Governor eric holcomb, democratic challenger dr. Woody myers, and libertarian challenger donald rainwater. Thank you for joining us and giving person opportunity to hear from you. As you will notice while m werae here at the studio were all in separate spaces due toer safety concerns in light ofra covid19. Despite the separation we look forward to having a robust discussion on the issues tonight. During the first debate my colleague Andrew Downes as candidates about important issues facing pushers. They discussed education, covid19, taxes, the environment, guns and the fundamental role of government. The Debate Commission and i have selected the night questions from hundred of these submitted from hoosiers across the state. The topics have not been shared in advance. The rules for our greater simple. The candidates will be given one minute to make an Opening Statement and then the question will begin. Each candidate as onee minute to respond to each question. Candidates may request the opportunity for a 30second rebuttal embracing their hand. Candidates will answer questions in a rotating quarter that was predetermined by a drawing earlier this month. So lets begin with the Opening Statements. Well be hearing from governor holcomb first. You have one minute to make an Opening Statement. Holcomb thank you, nadia, and good evening to everyone who is watching. Hopefully again. Thank you for joining us. I hope you also express your voice by voting no later than november 3 for all eligible voters, judging by the turnout already many of you already have. Have. I have spent the last four years primarily focused on three key areas. One, putting people first, two am making making sure building and maintaining our infrastructure every which way that wedi connect with each othr and markets. And also focus on making sure we are cultivating this Program Economy we have in india. I would do the same over the next four years and also address any issues that may come our way, covid19, et cetera. I look for to having this discussion tonight. Moderator next well hear from mr. Rainwater. You have one minute. Rainwater thank you, and good evening. In the preamble to the declaration of independence Thomas Jefferson said that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men. Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Last tuesday night governor holcomb made it clear he believes his power comes from the infinite wisdom of the general assembly, and not the people of the state of indiana. I on the other hand, side with Thomas Jefferson. I believe that you the citizens of the state of indiana empower government and not the other way around. I ask you toer join me in doing just that, bring you the power of government backed to the citizens of indiana. Thank you. Moderator and finally well hear from dr. Myers. You have one minute. Myers good evening, everyone and thanks again to the Debate Commission instead dissipates up. If youre listening a week ago i told you that my name is dr. Woody myers, and the physician. Im the former Indiana State Health commissioner, a father and grandfather and if youre listening a a week ago you head us discuss covid19 in some detail. Weg had spent one week apart fm each other but the covid virus has not been silent at all. We have had almost 16,000 new cases in the last week. The Positivity Rate has gone from 13 13 to 23 , and 152 hoos have died just in the last week. We now have about 1700 people in the hospital in the state, virtually a new record. Theres a lot more to do and right now were not getting the response when it from State Government to get it done. Moderator thank you candidates. Now we will go the first question. A voter asked many hoosiers who have to rely on government assistance didnt want to be reliant on the state. In my area great majority of our employers provide an actual living wage for people with withoutng College Degrees has st down. Remaining jobs do not come with a which will support families without assistance. For those of us who get a move to where the jobs are located how will you help to build our local economy so we can break free of government assistance programs . Government assistance programs. Gov holcomb that is a traitor question we wake up every day making sure our state Economic System is growing so to make sure the jobs are everywhere mention last week there weres 109,817 to be exact jobs throughout the state of indiana. 26000 and an average wage of 27 plus. The key is to scale up the hoosiers. And all over the state of indiana to connect with you. Our goal is to move more havenots into the have category. And with social upward mobility and the key for the next decade is to scale up the workforce and it is close. Thank you. We first have to realize that many of the folks mentioned in context of that question are unemployed because the governor shut down the economy. Is a governor of the state of indiana, i will never again some hoosiers are essential and some are not. Some jobs are essential and some are not. What we need to do is reinvigorate the sole Business Community and the family farms in indiana to ensure that hoosier jobs are created by hoosier businesses and those are allowed to stay open in a crisis. Thank you. Myers in indiana we have lost about 5300 manufacturing jobs since january of this year because of the trade policies enacted by the president. Since february indiana has lost 34000 jobs this citation and is 40000 40000 will not come back on or 40 percent we need to do a lot more and education and Economic Development and a new breed of 21st Century Companies to the state of indiana and not depend on those approaches that isnt working anymore. And as we will do in my administration. Host we have a rebuttal. Gov holcomb when we hunker down for about a month in april, i just mentioned the 26000 jobs that have come in four. 9 billion of cap next indiana remains the number one manufacturing in the country. Since 2009 we are number two in the country about 75000 so if technology displaces you we need to scale you up and we have the resources close to you we have a rebuttal. Rainwater we need to ask yourself as a hoosier am i Getting Better economically . What the governor is talking about and talks about scaling up with a Bernie Sander esque style and college all paid for by the state and i think thats the answer. Myers indian is behind including in common a lot of ways. We just have not kept up and that is because the policies republican governors over the last 16 years have not worked. We have to change that. Indiana needs to change at the statehouse and thats the number one target. Host good affordable and reliable internet is still a problem in a rural area. Starting a business at my home next year and having a reliable internet is a big concern. Other voters wrote in bringing up reliable connections and for students who are learning at home and Senior Citizens trying to receive services in order groceries. How you help to expand Broadband Internet to all hoosiers . Rainwater. We need to do is deregulate the broadband industry which would allow new, innovative businesses and technologies to come in and provide the types of broadband in rural areas they are not able to do because they cannot compete with the government monopolies that are here in the state of indiana. And then to create a scenario with better competition and better technologies and more innovation and actually give people the types of services that they need in the private Industry Market instead of pushing that with government funding. Thank you. 50 percent to Small Companies in indiana tell us they dont have sufficient internet. Hoosiers and kids are stay between 70 and 80000 dont have what they need to do their school work one out of five doesnt have broadband or for access to it the program we are put in place just isnt working we have to change our approach 100 milliondollar Grant Program is in the answer to treat the internet as utility its no longer a luxury for someone to have internet its not just for watching a favorite show but also paying your bills and healthcare and paying taxes. Getting your job done if you are a remote worker. Our approach is that it is time for us to do much better than we have. Gov holcomb we didnt wait on this problem they didnt take over 19 to wake us up we started a program to start the biggest tax infusion into state program for telehealth reasons until education and telecommuting. We are doing it before covid19. We also partnering with the corporate sector indiana is about 84 percent still farm or forest terrain. Rocky terrain. We can explain that with the corporate sector weve already done 75 million bringing another 70 million have another 20 million to go in the third round in addition to the 61 million we took to invest in and said you need devices or training to the kids needed . With a 61 million as covid19 came upon the shore. Rainwater hoosiers, what you are hearing our Big Government solutions that involve Big Government programs with the tax dollars taken out of your pocket how you decide where it is spent and put into the pocket of corporations so they can get richer while you still continue to struggle. Thats all these programs are. Thank you. I would it also as protecting the companies of the hundred Million DollarGrant Program so if the big company is signed up for your area even if you dont have services it doesnt apply. Is time to put real competition into providing Broadband Services and let communities have more options of their internet, not fewer. Gov holcomb hoosiers said they wanted us to find a way to expand the Playing Field to connect students so we dont have to do the homework and a Fast Food Restaurant or drive back to the School Parking lot at 9 00 oclock at night to do the homework so we went out to find a way to pull into the private sector and speed up the development and connectivity. Many voters want to know your position on decriminalization or legalization of marijuana. There are 33 states in the west that have legalize marijuana for medical use should marijuana be decriminalized in the state of indiana . What is your position in our state . First it goes to doctor myers. Myers it is time to decriminalize with cannabis it makes no sense and is also time for us to medical do legalize medical marijuana thats a big step it is important that is now time to take. I have read the literature carefully. Also responding to the cannabinoids which is thc and cbd. And then to prescribe those substances and also to make sure what the veterans with the substances and with those other complications as a result of the service to our nation. Is time for indiana to change. It very clear and consistent when the issue just came up i took a couple for my lifetime one of the United States navy and another sworn into this office and which falls to legalize at the state level why they are yielding at the federal level and to do with this i said i will directly write to the federal government, and we got the best medical school in the university so what about the medical research that the focus group just like any other controlled substance or drug and in the meantime there are alternatives to those who are in pain im not against researching this medically but we need to do this before we can respond in an intelligent way. And with the complete deregulation and legalization of all forms of cannabis. First of all, let me make one thing really really clear. We you the two candidates in a nutshell is to reward big pharma with medical marijuana keeping it from the citizens of indiana and that is wrong. Is plain wrong. We have an economic crisis in our state. And with those retail opportunities for hoosier Business Owners just by legalizing and decriminalizing cannabis and any other discussion needing to research is something that has been around for decades is just misinformation and should be insulting to every hoosier. 34 states have already done the research, governor and coming to the same conclusion that i have is time for a change including our extra neighbors at michigan and illinois and ohio look at the research if we need to. Also good for our farmers in the state of indiana that hemp and corn go very well in the same kind of terrain and soil. That is a winwin along with the tax dollars. I am very suspect about looking to legalize controlled substances for revenue reasons this needs to be medically researched and has not been. And you can have Bank Accounts that went through the process thats exactly the same process any controlled substance needs to go through. Lets be clear about something. The ninth andnd tenth amendmento the constitution of the United States says that anything that is not specifically allocated as an authority to the federal government falls to the states and the people, and it is the governor of the state of indianas responsibility to grab the ninth anddi tenth amendments and tell the federal government when they are overreaching. And i believe that this is one ofhi those times. Thank you. You want to your policy on vaccines to the Covid Vaccine should be made mandated once available and what is the exception for this and other vaccines . Gov holcomb it should not be mandated but should be encouraged when it is safe we look forward to working with them and ime am encouraged by things ive read about therapeutics and vaccines that could roll out in the near term here we want to make sure were ready to rock n roll when it does come to indiana, getting it out to the front line, getting out to the most vulnerable, getting up to our schools and longterm care centers, et cetera. Puts the task force we together already to make sure we can get out as quickly as possible, therapeutics as well. T as quickly as possible, therapeutics as well. Rainwater i have absolutely opposed to mandating vaccine vaccines, masks, business closures, the closures of churches one in violation of the First Amendment for any other government mandate that decides whether or not someone is put at risk. Even if it is tested to be safe will have possible side effects and risks just like most other medicines do. And with that to determine what level of risk they are willing to take or government should not be involved in that decision. Thank you. Vaccines are the most costeffective on costeffective and proven to be lifesavers we know there is no safe and vaccine approved of 19. Clement revenue cdc fda director to be forthcoming they will look at the research and thats the recommendations of the manufacturers and any restrictions so there may be some it is a you would not be recommended. We dont know all side effect profiles were those restrictions but they will be coming. And then how vaccine should be distributed who to prioritize those with existing conditions and indiana Nursing Homes that is where the most risk will be. Lee are fortunate Companies Like eli lilly that working on this very issue with those capability in a state like indiana that has so many care centers. And very proud of the Hospital Network to all come together and are ready for including the Indiana National guard to deploy the vaccine. Indiana infant mortality rate has fallen however the state consistently high for infant mortality. The state department of elses earlier this month infant mortality rate fell in 2018 from six. Five in 2019. The mortality rate a long among black babies and 13 percent through 11. How with the gradual decrease in mortality and what will they do for Maternal Health . Rainwater we need to realize that many of these issues are tied to poverty and Economic Issues to open indiana with reducing the regulations and then to get good jobs or go out and get the type of Economic Opportunity that others get. And this is something we need to work on by a deregulating things, making things easier for Business Owners to create the types of businesses that will give folks what they need to pay for the type of healthcare that will bring that rate down. That is good but it takes us from being the seven poor state to the 15th worst. We are still the third or stay in the United States with maternal mortality. Thirtythree counties in indiana out of 92 considered maternity deserts because theyll have the Services Women need. One of the reasons why we are not making the progress we need to make is because defend the Public Health infrastructure per capita at a level of 38th worst in the nation. All of that has to change. And then the legislature has this issue. This is is 20 its time for us to get this fixed. Other states have succeeded when i indiana . This is when hard work begins i was passionate about what the state of the state address. I dont know how big of a challenge it is. Those closest to people that want to say we just look at the statistics or numbers , what we did is instituting programs and policies to the lowest of recorded history we are moving in the right direction were getting mothers and expected of mothers those with the right level of care. We are there long aft