This is an hour. The Montana Television network in partnership with the montana cbs. This is campaign 2014, the house today. Made possible thanks to support from the Greater Montana Foundation, the Greater Montana Foundation on a biased broadcasting pioneer supporting communication on issues, friends and values of importance to all montanans. Debate night here on the Montana Television network. We thank you for tuning in tonight. I am subzero moderating tonight. Look at the house or something republican ryan zinke and republican john lewis. The two candidates met in a radio debate this week in billings, but tonight is the only televised facetoface debate between the two candidates that we know of at this speaking. Would like to welcome our ideas tonight statewide on the Montana Television station. Also statewide on montana pbs stations across the state of montana and also going nationwide on cspan. So wherever viewers tune in we welcome you to montanas u. S. House today. Just a few ground rules to go over. We will have no open daybeds tonight. The candidates will be answering questions from our panelists. 60 seconds for those answers in each candidate will then have a 302nd rebuttal. Two minutes for a closing statement and take a one minute break midway through. Quick ground rules for ideas. We are here for the Riverside Country Club in bozeman with campaign friends, families on both sides of the aisle. We ask everyone to hold their applause to the end we are all adults will not answer her cell phone through this debate as well. Our first introduction first of all for republican nominee ryan zinke. Ryan, nice to see you here. Her generation on tnn. He is a standout athlete at whitefish high school. He was a standout in several sports. He went to the university of oregon on athletic scholarship earning a degree in geology, bacher science degree. Hes had a 23 year career with the military and the u. S. Navy seals. In 2008 was elected to the Montana State senate for each heard the Education Committee in a couple years ago ran for lieutenant governor. He is also ceo of at a Consulting Firm that specializes in advanced technology for aerospace and oil and gas. He and his wife lida had three children. Brian, welcome tonight. Zinke great to be here. Moderator john is a fourthgeneration montana. 10 minutes wife have two children. John was born in billing, magic city boy raised in billions in missoula. Most recently served as state director for max baucus, a position he held for four years, supervising a staff of 20. Hes a graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in Political Committee patients paired his top legislative compos mentis tackling veterans and employment issues and helping montanan communities which are the bureaucratic red tape for Flood Disaster following the 2011th 11 montana. Good to see you tonight. Its my pleasure to introduce you to our panel who will be asking candidate questions. First we welcome someone on this end of our panel questions. John is thrown ktvq. She also worked prior to that for many years at cnn in atlanta and wanted me to tell you she also has several overtures to work or foxes wild during those years. Net and i started our television careers together lets just say many decades ago at a Small Television station in helena montana. Jill valley is from kpax tv. Shes been anchoring the news for 22 years. She is a sixtime montana broadcaster of the year. Good to see you tonight. Last but certainly not least of my coanchor at ktvq in billings. He is welcome Jeanelle Slade. A twotime broadcaster of the year. Went from college cometh in a few years a few years another exciting communications and Public Relations but we welcome her back a couple years ago so that is our panel tonight. I get the first question. Sorry that took as long as they did. John lewis we flipped coins and you get the first question. It comes from me. As we speak, congress has an 8 approval rating. The calling card of congress is partisan group is a donothing congress on steroids this past congress. My question is why the world do you want to join the existing group and what do you bring to the table to change this culture in washington that has our country sat on hold. Lewis sure come a thank you very much come into a few thank you this debate and welcome donna and jill and chanel for being panelists. When i first came to this event i talked about my past experience is and things i learned while working on legislation trying to help veterans another experience i have fighting for montanans. I respect your past your past experiences, but im more interested in the future, ideas you have to get Congress Working for montana. And how are you going to be part of the solution. That was great advice. We have run a campaign on montana ideas. We have really planned for agriculture, energy, public lands and that is what i want to see congress do its work on solutions to move montana forward. Its true. Congress has about 9 approval rating. I read somewhere that crop urges than the canals have a higher standing to 9 . We can do better than not. Im a concerned father. Two young kids and concerned about their future and i want to see Congress Work together again on solutions. That is why i run. Moderator brian are you sure you still want this job . Zinke welcome of 21st century we will have to earn it. I wear the navy still on my chest. In our country, we have to relearn how to earn our liberty in an economy that we cannot jobson obtain the American Dream. Its about the American Dream and families. In montana we struggle. Our nation struggles. Notice the government. Nor does congress or the administration. We have to restore trust. A have to make sure the economy as proper as and the debate will highlight different contrast between candidate and the choice will be clear. Moderator any rebuttal for either one . Lewis like i said focuses on ideas on the future. So far in the campaign i have heard are a little about ideas for my opponent. Ive heard about what he was doing in 1888. This race is not about 1988. Ive heard he loves america and we all love america in montana. And i look forward to hearing his ideas about how we are going to strengthen public lands in this country. If you want to see obamacare affordable character field what is your plan for ensuring millions of americans that dont have insurance in this country including 179000 montanans. What is the plan . Thats out forward to hearing. Moderator rai in. Zinke lets talk about the dead. Your plan about selling used cars and abandoned buildings and cutting rational pay is a joke. Its not even a rounding error. If we want to get serious about restoring america we have to address the debt. If they do support the ryan plan. Theres a lot they dont agree with it. I think we can do it without challenging in eliminating and cutting medicare. We can do about Social Security. We can do without cutting education. I do think we have to address the challenges and not put our head in the sand. Its been too long since we put our head in the sand and i think we can Work Together. Democrats and republicans, independents to carve out a Better Future as everyone knows were in trouble. So are we going to ignore the problems are actually address them . I will talk about addressing the issues. Lets get right to it. Donna kelly with the first question. [inaudible] theres been a firestorm over land him in this book just came out a day in a half ago or so when everybodys talking about a democratic congressman was a former cia director in the Obama Administration, a former secretary of defense and he is lay in the square at the feet of the administration, the Obama Administration for not getting them to negotiations with iraqi Prime Minister maliki so we have to leave. Ill get to that question with you, mr. Lewis. Lets talk about your military background. How long do we say if maliki will not let us stay there. Who is going to pay for . Lewis just question im not. I was electing to enter iraq because my daughter is a navy diver. My soninlaw is a navy seal. No one more luck than to go to war than me. If you go to war you make sure you go to worsen when they get a rule of engagement so our troops in harms way can and will win. In the case of leaving we not only left early. We left without an agreement coming status of forces agreement and that should not be overlooked. That one agreement allows soldiers. They get prosecuted if they are allegedly connected something wrong under our judicial system. Without a status of forces agreement, soldiers, sailors airmen and marines could get prosecuted under islamic law or if a pilot errors in high school auto Damage Committee could be prosecuted perhaps for murder rather than use cmj. Control and status and stability look at what is happening today. We are going to fight isis. I would rather fight in the deserts of iraq in the streets of america and its already here. As the gal from great falls who had her head severed if you could ask a case that is isis. [inaudible] through the negotiations. There were multiple opportunities to stay. There were multiple opportunities for the administration to get involved and they chose not to. There was multiple opportunities to check isis at the beginning we chose not to. This is what happens when you need from the rear and not the front because the United States does not lead, no one else will. Moderator would you have supported when they said we have to pull out, we dont have anything on paper and then its progress to this point. Every playing catchup in the game riding isis with airstrikes in trying to get the territory where he spent a lot of blood and treasure on . Zinke this faith give americans as the number one priority. Isis does not share our values made no regard for human life. We need to learn from the mistakes of the last 12 years of nation building in iraq. When i hear id rather fight a war the deserts of iraq in here at home i think that is a simplistic way of looking at the problem. They estimate 1 billion muslims in this world. They are not all that region. Out of that 1 billion they say about 15 are islamic extremists. 15 is 150 million islamic extremists. The idea we can bomb our way out of this problem is not realistic to me. Or both of you come airstrikes to gain back some of the ground isis is taken, but will there be boots on the ground . Lewis i support doing whatever we need to do to keep americans safe and security is our priority. That is what i said first. We need to be thoughtful about our approach. Number one, Congress Needs to debate this issue and off their ice force, but still the constitutional responsibility. How much will it cost . What is the budget . What is the endgame . I dont think the correct for sponsors to instantly say we need to put troops on the ground. Zinke my opponent called for economic sanctions against isis. Semieconomic sanctions against a nonnation state. Maybe we should perhaps write a word of letter. The issue is isis is a danger. You have to have a threepronged approach. You have to shut down our southern border. Our southern border is no labor and immigration issue. Its a security and immigration threat that can build a panama canal and an 18th century can build the 21st. Unfortunately, it will call for america to lead and you cannot control isis by air alone. In the words of general conway fourstar marine corps there is a snowballs chance in that their operations will work and i agree. Secondly limit our Ground Forces to special forces, to supply and the poor. Make sure coalitions we choose our watched inefficiently trained and limit our involvement, but make sure isis is destroyed. Quick followup because no one answered. You party that to worsen a credit card. Would you be blind to support a war tax to support his donna set perpetual war . Lewis is to clearly different approaches on this issue. I am fain would need to be thought all and responsible. A letter will not get the job done. This is somebody who called for invading mexico a few weeks ago because we have an american in deal in tijuana. That is not the kind of judgment i want representing me and congress. The instant reaction to the president s announcement that we would have airstrikes was lets send in more troops. He also said a couple years ago that when the president women should serve in combat roles in this country he said that is nearly certain to cause live, women serving in combat roles. That is not the judgment we need in congress and its a good question. How much is this going to cost . A nice to be debated in congress in authorized. Rebuttal ryan. Had we pay for this . Zinke we pay for it by having a strong economy. A navy cost money. Ridges, schools infrastructure, they all cost money paying for medicare Social Security. We need a robust economy. John i know you didnt serve come in the tiramisu is a marine is a marine that has been languishing in a prison in mexico for over six months. Every man woman and i served both and ive commanded both. Everybody deserves in this country im not sure america has her back. When america doesnt have their back like a dusty, like mexico what happens is this sends a signal to every veteran fighting you know what, america will not be there. I did not advocate invading mexico. Added the president doing his duty by all available means to get together erring that. [applause] the question goes to jill valley. Talking about money a little bit. You criticized mr. Zinke for taking money outside the state. [inaudible] while jon tester got 80 of his money and is also captive. Lewis the reason ive taken over 70 of the money it raised in this race for montanans is because it is unusual and im is unusual and im proud of that very proud. I worked very hard to raise in finance the campaign for montana. [applause] is the difference between the way it done in the way my opponent has done it. He has raised most of his money from california, texas and florida, three states. Those three states combined have 100 xt and representatives in congress. We have one. One representative. I said from the beginning will run a Montana Campaign and financed by montana. I include contributions from all 56 counties. I am very proud of that record and comparing it to the 2012 election is comparing apples and oranges. Imagine 50 million spent in montana in the senate race alone. Thats disgusting to most montanans. We will keep doing what were doing focusing on monday in ideas and focusing on running a montana recently announced by montanans. [applause] zinke im not going to apologize for having a national stage. I wont apologize for having different states and coalitions between different congressmen. The fact is this. I have 18000 donors, most of them are small donors. That 18,000 donors compared to about three represents veterans in seniors they share a common idea that america is exceptional. Do i like the fact you have to reach outofstate . No. Max baucus had about 90 . No one criticizes that. But the fact of the matter is having a National Platform means you can do national things. You can reach in to coalition because we only have one congressmen in the state of montana. One out of 435 is not a lot of votes. Youll need coalitions, friendships, relationships based on american exceptional. Moderator next question goes to Jeanelle Slade. This is for mr. Zinke. Addressbook most of Montana Voters have seen the two of you on television in political ads. Mr. Zinke in one of your ads you repeatedly referenced are milestones in life versus john lewis age. All of your milestones getting through your life as he was growing up. Can you help that with the message you are trying to get across in this bad. Zinke more leadership, less politics. I have an mba ms and finance. Being a naval officer is more than just leaving troops in the economy. Its also looking at challenging complex problems and finding solutions that are real. I sat down with warlords and a great backandforth on solutions. I can certainly sit down between democrats and republicans as they did in the senate to find real solutions. You continually bring up his age. You feel because youre older you make a better leader. The older someone is a better leader they are . Zinke i agree if theres a comparison, theres a positive campaign. Ive had a lot of experience. Ive done a lot of things in my life. Ive been more than a washington staffer. Ive been more than in politics. Ive been a business guy. I understand the private side. Ive been an educator understand education curriculum. Most of our knowhow to solve problems because the conversation in our country are large and daunting, but they are fixable. We created them we can fix them. Moderator john lewis rebuttal. Lewis ages arbitrary. What you stand for and why he went for this position is not. If you run against Teddy Roosevelt and tell them he was too him he was too young to mendicants Ronald Reagan would tell them he was too old. I cant do anything about the fact i was born in 1978. But my experience is very relevant to what were trying to do here. Ive worked on legislation mvc helping veterans. Ive are nonissues right here in montana. Ive been in all 56 counties have six counties up six counties helping seniors get a Social Security check. That experience is very relevant. Go back to what i said in the beginning here. This election is about the future, what ideas you have for the future, not what you are doing in the 80s and 90s. [applause] moderator followup as long as theres talking about the congressional line. Ryan zinke, can we agree that now that john lewis did not break the Affordable Care act . Zinke well he didnt write it all, been the state director is his job to make sure the values in the entrance were reflected in that bill. When montana concern montana businesses called, what were they told . They were told dove for your business past 50. Make sure you dont employ your employees more than 30 hours. That hurts this is every family. As a state director coming out to responsibility. Moderator your ad said you wrote it. Thats not what you describe. Zinke on the typewriter. Moderator you have an ad campaign that says you want to cut congressional pay. Can we agree right now no one will cut congressional pay . It will take an act of congress to cut congressional pay. But would that accomplish . Lewis first of all let me Say Something quickly about the health care ad. With millions of uninsured americans in this country, what is the solution to ensure those americans . There are tens of thousands of montanans additionally benefiting. Or somebody in the audience tonight named al michael hein. Hes a teacher, lost his insurance in january and dined upon exchange for insurance today. And hes paying half of what he paid before. Thats thousands of montanans like that. If you want to repeal upon the care [applause] if you want to repeal the legislation, what would you tell him and his family and kids quiet he would lose that insurance. Moderator we are not cutting congressional pay. Does the question. Lewis says that 90 approval rating. Lets solve deficit issues . No. They cant pass a budget. You shouldnt get paid. Congress hasnt passed a budget and over a thousand days. Look this is about congress doing their part. Moderator ryan quick rebuttal. Zinke thousands of 20,000 montanans lost their insurance. Let me further say this. Do we need Affordable Health care . Absolutely. Can we do a better . Absolutely. Onesizefitsall from washington isnt the solution. I understand good things about obamacare. Preexisting conditions thats good. But well see more and more people lose their insurance. What makes you think if you put them forward insurance before that all of a sudden you get a subsidy of the 9000 deductible . What makes you think you can pay that deductible if you cant afford insurance in the beginning. You cant. Theres a lot of ways to make sure we have Affordable Health care. Polling tort reform individual health care accounts low cost clinics. A number of things make a difference to montana, which is an aging population. Moderator obamacare later. Next question before we go to break. Donna, your turn. Some of us are rapidly approaching Social Security and there is certainly, we have done it for decades and decades and talked about the holy grail dont touch it. For those of us getting close and yes that is me raising my hand the ball keeps moving down the field. 62 65 1070 and the percentage you are going to get. Would you change it . Can we keep it . How can we make it better and will you keep moving the ball . I lost track of who gets that first. Im sorry. Zinke mr. Zinke. Zinke we can keep our promises. I sat down and looked at the numbers. Social security is that silly healthy for those that earned it. If you recall your life is a promise made that portion of Social Security can be helpful. Whats happened is a lot of new people, wolves in the ship better training for fun and congress has told from multiple times. Vatican is back to how we will afford all these things. We need a robust economy. How do you get a robust economy . You have to of making sure government goes back in his roles so america can innovate and think out of the box again. The Regulatory Environment not through congress but just to break a story burden on in one year 2012 as 3. 6 trillion. One year. When you look at that amount of overburdened regulation does nepal clean air clean water is just stifling innovation. Secondly, energy independence. Im an optimist. If we focus on those things, we can keep the promises. We can make sure we honor the veterans pledges. 18 trillion i think 10 years to balance the budget is a reasonable amount of time. We can accelerate our economy to make sure we have a prosperous economy and we can fix it. Im positive we can. Moderator this is the plot did when i gets to zero you have 60 seconds. That was a minute dirty on your response. John. Lewis i didnt your response was Social Security. One in five montanans enjoy the benefits. If we do nothing today, the Social Security trust fund will be solvent until 2033 but we need to do something to keep it solvent many years after that. I support idea endorsed by aarp and that is to raise the payroll tax cap. For people that make over 117,000 they need to continue to pay the Social Security trust fund to keep it solvent. [laughter] for how long . Lewis be more specific donna. They need to pay if they make over 100 grand, for how long . Lewis we should all do our part absolutely. Do our part would oppose making the trust fund solvent for many years beyond 2033. Moderator drill down real quick. On the retirement Age Committee support raising the retirement age is a way to help pay for this . Is that something you would look at . Lewis no i do not at this time. People work their lives for these benefits. They need the assurance that is going to be there for them when they retire. Lets not keep moving the goalposts. I dont support that. Zinke i dont think its necessary and i would not support it because again because program itself if you just look at those that earned a and most of montanans have earned it over a period of their lives to waitlisted wind. I think you should go back in make Social Security exactly what it was. For those people that have earned it over a period of time, it will be there. We have to make sure we keep our promises. Im the guy making sure we are financially solvent, save medicare save Social Security so the check clears. Moderator with that we are happy to her debate. We invite you back. We are seeking a one minute break. We are watching the house debate here in montana. We will be right back. Welcome back to campaign 2014 the first debate on ntn and montana pbs. Moderator welcome back to pose her where we are listening to the u. S. House debate between republican ryan zinke and republican john lewis. A quick question about personality. We get to do is watch the bats of you guys. I want to give you guys an opportunity to tell us about yourself. What inspired you what is your greatest accomplishment so far. Get out of the facade a little bit and tell us a little bit about ryan zinke. Zinke i love to fly fish. My greatest schmidt is marrying up in marrying my beautiful wife today. I love my kids and grandkids. I am proud of my daughter who i told two things. Dont join the navy and dont. Navy seal and she did both. [laughter] my young sons are doing well and i care about working families in montana. And making sure i am a kid. I grew up in three generations of master plumbers. I work as did the same opportunities and legacies. At a wonderful childhood growing up in whitefish and born in bozeman. I want to make sure my kids and your kids have the same experience. Moderator mayville mate be able to put those plumbing skills in washington. What about your personality . Lewis my family inspires me as well. Begat the campaign trail into the main job. Ive got an eight in sixyearold. We just last night coached two games of soccer. My wife is the head coach i am the assistant. My daughter is eight years old and soccer is getting to that serious level. Serious parents. I looked over at the game a week ago when there were people tailgating at the game. Soccer has gotten serious. [laughter] look i want them to have what i had growing up in montana. We are all in montana because we want to be here. If what we have. I worry about the future with us going on in Congress Crisis to crisis to crisis. When the solution oriented person and thats what i wanted to congress. Moderator lets get back to some of the issues. Appreciate your candor there. [inaudible] he paid a lot to medical insurance over the years this is the first year he thought about the care. If it is proven to be the first [inaudible] hes worried about your campaign man to eliminate that. We talked about that a little bit to reassure him that youll be here for him because that is what he needs to survive. Zinke he is one of the few. I believe pharma care does work for some. I used the word abandoned. When a ship is sinking i think obamacare is thinking. They dont just jump in the ocean. They make sure you go to a safer smaller, more stable investment. Theres a lot of ways to make sure my tan is represented in how to. Tort reform being one of them, business rules individual health care accounts low cost clinics tax deductions. Ultimately what we want is Quality Health care. Make sure we have access and affordability. One size does not fit all. Montana is a nation population. What makes sense sometimes in washington d. C. Or washington doesnt make sense in montana and it will continue to her. Part of the package hasnt even been implemented yet. Wait until we get the whole thing. Theres Court Challenges to it. I think the challenge to congress is to quickly come up with a better solution, articulated, salad and make sure montanas representative. Moderator john lewis. Lewis when i hear abandoned ship it is jump ship because theres nothing to get people to sure. We have 50 votes in the u. S. House over 50 votes to repeal the Affordable Care act to go to work . Come back to millions of uninsured. We have yet to hear a plan of what we do about that because many of those folks get health care. Zero down to the emergency room and get the care we need. The cost is spread to everyone else. Higher insurance costs, higher hospital costs. Look, the answer is ensuring for americans come in sure in this millions of americans. Every industrialized country in this world has asked themselves the question is health care a right . Every single one of them have answered in the affirmative except the United States. We need to continue to improve and not go backwards in jump ship when theres no plan to insure more americans. Mr. Xing key can you point out what you think is not going right in the Affordable Health care . Zinke one is the site. The consequence intended by design. When you penalize a business for going over 50 and growing your business over 50, when you penalize employment over 30 hours, montana you need 40 hours and benefits. Its hard not to make a living in montana. When you have a system that penalizes over 30 hours, penalizes medical innovation you look at what is happening and what is happening to my families. When you cant get a 40 hour job because you are penalized for it that means he will have two or three parttime jobs. That means when youre parttime jobs, one of those jobs will be just for making the payments for insurance. What happens when you have a radek hours . Was at home when the children come home . It is a fact in working families and businesses in montana. Can we do a better . We can. Should we Work Together to do it . Absolutely. [applause] lewis look i will tell you what is affecting working families. Its not the high cost of health care. That is what is affecting working families. [applause] and the scare type businesses will pay this huge price just isnt true. I just read an oped the other day. I believe in competition and the Insurance Marketplace. They are through the exchange. Blue cross, specific source and the color providing competition amongst each other. Companies with over 100 employees well, they currently may have a crew plan for blue cross blue shield. Rates have been going through the roof. Here is their options. Get a Nuclear Plant or one of those other Companies Like the color. Or send individuals into the Insurance Market where they pay less for insurance and the company will pay less for insurance. Like wyoming on the insurance has been a giants rates in the country. Look businesses will benefit from more americans. Theres an area that maybe we could do better here. Other Public Places he might make them better . Lewis absolutely absolutely. Did the law affects their Health Care System . We need flexibility. Montana for example has one of the coops. Lets do more to provide competition in the 22 states that had the coop individuals pay 8 less on insurance rates most 22 states. Theres too much paperwork. Lets make a less complicated. Thats a longterm problem. Were not going to solve it overnight. You need to keep doing things to make the law flexible and fix the things that are working. What about the woman on this panel who has a preexisting condition. What about them . Thats one of the big parts of obamacare that people were concerned about. To cover folks who have a preexisting condition. Zinke i agree an preexisting conditions. There were a lot of people that have preexisting conditions because if they left they couldnt get insurance. What happens in a few years when theres a raise in home health care. What happens when medicare payments are reduced . What happens to mercia care facilities and we dont have a premium of medicare. So theres a lot of issues in montana that dont fit a model of washington d. C. Or larger urban states. Montana is rural. We forget the power base of this country is on the west and east coasts. What about montana . What about wyoming . What about south and north dakota . We are rural and we have to protect our rural interests. There isnt one republican vote on obamacare. It was done at night and if the pelosi was right. We dont know what is in it until we vote on it. Until we pass it and thats not right. I think we can do better. I dont view life through redlines or blue lines. I view it through a red white and blue lines. [applause] there were no solutions in there about health care. [applause] i didnt hear one idea about solving the Health Care Crisis in this country. Some of those solution oriented is focused on not if im fortunate enough to serve. Moderator Jeanelle Slade lets move onto another issue. Okay. On energy mr. Lewis are even favor of two proposed export terminals in the state of washington deliver montana and wyoming call overseas . Lewis thats a complicated situation, number one. [laughter] for one look montanans deserve and need to have markets to send our products, our commodities, whether its cool whether its a products, whatever it is. We have a lot of congestion on the railroads today. And so the question we have to ask ourselves is this. We want washington d. C. To come in and saw this decision for as for do we need to figure out a solution between our states . I dont interfere once they can tell our state that we cant send our commodities through that state the matter what the commodity is. We also have a moderate is from the west coast to travel through montana. What if in montana we said that can come to montana anymore. So this is a complicated complicated question. We need a solution and i think it is to come for montana and Washington State so we can get our products. Moderator ryan zinke. Zinke i dont think its complicated at all. We need it. Her plan didnt have oil and gas. If you dont have an energy plan that supports oil gas and coal in montana it isnt an energy plan in montana. You can do better in research and development to make clean coal, which we should. Our gas plan in this country is enormous and we should leverage it. Weve got coal trains going through missoula. Each coal train is 300000 of revenue to montana. 24 of the Oil Production tax goes to k12. If we want the schools in montana which we should have, roads, highways, infrastructure, sewer system how are we going to do it . We have to use Energy Resources wisely, which we cant. We dont have to take north dakota as a model of excellence. We can do it better in montana but we need to develop resources wisely and we need to develop for now. We can be Energy Independent for five years, so lets do it. Or rail lines or rail lines are already crazy busy for lack of better terms. We are already pushing for oil and coal and we are pushing wheat off of our rail lines with these two export terminals heading to the west coast. How are we going to handle it and what are you going to tell communities . Zinke well, i did talk to i did have to not rose from the of north santa fe railroad. It is an issue that we need to build pipelines. The Keystone Pipeline is one of many. [applause] for my opponent in the last debate talked about tracking. We are not going to track oil. We need to build pipelines. Others said on the left or right of Global Warming everyday 3. 5 Million Barrels equivalent is flared or bird in north dakota every day and that is wrong to waste it. So we need to build pipelines. We need to build infrastructure so we can export montana commodity and we need to shore up our Transportation System with the railroad to make sure the sugarbeet factory in sydney has trained going out. Our week in all commodities Montana House need to make sure we have a rail system in order to provide product. Moderator john. Lewis number one, and it is not true is not in my plan. I call for investing in all forms that we have in abundance right here in montana. I heard them say whatever you say of Global Warming. Thats pretty accurate of what his position is on Global Warming. [applause] heres somebody endorsed by the montana conservation voters when he was running for the legislature in 2008 scented letter to president obama calling on him to do something about Climate Change and now all of a sudden is the Climate Change denier and says we should invest in renewable energy. Look, which is . Lets have consistency on this issue. I am calling for investing in longterm future, not just traditional coal oil and gas. Sure, those supports thousands of jobs coming huge part of our economy. 50 electricity comes from coal. Lets invest in the longterm future. Id like to see my opponent share those positions that he once had, but today does not. [applause] moderator on the subject of Global Warming, do you believe Global Warming is the human caused event . Zinke there was an article in the wall street journal that you should read. Undersecretary of the department of energy. It had three points. One is climate changing . Yes. It always has. Too, is man an influence to that . Yes. Now what is the influence . That is assigned but not settled. Last 16 years there is no model of promulgates doom and. In fact aeronaut going to ricin last 16 years. The wall street journal, look at. The issue is not a hoax. I figure. Mantle americas power and energy. We need to do it better which we can come of that it is not a settled side for the president to say hurricanes and he was the result of Climate Change is simply a false claim. [applause] lewis again ask a letter from president obama. A few years later to an explosion in the philippines have done work to read Greenhouse Gases in the world than any manmade costs. I read an article a few months ago there wasnt any man caused pain. It is the rising of the ocean levels in the warming of the temperature is causing Global Warming. He said that. I want to see consistency on this issue and above all we need people in congress regardless of how they feel about our solution oriented, want to be part of the solution to get the debate is not going away. When you put your head in the sand of a is not true that is not helpful. Even ask for companies. That is not helpful to the debate. Moderator moving along. A question for both candidates about Student Loans. Watch the news last night to the United States government is making billions of dollars on Student Loans. It is a theme. Would you support reducing the Interest Rate on some of the Student Loans for the fact legislation that would allow the Student Loans to be renegotiated . Lewis zinke absolutely, absolutely. Student loan debt is replaced in iowa monday it is the highest amount of debt in young people that are starting out in the world. The average montanans typesetter 27,000 in student loan debt. We need to do something about that. We need to make college more affordable through pell grants and we need to let students refinance student loan debt. The irony here is in the ryan budget it cuts pell grants. Over half of students in the University System in montana receive pell grants. It cant spell grants. I some criticism about my dad plan thats not just about selling of used cars below he supports the rind budget the framework of the ryan budget that says certain things in there he doesnt like like privatizing medicare and selling off public lands. Well, that is a rounding error rate air. If you are not in favor of that, how does the ryan budget work . Moderator ryan. Zinke it is not the ryan zinke budget. Not to education. I sat as the chairman of the Montana SenateEducation Committee for a reason because i understand the link between education and a good job. Education is an investment is not an expense. If the government is making money on the backs of our students that are trying to better themselves, it is wrong and we should prosecute those who are doing it. I also add that incentives, you know, through grants theres a lot of skills we need in america that are being filled. Everyone complains about jobs overseas because these engineers overseas, but how about training engineers here so we dont have to look overseas for Software Development and those types of skills. If we need a demand skill in america, this is an investment for america to make Funds Available for students to fill the high demand jobs. It doesnt have to be a four year degree. Theres jobs in billings, montana. Theres jobs here we need. Thirty dollars an hour show up on time drugfree. Moderator for the record, the United States government is make you money, the wall street journal, look it up 60 billion since 2006 or 2007. Zinke probably the only thing they are making money on. [laughter] [applause] moderator donna kelley. I think its higher than that. Thats actually really good job. Lets do a personality question here. If you win, who would you think and if you lose, who would you blame . Zinke if i went to my going to take my family, especially my wife. My wife has been through a lot. When she was a service about, my daughter, myself and my soninlaw were all deployed together. It takes an enormous amount of sacrifice. Now if we lose, i am going to blame john lewis. [laughter] lewis look if we win im going to thank my family, my wife melissa, my kids. It is a huge sacrifice to do this put yourself out there, run for public office. My wife has been there for me through thick and thin yet i cant thank her enough. Im going to thank the people of montana who have funded his campaign. We mentioned earlier. The vast majority of the money i raised in this race is from montana to believe in what we are trying to do here. If i come up short well, that is tough. But i know we will give it everything weve got and maybe try harder next time. Moderator with that our hour is mostly appear to be about to be scheduled for a twominute closing statement and we did flip a coin. John lewis, it was decided to get to go first to the closing statement. The next two minutes are yours sir. Lewis well, i want to thank you jay and ryan for doing this again in our panelists jamal donna and jill. Throughout this election you have seen a clear choice in this race and the approaches we would take two issues in congress. If you want a show horse in this race, mr. Zinke is your guy. If you want a workhorse, then i am your guy. [applause] i promise if im fortunate enough to serve outspend everyday working as hard as i can on montana issues, remembering who we serve. This comes down to is the best vision for montana. When it comes to public lands we need somebody whos going to be a champion for protecting public lands in furthering a test. Lets be proactive. Lets give better access. Lets get somebody who will be a champion for medicare and Social Security not support proposals to privatize medicare or take away from seniors. If you are a woman, making a difficult help their decision, we need people in congress who think we should let women make those decisions not politicians. [applause] senator zinke is proud of his service and i think we auto him a debt of gratitude for that service. But we do not owe him our votes. I respectfully ask for your vote and a thank you for the opportunity. Thank you. [cheers and applause] moderator ryan zinke, two minutes. Zinke i am an optimist. The problems in our country can and will be fixed and i think the 21st century will be an american century, but we have to earn it and we do have to Work Together. This is not about republicans or democrats. Its about americans. I have always viewed life has been an american first. Then a montanans and then a republican you i dont dislike my neighbor who is a democrat. I try to persuade you that maybe the republican side is better, but its not always better. My voting record in the senate was clear. I voted on the merit of the bill and not who sponsored it. I would do the same in washington d. C. I dont yield to pressure. I yield to higher principle than i have been wrong as we all have and that is part of the leadership to correct your course if youre wrong, get better facts and learn from mistakes. You know our president and you may like him are not like him, but he is our president. Today are yesterday at northwest university, a large school of business, he made a couple of remarks that are interesting. He said well, while i am not running for office, make no mistake, my policies are on the ballot. Every one of them. And what that means is this election is about whether you think the policies of Barack Hussein obama are correct. It is. I dont believe they are correct. I will stand on a better vision and i will stand on it at her legacy to give to my children of freedom, liberty and making sure we earn it. So i vote for my opponent is a vote for the policies of this president. If you agree with them great. If you dont, i ask for your vote. Thank you, God Bless America and god bless all those who defend. Goodnight. [cheers and applause] more campaign 2014 coverage here at ccn two. Cspan2. I am mark warner and i approve this message. Enron, the largest corporate fraud in american history. Ed gillespie was their lobbyists. Enron paid for less dns from 11,000 to block regulation of the Energy Market with the biggest utility rates and then it got even worse. To cut the national debt. Its why republicans including a former governor u. S. Senator and 14 legislators have endorsed him. False attacks dont solve problems. Working together well. I am mark warner and i approve this message. I am ed gillespie and i approve this message. I worked my way through college. I worked from the parking lot to the white house. Theres an opportunity and dignity and work but today too many virginians are squeezed by mark warner and president obamas policies that raise taxes increase prices and kill jobs. Mark warner votes with the president 90 of the time. Thats not bipartisan. Time for a new direction. United States Senate candidates debate in the commonwealth of virginia between republican ed gillespie and democrat senator mark warner. Live from a claim here is nbc meet the press moderator chuck todd. [applause] good evening. I am chuck todd welcome to the virginia senatorial debate between democratic senator mark warner and republican ed gillespie hosted by the Fairfax County of chamber of com