>> part of our live coverage later on c-span. jeh johnson talks about immigration and border security at the center for strategic and international studies. life coverage at 3 p.m. eastern on c-span. >> our campaign 2014 coverage continues with a week full of debates. tonight at 7:30 p.m. on c-span, the illinois u.s. house debate. live coverage of the illinois governor's debate. friday night, the wisconsin governors debate between scott walker and mary burke.

liveday night on c-span, coverage of the iowa senate debate. sunday, live at 6:00 p.m. comedy michigan governor's debate. c-span campaign 2014, more than 100 debates for the control of congress. part of that coverage included this week's pennsylvania governors debate. here's a brief look. are aboutlections public policy. doing everything in our power to make pennsylvania stronger and democracy stronger. is one more way of limiting the franchise and keeping people from voting. it is antidemocratic. >> governor corbett?

>> i disagree. it makes sure that one person -- has one vote. the courts overturned it based on the procedures put in place. wouldt were to come back, the procedures change, then i would say yes. i want to make sure, in areas s, whereere is primarie the primary winner is going to beatty winner, we need to make sure one person is voting one time. >> i had a follow-up question. some states feel we have passed the point, historically, where oftain groups are in danger losing their voting rights. do you feel this country is in that position? >> not sure which groups you are talking about. >> any groups that have been

disenfranchised in the past. >> we have a long way to go before lots of people they are disenfranchised. all you have to do is look at .he primary election we need to work on ways to make democracy more relevant. disenfranchising people does not work. the reason the republican party -- that is anti-democratic. we should not be engaging that kind of behavior. >> you can try to determine the intentions of the republican -- to make sure individuals in pittsburgh, and the cybex, whatever, are doing exactly what they're supposed to do.

disenfranchisement is an .nteresting question in the democratic primary, 18% turnout for four different candidates. we need to educate more, particularly in grade school and high school. whether people are discouraging them, i don't think that is taking place. >> here's a look at jay rockefeller. >> you voted to repeal aca, 160,000 west virginians would lose health insurance.

the aca has some very good things about it. our studentsping on until they are 26 is a good thing. need to keep the good and replace it with what will work. get rid of the business mandate and make sure businesses are not having a 30% increase in premiums. ns have lostrginia their health care plan. my opponent said if you like your health care plan, keep it. that did not work out so well. it was so as a bill of goods. are hearing people losing their physicians, whose

deductibles have gone up into the thousands of dollars. it is unaffordable. where there are things wrong? yes. i wish we had worked on a bipartisan way to keep people in short -- insured. >> your response? there she goes again. she says one thing and votes another way. she says cheers for all of these things that she has voted to repeal. repeal.ot voted to i know what it is like to go without health care. my daughter had open heart surgery when she was a week or comedy surgery saved her life. he said they will cover me and

you but would not cover delaney because of her pre-existing condition. i was devastated because i thought, what parent takes something the child can't have. i will never go back to the days when insurance companies can deny insurance for someone with a pre-existing condition. she can say she is for that to but she has voted to take that away. >> he stamps 2014 coverage moves to california. the 17th congressional district. they met monday for the first and only debate. the district is in the heart of silicon valley. one of three states in the country to use a blanket primary, a process that allows

voters to choose which candidates advance to the general election without regard to party line. >> this is an nbc bay area new presentation. the 17th district congressional debate. >> this is the heart of innovation. >> incumbent congressman mike conduct. their one and only debate before the november 4 election. >> good evening, and thank you for being with us. welcome to the nbc bay area studios. this is a special mike. in a few minutes both men will

take their places behind the podium. we believe this race transcends politics. the local race is getting national attention. many representatives. among the most dynamic in the country. here is what we are going to do. we're going to go over the ground rules and just a few minutes. let's begin with congressman honda. a familiar face in the region. making/taking an eight term. esther honda and his family were forced to live in a japanese internment camp during world war ii. a graduate of san jose state and member of the peace corps, is distinguished career as a science teacher and school principal. school board of supervisors come stay board assembly and currently, a house to a credit senior with.

this debate with the endorsement of nearly every local state and nationally elected democrat, including feinstein and other, governor brown and president obama. adding another layer, this is between two democrats. same party but both candidates with clear differences. infuse as to difference for philadelphia. the son of indian immigrants. he is looking to win his first elected public office. na is a part-time lecturer at stanford and an adjunct professor at santa clara. his relationship with president obama dates back to 1996. at the university of chicago, he volunteer for the state senate campaign.

in two thousand nine president obama appointed him as deputy assistant secretary in the u.s. commerce department. he is endorsed i nearly all the major a area newspapers. support of dozens of executives. among them, marissa mayer, google's schmidt, cerro -- sheryl sandberg. so, what to expect to say tonight in what is really at stake? ringing in jessica a kerry. talking about the race. you call it the race to watch in california. au have mike honda traditional bloomberg being challenged by a moderate liberal. >> you have to generation separating these tenets. you have the old guard liberal who cares for those who have nobody caring for them. the poor, immigrants and all the

people undereducated versus the junk i who says it is time we look ahead and in the future and think about allergy and how many ways we can use it. goodhave an agenda that is for the state. the question is, which one more important at this time? >> what does each one have to do tonight to pull away in the debate and make a mark? >> starting with the incumbent. honda has to show his experience is worthwhile. that there is a good reason to elect him again because he knows how to get angst on. he has to show it is not always by its areas. peoplell these things need in order to get things moving. how to get things done and moving are important polities. one says he has been doing that, the other says he can do it. sell both men need to bring

it tonight? .hank you larry -- so both men need to bring it tonight? >> a full house tonight inside the studio. at the respective podiums. a great to have not use electronic vices or previously written notes. they can take note during the debate. we are cohosting the debate. truly a team effort and look forward to discussing important topics. let's meet our panel. ryan grim with us. the lead panelist. the associated rector of external affairs at san jose state, junior majoring in advertising. a longtime bay area journalist and grew up in san jose. finally, melinda jackson, associate professor of the local science at san jose state. guidelines and rules of the

debate. 92nd responses and 62nd rebuttals. the possibility of 32nd follow-up questions. second follow-up questions. no booing or any other fraction except for right now. we want to welcome the congressman mike honda and robert khanna. nice to see you and have both of you in the studios. we have a great tire to the debate the first question goes to mr. khanna. so much wealth and innovation. there are a lot of people and families struggling to make ends meet. if elected, realistically, how can you serve both sides, and what is number one on your goals? congressman nbc,

honda for participating. is the question of our time, income inequality. what we need israel real solutions that how we will create opportunity for folks to go to college, afford college and bring jobs back to the bay area. i an economics instructor have had the opportunity to talk to many folks about the economy. i have talked to students worried about the debt they will have when they graduate. i have talked to many employees who have great skills but to tell you, there are 150 applicants. congress seems to have no real leadership or ideas. is stuck in the past, dysfunctional in slow-moving.

i ask, imagine if we had a new standard? imagine if the elected officials were as hard-working as -- and entrepreneurial as the people in the district? that is the change we need. that is the new congress we need. aspire toy i represent this area. >> number one on your goals would be? >> how do we get people to compete in a new economy? --omation and localization globalization are changing things. the factory floor has changed. how to operatew 3-d printing and robotics. you have to know how to operate programming. that is why i have called for specific skills teaching coding in the classroom and helping

women in science and technology. >> thank you very much. i was a share offer, and now i am congressman. no one in silicon valley who works here full-time should live in poverty. they should make the minimum wage and be able to do send children to school. the roof over their heads. i think in the past few years i have fought for minimum wage and 60% they agreed with me. 900 million in bart money to make sure we have the link. 900 million is 13,000 permanent jobs. the number one priority is jobs and the economy. will geture youngsters their education, i voted $6 billion for universal pre-k kindergarten.

>> thank you. the countryaround and topic and district 17 is citizenship. whimpering and ryan grim with -- question for rhonda honda four congressman honda. >> if congress manages to pass meaningful immigration reform that does not include citizenship for those here without papers would you vote against it and urge the president to veto it? >> certainly i worked on it for over 10 years. i think what we have currently is a wonderful package of communities they came together. chamber of commerce, labor. agricultural work. we have all of these folks that have a combined package. president obama said it is

better than what is going on for the 11 million living in the shadows. the question is, if the senate comes back with the package that has the citizenship and the nohway to legalization and citizenship, i will be hard -- for to vote for his it but i have to look at this and work on the next step, which is legalization and citizenship for the documented. but look at the dreamers. 40% are asian americans. they need a pathway to citizenship and should have pathway to citizenship because they have accomplished everything we all have expected citizenship to be able to do. being able to get back to the community. they should have citizenship in my opinion the day the law

assigned. appreciate the question. i share the congressman's values and getting up pathway to citizenship for dreamers and those that are undocumented but the question is, how will we get something done? one thing i am hearing is congress adjourned after eight days in session, two months in recess to campaign. people have been talking about immigration reform for the past 10 years and nothing is getting done. there is an honest difference with the congressman. toould work across the aisle have a piecemeal approach to getting something done on immigration. i get that it is important for competitiveness. we may have to do something but you need to get something done. that is what people are so frustrated about in washington.

advocates would argue if you give republicans everything they are looking for, you will never get what you're looking for. what would you say to that? >> i would say look at canada. it is crazy we have people that in coming to go to stanford santa clara and give them engineering degrees and we have a shortage and say go back, and create jobs overseas. that is not how we will grow the economy. let's get a deal and make the case. immigrants will create economic growth. >> we will get to your response in a moment. you will have the appropriate time. talking about education and the rising cost of education. them below my take for question.

traditionally a program has college that remains accessible and affordable to low income students. if elected would you fight to increase, reduce or eliminate the health grant program and why? >> thank you for the question. i would fight to increase the pell grants program. this is not a theoretical issue for me. i am still paying off my student loans unfortunately. i got to work for the president, i got to teach at sanford and had a lot of privilege, but i am still paying on student loans. we need to realize we have a country where we are burdening the next generation, almost 20,000 for one student. 1.2 trillion is the debt on student loans. i have proposed three things. we need a student interest rate for students the same as the banks.

so i have said we need changes fafsa right now. parents should not be forced to choose between selling their home and paying for their kids education. i have encouraged online courses . we need to encourage that so the time students stay in college is less and tuition is less. feel soe the issues i passionately about. our economic competitiveness a strongbe based on military but educating the next generation and one of the reasons i am so passionate about representing this area in congress. >> 60 seconds to respond. i did vote for pell grant increasing. i made sure we increased it

significantly. let's go beyond that. sureve to be able to make we change the bankruptcy law. student loans are one thing you cannot dismiss and bankruptcy. we have to change that for students. we can talk about better interest rates, but let's be more specific. the reserve bank receives $600 million from the federal reserve and the banks received this loan at 27%. this is what we should be providing students. that kind of loan is going to be thevalent to what we get to banks and it's a much better investment and the students because they will be paid into the coffers much longer. >> is this something you want to propose when you get back into session? >> yes, i would. an issuequestion is

that hits in silicon valley with all of these companies. >> thank you. there has been much controversy over h1b visas. companiesd medic tech are using this as an excuse to hire foreign workers for less. -- where do you stand and what would you like to see? when it was first initiated it did not have the problems. it was not portable and people could not have access to getting green cards today. includes package that a generous allocation, including the trigger for more. but just about doubles the

amount. the skills gap has to be looked at two different ways. we need to have immigration laws changed so we can invite foreign students to come here, and then invite them to stay longer through an easy process of getting a green card. once they get the green card they go on to be citizens. foreign-born. why do you want to turn that around? it should enhance that. on the other hand, on education we have to do more on stem. that is why when president obama have the universal pre-k i put in approximately $6.81 billion into universal pre-k so we can start generating the youngsters

we want to see that get involved in stem and that kind of science career. >> a shortage of computer scientists. need visas but we also need to prepare folks for the next generation of jobs. the congressman, i respect his career in public service. the fresh ration people have is nothing is getting done. the congressman's record and the reason the mercury news has endorsed me if they have said in he is irrelevant on the policy noate because the earmarks longer exist. he has passed one bill in 14 years. people say he is a young guy and cannot get anything done. got one bill passed. i respect the congressman's

public service, but the question is on the major issues of our time, who is going to leave and get the job done? >> if i can step in here, we hear from a lot of first-time congressman, they go to washington and say i will work across the aisle and it will be together but they make it there and they can't. what makes you different? >> the honest difference. i sat down with the san jose chamber of commerce. he refused. here is why. they opposed the minimum wage increase in san jose. i am supportive. i think minimum wage should be indexed to inflation. we share the same values. the difference is i am prepared to meet even locally with people who disagree. i will take the same approach with conch -- republican cosponsors. 2003 i had a $3.7 billion

technology innovation bill that is producing results even today in nanotechnology. 2011 breakup $900 million for bart -- billion dollars -- we 900 million dollars for bart extension. we had a bill that went on to the senate. as an appropriate or, i can make sure that bill that will create excellence in research will go right down the line. i will be there to be able to prepare a way to have to place in the valley, just like it did for the u.s. patent office. on top of the darrell issa and myself we passed a data active requires government agencies to tell people how much is spent and to be transparent about it.

i think that is across the board work. >> the next session is to talk about immigration work. melinda jackson from san jose state university. a recent field poll found 58% found the election office shelter and support to the increasing number of unaccompanied children are now entering the country illegally from central america. be doneyou think should with the immigrant children now in california, and what role should the federal government play in addressing the problem? >> thank you for the question. it is a humanitarian crisis, and my heart breaks for the kids coming over from guatemala, honduras. we have to treat them with due process. i think the president's plan to have refugee applications in the home country is a step in the

right direction so folks are not taking the treacherous journey here, and i think we need to work with local governments to theire those kids with families. alternately having them apart for their families will not serve their interest or humanitarian interests. turn back to to the point on bart. i get the congressman's credit bart, but he is par relying on something that no longer exist, earmarks and the real heroes are the santa clara taxpayers. i hope it does not take another 14 years and two more tax increases to get bart to santa clara. worldint is i served in a with your mark.

we need leadership forced san jose. want it to lose its competitive edge. we will lose that to china and germany. that is the leadership we need. >> please address the questions about undocumented children. >> i was in the peace corps in el salvador. i went to visit to see what was happening firsthand. i called folks i knew from the area and to confirm the situation. it is a terrible situation where kids are being threatened if you killt join a gang, we will you. i think the $7 million we voted for at the borders is being well spent. there was a restriction at the border at the gates but nothing there to process them. now there is. they will be able to be processed and bu reunited with

their families. if we passed the comprehensive immigration reform and john boehner and allowed us to have the boat, we will not have to deal with this. there would be much easier problems to deal with because it is very comprehensive. >> next question is to you. a lot of talk and things have been written about possible ethics violations on the staff. internal e-mails leaked said just thing violations went into campaign fund-raising. you have acknowledged this. my question is, are you an ethical congressman and how you can prevent this in the future if elected.co >> i am a very ethical person. my policy is very clear to my staff. i know my opponent made quite a bit of media attention on this

but these are real people we are talking about and want to make sure they will be taken care of. they have to also answer to the issues. so those who have worked for me and work with me currently, they understand where the line is. so anything beyond that is a personnel matter so i would like to not discuss the personnel part. high ethical standards for my staff has been reiterated and made clear. there is an expectation of the policy that goes beyond the legal expert nations. i chief of staff did not meet those expert haitians and misstep. was disappointed in it but she has apologized publicly and to me that this will not happen again. i think this kind of the situation needs to be acknowledged, dealt with and the legal complaints surrounding

this should be moved forward and let that take its place, and i will be perfectly willing to cooperate to see the end of this. honda isk congressman a good man. i admire his life story, but nobody is perfect. the serious allegations of isethics pay to play scandal not personal to the congressman's integrity. it goes to the dysfunction of special interest in american politics. stafflegations were members traded on public goods to raise funds for private gain. it is exactly what is wrong with the political process. the chief of staff apologized. i hope the congressman would

apologize. ultimately it is he who is responsible to the citizens and office and not in the tradition of the integrity we express and silicon valley. >> ryan grim of the huffington post. ago congress allowed companies that were stashing trillions and profits overseas to bring money back to the u.s., effectively tax-free. failed to create the promised jobs. today companies are again advocating or what his repatriation. promising this time to use the money to create new jobs. apple, google and neck soft would benefit for instance. if they decide to hire a new access why do they need to tax-free money to do so? don't these extremely wealthy companies have access to capital already? great question.

i wrote about the 2004 repatriation in my book. i said companies got a free pass. they brought the money back and went to shareholders in dividends. we need to link bringing the money back with expanding the payroll or investing in manufacturing. they have 1.9 trillion overseas. if you talk to entrepreneurs in the valley, they will tell you they are telling entrepreneurs in singapore or ireland because they want to be acquired for the offshore cash. we have to figure out how we bring it back and invest it to create jobs. but not with no strings attached. i have tried to articulate a because i amtion sick of the demagoguery on the issue. allies saysman and he is full repatriation, on the other hand he has a no -- a

whole website criticizing me for adopting the position on repatriation. you cannot have it both ways. people know i do not have all of the answers but they want someone who say these are tough problems with tough solutions, and not just engage in populism. i promise you if i get to congress i will try to be straight about what this country and region needs to grow economically. >> i support the repatriation of the corporate taxes overseas. at a largerook picture. the larger picture is not only making sure wealthy and shareholders benefit from it. the look at programs like the national infrastructure and ways to increase the minimum wage and have more viable economies to increase and things like that. we need to make sure the middle class is more vibrant.

a couple of years ago i joined congressman brady on his bill to repatriate the corporate taxes. the people said you are a democrat, why are you doing this ? i said in order to shape these things, you have to be on the team. working across the aisle and working with them. >> you brought up minimum wage. president obama has been talking about minimum wage at link. >> hello. minimum wage is $7.25. a few employees earn over $15,000 per year. this will not go far for recent college graduate california. >> the minimum wage i fought for

here in san jose. we wanted to make sure it is not a familyyou can raise with. with 62% of the voters in the citizens of san jose, we won. president obama said we are taking the federal minimum wage and increasing it to $10.10. i see these posters on billboard now. that does not answer the terrible burden of financing your education and higher education, so we have to find ways to allow students to be able to get larger pell grants, financial aid and lower interest .ate senator warren has a bill out, and we will do one on the house side to make sure interest rates that will be charged to students will be the same as the federal

reserve bank coming from the $600 billion money. the other thing is we should be able to peer curate the loans for students going into public service. my wife had a large loan and went to teaching and taught in schools that needed teachers like her. after five years of teaching, they cut her loan in half. this is the kind of incentive we have to provide students. that allows us to provide public service as higher education. >> i strongly supported the minimum wage. to push for the increase in minimum wage in san jose. i believe it should be indexed to inflation. the challenge is this. when you talk to workers they samean congress have the

standards as us cap that they have to show up to work every day. i know public service is hard, and everyone understands sometimes someone is sick or having surgery, people need to take time off, but the reality congressman has s in his career. that is one of the worst attendance records in the united states congress. one of the worst in the california delegation. the people of the district need someone who will be present, showing up, and engaged because they have to do that every day. >> 30 seconds to respond in terms of your attendance record. there with us and my family and births in the family and other important things. i have a 95% voting record. i am still there working and

making sure we look at the appropriations. that takes a lot of work and cooperation. thank you. >> talking about educating our .hildren perhaps not everyone an agreement for how we do it moving forward. this puts in place a new focus on critical thinking and analysis and reasoning. not all parents are happy about this of course. they think there is too much emphasis on testing. they feared the math and reading standards ours -- are too low in two weeks. what do you think of the common core curriculum? appreciate the question.

i think it is a step forward. certainly an improvement over no child left behind. the congressman supported and voted for no child left behind. i thought that was increasing testing. it is not perfect. one, in needs time to be implemented in california. we need to be increasing the investment for teacher preparation so teachers can actually use it and be prepared for it. second, we need to make sure some kids get to take calculus. could still end up taking calculus or the common core would not have allowed it. clearly not perfect. this is innovation and advantage that sets us apart from india and china. creative and in and did thinking folks. i think it is a step in the right direction. the congressman has talked about

reaching across the aisle. the record is he has a second most partisan records in congress. i actually admired him for that. congressman spoke bipartisan. not that is not who he is. what we need someone -- what we need is someone who is going to work across the aisle. that is what we need at this time to move this economy forward. seconds to respond. please begin with common core. >> common core is a positive step in the right direction. the states that have resisted having a national standard. coming together and coming up with the common core -- i think that comes pretty close to a national expectation. having said that, i think what we'ved to do is make sure

reauthorized. this is still being pushed forward. we cannot make more policy changes to the law. donepresident obama has and $300 million in competitive grants so they can address assessments of teachers and individual students. so it is an opportunity for us to learn. >> the next question from -- jackson.son talking about the polarizing force of the district in terms of making money and inequality. there have been a lot of talk the past few years about the top the 99%. silicon valley is one of the

places where the income inequality is most apparent. do you believe the income tax code contributes to the cap, and if reelected, what reforms would you propose to federal income tax policy, if any? i think income tax reform is something we will have to face and struggle with. it is a complicated problem but we have to do it fairly comprehensively. we have to make sure everyone pays their fair share. with the bush tax cuts, not everyone paid their fair share. to fight inama had order to get the guaranteed for unemployment insurance to be passed so that people will have cash to be able to support and give their kids not only food but presence. the income inequality will have to be addressed with a fair, efficient comprehensive way where everyone ends up paying

their fair share. i think that is an american value and family value. even warren buffett has said it is unfair that my secretary pays more in the income tax than i do because of the way we copulate income tax. be a difficultto but necessary kind of a function that we will have to face. i think the very life of the country depends on it. as a progressive, i wrote the people's budget that included itse and you them and made corporate loopholes and subsidies. we can do it, no question about it. >> your response and what you can do. income inequality one of the

biggest challenges. i think we need to have those who make a lot of money per pay more taxes. i disagree with the congressman because his budget that increased taxes on the lower and middle class. not just 50%. who is really part of the top 1%? members of congress. extraordinaryng perks and benefits. that is why i said i will not take a single special interest trip when i get to congress. that is part of the system. that needs to change. i have said wow i respect pensions for teachers and firefighters, we cannot have double dipping of the pensions. we need a new system. >> 30 seconds if you are like to

respond. i think the kind of fork -- of work we have been doing with the people's budget does not increase by 50%. the 25% and 3% to 28%. very balanced approach. takes more than 10 years to do it. we eliminate the deficit and drop down the debt. this question is for you. talking about privacy, especially in silicon valley. especially what could shape the national roles. privacy and government surveillance is a big topic. centered with companies like yahoo! and google. can an online privacy be better protected? >> absolutely i do not condone

it. it is why many have supported my campaign. if i were in congress i would have spoken out against the president. for the mass surveillance the nsa engaged in. one thing is we did not have the speaking up in criticizing the president for the nsa and mass surveillance. i introduced an internet bill of rights that would and do not just to the government but to private companies. many component but let me emphasize three. first i'm a right to net neutrality. person should be free from mass surveillance when they are on the internet. what, people should know is happening with the data. google, facebook and yahoo! are using the data and should be

right to disclosure. this is the type of leadership this district needs. it is not enough in the district that is the heart of innovation to be a vote or to go to congress. what we need is someone who will need -- leave the lash -- national debate and very proud of the international bill of campaign our -- it should -- international bill of rights our campaign has put forward. >> what they did was japanese-americans in 1942. they looked into the consensus data. this is the kind of government been against.have that is why they get to patriot act. 2011 i voted against reauthorization.

privacy of the individual is paramount. one of the most foundational constitutional guarantees we can have for an individual. benjamin franklin says if you want to give up privacy and security, you deserve neither. this would be to figure out how to solve the problems without going into our private lives. >> is this something that can happen within the next several months or within a year or two? >> the of the great power to be able to do that. >> the next question goes to ryan grim of the huffington post. lower their tax bill by pretending to be based in a foreign country. as long as their legal and proper to -- our legal they will engage in them. what should companies do to crack down on this phenomenon and are countries that engage in this un-american?

>> i support president obama directing the treasury department to go after corporations that are reincorporating into different companies to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. so i think that is the kind of thing that has the kind of pursuit. i think there is a real formation and reform of isporate tax structures that fair and comprehensive and simple to understand and will apply to big corporations, big this mess as well a small business. we do not have one-size-fits-all where small business has to pay they can really afford. so we need to be able to do that and look at ways to attract people from going overseas in doing this kind effective 80.

i encourage them to stay here in the country and give them a tax indit for innovations and america there are two platforms. one is tax cut it to consumers on technology that is earth shattering and disruptive. the others you revive first-time manufacturers to have tax credits to build here. they should reinvent the ashram incentivize device people to stay here and do business here. back out thisse could negatively impact the lot of district. >> it is a company headquartered in the united states and takes advantage of united states laws, advantage of united states protection, they should pay tax in the united states, and i will stand up for that and any tech company or any other company not willing to do that. i do want to return to two quick

points. the congressman talked about the budget. the tax increases are a fact. it is like president obama and joe lockman needed to support the budget. he is entitled to his ideology but not an ideology that would help lower taxes on middle and lower class. on privacy he did show leadership of the patriot act. i respect and admire that but that was almost 13 years ago. it is irrelevant on the policy issues of the time because these are not just about values, knowing data and scope of use and complex issues with the internet. >> you said you would stand up to tech companies. you were supported by some of the leaders of the biggest tech companies from ebay to yahoo! to salesforce. would you really stand up to that? i wish people knew my story

more. i went to public school. paying off my student loan. i am proud of having the support of the top innovators in the world. one of the differences of is i have gotten support from one of the innovators of the world and, smith honda is getting special interest money from washington, d.c. and the reason i am getting the support is because of my agenda to generate the next generation to have the opportunity to participate. >> we are talking about k-12 education. >> many people say public schools in the united states are failing our students. do you feel that is a fair statement and what role should the federal government have in that? >> i do think the public schools are failing. i went to public school and i think it is crazy the folks that say privatize public schools. do you know 92 were 93% of kids

go to public school? think about it. i went to an elementary school in san jose recently. the make it program who wants to teach kids and does not have the budget for basic computers. she is two miles away from apple speakers and the school to this district -- you would not know we were in silicon valley if you went to some of our public schools. that that needs to change, and i will fight for that to make sure the federal government is fan -- mandating the needs to make sure we are funding teacher preparation. say wego to finland they do not have bad teachers. they keep -- treat teachers with respect. they invest in them. they invest to make sure they have credentials to teach the subject they are required.

angressman honda and i have slight disagreement. i would be willing to shake up the system a little bit more. try to have an independent voice. i will try to build a coalition with one goal in mind. i want every kid in the district to have the shot i did to get the public school education so they have a shot to make it in life. >> you are a former teacher. failing ouration kids? >> the problem with the system is we have 50 states. 50 standards, and the constitution is assumed the federal government has alone. we have to read for ourselves and start looking at how we work on public education. the problem is there is not enough resources. the 50 states in the obama administration every year.

this is not about teachers union or poor teachers or anything else. this is about community understanding that we have to step act outside the box and start looking at equity or education of each and every child. if we start understanding each and every child education, we brown has done that. obama has look at universal preschool education. that is where we have to start. yes or no question -- are you selling it to the committee -- this the community know it has to be done holistically? >> we have a report called "each and every child. honda.ressman >> there is a wage gap in this country. $.77 for everye dollar earned by a man.

the government is in the process of requiring federal contractors to report aggregate compensation data. does that go far enough -- leaving individual salaries should be reported as well, and what we juju to help close the wage gap -- what would you do to help close the wage gap? >> one of the things i did was starting with anti-pelosi, making sure people understood the lily let -- with nancy pelosi, making sure people understood the lily ledbetter act. i have worked with senator mikulski of maryland where she has a bill that will make sure federal contracts will close the loopholes that deny equal pay for equal work and also extend the timeline for suing a company if a woman finds out she has been shortchanged.

those are the kinds of things we have to do first. this has to stop. we have to keep pounding away, and ensure people understand pay equity is a necessary thing. more and more people -- middle-class people are saying i work harder, more efficiently, but i do not seem to be getting ahead. it is because we are not looking at the efficiency the technology has given us -- we have not the technologyth has created with people that create the wealth, and we need to revisit that whole aspect. >> mr. khanna, your response? act, andort equal pay one of things i am proud of is the woman in the workforce agenda. it is not just equal pay. parentalo have paid

leave. other countries have that. we need tax care tax credit so that women do not have to choose between leading in companies and their families. i did not come up with these ideas. i got these ideas from listening to constituents, doing town halls. i like the congressman. the campaign has all these videos saying that i like him. one thing i'm disappointed -- one thing in the campaign is your handlers on not letting you do town halls. i have done more town halls in the last two months and the congressman has done in the entire term, and this is the basics -- there are so many smart, brilliant people in the district, and we have to listen to them. the debates are not just academic, and one congressman honda started out, that is what he was like. >> we have a follow-up question from twee boo. >> congressman honda, a lot of people said aggregate reporting

is not good enough, but you cannot know the difference is until individual salaries are reported. is that something you think the federal government should require contractors should do? >> we should be able to do that. we can work on that, and make sure you do not know what it is, you can identify the culprits. identifythat, we can the culprits. it puts added pressure on those that say they are in concert with having equal pay for equal work. >> so many of us have apple products, and this next issue -- impacted companies would be apple. we have that question for mr. khanna. towhat can companies do

bring manufacturing jobs back to the u.s., and what can silicon valley companies do, the cap, for example, that does manufacturing in china? >> it is a great question, and it is my fashion. i wrote a book about how to bring manufacturing jobs back to the united states. it is something i believe deeply in. congress, at the fremont was about to close, and i recognize this needs to be in advanced manufacturing hub. i worked with labor leaders to to fremont soback that fremont would not have residential housing, and what actually bet on advanced manufacturing. so, how do we do something, and how can we get bipartisan support -- there are some very simple things we should do. first, we have a skills gap. the worker of today on the factory floors, they need to be really adept. they need to understand 3-d printing, robotics, customization. timese an eight

productivity advantage over china, and 1.5 over germany and japan. we need to partner with san jose state so that we are educating people with the skills they will need in the 21st century, and we need to simplify and reform the tax code so that we do not have tax,nies like ge paying 0% and we have incentive for those actually making things in the united states and that would require not taking special interest money. itave not taken a dime of because i wanted tax code that works for the american people, not the washington lobbyist. honda, you have 90 seconds to respond. >> we had a number one manufacturing center in the country on that. permanent tax credit. we have also been able to pass a bill on the floor that will also

centersr manufacturing across this country to replicate the kinds of things that we have on the national, and it is called the regional incentives for excellence where we take time industry, public industry -- private industry, public industry, entrepreneurs, put them together so that they can sit down and come up with the next disruptive technology that will take us into the future. that will incentivize people to stay here. we also have to make sure that we have appropriate tax credits for consumers who will be purchasing these kinds of technologies. >> on this topic, ryan graham has a follow-up question. gap,u mentioned a skills and a lot of ceos referred to the skills gap. is it really the case that workers do not have the necessary skills, or that

companies do not want to pay the necessary wages. there might be a shortage of engineers at 30 or $40,000, but if they paid people to work, there might be more workers. >> all krugman makes this argument all the time. the valley is filled with middle-aged folks with skills that cannot get the job because there is age as him. i do not think it is just a skill shortage. we need policies that are going to have tax credits for companies to have apprenticeship programs. to hire those middle-age workers who have great skills to bring veterans back to work. i would love to have a longer conversation, but my time is up. >> congressman honda, you have served the people in this area for various decades, but some feel you might be burnt out. how do you address those concerns? >> i'm not earned out, and i have a lot of guys in this tank.

i am not even a hybrid. of energy i used to do the kind of work -- it comes from a very deep-seated desire to make sure that this country does the right thing. that in 1942 our government had gone awry, had made mistakes. i do not want to see that happen again to any group. been one of my desires to make sure that youngsters get the voice that they need, and as a teacher, i wanted to be able to do that, to teach youngsters to speak up, to be critical consumers of goods by thinking straight and critically, it to get a powerful -- to get a powerful education. they can choose their options in the future.

i think youngsters have a greater option in their career and their life. into hisy that i did front -- did into is from the people that i look at and the people that i want to help. also, not ever wanting to see a community set aside and have a constitutional guarantee set aside solely because they look different, or they look like the enemy. that will never happen on my watch. >> mr. khanna, your response. >> i do not think the congressman is burnt out, and everyone has to admire his life story, and to dedicate his life to politics, public service, after what he went through, i think is admirable, but this question is about what we need in the future, and my argument, the reason i decided to run, acknowledging that the congressman has opened many doors for asian americans around the country, is who is going to

solve the issues for this district and lead at this moment in time in a complex economy, and my belief is in a republican -controlled, unfortunately, congress, we will need someone to influence. "the mercury news" has said the congressman is no longer relevant in influencing the debate. what great democracies are about ball,ebody carries the then they hand it off, and someone else goes and carries the ball, and that islamic the country move forward. someone carries the ball and move the country forward. >> you another set suggested that lowering the overall rate while closing loopholes simplify the code while racing the same amount of revenue. corporations are gaming the system and pay nowhere near their fair share, often close to system and pay

nowhere near their fair share, often close to 0%. will the tax reform the cap revenue levels the same be like solving the problem of bank robbery by simply legalizing it, or should corporate tax reform raise additional revenue so that big companies are doing more than what they are doing today? >> they should be doing more, but it is not just a revenue issue. it is a competitive issue. you have special interest with tax codes and some are paying0%. some are incentivize to go offshore. small businesses or entrepreneurs that want to set up shop here, the tax code is actually penalizing them. ofs is not just a manner understanding the economics. there are plenty of smart economists. it is not because there are not enough smart people in washington. the reason is they're all bought and sold by lobbyists. that is the reality. they are bought and sold by thatrate tax, lobbyists

righties exemptions into the tax code and that is why i said i want to write something different. i took a pledge that i would not take a single dollar from a lobbyist, not a single dollar from a pac, and my campaign chair said why do you want the job, you will not a very popular, and the reality is who you have to try something different. people say you are naïve. you will have to swallow the line when you get there. it is time he gets a look in valley to take it -- it is time that we get silicon valley on board. >> the carbon tax code needs to be comprehensive, fair, and understandable. needs corporate tax code to be comprehensive, fair, and understandable. it is about gathering more

revenue for the federal government so that we can support the kind of obligations we have in this country. i think when we say we want this reform, taxes have to be returned and shared from overseas with our folks, and we have to be able to be part of a larger picture where we can apply these to national infrastructure, to make sure that people are getting a fair living wage, and make sure that the middle class becomes more vibrant, and we take care of them. i am not saying that, you know, corporate leaders and shareholders should not get rich. i just think they do not have to get rich that quickly, and not share with those that create the wealth, and that is fair. >> ok. we are in the silicon valley, partnering also with facebook. we have extra fuel questions from facebook -- we have a few questions from the book -- from facebook. we picked this one from one of

our facebook followers for congressman honda. "what is your stand on the recent demonstrations taking place in hong kong?" >> i think that it is a phenomenon that was coming all along because the people of hong kong had lived under a british rule that said you make your own decisions, and it is more of a democracy. when it became absorbed, it it was a matter of time -- it was a matter of time before these kinds of things start to mix and rise above to the surface. i think it has. i think the united states has a role in facilitating with hong there, andoungsters with the people of hong kong and government leaders to facilitate towards a more

democratic society. it does not have to be the same kind that we have, but certainly, the people in that part of the world want to have more self-determination. live ant to be able to life that is nonintrusive, less oversight, less government restrictions. we, on the other hand, have the same kinds of issues, too. we should be able to feel some compassion, some understanding that there are young people shrugging their shoulders that say we can do better and we want more. >> do you generally believed p.r.c., the people's republic of china will budge on their stance? they are moveds, along ways, and since the revolution, we have seen china become our partners, as well as folks that we have to keep an eye on, but our attitudes have gone a long ways with china. response toa, your

the facebook question regarding your thoughts on what is ?appening in hong kong >> i'm very sympathetic to the demonstrators marching for peace, democracy, human rights. i am proud of the entrepreneurs and all that are supporting the, my values really come from my grandfather. he spent four years in jail during gandhi's independence movement fighting for human rights and freedom, and one of the remarkable things about our district is we have people from around the world, india, pakistan, china, vietnam, the a shotines, and we have to shape from this district a world that is not going to make the mistakes of the 20th century. cold wargged down in thinking, or communism versus democracy, but to stand up for human rights, for democracy motion, for a more intimate of -- innovative world.

that is why leadership in this district is perhaps the most important district in the entire country. xt why. for our pet -- >> pyp. >> thankanelists -- you. for our panelists, we have a couple of quick questions. , the landmark decision denounced the state tenure and teacher layoffs system as a violation of constitutional rights. having an impact nationwide. what we do to address that? >> this is where we have an honest disagreement, commerce and honda and i. i supported the -- congressman honda and i. i supported the decision, and said it puthonda teachers at war with students.

my mom was a substitute teacher. i love and respect teachers. i teach at santa clara and stanford. i have talked to so many's -- teachers in this district. we need to bring the stakeholders to the table. here is what i would do -- first, respect teachers more. in other cultures, they are treated with extraordinary respect. we do not do that in this country. .econd, pay teachers more there is no reason that lawyers or doctors should be making more money than a great teacher. require knowledge in the subject matter, someone teaching calculus should have a masters degree in calculus. have a -- have accountability. a comprehensive evaluation makes sense. good teachers wanted because good teachers do not want ineffective teachers in the

classroom, just like politicians do not want bad politicians because it gives every politician a bad name. let's work in a collaborative fashion to do what is right by student to take the politics out of this. >> commerce and honda, your opportunity to respond. , your --congressman opportunity to respond. you know the teachers union was against this. retention and evaluation -- those are the important things that teachers really want. they want a good assessment and retention process so that teachers need to leave or find another job can do that. this is not a war against students and teachers. tweaking that needed to be tweaked a long time ago. this is an opportunity for us to be able to compose a

straightforward educational code that would allow due process for teachers and also afford good instructors for our kids. it is an opportunity, and i think we should take that. >> the last question of the evening, it comes from belinda jackson from san jose state for congressman honda. a recentssman honda, poll found 75% of california voters disapprove of the job congress is doing. what did the public holds such a dim view of congress, and why would you want to be reelected to such an unpopular group? [laughter] also, if reelected, will you do to try to improve the public trust and confidence in congress? judging because of the word commerce. if we were able to desire via

the world congress in two different parties and people voted -- disaggregate the word congress into different parties and how people voted, i think things would be different. because when they say howdy like you -- your when they say how do you like your current congressperson, it is a different story. viewnot think it is a dim about congress. i think congress is a wonderful opportunity, especially for me -- it is a job or i can take all of my experiences and put it right into policymaking, where i see gaps in policy, and fill them. work with people to make sure that the policies that we have in this country are 100% focused , and they are really accurate, and that they hit the points that we need to hit. what i do when i go back? thinke a difference, i

town hall meetings -- in silicon valley, it was called reinvent. i reinvented myself. townhaller five e- meetings reaching thousands of people at once. i think that is a good way to connect with people and be present with them using technology. >> mr. khanna, your response. the dim view of congress was the initial question. >> i appreciate that. i knocked on 5000 doors, and i to think that takes the place of facebook or electronic asked nots, and i get why am i better than congressman honda, but why the hell do i want the job, and the reality is congressman honda started with the greatest intention, but he has become part of the problem.

100 new members of congress. a want to hit reset, folks that successful. they do not someone that opened a post office in 14 years. congress is a privilege. i will not be missing the second-most attendance votes. they want someone present every month to realize the tough questions. was is how the congressman when he started and that is how i will be from day one. >> mr. khanna, congressman, thank you. we will begin your closing statements. two minutes for each of you. we will begin with mr. khanna. , to the you, raj panelists, to congressman honda for participating.

when i grew up as the son of immigrants, went to public school, my parents told me that if i worked hard, made good grades i would have a job. i would have great opportunities . in this campaign, one of the things that i am proud of is i have gone to almost every high school in the district, monta , and i askedton kids, are you concerned about getting a job when you graduate? you know what? hand. kids raise their for the first time in our countries history, there is a -- is the american dream going to be alive for the next generation? at this time, unfortunately, we have a washington politics that seems so disconnected, a congress that is -- rate,e the low approval

"the economist" had an article rate ist the turnover less than european monarchs. we fought a revolution over this. tonight, i ask not just for your vote. i ask to join our campaign or change. ourant to invigorate politics with new ideas, new visions. we want to bring something different because we have gone so far astray from our founding ideals. i want to work to help make the american dream possible for the next generation, the dream that inspires my parents to immigrate to this country in the 1960's. thank you. , you havesman honda two minutes for opening statements. >> thank you. i want to citywide to the

panelists, nbc, -- i want to say thank you to the panelists, nbc, and the viewership. tuning in to us rather than monday night football. i would like to leave this impression that my history and experience is the pattern of how i work, think, and behave. in 1942, i said before, my government, our government turned our backs on us. nobody stood up and said no when they took away our constitutional rights. there was nobody that stood up and said this is wrong. under my watch, this will never happen. i will always pick up for those that need the voice. that passion was developed as i was growing up, and then drove me to look at serving my country through peace corps. two yearsador i spent learning another language, another culture, but i also learned about myself. i learned that the things that i experience, i can turn that into

a positive energy where youngsters can benefit from my insight, that they -- so that they do not have to go through the kind of things that i have gone through. i want our youngsters to be able thinkers, to be passionate about constitutional rights, and the knowledgeable about what they can do to speak up. as a teacher, administrator for over 20 years, that was the direction that i went until i hit the direct politics, the elected politics, and took all of this experience and turn that into policymaking, where the policies that we have will generate that kind of behavior community, ass a a city, as a county, and those are the important things than i want to be able to share with the people out there. beent politics have contacting me, and i would be very humble, and appreciative of your vote and your support. >> mr. khanna, congressman honda

, i speak for a lot of people here, regardless of the outcome of the election we appreciate your public service, and we have asked the audience to hold the applause throughout the debate, but it is a good opportunity to thank them. [applause] you to those of you watching at home, online, or listening on the radio. we hope to see you at the polls on november fourth or at the post office. for the entire panel, i am roger masai. our coverage continues after the break. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> more campaign 2014 debate coverage coming up in a moment. first, some news from the

louisiana senate race. marytical coastal rights landrieu is replacing her campaign manager and banging on her former chief of staff as -- writes that mary landrieu is replacing her former campaign manager. polls show she is falling short of the 50% she needs to avoid a december runoff, and republican representative bill cassidy has a slight lead in head-to-head matchups. next, new jersey, the third congressional district or republican thomas macarthur and belgard met in a debate does republican jon runyan is retiring there. reporthenberg political

lists this race as tossup, tilt republican. >> great to see you all tonight. on behalf of the league of women voters of burlington county, i welcome you to the candidates forum for new jersey's congressional district. you,h to say thank you to the audience, and the candidates for participating, and the moorestown township public school for generously donating the space that we are using. my name is barbara. i am member of the league of women voters for burlington county. i am pleased to be with you. the league of women voters is a nonpartisan medical organization whose purpose is to encourage informed and active citizens participation in government. it does not support political parties or candidates. the league works to increase understanding of major public

policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. coreions and voting are concerns for the league of women voters. are in and year out, we committed to providing fact-based information about issues and the positions candidates take on those issues to help voters make educated decisions and participate in the electoral process. four rounds like this are essential components of the league mission. as a service to the voters, princeton community tv is taping the form. the video will be available , lwne at princetontv.org vj.org and it will be broadcast

by c-span so check the c-span website or your local tv provider for scheduling details. before we proceed, i will ask that you silence and put away all electronic devices. it includes cell phones, tablets, and cameras, with the exception of preapproved media. this is a courtesy to the candidates, and in compliance with league of women voters regulations that prohibit audio and video taping by audience members. remember, we are being recorded for broadcast. any use of the league name or footage of the debate in campaign material, literature, or advertising of any kind, ,ncluding radio, and internet cable and television, has not been authorized by the legal women voters. no recording other than that of princeton tv is permitted. we encourage you to visit the

table at the lobby at the close of the program. you'll find voter registration and vote imail registration forms in addition to legal -- vote by mail registration forms. take home a membership brochure to learn more about our organization and the work that we do. you will find information about upcoming league of women voters candidate events. before i close, i would like to remind everyone there is no election on school property for that matter. it is now my pleasure to introduce tonight's moderator iracusa. [applause] >> welcome. i am your moderator. in the interest of full disclosure, i am a member of the lawrence township league, i live in the congressional district and i will not be voting in this election for these candidates.

the candidates questions and their responses remain pertinent to the issues. audience questions can be submitted in writing and should also be pertinent. will collect them as we proceed and passed them to me. please, audience, maintain a respectful presence, and i ask that your whole applause and verbal comments until the end of the form. not permitted, and if there are any problems, you might be asked to exit. both candidates will be given opening remarks. there will be questions from the legal women voters panel. -- league of women voters panel. candidates will have two minutes to reply to each of these questions. we will then move to the audience questions and there will be 24 minutes for each candidate to reply. -- two full minutes for each candidate to respond. should there be a rebuttal, i

will occasionally khanna --ask if they want a rebuttal and each candidate will get one minute for that. at the conclusion, that candidates -- the candidates will have two minutes to make the remarks. the cameras are in front, and they will give you a warning sign before your time is up. meansthe red stop sign stop. try to conclude your sentence at that point. now we have the legal women panel of tony zimmer, and gracefully, and loretta lynch, who will have some questions. i want to introduce them because tony is the president. treasure and -- is the treasurer and secretary, and loretta is on the board. we will start with candidate belgard. please proceed.

>> to i very much. thank you for hosting this event tonight, and to everyone who came out to be part of this democratic process. it is a pleasure to be with you this evening. i am aimee belgard. i grew up in south jersey, and i currently live in edgewater park with my husband bill and my two young boys, liam and tommy, also known as double trouble. i came to this, running for congress, probably a little different than most people. my background has been forged with community service, and along the way my community service shifted a little bit after losing both of my parents to cancer much too early in life . i lost my mother, unfortunately, to breast cancer, and my father, who had been in vietnam veteran and exposed to agent orange, i lost him to stomach cancer. i am one of those people that believes you take your life experience is important to good use for other people.

i became very involved with the american cancer society and held various roles with them. one that i was proud of was as new jersey state ambassador where i would lead groups of volunteers to washington or trenton to meet with legislators, and after years of doing that i was tired of asking other people to make the right decisions, so i decided i would step up and get more involved myself. i first served in edgewater county, and now i'm taking this leap. people are asking me all the time, why are you doing this -- congress is such a mess, and the reason is i am tired of the status quo. washington is broken. it, he to step up and fix if we are not ok with the status quo, and that is what i intend to do. it is time that washington. priorities back in order. here in the third district, it

is very clear the middle class is struggling. it is squeezed. the campaignt on trail. we need to work to boost economy, make things better through burlington and ocean counties. we need to make sure that we are working so that instead of shipping jobs, or giving incentives to companies that ship jobs overseas, or tax breaks to big oil companies, use that money right here in the third district so that we can make education more affordable. invest in infrastructure here in the third district. also, we need to talk about raising the minimum wage for our hard workers here in the third, making district, and sure women are paid equally for equal work. here in south jersey, we have this great economic engine of the joint days. it is -- joint base.

it is the largest employer right here in south jersey, the second-largest in the state. we need an advocate that will go to congress and step up and speak up for the base. as an honorary commander for the base, having grown up in south jersey, i know how important the base is, and i will absolutely fight for the base. we also need a voice for veterans who have served. having seen what my father went through as a veteran, i know the struggle. as we have seen the systemic problems in the v.a., we need to make sure we have someone speaking up for veterans, not only in the care, but in education and good jobs. we need a voice for seniors throughout south jersey. someone that is when you say i am not ok with taking away the hard-earned benefits that our seniors have worked for like medicare and social security. we need to do it not as democrats or republicans, but as people who are willing to work as a whole for our community. that is what i have done as a

volunteer, what i have been serving in edgewater in burlington county, and that is what i will do serving the third district. thank you. [applause] asked to hold the applause until the end. since you clap for one, you can for the other, but after that not until the end. tom macarthur. >> thank you for hosting us, and for all of you for being here. we will talk about a lot of things over the next 90 minutes, a lot of issues. i want to introduce myself as a person first because on november 4 you will not just send a political party to washington, but a real, live person with experiences, convictions, capabilities, opinions, and that will shape how they act. i was born in a middle-class family, one of five kids. i mother and father were very different. mom was a liberal democrat and a

catholic, and dad was a conservative, republican, and a protestant, and we spent our nights talking about two things we do are not supposed to talk about. i learned from my parents that you show respect for other people's views, but you also have the courage of your own convictions. that serves me well when i got out of college. i went off to business. i fell in love with my first job. i was an insurance adjuster in new york city making $13,000 a year with my new bride, and i stayed in insurance for nearly three decades. toward the end of my career, i had the opportunity to lead a company. it started with 100 odd people in one location and we grew it across the united states. we grew it by the thousands. wasreatest joy in that seeing people build a better future for themselves and their families. i could not have done any of that without my bride, now 32 years.

debbie and i have been married. we have had our challenges along the way. our first child was born in 1985, severely handicapped, and it should does a lot. in her life, and in her death at 11 years of age, she showed me the value and the potential of every person. we have also had the privilege of adopting two children. my son is 24 now, a youth pastor and married, and my youngest daughter, isabella, is right here, she is 17. my children have inspired me to want to make a difference in this world that they are going to inherit. now, you're going to hit tonight, a different story about my life. you will hear my opponent, i suspect, parenting talking points from her national and others in washington, d.c., ee has, and i believe she will continue to attack my career in business.

that does not change that i created thousands of jobs, and ,s a local elected official aimee belgard text -- taxed jobs. you will hear her attack me for fair pay on women, but that does not change it there is only one of us on this stage that is actually live that out and given fair pay to women for decades, and i'll work with both parties in washington to make sure that we achieve the quality. aimee has and will continue to attack me on health care which is hurtful and offensive will -- offensive because i lost both my ander's, my birth mother the woman that raised me to cancer, and i have two women in the front row that i would give anything for. has and will continue to attack me as not caring about you. i think she would like to forget

that for a decade my wife and i have run a family foundation, and we have done many things like give away, now, thousands of wheelchairs in memory of our daughter, help wounded warriors, help sandy victims. our children, i'm afraid, are poised to inherit an america going in the wrong direction, and i am running because it is enough of finger-pointing. it is time to go to washington and solve problems. thank you. [applause] >> all right, thank you. no more applause until the very end, ok? we begin with the panel. a question.will ask the first respondent will be candidate belgard. >> ok. please discuss your position on campaign finance regulation and

reform, including the issue of money in free speech and politics, and what you believe is the proper role of corporations when it comes to that? your position on super pac spending of unlimited amounts of undisclosed cash from big donors. >> well, thank you very much. i truly appreciate this question because i absolutely think we need to work to overturn citizens united. what we have seen has happened with campaign financing -- i think we need our candidates to be working for the people, and not working for large corporations that are funding them. know, we can see just how expensive campaigns have become, and that is not what it is about. it is about revisiting the people and the interest of the people, and we need to return our elections to that. so, in congress, i will be very

vocal, and very outspoken to work on campaign finance reform. it has become very apparent in this race, or my opponent has said in "the philadelphia inquirer" after spending millions of dollars against me that aimee belgard will never outspend him. he has plenty of resources. that is notow what, what an election is about. it is about serving people working for the people, and that is what we need to return elections to. >> i likewise have confirmed -- concerns. money can have -- can have a corrupting influence in a campaign, and yet against that is also the balance of free speech, and that is what the supreme court struggled with. i think the balance is not quite where it should be. yes, i have invested in this campaign, but i have seen the corrupting influence of outside

money because my opponent has been bankrolled by handlers in washington, d.c., and they are spending millions of dollars in negative ads about my life, and about who i am. i have asked my opponent numerous times to disavow those -- whichthem to come had to come off of the air, unheard of. one that was so false, so inflammatory, and yet they do not care about the people of burlington and ocean county, in a sense my opponent is getting the advantage of other people smearing my good name, and i think that is a corrupting influence. i do think some reform is necessary, and i call him again, tonight, for my opponent -- call, again, tonight, for my opponent to disavow ads. >> do you want time for a rebuttal? >> sure. if ma, i want to share a story i

am proud of all on the campaign trail. in order to run and raise money, we have quarters. my first quarter in the race ended on december 31, and i had a situation where a woman sent me an e-mail and sent to me you inw what, aimee, i believe you. your work so hard in edgewater park and is a free holder, and i know you will represent our interest in congress. i only have nine dollars to get to the end of the year, but i'm giving you nine yourrs for my -- for campaign because this is how important it is to me. it brought tears to my eyes and that is we need to represent. it is free speech. that is the power of the dollar. >> i will take that is the answer no, aimee belgard does not want to disavow the lies coming out of washington, d.c.

i will take that as a no. >> we'll move onto a question. candidate mcarthur first. >> what should the federal government's priorities be in setting a sound energy policy for the u.s.? please include your position regarding fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, and protection of the environment. >> ok. all important things to balance. for me, it starts with america needing to be energy independent. we are, today, dependent on countries that are sometimes adversarial to us and sometimes independable.-- we need to make sure we explore every resource that is at our disposal and that includes for me and all of the above approach -- nuclear, other renewables, fossil fuels -- i believe we should be looking to build natural gas facilities. we should do things like the xl

pipeline. right here in new jersey we have opportunities in ocean county. we have a nuclear power plant coming off-line. we should be looking for another type of power generation facility there. it is critical that america stand on its own, and we have tremendous resources in natural gas, oil. we should be looking at all of that. i am also very excited about wind. it is clean. with proper research and investment, it can become more efficient. explore offshore wind is a possibility. >> thank you. candidate belgard? >> thank you. i think this is a very important topic right here in the third district, especially when we have seen the impact of climate change, especially on our coastline with superstorm sandy.

i think the first goal would be to remove ourselves from our reliance on foreign oil. we have an amazingly innovative country here, and if we could, instead of investing in companies and giving tax breaks to companies that are big oil companies, let's invest that money in innovative solutions right here in the united states like solar, wind, geothermal -- other ideas that maybe have not even fully been developed yet. we are an amazing country. an innovative country. we can do it. there is a large tension between myself and mr. macarthur in this regard. we have talked about through the campaign how he has invested in foreign oil companies, state owned oil companies by russia and china. the russian company is gasprom, which has been sanctioned recently by the united states and the european union for their involvement in removing the gas

tower from the ukraine. so, i think that is a real conflict here. i also think that when i hear things like we need to exploit every resource at our disposal, that gives me reason for great concern of oil exploration off the coast of the beautiful jersey shoreline, and that is something this district certainly does not want. again, it is about looking to alternatives, investing in alternatives, which not only makes for a cleaner environment, but also boost our economy right here at home in the third district. >> a rebuttal? quick i would like to respond to one piece of that -- >> i would like to respond to one piece of that. i have heard the suggestion about oil subsidies a number of and i not ms. belgard sure this is more than a political talking point. the bulk of the subsidies, the

largest of them is for the strategic oil reserve -- are we now going to refund that -- fund that? of course we have to fund it. the second goes to farmers. the second-largest goes to farmers because they do not drive their equipment on the roads, and much of the petroleum taxes go to transportation. they get a subsidy. are we going to cancel that? largest subsidy goes to people that can not afford heating oil in the middle of winter. those alone are $3 billion or $4 billion of subsidies. it is easy to say let's cut this or that, but there are real consequences, and i do not think your thought that through very well. >> candidate belgard? >> it is pretty easy to be for oil subsidies when you invest in oil companies and when you profit when oil companies profit. >> the next question is from loretta lynch, and the first

respondent will be candidate belgard. >> good evening. should the federal government ensure that all americans have health insurance and that all women have access to reproductive health services? please discuss your decision with regard to health care access in general and the inclusion of reproductive services and all benefits ackages in particular. >> thank you. as a longtime advocate for the american cancer society, i've been for affordable, accessible health care for all americans for a very long time. there's been recent talk, obviously, with the affordable care act, and i will touch on that briefly. i wanted it to the rest of the thetion -- i want to get to rest of the question. i can tell you that i have seen firsthand problems of the affordable care act. i have talked to small business

owners that are worried the affordable care act will be too much of a burden on them, but i think there are ways to fix it and make it better for all americans, rather than supporting the purpose of the affordable care act. let's make it -- sporting arting the thw purpose of the affordable care act. but make it better. make sure there is transparency. if the consumer actually understood what the money is going for -- whether they are paying three dollars for a band-aid at one facility or $30 for a band-aid at another facility, this would help the crisis come down. those are issues we need to work on, right now congress is not even discussing it. it is where we are at a standstill and have a problem. we need to come together and fix it. i have seen firsthand people who have actually benefited from the affordable care act.

i have a volunteer with the american cancer society who for the first time has coverage where she did not before because of her pre-existing condition of cancer. when we are turning back the clock on things like health care and women's health care, these are absolute issues. we need a voice for women in congress, a voice for people who have health care issues in congress, and that is exactly what i will bring. . candidate macarthur -- >> thank you. candidate macarthur? fixing not think obamacare is about the cost of band-aid. much of that is platitudes. obamacare is that was a bad idea. it is a government takeover of one of the largest industries in the united states, and it will result -- it is already resulting in higher costs, reductions in care, massive reductions in choice, and it was a mistake. you do not fix a mistake by the

band-aid approach, which is what i just heard. what we need is free market reforms, things like allowing insurance to be sold across state lines to allow real competition and bring costs down. we need small employers to be able to pool so that they get the benefits of larger discounts. we need tort reform -- real, significant tort reform so that medicine can be practiced differently in the united states. those are the things that will result in more choice, better quality of care, lower costs. lastly, i think we need safety nets. we have to have a safety net for people at the state level, i believe. i mention my daughter briefly, before, who died at age 11. in her lifetime we had over $1 million worth of medical bills. that was two decades ago that she died. i would have been bankrupt. i do not believe anyone should face health care crises like

that alone. i just do not believe those sort of safety net should be at the federal level it has it is too big. the scale is too big. there is lack of accountability. there is lack of competition. i leave those sorts of safety nets can be done the state level, and that is what i would advocate. >> a rebuttal? >> thank you. i've seen firsthand the people that have had to make decisions of putting food on the table or going for the next chemotherapy treatment. i have seen the people now have the covers that they need so that they have the security for themselves and their families. i have seen, and talked to college parents who now feel they have the security of knowing that their college-age students have coverage while they are away at school. i think that we cannot turn the clock back on that, and what i am hearing is exactly what is wrong in congress right now i'm aware it is black or white, keep

it or repeal it, but do not work to fix it. i think that is exactly what is wrong. there is another solution here. we need to work together to fix this error we need to work together to make sure that women continue to get the contraceptive care that they need despite what washington is doing. these are not decisions to be made by bureaucrats in washington. >> with regard to women and contraceptive care, these are important. i want to make clear we provided both as a ceo. i am pleasedo say to have gotten the endorsement of multiple unions. many of them are here tonight. and unions have been terribly discriminated against in obamacare. the government has taken winner d