>> the candidates running to present nebraska's second congressnal district meet in their third and final debate ior to election day. congressman don bacon faced off againshis challenger, tony vargas, in this debate posted -- posted by ketv in omaha. this race was rated a tossup. >> welcome to the final debate between the republican congressman don bacon and his republican challenger tony vargas in the race for congress. good evening. i'm ron mccartney. we had life tonight -- we are live tonight for the last time to hear these candidates in a setting like this, head-to-head. the stakes may never be higher. our panelists are julie cornell and bill chandler. they are each going to ask a question met both candidates. each of you will get 45 answers

-- 45 seconds to answer. ore this to determine the order of the opening and closing statements and you would get the first question. we begin tonight with congressman bacon your opening message for our viewers. you women. >> thank you -- [inaudible] one of the biggest factors in this election for this congressional district is experience. i can bear the expenses the both of us tony taught school for two years and respect for teachers. i certainly 30 years in the air force, i committed five times. cubic of the largest bases in the air force. i served to understand our allies. i've been in combat for different times. i work with her nuclear weapons. the far east. i spent my whole career studying russia, china, north to korea and iran. the world is on fire right now

and ask you who do you want making decisions in congress would come to a national security strategy? i'll leave you with this. we'll experience counts. >> thank you. state senator you have one minute. >> thank you again for monitoring faq to kttv. first i want to start because i think it matters where we came from. and expensive reason why we do what we do. i'm a former public school science teacher, proud son of immigrants. my parents worked on factory lines. they fought for everything they had. it's the reason why i want the american dream for the middle class to be possible for you. reply i've been fighting for my entire career as a school board member, as a state senator these last eight years and also the reason why want to fight for you to lower costs in congress. and my record voting for $6 billion with the tax cuts, making sure where not only balancing budgets $37 billion

with the law enforcement funding. i know it takes to get things done. i've seen congress has not been working. congressman bacon has been right in front with the ineffectiveness of the worst performing congress we see in any of our history. we need new leadership and we need it now. >> thank you. thank you both. coin toss determine the order of the questions. congressman bacon you will go first you will have one mid have to answer, then you will follow. julie cornell has a first question. >> we're starting with one issue most americans agree on, a survey from the pew research center finds an overwhelming 81% of registered voters say the economy is the top issue for them this election. what policies and legislation would you take on first in washington? >> thank you julie. it is and what issue by far. the average american is 4.2% poor today than four years ago. we have to ask how to begetter?

it was inflationary spending, particularly the first use of this initiation on the democrat house, senate president that inflation. nearly $3 trillion was flushed into the economy in a 30 trying dollars economy which is about a 10% addition. that was the inflation roughly that we received. since we had a republican house we have cut a lot of the supplemental and x are spending that was done in the first two years and now we're seeing inflation coming down and started to see interest rates come down.

they were middle-class tax cuts. i want to get people on social security tax cuts. people relying on social security shouldn't have to pay taxes on those. those working in a >> congressman, thank you. senator vargas, a minute and a half. >> hour economy and the cost of living is everything. i say that as a working-class parent. my wife and i are figuring out how to make ends meet right now. this is the reason why in my career i have voted for 6 billion dollars worth of tax cuts. it's also the reason we have been balancing budgets with a focus on giving money back to you. it's also why i got named taxpayer defender by a conservative organization.

it also matters the deficit has continued to rise. he voted against a middle-class tax cut. i find it frustrating that when he talks about caring about the middle-class, these last eight years he has said no when it comes to saving you money. prescription drug cost for health care costs he has voted against it. when it comes in the class tax cuts he's also voted to raise your taxes. i think it matters. we want to make sure we hold him accountable for this because at the end of the day your pocketbooks, your wallets come how much we can actually save you is ultimately what matters the most. and because of a record in the legislature i believe that only to have the expense to get that done for you but we can no longer afford to have congressman bacon voting against middle-class families when he says he does. >> congressman bacon your rebuttal, 45 seconds. >> tony is full of phony baloney. i have never voted to raise taxes middle class.

he talks about his parents weekend factory lines. i did that myself after college was waiting to join the air force. he said he is a taxpayer defender. he did at one time out of eight years. he's proud of one year out of eight years he served that he was a defender of the tax. he should abandon all eight years. so in other words, he's been -- 12.5% of the half. for the voters out there you got a look at these. don't take his word, don't take my word. i've always stood for cutting taxes. i put her to get earning $50,000, $50,000, 20% tax cut and $100,000 earners i give them a 16% tax cut. >> store vargas, 45 seconds. >> thank you. look, what he's talking about isn't a middle-class tax cut. it was a taxiway to beginners and multimillionaires. it is been very, very clear that is most important to congressman

bacon. and look, it's not surprising to me when congressman bacon has showed up these last eight years he's voted with donald trump almost the majority of the time. he refuses to stand up to his party when it comes to these economic packages and to think it matters yes, he has increased taxes. he's a against issues that made it possible for you to put money in your pocket against lowering prescription drug cost and against lowering the cost of health insurance premiums. that matters of what to make sure to hold you accountable this fall. >> thank you, senator. next question from bill. >> let's talk about housing, average home prices jump to 280,000 ennoble the last four years. what policies would you put in place to help first-time homebuyers or to try to slow down the housing market? >> senator vargas you go first. >> housing is a very important to me. the reason is my parents, the

first time they bought the first house it was everything. that was the american dream. this is the fundamental reason why in the legislature in addition to cutting $6 billion worth of taxes and also voting for those tax cuts that actually passed we balanced budgets and then when we were focusing on economic projects to try to make it easier for you, i worked on housing initiatives that reduce regulation for housing that actually invested their next-generation of housing options to lower the cost and we were not done. i sponsored actually passed within $200 million worth of housing initiatives across the state, urban and rural because of what you make sure it's easier for you to afford your first home. i also think it matters what happens when congressman bacon is in his office and what he votes against. i want to lower your cost for your first-time homebuyers and for more options for housing. when he votes against

middle-class tax cut andy increases costs for nebraskans especially families with children, i take it very personally on your behalf. it's why a want to focus on middle-class tax cut, why want to focus on lowering your health insurance costs but unfortunately when congressman bacon voted to take away coverage for 700,000 nebraskans coverage for pre-existing conditions he cares a lot less of your pocketbook. >> congressman, a minute and half. >> i had the scoop the maneuver a lot when i was on the farm at a think of to do more those because they're so much baloney. let's talk about the pre-existing condition. i voted for the ach b which protects pre-existing conditions. let me give you some particulars. i voted for all the tax cuts that would come up and we have lowered your taxes. less taxes they buy% that when i came in. i voted for those tax cuts.

in contrast tony proposed the largest tax increase in history of the state. he is taken us from the 16th ice income date to the fifth highest. we are only the eighth highest when it comes to property taxes. let's talk about housing price about legislation that goes taxes and for people by manufactured homes. manufactured homes are a third less expensive than regular homes. i also sported land banks wetland banks and fix a property that's been vacated or just in shambles. by the way in the unicameral they had this vote and tony did not vote at all. he skipped the vote. one of the the 20% of votesd that or voted present on. i want to get tax incentive to clean up homes that are destroyed seeking going to fix them up and other people moving. finally i hope to help habitat for humanity help refurbish homes, got the approval, so they could give homes to people and

bristly more people today with homes that he would not have had if we did not do that. >> senator, a minute and have. sorry, 45 seconds. >> i thought you're going to give me some more time. >> sorry. >> one, housing really matters in this is a reason why focus on 200 million plus dollars of housing. we leverage dollars for the american that she planned to make this possible for some of the housing which congressman bacon voted against. we used this to make sure we're investing in housing opportunities across this district. he voted against the opportunity to make this happen. when he also talks about kerry in a pre-existing conditions he voted hell yes to take awa0 nebraskans coverage with pre-existing conditions. look it up this is a fact. when you voted how yes did basically the size of nebraska's second congressional district that tells me to a lot more about the $6 million of donations he received from

special interest than he cares about your healthcare. >> congressman, 45 seconds but the ahc that i voted for guaranteed pre-existing coverage and it was right and guaranteed those who are young or young adults could stay on their parents coverage. this is democrat talking points come from tony. i ask you to look separate into your research because he just does talking points, no meat on the bones on any of these things. the most important things we could do for housing is low interest rates. and because i and republican caucus stop this reckless been concluded american rescue plan, and gave us the worst inflation in 40 years and tony said he supported so he said hell yes did you translation. that's always suffered under that. we have been able to stop all the reckless been and now inflation is going down and interest rate to come down and that's probably the most important for housing now. >> next question from julie. >> gentlemen, the south is going to get the pieces from to make

major hurricanes. nebraskans are recovering from a summer of devastating weather and at the same time homeowners face rising insurance rates and cost of rebuilding. do you believe climate change is to blame, and what role do you think the government should play in protecting americans fiscally and financially? >> congressman, , a minute and half. >> i do think climate change placeable. is it a a defining role? we could debate. more people living on a coastline so we are more volatile to these hurricanes. we that terrible hurricanes whenever jessica but i've no doubt based on an increase in carbon there is a human factor here. that's why i support multiple ventures to put less pollution in here. i support support nuclear energy. i do, my work to get the solar income, or the solar tax deduction is also when the tax deduction put back in the tax reform law. i want to encourage that. in omaha with 40% of her energy that comes from wind and a proud

of that. also was the founder or the lead republican on the global climate change which would help farmers or incentivize farmers to do more work to do sustainable farming. i'm on a lot of different issues to clean up the environment. when it comes to rebuilding, isolate have at office and at camp ashland draws able to get $4 billion for off-white adding area $48 million for camp ashland. we rebuild those areas come built them up ten to 15 feet higher to make them flood proof. we need to the same kinds of things in sword and other areas and keep learning from disasters and harden the rebuilding so you don't pay as much overtime we have an emergency. >> a minute and have. >> thank you. climate change is real and we have a responsibility to not only slow it but we are needed be contributing to it. i know i did hear the was human

factor. humans are playing a large role in the reason. the reason why the only as a former public school science teacher i taught this to my students. i taught this to my student because it to understand the future of the generation, land and water and all these amazing natural resources is to them whether or protect them. it's also a reason why we need to invest in the kind of jobs and economic opportunities that will take care of the land and water. but it also means that those kind of jobs right now under attack. we have to be more competitive across this globe. we need to invest in the next generation of clean energy jobs that would everything possible to not only raise wages, benefits for nebraskans and for americans but also make sure those jobs are contributing to reducing his climate change. >> rather than just think it's somewhat of a factor. it is an absolute fact and we can do something about it.

i also think it's important when we don't support these kind of american jobs, when congressman bacon voted against the chips act, these are tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of american-made jobs that will make us more competitive against china, make us more competitive and suffer less relied and actually invest in the middle class. >> thank you, congressman. 45 seconds. here's yet another third built tony says he supported that helps fuel inflation. $270 billion bill for one industry, and again he is repeal he said he's voted, he's aboard the bills they gave us the worst inflation. the average taxpayer is 4.2% poor because of the policy tony is championing. i said i was the champion for wind energy. i cut those tax deductions back, solar energy. we should be moving farther ahead of nuclear energy. we should also been doing more with our natural gas. our natural gas is the cleanest in the world. it burned so much cleaner than

coal. also we should look at carbon capture. with coal plants that will be here for a while. let's put the carbon capture technology on and capture pollution before consumer atmosphere. >> senator, 45 seconds. >> the reason i talked about jobs is because this is one of the best ways to address our cost of living and lower the cost for you. this is a reason why i want to invest in clean energy jobs that will make it possible for you to be able to save more. and increase your wages. but i also think it matters that when i mention that congressman bacon does not support of the chips act, our next generation of stem jobs that will create hundreds of thousands of good paying american jobs and make us more competitive across this globe, he has no response and instead wants to continue to claim a lot of misinformation advice about my record. what i've worked on in the

legislature is lowering the cost of going, investing in climate change solutions and doing everything we can for the middle class. next question from bill. >> let's get to this campaign ads we've been seeing. the race for the second district has had a lot of mudslinging. some read by your campaign, some pack sadr supporting or against you. as your chance to set the record straight on one ad in this race. >> senator vargas, a minute and half. >> i don't have enough time for just one ad. look, i believe campaigns should be about democracy. they should be about facts. and what i can say, the envision that support congressman bacon, first, let set the record straight. the authors of project 2025 have stuff in common with congressman bacon. they have planned for them. so don't startle trump. it's clear to the advertisements that they care more about this

power for don bacon keeping it than they care about you. if they did they wouldn't try to scare you because i never voted to increase my salary. i make $12,000 a year as a state senator and identity against the lower your cost of living in his last eight years, $6 billion worth of tax cuts. the fact their time to make it fact that china make it seem like an increased my salary to an astronomical amount when in reality congressman bacon has made more than $2 million as a member that link during this time, is that with this increased to $2 million, $1 million as a member of congress he's made. he continues to vote against working middle-class families. making it harder for you, harder for you to piece of the american dream while he continues to do most of the bidding of $6 $6 million worth of special interest donations coming in because he know he's going to do what they asked him to. so yes, that's setting the record straight on many of these different types of ads.

>> congressman,, , a minute and have. >> i served the military for 30 years earned a pension. tony here is what about me getting that pension. you just taught school for two years. if you would've done 30 years as a teacher like i did in military you would've gotten up agents will. some of these things are your decision i didn't issue of him wanted to double his salary. he spoke on a, proposed to. i'm not the one making at issue. i think i would be more concerned about the fact he took $60,000 from the dark money group, led by mark allies of those listening, google mark allies. mark allies but $60,000 p cover his living expenses. he's under investigation by the fec. it should get more covers because it looks dirty from her there and it is clearly swampy. 2025 no one that i know has ready. he needs specifics. he doesn't give specifics on tax cuts doesn't give specifics and to support 125.

nobody and cards that i know has read it and will never admit it. it's the bogeyman. the issue i probably have most concern on ads the tone and defensive put out is i've always supported life of the above exceptions. i'm going to vote for the nebraska bill as reasonable restrictions on abortion where most nebraskans are at. i'm also going to support those exceptions for rape and incest also for health of the money. i'm glad to clarify that because every survey i filled out i've always talked about protecting life of the mother. >> congressman, thank you. tony vargas you said solemnly. don bacon you sit said aborh the issues you wanted to clarify. you get 30 seconds. 45 seconds. >> look, , it's clear project 25 don bacon doesn't want to read it. i urge you to google project 20 to five and he says he is wristed it. the authors have made clear they have planned for congressman

bacon and as part of project 25 plan it is to ban abortion nationwide. they are taking more of the playbook out of his cosponsorship. he cosponsored full apportionment in the constitution three different times. no exceptions to the life of the mother or for rape or incest. he believes if a 10-year-old is right they should carry to term and he knows better than women and children. we are standing up against his lies because he is concerned and afraid and word you are going hold them accountable. and i'm actually hoping you do so this november. >> congressman, 45 seconds. >> so much baloney with tony tonight. i have voted for life of the mother and it's what the nebraska law. it was to make a clue, as reasonable exceptions with rape and incest and also health of the mother. i've got to tell you something, the 2025 guy works for the foundation can he got fired so what tony just said is obviously not true. the guy got fired.

so he obviously doesn't know. i'll come back to the pay issue. i'm not the guy bring up this paper outside groups are. i think the bigger issue -ism taking $60,000 from a dark money group run by marc elias, look them up, and put in his pockets to quote help him pay his expenses. >> congressman, thank you do you have a chance shortly as senator vargas. next question to julie. >> there are a series of ads acclaimed as a very distinct by between the two of you would come to your stance on how to handle violent juvenile offenders. we would like you to clarify and tell us what your opinion is about our current policing and justice system. >> congressman. >> this is a big issue. we've had three county attorneys and three county sheriffs talk about the rise in juvenile violent crime. overall crime is going down and up out of that but juvenile

violent crime is god of 1700% over eight years. the chief has made a big point about this. our shares say the biggest factor is the -- that belongs to tony vargas that he passed about for five years ago, or security going to actually that made it harder to hold violent juveniles. they sheriffs are saying this. the county attorneys are saying this and i'm quoting them. the number one reason we have a spike in juvenile violence is because of tony vargas a minute. in fact, share of hansen said to make innocent people were murdered and his amendment was a primary reason why. the thing here to ask yourself when you're the law enforcement and you see that tony led a protest in the sum of 2020, still is on the line of the protesters while they were throwing rocks the size of this at the police, hundreds of police were injured during those bad terrible weeks until he was

on the other side protesting them in. i'm so proud the opa, the oman police officers and the others have endorsement. the endorsement unanimously. southern 85 cops come every single one voted me. not a single one for tony because they know who he is. >> senator cardin is a minute and a half. >> i voted for $37 million for law enforcement fund as a member for legislature. i had invested in not only are for law enforcement, by state law enforcement and funding for the ten extenders can also work to make sure protecting the pensions and retirement. congressman bacon you talk a lot about civility. the fact you just told everybody that i led a protest which i did not lead a protest is deplorable. we expect better than you. i always expect better because this community deserves truth rather than hyperbole, not misinformation and it just

shares with you care more about this seat of power and actually keeping this election rather than actually the integrity of being honest. we've had law enforcement offices that event that only supporters of hours, donors of ours, might not been in advertises because they believed that only do i support law enforcement, i will do everything i can to support our public safety. when you talk about the $60,000 that you keep mentioning, this is not only has no merit, it's from dark many groups that brought this initial complaint and there's been no wrongdoing for the work that was paid for. what you continue to do in trying to scare voters and you know exactly what you do, congressman bacon. we will hold you a candle to suffer because this kind of politicking should not be allowed. >> thank you, congressman. >> share of hansen was watching the entire time, leading the

chance against our pleas for people were throwing rocks. he saw people throwing rocks at police, why did he say that why did he leave? even bigger question why did he not protest the minneapolis for the crime that that crime was committed. you should've got up there to protest but he protested our pleas. sheriff hansen watched you the entire time you scream at the entire police. yelling at the police. this is my type. the police are angry at you for a reason. that's why not a single one would vote for you. >> now you may. >> congressman bacon, these last eight years you've been serving, one, it's more important to the public right now that you actually lead with his village you claim you've had this entire time. we saw this in the past debate where i had to stop you because you continued to make gross

generalizations. it's a flat-out lie that i led protests and you know that. but you are so desperate to hold onto power right now. i want to work on behalf of nebraskans. congressman bacon is so concern with this seat in winning it come he say whatever he needs to to be able to win this seat. look, i voted for $37 of law enforcement funding and will continue to prioritize our public safety. >> next question from bill. >> border and immigration is the portable theater platform campaigns by the chance to visit eagle pass, texas, earlier this year and talk with our deployed nebraska national guardsmen. customs and border protection report crossings of the 110,000 for the past two months. the first time they have been that low in more than three years. what is working and what still needs to be changed? >> senator vargas, a minute and half. >> one, we have to do everything

we possibly can to address this issue. border security, immigration reform is critical. i'm a proud son of immigrants and also proud to be the son appends the work incredibly hard, pay their taxes. and the legislature i prioritize public safety but it's an issue that we have to solve now and this immigration crisis is only going to be solved will be a bipartisan solutions that are making it easier for us to stop the four fentanyl, to stop human trafficking, and there was a bill, there was a bill and use senate, a vipers and build but by a republican u.s. senator that could have been passed right now. and if it would've passed it would've been one of the most fundamental steps forward in border security supported by border patrol agents. but it's republicans in congress that stop this. donald trump told every single