Live from downtown salt lake city, Utah Debate Commission welcomes you to the fourth Congressional District candidates debate. Good evening. I am doug wilks, editor of the deseret news. Its my pleasure to moderate the next debate of invitation of the Utah Debate Commission. This event held live on october 12 as part of the Utah Debate Commission work to educate voters and george civic exchanges ideas. If youre watching or listening to live within courage your reaction and questions and social media. We are live from salt lake city, utah, where were holding the debate between canada in utahs rates for the fourth Congressional District tonight we will hear from the incumbent democratic congressman ben mcadams and his republican challenger mr. Burchett awards for the sake of all the vault the debate process we are at your link to guideline tethers the studio audience. The Utah Debate Commission has established a a format that als each candidate one to two minute, one to two minutes for their initial reply to question. I will then direct followup responses and questions. Tonight will be taking questions from members of the news media, students from salt lake Unity College and from those of the viewing audience to spending on social media. Prior to the debate a virtual coin toss determined that burgess always would provide the initial response to the first question. We will alternate who answered on the remaining questions. Lets get right to it. Mr. Flynns, welcome. Its good to see you. We wanted to let voters see about that personal but but each of the candidates. Mr. Dershowitz, what uniquely qualifies you to represent the fourth Congressional District . Thank you. First of all i would like to thank the Utah Debate Commission and those that are listening in. I have a very unique american story. I grew up in the deep south tallahassee days of segregation and the kkk. 12 years old i was marching outside with Movie Theater beci could not go there. I was the third black american to go to the university of miami to play football and there i got a in biology and chemistry. I played football in super bowl champion, and a little bit later i was a chimney sweep, security guard. A bit later a corporate coexecutive. Financial hardships which i was able to come through. I stand before you today as a survivor of both. My third year dream came in the valley with a Second Chance youth, an organization again our at risk was engrossed here Second Chance. The last, most importantly, father of six, grandfather of 15 all here living in the fourth district. Comment with utahs barriers, we dream, we lift and we start new humble hearts. I look forward to fighting those barriers here in utah and makee sure what makes utah really great is this for sure. Thank you. Ninety seconds. Thank you. Thank you also to the commission for sponsoring this debate. It is great to see you. Im honored to serve as utahs independent voice in washington. On the most independent member of utah delegation, i was raised in the family of eight on values of faith, family and duty to community. Growing up, my family struggled to make ends meet and im grateful for the blessings i have today. I was taught to work hard and my mother taught me its important that we give back. Im proud to receive the first ever award for bipartisanship from the u. S. Chamber of commerce and their endorsement for my work to build bridges and find solutions to the challenges we face in the country. Solutions must be bipartisan if we are to enact them into law. Thats how i have worked with rebellions and democrats to reduce Prescription Drug prices, protect access to healthcare and thats how i help individuals, families, Small Businesses, hospitals, healthcare workers, seniors and veterans to weather the storm from the coronavirus but there is more to do im proud to be a m unifying leader but im not afraid to stand alone if that is whats good for hardworking utah. Thank you. Congressman. You first. The coronavirus pandemic has gripped the world, nation and utah. Do you believe President Trump has done a good job managing the pandemic . Secondly, has congress . Thank you. Someone who was sick with the coronavirus, diagnosed in march and was very sick and spent eight days in the hospital, i know has serious the virus can be entertaining our state and country sour hard, and like many of us, i have friends and loved ones who have been afflicted by the virus and a dear friend right now inai the hospital on a ventilator. This virus is serious and we must take it seriously and i believe washington has failed us. Congress has failed us. When the virus first hit in early march, we came together with arl plan to help those who would need a lifeline because of the Economic Hardship and plan to slow the spread, so testing. It passed with bipartisan, a welding overwhelming support to the house and senate and signed into law by the senate. These are ppp that gives lifelines to Small Businesses struggling. His hit so hard and werent sure how they would put food on the table to pay rent. I think of a business barbecue reach out to my office because they werent sure what would happen to them in this shutdown. They were able to receive a ppp loan, a lifeline to them like so many other businesses to help them through until things could formalize of it but since then, weve seen partisanship we back and Andrew Hopkins and democrats fighting against each other and failing the American People so i call on repugnance and democrats to come together and pass legislation to continue to shore up the foundation of our economy and help people who are suffering. Same question about the president S Performance and performance of congress. We need to look at the foundation, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. A remarkable economy, the best weve ever seen and yet, because of the threat of 2. 2 Million People die, we were able to shut it down and it took a lot of faith and courage to do so. The key is what happened in the process as we pull together work speed, bring businesses together to truly get things done. My together with a vaccine which only takes decades of years. That was the first then the liberty of the power pushing down as far as we could to those who can take care of the governors based on which governors have it but then we have right now, pursuit of happiness allowing us to come back and allowing Business Owners to have a say in how we open up society again to make sure we are getting people back in business. Continuing to drink and hope in getting that done and that is whats happening right now. I think were down to 1. 4 in terms of unemployment which is in our society. I think were going to do really well in terms of allowing the country to see how well utah works in getting the country back in shape. A quick followup. The values of washington, do you think the president did enough . I think when it comes to bipartisanship and make sure we work together, we looking at targeting help for folks who really need it and not for states, the blue states who want to get bailed out but because of the way they are going, they dont deserve that right now. They need to focus on we the people, those who really do need the help and we get that done and we will get in a positive way. Talked about red states versus blue states, do support that . First of all, i want to acknowledge that we are still, a lot of people are still struggling and theres hardship, unemployment is at an exceptionally high levels in utah. Even those working, they are underemployed. I talked about dave who runs the barbecue, they are able to open today but they arehe nowhere ner the profitability they were just one year ago so you talk businesses are still struggling. Families are stillgl struggling and that worries me and i want to make sure we are doing everything we can to support them. I do want to command thehe w governor and his ship, in my view, not just about partisanship republicans and democrats doing the right thing to help support people here in utah and i think we can look back and say there are things we would have done different but in utah, we come together and solve our problems and we dont try tm make it partisan and there are still people struggling and theres still more work to do tt support them. Hospitalizations are getting at a scary level, you support the statewide mandate . I know has serious virus is, i wear a mask and im giving plasma, donating plasma and they test my antibodies. I have antibodies they say it should provide some level of protection, they dont know how much an encouragement to still wear a mask and i do you my best to model Good Behavior and do my part. That is important for everybody in utah. Lets all do our parte and take responsibly for actions and help slow the spread of the virus and protect those who might be vulnerable. You support the statewide mandate . I dont support a statewide mandate. We are learning so much about the virus. As a report that says now the lockdown was a mistake and we shouldnt do that because of the damage is equally and mentally. It comes down to weve done a good job in bringing our society back. Its important to take personal response body. If you allowow businesses to tae the lead on this, Business Owners want to make sure they kome back to their stores and feel safe to put their dollars down. If you allow Business Owners, where we can gethi congress bac, we can make the right decision. Business owners are dealing with this, they want them to wear a mask because they want them to feel safe. We should do it from that level versus topdown mandates which im beginning to see, it is helpful in some ways. Lets move on to the stimul stimulus. Congress failed to produce a stimulusus package. President Trump Administration proposed 1. 8 trillion measure which includes 400 boost in weekly on appointment insurance, 1200 direct payments for u. S. Adults and payment for each child. That is protected by diplomacy over the weekend and again today, she wasnt ready to go there even though some democrats are encouraging to do that. Democrats have pushed for unemployment will hundred dollars payment and more local oovernmentsnt. Speaker pelosi should do what you like toou do . Let me just reiterate something and we cannot let partisanship, us and paralyze us from taking any steps to send the lifeline to the American People. Need to enact a small plan to slow the spread of the virus, bring down hospitalization rates and positive rates and help the families in most businesses really s struggling so democrats have put forward a plan, the first land was 3 trillion and i voted against that, i think it was too much. While i know we need to take steps to stabilize the economy today, we have to do that, recognizing the impact it will have on future generations. Any money we spend today will have to be paid for in physical responsibly is a priority and we cant forget they need to act in a responsible way. What i like aboutut the president s plan, and include money for Small Businesses and ppp and support for families so i call on everybody in washington to get back to the table, negotiate a deal, make compromises and build consensuso and do something good for the good of theoo American People. The president is putting forth 1. 8 trillion on a measure some promotions think it is too. High. Where do you stand on that figure . First of all, lets look at the first time it came through, over 50000 loans put out, it allowed us to be aggressive in terms of getting unemployment rates down. We need to make sure whats next is targeted. Businesses are in need, they dont need the same help as others. The last thing is bail out cities. It is part of what nancy pelosi is putting forth, its been neglectful and we need to make sure this goes to those who need it and again, 27 trillion average right now, adding as much, need to be very careful and make sure its done in a right way and not encourage evil not to work. Welfare is not a good thing. People want to work. Allow them to get to work and feel the dignity of that process allow Business Owners to have those in want to come back to work. Thirty seconds rebuttal. I would say again, we have to come, we have to reach a compromise and i do share concerns about the impact of a high level of spending. The worst thing we can do is watch the economy go off a cliff. We have to take measures to stabilize the foundation of our economy but we should not be voting through everything. I voted against the heroes act, the democratic proposal, i called it partisan wish list. This is not a time for partisanship or fund backlog of things that people wanted for a long time, this is for targeted relief to the immigrant people and we need to do it with fiscal responsibility in mind. The most both mentioned relief. Youre right, we should be looking at the same and game and make sure our countryam comes bk and as much as my opponent wants to talk about going across the aisle from 85 is voting for the leadership of the Democratic Party and thats what we work through right now. We all have the same again. Americans to come forth and succeed again, prosper and have this. We have again, in this case, nancy pelosi is not on the same page with the and i look forward to her coming together and the rest of the Democratic Party. Thank you. Here is a question mr. Owens. One minute. Vindman, good to be with you. Following the death of george floyd, elected officials here starting meeting with members of the local black lives matter chapter in ways the founder of the Organization Says has never happened before to discuss potential reform. What does the black lives Matter Movement to mean to you . How would you act to support how you feel about that . First of all, we understand what blm means and what is and they are good people. Sometimes special interests use good people to move the mentor agenda forward. Against the family, so no, we have a lot of things. We done so good in the past just by being who we are. Put together things around this country that allows us to work with thosese the endgame, the byproduct is destruction, loss of more black businesses and the vision of our country that we do not need so lets n understand good people, please dont let special interests draw the process, s new who they are to your homework. Make sure we are doing things based on family and authority. Thank you. Weve come so far as a country and theyve accomplished many amazing things. Incredible progress as we work to make sure everybody in our communities are treated fairly and equally under the law. We also have more we can do and it was highlighted to me that all we have made incredible progress and have so much to be proud of. Theres more we can do, their people who feel left behind. In the last couple weeks, Community Leaders in the church of jesus christ called upon us to put aside racism, rise up and be better versions of ourselves and i think that calls to each and every one of us, how can we be better . How can we our neighbors feel accepted and respected and have the dignity everyone enjoys . While we have come a long way, i think there is more we can do and i plan to do my part to help build the bridges and heal the device that exists in our country. Both governor and senator we are two examples who find local chapter to be credible and invite them into the offices to discuss reform, a number of local lawmakers at the state level are working with them do find no value at all in the local chapter . I find value, i think the most important thing is for us to know history, number one. The idea of systemic racism in this country is false. I grew up during the days of the kkk with separate bathrooms and fountains in the nfl with no black quarterbacks or linebackers because those were white positions. Our country looked at each other inside out and outside in. We need to be proud of that. We need to start off by teaching history. Why americans do not have to pause and they dont have to because they are black. This is a country, we look at the success across the nation now. They dont understand, its not been taught how to respect and appreciate those who came before us. Were not a perfect country and never will be until christ comes back. Before that happens, lets do the best we can to appreciate who we are and the path. Thank you. I believe we can recognize the incredible things that have happened in this country, the progress weve made in making everybody feel respected and dignified weather this year celebrating the hundred anniversary of womens suffrage and progress weve made to make sure every american of any ethnicity feels treated with respect and dignity. Also recognize we have more progress to make and for me, progress starts with this. My door is always open and i hear from people across our community who feel doors are not open to them, they try as hard as they make to get ahead but they are not afforded the same opportunities so i look internally, what can i do to contribute to healing the tvisions that exist in our country, to bring us together and get to where every american feels respected and valued and i think we have more progress to make. Thirty more seconds on this. He said theres no systemic racism, institutional racism. You believe theres institutional racism in america . I think the American People are a great people and inhe utah we are a great people and i dont think anybody i know there are some bad apples with the murder of george floyd, there are people who take despicable actions and we need to call it out for what it is, it was a murder and those people need to be held accountable and responsible for their actions but i think we can recognize that we can do better if making people feel they have theer oppor