brailey was an washington, d.c. today for a hearing on ebola. he then headed back to i to participate in tonight's debate. we will be bringing you that hearing on the ebola crisis in about an hour. first, the debate in iowa. this comes to us courtesy of nextar broadcasting. and whose high school football team is going to make it big? city is the the focal point for political power. who wins in november could determine the balance of power in washington. has taken iowa by storm with strong backing from the republican party. trulym honored and i do hope to have the opportunity to fight the good fight. >> democrat bruce braley, a sitting congressman, anointed by the democratic party. >> i have worked with

importants on legislation that helps iowa farmers, iowa veterans -- >> so important that the heavy hitters in each party are campaigning. what you are about to watch next could set our country up with one party setting the political agenda for years to come. >> your local election headquarters present the final senate debate. >> welcome to beautiful sioux city iowa. we are live on the campus of morningside college. whorace will determine fills the shoes of long-term iowa center tom harkin -- iowa senator tom harkin. welcome.ates, thank you for being here tonight. >> to our left is congressman bruce braley. to my right is joni ernst.

thanks for being with us. >> as you can see this debate is not like the others that you have watched. the candidates have previously taken part into more traditional debate. tonight we are throwing out tradition. >> no lecterns, no filtered questions, just plain talk and honest questions. >> now for some basic roles. there will be no opening statement. each candidate will have one minute to answer the question. their opponent will then begin than 45 seconds for a bottle. there will be a 92nd closing statement. out of respect to the candidates, the audience has been asked to hold their applause. join usnt to ask you to and participate by going to twitter. you can tweet us your observations and opinions and tell us if you think they are answering what they are asking. you can use the hashtag #io wadebate.

we did have a coin toss to determine who would be asked the first question and braley you will have the first. let's start with your resume. you are 56 years old, has been a congress for eight years, track record that characterizes you as a rank and file democrat that goes along party lines. you have successfully offered one bill. i guess tonight the first question is tell us about your resume and how it will assure iowa voters that you are the person who should fill senator harkin's shoes. x i to begin by honoring the memory -- who dedicated his life others into died tragically this week. my thoughts and prayers go to his wife and family. i want to thank kcau for hosting us tonight and i want to thank senator ernst for joining me.

most of all i want to thank my wife carolyn, who surprised me by joining us here tonight. a lot have introduced more than one bill. i have worked with republicans to pass legislation that has benefited iowa. the first bill i introduced was a job-training bill in biofuels. train peopleleges for careers in iowa's growing biofuel industry. i passed legislation by working with republicans from georgia to help benefit one of iowa possibly leading manufacturers to keep jobs in iowa and i pass legislation to help hire unemployed veterans and help them stay in their homes. i record has been one of helping and serving the people of iowa. >> senator ernst, let's take a look at your resume. you are 44 years old. you have been a county auditor and you are currently a lieutenant colonel in the national guard and a state senator since 2010. the heat gets turned up when you

walk into washington. our senators are faced with critical national and international crisis decisions every day. i should voters consider someone with your limited legislative resume for such an important leadership position? >> first, i would like to thank our host this evening for the opportunity to be here all stop thank you for joining me. i want to extend my heartfelt 'sayers to the doctors family. we do have a number of onrwhelming things going around the world, not just a mess but also internationally. the way i describe myself is i am out traveling across iowa is that i am an average iowa and who has had some aches -- iowan who has had some extraordinary opportunities. i have served my local community and my state and my nation. we are facing a crisis in the

iddle east, so i do believe am a credible candidate when it comes to dealing with those issues. i have had my boots on ground, leaving iowa troops in iraq and wait and will always stand up for our servicemen and women. >> thank you. >> something we could have never anticipated when this campaign began his at the forefront of everyone's mind -- the ebola virus. it is spreading around the world and right here in america. voters are very concerned and we would like you to dress your -- direct your attention to this. >> my question is that we have now seen to ebola patience just down the road in omaha. what steps should the federal government be taking to protect me and my family? will startey, we with you. i know you just returned back from washington where you spent some time in an emergency meeting to discuss the response to ebola. what can you tell us tonight about what happened? >> what happened today is that

it was plain talk and honest questions to the head of the agencies that are dealing with it. the cdc, the national institute a border patrol, and i asked tough questions and demanded answers on what we are doing to protect the american people. that we need to do whatever is necessary to that. if that is putting travel that.to do if it means anything up travel restrictions and to do that. if it means changing hospital protocols that patients in as ince and a pair of -- and atlanta already taken care of, related to that. are moving companies in the united states developing vaccines, -- i had a chance to

talk with some of their employees. they are developing a vaccine that is in clinical trials right now. >> miss ernst? >> this is a tragic disease that is sweeping through western africa. we have seen it now on our own shores. as a mother, to see families that are experiencing this, it is devastating. i do believe that we need to do more. unfortunately, our administration, including congressman braley, has been very reactive rather than proactive. we have seen the threat from ebola for the past several and i would encourage temporary travel bans, additional screenings for travelers, continuing aid, but also supporting those that are researching and coming up with cures and prevention. >> tim, i have to respond to that.

one of the things that senator ernst has made clear is that she supported a radical plan to shut down the federal government, said she would have voted for it. we learned today that that were genetically cut the funding for the cdc and the national institute for health. it also dramatically cut or in aid. you can't say you support those things when your policies you are promoting would have made it more difficult for us to address the problem. that is why i pressed that health and human services need to get these contracts so they can get these vaccines tested and in clinical trials in africa which they are preparing to do, make this vaccine widely available and commercially feasible so that we can protect everyone. states, inhe united west africa -- that is what american innovation is all about. >> this is, again, a huge tragedy. but again, we are seeing failed leadership coming from the congressman and president obama.

we have seen the threat from ebola for the past several month calld only today did they hearing to address the lack of leadership within the department of health. we should have moved to this up and been working on travel bans much earlier than this, before it ever came on to american shores. >> that hearing was called by the republican leadership in the house oversight and investigations committee. they were the ones that scheduled it and that is why i made the trip out there today to be involved, to get some plain talk and honest questions. yes, and isay released a statement about ebola before the congressman dead. he sits on an important committee and could have been pushing for this a number of months ago, and yet again we have seen failed leadership. >> thank you. we will move on to our next topic, a sensitive one, but important that needs to be discussed.

abortion and to contraception you both have different points of view. we are hoping to get some clarity on your positions. ms. ernst, we will start with you. we will go through several points, then we will have it chance to respond. -- cosponsoredd the personhood amendment, meaning that a fertilized egg would be considered a person. here's the key line of the amendment -- "the inalienable life to write -- right to life shall be recognized and protected." it did open the door to your critics that suggest the support of the amendment means you want to and all abortion, certain types of contraception, and would be against in vitro fertilization. there is a lot here and we will give you a chance to be very clear. we are going to go through each of these points one at a time. we are looking for short answers. do you believe that life begins at conception?

>> i do believe that i would like to respond to all of that. i do believe in supporting life, and i believe that the united states and the state of iowa -- we do support life. i do want to believe that. i do support life at conception and i will always support life. and this is a very, very sensitive issue, as you stated, and we do have to have civil discussions when it comes to this very issue. i will always support life but this is where we as republicans and democrats needed to come together to find those areas that we agree on when supporting life. where we haveea done this in the past, where democrats and republicans came together to ban partial-birth abortion. harry reid, joe biden they are

democrats that supported that. congressman braley doesn't even agreed to that. preventing partial-birth abortions. >> senator ernst we will get to specifics. should all abortions be banned or are there exceptions? >> there would be certain exceptions. it is something that has to be discussed. i support life. those things come together and there is consensus upon what is put into legislation. right now there is not consensus at i do believe in spreading life. >> you said there are some exceptions -- what would those be? >> i support life so, going back to perhaps the life of the mother, i think that would be important. again, civil discussion needs to happen. >> let's move onto contraception. would you consider banning any specific form of contraception? >> know, and this is where i have stood up and said over and over that i do support a woman's

right to accessible, reliable, safe contraception. the congressman has made many this andnts about those have been false by the washington post. he has been given many pinocchio's on this issue. i find it rather disconcerting that i am a woman, a mother of three daughters, to be lectured on these issues of contraception -- it's laughable. >> one more question in regards to in vitro fertilization. may bee they nee destroyed, do you believe they should not -- has twoe a friend that beautiful daughters because of in vitro fertilization and i'm glad she is blessed to be a mother. >> congas and braley, we will move on.

mr. braley, we would like to ask you to please be specific with your answers. at what point during fetal development do you believe a woman should not have an abortion? >> i have always stated, contrary to what senator ernst all, that i oppose late-term abortions that are necessary to save the life of the mother. >> can you be specific? >> it is a term that has a specific legal meaning because of existing law. when the rights of the mother and the rights of the child have significance in terms of deciding. >> do you support employers selecting the types of contraception they are willing to provide? >> no, not at all, and senator ernst made the blanket statement that she supports a woman's right to contraception and yet she supports the supreme court's decision that allows employers to interfere with an individual woman's health care decisions about her contraception.

she has voted in the iowa senate to limit women's access to contraception. and she wants to repeal the affordable care act, which would provide -- which would increase the cost for contraception by $600 per year. >> do you support life? >> i do support life. to political act, experts look at the personhood amendment and determined it is too ambiguous to predict its legal ramifications. abortion is currently protected via robie rate -- roe v. ade. -- wade. else would the american college of obstetrics and gynecology, which takes care of pregnant mothers and babies, say that the things that are in the personhood amendment would do all the things that i have just said? all forms ofaw abortions, including in cases of

rape or incensed or to save the life of a mother. it would interfere with in vitro fertilization procedures. senator ernst has said that under the personhood amendment, doctors should be prosecuted for performing legal, medical procedures. >> a chance for both of you to rebuttal. acterizing my position. especially when it comes to birth control. i will always protect a woman's right to access to birth control. i agree with the supreme court's ruling but that doesn't mean a woman can't get reliable, safe birth control. her doctorll go to and receive birth control. it is not outlawing birth control. this is a ploy to scare women and we shouldn't be doing that. i will protect their right to access to birth control. let us make that clear. when it comes to a deciding -- you've there is life,

just said that it's determine -- it is determined by law. there has to be consensus on these issues. where there is not consensus, there will not be a law. >> thank you. >> senator ernst, your words have consequences. you can't say that you protect a woman's writes to contraception and then vote against it on the senate floor. say that you want to repeal the affordable care act which provides free contraceptive services to women and increase their cost by $600. you can't say that you support that right and then say it is ok for employers to interfere with it. your words have consequences. i would raise the cost of contraception and for some woman that cost would prohibit them from getting the contraceptive services they need. >> i think we need to jump in. we could go back and forth. let's move on. the affordable care act,

obamacare, will soon be in rolling participants for its second year. ms. ernst, you have made it pretty clear that you want to get rid of obamacare, to appeal it -- repeal it. $20,000 were added to parents insurance plans. 1.2 million people cannot be discriminated against for having pre-existing conditions. medicaid patients have saved more than $120 million on prescription drugs. miss ernst, let us know -- iowans that have these benefits, that have come to rely on them and knowing how hard it is to get any kind of legislation passed in washington, can you explain to people why they need to give these benefits up? >> every iowan and every american deserves to have affordable, quality health care. but obama care is not the answer. i will tell you why. obamacare is a job killer and we have seen that here in iowa.

it is a massive tax increase. $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years for the american people. it takes our health care decisions out of our hands, out of our dr.'s hands, and places them in the hands of nameless, faceless bureaucrats in washington dc. i don't support obama care. however, the congressman has voted for obama care and continues to defend it today. he promised us that obamacare would lower health care costs. it has not. we heard it just last week that health care policies costs are going up an average of 19%. he was wrong. he said we could keep our policies and that we could keep our doctors, and he was wrong on that. >> why is it a job killer? >> because what we are seeing and highl -- and i have heard,

there are businesses around that 50 employee mandate of being a and they have evaluated the cost to their businesses and they can't afford to pay for these types of plans under the affordable care act. so what they are doing is lowering the number of all-time employees that they have. they are not expanding their businesses. we have seen a loss of jobs here in sioux city. blue cross blue shield laid off over a hundred employees and attributed it directly to obamacare. >> what would you do to make sure that wouldn't happen? >> first, i would repeal obamacare. with patient centered health care that does address pre-existing conditions. you mentioned having children -- we already have that here in the state of iowa before obamacare was enacted. i believe we should allow insurance providers to sell over state lines. tax credits for those that privately purchase insurance.

allowing our small businesses to pool together their policies just as we already allow large businesses to do. but we must make sure they address pre-existing conditions and it must be affordable and work for iowa families. >> mr. braley, a quick rebuttal. >> soundbites have consequences and when you say that every iowan deserves affordable, quality health care -- ever were 47 million americans who didn't have access to health care before the affordable care act became law. it is not perfect but we need to fix it and improve it instead of doing what you would do which is vote to repeal it. makeesn't do anything to it better. i voted to allow people to stay on policies for two years. i made it simpler for small businesses facing the heavy burden of paperwork. but we can't go back to where we were. i had a two-year-old nephew diagnosed with cancer. he is one of those children with

a pre-existing condition who was defected by being unable to get coverage because of his pre-existing condition. the case.nger is that is why the statistics you cited are importance to islands, because it is making their lives better. >> give me a couple quick specific points. >> i gave you some examples of things we already have changed but one of the biggest was i have been working very hard -- doctors and hospitals in iowa with the reimbursement formula that penalizes doctors and hospitals in iowa who do great work and get quality patient outcomes but don't get paid as much as doctors and hospitals in other parts of the country. that is why during the debate on the affordable care act, i was there champion -- to make sure they were getting fair pay and that we moved to a system that rewards quality patient outcomes. that is where health care reimbursement is heading.

that 100,000ut iowans know have coverage because i worked with governor branstad to expand access to medicaid and you talked about the in norma's impact that has had on iowans who had no health insurance. >> thank you. under obamacare, there are still 31 million americans that will not have health care. the congressman has stated that costs will not go up, but we are seeing heavy increasing costs because of policy cancellation. you have stated just a few years back that you would not change adding about obamacare, and yet today you are saying -- we do need to make some changes. you said you read every page of this bill. it tapped it and highlighted will stop so either you didn't understand what was in the bill or you were misleading iowans and i don't know which one is worse. can't allow that to

go unanswered because it is not true. the reality is that when you have a huge change in how health care is delivered to millions of americans, there are bound to be something's have to deal with along the way. that is a we have done -- repealing the entire bill and taking health care away from millions of americans and adding 200s, premiums will go up 25% if you eliminate what is in place right now and that is not a good thing. >> we are going to move on. >> we talked a lot tonight about these heavy issues and we know that both of you can talk about where you stand on the political landscape. folks can get the chance and ask you questions and get to know you personally so we want to ask you tonight -- one quality you possess that makes you unique. mr. briley, let us start with you. not am a bridge builder,

bridge burner. i spend a lot of my time getting to know the people i served with republicans and democrats. i have them over for dinner so i get to know where they came from. i get to learn about their families, the work they did before they came -- that is why i have had so much success working with republicans to pass legislation that has been beneficial to iowans. in the national guard came home from iraq and was denied by the pentagon, i worked with republicans in minnesota to get their orders changed so they got paid the benefits they deserved. i had a constituent who was denied of the adaptability great. -- grant. i helped him to get that so he could stay in his home and then i had him come to washington and testify and introduce a bill so that other veterans would have those same benefits because the program is going to expire. that is what iowans expect.

somebody like senator harkin who can bring people together, not to drive them apart. >> what unique thing is there about you? >> i am a public servant. i have served in my community, my state, my nation. many different capacities. serve as a confirmation teacher and the church that i grew up in. i remain committed to my hometown and my community but i have also served my faith and my reserves inhe army the iowa army national guard. i don't do these things for personal gain, i do them because i believe in serving the public, whether it is a time of flood in eastern or western iowa, whether it is during winter storms, making sure that iowans are safe is important. but i have also served overseas during a time of war and combat

in kuwait and iraq. i believe that is important. but soundbites do have consequences and i believe i have a pure heart and unwilling to serve iowans are congressman braley behind closed doors has poked fun at our senior senator. i don't call that building bridges, i would say that is building bridges. >> we are going to move on. we have a couple questions. the didn't poke fun at senator -- she knows i talked to him that same day and apologized to him and i apologized to iowa farmers because that is what people expect iowans to do. if you are questioning my pure heart, senator, i can tell you that i have in an elder in my church and taught sunday school to adults and children. i have never seen a next to me in the church. and yet you believe that their interest outweigh those of women in iowa. >> very misleading. i said i will support a

woman's writes to contraception but what you say behind closed doors matters to iowans and maybe you did apologize. my father is a farmer also without a law degree and i think he has done very well. i contribute to my community, my state and my nation. i am ready to serve the people of iowa. >> tell us about the meeting you had with -- >> we are going to jump in. we have a couple things we want to talk about. >> thanks. these are meant to be a little more lighthearted. we want the voters to get a chance to get to know you better. nothing difficult here. we will start with you, miss ernst. iowa or iowwa state? state, unless they're playing each other. [laughter] >> congress and briley, same

question. >> i graduated from both universities and when they play each other, ice cheer for iowa state -- i cheer for iowa state. why -- omething that is something to admire about your. >> she has served well in the iowa national guard. i have rated this hack for senator ernest. >> i think congressman randy. -- braley. move ahead.t's we have to bring something up that voters feel very strongly about. one of the nastiest we have seen $17.8 million has been spent on tv advertising

only through october 1. obviously you have to be living under a rock to not see these commercials. usasked our viewers to send questions through social media and many of them are angered, even disgusted about all the negative advertising. ad on yourwhat behalf has embarrassed you most?" congressman braley, senator e rnst, which one would it be? >> it wasn't run on my behalf but it was an ad that was run earlier in the race that showed a bunch of people looking into this box. i thought it was a horrible ad and i thought it was not an effective way to talk about the very real differences between us in this race. i am the only candidate in this race who has voted to try to limit the influence of these outside groups, most of whom are funded by secret donors.

when senator ernst and i put an ad on television, we have to to tell who our donors are. we have to say how we spend the money. because of a supreme court decision that i think is one of the biggest threats to democracy there is, there is an unlimited amount of outside groups who can say whatever they want to distort our record and that is wrong. during the i called last debate for senator ernst to join me in encouraging all these outside groups to take down their ads and to make sure that we know who the donors are who will be behind these ads. >> thank you. this has been a very, very negative campaign. it started the very day after the primary engine, the date -- primary in juene. the day i won the primary there was an ad that compared me to a baby chick.

i didn't appreciate that ad. i would have to say -- i really don't know. i don't watch television any longer. i don't pay attention to those ads because i have been so heavily affected with all of these negative ads. a husband and daughter don't watch television anymore. it is disheartening when you a failed record in washington, d.c. -- you have to tear down your opponent and that is what the democrats are trying to do. >> you don't watch tv? >> i don't. >> i will ask one more thing. you mentioned outside influence -- at the end of those commercials it says, not endorsed by the candidate. if it's time that it says, endorsed by? >> it is time to get secret money donors out of politics, period. that is what needs to happen. so that it is a focus on the

differences in issues between the candidates, which as you can tell, are very clear. just like you, my saifamily doesn't watch tv. do, it ishat i will what i already have done. i am the only one here who has voted to limit the influence of these outside groups. i voted for the disclose act which would require transparency and the disclosure of donors who are paying for these ads. >> let me turn to you -- what would you do? politicallieve in free speech and this is a way that individuals are exercising their politicafree speech. that is a first amendment right. whether we like it or whether we don't -- and i don't -- i am being heavily hit by outside interests in this race. i don't like it, but i do believe in standing up for our citizens rights. ernst, you know you

are not being heavily outspent. the big difference between us on this issue is that i am willing to say to those outside interest , you have to come clean and take your ads down. that is the big difference. these outside groups are lying about my record, doing it to distract from the real issues. i am here standing up for everyone in this room who is sick and tired of these ads, saying i will work because the political free speech of secret donors is not more important than the political free speech of iowans. if you elect me, i will work for reasonable campaign-finance reform that gives everyone's political voice the same clout. it should not be secret donors ike the koch brothers, who are spending more money to buy your vote -- >> very quickly -- >> i am being mischaracterized

as so many ads, and yes, i have been coming from outside money, outspent by about $2 million. that is a lot of money in iowa air time. it is hard to come back that. you have earned pinocchios -- there have been several different issues, the birth control issue and social security, where i have been mischaracterized. >> let's talk about social security right now. the social security trust fund under current conditions will run out in 19 years. neither of you has officially supported raising the retirement age. social security isn't going to be solved if it continues the weight is going. this ernst, you said you want to look at options for fixing the system. mr. braley, you have said you have a plan but lacks details --

that lacks details. we know you have your four-point plan. it seems pretty vague. give me one fundamental change that you support to keep social security programs open. >> i mentioned this during the debate in davenport. i think that's millionaires and billionaires should be paying the same portion of their earned income into social security as hard-working iowans in the middle class, and they are not. my plan would require them to do that and would dramatically increase the amount of money in the social security trust fund and it would actually increase benefits for seniors. i also believe we need to increase the minimum wage, get 300,000 iowans a pay raise, and it would put billioneach year into social security and medicare. is growalso need to do

our economy and the ways we can do that is by investing in our crumbling infrastructure. for every billion dollars we invested creates 25,000 new jobs , and those workers will pay into social security. those are concrete, tangible things we can do to make social security solved. >> thank you. miss ernst, you said you were open to option but at some point you have to stand up and say you are for one thing. what is your one fundamental change? >> i will always stand up for and medicare for our iowa seniors, just like my mom and dad. we havee over six -- over 600,000 i that rely on social security and we have made them promises. we must stand by those promises. however, we have to recognize

that there is a problem and to this system will run out of money within 20 years, before i can retire. -- solutions that we come to they must not affect the benefits of those that are retired and those that are nearing retirement. we must keep those promises. one solution i would say we bringing inld be state and local workers that are not currently engaged in social bringing them in. the congressman has stated that raising the minimum wage -- that would eliminate up to 20,000 jobs here in the state of iowa. 500,000 jobs nationwide. i don't see that that is the solution. >> about a month ago, president obama had a high-powered air attack that help to degrade and destroy isis. despite that, the terror group continues to capture and move

forward. voters we talked to have renewed concerns. >> i live in cumming, iowa. i served in the u.s. army. -- you both say you support u.s. troops and agree that we need to defeat isis. my question is how do you think we should do that? do you support putting troops in the middle east again? >> mr. braley, we will start with you. >> the first thing i say is thank you for serving us. i notice you are from senator harkin's hometown. i was in washington, d.c. today i got an updated classified briefing on what is going on with isis. some of the questions i asked where -- what is the currents strength, because they have been significantly degraded as a result. what is the status of the new

government in iraq? it is absolutely critical to any success against isis. d with my republican colleagues overwhelmingly to get the president limited authority to arm moderate syrian rebels and coordinate our airstrikes and i got an update today on what our allies in the region and around the globe are willing to commit to try and address this terrorist threat. isis is a threat that must be destroyed and that is why we need to make sure we are working to make sure that they are eliminated because they need to be brought to justice or to the grave, period. >> would you like to rebuttal? >> isis does need to be destroyed. they are extreme terrorists and we have seen the threat for a number of years, as it has grown in strength. before we commit to any military action, and we are engaging in that now, i have several criteria that i would need to

evaluate. the first is to we have actual lntelligent that -- actua intelligence and can we be successful in combating the threat? second, do we have a clearly defined motion and will he put the resources for word and necessary to support that mission? last is once we have achieved the mission, do we have a withdrawal plan and will it car ry our men and women upon their return? i am not sure where the congressman stands on this issue. in june after mostly cell -- after mosul fell, he voted for no combat funding in a rack. -- iraq. today he is stating he would not support action. >> i would like to follow-up up -- what would be actionable intelligence for you, in terms that we can grasp? >> it would be intelligence that shows us there is a threat to our national interest or to our safety as americans.

national interests could include infrastructure, our allies in the region, any of those threats that have been laid out, and show that we would be impacted as americans. >> senator ernst knows that the vote she is referring to had nothing to do with action against isis. that is why 23 republicans joined me in making sure that before the president committed boots on the ground in iraq, he had to come to congress and get authority to do that. the truth is we can't continue to be the world's police force. in his lasttes, address at west point, said that for any future defense secretary to advise and american president to a large-scale land war in the middle east -- they ought to have their head examined. i agree with senator ernst on the three criteria she says must be met, but the thing she left

make theu also have to case to the american people on why that investment of treasure and blood is necessary and that hasn't been done yet. i believe that has done. i believe there is overwhelming support coming from the american people, feeling the threat of isis. going back, this is another issue that our president and the administration and congressman braley have been reactive rather than proactive. we know the president didn't -- follwoing the closing of the iraqi campaign. own secretary of defense advised that we keep boots on ground and i know that the congressman twice voted to defund our men and women as they are serving in combat in the rack and afghanistan -- in iraq and afghanistan. >> she knows that i voted to end

a decades long commitment of u.s. ground troops in iraq. she knows it was the prime minister who refused to inter-into a forces agreements to keep troops on the ground. are you saying tonight that you are prepared to commit u.s. forces on the ground in iraq to deal with this threat in syria? is that what you are suggesting president obama should have done? >> i am stating that i would have to use the criteria i have laid out before committing daughters.ns and i will remind you that i have served in iraq. my boots were on that ground that is now held by isis. when we make these decisions i take them very seriously. before i would commit our sons and daughters i would go through those criteria. we have to recognize that this is a threat that has been out there for years and we have an administration that has reviewed that knowledge. this is a group that is killing

innocent civilians, christians, even americans. >> thank you. we turn now to immigration. right now the federal government and all government contractors must use the e-verify system when they hire someone. it is a system that identifies if the person is legally eligible to be hired. it is more than 90% accurate all stop private businesses are not mandated to use it. i requiring all businesses to use e-verify you could stop undocumented workers from being hired. would you support a legislation requiring them to use it? >> the first thing to know is and it is going to cost what type of assistance you are going to provide for businesses that may have difficulty affording it. we know that e-verify can be very helpful and we know that we shouldn't be encouraging employers to hire people who are

ineligible to be hired under the laws of this country. we need to promote respect for the rule of law. the most important integration challenge we face is comprehensive immigration reform. that is why i support the bill that the senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support -- 68 senators voted for it. it was strengthen our borders, provide ats, and legal pathway to citizenship for those who are in this country legally -- illegally, by forcing them to admit they broke the law, pay a fine, go to the back of the line, and make sure they are held accountable for breaking the law. >> congressman braley, wouldn't e-verify x a lot of those problems? -- fix a lot of those problems? >> it wouldn't fix it what we do about all those people in the country and it won't solve the problems of the employers who are struggling every day to deal

with a workforce that is changing. we see that happening here in iowa. we do need to promote respect for the rule of law, and expanding e-verify is a good idea. >> would you support a bill requiring all businesses to use e-verify? >> i believe that is a step in the right direction but we do need to look at the cost to employers and making sure they are able to afford this system. perhaps providing the supports necessary to get that in place for private employers. there is a greater issue with immigration, and i spent time overseas when i was in iowa state university on an exchange. i was staying on that farm in the soviet union and the leaders didn't want to talk about agriculture issues but itt it wants to be -- what was like to be an american, to be free and experience our opportunities.

i understand why families wants to come to the united states and experience that american dream. but we are a nation of immigrants and we are also a nation of laws. we do need to enforce the existing laws but i believe we also needed to secure the border. that needs to be done first. i see it as more than just an immigration issue but also one of national security. >> we have had some lengthy questions -- i give you a brief one. any scenario where you would support raising taxes on iowa voters? find, i believe we can ways to make our government more efficient without raising taxes on our hard-working iowans. i would like to see our iowans keeping more of their tax dollars in their own pockets so they can save for their children's college education, so they can pay their bills, so they can buy a home. iowa, ithe state of

implemented one of the largest tax cuts with the leadership of governor perry branstad. tax cut, andrgest we are saving taxpayers $4.4 billion over the next 10 years. this is just one part of our greater economic plan, which also includes reducing job killing rules and regulations and balancing the budget, which we have done here. >> would you consider raising the cap on social security tax? >> it is an option that can be discussed but i think we have better options that we can look at. >> mr. braley? >> senator ernst may think there are better options but you gave her an opportunity to explain and she did not. the thing i will tell you is now one of our biggest problems is that we provide tax incentives to corporations that ship u.s. jobs overseas.

i would eliminate those taxes. would cause taxes of corporations to go up and i think most iowa voters can accept that reality. they want a tax system that is fair for people and the working class. senator ernst has expressed a ta way we currently tax people. she has expressed support for a 23% national sales tax that would dramatically increase the tax foreign on working-class family. pay,uld add to the 66% you reading you pay almost 40's for every for cents dollar you spend. pointsmentioned several -- >> i do believe that we need to lower taxes on our hard-working iowans immediately. immediately. it is something that we have done with this tax cut with this

implemented hearing, but over the long-term, to reform our tax system, i say scrap the irs. let's start all over. that is fairer, flatter, simpler. we do need to find an option. i am willing to sit down. we need to have bipartisan support on this. let's make life better for hard-working americans. we can to tax them to death. my opponent -- that seems to be the answer to everything, higher taxes and more spending. we can't keep doing that to our hard-working iowans. >> scrapping. it.p the irs, get rid of get rid of the department of education. he rated of the epa. get rid of the clean water act. every solution has his throwing darts at the board, trying to

get rid of programs that have had significant impact is made a difference in the lives of violence. she wants to give the federal government out of the student loan business -- without the? -- what would that mean? is rates skyrocket analyze much worse. i think the solution is to find problems and fix them if they make sure that iowans have clean water, clean air, and that they have the ability to get the education they deserve. >> would you raise tax? >> yes or no, would you raise tax? >> i already said that i think employers who shift jobs overseas shouldn't get the tax benefits they deserve. their taxes would go up. >> yes, when it comes to taxing and spending, i would say the congressman has made his position clear. over the eight years he has served in congress, he has voted

eight times to raise our national debt ceiling. the national debt has doubled in the time he has been in congress. this is immoral. we are taxing on the debt to our children and grandchildren. $50,000.er's share is we can't keep spending the way we are. i don't believe in a bloated federal bureaucracy. we need to return a lot of that power to the state of stop iowans know -- to the state. >> thank you both. >> it has been a quick our. -- hour. we had a good discussion and appreciate you joining us. thank you for the answers. >> we wanted the candidates to share closing statements, who are shaping their voting decisions. mr. braley, you have the first

word. >> thanks. congress isn't working right now. heart of the reason is because of partisan gridlock. one of the reasons for that gridlock is people who aren't willing to work together to get things done. not a bridge builder, bridge burner, and i had a proven record of working with republicans to improve the lives of islands -- of iiowaowans. chuck grassley and tom harkin, who even though they don't agree on everything, have been able to put those differences aside to advance an agenda that is helpful to iowa. as your next senator i will follow in tom harkin's footsteps. i worked with chuck grassley on things like protecting and preserving the renewable fuel standard. to tryworked with him and protect the wind energy tax credit which has transformed the landscape of iowa and created thousands of good paying jobs.

as her next senator, i will give up every morning thinking about what i can do to make your lives better and i will focus on economic policies that are going to strengthen the middle class, because that is what iowans have always depended upon, whether it is in agriculture and education, in energy, our economy has been based on hard-working iowans who get up every day and do what is necessary to get the job done. as your senator that is exactly what i'm going to do. i will work hard to make sure that your lives are better. i and here tonight to ask for your help and i'm here tonight to ask for your vote. thank you. >> your final thoughts. >> thank you so much to our hosts. it has been a pleasure to be here. thank you, congressman, for joining me. tonight you have seen very clear differences in this race. i am not a washington politician.

i grew up on my family's farm in southwest iowa. i am a mother, a soldier, and i am an independent leader who cares very deeply about the nation that we are leaving our children and grandchildren. congressmanort braley's policies, president obama's policies, of higher taxes, more spending, obamacare, amnesty, the list goes on and on. congressman braley has a failed record in washington. because of that, he is running the most negative campaign that iowans have ever seen. i believe in the iowa way. what theyiowans know need more than politicians in washington and if you trust me fightour vote, i will hard for middle-class families so they have better paying jobs. i will work for the thousands of islands who are facing higher

health or cost because of obamacare and i will protect social security and medicare for our seniors. soy have sacrificed so much our families can reach the american dream. as your next united states senator, i will fight washington to change washington, to make sure more americans can achieve the american good again, thank you both for with us tonight. >> our political coverage does debate. after tonight's foro weareiowa.com political coverage, as we draw to less to 20 days to election day. >> we thank you at home that have watched this evening. and you can continue to contribute by going to those websites. as we head towards election day, the campus, in sioux city, iowa, thanks for joining us. night! >> thank you. thank you so much!

>> you can watch earlier debates from the iowa senate race and races from across the country, as well as campaign ads on our website, c-span.org. a look at the ads running in iowa. >> i'm bruce braley and i approve this message. closer look at joni ernst. senate, ernst sponsored an amendment to outlaw abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. ernst even wants criminal punishment for doctors who perform an abortion. ideas, wrongadical for iowa. >> joni ernst promises to shut the department of education, hurting iowa students, abolish the epa,

giving polluters a pass. wants why sarah palin ernst in washington. joni ernst. promises to them. too extreme for us. league of voters is responsible for this advertising. >> i get very upset. are you ready to apologize? >> you're damn right! >> that individual had no college education. ironic that there's this big push to shut down the house. any advanceve degrees in economics? there's hardly anybody working there. >> there's no towel service. >> a farmer from iowa. school.r went to law >> we're doing our own laundry down there. master's or have a ph.d. in health care policy. >> one of the most important gym.s i go is to the house >> have you published any