations reasonable. i'm greg abbott. my job's plan will build on that, will control state spending, unleash our oil and gas industry and keep taxes low so small business can grow. together we'll keep texas number one in jobs. >> in the texas courtroom greg abbott made the case against our children. he fought for $5 billion in cuts to education made by his insider buddies. and now abbott's proposing giving standardized test to 4-year-olds. heard enough?

wednesdayy davis, she'll cut bureaucratic -- wendy davis, she'll cut bureaucratic red tape. you decide who would be best for texas. >> tomorrow night live coverage of the iowa governor's debate between incumbent republican government government tor bran stad and senator hatch. live campaign 2014 coverage from burlington, iowa starts at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span.

>> find our television schedule at c-span.org. and let us know what you think about the programs you're watching. 202-626-3400. mail us or send us a tweet at

@c-span #comments. like us on facebook. follow us on twitter. >> here are just a few of the comments we recently received from our viewers. >> i dialed c-span but this show , the shows that president nixon's resignation. the only thing that was -- this morning i was hoping to watch sonic jet fighter. it had something about the panama canal. no big deal. that was interesting. but if it was supposed to be the super saber, i'm hoping that they'll show that again -- you know what i mean, show it

because it didn't get shown this morning. but either way, looking forward to maybe seeing that. but this weekend c-span was just scheduled with so many good shows. >> i was calling on the so-called benghazi hearings that commiteesed today on c-span 3 which i have no way to receive a computer.have what about the fact that there's no embassy in libya? how come that's not being addressed? why don't you make that a topic? >> you're my favorite station. my husband's also. t we can't get c-span 3 in portland, oregon. now, i wonder how you could tell us how we could manage to do that. >> we're calling because at 10:00 there was supposed to be a show on c-span 3 which is the

hearings but we can't get c-span 3. and we feel this is a very important program to watch for a lot of americans. we'd like to see that. either repeat it on c-span 1 or 2 or made available immediately on that station. >> and continue to let us know what you think about the programs you're watching. 20-2-626-3400. r you can send us a tweet aat c-span/comments. >> next a discussion about national security with house intelligence share of michigan. and doug ruppersburger of maryland. after that president obama unvailing a new effort to combat sexual assaults on college campuses.

>> next a conversation with intelligence committee chair congress mike rogers, an council. ce committee they talk about the balance between privacy and national security. this is about an hour. about on.

that are taking place in the world not the least of which what is going on in washington. we all knee the white house is the capital of the world. but congress is the cross roads of the world. and anything that takes place in your space in the national security space has to go through there. so first we're going hear from the chairman of the house intelligence committee mike rogers. and then we're going to hear from his partner vice chairman he ranking member doug rupperburger an then we'll hear some questions. i will be the moderator for that. chairman rogers? >> thank you very much, j.j. i appreciate your work in a radio venue being able to flesh out those stories. if you haven't had a chance to hear him, i suggest you look

him up. i just wanted to take a minute. we had longer remarks repaired and we decided we weren't going to do that. we'd rather get to questions. i do want to say that in the oversight piece and the accountability space and for those who are in the space thank you very much for what you do for your country. yesterday really brought it home to me how porn oversight s in the processes of it which we can spend an hour ian:. we have a civilian with all the classification that is responsible for all of the oversight development and budgeting for the 16 development agencies. f you throw the word "congress" there's a strong enough word to scare the bejesus out of anyone, right? we met with parlimentarians to

talk about how bad our u.s. intelligence services are. and you know, why are we doing what we're doing and isn't that a terrible day for america? and one thing struck me in the course of that dialogue is that dutch and i have a very good idea of what all of those 16 agencies are doing. they had very little understanding of what their own intelligence agencies are doing, not even close. and that oversight, yes, as keith alexander used to describe it as the wire brush treatment with congress is a very important part of allowing the credibility of our intelligent services to do what hey do because it has that stamp of approval by elected representives who serve in congress. and again, i can go in for about an hour about all the processes that we've done. and when dutch and i got the

committee, national security is so important. the world is falling apart that e better do this in not just a partisan way but a bipartisan. and we decided we were going do that. we reformed the way the committee operates. we believe it's a functioning oversight body that actually provides a service to the intelligence committee and to the american people. doesn't mean we always agree. doesn't mean that we don't disagree with the intelligence community sometimes. we advocate and push and legislate for changes in that particular community. but at the enof the day when they're doing really hard work around the world in that space that's really hard to oirpt in and somebody bumps into somebody we can honestly and in good conscience come to the american people and say, yeah, that may not have been great. but we knew about it. we were overseing it. we budgeted it. and we approved of it. think you may have seen all

the things we bumped into it in that difficult space of intelligence. i think you would find that dutch and i in 100% of agreement stood behind our decisions and the intelligence community as they brought it home. they brought all the politics surrounding of ha the n.s.a. did and the contractor that stole american secrets and ran to russia did to them for them or with them. >> you're talking about snowden. >> oh, yeah, i refuse to say his name. [laughter] we thought what a great system we have. it's not perfect but what a great system because we now as members of congress can advocate for the good things we do and we have the leverage and

ability to change this things we disagree with in the intelligence community. think this is the right way to do it. those changes that we have done together and we have been partners in this process, i think have been at an important step for providing some cover for, again, you all doing the great work that you do across really across the globe and really near the united states. so for that we want to say something and i'm going to turn it over to dutch and then we can -- >> get to some questions. >> first thing i do want to say that mike has done a tremendous job. mike and i in the beginning we were both on the intelligence committee but we both came to leadership. we were concerned with our past history. we couldn't get budgets passed. you had a lot of partisan politics an we current doing our job to oversee the 16 committees that they were about to see. we decided that we were going to work together and also get our staffs to work together because our staffs do a lot in working with all the committees

that we deal with. you knowers as far as what our challenges are as far as oversight generally -- oversight is important and we do a lot of our oversight because we also do all of the intelligence committees or agencies' budgets. we have a hearing. we come in. we talk. and what mike abed values tried to do in the past it seems that congress is always trying to knock somebody down. you're doing this wrong. you're doing that wrong ching our policy is that we're going to build you up so you can do the job. belief me we have so many issues whether it's the terrorism issue, the isis issue whether it's cyber secure which is very dangerous. people say to me what keeps you up at night? three things and i say, spicy mexican food, weapons of mass destruction and cyber attacks. and we are losing just in this country, mostly china but other

countries too. we're losing billions of dollars of american dollars because the cyber attacks that companies of our even fertilizer companies. so we have a lot to do as far as our -- our priorities. another issue that a lot of people don't talk about anymore but it's so important for us as country is space. they talked about maybe having another group together another committee. i don't think mike and i see that as the way to go because it's just another -- it creates another level of getting to the bottom line as quickly as you can. i think the porn thing that you need do is when your dealing -- as an example you're dealing with issues involving terrorism. it's important that the

leadership from the i think the important thing that you need to do is when you're dealing -- as an sample you're dealing with issues involving terrorism. it's important that leadership talk about this. i'm not in favor of -- if you know congress people are running around trying to go to committee hearings and a lot of them have so much to do they don't do a lot. so it's important that we, i think create that system that is necessary for us to do the oversight that is necessary. let's go get the questions. >> and just one comment on that committee. part of the problem is people believe that they're -- if i don't see the oversight on the front page of the newspaper, no offense to my media friends, that's not oversight. that there isn't any oversight happening. an that's where we take exception to that. give you two interesting numbers. last year 130 specific meetings

in the national security agency either staff, members or hearings related to the proper and consistent oversight this year we've done 100. right now -- hopefully you don't see any of those and you haven't seen any of those. that's the way the committee's designed to do. we have to be able to frequent classification of those programs. it doesn't mean that there isn't oversight and there doesn't mean we haven't made changes. we suggested changes, made changes, demanded changes. we did it through policy. it's very important to understand that just because you don't read it on the front page doesn't mean there isn't good oversight happening. >> i do want to say after snowden -- >> we'll do this all day, j.j. >> we have a tremendous amount of oversight with the n.s.a. we go to the n.s.a. we do the same thing with the c.i.a. and these other agencies. the good news is that chairman feinstein and mike and i we are

very close. we work together. we go to afghanistan together. but we came together and said all of this will national media that is out there, i mean, it's ridiculous because it's not true. the perception was there and mike and i realized that you have to deal with perception. so we changed a major law on ball collection. we the took all the ball collection away from the government and it's now a different process. so you have to adjust and especially for the american people because you know, they -- they are worried about privacy as they should be and we have to make sure that all of our laws balances out the privacy vs. what we need to do at intelligence. questions? >> questions. i have two favored duos. one is mr. and mrs. gray senior who have been mar ied for -- married for 57 years. and this is the other duo. the real point here is -- the reason why i like this duo so

much is because they actually get their work done. they're from different political parties but they actually work together. and what they're saying here is not something they're just saying as a national security correspondent for the last 10 years, i've had the opportunity to observe them for a good part of their time and watch them work together. so in view of what i watched and learned i've got some questions for you. couple of them are written down on these note cards. but a couple of them coming from here just based on the time that i've had to observe you and work. i know that you know that you will know something significantly internationally than you often discuss and i know you can't for obvious questions. but there's a but there's a pressing in my mind. we know that the world is faster and faster. those threatsall

is getting more difficult every day. and now a new threat, i understand, in the middle east has emerged. and it's kind of hard to get people to talk about that, at least within the last day or so. what can you tell us about this new threat that's emerging from the middle east? with a new twist. i think this is what you're talking about, that al deployed aorward individualsqaeda pute sole purpose is to together an operation, excuse cute'm not trying to be here, i just look really bad in those orange jump suits with the so i'm on the back, trying to make sure i get this part right. >> understood. >> you actually look very boxy, it's very