Good evening and welcome to this election 2020 debate between senate candidates, republican senator Martha Mcnally and democratic challenger mark kelly, the only live debate between the two candidates, joint effort brought to you by the arizona Citizens Election Commission and media organizations from across the state. I am ted simons, host and managing editor a is on a horizon in joining me tonight, political reporter sanchez with Arizona Republican the lorraine rivera, host of arizona 360 on k you atm steve goldstein, host of the show on k jj the radio. We are broadcasting live from the studios at arizona pds and asus Walter Cronkite school of journalism in downtown phoenix. Tonights debate is live streamed to the website including a see central. Com, k g the z, ac pbs. Org and a cbm. Org. Journalists from the four participating media outlets. Questions from the public as solicited by Citizens Elections Commission are also included. Ground rules for the debate, once we ask a question, 90 seconds without interruption. Candidates, 40 seconds in power without interruption. Been two minutes for an open discussion on that. At the end of the debate each candidate will have one minute for closing statements. The set up for this debate look different, which has taken a number of precautions to keep everything save over concerns of covid19 including increased distance and plexiglas barriers between candidates and the moderators. A request for no physical contact like handshaking between the candidates. Now lets meet the candidates, Martha Mc Sally is appointed in 2019, john mccains death, previous he represented arizona and Congressional District 2 for two terms, native of rhode island in iraq. A navy aviator piloted the Space Shuttle for a number of missions that is married to former congresswoman gabrielle giffords. The honor goes to senator mc sally. The president s recent covid19 diagnosis calls into question the way the administration in general and the president in particular have handled the coronavirus pandemic. He has been recorded as purposely downplaying chloroquine for saying it would magically disrupt disappear and was a hoax, giving himself in a grade. How do you think the administration has handled covid19 . Our prayers are with donald trump and milania. All those infected with covid19 right now and the families of their loved ones who passed away. This reminds us the pandemic doesnt care if you are democrat or republican and we all need to be vigilant and do our part until we defeat this virus which we will. I have been fighting for arizona to get relief to Small Businesses, to workers, hospitals, fasttrack the vaccines and treatment and cures and even voted for additional relief a few weeks ago to help Small Businesses and schools and others. That. Its been a difficult year for everybody but what we dont need is another walk dow lockdown ans what would happen if joe biden and mark kelly are involved. Weve seen a lot of tv ads over the next month and my opponent is claiming hes not a politician or a democrat but the truth is that hes bought and paid by Chuck Schumer goes f to arizona and he sold out to china and multiple business arrangement on his path to get rich quick and he led over the last deck and one of the most radical Political Organizations in modern history raising 57 billion under to help elect 5 se of the most extreme leftwing politicians in power right now. This election is going to decidt the Senate Majority and the direction of the country and you have a choice, fighter will get results for arizonats or a counterfeit you cantt afford. Mr. Kelly, will have the respond, 45 seconds to to respond at the 90 seconds for your answer how the administration has handled the pandemic. Kelly it didnt take long for the senator to attacked my patriotism. She did the last election cycle with senator sinema. Irs thought after two years we e a different senator mcsally but the same senator mcsally his shoulder. Im a combat veteran. I served in the United States navy for 25 years but i spent 15 years at nasa. I served in the western pacific audit paragraph carrier dealing with the chinese. Senator mcsally likes to make false and outlandish accusations. We have a serious crisis on her hhands. We have a Public Health crisis which is spurred and economic crisis. Both of these things have been made worse by a crisis of leadership. Over and over again we have been a step behind. We shut down the economy and then the administration and senator mcsally didnt come up with the plan on what to do next. I do want to get back to in more detail how defendant i think the administration could handle the pandemic better. We hear from republicans and the president and the white house that they have done just a great job at this. Kelly i think 200,000 dead americans is evidence that we did not do, that washington, this administration and senator mcsally did not do a great job. Of the worlds wpulation. We have 21 of the deaths from covid19s. If you go back to february the administration knew this virus was deadly and airborne. Senator mcsally said she was briefed on this at some point whether it was last week in january, early february. Senator mcsally told people to go on spring break. And then shortly after that when it was recommended that large gatherings like fundraisers be canceled, senator mcsally did a large fundraiser. Infection rates were on the rise senator mcsally goes to a big political rally, and thats not leadership. We need independent leadership focused on solving this hard problem. D its challenging but if we listen to the Public Health officials and dont ignore the science, we can beat this. Senator sullivan, response please. Mcsally the president made a Decisive Action ine order to sp travel from china. Something goes highly criticized. Mistakes were made at all levels but where in this together as americans and we should be looking forward and we have learned a lot. This virus came from china. They destroyed samples, blended on the u. S. Army. Nd we need to hold china accountable. While i stand up to china, my opponent starting in 2003 while he was serving in the u. S. Navy went over to china and an all expense paid junket bypa the communist party to up influence really elites in america and went back in 2004, back in 2005 can set it was most meaningful thing in this life besides going to space. Ce this is a part of what china does, they influence the elite and he seems to work. We will talk more about that on the following. At what point where you briefed on this virus . When was the first time your break on it and what did you do with that information tragic the task force was created and we had multiple briefings as everybody has an dr. Fauci and others were sharing information, still we could know because china covered this up if its a new virus, a novel virus. Their advice at the time was the risk is low and we learned a lot. At the same time for nancy pelosi was telling people to go celebrate the chinese figure in chinatown and Bernie Sanders and joe biden were having rallies. For the scientist it was around midmarch that they were realizing the impact when the state of order started but President Trumpa took action in january and that was highly criticized. Mark, do you agree with the president decision to ban travel from china . Kelly yes, but you would understand this as a pilot you guys did step one of the emergency procedure andro then u didnt do anything else. That is a colossal failure. When the president thanked china on behalf of the American People in january, senator mcsally said stood up and did nothing. We have 4 of the worlds world population. With 21 , the best fromwe covid19s and its becauset this administration didnts handle this as a Public Health issue. They dismissed the scientists. Senator mcsally doesnt, i cant think of one occasion where senator mcsally tested up when the present has made a mistake or the government did something that was exactly right. Thats not leadership. We need independent leadership focused on solving hard problems that somebody was going to just stand there when the leader of her Political Party is clearly making some mistakes. Be gone ae sort of things, did you see anything in response to that . Mcsally i was fighting tirelessly to get relief to arizona, and we passed the act. Weve got the ppe loans out there that saved 85,000 Small Businesses in arizona, and 1 million jobs. And another example of counterfeit kelly. He criticized the loan and said it wasnt working. While his company was secretly getting the loan and taking advantage of it. And we passed that relief to the stimulus checks and families who were struggling. Families in my community. And investing in the treatment and the testing and the cures. To get the release out the door and help people hang on. We voted on some additional target relief weeks ago, to be able to get kids back to school safely. More support to Small Businesses and unfortunately, my opponent says he would have blocked that relief. What was wrong with the bill that you wouldnt support the targeted relief to help arizona, and another example kelly even the president commented that it was too stingy. Now we are at a situation where Mitch Mcconnell sent everybody home, for separate vacations when we wound up in the situation without further relief. We have 420,000 arizona nuns whove lost their jobs through no fault of their own and now unemployed and they are trying to get by 240 of Unemployment Insurance a week. And senator mcsally went on vacation. That isnt leadership. We need independent leadership putting Arizona First, not more of the same. Moderator first, lets move on to the Supreme Court and this goes to mr. Kelly and you will have 90 seconds. President trump nominated judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court. Do you support the Senate Moving Forward on her nomination or any other nomination in the weeks before the election . Kelly i do not but first let me say when Justice Ginsburg passed, it was a tough day for the country, for me personally, especially for my wife. She looked up to her as a hero. We are less than 30 days from an election. This should be given some thoughtful consideration. I think the next president , regardless of who it is, whether its the reelection of President Trump or Vice President joe biden winning the presidency and whoever is elected to the senate. The decision should wait until january. This was a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. To rush it through i think that its important to recognize why is this being rushed through right now. The reason is there is a case in november that is about the Affordable Care act. Senator mcsally has worked incredibly hard over the last five years to eliminate or undermine protections for the preexisting conditions and legislation that didnt work. She paved the way for this lawsuit thats going to be heard on november 10th i think. And that lawsuit would take away those protections for 2. 4 million arizonans potentially. 1 million would probably lose their insurance and the other 1. 8 it could start costing a lot more. That is in the leadership we need in washington, d. C. Right now. You have to wonder why. We will talk a little bit more about this later but senator mcsally takes an enormous amount of money into her campaign. When i announced on the first day of my campaign, i announced im not going to take one dollar of corporate money. Moderator senator mcsally, did you vote to take away funding for preexisting conditions . Mcsally of course i didnt, and i hope i have more time to talk about this. I will always protect people with preexisting conditions. The democrats and republicans agree about that. The constitution is the guide. And this isnt about Amy Coney Barrett, who is an amazing role model, top of her field, first woman with schoolage children. Lets be clear, the constitution says that the president gets to nominate and the senate gets to confirm. And all 19 times in history when its been the same, theyve moved forward on that. But what the left wants and counterfeit kelly wants is to delay this to get a liberal activist judges on the bench. When they dont get their way of the ballot box, they want to take away freedoms from activist judges who legislate from the bench. We are one vote away from, the case called heller, from losing our individual rights to bear arms, we are one vote away. If you look at what happens, it actually took away the ability for those to go to church while they could still go to casinos during the lockdown. Our freedoms are at stake and joe biden wont even release his list of who he would nominate to the Supreme Court. I would like to know if you would call on joe biden to release that list and also know you dont get to pick the time aim. Would you vote for judge Amy Coney Barrett . Kelly we are 30 days away from an election, and i trust arizonans to be able to make the choice as to who the next president is and who they will elect to the United States senate. To rush through the nomination under these circumstances doesnt make sense to me. We have 420,000 arizonans right now who are unemployed through no fault of their own and are trying to get by on 240 a week. Why isnt the senate dealing with that. That is my question of senator mcsally. Instead, this is a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. It should take some thoughtful consideration. And i think the voters deserve to have a say as to who is going to nominate the next Supreme Court justice to replace ruth bader ginsburg. Mcsally this is another example where you are not answering the question. Another example of trying to say basically nothing to get elected. You know the winner of the race could be seated right away as early as november. You dont get to decide the timing. You just get to decide the vote, yes or no on judge barrett . Kelly i said i would vote no. This should wait until until we have a new president and senate within 30 days of the election and senator mcsally wants to rush through a lifetime appointment. The reason is, it is this case about preexisting conditions and the Affordable Care act which, through legislation, even after voting for times to undermine or eliminate those for preexisting conditions that didnt work. So now this is senator mcsallys option to be successful in any projects shes been working on, we have 2. 8 million arizonans that have a preexisting health care condition and some of them could lose their Health Insurance because of this. Moderator if you are elected you could be sworn in as soon of the votes are certified. If in the senate, would you support a filibuster to delay the nomination . Kelly this whole thing indicates how broken washington is. The discussion of the filibuster. An old senate rule. By the way, i think its important for everyone to understand that when it came to passing a 1. 9 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest americans and corporations senator mcsally voted for, the senate was okay to go to 50 votes so they abolished the filibuster for that and also to try to eliminate the Affordable Care act and the protections for preexisting conditions. Senator mcsally was okay with that. If this comes up as a discussion if im elected to the senate, i would give thoughtful consideration, and im going to do what is in the best interest of arizona and our country, not what is in the best interest of one Political Party or the other. Moderator youve been a candidate for more than a year. Many people think you should already have an answer to that question. Why would you not would you be able to hit the ground running on day number one if you are still thinking about the filibuster kelly absolutely. We dont even know if this will come up for a discussion. It might, and if it does, i would give thoughtful consideration and do what is in the best interest of arizona and arizonans and the best interest of the country, and not the Republican Party or democratic party. And its important to note, very important to note that parties are not in power for very long, traditionally. It goes from one party to another. And whatever decision is made on this is going to, you have to live with it being on the other side. I understand that and i would give thoughtful consideration. And in a way that, you know, not what is in the best interest for democrats, but was in the best interest for the republicans and arizona. Moderator senator mcsally i think the voters want to hear why its not hypocritical for the republicans to go ahead with this during the last year of a term for President Trump, when they block to th blocked the non the last year for president obama. Mcsally the constitution is a guide and in the ten times in history, it happened during an Election Year all 29 times a president nominated. But when the parties are different the ten times, they didnt get advice and consent. In those 19 times they all moved forward. This is about they want to stall tactics in order to get their liberal activist judges on the bench. And they want to pack the court. The fact counterfeit kelly cant even answer the question what he vote for Chuck Schumer, of course he would vote for Chuck Schumer. He is his star recruit and put tens of millions into his race and said this week we are not going to waste this majority if we get it. They are going to abolish a filibuster. He wont answer honestly to you. Hes saying one thing in arizona, but he cant because Chuck Schumer is trying to buy this election and you are going to stop that from happening. Moderator i have a question for mr. Kelly. Who do you need to hear from to form an opinion on the filibuster question . Kelly i need to hear the opinion from arizonans. And when i make the decision, i will let arizonans know. This is something that might not even come up for discussion, and if it does, i will spend some time thinking about it. And i will make a decision based on whats right for arizona. If senator mcsally has this i dont know how many people can follow what she was even talking about with these votes here but what is simple about this is washington is broken, and this highlights how broken it is that we are having these fights over old senate rules. What we need to be focused on is peoples healthcare. We have got a lot of individuals and families that have lost their health car healthcare dues pandemic. The economy, these are the issues arizonans care about, not a role in the United States senate. Moderator lets move back to the subject of china because many security officials, current and former, considered to be our most important adversary at this point. How would you go about the relationship and in some ways, has the president made light of it by mentioning the chinese flew, how seriously has he done things, and you credit the administration for holding china. Mcsally ive been involved in National Security my entire adult life and we have seen the rise of china. Mr. Kelly went over on the Chinese Communist government funded trip 2003, 2004, 2000 by the most meaningful thing other than going to space was so meaningful to him that in 2006 he had a chance to go into space the astronauts who were supporting me, one of them was the apollo 16 astronaut he by an American Flag and a flag of his state that what kelly decided to bring to space was the Chinese Communist party with the junket paid for by china he retired and then recorded a Company Close to the Chinese Government to invest in the company that he cofounded then over with about vitamins with the motorcycle the chinese flag on it he is friends i am fighting them. Respond to the accusation of your chinese relationship is excel he makes china an issue when Mitch Mcconnell out what on Mitch Mcconnell handed her a memo and said this is the issue in your election. I served in any beat me five years i served in flying with the Aircraft Carrier in the south china sea. Sutter make sally has focused on this now because she is desperate to win election i will never apologize for creating good paying jobs that is a lot of Economic Activity here in the state of arizona. So to question my patriotism and i think folks recognize that in that podium said or make sally you all the treason. This is the same falsenegative attacks. So china has been an adversary of ours anywhere on the planet is leave a vacuum china will step into it. When he does the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal senator make sally didnt say anything when the president think the people as the response of covid19. Why . She didnt have memo yet. It is a political issue to use false negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again and i think arizonans are tired of it senator make sally didnt say anything when the president think the people as the response of covid19. Why . She didnt have memo yet. It is a political issue to use false negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again and i think arizonans are tired of it questioning your patriotism but your judgment you went on the junket paid for by the Chinese Communist party the propaganda arm and you said the most meaningful thing youve done in your life and then you chose of all the things you couldve taken i know what i thought and i took you chose the Chinese Communist banner to take to space and then later multiple business relationships and ventures those affiliated with the Chinese Government. What a fighter to stand up to china im your girl i have already been doing that for writing me personally my mom is freaked out a little bit im not questioning your patriotism is your business relationships to put you in a place we were week on china. I dont know what shes talking about or she gets her information maybe she found something on the internet. I recognize china as an adversary for my entire adult life. Senator make sally talks about this when she is campaigning because she thinks this is the way for her to win an election. Is not what arizona needs we need independent leadership i had a deal with the chinese am a third Space Shuttle mission to blow up a satellite in orbit geopolitical issue directly related to aggression by china through testing a missile ive known this for a long time but she dislikes to have false political attacks and question her up in his patriotism we have seen it before. Shifting to healthcare mr. Kelly you support the creation of the Health Insurance option for the public how much exactly what the system cost and what is your preferred way to pay for it . Healthcare is incredibly personal for me when my wife was shot in 2011 she had a serious traumatic brain injury i will never forget being in the icu the first time to see her and looked down and wonder what this means for us, for her and her family. Fortunately she had good Health Insurance the statue with everybody especially losing their jobs with premiums and deductibles and Prescription Medication. These are the issues arizonans care about so public option to compete on the healthcare exchanges makes a lot of sense in individuals with that insurance we should also allow them to buy into medicare that makes a lot of sense and then you have to address the issue of existing conditions senator make sally has voted four times and i wonder why is that . She takes a lot of corporate pac money from the Health Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical Company so there isnt a lot of desire to make changes in the Healthcare System to help arizona when you are not helping those corporations. Who pays for the option is there another mechanism . So at some point when you provide a public option competing with private insurance the person who buys the insurance pays for it. If we start to talk about the National Debt senator make sally voted for one. 9 trilliondollar tax giveaway for the wealthiest americans and 80 percent of that went to the wealthiest americans to put us in a position where now we have to make some hard choices when all lot of people need covid relief. I have been standing up to the power for protecting the vulnerable my entire life my life story is about republicans and democrats can agree on a couple things we will always protect existing conditions. Obama care is bad failing it is a working so i am fighting for more options for people we took away the penalties because of you could not afford the unaffordable Health Insurance the government was fining you im feigning one fighting for options for people to be them together but the public option which is the Bernie Sanders light is the next path for the full government takeover of healthcare. You cant have a public option compete with private Health Insurance everybody who gets it through an employer eventually will lose that the government will take over and medicare as we know it will be collapsed any seniors tuning in under the expense of plan thats the first step of Government Health care takeover. How much of the public option cost . Senator mcsally you have been supportive of republican plans that nonpartisan analysts say would have left the americans including many in arizona without Health Coverage what you are sponsoring guarantees coverage of preexisting conditions but it would allow women to be charged more than men why should arizonans if the aa already covers them . It should be on parents insurance through 26 we should never allow Insurance Companies to deny People Insurance or raise the cost and with obama care the cost keep going up i met a family when i was knocking on doors and before obama care he was a plumber only owning his own business he pay 300 a month it has gone up four times since then now it is more than his mortgage. Before we got rid of the penalty 150,000 arizonans paid a fine because they could not afford the Health Insurance. Over 80 percent me less than 50000 i am passionate to provide more choices but this government takeover make no mistake this means the government is competing with private they can never compete private Health Insurance goes away than the full government take over and medicare i will be insolvent 2025 the scheme that allows people to be put on medicare will collapse taxes will go up, 2300 just with the public option 178 million americans will lose it this is what is dangerous about their plan i fighting for options to allow Small Businesses to band together to have more choice to provide that taxpayer resources and lets find more options up protect people not the Government Healthcare like counterfeit kelly is offering. This isnt Rocket Science follow the money. Senator mcsally took money from Health Insurance companies and voted to eliminate protections for preexisting conditions took a ton of money from pharmaceutical companies and voted to increase the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. She took millions of dollars from corporate pac and gave companies billions of dollars of tax giveaways. Bottom line is a working for us shes working for someone else the company that funds the corporate pac confirms the campaign that doesnt put Arizona First senator mcsally i have to respond that is to say one thing in the counterfeit nature of what he says to arizonans. From the beginning of 2018 through 2191. 8 million in speaking fees speaking to Financial Companies and Insurance Companies into his bank account and is all the end run to get money from employers and executives he says one thing that sounds good but in reality he is getting rich it has gotten rich off corporations and those that are funding his campaign. We cannot put up with more counterfeit on this issue he says one thing and of the attacks toward me will always protect people with preexisting conditions and integrity is the top core value in the air force and in my life ive been protecting the vulnerable my whole life i will keep doing it as your fighter in the senate. Preexisting conditions people are very concerned that healthcare is consistently a top issue in this race. Why should arizonans trust you on this issue. Im telling you im committed to protecting people with preexisting conditions and last week i voted to protect people with preexisting conditions but there are people right now who are being failed by obama care. What about them . I am rolling up my sleeves some politicians sit back i am fighting for the entrepreneur who doesnt have coverage right now in the hispanic Franchise Owner who had to give up his businesses and work for big business because he was diagnosed with diabetes. We have to fix this and protect people these are scare tactics i will continue to fight the stop the government of takeover. I wish the media would acknowledge that. Mr. Kelly do you agree that senator miceli makes on dash that senator mcsally protects those. Of course not arizonans know they cannot protect her she voted on four separate locations to undermine or eliminate those protections i was with a mom named stacy recently who has a terrible her condition and had to have multiple surgeries. She reached a lifetime cap and heard daughter reach that cap before she was even in her teen aging one as a teenager and then concerned you cannot get coverage as an adult but then the Affordable Care act came around in a change their lives. Senator mcsally tries to take away those protections from two. 8 million arizonans on four separate occasions she pave the way for a lawsuit that that the Supreme Court the case will be heard november 10th that is not independent leadership we need independent leadership to put Arizona First, not a big corporate pac or Healthcare Company or Pharmaceutical Company first. These votes he is talking about is because i said i was against obama care i have too many stories and they are preexisting conditions and cant get access to affordable healthcare so a lot of politicians will sit back and say no and instead of him being honest about their plan the public option will and medicare as we know it and raise taxes i will fight against it but its a lie and im fashionably and im passionate. Those protections by the way were saved by john mccain in the senate he save the Affordable Care act he save those protections that senator mc sally spent years trying to und undo. We need to move on. Saturday have consistently supported President Trump and the administrations policy and you voted not to convict on impeachment. Are you proud of your support for President Trump . Mcsally i am proud fighting arizonans like cutting taxes with the tax cuts and jobs act and on average arizona middleclass families had taxes go by 2000 we had such a Strong Economy before the pandemic it we fought to rebuild our military after the Obama Biden Administration decimated the military 25 percent cut with deployments going up we had a hollow force Border Security is National Security that means something in arizona we see the cartel activity. I have the most bills pass in any other senator tied for first than any out of the 100 senators the six most bipartisan senator that is my record fighting for arizona putting legislation i legislation on obamas desk i put on President Trumps desk i go to washington dc with the agency on my jersey different for arizona. My opponent said he would support Bernie Sanders when he was searching now in a situation to if i assume ramp will see her in charge they will run through the most radical agenda we have seen. Counterfeit kelly says he is an independent but the stakes cannot be higher if you want tax cuts on your girl you what the largest tax increase in history, you have somebody else over here. The question is are you part of your support for President Trump. Mcsally im proud to be fighting for arizona everyday putting legislation on President Trumps desk. Look at the legislation it is a cut arizona taxes. It sounds like you are proud of her support. Mcsally why does he want to support Bernie Sanders . Regarding President Trump what is your overall impression of his behavior and actions in the office or opponent basically just said shes proud of her support would you support such a person . No. Not acceptable. What really concerns me the things that matter to every day arizonans like healthcare a one. 9 trilliondollar tax cut that went to the biggest corporations and after that tax cut was passed twice as Many Companies paid zero dollars in federal income tax and with those workingclass folks in arizona. So i have Major Concerns america has a choice to make as to who the next president will be in who will serve in the senate around the country these are serious issues. The United States and is gonna vacation for time since the pandemic has started i think senator mcsally has stood up wants to say where we going home . All those that are trying to get by on 240 a week trying to make horrible choices between paying rent and prescriptions and groceries. And then senator mc sally failed we have 4 percent of the worlds population from the dust of covid19 210,000 and that have lost. It will devote to vote impeachment the president. I would like to hear witnesses that wouldve been a good starting point when you appointed to serve under somebody like donald trump when you are in the military . Mcsally im proud to be work with the president to rebuild our military under obama and biden they cut the military to the bone we had a readiness crisis in so many instances. So if you look at what biden and schumer impose will do i release my taxes today im transparency people can see and with those deductions im calling of my opponent also to releases taxes so arizonans can see where hes made his money over the last five years of more that has come from this is a basic transparency and the tax cuts im very proud of with the family of four in arizona made 60000 before they pay the first dollar in taxes this is meaningful. Host would you like to have served under someone like donald trump when you were in the military. Mcsally giving the military everything they need to fight . 75 percent of the army could not deploy under obama and biden. Host the answer is yes. Mcsally giving us what we need to we are not looking at museums for parts of four airplanes and with the largest pay raise in ten years we are investing in capabilities to take on china. This is so important we continue to support the military and ive been working with President Trump to rebuild. We are getting right back and will do so in just a few minutes to the debate. And for those candidates with a republican senator senator mcsally and democratic challenger mark kelly. Host a question for both of you as travel restrictions continue maybe that equates a sales tax revenue. Maybe there are challenges facing poverty and as they come out of a pandemic . Senator mcsally he will begin with you. Mcsally so to pass the care zach to get relief out to families but uniquely on the border and on the ports of entry into get over 150 million. And part of my bipartisanship working with senator cinema so people can travel more one no more than 75 miles per spend more money around arizona theres a lot at stake here. And virtual 80 and one agents are seeing a difference in the Border Patrol council just reached his hand out to shake his hand he would not shake his hand and turned away and said you are one of them when nobody was looking this is what mark kelly did but then he turns his back and will not shake their hand to a Border Patrol agent. 57million raised he also endorsed david garcia for governor that we should have Border Security that is whats at stake here when he says one thing being behind david garcia. 45 seconds did you not shake the hand of a federal Law Enforcement officer . I would shake anybodys hand at any time. Im sure she gets this. From the agent. And because of the ports of entry would be closed that the countries want us the counties are suffering economically and months ago at the beginning of the pandemic clearly said that communities should not get extra help from the federal government to get us through the crisis. But the main reason is a failure of leadership to address the serious pandemic we have 4 percent of the worlds population and then take that action necessary there was no plan will be shut down the economy to what do we do now . We basically ignored it. No plan for testing or Contact Tracing we need strong Border Security that is clear the presiding officer the senate will come to order. The clerk will read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington, d. C, october 13, 2020. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable marsha blackburn, a senator from the state of tennessee, to perform the duties of the chair. Signed chuck grassley, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, the Senate Stands adjourned until 4 30 p. M. On friday, 4 30 p. M. On friday, and the set in pro forma session every third weekday until the return for legislative work on october 19. 19th. Joint as been for live coverage here on cspan2. Its a portable system and what you talk to the rangers it really makes a difference whether theres chicken wire or whether they have 30foot and sixfoot down a paved road, the sonar sensors. It allows Border Patrol to use Intelligence Driven operations to detect at intercept the activity. Also use and airborne assets manned and unmanned, with towers and airborne assets and other things. Its all of the above. The board wall system is making a difference, and mr. Kelly still has an answer the question your cake and safe for security but you support come to support politicians like omar. You said you support Bernie Sanders come use part david garcia. If david garcia were a governor we would have, who is against any sort of border on the south side of arizona. What is up with that . You want to do down those endorsements. Kelly Border Security is incredibly important for our state, and ive already addressed this. I would not provide a 17th century solution to this. If you to ask nasa to do this every technology, some of things senator mcsally just mentioned to build a wall for 2000 miles of border 20 million a mile, those resources could be used for the technology, it could be used for more Border Patrol agents on the border. These are smart ways to address this and asked about funding for military bases. Senator mcsally voted to take away money from fort what you got to pay for the border wall. Arizona senator should be taking away money from arizona bases. Moving onto Immigration Reform. Mr. Kelly, President Trump wants congress to pass legislation that would make our immigration system more of a meritbased system rather than the currentss familybased familybased system. Is that a good idea . Support of h2b visas h1b h1b and h2a vis, Agricultural Workers but also folks are educated. We did in immigration system thats going to be consistent with our values and his goodness for our economy. It President Trump as a proposal for something that does those things recognize we are a country of immigrants, i come from a family of immigrants. Most of us do. It there are proposals from this president , if im elected to the senate, President Trump is reelected, i will work with them on anything that is in the best interest of arizona. Senator mcsally, do you favor Immigration Reform that includes away for young dreamers brought to this country as children to become legal permanent citizens try to my heart goes out to these young people who were brighter as children, through no fault of their own. They know no other country but america. I have been leading on solutions to provide a legal c path for da recipients but we cannot just address that issue. We have to address the root issues as well of why we are in the situation in the first place. Thats why its important for us to continue to secure our border, complete the border wala system, provide our Border Patrol agents who i have their backs. You wont shake their head but either backs, providing everything they need to keep us safe. As when the for granted close these loopholes because received where the cartels, see they can just traffic cameras, traffic children on this dangerous journey. They will use those loopholes. We have to close principles to ensure families can Stay Together but ensure we have a Legal Immigration system, people come to the front door. Ive been leading on this issue on the house, leading on the senate but we have to have that Border Security, closed those loopholes so we dont find yourself in a very same situation with another daca like group of young people and another five, ten or 15 years. Should daca be contingent on other aspects of Border Security . Kelly so Border Security is incredibly important. We need it but we have 28,000 also young people in the state of arizona who i look at as americans come as myun own tickets. I think they should have a pathway to citizenship right now. That something senator mcsally used to support that she was in favor of a document program. Now she says its unconstitutional. I dont think it is contingent on instinct. Standalone issue for you. Kelly standalone. Mcsally ive been leading on this issue trying to provide a a path forward for these young people but weve got to address the root causes as to why were in the situation in first place because all it will do is incentivize more illegal activity. I begin my opponent mr. Counterfeit kelly, he hasnt explained why he supported david garcia to be the governor of arizona, why he said he would support Bernie Sanders, why he bankrolled Rashida Tlaib us some of the most dangerous ideas on abolishing ice and sanctuary cities as well as omar in minneapolis and many others who are from the radical left elbow of democrats to keep in mind 57 million that he raised from some of the most extreme leftwing people in the country in order to then endorse and bankrolled these individuals who are now in office with these ideas that are dangerous for arizona. Is to be clear for the people are watching at home and dont know whatar group youre talking about what these endorsements, can you please be specific about the group and the endorsement . Mcsally he knows. Again its a very radical Political Organization that its raised 57 million, and then again hes been a political operative for a decade. At the state legislature, at the covetous, those running for house and running for senate some of the most extreme leftwing candidates in our country running for office, bankrolling them, endorsing them. Look at the photo. Yes, it arm around omarr in minneapolis. What are you doing in minneapolis hugging omar . Mr. Kelly these endorsements are named after my wife, gabby was injured, shot in head in 2011, the issue of gun violence is personal for gabby and me. Ill never forget what she went through for the year and a half in the hospital for six months, a year significant rehab. Today she still does physical therapy and speech therapy. Its incredible challenge. So we formed anap organization o try to make communities and help communities become safer pick safer from gun violence. I and the support of the Second Amendment, i am a gun owner. All rights and traditions are so important. Second amendment is so important that we can never let a bunch of kids in the classroom get killed and think theres nothing we can do about it. Common sense things like background checks for all gun sales, but flag laws. These are common sense things that most arizonans support. Apparently senator mcsally does not. Senator mcsally, the president has reportedly by way of the wall street journal the atlantic monthly, cnn, fox news, all reporting he preferred to members of the military as quote losers and suckers. You are a military veteran. Your thoughts on this . Mcsally are not going to comment on Anonymous Sources but what i can tell is how do been able to serve in the military and we are working to rebuild our military after obama and biden decimated our military. Giving our troops everything they need in order to fight tonight. When we had her units they were not ready to go. They were decimated in a readiness crisis. With more people dying in training accidents than in combat in the eight years of obama and biden. Im President Trump to rebuild our military, something i did when president obama tried to cut it and then President Trump tied to cut it and i just saved it again. This is critical for tucson and the troops that are on the grantor im always going to have the militaries back. What is at stake here should lose the white house, the senate and the house which comes to arizona, this race will decide the Senate Majority. Chuck schumer is so proud to have recruited mark kelly. He has bankrolled his campaign. He is trying to ensure yes power, and ifcr they get power e radical left agenda is going to cut our military to pay for the green bad deal come the government takeover of healthcare and all all the other ideas toward socialism. Im going to stand every single day with our men and women in the military and fight to give them everything they need. Thats whats at stake here. The question remains have you looked into the reports . Had looked into the anonymous source reports . It concerns a lot of people and a lot of military families. Does it concern you . Mcsally i get up every single morning fighting for arizona. Thats what i spend my time doing. I listen to arizonans, you with the need and i deployed to washington, d. C. To fight for them. You pundits can look into those anonymous allegations and im just telling you i am fighting for our military here come fighting for ourur veterans. They will cut a a military canf they can power. Mr. Kelly does it concern you . Kelly absolute. Hes a commanderinchief of our armed forces and to say that about deceased veterans who died on the battlefield, calling them loses and suckers that also concerns me is what he said about senator john mccain repeatedly on more than one occasion. Especially after, when he passed away, those comments are just uncalled for. Senator mccain was a hero of mine from my earliest days in the United States navy as a navy pilot. Hes the guy we looked up to. He has the guys that in the unfortunate situation that you ever got shot down come he was the model. I later got to call them a friend and got to know in which is one of the greatest honors of my lifetime i would say. To hear senator mcsally not stick up for senator john mccain when the the president n the United States is attacking him repeatedly, even after he passed away. And as a veteran i find it incredibly hard tohe understand that on that one occasion with senator mcsally come to senator mccain cfius. Did you not stick up for senator mccain . Mcsally i have to get been reported publicly privately repeatedly talked to President Trump and asked him to stop attacking john mccain. Quite frankly it this is me off when it doesnt. Its been an honor to even work with senator john mccain. When i learned about them when i was a cadet in a military about what he endured as a pow and to be able toey work with him to support our military and not be able to serve in his seat. I have repeatedly said stop doing t that. Lets let them rest in peace. For one thing about senator mccain we knew in arizona, whether you agreed with him or disagreed with them you always knew where he stood. This is another example, mark, where you are trying to invoke him but cant even take simple positions on whether you going to support your recruiter at investor Chuck Schumer, whether you will support packing the Supreme Court. What you say one thing a bunch of platitudes but you can you tell arizonans where you stand. Thank you, senator. Lets move on to Climate Change and you will each have 90 seconds to respond to this question. This year as an experienced thee drive hottest summer on record. The state water supply is in ia precarious position. A recent poll shows 70 of arizonans want Climate Change to be a national priority. How do we affordably transition to Renewable Solutions . Senator mcsally, we will start with you. Mcsally the climate is changing and theres a Human Element to it. The question is what do we do . What we should not do is the green bad deal and this is been proposed, the author of the green deal with someone that my opponent endorsed and bankrolled, and he said lets than fossil fuels and have carbon tax himself. With the green bad deal would do is cost 93 trillion. Thats 65,000 for every household in america every year. This heavyhanded approach would be devastating to our economy. Thes heavyhanded mandates. They have blackouts right now because its not based on then we are Energy Independent were an exporter of energy, we need addition l a clean energy, thats the Palo Verde Nuclear energy plant and energy storage. Right now the sun goes down at night and we dont have good grid level storage. For any of that storage, even for a few hours, were relying on china for those minerals and processing so weve got to bring those jobs home. Look, you said you would ban fossil fuels and carbon tax and how is it not as bad as the Green New Deal. And those are rural households that cant afford that. I dont know where senator mcsally gets her information from. Since the Green New Deal was authored ive been against it, a lot in there that is nothing to do with climate. I dont know why she says that im against fossil fuels, im a pilot of an airplane, you cant do that without fossil fuels. The whole thing is kind of silly. Ill never forget the first time i got to see this planet in low earth orbit and realizing that were in this together. It becomes clear quickly we have no place else to go. Theres no planet b. We have to do a better job of taking care of this planet. Weve gone 280 parts per million carbon in the atmosphere to 420 today. You talk about flattening a curve, thats a curve we need to flatten. The way we need to do that through renewable energy. With senator mcsally you have to follow the money, and takes and gives corporations tax cuts, thats why were having a difficult time solving this problem. Hey, this could be good for arizona if we extend the investment tax credit 30 on solar energy, these would be good jobs, manufacture it here, deploy is here and could be great for our state, but we cant wait around and do nothing anymore, we need independent leadership in washington d. C. Thats going to put Arizona First and not put a Big Corporation on the other side of the country first. Do you support mandates with deadlines to get this done . One example, requiring zero omissions by a certain date. I think when this administration rolled back emissions standards and also clean air regulations and clean water regulations that now were going to have more polluted air and polluted water and senator mcsally supported that and that would be a mistake. Do you support deadlines. Im an outdoors woman and i want clear air and clean water. And i dont want to hurt the working poor who cant afford the mandates coming from washington d. C. That are not based on science. We saw that under obama, but now theyre going too far and this is another example youre saying you didnt say lets ban fossil fuels n a tv interview he said the very words, i think we should ban fossil fuels and have a carbon tax. This is a regressive tax that would hurt the Rural Communities the most. Im for Energy Research and store, and move forward doing it based on the science and innovation, we are going to innovate our way out of this. Our co2 is going down. China is a big polluter, doing business with, theyre going up. I dont want senator mcsally gets her information from, i never said there is no circumstance that i said to ban fossil fuel, shes making things up. Protests off, and theres a question who is on the left or right and causing the problems. And the fact if you were on the senate that could be funding for cities and police forces. How do you stand on helping our cities, social injustice, racial injustice. The promise of our country shouldnt be that your race determines what kind of education you get, what kind of health care youre going to get or success in life or how the interaction with police is going to turn out. We need reform in policing. Both of my parents were cops and i understand its incred incredit incredibly difficult job and i get that. There are necessary reforms in policing, but the protest that is weve seen across the country, there is no place for that. I fought to defend our constitution, our first amendment, the right for people to peacefully protest. But what weve seen over the last months is beyond that. And it needs to end. And cities and communities need the resources to deal with this in an effective way. And then weve got to theres some common sense things we can do to keep mostly africanamerican men safer in these encounters when theyre encountering police. More accountability, independent investigations and oversight. Body cameras. Consent decrees, which is the department of justice overseeing Police Departments when they need to make some changes. This issue of qualified immunity, these are common sense things that can be done to reform policing. I think its necessary, but the violence we see in our communities have to end. The federal government should be helping with some resources, where it makes sense and where governors need that. Senator, what reforms would you like to see on that . Weve got to route out racism in any form, whether its in any institution or anyones hearts and theres only one candidate up here who has had to apologize for a racist slur and its not me. If you watched the murder of george floyd, it was despicable, not just the officer who killed him, but those who stood by and allowed it to happen so we move forward some Common Sense Police reform. Tim scotts bill 70 of what the democrats were asking for, it was good reforms, in order to address some of these issues and gave more funding to police. Id back the blue. Ive gotten the endorsement of the Arizona Police association. Whats happening right now in our cities of violence is despicable and you see many on the left who are standing by and doing nothing. Again, id ask my opponent whether he wants to take back the endorsement that he gave to ilhan omar who in minneapolis is leading the effort to defund the police. Hes standing there with his arm around him. This is dangerous. 12,000 officers in the Arizona Police association they know that ive got their back and thats why theyre backing me and i think i just heard id like to know whether hed vote for tim scotts bill, but i think i should heard that he wants to support criminals being able to sue Police Officers just for doing their jobs. Now, i know what its like to make life and death decisions and they kiss their family goodbye. They need to have their backs and not have criminals sue them. Do you support that nancy pelosi bill who you also endorsed and supported, to allow criminals to sue Police Officers . The tim scott bill that you referenced,ed leadership concerns on human and civil rights says its inadequate and other organizations, it doesnt include qualified immunity, it didnt include consent decrees or body cameras or use of force laws. I think that when Police Officers are found that there was serious wrongdoing, there should be an accountability aspect to that. Its as a son of two Police Officers, you know, my mom and my dad, i realize this is a tough job, but there should be accountability, independent investigation and there should be oversight. Senator mcsally are our cities safe . Some say that president fomented problems that theres a problem between white and blacks. The anarchy in cities across the country is devastating local communities, violence is going up. Attacks on Police Officers. Listen to what candidate kelly said he would support allowing criminals to sue Police Officers simply for doing their job. Thats why theyre backing me. Those Police Officers, they know with the attacks that are going up on them right now, vilifying them, that are led by people like ilhan omar his wingman, thats whats happening now. We need more funding police, we need to back the blue and the local mayors, they need to provide public safety. Look, what these guys want if theyre given power, which we need to stop from happening, is to vilify the police, defund the police, and then come after your Second Amendment rights so you cant defend yourselves and your family. I back the blue and we need to make sure they have everything they need to keep us safe. Do you support, do you support criminals filing suit against Police Officers just for doing their jobs . Not criminals filing suits against Police Officers, but when theres wrongdoing and clearly, there was an investigation, and part of being accountable and part of being respectful in the community i think there should be some level of accountability for cops when there was clear wrongdoing. Thats a big deal. These men and women in blue, they could lose their retirement, their homes, their college funds, simply for doing their jobs. Getting sued by criminals, getting rid of this qualified immunity, thats what it means, you guys. I back the blue. All right. Lets move on. Senator mcsally after Mass Shootings last year you said you would be open to considering red flag gun laws to try to keep weapons away from dangerous people. Is that the case . And what specifically would that look like today . What i said was we need to do everything we can in order to stop these tragedies from happening and ive been leading on this in the house and the senate. Weve got a background check system that often isnt working as it is, weve had shootings happening where somebody should have been in the system, but instead theyve passed a background check. So i passed the fix act to make sure we strengthen that system and more Mental Health support and in schools to have the security they need so parents can drop their kids off in schools and ensure that theyre safe, but right now more than ever im your Second Amendment senator and i think ive shot the biggest gun of anybody in congress 30 millimeter on the a10 and our Constitutional Rights are at risk right now. You know, candidate kelly is a say guns, but make no mistake, people like beto orourke and others are coming after our Second Amendment rights and law abiding citizens have the right to defend their families and their lives and thats whats at stake right now. Were one judge away from us losing our Second Amendment rights and our legislative agenda will be coming after them as well. So we can do things like ive led on in order to protect communities, but we must protect the Second Amendment. So, again, last year you said you were open to considering red flag gun laws, is that the case. Youre misstating conversations we were having with the white house. We need to make sure that if somebody has been adjudicated to be mentally ill by a judge, that theyre in the system. Thats what the law is right now and many states dont put that information in the nic system so people end up passing a background check anyway, weve got to have due process for people and ensure that their Constitutional Rights are never taken away unless theyve gone through that due process and the laws are on the books. If youre a felon or a domestic abuser or adjudicated to be mentally ill. I support the Second Amendment. We need to do everything we can obviously to keep communities safe, but you all, you know, people youre supporting they want to defund the police and then they want to take away your Second Amendment rights to take them away from your family. Just to be clear, i did not misspeak. Weve had multiple conversation, with your office so i want to be clear on that, youve written quite a bit about that. Mr. Kelly, a lot of Americans First merred heard of you about the voice of gun control in this nation. Youre running for the senate and you havent raised the question of gun safety or gun control much in the last year and a half youve been in this race, why not . This issue is incredibly important to me and to arizonians. And senator mcsally, i have a lot of respect for that cannon that she got to shoot, a great weapons system. Im a supporter of the Second Amendment and i have been my whole life. I remember when my dad gave me my first firearm. I was in texas, going through Flight School and bought me a. Millimeter glock and the gun i flew in combat with, and one of my great possessions, i have a lot of firearms, but i dont think we should get to the point where a bunch of kids getting killed in a classroom is normal. Strong gun laws is not inconsistent with our Second Amendment rights. We can respect rights and conditions on gun ownership under the Second Amendment and have stronger communities that include things, like you mentioned red flag laws. Background checks for all gun sales. Senator mcsally said that background checks are unconstitutional. Well, most guns are sold with a background check right now and there are giant loopholes that you can drive a truck through. Here in arizona, a majority of arizonians support background checks for all gun sales and red flag laws and these are common sense things that will keep communities safe and at the same time we can respect our Second Amendment rights. Why havent you talked more about your viewpoints here on the campaign trailments i generally talk about what folks asked me about. And they often ask about their health care, prescription drugs, the price of Prescription Medication and i met this mom recently named ophelia and she was having to make these horrible decisions about whether she fills her sons prescription, her prescription or buys groceries for the weeks and these are horrible choices that arizonans have to make and folks care about, not getting covid19 relief. We have so many arizonans, so many members of our community that are really struggling. Food banks are maxed out. And folks are having to make the horrible choices and the United States senate went home. Thats not leadership for arizona. Real quickly, are you against background checks for all gun sales . Im for the Second Amendment and here is just another example where my opponent says ive got a gun and oh, im not talking the reason hes not talking about it is because arizonians care about Second Amendments Constitutional Rights and should he get elected, this will switch the Senate Majority and they will be able to ram through the most radical antiSecond Amendment agenda and hes been leading the george the last ten years, supporting the most extreme left wing elements of his party. The frankenstein he created. Senator. Now leading the effort to take away our Second Amendment rights, im not going let that happen. 30 seconds left. Are you against background checks for all gun sales. Ive been strengthening the system that we have. Often times somebody is in a prohibitive and not in the second. Im leading this what we have and making sure that arizonians Second Amendment rights are protected. Thats it we have to stop it there. Thank you, candidates. Its time for closing statements and we begin with mark kelly. Well, thank you, everybody for spending the time to listen to senator mcsally and to me tonight. This is a critical moment for our country and our state and partisan politics has made this crisis worse, and partisan politics and partisan politicians are not going to get us out of it. We need independent leadership focused on solving the problems we face. Like beating this virus. And rebuilding our economy. And lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs. I can bring my experience as a combat pilot and engineer, as an astronaut to the United States senate to help solve some of these serious problems, but i cant do that without your vote. Whether youre an independent, a republican or a democrat, i ask for your vote. These are serious challenges that we face. By working together as a team, we can solve these serious problems. Thank you, everybody. And for the final closing statement we turn now to senator marsha mcsally. Arizonians, youll start voting tomorrow and this is such a consequential decision. It will decide the Senate Majority. It will decide the direction of our country. And you do have a choice here, you have somebody who has been a fighter for you and will continue to be a fighter for arizona or a counterfeit who will enable the radical left and their agenda to be forced on it. Theres a lot at stake here, im humbly asking for your vote. Mark, this has been a great discussion, and thanks for the conversation here, i think arizonians probably prefer to this to 30 second click ads. Why dont we do this three more times go to green valley, yuma, prescott. Im sure the local media would support holding these debates. If we agree now, lets do three more around arizona. Because arizonans, deserve to have this conversation candidate to candidate. Im looking forward to next week on univision. We agree to three more . That will be an interesting conversation. Thank you. All right. Well, thats kind of proves my point, arizona. Thats it for this election, 2020 debate for the u. S. Senate brought to you by arizona citizens between elections commission, arizona pbs and the Arizona Republic and kjazz radio. Youd like to hear more about the debate including analysis from four of us. Join us immediately after on one of our live streams. The post debate will be on kjzz auto original, azpbs. Com and the debate on thursday night and the for the sheriffs office, and thanks for the candidates and thank you for joining us as well, you have a great evening. Today joe biden speaks in pembroke pines, florida. Watch live on 2 25 p. M. Eastern on cspan2, online at cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. The u. S. Supreme court began its new term hearing oral arguments via conference accumulate. Will issen to oral arguments live at cspan. Org Supreme Court. Today listen live to two cases. The consolidated cases of the United States v bricks, and United States v collins followed by the chicago v fulton. Listen live or on demand at cspan. Org Supreme Court. The contenders about the men who ran for the presidency and lost, but changed political history. Tonight lawyer and businessman wendell wilkey. The contenders 8 p. M. Eastern on american history, on cspan 3. Democrats need to win four republican held senate seats to take control of the upper chamber. Theyre targeting majority leader Mitch Mcconnell who is facing amy mcgratmcgrath. They met for their only debate with voting beginning. Im a university of kentucky student body president. The most