Boston anchor latoya edwards. Welcome, everyone, to this primary debate. Were at the nbcu Boston Media Center home of nbc 10, telemundo and nbc boston. Well d wed like to thank you for taking part of tonights event. Lets go to ed marky. He served in 2013 in the senate. Before that he served massachusettss seventh district in the house of representatives since 1976. We welcome congressman joe kennedy he served massachusettss Fourth District since 2013. Before that he served as an assistant District Attorney. We are following social distancing guidelines. Everyone is spread out more than six feet apart. And our panelists are not in 2 studio with us. Theyre in different locations. Grace gomez, news anchor for lemundo boston, tim kaputo news anchor for nbcn. Here are the rules for tonights debate. Both candidates will get one minute for questions directed to the both of them and that will be at my discretion. They will get 40 seconds with a 30second rebuttal. At the end of the evening and theyll both have one minute for closing statements. You can join in right now on this debate. Use the masen debate. A coin toss determined that senator marky would get the first question. Over the past two weeks, the ampaign has turned ugly. I saw some of the tweets. And they were pretty nasty. What steps have you or your campaign have taken to stop this. A lot of the young people put up pictures of themselves. They talked about the issue thats the felt were important to the broadway stars. Its a movement which has changed the way in which our entire country views the entire crisis. Moderator congressman kennedy, you have 30 seconds to respond. Thank you for tuning in. I dont think thats what happened at all. There were supporters of mine that tried to put together an event that were targeted. One of senator markys supporters literally tweeted that bullying works. And looks, this is an issue of not just about what we saw in this event but its been a bit of a history of reminds in this race. Senator markys supporters have tom d sther riff steve shef riff steve thompkins. All right, congressman, thats the time. We want to turn to you whether you like the tactics or not, all of the broadway stars backed out after they knew who you were challengingful is the issue less about Cyber Bullying than Campaign Support among young progressives . No, not at all. Im proud of the support from young progressives. Thats why i got in this race because i believe more than anything, young progressives believe in change and they know we need Stronger Leadership to deliver it. We cannot go back to a broken system. Excuse me. Or normal that was broken. Nor more than an essential worker that couldnt earn a living wage. Inner than 100,000 lives lost to covid19. And a nation that could let george floyd die. Rather than asking what they can do to make sure they can reach their dreams. Thats why im running. To make sure we have leaders that are connected to our communities that are going fight with them every single day. And that thats why we need hange. They sup sporters have been rallying all across the country. They have sided with me. Theyve endorsed me in this race as has plan parenthood. So this is a movement built around the progressive groups in our country. But led by young people who are rallying because of this climate crisis. Senator, thank you for that. We want to let the congressman address this one more time, thank you, la toya. Senator, of course those argses have endorsed me. Theyve endorsed incumbents. Almost every one of them have endorsed me, too. You know, who have endorsed me, 60 labor unions who know us best. Why . Because they know in a fight for economic dignity and in a fight to make sure every family is going to be able to keep food on their plate, think know im going to back champion. Let me just say the massachusetts teachers have endorsed me. They know, i side with those young people. Getting the education they need. Why are you in this race . For months youve provided a variety of answers. But its still unclear to some. So to clarify, why did you decide to target the u. S. Senator who has offered the Green New Deal and is considered most reliable progressive voters . You have 45 second. Thank you, allison. Because i believe theres more to being a senator particularly senator from massachusetts than just the bills that you file and the votes that you cast. Lets look at that 2018 cycle to begin with. More than a massive time for major progressive legislating. So what else could you do . Im trying to campaign for other democrats so we can regain control in a passive progressive agenda. He talked to folks around massachusetts. You talked to folks across Community Like springfield and worcester. And he wasnt there. There is so much more needed at this moment than just somebody who files the right bill and says that thats enough. Thank you. Senator marky, do you scare to respond to that . Yeah, when i see injustice i fix it. I just dont talk about change. I mean to change. Thats the Green New Deal. Thats medicare for all. We do the research on gun safety. Thats my law. Thats breaking up the telecommunication monopolies. And making sure that its on the desk of every student. Thats why the District Attorney senator, your time is up. Corey booker, and many other progressive leaders in our state. Your time is up, senator. But i do have a question for you. Youve been in washington for more than four decades. People know your name and your record. Massachusetts incumbents typically dont face serious primaries. Perceivedthat you are to be vulnerable enough to try to push you out . Well, i can only run as a marky for maul din, my father my father droveor a truck for a milk company. I drove a truck to work my way as a commuter through Boston College. I was the first in my family to go to college. I had the Student Loans that i had to carry on my back in the same way i know that kids today all across the commonwealth have to do the same. But why do you think you are seen as vulnerable . Sen. Markey again, he has every right to run. But im running on my record of ho i am and my record of leadership, passing the big bills, making the big changes in our country that are necessary. And i think that my record is what you right now, leading to this incredible momentum. I am running on the issues important to the people of the commonwealth. Commerce me kennedy, im going congressman kennedy, im going to let you respond to that. Rep. Kennedy senator markey eserves examination. The proposed integration of boston public schools. He voted for mass incarceration. He voted with republican extremists to fight back against the obama administration, trying to decrease the number of detention deaths. Senator markey tried to ban supported a constitutional commitment to ban access to abortion. He voted for the iraq war. Its all part of his record. That is up for debate. When it comes to a question of who it is progressive in this race, that record deserves to be examined. Thank you. Im going to send it to latoya. Latoya i know you want to jump in here. Ill give you 15 seconds to respond, but we need to the issue were were going to come back to what you are talking about. Sen. Markey hes attacking me on something he cast the same vote on the same policy. Give me a break. Ou took the same position. Where we differ is on promesa where you promised to hollow out cut their , education, housing programs you took a view that you took a vote that hung puerto rico in a serious way. Latoya i see you both shaking your head. Hold it right there. We got to get to the coronavirus and i promise we will get back to that. So lets turn to something everybody cares about, the coronavirus pandemic. My colleague has a question on that. Grace . Good evening. Im going to ask you both this question in spanish and in english. [speaking in spanish] its a question on every parents mind right now, whether to send their child to school in september. Where do you stand on the fall semester, and what is your advice for parents . You have 60 seconds. [speaking in spanish] i still have deep reservations about sending my kids to school and as of now, i would not do t. But our schools need more systems. Thats why i voted for and support the heroes act, which includes 3 trillion of support, including 900 billion for states and municipalities, to do things like hire more teachers, provide access to sanitation measures and resources, to make sure that we actually can create a safe place for our kids. Because until we do, i think every parent is going to feel conflicted as i do. Grace thank you. Senator markey, you have 60 seconds. Sen. Markey only if its safe. And that safety is going to be determined by science. And that science isnt a date you sent kids back. Its the data. And right now, donald trump, Mitch Mcconnell, theyre blocking any help that would go back to the communities so they dont have to lay off teachers. So they have the testing. They have the contact tracing. They have the personal protective equipment to be able o say its safe. And moreover, and its my legislation that if a law that puts the internet on the desk of every child, thats my law right now, and im going to fight for 4 billion additional to make sure kids get it at home. Because right now, unbelievably, 12 million American Kids do not have the internet at home. And thats going to lead to a homework gap, going to lead to a learning gap, going to lead to an opportunity cap for those kids for the rest of their ife. So im going to be leading that fight on the floor the next few weeks to make sure they get all the funding they need. Grace thank you. Latoya, back to you. Latoya thank you. We talked about schools for the moment. Gentlemen, this question is for both of you. Its regarding a letter grade here. Senator markey, how do you rate the job congressman kennedy has done handling the Coronavirus Crisis for his constituents . In terms of fighting for the safety and wellbeing of front and others . Reminder, one minute here. Sen. Markey again, the congressman has worked very hard for his constituents. And ive worked very hard for my constituents. Ive fought successfully to add a program for 250 billion in order to make sure that they that there would be funding for the gig workers in our state. We have a quarter of a million gig workers who get no unemployment insurance. I thought fought hard and successfully to make sure we have 150 billion for hospitals in the state of massachusetts. I fought successfully, partnering with Elizabeth Warren and the alaskan republican delegation, to add 300 million for Disaster Relief for the fishermen in our state. So, on issue after issue, i have stood up and fought and delivered for the people of massachusetts in the coronavirus packages thus far, and my job will be on the senate floor in an epic battle with Mitch Mcconnell and the republicans to make sure the additional help goes in, the Health Care Help is there for everyone in our state. Latoya you did not give a grade . Well get congressman kennedy. How do you rate the job senator markey has done . Handling the Coronavirus Crisis for his constituents . Rep. Kennedy i think hes been fighting. We both have. I dont doubt his concern for his constituents. We have both seen the norms impact this has had. In the midst of the coronavirus, i suspended my campaign. We raised over 100,000 to support local organizations because we knew the need was so great to provide meals and additional resources. The senator didnt. Theres more that can be done than the bills you file. I will say, i think the senator has worked hard for his constituents. But lets be clear. The reason why we have been able to deliver more for our communities is because we have democrats in control of the house of representatives. That enabled us to set the framework of this debate, because Mitch Mcconnell and donald trump knew they had to go through nancy pelosi and house democrats. I was out there campaigning to make sure that we could flip that house in that last cycle. Senator markey literally went nowhere. This matters not because you collect frequent flyer miles, but latoya we want to switch now to Police Reform and social justice. Both of you are on the record on black lives matter. Lets look at your actions. Give us specifics on what you have done and what you will do to show that black lives matter. This is for both of you, 60 seconds. First to you, senator markey. En. Markey thank you. Well, back when i was a state legislator in the 1970s, there was no black senate seat in massachusetts. And i had to make a decision to take on the Democratic State leadership to make sure there was a black senate seat, and i did. And it hurt my career, but thats why bill owens, who became that first black state senator from massachusetts, is endorsing me, and the one who led the effort in the house of representatives, that was a tough fight. Im partnering right now with Elizabeth Warren to repeal qualified immunity, which is the Protection Police officers receive if they have wrongly murdered an innocent ndividual. Thats what we saw in the florida case. I partnered with iona to make sure we have transfer fees in boston free. Social justice is making sure eople, 30,000, 30 of their income goes to paying for transportation cost. Each and every one of those issues, partnering with cory booker the only cosponsor to overhaul the criminal justice latoya senator, thats ime. Congressman kennedy, same question for you. Give us specifics of what youve done and what you will do. Rep. Kennedy latoya, when i was asked to give a response to mr. Trumps first state of the nion, i was one of the first democrats to declare that black lives matter. This has been at the heart of my work from the moments in from the very first moments in congress and the first bills i passed in Educational Opportunities for Mental Health care and Maternity Health are. I was one of the founders of the mortality congress in washington. I support legislation, vote for legislation, like the George Floyd Justice in policing acts, the bills led by the black caucus that sets the framework for the beginning of this work. Ive authored legislation with a Democratic Caucus chairman to make it easier to hold them hold Police Officers accountable. Ive worked hand in hand with a family from massachusetts that knows this pain directly, dj enrys family. Dan and angela have become dear friends because of the work that ive done with them after their son was senselessly murdered by a Police Officer nearly 10 years ago. Latoya thank you. I want to push back a little bit. Lets get real for a moment. Here are black lives matters supporters, black and brown people watching right now. Black mothers like me who are saying in this time of social justice, representation, optics matter. And so its more than you clearly have laid out your records but they see two white men vying for the senate seat to represent massachusetts. And some my ask, well, listen, the worry derstand your husband will not return home each and every day. You dont understand the warrior the worry your daughter might be the next breonna taylor. You do not understand the black trans worry about killings that are not being solved right now, the community there. Why is your voice the right voice in this moment . What do you say to that . Senator, ill have you speak directly to the community first. Sen. Markey thank you. Yeah, were at a moment when justice is needed. The soul of our country is on fire, and we need justice, justice for black and brown families. E need criminal justice. We need to overhaul our police system. We need Environmental Justice, educational justice, economic justice, health care justice. Thats medicare for all. Thats making sure that childcare, the sick leave is there the essential workers who are clearly going, who are saving all of having to go out every single day they cant leave work we need to help them for getting the help they need. Latoya i have to jump in. I apologize for cutting you off. To keep with time, congressman, well give you the same time. Rep. Kennedy thank you. First, those concerns are right. Of Course Experience matters. Lets be clear, we are both two privileged white men. I am certainly extremely privileged. How can we demonstrate we want to acknowledge our difference and fight to make sure our voices are heard . In the words of my colleague, those closest to the pain should have a seat at the table to inform the policy. The fact that for latoya congressman, sorry. I know you are both so passionate. We could talk about it all day. Were going to continue the conversation, but expand on it a little bit. With my colleague tim caputo. My colleague has a question for on Police Reform for congressman kennedy. Thank you. Congressman kennedy, you just mentioned congressman jeffries. And the bill he put forward. He put that bill forward in 2015 to ban chokeholds. By police cosponsored at the time by 21 democrats in the house. Similar bills introduced in 2018. Again last year in 2019. Senator, congressman kennedy, you didnt cosponsor any of those bills until last month. What do you see now that you didnt see five, six years ago . Rep. Kennedy thats a great question. The bill i referenced is a bill about lowering the standard for civil rights abuses, which is a different issue. But regardless, i stand by my record, certainly when it comes to holding Police Officers accountable. As i said, i worked hand in glove with the henry family, try to make sure there was, in fact, justice for dj after he was killed in a Police Involved shooting, by a Police Officer in westchester county, new york. My work on criminal Justice Reform is work that i have been proud of. Im proud of the work ive been able to do with mr. Jeffries, with members of the black caucus, and ted, as well. The fact that i have been able the fact that i have been able to be endorsed by congressman john lewis, who served 25 years with senator markey that is your time. Senator markey. We want to give you an opportunity to weigh in on this. Sen. Markey we need fundamental criminal justice overhaul. Thats why cory booker and i have introduced the next step act. Congressman kennedy, back in 2015, he actually voted to send military weapons to the streets of our country for the police in our country. Now he says he doesnt take that position any longer. But from my perspective, the question is, is that conviction or is it political convenience, which has led to the change of the position of the congressman . Were going to stay with you for a second. I want to read you a quote. The quote is, you might be known for some things in your time. Racial justice and criminal justice is not one of them. Your opponent said that to you last month. We looked back on your congressional record. Struggled to find any Police Reform initiative that you specifically have championed. You also opposed busing to desegregate boston public you schools. Would you say you are proud of your record on racial and criminal justice . Sen. Markey im very proud of my record. And thats why, again, the District Attorney of boston has endorsed me. Its why dan rivera, the mayor of lawrence has endorsed me. And its why, again, bill owens, who is the original black state senator from massachusetts, i stood up and risked my career to back him in order to have a black senate seat in massachusetts. So on all of those issues and today, the fight to repeal qualified immunity, im leading with Elizabeth Warren in the senate, in order to make sure we get justice to families in our countries. But we also have to overhaul the sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine versus powder cocaine. That is your time. Congressman, i see you are raising your hand, you want to nswer. This one and the previous one. Respond to both. Rep. Kennedy a couple of things to clarify the record. Senator markey criticized me on this one. Senator markey voted to create the 1033 program he now criticizes me for voting on. These allegations here, this is hy people get discouraged with politics and why they want change. Because the bottom line is, he says he was there advocating for the first black senator. He was advocating to continue to eep against the integration of boston public schools. He rails against mass incarceration at this point, but he voted for mass incarceration and still to this day has yet to apologize for that vote. Thank you, that is your time for that answer. En. Markey i just have to say i did not vote to militarize the streets of the country. I did not staff that vote. It did not happen. Latoya thank you very much for your passion on this topic. We have a question from a viewer right now on criminal Justice Reform. She wrote, ask them about what they plan to do about the defund the police movements. Senator markey, do you support Defunding Police departments . Sen. Markey i believe it is imperative that we reimagine what we are doing in this country. We need more money for health care, for education. We need more money to heal our country and not imprison our country. We have 5 of the worlds population and we have one uarter of all the prisoners in the world in prison in the world in the United States. We are 5 of the worlds opulation. One in three women are behind bars in the United States. We just have to change our ystem. We dont need more law enforcement. We need more prevention. We need more health care. We need more education. We need more job training in our country. We just have to change the framework that we have. We owe an apology to an entire generation of africanamerican because we have not provided them with the resources they need in order to maximize their godgiven abilities. And that is our responsibility for the years ahead, to make sure that we just dismantle the existing Economic System that we have in our country to make sure it works for those people. Latoya senator, thank you very much. Congressman, same question to you. Do you support defunding the Police Department . Rep. Kennedy we have to completely reimagine how we police in this country. One of my major areas of focus is structural overhaul of the Mental Health care system. I saw how the country criminalizes Mental Health and Substance Abuse disorder. The two largest providers of Mental Health care in this country are the jails in los angeles and chicago. You talk to the sheriffs around our state, the folks who run our jails, on any given night, between 80 and 90 of the incarcerated individuals have Substance Abuse disorders or Mental Health issues. We have created a Health Care System that says we dont know where else they should go, so we ock them up. I was at a homeless camp that is the permanent camp right off route 2 in arlington. A young man had had a heart attack on thursday. He was back in that camp on saturday morning, because he said that was the only place that he felt comfortable to be. What an indictment on our ystem. That is where the focus needs to be, caring for our people. Latoya i just want to note that oth of you said reimagine, not defund. That is the note to take away from this. We are going to take a quick 60 second break. There is still so much more to get to on issues important to you and your family, including Immigration Reform. We will take a look at the record very closely, on both of views of Climate Change and we will have some rapidfire questions. Open up your camera, hold it up to the screen for this qr code to learn more about the candidates and their views. It will take you to our website. Nbc10both. Com. We are back in one minute. a latoya welcome back to the massachusetts democratic primary debate. I am latoya edwards. Much more to get to with our uests, senator ed markey and congressman joe kennedy, as both men hope to persuade you to vote for them on primary day, which is tuesday, september 1, which is just over five weeks way. We will shift gears over to the opic of immigration. First question from grace gomez. Thank you, la toya. Jedge, this is this question is for both of you. Ill start with congressman kennedy, and im going to ask both in spanish and in english. [speaking in spanish] recipients of temporary protective status are hanging by a thread here in the United States. They pay their taxes. They have a work permit. Most of them are Business Owners in the United States and they renew their status to stay in this country. Congressman kennedy, can you make a clear commitment tonight about the future, and if so, how are you going to do it . You have 60 seconds. This is onen spanish] of the reasons why i focused on comprehensive mmigration reform in washington, because we need a system that actually reflects our values. E came close back in 2013 when president obama actually put out those principles, when the senate had a vetoproof majority, nd we could not get there in the house. Its one of the reasons why i have campaigned so hard to try to actually provide that change that we need in order to push these changes through. It needs to be a priority of President Biden, and if im elected to the senate, i will ensure that this is going to be one of the priorities, and i will not rest until we are able to actually deliver on that change. In the midst of that debate, senator markey joined with republicans and immigration extremists, siding what the other than what our system needs. Thats what needs to change. Senator markey, same question to you. You have 60 questions. Sen. Markey again, congressman, just give me a break. You keep saying things that are just not true. You just keep saying thing the issue youre raising is very important. Whether it is daca, tps, mmigration reform in general, hat has to be the top of the agenda. We have 11 Million People in this country. All of them next year should be placed on a pathway to citizenship. That is my goal. When i go back to the United States senate, im going to fight to make sure that every one of those 11 Million People, not just daca, not just tps, they have to get the protections hich they deserve, but we just cannot have ice out there as a police force trying to grab people in the middle of the night. We have to let them know they are safe. That is why the massachusetts immigration and Refugee Agency thank you, senator. Sen. Markey because they know the priorities. Thank you, senator. I do have to push back on this because, since 2013, immigration hasnt really had anything solid. Instead of focusing on Immigration Reform as a whole, what are you both going to do for the tps and the dreamers who really the only step they need is to get citizenship . They have everything else. What are you going to do for them, congressman kennedy . Rep. Kennedy in order to get there, we need change. I engage with republican colleagues in negotiations over two years ago to try to get this across the finish line. Those republican members were plagued by speaker ryan and Republican Leadership yet again. We need changed actually deliver on this change because weve seen that republicans are not going to deliver on it. You got to go out there and fight for it, and ive been down to the border on multiple occasions. Latoya we are going to continue n this topic, but we are going to bring in my colleague, tim caputo, from the newsroom. You both have been to the outhern border, you have taken pictures there, you have seen it with your own eyes. Ouve seen the childrens in cages, the thousands of families that have been separated. Right now, tonight, more than 300 children are still in ice custody away from their families, at the risk of contracting covid19. Enator markey, you mentioned my three trips on the border to see those kids in cages down in the border. Its just absolutely heartbreaking. We just got a reprieve by the Supreme Court on the daca kids, but we now have to fumigate donald trump out of the white house. He is a racist president. He says he is going to make America Great again, but he really is just making america hate again. And he puts immigrants in the crosshairs so that hate comes out. E have to get rid of Mitch Mcconnell as the majority eader. Then next year, our agenda has to be topoftheline, President Biden giving his inaugural address. First day up, to make sure we have an immigration bill that gives a pathway to citizenship for every one of these individuals so they dont have to worry any longer. That has to be what were doing in order to give those families hope right now. And i can tell you that im going to fight, as i have been every single day. Senator, thank you. Congressman kennedy, what is your plan . Rep. Kennedy a couple of things. One, have to take issue. Senator markey continues to try to muddy the waters so he doesnt have to respond to his vote. He voted with republican extremists against president obama and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to try to provide more detention beds to house immigrants. That is his vote. He is trying to muddy that with a government funding bill that happened later that every democrat voted for. Those are not the same thing. Ive been down to the southern border multiple times. The difference is that knowing that donald trump wasnt going o solve the problem, we raised nearly 250,000 to provide funding for Legal Services agencies to sue the federal government to release those kids and reunite those families. Because as a representative, you can do more than just sign a letter and try to convince Stephen Miller that he is wrong on immigration. That is why i joined a bill out of the house this week to halt immigration detention. Congressman kennedy cast the vote on the same policy in the same language which he voted for, but moreover, just so i can make this clear, even last august when trump was deporting ids with cancer from massachusetts and other states, i organized with Ayanna Pressley the movement to stop that. And we forced donald trump to back down, because it is wrong to take children and adults who are sick and being given treatment in this country, to have the Deportation Police come in and to take them out of our country. I took them on, i fought trump, and he backed down. It is very rare that trump backs down, but he had to because of the leadership that i was providing with Ayanna Pressley. Latoya lets get to the elephant in the oom. Senator markey, this week members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus slammed you as being the only progressive to vote against a 20 bill on immigrant detention beds. How do you square that with what you said on the campaign trail and what you have said this evening . Sen. Markey i will say again. Mr. Kennedy is attacking me on a vote on the very same anguage, the very same policy that ongressman kennedy voted for imself later on that year. He did the same thing. That is not actually an issue where we disagree. We actually disagree on the vote which congressman kennedy cast twice, which is hollowing out puerto rico, its educational system, is Health Care System, ts housing system. The university of Puerto Rico May go under. And congressman kennedy had a decision to make, and twice he voted for the bondholders to receive their payment and not for the people of puerto rico. He now says that is not his osition. Latoya lets give the congressman 30 seconds to respond. Rep. Kennedy if there was ever an example of why we need change in washington, it is the exchange you just heard. Its the politics of the past, and it does not work. Senator markey there is a reason why for members of the congress blasted senator markey. I voted with them and he didnt. Because he speaks now about immigration. He had a chance to stand with immigrant community and chose not to. He chose to end up providing more resources to a donald Trump Presidency to detain more immigrants. Thats not right. I stood strongly against it from day one. Sen. Markey that is just not accurate. He did the exact same thing. Latoya congressman, can you respond directly to that for a moment . The criticism is your camp is saying one thing about markey in this vote. He is saying you voted for the ame legislation. Is that correct, and why did you take the vote . Rep. Kennedy thank you. Lets get this clear on the record for everybody. There is a vote that came up about the immigration detention bed policy. Senator markey joined with a handful of conservative democrats and republicans, and keep in mind, this was in the midst of discussion around comprehensive Immigration Reform. He stood with republicans against the obama administration. Obama gave instructions that he would veto this vote, and he voted with republicans against obama. Because of that vote, because it got passed, it got wrapped up in overall funding bill to Fund Government months later. And every democrat, including barack obama, voted for it and barack obama signed it. But it got put in there because it passed, because people like senator markey voted for it to begin with. Sen. Markey he voted for it in a big package and i voted for in a big bill as well. Ut if you want to vote against it, a year later when there was not going to be a relief for daca kids, i voted against the ntire appropriations bill. If that was his conviction, he should have voted no. But he didnt. He voted yes in the very same language is in there. Give me a break, congressman. Thats just absolutely not rue. Rep. Kennedy the only thing i would point out, there were multiple members of the hispanic caucus that criticize you, not me. Your campaign went after them ndividually after they criticized you. You can take it up with them. The criticize him the criticism of the fact that your campaign decided to go after them speaks volumes about how you feel about this. Understand why you would like to muddy the record here. You were in the midst of an overall discussion on comprehensive Immigration Reform. You were also in a tough senate race. So you took a vote that ended up not being one that i think many of us believe in. Latoya congressman, thank you. Sen. Markey for the record, later on, same language. Ou voted for it in big package as well. So ultimately it is a nonissue. We voted the same way. Which is why we should be talking about pro nasa and what the congressman did on puerto rico. We have tens of thousands of people here in massachusetts because of what it has done to puerto rico. Latoya congressman, go ahead and touch briefly on puerto rico. 30 seconds. Rep. Kennedy it was a bill that has had devastating consequences n puerto rico. I followed the lead of our leaders in the house of representatives, who came to me directly and set it was either that or no help to puerto rico t all. That was the choice. I am one of the very few democratic colleagues that have pushed for amendments to ensure that the people of puerto rico get access to the services and resources that they need. I have been leading the fight to ensure there is equity with regard to health care funding. Atoya we are going to have to hold it right here. We have to switch our focus. We appreciate the energy. But we want to talk about something different. Allison king has the next question. We are going to switch gears. Congressman kennedy, when you were stanford university, you join the kappa alpha raternity. This is a fraternity that has een called out over the decades been called out over the decades for racist behavior. The spiritual leader of the fraternity was and continue to be confederate commander robert e. Lee. Before announcing your senate bid, you disaffiliated from kappa alpha. Why did you choose cap alpha to begin with, and why didnt you disaffiliate in a much more public way a long time ago . Rep. Kennedy allison, thank you. Its an important question. I wish i had. Ut the reality is that the chapter at stanford had almost no relationship with the ational organization and had none of the behaviors or traditions of that national rganization. It was a diverse place across race and color and creed and nationality. What i learned about it in the time afterwards, i realize my affiliation was a mistake. I have come out publicly and taken responsibility for it. I led a group of my former classmates to disaffiliate and since then a number of others have, too. I have taken responsibility for that action. I wish i could go back and tell 18yearold me that it was going to be a mistake. Congressman, i will let senator markey weigh in. Sen. Markey i was a commuter to Boston College so i dont really know anything about fraternities, but obviously it is good that the congressmans answering questions about it because i think it is important, in the same way it is important that he answer questions about his change on medicare for all, on militarization of the streets, on working for District Attorney okeefe down in cape cod, on marijuana, and here on ka. The question in each of these instances is, did he change because of conviction, or is it because of political convenience . I am going to give the congressman 10 seconds, then i have a question for the senator. Rep. Kennedy when it comes from acial justice, it is hard to hear that criticism from you. Congressman john lewis served with you for 25 years. He has endorsed me in this race. That says enough. Latoya im going to send it over to senator markey. Senator, you have been accused more than a few times over the years of spending more time in nonelection years at your home in chevy chase, maryland. Just today, congressman kennedy accused you of absenteeism, which he says has diminished your effectiveness in the state. Ou said recently you would rovide the facts to clear up this controversy, but no one has seen this information. What are the results of your analysis . Sen. Markey we are going to provide all of that information. But you have been saying that for months. Sen. Markey that information is going to be provided. In what form . Will it be your travel records . Sen. Markey my campaign is providing that information. It will be out there for the public to be able to see. What has taken you so ong . Sen. Markey again, i dont just fight for massachusetts, i deliver for massachusetts. Im able to take my leadership on the floor of the United States senate and make sure that on Climate Change, on Health Care Issues senator, this is about your residency. Sen. Markey that is why mayors, state representatives have endorsed me in this race. Im going to let congressman kennedy take a shot at this. Rep. Kennedy allison, it clearly matters where an elected official resides and where they rest their head. Why it matters is particularly now, we need to have elected officials that are, in fact, hearing the concerns across the country. And advocating for those voices. Because if things were going as well as people in washington thought they were, we wouldnt be here. You have to be present to hear them. You have to go out and ask, not tell. You have to listen, not dictate. That is why i got in this race. That is the change that we need. That is what i will bring to the u. S. Senate. Im going to send it back to atoya. Sen. Markey i just want to say, i bring the Kitchen Table where i learned the lessons from my mother and father. I bring those values to the United States senate every single day. Thats why i see families across the commonwealth struggling to pay their bills right now. Is the same kind of struggle my mother and father were going through when they were trying to pay the bills for their three ons. That is what i channel every single day on the floor of the United States senate. Fighting for every family. Latoya senator, thank you. Congressman, i saw the eye roll. Rep. Kennedy senator markeys story is well known. The issue is not whether he went to Boston College or lived in malden at one point. The issue is whether he is giving adequate representation and voice to the people across ur commonwealth. When i got in this race, i called around. I had no desire to take on an entrenched incumbent and commit political suicide. But when i called around to eastern massachusetts, chelsea, pringfield, or worcester, they said they havent seen him. And that representation matters. What we are seeing more than anything at this moment is that ur policies are not touching the people that need to make sure sen. Markey its just important for me to say this. In his own Congressional District. Right now, 19 of the state representatives are endorsing me. Only four who know him best in his own Congressional District are endorsing him. So from my perspective, the mayors, from mayor walsh, mayor of worcester, they have all endorsed me because they know i stand up and fight for those communities. I have their back every single day on the floor of the United States senate. Rep. Kennedy senator, of course they endorse you. Most of them endorsed you before i got in this race. And thats fine. That is the way this goes. This race is not going to be won on endorsements. It is going to be won because theres a candidate out here saying there are challenges in our country. Sen. Markey dont say im not doing the job, because what you said earlier is just not accurate. Those people you are referring to do have my back in this race because they know i have done the job. They are saying to you they are not with you, they are with me because i have been and continue to do the job for the people. Rep. Kennedy endorsements do not win races. Sen. Markey maybe not, but they are with me and they had the chance to be with you. If what you are saying is true and i wasnt doing the job, its absolutely not true. And that is why they are with me in this race. Rep. Kennedy this is why we need change. It is a washington thing to think that endorsement of elected officials means credibility and success. That is the politics of the past, and it does not work. If you think this is the best we can be, then by all means, support my opponent. If you think we can do better la toya thank you so much gentlemen. Thank you, senator. Ok. We want to stick to time here. And we have a topic i know you both love talking about, climate hange. Congressman kennedy, some say members of your political family use their political power to ake down that project. What do you think about expanding wind energy off the massachusetts coast . Rep. Kennedy i supported then and now. I put the development of offshore winds at the forefront of my agenda. Just this past week, i got a bill put through the house of representatives to establish a center of excellence for offshore wind. I have been working with congressman David Cicilline of rhode island to help ensure robust opportunities of development for offshore wind across massachusetts because the very first project could create enough Renewable Energy to power 400,000 homes. But is not just about one project. Its about the transformation we can see for communities like fall river and new bedford, and the opportunity to build an entire new industry here in massachusetts that can help power the future. I would put my leadership on this against anyone. Latoya senator markey, a tight 30 seconds to respond. En. Markey alexandria ocasiocortez and i introduced the Green New Deal. The planet is running a fever. We need a massive deployment of wind and solar, all electric vehicles, new plug in vehicles, storage battery technologies, Energy Conservation strategies across the country to create millions of jobs, to save all of creation by engaging in massive job creation. Atoya you coauthored the reen new deal, you just talked about that. Actually, we are going to move on to rapidfire because i want to make sure we have the time that we promise. Quick question, quick answers here. If you were joe biden, who would you pick for a running mate . Rep. Kennedy ed markey, and other than that i will defer to joe biden. Sen. Markey i would pick Elizabeth Warren, and other than that, an africanamerican woman. Latoya should face masks be mandatory in massachusetts . Sen. Markey yes, until it has ended. Latoya should Governor Charlie Baker get another term in office as governor . Rep. Kennedy that is up to the voters of massachusetts. Latoya would you vote for him . Rep. Kennedy that depends on the field. Latoya senator markey . Charlie baker, should he get another term in office . Sen. Markey lets see where we are in 2022. It is way too early to be prognosticating. Charlie baker, should he get another term in office . Lets see where we are in 2022. Its just way too early at this to be prognosticating that far ahead. The candidates now have one for closing statements. Senator, you go first, senator markey. Our country is on fire. Our country. Ce in we need medicare for all so there is healthcare justice for everyone. Green new deal so we have Environmental Justice for everyone. Overhaul our criminal Justice System so that black and across our es all country know that there will be justice for them. Pathway to citizenship for every immigrant in our country so there is justice for them. We have to overhaul our sac care system. We have to overhaul our system, so there is family. For every Martin Luther king said that the rc of the universe is long but bends toward justice. All of our hands have to be on to bend it towards justice. We need to do that now. We can do it. Senator . Thank you so much. I ask for your vote. Thank you very much. Congressman kennedy . You larks toy yeah. La toy yeah, ive spent the last the al weeks crisscrossing state listening to the concerns of people across our commonwealth. Restaurant owner in springfield who literally cut a hole in her wall so she could a new takeout business. Is onmen whose livelihood the line yet again. Who pulled inwner his entire extended family to try to find a way to make ends meet. Healthcare workers who are still struggling to get access to the need but they show up every single day. Times are tough but our people resilient. And to a person they are optimistic about our future. They know that in order to deliver that future, we need change. Politics sman the of the past will not build our future. I ask for your vote on september 1. Thank you. Debate. Cludes tonights we thank you so much remember day. Vote on primary please be safe and have great night, everyone. [captions Copyright National cable Satellite Corp 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] the acting chief of the u. S. Place testifies before the house
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