Transcripts For CSPAN2 Campaign 2020 Wyoming U.S. Senate Deb

Good evening welcome to the general election u. S. Senate debate from the Fine Arts Center and wyoming. Tonight is being broadcast live on the network through wyoming Public Radio Network and her social media platform and on cspan. We will be asking questions of the candidates this evening of what we hope will be a thoughtful and civil exchange. A quick note we are utilizing social distancing practices this evening and no Live Audience tonight. Was candidates for the open senate seat are with us and with the assistance from the wyoming league of women voters conducted a on conducted a random draw the candidates have been briefed on the ground rules for tonights debate and in addition to questions from us midway through the debate we will have a segment where the candidates unscripted have issues amongst themselves they should be noted those questions and wyoming viewers also developed spherically want to get right to the debate and then questions will follow if the candidates are ready by the luck of the draw you have your opening statement. Thank you. I really appreciate wyoming pbs and public media hosting this event tonight thank you Eastern Wyoming College as well. There is no question our nation and state are at a critical juncture. These are trying times for wyoming families and small business. But i now we as a state and nation can come through tough times just like this and i truly believe the Great American comeback is just around the corner. To get our economy back on track we need to return manufacturing from china that supply chains have weaknesses we need to correct to bring those Rare Minerals back from china to produce them here in the United States other manufacturing back in active ingredients for prescription drugs they need to be brought to the usa. We also need to continue to be a leader in Energy Production thanks to the president s policies, the United States has become the world leader in Energy Production and wyoming is and energy state we have it all and we need to make sure we keep in that area of the economy and reduce our debt and deficit thank you all again and i look forward to this discussion this evening. Thank you everyone. Forty americans will die of the coronavirus meanwhile one of the largest buyers in wyoming history is nowhere near contained living in cheyenne you cannot step outside without breathing in the smoke. But more than that young people have been forced devastating budget cuts are threatening hospitals and schools and other states none of this wouldve happened if career politicians had just declared a fundamental truth i am not a career politician im an educator and a scientist at the university of wyoming and like many of you working from home today, i am fed up today with endless gridlock in washington why i am running for the u. S. Senate you know how scientists get stuff done . We embrace them we dont tune each other out we listened we dont have time for partisan politics i look forward to sharing with you my plan. This may not have anything to do with the pandemic coming from wyoming but the Scientific Consensus is that dangerous fire conditions are likely to increase in the coming years making fires like the mall and fire typical what policy changes do you recommend for Climate Change . Look at the same fairest income. To the fair lawn the federal forest state for for us that have fewer downloads by controlled burns are much healthier than the federal forest that way they can resist disease or fires and be stronger and healthier. A sponsor legislation in the house to have healthier forest and that legislation was cut by the Obama White House if we had policies at the federal level like we do in our state forest we would have healthier forest and better resist fire and disease it is important we have conservation laws so there isnt a gross understory that creates massive fuel loads when the wind that picks up to 150,000 acres plus and still not contained. Host. I agree we have tried to maximize the logging companies but the question is about Climate Change so let me point a few items. It is the warmest on record previously subsets septembe september 2019 it is that the Second Lowest level, and we have intense hurricanes in the gulf of mexico. There are multiple other indications of Climate Change and in siberia we recorded the highest temperature ever and those temperatures are projected to appear in the year 2100 so we definitely need to mitigate Climate Change now and effectively. I thought the question was about what we can do about fires right now so in response to my think i say we know how to manage better at the state level than federal level and create charter forest in the National Forest to allow us to show the practice of the state forest and State Governments actually can improve the health of our forest to withstand the devastating wildfires hurting airquality much worse than Climate Change. Host a headline in the major newspaper editorial recently said donald trump tax returns illustrate the profound iniquity of the tax code and the symbolic state of federal enforcement. Is that accurate . I would agree. We have a problem with our tax code we have so many loopholes and we both share the burden of taxes equally for all people in the United States so if we are to save the future we have to the economy all americans have access to affordable healthcare and make sure we have food on peoples tables. We definitely need to revisit the tax code. Lummis the tax reform provided incomes that increased it searched under the trump tax cuts poverty is at a 60 year low. We have a tax code that is so much better now than it was four years ago the advantages of keeping President Trump and his policies of low taxes , level regulation and a Strong Economy will help us work out the challenges we have faced due to covid and was associated with covid. Income inequality is the cause of the Great Depression we have the same conditions right now with making billions during the pandemic while millions of americans are spending in full distribution. This is a great danger for our country. Lummis feelings of isolation and depression and anxiety are known to raise the risk of suicide. People may be more likely to experience these in a crisis like the pandemic and as you know unfortunately wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the country. Governor gordon has pointed out those programs that are on the chopping block with the fiscal challenges front and center to support wyoming. I was in the u. S. House and race sponsored or cosponsored comprehensive Mental Health legislation that the Obama Administration did not take up or consider. I do think there is a federal role. I think its important we address these issues at the state and federal and local level. Is truly important that when we can identify people due to Mental Illness that we provide the support mechanism to deal with their problem. Host complete your thoughts. Are you okay with your answer . Bendavid im surprised that if you sponsor the bill the record shows that you actually voted against providing Mental Health funding for veterans and people suffering from ptsd. I am surprised you are bringing this up. But yes in wyoming we have a problem with Mental Health and the pandemic does not help much. We need to make sure the Health Care System provides Mental Health skills because of those rights. Lummis when i hear people say its a human right that means they believe in the federal mandates and federal funding and quite frankly healthcare is and issue that doesnt function at the federal level we saw that under obama care but not the rule frontier state. Its much more important we have policies that benefit those of us that have accessible healthcare at the rural wyoming level. Doctor bendavid we can follow up despite dissatisfaction with the aca many people are terrified about losing healthcare. Of course many are also worried about the cost of insurance how do we get out of the spine to make sure people can get affordable insurance as well as well as affordable healthcare . The affordable healthcare is under threat. The Affordable Care act in a lot of things for americans and families. We had 20 Million People uninsured and Insurance Companies refusing to ensure people with preexisting conditions. We have a lot of people who didnt have access to health care. The federal care act is a step to make sure americans have insurance but i believe we need to make sure that everyone has access to healthcare including rule states and hospitals why i support a singlepayer Health Care System for the United States. Lummis it doesnt work for wyoming it was designed for urban areas not rural areas thats one but the congress to not repeal and replace so there are two things i would do first and foremost. Number one to support senator cassidys bill to provide for transparency and cash pricing through procedures and second i would support the ability of states to buy insurance across state lines is only one insurance provider left in the state because of obama care and that has to change. Host rebuttal . Bendavid the cost of healthcare will go down if everybody is part of the system. That is the original idea of the individual mandate. But i agree the Affordable Care act did not address some of the needs of wyoming and therefore the system i envision will make sure that we have funding for rural hospitals and also maintaining the Healthcare Professionals. When senator simpson took on the challenge of Immigration Reform we had high hopes and now here we are almost 40 years later trying to solve the problems that has only gotten worse so how do you address the challenges and finally find a solution . The beginning to Immigration Reform is to secure our borders we have to have secure borders before we can expand Legal Immigration and crackdown on ilLegal Immigration so first secure the borders and then replace the lottery with the merit based system. Lottery is one of the most unfair components of our immigration system. We should help those standing in line for years to get into this country legally ahead of the lottery and finally help Seasonal Workers get their visas to but these are all important parts of comprehensive reform that we have to have to have a better immigration system. Bendavid immigration is one of the most important mechanisms to boost our communities we have been losing residence in local communities for a long time with a 30 percent of increase in rural areas where a country i am an immigrant and i came here and i am very proud of it. We need to make sure that we provide the path to citizenship for those who came here because they are contributing to become a productive citizen. Host moving along with know about all. If other Carbon Capture technology as a way to save the coal industry and the planet . Lets be clear the need for coal and oil and gas in the Global Demand is declining and has been for a long time and with the wyoming economy to see that right now. The reason why and then to shut down because it is the an efficient way to produce energy it is inefficient and expensive and you are asking if we should enter not even an expensive procedure so i dont see a single freemarket company that will agree to pay the cost of burning coal from the process. We have to have multiple sources of energy and so that is why wyoming integrated testing standard to allow people to plug and play to test Carbon Capture and sequestration is so important why the enhanced oil recovery at the university of wyoming is so important we need to figure out how to get as much oil out of the legacy fields as we can and the school of Energy Research is helping with these matters. Bendavid it is absolutely true the diversity of wyoming and with those alternative Energy Resources and we have the potential in wyoming with these industries to make us Global Leaders for example we have the largest deposit that we can develop. We have a very large deposit. Lummis the Federal Reserve chair said today policymaker should air on the side of putting too much money into the economy or too little too little support is a week recovery unnecessary hardships of health on households and businesses do you agree . Thats why the care is act makes so much sense somewhere between two and a half and 3 trillion to help Small Businesses and families and its possible we may need another effort to help individuals to continue to survive until a vaccine is found. And as soon as we can but i am one of those believers we needed to prong approach to protect us dollars thats us dollar but at the same time and as an alternative to help people and in that financial leader. Bendavid thank you. The one thing that brought us into a Great Recession in 2008 we were not regulating the big banks to cause a major recession to our country for those that were not viable. So to have a regulation of banks necessary and on the other hand to try to develop a new currenc currency. I know that wyoming has strong banking regulations but also judgment until that is implemented. No rebuttal. Lummis the next question. How are you working to dismantle systemic racism and what steps are you willing to would take to address that few on further if in congress . Bendavid so with systemic racism for quite a while not only do we see this from slavery 100 years ago but the treatment of Indigenous People and it has been expressed against racism i would do everything in my power to make sure to our indigenous tribes and with the leadership of the tribes in the what we can do to help to alleviate those issues such as housing shortages and education. The wyoming constitution that all members of the human race are equal i think most americans believe that and i believe that racism is actually systemic i believe there are pockets of racism we need to continue to ferret out and work on with those that are inherent in the differences of race but to say is systemic to deny the basic fundamental american and principles that all men are created equal to pursue life liberty and happiness equally i believe the Justice System and forces that and what we need to do in Law Enforcement nobody hates bad cops more than good cops and then to ferret out from systemic racism. I wish the reason and that was described is true but if you look at the environmental pollution that communities of people of color are more exposed if you look at black americans compared to the occasion that they go to right next to those communities. We will continue on. Representative longterm care is the ability to receive services is a huge challenge and to accept medicaid especially those who may not have a caregiver he went from home to hospice to have an and ten days at age 91. I would go for every older american we need to will make on to make sure longterm healthcare insurance are readily available and that our facilities in wyoming are adequate including hospice facilities and inhome Hospice Services and the approach and these nursing programs we have around the state better levels of nursing care so they can live out their lives in their own home. Bendavid thank you and when these regulations have been rolled back and with those negligence and then to make sure and that we do care for our elderly people. And that we have to make sure and the right healthcare for all americans and so to do that as i said before singlepayer and to allow the Healthcare Professionals in the Healthcare Providers and also this is available in rural wyoming. No additional time needed thank you. Host from this moment forward what can Congress Still do relative to the coronavirus . Bendavid what should we do . The house has already passed the he was act which is absolutely necessary to make sure we get enough to single families and the Small Businesses and c. A. R. E. S. Act are helpful although we do have enough oversight for President Trump and we also need to make sure because the state of wyoming right now one. 6 billion shortfall and that he was act that could be allocated. The reason that act is lingering on Mitch Mcconnells tax that includes a billion dollars of funding unrelated to covid. That means that means getting money for vaccines to get the warp speed effort to get a vaccine broadly available to the Fine Arts Center<\/a> and wyoming. Tonight is being broadcast live on the network through wyoming Public Radio Network<\/a> and her social media platform and on cspan. We will be asking questions of the candidates this evening of what we hope will be a thoughtful and civil exchange. A quick note we are utilizing social distancing practices this evening and no Live Audience<\/a> tonight. Was candidates for the open senate seat are with us and with the assistance from the wyoming league of women voters conducted a on conducted a random draw the candidates have been briefed on the ground rules for tonights debate and in addition to questions from us midway through the debate we will have a segment where the candidates unscripted have issues amongst themselves they should be noted those questions and wyoming viewers also developed spherically want to get right to the debate and then questions will follow if the candidates are ready by the luck of the draw you have your opening statement. Thank you. I really appreciate wyoming pbs and public media hosting this event tonight thank you Eastern Wyoming College<\/a> as well. There is no question our nation and state are at a critical juncture. These are trying times for wyoming families and small business. But i now we as a state and nation can come through tough times just like this and i truly believe the Great American<\/a> comeback is just around the corner. To get our economy back on track we need to return manufacturing from china that supply chains have weaknesses we need to correct to bring those Rare Minerals<\/a> back from china to produce them here in the United States<\/a> other manufacturing back in active ingredients for prescription drugs they need to be brought to the usa. We also need to continue to be a leader in Energy Production<\/a> thanks to the president s policies, the United States<\/a> has become the world leader in Energy Production<\/a> and wyoming is and energy state we have it all and we need to make sure we keep in that area of the economy and reduce our debt and deficit thank you all again and i look forward to this discussion this evening. Thank you everyone. Forty americans will die of the coronavirus meanwhile one of the largest buyers in wyoming history is nowhere near contained living in cheyenne you cannot step outside without breathing in the smoke. But more than that young people have been forced devastating budget cuts are threatening hospitals and schools and other states none of this wouldve happened if career politicians had just declared a fundamental truth i am not a career politician im an educator and a scientist at the university of wyoming and like many of you working from home today, i am fed up today with endless gridlock in washington why i am running for the u. S. Senate you know how scientists get stuff done . We embrace them we dont tune each other out we listened we dont have time for partisan politics i look forward to sharing with you my plan. This may not have anything to do with the pandemic coming from wyoming but the Scientific Consensus<\/a> is that dangerous fire conditions are likely to increase in the coming years making fires like the mall and fire typical what policy changes do you recommend for Climate Change<\/a> . Look at the same fairest income. To the fair lawn the federal forest state for for us that have fewer downloads by controlled burns are much healthier than the federal forest that way they can resist disease or fires and be stronger and healthier. A sponsor legislation in the house to have healthier forest and that legislation was cut by the Obama White House<\/a> if we had policies at the federal level like we do in our state forest we would have healthier forest and better resist fire and disease it is important we have conservation laws so there isnt a gross understory that creates massive fuel loads when the wind that picks up to 150,000 acres plus and still not contained. Host. I agree we have tried to maximize the logging companies but the question is about Climate Change<\/a> so let me point a few items. It is the warmest on record previously subsets septembe september 2019 it is that the Second Lowest<\/a> level, and we have intense hurricanes in the gulf of mexico. There are multiple other indications of Climate Change<\/a> and in siberia we recorded the highest temperature ever and those temperatures are projected to appear in the year 2100 so we definitely need to mitigate Climate Change<\/a> now and effectively. I thought the question was about what we can do about fires right now so in response to my think i say we know how to manage better at the state level than federal level and create charter forest in the National Forest<\/a> to allow us to show the practice of the state forest and State Government<\/a>s actually can improve the health of our forest to withstand the devastating wildfires hurting airquality much worse than Climate Change<\/a>. Host a headline in the major newspaper editorial recently said donald trump tax returns illustrate the profound iniquity of the tax code and the symbolic state of federal enforcement. Is that accurate . I would agree. We have a problem with our tax code we have so many loopholes and we both share the burden of taxes equally for all people in the United States<\/a> so if we are to save the future we have to the economy all americans have access to affordable healthcare and make sure we have food on peoples tables. We definitely need to revisit the tax code. Lummis the tax reform provided incomes that increased it searched under the trump tax cuts poverty is at a 60 year low. We have a tax code that is so much better now than it was four years ago the advantages of keeping President Trump<\/a> and his policies of low taxes , level regulation and a Strong Economy<\/a> will help us work out the challenges we have faced due to covid and was associated with covid. Income inequality is the cause of the Great Depression<\/a> we have the same conditions right now with making billions during the pandemic while millions of americans are spending in full distribution. This is a great danger for our country. Lummis feelings of isolation and depression and anxiety are known to raise the risk of suicide. People may be more likely to experience these in a crisis like the pandemic and as you know unfortunately wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the country. Governor gordon has pointed out those programs that are on the chopping block with the fiscal challenges front and center to support wyoming. I was in the u. S. House and race sponsored or cosponsored comprehensive Mental Health<\/a> legislation that the Obama Administration<\/a> did not take up or consider. I do think there is a federal role. I think its important we address these issues at the state and federal and local level. Is truly important that when we can identify people due to Mental Illness<\/a> that we provide the support mechanism to deal with their problem. Host complete your thoughts. Are you okay with your answer . Bendavid im surprised that if you sponsor the bill the record shows that you actually voted against providing Mental Health<\/a> funding for veterans and people suffering from ptsd. I am surprised you are bringing this up. But yes in wyoming we have a problem with Mental Health<\/a> and the pandemic does not help much. We need to make sure the Health Care System<\/a> provides Mental Health<\/a> skills because of those rights. Lummis when i hear people say its a human right that means they believe in the federal mandates and federal funding and quite frankly healthcare is and issue that doesnt function at the federal level we saw that under obama care but not the rule frontier state. Its much more important we have policies that benefit those of us that have accessible healthcare at the rural wyoming level. Doctor bendavid we can follow up despite dissatisfaction with the aca many people are terrified about losing healthcare. Of course many are also worried about the cost of insurance how do we get out of the spine to make sure people can get affordable insurance as well as well as affordable healthcare . The affordable healthcare is under threat. The Affordable Care<\/a> act in a lot of things for americans and families. We had 20 Million People<\/a> uninsured and Insurance Companies<\/a> refusing to ensure people with preexisting conditions. We have a lot of people who didnt have access to health care. The federal care act is a step to make sure americans have insurance but i believe we need to make sure that everyone has access to healthcare including rule states and hospitals why i support a singlepayer Health Care System<\/a> for the United States<\/a>. Lummis it doesnt work for wyoming it was designed for urban areas not rural areas thats one but the congress to not repeal and replace so there are two things i would do first and foremost. Number one to support senator cassidys bill to provide for transparency and cash pricing through procedures and second i would support the ability of states to buy insurance across state lines is only one insurance provider left in the state because of obama care and that has to change. Host rebuttal . Bendavid the cost of healthcare will go down if everybody is part of the system. That is the original idea of the individual mandate. But i agree the Affordable Care<\/a> act did not address some of the needs of wyoming and therefore the system i envision will make sure that we have funding for rural hospitals and also maintaining the Healthcare Professionals<\/a>. When senator simpson took on the challenge of Immigration Reform<\/a> we had high hopes and now here we are almost 40 years later trying to solve the problems that has only gotten worse so how do you address the challenges and finally find a solution . The beginning to Immigration Reform<\/a> is to secure our borders we have to have secure borders before we can expand Legal Immigration<\/a> and crackdown on ilLegal Immigration<\/a> so first secure the borders and then replace the lottery with the merit based system. Lottery is one of the most unfair components of our immigration system. We should help those standing in line for years to get into this country legally ahead of the lottery and finally help Seasonal Workers<\/a> get their visas to but these are all important parts of comprehensive reform that we have to have to have a better immigration system. Bendavid immigration is one of the most important mechanisms to boost our communities we have been losing residence in local communities for a long time with a 30 percent of increase in rural areas where a country i am an immigrant and i came here and i am very proud of it. We need to make sure that we provide the path to citizenship for those who came here because they are contributing to become a productive citizen. Host moving along with know about all. If other Carbon Capture<\/a> technology as a way to save the coal industry and the planet . Lets be clear the need for coal and oil and gas in the Global Demand<\/a> is declining and has been for a long time and with the wyoming economy to see that right now. The reason why and then to shut down because it is the an efficient way to produce energy it is inefficient and expensive and you are asking if we should enter not even an expensive procedure so i dont see a single freemarket company that will agree to pay the cost of burning coal from the process. We have to have multiple sources of energy and so that is why wyoming integrated testing standard to allow people to plug and play to test Carbon Capture<\/a> and sequestration is so important why the enhanced oil recovery at the university of wyoming is so important we need to figure out how to get as much oil out of the legacy fields as we can and the school of Energy Research<\/a> is helping with these matters. Bendavid it is absolutely true the diversity of wyoming and with those alternative Energy Resources<\/a> and we have the potential in wyoming with these industries to make us Global Leaders<\/a> for example we have the largest deposit that we can develop. We have a very large deposit. Lummis the Federal Reserve<\/a> chair said today policymaker should air on the side of putting too much money into the economy or too little too little support is a week recovery unnecessary hardships of health on households and businesses do you agree . Thats why the care is act makes so much sense somewhere between two and a half and 3 trillion to help Small Businesses<\/a> and families and its possible we may need another effort to help individuals to continue to survive until a vaccine is found. And as soon as we can but i am one of those believers we needed to prong approach to protect us dollars thats us dollar but at the same time and as an alternative to help people and in that financial leader. Bendavid thank you. The one thing that brought us into a Great Recession<\/a> in 2008 we were not regulating the big banks to cause a major recession to our country for those that were not viable. So to have a regulation of banks necessary and on the other hand to try to develop a new currenc currency. I know that wyoming has strong banking regulations but also judgment until that is implemented. No rebuttal. Lummis the next question. How are you working to dismantle systemic racism and what steps are you willing to would take to address that few on further if in congress . Bendavid so with systemic racism for quite a while not only do we see this from slavery 100 years ago but the treatment of Indigenous People<\/a> and it has been expressed against racism i would do everything in my power to make sure to our indigenous tribes and with the leadership of the tribes in the what we can do to help to alleviate those issues such as housing shortages and education. The wyoming constitution that all members of the human race are equal i think most americans believe that and i believe that racism is actually systemic i believe there are pockets of racism we need to continue to ferret out and work on with those that are inherent in the differences of race but to say is systemic to deny the basic fundamental american and principles that all men are created equal to pursue life liberty and happiness equally i believe the Justice System<\/a> and forces that and what we need to do in Law Enforcement<\/a> nobody hates bad cops more than good cops and then to ferret out from systemic racism. I wish the reason and that was described is true but if you look at the environmental pollution that communities of people of color are more exposed if you look at black americans compared to the occasion that they go to right next to those communities. We will continue on. Representative longterm care is the ability to receive services is a huge challenge and to accept medicaid especially those who may not have a caregiver he went from home to hospice to have an and ten days at age 91. I would go for every older american we need to will make on to make sure longterm healthcare insurance are readily available and that our facilities in wyoming are adequate including hospice facilities and inhome Hospice Services<\/a> and the approach and these nursing programs we have around the state better levels of nursing care so they can live out their lives in their own home. Bendavid thank you and when these regulations have been rolled back and with those negligence and then to make sure and that we do care for our elderly people. And that we have to make sure and the right healthcare for all americans and so to do that as i said before singlepayer and to allow the Healthcare Professionals<\/a> in the Healthcare Providers<\/a> and also this is available in rural wyoming. No additional time needed thank you. Host from this moment forward what can Congress Still<\/a> do relative to the coronavirus . Bendavid what should we do . The house has already passed the he was act which is absolutely necessary to make sure we get enough to single families and the Small Businesses<\/a> and c. A. R. E. S. Act are helpful although we do have enough oversight for President Trump<\/a> and we also need to make sure because the state of wyoming right now one. 6 billion shortfall and that he was act that could be allocated. The reason that act is lingering on Mitch Mcconnells<\/a> tax that includes a billion dollars of funding unrelated to covid. That means that means getting money for vaccines to get the warp speed effort to get a vaccine broadly available to the American Public<\/a> and to the world the president has floated the idea of a 1200dollar payment per individual and that something we should consider because they are still suffering because they see a resurgence of coronavirus so this attacks coronavirus not this spending bill that nancy pelosi propose that includes a trillion dollars of non covid related spending. Bendavid i will take to know what will that trillion dollars going to fund . Including the state of wyoming. And then money for State Government<\/a> and that is why passing the bill is crucial for wyoming. Each of you have an opportunity to discuss and was a start. On a speaking what you like to visit about who speaks first. Thank you very much so doctor bendavid congratulations one of the democratic nomination for the senate you were endorsed by senator Elizabeth Warren<\/a> and she supports the Green New Deal<\/a> as i. C. E. Understand and medicare for all so i like to know from you which policies you also support and why are the policies right for wyoming . That are worn is a lot to help American Families<\/a> the Consumer Protection<\/a> Financial Bureau<\/a> i am honored the policies for wyoming are not medicare for all and in the universal Healthcare System<\/a> to provide and that provides americans the healthcare that they need and that is something. And i wanted to talk about the president nominating and amy comey one Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> to the Supreme Court<\/a> i am proud to support her nomination and she is highly qualified to replace Justice Ginsburg<\/a> on the courts currently sits on the seventh court of appeals and is the mother of seven and a woman of devout faith with as a law professor at notre dame and is the ideal person as a constitutional conservative judge. She will be the person who looks at the Founding Fathers<\/a> why our country was founded the way it was to make these decisions. Thank you for bringing the issue up. And then to introduce judge garland to the Supreme Court<\/a> now they rushed to nominee another Supreme Court<\/a> justice and those with such political gains and at the same time you also said tough luck anybody who has power in washington can do what they want is is how you work across the aisle . Its not a tough situation. Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> nomination where is done via a republican president we have a situation those that may be contested with the for us Supreme Court<\/a> the difference is that president obama nominated with a republican u. S. Senate and honestly elections do have consequences. It does make a difference. Im not saying we should all go along with each other all the time just because been rr not empower. How do i work across the aisle . People are concerned about the divisiveness i have experience working multiple stakeholders from all walks of life and with Oil Companies<\/a> and environmental groups to come up with solutions. And those in the near future to find Solutions Together<\/a> so i am surprised to take that approach. I served in the us house of representatives. To Work Together<\/a>. They may be 20 or 5 with some and 90 with others. Finding that sliver of how we can Work Together<\/a> and working together in good humor. And in comity is tremendously important to me. I dont want to go to the u. S. Senate just to have a little pin on my lapel. I want to go to the u. S. Senate to get work done. Snack we have about three more minutes continue. Lets talk about your record. During eight years in which six were the Republican Party<\/a> controlled the house, you were able to pass one bill, and i commend you for that. And you missed the most important votes on the ml legislation that cost wyoming 700 million. I would like to know, what has changed since you left the house . And how you can improve on your record, should you be elected to the senate . So back well first of all, i do not know what youre talking about with the 700 million. You are going to have to tell me what you mean there. I will tell you that the bill i got past, working with democrats congressman tim walsh is now the governor of minnesota, and a good working colleague of mine, was to make our forests healthier. It was an important measure. And you know it was tough as a republican to get legislation to president obamas desk. But we did it because we stuck with it. And in so many ways, when you are in the minority, you have to work to prevent the bad things are happening. Which is something i also did. And i was willing to fight my own partys leadership to try and get more fiscally conservative legislation passed. If you cant work with your own party, and you had a difficult time passing legislation when your party was in power, what new skills have you acquired since leaving congress that will allow you to pass legislation that will help us face the big challenges we are facing today. And are going to face in the near future, and five years or ten years. We are facing covid19, which is unprecedented pandemic that we have not seen in 100 years. We are going to see more negative effects from the climate crisis. What legislation, how are you going to work with others to help solve this problem . To make this a be the last response. I have the endorsement of President Trump<\/a>. I have the support of senators mike ansi and mike barrasso. In about 27 other members of the United States<\/a> senate. When elected to the u. S. Senate, i get to take my house seniority of eight years with me to the u. S. Senate. So if i went on november 3 i will be the most senior freshman in the u. S. Senate. That would give me opportunities on committees that might not be available to people who are more junior. I can tell you i have been on the phone with mitch mcconnell. And i have told him i am going to work him overwrought behind on expanding. When i go to the floor its going to be a team effort or die do work with both parties. Thank you very much, that was engaging. I appreciate both of you conducting yourself civilly. Were going to continue. This question is for you from me. And a letter grade terms, the American Society<\/a> of Civil Engineers<\/a> in 2017 gave america infrastructure a d describing investment is woefully inadequate. It took a total price tag on an overhaul at 2 trillion. Is that a top priority of yours . And how would be paid for . I am very supportive of John Barrasso<\/a>s infrastructure bill. Our highways, our ports, and other infrastructure doesnt need attention. Including the infrastructure and some of our national parks. So i am supportive of emphasis rapture legislation. We pay for it by reducing duplication within the federal government. And honestly few look at Environmental Programs<\/a> for an example, there is a term and this number of Environmental Programs<\/a> across all agencies. It is a tangled web. Food consolidate even the Environmental Programs<\/a> and find out where the duplication is, that in itself will help a lot. We can also reduce spending acrosstheboard cuts. Something marsha blackburn, u. S. Senate or from tennessee has always done. Ive always supported her efforts to do that. Doctor ben david. We cannot cut our way out of this situation we find yourselves in. We need to provide American Families<\/a> with enough resources to they can weather this pandemic. So mine would be completely different bread but i would like to do to invest. This is how we got out of the Great Depression<\/a> break this is how fdr brought us out of the Great Depression<\/a> by investing in innovation, and technology, infrastructure and building schools and hospitals. If we invest in our innovation we are still the leading nation in the world in terms of technological and other innovation. If we invest in that, we will be able to recoup a lot of debt we are facing right now. The products are making here will be purchased by the rest of the reports back represented. But if youd like. I would like to add in regard to innovation we have to be able to be trance parent and share i it. Science that is sometimes used to determine whether species will be classified as threatened or endangered, is proprietary. The American People<\/a> cannot look at it. We cannot thirdparty vet that science to find out if it is accurate or not. That is secret science is being used to implement the endangered species act. That kind of thing should not go on any more. Thats on your form to agencies that implement legislations like the endangered species act very subject the next question from bob is actor ben david. Many women in our state continue to battle for equal pay for equal work. You agree this is an issue . In what you plan to do about in congress . Think that is a very important issue that if we close the wage gap. We have a quality statement i cannot believe we do not have protections for peoples wages that women get 70 cents on the dollar in wyoming. If we equalize the wages of women, we will allow them to feed their families for 133 day days. We need to give them freedom to pursue whatever they can do. So yes, absolutely. This is a very important issue. I actually was surprised the representative time in congress voted against the bill that will close the wage gap between men and women. When i was state treasurer worked very closely with judy, to point out that in wyoming the age gap is higher than any other state in the nation. This is an important issue to me. I cochaired in the House Speaker<\/a> of representatives and made this the centerpiece of my agenda in the womens caucus. This is an important issue to m me. This is not something the federal government dictates to private business. This is something we make private business aware of. And it rages consciousness about and make sure to the extent that we can, that there is equal pay. Certainly for equal work. 30 more seconds if you would like. Unfortunately, what we see when we give liberties to businesses to conduct themselves as they wish, we see them do things like take a bonus of 14. [inaudible] and then declare bankruptcy leading up all of the workers were to happen to the coal miners recently. And take away their health benefits, the retirement benefits, you cannot even cash their paychecks for which they already worked. So i do not know we can leave companies to regulate themselves. Thank you representative, the Trump Administration<\/a> we talked a little bit about immigration earlier would to talk specifically about refugees. Trump administration is not dramatically lower the number of asylumseekers you consider taking abandoning the idea this is a nation of immigrants were anyone can come to make a better life. What do we do to reverse that . Especially we look at the various challenges facing these refugees who probably do need a place to go. What we have to figure out whether this is a legitimate asylumseekers or someone who is just seeking to come to a first world country that has a history of being very welcoming. And that takes in more immigrants than any other country in the world. So we have proven ourselves to be a very welcoming place for immigrants. Refugees, could stay close to the country they are fleeing as they possibly can. So whenever civil unrest or danger they are in, subsides, they can go back to their country of origin. I toured a refugee camp that was just over the border from syria in jordan. It was bigger than the city of cheyenne. They had set up a culture there just waiting to go back to their homeland. I think those are better solutions. So that is something we should be helping with our dollars the state department. What we need to recognize is many of the refugees that we see around the world right now they are climate refugees they are fleeing their homes because they have no read sources in the conflict and naturally people his starving kids are dying are not going to stay where they are. And they cannot stand nearby countries that also suffer from the same ilk climate effects. We are going to see migrations across the globe unless we address the issue of Climate Change<\/a>. And to do that, we need to reengage with the world. You cannot lead the world by abandoning. We need to come together redrawing paris classical cord, during the World Health Organization<\/a> and make sure we mitigate effective Climate Change<\/a> globally. So we do not have to deal with immigrants and climate effects. Cement thank you, 30 more seconds if you would like. No rebuttal. Stomach this is the final question of the debate before closing questions. This is for doctor ben david. To what extent, doctor ben david do you believe for an interference in our elections is a problem . I do indeed. I think that we have platforms nowadays that allow for an and also internal strife and misinformation such as social media platform. In all of these groups and platforms really make it hard to conduct elections. I think that we need to identify where the foreign interference comes from. And we know what happened in 2016 when the russians interfered on behalf of one candidates. We need to make sure that does not happen again. Because this is the biggest risk to our democracy bites connect representative . I am really proud of wyomings secretary of state, ed buchanan who is from right here in torrington. He is assured that our mail in Ballot Program<\/a> here in wyoming has integrity, these ballots are checked for their alliterative. I would courage other states to ensure the integrity of elections here periods dates are the incubators of innovation in this country. When you see a state doing things right it should become the example for other states. And, in some instances, for the u. S. Military to ensure the integrity of the u. S. Military or voting from overseas. We always need to be vigilant about the possibility of interference from Foreign Countries<\/a> especially at the technology changes. That is why it is so dangerous to be reliant on technology to china. 30 more seconds if you would like. I agree with representative that the wyoming mail in ballots is in general the wyoming election procedure face innovative. We have a sameday voter registration. You can walk in and register and vote right away. Which is not what other people can experience in other states. So i commend our secretary of state sprayed they have been excellent and very helpful. Indeed we have a very secure elections in wyoming. What i dont like to see is what has been done to the u. S. Postal service and the threat to our voting machine. Thank you comments on her closing statement will have this reverse order. From how we had Opening Statements<\/a> but these will be one minute long for each candidate, doctor ben davis you are first respect friends and neighbors you heard to visions for wyomings future. Sticking to the same plot that will lead us off a cliff and my vision, one of innovation and prosperity. One based on facts, not fantasies. One in which my ohmic drives the economic train instead of running after it. And my vision, each of you deserves good healthcare regardless of preexisting conditions. In my vision we create stable, highpaying jobs that keep young people right here at home. In my vision, we keep our public lands and public hands. Tonight, i make you this promis promise. I will always put evidence over ideology i will always say the truth and i will always be loyal to the people of wyoming. If you are ready for honest competent leadership, vote for me on november 3 or before bright subject thank you doctor ben david, thank you for this for we are still starting with covid19 will be for several months to come. So it is more important than ever that we have proven, effective leadership in the United States<\/a> senate. During my time in the u. S. House speaker, he earned a reputation as a non nonsense conservative policymaker but i have the endorsement of President Trump<\/a> and of the support of John Barrasso<\/a> and mike enzi. About 25 other u. S. Senators as well as leaders all over wyoming, and all 23 counties. But the most important endorsement will come from you. If you vote for cynthia at levas on november 3 but i can tell you the leadership skills i developed in the house, will be deployed to your benefit in the u. S. Senate. Thank you so much to be if you this evening and thank you again, wyoming Public Television<\/a> and wyoming public radio for providing this form for discussion. Candidates, thank you very much for attending tonights debate. I think the discussion was thoughtful and good for wyomings voters. My sincere thanks also to alonzo for surviving as our timekeeper tonight and my thanks for serving me on Tonights Panel<\/a> put absentee voting is underway in wyoming pretty few are not voting the absentee belt we encourage you to vote in the general election on tuesday, november 3 but went to thank you for watching and listening also think are simulcasting partners, wyoming and cspan. Also to Eastern Wyoming College<\/a> processes this evening. If i parked in the wrong place, certainly forgive that. And a reminder you can see this debate again online at the wyoming pbs youtube page. We encourage you to stay tuned for the next u. S. House speaker debate in just a couple of minutes. And thank you very much well see when just a few minutes. Who will control congress in january . Stay informed on all of the competitive congressional races leading up to election day with cspans campaign 2020 coverage. Watch the candice debate and Election Results<\/a> on cspan. Watch online at cspan. Org. Or listen on the free cspan radio app. Cspan, your unfiltered view of politics. Cspans washington journal, everyday we are taking your calls live on air, on the news of the day and discussing policy issues that impact you. Coming up saturday morning, author and Election Security<\/a> expert, David Scheiber<\/a> joins us to talk about the historic attempts to from russia to jeffrey at the u. S. But also university of Michigan Law School<\/a> professor and reprieve Court Historian<\/a> Roger Freedman<\/a> talks about the history of Franklin D Roosevelt<\/a> Court Packing<\/a> attempts. Watch washington journal Live Saturday<\/a> morning and be sure to join the discussion with your phone calls, facebook comments, Text Messages<\/a> and tweets. Now Washington Post<\/a> columnist give their assessment of the Vice President<\/a> ial debate in other 2020 election news including resident trumps refusal to participate in next weeks virtual town hall debate. This iseblf halfanhour","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia801706.us.archive.org\/28\/items\/CSPAN2_20201009_222300_Campaign_2020_Wyoming_U.S._Senate_Debate\/CSPAN2_20201009_222300_Campaign_2020_Wyoming_U.S._Senate_Debate.thumbs\/CSPAN2_20201009_222300_Campaign_2020_Wyoming_U.S._Senate_Debate_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240716T12:35:10+00:00"}