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

Spirit this debate will not be like others. Our candidates join us remotely. After several days of confirmation hearings, miss greenfield is live from altoona. Matt breen anchors the evening news, the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register and ron steele is evening news anchor in waterloo. Senator joni ernst running for her second term in u. S. Senate, native of iowa answer for 23 years, normally the first woman in iowa to serve in federal office but the first female veteran elected to serve in the u. S. Senate. Teresa greenfield, raised on a small harmon soda, moved to iowa to attend college, has a background in planning and real estate and development in iowa. In 2018 she briefly ran for congress, she was in the morning with her husband. For the rules of the debate, candidates get 50 seconds to answer a question. Of the candidate is mentioned by name she will get 30 seconds to respond. The yellow light indicates 10 seconds remain. Candidates get 60 seconds for closing statement. Your opponent supports a public option in healthcare, governmentsponsored Health Insurance plan, compete with private Health Insurance plans was republicans typically support competition in the market. Why do you oppose this . The public option my opponent supports is a truckstop on the road to a singlepayer system or government takeover of healthcare. The public option is done by thirdparty independent study could bankrupt up to 52 of our rural Healthcare Systems. I depend on those rural Healthcare Systems, very important to those that live in the rural areas. Was we dont want to see is putting a bureaucrat between our physicians and patientss in the public option, the truckstop on the road to a singlepayer system and we dont need that. Some of those proposals call for higher reimbursement rates to rural hospitals. Couldnt that benefit companies . It could if we could get that done and i would remind folks in the United States senate and in congress there are fewer of us from rural areas and trying to close that gap in medicare reimbursements is extremely difficult. It sounds great to a lot of folks but does provide a pathway into medicare for all situation and that is not what we want to see. We want to provide access to affordable healthcare and do that by lowering Prescription Drug cost and overhead for those Healthcare Systems and certainly allowing that competition. There are ways to achieve this. But a public option or singlepayer medicare for all type option is simply not the solution. We have a question for both of you. What should the federal governments role be in ensuring affordable highQuality Healthcare for all americans . Healthcare that i hear from iowans on, they are struggling with cost, premiums, outofpocket expenses, doesnt matter where i travel in state, they are paying too much in Fayette County and this government sets those rules and i support expanding and strengthening the Affordable Care act. We have a lot of tools in our toolbox and creating a public option that will increase competition in the marketplace. Level the Playing Field and make sure every iowan has access to affordable coverage and make sure we have competition and you dont have to rely on your employer. I talk to entrepreneurs who want to get started with the cost of healthcare kept them from doing that, forcing them to stay in a job instead of building the economy and creativity. What should the federal governments role be in healthcare . Number one, we have to protect preexisting conditions. My brother and sister are type i diabetics. I understand how important this is and theres a way to provide a backstop for those that have the most medically complex situations. In dallas county, a congenital disease that requires a number of surgeries, we have to force Insurance Companies to make sure they are covering folks with preexisting conditions but also make sure those premiums are low for those, since obamacare went into effect, those that are purchasing insurance policies the premiums have doubled, obamacare has driven the cost of premiums. The deductibles have gone up, we have products through obamacare that our iowa families cant afford. We now head to mister greenfield. How would you ensure rural islands have access to the same level of healthcare as those in urban and suburban areas . I wouldnt vote repeatedly to end the Affordable Care act, getting protections for preexisting coverage, for prescription for, Mental Health care, maternity coverage and Medicaid Expansion which is a lifeline to rural hospitals. In eastern woodbury county, driving 25 miles to get to a clinic in a hospital. We have to make sure we are enhancing the Affordable Care act, keeping hospitals and health clinics, making sure everyone has coverage for essential Services Provided in that plan. Senator voted repeatedly to end the Affordable Care act, taking away your healthcare. We now head to senator ernst. You have 30 seconds to respond. The Affordable Care act did absolutely nothing to control the cost of healthcare which is why i worked in a bipartisan manner to make sure those with preexisting conditions are covered providing federal back stop for those with the most medically complex situations. Im a supporter of Community Health centers and rural healthcare system. It is important to support those the public option mister greenfield keeps referencing would drive 52 of our iowa hospitals, rural Healthcare Systems out of business. Lets move on to the economy. The minimum wage of 7. 25 an hour, has been since 2009. Iowa is one of a handful of states that is not increased minimum wage, 7. 25 an hour the average minimum wage worker would make 16, 240 in a year. You both worked minimumwage jobs. The minimum wage when you worked with 4 an hour. Could you have supportive family at that wage . Ive worked a minimum wage job, i worked at hardees when i was in high school and into college i did work my way through college but you could not support a family on a minimum wage job and typically those jobs are intrigue points into our workforce but it is a local issue and there is no reason it could not be addressed by the state or local city or government. The federal government, we should take a look at that. There are ways to do that. But might be right for california or new york may not be right for the Rural Communities in iowa, living wage in San Francisco would be different than a living wage in iowa, or waterloo, iowa. You worked minimumwage, could you have supported a family on minimumwage . You cant support a family on minimumwage or 7. 25 which i support raising the minimum wage. What im really focused on is making sure everyone has a chance to earn a living wage. I am focused on making sure we invest in trade school, technical school. And investments in capital and credit or folks to provide for their families or have a shot at the american dream. We need to raise the minimum wage. I would like to follow up with both candidates, jobs and covid19 in mind. 7. 9 is the Unemployment Rate now, that is down slightly so it is an improvement. The growth in jobs from august to september. Had to lay off some employees because of the ongoing pandemic. With iowa and many states in the covid19 red zone what is your plan to get iowans back to work safely but all importantly increase spending power and give a boost to our economy . Washington has failed us during this crisis and senator ernst has failed us too. She refused to support expanding Unemployment Benefits and providing paid sick leave. It was a fight for her. Ive been traveling for us to me was package from and then you have to focus on health and safety but to your point, workers. We are in a crisis, we need to expand those expanded Unemployment Benefits, talking to bakeries, barbershops, bowling alleys, their cash flow is down 60 or 80 , they are worried about keeping lights on. We need to take care of our workers and expand ppp and make sure Small Businesses know that we and they can get through this together. Im a state of small towns and Small Businesses. Your name came up so you get a 30second rebuttal. Greenfield absolutely. Thank you so much. I remember in 2009 when we went through the economic downturn in the biden obama administration. In my home county we saw the second highest Unemployment Rate across the state of iowa. I understand the difficulties that are out there. Many of my Friends Family members were laid off during that time but certainly supporting the packages such as the cares packages been important and my opponent has opposed every single one of those packages. We have to get that work done. Im working on those packages. Please move on. The economy has regained im sorry, you went pretty long on your rebuttal. Give us 30 seconds on that. I have worked on the covid19 packages that have gone through congress and ppp was a project, to make sure moms and dads get back to work safely, providing ppe to those businesses and hospitals that needed that support all of that is important. We need to continue that. We have a package we will be voting on next week and we hope we can get it done without democrats blocking the way. Moderator concise answer. The economy has regained more than half the jobs it lost during the pandemic but that recovery has been uneven, hispanic men, younger americans and americans without a College Degree struggled to regain unemployment. How do we target its response to benefit all americans . Your response first. You are correct. Communities were hit hardest as part of the Health Pandemic and economic crisis. We have to address the systemic racism throughout our system, healthcare, housing, education, creating opportunities for minority communities to grow and to succeed. We are in a crisis and we need to extend expanded Unemployment Benefits a full 600 and have another round of direct relief for workers and invest in businesses so they can rehire or keep their staff on, keep their lights on and as someone who worked most of my career in Small Business i know how hard it is to keep your lights on and the pride we have providing paychecks. Same question to you. How can the federal government target its recovery effort to ensure all americans prosper. That is really important, something i have been working on but even before the covid19 pandemic, making sure our minority communities, communities of color have that opportunity week. Pass the tax cuts and jobs act which made way for those opportunity zones which benefit our minority communities and investment in those communities. So when they are out of prisoner have opportunity to move right to a career field that will benefit them and their families lowering recidivism. Those are important steps. Ive been a proponent, helps craft the Paycheck Protection Program which does enable Small Businesses to remain up and going during covid19, will allow a second pass for businesses that are harvest it with minority members of the Senate Working together. Moderator we will move to the next question, most people of color in this country have no doubt systemic racism exists here. Do you agree, we will start with you. I believe we have various systems but i would not say broadly we have systemic racism across the board. We have good people working in all career fields and it is important to stress that. My opponent stated she believes Law Enforcement officers in iowa are systemically racist and i dont believe that. I believe in the goodness of people out there protecting and defending our communities. Do we have opportunity to do better absolutely we do. That is why i did sit down with those africanamerican leaders in the city of des moines and listening to those voices across the great state of iowa, understanding those challenges and where we can provide greater opportunity again. It is not a republican or democratic issue. It is an issue we need to work on together. Moderator do you believe systemic racism exists here . Ernst i dont. You will find racist individuals in those systems but i dont believe entire systems of people, of people are racist. There are racists out there. Moderator we will go to miss greenfield, most people of color in this country have no doubt systemic racism exists. Do you agree . Greenfield i want 30 seconds to rebut because senator ernst called me by name. Her comments are misleading. I have not called the police racist and that is rather insulting. Discussing systemic racism does not mean any one individual is a racist but we have to look at the discrimination across our system. Housing, healthcare, education, finance, to ensure we are doing everything we can to end that kind of racism. Black and brown communities have faced discrimination and systemic racism for generations. George floyd, Breonna Taylor and others should be alive today. We need to work on ending that kind of systemic racism in policing. A great job Getting Started on that in iowa led by caucus members, black lives matter leaders and in bipartisan fashion at our state house where they passed a lan plan for more Perfect Union require racial bias training, banning show colds and transparency. These are reforms that support our Law Enforcement system, so we can bring a end to systemic racism and make sure our minority communities can succeed. Ernst my opponent does not require a rebuttal Going Forward and we will head over to matt. Specific was referenced by both candidates, it is clear we need to hear what they said in context and i will ask my question. Senator ernst, you said teresa greenfield stated our Law Enforcement system is systemically racist meaning our Law Enforcement officers are racist. You said in response, quote, we have systemic races in all of our systems and have for generations including our policing system but that is not saying our Police Officers are racist. I want to have that quote clear so i could ask the followup question, where does change start . Greenfield change starts with each of us, it starts with our elected leaders recognizing first and foremost the we have systemic racism. If you are not clear that is part of the system you cant be at the table to lead the change, to listen and take action to end discrimination. It starts to gather. Ive been working with the black caucus in iowa and we will work with anyone to take action to end systemic racism and it is not just in policing. In healthcare im concerned about Maternal Mortality rates. The rate is so much higher than the rest of the state. We need to work in our Healthcare Systems to end that kind of racial bias. Im looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with everyone to tackle systemic racism. You mentioned in the aftermath you sat down and listened to communities of color. How do you translate that listening to action . Where does that start for you . Greenfield thank you so much. I started action towards repairing relations long before we started this movement, before we saw the tragic loss of life with george floyd, his murder. There are ways we can do that. I was a coauthor of the ban the box legislation with senator cory booker of new jersey has a good partner to me on a number of these activities but certainly as i said supporting those grant activities in our prison system very important. Not only do we want to provide communities of color with those opportunities but what i find is it comes to the fact of poverty, not necessarily racism in iowa but how do we tackle those issues of poverty, this could be urban or rural, i see it across communities in iowa and we have to provide an opportunity. I have been working in a bipartisan way with friends and other members of the senate to do so. Do you think the summers protests were helpful or harmful in raising awareness in iowa. I will always stand for First Amendment rights including the right to free speech and to protests. Looting, damaging property is not part of protesting. I work with many Small Businesses and i dont like to see damage to storefronts and property. We need to march and protest in a nonviolent and peaceful way to make sure our voices are being heard. I am proud of the black lives matter leaders who predominantly have been making voices heard in a nonviolent way. The phrase defunding the police resurfaced out of those protests. What does that phrase mean to you . Miss greenfield, can you hear me . Greenfield yes. Moderator the phrase defunding the police surface, what does the phrase defunding the police means you . Greenfield i dont support defunding the police. Somebody has to give me that definition. We have to look across all our systems. I come from a long line of Law Enforcement officers. They all talked about serving and protecting and protecting and serving. We have pride in meeting with the kids, knowing everyone in the community. We need to build Strong Community policing and support our Law Enforcement officers by looking at Mental Health care surfaces. We ask our Law Enforcement officers to provide Mental Health Care Services and rj f is a place where folks in crisis are taken. We need to make sure we invest in Mental Health care and then the box something federally throughout the country because it is the best stop to make sure folks do not reenter, have the opportunity to provide their family to provide their lives. With a protest helpful or harmful in raising awareness of healthful issues in iowa. The process says they initially started after the tragic death of george floyd, as they started and were peaceful they were very helpful but as they digressed to looting and damaging of not only Small Businesses but federal property it really smeared those that were doing good through those protests and as i stated many months ago you cant hear those Peaceful Protesters over the sound of shattering glass and splintering wood. That is not appropriate. We have slid backwards in this movement. We took up the just the fact authored by tim scott of south carolina. A wonderful bill which had 70 of what our democratic friends were asking for but they refused to even move on the bill on the floor of the senate. I am proud of the legislators in the great state of iowa that got the work done but democrats were not willing to move forward on the bill in the senate and that is a shame. We should be a lot farther along than we are. Lets stick to our time guidelines. The phrase defunding the police, what does that mean for you . Ernst the phrase has been tossed around so liberally by liberals and the folks that are funding my opponent is a group that support radical environmental ideas, defunding the police and we see that type of activity going on with the covid19 relief package proposed by nancy pelosi which was one of miss greenfields early supporters in the 2018 congressional campaign. Shes being backed by these folks that support liberal ideas, stripping away funds from Police Departments in the covid19 relief bill. Thats not what iowans expect to see or want but it is certainly what miss greenfields backers are supporting. Moderator you get a 30second rebuttal. Greenfield this shouldnt take long. I dont support defunding the police. It is unfortunate my opponent continues to be misleading and rep misrepresenting but i support reforms in all our systems to tackle discrimination and systemic racism. And weve done a great job in iowa. Moderator thank you. Racial sensitivity training, ideas like White Privilege are racist. Do either of you believe you benefited from White Privilege and if so i would like you to give us an example. Greenfield i did not hear the first part of your question. It is very difficult to hear you. Donald trump has moved to end Racial Sensitivity Training and federal agencies. It looks like you are having a hard time hearing me so to senator ernst. Donald trump moved to have Racial Sensitivity Training and federal agencies, saying ideas like White Privilege are racist. Do you believe you have benefited from White Privilege . Ernst i would say it is difficult to determine, it goes back to maybe not necessarily racism but issues in poverty in our communities. I largely grew up in a community of white individuals but when i joined the military i was a member of a racially diverse but inclusive system. I understood that working hard would get me ahead. I didnt know that i benefited from that but certainly it is possible that it exists out there but there are levels of training that are necessary in any sort of system. In the military things like engaging and how to prevent Sexual Assault, those types of activities, i do think theres an important place for that type of training. Moderator do you believe you have ever benefited from White Privilege . Greenfield absolutely i have and let me give you an example. After my first husband died, another one on the way. It came in and helped me out, allows me to get back on my feet. Im not convinced the system would have worked for a young widowed black woman with a 13monthold and another on the way. Another way i benefited, or tell what the rate, it is clear they are higher among the black community. I dont have those issues but too many women do. We have to look at why that is happening. We have to look ourselves and make sure we are investing to address that kind of racial bias in education and the Social Security system, lending and so many other things. Moderator appreciate you hanging with us. And unusual debate and use of viewer we appreciate your patience as well. Species we got the ball rolling and we will be back after this. You are watching a commitment to thousand 20 special u. S. Senate debate. , candidates. Connection in your campaign ads, but neither of you chose to pursue agriculture as a career. Why not . Ms. Greenfield, lets start with you. Ms. Greenfield i grew up on a farm outside of a town of 500. I loved the farm. My parents are still on the farm. A lot of pride at the end of the day with hard work. I also came of age during the farm crisis and i watched families being devastated. Much of it by the decisions being made in washington. My parents [indiscernible] they never farmed again. I had to leave the rur never farmed again, and so i had to leave the rural area. There were no jobs and we couldnt farm and headed off to i will Ask Community college to begin my life and im so glad i did. I continue to support our ag Community Spirit i can can support all our farmers and tickled my farmer and friends in northern iowa. Thank you, ms. Greenfield. Senator ernst same question. Why did you pursue a outside of agriculture . Ernst thank you so much. I did go up on a small family farm in southwest iowa. My family e is still engaged in farming. My sister and brotherinlaw to most of the family farming now. However, as a young girl, young woman with an abusive situation, and so what i want up to State University i decided to study psychology. I thought that would be a great way for me to get back to my community as a counselor. I did take a different turn but i have remain engaged in a farming community. My family is still involved in farming your private engaged in agricultural issues all of my life. Ive been endorsed by the iowa farm bureau, the Iowa Cattlemen Association as well as the iowa corn growers association. We wil. The iowa State University extension crop specialists say more than 90 of farmers have Crop Insurance, which covers 80 to 85 sent of gold in revenue. It does not make them financially whole after a disaster. Are you comparable what they Crop Insurance program after disasters like uncontrolled flooding on the Missouri River does not make a farmer financially whole . We will go to senator ernst. Absolutely you are right that those programs do not necessarily make a farmer whole. That is why it is important we are able to engage, especially as the federal government, i do sit on the agriculture committee. Still living in the rural area, many of my friends are farmers. My family, farmers. Understanding the difficulties they are facing. Whether it is a derecho, whether it is a drought, whether it is a pandemic, making sure we have the appropriate programs and responses in place whether that is through fema, the usda, whether that is through hud, making sure we are able to step in in a quick manner and cover where maybe insurance will not make a farmer whole. I see the results when it comes back to my neighbors, my friends and my family. Theresa greenfield, the same question to you. Are you comfortable with a Crop Insurance program that does not make farmers whole after disasters . Ms. Greenfield no, i am not. I have had the chance to tour damage in western iowa, all across central iowa and all the way over to cedar rapids. I have stopped at coops and elevators and talked to them about how they have been impacted. It is clear there is a gap. Particularly coverage for our grain. So many farmers are under Financial Stress in iowa due to haphazard trade, due to reckless tariffs, due to my opponents approval of ethanol waivers. 75 since 2013. We have got to make that her decisions in washington, d. C. To make sure our farmers who work so hard, who want their markets back and earn a profit and provide for their families. My question is a simple ag question. What is the breakeven price for a bushel of corn in iowa this way . Ms. Greenfield a bushel of corn is going for about 3. 68 today. Breakeven depends on the amount of debt someone has. I suspect there are farmers breaking even at that price. If there yields are down 50 , that is not going to cover it for them. We have had null Commodity Prices for too long. Those are going out of business prices. Breakeven price for soybeans . Sen. Ernst i would like to go back to a previous statement. Certainly whether what we have done on trade. We have seen significant strides forward. The usmca is a great example of tradeith our two largest partners, mexico and canada. Mexico is the number one purchaser of iowa corn. We saw with the china phase one trade deal where china actually made an alltime record corn purchase at the end of july. Haphazard trade deals . No. We are on the path toward success in these areas. I have had our farmers as i did the 99 tour every year. I have been to all of my Rural Communities every single year i have been in the senate. I have had those farmers say for heaven sakes, i understand what the president is doing, but what i do not understand is why we did not have a president who stood up before this. I am thankful we are well on our way to correcting the situation within our trade space and that was done with a Republican Senate and a republican in the white house. Thank you very much. I do not think you answered my question. What is the breakeven price for soybeans in iowa . You grew up on a farm. I think you had asked about corn. Sen. Ernst it depends about what the inputs are but probably about 5. 50. You are a couple dollars off because it is 10. 05. Not think ms. Do greenfield answered either. We asked her the price of coin. We asked the price of soybeans for you. Do you want to take another crack at it . Sen. Ernst no thank you. You said the breakeven for corn is 10. 50 . I do not think that is correct. That would have been for beans. Sen. Ernst maybe i am not hearing. On tos go ahead and move a completely different subject. One issue in your partys platform do you disagree with . Senator ernst, we start with you. Sen. Ernst in the party platform, i cannot think of anything off the top of my head. There are many things i do support and that is certainly lower taxes for our hard, middle income wage earners. That is extremely important. I think access to Quality Health care is extremely important. Our Second Amendment rights are extremely important as well. I could go on and on and on. My opponent is backed by others outside of the great state of iowa like new york and california. She is the henpecked candidate of the handpicked candidate of Chuck Schumer and nancy pelosi. The values that Democratic Party is espousing, of defunding the police, of extreme liberal ideas, those are the ideas that would devastate our iowa farms. It would it would End Manufacturing as we know it. Those are the ideas i do not support. Theresa greenfield, the same question for you. Partysue on the platform do you disagree with . Ms. Greenfield i think democrats often talk about four year college too much. I am really proud of our four year institutions. I am focused on making sure every iowan gets off to a great start. In my bigger paycheck plan, im focused on investing like republican governor bob ray did in community college, apprenticeship programs just like they won have here at carpenters local 106 where you can earn while you learn. I want to make sure every student gets off to that start. Or if your life throws you a curve, you are able to get some retraining. That way, we will build our workforce. We will grow our workers for Small Businesses. I went to couple that with capital and credit. I talked to a young woman in rembrandt who is studying early family childhood education with a dream of owning a daycare center. If she came out debt free and we were to help her with capital, she could get started on opening her own daycare center. On, each of you has criticized your opponent for accepting outside money. Each of you has also benefited from it. If you are so opposed to this practice, what would you do to get all of this money out of politics . Ms. Greenfield, we will start with you. Ms. Greenfield the very first plan i proposed was a plan to end political corruption. Endnd citizens united, to Corporate Tax donations. Those are the ones that are running those messy attack ads that ruin your youtube videos and football games. I did even more. I made a pledge not to accept one dime of those corporate donations. My opponent has taken over 2 million in those donations and has sold out iowans. You can tell. She has taken over 200,000 from big pharma. Over 450,000 from big oil and picked one of their guys to head the epa and devastated at our economy devastated our economy. Need to end political corruption and i draw a line in the sand cannot accept one dime of corporate donations. Senator ernst, same question to you. What would you do to get money out of politics . Sen. Ernst so easy. Transparency. Toyou force those donors disclose who they are donating to to what organization, the whole system would clean up quickly. That is the easy answer. What my opponent will not tell you is at the end of this election cycle, she will be iowas leading benefactor of outside independent expenditure money. What is known as dark money. We see tens of millions of dollars coming from undisclosed sources outside of the state of iowa dumping in to her campaign. On one hand, she is saying i want to get rid of it. In thesecond time or other hand, she is benefiting more than any other candidate in iowa history from all of the dark outside sources. She is benefiting from big pharma. She is benefiting from big oil as well. The difference is the executives and dollars are writing the dollars directly into her campaign. Went to address the timing issues we had early on. We had technical difficulties, which prevented theresa greenfield from answering several questions. We gave those questions to senator ernst. In an effort to balance those out, the next question will only go to theresa greenfield. During the iowa pbs debate, you said you supported a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and dreamers. Could you see yourself supporting legal residency, not a path to citizenship but legal residency if there was a bipartisan compromise . Ms. Greenfield we need to modernize our immigration system should as i have immigration system. Does not matter if i am talking to immigrant communities, whether im talking to economic leaders like in cedar rapids or the Des Moines Partnership and so many others. It is clear we need to modernize our immigration system. For me, it starts with a few things. The idease a lot of put forth by the bipartisan iowa compact on immigration where we start by modernizing that visa system to ensure we can grow our economy and we welcome all workers across the board whether they know how to fix things, whether they know about science. Two, we need to invest in public safety. We have to be safe and we have to be strong, but we have to be smart and that starts with investing in our ports. Finally, we have to be humane and keep families together. That is where that path to citizenship comes in. Acatainly for our dha recipients. This is for the both of you. We will go first to senator ernst. Joe biden referenced the recent derecho that swept through iowa in august as an impact of Climate Change. Do you believe in Climate Change and that it is caused by human activity . Sen. Ernst i do believe in Climate Change. I think our climate has been changing since the dawn of time cancertainly, we as mankind absolutely do a better job of protecting our environment and during my time in the iowa senate as well to make sure we have strong conservation efforts, that we protect our biofuel system and we are investing in wind and solar energy. Iowa right now thanks to the efforts of my colleagues, republican colleague both in the United State Senate and during ,y time in the iowa senate supported wind energy. We see iowas electric the amount we use is 40 drone from wind energy. After mid america gets done with their wind towers in my neck of the woods, we will pull 80 from those wind towers, investing in solar is important. Certainly, conservation efforts with our farmers is important to make sure our water and soil is helpful as healthy as well. Youheresa greenfield, do believe Climate Change is caused by human activity . Ms. Greenfield we have to confront Climate Change because we have a manmade Global Climate crisis on our hands. Iowans certainly know what that looks like weather is flooding through southeast iowa, southwest iowa and i visited southwest iowa and saw homes that have nine feet of water in them and those families dreams gone. Farmers know what it looks like. Higher heat, higher humidity. We need to get back into our global agreements. This is a global crisis. It is not just an iowa crisis. We need to invest in renewable jobs here. Im going to be focused on how we grow jobs, how we grow the iowa economy. Finally, conservation. You will see i proposed to lead the efforts to have our farmers at the table and have them lead us to be the first net zero ag industry in the world. It starts with investing in conservation, nicking sure it is a new commodity for our farmers and landowners. Making sure they reap the awards of sequestering carbon. Im going to work with them every step of the way. Over the past several years, iowa has experienced record flooding, prolonged drought and now a derecho windstorm. What role does the federal government have in protecting iowans and their livelihoods from these weather events . Ms. Greenfield, you are first. Explainedield i just i believe we do have a manmade Climate Crisis and we do need to take steps to confront it. One of the things we can do and i have been disappointed in both parties by the way is infrastructure. We need to be investing in robust infrastructure plan to rebuild bridges. We are 50th in the nation for bridge stability. We need to bring broadband to every home and we need to do so much more. Sanitary sewer systems throughout our state and country. That kind of Infrastructure Investment will set our country up and our state up to compete and win for generations to come. Senator ernst, same question to you. What should the federal government do if anything to protect iowans from these Severe Weather events . Sen. Ernst i think there are many things we can do. During those devastating floods of 2008, i was on the ground in the cedar rapids area as a National Guardsmen providing Logistical Support throughout the area and witnessing the damaging situation at hand. Ining the 2011 event southwest iowa, i spent four months on the ground again with the National Guard monitoring the situation. We had homes that were underwater in my neck of the woods. Watching my neighbors struggle with that was very difficult. Providing the National Federal response is very important, of course, making sure we are not engaging in very harmful agreements like my opponent has referenced where she would engage us but have devastating effects on our economy throughout the United States. Those agreements let huge polluters like china off the hook. I think we need to hold other countries accountable and certainly, we can do our job with the federal government in bipartisan manner. Midamerican energy and Alliant Energy continue to invest in wind technology. Both Companies Say the construction of wind farms provide jobs to iowans. The protection tax credit that has come out of a lot of recent growth is set to expire at the end of this year. . Hould Congress Renew it senator ernst, i know you started to talk about this earlier. Lets go to you first. Sen. Ernst absolutely. I am a huge supporter of wind energy. I have even cosponsored a bill that would allow us to utilize training at our Community Colleges to further invest in those types of career opportunities. I think that is extremely important. When i talk to those like those at midamerican and others engaged in wind energy, they are thatthat protection production tax credit being phased out. Withve seen great benefits wind energy across the state of iowa. Engaging in those discussions, we see a great level of energy and optimism throughout that field. I have gone up in a wind tower during one of my 99 county tours. I have also heard from a Rural School District that said the only reason they are still surviving today is because of the tax dollars, the property tax dollars that are drawn off of the wind turbines. It is so beneficial for our real areas. Ms. Greenfield, the same question to you. The wind farmsay provide protections for iowans. Should Congress Renew it . Shouldenfield Congress Renew the production tax credits. We have so much potential to grow our wind industry in iowa to not only benefit iowa but to benefit our entire country. I have had the opportunity to sit down with some of the brightest minds and scientists with iowa State University and talk about how we build Renewable Energy jobs right here in iowa. Wendy can lead the way. I have had the opportunity to tour multiple wind turbine farms and was delighted when i toured a Community Wind turbine farm in greene county. Not only does it provide the rent, but it provides resources that are being invested back into communities for Community Centers and other philanthropic plans. Energy,to grow our wind we need to invest in conservation. We need to invest in biobased manufacturing and make sure iowa is a leader in our renewable economy. Lets move on to talk trade. Do you feel president trumps tariff policies with china have been a net positive for the American People . Theresa greenfield, we begin with you. Ms. Greenfield china has been a bad actor. We do need to hold them accountable. I always will hold them accountable. We have to protect our jobs and farmers and our National Security. 33,000ow, we have lost iowa jobs to china. China is investing. They are on schedule to build 200 airports over the next 15 years. Their building highspeed rail they are building highspeed rail. Of corn is barely at a breakeven price and too many kids do not. Have access to broadband. I want to make those investments to our economy so we can compete and win and it starts with ending this go it alone approach. We have to work with our partners around the world to make sure we bring as we build a strong market for our farmers, for manufacturers, for our economy. Has the tariff policy been a net positive . Sen. Ernst i have never agreed with the president s tariff policy. That is where i have been able to push back on him as we have engaged through the trade wars. With a country like china, it likely is appropriate. Has it been helpful across the board . No. That is what i call him and i say mr. President , i need to talk to you about these tariffs. He will say, i know you do not like tariffs but i am a tariff guy. We have these discussions about what is happening with the American Farmer and how it is affecting our iowa Commodity Prices. We have seen great successes because he has used that leverage. Wayn, we are moving on our to parity in that trade space. The phase one china deal, a great example certainly with the usmca. We have had japan, our number three trade partner locked into a trade deal and we are working euthe e you write the right now. What do you see as the greatest noncovid Security Threat to america . I can answer this a couple different ways. , ofou look at our security course our National Debt is a crisis that we rarely do need to face. Externally, we have what we call the big four. , china and, iran russia. Those are very bad actors and we have to keep our eye on them in the National Security space. This i can talk to because i am a combat veteran. I remain engaged with our Security Forces as they are employed around the world. We have many of our National Guardsmen serving in the middle east. We have them serving in kosovo. We have them serving in africa. I do understand why we need to keep our eye on the big four. Terrorist activities and proxies set out by a ran and others. Certainly, we need to adjust the domestic situation of our debt as well. Question. Wup in september, the leader of the department of Homeland Security said White Supremacists are the most persistent and lethal threat when we talk about Domestic Violence extremists. What role does comment what role does congress have in reducing this threat . Sen. Ernst we need to make sure we are bolstering and funding our Law Enforcement activities. When we talk about defunding the Police Across the United States, it goes against wiping out domestic tariffs emetic terrorists. Those types of organizations are unacceptable. There is no excuse for them, period. Any organization across the board that is promoting violence, any you are promoting destruction of property and violence against other citizens, it is absolutely wrong. Defunding the police and the movement from the liberal left is not the answer. If anything, we should be bolstering those programs to make sure they can keep their eyes and years on those horrible domestic organizations. Same question to you. What you believe is the greatest noncovid Security Threat to americans . Ms. Greenfield there are two threats that are incredibly important. One is domestic terrorists. Clearly our National Leaders believe that is one serious threat we need to be watching and making sure that it does not cost americans their lives. Second, cybersecurity. We have seen meddling in our elections. We need to make sure our Law Enforcement, fbi and federal agencies have the resources they need. If you are stealing credit card information, if you are spreading misinformation, if you ourtampering with elections, we need to make sure we find those folks and they are held accountable. I have to say i find it odd that senator ernst would recognize debt as a threat when she voted for a tax bill that increased the debt 2 trillion and certainly threatens things like Social Security and medicare. Senator ernst, you have a 32nd rebuttal. Sen. Ernst thank you. The 20 tax cuts and jobs act actually build up our actually build up wages for middle income earners. The Child Tax Credit doubled for our families. 243,000 iowans benefited from that. 2000ll an average of about dollars tax savings for all iowans. Because of that bill, our Gross Domestic Product has grown. We have seen growth in the economy. That is good for being able to tackle that National Debt. To the end of our debate this evening. We want to have the candidates have the final word. You each have 60 seconds to make a closing statement. Theresa greenfield, we start with you. Ms. Greenfield it has been a pleasure to be here tonight. Thank you so much. I got in this race to put iowans first, to put hardworking families. My dad always said on the farm there are no boy jobs or grow jobs. Just do just jobs that need to get done. When walking to work like our hometown where we come together. I will work with anyone or stand up to anyone to make sure we are getting those jobs done. Health care for all of us, infrastructure plans. Senator ernst has had six years and she has forgotten iowa once. She has sold our hardworking families. I got in this fight for hardworking families. After my first husband died and i got back on my feet, i got my very first job. It was for eight bucks an hour. I got a paycheck but i also got my dignity back. Here is my promise to you. I will never forget who i am, where i am from and who im fighting for. Thanks for being here tonight and i humbly ask everyone for their vote on november 3. Thank you, theresa greenfield. Senator ernst, you have 60 seconds. Sen. Ernst i am joni ernst. Iowa is more than a place to me. It is where i was raised and really who i am. I will always fight for our farmers because i grew up on a small iowa farm. Veteransways fight for because i have had my boots in that sand and i understand there valeant sacrifice. I will always stand up for working families and our single moms because i have been through those struggles myself. I will always be an advocate for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence survivors because i now i wore always fight for iowa, but that means doing it in a bipartisan fashion. I am so honored to be named as one is the most bipartisan senators in the United States he fiven the last one years because i know the way things get done is by working together. As we move through this election i want to continue fighting for iowans, and im humbly asking for your support on november 3. Theres a lot more to do. Thank you for participating in tonights debate. A big thank you for franklin junior high forgiving a space. And a big thank you to all of our viewers across the state of iowa. This is been a very important debate and a very important election between two candidates who have a lot to say and a big choice to make coming up on november 3. We want to thank our Media Partners to help produce this debate. E. M. And qeu to wg tv for bringing this debate across the state of viral up. Thank you very much for joining us tonight. Thank you very much for your patience. Please be well, have a good night. Today the candidate running for indiana governor incumbent republican governor eric holcomb, democrat woody myers and libertarian donald rainwater take part in a televised debate sponsored by the indiana debate commission. Live coverage begins at 7 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. With seven days left until election day on november 3 win Voters Decide who will control congress and occupy the white house. Stay with the cspan. Watch campaign 2020 coverage every day on cspan. Streamer on demand cspan. Org or. Org or listen on the cspan radio app. Your place for an unfiltered view of politics. The competition is on. Be part of this years cspans studentcam video competition. Middle and High School Students be the start of a National Conversation by making a five to six minute documentary exploring the issues you want the president and congress to address in 2021. The bold with your documentary, show supporting and opposing points of view. Be a winner. Theres one of thousand dollars in total cash prizes including a grand prize of 5000. Submit videos until january 20, 2021. Studentcam. Org