And media organizations from across the state. Im ted simons host and managing editor of the arizona horizon and joining me tonight, political reporter with the arizona republic. The host of arizona 360 and steve goldstein, the host of the show. We are broadcasting from the studios at arizona pbs and school of journalism in downtown phoenix. Tonights debate is also being live streamed on participating media websites including central. Com, kjzz, and azpm. Org. Topics were chosen by journalists from the four participating media outlets. Questions from the public solicited by the commission or also included. The ground rules for the debate are followed. Once we ask a question both candidates will have 90 seconds to answer without interruption. The candidates will then get 45 seconds for a rebuttal again, without interruption. We will then have up to two minutes for an open discussion on the topic. At the end of the debate each candidate will have one minute for closing statements. You may have noticed it may look different. Its taken a number of precautions to keep everyone safe due to the concerns of covid19 including increased distance and barriers between the candidates and moderators. The tests for everyone involved and request for no physical contact like hand shaking between the candidates. And now lets meet the candidates. Martha mcsally republican appointed to the senate in 2019 after john mccains death. Representing arizona in the Congressional District and a native of rhode island, the first to fly in combat in iraq. Mark kelly is a democrat that early in his career served as a navy aviator and piloted this Space Shuttle and is married to former congresswoman, gabrielle giffords. Earlier we tossed a coin to see who gets the first question and that goes to senator mcsally. The president s reasoned covid19 diagnosis calls into question the way the administration in general and the president handled the coronavirus pandemic. Hes been reported as purposely downplaying it and said it would magically disappear and is a hoax and these sort of things. How do you think the administration has handled covid19 . Mcsally our prayers are with President Trump and melania and the families and loved ones of those that have passed away. I think this reminds us that pandemic doesnt care if you are a democrat or republican and we all need to be vigilant and do our part until we defeat this virus, which we will. What i have been doing is fighting for arizona to get relief out there, Small Businesses, to workers, hospitals, fasttrack, the vaccines, treatments and cures and i even voted for additional target relief a few weeks ago to help Small Businesses into schools and others. We didnt vote for that. Its been a difficult year for everybody but what we dont need is another walk dow lockdown ans what would happen if joe biden and mark kelly are involved. Weve seen a lot of tv ads over the next month and my opponent is claiming hes not a politician or a democrat but the truth is that hes bought and paid for by Chuck Schumer whose power goes to arizona and he sold out to multiple business arrangements on the path to getrichquick and he lead over the last decade one of the most radical political organizations in modern history with over 57 million in order to help elect some of the most extreme leftwing politicians in power right now. This is going to decide the Senate Majority and the direction of the country and you have a choice here. To get results for arizona or a counterfeit you cant afford. You have 45 seconds to respond to what the senator said and then 90 seconds for your answer on how the administration has handled the pandemic. Kelly it didnt take long to protect my patriotism. She did that in the last cycle with senator cinema. So i felt after two years we would see a different senator mcsally the same he has shown up. I am a combat veteran. I served in the United States navy for 25 years and spent 15 years at nasa. I served in the western pacific aboard an Aircraft Carrier dealing with the chinese directly. Senator mcsally likes to make false and outlandish accusations. But we have a Public Health crisis which spurred an economic crisis and both of these things have been made worse by a crisis of leadership. Over and over again we have been a step behind. We shut down the economy and then the administration and senator mcsally didnt come up with a plan on what to do next. Moderator i do want to get back to now in more detail how you think the administration could have handled the pandemic better, because we hear from republicans and the president and white house that they have done a great job at this. Kelly i think 200,000 dead americans is evidence that we didnt do this administration and senator mcsally didnt do a great job. We have 4 of the worlds population and we have 21 of the deaths from covid19. Going back to february, the administration knew that it was deadly and airborne. Senator mcsally said she was briefed on this at some point, whether last week of january, early february. Senator mcsally told people to go on spring break. And then shortly after that, when it was recommended that large gatherings, fundraisers be canceled, senator mcsally did a large fundraiser and infection rates were on the rise yet senator mcsally goes to a big political rally. Thats not leadership. We need independent of leadership focused on solving this hard problem. And its challenging, but if we listen to the Public Health officials and dont ignore the science, we can be to this. Moderator senator mcsally, response, please. Mcsally i appreciate that. At the end of january, the president made a Decisive Action to stop travel from china, something that was highly criticized. The mistakes were made at all levels, but we are in this together as americans and we should be looking forward along the way and we have learned a lot. But this came from china. They silenced doctors and blamed it on the u. S. Army and we need to hold them accountable. While im standing up to hold them accountable, my opponent starting in 2003 went over on an all expense paid by the communist party to help influence elites in america and went back in 2004, 2005, said that it was the most meaningful thing in his life besides going to space. This is part of what they do they try to influence the elite and it seems to work. We will talk more about that in the followup. Moderator at what point were you briefed on the virus, what is the first time you were briefed and what did you do with that information . Mcsally the task force was created and i will tell you, doctor fauci and others, they covered this up, it is a new virus and so at the time the risk is low and we learned a lot. At the same time they were telling people to go celebrate and Bernie Sanders and joe biden were having rallies, so i think that for the scientists, it was around mid march that they were realizing the impact when the stayathome orders started, but President Trump took action in january and that was highly criticized. Do you agree with the president s decision to ban travel from china . Kelly you would understand this as a pilot you did step one of the emergency procedure and then you didnt do anything else and that is a colossal failure. When the president thanked china on behalf of the American People in january, senator mcsally stood up and did nothing. We have 4 of the worlds population. We have 21 of the deaths from covid19. And its because this administration didnt handle this as a Public Health issue. They dismissed the scientists. Senator mcsally, i cant think of one occasion where senator mcsally stood up when the president made a mistake for the governor did something that wasnt exactly right. Thats not leadership. We need independent leadership focused on solving hard problems, not somebody thats going to just stand there when the leader of a Political Partyl party is making mistakes. Moderator when he did say that it would be gone and these sort of things, did you see anything in response to that . Mcsally i was fighting tirelessly to get relief to arizona, and we passed the act. Weve got the ppe loans out there that saved 85,000 Small Businesses in arizona, and 1 million jobs. And another example of counterfeit kelly. He criticized the loan and said it wasnt working. While his company was secretly getting the loan and taking advantage of it. And we passed that relief to the stimulus checks and families who were struggling. Families in my community. And investing in the treatment and the testing and the cures. To get the release out the door and help people hang on. We voted on some additional target relief weeks ago, to be able to get kids back to school safely. More support to Small Businesses and unfortunately, my opponent says he would have blocked that relief. What was wrong with the bill that you wouldnt support the targeted relief to help arizona, and another example kelly even the president commented that it was too stingy. Now we are at a situation where Mitch Mcconnell sent everybody home, for separate vacations when we wound up in the situation without further relief. We have 420,000 arizona nuns whove lost their jobs through no fault of their own and now unemployed and they are trying to get by 240 of Unemployment Insurance a week. And senator mcsally went on vacation. That isnt leadership. We need independent leadership putting Arizona First, not more of the same. Moderator first, lets move on to the Supreme Court and this goes to mr. Kelly and you will have 90 seconds. President trump nominated judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court. Do you support the Senate Moving Forward on her nomination or any other nomination in the weeks before the election . Kelly i do not but first let me say when Justice Ginsburg passed, it was a tough day for the country, for me personally, especially for my wife. She looked up to her as a hero. We are less than 30 days from an election. This should be given some thoughtful consideration. I think the next president , regardless of who it is, whether its the reelection of President Trump or Vice President joe biden winning the presidency and whoever is elected to the senate. The decision should wait until january. This was a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. To rush it through i think that its important to recognize why is this being rushed through right now. The reason is there is a case in november that is about the Affordable Care act. Senator mcsally has worked incredibly hard over the last five years to eliminate or undermine protections for the preexisting conditions and legislation that didnt work. She paved the way for this lawsuit thats going to be heard on november 10th i think. And that lawsuit would take away those protections for 2. 4 million arizonans potentially. 1 million would probably lose their insurance and the other 1. 8 it could start costing a lot more. That is in the leadership we need in washington, d. C. Right now. You have to wonder why. We will talk a little bit more about this later but senator mcsally takes an enormous amount of money into her campaign. When i announced on the first day of my campaign, i announced im not going to take one dollar of corporate money. Moderator senator mcsally, did you vote to take away funding for preexisting conditions . Mcsally of course i didnt, and i hope i have more time to talk about this. I will always protect people with preexisting conditions. The democrats and republicans agree about that. The constitution is the guide. And this isnt about Amy Coney Barrett, who is an amazing role model, top of her field, first woman with schoolage children. Lets be clear, the constitution says that the president gets to nominate and the senate gets to confirm. And all 19 times in history when its been the same, theyve moved forward on that. But what the left wants and counterfeit kelly wants is to delay this to get a liberal activist judges on the bench. When they dont get their way of the ballot box, they want to take away freedoms from activist judges who legislate from the bench. We are one vote away from, the case called heller, from losing our individual rights to bear arms, we are one vote away. If you look at what happens, it actually took away the ability for those to go to church while they could still go to casinos during the lockdown. Our freedoms are at stake and joe biden wont even release his list of who he would nominate to the Supreme Court. I would like to know if you would call on joe biden to release that list and also know you dont get to pick the time aim. Would you vote for judge Amy Coney Barrett . Kelly we are 30 days away from an election, and i trust arizonans to be able to make the choice as to who the next president is and who they will elect to the United States senate. To rush through the nomination under these circumstances doesnt make sense to me. We have 420,000 arizonans right now who are unemployed through no fault of their own and are trying to get by on 240 a week. Why isnt the senate dealing with that. That is my question of senator mcsally. Instead, this is a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. It should take some thoughtful consideration. And i think the voters deserve to have a say as to who is going to nominate the next Supreme Court justice to replace ruth bader ginsburg. Mcsally this is another example where you are not answering the question. Another example of trying to say basically nothing to get elected. You know the winner of the race could be seated right away as early as november. You dont get to decide the timing. You just get to decide the vote, yes or no on judge barrett . Kelly i said i would vote no. This should wait until until we have a new president and senate within 30 days of the election and senator mcsally wants to rush through a lifetime appointment. The reason is, it is this case about preexisting conditions and the Affordable Care act which, through legislation, even after voting for times to undermine or eliminate those for preexisting conditions that didnt work. So now this is senator mcsallys option to be successful in any projects shes been working on, we have 2. 8 million arizonans that have a preexisting health care condition and some of them could lose their Health Insurance because of this. Moderator if you are elected you could be sworn in as soon of the votes are certified. If in the senate, would you support a filibuster to delay the nomination . Kelly this whole thing indicates how broken washington is. The discussion of the filibuster. An old senate rule. By the way, i think its important for everyone to understand that when it came to passing a 1. 9 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest americans and corporations senator mcsally voted for, the senate was okay to go to 50 votes so they abolished the filibuster for that and also to try to eliminate the Affordable Care act and the protections for preexisting conditions. Senator mcsally was okay with that. If this comes up as a discussion if im elected to the senate, i would give thoughtful consideration, and im going to do what is in the best interest of arizona and our country, not what is in the best interest of one Political Party or the other. Moderator youve been a candidate for more than a year. Many people think you should already have an answer to that question. Why would you not would you be able to hit the ground running on day number one if you are still thinking about the filibuster kelly absolutely. We dont even know if this will come up for a discussion. It might, and if it does, i would give thoughtful consideration and do what is in the best interest of arizona and arizonans and the best interest of the country, and not the Republican Party or democratic party. And its important to note, very important to note that parties are not in power for very long, traditionally. It goes from one party to another. And whatever decision is made on this is going to, you have to live with it being on the other side. I understand that and i would give thoughtful consideration. And in a way that, you know, not what is in the best interest for democrats, but was in the best interest for the republicans and arizona. Moderator senator mcsally i think the voters want to hear why its not hypocritical for the republicans to go ahead with this during the last year of a term for President Trump, when they block to th blocked the non the last year for president obama. Mcsally the constitution is a guide and in the ten times in history, it happened during an Election Year all 29 times a president nominated. But when the parties are different the ten times, they didnt get advice and consent. In those 19 times they all moved forward. This is about they want to stall tactics in order to get their liberal activist judges on the bench. And they want to pack the court. The fact counterfeit kelly cant even answer the question what he vote for Chuck Schumer, of course he would vote for Chuck Schumer. He is his star recruit and put tens of millions into his race and said this week we are not going to waste this majority if we get it. They are going to abolish a filibuster. He wont answer honestly to you. Hes saying one thing in arizona, but he cant because Chuck Schumer is trying to buy this election and you are going to stop that from happening. Moderator i have a question for mr. Kelly. Who do you need to hear from to form an opinion on the filibuster question . Kelly i need to hear the opinion from arizonans. And when i make the decision, i will let arizonans know. This is something that might not even come up for discussion, and if it does, i will spend some time thinking about it. And i will make a decision based on whats right for arizona. If senator mcsally has this i dont know how many people can follow what she was even talking about with these votes here but what is simple about this is washington is broken, and this highlights how broken it is that we are having these fights over old senate rules. What we need to be focused on is peoples healthcare. We have got a lot of individuals and families that have lost their health car healthcare dues pandemic. The economy, these are the issues arizonans care about, not a role in the United States senate. Moderator lets move back to the subject of china because many security officials, current and former, considered to be our most important adversary at this point. How would you go about the relationship and in some ways, has the president made light of it by mentioning the chinese flew, how seriously has he done things, and you credit the administration for holding china. Mcsally ive been involved in National Security my entire adult life and we have seen the rise of china. Mr. Kelly went over on the Chinese Communist government funded trip 2003, 2004, 2000 by the most meaningful thing other than going to space was so meaningful to him that in 2006 he had a chance to go into space the astronauts who were supporting me, one of them was the apollo 16 astronaut he by an American Flag and a flag of his state that what kelly decided to bring to space was the Chinese Communist party with the junket paid for by china he retired and then recorded a Company Close to the Chinese Government to invest in the company that he cofounded then over with about vitamins with the motorcycle the chinese flag on it he is friends i am fighting them. Respond to the accusation of your chinese relationship is excel he makes china an issue when Mitch Mcconnell out what on Mitch Mcconnell handed her a memo and said this is the issue in your election. I served in any beat me five years i served in flying with the Aircraft Carrier in the south china sea. Sutter make sally has focused on this now because she is desperate to win election i will never apologize for creating good paying jobs that is a lot of Economic Activity here in the state of arizona. So to question my patriotism and i think folks recognize that in that podium said or make sally you all the treason. This is the same falsenegative attacks. So china has been an adversary of ours anywhere on the planet is leave a vacuum china will step into it. When he does the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal senator make sally didnt say anything when the president think the people as the response of covid19. Why . She didnt have memo yet. It is a political issue to use false negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again and i think arizonans are tired of it senator make sally didnt say anything when the president think the people as the response of covid19. Why . She didnt have memo yet. It is a political issue to use false negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again and i think arizonans are tired of it questioning your patriotism but your judgment you went on the junket paid for by the Chinese Communist party the propaganda arm and you said the most meaningful thing youve done in your life and then you chose of all the things you couldve taken i know what i thought and i took you chose the Chinese Communist banner to take to space and then later multiple business relationships and ventures those affiliated with the Chinese Government. What a fighter to stand up to china im your girl i have already been doing that for writing me personally my mom is freaked out a little bit im not questioning your patriotism is your business relationships to put you in a place we were week on china. I dont know what shes talking about or she gets her information maybe she found something on the internet. I recognize china as an adversary for my entire adult life. Senator make sally talks about this when she is campaigning because she thinks this is the way for her to win an election. Is not what arizona needs we need independent leadership i had a deal with the chinese am a third Space Shuttle mission to blow up a satellite in orbit geopolitical issue directly related to aggression by china through testing a missile ive known this for a long time but she dislikes to have false political attacks and question her up in his patriotism we have seen it before. Shifting to healthcare mr. Kelly you support the creation of the Health Insurance option for the public how much exactly what the system cost and what is your preferred way to pay for it . Healthcare is incredibly personal for me when my wife was shot in 2011 she had a serious traumatic brain injury i will never forget being in the icu the first time to see her and looked down and wonder what this means for us, for her and her family. Fortunately she had good Health Insurance the statue with everybody especially losing their jobs with premiums and deductibles and prescription medication. These are the issues arizonans care about so public option to compete on the healthcare exchanges makes a lot of sense in individuals with that insurance we should also allow them to buy into medicare that makes a lot of sense and then you have to address the issue of existing conditions senator make sally has voted four times and i wonder why is that . She takes a lot of corporate pac money from the Health Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical Company so there isnt a lot of desire to make changes in the Healthcare System to help arizona when you are not helping those corporations. Who pays for the option is there another mechanism . So at some point when you provide a public option competing with private insurance the person who buys the insurance pays for it. If we start to talk about the National Debt senator make sally voted for one. 9 trilliondollar tax giveaway for the wealthiest americans and 80 percent of that went to the wealthiest americans to put us in a position where now we have to make some hard choices when all lot of people need covid relief. I have been standing up to the power for protecting the vulnerable my entire life my life story is about republicans and democrats can agree on a couple things we will always protect existing conditions. Obama care is bad failing it is a working so i am fighting for more options for people we took away the penalties because of you could not afford the unaffordable Health Insurance the government was fining you im feigning one fighting for options for people to be them together but the public option which is the Bernie Sanders light is the next path for the full government takeover of healthcare. You cant have a public option compete with private Health Insurance everybody who gets it through an employer eventually will lose that the government will take over and medicare as we know it will be collapsed any seniors tuning in under the expense of plan thats the first step of Government Health care takeover. How much of the public option cost . Senator mcsally you have been supportive of republican plans that nonpartisan analysts say would have left the americans including many in arizona without Health Coverage what you are sponsoring guarantees coverage of preexisting conditions but it would allow women to be charged more than men why should arizonans if the aa already covers them . It should be on parents insurance through 26 we should never allow Insurance Companies to deny People Insurance or raise the cost and with obama care the cost keep going up i met a family when i was knocking on doors and before obama care he was a plumber only owning his own business he pay 300 a month it has gone up four times since then now it is more than his mortgage. Before we got rid of the penalty 150,000 arizonans paid a fine because they could not afford the Health Insurance. Over 80 percent me less than 50000 i am passionate to provide more choices but this government takeover make no mistake this means the government is competing with private they can never compete private Health Insurance goes away than the full government take over and medicare i will be insolvent 2025 the scheme that allows people to be put on medicare will collapse taxes will go up, 2300 just with the public option 178 million americans will lose it this is what is dangerous about their plan i fighting for options to allow Small Businesses to band together to have more choice to provide that taxpayer resources and lets find more options up protect people not the Government Healthcare like counterfeit kelly is offering. This isnt Rocket Science follow the money. Senator mcsally took money from Health Insurance companies and voted to eliminate protections for preexisting conditions took a ton of money from pharmaceutical companies and voted to increase the cost of Prescription Drugs for seniors. She took millions of dollars from corporate pac and gave companies billions of dollars of tax giveaways. Bottom line is a working for us shes working for someone else the company that funds the corporate pac confirms the campaign that doesnt put Arizona First senator mcsally i have to respond that is to say one thing in the counterfeit nature of what he says to arizonans. From the beginning of 2018 through 2191. 8 million in speaking fees speaking to Financial Companies and Insurance Companies into his bank account and is all the end run to get money from employers and executives he says one thing that sounds good but in reality he is getting rich it has gotten rich off corporations and those that are funding his campaign. We cannot put up with more counterfeit on this issue he says one thing and of the attacks toward me will always protect people with preexisting conditions and integrity is the top core value in the air force and in my life ive been protecting the vulnerable my whole life i will keep doing it as your fighter in the senate. Preexisting conditions people are very concerned that healthcare is consistently a top issue in this race. Why should arizonans trust you on this issue. Im telling you im committed to protecting people with preexisting conditions and last week i voted to protect people with preexisting conditions but there are people right now who are being failed by obama care. What about them . I am rolling up my sleeves some politicians sit back i am fighting for the entrepreneur who doesnt have coverage right now in the hispanic Franchise Owner who had to give up his businesses and work for big business because he was diagnosed with diabetes. We have to fix this and protect people these are scare tactics i will continue to fight the stop the government of takeover. I wish the media would acknowledge that. Mr. Kelly do you agree that senator miceli makes on dash that senator mcsally protects those. Of course not arizonans know they cannot protect her she voted on four separate locations to undermine or eliminate those protections i was with a mom named stacy recently who has a terrible her condition and had to have multiple surgeries. She reached a lifetime cap and heard daughter reach that cap before she was even in her teen aging one as a teenager and then concerned you cannot get coverage as an adult but then the Affordable Care act came around in a change their lives. Senator mcsally tries to take away those protections from two. 8 million arizonans on four separate occasions she pave the way for a lawsuit that that the Supreme Court the case will be heard november 10th that is not independent leadership we need independent leadership to put Arizona First, not a big corporate pac or Healthcare Company or Pharmaceutical Company first. These votes he is talking about is because i said i was against obama care i have too many stories and they are preexisting conditions and cant get access to affordable healthcare so a lot of politicians will sit back and say no and instead of him being honest about their plan the public option will and medicare as we know it and raise taxes i will fight against it but its a lie and im fashionably and im passionate. Those protections by the way were saved by john mccain in the senate he save the Affordable Care act he save those protections that senator mc sally spent years trying to und undo. We need to move on. Saturday have consistently supported President Trump and the administrations policy and you voted not to convict on impeachment. Are you proud of your support for President Trump . Mcsally i am proud fighting arizonans like cutting taxes with the tax cuts and jobs act and on average arizona middleclass families had taxes go by 2000 we had such a Strong Economy before the pandemic it we fought to rebuild our military after the Obama Biden Administration decimated the military 25 percent cut with deployments going up we had a hollow force Border Security is National Security that means something in arizona we see the cartel activity. I have the most bills pass in any other senator tied for first than any out of the 100 senators the six most bipartisan senator that is my record fighting for arizona putting legislation i legislation on obamas desk i put on President Trumps desk i go to washington dc with the agency on my jersey different for arizona. My opponent said he would support Bernie Sanders when he was searching now in a situation to if i assume ramp will see her in charge they will run through the most radical agenda we have seen. Counterfeit kelly says he is an independent but the stakes cannot be higher if you want tax cuts on your girl you what the largest tax increase in history, you have somebody else over here. The question is are you part of your support for President Trump. Mcsally im proud to be fighting for arizona everyday putting legislation on President Trumps desk. Look at the legislation it is a cut arizona taxes. It sounds like you are proud of her support. Mcsally why does he want to support Bernie Sanders . Regarding President Trump what is your overall impression of his behavior and actions in the office or opponent basically just said shes proud of her support would you support such a person . No. Not acceptable. What really concerns me the things that matter to every day arizonans like healthcare a one. 9 trilliondollar tax cut that went to the biggest corporations and after that tax cut was passed twice as Many Companies paid zero dollars in federal income tax and with those workingclass folks in arizona. So i have Major Concerns america has a choice to make as to who the next president will be in who will serve in the senate around the country these are serious issues. The United States and is gonna vacation for time since the pandemic has started i think senator mcsally has stood up wants to say where we going home . All those that are trying to get by on 240 a week trying to make horrible choices between paying rent and prescriptions and groceries. And then senator mc sally failed we have 4 percent of the worlds population from the dust of covid19 210,000 and that have lost. It will devote to vote impeachment the president. I would like to hear witnesses that wouldve been a good starting point when you appointed to serve under somebody like donald trump when you are in the military . Mcsally im proud to be work with the president to rebuild our military under obama and biden they cut the military to the bone we had a readiness crisis in so many instances. So if you look at what biden and schumer impose will do i release my taxes today im transparency people can see and with those deductions im calling of my opponent also to releases taxes so arizonans can see where hes made his money over the last five years of more that has come from this is a basic transparency and the tax cuts im very proud of with the family of four in arizona made 60000 before they pay the first dollar in taxes this is meaningful. Host would you like to have served under someone like donald trump when you were in the military. Mcsally giving the military everything they need to fight . 75 percent of the army could not deploy under obama and biden. Host the answer is yes. Mcsally giving us what we need to we are not looking at museums for parts of four airplanes and with the largest pay raise in ten years we are investing in capabilities to take on china. This is so important we continue to support the military and ive been working with President Trump to rebuild. We are getting right back and will do so in just a few minutes to the debate. And for those candidates with a republican senator senator mcsally and democratic challenger mark kelly. Host a question for both of you as travel restrictions continue maybe that equates a sales tax revenue. Maybe there are challenges facing poverty and as they come out of a pandemic . Senator mcsally he will begin with you. Mcsally so to pass the care zach to get relief out to families but uniquely on the border and on the ports of entry into get over 150 million. And part of my bipartisanship working with senator cinema so people can travel more one no more than 75 miles per spend more money around arizona theres a lot at stake here. And virtual 80 and one agents are seeing a difference in the Border Patrol council just reached his hand out to shake his hand he would not shake his hand and turned away and said you are one of them when nobody was looking this is what mark kelly did but then he turns his back and will not shake their hand to a Border Patrol agent. 57million raised he also endorsed david garcia for governor that we should have Border Security that is whats at stake here when he says one thing being behind david garcia. 45 seconds did you not shake the hand of a federal Law Enforcement officer . I would shake anybodys hand at any time. Im sure she gets this. From the agent. And because of the ports of entry would be closed that the countries want us the counties are suffering economically and months ago at the beginning of the pandemic clearly said that communities should not get extra help from the federal government to get us through the crisis. But the main reason is a failure of leadership to address the serious pandemic we have 4 percent of the worlds population and then take that action necessary there was no plan will be shut down the economy to what do we do now . We basically ignored it. No plan for testing or Contact Tracing we need strong Border Security that is clear and to give the 17th century solution but there is a way to do this and Border Security is important to our state and economy. Host looking at the border wall that mexico would pay for and that hasnt happened also diverted from the Defense Department you clearly express that support how do you feel the money being used . Border security is National Security we should have to choose between the military and the border i been voting for increased funding but we need to go back did you hear what he said hes against the 1h century solution that fifthgeneration ranchers are seeing right now what the system is doing to stop the illegal activity. Mr. Kelly tries to pretend hes not political but over the last decade he has led one of the most sophisticated, radical political organizations. While he says one thing here in phoenix he flies all over the country to bankroll and endorse extreme liberal candidates who are so leftwing and dangerous like members of the squad representative omar they are leading the effort to abolish i. C. E. And stop Border Security and if you remember all democrats running for president free healthcare for everybody here this is whats at stake and then to go through arizona to ram through the agenda. Mr. Kelly is funding and bankrolling and endorsing the extreme candidates over the last decade make no mistake he is a political operative a very sophisticated operation to impact Border Security. Border security is critical to our state and in some places a barrier in fencing make sense Border Patrol agents on the border that the smart way to do this we also need more judges for asylumseekers also the Daca Recipients giving them in certain on some certainty in their lives. And then she said doctor is unconstitutional with a bipartisan agreement and then it wasnt politically convenient and then decided not to. There were many people both sides at yes Border Security is important the joke was build a 10foot wall with the 11 for a letter. When you talk to the rancher and makes a difference if it is chicken wire 30foot or a paved road of sonar sensors and allows Border Patrol to use intelligence to detect the activity also airborne assets it is all of the above it is making a difference in mr. Kelly still hasnt answer the question you say you are for Border Security but you support politicians like representative omar and Bernie Sanders and david garcia if you are governor right now he would be against any sort of border on the south side of arizona do you want to denounce those endorsements . Its incredibly important for our state. I have already address this. I would not provide a 17th century solution. If you asked nasa it would be technology in some of the things senator mc sally just mentioned but to build a wall for 2000 miles of border , those resources could be used for the technology and Border Patrol agents on the border, there are smart ways to address this. You ask for funding on a military bases senator mc sally voted to take away money to pay for the border wall and arizona senator shouldnt take money away from the base. Host President Trump wants congress to pass legislation to make the immigration system more of a meritbased rather than current family based. Is that a good idea . I am in support of the h2 b visa in each one be in the Agricultural Workers and those that are educated we need that immigration system consistent with our values and support our economy President Trump has a proposal i come from a family of immigrants most of us do and if there are proposals and i am elected President Trump is reelected i will work with him on anything this in the best interest of arizona. Host senator mcsally do favor Immigration Reform paving the way for young dreamers brought to this country as children to become legal permanent citizens. My heart goes out to the show people that were by here as children to no fault of their own they know no other country but america and i have been leading on solutions to provide a legal path for the Daca Recipients but we cannot just address that issue we have to address the root issue of why were in the situation the first place thats way so important for us to continue to secure border complete the border wall system, you will shake their hands but i have their backs to provide everything they need and then we have to clues these loopholes, the cartel thinks they can traffic families and childrens through this dangerous journey they will close the loopholes to ensure the families can Stay Together and that we have a Legal Immigration system. I have been leading on the house and the senate we have to have Border Security zero fighter cells in the same situation with another daca like group of people in 15 years. Should daca be contingent on other aspects of border securit security . Thats incredibly important we have 28000 mostly young people in the state of arizona who i look at as Americans Initiative a pathway to citizenship right now senator mcsally was in favor of a daca program and now says its unconstitutional. Mcsally i have been leading on this issue to provide a path forward we have to address the root causes in the first place because it will incentivize more illegal activity and counterfeit kelly has not explained why he supported david garcia and said he would support Bernie Sanders why he bankrolled some of the most ideas on i. C. E. And sanctuary cities and many others who are from the radical left element keep in mind 57 million and to endorse and bankroll. So just to be clear for those who are at home can you please be specific . And as a political operative for a decade and the most extreme leftwing candidates in our country running for office bankrolling them and endorsing them he has his arm around omar what are you doing hugging omar . Named after my wife Gabby Gifford shot in the head 20 live in one 2011 that was personal and i will never forget what she went through for that year and a half in the hospital for six months today she still does physical therapy and Speech Therapy to reform an organization to help communities become safer from gun violence. Am a supporter of the Second Amendment i am a gun owner the rights and traditions are so important the Second Amendment is so important we cant let a bunch of kids in the classroom get killed and think theres nothing we can do about it like background checks, red flag laws these are what most support apparently senator mc sally does not spread the president with Atlantic Monthly cnn fox news all reporting he called members of the military losers and suckers you are a military veteran. Your thoughts . Guest. Mcsally i will not comment on Anonymous Sources and we are working to rebuild our military after obama and biden decimated the military giving our troops everything they need to fight. We had our units it in that readiness crisis in the shares of obama and biden and working with President Trump to rebuild the military and President Trump tried to cut it is critical and the troops are on the ground but what is at stake should we lose the white house and the senate and the house coming to arizona the race will decide the Senate Majority and Chuck Schumer is so proud to have recruited mark kelly. He is bankrolled the campaign and the radical left agenda will cut the military to pay for the green bad deal and government takeover of healthcare. I will stand every single day with men and women in the military to give them what they need this is whats at stake. Host have you looked into the anonymous source reports . It concerns a lot of military families. Every single morning i get up fighting for arizona i listen to them and hear what they need and then i go to washington dc to fight for them they can look into those anonymous allegations im fighting for our military i am fighting for our veterans they will cut the military again. Does it concern you . The commanderinchief and to say that of those deceased veterans on the battlefield but also concerns me is what he said about senator john mccain repeatedly and more than one occasion when he passed away and those are uncalled for. Senator mccain was is a hero as a navy pilot and who we looked up to and the unfortunate situation and he was the model i later got to call him a friend i got to know him which is one of the greatest honors of my lifetime and to hear senator mcsally gnostic ever senator john mccain attacking him repeatedly and then i find it hard to understand that not on one occasion with they come up to senator mccains defense. It has been reported many times repeatedly asking the president to stop attacking john mccain frankly it kisses me off when he does that. Even working with john mccain they never would have learned about him in the military what he endured as a pow and to work to support that military and serve in the seats i repeatedly said stop doing that let him rest in peace but one thing about senator mccain he always knew where he stood and here is another example trying to invoke him you cant even take simple positions whether youre packing for the Supreme Court you have a bunch of platitudes but you cant even tell them where you stand. Moving on to Climate Change ues to each of 90 question one 90 seconds the states water supply is in a precarious position the recent poll shows those that want Climate Change to be a National Priority so how do we affordably transition to those solutions . Senator mcsally we will start with you. The climate is changing and there is a Human Element so what do we do . We should not do the green bad deal this is something that my opponent endorsed in bankrolled and said lets band fossil fuels with a carbon tax it would cost 93,000,000,000,000. 65000 for every household in americ america, every year. This heavyhanded approach would be devastating to the economy and they are trying thes heavyhanded mandates. They have blackouts right now because its not based on then we are Energy Independent now we are the exporter for energy but that includes nuclear i have been leading on efforts because right now the sun goes down even if for a few hours how is that any different with the green bad deal and you supported that author which is devastating for arizona household several communities that cannot afford electric bills not what the left is offering. I know where she gets her information from but theres a lot of stuff in there that has nothing to do with climate i dont know why she says im against fossil fuels. Im a pilot of an airplane. And i never forget the first time to see the plaintiff for the first time to see this big round ball to realize we are all in this together and it becomes very clear very quickly there is no planet be weve gone from 280 parts per million talk about flattening the curve thats the curve we need to flatten to move to more Renewable Energy so was senator mc sally follow the money she takes hundreds of thousands of dollars of corporate pack checks and gives a 20 billiondollar tax cut essentially thats where having a difficult time to solve the problem and with 30 percent of solar energy we can create the technology and manufacturing and deploy it here but we cannot wait around to do nothing anymore we need independent leadership to put Arizona First. Do you support those mandates with zero emission vehicles. And also the clean air regulation we will have more polluted air and water and senator mcsally supported that and that was our mistake senator mcsally. Host do you supported . Mcsally i want to hurt arizonans the working poor, rural arizonans or tribal communities who cannot afford the mandates coming from washington dc not based on science we saw that under obama this is another example in a tv interview last year to say the very words we should band fossil fuels this is a regressive tax to hurt the working poor. We can have Energy Storage and then do it based on science and innovation real in of innovator way out of this and in the meantime or omissions are going down china is a big polluter and not band fossil fuels like counterfeit kelly. Host there is no circumstance where i said two. One had to band fossil fuels now shes just making stuff up. Host now the climate in our cities after the killing of george floyd we saw protest and President Trump referred to them as violent and a discussion of whos on the right and the left and causing the problems but if you are in the senate that could be a federal responsibility in terms of funding for cities and police forces. Where do you stand on that whether social injustice or Racial Injustice . The promise of our country should be your race determines what kind of education you get or healthcare or success in life and how that turns out. Both of my parents were cops so its an incredibly difficult job Police Officers need the job and 100 percent behind that i recognize that but there are necessary reforms needing policing but the protest we have seen across the country there is no place for that i fought to defend our constitution and First Amendment and the right for people to peacefully protest but what we have seen over the last be months is beyond that and cities and communities need the resources to deal with this in the effective way. And then there are common sense things we can do to keep africanamerican men safer when they encounter Police Independent investigations and oversight and body cameras and Consent Decrees overseeing Police Departments when they need to make some changes qualified immunity common sense things i can be done to reform policing its necessary but the violence and communities has to and in the federal government where they need that. Whether its in any institution or anyones hearts and only one candidate appear that apologizes for the racist slur and its not me. If you look at the murder of george floyd it was despicable to those who stood by and allowed it to happen so as we move forward we need common sense reap Police Reform 70 percent of what the democrats are asking for it was good reform to address these issues to have more funding to police i back the blue i have the endorsement of the Arizona Police association. Right now in our cities of violence is despicable those that are standing by doing nothing ask my opponent if they want to take back that endorsement of representative omar leading the effort in minneapolis minneapolis to defund the police this is dangerous. The 12000 officers this is why they are backing me. The two support criminals to sue Police Officers i would like to make those lifeanddeath decisions in the warthog kissing families goodbye. Did you say you supported that . That nancy pelosi bill who you also endorsed and supported. The Leadership Conference on civil rights and did not include immunity or dissent one Consent Decree or use of force law. When Police Officers are found of serious wrongdoing then there should be the accountability aspect to that. Has a son of two Police Officers my mom and my dad we realize this is a tough job but there should be accountability and investigation and oversight. And then to foment the racial problems. The violence and anarchy happening across the country is devastating the violence is going up in the attacks on Police Officers listen to a counterfeit kelly just said he would support allowing criminals to sue Police Officers simply for doing their job. That is why they are backing me. They know with the attacks going up on the right now to vilify them led by people like representative omar his wing man that is happening right now we need more funding to back the blue and then to provide Public Safety and giving power is to vilify the police and defend the police and then if you cannot defend yourself and your families i back the blue we need to make sure they have everything they need. Not criminals filing suits against Police Officers but if there is wrongdoing and clearly am part of being accountable and respectful in the community there should be some level of accountability with clear wrongdoing. Mcsally the men and women in blue colusa retirement, home, college fund so i back the blue after Mass Shootings last year you would be open to the thomas to keep up its way from dangerous people and what specifically with that look like. We need to do everything we can to stop the tragedy from happening leading on the house and the senate we have a background check system that often isnt working where shootings happen they should have been in the system but then they pass the background check to make sure we strengthen the background check system with more Mental Health support and more support to schools to have the security we need so parents can drop their kids off to ensure they are safe. Right now more than ever i shot the biggest gun ever of anyone in congress and our Constitutional Rights are at risk. Counterfeit kelly can say i have guns but make no mistake to include those like beto orourke coming after the Second Amendment rights, lawabiding citizens deserve to keep the ability to defend their own lives we are one judge away from losing Second Amendment rights in the legislative agenda comes after them as well so we can do things to protect communities but we must protect the Second Amendment. Host you said you are open to considering the gun laws. Mcsally you are misstating the conversations with the white house. We need to make sure someone has been adjudicated to be mentally ill by a judge the they are in the system many states dont put that information into the system so people have a background check anyway. We have to have due process and ensure their Constitutional Rights are never taken away unless they have gone through the due process and the laws are on the books and then to keep communities safe but they want to defund the police and then take away Second Amendment rights you cannot defend your family. Just to be clear we did not misspeak we had multiple conversations with your office i want to be clear on that we have written quite a bit about that. A lot of Americans First heard of you as the voice of gun control in the nation sure you are running for the u. S. Senate and you havent raised the issue of gun safety or control much over the last year and a half you have been in this race. Why not . The issue is incredibly important to me and arizonans. Senator mcsally i have a lot of respect for that 30millimeter cannon that she got to shoot. It is a great weapon system. I am a supporter of the Second Amendment. I remember when my dad gave me my first firearm i was going to flight school, just got my wings and he bought me a 9milliliter one millimeter glock thats a lifelong combat with in the first gulf war in my prized possession. I dont think that we should ever get to the point where a bunch of kids getting children the classroom is normal. Stronger gun laws is not inconsistent with our rights we can respect the rights and traditions under the Second Amendment and have stronger communities that includes things like you mentioned like red flag laws background checks and senator mcsally has said background checks are unconstitutional. Most guns are sold with a background check right now but there are giant loopholes you could drive a truck through and here in arizona a majority support background checks for all gun sales and red flag laws. These are common sense things to keep communities safe and we can respect her Second Amendment rights. Host why have you talked about this more on the campaign trail . I talk about what they asked me about which is healthcare, Prescription Drug drugs, prescription medication, i meant a mom recently who had to make horrible decisions if she fills her prescription or her son or buys groceries. These are or one horrible choices. These are the issues folks care about. Not getting covid19 relief so many arizonans and members of the community that are struggling. Food banks are maxed out folks are having to make these horrible choices and the United States senate that is not leadership for arizona. Are you against background checks for all gun sales . Here is another example my opponent says i have a gun the reason is not talking about it is because arizonans care about their constitutional right. Should he get elected and they should be able to ram through the agenda and leading the charge over the last ten years the most extreme wing of his party the frankenstein he created now we are leading the effort. Host are you against background checks for all gun sales . Steve i been strengthening the background check system that we have sometimes they are not in the system well ensuring that arizonans Second Amendment rights are protected. We have to stop there thank you candidate so much is time for closing statements and we begin with mark kelly. Thank you everybody for spending the time to listen to senator mcsally and me tonight this is a critical moment for country and state and partisan politics has made this crisis worse and politicians will not get us out of it. We need independent leadership focused on solving the problems we face like beating the virus and rebuilding our economy. This is such al decision. It will decide the Senate Majority. It will decide the direction of the country and you have a choice here. If somebody has been a fighter for you and continues to be for arizona, you will enable the radical left and their agenda to be forced on it. There is a lot at stake here and im asking for your vote. This has been a great discussion. Thanks everybody for the conversation. I think arizonans preferred this to the 30 seconds like the tv ads so why dont we do this two or three more times in the next few weeks. We could go to yuma and prescott. Im sure that the media would support holding these debates. If we agree right now, lets do three more rounds because arizonans deserve to have this conversation candidate to candidate. Next week in that will be an interesting conversation. Mcsally that kind of proves my point, arizona. Moderator thats it for this debate for the u. S. Senate brought to you by arizona elections commission, arizona pbs, arizona republic, and arizona public media. If you would like to hear more including analysis from the four of us, please join immediately after on one of the live streams. The postdebate analysis will be carried on kjzz. Org and kjpbs. Org. We hope you will join for other debates and for the Sheriffs Office on friday. Thanks to the candidates for their participation and thank you for joining us as well. You have a great evening. Now a conversation on the transatlantic economy with deputy treasury secretary justin muzinich, including europes response to the coronavirus pandemic and crypto currencies. From the Atlantic Council, this is halfanhour. Good morning. Welcome to the Atlantic Council economic center. My name is julia friedlander,
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