Transcripts For CSPAN Capitol Hill Hearings 20130926

[captioning performed by national captioning institute] on the next washington congressman Lynn Westmoreland and georgia talks funding of theop healthcare law. And representative from illinois discusses a debate over a possible Government Shutdown. From themacher National Journal on capitol hill. And Charles Clarke of the Government Executive Media Group examined the effect the shop Government Shutdown would have on the public at large. Washington journal is live every morning at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. The book tells a story. It tells the story of a Nuclear Weapons accident in damascus, arkansas, that occurred in 1980, and i used that story, that narrative, as a way of looking at the management of our Nuclear Weapons, really since the First Nuclear device was invented in 1945. And i hope to remind readers that these weapons are out there , that they are still capable of being used, and that theres probably no more important thing that our government does then manage them. Because these are the most dangerous machines ever built. The subject has fallen off of the radar quite a bit since the end of the cold war. Want to heardo not together Nuclear Weapons and accidental detonation. Erictigative journalist schlosser on commandand control sunday night at 9 00 on afterwords on cspan2. Also this month, booktvs online club is reading this town. Get involved to post your comments on facebook and twitter. The candidates in virginias governors race, the second of three planned debate yesterday. The Fairfax Chamber of commerce and nbc 4 washington hosted democrat Terry Mcauliffe and republican Richard Nelly can cuccinelli in mclean, virginia. This is an hour. Good evening, im chuck todd, unwelcome to the janitorial debate between republican Ken Cuccinelli and democrat Terry Mcauliffe posted by Fairfax Chamber of commerce and nbc 4 and this debate is across nbc stations across the commonwealth and also nationally on cspan and streaming live on nbc washington. Com. I want to begin by quickly covering the roles of tonights. The debate will a lap dance will last one hour and will begin with twominute Opening Statements debate will last one hour and will begin with twominute Opening Statements. Questions are determined by nbc news and the panelists and have not been reviewed by the candidates of the fairfax channel. Each candidate will have one minute and 30 seconds to respond and the candidate answering first will have an additional one minute response. I as moderator will reserve the right to followup as needed. Finally, we will conclude the debate with one minute closing statements. There is a device that will notify candidates of their remaining time and wind time has expired in an interest to cover as much ground as possible we asked candidates to adhere to the time limits so we dont have to become timekeepers. Now, lets welcome our panel is pretty julie cary, nbc 4 Northern Virginia bureau chief who has been covering virginia politics for 20. Ben hur shane covers the d. C. , maryland, and Virginia Political scene for the Washington Post he joined it as a congressional blogger after a decade at capitol hill newspaper roll call. Least, aaron gilchrest, coanchor of news 4 today. He has covered for virginia governors. Now lets welcome the candidate for governor. The former chairman of the Democratic National committee, Terry Mcauliffe, and the attorney general of the state of virginia commonwealth of virginia, of course, republican Ken Cuccinelli. Lets have a round of applause. [applause] mr. Mcauliffe, by virtue of an earlier coin toss, you will go first with your twominute opening statement. Thank you, chuck, and thank you to the fairfax team for hosting us tonight and for all virginians watching at home. I would like to recognize my wife or people who is here for me tonight. For the last two decades we have been raising our five children here in Fairfax County. The choice in this race is simple, which candidate is going to govern from the mainstream, work with both parties, and focus on those Economic Issues that virginians are concerned about. Campaign, i have proposed Commonsense Solutions on issues of education among transportation, and workforce development. I have also been proud to earn the support of so many prominent republicans, many of whom have never supported a democrat before. The Bipartisan Coalition that we have assembled during this campaign reflects the approach that i would take as governor, following in the successful model of mark warner. Just a few weeks ago, my opponent changed his campaigns have to and his tactics. Probably because he was concerned that a number of republicans were no longer supporting his campaign. The result has been a sharp increase in the most personal of attacks. Theyve been called a deceitful and false by the press. Kindsxpect more of those of attacks tonight. But what virginians do expect from us is to hear how we are going to bring folks together in richmond. With the department of defense drawing down its overall spending and now with the sequestration, the next governor will face serious economic headwinds. We cannot afford the next four years in richmond to be like the last four in washington. Read lock, driven by the tea party, is once again risking a Government Shutdown that would be devastating to the virginia economy. In virginia, we have a strong record of working together, democrats and republicans, and with the challenges that lie ahead, we must embrace the tradition of Mainstream Solutions. We need those solutions now more than ever. And that is what i look forward to talking with you tonight. Thank you, mr. Mcauliffe. I would like to thank the chamber and nbc 4 for hosting us today and the panel for the visitation and terry for being here as well. It is nice to be right near the back yard where i grew up. Im the only candidate in this race with a lifetime of fighting for virginians, whether preventing sexual assault, helping the homeless are working to help those suffering from Mental Illness, a passion of mine for more than a decade and a half. Ive also served as a government for over 10 years and i know how it works. Im the only candidate in this race who will not need onthe job training if you elect me your governor this year. In this campaign, my opponent has a lot of time telling you why you shouldnt vote for me as governor, but not much time telling you why you should vote for him. You may not always agree with me and this race, but you always know where i stand and why i hold the positions that i do. To economics competitiveness, job creation, and higher education, i know we can all Work Together to make virginia a better place to live with lasting results. But it takes a governor who will fight for those issues and not for their own self interest. Where does my fight come from . Well, my italian grandfather didnt have more than a six grade education. He was one of the toughest, hardest working folks ive ever known, whether it was as a welder or in a scrapyard where he worked for years, or as a bareknuckle boxer during the depression probably his toughest job of all. He was proud to work to support his family. And today, ordinary folks all over virginia, like my grandfather, want nothing more than to share in the dignity of work. And i have a plan that will create 58,000 new jobs here in virginia. Reading jobs, fighting for the middleclass, and fighting for a good education for our children our priorities to my campaign and will be for my governorship. Ive proposed a detailed policy ideas for each. And ill begin on day one fighting to put those ideas into cap action if youll elect me november 5. You guys were pretty good there. Only about five seconds over for both of you. I am pleading with you tonight that that was your talking points and try to answer our questions. Let me begin. It will be a similar question for both of you, but mr. Mcauliffe come you get the first question. Nearly 20 million has been spent on tv ads in the race and 75 of them have been negative. I want each of you to respond to the stereotypes you have been trying to create about the other. Arestereotype of you as you an operator, cheerleader more than a legislator as governor or governor, that you dont have the relevant experience and you are a man in a hurry who is willing to use political connections sometimes in very high places to take shortcuts. Your response. Who grew upung man in syracuse, new york. I started my First Business when i was 14 years old, because i had to help pay for college. I have been involved in a number of businesses and that time. Chairman of the bank by the age of 30, built thousands of homes. I have been involved in a wide variety of different businesses. I want to bring the business approach, that business experience. I think it is important to have someone in the Governors Office who has those business experience, understand the ups and downs of businesses, understands that risk is inherent in our economy, and is willing to put everything into make sure we grow and diversify our economy. The sequestration, with budget cuts we have seen and the department of defense with 500 the stimulus is over. The next governors real challenge is how do you grow and diversify our business question mark how do we create new Economic Activity . Dorothy and i would love to have our five children stadium virginia. But in order to stay in virginia, we need to have those jobs of the 21st century, cybersecurity, nanotechnology, bio life violate sciences. Those are what we need to do to grow our economy. Now we have a lot of different hats. There are differences between us. My opponent has spent most of his career in a social ideological agenda. He has pushed personhood legislation which would outlaw most forms of contraception, which would make the pill illegal in virginia. He believes the board of health that would shut around the Womans Health centers. Women are 50 of the work or said the united egg, you cannot grow an economy by putting up walls im going to stop you there. You have 90 seconds the response. Well in this race, of course we got our ads on television. I point you to the kind of ads weve been running. Right now you all can see the ad that i am very proud of. One about thomas hainsworth, he rolled the record of virginia for serving more time in prison what is it then anyone in the history of the commonwealth. And he is out today on a 64 vote on our court of appeals because i took that case and 64. His side, and we won 55 is a loss. You know, thats the kind of story we are trying to tell, chuck, and this race. Thats the orient am proud of. I think there are reasons not to vote for mr. Mcauliffe or governor. We make that case as well. But we have a positive record to look back on in my case. Weve done a great job in the Attorney Generals Office fighting Health Care Fraud, internet predators. Weve worked even with capital one, as we sit here on some justice issues, just as access issues. Those are things near and dear to my heart. That is where we focused in this race. Im the only candidate whos gotten both the Major Business endorsement so far and this race, from the Northern Virginia Technology Council tax packs , and from virginia Small Businesses, has endorsement as well with their 55 hundred smallbusiness members. They obviously think my preparations and my plans for growing the economy here in virginia is best not just for them, but to make virginia a better place to live and raise a family. Mcculloch, as you get your 60 seconds to respond, i want you to deal with this issue. The newime said to york times that ive met all my business contacts through politics. Its all interrelated. We looked at it and a lot of it is political times. After all the ethical woes going on right now in richmond with the current governor, why shouldnt it give the voters pause that there could be some ethical unquestionable and questionable deals. Well, ive spent a lot of my life thats volunteering politics. Im committed, passionate. I started my First Business at a very young age, which was successful. I want to bring that business its parents. But listen, i stand by everything ive done in my life. I am very proud of my accomplishments. Dorothy and i decided to move to virginia about 21 years ago because we knew that it was the best place we could raise our family. But there is a difference when the attorney general who is in the middle of a Star Scientific scandal, the same gentleman who gave all the kids to the governor gave my opponent 18,000 worth of gifts. Star scientific, they owe virginia about 1. 7 million dollars. And instead of taking them to court, ken was being taken two trips to new york city, he got a 1500 turkey dinner. I said, thats a lot of turkey. And he was using his house. The taxpayers of virginia were owed that money and that of going and collecting what was our money, my opponent was actually taking gifts from this gentleman and he was buying stock and was not disclosing. We will get to that. Cuccinelli, the second official question, talking about the stereotype painted of you. That you will use her governorship to push a social agenda on abortion, gay rights, even on climate change, that you would be a governor simply for conservatives and you would not consider those who are liberals or moderates in your governing. Your response to the stereotype . I think one of the best responses to this is the broad array of supports we are getting from democrats, independents, and bipartisan groups like your Virginia Technology council tech virginia, then Small Businesses across virginia and the National Federation of independent businesses. The farm bureau, belize. Re getting a broader way broad array of support across virginia because i look forward well thought out plans that start with an understanding of how virginia Government Works and that we can move those plans forward because people can look at my record and say that what i campaign on is what i pursued. And as attorney general, right here in Fairfax County, fighting against overreaching regulations on a bipartisan basis with a fairfax board. We see in Fairfax County taxpayers and virginia taxpayers million. 0 look, i have some basic belize that are fundamental to me. But overwhelming proportion of my time as attorney general has been spent moving virginia forward economically and protecting liberty and our constitution. That is something you can continue to expect from me as your next governor. Someonearison here is who has told the New York Times that you help me, i help you. Thats politics. Heking about a case where was an unindicted coconspirator in a teamsters election Money Laundering case. If terry is elected governor, we will have to change the state motto to quid pro quo. In the Washington Post i have an article about how his higher ed policy changed on a dime when he got certain support , some of them republican, that kind of trading off without thinking through the policies particularly in an area that is going to make colleges let available to virginia and we had a bit of an error there. Was onlow the time that your table but you actually got a little more time. Seconds, mr. Out 95 mcauliffe. My opponent has been the attorney general. He has run a jobs on transportation. He gets into office and he runs on an service with an ideological agenda. Whether Womens Health centers where he believed the board of health. He sponsored personhood legislation that would outlaw most forms of contraception and would make the pill illegal. He referred to gay virginians as selfdestructive and soulless human beings. He was one of three attorney generals when the violence against women act was being reauthorized in the United States congress, or to seven attorneyerals general signed a letter, violence against women, not controversial, and he is one of three he refused to sign it. It has been a pattern. His attackelates to on gay virginians, when he was an attorney general who sent a letter to every college and university saying he they can provide no protections of discrimination based on Sexual Orientation against professors and students. Who was aboutan, to move their National Headquarters to virginia, it was between yelena virginia, obviously the employees squawked at that. What happened . Governor Bob Mcdonnell had to interject himself to stop as attorney general and say that deal. 300 highpaying jobs were right up the street from where we are today. There are consequences to this meanspirited attack on Womens Health, on gay virginians. If were going to build a new economy in virginia, were going to do it by bringing everybody together. Mr. Cuccinelli, as you prepare your 62nd response to mr. Mcauliffe, i was hoping you would also respond to what the republican Lieutenant Governor bill boling said about you and the entire republican ticket. Is that it is the most ideologically driven ticket that the gop has ever put forth. And he is worried that it is pushing way mainstream voters. What do you say . He stepped out of my race, by a lot of measures, hes more conservative than i am. So, i think that he has some comments based on not being in this race. The Northrop Grumman charge is false. The fullest comment is offensively soulles comments is offensively false. The kind of comment he opened his remarks are coming from Terry Mcauliffe. You are seeing the ads, they are overwhelmingly negative, unbelievably false, and no one up here, no one up here has done more to protect women, which is a focus of his attacks, then i have. Whether it was back when i was an engineering student at uva and a friend of mine was sexually assaulted. My response was to start a new organization that is still functioning their to protect young women at uva. It was the first of its kind in the country. We run multiple Domestic Violence programs in the Attorney Generals Office. And we started from rats fighting human trafficking. And we have done a great job of from scratchted fighting human trafficking. You proposed lending more money on teacher salaries, prek education and community colleges. We have not heard quite enough specifics to put an exact price tag but im wondering how exactly would you pay for that especially if the General Assembly does not approve medicated stanchion . Question. Portant what i have said is responsible budgeting. First of all, when im governor, were going to look at the efficiencies we can bring to government and then were going to Work Together to get that Medicaid Expansion. If we dont get the Medicaid Expansion, and we cant bring in the efficiencies, then i agree with you. Theres not money to be spent. I think it is prudent budgeting first determine how much money you have. Then when you have it, then you can apply it to your priorities. This is a difference. My opponent has proposed a one point still 1. 4 billion tax cut per year. He doesnt say how hed pay for it. Just the other day, his Lieutenant Governor said ew jackson and Ken Cuccinelli want to get rid of the Corporate Jet Corporate Tax in virginia. Let me tell you what would happen to our budget. You will see hundreds of millions of dollars coming out of education. You could see thousands of teachers being laid off. At a time that we need to compete on a global basis, as i talked about cybersecurity and all those very important to businesses, were not going to be able to do that because money will come out of education. Its important for me to have the Medicaid Expansion. My budget, ibout say it is important to figure out how much money do you have and then you prioritize and put the money in. It is planned, 1. 4 only in dollars a year, doesnt say how hed pay for it. Former republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Said it will put it to canada the budget. The idea you could cut 6 billion out of the budget, get rid of the Corporate Income tax, not take the Medicaid Expansion, he didnt want the transportation 6 billion time up. Mr. Cuccinelli, you have 90 seconds to respond. Hard to find inefficiencies in a government you dont understand. And Terry Mcauliffe doesnt know how virginia Government Works. He doesnt understand the issues related to virginia government. He can talk at the stop line level like anybody couldve they read a few talking points. But he doesnt know how virginia Government Works. This came out in the nvcc tech pac interviews. And it wouldnt have if he didnt try to bully them out of their endorsement. But he did. And there was reporting on it. And people noted that i understood the issue and he didnt. I was a serious candidate when it comes to the subject matters that matters to them, and terry wasnt. If you dont start with that fundamental baseline knowledge, you dont have an easy time finding inefficiencies. Folks, governor is not a good entrylevel job. But thats what it would be for terri. Terry i already know what works well. And there are things that work very well in virginia government. And theres plenty of them. But there are areas where we need to do much, much better. I would point to medicaid. Not the expansion, medicated self. One of the biggest parts of our budget. We are one of the best Health Care Fraud fighting offices in the whole country, my office. I learned an awful lot about how medicaid works and doesnt. And we can do a whole lot better. Just to talk about one area, to make a more efficient, to make it serve virginias poor better than it does today. But i am the only one prepared to do that and who has a plan that balances the budget. When you give your six second response, mr. Mcauliffe, you didnt give a price tag. You have been running for government for four years. Why can you give us a price tag on what you want what spending you want to expand . First of all, i want prek and Early Childhood development. I think that is important. I talk about what we need to do on teacher pay. We need accountability. Ive called for a total reform of the sols. They didnt work in the present form. We dont have accountability. Our students are being taught to memorize. Teachers are being taught to take tests. Thats not right. Thats not how you build the cognitive mind creative reasoning. We need to be involved in the process early to make sure that we have progressbased data, not these memorization tests. I talk about community colleges. But, chuck, the key is going to be Medicaid Expansion. My opponent does not want it, i wanted. It is bipartisan. The Fairfax Chamber theres jim corcoran in the front while front row the Fairfax Chamber supports the Medicaid Expansion. The Virginia Chamber of commerce supports the Medicaid Expansion. We are going to bring back to virginia over the course of the next seven years . 1 billion of our money that were paying in. Why would we not bring it back you dont have a price tag . Important, 32,000 jobs created this is so important i just want to clarify, no price tag. Wicks this is why it is important, to determine at first what you have. The next lesson for mr. Cuccinelli. As mentioned, your economic plan cuts taxes by 1. 4 billion when it is fully and lamented and he proposed a commission to find ways to pay for the big tax cut. How do you respond to virginians who say i am not i am voting for a governor, not voting for a commission. Isnt leadership about providing some specifics, in this case, on tax breaks and loopholes that would go away . Yes, my tax relief plan was designed to spur job growth, more job creation, put more money in the hands of our businesses so they can reinvest familys in our budget. It has been analyzed and found to grow about 58,000 jobs if we can fully implemented. Low when theude personal income tax to five percent, to business and the context of four percent and by the way, i would note, North Carolina two months ago passed a package where their business income tax will be half of ours if we dont act. Even if we achieve the goals ive set out of getting down to four percent they will still get theirus if they meet revenue estimates. My friend, doug dantzler, on the other side of the river Just Announced for governor in maryland, is talking about the fact that virginia is eating marilyn alive in this front and they need to bring their taxes down to compete with us. Virginia is eating maryland alive. To compete and do it effectively. Ill eliminate about 15 of corporate loopholes and tax breaks that dont work as well as the other 85 . And will also cap growth and spending at about three and a half percent to pay for this package. This isnt the federal government. We dont print money. The Washington Post gave my opponents of the pinocchios for the statement you heard tonight that he has no way to pay for it. We have put a process in place that will accomplish the financial goals we need to to do the tax cuts. 90 seconds. If you take the attorney generals plan, virginia will be and financial ruin. He did not support the governor on the bipartisan transportation bill. I was all in. 6 billion were going to be able now to spend on transportation. When everybody drove in here to this beautiful hall you went underneath the new silver line, which my opponent said his the only statewide official, against and at against it and he said he would kill it after it was halfway completed. I talk about education. This is so important. We need to invest in education. His tax plan takes 6 billion out of the budget over the course of the next four years. He and ew jackson believe we should also get rid of the Corporate Income tax. He doesnt want the Medicaid Expansion. It is called for the end of the department of education. We cannot grow a 21stcentury economy. We cannot be the global leaders. We need to replace with sequestration weve all seen the numbers. We know what his tax plan would do to the local communities. Sharon the front row what it would mean to Fairfax County to be losing this revenue. What it would mean to sharon and then Fairfax County loss of teachers at a time we should be investing in our teachers, and vesting in our stem courses, science, technology, engineering and math. You can do it. His plan literally would force us to lay off thousands of teachers. As i say, vince callahan, the former chairman of the House Republican Appropriations Committee came out and said it would put a hole in our budget. Senator mark warner came out the other day. Your 62ndprepare response, you just said loopholes. We all hear that. We dont know what it is. It sounds like you are afraid to tell us what you are thinking about cutting because it is two months before the election. Chuck, what were going to do with the loopholes and exemptions is ranking them. We all know what they are. They have been identified. What are they . What theres literally scores of them. And the standard of eliminating one is what is critical here. Doing is giving money to a business interest, thats not something thats working for the people paying for it, which is the taxpayers of virginia. If instead out of the tax credit we get other economic benefits that return to the people to mock virginians people, paying for it, thats a tax credit to keep. Those are the ones that we want to grow in our economy. But on a bipartisan basis, weve got to be able to find at least 15 , thathem, about dont perform and do not meet the standard. That is all we need to do to get the 58,000 job rating tax plan in effect. I am the only candidate with a plan to grow jobs, other than say the word jobs repeatedly. Julie, the next question for mr. Mcauliffe. The tragic shooting at the navy yard has once again cast a spotlight on gun laws. Mr. Mcauliffe, as part of your plan to strengthen virginias cities, you say you support universal background checks, limiting the size of magazines, the return to one gun a month purchase role but missing from the list is an assault weapons ban, something you said as recently as december of 2012 that you supported. First, have you changed your mind about an assault weapons ban, and secondly, how big a priority would you make it a governor to change virginias gun laws . I have not changed my mind. A very pertinent question for tonight. Obviously after the tragedy we just had the navy yard, the tragedy we had a virginia, overwrought, newtown, connecticut, as a father and as a husband, i can speak for everyone in the audience. When we drop our children off at school and we dropped our loved ones off at work, we want to know that there are going to be safe, that our communities are safe. It is so important. That is why i am for responsible gun ownership. I have called for universal background checks. The opponent doesnt support that. Thea strong supporter of second amendment. I am a hunter. I own guns. I have gone through background checks. They take just a couple of minutes. We have a gigantic loophole in virginia. You can buy guns through mail order. You can go to these gun show loopholes. There are certain individual to just should not own a gun. There are individuals who have Mental Illness. I think it is such a critical issue for us. How many people have to be killed until we wakeup to have sensible gun ownership . Now, i was very dismayed with the United States senate this year. 91 of americans support universal background checks. Refused to even bring it up for a vote. Pushgovernor, im going to. Most importantly, we need universal background checks for everyone. Your 90you address in seconds why all of the recommendations from the Virginia Tech review have not been implemented, including background checks . Of course, the tragedy at Virginia Tech led us to look at a lot of things. And for those of you who know me, you know i have been deeply involved in working with people suffering from Mental Illness for years. And one of the common themes in the most public tragedies is that we are dealing with it will suffer from Mental Illness. Though, the you, more common tragedy in Mental Illness is day to day, one person at a time, that you dont read about in the paper. It is a suicide. Its a family struggling and they are at their wits end to try and get one of their family members on a path to recovery and sustainability. Control to found gun affect that, to be effective in that area. What weve done in virginia is we have become the number one a per capita in screening out people with Mental Illness from gun purchases. We are the best date at that in the country the best state in that in the country. We are also the number one state that i am aware of the department of justice does not keep data on all of them in terms of prosecuting people who attempt to buy guns illegally. That is the best way to enforce our gun laws, is to be aggressive and proactive. I am running against the only f rated candidate from the nra. I support the second amendment, it deserves support, but i will continue to focus on what i believe the main source of this problem is and that is the result Mental Health issues. He absolutely said nothing to that response as it relates to gun control. Believe ine both investing in Mental Illness and Mental Health, what we need to do. I can tell you this, without a Medicaid Expansion money, theres not a penny for any new investment in Mental Health. With this tax plan that would take all this money out of the budget, theres not a penny. So, its really just talk. No whatever rating i may get from the nra, im going to stand here and tell you today that as a governor i want to make sure that every one of our citizens in the, what of virginia are safe. Every one of our children, when they go into a classroom, should know that they are safe. Loved onese of our goes into work, what happened at the navy yard the other day is continued pattern of whats going on. We need to eliminate guns from the folks who should not own guns. There are many reasons why individuals who are dangerous, who have an issue of mental. Llness and a background check, ive done it, it takes 2, 3, 4 minutes. We will do a pause here for a brief commercial break and were going to be right back with many more questions for the candidates for governor of virginia. And after the debate you can join me and the news normal news 4 Northern Virginia bureau kerry for a special google hangout on nbc washington. Com. Well be right back. [applause] [applause] inwe are back live here mclean with the two candidates for governor virginia, Terry Mcauliffe and Ken Cuccinelli. Youre both going to get 90 seconds the response. It has to do with the stuff going on across the potomac. It just a few miles away, the possibility of a Government Shutdown, which would affect thousands of virginians as you both know. So a quick 90 seconds. Do you support ted cruzs effort to use any means necessary to implementation of president healthcare law . And mr. Mcculloch, do you think president obama has shown the right leadership to resolve the stalemate . If the commit mr. Cuccinelli, you first. First of all. Im a Northern Virginia, i lift up your my whole life. None of us want to see a Government Shutdown. It would not be good for america. We already seeing in the virginia economy the problems associated with the uncertainty of federal budgeting as it is, with the Northern Virginia and in southeastern virginia and hampton road area. It is causing all sorts of problems here in virginia. As i am running for governor, i want to tell you it is not the kind of thing you would see happen in a cuccinelli governorship as we put together a virginia budget. Last weekend,o, my opponent repeatedly said he would not find a virginia budget that did not have the Medicaid Expansion in it. And you have heard him here tonight talk over and over and over about how this basically is funding mechanism for everything he wants to do. So its clear hes very committed to the Medicaid Expansion. I understand that. But it is not the beall and endall of virginia budgets, particularly if you are willing to shut down virginia government just to get the Medicaid Expansion, which he said repeatedly he wont sign a budget without the Medicaid Expansion in it. Disagree with him on Medicaid Expansion, but this is not an appropriate tactic for virginia. This is a washington tactic aired and if you like the way washington works, you will like a governor mcauliff. If you dont think washington works right, if you think it is dysfunctional, as i do, then i am your candidate in this race. He did not answer the ted crude portion. The sort ofed filibuster today and at some point youve got to vote. You do not support what he is doing . I would like to see obamacare pulled out of federal law but we have to keep moving forward. Has president obama shown the right leadership . Lexi are both talking about this we are trying to the question is whether you think president obama has shown great leadership. No government will be shipped on the virginia over the Medicaid Expansion. I will work in a bipartisan way to get it done. That is why over a dozen former republican legislators will endorse my candidates have endorsed my candidacy. Many of whom have never endorsed a democrat before. In virginia beach, the republican mayor of the largest city of virginia, who has never endorsed a democrat in his life endorsed our candidacy. I know six of the seven mayors and hampton roads. Why . Because we Work Together to get things done. We will not have a Government Shutdown. The only one on this page that almost had the effect was Ken Cuccinelli. When he almost derailed the whennia barlett budget, he tried to defund planned parenthood. He is the only one on stage would actually try to shut down the government. I think it is a disgrace what is going on in washington. I placed a pox on everybodys house, it is not working. Uestration should never these issues we have going supposed to be so onerous that it would never happen and now it happening. Ot what is these things should never be used as bargaining chips for our budget. Until they get it resolved, i say shame on everybody. President ng the question mark shame on everybody and delegates them. Julie has the next question. We will talk a little bit more about medicaid. As everyone knows, next week in roll in for the new healthcare exchanges begin. Mr. Cuccinelli, and we all know you are formally as you are firmly against virginia expanding medicaid to get Health Care Coverage for a family of four making 32,000 500 a year what do you say to those low income virginians who would not be able to get medicaid coverage with governor cuccinelli but couldnt they simply lived across the potomac in maryland or the district . Well, i understand, julie, that right now we have an approximately a million virginians in poor families in our medicaid program. And it can work a lot better for the folks who are in it. A 40 expansion of medicaid is not the way to help them make better. Broador mcdonnell made a took a broad view of government reform. I have a narrow and deep view, and it focuses on vodot and dmas. I have had a awful lot of time as their attorneys to spend learning about those two agencies. Theres an awful lot more we can do there. Earlier kerry said we cant move money around medicaid. Well, yes, actually we can. We can address Mental Health more if we move money from one Waiver Program to another within medicaid, if thats our priority. System for the medicaid we have now to work better for the people in it. There are ways to do that. We are losing doctors and nurses and medical practices. We are trying desperately to keep them in. That is a tremendous struggle for us. I believe we ought to lower the liability for medical practices for those who are working in our medicaid program, like our Good Samaritan standard that we have for doctors, for instance, that, cross accidents. This is below cost medical care that we are getting from virginias poor. Overwhelming the system we have now that is struggling as it is is not a way to get good health care. As we discussed, this Medicaid Expansion is very important. It is supported in a bipartisan, it is mainstream. Lets be clear. We should walk through the numbers very quickly. Beginning next year, 400,000 virginians will get access to quality, lifesaving care. Number two, this is our money. It is now the law of the lien. 29 other states have agreed to accept it. Some very conservative governors have agreed to accept it. We are bringing back and as Lieutenant Governor boling said the other day we will pay 26 billion over the next 10 years into the federal government. A 1ouldnt we bring on billion of our money back into the virginia economy to turbocharge our economy, use that money to bring more efficiency to the Health Care Delivery system, make it more costeffective . If we dont take Medicaid Expansion money, many of our r a ral hospitals to be jeopardized. The federal dish payments, disproportionate share of payments, that is slowly being ended. So today was a low income individuals who goes to a hospital, they get reimbursed by the federal dish payments. That may go away. In addition, it frees up the next eight years, 800 million in the general fund, which we can use our priorities. But i go back to the point he continually goes to these big federal issues but he was absent on one of the most important federal issues that we had. The reauthorization of the violence against women act dared he was one of the attorney generals in our nation that refused to sign a letter. 47 other attorney generals. I dont know why he would not want virginia women protected against violence. First of all, unlike my opponent, i do my homework. I called congressman ryan about the federal match that we are promised the reigning down money that terry is relying on to Fund Everything hes promising everyone overall of virginia. And congressman ryan told me, it doesnt matter whether democrats are in charge up here or republicans, we dont have the money in the federal government to meet these matches that are proposed in the federal health care bill. So, the question then becomes for a state, when we are thinking of getting in, whether you trust that the money will be very even if you have a plan to fund the state share, which my opponent does not. I am not willing to risk virginias budget when the federal government is already taking the position, many of them taking the position, that they cant afford it, even if they wanted to. When thisn our budget is fully implemented now is 200 million a year. That will explode when they dont fund it at the federal level. Thank you. Arun has the next question for mr. Mcauliffe. Wax the new poll shows 52 of urgent ofa new poll shows 54 virginia voters support gay marriage. You are among those who support that. But you say the legislature would not be able to overturn the state ban on gay marriage. Why not use the office to lead on the issue . We certainly could. I do have some tremendous challenges because of the issues of economic development, job creation that i need to focus on. But i have come out for marriage equality. Irish catholic kid growing up. Dorothy and i spend a lot of time discussing this issue. What really turned it for us is probably the dont ask, dont tell. The idea that we could send our men and women across the globe to fight for us and then they come back and they dont have the same equal opportunities and equal rights, i just think was plain wrong. I support marriage equality, and i have said that. And this is quite a difference from my opponent. He has referred to give virginians as soulles and self destructive human beings. I made the point early. It almost cost us the Northrop Grumman deal. He said it is not true. The New York Times reported governor mcdonnell of the station official who told the New York Times that his actions almost cost the deal. So i would just go back to the Governors Administration and asked individual why he said it then. But this is a very important issue. I was out early on this issue and if we could get a bill through the General Assembly and on my desk as governor i would find. Well, it actually doesnt happen in the form of a bill. It is a constitutional amendment, so it never comes the governor. But to your point, a governor can still lead on the issue, but it will never to come to the desk of a virginia governor. Look, i understand it respect the fact that this is a sensitive issue to a lot of virginians. But i am one of those who do believe that the institution of marriage should remain between one man and one woman. I would note that my opponent appears poised, based on some of his comments, during the campaign, to not offend our state constitution. Now look, as attorney general, id defend laws whether i like them or not. And as pointed out by former democrat attorney general, tony that a pattern for terry has been emerging is that he seems to think he gets to decide which laws and which parts of the virginia constitution that youre obligated to defend as the virginia governor. We have two lawsuits running right now on this matter, and the duty of the attorney general and the duty of the governor is to defend our constitution. If they want to change it, one could lead, as the questions suggested, to try to get the General Assembly to make those amendments and put it on the ballot. But the office has duties that come with it. And i respect the office, and i respect those duties. I respect virginias history. And this is part of it now. It may change in the future. But right now the next government is obligated to defend our constitution and i intend to do that. Legislationpport that allows equal rights for individuals, for gay virginians. Ive said continuously that, you know, my opponent has continually attacked gay virginians. And you cannot grow a business by doing that. To thearly as we get General Assembly, we go to referendum and we come back as it relates to gay marriage. But i have some the issues i am facing right in front of me. He talks about his duty in office. Though, i got to tell you, we had thousands of landowners in south West Virginian who had methane gas taken off their property. They were owed money by two out ofstate Energy Companies. Know what was the Attorney Generals Office and their responsibility . What they were doing was equally telling those two outofstate Energy Companies how to get out of that deal and giving them advice on how to beat the landowners. 100,000pponent took in contributions. So while he was taking contributions, the folks who were old money, thousands and thousands of virginia landowners were denied their money that was due them for methane gas taken off their property. He is not doing his job thank you, mr. Mcauliffe. The next question for mr. Cuccinelli. Why do you think johnny williams, the ceo of Star Scientific, gave you the top Law Enforcement official 18,000 18,000 in gifts. We know you put a check for charity for that amount, but why were you willing to except those gets in the first place given your office has said he was not a close friend of yours. What i would say that ironically i met mr. Williams through the governor. Time, what was going on there did not seem like a big deal. I did not know about any business he had before virginia. And as far as i know, except for the cap tax case, they had none. And the only thing we did in their tax case was oppose them, vehemently. They never got a break from us, and they are still fighting it today. Freeere still through counsel to the taxpayers, defending that. To a did give the 18,000 charity. Because i thought it was the right thing to do. It took a while to get that together. For the cuccinelli family. That was a hard thing to do. I also call this summer for a special session for ethics reform. And i will remind some of you that i am sure do not remember in 2009, when i ran for attorney general, i put forward an ethics platform and we got about half of it achieves, including the inspector general, which was a big deal to me when i was in the state senate and when i was attorney general. And i think that is a big step forward for virginia. We have a lot more to do in that area. But i would say that this is an area that i lead on as attorney general when i ran for that office, and i have run on a platform this time. I would have liked to have gotten it done during the summer. The governor didnt agree with us. Your. Mcauliffe, as formulate your answer, could you explain why you have not released more of your tax returns . You pushed mitt romney to do this and you said by not releasing them the imagination runs wild. What i have gone beyond what the last governors have done when governorkaine and warner and governor mcdonnell ran, and im gone up and be on that. But the issue of the attorney general and Star Scientific. Star scientific owed the state 1. 7 million. This suit languished for nearly two years. Now, instead of the attorney general, as i say, going after that and bringing that money back to virginia taxpayers, he was being taken to new york city. He was being taken to a sniff around lake resort. He spent time and staff stayed at his house in richmond. He took 18,000 worth of gets. He bought stock in the company, and it was not disclosed. Beforempany had business the attorney general. That was his illegal the possibility. Thats why ive called for ethics reform. Ive called for a bipartisan commission, number one. And number two, i have called for a hundred dollar gift ban. Any state elected official cannot take a gift of more than 100. Im going to propose that the day i am inaugurated as governor. And im not going to wait. Im going to issue an executive order for myself, my family, and my appointees that they cannot take anything over 100. And i would say to the attorney general, join me in the 100 gift ban. Clearly you can buy a lot of turkey for a hundred bucks. . Mr. Cuccinelli quote all, the star material i reported them. It is important for virginians to know i brought this forward. I disclosed them. I called a press conference to do it. Thats how committed to transparency iem for virginians. Because i understand there are problems there. But i am the one who brought him forward. I turned it over to a democrat prosecutor, and he cleared me. Does anybody think Terry Mcauliffe would have ever done that if the roles were reversed . I released eight years of my tax returns to the media. He will not release any, even though the company hes chairman of our was chairman of that is not altogether clear is under Securities Exchange Commission Investigation and department of Homeland Security investigation. Ever, weow more than need transparency from people who seek to have the trust of the folks of virginia to assume the office of governor. And it is pretty rich to have the guy who rented out the lincoln bedroom, sold seats on air force one, was an unindicted coconspirator in a teamster election law Money Laundering case to be talking about ethics now. You is we haver a little bit of time and i will do a little lightning round. Just take 30 seconds. Would you be open to virginia joining most other states in the country and allowing School Districts to start school before labor day . Somehow not allowed in the state. No. People the way it is . The Tourism Business is too important. The change would result in virginia, it would cost us about. 16 369 million tourism is our second biggest industry. Even though kids go fall behind . There are a lot of best practices we could do. I was down at newport news, the achievable dream, spectacular school, they go an hour longer during the day and every other saturday. But we cannot with the economic headwinds give up 369 million. Mr. Cuccinelli . I brought this bill on behalf of the democrats school board of Fairfax County when i was in the state senate. Children outrank tourism. Now, there are changes that we can make to take the pressure off the prelabor day start, like appropriate reforms to the standards of learning. Dayuse we focus on that very much. There are things we can do to make is easier until we get before labor day. But ultimately, locality should have the opportunity to make that decision themselves. Before i get to closing statements, ive got one weird sports question. The redskins put should they change their name, mr. Mcculloch . Mr. Mcauliffe . Is it offensive . I dont think the governor should be telling private businesses what they should do. I dont think the governor do you have a personal opinion . Tell governor i will not dan snyder anybody else what they do for their business. And i want to congratulate the redskins because i wanted the training part in richmond and it is spectacular i, do youccinell think they should change their name . I think it is up to them entirely. 80 years of history in the team is heartily behind and i dont think are the three shouldve been laid in the Second Quarter of the playoffs. That concludes our questions and now mr. Mcauliffe, closing statements. You, again, for the Fairfax Chamber hosting us tonight. There is a real choice in this election about who will grow and who will diversify our economy. We must work in a bipartisan way if we want to create jobs. I up on it talks a lot about experience. It is experience has been in dividing people come a by pursuing his own ideological introducing legislation that would outlaw most common forms of birth control. And bullying the board of health, which resulted in the shutting down of some Womens Health centers. Frankly, i think virginia women have had just about enough of can cuccinellis experience. N cuccinellis experience. The approach i will bring a different. Building on Bipartisan Coalitions that we established an brought together in this campaign, ill work with both parties to find Mainstream Solutions to the problems that we face. It is the approach that works for mark warner, and it is the approach we need desperately now in virginia. Mr. Cuccinelli, the last word. The Northern Virginia pac andgy council tech virginians a small independent businesses havent forced me this week or last week because they know im best prepared to fight to grow virginias economy. My opponent is the only one in this race who has driven jobs on the state. He had no plans to bring them back. He sold more visas to chinese citizens as part of green tech event is failed company has sold cards. His job history with greentech is terrible. I will be a governor who fights for you. Terry will fight for terri, because he always has. If you give me your support on november 5, ill fight for our education and economic policies that grow jobs for the middle class. Families andg businesses with more of their own money, so they can invest those hardearned dollars regular virginia. I jobs plan will grow 58,000 good fulltime jobs in virginia. I have faith in the people of virginia that if we remain true to our noblest ideas and principles like limited government and Strong Families that we can be better thank you both very much. Voters, it is up to you. Dont forget to vote. Nbc 4to the chamber and for hosting this lively debate between the candidates cuccinelli and mcculloch. Thank you both for meditating participating. They with nbc 4 all election long. Coming up on cspan, washington journal is live with your phone calls and tweets. And live coverage of the house. Today legislators will discuss a bill on mining of lands in arizona. In about 45 minutes, georgia congressman, and then y ofresswoman Jan Schakowsk illinois and the National Efforts toorter on pass a temporary spending bill and we will talk with executive correspondent Charles Clarke about the effect of a potential Government Shutdown. Host defendant lease today. He senate meets today at 10 00 even at that debate takes place, house leaders are meeting today with the rankandfile to discuss their plans for how to deal with the debt ceiling. Reportingngton post a bill what allows a raise in the debt ceiling, including a oneyear delay of the health care law. By the way, the president traveled to have maryland today. You can see that life on c span3. Good morning, it is the washington journal