Transcripts For CSPAN2 Campaign 2020 Colorado U.S. Senate De

Following all coronavirus protocols. Yes both are being tested regularly and quick reminder about the rules for two nights debate. Candidates will have 60 seconds to answer most questions, 30 seconds to answer followup questions. We also ask specific yes or no questions throughout the debate and this goes without saying but were asking both candidates to please refrain from interrupting one another. We have a lot ofus territory to get through tonight so we must start with the pandemic and weve seen the consequences, economic devastation especially for the lowest wage workers, people of color hit disproportionately, kids andnd adults struggle with mental health, suicide climbing. Monday the president tweeted dont be afraid of covid. Dont let it dominate your life. 2000 coloradans have died and another 75,000 been diagnosed with coronavirus during the pandemic senator gardner lets start with you. As a member of the senate are you proud of the way republican majority is handling the pandemic . You proud of the way that the republican majority is handling the pandemic . Sen. Gardner we have to improve our work every day. Republicans and democrats coming together to do the job to help us get through this pandemic. I am proud of the work i have done with the governor to provide hundreds of thousands of covid19 tests, that i helped us secure from korea. The governor said much of what we had to respond early on was because of the work we did with taiwan and with south korea as well. So i am excited to continue the work that we need to do for the people of colorado, including additional relief in the Paycheck Protection Program, additional dollars for Unemployment Benefits. I am proud for those efforts and i will fight for more. A couple weeks ago, we had a bill on the floor of the senate to make sure we had a chance to support coloradans, to extend Unemployment Benefits and allow businesses a second loan, but unfortunately John Hickenlooper opposed the vote. He wouldve voted no. The difference between us is i believe this is about the people of colorado. It is not about him. That is what he thinks it is. This is about supporting the people of colorado. Moderator the question was, are you proud of the way the senate is handling it . Are you proud of the way that president is handling the pandemic . Sen. Gardner we have to go to work each and every day to make sure we are proud of our response. The fact is we should not be proud of anybody who passes away. We have had 200,000 lives lost, hundreds of thousands that we have seen in the u. S. This is a question of pride. This is a question of getting through this together. I believe we must get through this by staying together and united, that is what we do in colorado. It is not a question of being proud or a question of pride, it is about standing together to fight a pandemic that does not care about republicans or democrats. Moderator mr. Hickenlooper, the senator said you do not prepare the state well enough for the pandemic. What is your response to that . Mr. Hickenlooper let me say that i think he has done a remarkable job of addressing the Pandemic Response from a state level. And certainly we did communication tabletops. The whole point of them is to improve the systems. We did that. The bottom line is President Trump has, from the very beginning his negligence in identifying the real challenge and risk of covid19, and then the incompetence of the response, once and they owned up to it, that has made our consequences more severe than any industrialized, pretty much any industrialized country in the world. Our economy is upside down and we still cannot get Additional Resources or relief. People have lost their jobs, their businesses and they are trying to figure out how to make rent and put food on the table. In washington, it is the same as it ever was. And he is part of the status quo that does not get things done. Moderator did you prepare colorado well enough . Mr. Hickenlooper i think we put in place the processes by which you can continuously improve whatever it is you have. Moderator thank you. We are going to continue on with health care questions. Lets move on. Caitlin, continue. Mr. Gardner, you voted nine times to repeal the health care act. If that effort finally succeeds, what will replace it and be as specific as possible. Sen. Gardner i think you heard the governor admitted that he did not prepare the state of colorado for the pandemic, his own tabletop exercises prove that and of the audit that the state performed. There are two things we agree on when it comes to health care. One, we will protect people with preexisting conditions. That is why i have introduced legislation to protect. People with preexisting conditions two, the Affordable Care act needs to be replaced. I believe in a patient centered plan. The idea that a patient and doctor should be making these decisions. It is based on reinsurance. I helped to make sure that the state of colorado received a waiver for the reinsurance program, to drive down costs, that is what the state was seeking and i helped grant that from hhs. It is making sure that we have it is making sure that we have health plans at work. Making sure that we have preexisting condition overage. 170 million ld insurance policies away from the American People. He believes in a government run system that puts the bureaucrats in charge, like getting a colonoscopy at the dmv. I did not really hear a plan that you have, what would replace the Affordable Care act. Sen. Gardner we will make sure that we have a plan for those with preexisting conditions. It is based on risk pools. To make sure that we have insurance across state lines, drive down unnecessary procedures at that drive up the cost of medical care. That is estimated by about 25 . We can reduce those costs. The plan is to make sure we empower citizens, empower constituents and patients, not empowering congress to be in charge of their health care. Remember, what John Hickenloopers plan would do would lead to medicare for all, which is health care for none. 178 Million People would lose their Health Insurance as a result and it would increase payroll taxes by 2300. Thank you. Many parts of the Affordable Care act have been struck down in the past 10 years, but some provisions remain, like the insurance marketplaces, protecting preexisting conditions and keeping children on insurance until 26 years old. Should democrats focus on restoring things like the individual mandate or try something new . R. Hickenlooper let me take a moment first he is a fast speaker and i think you will hear a lot of attacks, some outright lies from him. But lets answer this question, the Affordable Care act provided, not universal coverage, but increased coverage in this country. And they did provide for relief or kids in the in between age, so they can stay on their parents plan, protections for preexisting conditions. I believe we have to build on the Affordable Care act. That is what barack obama builds as a foundation. And i think a sliding scale public option gets us a long way there. E says he has a bill that will provide for protecting people, for extending the protections for preexisting conditions. Theres no there, there. They have had five different Fact Checkers say it is a sham. Channel 9, another station called it horse excrement. Moderator we will move on to some yes and no questions as elated to health care. When i address you directly, respond with a yes or a no. Vice President Biden supports dropping the age from 65 to 60 for medicare, while making those extra years optional. Do you support that idea . Sen. Gardner the question was to drop the age of medicare eligibility . I support more people who can get more access to medicare, as long as it is sustained. Moderator it is a yes or a no question. Sen. Gardner if i understand the plan correct, i have not read the plan, but if it is more people getting into the care they have been promised and we protect medicare, then of course. Mr. Hickenlooper it is part of he package, but yes, i support giving the balancing that goes on. Moderator yes or no, would you vote in favor of a medicaid for ll bill . Mr. Hickenlooper no. Sen. Gardner know, but that is exactly what his plan is no, but that is exactly what his plan is. Moderator do you believe the federal government should be able to negotiate drug prices . Sen. Gardner yes. Mr. Hickenlooper yes. Moderator next question comes from justin. Justin mr. Hickenlooper, we will begin with you. Do you think that the government should send out another round of stimulus checks . Mr. Hickenlooper yes or no . Yes, absolutely. I think the fact that it has been six months and washington cannot get its act together is a shameful. We are dealing with people who have lost so much, families on the edge of bankruptcy, literally having trouble putting food on the table. Nd i think that we need to recognize that we have to provide support for our schools, so they can open safely. Lets make sure that we finally get sufficient Testing Capacity, so everyone who needs it can get it. Allow Small Businesses to open safely. And make sure we have enough protective equipment, so businesses and schools can all open safely. We have to make sure we get resources for our local governments and State Governments, to make sure that they can do well. Cory gardner and republican senators have been allowing themselves not to make any negotiations for six months. This has been going on for six months. Only in washington could you have such stagnation and call it good politics. Justin your response . Sen. Gardner i have supported expanding loans to businesses, loan forgiveness is to businesses to keep their doors open. There is rosies diner in colorado which is in Business Today because of the ppp oan. I spoke to a business in Greenwood Village that is around today because of the ppp loan, and they need more assistance. That is why i supported a bill that supports other things that need to be done. It would have provided billions of dollars for schools, dollars for testing, it wouldve provided dollars for businesses and ppe. That bill wouldve passed of the senate if we had bipartisan support, but unfortunately john said that he wouldve voted no, because he believes it is more important to play politics than providing relief for the people of the state. That is what you get with john, somebody willing to violate the states constitution against nd somebody willing to vote no on relief, then tell the people of colorado that they need more. It is not about you. Justin what about stimulus checks . Sen. Gardner absolutely, we need to support stemless checks, but the checks that we sent out, john criticized that bill as ell. The relief in the American People need was on the floor, with more coming just a few weeks ago, but to be clear my john said he wouldve opposed that. Is that a power grab . Does he want to wait until after he election, so maybe he can use it as political gain . Earlier this summer, he was convicted by the Ethics Commission because he believed the laws could be used for his own gain, ignoring the laws at the expense of the people. That is what you see happening with Coronavirus Relief. Moderator thank you. Mr. Hickenlooper can i respond . Moderator please. Mr. Hickenlooper the bottom line is that that bill was going to cut the extended insurance, the extended unemployment by two thirds. It was going do not provide any money for local governments or State Governments. It was going to provide little or no support for schools trying to reopen. So think about the schools. Kids want to go to school to learn, parents wanted them to go to school, the Teachers Want to teach, and they do not have the resource to do it. They cannot do it all themselves. Moderator thank you. Sen. Gardner he got it wrong, it did include money for education. Moderator thank you. We are moving on. Sen. Gardner he got the bill wrong. It is important to set the record straight. 105 billion for education was n that bill. We had dollars for schools, we had dollars for coronavirus protection, and he said he would have voted no. He did not even understand the bill. It is not about you. Moderator we will let you have the last word. Mr. Hickenlooper i think that we see again so many words. Sen. Gardner it is the truth. Mr. Hickenlooper and distortions and exaggerations. I trust people will be able to ee through this. We need to make sure that we get relief to the people that need it. The republicans control the senate, they are able to bring the bill forward and able to negotiate, but over six months they have not done it. It is the same as it ever was. Moderator we are moving on. Caitlin. Caitlin you are the third most ipartisan senator. But your voting record shows that you 90 of the time. How do you square those two . Sen. Gardner because i vote 100 of the time with the people of colorado. I brought the bureau of Land Management here in colorado. I have opened up the u. S. Space command in Colorado Springs. I just passed at the Great American outdoors act, identified as the most inefficient conservation accomplishment in over 50 years. A bill that was described as the holy grail of conservation. I lead funding and legislation to complete the aurora v. A. Hospital, to create a hotline that will save lives in olorado. Every single one of them took bipartisan support. Every single one was about us bringing republicans and democrats together, not as a byproduct, but to begin from the beginning to convince the president that we needed to pass the Great American outdoors act. Hat is bipartisanship. What you hear from john is he will not even support a republican led relief effort because apparently the republicans control the senate, and he does not think it was good enough, even though it contained the things that he wants. Moderator do you believe 100 of coloradans support 90 of President Trumps agenda . Sen. Gardner i will vote with colorado every single time. I believe that is what i have done. John hickenlooper actually called it the Great American outdoors act meaningless, he called the Suicide Prevention bill meaningless. He said the bills that cory gardner has passed are mostly meaningless. The bill that will save lives is meaningless . The Great American outdoors act that will put thousands to work is meaningless . Look, he is convinced the race is about him. You cannot trust a John Hickenlooper because when he was in colorado he took tax revenue to pay for his own moderator thank you. Every senator goes to washington vowing to fix the system. You said you did not want that job. Take a listen. Mr. Hickenlooper i respect senators, some of my best friends are senators, but i do not think im for that. Mr. Hickenlooper there are a umber of old friends, a couple mr. Hickenlooper i respect senators, some of my best friends are senators, but i do not think im for that. Mr. Hickenlooper there are a umber of old friends, a couple of my neighbors said it is a different job from being a ceo, it is a different job from being a mayor or governor, but the same scale, is bringing people together to find Common Ground and get things done. I called up a number of former governors at that went on to ecome senators and i said, can you feel like you are making a difference . Do you like it, is it rewarding . Everyone of them said, you will love it and you are just what we need, a Small Business person, somebody who has built a Small Business from the ground up and lay awake at night sometimes to igure out how to make payroll, and dealt with the regulations, and then went on to city government, State Government can i see how. They are supposed to Work Together that is what the senate needs, the ability to understand the relationships, but also to get people to Work Together. What is happening now is all of the senators are pointing fingers at each other. And cory gardner is in the middle of this. They would make you think that the status quo is perfect. Moderator thank you. We will do another yes and no round. And again, same as before, really we are working to get a es or no answer. So, if the Covid Infection rate rises above 5 in colorado, would you support another shutdown . Mr. Garner . Sen. Gardner no, we cannot afford a shutdown. Mr. Hickenlooper above 5 . Moderator if it rises above 5 in colorado, would you support another shutdown . Mr. Hickenlooper i would do with the medical professionals suggest, yes. Moderator some people are calling for a National Mask mandate, would you support it . Sen. Gardner national . No. Mr. Hickenlooper no. Sen. Gardner i wear a mask, but i think it would go too far. He answer is no. Oderator do you believe a Supreme Court justice should be confirmed before the results of the election . Sen. Gardner yes. The question was before moderator before the president ial election. Sen. Gardner we should follow a transparent process moderator yes or no. Sen. Gardner as long as there is a thorough process. If the process is completed and it is thorough and fair, yes. Moderator mr. Hickenlooper, do you believe a Paycheck Protection Program<\/a>, additional dollars for Unemployment Benefits<\/a>. I am proud for those efforts and i will fight for more. A couple weeks ago, we had a bill on the floor of the senate to make sure we had a chance to support coloradans, to extend Unemployment Benefits<\/a> and allow businesses a second loan, but unfortunately John Hickenlooper<\/a> opposed the vote. He wouldve voted no. The difference between us is i believe this is about the people of colorado. It is not about him. That is what he thinks it is. This is about supporting the people of colorado. Moderator the question was, are you proud of the way the senate is handling it . Are you proud of the way that president is handling the pandemic . Sen. Gardner we have to go to work each and every day to make sure we are proud of our response. The fact is we should not be proud of anybody who passes away. We have had 200,000 lives lost, hundreds of thousands that we have seen in the u. S. This is a question of pride. This is a question of getting through this together. I believe we must get through this by staying together and united, that is what we do in colorado. It is not a question of being proud or a question of pride, it is about standing together to fight a pandemic that does not care about republicans or democrats. Moderator mr. Hickenlooper, the senator said you do not prepare the state well enough for the pandemic. What is your response to that . Mr. Hickenlooper let me say that i think he has done a remarkable job of addressing the Pandemic Response<\/a> from a state level. And certainly we did communication tabletops. The whole point of them is to improve the systems. We did that. The bottom line is President Trump<\/a> has, from the very beginning his negligence in identifying the real challenge and risk of covid19, and then the incompetence of the response, once and they owned up to it, that has made our consequences more severe than any industrialized, pretty much any industrialized country in the world. Our economy is upside down and we still cannot get Additional Resources<\/a> or relief. People have lost their jobs, their businesses and they are trying to figure out how to make rent and put food on the table. In washington, it is the same as it ever was. And he is part of the status quo that does not get things done. Moderator did you prepare colorado well enough . Mr. Hickenlooper i think we put in place the processes by which you can continuously improve whatever it is you have. Moderator thank you. We are going to continue on with health care questions. Lets move on. Caitlin, continue. Mr. Gardner, you voted nine times to repeal the health care act. If that effort finally succeeds, what will replace it and be as specific as possible. Sen. Gardner i think you heard the governor admitted that he did not prepare the state of colorado for the pandemic, his own tabletop exercises prove that and of the audit that the state performed. There are two things we agree on when it comes to health care. One, we will protect people with preexisting conditions. That is why i have introduced legislation to protect. People with preexisting conditions two, the Affordable Care<\/a> act needs to be replaced. I believe in a patient centered plan. The idea that a patient and doctor should be making these decisions. It is based on reinsurance. I helped to make sure that the state of colorado received a waiver for the reinsurance program, to drive down costs, that is what the state was seeking and i helped grant that from hhs. It is making sure that we have it is making sure that we have health plans at work. Making sure that we have preexisting condition overage. 170 million ld insurance policies away from the American People<\/a>. He believes in a government run system that puts the bureaucrats in charge, like getting a colonoscopy at the dmv. I did not really hear a plan that you have, what would replace the Affordable Care<\/a> act. Sen. Gardner we will make sure that we have a plan for those with preexisting conditions. It is based on risk pools. To make sure that we have insurance across state lines, drive down unnecessary procedures at that drive up the cost of medical care. That is estimated by about 25 . We can reduce those costs. The plan is to make sure we empower citizens, empower constituents and patients, not empowering congress to be in charge of their health care. Remember, what John Hickenlooper<\/a>s plan would do would lead to medicare for all, which is health care for none. 178 Million People<\/a> would lose their Health Insurance<\/a> as a result and it would increase payroll taxes by 2300. Thank you. Many parts of the Affordable Care<\/a> act have been struck down in the past 10 years, but some provisions remain, like the insurance marketplaces, protecting preexisting conditions and keeping children on insurance until 26 years old. Should democrats focus on restoring things like the individual mandate or try something new . R. Hickenlooper let me take a moment first he is a fast speaker and i think you will hear a lot of attacks, some outright lies from him. But lets answer this question, the Affordable Care<\/a> act provided, not universal coverage, but increased coverage in this country. And they did provide for relief or kids in the in between age, so they can stay on their parents plan, protections for preexisting conditions. I believe we have to build on the Affordable Care<\/a> act. That is what barack obama builds as a foundation. And i think a sliding scale public option gets us a long way there. E says he has a bill that will provide for protecting people, for extending the protections for preexisting conditions. Theres no there, there. They have had five different Fact Checkers<\/a> say it is a sham. Channel 9, another station called it horse excrement. Moderator we will move on to some yes and no questions as elated to health care. When i address you directly, respond with a yes or a no. Vice President Biden<\/a> supports dropping the age from 65 to 60 for medicare, while making those extra years optional. Do you support that idea . Sen. Gardner the question was to drop the age of medicare eligibility . I support more people who can get more access to medicare, as long as it is sustained. Moderator it is a yes or a no question. Sen. Gardner if i understand the plan correct, i have not read the plan, but if it is more people getting into the care they have been promised and we protect medicare, then of course. Mr. Hickenlooper it is part of he package, but yes, i support giving the balancing that goes on. Moderator yes or no, would you vote in favor of a medicaid for ll bill . Mr. Hickenlooper no. Sen. Gardner know, but that is exactly what his plan is no, but that is exactly what his plan is. Moderator do you believe the federal government should be able to negotiate drug prices . Sen. Gardner yes. Mr. Hickenlooper yes. Moderator next question comes from justin. Justin mr. Hickenlooper, we will begin with you. Do you think that the government should send out another round of stimulus checks . Mr. Hickenlooper yes or no . Yes, absolutely. I think the fact that it has been six months and washington cannot get its act together is a shameful. We are dealing with people who have lost so much, families on the edge of bankruptcy, literally having trouble putting food on the table. Nd i think that we need to recognize that we have to provide support for our schools, so they can open safely. Lets make sure that we finally get sufficient Testing Capacity<\/a>, so everyone who needs it can get it. Allow Small Businesses<\/a> to open safely. And make sure we have enough protective equipment, so businesses and schools can all open safely. We have to make sure we get resources for our local governments and State Government<\/a>s, to make sure that they can do well. Cory gardner and republican senators have been allowing themselves not to make any negotiations for six months. This has been going on for six months. Only in washington could you have such stagnation and call it good politics. Justin your response . Sen. Gardner i have supported expanding loans to businesses, loan forgiveness is to businesses to keep their doors open. There is rosies diner in colorado which is in Business Today<\/a> because of the ppp oan. I spoke to a business in Greenwood Village<\/a> that is around today because of the ppp loan, and they need more assistance. That is why i supported a bill that supports other things that need to be done. It would have provided billions of dollars for schools, dollars for testing, it wouldve provided dollars for businesses and ppe. That bill wouldve passed of the senate if we had bipartisan support, but unfortunately john said that he wouldve voted no, because he believes it is more important to play politics than providing relief for the people of the state. That is what you get with john, somebody willing to violate the states constitution against nd somebody willing to vote no on relief, then tell the people of colorado that they need more. It is not about you. Justin what about stimulus checks . Sen. Gardner absolutely, we need to support stemless checks, but the checks that we sent out, john criticized that bill as ell. The relief in the American People<\/a> need was on the floor, with more coming just a few weeks ago, but to be clear my john said he wouldve opposed that. Is that a power grab . Does he want to wait until after he election, so maybe he can use it as political gain . Earlier this summer, he was convicted by the Ethics Commission<\/a> because he believed the laws could be used for his own gain, ignoring the laws at the expense of the people. That is what you see happening with Coronavirus Relief<\/a>. Moderator thank you. Mr. Hickenlooper can i respond . Moderator please. Mr. Hickenlooper the bottom line is that that bill was going to cut the extended insurance, the extended unemployment by two thirds. It was going do not provide any money for local governments or State Government<\/a>s. It was going to provide little or no support for schools trying to reopen. So think about the schools. Kids want to go to school to learn, parents wanted them to go to school, the Teachers Want<\/a> to teach, and they do not have the resource to do it. They cannot do it all themselves. Moderator thank you. Sen. Gardner he got it wrong, it did include money for education. Moderator thank you. We are moving on. Sen. Gardner he got the bill wrong. It is important to set the record straight. 105 billion for education was n that bill. We had dollars for schools, we had dollars for coronavirus protection, and he said he would have voted no. He did not even understand the bill. It is not about you. Moderator we will let you have the last word. Mr. Hickenlooper i think that we see again so many words. Sen. Gardner it is the truth. Mr. Hickenlooper and distortions and exaggerations. I trust people will be able to ee through this. We need to make sure that we get relief to the people that need it. The republicans control the senate, they are able to bring the bill forward and able to negotiate, but over six months they have not done it. It is the same as it ever was. Moderator we are moving on. Caitlin. Caitlin you are the third most ipartisan senator. But your voting record shows that you 90 of the time. How do you square those two . Sen. Gardner because i vote 100 of the time with the people of colorado. I brought the bureau of Land Management<\/a> here in colorado. I have opened up the u. S. Space command in Colorado Springs<\/a>. I just passed at the Great American<\/a> outdoors act, identified as the most inefficient conservation accomplishment in over 50 years. A bill that was described as the holy grail of conservation. I lead funding and legislation to complete the aurora v. A. Hospital, to create a hotline that will save lives in olorado. Every single one of them took bipartisan support. Every single one was about us bringing republicans and democrats together, not as a byproduct, but to begin from the beginning to convince the president that we needed to pass the Great American<\/a> outdoors act. Hat is bipartisanship. What you hear from john is he will not even support a republican led relief effort because apparently the republicans control the senate, and he does not think it was good enough, even though it contained the things that he wants. Moderator do you believe 100 of coloradans support 90 of President Trump<\/a>s agenda . Sen. Gardner i will vote with colorado every single time. I believe that is what i have done. John hickenlooper actually called it the Great American<\/a> outdoors act meaningless, he called the Suicide Prevention<\/a> bill meaningless. He said the bills that cory gardner has passed are mostly meaningless. The bill that will save lives is meaningless . The Great American<\/a> outdoors act that will put thousands to work is meaningless . Look, he is convinced the race is about him. You cannot trust a John Hickenlooper<\/a> because when he was in colorado he took tax revenue to pay for his own moderator thank you. Every senator goes to washington vowing to fix the system. You said you did not want that job. Take a listen. Mr. Hickenlooper i respect senators, some of my best friends are senators, but i do not think im for that. Mr. Hickenlooper there are a umber of old friends, a couple mr. Hickenlooper i respect senators, some of my best friends are senators, but i do not think im for that. Mr. Hickenlooper there are a umber of old friends, a couple of my neighbors said it is a different job from being a ceo, it is a different job from being a mayor or governor, but the same scale, is bringing people together to find Common Ground<\/a> and get things done. I called up a number of former governors at that went on to ecome senators and i said, can you feel like you are making a difference . Do you like it, is it rewarding . Everyone of them said, you will love it and you are just what we need, a Small Business<\/a> person, somebody who has built a Small Business<\/a> from the ground up and lay awake at night sometimes to igure out how to make payroll, and dealt with the regulations, and then went on to city government, State Government<\/a> can i see how. They are supposed to Work Together<\/a> that is what the senate needs, the ability to understand the relationships, but also to get people to Work Together<\/a>. What is happening now is all of the senators are pointing fingers at each other. And cory gardner is in the middle of this. They would make you think that the status quo is perfect. Moderator thank you. We will do another yes and no round. And again, same as before, really we are working to get a es or no answer. So, if the Covid Infection<\/a> rate rises above 5 in colorado, would you support another shutdown . Mr. Garner . Sen. Gardner no, we cannot afford a shutdown. Mr. Hickenlooper above 5 . Moderator if it rises above 5 in colorado, would you support another shutdown . Mr. Hickenlooper i would do with the medical professionals suggest, yes. Moderator some people are calling for a National Mask<\/a> mandate, would you support it . Sen. Gardner national . No. Mr. Hickenlooper no. Sen. Gardner i wear a mask, but i think it would go too far. He answer is no. Oderator do you believe a Supreme Court<\/a> justice should be confirmed before the results of the election . Sen. Gardner yes. The question was before moderator before the president ial election. Sen. Gardner we should follow a transparent process moderator yes or no. Sen. Gardner as long as there is a thorough process. If the process is completed and it is thorough and fair, yes. Moderator mr. Hickenlooper, do you believe a Supreme Court<\/a> justice should be confirmed before the Election Results<\/a> . Mr. Hickenlooper as cory gardner said, the voice of the eople should be heard. They should not confirm until their voices are heard. Moderator that is a no. This is not a yes or no. We will give you 30 seconds, which should be the top priority of the senate, a coronavirus package or confirming judge Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> to the Supreme Court<\/a> . Choose one or the other. Mr. Hickenlooper . Mr. Hickenlooper covid, that has to be the primary thing to deal with, and to make sure we are dealing with the economy in constructive way. Especially for Small Businesses<\/a> that are at risk of being able to not reopen. We are looking at the shops, the restaurants, hair salons, this has to be a time when we focus on that. The vote of the people should help determine or allow the next president to decide who is nominated to the Supreme Court<\/a>. Moderator thank you. Sen. Gardner we should be focused on covid, that is why i am focused on covid. That is why i am trying to pass a relief bill right now. That is why i voted several weeks ago to pass a relief package, a package John Hickenlooper<\/a> said that he opposed. That bill supported the Small Businesses<\/a> that you say you want to support, it provided help to those coffee shops, Hardware Stores<\/a> and you said no, because not everything in the bill no, because not retain you want to was in the bill. But something is better than nothing. Moderator my question is what should be the priority of the senate, one or the other, the coronavirus or sen. Gardner coronavirus. That is why we need to continue this effort. Moderator thank you, we will move on. Caitlin . In 2016 you said the senate should not confirming Supreme Court<\/a> justice before the election. This is what you said. Sen. Gardner we are in the heart of a campaign with a divisive president who has done nothing but Overreach Congress<\/a> time and time again, so i believe the next to bring Court Justice<\/a> should be chosen by the people through the election of the next president. Moderator why do you no longer tand by those words . Sen. Gardner and has obligations, like we did in 2016. We followed the president in 016. In 2020, the president stands clear. We will advise and consent, the requirements of the constitution. The president this standard we are following goes back to he late 1800s. And i would remind the listeners at what John Hickenlooper<\/a> did when he was governor. When he was governor, in his last year in office, 2018, he appointed a justice to the colorado Supreme Court<\/a>. So he believes you can appoint a justice in the last year of a governors term, so i think he has to square what you said four years ago, do not confirm any justice, or do confirm a justice, now he is saying do not confirm a justice. Yet he himself in 2018 put a justice on the colorado Supreme Court<\/a>. This talk about the kind of justices or judges at that he supports. He put a judge on the bench that covered up a cocaine ring. Covered up a cocaine ring. He has another judge on the bench at that was a maxed out Campaign Donor<\/a> to his campaign. It is clear the kind of justice at that John Hickenlooper<\/a> wants, it is not about you, it is about the people of colorado and we need to fight like heck for every person here. Moderator why dont you stand by those words . Sen. Gardner i talked about precedent. From 2016, it is the same we exercise our advise and consent clause, the same powers we are doing in 2020. Moderator thank you very much. Mr. Hickenlooper can i respond . Moderator let me ask the next question. If you want to respond, you can. In 2016, you said the senate should not or should confirm eric garland. So why have you changed your position . Mr. Hickenlooper back then, we had 10 months. Just like i had when i made the appointment my last euros governor, which by the way cory gardner knows that we have an independent Bipartisan Commission<\/a> that vets all of the candidates and then recommends a three that the governor can choose from. It is a process that is considered the Gold Standard<\/a> in how you appoint judges, so he knows these allegations do not carry much water. I looked at this as, the precedent is right now being twisted to suddenly now the voice of the people in a divisive election, with a divisive president , it does not atter anymore. Why cant we wait to see who gets elected, and let them nominate the next justice. This will be a lifetime appointment, no reason to rush to judgment. Cory gardner supported 210 out of 214, a number that did not meet the basic standards of the american bar association. Its me about it is surprising. Moderator we have a followup question. If Justice Barrett<\/a> is onfirmed, and joe biden wins the election, would you vote to increase the size of the Supreme Court<\/a> . Mr. Hickenlooper in the first place, i do not think that will happen. I continue to hope that there are enough republican incumbents running for senate, that when the bright lights are turned up and they recognize that their vote is going to violate the will of the American People<\/a>, they will recognize that this is not the time. And i do not think that amy koning bear is going to get approved. Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> is going to get approved. My experience is it is generally the people, the institutions, that you need to change. Once we get new people in washington, the system i think will right itself. I am saying that i think that the first task that you have to do is go and make sure that you get new senators in place, new people. And i think that will change the institution, more than changing the rules. Mr. Gardner, 30 seconds, any circumstances in which you would support adding another justice . Sen. Gardner no, i yield the rest of my time for him to actually answer the question. He has said he would be open to court in the past. No, i do not support it. That is what Ruth Bader Ginsburg<\/a> said. It is a precedent with nine justices. Will you pack the court, yes or o . Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> is going to get approved. My experience is it is generally the people, the institutions, that you need to change. Nce we get new people in washington, the system i think will right itself. I am saying that i think that the first task that you have to do is go and make sure that you get new senators in place, new eople. And i think that will change the institution, more than changing the rules. Mr. Gardner, 30 seconds, any circumstances in which you would support adding another justice . Sen. Gardner no, i yield the rest of my time for him to actually answer the question. He has said he would be open to court in the past. No, i do not support it. That is what Ruth Bader Ginsburg<\/a> said. It is a precedent with nine justices. Will you pack the court, yes or no . R. Hickenlooper i am happy to repeat the answer that i gave. The bottom line is sen. Gardner yes or no, do you agree . Moderator ok, we are going to move on. Our next questions come from justin. Justin thank you. We are up to mr. Gardner. You did not vote for donald trump in 2016. You endorsed him in 2019. What changed your mind . Sen. Gardner i did not think that he could win the election in 2016, and i wanted to make sure that Hillary Clinton<\/a> did not win the white house because her ideas were wrong for the country. They included the government and wouldve lessened the opportunities for the American People<\/a>. The choice is clear. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. The choice is clear in 2020. Th the choice is clear in 2020. The choice is 20 the choice is clear in 2020. The choi her ideas included big government, weak Foreign Policy<\/a> and would have lessened the opportunities for the American People<\/a>. The choice is clear in 2020. We have a choice between somebody who will create a socialized medicine program, ban fracking. Hickenlooper said he would be with him every step of the way. He said he would support, he wants to go further than the green new deal. He wants to make oil and gas obsolete. Do you know what that means . 230,000 coloradans will lose their job. Is that the kind of economic 230,000 coloradans will lose their job. Is at the current economic planh you havee for this state . These are people that are live with in my neighbors come in my neighborhood. They are my family members. Yet we have at administration uttered joe biden and John Hickenlooper<\/a> that would destroy our economy. For donald trump . Mr. Gardner im proud of the work we have done together, to open up the bureau of Land Management<\/a> headquarters. Im proud of the work weve done. Lets be proud of the work weve done. We will bring people together. We need to make it about the people of colorado. You know whats wrong with washington, d. C. . You send people there that are dedicated to a partisan fight. Instead of working together. Im the thirdmost bipartisan member of the United States<\/a> senate. John thinks its all about him. Thats why he wants to go there. E admits it. Moderator i did not hear an answer. Mr. Gardner its been good for the state of colorado to bring bureau of Land Management<\/a> here, to cut taxes. Look at what our state has done. 7 wage growth across the western part of the United States<\/a>. Hickenlooper wants to repeal the 2017 tax cuts. That would reduce wages. Moderator are you proud of your support . Mr. Gardner im not going to support a socialist. Im not going to support a socialist. Moderator thank you. Mr. Hickenlooper, your time to respond. 30 seconds please. Mr. Hickenlooper i think resident trumps negligence in addressing covid19, his complete incompetence and that of his team and responding once they recognize the threat is a disgrace. It hurt the country is much as ny Natural Disaster<\/a> in our lifetime. Gardner did not speak out against that. When President Trump<\/a> tried to get foreign governments to intercede in our elections, cory gardner and speak out. During the president s debate, he said, standby to white supremacists, cory gardner idnt respond. Moderator thank you. Thank you. You did commit to violations while in office. Why should the people of Colorado Trust<\/a> you . Those were violations of travel. I tried to promote colorado. We became the number one economy in the country. Those allegations came from a dark money, Republican Group<\/a>. That was you know, made originally, 97 a gayses of only two were violations. You know, there were inadvertent. They were reporting errors. The denver post called them an honest mistake. I accept responsibility. Lets return to where those are coming from. The dark money Republican Group<\/a> recognizes they cant defend Cory Gardners<\/a> record. Hes trying to roll back protections for peoples preexisting medical conditions. Nine times. Not just not addressing Climate Change<\/a>. He wants to roll back protections for clean air and clean water. This is unacceptable by any measure. They know he cant run on t. They spent 20 million attacking me over the course of the summer. Thats washington politics oming to colorado. They see right through it. Coloradans recognize that this is a huge amount of attack ads and coverups. Moderator thank you. We are going to take a break. Mr. Gardner i would like to respond. Moderator we need to take a break right now. Mr. Gardner he invoked my name. I apologize. Moderator we need to take a break. We will continue the conversation right after this commercial break. Moderator and welcome back, everybody. Gardner and John Hickenlooper<\/a>. We are going to continue our conversation now. Talking about the economy. Federal unemployment numbers show women have dropped out of the workforce and tremendous numbers during this pandemic. 170,000 women left the labor market between february and may. That is double the amount of men. One in 12 working women. What policies do you think the federal government needs to advance to protect families, particularly working women, during difficult times like these . Mr. Gardner thank you for this question. Prior to the pandemic, record on implement growth. Tax cuts were adding 1400 per household in colorado. The western part of the United States<\/a> saw wage growth at . Household income. Hispanic families saw 65 Family Wealth<\/a> increases. Africanamerican families 33 increases. Women were entering the workforce, creating new jobs and opportunities. Because of the regulatory systems that we had been able to make more efficient and to encourage investment into startups. The work we continue to do in he Coronavirus Relief<\/a> needs to reflect the effort to make sure that women, men are able to get into the workforce, to keep their businesses open, to get skills that they need to compete in the future. Ive led legislation like the American Innovation<\/a> and competitiveness act to make sure we have training opportunities. The bill i supported a couple weeks ago wouldve provided additional dollars for businesses like women owned businesses across the state of colorado. John hickenlooper wouldve voted against that relief. We cant leave people behind. I dont understand why hes trying to do that. The timer may not be working so i will stop. Moderator you are out of time. Thank you. What policies do you think the federal government needs to dvance to protect women . Mr. Hickenlooper the first thing we need to do is make sure that Small Businesses<\/a> can reopen. They need to have Testing Capacity<\/a> and protective equipment. Hese things that the white house promised months ago and the senate promised it and it still hasnt happened. Women are often the Small Business<\/a> generators. They start and grow Small Businesses<\/a> in disproportional numbers. In a crisis like this, they are also the ones who get shut down. The original cares act didnt get enough resources. We need to look at how we can make sure that they get, not just skills training, but access to capital. Loans that can be turned into grants if they push through. Make sure that their workers can get the extended unemployment to get through this dark time until the businesses can safely eopen. We have to make sure that women get paid fairly. We know they are getting paid, in many cases, . 75 on the dollar of what men get paid. Its long overdue that the senate and washington should take this on and make sure its a level Playing Field<\/a> for everyone. Moderator our next question comes to us from Colorado Springs<\/a>. Take a listen. Thank you. Good evening. Covid19 impacted colorados tourism economy in many ways. We spent months profiling Business Owners<\/a> who are eager to rebound. Heres what we were told in april. We are holding our own. Its not as much business as we are used to, unfortunately. I had to lay off my staff. I expect to rehire them at something. With the economy working to recover and Small Business<\/a> owners trying to rebound, what role should Congress Play<\/a> in helping our tourism communities . Mr. Hickenlooper yes. As someone who spent almost three years in the restaurant business, i understand the challenges people are acing. I know what its like to be responsible for making payroll for the welfare and capacity of your employees to pay rent. Its a challenge. What Congress Says<\/a> has got to do is address the ability to respond. We have to make it safer people to feel they can go out and enjoy their lives. We have to be sure we have Testing Capacity<\/a>. It has to be fast. You cant wait three or four days. If they have a sniffle, they have to know if they will be ontagious. It is for their benefits. We havent gotten sufficient Testing Capacity<\/a> even to this day. Its unbelievable, its unconscionable that we dont have that. Protective equipment. Access to more resources. Much larger investments than what we saw. Moderator same question. What role should Congress Play<\/a> in helping our Tourism Community<\/a> . Mr. Gardner this isnt a case where a restaurant was serving bad food so it had to close or a hotel room was dirty so people stopped going. The government said, lets socially distance and stop this business for now to get through this. The government needs to respond. Im working on the restaurant act to provide 101 billion to 120 billion to keep restaurants open. Thats why im part of the rehire america plan, to cover the salaries of employees. Its why im a part of the startup act. I continue to support legislation like the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a> to get those dollars into the hands of Small Businesses<\/a>. Its why we passed the Great American<\/a> outdoors act. Its the law of the land. It will be putting millions of dollars into colorado to get eople hired. I spoke to a business in Colorado Springs<\/a> because of the Paycheck Protection Program<\/a>. Hickenlooper things its all about him. He would have voted against the business relief that the tourism ndustry needs. Moderator thank you very uch. Justin has our next line of questions. Thank you. The New York Times<\/a> or print on president toms taxes. Some years, he paid nothing. Other years, as little as 750. Is that fair . Mr. Hickenlooper of course not. This is exactly what was driving people nuts about washington. Washington feels that theres two sets of rules. President trump, we dont know exactly any details about his business. How much is he using his position to benefit his business . We know he has huge amounts of debt. We think it is certain foreign governments. S that affecting his negotiations with countries like russia or china . Why did the u. S. Redirect their Energy Around<\/a> russia and being more benevolent . Everybody should pay their fair share. Cory gardner supports Donald Trumps<\/a> trillion dollar tax giveaway. The wealthiest individuals got 83 of the benefits while so many Small Businesses<\/a> were temporary. Mr. Gardner thank you for the question. This would be answered if the president would release his tax returns. I urge him to do so. Hat answers all of these questions. There are two sets of rules in washington. Lets talk about the rules that you are playing by. You finished this last segment saying that you were found guilty on two small charges. Do you think that violating the state constitution is no big deal, nonchalant, a small thing . Do you think the independent Ethics Committee<\/a> that found you guilty is actually a Dark Money Group<\/a> . You obtained some of the members. You already when it comes to the people of colorado, you want them to look away when you yourself have two sets of rules. Violate the state constitution. You werent set free. Ou were found innocent on 91 charges. They were outside of the statute of limitations. They were never brought up. This is about somebody you cant trust because he things its all about him. If its all about him, he wont fight for you. Will you waive the statute of limitations . Moderator would you like to respond . Mr. Hickenlooper the incessant distortions and misstatement of facts. The bottom line is, cory gardner cant defend his record. He will keep attacking me all night. I dont think its going to stop t any point. In terms of the bill he says i would not vote for, at that moment, i would not have voted or it. If it was negotiated and got more money for this, restaurants for instance, why isnt it ast . Moderator we will move on now. Our federal debt is more than 20 trillion. Both parties are discussing another round of coronavirus stimulus. What do you think should be done to get the deficit under ontrol, if anything . Mr. Hickenlooper obviously, we will have to pay the piper. We gave the largest tax giveaway to large corporations and wealthy americans. 83 of that tax giveaway went to the wealthiest people in this country. Immediately, we went into the covid19. As ive said repeatedly, Donald Trumps<\/a> negligence in recognizing the risk. We turned out that he did recognize that risk. He said nothing about it. That coupled with the comp ncompetence of his team. They cut so many budgets. We are upside down. We will fight our way out of this by building our economy from the bottom up. We will build a more equitable. E will make sure Small Businesses<\/a> get resources to grow and hire more people. Ake sure we have support for working people. Child care. To make sure we can have an economy that lets us grow out of this incredible burden weve been put under by this tax cut. Moderator what should congress o about the deficit . Mr. Gardner continue to support our economy to get through this economic crisis driven by the andemic. We have to protect Social Security<\/a> and medicare. Social safety nets. We have to make them as strong as possible while we grow the economy. We need to make sure that we have a Regulatory Environment<\/a> that encourages investment, job creation. Those are the things we can do to balance our budget to handle the debt and deficit situation. Make no mistake. When hickenlooper was governor, he led the state of colorado, increasing its budget at the highest rate of all states but one. The biggest spending increase of all states but one. That state with north dakota. He supported billions of dollars of tax increases. When he says he wants to eliminate the 2017 tax cuts, that will increase taxes on coloradans from corner to corner. Is economic plan would put people like whole minors out of business. He brags about putting them out of business. Moderator thank you. 30 seconds to respond. Mr. Gardner lets be clear. Ive been endorsed by the commission to protect Social Security<\/a> and medicare. Theyve been clear that cory gardner voted to make the age to qualify for medicare would be older, to make it longer to get benefits from Social Security<\/a>, cutting resources for those nstitutions. The bottom line is, we will have to work our way through this economy by working together. We cant keep pointing fingers and attacking people, calling hem names. Moderator thank you. We will continue on. The median Student Loan Debt<\/a> for American Adults<\/a> 17,000. Should congress be doing something to address this . If so, what . Mr. Gardner im one of the only members of congress that has a tudent loan. Im the third youngest member of the United States<\/a> senate. My student loan is held at the niversity of colorado. I understand exactly what this means. We need to continue the work we are doing on grants to make it more affordable. To recognize industry programs to make it more for will. I passed legislation that allows certain education dollars to be used for dual enrollments to ensure that college, more is paid for in high school so you can get into High School Year<\/a> ahead. When it comes to Student Loans<\/a> themselves, i introduced a bill that would allow employers to pay their employees a portion of heir student loan. The employer wouldnt have to pay tax on that. Its connecting people, making it work, lowering the cost of tuition. Tuition and colorado increased by over 65 . 176 Million Dollars<\/a> was added to the student loan burden in colorado under his watch. Moderator mr. Reagan looper hickenlooper . Mr. Hickenlooper bsolutely. We need to increase pell grants. We should recognize that cory gardner voted 10 times to reduce pell grants instead of increase them. We should allow students to renegotiate the Interest Rate<\/a> and come down to a lower Interest Rate<\/a>. Orey voted against that on a couple of occasions. He has also refused to increase, to allow them to work off the debt that they owe by doing work in row areas in health care or education. The bottom line is, we have to reduce the cost of college. We have to allocate more resources, increase pell grant. We have to make colleges a sliding scale. If you have no money, they are free. Every kid knows that they can get a college education. They can get the skills to have great life. Thats not happening. Mr. Gardner he mischaracterized a bill i introduced a bill to make sure we got more people into rural areas for education. Particularly veterinarians. You are saying you want to reduce the cost of tuition today. When you were governor, when you were head of the colorado education system, you were in charge. Tuition increased 65 in colorado. Colorado students had an additional 176 million financial burden added to them under your watch. You want to go to congress to ix it . Why didnt you fix it when you ad eight years to do it . Moderator you can respond. Mr. Hickenlooper to take things out of context, to distort statistics, it will never get us anywhere. We increased funding from the state for Higher Education<\/a> at the largest level in more than a ecade. A difficult budget years, we looked at making sure that more ids get to school. We took a model that was originally in just a few cities. Now, apprenticeships. Kids who wont go to college can get that same job opportunity that everyone else gets. Moderator our next question from justin. This came up earlier. In 2018, you appointed a judge and well county by the name of ryan camada. He pled guilty to cocaine trafficking. Why did you appoint him . R. Gardner you hear the stories. Colorado has an independent, Bipartisan Commission<\/a> that goes through all of the candidates for every judicial nomination and every judicial appointment. They would recommend three finalists up to the governors office. We had a team of people that would go through and get hem. I dont remember this judge. Based on the evidence weve seen, he should not be a judge. Look at what cory gardner has one in supporting 210 out of 214 judges. Let me tell you, one of those judges was not approved by cory gardner because that judge was to not conservative enough. We have to look at justice. Right now in washington, what they are trying to do is remake the federal court, trying to ram through as many conservative judges as they can. They are sacrificing everything in that pursuit. Mr. Gardner there were three appointees put forward. Three nominees were put forward. John hickenlooper choose the chose the one that covered up a ocaine ring. He has a justice that was a Campaign Donor<\/a>. Heres the question i have for john. I will give you some of my time again. Earlier, you said no answer when it came to packing the courts. You have five seconds. Will you vote to pack the courts . Moderator we will move on. We already discussed that topic. Your rally with President Trump<\/a> in Colorado Springs<\/a> in past february. Dozens of people were in attendance. Among them, people wearing aspect outfits supporting the qanon conspiracy and proud oys. What is your message to the proud boys who came to watch you speak in Colorado Springs<\/a>, and who will cast a ballot for you . Mr. Gardner i dont know if you can say that. I condemn them in the strongest terms. We must call hate for what it is. We must make sure we stop the injustice that weve seen in our communities because of discrimination and hate. There is no room for weitzer white supremacy. There is no room for intelligence intolerance. There is no room for white supremacy. I condemn them, as i have, in the strongest terms possible. We need to do more when it comes to justice and equality. We need to make sure we are fighting for things like the justice act in the United States<\/a> senate. We continue funding historically black colleges and universities like i did. We can do these things to end the injustice, inequality and make a difference. We have to make sure that we speak loudly, as i will continue to do, stand against hate, dissemination, white supremacy. Moderator that brings us to our next line of questioning. These are quick yes or knows. O you condemn weitzer premises white supremacy. Yes. Mr. Gardner yes. Moderator you condemn the plot to kidnap and kill the governor . Mr. Gardner yes. Mr. Hickenlooper yes. Moderator do you believe that credit president s words have nspired the mystic domestic terrorism . Mr. Hickenlooper quite possibly. Mr. Gardner i hope not. Moderator we are going to move on. Colorado has relied on mailin ballots since 2014. Both of you have been elected through allmale elections. Do you have faith in colorados election system, mister hicken looper yes, i hope created. Republicans and democrats created our allmale ballot as an International Model<\/a> demonstrated weve been able to have high turnout for silower cost. We saved six dollars for voters and at the same time doing that we have limiting audits so we do throughout the balloting, demonstrates that we have questionable ballots than in any other traditional election. But then in Office Donald<\/a> trump continues to attack especially states like colorado where we send wiballots and this is going to be unfair election thats going to make, allow him not to expect the results in some way and cory gardner hasnt said a word. We had the second highest turnout in 2018. Its more accurate and certainly in a time of covid its safer so i would certainly hope that when we get the chance to talk to President Trump<\/a> again expresses how important it is that states like colorado or that are the national model. Mister gardner, same question to you. You have faith in colorados election system . I talked about that around the country, the denver post had to correct themselves in a story because they got it wrong about my defense of colorados mailing system. Where i am concerned and its something John Hickenlooper<\/a> supports is what washington dc wants to do to take over and federalize our state election systems. A bill John Hickenlooper<\/a> supports wouldeliminate the voter signature verification on balance. Our signatures are verified. Lets stick with that but thats not the bill John Hickenlooper<\/a> said he would eysupport if you were elected to the United States<\/a> senate. That bill would allow the di attorney general to overturn a local county court decision. I think he just credited county clerks for doing a great job, they do awonderful job in colorado yet he supports a bill that would allow the attorney general to federalize their decisions. I fight hard for colorado but you can share those two rules , he says one thing here. [inaudible] Mister Hickenlooper<\/a> two minutes to respond. Im not sure what hes talking about, we hear about all kinds of bills and often times tyoure supporting an aspect of bill and then that gets something to a larger bill so im not sure what hes talking about. Ili do think President Trump<\/a> should be a lot more explicit and thathaving an allmale ballot where everyone gets sent about to their home is highly efficient. Increases turnout, lowers costs and is safe in a time of covid and the fact that President Trump<\/a> continues to make these allegations is questionable. Going to give you 30 seconds to answer this followup question. Do you trust the election system since they are using mail ballots for the first time. And do you promise tonight to accept the outcome of the president ial election, Mister Gardner<\/a>, you first. What we do in ademocracy. We accept the results of an election. And i hope that states are doing this for the first time or following colorados lead. If they follow colorados lead is going to be perfect and im sure if they have the safeguards theyve implemented as well and i know the clerks and secretaries of state are working hard to make this safe and secure. Im proudof the work that are secretaries of state do across the country and are county clerks do across the country. Lets make sure were learning from the best. Lets implement the things weve done. Do you trustthe election system and states which are using mail box for the first time and your promise to accept the outcome . To the best of my knowledge i trust all those results and i will accept the outcome. I do again find it troubling President Trump<\/a> continues to attack the systems and is obviously building a foundation by which hes going to allege all kinds of improprieties and unfairness and accept an occasional comment to a local reporter, you dont see cory gardner on National Cable<\/a> or International Print<\/a> talking about the president is wrong on this. This is a classic case where we got to call out this fact to power. Gentlemen, were goingto turn our attention to the issue of Climate Change<\/a> and adjusted when gardner will begin our question. States are dealing with drought, wildfires have burned nearly 5 square miles. There is dangerous debris in denver and elsewhere. You both have said that the climate is changing. Letsbegin with yes, sir no, do you accept the Scientific Consensus<\/a> that Climate Change<\/a> is primarily due to human activity . Mister gardner. Yes. Mister hickenlooper. Yes. You said you wanted to transition away from fracking, critics say that will leave many thousands of coloradans out of jobs. Are they right about that . This is a transition thats going to take time and that transition is going to be three or four or fivetimes more jobs created as we transition to a clean energy economy. Mister gardner you made those accusations. John hickenlooper just admitted if you work in oil and gas he is going to take your job. 230,000 coloradans are going to lose your job because hes decided your job isnt good enough for him. Its not about you, its about the people of colorado and fighting for someone who wants to have that job, who values that job and the work they are bringing. I spoke to a person in colorado who asked me a simple question. You ran tv ads about closing down all minds in craig coloradobragging about the hundreds erof people who bought their jobs. He looked at me and said what have i done wrong what have i done wrong to lose my job for the government to tell me im not worthy of this job . You want to put them out of work. Youve told them your decisionmaking is better than your own. That is outrageous. I said nothing of the kind and the bottom line is Market Forces<\/a> are changing eour enemy, energy economy. Were in the process of changing to coalfired plants by pueblo and replacing them with wind, solar and batteries and for the first time the price of monthly electric bills for consumers is going to go down. Now all of a sudden we have clean energy and clean air at a lower cost. Thats going to happen again and again. The challenge as any economy changes is how do you make sure you have the skills, training and support and get out ahead of it instead of just denying which is what Cory Gardners<\/a> done and what President Trump<\/a> has done relentlessly. Youve got to get out ahead and make sure you have the skills training to make sure people get into that economy and incentives to get more jobs in those rural places where theyre needed. Were going to jumpstart colorado to do just that and i think those are the kinds of efforts that are going to make a difference, not what washingtons doing which is grinding to a halt and stopping all progress around clean energy. Mister gardner, is the closure of two coal plants a good thing in your mind . I dont think any time you lose jobs its a good thing. If youre going to have a job,absolutely its a good thing we have those jobs but what governor hickenlooper has said is there going to lose their job , 230,000 people. He didnt ask if it was okay for them to be fired, he just said youre going to lose them and were going to create some Government Program<\/a> for youand transition you into a different job whether or not you want it. At his command and control aspect he wants to take to washington of our economy because he thinks washington is best. Governor, this is the most negative campaign you have ever run. You want to talk about namecalling, how many names have you called me tonight . Or does whatever you call it, you called me all kinds of names and again, it goes back to the people of this state who deserve more. Who deserve somebody whos going to fight for them, to champion theirjobs. You want to have it two ways. One in washington, one here. None of them are about the people of colorado. I know what its like to be laid off, i was laid off in that recession in the mid1980s. It is no fun. I get asked and youve got to pullyourself up by your bootstraps and work with your friends and neighbors and be able to do what you can. Corey is worried about calling names and i said the bottom line is i got so many lies thrown at me this election ive hardly had time to tell the truth about corey. Going to take a break we will regroup and be right back after this commercial break. We all been asking people to send in the questions and i wanted to askyou both a question , this came from Julie Gonzalez<\/a> in denver and she asks i often hear communities of color dont feel they have a way to engage with their federally elected officials. Uniquely both senator gardner and governor hickenlooper have certain state offices so if elected or reelected will you change the way you interact with your constituents and how so and Mister Hickenlooper<\/a>, you can begin. Thank you julie, thats a good question. Im proud of my eight years as governor. I went all over the state and i tried to get to every geographic corner there was and tried to meet with every group. Im not sure we were always successful but ive taken the townhall pledge and i pledged to do at least for town halls every year. And to get, make sure those town halls are successful to all different constituencies. Make sure we get to those broad diversity of colorado as we possibly can. I think that my one commitment is to make sure there will never be up cardboard. Senator gardner, there were a number of years over the healthcare issues and his willingness to try to get rid of the Affordable Care<\/a> act, to get rid of protections for people with preexisting conditions, he didnt do any Hall Meetings<\/a> for a number of years. I want to overdeliverin terms of townHall Meetings<\/a>. Mister gardner, how will you change how youinteract with your constituents . You ought to try cardboard so i add that to the benefit. We tried every way possible to meet with constituents and we change constantly the ways were doing to make it more effective. Its tell a townhalls, its main street watch, its community meetings. Trying to have online chat sessions and phone calls and engagements and employer employee town halls. Across the state of colorado we have done that over and over again and i will continue to do that area i want to make sure all four corners are heard. Ive fought hard to make sure our minority committees have access to more funding and that came from listening to communities, minority concessionaires that were getting the access they needed to make sure we have on bank and under banked communities access they need to our financial resources. Came through zoom engagements over the last several months but john, while you went to the four corners of the state do you remember calling the people of rural colorado western mark. Gentleman,unless you want to respond ill give you 30 seconds its 10 years old, its totally out of context. Its a whole different circumstance. We will move on then, caitlin kim continues our question. Amy Coney Barrett<\/a>s nomination put out speculation versus roe versus wade but its voters who will vote and i want to know if yousupport this proposed ban. Im a prolife candidate and i support the initiative. Okay, Mister Hickenlooper<\/a>. I believe a woman has a basic right to control her own body and to decide the healthcare that she receives. I think that she should have brought access to tools that allow her to decisions for her and who she is. While i was governor we worked very hard. We had the Family Planning<\/a> initiative where we provided longacting reverse contraception to over 30,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 25 but we reduce unintended pregnancies by 54 percent. We reduced abortions by 64 percent. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Women have a right to the healthcare of their own bodies. We dont want to put permit between a woman andher doctor. I thought that was a yes, sirno question, i apologize. We need to stop the politics and the partisanship of this debate. One of the goals ive introduced is a bill called the overthecounter prescription legislation and it would make sure that we allow a 24 hour seven day a weekaccess to Birth Control<\/a>. It takes the politics out of this debate and its no longer a fight about roe versus wade, its about giving people the power to make the best decisions. Can i respond to that first . That doesnt in any way lower the cost of Birth Control<\/a> which is for many people prohibitively expensive. By making it overthecounter the women who are getting coverage through medicaid no longer can get that Birth Control<\/a> and i think its taking the choice awayfrom women rather than expanding ftheir options. We are going to move on now, thank you. Justin. The greatest share of colorados voters are now registered as unaffiliated so i want to hear from both of you, what is your party failing to do that people increasingly seem to not want to belong to it and we will begin. I think my goal has always been to try to represent all coralcoloradans. When i first inherited, the suburbs hated denver and denver hated the suburbs and i went out there and said i was elected mayor i would work to raise up the entire metropolitan area to area and i did that. We reduce per capita consumption by 20 percent within five years to make sure there was more water not just for the suburbs but farmers and ranchers. I wanted to get people to Work Together<\/a> with our water plant. We created the first water plant in the history of colorado and we 30,000 people working, they were republicans, democrats, independents and i think that should be a better goal of government is to refine those ways where you can build bridges like we did with the Environmental Community<\/a> oil and gas industry to create the first methane regulations in the country by getting people to Work Together<\/a>, republicans and democrats. I think its about respect and respecting ideas and differences of opinions. Its about listening and working together for goals that we can achieve and accomplishments. If you go into any of my offices i have a Mission Statement<\/a> that talks about the answer is yes, now how can we Work Together<\/a> to get there and the navy were not always going to agree. Maybe at the end of the day were not able to achieve what we set out to achieve or tried to achieve but were going to work our darndest to make sure that we get the job done for the people of colorado. Its why the Great American<\/a> outdoors is the most successful investment in public lands in the history of our country. Its as big as something roosevelt envisioned and he created our National Park<\/a> system. Thats bringing together the ideas of disparate corners to make sure we can hear from everyone and not just act on some area its important we continue to do that but again, what you hear tonight is somebody who sets out to set the rules. He bragged about bringing oil and gas together and brag about putting them all out of work. Thank you gentlemen. He talked about this Great American<\/a> outdoors at which he voted two different times to take funding away from the National Park<\/a> service and now he wants to get back. He wants to put himself as an environmentalist because he was able to convince Mitch Mcconnell<\/a> to throw him a bone , a bill supported by every senator there was but he still wont support the core act. The core acts protections 400,000 acres in the county commissioners in which that land is located at all. Upported it corey promised to back it and he turned his back and changed his mind. I like to address that,can you name the four parts of the core act . Before part of the core act, do you know the bill . What are the four parts of the court . Are going to move on. He doesnt know. We have 14 minutes left so a lot of territory. Earlier emthis week Justice Thomas<\/a> and alito wrote that the court case deciding religious freedom of marriage might try to overturn its own ruling. You believe Marriage Equality<\/a> is a federal law of the land or an issue theSupreme Court<\/a> should revisit . I think its the law of the land as the Supreme Court<\/a> has ruled. Mister hickenlooper. Yes and i was involved in those struggles while i was governor and heard many of the stories of how peoples lives were impacted by the status quo of inequality. And finally get that settled is just changes lives or so many coloradans, so Many Americans<\/a> and i certainly hope its the settled law of the land although certainly with ruthe rush to confirm Amy Coney Barrett<\/a>, one has to be concerned about some of the things we thought had been settled and welltaken care of. Going to go to yes, sir no questions here gentlemen. Do you support a pathway to nt citizenship for all undocumented people o, not just dreamers. Mister hickenlooper. I believe we can get there and we should. You support legalization of Recreational Marijuana<\/a> at the federal level, Mister Gardner<\/a>. Ive worked hard to make this conflict go away,yes, the answer is yes. Mister hickenlooper, do you support legalization of medical marijuana at the federal level. Yes, we have to decriminalize it at the federal level. Wa do you support raising the federal minimum wage to 15 an hour. Over a period of time and regionally allocated, we should get to 15 as a national policy. We should get to 15 an hour by growing our economy. So you dont believe we should raise the minimum. 15 and more by growing oureconomy. Weve got a question, t . Should William Perry<\/a> bentley still be in leadership at the bureau of Land Management<\/a>, Mister Gardner<\/a>. He hasnt had a hearing yet. Should he still be in a leadership role . Is not been confirmed and the courts have said hes not. Thats not the question. We have to have a hearing. Mister hickenlooper, should he be in a leadership role. Know and its a role he should be making. Do you support cities setting up camping areas for inhouse people . Each city has to make their own decision but i support more Affordable Housing<\/a> g. So yes the setting up designated camping areas. Yes, with local control. Communities agreed tothat, yes. Do you support the idea of term limits for senators, Mister Gardner<\/a>. I be fine with that. Should Law Enforcement<\/a> officers have qualified immunity, Mister Hickenlooper<\/a>. That can be negotiated. Yes, we have to come together as a community to get it right. We do live in a moment when privately owned social media platforms have power over our public conversation. Facebook, banning Conspiracy Theory<\/a> groups or Fact Checking<\/a> the president s tweets. How do you balance protecting freedom of speech and Free Enterprise<\/a> against the negative consequences of allowing conspiracy theories and falsehoods to spread unchecked , Mister Hickenlooper<\/a>. Weve got to recognize this is a serious challenge. Weve never seen the immense power concentrated in such a few number of Media Outlets<\/a> and weve never seen before foreign governments shooting into our elections, into our negotiations of business and by all means we have to make sure that we are able to recognize and a country thats based on free speech and individual rights, we have got to make sure those rights are protected but at the same time that those can be used the harm our democracy or taken apart absolutely there has to be a recognition of limits here and standards that we can set for what is real and what is propaganda or lies. Mister gardner, same question to you. We have to be aware of censorship of ideas either its on the left or the right. And i am very concerned that 2000 sensors in San Francisco<\/a> have me may create that kind of censorship that is against freedom of speech area perhaps the only thing worse than 2000 sensors and then San Francisco<\/a> is 2000 sensors in washington dc. Mistress, actress, lies, we cant allow that to happen and we have to make sure we hold businesses accountable to do it, thats why we need to look at section 230 make sure were Holding People<\/a> accountable for outright lies and foreign interference to make sure it doesnt happen but we cannot allow speech whether thats left or right to be censored and thats what youre starting to see, people who are put in the twitter jail room because i have put forward an idea that somebody in San Francisco<\/a> disagrees with. Governor hickenlooper speaks of foreign interference yet he said china isnt anything to be worried about. They dont want to dominate the world, thats exactly what wereindealing with. The concern ofa country like china who is trying to interfere in our election. Gentlemen, our viewers have overwhelmingly wanted us to keep things positive tonight. They say theyre sick of the negativity and divisiveness so if you had to giveyourself a grade , a being most positive campaign, f being the most negative, how do you think youve done in 2020 . Mister gardner you can start. Im not going to grade myself, the people of colorado will be doing that soon enough but i believe that optimism in every veil and valley and thats what a cosponsor and passed into law more legislation than the entire congressional delegation because of that belief in the people of colorado. Optimism with us. Eers brought its why on the third most bipartisan member of the u. S. Senate because i worked together for and on behalf of the people of colorado and weve seen tonight is a clear difference between two people who hope to lead at least one seat in the u. S. Senate. And there is a strong difference between the two of us, its a difference of idideas and of putting the people of colorado for an itunbelieving in a persons ability to choose their own job and stay in that job because they like it and i want to fight fortheir family. Im from the town in colorado and people wouldnt be there but for the positivity and optimism colorado brings because its a tough life in farming and agriculture and thats why while we may contrast we still believe in this state. Mister hickenlooper. Ive had a have a hard time giving myself a great you have to make these decisions, i give myself of the. I thought i would get through this campaign without doing any negative ads or any of the contrast adds. I was elected in denver twice and the governor twice and managed to do that in three top elections but once it got to 20 million of attack ads so much distortions and lies and exaggerations, i figured theyre spending that much money telling lies about me, i needed to go back and tell the truth about cory gardner point out he has been rolling back, trying nine times to get rid of protections for peoplewith preexisting medical conditions. These voted to put call lobbyists and charge of the epa and rollback protection for clean air and water yet donald trump says cory gardner supported me 100 percent of the time. The Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> he said cory, youve got to get in line. Six hours later it was at the microphone and i continue to tell both sidesof the story. Gentlemen, we have allowed and we agreed that each of you will get 60 seconds for a closingstatement. We want to dothat now so Mister Gardner<\/a> , you get to go for. I believe in the power of colorado and i believe in the people of colorado that the state is a four corners state have made incredible by pikes peak long before the burlington carousel and greg colorado and the Grand Junction<\/a> and everywhere in between. Im the only statewide elected official who doesnt live within 30 miles of denver. On the only statewideofficial from rural colorado. I believe i 70 doesnt end at strasburg. Theres more to the state toand that we have to fight for opportunity or every single position and every single necorner and thats what ive done over the last six years and id be honored to earn your vote thats what i will do the next six years to make sure we create more opportunity, not less. To make sure we have a cleaner environment and make sure we have that optimism to climb that next feat, to reach that next horizon w because thats who we are in colorado. Thats what we do and to the rest of the country when it comes to colorado you havent seen anything yet. The best is still to come. Mister hickenlooper. Thank you caitlin and justin, thank youfor the opportunity. As i predicted at the beginning, we felt the barrage of attacks from cory gardner, exaggerations and distortions but i think most of you saw through this. And we have to recognize we have h, the stakes are so high we have to make difficult wedecisions so weve got to protect healthcare for people with preexisting conditions or are we going to take it away . Are we going to address Climate Change<\/a> and protect our environment or rollback clean air and clean water protections . Are we going to get more iltrillion dollar giveaways to the wealthiest corporations and individuals or rebuild our economy thats more fair to everyone . Are we going to have a senator who stands withdonald trump 100 percent of the time or one who stands up for colorado . Nothings going to change in washington if we dont change it thats why im asking for your support. Fyi want your vote. Together, we can change washington. Thank you so much. We want to thank everyone watching, everyone who came into the studio safely to make this event happen tonight. We know this was importantto colorado but thank you to Colorado Public Radio<\/a> and our partners in tonights debate. Game five of the nba finals is next on denver seven and if you are looking for news or replays of this debate, make sure to download denver seven app for apple tv or Android Device<\/a> or head to the election 20 20 section of our website, the denver channel. Com. Ill see you after the game thank you everybody. President trump returns the campaign trail with a rallies in sanford florida north of orlando. Live coverage starting at 7 pm eastern on cspan2. Watch online at cspan. Org or listen live using the free cspan radio app. Republican Senate Majority<\/a> leader Mitch Mcconnell<\/a> and Senate Democratic<\/a> candidate amy mcgrath take part in a televised debate. Great television and the university of kentucky are sponsoring the event. Live coverage at seven eastern on cspan, or listen with the free radio. This is an Election Year<\/a>. Were confirming the judge in an Election Year<\/a> after the voting has occurred. What will happen is that my democratic colleagues will say this has never been done and their right in this regard. Nobody i think has ever been confirmed in an Election Year<\/a> passed july. The bottom line is Justice Ginsburg<\/a> when asked about this several years ago said a president searched foryears, not three. Theres nothing unconstitutional about this process. This is a vacancy that has occurred through a tragic loss of a great woman and were going to fill that vacancy with another great woman. The bottom line here is that the senate is doing its duty constitutionally. Thats what judge garland, the opening that occurred with the passing of Justice Scalia<\/a> was in the early part of an Election Year<\/a> but heres history as i understand it. Theres never been a situation where you have the president of one party in the senate of another with a nominee that the replacement was madein an Election Year<\/a>, its been 140 years ago. I think there have been 19 vacancies filled in an Election Year<\/a>, 17 of 19 confirmed to the courtwhen the party is president and senate were the same. In terms of timing, but hearing is starting 16 days after a nomination. More than half of all Supreme Court<\/a> hearings havebeen held within 16 days of the announcement of the nominee. Stevens 10, rehnquist 13, lachman 15, berger 13. All i can say is that i feel that were doing this constitutionally and our democratic friendsobject to the process. I respect them all. Theyll have a chance to have their say but most importantly, i hope we will know more about how the law works, checks and balances. What the Supreme Court<\/a> is all about when this hearing is over. The Supreme Court<\/a> confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett<\/a> began today with Opening Statements<\/a> from senators and judge barrett. Watch day one of booktv. Orgs confirmation hearing tonight, starting at 8 pm eastern on cspan. Republicans need to pick up 21 seats in the november elections to win a majority in the u. S. House. According to the Cook Political Report<\/a> 90 one of those races are considered competitive including new mexicos second district. The seat is held by democratic representative social taurus small elected to the house in 2018 and running against republican event hera. This is the ko before secondcongressional district debate. 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