A decision 2020 debate, senator ed markey. My advice today. Congressman joe kennedy. Our country deserves the best. Face to face and on the record from issues that matter to you, from covid to classrooms, to Police Reform and immigration. Its their chance to speak directly to you. Now your moderator, boston anchor latoya edwards. Latoya welcome to this primary debate. We are at the boston media center, home of nesn and nbc sports boston. Wed like to thank our guests for taking part. Wed like to start with senator markey. He served massachusetts in the senate since 2013. Before that, he served massachusetts seventh district in the house of representatives since 1976. We also welcome congressman joe kennedy. Hes served since 2014. Before that, he served as assistant District Attorney. We are following social distancing guidelines, as you can see. Everyone, including the candidates, are spread out more than six feet apart, and our panelists are not in the studio with us. They are in different locations. Theres a news anchor for boston, a newsmaker for nesn, and a local reporter for nbc 10 boston. Here are the rules. Both candidates get one minute of questions, rebuttals at my discretion. 45 seconds for individual questions, with a 30 second rebuttal with a rapidfire around. They will both have one minute for closing statements. You can join right now. Use the masenddebate, senator markey will get the first question. The past two weeks, the campaign has turned ugly. They called off a fundraiser when they were scheduled to appear canceled after called out by your supporters. The Kennedy Campaign some of them were subjected to Cyber Bullying. I saw some of those tweets and they were pretty nasty. What steps have you or your campaign taken to put an end to this . Sen. Markey well, a lot of young people put up pictures of themselves when they were in theater, and high school, to talk about the issues they felt were important to the broadway stars. And for them, they wanted to tell all of those people that alexandria ocasiocortez had endorsed me, that i was the cosponsor of the Green New Deal with alexandria, and that that had caused a revolution of focus upon Climate Change in our country. It was about the issues. It was raising this concern about our planet, and my partnership with alexandria ocasiocortez, not just creating a moment, but a movement, which has changed the way in which our entire country views the issue of the climate crisis. Latoya thank you for that. Congressman kennedy, you have 30 seconds to respond. Rep. Kennedy thank you, and thank you for tuning in. I dont think thats what happened at all. Mine were supporters of that tried to put together an event that were targeted. One of senator markeys supporters literally tweeted that bullying worked. This is an issue not just at this event, but theres history regarding supporters in this race. He targeted sheriff steve tompkins, one of the highest profile black elected officials in the state. Theyve gone after four of my hispanic colleagues latoya alright, we want to turn to you here. Whether you like the tactics, all the broadway stars backed up after learning who you were challenging. Is the issue less about Cyber Bullying than lukewarm support for your campaign . Rep. Kennedy not at all. Im proud of the support we have from progressives and from the beginning of this race. Thats what i got in this race. I believe young progressives believe in change and they know we need Stronger Leadership to deliver it. But we cannot go back to a broken system. Our normal that was broken. It was 150,000 lives lost a covid19. It was a country that let george floyd die. It was politicians that went to washington and thought they could legislate from afar, telling their communities back home what was best for them rather than asking what they could do. Thats why im running, to make sure we have leaders who are connected to our communities, that are going to fight for them every single day. Latoya congressman, you can respond to this, senator. Sen. Markey the sunrise group, which is the heart of the Green New Deal, they have rallied to my side they have young people , in college, in high school, middle schools, just rallying across the state, across the country. On top of that, the sierra club, the human rights campaign, the lgbtq groups have sided with me. Theyve endorsed me in this race, as has planned parenthood. So, this is a movement built around the progressive groups in our country, but led by young people who will rally because of this climate crisis. Latoya senator, thank you for that. We just want to let the congressman address this. Rep. Kennedy thank you. Of course those organizations endorsed you. They endorse incumbents. Almost all of them endorsed me. You know who else . Over 60 different labor unions, not National Organizations, local ones who know us both and know us best. In the fight for economic dignity, they want to make sure every family has food on their plate and a roof over their head. They know i will be the champion. Thats why im in this race. Sen. Markey let me say, theres a reason why the Massachusetts Teachers Union has endorsed me. They know i side with those young people getting the education they need. Same is true, the janitors, the frontline workers who need the help the most. They are backing me in this race. Latoya we know you both are passionate about this. Lets move onto my colleague. Allison has the next round of questions. You justssman kennedy, touched on this briefly, but you have been asked many times, why are you in this race . For months, you provided a variety of answers, but its still unclear to some. Why did you decide to target the u. S. Senator who is one of the boldest authored one of the boldest democratic and one of the progressive voters . You have 45 seconds. Rep. Kennedy thank you. Because i believe theres more to being a senator than the bills you file and the votes you cast. 2018 electionthat cycle. Republicans had a house in the sand and the presidency and the senate and the presidency. Now is not the time for major progressive legislating. What else can you do . I tried to campaign for other democrats so that we can regain control and pass a progressive agenda. Senator markey went nowhere. But he wasnt at home either. You talk to folks across communities, like springfield and worchester, he wasnt there. Theres so much more needed at this moment than someone who files the right bill and says enough. Latoya thank you. Senator markey, do you care to respond to that . Sen. Markey yeah. When i see injustice, i just dont talk about change. I need to change. Thats been my career. Thats the Green New Deal. Thats medicare for all. Thats ensuring we do the research on gun safety. Thats my law. Thats breaking up the telecommunications monopolies and making sure the internet is on the desk of every student, our country. , in its why the District Attorney of boston latoya senator, your time is up. Senator, your time is up, but i do have a question for you. Youve been in washington for more than four decades. People know your name and your record. Massachusetts incumbents primaries. O not face why are you perceived vulnerable enough for joe kennedy and others who dropped you out of the race to try to push you out . Sen. Markey well, i can only run as a markey. My father drove a truck for a milk company. I drove a truck to work my way as a commuter through Boston College. I was the first in my family to go to college. I had the Student Loans that i had to carry on my back in the same way i know that kids today all across the commonwealth have to do the same. But why do you think you are seen as vulnerable . Sen. Markey again, he has every right to run. But im running on my record of who i am and my record of leadership, passing the big bills, making the big changes in our country that are necessary. And i think that my record is what you right now, leading to this incredible momentum. I am running on the issues important to the people of the commonwealth. Commerce me kennedy, im going congressman kennedy, im going to let you respond to that. Rep. Kennedy senator markey deserves examination. The proposed integration of boston public schools. He voted for mass incarceration. He voted with republican extremists to fight back against the obama administration, trying to decreased detention tents. Decreased detention tents. Senator markey tried to ban supported a constitutional commitment to ban access to abortion. He voted for the iraq war. Its all part of his record. That is up for debate. When it comes to a question of who it is progressive thank you. Im going to send it to latoya. Latoya i know you want to jump in here. Ill give you 15 seconds to respond, but we need to the issue were were going to come back to what you are talking about. Sen. Markey hes attacking me on something he cast the same vote on the same policy. Give me a break. You took the same position. Where we differ is where you voted to hollow out puerto rico, cut their education, housing programs you took a view that you took a vote that hung puerto rico in a serious way. Latoya i see you both shaking your head. Hold it right there. We got to get to the coronavirus and i promise we will get back to that. So lets turn to something everybody cares about, the coronavirus pandemic. My colleague has a question on that. Grace . Good evening. Im going to ask you both this question in spanish and in english. [speaking spanish] its a question on every parents mind right now, whether to send their child to school in september. Where do you stand on the fall semester, and what is your advice for parents . Sen. Markey rep. Kennedy gracias. [speaking spanish] i still have deep reservations about sending my kids to school and as of now, i would not do it. But our schools need more systems. Thats why i voted for and support the heroes act, which includes 3 trillion of support, including 900 billion for states and municipalities, to do things like hire more teachers, provide access to sanitation measures and resources, to make sure that we actually can create a safe place for our kids. Because until we do, i think every parent is going to feel conflicted as i do. Grace thank you. Have 60markey, you seconds. Sen. Markey only if its safe. And that safety is going to be determined by science. And that science isnt a date you sent kids back. Its the data. And right now, donald trump, Mitch Mcconnell, theyre blocking any help that would go back to the communities so they dont have to lay off teachers. So they have the testing. They have the contact tracing. They have the personal protective equipment to be able to say its safe. And moreover, and its my legislation that if a law that puts it on the desk of every child, thats my law right now, and im going to fight for 4 billion additional to make sure kids get it at home. Because right now, unbelievably, 12 million American Kids do not have the internet at home. And thats going to lead to a homework gap, going to lead to a learning gap, going to lead to an opportunity cap for those kids for the rest of their life. So im going to be leading that fight on the floor the next few weeks to make sure they get all the funding they need. Grace thank you. Latoya, back to you. Latoya thank you. We talked about schools for the moment. This question is for both of you. Senator markey, how do you rate the job congressman kennedy has done handling the Coronavirus Crisis for his constituents . Reminder, one minute here. Sen. Markey again, the congressman has worked very hard for his constituents. And ive worked very hard for my constituents. Ive fought successfully to add a program for 250 billion in order to make sure that they that there would be funding for the gig workers in our state. We have a quarter of a million gig workers who get no unemployment insurance. Fought hard and successfully to make sure we have 150 billion for hospitals in the state of massachusetts. I fought successfully, partnering with Elizabeth Warren and the alaskan republican delegation, to add 300 million for Disaster Relief for the fishermen in our state. So, on issue after issue, i have stood up and fought and delivered for the people of massachusetts in the coronavirus packages thus far, and my job will be on the senate floor in an epic battle with Mitch Mcconnell and the republicans to make sure the additional help goes in, the Health Care Help is there for everyone in our state. You did not give a grade . Well get congressman kennedy. How do you rate the job senator markey has done . Rep. Kennedy i think hes been fighting. We both have. I dont doubt his concern for his constituents. We have both seen the norms impact this has had. In the midst of the coronavirus, i suspended my campaign. We raised over 100,000 to support local organizations because we knew the need was so great to provide meals and additional resources. The senator didnt. Theres more that can be done than the bills you file. I will say, i think the senator has worked hard for his constituents. But lets be clear. The reason why we have been able to deliver more for our communities is because we have democrats in control of the house of representatives. That enabled us to set the framework of this debate, because Mitch Mcconnell and donald trump knew they had to go through nancy pelosi and house democrats. I was out there campaigning to make sure we could put that out last cycle. Senator markey literally went nowhere. This matters not because you collect frequent flyer miles, but latoya we want to switch now to Police Reform and social justice. Both of you are on the record on black lives matter. Lets look at your actions. Give us specifics on what you have done and what you will do to show that black lives matter. This is for both of you, 60 seconds. First to you, senator markey. Sen. Markey thank you. Well, back when i was a state legislator in the 1970s, there was no black senate seat in massachusetts. And i had to make a decision to take on the Democratic State leadership to make sure there was a black senate seat, and i did. And it hurt my career, but thats why bill owens, who became that first black state senator from massachusetts, is endorsing me, and the one who led the effort in the house of representatives, that was a tough fight. Im partnering right now with Elizabeth Warren to repeal qualified immunity, which is the Protection Police officers receive if they have wrongly murdered an innocent individual. Thats what we saw in the florida case. I partnered with iona to make sure we have transfer fees in boston free. Social justice is making sure people, 30,000, 30 of their income goes to paying for transportation cost. Each and every one of those issues, partnering with cory booker the only cosponsor to overhaul the criminal justice latoya senator, thats time. Congressman kennedy same , question for you. Give us specifics of what youve done and what you will do. Rep. Kennedy latoya, when i was asked to give a response to mr. Trumps first state of the union, i was one of the first democrats to declare that black lives matter. This has been at the heart of my work from the moments in momentsthe very first in congress and the first bills i passed in Educational Opportunities for Mental Health care and Maternity Health care. I was one of the founders of the mortality congress in washington. I support legislation, vote for legislation, like the George Floyd Justice in policing acts, the bills led by the black caucus that sets the framework for the beginning of this work. Ive authored legislation with a Democratic Caucus chairman to make it easier to hold them hold Police Officers accountable. Ive worked hand in hand with a family from massachusetts that knows this pain directly, dj henrys family. Dan and angela have become dear friends because of the work that ive done with them after their son was senselessly murdered by a Police Officer nearly 10 years ago. Latoya thank you. I want to push back a little bit. Lets get real for a moment. There are black lives matters supporters, black mothers watching, like me, who are saying in this time of social justice, representation, optics matter. And so its more than you clearly have laid out your records but they see two white men vying for the senate seat to represent massachusetts. Listen, you dont understand may the worry your husband will not return home each and every day. You dont understand the warrior the worry your daughter might be the next breonna taylor. The black understand trans worry about killings that are not being solved right now, the community there. Why is your voice the right voice in this moment . What do you say to that . Senator, you first. Sen. Markey thank you. Were at a moment when justice is needed. The soul of our country is on fire, and we need justice, justice for black and brown families. We need criminal justice. We need to overhaul our police system. Justice,nvironmental educational justice, economic justice, health care justice. Thats medicare for all. Thats making sure that childcare, the sick leave is there the essential workers who are clearly going, who are saving all of having to go out every single day latoya i have to jump in. I apologize for cutting you off. To keep with time, congressman, well give you the same time. Rep. Kennedy thank you. First, those concerns are right. Of Course Experience matters. Lets be clear, we are both two privileged white men. I am certainly extremely privileged. How can we demonstrate we want to acknowledge our difference and fight to make sure our voices are heard . In the words of my colleague, those closest to the pain should have a seat at the table to inform the policy. Latoya congressman, sorry. I know you are both so passionate. We could talk about it all day. Were going to continue