Governor eric holcomb, democratic challenger dr. Woody myers, and libertarian challenger donald rainwater. Thank you for joining us and giving person opportunity to hear from you. As you will notice while m werae here at the studio were all in separate spaces due toer safety concerns in light ofra covid19. Despite the separation we look forward to having a robust discussion on the issues tonight. During the first debate my colleague Andrew Downes as candidates about important issues facing pushers. They discussed education, covid19, taxes, the environment, guns and the fundamental role of government. The Debate Commission and i have selected the night questions from hundred of these submitted from hoosiers across the state. The topics have not been shared in advance. The rules for our greater simple. The candidates will be given one minute to make an Opening Statement and then the question will begin. Each candidate as onee minute to respond to each question. Candidates may request the opportunity for a 30second rebuttal embracing their hand. Candidates will answer questions in a rotating quarter that was predetermined by a drawing earlier this month. So lets begin with the Opening Statements. Well be hearing from governor holcomb first. You have one minute to make an Opening Statement. Holcomb thank you, nadia, and good evening to everyone who is watching. Hopefully again. Thank you for joining us. I hope you also express your voice by voting no later than november 3 for all eligible voters, judging by the turnout already many of you already have. Have. I have spent the last four years primarily focused on three key areas. One, putting people first, two am making making sure building and maintaining our infrastructure every which way that wedi connect with each othr and markets. And also focus on making sure we are cultivating this Program Economy we have in india. I would do the same over the next four years and also address any issues that may come our way, covid19, et cetera. I look for to having this discussion tonight. Moderator next well hear from mr. Rainwater. You have one minute. Rainwater thank you, and good evening. In the preamble to the declaration of independence Thomas Jefferson said that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men. Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Last tuesday night governor holcomb made it clear he believes his power comes from the infinite wisdom of the general assembly, and not the people of the state of indiana. I on the other hand, side with Thomas Jefferson. I believe that you the citizens of the state of indiana empower government and not the other way around. I ask you toer join me in doing just that, bring you the power of government backed to the citizens of indiana. Thank you. Moderator and finally well hear from dr. Myers. You have one minute. Myers good evening, everyone and thanks again to the Debate Commission instead dissipates up. If youre listening a week ago i told you that my name is dr. Woody myers, and the physician. Im the former Indiana State Health commissioner, a father and grandfather and if youre listening a a week ago you head us discuss covid19 in some detail. Weg had spent one week apart fm each other but the covid virus has not been silent at all. We have had almost 16,000 new cases in the last week. The Positivity Rate has gone from 13 13 to 23 , and 152 hoos have died just in the last week. We now have about 1700 people in the hospital in the state, virtually a new record. Theres a lot more to do and right now were not getting the response when it from State Government to get it done. Moderator thank you candidates. Now we will go the first question. A voter asked many hoosiers who have to rely on government assistance didnt want to be reliant on the state. In my area great majority of our employers provide an actual living wage for people with withoutng College Degrees has st down. Remaining jobs do not come with a which will support families without assistance. For those of us who get a move to where the jobs are located how will you help to build our local economy so we can break free of government assistance programs . Government assistance programs. Gov holcomb that is a traitor question we wake up every day making sure our state Economic System is growing so to make sure the jobs are everywhere mention last week there weres 109,817 to be exact jobs throughout the state of indiana. 26000 and an average wage of 27 plus. The key is to scale up the hoosiers. And all over the state of indiana to connect with you. Our goal is to move more havenots into the have category. And with social upward mobility and the key for the next decade is to scale up the workforce and it is close. Thank you. We first have to realize that many of the folks mentioned in context of that question are unemployed because the governor shut down the economy. Is a governor of the state of indiana, i will never again some hoosiers are essential and some are not. Some jobs are essential and some are not. What we need to do is reinvigorate the sole Business Community and the family farms in indiana to ensure that hoosier jobs are created by hoosier businesses and those are allowed to stay open in a crisis. Thank you. Myers in indiana we have lost about 5300 manufacturing jobs since january of this year because of the trade policies enacted by the president. Since february indiana has lost 34000 jobs this citation and is 40000 40000 will not come back on or 40 percent we need to do a lot more and education and Economic Development and a new breed of 21st Century Companies to the state of indiana and not depend on those approaches that isnt working anymore. And as we will do in my administration. Host we have a rebuttal. Gov holcomb when we hunker down for about a month in april, i just mentioned the 26000 jobs that have come in four. 9 billion of cap next indiana remains the number one manufacturing in the country. Since 2009 we are number two in the country about 75000 so if technology displaces you we need to scale you up and we have the resources close to you we have a rebuttal. Rainwater we need to ask yourself as a hoosier am i Getting Better economically . What the governor is talking about and talks about scaling up with a Bernie Sander esque style and college all paid for by the state and i think thats the answer. Myers indian is behind including in common a lot of ways. We just have not kept up and that is because the policies republican governors over the last 16 years have not worked. We have to change that. Indiana needs to change at the statehouse and thats the number one target. Host good affordable and reliable internet is still a problem in a rural area. Starting a business at my home next year and having a reliable internet is a big concern. Other voters wrote in bringing up reliable connections and for students who are learning at home and Senior Citizens trying to receive services in order groceries. How you help to expand Broadband Internet to all hoosiers . Rainwater. We need to do is deregulate the broadband industry which would allow new, innovative businesses and technologies to come in and provide the types of broadband in rural areas they are not able to do because they cannot compete with the government monopolies that are here in the state of indiana. And then to create a scenario with better competition and better technologies and more innovation and actually give people the types of services that they need in the private Industry Market instead of pushing that with government funding. Thank you. 50 percent to Small Companies in indiana tell us they dont have sufficient internet. Hoosiers and kids are stay between 70 and 80000 dont have what they need to do their school work one out of five doesnt have broadband or for access to it the program we are put in place just isnt working we have to change our approach 100 milliondollar Grant Program is in the answer to treat the internet as utility its no longer a luxury for someone to have internet its not just for watching a favorite show but also paying your bills and healthcare and paying taxes. Getting your job done if you are a remote worker. Our approach is that it is time for us to do much better than we have. Gov holcomb we didnt wait on this problem they didnt take over 19 to wake us up we started a program to start the biggest tax infusion into state program for telehealth reasons until education and telecommuting. We are doing it before covid19. We also partnering with the corporate sector indiana is about 84 percent still farm or forest terrain. Rocky terrain. We can explain that with the corporate sector weve already done 75 million bringing another 70 million have another 20 million to go in the third round in addition to the 61 million we took to invest in and said you need devices or training to the kids needed . With a 61 million as covid19 came upon the shore. Rainwater hoosiers, what you are hearing our Big Government solutions that involve Big Government programs with the tax dollars taken out of your pocket how you decide where it is spent and put into the pocket of corporations so they can get richer while you still continue to struggle. Thats all these programs are. Thank you. I would it also as protecting the companies of the hundred Million Dollar Grant Program so if the big company is signed up for your area even if you dont have services it doesnt apply. Is time to put real competition into providing Broadband Services and let communities have more options of their internet, not fewer. Gov holcomb hoosiers said they wanted us to find a way to expand the Playing Field to connect students so we dont have to do the homework and a Fast Food Restaurant or drive back to the School Parking lot at 9 00 oclock at night to do the homework so we went out to find a way to pull into the private sector and speed up the development and connectivity. Many voters want to know your position on decriminalization or legalization of marijuana. There are 33 states in the west that have legalize marijuana for medical use should marijuana be decriminalized in the state of indiana . What is your position in our state . First it goes to doctor myers. Myers it is time to decriminalize with cannabis it makes no sense and is also time for us to medical do legalize medical marijuana thats a big step it is important that is now time to take. I have read the literature carefully. Also responding to the cannabinoids which is thc and cbd. And then to prescribe those substances and also to make sure what the veterans with the substances and with those other complications as a result of the service to our nation. Is time for indiana to change. It very clear and consistent when the issue just came up i took a couple for my lifetime one of the United States navy and another sworn into this office and which falls to legalize at the state level why they are yielding at the federal level and to do with this i said i will directly write to the federal government, and we got the best medical school in the university so what about the medical research that the focus group just like any other controlled substance or drug and in the meantime there are alternatives to those who are in pain im not against researching this medically but we need to do this before we can respond in an intelligent way. And with the complete deregulation and legalization of all forms of cannabis. First of all, let me make one thing really really clear. We you the two candidates in a nutshell is to reward big pharma with medical marijuana keeping it from the citizens of indiana and that is wrong. Is plain wrong. We have an economic crisis in our state. And with those retail opportunities for hoosier Business Owners just by legalizing and decriminalizing cannabis and any other discussion needing to research is something that has been around for decades is just misinformation and should be insulting to every hoosier. 34 states have already done the research, governor and coming to the same conclusion that i have is time for a change including our extra neighbors at michigan and illinois and ohio look at the research if we need to. Also good for our farmers in the state of indiana that hemp and corn go very well in the same kind of terrain and soil. That is a winwin along with the tax dollars. I am very suspect about looking to legalize controlled substances for revenue reasons this needs to be medically researched and has not been. And you can have Bank Accounts that went through the process thats exactly the same process any controlled substance needs to go through. Lets be clear about something. The ninth andnd tenth amendmento the constitution of the United States says that anything that is not specifically allocated as an authority to the federal government falls to the states and the people, and it is the governor of the state of indianas responsibility to grab the ninth anddi tenth amendments and tell the federal government when they are overreaching. And i believe that this is one ofhi those times. Thank you. You want to your policy on vaccines to the Covid Vaccine should be made mandated once available and what is the exception for this and other vaccines . Gov holcomb it should not be mandated but should be encouraged when it is safe we look forward to working with them and ime am encouraged by things ive read about therapeutics and vaccines that could roll out in the near term here we want to make sure were ready to rock n roll when it does come to indiana, getting it out to the front line, getting out to the most vulnerable, getting up to our schools and longterm care centers, et cetera. Puts the task force we together already to make sure we can get out as quickly as possible, therapeutics as well. T as quickly as possible, therapeutics as well. Rainwater i have absolutely opposed to mandating vaccine vaccines, masks, business closures, the closures of churches one in violation of the First Amendment for any other government mandate that decides whether or not someone is put at risk. Even if it is tested to be safe will have possible side effects and risks just like most other medicines do. And with that to determine what level of risk they are willing to take or government should not be involved in that decision. Thank you. Vaccines are the most costeffective on costeffective and proven to be lifesavers we know there is no safe and vaccine approved of 19. Clement revenue cdc fda director to be forthcoming they will look at the research and thats the recommendations of the manufacturers and any restrictions so there may be some it is a you would not be recommended. We dont know all side effect profiles were those restrictions but they will be coming. And then how vaccine should be distributed who to prioritize those with existing conditions and indiana Nursing Homes that is where the most risk will be. Lee are fortunate Companies Like eli lilly that working on this very issue with those capability in a state like indiana that has so many care centers. And very proud of the Hospital Network to all come together and are ready for including the Indiana National guard to deploy the vaccine. Indiana infant mortality rate has fallen however the state consistently high for infant mortality. The state department of elses earlier this month infant mortality rate fell in 2018 from six. Five in 2019. The mortality rate a long among black babies and 13 percent through 11. How with the gradual decrease in mortality and what will they do for Maternal Health . Rainwater we need to realize that many of these issues are tied to poverty and Economic Issues to open indiana with reducing the regulations and then to get good jobs or go out and get the type of Economic Opportunity that others get. And this is something we need to work on by a deregulating things, making things easier for Business Owners to create the types of businesses that will give folks what they need to pay for the type of healthcare that will bring that rate down. That is good but it takes us from being the seven poor state to the 15th worst. We are still the third or stay in the United States with maternal mortality. Thirtythree counties in indiana out of 92 considered maternity deserts because theyll have the Services Women need. One of the reasons why we are not making the progress we need to make is because defend the Public Health infrastructure per capita at a level of 38th worst in the nation. All of that has to change. And then the legislature has this issue. This is is 20 its time for us to get this fixed. Other states have succeeded when i indiana . This is when hard work begins i was passionate about what the state of the state address. I dont know how big of a challenge it is. Those closest to people that want to say we just look at the statistics or numbers , what we did is instituting programs and policies to the lowest of recorded history we are moving in the right direction were getting mothers and expected of mothers those with the right level of care. We are there long after the birth him before. And then moving in the right direction and with every demographic no longer is the rate of the counterparts. My children are born. I dont want government there were my children are born. I think we are hearing from both sides is more Big Government where government will take care of the healthcare and how to take care of themselves and that concerns me and i think it should concern you. This is not teen 80 or 1990 numbers this is not the 2000. It is 2020 and we will be in the is it better position in 2024 than we are now. That is because we are compassionate and working with all the stakeholders all over the state of indiana. And then to gather we will save lives because of it. To stay hconditions dcs is s. And with those caseloads and then the list goes on. So the first question goes to doctor myers. Myers dcs have had a lot of troubles indiana ranks second in the child abuse statistics. Kids that have been diagnosed of having child abuse. We rank fifth and deaths. We know the previous head of the agency resigned and discussed because she cannot get the support she needed. We know there are some very dedicated people working and dcs they are not getting the support they need. And we know there are not enough caseworkers to manage the cases that exist today but in part this is fueled by the inadequate response of the state to the opioid crisis. We still have people who are taking opiates and to be neglected and abused. And then to pressure on usher in a culture change but this is where we are moving in the right direction actually the staff turnover frontlines included is down. And then to meet the needs of measures. Also you mentioned adoptions. In the last minute just recognized has a number was in america. For foster kids getting connected with their permanent homes. That truly is something to celebrate now we have to find another 1000 homes for those kids in foster care right now. Rainwater unfortunately the problems of dcs are multifaceted those students are recently. Governor. Imparted in a Consulting Company from georgia because he couldnt find anybody in indiana that were is qualified to recommend how to fix dcs and spend a large part of taxpayer money on a consulting gig and if you turn around who was a Foster Parent are trying to adopt and indiana they will tell you the problems persist in ages through taxpayer dollars out and it didnt fix anything. We need to hold people accountable to make sure we put the Children First and not paying those consultant or vendors first. Were finding more individuals who are willing to adopt. That is good. But the goal should be to make adoption less necessary to take care of the and then to go to the stage we could do more to help families that are struggling in our state if we try and in my administration we will get it done. Gov holcomb just want to say to the frontline workers on the field you are doing the lords work and you are appreciated helping to turn that agency around one agency at the time. And i appreciate the way you consumed to kick the tires, an Incredible Organization everyone can look to to understand the recommendations were experienced and learned and we put this into practice. Host next question comes from selfemployed Business Owner from brazil what about the procedure for processing rape kits their 5000 untested in the state are these the problem . What to help Law Enforcement officers and prosecutors to support Sexual Assault survivors . This is another one of those issues that you can wish it never occurred but it does. Indiana state police in mask has been addressing this and to continue to partner with those local agencies and all 92 counties and getting to the bottom of each and every one of those cases as long as it is done efficiently as well as accurately. The idea that these rape kits have not been tested and still exist is unconscionable. There is no excuse for it. The state of indiana has time and money and resources to do trips to china for example but we dont have the resources to process rape kits. That should not stand for any citizen in the state of indiana. That should be fixed immediately and as governor i will ensure we put a process in place to change that. What hasnt been something that has been around for years as the governor says but something taken care of immediately and i will do it. Myers having 16 years to make this problem go away fed then properly addressed be no question tonight about it. And then to make sure the priorities are straight with respect to the dollars we are spending in Law Enforcement in this particular area and im sure with the proper cooperation the state police and local agencies and the proper application of funding we can get the number down to zero and that would be the priority. In fact it is a good idea to keep tabs on this and in my administration to publish the number of on process kids on a regular basis just to make sure we are cap to our board. Host racial justice. It has reemerged as what about two racial distribute on discriminate on discrepancies . Rainwater thank you week and start by decriminalizing getting people out of jail and prison simply because they possess a planned. And then to be more aware of the disparities in regulation that adversely affect minorities and minorities opportunities and most of these, again our government related because when government oversteps the pounds, it usually does so in a way that adversely affects the minority community. And with having a governor that is working on the himself. It is a big issue we saw the demonstrations the vast majority this summer as a result of the George Floyd Murder we knew criminal justice reforms and dashboard cams we need the footage uploaded to the cloud and bias training for all officers as a routine part of training that a very small percentage of officers that dont follow policy and the vast majority of our officers hurting the reputations of their profession. Yes we do need decriminalization and we do need to make sure we legalize medical marijuana in the state and apply our laws africanamericans in caucasians called substances about the same rate and not get arrested at the same rape four times as much. Those are not taxpayerfunded that comes out of a foundation of privatesector dollars Foreign Investment that is called on showing on this topic that is just raised we are bringing and Third Company to do a review of every agency simultaneously after the election i will have the firstever cabinet level chief officer of inclusion and opportunity the cei oh oh. They will be in charge to remove any barriers or hurdles to address the gaps. Economic empowerment will go a long way we need to look at housing, transportation and all of the above including our training the way we train our officers and we will have body cams next year. Rainwater thank you. The governor of the state of indiana should be personally responsible so that State Government is inclusive and is not derisive. And then commission to come in spending tax dollars and should not be adding bigger government or a new cabinet position, somebody else to do part of his job for him he should be doing that himself. We dont want the state to hire a cei oh oh i will make sure all of my agency heads have this at the top of their agenda from day number one in addition to accomplishing the goals for their agency. Perhaps my opponent need someone to help them understand the issue of fairness and equity but then to be under siege on occasion because of race. And i understand with fairness and equity is all about. What is apparently for my administration with the state can get. Gov holcomb i think its important to know that the way we approach every tough issue over the last four years. Will be the same collaborative consensusbuilding effort come the next four years. And then to continue to work with county prosecutors and the county sheriffs. And working with the general assembly. And to make a lot of progress in the state to be a model of 49 others to look at. Host gerrymander is. With a special district will be be drawn based on the 2020 census. The number of groups that have a nonpartisan commission in the district some offer support prohibiting the use of Election Results and voting records in the district. Do you support either of these ideas so the question will go to doctor myers. And to redraw the lines after the results of the census are in place. With the indiana the journal is simply and those used to describe them and of course they are be created to observe districts and thats just wrong. And to say thats not the appropriate approach. Others have decided is not an appropriate approach and with and then to do the right thing to create an opportunity for fairness in the drawing of district lines. And doing on the basis of natural borders and to do it right. I districts have been looked at by the courts without scrutiny because they have kept communities in tact. And with those nonpartisan and individual, easier said than done. To have different backgrounds and futures to say will go find someone who is not politically active but that is in the eye of the folder. And now charge to them and people from there to make these decisions and they have listed the legal scrutiny. So by the way they are very intact. Rainwater once again the governor seems to have forgotten that in indiana everything is republican and democrat. The indiana election to visit on division is run by a republican democrat bipartisan. But there is actually a Libertarian Party are here everything other than the Debate Commission that is neither republican nor democrat and waited be neutral. So it is possible to find people who do not lean either to the republican side of the democratic side who would be thank you, a rebuttal from doctor meyer. Just as we were able to find nonpartisan moderators for this debate, we can find nonpartisan individuals and its not just one individual, the question was we have a commission . We can find nonpartisan individuals that represent the entire spectrum of political thought in our state and those individuals given the proper task could come up with i think an exceptionally fair way of thinking this through and yes e , we know that it should be done. It can be done and it must be done. Governor holcomb for a rebuttal. Technology helps helped us tremendously keep communities intact and thats what happened. It was referenced members of the party would be nonpartisan. That by definition is just inaccurate. Thank you. Rainwater with a rebuttal. Thank you. I do want topoint out both doctor myers and i are for this , but the candidate who is a member of the party arwith the super majority is against it which tells you where the problem might be. Iq. Thank you. Voters across party linesfrom austin, brazil, edinburgh , roanoke, seymour and warsaw have the same question. You have 30seconds to share your position on daylight savingstime. Should we change our clock , should westandardized the state . What time zone should we choose . You have 30 seconds. This will first go to governor holcomb. I think this has been settled. I had no gray hair before we did. The first go round we sent erthe word out to the world we were going to recognize eastern time zones. Im good with that. We need consistency and predictability and stability and not rehashing. Thank you, mister rainwater. It doesnt matter whether im good with it or not. What matters is whether the citizens of the state of indiana benefit or find detriment in the way things are today and so as governor of the state of indiana, i would look very closely and very carefully at all of the data and all of the facts to figure out how to make sure that the maximum number of citizens are in a situation thatbenefits them. Thank you. Thank you, doctor myers. Im old enough to remember the days when in indiana you never had to change your clocks and everybody else was off. I looked back at those with some fun this but this is an issue that is one where youre never going to make anybody happy. I can make arguments on both sides of it. I think its appropriate to look at the data, to really look at the opinionsof hoosiers but i dont see an immediate need for that to evolve through the top of the agenda. We have a rebuttal from governor holcomb. Just been there, done that and id say this issue and interest is borne out at the county level. It will take legislative leadership and a gubernatorial leadership if wwe were to address this in terms of the state. It comes to your desk ultimately. We have a rebuttal from mister rainwater. Just briefly, fellow hoosiers, this is something that many people have asked me about, many show concern and yousee that your income the governors attitude has been there, done that. Now its time for our final tquestion of the evenin. This final question each candidate has around 30 seconds to respond. The question is this. What do you believe is the Biggest Issue affecting hoosiers lives today and how does your platform plan to address this issue. Mister rainwater you will be answering this question first, you have 30 seconds. I believe the Biggest Issue today is are you experiencing government by your consent and are you better off today than you were 4 years ago. At the bottom line, holds. We as hoosiers have to decide are we happy with Big Government or do we want our individual freedoms back under a rainwater administration, we will bring hoosiers freedoms. Thank you. Doctor myers, you have 30 seconds. As governor my number one issue will always be public safety, and under that umbrella we will have Public Health, criminal justice reform, those things that keep hoosiers say. I make no apology for that, im a physician. Im a former state health commissioner, i understand the connection between the economy between the environment and health care and we can make them all Work Together , synergistically in the state. If we change the Governors Office leadership in the state. We had 16years of failed republican leadership. Its time for a change. Thank you, governor holcomb, you have 30 seconds. I said in the research them in nightgown indiana when we set sail on his reelection endeavor that we were going to run a different kind ofcampaign. It was going to be all positive all the time. Solution oriented. Weve done just that. Based on the foundation of civility. The Biggest Issue i think using the state of indiana and every other state in the nation is how we are able to scaleup our workforce. The scale and the pace of faster than its ever been. I look forward to another four years and wewill work hard to earn your vote. Candidates, on behalf of the indiana Debate Commission thank you for participating in tonights debate. The commission is a Nonprofit Organization that depends on many affiliates to make these events possible. Those include w fyi which produced and hope hosted the debates this year and are major sponsors, aarp indiana and indiana broadcasters association. I, thanks to all of you and our audience of voters for submitting questions and for watching or listening. Now its time to make your voice heard in the voting booth. For the indiana Debate Commission, im nadia lamb, good night. For Live Programming later today with a discussion on what to expect on election day including how long it could take to get results from states and other possible accounting and reporting challenges. Its from the bipartisan policy center, live coverage at 2 pm eastern on cspan2 or listen on the free radio. With five days left until election day on november 3 when Voters Decide who will control congress and occupy the white house. Stay with cspan, watch campaign 20 20 coverage every day on cspan, stream or ondemand at cspan. Org or listen on the radio Amy Coney Barrett your place for an unfiltered view of politics. American history td exploring the people and events that tell the american story every weekend. Coming up for election day november 3 , we look at president s and president ial elections. Saturday at 10 pm eastern on real america, they look at four films to explain the american electoral system. The election of john f. Kennedy, president of the United States. Richard m nixon , and election 1976. Day of decision on sundayat noon eastern. The final president ial debate between Vice President al gore and governor george w. Bush. 2 30 p. M. Eastern the first president ial debate between george w. Bush and senator john kerry. At 8 pm eastern on the presidency, university of Mary Washington street Professor William holly on the personality, leadership and achievements of franklin roosevelt. Exploring the american story. Watch American History td this weekend on cspan3. With a week to go before election day First Lady Melania Trump held her first in Person Campaign event to stop in pennsylvania with former white house counselor leanne conway. This runs minutes
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