On cspan. 00 p. M. Eastern here friday, a debate for the south dakota u. S. Senate s with republican senohn thune and his two challengesemocrat brian bengs and democrat tamara lesnar. Also on the cspan now or cspan live. Org. Democratic senator patty murray and tiffany smiley, her republican challenger in the Washington Senate race took part in a debate at of next weeks midterm, answering questions on inflation, political division, and election integrity. This is just under one hour. Tiffany smiley, the former triage nurse turned veterans advocate, has her sights set on the senate. Tonight, they answer voter questions together for the first time. The final push to Election Night is on, as kiro 7 presents the u. S. Senate town hall. [applause] well, good evening, everyone, and thank you so much for joining us. I am your host, monique ming laven. This u. S. Senate town hall comes to you live from the kiro 7 studios in seattle, and voters are watching it across the state. Now, kiro 7 has spent weeks putting this event together, because we feel it is important to get these two women together to answer your questions in what is a contentious campaign. Now, with record spending on the race, we have all gotten a steady stream of attack ads from both candidates, from both parties, and from several Political Action committees. Now both candidates are here in the same room, and please join me in welcoming senator patty murray and her challenger, tiffany smiley. [applause] now heres a look at their backgrounds. Patty murray was first elected to the senate in 1992. She is now seeking her sixth term. She attended Washington State university. She got her start in politics, serving on the Shoreline School board, and was elected to the Washington State senate in 1988, before being elected to the u. S senate. Elected to the u. S. Senate. Her opponent, tiffany smiley, is a firsttime candidate but has experience pushing legislation in the nations capital. As a veterans advocate, in 2018, smiley championed funding for caregivers of wounded veterans, supported also by senator murray, and they praised each other at the time. Smiley is a graduate of pasco high school. She went to whitworth university, and she earned a degree in nursing. And thank you both for joining us tonight. Also joining us in studio tonight, members of local nonpartisan organizations. They and kiro 7 viewers submitted questions over the last week, and kiro 7 chose them. Now, this is not a debate, this is a town hall, where voters will be asking the questions, but there are still established rules, which both campaigns were given in advance. So lets take a look at them. There will be no opening statements. Audience members will have about 30 seconds to ask their questions. Their question will be the same for both candidates. If audience members deviate from what was submitted, they run the risk of getting cut off. Candidates will get up to two minutes to answer the question. The more concise, of course, the answers, the more questions we may be able to get to. Now, my primary role is to ensure that the questions are answered, and i will direct any clarifications to one or both candidates, and 30 seconds will be given for those followups. Now, audience, please, hold any applause until the end. Now to the first topic. That is political division. We have seen our country become more and more divided, and we have seen that erupt in violence. Politicians have become targets. Just friday, the husband of House Speaker nancy pelosi was attacked in their San Francisco home. Investigators have not revealed a motive, but say the suspect was shouting, wheres nancy . And this is not a lone incident. On january 6, 2021, the secret service barely got then Vice President pence safely out of the u. S. Capitol, as rioters stormed the building, they were chanting, hang mike pence. Now this list goes on. And heres some context to the deepening division. A recent Pew Research Center poll found this is personal, not just political. Those surveyed, whether identifying as democrats or republicans, described members of the other party as more closeminded, dishonest, immoral, and unintelligent than other americans, and those negative feelings have grown over recent years. Now, we received a lot of questions about view from received a lot of questions from viewers about the division and also the violence in our country. We did a coin flip this afternoon to decide who goes first, and mrs. Smiley will start us off with an answer to this question that is from jessie tam, a newcastle resident. Jesse . Thank you. My question is, what might be the best way to reunite a country beyond your individual political views . Mrs. Smiley. That is such a great question. You know, my husband lost his eyesight fighting for democracy. And on january 6, when we watched the tv, i had to describe to him what was unfolding. It was heartbreaking, it was hard to believe. And our countrys ready to move forward. Political dangerous rhetoric, like senator murray has put out on me since june, trying to paint me and my family as a threat to democracy im here to serve. Im here to bring us together. This isnt just about Washington State. This is about the United States of america, and who we are. We are more alike than we are different. We are the shiny beacon on a hill. If you send me to washington, d. C. , i will carry that message through the halls. It is time to move forward and come together. When i stood up and was fighting for my husband, i was fighting on behalf of every democrat, every republican, and every independent servicemember in their family. I know that together, we can turn the tide. We have got to move forward in this country and in this state. I love Washington State. I was born and raised here. Im not going to sit back and senator murrays been there for 30 years and watched the same old political jargon repeat over and over again. Our family is here for service over self, country over party, and to bring results. Im here to take on washington, d. C. Ive done it before, now well do it again for all of Washington State. Senator murray, you have two minutes. Jesse asked a very important question, how do we unite . And obviously, we are in the heat of a campaign, and people feel passionate on both sides and speak out with voices about how they want to vote and how they want to influence others. Thats an important part of a democracy. But where we cross the line is when we incite violence. I was in the capitol on january 6th. I heard those outside my door calling for violence, calling for nancy, and using brute force to try and take over the peaceful transfer of power. We can never tolerate that. I urge my supporters and everyone to use their voices. Thats what a democracy is about. I use my vote on the senate floor, and you all do as citizens to make your decision about where you want our country to go. But at the end of the day, we have to accept that decision and we have to get behind it. President trump didnt do that. He tried to incite violence. You know, i was in the senate when trump was elected. I didnt like the results, but i stood feet away from him, when he was sworn into office, because i respect the peaceful transfer of power. We have to remind all of us that we have to use our voices and our votes to represent our opinions and to work together. And jesse, importantly, when im in washington, d. C. , and i work to find agreements with people that i often disagree with, i listen to what they are saying and respect it and try to find common ground. I have done that, when paul ryan and i passed a budget no one thought we could, ive done it with lamar alexander, to replace no child left behind, i am currently doing that with my counterpart senator, to write a pre a pandemic bill so we never go through what we went through before, but i do it by listening to what is important to them, telling them whats important to me, and working to find a solution. Thank you. Thats how we solve things in this state. Thank you so much. Thats your two minutes. Now, much of the division and violence ties to disputes about the 2020 election. This is a topic that is very important to our viewers. Many sent questions about it, including this one, this comes from y. Browning, who asks, who won the 2020 president ial elections . Just a first and last name, please. Senator murray. Joe biden. Thank you. Mrs. Smiley. Joe biden. Undisputed. A followup, though, if i may, because that was a thoughtful question from y. Browning. What can you two both do, when we know there are so many people who doubt the results of the election, what can you personally do to restore their faith in our election system . Senator murray. 30 seconds here, please. Thank you. And what is important is what we say, and i know my opponent had on her website that she sowed seeds of doubt about whether the election was legitimate. When we do that after an election has been legitimately elected and the person is in office, we sow that distrust. I have, you know, won and lost elections, i have watched people win and lose elections, we count and trust this democracy, and we dont, after theyve been certified, question them, thats what we cant afford to do in this country. Thank you, senator murray. Mrs. Smiley. Yes, well, senator murray spent millions to paint me as someone im not and to feed into this, which i think is absolutely wrong and shameful. But what we need and she also in 2004 had questions about the president ial election, so what we have is career politicians on both sides of the aisle who have gone back and forth on this, back and forth. We need to ensure that voters have confidence. That its easy to vote and hard to cheat. And on my website, i have an agenda for political recovery and reform, because people have lost trust in our political system. Thank you. 30 seconds. Thank you both very much for your answers. Now to something that we all can agree on, that is inflation hurts, whether its at the pump or at the grocery checkout, we are all getting squeezed. According to aaa, the average cost for a gallon of unleaded gas in washington is about 4. 97, and thats up more than a dollar from a year ago. And at the grocery store, americans are spending an average of 13 more on food than they were a year ago. And that brings us to our next question. This is from mary ellers, who is a resident of federal way. Mary . Given the record high inflation, the soaring energy costs, and the supply chain issue, what should the government have done over the past year to improve these situations, and what do you propose doing during the next year to address them . Mrs. Smiley. Yes, thats such a good question. You know, senator murray stood with joe biden with the American Rescue plan and said we are in a better place now. We are not. Democrat economists mourned that that would cause the greatest inflation that weve seen in a generation. Thats exactly what its done. You know, ill never forget seeing a mom at the kent safeway, and her little girls were sitting outside of her car, as if it was their backyard. They were clearly living out of their car. They had their dolls out and they were playing with them. She was inside trying to make ends meet to feed them. That woman doesnt need senator murrays electric vehicle voucher. That woman needs gas prices to be lower and and food to be lower. Gas prices to be lower and food to be lower. I have a plan for recovery and reform, how we can turn crisis into hope. We need to rein in this out of control spending. The Inflation Reduction Act does nothing to reduce inflation. In fact, it raises taxes on all of us, and senator murray was the deciding vote for the excise tax on natural gas, so so your so your energy will be going up heading into winter. I will reign in that out of control spending. I will work to permanently extend the 2017 tax cuts for the middle class. And i certainly will ensure that the 87,000 irs agents do not come after our Small Businesses and hardworking washington families. You know, its a fact that those making 25,000 are five times more likely to be audited by the irs. Thats who im standing up and fighting for. This reckless spending, senator murray has a record of tax and spend. We cannot afford another six years. Thats certainly why im in this fight with my family. Its time that we base policy not on intentions, but on actual results, because if these bills actually worked, why are they not . Why are we facing an Energy Crisis . We are facing an inflation crisis, and theres no hope and no plan in sight my agenda for recovery and reform will deliver for all of you. Thank you, mrs. Smiley. Now, senator murray, the same question to you, which i will repeat, since there has been a little bit of time thats elapsed and i will do that for each question from here on out. Given the record high inflation, soaring energy costs, and supply chain issues, what should the government have been doing over the past year to improve these situations, and what do you propose doing during the next year to address them . Thank you, mary. And look, i grew up in a big family, seven kids, and my dad ran a small store in main street in buffalo, and i know tight budgets and i know how challenging it is, and i know thats what families are facing right now. So what i have focused on, as we have gotten through a very challenging time in our country, is lowering costs for families, as we get through this. That is exactly why we passed the Inflation Reduction Act that will specifically lower costs for peoples Prescription Drugs and make sure that they can afford health care, as we work our way through this. And secondly, to lower our energy costs, so that we can afford the prices that were seeing right now. And i want to address gas separately, because that is important. But in the Inflation Reduction Act, we specifically work to provide tax credits for people to be able to afford energy, as we move to a new clean energy economy, which by the way, has also the effect of creating new jobs and producing those kinds of new energy right here that will in the long run of course lower your energy costs. For me, one of the biggest things we need to do moving forward is provide child care. It is one of the Biggest Barriers to people to go back to work and one of the costliest items, besides housing, for families to face right now. So Going Forward, thats something we need to focus on, and we need to focus on the issue of housing. Let me go back to gas prices, because i do support the president using the Strategic National reserve in the immediate, but that is not a good solution for the long run. We have to make sure that we are moving to a new clean energy economy. We need to make sure that we are focused on helping people get through this time right now. And as we look at our budgets Going Forward over the next two months, when we get back in as soon as this elections over, we need to really make sure that were providing the resources for families, as they struggle to get through this, and thats what im focused on. Thank you, senator murray. And we turn to our next topic of the night, that is crime and gun control. Now, according to seattle police, last year hit a 10year high for calls related to shootings and gunshot victims in seattle. The city has seen a 100 increase since they started issuing its crime reports in 2012, and seattle is not alone. According to data from the Washington Association of sheriffs and police chiefs, Crimes Involving firearms are up in cities across the states, including spokane, tacoma, pasco, and yakima. And that leads us to our second question, this is from erin howard, shes a local high school student. Erin . Thank you. What is your position on gun control to curb violence in washington . Your Second Amendment interpretation. Senator murray. Erin, thank you. Thats such an important question. Everybody wants to be able to send their kids to school, to protect their Small Businesses, to know they can go to a mall, and to enjoy life in their neighborhoods, without the threat of gun violence. We have a gun violence issue in this country. We need to absolutely focus on crime and make sure that we have the resources for police. We were able to do that in the American Rescue plan that my opponent opposed. But we also have to address the issue of gun violence. I was really glad that the senate for the first time finally passed a small piece of reducing gun violence this last summer. It took uvalde to make that happen. We shouldnt have that kind of serious issue happen in order for us to act. I support stronger measures. I believe we should have an assault weapon ban. I believe we should have better protections for people who are trying to purchase a gun and better background checks. I believe we should ban ghost guns. I think there is a lot more we can do to make sure that we protect people in this country and we deal with the issue of violence. And i also have to say, part of what we did in the senate was focus on the issue of Mental Health, too. That is an equation that we need to focus on, and we are working to provide resources for our front line personnel, who are on the streets trying to help people. We dont have enough beds, we dont have enough providers, we dont have enough research on how we can actually help reduce violence. I am working right now with my republican counterpart on a bill on Mental Health that we hope to to get done by the end of this year, in a few short months, to help provide those resources that are so critically needed. Our country has to focus on that. But in answer to your question, i absolutely believe that theres more we can do to prevent gun violence in this country. Thank you, senator murray. And mrs. Smiley, the same question to you again from erin, what is your position on gun control to curb violence in washington, what is your Second Amendment interpretation . Yes, that is such a good question. You know, ive been in all 39 counties across Washington State, and crime is plaguing Washington State everywhere i go. Our communities are less safe. Senator murray went on the senate floor in june of 2020 and called for funds to be diverted from our police force. And if there was funding in the American Rescue plan, why is it not working . We have less Police Officers per capita in seattle. We clearly have a crime problem. I believe in protecting our Second Amendment rights while also ensuring that guns do not get in the hands of criminals. Seattle had the highest homicides they had in 10 years. We had a blood shortage in Washington State. Our team held a blood drive to bolster that supply. Women are feeling less safe. In fact, theres not even enough cops to prosecute sexual assaults and follow up on them. That just seems absolutely unacceptable. 30 years in the senate, and this is where we are . Anyone can go to patty vs. Public safety to understand her soft on crime policies that have led us to this place. The bedrock of this is we need Mental Health reform. Absolutely, we have got to get Mental Health reform. I will go get that done. I have a track record of taking on Big Government. I took on government for my husband, when he didnt have a voice, and believed in something better. Thats what i will do for you, if you send me to the senate. Im not afraid to work with democrats, republicans to actually deliver results, and ensure that our police are fully funded. At the federal level, i want to ensure that our Police Officers have access here in Washington State to federal grants, for 5,000 retention and recruiting bonuses. We need good cops in Washington State, and we need to stand behind them so they can protect our families and our communities all over this amazing state. Thank you, mrs. Smiley. I do have a followup to get back to erins question, because she did ask specifically about gun control. Do you support any other additional gun control measures . Yeah, i would support the bill that came out of the senate, and i think that is a good step forward. But we have a crime and a Mental Health issue that needs to be addressed immediately. That is the root cause of what is going on. Okay, because i had that followup for mrs. Smiley. Senator murray, i just want to ask you to clarify your position on police funding. Well, let me make very clear, in the American Rescue plan, i had spoken to many of our cities and counties here who were facing a shortage of police. We put specific funds into the American Rescue plan to help communities hire and train new officers, and that money is out there now. The vast majority of funding for police of course comes from our cities, but we felt that it was critical at that time that we up the amount we do from the federal government, and i was proud to support that. Thank you, senator murray. Our next topic is abortion. In the debate in spokane last week, senator murray, you said you wanted to pass a federal law to protect abortion rights. Mrs. Smiley, you said politicians should not be in a Doctors Office with women and their doctors, that you were personally prolife, but respect the will of washington. That is what you both said in the debate. This is what you posted on social media. Senator murray had this September Facebook post claiming mrs. Smiley supported overturning roe v. Wade and supported texas trigger laws banning most abortions in that state. And mrs. Smiley, this was a tweet from you, claiming senator murray wants no legal limits on abortion, and the post has the senators hands, as you can see, colored red. So asking for more clarification on your positions. This is another kiro 7 viewer, stephen martineau, in lewis county. What limitations or restrictions, if any, do you support on abortion, including lateterm abortions . Mrs. Smiley, ill have you start this, and ill repeat it, because i know it was quick and maybe a little hard to hear. What, if any, limitations do you support on abortion, including late term abortions . Mrs. Smiley i have been very clear about my stance. I am personally prolife. Long before the Supreme Court leak, i believed to belong to us with the people. Washington state has long decided where they stand on the issue. I will not change that. I respect the will of the voters. What i can do and what i will do is ensure women have access to contraception. Along with childcare. Unlike senator murray, i will get that done. Willman women are in a place of crisis. We need to make sure they have every resource they need, that they know should they keep that child, that it is not a ticket to poverty. I respect the will of the voters of Washington State. If anything changes, it will be because the voters decided. Moderator thank you. Senator murray, what if any limits do you support on abortion, including lateterm . Sen. Murray thank you for that question. I believe that roe v. Wade provided a constitutional right for women to make their own Health Care Choices about their reproductive care. They did not have a politician in the office with them. They made that decision under the provisions of roe v. Wade. The decision to overturn the roe v. Wade went into effect and we saw states across the country put politicians into the room with the families. My opponent said she supported the texas law that even in the case of rape or incest a woman cannot get access to an abortion. I want to reinstate roe v. Wade at the federal level so we take politicians out of the office and allow women to make their Health Care Choices. Lateterm abortion is hard. Women have the right to be able to make that decision according to their own needs and health care. Ive talked to so many women who were just frightened today. They do not know if they can turn to a doctor. I talked to a woman from texas in turbo circumstances. She cannot talk to her friends because she was afraid of the consequences to them. Lets put this back in my hands of people themselves. Lets not have a country that has different states with different regulations. It is impacting us here in washington. We have providers come to washington to provide reproductive care for fear when they go back home they will get arrested. This is wrong. Moderator thank you. Just to follow up to bat, to bat, he asked specifically about lateterm abortions. How do you stand on lateterm abortion. Sen. Murray the legislation ive introduced codifies roe v. Wade and puts us back in a place where we can make our own Health Care Decisions. I have 49 votes on that in the senate. Moderator mr. Smiley, a followup but she was well. You say you respect the well loved washingtonians. Other laws restricting abortion rights have gone into effect and both have shown voters generally support more of abortion rates than those laws allow. How would you measure the well of washington voters . Mrs. Smiley there is one extreme on this and it is senator murray. If she had it her way, politicians would be involved. It is important, i guess, the people will decide. There are parts of the texas law i do not like. I was clear about that. It belongs with the people. The people in those states will decide and vote what is best. I respect the will of the voters here in Washington State and i will fight to ensure women have every resource they need. Moderator does that mean you do not support the trigger laws . Mrs. Smiley it belongs with the people. Senator murray believes it belongs with the politicians. Moderator last week, federal Appeals Court issued a stay to block President Bidens plan to cancel billions of dollars in Student Loan Debt. This would affect 22 million people. That includes a first time voter named andrew. He has our next question. Do you support President Bidens plan for Student Loan Debt relief . Sen. Murray thank you for that question and i think it is so critical. Making sure people have access to get the skills they need to provide for their families and their future is absolutely critical. As the country, we have to make sure they can do that. Guess, i support the steps yes, i support the steps that President Biden took. Ive talked to too many people who cannot buy a house or car because they cannot afford to pay back their student loans. A lot of states put less money into colleges and as a result, colleges raise their tuitions and students started taken out too much loans. Guess, week yes we need to do is so people of cash. We need to reevaluate how we pay for colleges. I am working on a bipartisan proposal to reincentivize states to invest in education which will lower tuition costs. I believe we need to revamp our Student Loan Repayment system. Ive legislation. I am working on this. I believe too many people are defaulting. Banks are changing their system and people cannot even track their loans. I believe the president did the right thing and my commitment is to lower the costs of universities so we do not find ourselves in this again. I am very proud that i doubled the pell grant and bat will go into effect this year to help students to pay their tuition. I want every student to be able to go to college. When i grew up, my dad lost his job. Everyone of us was able to go to school. Moderator thank you, senator murray. Mr. Smiley, the question to you. Do you support President Bidens plan for Student Loan Debt relief . Mrs. Smiley we are heading into a recession and senator murray is all for this. At a time when we cannot afford groceries, she voted to raise gas prices and now here we are having to pay. Whereas in plovers and construction workers to pay for somebody elses college degree. It is unfair. We need to ensure our education system, that we decrease the stigma that colleges for everyone. We need to expose our kids to trade at a much younger age. There are multiple pathways to the american dream. What senator murray did was give the green light to colleges to raise prices. I talked to her father in vancouver. She is now working well into retirement age. He paid for four of his kids College Degrees and she is asking me how much longer do i have to work and now i am paying for everyone elses. Senator murray has had 30 years. I will go get it done and ensure our College System is fixed and fair. That colleges ensure that these kids have a job. This should not be on the backs of hardworking washingtonians. That is what i am fighting for. I will go take on d. C. Senator murray went along with it. She is not the mother in tennis shoes anymore. We cannot afford another six years Going Forward. I will ensure we expose our kids to multiple pathways to the american dream. Moderator a followup. I think i know your answer to the first part of andrews question we just do not support the president s plan. What is your alternative plan . Mrs. Smiley i also know a way to get Free Education as well. What i would like to see is these kids have an opportunity to serve our country in repayment to the loans they are getting. To understand why we are so great as the United States of america. Moderator thank you. Senator murray, you are talking about Incentivizing States to invest more in colleges . Sen. Murray are plainest to provide more our plan is to take the burden off of our students. We all need to be there to help make sure our people get the skills they need. One other thing i support is Free Community college. Moderator thank you both for your answers. Turning now to the war in ukraine. The Associated Press reported the pentagon ascending more weapons and aid to ukraine to bolster efforts to get Russian Forces out of key areas in the south before winter sets in. The total u. S. Funding is about 17 billions dollars right now. Our next question is for mary taylor. If elected, will you support the continuation of aid and assistance to ukraine at the current level . Mrs. Smiley first, we should not be in this position. President biden and senator murray went along with the failed departure from afghanistan that killed 13 Service Members and emboldened the evils of this world. Vladimir putins weakness on the world stage and began to make movements. We should have been tougher on Vladimir Putin at the beginning. We need strength on the world stage. We need to ensure our nato allies are coming together in support. In the beginning, we should have gotten them everything they needed. We need to ensure we are giving them everything they need to fight and win this war. We need to ensure we show strength on the world stage. Families across Washington State will never forget the failed departure out of afghanistan. Our families certainly wont. We have issues around the world threatening our national security. Senator murray goes along because she works for washington dc i have a track record of taking on Big Government and winning. We need to ensure we are the shining beacon on the hill in this country. Moderator senator murray, the same question to you. Sen. Murray thank you for that question. It is important to go back to something that were talking about earlier. A democracy and how we make sure we support this democracy. By standing up for the principles we believe in. I am so impressed with ukraine and president zelenskyy. They are fighting an aggressive Vladimir Putin who was trying to take their democracy away. They stood up to fight back. I thought it was important that our country back them in doing that. I think President Biden did a really good job. He worked with our allies to make sure we went in as a canadian force. We do not want a war between the United States and russia, but we want to support ukraine. I think it is important we continue to show them support from this country. I do not know what the requests will be Going Forward. I hope that Vladimir Putin is out soon, but i think it is important to show ukraine we stand with them are and that we will work with our european allies to strengthen democracy across the world. Moderator when you support the continuation of assistance to ukraine at the current level . Sen. Murray we have supported ukraine with this request from our nato allies. I do not know the requests will be Going Forward. Within a requests we got, i look at the briefings and intelligence reports and question what it will be used for. To this point, i have been there. I will evaluate as i do anything. Bottom line, we need to be there to support ukraine in their fight for their democracy. Mrs. Smiley with the help of our allies across the country. We need to back out of the awful Iran Nuclear Deal and stand with the women and the people of iran. If they get a nuclear weapon, they will wipe israel and the United States off of the earth. Senator murray voted for that. We need to back out of the you run nuclear deal. Iran nuclear deal. Moderator much of the state is finally able to breathe again after a season of wildfire smoke. James says Climate Change is issue behind his question. Wildfires have been increasing for years now. And devastating communities, destroy forests and the air we breathe. In light of these events, what do you think are the best ways to protect the citizens of washington from these catastrophes . Sen. Murray Climate Change is having an impact. Our increased use of carbon has increased the Global Warming and we are seeing effects of that. Dropped and drought and our farmers have less yield. I was very proud that the Senate Passed the biggest investment in Climate Action this past summer because we have to move to a clean economy. We need to reduce the amount of emissions in the air so that we do not continue to see these rising and extreme weather conditions we are seeing. The first thing we are doing is moving to cleaner energy technology. Some of it is being produced here in our country. We also have to invest in resiliency so that our nation can survive these extreme floods and wildfires. That is why it was happy in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That is why i was happy in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Up in mount vernon we are seen extreme flooding. We provided federal funds to help them build resiliency walls so that they could protect their downtown area. This is what we are providing funds for at the federal level. But we have to fight Climate Change. Our government has to lead and i am proud we are doing that. I know my opponent does not believe the same as i do. But Climate Change is real. It is impacting our economy, weather, health. It is impacting every one of us. Moderator mr. Smiley, the question goes to you as well. Mrs. Smiley i do not know why senator murray calls me a climate manner because i am not. Climate denier because i am not. I believe in taking care of our planet. I do not know why she sold our energy to russia. Last time i checked, russia does not have any environmental standards. I have an environmental plan for recovery and reform. It includes using local management for our fires. Taken the input from local government will reduce the fires we are facing. My plan calls for insured release energy independent. We do a best here in america. We do it best here in america. Lowering gas prices. Last time i checked, 87,000 irs agents do not change the weather. We need to work locally with our people to manage our forests. I look forward to working with the organizations that have endorsed me and know i will fight for them. Moderator so you do believe that humans influence Climate Change . Mrs. Smiley absolutely. Moderator senator murray, do you also believe in force management . Sen. Murray in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, we provided additional funding for firefighters. We need to make sure Emergency Management has more money for making sure we have enough fire fighters. I do believe we need to manage our force effectively our forests effectively. But we cannot just say that forest fires will never happen. We have a planet that has grown warmer every year. Moderator medicare is the next topic. We received a lot of questions about this including this one from lisa. How are you going to protect medicare . Mrs. Smiley i know senator murray is trying to scare senior citizens. I will not touch anyones benefits who are receiving or about to receive benefits. We need to be able to come together for solutions. I am happy to work for the future to deliver results. Senator murray is a proponent for medicare for all, which we know would be medicare for none. We need to get back to the days of Ronald Reagan and tip oneill, where you talk to each other and deliver results. I will absolutely go fight for you. I am not here to take away from anyone, but you need your costs to be lower. You need your gas prices to be lower. Senator murray voted to stop benefits for Prescription Drugs for medicare. If she had her way, you would not get Prescription Drugs. We need to ensure we have transparency and accountability and electing leaders who would take it on, work with democrats and republicans so seniors do not have to worry in the future. Moderator senator murray, i know you have a response. Sen. Murray medicare is one of the most important programs that we provide at the federal level so that people when they retire have the ability to know their health care will be taken care of. I am a proud supporter of that. I will always work to make sure it is secure for the future. One of the things i focused on is making sure people on medicare have lower Prescription Drug costs. In the bill we passed two months ago, we were the we for the first time allowed medicare to negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies which will mean lower cost for everyone. I had thought forever to get medicare to do that. It is now going to be happen. It is now going to happen. In that bill, we also kept insulin down. I believe that should be for everyone. We also kept the costs capped the cost for seniors and 2000. That is going to be like saving for seniors for them to be able to afford their Prescription Drugs. Moderator thank you both. Unfortunately, we are running low on time. As we turn now to immigration and concerns over citizenship, here is greg. Where do you stand that a granting citizenship to the dreamers . On granting citizenship to the dreamers . Sen. Murray i absolutely support that those dreamers who came here when they were too young to remember any other country, they can contribute back to our country but now they live in fear of being returned home to a country they do not know. Why would we sent skilled people back to a country inhumanely. I have voted to protect daca. I will continue to do that. We should also fix our immigration system. We need a pathway to citizenship. Our economy benefits by having a better immigration system. Republicans have not been willing to negotiate with us. I welcome them with open arms to exit problem. To fix this problem. Mrs. Smiley they have come here at no fault of their own and we owe it to them to have a pathway to legal citizenship. 30 years in the senate and we are still talking about immigration. We need Immigration Reform. We need to make sure there was a pathway to legal status that works. I went out to the southern border and i saw what people are willing to do to come to the United States. It is heartbreaking. It is a humanitarian crisis. We need to secure our border. We need to stop fentanyl from coming across and protect immigrants. It is heartbreaking to see what is going on. Senator murray refuses to address this. She has not been able to get Immigration Reform across the aisle. She only works for washington dc. Moderator your time is up. We do have a little bit more time so i am going to push more on gregs question. So you both what allow a path to citizenship for dreamers . Would you allow new people in mrs. Smiley when you allow new people . Mrs. Smiley first, we need to secure our border. There are people putting their lives at risk and coming into our country. First, we have to secure our border. Sen. Murray these are talented, amazing young people. They have much to offer our country. Their talent is needed and i would absolutely support that. Moderator we have reached the final few minutes of tonights town hall. Each candidate gets 90 seconds for a final statement. Senator murray goes first. Sen. Murray thank you for those great questions. We have covered a Great Variety of topics tonight better critical to people, from immigration to access to the ability to make your own Health Care Decisions if you are a woman. What you have heard from me as i come home and i take your values back to washington dc to fight for you. It is imperative we have stronger gun control. I believe strongly that we protect the rights of women to make their own Health Care Choices. I believe we need to protect democracy by passing the Voting Rights legislation. These are things i bring to the senate to fight for you. I believe i am the best voice to continue to do that for all of you. I am honored to serve you in the senate. Thank you. Mrs. Smiley at 23 years old, i resigned from my nursing job and took a flight to Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center where i did not know if i was going to meet my husband dead or alive. I had Student Loan Debt, a car payment. He had tubes in every orifice on his body. The suicide bomber that he was negotiating with in service to his country had sent shrapnel into both of his eyes. That is when my fight began. I was approached by army officials. I was the first person not to sign the paperwork. I went back and fought for every Service Member and their family. Senator murray is a career politician. 30 years and only nine years of nine pieces of legislation. Washington deserves the fighter. Ive been in all 39 counties. I have heard your voices. I am here to deliver results, not just good intentions. I would be deeply honored to earn your vote and be your voice. Moderator thank you both for your closing statements. We thank for your service to our country in their own different forms. That will wrap things up. Election night is november 8. That means your ballots need to be postmarked or dropped into a dropbox by 8 00 p. M. On that day for your vote to count. Thank you to the members of our studio audience as well. For all of us here, thank you for joining us. Make sure your voice is heard in the selection. Good night. Make sure your voice is heard in this election. Good night. [applause] President Biden will talk about u. S. Democracy during a Campaign Speech at Union Station in washington, c. Ater tod hosted by the Democratic National committee. Ouli coverage is at 7 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, or cspan now our free video app. With the midterm elections six days away, we have moreiv debate coverage. Tomorrow iebate in Rhode Islands governors race. Live coverage starts at 7 p. M. Eastern on c on friday, a debate for south dakotas u. S. Senate seat. That is at 9 00 p. M. Eastern. Cspan is your unfiltered view of government. Do you think this is just a Community Center . Its way more than that. Comcast is partnering with 1000 Community Centers so students from low income families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. This election day the control of congress is at stake. From now until Election Night follow coverage with our coverage of debates, rallies, and canada events