Good day, everyone the day welcome to the kansas u. S. Senate debate on the Kansas Agriculture Network and Information Network and fm news one oh four. Nine the flagship for the Kansas Radio Networks i will be serving as moderator of todays debate. Traditionally during Election Year we hold the debates during the first saturday of the kansas state. Hutchison covid19 cause the cancellation of the 2020 kansas state fair but we continue with their tradition of posting that debate we also welcome those that are watching the debate through facebook and youtube pages we will introduce you to the candidates. First the republican candidate doctor Roger Marshall the congressman for the congressional district, a veteran and physician who practiced for nearly 30 years until he was sworn into congress in 2017. Doctor marshall has been married 37 years, four children, two grandchildren , one on the way. Democratic candidate kansas state senator doctor Barbara Bollier a Public Servant and retire doctor spent her times fighting for balance budgets and fiscal responsibility in healthcare and is committed to listening to and advocating for farmers and ranchers across kansas in the u. S. Senate. Asking the questions from across the state lets give you a quick introduction. First off w ibew radio and the kansas agricultural radio in topeka. Next is jennifer next is a reporter with the kansas reflector in topeka and finally anchor and factfinder from wichita lets go over the rules every candidate will have three minutes for the Opening Statement when questions are asked they will alternate who will answer first. For example candidate a after the question is asked has one minute to respond candidate be will also have one minute toothe respond and then candidate a will have 30 seconds for rebuttal. Each will have two minutes 30 seconds for their closing statements. Serving as a timekeeper is farm broadcaster with the Kansas Agriculture Network w ibew network in topeka blind draw was held friday afternoon for opening and closing statements the Opening Statement is starteded by congressman marshall you have three minutes for your Opening Statement. This afternoon i went to offer our prayers to the family and as the nation moves forward. If theres one thing i hope listeners remember today it is that from the time they wake up until they go to bed every waking moment of my life of spending fighting for you and your family, fighting to keep the health and safety and secur secure, your jobs back and the values that you and i ndwere raised on. I thought to keep the be safe and healthy in the delivery room and then im committed to your family and arkansas values we all have a story that shapes our value i was born in Butler County fifthgeneration firstgeneration College Student my American Dream was to go to medical school my wife and i got married two weeks before School Started and before medical school and residency in military we move back where we a delivered 5000 babies and raised four of our own now four grandchildren and one on the way so the children and grandchildren have the same shot we have all had that my opponent is threatening our felues and dreams and way of life they want to tell you when you can leave the house if your business is open, when to get a haircut and what curriculum should be taught and what medicine we can take maybe this works in new york and california but not hearing kansas. These are not kansas values they are out of touch we can agree on the importance of agriculture i am honored to be endorsed by the Kansas Bureau and Livestock Association and the great work we have done together we have written a bill and rollback other rules and regulations and Economic Development and to improve tele connectivity i am proud to be born and raised in agriculture and i would also like to add to other great endorsementsts pillars of kansas senator bob dole and pat roberts i cannot wait to get started today im honored to be here and i look forward kyohave your support in your vote up next to state senator 13. Good afternoon i would like to acknowledge what are hurting time it is for nation as he just losts a great Woman Supreme CourtJustice Ginsburg. Also what an acknowledge what a loss it is to cancel our annual state fair especially for the hutchison area and Rural Communities. It has been held every year for over 100 years. Its more than just a fair but a great opportunity to celebrate kansas a very important tradition. Also a big part of economy for people of all ages to learn and share and be together. Im heartbroken we will miss this event as we have missed so many others this year due to the pandemic but i am confident we can overcome this virus by working together and next year we will be back at the fairgrounds. I will missac having this traditional fare with spectators in the grandstand but i am grateful for this opportunity to share a bit about myself and my priorities with the people of kansasit. I am a mom, doctor, state senator. I went into medicine to improve peoples lives and went into Public Service for the very same reason. I dedicated my lifes work to my patients in my constituents my community and our state and in the Kansas Legislature i was a leading advocate for expanding affordable healthcare. Fully funding schools and investing in Rural Communities and balancing the budget to keep taxes lowlo i have a record of standing up to both parties if they are doing the wrong thing for kansas. But i will work with anyone if they are doing right by the kansas families and thats sxactly what i will do with u. S. Senate. This is a difficult an historic time for our country. We need leaders in washington to stop the political bickering and attacking one another and just getng things done. Thats always been my approach listen, look at the facts work with others and solve problems thats why i am endorsed by senator castle bomb in nearly 100 other Republican Leaders in this state they know i will be the independent voice of reason that kansas needs in washington. Thank you. Host we determine the order of the questions that will be asked by the media panel because senator bollier went last the firsted congressman is directed at senator marshall from the Kansas Agriculture Network. Before i ask the question i want to say a special thanknk you to all the media topeka this is a tradition we began 35 years ago and it has become not only the premier debate in the state that are highlight of the kansas state fair one of you will fill massive shoes when it comes to agriculture senator pat roberts has been the foremost person working on ag policy for over three decades beginning around 85 earlier he is resigning and somebody will fill his spot. We anticipate that senator moran will take over his spot on the committee but we cannot be sure ofbu that would either of you be willing or interested to be on that committee . I miss being with you at the state fair and then to be on the Senate Ag Committee and i always tell folks the right reason to vote for me is because i can sort heifers and steers ive had great experience we still invested in agricultureree all the ad te organization and we have had these conversations and i look that. D to and anna why my opponent would want to be any ag committee she fights against farmers and fight against the farm bureau Healthcare Association plan. And then to post a discouraging remark and then doesnt want to be on that ag committee. Not with consistent with ag values. Ms. Bollier you have one minute. I will be on that Senate Ag Committee agriculture and our rural way of life for a critical part of our economy and identity as a state. I have been standing with kansas farmers for over ten years with the Kansas Legislature i hope to pass two statewide transportation plans , fiftyyear water plan and more funding for broadband i call out the regulatory train wreck under obama using sound science and agricultural policy. What kansas need to know the real difference is not the level of ag expertise but respect and then the ability to work across the aisle i look forward to continue that legacy of the Senate Ag Committee i look forward to that. You have 30 seconds for rebuttal. I hope folks look at my opponents book liberal voting recordoo and the activism against farmers in the Healthcare Association plan voted against and they gave us waters of the us and now they will give us the Green New Deal that is the end of kansas kansas agriculture. My opponent chose to lead the rep leave the Republican Party joined the democrats she joined them after they came out with agreed new deal does not represent the values. Host associate editor from the High Plains Journal in dodge city your question. Host good afternoon. Ag and ag related industries support 245,000 jobs 12. 7 percent of the workforce. 25 percent meat comes to the packing plants farms and ranchers all need reliable labor if elected to the senate what policies would you propose or support to address the immigrationcoy challenge to allow a shot at the American Dream of the food production. State senator bollier you have one minute to respond. There is no clear example of how broken washington is by Immigration Reform. They are fed up with anct acti n action, decades. I support secure borders so we safeeep our communities and a legislative solution for dreamers who were brought to the country through no fault of theirr own. And a bipartisan reform package with the reality of our present circumstance. One thing is clear washington gridlock is the reason we have a national crisis. My opponent has done absolutely nothing to contribute to an atmosphere of working together to solve thesesp problems. We are dependent on this labor i will be very supportive to make sure people have that path to citizenship. Thank you. Congressman marshall you have one minute. You are right how important agriculture is to kansas. This issue ive tried to work on since the day i got to congress. I believe in secure borders and a broken immigration system. The first thing i did was sit down with every democratic member with a broken immigration system but my disappointment is the democrats do not want to fix thist situation they do not want secure borders i have to remind them my opponent left the Republican Party in favor of the democrats values they are a party of open borders and sanctuary cities into defined the police on unfunded the police thats why we need Us Senate Majority to maintain our security. And that just leads to a circular firing squad. Host you have 30 seconds for rebuttal state senator bollier. We need leaders to put s doingn politics asidede what is right for kansas. Nothing is more important than keeping our borders safe. And Immigration Reform has not happened yet and we need this. I agree it is broken but we need people who were will one you will Work Together. It will take a bipartisan solution to fix it and i am known for my work. Thank you. Host have to remind myself to keep time for the timekeeper the next question comes from reporter from the kansas reflector in topeka. I want you both to make the case for voting on the replacement for Justice Ginsburg with the Senate Republicans to wait until after the president ial election. Is a high takee nomination and confirmation of the Supreme Court justice airey seriously. Its one of the senates most notable responsibility. The Supreme Court is one of the most important institutions in america. It should end depoliticized. These are lifelong appointments. This election thats underway in kansas right now, kansans should make their voices heard. And the leaders of the kansas elected in november should be voting and deciding and confirming who will be filling our vacancy in the Supreme Court. I believe that the senate has plenty to do in h the meantime. They need to pass additional relief for americans struggling with this very difficult innd te neck. And most importantly we shouldnt be politicizing our Supreme Court. One of our three branches of government. Congressman marshall got 30 seconds for a rebuttal. We need to move forward to confirm a prolife constitutionalist judge who will apply the law did not write the law. This is whats americans send a republican majority to the senate to do. 2016 is different than today. Youd have to go back to 1882 c. A time when the senate would have confirmed a democratic senator or vice versa. This is since 2016. Republicans were elected to do justice. We neejust this. We need to stand up and do our job. Thank you very much, congressman marshall. Next question will be first answered by state senator bollier coming from anchor in fact finder in wichita. Here we are because of this virus so i want to talk about the response to coronavirus by either party and do you have concerns as to how it will be distributed especially . State senator, you have one minute to respond. The challenges we face because of this virus are historic and it will take nothing short of historic action to overcome them. We must continue to do things like support our workers and ones that dont have jobs to return to we should extend Unemployment Benefits to make sure they can benefit andnd heah aree ability to pay their rent. Obviously we need to provide additional assistance for small businesses. As far as the vaccine goes, ive been very disappointed in the federal response to this vaccine by politicizing it. It shouldnt be politicized, but i look forward to an fda approved vaccine. We know that the way we will get through this pandemic is to actually follow science, wear a mask, do the things that publichealth officials tell us to do and wait for the vaccine. Once it is here we look forward to being vaccinated, those who choose and move forward and keep our economy going. Congressman, you have one minute to respond. Thank you so much. Its good to almost see them again today. I want to bring a message of hope to america. I visited with the Vice President two or three week ago. Hes optimistic we are going to have a vaccine available for those in the formidable by thanksgiving time. When i was the first congressman to the first member of congress to step on the floor and say we have anc problem here and since that day ive been working to solve the problem in early february i was sitting down wity the cdc and private sector saying we need to get to work on vaccines and therapeutics and im so proud of the doctors and nurses across the country we have thwiththe greatest doctorss in the world. We are down to 0. 4 thanks to American Ingenuity. So listen, im so optimistic i can see the light at the end of the time of that we are living against this invisible enemy. You have 30 seconds for a rebuttal. It has been so disappointing to see ati doctor more concerned with his Political Health than the Actual Health of people of kansas. Hes been going around the state holding events, not wearing masks, being inside an large ane groups of following science to my next question and that will be for congressman marshall and that will come from kelly in the kansas network. Good news yesterday. For the usda income is projected to be over 102 billion in the United States this year. Thats the good news. Herese the bad news. 37 of the money came from government payments. The rest of it of course came from sales, livestock and such but operators have been struggling for the pastav severl years. What specific policy proposals do you support to improvewh the Financial Outlook . We have been working on this together but number one is tra trade. The now weve got to go back up and Great Britain and europeann union, india and the african nations have also theres opportunities there and for biofuels. Weve got it going through right now and we cannot let democrats controlled the i do not support the Green New Deal and we know it is government overreach and its not a realistic path forward. As far as trade goes, kansas is an export of state. We are the best in the world of what we do and that is why it is so critical for kansas to have access to International Markets around the globe. Thats why feels like this are so important and why i will make sure that i fight for kansas, farmers and ranchers. I dont want them pushed to the frontlines of a tradfront lines. Unfortunately, it has been sad to see they have had to shoulder the burden in this time. Congressman marshall did you have 30 seconds for a rebuttal. We have gotten a