Once again back in the studio welcome to those as well as the listeners. The candidates you will hear from tonight. We will start with one minute Opening Statements from each candidate and then get into the questions alternating who answers first each time and we will end with one minute closing statements. We have a lot to get to. We drew at random to see who goes first and we will start tonight with state senator. A good evening. I am barbara. Im a mother, doctor and state senator. I went into medicine to improve peoples lives and went into Public Service for the same reason. In the legislature of kansas i was known as a leading advocate for fully funding public education, expanding affordable healthcare, balancing the budget and keeping taxes low. I was a woman who stood up to both parties if that needed to be done. And was also willing to work with anyone as long as they were doing what was right for kansas. And that is exactly what i will do in the United States senate. Roger marshall is more about political fights. His attacks on me have been described as misleading, deceitful, even the bottom line is i will be a u. S. Senator who will listen to you and advocate for you. I will be the voice of reason who will represent you in the United States senate. Thank you. Im a fifthgeneration farm kid born and raised in Butler County where my dad became the chief of police for 25 years. I became a First Generation College student and my American Dream was to become a doctor. My wife and i got married 37 years ago two weeks before medical school and after medical school, residency and three years in the army reserve we moved to kansas where we delivered over 5,000 babies, raised four of our own and now we have two grandsons and one on the way. Im running to make sure our kids and grandkids have the same shot at the American Dream that weve had. Im running to keep families safe, healthy and secure and to bring jobs back. Im running to protect kansas values like confirming Supreme Court justice like Amy Coney Barrett, protecting the Constitutional Rights, protecting our Second Amendment, the sanctity of life. Running to make sure we have a strong military. A Strong Police and secure borders. Im doctor Roger Marshall and im asking for your vote on november 3rd. Lets get right to the questions. Today the Senate Judiciary committee advanced judge Amy Coney Barretts nomination to the u. S. Supreme court. So close to a president ial election theres been talk of changes to the Supreme Court from term limits to even expanding the number of justices. Would you support any changes to the makeup of the Supreme Court, we will go to state senator. A. Easy answer, no. The Supreme Court shouldnt be politicized, and i have no interest in expanding the number of judges on the court. Thank you. Congressman Roger Marshall, your response. Of course im not in favor of packing the Court Neither is my party or anybody in my party but the opponents party is extreme on this. Joe biden doesnt give an answer. Chuck schumer, the fruit first vote promised he would pack the court. Let me explain why they want to. They want extreme judges that would rubberstamp their unconstitutional laws that would take away freedoms of speech, freedom of religion, that would take away our Second Amendment and sanctity of life. Im going to make sure we can stand up to those folks and make sure we can protect the composition like it is and by the way, Amy Coney Barrett is exactly what the doctor ordered. She represents everything about kansas values that we think is important. For the next question we go to melissa. Given wednesday nights Security Officials russia and iran are trying to influence u. S. Elections, how confident are you in the accuracy of novembers Election Results and what further scrutiny should they be given . I have been to several briefings and i have to be careful how i answer this question. But we have been working on this for four years now and we have allocated over a billion dollars to make sure the elections are secure. Im confident in the elections and want to make sure you all are confident. So important you go out and vote. The booths are open right now so you can go to any city now and vote early if youd like to. I have confidence in the kansas vote. Maybe not so much as the democratic led state but whats important and what i can control is right here in kansas. I have confidence in the kansas voting process. Thank you. State senator. Thank you for that important question. Its so important to all of us that we have the opportunity to vote and vote safely. I am very confident as well in the system here in kansas. I have been pleased to be able to tell people as i go around the state that they can have confidence that their ballot will be counted and that by using the u. S. Postal service, they can know that their vote will go in. For those like i did, you can vote early and get your ballot put into the box. Bottom line, our secretary of state is doing an excellent job and i have every confidence in the state that your vote will be counted and counted well. A. The next question, tom. Weve seen much debate over the pandemic at the federal level. What would be one thing in the response to covid19 that you would keep and what is one thing you would change . You know, ive been disappointed in the federal response, so the first thing i would change is they would Work Together to get something coordinated and actually follow a plan like wearing a mask unlike my opponent that has run around the state without one. We need safety and protection. The things i would keep in place of course we need to have paycheck protection loans available to people. We need the congress to come together to vote for another plan, but i am so pleased when they will Work Together to get help to the people. Thats enough. Thank you. Congressman marshall. The efforts have resulted in the savings of thousands of kansas jobs. As plus thousands of lives. I want the people to know since the end of january i was the first member of congress to walk on the house floor and say we have a problem here and since that day i have been working day and night to make sure we have vaccines and therapeutics and testing as well and we have new testing but the economy, the Paycheck Protection Program with over 5,000 and the Unemployment Insurance benefit as well. But what we have to be careful of is the democrats have promised that they would shut down the economy if theres any uptick. There is confusion among the public who to trust when it comes to the virus. They called doctors like anthony helainfauci a disaster. Can you believe those like the centers for Disease Control and those like doctor fauci and do you trust them to help make decisions about the response . Ive taken care of thousands of people with the virus and we know that it changes and for every person its a little different. Especially when they have a virus. I get frustrated. Just today they changed another one of their rules as well. But what i believe his people in kansas know what is best for ourselves. We should respect it but we shouldnt let it control us or shut down the economy again. Shutting down the economy has killed more than the virus ever will whether it is through suicide, substance abuse, people with metastatic cancer since they didnt get the test done before. That is what the issue is. There has to be a balance and we have to respect the virus but we cannot let it overtake us and overrule our lives. State senator. Your response. Numbers are skyrocketing in the state. Its tragic to watch and we looked at Norton County with ten dead and all people in the nursing home ill with the disease. We need to follow Public Health guidelines as directed. We have a u. S. Senate candidate going around the state saying not to worry as the numbers climb up. We know the flu deaths are. 1 and covid 5 , that is five times the death rate. We need to protect one another and follow Public Health guidelines about what is closest on the ground like the governor but bottom line we can do better and we need leaders that will lead. We do continue to see individuals and businesses struggle and this continued debate about a stimulus package, what kind of stimulus package if any would you support and what are you comfortable spending . One of my greatest wishes right now is that the congress on both sides would come together and compromise. We know we need help and more Paycheck Protection Program loans, unemployment benefits, we need money going to the schools so that teachers can teach and kids can have access to the internet. We need opportunities for the local governments to get enhanced we know because of covid the revenues have diminished significantly and how else are they going to pay for things like Police Protection et cetera. I am eager for the congress to come together and we need to elect people that are willing to work across the party lines and get help to the people. Congressman marshall. The Paycheck Protection Program saved 500,000 jobs and this next round should have more Paycheck Protection Program money as well. Liability protection is extremely important and the liberal democrats in extreme democrats refuse to have any type of liability protection. We need more money in the Unemployment Insurance. Here we are still 8 of the people unemployed but the good news is the rest have three or 4 unemployment. So, those are a few of the things we need to do. We cannot afford though to shut down the economy. We cant let this rule over our lives. I guess my question for you why did you not support your own governors relief package to help out kansas as well . Right now we are going to take a short break. You are watching the Candidate Forum and the race for the u. S. Senate. We will be right back. Welcome back to the race in partnership. For the next question we go to melissa. This has been a very active campaign. Both of you have had many ads from your own campaigns outside Interest Groups weve heard a lot from as well so we want to give you the chance to respond. What do you consider the most inaccurate characterization made of you or your position and why. I dont look at the attack ads so i dont see all of them. But about the Community Hospital im so proud of that we built. The ownership of the previous hospital was given away and this multibilliondollar company left our Community Without quality healthcare, so we built a quality hospital so proud of the doctors and the nurses and the community that made it one of the best hospitals in the state. We do not profit off of it as far as selling it. We sold it before. My share of the property before that was all done as well, so it was all lies and more lies but that is the way this game is played. State senator bollier. Theres too many to count. Basically every single ad has been misrepresented and misleading. My opponent has decided to run on being deceptive, misleading. His ads have been described as slimy. For me, im running this on honesty and integrity. I wont even let them put an ugly picture of the man or misrepresent because you deserve better, kansas. What hes doing, hes hiding the fact that he will not stand up to expand health care for you and give you access. He wants to take away preexisting condition protections and do things hes voted against expanding the ability to advocate for negotiating for drug prices through medicare. So it speaks for itself. The next question is from tom schein. Weve seen abortion issues become a central issue in the campaign ads. The states antiabortion and pro abortions positions. For congressman marshall is there any situation which you think abortion should be allowed and state senator bollier, are there any limits that should be placed on abortion rights . We begin with state senator bollier. You know, these are very difficult, very heart wrenching decisions women sometimes find themselves in. And ive always, always stood up for the private physicianpatient relationship. Ive also stood up to make sure that women that are the victims of rape, incest or their lives might be at risk should be protected and have that choice. My opponent would like to take those away. We have law in place right now in kansas that protects women. It regulates abortion centers, makes sure people have all kinds of information about the choice they might make, and i stand behind those rules right now and would say bottom line is i trust women to make their own decisions. Congressman, your response. I respect abortion being done in the case of incest, rape and the life of the mother. My opponent on the other end is extreme on this issue. She believes in lateterm dismemberment abortion. She has an f minus rating. I have an a is a for the national right to life. She believes in abortion at any time and i assume she would even use federal funds for abortion as well. With a potential for the Affordable Care act to be struck down by the Supreme Court and much criticism over the affordability of the coverage of healthcare here in the United States, how do you think healthcare should be improved and what specifically would you include, congressman marshall. Im going to take care of preexisting conditions. Every day i work on this, i think weve got great solutions. Folks need to realize the aca will have 28 Million People without healthcare, and i think we have a better solution for that. I never voted against preexisting conditions unless there was a poison pill in the legislation. What the listeners need to know was both democrats and republicans want to repeal the aca that the democrats want to replace it for a government option Medicaid Expansion medicare for all, call it whatever you want to, but its going to dilute the healthcare seniors get and take healthcare away from veterans and push you out of the insurance you get through your job. Thats extreme. Kansas doesnt want that. We want more choices. I promise to empower the patient is to give you more choices and put you in control of your healthcare. State senator bollier. Once again, such misleading things. Every time hes threatened to end it with nothing to replace it. He stood against expanding medicaid in the state which is what 80 of kansas wants and we need 150,000 people covered. One of the things i would like to see us to do in the bill is be able to negotiate for pharmaceutical prices through medicare. My opponent voted no. We must Work Together. I will keep private insurance in place with the support of a public option buyin and continue with the option to expand medicaid which we desperately need for the communities. How do you balance protecting peoples Second Amendment rights and finding ways to reduce gun violence, back to you, state senator bollier. To be clear, another misleading attack. Ive always stood for the Second Amendment and supported but we have problems with gun violence in this country. Its a Public Health crisis. So, what can we do. Lets start with background checks. We can agree that something that needs to be in place and we also know that like for me i grew up hunting and my dad taught me safety is the number one issue. I would want to take all guns away. I support the Second Amendment. I would like to go, for all of us to have the option to be able to use our weapons as needed and be protected. Congressman marshall, your response. My opponent calls confiscating weapons and amazing thing. An amazing thing. She has an f minus rating with the nra and voted against every legislation shes had the opportunity to to control guns. The Second Amendment is what protects the first amendment. I had a young lady the other day in her 30s that said i dont own a gun and i never will. Why is this important to me. This is the flagship amendment that protects the rest of them. Its so important. This is why im going to congress and going to be in the senate, to protect our godgiven Constitutional Rights including the right to bear arms. My opponent on the other hand wants to confiscate weapons. You can go to the twitter or facebook and right now and here the video of the confiscating weapons is an amazing thing. Another question from tom. There are calls for many on changes when it comes to Law Enforcement into the justice system. As the system equitable for everyone and what would you change . Certainly theres opportunities and thats why ive been working with chiefs of police but as the son of the chiefs of police im always going to see this through the eyes of the police officers. 99. 9 of them are the greatest people in the world. My opponent wants to defund the police and leave kansas helpless. That is extreme by anybodys book and we cannot allow that to happen. We have to stand up for the police and i want the men and women in blue, every one of you to know i will always have your back and support you to help keep kansas safe. I have a long record of standing with Law Enforcement to make sure they are funded and able to function well and again misleading fulsome information. Yes, we have a system that isnt always equitable and we need to listen to our Black Brothers and sisters, Brown Brothers and sisters that have said it isnt done the same way towards them. We should have justice for all and we can do that and we should start by getting a bill so we can actually get money to our local governments so they can fund our police. Lets Work Together to get that done. Going back to melissa. If he wins, joe biden promised increasing taxes on high income earners, 400,000 a year and down the line for president trumps tax cuts set to expire after 25 so what you would support a tax increase on the upper income brackets or expansion of the tax plan . I do not support the biden tax plan and i will not be voting for a biden tax plan. I see things in the trump plan that i like i am blinking. Standard deduction, doubling the standard deduction. But i didnt like that it added a trillion dollars to the deficit and so i think we need to get together and have taxes that are fair to all especially for the middle class which is a history of what ive done in the kansas legislature. Our tax cuts and jobs act gave the greatest economy in my lifetime. The average family got to keep 2,000 more of their hardearned money. The democratic party, chuck schumer, promised to get rid of the tax cuts and that is so extreme. My opponent has chosen to leave the Republican Party to become a democrat. She did that after they came out with the medicare for all, the Green New Deal and this is because they represent her values, they represent her extreme values. Of course im going to keep the tax cuts and jobs act around. It was successful. After a short break, you are watching the campaign 2020 race. Welcome back to the race for the u. S. Senate it is time for closing statements and we will go in reverse order from Opening Statements and begin with congressman Roger Marshall. Barbara bollier pretends to be a moderate, independent, but her votes and views are extreme. She calls confiscating weapons and amazing thing. She believes that support lateterm abortion and wants to give Supreme Court judges a religious test. Shes too extreme for kansas. A vote for Barbara Bollier is a vote for nancy pelosi and chuck schumer. Ive been fighting for kansas values my whole life. On the floor and in the halls of congress. Send me to the senate and i will keep fighting for kansas to keep you health, safety and secure. Fighting to get jobs back and protect kansas values like protecting the Constitutional Rights, the Second Amendment, protecting the sanctity of life. Thank you for being with us tonight. Im doctor Roger Marshall and im asking you to vote for me november 3rd. Thank you. State senator Barbara Bollier. Thank you for sharing time with us this evening. To be clear, i value honesty and integrity. These are difficult times. Many of you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders right now. There is so much uncertainty about one thing is certain. We need the legislator, United States senator that will look at the facts, do what is right for kansas and get values represented in the United States senate. That is what ive done my entire career and why over nearly 100 republicans and senator have endorsed my candidacy. My opponent is different. He wont stand up to his own party and hes even worked for legislation for his own personal gain. Kansas deserves better. I ask for your vote tonight and say good night and godspeed. Id like to thank the partners as well as melissa from our sister station in topeka. Thank you for watching and a thank you to the candidates again Barbara Bollier and Roger Marshall. Early voting already underway. Election day tuesday november 3rd. Thanks for joining us. More Campaign Coverage tomorrow facing two candidates in new yorks 22nd Congressional District. Republican claudia and libertarian keith price. Healthcare, racial justice, the Supreme Court and covid19 are some of them of the topics we feature tonight. This is ny 22 of the league of women voters debate between candidates for new yorks 22nd Congressional District seat. We asked the three candidates and members socially distance in the studio and thanks to the candidates for joining us. Good evening