Transcripts For CSPAN2 Campaign 2020 New Hampshire Governors Debate 20240712

This debate is happening live but as usual things will look a little different these days. Our panelists are in studio, wmur anchor Jennifer Vaughn and political reporter john distaso will ask most of the questions today. The candidates are in a different city are separated by several feet as part of our covid19 precautions. We look forward to a robust debate. Lets look at the candidates background. And incumbent governor planning and management face life or death tests this year. Sununu good results are a result of the tough decisions we had to make. The Youngest Senate majority leader in New Hampshire history known for pushing for progressive reforms. Fighting for working people and working families every step of the way. This years candidates for governor offered two different approaches for protecting and empowering granite stators. Republican governor chris sununu has spearheaded much of the states response to covid19 and moved forward on a number of major issues, Police Reform using executive order to implement the first round of changes. Sununu we are not at a crisis point but i dont wait for the crisis. New hampshire does democracy better than any other state. Reporter dan feltes is a progressive who worked on, Justice Reform indicating healthcare coverage. When it comes to dealing with chloroquine for he says he will not lose focus on solutions that help workingclass families. We evaluated all legally qualified candidates and selected those considered most newsworthy to participate in this debate. Candidates will get one minute to answer questions, 30second rebuttals will be allowed at moderators description. We think candidates for joining us in the opening question is about the covid19 pandemic. It does first to you, were 7 months into this pandemic. Thanksgiving is 5 months away. Is it safe to say the connection is more important to people than it has ever been. The realities we are seeing cases of covid19 every day and rising numbers across the country. How do you lead the way through the end of this year as they want to be together with loved ones but fear that could put them and others at risk . Hundred lost loved ones, tens of thousands lost their jobs, thousand their homes, kids growing up in schools that are shutting down, obamacare, Healthcare System we rely on is in jeopardy. Working families dont know what is next in the next week alone the next day. Especially workingclass families and thats where i come from. The odds of me being on stage here tonight are slim. It is an honor to be here and i didnt come from a family of politicians unlike the current governor. My dad works in a furniture factory for 45 years doing the same job day in and day out for 45 years. My mom on the night shift raising four kids and i worked for workingclass family serving as a legal aid attorney with New Hampshire legal assistant serving in the state senate delivering results for working families. Thats what i will do as the governor of New Hampshire. Moderator thing questions you. Sununu thanksgiving is coming up, a time for families, timer gatherings. It has been a trying time. The past 6 or 7 months have been amazing in New Hampshire. It has its challenges, the people of the state have done a phenomenal job wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, making those sacrifices, why we have the lowest covid19 numbers in the country. We knew the numbers would be rising, we see that across the country, not rising as fast as the rest of the country but we know those spikes could come that we ask folks to stay vigilant, stay smart about what they do. Because your with obama and and mary doesnt mean the virus cares. And his family settings be safe, be smart, maintain those distances, where your masks. Folks in your immediate family, if we do that, keep up that vigilance no reason we cant be successful for the winter. Moderator our first panel question from john distaso. New hampshire went from a dozen or 2 dozen covid19 cases over the summer to now 70100 cases a day in the last week. You said we should expect children to go back to school, spend less time outside, cases would rise but now what should happen . Should the state return to the restrictions it had . Free fewer people at restaurants, stores, state departments like dmv scaling back, private Gatherings Limited to ten or fewer, time to reverse the opening of the state . When we first entered the pandemic in march there was no playbook, we had very little resources, didnt have the capabilities which puts us at a more advantageous position today. We wrote the playbook and did a great job as a team working with the division of Public Health businesses to reopen in a smart and safe way and have a successful summer weve had and we have always known the numbers would go a universities are coming back, schools coming back, it is getting colder, we are staying a little more inside but doesnt mean we have to go back where we were in march. We are far away from where we were, what we are trying to do is manage the overburden on healthcare. Weve done a great job and no reason we cant keep up our success. Moderator senator, same question please. Feltes the most important thing is our Healthcare System without a doubt and for years as a legal aid lawyer i battled Health Insurance industry to get access to healthcare for working families, delivering results, Prescription Drug relief, medicaid expansion, working to expand healthcare access. Thats what we have to be focused on, taking it to the Health Insurance industry, over 100, 000 in corporate contribution, donald trump support the repeal of obamacare, chris sununu has worked to restrict safe and legal abortion and just like donald trump will have you believe everything is fine. Donald trump gives himself the a plus, chris sununu gives himself the gold standard. Everything isnt fine. We have to lift people up, working families and working people and fight to stabilize and strengthen our Healthcare System. Obviously everything isnt fine. We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and folks in the state have done an incredible job. My opponent likes to invoke my name and the idea we are against healthcare. Im one of the few republican governors fighting to keep the Affordable Care act. New hampshire is on the lawsuit fighting to keep the Affordable Care act, to throw the system out wouldnt make sense so it is happening today. Dan likes to make an easy political statement that sounds nice but facts are facts. Feltes these are your own words. In 2016 when he ran for governor the first time you ran on a platform of repealing obamacare. When asked why i support donald from you say i support donald trump as he would finally actually end the horrible programs like obamacare. On the executive council you voted in 2012 to turn down the obamacare healthcare exchange. In 2013 you cheer that efforts to repeal obamacare without replacement. Fortunately senator hatch and senator shaheen and john mccain turned that down even though you called it a huge win and you cant rewrite history. Sununu in the us Supreme Court, why the state of New Hampshire, how are they feltes an Election Year filing if you want but the reality is you support the process moving forward on judge barrett. A long history of opposing obamacare, you support trump and the justices that will overrule obamacare and have a long history in opposition to obamacare. It is documented. I dont understand how you can stand here and say otherwise. And strengthen it for workingclass folks and if obamacare is repealed it will fall to the states, and you have a governor that fights for healthcare, i have fought for healthcare every step of the way and will do the same as governor. Moderator next question from Jennifer Vaughn. Lets move to masks. One of the communities that passed a mask mandate, in spite of that the city has seen a sharp rise in covid19 cases in early october. Dan feltes pushed for statewide mandate. If it hasnt worked there, why push for one throughout the state . Feltes we need to listen to the medical experts. The medical experts have recommended masks. Common sense public mask requirement just makes good sense. We early and stayed in doing and without it. Donald trump and chris sununu have not listened to medical experts on masks and donald trump, lets be very clear, has been a complete failure on covid19 and worked to be the divider in chief of our country and folks including the governor, the top enabler of donald trump. He calls himself in his own words a trump guy through and through. Those are not my words. Those are Chris Sununus words which i cast my vote if you weeks ago for joe biden to be president. Comes from a workingclass family, hasnt begun has a plan. I was proud to do so. Chris sununu supports donald trump. The question is when you cast your ballot for donald trump are you going to be proud to do that . Next question from Jennifer Vaughn. Mask mandates theoretically will take the politics out of it. If the rule is to where one, dont have to make a judgment about wearing one. With this issue being so politicized do you think it has been an error not to institute a mask mandate . Theres nothing political about wearing a mask. Communities that want to institute a mask mandate, we are supportive of that. The numbers are different in the southern tier. 60 of cities and towns dont have any chris sununu the absolute brightness of Leonard Pelkey whatsoever. To understand the economics are different, how it spreads is different. We are supportive of those communities that have been strongly impacted and wants to implement a mask mandate, to say everything is going to be better is not necessarily is numbers start to rise and we want to institute a mass mandate that is possible but not necessary. Masks are not the only thing, they are just one piece of the puzzle. It is maintaining social distancing, washing hands, keeping distances, staying remote, those are the solutions for the longterm. Next question from john distaso. The vast majority of pandemic deaths occurred in longterm care facilities. Is it fair to say you and the Public Health team should move more quickly to deal with that, why does that play significant lockdowns, does continue to come at those longterm care facilities . Lets look at the real data, one is too many and through this entire pandemic whether longterm care facility, one fatality is too many. Compared to the beds we have, the lowest numbers on the east coast, the lowest in new england, we have 20, 20 plus outbreaks down to a handful of outbreaks, we have very few fatalities in the General Community so the ratio of fatalities in longterm care was much higher because it resulted in a fatal rate, the commission has done a phenomenal job, running longterm care facilities, shes an operator, her and the department of Public Health did a great job identifying the issue, one of the most aggressive states with test testing and providing ppe and that is why the numbers have dropped so precipitously. Moderator you say the governor reacted too slowly but as cases of covid19 were building in New Hampshire as the Senate Majority leader you pushed to convene the legislature for too two long days. Why the senate needs to be in session, much else was closing, you said, quote, i think the executive branch and the legislature have taken a different perspective so far but we are going to monitor the situation. How your words and actions then square with your criticism now . Sununu we suspended activities on Nursing Homes. Lets be clear, we are judged by how we treat the most vulnerable, children, folks in Nursing Homes, longterm care facilities, to government and a half to get a contract to do testing and some of the facilities, some of the workers, chris sununu went to a Corporate Campaign donor and we have to move forward, we have is ranked by the New York Times the worst covid19 situation in longterm care and we have the decision to support longterm care with ppe, testing and Financial Support into doing independent audit what happened in longterm care. Bipartisan legislation to do an independent audit and now we have outbreaks across New Hampshire in Nursing Homes and lastly the most important thing is protecting and strengthening obamacare, we have worse condition. Dan feltes brought a bill after the pandemic started. And the fatality on the east coast, in longterm care facility is, where they were going through, looking at airflow and how dynamics, 20 outbreaks became two very quickly. Feltes we have more outbreaks because we did not have the analysis what to do moving forward. If that bill had been signed our Nursing Homes would have been stood up. Now we have Healthcare Facilities that are in the red and in fact Lakes Region General Hospital filed bankruptcy in the cares actually fund the governor took unilateral control over could have stabilized the Health Care System and didnt, could have stabilized Nursing Homes in assisted living facilities, didnt, gave out a bunch of money to corporations as i want to ask everybody, 1. 25 billion, how much did you and your family get . I that you didnt get any. Sununu we are the only state in the country that put out half that money to businesses, employees, the self employed, nonprofits, we put more out on relief efforts more than florida, new york, california. It was an amazing opportunity we put before those individuals and when it came to the legislatures attempt at that they sued me, tried to slow it up in court, with government bureaucracy. I was cutting deals for ppe, testing on a moments notice in those early days and we did a phenomenal job, one of the best states in the country bringing in ppe because we had flexibility with the cares act money, we can go to the website and see where every dollar has gone. And press conferences taking messages on wmur on the spur of the moment, trying to be open, one thing to say we are in it together and we knew we would be transparent through this process. We moved very quickly and we were not going to get bureaucracy hold up the opportunity in the middle of the pandemic. This hasnt been transparent, the independent audit and review, and given the contract of Corporate Campaign donors and cares act relief money, 200 corporations got 350, 000 in cares act money, Small Businesses got very little and if you are sitting at home you didnt get any. Only Small Businesses got those dollars. Only Small Businesses. Was 20 millionayear in annual revenue. That is a fraction of how the federal government defines it and hundreds of thousands of dollars saved jobs and businesses. We have less business closures this year than last year because they could pay property taxes, they could pay their employees instead of their businesses through the toughest of times. Our economy is stronger in new york than anywhere else on the east coast. One half of New Hampshires children work in these households. And in the labor market in New Hampshire, 735 thousands, they are detached from the labor market. We are going to stand and pat ourselves on the back and move forward to gather. Strengthen and protect obamacare, 15 seconds. 10 million go to childcare. I put 25 million in the beginning and another ten last week. We put in more dollars to job care, and better results. The next question to jennifer von. Repulsive the public and you high marks for handling the crisis but there are parents who wish you are giving clear guidelines and taken specific action. To create that guidance and the normal and request was lets make sure we have some flexibility. What happens in the third grade classroom is different than whats happening at Manchester Central high school. By providing flexibility, 85 of our schools are open in some fashion. We have no outbreaks. You success. Under his original plan if hospitalizations just whatever said we went from ten to 11, at a hospital would have to close. Under his plan every school today would be closed. Thats not leadership. The governor should be sitting in his Corner Office putting is found on making onesizefitsall dictation for every classroom in the state. Our plan work and were very proud of it. Center, you spearheaded efforts to reject 46 in federal aid for public Charter Schools here in New Hampshire. With that money have helped right now as the Education System tries to adapt in this pandemic . The biggest thing facing her schools without question is an lack of reopening Public Health standards. Five or six weeks to go before schools would reopen the people are expecting governors as ken lay ports of Public Health standards. He threw up his hands, putting a dent to the local level like trump punted it out to the local level on schools. You dont leave schools and families and educated on their own. My wife and and i have two amag daughters. They are going to go to Public Schools. We have to be looking out for our kids. They are future. They deserve a foundation for success an opportunity that as strong as the granted under arsenal. We need a real School Reopening plan and that doesnt exist right now. People are told on the local level what to do. Call hhs ad hoc but these are things you can make up on the fly. We need real leadership and when he it came time to make a public School Reopening plan and make the tough calls, chris sununu docked. We needed a leadership. To the question raised on the 46 elegant dollars, thats federal money, 46 million to to expand public Charter Schools and dan feltes led the charge it didnt come rejected the money. Didnt let the money come to the state and loves to decide how to spend it, rejected outright. You have the questions we go to build . It was shameful and we were shocked. Why would you reject 46 million for Public Charter School expansion . When republicans win house and the senate were going to draw that money down and provide that opportunity for families. I dont be this as a partisan thing. I view it as quick to lift up our families and her children in Public Schools. We secured the biggest Public School education in history, 140 million Public School Education Funding in the last budget finally doing full day it occurred like any other grade. We need to protect it and move forward. Chris says he wants to go backwards to 2019 spinning levels in the budget which means cutting 140 million a Public School Education Funding out of the budget and raising property taxes on everything. On the on the governor in history to find kindergarten in this state. [talking over each other] will stay on the topic. Lets talk about hockey and youth sports during covid. Governor, less which made the decision to shut down ice rinks across the state to all skating and hockey which mainly affects children. Why did you step in and take that action but have not stepped in when it comes to School Sports or other local sports programs that may be experiencing cases . We took a very brief difficult decision last week when we said we have to take a two week parts on hockey. We had eight outbreaks, almost without 50 cases, 23 different teams. That wasnt a part of this every decision we made throughout this crisis has been very difficult when the we will upset folks but at the end that they had to throw politics aside and do whats right. We think by taking this two weeks we can get folks tested it in terms of the other youth sports were not seeing outbreaks and other youth sports as we have with hockey. If we were we to take steps within. One of the benefits is we are very strategic but have go bad weather is guidance to open a restaurant or retail. We dont have one size fits all whether its with schools, whatever it might be. We are careful at it takes extra work but working with dr. Chan, the division of Public Health, we thought this was the appropriate step to take and that when we can save hockey season, come back in a couple weeks, be fresh, identifies positive and move on with other guidance. Senator, what method would you be using if you sport should and to think more than just hockey should be shut down out . You have to listen to medical experts and fundamentally this is a healthcare decision. When it came time to make decisions about hockey, decisions were made. Youth sports, decisions were made. When he came time to make decisions about schools in the Public Health standards and put in place by chris sununu. Hunting it down just like trump punted them to the local level. This is a healthcare issue because safe schools because safe communities. Its not just a matter of local controls. Its not like the virus changes forms. Public Health Standards statusa permitted. Trump as failed by any measure on covid and chris sununu continues to support trump. Mica said he calls himself and his own words, he calls himself a trunk i threw through. Support them after all of this. Charlottesville come sports matter that the support them after trump called Service Members who died our country losers and suckers. I am voting for joe biden. I didnt vote for joe biden. Chris sununu is voting for dump truck. Are you proud developer donald trump . The question that youth sports and then wants to talk about donald trump and trump spilled an appointed question. Every time dad is trying to take a shot at a lack of guidance we think hes taking shots at dr. Chan, the department, division of Public Health, antiochene because theyre the ones creating we dont do this in a vacuum. We have been very cautious in the state which what our numbers have been very low. Im incredibly proud of that team. Its not some unilateral decision the governor makes it its an Incredible Team which is why we stand to give as team why this document have been so successful. You talk about teens and city state government. My dad worked in a furniture factory, the way to judge a manager is by what their employees say. The state employs association support my campaign. The state troopers come true position, state employs support my campaign. Troopers on the front lines. The people who work underneath governor sununu do not want to see a third term of governor sununu. Where to look out for employees at her state employs the front lines. This morning as mentioned lakes region general healthcare announced they are filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy. This comes as New Hampshire Hospital Association says between march and july the state hospitals have already lost 575 million in 575 million and projected a total of 700 million in losses by the end of the year. Its already resulted in furloughs at some hospitals. Governor, you authorized 100 million emergency funding from the cares act to support Health Care Providers through end of this year. How much more are you prepared to put forth in public dollars, state dollars if necessary, and how would the state before that . We made a commitment early on that no one would be shutting their doors, and they are not. Lakes region was having financial trouble prevented and we were working with them and restructuring process. Todays news is no surprise. Its good news because concord is a tremendous healthcare center. Have to work with lakes region, what with them in a merger process and early on lakes region was one of the first groups would put money to to make sure those twisted open, go through the restructuring and provided dollars to physicians and dentists and hospitals, when hundred Million Dollars plus more. Weeds that no one will be shutting their doors to the spent in the good the federal, came in with over 300 million and they will come in with more as well. The hospitals in the state are down about 5 to their cost. They are in the read about 5 but but again thats manageable but we will be there for the weather is a hospital, your dennis, lakes region or concord. Theyve been working on that merger for quite some time and its a great opportunity to strengthen the system and also allowing the federal dollars and the state dollars to back it up when it needs to. Where to look out for healthcare workers. They were on the front lines of this crisis doing whatever it takes them out of the risk for all of us to keep us safe and healthy. They deserve more than modest frontline pay. They deserved real ppe and real testing support and real support to make sure hospitals like lakes region local under and file chapter 11. Thats going to devastate the region. They already had layoffs and furloughs. Chris had an opportunity to stabilize the Healthcare System. He chose not to with 1. 25 billion that yet your latter control over. All healthcare workers on the ground to be treated with respect. Our Healthcare System needs to be stabilized as we move forward. Obamacare is good have a Supreme Court argument november 10. Its at risk with judge baird being confirmed. Chris opposes obamacare, support the repeal the time of the gentleman has expired begin. We need to strengthen obamacare, strengthen our Healthcare System and move forward lifting up the toys working men and women on our front light. We put over 100 million to make sure no one shuts the doors. It works. We put 75 million to frontline healthcare workers to provide them the stipends to give them those extra resources as they were on the front lines putting everything that at risk. Time away from families get we pay the extra dollars. 75,000,000 100 bring the plus 100 bring the state put in plus 300 million the federal government put in. The result is what one of the most stable Healthcare Systems in the country through the pandemic spec thats just not true. We want to make as much progress as we can and move on to the lightning round. Senator, will be the backdrop for official governors portrait . Great question probably my backyard where i spend a lot of time especially with iris and josie. Governor sununu, what would be your portrait background . Something outside. Amounts. Probably in the amount. Is it offensive for New Hampshire high schools to use Indigenous People for imagery as their mascot . Is it offensive for them to the mascots . It can be yet. A lot of schools are looking to change that right now and again thats their choice but thats a look at how the image is being used whats being used i think its in a National Movement and low changes being made and thats progress. I agree with governor sununu. Would you support bill carter secretary of state if he decides to seek another term . I have Great Respect for bill carter. Yet use Public Service to our state come help protect the first nation primary. Fortunately he is has gotten bd some pretty partisan legislation that restrict the right to vote. Voter suppression legislation that governor sununu signed the landed governor sununu in a Voter Suppression hall of fame. Getting behind that partisan legislation its time to move forward and thats my guess. I think bill carter is a democrat. I dont know anything i dont think it is a partisan vote in his body. He does a phenomenal job. Hes one of the best in the country and we are honored to have him. Its halloween. Do you have a favorite scary movie . I dont like scary movies. Charlie brown thats what we watch. I guess halloween. Senator, shouldnt have to change the status as a liquor control state . No. I think keeping that status makes sense and you could build off of it, including potentially exploring at and is what the legalization of recreational marijuana. I know governor sununu opposes it but thats a way to potential implement it. We do a great job. We have the lowest prices around and great accessibility. Its a great product. Lets go back to the panel. Gentlemen, the black lives Matter Movement in New Hampshires is called on the next government to address disproportionate racial incarceration at the state prison. Senator, you signed on to this proposal so please tell us, mh you plan to release, how youre going to do it. First of all those marching for change, and granite staters of color deserve to know that they have a governor that acknowledges that systemic racism exists. Chris sununu has denied that systemic reasons exist, just like trump. And continues to support donald trump despite his violet and racist rhetoric targeting the black americans. He calls himself a trump guy through and through. We need to move the all that come will be on the politics, address systemic racism at systemic racism doesnt mean everyone within the system is racist. It means policies and practices have disproportionate negative impact on communities of color. Absolutely we need to look at the census and look at low level nonviolent offenders and make sure that its appropriate and make sure we do it in the common sense way, including standing at the office of Racial Equity within the Governors Office which is something i propose doing to look at the systemic practices. Do you have a number in mind. Was no. I think we need to look at what the senses are. We need to stand up the office of Racial Equity. Vermont has done this, hampshire has it under the current governor, and we need to make sure that this is not just a moment, but a movement for change. We need to Work Together. Im proud to have the of Law Enforcement in this in front of the support of his marching for change. They are not mutually exclusive. Went to bring people together to lift each other up, not to people down to do with these issues that are facing our state. Governor sununu, youll declined to sign on to this reform effort but the racial makeup of the inmates at the state prison is not reflective of society at large. You said that systemic racism does not exist in New Hampshire so why is it that more black and brown people are behind bars . When it comes to the issues of race and have state has handled it frankly i couldnt be more proud because even open, transparent, listen to the message. When the first protest black lives matter protesters could happen on the streets of manchester i picked up the phone and a talk to the black lives matter and said we support you in the message and we worked with police. The result is it just talk. The result has been allowing the Law Enforcement Accountability Commission to come together. Whos on that commission . Aclu, black lives matter, state police, local Law Enforcement, Police Standards and training. The prosecutor. Everybody come together and it wasnt just his contentious back and forth your weight on my way bring all of them together and the result was dozens, over 40 different recommendations that they all could agree on to take real substantial change for. It wasnt just a moment in time. This this is a first step of ma. I i am the only government to create the commission on diversity and inclusion. When i became governor we didnt even have civil rights unit. I created that. So by taking real substantive action to move the ball forward, again defragmentation to come in. We will get them done and take the next step in the next it. It has to be something that is achievable and spoke with everyone. Another question from john. Michael addison was convicted in 2006 of the murder of Manchester Police officer michael briggs, and sentenced to death. Hes the only, New Hampshires only death row inmate. Senator, during the primary debate you said you support commuting his deficits but later corrected that saying as governor he would block in the to do that. Tonight we please definitive answer that question . I have been consistent in supporting a commutation process moving forward, but i dont support a commutation petition right now. And also in addition to that, i dont think this is something that should be politicized. Chris sununu has politicized to this. I dont think we should be politicizing the murder of a cop. Cop. We need to move forward together. That divisive language, that divisiveness, period, is not what we need now. We need to Work Together and whether it is subtle or overt, caught on tape or not, each and every day black americans face practices and actions that rob them of the American Dream is not the very lives and weve got to move for together working with Law Enforcement come working with his marching for change and you can stand up here honestly and say you are a leader on Racial Justice and still support donald trump and ive asked over and over again, are you proud to vote for donald trump . Government as you said very clearly you would not commute the sentence. Of course that. But New Hampshire doesnt have a death chamber, so to put it bluntly, how would he be put to death at how would you justify to taxpayers billions of dollars it would cost to build a chamber that would be used once since the Death Penalty has now been abolished in the state . Let me understand his position picky set has been consistent and he would not commute the sentence that at some point he needs to commute the sentence. That is the most inconsistent thing ive ever heard. I have stood with the family, and and i get to tell you, when you can look in their eyes and say we are not going to commute the sentence of a cop killer absolutely unequivocally, and i understand and at one position when used in the democratic primary, thats politics. That is the definition of politics. I have been consistent 100 all the way through. We would never do that. The people of manchester the citizens of the state wouldnt do that. When he came to give a bit of Capital Punishment it was dan that sent the bill to my desk. I vetoed it because i think in those instances Capital Punishment is appropriate and the overturns veto but those, that was a dansville that he said. To talk out of one side and the other side depending on what part of election you are in, thats not me. I been consistent for years. If dan needs to explain the answer. I have been consistent. During the primary i said a commutation process should go forward and ive been very clear if theres a hypothetical petition now i wouldnt support it never there will be Court Processes down the road. What we should focus on on the stuckness is a hypothetical petitions and focus on whats going on in peoples lives right now. We got people out of work. We get people struggling come to working people in working pelvis, hospitals filing chapter 11 bankruptcy. We got the government and the president for working to repeal obamacare which is critical for our Healthcare System. More and more of us hospitals and Healthcare Providers are going to go belly up. Thats going to fix all of us. Left to lift each other up, work for working families and healthcare stability. The cost of potentially i dont have that would go to be honest. Whatever the cost is we can manage it. We can always find a process. You should not follow through on the law and justice because theres a cost. I dont know the exact logistics. Were not near that point yet but, of course, youre not going to let cost get in the way of justice. Next question from the panel. My bad. The question comes from video. Lets take a listen. My name is trevor and im a College Student from rollins brooke New Hampshire. As you both know New Hampshire some of the most crime rates in the country. G believe additional gun control legislation is needed and if so what do you propose . Ive been very consistent. We do have one of the lowest crime rates. Where one of the safest date in the country, very responsible firearm citizenry as well as legislation. It is pretty darn g. We have a nice balance in the state. We respect the ability of individuals to own firearms under the second amendment. And again, the state has a great record of being responsible with legislation. Sen. Feltes i think common sense gun Safety Measures should go forward. We passed four common sense measures including universal background checks, emergency Risk Protection orders, and making sure there is a common sense waiting period. And look, i am a gun owner myself. I believe in universal background checks. I believe in talking about consistence, that you ought to be consistent in what you say and do. A couple elections ago, chris sununu said he supports universal background checks, but then he vetoed it. He had an opportunity to sign it and then he vetoed it. He said he supports a number of Clean Energy Legislation and then he vetoed it. He had 79 vetoes, 69 of which had bipartisan support. The major barrier to bipartisan progress in the state is chris sununu. We got to Work Together. I have a much different approach. The best ideas come from the ground up, not the top down. We got to Work Together in a bipartisan way in common sense initiatives and universal background checks will be something i would sign if they risk my desk. Gov. Sununu on the firearm legislation, all of those started out as potentially common sense bills that became abusive quickly and basically became gun confiscation bills. I know what it said on the top of the paper but in each one of those instances, you were stickley going overboard with the gun confiscation. Sen. Feltes they were not gun confiscation, with respect to the governor. For families that drop the kids off at school every day, they ought to have the peace of mind that the kids will be going to school in a safe environment. And it just makes good, common sense. When you talk about Gun Free School zones, when chris sununu vetoed it, he said people have a constitutional right to carry arms in the school. That is not the constitution. We got to look out for families and Public Safety in our communities. These bills were supported by many members of Law Enforcement. Gov. Sununu again, i know it sounds nice that we would put up a sign in schools and guns are not allowed here, but that sign is not going to turn a madman around that would do harm to children. That will not make a difference. What is going to make the difference is getting to the core of these issues. We have to get to the issues of Mental Health and the issues that surround what drives a lot of these tragic events across the country, whether it is implementing social and emotional programs, implementing a Suicide Prevention program were making sure teachers have Mental Health training. We have amazing record of success. A disastrous Mental Health system, making it into something we can be proud of and build off of. Adam lets move on. Senator feltes, youve criticized the governor as a trump guy through and through his own words, but today you were endorsed by the most protrump police union in the region, the new England Police benevolent association. You said you were proud to accept that endorsement. According to a report from business insider, the nepbas executive director has posted on social media calling congresswoman alexandria ocasiocortez a bar fly stripper, referred to Vice President ial nominee Kamala Harris as a racist pig, and said former First Lady Michelle Obama perpetuates racism because her people kill each other on the streets in chicago. Assuming you reject these comments, how can you accept the endorsement . Sen. Feltes i have been very clear and i was clear when i was notified of the endorsement, that those comments are unacceptable and i encourage the Police Association to encourage that person to resign. But lets be clear. Those do not reflect the comments of all our men and women in blue. They dont. And in order to move forward in our country, in our state, in our nation, in this divisive time, you have to have an open door and work with everyone and condemn comments like i just did. And to be strong on it. And be strong in standing up to people who exact divisiveness on our country. And literally, chris sununu no continues to call him sigh a trump guy through and through chris sununu calls himself a trump guy through and through and still will not answer if he supports and is proud to vote for trump. We have to be blunt like i just was and being blunt about President Trumps comments. Which chris sununu has not. Adam but you accept the endorsement . Sen. Feltes if this organization endorsed to me, then yes. Gov. Sununu let me be clear. The Police Enforcement supports me. The Police Association endorses me. That represents the rank and file in the community. I am very proud to have that. Gov. Sununu . Lost governor, you have their endorsement. Why are Law Enforcement groups now rejecting your candidacy . Is it an indicator that youve moved beyond the balance you say you want to strike between letting police do their jobs, and holding them accountable. Gov. Sununu look, i understand the unions we have to deal with at the state level are upset. When we offered them a raise, they wanted more. We were in discussions when the pandemic hit, and obviously when the pandemic hit and we were going to give raises to state employees when people were losing their jobs and we were in an economic crisis across the state. We can come back and work on those contracts next year. At the end of the day it is about keeping our communities safe. It is about having leadership that says we are going to stand behind Law Enforcement 100 the time because they are working with communities, working with folks, whether it is on racial issues, policing issues. We are rebuilding our Training Programs and they are very much a part of that. All the stakeholders had a say in that. That is exactly why we stand behind Law Enforcement a New Hampshire because they do it right, and they are putting themselves on the line each day and i am proud to have their endorsement. Jennifer just last week, the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness said 27 children and 41 adults were housed in Emergency Rooms for indefinite stays as they waited for inpatient psychiatric beds. While this problem went away for a short time earlier this year, it has plagued the state for nearly a decade. Senator feltes, as Senate Majority leader, you cosponsored a bill that the governor signed to allocate millions of dollars to rectify this issue. Why didnt that solve the problem . Sen. Feltes because governor sununu failed to implement it. He just went out for an rfp for a proposal. It took almost a year to do it. Had he acted quickly, those 27 kids would not be in waiting rooms. For necessary and needed Mental Health treatment. Look, when you go to the emergency room with a sprained ankle or a heart problem, you get treatment right away. Here, Mental Health treatment, it does not happen right away. That isnt right. We have people sitting in Emergency Rooms in nontherapeutic settings waiting for Mental Health treatment, including kids. And this was easily preventable if governor sununu stood up the bill you just talked about. And he didnt do it. He just went out for an rfp last week. And the situation is only getting worse in the pandemic. Our Behavioral Health crisis is getting worse. We need to look out for those in need. Our families and our children in need. That is what i will do as governor on day one. Jennifer governor, the state is back to where it was last year in terms of people in Emergency Rooms. Why is that happening . Gov. Sununu again, i am incredibly proud when the commissioner came in and was working at the hospital we have d this crisis a couple years ago and we got that number to zero. Nobody was waiting in Emergency Rooms earlier this year. New programs stood up, pieces of all of that legislation are moving forward. Obviously putting a contract out in may and june was not going to be a viable because nobody was there to pick up the contract. So at the end of the day, we have built more beds in the community than before. We are moving kids out of New Hampshire hospital into a facility that is built custom for them. We are building more beds out of philbrick with 18 more beds there. Earlier this year that number was zero. The pandemic has thrown a wrench with that does not mean we give up. We have the tools and expertise. The level of expertise is phenomenal and theres no reason as we work through this pandemic we cannot get back to a very successful model. Adam we want to get in a couple more topics here. Jennifer this next question is for both of you. When we talk about Climate Change and ways to combat it on a state level, we know both candidates have touted some programs they have pushed for. We also know that each of you have been critical of the other party for derailing some of your partys ideas. So is there anything that you can agree on tonight, right now, that would send a message to granite staters that youre serious about doing what you can to reduce the effects of Climate Change . Governor, lets begin with you on that. Gov. Sununu lets talk about where we agree. I have been one of the biggest proponents for offshore wind. I think that is is a huge proponent of Getting Energy to the right place. Making sure we are not offshore drilling for oil and gas. It is a big part of what we need to do here New Hampshire. I flew down to washington and we later put it into legislation. There is a smart way to do solar which has great environmental benefits for us all but my plan was to make sure we were not building these massive solar rays. Lets put the solar panels on those who have to pay subsidies, low income housing, mobile home parks, longterm care facilities. Let them be the first to get the economic benefit because there is a cost to all of this. There is a balance and a solution to all of it. It is not just saying yes to everything and letting giant Solar Development Companies Take all the money. Sen. Feltes we have to combat the climate crisis. Take responsibility in New Hampshire. In doing so you can promote good jobs and clean energy. That is in part how we get out of this mess in a way that works for working people and working families. And clean energy reduces rates. We talked about what we can agree on, we did agree on a couple things, including the governor signed my bill to enable communities to do community aggregation. Lock solar savings for communities. But he also vetoed 14 pieces of Clean Energy Legislation, solar, clean energy, net metering. Three net metering bills. All had bipartisan support. Threethis is not a democrat problem or a republican problem. Quite frankly, the failure to move forward is a chris sununu problem. He denies Climate Change exists. Gov. Sununu thats not true. Sen. Feltes you said the jury was out on Climate Change. Gov. Sununu that is not true. Sen. Feltes you said that. And you vetoed all this legislation. We got to move forward with these jobs of tomorrow right here in New Hampshire. Gov. Sununu let me be clear. Humans have contributed to Climate Change. What is most important is the action. These net metering bills, over the next 10 years, over 1 billion is what it would cost. Everyone has to pay. Fixed income. Low income. Every time he turned on the light you would have had to pay under the bills. So we redesigned it and do it in a smarter way and make sure those hardest hit by subsidies are the first ones to get the economic benefit. It is a slight change but it means not putting big dollars into the pockets of these giant solar companies. Sen. Feltes heres the reality. Our bills are going up in New Hampshire because of regional transmission costs going up. And regional transmission costs in new after go up in New Hampshire go up based on peak demand relative to other state. We are not shaving it through Energy Efficiency and net teetering so the rates go up. The rates have gone up because of Chris Sununus vetoes. Gov. Sununu massachusetts went up 16 . Hours have gone up 9 . We are controlling costs. Adam we have to go to closing statements. Gov. Sununu thank you very much. For those watching at home, i respectfully ask for your vote. More than that, i respectfully ask for you to vote. There is no more Important Role in our democracy than that of citizen. We need you. We need everyone working together to build a more economy, to lift one another up and not tear each other down. We are in this together. Make no mistake. We have to protect health care and protect choice. I support obamacare and strengthening it. I am prochoice. Chris sununu is not. We have to move forward on the jobs in New Hampshire. Look, i cannot promise that i will be a perfect governor. But what i can promise is that each and every day, i walk into that office, i am going to look out for working people and working families every step of the way. Adam governor, one minute. Gov. Sununu even in his closing statement, his campaign is about the negative, his campaign is about the lies. Of course i am a prochoice governor. I have been for quite a while. When it comes to what is important is what happens in 2021. It is about building a great team and having real Management Experience to get through these very challenging times. You cannot sue your way through a crisis. You need Management Experience and building great teams. And we have gotten so much done for the state with success. When we had action money at the state level, we turned it back to cities and towns to lower property taxes. We said no to income tax. We said no to the gas tax. When it comes to balancing the budget, and it will be a challenge to be sure, we can do it without raising a single tax. The last thing you should be doing in a crisis is taking money out of peoples pockets. I want to earn peoples vote but Everyone Needs to be held to their results. Our results are phenomenal. We have become a gold standard. And we have the people of this state to thank for that. I cannot thank you enough. We have a long way to go and we hope to earn your vote in november. Adam thank you both and thank you to the panelists for asking all those great questions. And thanks to you, the viewer, for joining us for tonights debate. If you missed any part of this, you can find it again on our digital platforms. Join us again tomorrow evening for the u. S. Senate debate. We will see you then. Do i i let my people run it really well, are badly . If i run it badly they were probably blame him but they will blame you but more importantly i want to help people. He in fact, already has cost 10 Million People their health care that had from employers because of his recession. With less than two weeks before the 2020 election watch the second president ial debate between President Trump and former Vice President joe biden thursday from Belmont University in nashville, tennessee. Live coverage begins at 8 p. M. Eastern on cspan you listen live on the cspan radio app and go to cspan. Org debates for live or ondemand streaming of cspans debate coverage. Next, discussion on digital beaches impact on politics and the Fact Checking plays an Important Role in todays political climate. From George Washington university this is an hour. Good morning