WEBVTT AND THOSE LISTENING ON WESA-FM. THIS NEWLY CREATED DISTRICT INCLUDES MUCH OF WESTERN AND NORTHERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. ALL OF BEAVER COUNTY. AND PARTS OF CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP IN BUTLER COUNTY. LET’S NOW MEET OUR CANDIDATES. THREE TERM REPRESENTATIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA’S 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, REPUBLICAN KEITH ROTHFUS. AND FRESHMAN REPRESENTIVE IN THE CURRENT 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEMOCRAT CONOR LAMB. , WE WELCOME YOU BOTH TONIGHT. AND WELCOME TO OUR PANELISTS. REPRESENTING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, TERRIE GRIFFIN. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER PAUL VAN OSDOL. FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND FORMER KQV REPORTER ELAINE EFFORT. AND POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT EDITOR FOR WESA F.M., CHRIS POTTER. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF THIS DEBATE. CANDIDATES, YOU DREW NUMBERS TO DETERMINE WHO WILL ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION. THAT WILL BE MISTER ROTHFUS. MISTER LAMB WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD IN CLOSING STATEMENTS. HERE ARE THE RULES. YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR EVERYTHING. 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER A QUESTION. THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME FOR YOUR REBUTTAL. AND, ONE MINUTE FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS. I WILL ALSO ALLOW MORE TIME IF YOU HAVEN’T ANSWERED THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, OR IF THERE ARE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FROM OUR PANELISTS. OUR FIRST QUESTION GOES TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS & TERRIE GRIFFIN. THIS QUESTION IS FOR MR. ROTHFUS. >> IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT ECHELON AT THAT TOO REPORTS THAT RUSSIA HAS BEEN KILLING DID IT -- DISSIDENT ON FOREIGN SOIL. TWO INCIDENTS LIKE THAT MEAN WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR FORWARD POLICY TOWARD THE COUNTRIES? WHAT SHOULD WE DO? REP. ROTHFUS: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I WANT TO THANK THE AUDIENCE FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THAT DEBATE. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE PROJECTING MORE AUTHORITY ACROSS THE PLANET. THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS THAT WE COME TO CHERISH IN OUR COUNTRY. WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING THEM AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN COUNTRIES TAKE ACTION LIKE THIS, WE WILL LET THIS INVESTIGATION GO FORWARD AND SEE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAUDI ARABIA. THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABI LITY JUST LIKE RUSSIA. I’VE ADDED FOR INCREASED SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA BECAUSE WE SEE THEM DOING THINGS THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DOING. THEY HAVE BEEN AN AGGRESSOR. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN UKRAINE AND GOING BACK 10 YEARS IN GEORGIA, TO HOLD THESE COUNTRIES ACCOUNTABLE, WE NEED TO USE OUR AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. MIKE: MR. LAMB, YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS. REP. LAMB: I AGREE. WE NEED TO LET THE INVESTIGATION IN THIS CASE PLAY OUT BECAUSE I’M SURE THERE’S CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE AND I HAVE ENORMOUS FAITH IN OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO MORAL AUTHORITY, WE NEED TO BE CONSERVATIVE ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING WITH BUT A MERE PUTIN. IT MANY PEOPLE FELT HE DID NOT HELP US IN THAT SITUATION SO I THINK -- HOPE THAT IS AN EXPERIENCE HE LEARNS FROM. I’M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR STATE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND TO THESE SITUATIONS WE HAVE. SEEN LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE LEAVING GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO THINGS OVERSEAS. I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN CALL MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUBLIC SERVICE WHO WANT TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM PAUL FOR MR. LAMB. >> HEALTH CARE IS A BIG ISSUE FOR VOTERS AND IT HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF BOTH OF YOUR CAMPAIGNS. MR. LAMB, YOU’RE AS ACCUSED THAT MR ROTHFUS -- I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU TO DEFEND YOUR CLAIMS AND RESPOND TO YOUR OPPONENT’S ACCUSATIONS CITING SPECIFIC VOTES. REP. LAMB: THANK YOU, PAUL. THE ADS HAVE BEEN MISLEADING. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS IT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE SEE ON SCREEN. WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT WE SAY ON -- WHAT MATTERS IS HOW WE VOTE. I’VE NEVER VOTED TO CUT MEDICARE. KEITH, YOU VOTED TO CUT MEDICARE BY OVER $400 MILLION. ON MARCH 21, 2013, YOU VOTED TO CUT MEDICARE BY $350 BILLION -- MILLION DOLLARS. PAUL RYAN PLANS TO PAY FOR THE TAX CUT BY COMING AFTER SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. MY OPPONENT HAS VOTED AGAINST THE DACA DOZENS OF TIMES -- VACA DOZENS OF TIMES. REP. ROTHFUS: PAUL RYAN NEVER SAID HE WOULD GO AFTER SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. THESE ARE PROGRAMS MY PARENTS DEPEND ON. TAKE A LOOK AT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, CONOR LAMB SUPPORTS THIS PROGRAM. IF YOU SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, FINE, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROGRAM IS. THEY RATED MEDICARE -- RATED MEDICARE TO FUND MEDICAID ENTRY PEOPLE LIVING ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE MORE FAVORABLY THAN PEOPLE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE HOUSE VOTED FOR. IF YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR DECIDE THERE IS A TREATMENT YOU WANT TO TRY, AND THE PROVIDERS ARE IN IT, GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT VETO THAT. YOU LOOK AT THE VOTES WE HAD, OUR CHANGES -- OUR VOTES MADE NO CHANGES FOR ANYBODY IN OR NEAR RETIREMENT. I’M COMMITTED TO SAVING MEDICARE. REP. LAMB: THE ONLY RATE ON MEDICARE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE VOTED FOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE HAVE -- YOU A VOTED TO CUT FROM THE SYSTEM. WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT IS HOW THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WITH A MONEY IN THE LONG RUN BY GETTING PEOPLE HEALTH CARE EARLIER IN THEIR LIVES. THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WILL NOT VOTE TO CUT MEDICARE. REP. ROTHFUS: YOU’RE SAYING YOUR SUPPORT OF THE MEDICARE CUT IS OK. WE DID NOT CUT CURRENT RECIPIENTS OR PEOPLE NEAR RETIREMENT. WE LOOK AT MEDICARE LONG-TERM FOR NOBODY IN RETIREMENT NOW OR NEAR RETIREMENT. IF YOU LIKE THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN MEDICARE HAS RIGHT NOW, THAT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVE ASPECTS THAT WERE BUILT IN. WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROTECT. -- PROTECT AS PROGRAM. THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO HELP MEDICARE IS TO HAVE A THRIVING, GROWING ECONOMY. WE LEARNED FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT BECAUSE OF TAX CUTS, WE HAVE EXTENDED THE MEDICARE PART A TRUST FUND FROM 2025 TO 2026. THAT IS THE POWER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEALTHY, GROWING, DYNAMIC ECONOMY. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DELIVERING AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL NOT GIVE US. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION. >> THE NATIONAL DEBT TALKS $21 TRILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE IS OPEN TO ELIMINATING THE DEBT CEILING AND HAVING NO LIMITS ON FEDERAL SPENDING. HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT ELIMINATING THE DEBT CEILING? REP. ROTHFUS: I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ELIMINATING THE DEBT CEILING. I’M CONCERNED WHEN WE HAVE DEBT CEILING VOTES. WE HAVE A DEBT PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. IF YOU GROW A HALF PERCENT MORE, WE WILL MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST REVENUE. WE ARE SEEING THAT IN MEDICARE PART A TRUST FUND THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD A BUDGET BUSTING DEAL LAST YEAR THAT INCREASED MS EXPENDING AND DEFENSE SPENDING BY 13% ON THE DOMESTIC SIDE. MY OPPONENT JOINED THE SPENDING SPREE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WENT ON WITH THE BIG SPENDING PLANS. WE HAVE TO BE VERY PARTICULAR WITH OUR SPENDING AND PRIORITIZED. WHEN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN GET BY WITH 60 APACHE HELICOPTERS BUT CONGRESS HAS 66, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ON OUR SPENDING. MIKE: THANK YOU. REP. LAMB: I WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE IN WASHINGTON FOR SURE. ONE OF THE WAYS I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT IS TO MAKE SURE IT WHEN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE A TAX CUT, IT GOES TO MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND DOES NOT ADD THAT. -- DEBT. THE TAX BILL KEITH VOTED FOR LAST YEAR AND HIS PARTY PROMOTED ADDED ONE POINT TRILLION FIVE -- $1.5 TRILLION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT. THE DEFICIT IS GROWING LARGER THIS YEAR. THE NUMBERS ARE COMING IN AND THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING IN LESS IS GETTING WORSE. IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. COULD AFFECT -- COULD HAVE CUT TAXES FOR MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE WITHOUT ADDING A PENNY TO THE DEBT. WE SHOULD GET CLOSER TO THAT. >> PART OF THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT WOULD YOU FAVOR A LIMITED TO THE DEBT CEILING. REP. LAMB: NO I WOULDN’T. MIKE: MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION. CHRIS POTTER FOR CONGRESSMAN LAMB. >> THIS QUESTION HAS NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF INTENTION -- ATTENTION. THE U.N. RELEASED A REPORT PREDICTING CATASTROPHIC IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS INCLUDING COAL AND NATURAL GAS WHICH PRODUCES METHANE IS A ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENT POLICY BE TOWARD ADDRESSING THAT CONCERN AND HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THAT AGAINST THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ENERGY SECTOR JOBS IN THE ECONOMY? REP. LAMB: I’M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE TO HAVE KIDS SOON AND I HOPE WE WILL ALL HAVE LONG LIVES AFTER 2040. THAT IS THE YEAR THE REPORT TELLS US WE COULD BE IN FOR TROUBLE. ONE THING IS FOR SURE. WE ARE PAST THE POINT WHERE WE COULD TOLERATE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP WHO DENY CLIMATE CHANGE I TAKING PLACE. WE KNOW IT IS HAPPENING. REGARDLESS OF WHAT FOLKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TREATED AS A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT. TO FOSSIL FUELS, NATURAL GAS AND THE USE OF IT HAS BEEN A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AREA. WE HAVE A MIDGET LESS CARBON BECAUSE OF OUR TRANSITION TO NATURAL GAS AND IT HAS PROVIDED GOOD, PAYING JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE AND A JOBS FIRST, AND HER ABILITY TO EARN LIVELIHOOD. THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IS TO CREATE A MARKET FOR CLEAN ENERGY THAT WE KNOW IS COMING. PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING IT. CHINA IS INVESTING ON A MASS SCALE. REP. ROTHFUS: WE ALL HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ALSO HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT ECONOMICS. TAKING A LOOK AT THE PLANS PUT OUT BY THE POTTER ADMINISTRATION, THE CLEAN POWER PLAN WOULD INCREASE THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE AT A TREMENDOUS COST. THE WORST THING IS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS MAKING MUCH MORE PROGRESS THAN OTHER COUNTRIES. THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE AT STAKE UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S REGULATIONS. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE METHANE RULE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RULES WE HAVE ARE ACTUALLY GOOD HAVE AN IMPACT. IF IT THREATENS 37,000 JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL. WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF JOBS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW AT THE POWER PLANTS. I’M FIGHTING FOR THOSE JOBS. WE WANT TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE REGULATIONS AT THE SAME TIME. REP. LAMB: TO DIE CONCERN, WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE APPROACH THAT MEETS THE ECONOMIC ONCERNS YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM? REP. ROTHFUS: I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT KEEPING THE ECONOMY GROWING. IT IS WEALTHIER SOCIETIES ABLE TO TACKLE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, CLIMATE CHANGE OR OTHERWISE. WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING NEW LEVY TECHNOLOGY. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT HOLLAND, THEY HAVE HELD BACK THE SEA FOR 400 YEARS. WE COULD BE MAKING SURE THE RULES WE PUT OUT ACTUALLY MEET A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. YOU HAVE AN EPA THAT HAS COMPLICATED RULES AND IF YOU CHANGE ONE FACTOR YOU GET VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS. WE HAVE SEEN EXAMPLE AFTER EXAMPLE OF PRODUCTIONS SUPPOSED TO COME TRUE THAT NEVER DID. AL GORE SAID MOUNT KILIMANJARO NOT HAVE SNOW ON IT. IT STILL HAS NO. -- SNOW. ONE MAN SAID BRITAIN WAS GOING TO BE A CHAIN OF IMPOVERISHED STARVING PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT. REP. LAMB: IT IS ALSO NOT GOING TO HELP TO ALLOW THE EPA TO BE DECIMATED AND HAVE THE RESEARCH CHASED OUT AND REPLACED BY INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS. WE TAKE AN OATH TO PROTECT PEOPLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM. IT IS COMING. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THIS. ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN BUILDING AN ECONOMY WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK AND WE CAN HAVE BEEN ENERGY? I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE BOTH. THERE ARE SMALL TOWNS OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THAT WANT TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOFS OF THEIR BUILDINGS AND WANT TO MAKE THEIR BUILDINGS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WHY CAN THE GOVERNMENT NOT PROVIDE FINANCING TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT? WE NEED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE, HAVE NEW IDEAS, AND HAVE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER WHO REALIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM. MIKE: ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION. THIS IS FOR MR. ROTHFUS. >> AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 HAVE BEEN SEVERELY WEAKENED GIVEN THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY SOME STATES AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECLARED SECTION FOUR B OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL. NOW, THERE IS A NEW LAWSUIT ATTACKING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WHAT TYPE OF NEW LEGISLATION, IF ANY, WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY DENIED A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, JOBS, AND ADMISSIONS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION JUST TO NAME A FEW. REP. ROTHFUS: THERE IS NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY FOR DISCRIMINATION. WE HAVE STRONG LAWS ON THE BOOKS NOW. IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEEING A VIOLATION OF THOSE RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY THEY SHOULD BE IN COURT AND DEFENDING THOSE RIGHTS. >> LET ME FOLLOW UP. HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY ADVOCATE OR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JOBS OR VOTING? REP. ROTHFUS: WE ARE REACHING OUT ALL OF THE TIME AT THIS IDEA OF GETTING EVERYBODY INTO THE GAME. WE NEED EVERYBODY IN THE GAME AT THIS COUNTRY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICIZED, UNDERSTAND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS OUT THERE ATTRACTING PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES INTO COMMUNITIES IN PENN HILLS, EDNA, NEVILLE ISLAND, BEAVER FALLS. A GROWING, HEALTHY ECONOMY SHOULD BE STRETCHING OUT TO EVERYBODY. IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO FACED DISCRIMINATION, WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT IT. I HAVE VISITED EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. OUR OFFICE STANDS READY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM IF WE SPOT ISSUES OUT THERE. MIKE: MR. LAMB? REP. LAMB: I DID NOT HEAR YOU ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE GROWING ECONOMY. I HEARD A QUESTION ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND HOUSING RIGHTS. JUST TO TAKE VOTING RIGHTS AS AN EXAMPLE, I THINK WE HAVE GONE BACKWARD INSTEAD OF FORWARD IN RECENT YEARS. THE SUPREME COURT IN SHALL BE COUNTY, I BELIEVE IT WAS, SAID THEY DID NOT THINK THE REASON WE PASSED THE ACT WERE STILL NECESSARY, GET IN 2018, WE FIND OUT IN GEORGIA ARE CHALLENGING THE NEW VOTER REGISTRATIONS OF 50,000 PEOPLE. THE PERSON DOING IT IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. THAT IS WHY WE NEED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. I HAVE COSPONSORED THE VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT OF 2017 THAT WOULD OVERTURN THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION AND REINSTATE THE PROTECTIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. THIS IS AMERICA. EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AND THEY HAVE TO KNOW THEIR VOTE WILL COUNT. WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE IT. >> LET ME FOLLOW UP. HOW WOULD YOU SPECIFICALLY PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF A CITIZEN WHO HAS BEEN DENIED THAT SEAT AS A RELATES TO HOUSING? TALKED ABOUT VOTING. WHAT ABOUT JOBS? OR WOULD YOU DO SPECIFICALLY? REP. LAMB: WE HAVE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS IN HAVING PROTECTIONS FOR MINORITIES IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING. I WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A WATCHFUL EYE TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED AND PROTECTED. WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING, WE KNOW ALL OF THE TIME THAT THERE IS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION TAKING PLACE TODAY, ESPECIALLY AROUND LARGER CITIES. ONE OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT JOBS OUT THERE IS THAT PEOPLE GO INTO COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING. I GOT A LITTLE EXPERIENCE MYSELF DOING THAT IN LAW SCHOOL. THESE ARE AGENCIES FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE RESOURCES THEY NEED. MANY HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE STRAPPED FOR RESOURCES AND CANNOT TAKE ON AS MANY CLIENTS. >> THANK YOU. MIKE: YOU HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL? REP. ROTHFUS: YET UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS TRICKLING DOWN UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MINORITIES UNDER THE QUALIFIED MORTGAGE. THEY WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE RULE. I REMEMBER YEARS AGO ADVOCATING AT POLLING PLACES, THIS WAS IN THE 2004 ELECTION, PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP AND FELT THEY SHOULD BE ON THE ROLES AND THEY WERE NOT. I ADVOCATED FOR PEOPLE WHO FELT THEY WERE BEING DENIED THE FRANCHISE. , THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SACRED AND WE WILL DEFEND IT FOR EVERYBODY. MIKE: MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION. THIS IS FOR CUMBERSOME AND LAMB. >> EACH OF YOU IS ACCUSING YOUR OPPONENT OF BEING THE POCKET -- IN THE POCKET OF SPECIAL INTERESTS. THE CAMPAIGN OUT OF MR. LAMB ACCUSES MR. ROTHFUS HELP DRUG COMPANIES GET A $50 BILLION TAX BREAK. I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU TO RESPOND TO THE ACCUSATIONS THAT YOU ARE BEING OVERLY INFLUENCED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS. REP. LAMB: I ACCEPTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT THAT BANK. THEY WERE WILLING TO DISCLOSE THEIR IDENTITY AND SUBJECT TO THE SAME LIMITS AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN. I THINK THAT IS HOW THIS SHOULD WORK. THIS AD IS A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY HE AND I FUND OUR CAMPAIGNS. WE BOTH GOT A SIMILAR AMOUNT FROM INDIVIDUALS AT THAT BANK. I BELIEVE I GOT 25000 AND HE GOT 29,000. THE DIFFERENCES HE GOT $50,000 IN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. IS A REFUSAL TO TAKE CORPORATE TAX MONEY THE ONLY SOLUTION IN CORPORATE FINANCE REFORM? NO. ONE THING IT DOES DO IS PREVENTING THE WEALTHY FROM GETTING THE TWO BITES OF THE APPLE THROUGH THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMUNITY. REP. ROTHFUS: I THINK IT SHOWS’. -- IT SHOWS HYPOCRISY. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY SOMEBODY CAN GET FROM MAKING A CORPORATE ACT IS $5,000 -- PACK IS BY DOZEN DOLLARS. -- $5000. THE AD MR. LAMB WAS RUNNING WAS SAYING THAT YOU DON’T HAVE INTEGRITY TAKING A CORPORATE PACK CHECK. YOU CAN GET FAR MORE MONEY FROM ANY NUMBER OF SOURCES THAN A SIMPLE $5,000 CORPORATE PACK COMPUTATION -- CONTRIBUTION. WHEN YOU GET A CONTRIBUTION, IT MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT YOUR VOTE. FOR ME, IT DOES NOT. PEOPLE SUPPORT ME BECAUSE OF MY POSITIONS. I HAVE VOTED AGAINST PIECES OF LEGISLATION, WHO PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD HAVE WANTED ME TO VOTE. MIKE: A QUICK FOLLOW-UP BEST >> QUICK FOLLOW-UP. ONE ALLEGATION IS THAT YOU BENEFITED PHARMA COMPANIES. REP. ROTHFUS: THERE WAS NEVER ANY SPECIFIC LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO BENEFIT DRUG COMPANIES. MAYBE MR. LAMPKIN EDUCATE US ALL MET. REP. LAMB: THAT IS THE CASE -- MR. LAMB CAN EDUCATE US ALL ON THAT. REP. LAMB: THAT IS THE CASE. DRUG COMPANIES ARE CHARGING PEOPLE WAIT TO MUCH AND THE DIFFERENCE IS SIMPLE. WE FUND OUR CAMPAIGNS DIFFERENTLY. OVER THE COURSE OF OUR CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE RAISED $7 MILLION IN THE AVERAGE -- MILLION. AND THE AVERAGE IS CONTRIBUTIONS IN SMALL AMOUNTS AS PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IT. KEEPS US TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THAT BANK. HE AND I VOTED THE SAME WAY ON THE BILL HE TALKS ABOUT. THAT IS NOT A DIFFERENCE. THE DIFFERENCE IS WHO WE REACH TO FOR SUPPORT. IN MY CASE, IT IS REAL PEOPLE GIVING THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY. >> THE CURRENT FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS $7.25 PER HOUR AND IS NOT INCREASED SINCE JULY 2009. GIVEN THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING TWO JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE HAVE AND HAVE NOT, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE? REP. ROTHFUS: YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. YOUR PARTS OF THE DISTRICT WHERE THE METRO -- NATURAL MINIMUM WAGE IS ALREADY RISING BUT BECAUSE OF THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT, MANY LOCAL COMPANIES ON THEIR OWN RAISE THEIR MINIMUM WAGE. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL DEPENDING ON THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU SAW OFF THE BOTTOM RUNG ON THE LADDER, YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. A HEALTHY, GROWING ECONOMY IS LIFTING WAGES ALREADY. WE SEE THE FIRST REAL WAGE GROWTH. IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WORKING TO BRING JOBS, THAT IS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT LIMITING PEOPLE WHO ONLY WORKED NINE AND A HALF HOURS BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYER MANDATE THAT WANT TO HIT 30 HOURS YOU HAVE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEM. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WORKING MULTIPLE PART-TIME JOBS, RATHER THAN WORKING A SINGLE FULL-TIME JOB BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT THE ACA DID. REP. LAMB: JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, $7.25 IS A POVERTY WAGE. MINIMUM WAGE HAS TO GO UP. IT TO GET TO $15 PER HOUR. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT SHOULD GET THEIR OVERNIGHT OR CAN. WE NEED TO DESIGN THE POLICY TO GET THERE. ONCE IT IS THERE, MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE INDEXED SO WE DO NOT GET FAR BEHIND AGAIN. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ECONOMY THAT THE CONGRESSMAN KEEPS TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THAT, SURE, IT IS GROWING, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EARNING $12 PER HOUR IS GROWING TOO. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING $15 PER HOUR IS GROWING. THEIR WAGES ARE NOT GOING UP AS FAST AS THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, CHILD CARE, HOUSING. WE NEED A WHOLE SET OF POLICIES HELPING PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION, AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT IN THE LAST TWO BEEN YEARS. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CHRIS POTTER. >> YOU HAVE BOTH, IN THE PAST, EXPRESSED WARINESS ABOUT IMPEACHING DONALD TRUMP. I’M SURE I DO NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU A KEY FUNCTION OF CONGRESS IS TO PROVIDE SOME CHECK IN BALANCE OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. ARE THERE AREAS OTHER THAN THE RUSSIAN COLLUSION INVESTIGATION WHERE YOU THINK MORE CONGRESSIONAL SCRUTINY AND LEGISLATIVE PUSH BACK IS REQUIRED, AND WHAT WOULD YOUR TOP PRIORITIES THE? MR. LAMB, -- BE? WHAT SHOULD BE LOOKING AT? REP. LAMB: I THINK ANY CONGRESS, THE MATTER WHICH PARTY IS IN CHARGE, HAS THE JOB OF OVERSEEING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. I WILL SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. ON THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE, I THINK WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE APA. THEY ARE CHASING A CAREER SCIENTISTS. ON THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, WILL HAVE BIPARTISAN OVERSIGHT OF A HUGE CONTRACT THAT WAS AWARDED TO DO ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS IN THE V.A. SYSTEM. THE LARGEST PROJECT OF HIS TIME. IF IT GOES WELL, -- IT’S TIME. IF IT GOES WELL, IT WILL BE A MODEL. IF IT GOES POORLY, VETERANS WILL NOT BE TAKING CARE OF. OUR FRAME OF MIND NEEDS TO BE ABOUT PROTECTING THE PEOPLE UNDER OUR JURISDICTION. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHICH PARTY IS IN CHARGE. REP. ROTHFUS: ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE CONTINUE TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ASKED FOR THE DECLASSIFICATION OF THE PFIZER APPLICATION. IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER THINGS LIKE HOUSING ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE TO HOLD AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE. WE CAN ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE WE OF BEEN THERE FOR 17 YEARS AND IT SEEMS THE PROGRESS IS SLOW. I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THEIR LAST YEAR AND TO BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. NO MATTER WHO IS IN CONGRESS OR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THERE SHOULD BE A HEALTHY TENSION BETWEEN THE BRANCHES. WE KNOW THAT IF THE DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEY WILL GRIND EVERYTHING TO A HALT. IF THE DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER, THERE WILL BE IMPEACHMENT CENTRAL PROVIDING ALL KINDS OF DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND SUBPOENAS TO THE ADMINISTRATION. MIKE: WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR VIEWERS NOW. THIS QUESTION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT. VETERANS CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE V.A.. HOW WILL YOU IMPROVE THEIR CARE AND CONSIDERATION? REP. ROTHFUSS: WE HAVE A RECORD OF BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE V.A. I WAS VERY ACTIVE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD LOCAL EXECUTIVES AT THE V.A. BEING AWARDED BONUSES TO CITE -- DESPITE THE DEATHS OF VETERANS. MAKING SURE VETERANS SHOULDN’T BE WAITING IN LINE FOR HEALTH CARE AFFAIRS. MAKING SURE WE ARE PUTTING THE WE OR DEAD ARENDS THAT OF GRATITUDE. I TALK ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLIDARITY. IT HAS IMBUED MY WORK ON VETERANS ISSUES. I PASSED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THE VETERANS WHO WANT TO VISIT THEIR NATIONAL MEMORIALS DONNER THEY WORK THEY DID WILL NOT BE CHARGED FEES. THERE’S A FEE THE GROUPS WOULD HAVE TO PAY. MIKE: YOUR RESPONSE? REP. LAMB: I HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT BOTH THE A HOSPITALS IN PITTSBURGH BECAUSE OF MY ROLE. I WAS STRUCK BY THE DEDICATION AND LOVE OF THE DOCTORS, NURSES, EVEN THE CUSTODIANS THAT WORK THERE. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE ARE ON A MISSION TO DO GOOD FOR THESE VETERANS. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO IS SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE V.A. THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT HAS OPERATED TO GO AFTER A LOT OF LOW-LEVEL PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN AT THE TOP. THERE ARE A LOT OF UN-FIELDS -- UNFILLED LEADERSHIP POSTS IN THE V.A. I AGREE WITH MR. ROTHFUSS THAT THE MISSION ACT WAS A GOOD THING. IT ALLOWS VETERANS TO GET CARE OUTSIDE OF THE V.A. SYSTEM WHEN IT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO DO SO. THAT WILL TAKE A FEW YEARS TO GET THAT COMPLETELY RIGHT. MIKE: THIS QUESTION IS FOR MR. LAMB. >> THERE’S A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO ADVOCATE FOR BILL REFORM. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE BAIL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES NEGATIVELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR. IN PHILADELPHIA, A DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED HIS OFFICE WILL NO LONGER SEEK MONETARY BAIL FOR A HOST OF MISDEMEANORS AND NONVIOLENT FELONIES. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF SUCH A BAIL REFORM INITIATIVE WHICH INITIATIVE -- INITIATIVE? PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR ACTUAL STEPS. REP. LAMB: I AM IN FAVOR OF BILL REFORM. A LOT OF SMART HE BELIEVES STUDY CRIMINAL JUSTICE VIEW IT AS THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN DO TO HAVE A MORE FAIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE TAX. PEOPLE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN PRISON WHEN THEY DON’T REALLY NEED TO BE THERE. THE TAXPAYER PAYS THAT BILL. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE SEEN SOME BIPARTISAN COOPERATION. WE PASSED A BILL EARLIER THIS YEAR CALLED THE FIRST STEP ACT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE SAME PHILOSOPHY. A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OPERATES AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL. CONGRESS CAN’T DIRECTLY CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS ON BILL REFORM. WE CAN BE AGGRESSIVE WITH GRANT PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO TAKE NEW INITIATIVES AND SEE WHAT WE LEARN. MIKE: CONGRESSMAN ROUGHNESS? REP. ROTHFUSS: WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE SYSTEM IS BEING WORKED ON. THE FIRST STEP ACT IS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PROCESS. HELPING PEOPLE REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY. IF SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED, THERE’S A BETTER CHANCE OF CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT RESCINDED RATE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME PART OF SOCIETY AGAIN. IT’S PART OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK IN THE GAME. IF THERE ARE ISSUES AT THE FRONT AND GOING IN WITH BAIL, WE WANT TO BE ADDRESSING THEM. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION FOR MR. ROTHFUSS. >> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA RECENTLY SENT OUT THIS FLYER SAYING THAT CONOR LAMB IS DANGEROUS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THAT HE WILL SUPPORT AN EXTREME LEVEL AGENDA AND A SOCIALIST TAKEOVER OF CONGRESS. YOU WILL AGREE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HE IS DANGEROUS FOR PENNSYLVANIA? REP. ROTHFUSS: I DON’T THINK THAT HE IS DANGEROUS FOR PENNSYLVANIA. I’M CONCERNED WHO WILL BE RUNNING COMMITTEES OF DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER CONGRESS. MAXINE WATERS WOULD BE VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS. WE HAVE SEEN A CHOKING OFF OF CAPITAL FLOWING TO SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE OVERREGULATION THAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF DOC FRANK. THINGS THAT WERE MEANT FOR WALL STREET TRICKLE-DOWN. MS. WATERS WON’T LET THERE BE ANY CHANGES. SHE OPPOSED THE REFORM BILL THAT WE HAD, WHICH MR. LAMB OPPOSED, THAT WOULD’VE PROVIDED RELIEF TO COMMUNITY BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS. THEY WERE NOT THE ONES WHO STARTED THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. MR. LAMB TALKED ABOUT BELIEVING IN THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF YOU. I BELIEVE IN THE SERVICE OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING. MIKE: MR. LAMB? REP. LAM THIS IS NOT ABOUT FINANCIAL REFORM OR THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT HOW WE CAMPAIGN. I’M HAPPY TO HEAR KEITH DICKEL -- DISCLAIM THAT FLYER. IT’S NOT THE ONLY ONE THEY SENT. THEY SENT MAILERS THAT LIE ABOUT MY RECORD ON MEDICARE. I’VE ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE FOR SIX MONTHS. I’VE NEVER VOTED TO CUT IT. I’VE BEEN THERE FOR SIX MONTHS. KEITH HAS BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS. ALL THESE MAILERS ARE ABOUT ME. PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THAT. I’M SURPRISED THAT THEY THINK THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE ARE FOR AND THAT’S IT. I HOPE WE CAN CAMPAIGN THAT WAY UNTIL ELECTION DAY. MIKE: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. ABOUT THE TONE AND TENOR OF THIS RACE. I WANT YOU TO TAKE 15 SECONDS AND TELL EACH OTHER SOMETHING YOU LIKE OR ADMIRE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER. MR. ROTHFUSS, EUROPE FIRST. REP. ROTHFUSS: YOU HAVE A KILLER 10K PACE. FOR A GUY WHO HAD A VERY GOOD EDUCATION, TO TAKE THAT INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY AND GO INTO THE MARINE CORPS IS VERY COMMENDABLE. A LOT OF YOUR FOLKS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL WOULD NOT OF DONE THAT. YOU GET KUDOS. REP. LAMB: I JUST MET SOMEONE THIS WEEKEND WHO WAS A VETERAN OF BEAVER COUNTY. HE HAD HAD A DISABILITY CLAIM FOR YEARS, HE GOT NO ATTENTION. HE CALLED YOUR OFFICE AND YOU HAD IT STRAIGHTENED OUT THREE MONTHS. HE WAS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. HE ASKED ME WHY IT TAKES A CONGRESSMAN TO GET INOLVED FOR A VETERANS CLAIM. THAT’S THE WAY WITH SOME OF THESE BIG AGENCIES. IT SOUND LIKE THEY TOOK GOOD CARE OF THOSE GUYS. MIKE: THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR MR. LAMB. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DEFENDED HIS MOCKING OF CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, WHO ACCUSED BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. TRUMP SAYS IF HE HADN’T MADE THAT SPEECH MOCKING HER, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ONE. -- WON. DID YOU AGREE WITH THIS STRATEGY? REP. LAMB: ABSOLUTELY NOT. NOBODY WON IN THIS PROCESS. THE SENATE DID NOT MAKE US PROUD. MY FIRST JOB IN THE MARINES WAS TO PROSECUTE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. I MET A LOT OF PEOPLE, MEN AND WOMEN, WHO WERE VICTIMS OF THIS TERRIBLE CRIME. IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED 36 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE TO SET AN EXAMPLE. VICTIMS WILL TAKE A MESSAGE FROM THIS EPISODE ABOUT WHETHER IT’S WORTH IT FOR THEM TO EVER TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. I DON’T THINK IT HELPED. IT’S A COMPLETELY THE WRONG MESSAGE. IF YOU ARE WATCHING TONIGHT, THERE ARE MANY OF US IN PUBLIC LIFE AND TAKE THIS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY AND WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET JUSTICE IF YOU COME FORWARD. >> DID YOU BELIEVE CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD? REP. LAMB: FROM WHAT I SAW OF HER TESTIMONY, NOT THE WHOLE THING, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH VICTIMS, I FOUND% HER TO BE VERY CREDIBLE. I’M USED TO THE SITUATION OF VICTIMS WAITING TO REPORT UNTIL LATER BASED ON OTHER INFORMATION THAT THEY LEARNED. THIS IS A VERY PARTICULAR AND DIFFERENT TYPE OF CRIME. THE TRAUMA THAT IT LEAVES IS VERY DIFFERENT. THOSE WEREN’T BIG FACTORS TO ME. I DID FIND HER CREDIBLE. MIKE: SAME TWO QUESTIONS. REP. ROTHFUSS: I DON’T THINK THE PRESIDENT HELPED HIS CASE BY MAKING THOSE COMMENTS. IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS PROCESS. DR. FORD HAD A RIGHT TO BE HEARD. SHE HAD A RIGHT TO BE RESPECTED. CONNOR TALKED ABOUT THE SENATE NOT LOOKING TOO GOOD IN THIS. SOMEBODY IN THE SENATE LEAKED SOMETHING THAT DR. FORD WANTED TO BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF A COUNTRY WITH VERY DRAMATIC TESTIMONY. DR. FORD GAVE COMPELLING TESTIMONY. CERTAINLY SOMETHING HAPPENED TO DR. FORD. I DON’T BELIEVE IT WAS JUDGE KAVANAUGH. SUSAN COLLINS LAID OUT, THERE WAS NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER. PEOPLE WHO WERE NAMED AS WITNESSES REFUTED WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE. IN THIS FAIRLY POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT, IT WAS NOT HELPLESS FOR THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS. >> YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE FOR? -- FORD? REP. ROTHFUSS: I BELIEVE SOMETHING HAPPENED BUT I DON’T BELIEVE IT WAS KAVANAUGH. >> THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT IMMIGRATION. IN THE LAST DEBATE, YOU SPOKE WARMLY ABOUT THE POWER OF IMMIGRATION TO GROW THE ECONOMY. YOU HAVE ALSO VOTED IN FAVOR OF A HARD-LINE IMMIGRATION BILL THAT FAILED IN THE HOUSE, IN PART BECAUSE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WEREN’T IN FAVOR OF IT. MR. LAMB ANGERED SOME DEMOCRATS BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE REVOLUTION -- RESOLUTION PRAISING ICE, AN AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. I’M WONDERING HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S CURRENT IMMIGRATION POLICY, WHETHER IT IS WORKING UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND HOW YOU WOULD CHANGE THIS -- IT. REP. ROTHFUSS: THAT LEGISLATION DID A NUMBER OF THINGS. IT SECURED OUR BORDER. IT INCREASED CAPACITY AT OUR PORTS OF ENTRY. I HAVE SEEN SPOTS ON THE BORDER WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE A BARRIER. WE KNOW THAT 90% OF THE HAIR WHEN -- HEROIN IS COMING THROUGH THE MEXICAN BORDER. WE ASKED FOR AN E-VERIFY SYSTEM IN THAT LEGISLATION, WHERE LAWYERS WOULD MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THESE -- SOMEBODY IS ELIGIBLE. WE GIVE A LEGAL STATUS TO DACA KIDS. THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THEY KNOW. WE GAVE THEM A LEGAL STATUS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE HEARD ANYBODY CALL IT A HARD-LINE BILL. WE ARE DOING SOMETHING LEGALLY THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO. THIS WAS A VERY GOOD STARTING POINT. MIKE: MR. LAMB? REP. LAMB: THIS BILL ILLUSTRATES WHAT IS WRONG IN WASHINGTON. WE NEED TO DO SOME THINGS TO FIX IMMIGRATION. THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY CANNOT EVEN GET TOGETHER, THEY WOULD NOT COME TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO WORK WITH US. THEIR BILL FAILS. IT REFUSED TO END THE POLICY OF SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AT THE BORDER. IT WOULD’VE AUTHORIZED FAMILIES TO BE DETAINED TOGETHER ON MILITARY BASES. WE DON’T NEED MORE OF THAT. THAT WAS A HARD-LINE BILL AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST IT AND IT FAILED. MY SENSE IS THAT PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT TWO THINGS. BETTER BORDER SECURITY AND GIVING THE DACA KIDS A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP. THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR ROUND. THEY PAY TAXES AND GO TO SCHOOL. THEY’RE LIVING SUCCESSFUL LIVES IN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ECONOMY. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A PASS. THE PATH IN THAT BILL WAS LONG AND UNREALISTIC. WE COULD HAVE A SIMPLE BILL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT. MIKE: DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP? >> COULD YOU ASSERT YOUR REGIONS FOR WHITE -- REASONS FOR WHY YOU SUPPORTED THAT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ICE. THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT OVERREACH FROM THAT AGENCY. REP. LAMB: THE PROBLEM IS WITH CONGRESS AND OUR FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL STATUS OF ALL THESE PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR COUNTRY AND CONTRIBUTING. IF A GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING, THE ANSWER IS NOT TO ABOLISH IT. THESE ARE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE WERE PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE NEED A CHANGE AT THE TOP. YOU WOULDN’T ABOLISH THE MARINE CORPS IF THEY LOST A CERTAIN BATTLE. YOU WOULD RELIEVE THE GENERAL AND APPOINT SOMEBODY ELSE. THAT MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE. MIKE: YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD ON THIS. REP. ROTHFUSS: IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE DID FOR DACA IN THIS LEGISLATION, IT PROVIDED A LEGAL STATUS. PRESIDENT OBAMA DIDN’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS BUT HE DID IT. WE GAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP TO BE FAIR, YOU HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME FROM THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY. I HEARD MR. LAMB TALK ABOUT A BROAD-BASED AMNESTY PROGRAM. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE NOT LEGALLY AND SAY, YOU CAN COME ON IN. THAT IS NOT FAIR. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IT THE LEGAL WAY. BY GIVING THEM A LEGAL STATUS, YOU ARE ALLOWING THEM TO BE HERE , PAY TAXES, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ECONOMY. IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A CITIZEN, LOOK TO SEE WHAT FOLKS IN YOUR NATIVE COUNTRY ARE DOING. YOU CAN PARTICIPATE THERE. WE CONVERTED A 55,000 THESE A LOT OF PROGRAM -- THE SELL LOTTERY PROGRAM INTO A MERIT PROGRAM. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION FOR MR. LAMB. >> OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED THAT -- TO HELPING THE COAL INDUSTRY BY ROLLING BACK ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. WHAT ROLE SHOULD THE COAL INDUSTRY PLAY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR AND FOR HOW LONG? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SPONSOR LEGISLATION IN THE NEXT CONGRESS MAKING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDIT PERMANENT? IF SO, WHY NOT? REP. LAMB: I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT SPECIFIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD SUPPORT. THE GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN CREATING A MARKET FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY. PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING IT AND WE CAN ASSIST. THE SAME WAY THE GOVERNMENT HELPED CREATE A MARKET FOR AVIATION AFTER WORLD WAR II. THE SAME WAY THE GOVERNMENT HELPED OUT TRUCKING BY DOING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. WE CAN DO THE SAME THING WITH HER NOBLE ENERGY. I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO OPPOSES COAL IN ALL FORMS. AT THE TOP OF MY PRIORITY LIST ARE THE JOBS AND LIVELIHOODS OF OUR WORKING FAMILIES. MANY OF WHOM STILL WORK IN THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. IF WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE CHANGING MARKET, ALREADY GOING IN FAVOR OF HER NOBLE ENERGY SOURCES, WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE JOB TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WILL PROVIDE. ONE OF THE CRITIQUES I HAD OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLANS, I DON’T THINK THEY DID ENOUGH TO PRESERVE JOBS AND CREATE NEW JOBS. THESE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND WITH A PIECE OF PAPER. THEY NEED TO END WITH A JOB. NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE JOBS OF MIDDLE PLACE -- MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. REP. ROTHFUS FAMILIES AND BEAVER COUNTY ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THAT PLANT WILL STAY OPEN. THIS IS THE LEGACY OF A LONG INDUSTRY. NATURAL GAS IS A SUCCESS STORY AND THAT IS HELPING TO PROVIDE MORE POWER, MORE ABUNDANT POWER, CHEAP ELECTRICITY IS WHAT HAS POWERED THE RISING OF LIVING STANDARDS ACROSS THE WORLD. YOU MENTIONED RENEWABLE. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE 1992 FOR THE WIND INDUSTRY TO TURN A PROFIT. WITHOUT BEING HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED. WE CONTINUE TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE INDUSTRY. THERE’S A HUGE SOLAR PROJECT IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, SUBSIDIZED BY THE TAXPAYERS. CHEAP ELECTRICITY IS WHAT POWERS THIS ECONOMY. I HAVE SUPPORTED RESEARCH ON CLEAN COAL. A LABORATORY IN THE SOUTH HILLS IS DOING GREAT WORK. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FUND RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THIS GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE. MIKE: OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FOR MR. ROTHFUSS. >> YOU HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. YOUR OPPONENT HAS TAKEN POSITIONS ON THE GUN ISSUE THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE TAKEN BY THE ANORAK. CAN YOU GIVE ANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WHERE YOU DIFFER WITH THE NRA AND ITS APPROACH TO PREVENTING MASS SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA? REP. ROTHFUSS: THE AN ARRAY SUPPORTS ME BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THIS CONGRESS HAS TAKEN STEPS TO FIX THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. THERE WERE RECORDS THAT WERE NOT BEING UPLOADED. WE HAVE ADDED FUNDING FOR THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. I VOTED FOR THE STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE ACT TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS CAN HAVE MORE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM AND TAKE MEASURES. AND MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION THAT WAS SO NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLE ARE GETTING THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. BEFORE WE START TO CRIMINALIZE THE BEHAVIOR OF RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A LAW WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. CONGRESSMAN LAMB’S FIRST AD, USING A GUN IN AN AD. THIS WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SHOOTINGS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY. THAT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. WE WANT TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM. REP. LAM WE AGREE THAT LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR GUNS AND USE THEM SAFELY. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT AT ALL. I FAVOR COMMONSENSE GUN REFORM, WHICH THE NRA HAS LONG OPPOSED. THIS ACT WOULD JUST CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BUY FIREARMS WITH NO BACKGROUND CHECK OVER THE INTERNET, AND THE SAME LOOPHOLE AT GUN SHOWS. IT HAS 208 COSPONSORS RIGHT NOW. ONLY 10 AWAY FROM WHAT IT TAKES TO PASS. PAUL WILL NOT SCHEDULE IT FOR A VOTE. I DON’T KNOW THE NRA’S POSITION ON THAT ONE. I ASSUME THAT THE GUN LOBBY’S INFLUENCE IS WHAT HAS CAP SPEAKER RYAN FROM TAKING THAT TO A VOTE. MIKE: DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP? >> MR. ROTHFUSS, CAN YOU CITE ANY EXAMPLES WHERE YOU DIFFERED WITH THE NRA? REP. ROTHFUSS: I AM SUPPORTED BY THEM BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THE LEGISLATION THAT MR. LAMB IS TALKING ABOUT WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED A SINGLE MASS SHOOTING. NOT A SINGLE ONE. IT WOULD BURDEN RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. REP. LAMB: I DON’T THINK IT’S A BURDEN TO ASK EVERYBODY TO PASS THE SAME BACKGROUND TEST. THAT’S THE POINT OF THAT LEGISLATION. MIKE: WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOTH OF YOU WHERE YOU STAND ON FOR PROPOSED POLICIES THAT SOME SAY WOULD REDUCE GUN DEATHS WITHOUT INFRINGING UPON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I WANT TO GET YES OR NO ANSWERS HERE. DO YOU SUPPORT UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT INCLUDE GUNS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, AT A GUN SHOW, OR ONLINE? REP. LAMB: YES. REP. ROTHFUSS: I DO NOT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL YOUR GUN IS YOU CAN NOW. IT WILL NOT CHANGE ANY ONE OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT WE’VE HAD. MIKE: WHY NO? REP. LAMB: I SUPPORTED BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO PASS THE SAME CHECK. MOST OF THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDES EXCEPTIONS FOR FAMILY TRANSFERS. WHAT ABOUT PROHIBITING ANYONE CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSE, FROM PURCHASING OR POSSESSING GUNS? REP. LAMB: ABSOLUTELY. >> WHY IS THAT A GOOD IDEA? REP. LAMB: PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THEN HAVE ACCESS TO A FIREARM, A USE IT TO COMMIT FURTHER VIOLENCE AGAINST THEIR PARTNER OR THE JUDGE OR WHOEVER. WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF THESE CRIMES, IT SHOULD BE DISQUALIFYING. REP. ROTHFUSS: THERE ARE ALREADY RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM OBTAINING FIREARMS. >> NOT UNIVERSALLY. REP. ROTHFUSS: IT GOES INTO THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. IT WILL GET FLAGGED. THESE RECORDS HAVE TO BE LOADED INTO THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. >> HOW ABOUT BANNING ASSAULT WEAPONS OR PLACING LIMITS ON LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO INFLICT THE KIND OF DEVASTATION THAT THE LAS VEGAS DUE TO -- SHOOTER DID LAST OCTOBER? REP. LAMB: I DON’T FAVOR THAT, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO FIRST. A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLY’S RIFLES LEGALLY. THERE IS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CLOSE THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT. IT’S NOT GETTING A VOTE BUT IT EXISTS. IT’S CALLED A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DOMESTIC ABUSERS ACT. I HOPE WE CAN GET A VOTE ON IT THE NEW CONGRESS. REP. ROTHFUSS: WITH RESPECT TO THESE AR-15’S, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ONLY’S WEAPONS RESPONSIBLY. IT IS ILLEGAL TO CONVERT THEM INTO FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. THOSE LAWS SHOULD BE ENFORCED. >> A FEDERAL CHILD ACCESS PREVENTION LAW THAT HOLDS GUN OWNERS LIABLE FOR FAILING TO SAFELY SECURE THEIR FIREARMS? REP. LAMB: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DECENT IDEA TO ME. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL A REAL RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THESE WEAPONS SAFELY STORED AND AWAY FROM CHILDREN. REP. ROTHFUSS: PEOPLE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY ARE OWNING GUNS AND THEY DON’T SECURE THEM, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. MIKE: THAT WILL CONCLUDE TONIGHT’S QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PORTION. NOW EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO MAKE THEIR CLOSING STATEMENT, BEGINNING WITH MISTER -- MR. RUFF IS. REP. ROTHFUSS: THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE SEEN A REMARKABLE RECOVERY IN THE ECONOMY. MORE JOBS, RISING WAGES. WE FOUND THERE ARE NOW 7 MILLION JOB POSTINGS, THE BEST ECONOMY WE HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME. WE HAVE A CHOICE IN THREE WEEKS. DO WE THROW THE BRAKES ON THIS AMERICAN ECONOMY AND ELECTED DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY? DO WE ALLOW THESE POLICIES TO CONTINUE? IF WE EXPECT TO MEET THE COMMITMENTS WE HAVE MADE TO OUR SENIORS, WE NEED A HEALTHY GROWING TO A MANIC ECONOMY THAT GENERATES MORE TAX REVENUE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT HAS DONE. THE MEDICARE TRUST FUND IS BEING EXTENDED. OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO BE ABOUT. I BELIEVE IN YOU. I DON’T BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MICROMANAGE EVERYTHING IN THIS ECONOMY. MIKE: THANK YOU. CONGRESSMAN LAMB? REP. LAMB: I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THOUSANDS OF YOU OVER THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS. WE KNOCKED ON OUR 300,000 STORE THIS LAST WEEKEND. -- DOOR THIS LAST WEEKEND. THE HARD WORK OF UNION MEMBERS WHOM EVERYBODY COUNTED OUT, I’M SO OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR POLITICS CAN GET A LOT BETTER. THEY ARE PRETTY BAD RIGHT NOW. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE DISTORTED AND MISLEADING ADS THAT ARE OUT THERE. I’VE NEVER VOTED AGAINST MEDICARE, FOR EXAMPLE. I WILL VOTE TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND MEDICARE. I HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME. LET SAID, REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE RUNNING FOR. IT’S THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE. YOU ARE THERE TO REPRESENT US. IF YOU TRUST ME WITH ANOTHER TERM, I WON’T FORGET THAT. YOU WON’T LET ME. EVERY TIME I ANSWER IN THE HOUSE, I WILL DO IT FOR YOU. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU IN CONGRESS. THANK YOU. MIKE: THIS NEW 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COVERS THREE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, AND A NUMBER OF BUREAUS AND CHANCE -- TOWNSEND’S. BLANOX TO BEAVER FALLS. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP TO CARNEGIE. DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT FAMILIES, WITH MANY OF THE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE REMEMBER TO GET OUT AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, IT IS BOTH OUR RIGHT AND OUR PRIVILEGE. REMEMBER, YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THE NEWS RELATED TO THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MID-TERM ELECTION, ON OUR WTAE MOBILE APP, WHERE YOU WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REWATCH TONIGHT’S DEBATE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. THANKS TO OUR PANEL, AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CANDIDATES. I’M MIKE CLARK, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4, GOOD