Transcripts For CSPAN2 Campaign 2020 Colorado U.S. Senate Debate 20240712

Brought to you by nine news in association with colorado politics and broadcast statewide by every corner of colorado presented from the campus of Colorado State university. Race for the senate. Here are the moderators, kyle clark and marsha. Commercial three hour statewide for the u. S. Senate debate. We are following Public Health guidelines as well as the guidance from our hosts here at Colorado State university. So we are holding the debate without an audience with social distancing and health checks. That includes the candidates fr senate. Questions have been selected and politics. Com and the colorado havent been shared in advance with anyone. You as the voters deserve a debate filled with answers to clear questions and for the candidates to have an opportunity to speak without interrupting one another. We will have at least one to pose direct questions to one another. So, lets get started. Colorados covid19 hospitalizations are at the highest point since the initial wave of the pandemic in the spring. Test positivity rates today hit 5 as a warning to Public Health experts and the same question to both of you to begin tonight. What is the single most important thing we can do to improve the pandemic response, and what or who is standing in the way. Thank you, kyle and Colorado State university. Its great to be on campus as a graduate and great to be here and to all of the other sponsors. A couple of things he have to package out of the United States congress that follows up on the relief packages that weve already passed. The dollars for education and help for Small Businesses allowing paycheck protection dollars to be back into the hands of businesses to keep their doors open to make sure we have a second draw and make sure we follow social distance guidelines and that people are practicing good hygiene including wearing a mask but i will start the evening off with what John Hickenlooper would have done. He would have voted against because he said he would. A bill that would provide unemploymentnt relief for educationdu for child care and w dollars for vaccines. We cant afford to have somebody that supports the people of colorado in the senate. As he mentioned i will restate the question for the viewers. On i will go to the question the most important thing we can do is pass relief and make sure that it gets passed out of the congress. Again, we agree on this actually four days ago, corey was emphatic that he thought covid relief should take precedence and be a higher priority than making sure we rushed through the Supreme Court nomination which is where the senate focus seems to be. And i think that the question be asked its the most important thing to get it passed forthe protective equipment everyone. He could just say i will not vote to support this if indeed it doesnt get past first and there are two senators that said yesterday they were not going to vote for it. It would be a strong point to getting relief. We are here in Northern Colorado where the meat packing plant saw one of the largest outbreaks in th state. You brag about the workers and Union Leaders say the tests never arrived. Also didnt test the workers before reopening out of the promise. A significant donor to the campaign did the Company Properly protect its workers and did you deliver the 5,000 tests promised . If you look at the records that isnt me saying it but the governor saying there were tests for employees if they wanted them. We have to make sure we are protecting employees and have eyrsonal protectivee equipment for our employees whether they are working at a restaurant or a meatpacking plant we also have to recognize the challenges the food supply system went through. Our workers were heroes and thats why we worked closely with the governor to make sure we had those tests. We need to continue that effort to provide a secure food chain and supplies for the country. But when the governor was in office he had a chance to get the personal protective equipment that we needed for the state and refused to provide the personal protective stockpile that could have protect us. Before i allow a rebuttal, did they arrive and the union is lying or you would have to begin checagaincheck with what the gor said that they got all the tests for the employees. Did you fail colorado by not having proper ppear in the years guest. Thats ridiculous. Ive talked to a number of them and they are emphatic. They were asked to go back to work without having that knowledge of who is infected and who isnt. We ask them to go back and protect the source of food. What you heard from a former governor as he takes no responsibility for failing to provide colorado for a pandemic. We have a state audit that shows while he was governor they failed to prepare the state for thee Communications Problems and the Communications Problems that he had when he was governor. We dont need somebody in washington, d. C. Who thinks its about himself and wont do the job for colorado. Democrats in congress have loaded up some of these relief bills and economic stimulus bills with a bunch of goodies for political allies of theirs. Whether or not you agree with the approach is tough to say that they havent slowed things down. I think what we need to get into washington is this ability to actually negotiate. Its been frustrating we havent seen any willingness on the part of thegn republicans were the democrats to roll up their sleeves and find where do we agree or disagree and begin looking at it. We have had six months now since weve had any relief. People stopped getting their unemployment insurance. In july the rent protection has gone by the, they dont have healthcare in many cases. This has gone on long enough and yet one side or the other continues to say they are pointing fingers. Its the status quo and what i want to go to washington to change because we need negotiations and we need to work out what the differences are. If said it plays a priority on this and if he says im not going to vote for the justice until we get relief, then we get negotiations. I didnt hear the answer to the question so i will ask again. I asked about your side that you might have some influence with. Did you think the democrats should stop loading up the economic bills to get them through faster . I would make sure to get the bills put forth. We are going to talk aboutci the association of health care now and we can do that in the q and a. Its a project that we have studying the impact of Racial Disparities in the state and one is healthcare if you succeed in getting rid of the Affordable Care act, the loss of Health Insurance would disproportionately fall and at the same time the pandemic is affecting those communities. Has that situation givenam you y pause . I dont think this has to be a zerosum game for the Affordable Care act or nothing. He said he wants to replace the Affordable Care act with the plan he led several years ago. We need to make sure we are helping people, minority, black populations, hispanic populations in the state and across the country. Under my plan we will focus on a patient centered care system and allow people to increase the quality of care by decreasing the cost of care. Families in the state and country have seen their wealth grow by 33 and hispanic families have seen their wealth grow by 65 as a result of the economic policies. It isnt a zerosum game. What i am concerned with is it would lead to a government run program that would take 176 million americans insurance policies away fromil the workplace. That is his plan. Its irresponsible 30 seconds now for youu to tell us what is that land and are you still pursuing it and what would it mean to colorado . This is your rebuttal and im giving you 30 seconds to describe what that is the republican governor of ohio we are looking at ways we cannot prove it especially focusing on ways we can make the exchanges more costeffective for people because thats one of the problems the Affordable Care act the republicans tried to take it away and never allowed us to repair or improve it and again and again these attacks are dismantled without any kind of effacement. Mr. Gardiner, the Affordable Care act still exists. Some might call that preexisting. Youveng introduced a bill you said would require Insurance Companies to cover preexisting conditions what part requires them to offer coverage in the first place . That is what the bill does. We are here under a freedom of speech and press and religion, freedom to assemble. That was 45 words long and the First Amendment got it right. This is a guiding principle for democrats and republicans that theyve agreed to that we will provide coverage for people with preexisting conditions and they will provide that coverage. There may be some that disagree. Lets work on it together. Guiding principle just as the First Amendment is a guiding principle for the freedom of speech. Lets makeke sure that continue. What you heard the governor say is y he didnt want to replace e Affordable Care act but hes on record saying that he wants to do a government run healthcare system. The danger of that and the destruction that it would have and the harm on the hospitals. We are already in the bottom half of access because of the failed leadership. Hear the answer to the question which part of the bill offers and the act includes guaranteed availability ofli coverage. If the Affordable Care act were to be revealed, that guarantee goes away with it. Where does that exist in your line . It requires people to be covered if they have a preexisting condition. Its a bill that provides the guidance and the principle that we will cover people with preexisting conditions. You may have a different interpretation. All of the bills i passed and signed into law they changed from the time they were in committee if people want to make this better lets do it but the guidintheguiding principle remai support and will be that and continue to demand coverage for people with preexisting conditions. I will not take away the insurance from 176 million americans. If it were to go away, does everyonel get coverage who wants it lacks. It requires people to get coverage if thats the question thats the answer. You were the first person held in contempt by the Ethics Commission that found you broke the law accepting illegal gifts. You blame republicans and claim you were exonerated under dozens of allegations and told them journalists should be protecting you on this. Do you regret breaking the law land will you change your behavior if the voters were to turn you into the elected office . I recognize there were errors and they found us in violation of those occasions. Theyve been referred to as minor and honest mistakes and we had a team of people that worked on this but they honestly were not perfect. We should recognize thed allegations came from dark money republican organizations before theyef were filed and the purpoe was to try to create material for attack ads. Those were relentless and againg i paid the 2,800 fine and i take responsibility for that. I certainly would make sure that never happens again. I testified for three hours in front of the commission that holds a truth to every question they ask. Thank you. Another question about honesty and ethics comes from ernest a recorded question with the partners. Youve been in endorsed for the plaintiff legislation you signed in 2013 but after signing the bills, you told the colorado sheriffs you only signed it because a staff member said one thing publicly and privately the opposite. Thats something you accused him of doing. How are you any different . I stand by my record on gun safety. We are the first states to actually roll up our sleeves and pass universal background checks. Dont think universal background checks worked. No one can get it onto the floor unless mr. Mcconnell is the majority leader in the senate because they dont think its effective enough. Thes bottom line is step back ad look at this. Cory gardiner received 4 million and Mitch Mcconnell received even more. Then any elected official in colorado history and suddenly the corporations get these massive tax breaks. If we could target the question, they know what the landscape looks like what guncontrol laws do g we have that you dont thik apply or should be passed nationwide he talks about universal background checks but we have a lot of other things. Can you compare what we have here . We havent always had a chance to respond. I support the Second Amendment and we have laws and place that needed to be enforced but when it comes to prohibiting between a father and a son interfering at that level that that is a good thing for the country. Colorado may be handling this in a different way but i dont think we should infringe on those rights. If i want to give my son the 12 gauge i learned with, i ought to be able to do that. They lied to the county sheriffs about the effort. He wants a national gun license. He wants everybody in the state to have a federal license thats infringing on the Second Amendmentt rights. One seems to Say Something here and it isnt right for the states. You spent your time telling me about Cory Gardiner and the question was about you. For a variety of reasons the bottom line is we were having one mass shooting a day and its long overdue we begin looking at how we keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and universal background checks is obvious if we dont have highcapacity magazines. That talking point hasnt changed what exists. When the laws are passed it takes a while before they become the norm and part of culture. He. There were 138 people convicted of homicide and we stopped them four years ago, Justice Antonin Scalia died 269 days before the election and you said the next is too soon and the stakes are too high why should anyone trust you will stand by anything youre telling us tonight . When this occurred i was expressing o the senates abiliy to follow its requirement and advice and consent out of the constitution and to follow at the timet laid out by the then Vice President joe biden during his time in the senate will. Today we continue to adhere to the advice and consent of the United Statesic constitution. It allows a president to nominate. To be clear, people certainly deserve to get an answer on what they want to do i asked john last week if he supported the Court Packing and i dont know if you want to answer that tonight but i would say this, joe biden doesnt think the people in colorado deserve an answer on the Court Packing. I hope you agree they deserve an answer on whether or not you support packing the court with additional judges. Thank you very much. I do want to talk about this issue because it is something thats been inn the news and you have avoided answering. They can be seen as retaliation or reform. So lets try this in a different format. Yes, no, or i dont want to say. Do you supportin expanding or packing if they confirm Amy Coney Barrett . It is a a hypothetical. Lets put it this way. I dont like the idea. An are seeing it right now, and it doesnt make sense to me. You wont have to do that kind of institutional change. We are going to go on to the next questions do you support term limits for the Supreme Court justices . There are so many variables i dont support term limits but whos could say in the future. Do you support expanding the court to reshape the judiciary . I havent seen the pros and cons. Another thing thats been talked about, for what the republicans are doing in the Supreme Court is creating statehood. Those are different issues that have been discussed. I think washington, d. C. , its nothing to do with Court Packing. I dont think im on the record but i could be persuaded when we brought hawaii in as a part of the United States. On the court, President Trumps Supreme Court nominee is personally opposed to abortion and saidn today roe v wade isnt a super precedent. Last week there were a couple that suggested marriage should be overturned. Are you comfortable with overturning and in both cases are settled law it is a spin in news speak 150 plusis years has been identified as adding judges to the lower courts or the u. S. Supreme court until you get enough judges on court to rule. John knows what it means and hes trying to hide tonight behind the filling of nominations and approval by the United States senate so the question is to governor hickenlooper. Do you support adding justices to the Supreme Court, that is the question you should answer because that is the definition. Ruth Bader Ginsburg opposed so as a followup on the principle that you outlined, one consequence is democrats do it and republicans do it again. Its larger and larger. I assume based on what youre saying if you continue to serve in the Senate Democrats expand or pack the court that you would adamantly oppose republicans doing it in return. Its worked for over 150 years. We dont need more. Its too bad they cant admit that. This is the part youve been waiting for. This is the opportunity to ask each other a question. Weve seen a Great Division in the country, Racial Injustice and inequality and the murder of george floyd on television and Defund Police movements across thee country. Governor hickenlooper, you supported a fund that included a radical organization that demanded violence at the 2008 convention that supports defunding the a police. Do you stand by your support today . I dont know anything about recreate 68. It was a foundation where the Community Activists tried to approve the community with the opportunity to grant all kinds of people and all kinds of organizations. You talked about the meeting that you convened in january. One of the first meetings to seriousness and thene a couple of senators sold stock but then you came back to colorado springs. There was a large rally with President Trump. Many thousands of people shoulder to shoulder were there and you stood sidebyside and didnt warn anyone about the risks that they were facing by being in that rally. Thank you, governor. I held the first briefing in the state senate to make sure that we heard from the admiral or doctor fauci and doctor redfield to discuss what was happening withpp this novel coronavirus. I hoped everyone would attend the briefing. Unfortunately there were about 12 people because at the beginning, january, february, people were encouraging like nancy pelosi, to go to chinatown and encouraging people to go out and there were mistakes including the experts that said we dont know if masks are ineffective or not. We have to improve the response every single minute of the day. Thats the local levels, state and federal and that is what i continue to focusus on. I wish more people would have attended the first hearing. This is something we want to bring up as well. At the time of that rally when you were shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, we now know what the president thought of covid19. It was worse than the flu. Did President Trump tell you he knew all those things, did you have that knowledge . We knew this was something we had to deal with. It couldnt to be transmitted the way that we now know it can. We have to make sure we dont follow the same mistakes. Its also important we stand up to places like china. Just last week they said china isnt the problem. I was asking if you thought he leaned over and told you what he knew, which was this was worse than im saying and here t we are with a crowd of however many. I certainly wish we would have had all of the information in the very beginning. The World Health Organization i think if you look at nancy pelosi, i bringk that up becaue nancy pelosi said lets go out to chinatown on all sides of this. Lets return to the project and Police Reform. During your time from 2003 to 2011 they approved more than 6 million to settle the cases and deaths involving Law Enforcement settlements and incidences that have occurred. How will you be able to reform these as a senator when you were made here or even governor . I look at the progress before i was even inaugurated we began Police Reform and created some of the civilian Oversight Mission and investigative claims of misconduct. This past year on a bipartisan level they passed legislation that is a model for what we should be able to do. They banned the chokeholds and no knock warrants that required Police Officers to keep their cameras on. They held Police Officers accountable for their actions. They passed. This is the typee of reform tht needs to go to washington. Instead what we have h seen so r has just been suggestions without any real teeth. How do you believe systemic racism affects colorado and what have you done about it . I believe the country is inherently good and the nation is a great nation that has made mistakes, yes. They were steered away perhaps we had never seen with the murder of george floyd and we hamust make sure we are passing reforms like the justice act that has been belittled tonight. Legislation that would have provided the fracking to get more dollars into the hands ofof states to do the right thing when it comes to Police Reforms. We need to make sure we passed the justice act and focus on things like the First Step Act which is our bill to reform sentencing and the black colleges andit universities with mandatory funding to bring more equality. But again what you didnt hear from John Hickenlooper tonight is why he didnt step away and didnt condemn the Defunding Police and why he wont call for an investigation into what he now describes as a murder. Lets talk about Climate Change and the industry. The environment and politics partners. We are continuing the impact of Climate Changeco in colorado and record heat and intensifying drought. You portrayed your self in recent campaign ads but over the last three years to roll back the limits on the missions for the fossilr fuel industry and confirm the lobbyists as leaders of the epa and the department of the interior. Why have you voted against even as it continues to take a toll on your state . They talk about the Great American outdoors act. It would create thousands of jobs right here into the history of the country. The Natural Resource Defense Council said of the legislation that it addresses to pressing issues. One, Climate Change and number two, biodiversity. The bill that just got signed into law addresses Climate Change and ive also passed a nearly 50 increase in funding of the National Renewable laboratory right here in colorado and to focus on the efforts to address Climate Change laying off coloradans that is what the plan was t wou. John would destroy the livelihoods a few miles down the road from us relies on those jobs. My hometown relies onn those jobs, but his plan is to shoot those jobs down. If you look at the other boats, im sure the number of jobs they would have cost is too high. I dont think we have to punish the economyer in order to achiee the reductions in pollution and to address Climate Change. What the rules and regulations would have done is driven up the cost when it comes to appointees, the secretary of interior in place in washington, d. C. We were just there breaking ground. I will not destroy the economy in pursuit of a radical further than Green New Deal agenda. Would you like 30 seconds for a rebuttal. You bet i would. Because you have one bill doesnt make you an environmentalist. He voted to rollback the protections and voted to put the lobbyist in charge of the epa and we are replacing the plants with wind, solar and batteries and once the electric bill is going to go down and that is what the future is. We will transition to a clean energy and it is going to make six times more jobs. Are t those jobs going to be replaced at that were lost as a result . I have a different question for the record. You are now pushing for 100 renewable electricity. Why did you change the stands and why should people who believe you will follow through onou the platform . I always was focusing on Climate Change. I got a masters in 1979. We knew that it had the potential to be a threat and we are seeing those consequences now. What we did in colorado, we were the first state to hold the industry accountable and create regulations. Methane is 80 times more harmful to climate than a co2 and get thosee regulations were rolled out by the policy and by the United States until of course President Trump came in and got rid of the methane regulations. Not only that, but they rolled back the limitations on the emissions from vehicles from coal generation. All these plans and emissions are going unchecked. The court struck down the regulations that still stand in colorado. You may have drink the fluid but also the koolaid now. He himself said he wanted no further than the Green New Deal. Make no mistake about it if you work in oil and gas he wants you gone from your job and if f you work in the coal mines, he wants you gone from those jobs. Thats your record. There are tv commercials about the fact you closed those down. Itl is absolutely ridiculou. The bottom line is we are going to create far more jobs to the Energy Economy than will ever be lost. We will get the clean energy but weve got to do this in an integrated basis on a National Level so we have to pick up the best practices again. He voted again and again to rollback. He didnt just go neutral on Climate Change, he took us in the wrong direction. When you are running for the senatete you said when the party is wrong you would say it. They point to your unwavering loyalty and say you brokeke that promise but theres another way to look at it and which thatul would mean the reason why you dont divide these because you think that they are right almost all the time. Can you explain how you view that pledge . I stand up for the people in colorado time andle time again d fight for those jobs that John Hickenlooper wants to destroy. I believe we need a policy that works and i fought against my party because i believe the states rights matter and the state of colorado is leading the way. I fought againstst my party when it comes to conservation and that is why we convinced the president to change his mind. Ive passed 11 bills for a reason because i believe if you build in that support with republicans and democrats you can get things done. Im sure not every democrat in the state is happy with my recordca partly because the fact is we have been able to get things donee for the state, supporting the people of colorado 100 of the time, things like moving the bureau of Land Management and i will continue to fight for the state. You were in previous elected roles and in the private sector that is one of the reasons you gave for not wanting to be a senator saying you wouldnt be good at it. Thats a long time to test whether its something you would be good at. I was a geologist back in the 1980s but certainly as a Small Business owner, i was a Small Business owner and as a mayor and governor, i wasnt the person that had to dominate every conversation. Our success attracted people that knew how to get things done and that is the problem in washington. It sounds like everything in washington is fine but nothing is changing. Look at the preexisting conditions. There is no. It isnt just a lie to me or the viewers but it took 4. 2 million wh4. 000000 whoalready have preg conditions. Another question were you any good at it . I was a good geologist but not great after the industry collapsed i ended up opening one of the first and i remember the first day i walked into that restaurant and the electricity and having brought people together and creating c a team that was going to do Something Special to resurrect the whole economy, i knew i was going to be ten times Better Running that restaurant. After that deep dive into the profile, we will shift to a discussion about whether an american president will give up power after losing the hallmark of the republic for centuries. President trump several times refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and last weeks debate mike pence also wouldnt say whether he would accept the peaceful transfer of power. As we saw over the weekend, things in this country are at a boiling point. First, are you okay with the president you are endorsing being less clear on the question and second, win or lose, what concrete steps will you take to ensure that there is a peaceful transfer of power to the white house . Every Single Person in the country should be crystal clear. There will be a peaceful transition of power. Thats the same statement i put out this is thee hallmark of democracy. We will follow the law and the constitution. Governor hickenlooper the last question he was asked the last job he had when he was not in charge. I can tell you right now i have one of those jobs where i am not in charge. The people in the country and the state that are in charge, this position in the senate, i work for the people in colorado. We all work for the people as electedd officials to the United States congress. What you heard is yet once again an example of somebody that wants to go to washington not realizing they work for the people, they are the boss, they are in charge. Thats what matters in this anelection. Thank you. Now some questions about the role big tech plays in our lives and politics. You supported bringing amazon Second Headquarters to colorado. To do americas Big Tech Companies like amazon, google andom facebook stifle competitin and is there any need for additional regulation . We are seeing over the last i think eight years now or nine years weve seen a dramatic or consistent decline in the number of new businesses started every year and there is no question its not just big tech. Theres a level of consolidation and corporate size based on a number of different poles takes the businesses when we look at the responses with the act it didnt have. They are the backbone of america so whether you are looking at amazon or google, these behemoth companies have more responsibilities and have to be able to address the issues of the size and power to squelch hihow is squelch hiscompetitions entrepreneurs from starting business where they will have to deal with the consequences. We have seenco in the past they demonstrate size can be a barrier to competition andti innovation. What should the social media giants to do about the misinformation and conspiracy theories and if they dont take action is that a place for congress to get involved . The trickiest questions you are going to get, the country is based around the notion of free speech that that is one of the most sacred rights and we shouldnt lightly discuss it. That being said, weve got to have some confidence in the mediane that they are getting te facts and i think we are long past the time where facebook and these large media giants and companies have to be responsible for the truth or untruth. Social media and extremism kind of come together online. Last week facebook cracked down on the accounts spreading the Conspiracy Theory classifying it as a militia. Youve campaigned alongside for those who dont know it is the Conspiracy Theory President Trump q will round up and execue democrats. The president himself has praised the believers. If we start with a yes or no question, do you share the fbi view that it is a domestic Terror Threat . Yes, i do believe they are a threat. To follow up on the larger issue if you trust the fbi, why would you campaign along somebody that expressed support for it . She said she does not and did not. If you listen to the noplanation, look im not here to defend for something she did or didnt say. You can take your interpretation of what she said or didnt say. I take her at her word. The bottom line is extremism is and something we should accept on the left or the right and we must condemn the hate every can. E time we theres no room for White Supremacy or discrimination. We have to stop people who want to spread that kind of misinformation, but we also cannot allow the Big Tech Companies in Silicon Valley to stifle legitimate speech whether it is on the left or the right. One of the concerns if you have 2,000 sensors in San Francisco or washington, d. C. We need a mechanism to hold them accountable and make sure that extremism is a not at play. I worry about the record when it comes to those who pay for policy initiatives and the governors office. They had a pay to play plan where corporations would pick initiatives and policies they paid for. Thats something thats been discussed in the campaign. Thirty seconds to respond and we will move on specifically on the actions and those decisions in the office. We had publicprivateub partnerships and the governor is utilizing them now. We have tight budgets to provide resources to various programs. For us it was getting senior efforts to makert the state more hospital friendly to seniors and we had usa today ranked as one of the top statesan for seniors. These were efforts where we were transparent. We havent done great on the yes or no but lets try again. They dont have enough information on the repeal of the gallagher amendment which if repealedea keeps the property taxesl from going down like they are supposed to. Do you support it, first mr. Hickenlooper. Yes, i do. I dont believe in increasing taxes on residents, no. You disagree on a lot of Different Things but im curious whether you believe you are your opponent is a moral and ethical man. Do you believe that . I have great concerns with governor hickenlooper. Yes or no question. I have concern about his contempt and how he can stand before us yes or no, thank you. Do you believe mr. Gardiner is a moral man . Yes. Do you believe President Trump is a moral and ethical man . Mr. Hickenlooper . No. Yes, i wish he would be more specific in his communications to the american people. Colorados proposition 115 but outlaw abortion after 22 womanscept to save the life. Mr. Gardiner. Yes im prolife. No. Coloradans are being asked to join proposition 113 that would award Electoral College votes to the o candidate with the most votes if it passes it wouldnt take effect this election. Dopo you support the popular voe compact . Mr. Hickenlooper . Im not sure. Yes. Do i support the National Popular vote . Would you vote yes or no . I want to keep the Electoral College because i believe the vote proposition 118 would create a paid Family Medical Leave Program to provide to 12 weeks for family and medical reasons through ame payroll tax have by employees and have by employers. Im trying to figure out the business impact. Mr. Hickenlooper. The only industrialized country that doesnt have paid family leave. Its time for the closing statements by the flip of a client earlier. Mr. Gardiner will go first. You both have 60 seconds. And exaggerations. I think people see through that and i know people understand the stakes that are involved. Colorado has a choice. Are we going to protect healthcare for people with preexisting conditions or take it away. To tackle Climate Change head on and protect the environment orrm are we going to keep rolling back clean air and water regulations like wee have been doing. Are we going to step up and give away more tax breaks to the corporations and wealthy americans or recreate the economy in a way that actually allows more people to create their own American Dream . Nothing is going to change if we dont change washington. I want thats why i have to ask why i need your support and why i need your vote. Together, we can change washington. Thank you. We do a lot of these debates and i think that its rare to have a stage with so many combined years of Public Service to colorado. On the off chance that one of your careers in Public Service and does this november we extend thanks on behalf of the people of colorado for the many years youve served we are willing to bear with us through a pandemic year to put together a debate that got to good information to the voters and kept everybody safe. Thank you to the partners of the colorado partners and along with thert radio and tv partners who ensured that this debate was broadcast to every corner of colorado. If you missed any o of the debae and want to watch it again or share with somebody that is undecided, you can find a link tore the full commercial free or and on the next youtube channel. Voting reminders in colorado you can register and vote all the way up until election day. Drop boxes are already open and open monday october 19th. If you are voting by mail make sure you are getting in at least a week before election day on november 3rd. Monday october 206th should be the deadline for the ballot. It can be found on nine news. Com. The smartest man i know breaks down all of the issues if you want to sort through the language. Join usyo weeknights 6 00 as weo to the ballot page by page together and then i will drop it off together. Thanks for joining us for the race for the senate