Whitehouse, Hinckley Do Battle in U.S. Senate Debate - VoiceTube: Learn English through videos!

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Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS A
SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
EYEWITNESS NEWS AND "THE
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL" BRING YOU
LIVE COVERAGE.
NOW A CAMPAIGN 2012 U.S. SENATE
DEBATE.
RIGHT NOW FROM RHODE ISLAND
COLLEGE, THE FIRST LIVE SENATE
DEBATE, BETWEEN SHELDON
WHITEHOUSE AND BARRY HINCKLEY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT
ISSUES TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AND
WE'LL TACKLE MANY OF THEM AS WE
TRY TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO MEN
LOOKING FOR YOUR VOTE.
OVER THE NEXT 60 MINUTES, WE'LL
BE GOING IN DEPTH.
THIS DEBATE IS AIRING LIVE RIGHT
NOW ON WPRI, AND ON LINE AT
WPRI.COM.
I'LL BE MODERATING THIS DEBATE
ALONG WITH TED NESI AND EDWARD
FITZPATRICK.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH ONE-MINUTE
OPENING REMARKS.
I WANT TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE
HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE
VERY END OF YOUR DEBATE SO
EVERYONE CAN HEAR THE ANSWERS.
THE ORDER FOR OPENING STATEMENTS
WAS DETERMINED BY A DRAWING.
WE BEGIN WITH BARRY HINCKLEY.
MR. HINCKLEY IS THE FOUNDER OF A
SUCCESSFUL SOFTWARE COMPANY,
PRIOR TO THAT HE HELPED RUN HIS
FAMILY'S BOAT-BUILDING OFFICE.
MR. HINCKLEY YOUR OPENING
REMARKS.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR SPONSORING THIS
EVENT, CHANNEL 12, AND "THE
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL."
THANK YOU ALL IN THE AUDIENCE
HERE AND AT HOME FOR TAKING TIME
OUT OF YOUR DAY TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THESE TWO CANDIDATES.
SENATOR GOOD TO BE HERE WITH
YOU, ALTHOUGH I AM A LITTLE
UNCOMFORTABLE BEING TO YOUR LEFT
HERE.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS
POLITICALLY POSSIBLE.
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO
TONIGHT.
ON A MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOTE,
TIMES ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
IN RHODE ISLAND.
I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO RHODE
ISLANDERS ABOUT THE PREDICAMENT
WE FIND OURS IN.
A LAST-PLACE TEAM RHODE ISLAND
IS 50TH IN BUSINESS
FRIENDLINESS, AND WITH THAT
COMES HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT HERE AND
IN OUR LEGISLATURE.
TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR TWO
DIFFERENT PLANS TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS AT OUR FEET.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE WILL MOST
LIKELY SPEAK ABOUT HIS PLAN,
WHICH IS MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE
TAXES, AND MORE REGULATIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. HINCKLEY YOUR
TIME IS UP.
NOW SHELDON WHITEHOUSE.
MR. WHITE HOUSE WAS ELECTED TO
THE U.S. SENATE IN 2006.
PRIOR TO THAT HE WAS THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM 1999 TO
2003.
MR. WHITEHOUSE YOUR OPENING
REMARKS.
THANK YOU, TIM, THANK YOU
TED, AND ED, AND THANK YOU RHODE
ISLAND FOR HOSTING US, AND THINK
YOU TO THE VIEWERS FOR TUNING
IN.
LISTENING.
LISTENING IS PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING I DO AS A U.S.
SENATOR, AND I HAVE HEARD LOUD
AND CLEAR, AND I UNDERSTAND HOW
DIFFICULT THE SITUATION IS IN
RHODE ISLAND RIGHT NOW.
HOW HARD THE ECONOMIC TIMES ARE
FOR MANY PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND
THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A TIME OF
SUFFERING, AND THAT NEENS WE
HAVE TO PRESS HARFOR JOBS AND
ECONOMIC RECOVERY, TO SUSTAIN
OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY
AND ACCELERATE RHODE ISLAND'S
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
IN DOING SO, WE HAVE TO DO THAT
FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS OUT.
WE HAVE TRIED PUSHING ALL OF THE
BENEFITS TO THE TOP AND HAVING A
TRICKLE DOWN.
THAT'S WRONG, AND IT DOESN'T
WORK.
AND AS WE DO THIS WE HAVE TO
PROTECT THE BASIC MAINTAINS OF
THE MIDDLE CLASS, MEDICARE,
SOCIAL SECURITY, AND PELL GRANTS
FOR UPWARD MOBILITY.
THANK YOU, MR. WHITEHOUSE.
GENTLEMEN LET'S DIVE RIGHT INTO
THE TOPICS AT HAND.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN OPEN AND
HONEST DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES.
WE ENCOURAGE BACK AND FORTH AS
LONG AS IT'S WITH THE TOPIC AT
HAND.
IF I FEEL YOU ARE GOING TOO LONG
OR NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION, I
WILL JUMP IN.
LET'S JUMP IN.
GENTLEMEN, OUR POLLS SHOW THE
BIGGEST ISSUE FOR VOTERS RIGHT
NOW IS JOBS.
SO LET'S START THERE.
MR. WHITEHOUSE WE'RE GOING TO
BEGIN WITH YOU.
WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE
COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU CAME INTO OFFICE
UNEMPLOYMENT WAS 4.8%.
WE STAND HERE TONIGHT AT 10.5%.
DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD COMPLETE OR
PARTIAL CONTROL OF WASHINGTON,
D.C. THAT ENTIRE TIME.
FOR A RHODE ISLANDER LOOKING FOR
A JOB, WHY NOT GIVE THE REINS
BACK TO REPUBLICANS?
ACTUALLY DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT
HAD CONTROL OF WASHINGTON DURING
THAT ENTIRE TIME.
WHEN I GOT THERE PRESIDENT BUSH
WAS IN CHARGE AND IT WAS AT THE
END OF HIS TERM THAT THE BIGGEST
ECONOMIC CALAMITY TO HIT THIS
COUNTRY SINCE THE GREAT
DEPRESSION TOOK PLACE.
AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS WHAT
HAPPENED TO OUR ECONOMY.
WE HAVE NOT SPRUNG BACK AS FAST
AS WE SHOULD HAVE.
THE STRATEGY WE HAVE TO FOLLOW
IS PRETTY CLEAR TO COME BACK,
INNOVATION, MANUFACTURING, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, ARE THE THREE
AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS,
AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE PUT IN A
LOT OF MY WORK.
IF YOU DRIVE BY THE PROVIDENCE
MALL, YOU'LL GO OVER A LAND
BRIDGE, IF YOU GO UNDER IT,
THERE ARE PLANKS ACROSS THE HOO
BRIDGE TO KEEP THE HIGHWAY FROM
FALLING IN.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SOUTHBOUND
LANE, BECAUSE OF THE
[ INAUDIBLE ] IS ABOUT TO BE
RESTORED ANOTHER PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THEY WORKED FOR ONCE
FUNDED WILL ALLOW THE NORTHBOUND
LANE TO GET DONE.
WE HAVE A KNEW CRANE AND PIER AT
KWAN SET THAT ARE OPENING UP
KWANSET --
MR. WHITEHOUSE --
WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE, BECAUSE
WE CAN COME BACK TO
MANUFACTURING AND INNOVATION
LATER.
AND YOU HAVE LISTED OFF OF
SUCCESSES IN INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT
IT -- MIGHT RING A PRETTY HOLLOW
TO ONE OF THE 60,000 PEOPLE THAT
ARE STILL UNEMPLOYED.
RHODE ISLAND IS BEING LEFT
BEHIND IN WHAT THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY IS SEEING AS A RECOVERY.
SO WHY IS IT GOING TO BE ANY
DIFFERENT IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS?
LOOK, WE ARE SEEING A VERY,
VERY SLOW RECOVERY.
IT IS PAINFULLY SLOW, AND FOR
THE 60,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL
UNEMPLOYED, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
A RECOVERY YET.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO DO THE
THINGS THAT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
JOBS, AND THE CORE THING IS
INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE WE NEED
IT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BUILDING
BRIDGES TO NOWHERE.
RHODE ISLAND HAS SOME OF THE
WORST INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
COUNTRY ON ROADS AND BRIDGES --
LET ME WRAP UP WITH YOU HERE,
IN SIX YEARS IF WE'RE ON THIS
STAGE AGAIN, WHAT IS THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE GOING TO BE IN
SIX YEARS IF WE GIVE YOU ANOTHER
TERM?
WELL, I DON'T THINK WE'LL
HAVE ANOTHER ECONOMIC MELTDOWN
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
THE TREND IS TOWARDS RECOVERY.
I WOULD SAY 6%.
TO PROMOTE GROWTH YOU CALL
FOR REDUCING THE CORPORATE TAX
RATE, EXPANDING ACCESS TO PELL
GRANTS, PAYING TEACHERS MORE,
ALL WHILE CAPPING SPENDING AT
8.4% OF THE GDP.
THAT'S JUST A TASTE.
YOU ARE MAKING A LOT OF PROMISES
HERE MR. HINCKLEY.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PAY FOR ALL
OF THAT?
YOU PAY FOR IT BY GROWING THE
ECONOMY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T
TODAY.
YOU DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE,
TEACHERS, FIREMEN UNLESS YOU
HAVE PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR WORKING AND PAYING TAXES.
A HUNDRED THOUSAND RHODE
ISLANDERS HAVE MOVED OUT IN THE
LAST TEN YEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE
DEVASTATINGLY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.
EVERYTHING SINCE THE SENATOR HAS
BEEN IN OFFICE HAS ALMOST
DOUBLED, UNEMPLOYMENT, OUR DEBT,
AND IT -- IT'S NOT WORKING FOR
RHODE ISLANDERS TODAY, SO WHAT
DO WE NEED TO DO?
TO GET OUR ECONOMY GOING AND
GROWING SO WE CAN RAISE MORE
REVENUE AS MARCO RUBIO SAID, WE
DON'T NEED MORE TAX, WE NEED
MORE TAXPAYERS.
WOULDN'T THAT BE A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT
PEOPLE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISING THE
REVENUE BY IMPROVING THE
ECONOMY.
WE NEED TO MAKE RHODE ISLAND
AND AMERICA THE MOST ATTRACTIVE
PLACE IN THE WORLD TO DO
BUSINESS.
END OF STORY.
BUSINESSES AND CAPITAL MOVE
WHERE THEY ARE A TREATED WELL.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
WE NEED A TOTALLY NEW TAX
CODE HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.
WHICH I CANNOT EFFECT DIRECTLY,
BUT I CAN CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT
IT.
OUR CONSTRUCTIONAL DELEGATION
NEVER PUSHES SMITH HILL TO BE
BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TAX RATES IN
THE WORLD --
CORPORATE TAX RATE.
CORPORATE TAX RATE.
WE HAVE MASSIVE REGULATORY
PROBLEMS.
IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO PUT
PEOPLE TO WORK IN AMERICA --
WHAT SHOULD THE TAX RATE BE?
IN THE 20S.
WHAT ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA
HAS PUT ON THE TABLE 28%, WOULD
YOU VOTE THAT UP OR DOWN.
SIMPSON BOLE HAS THE SAME
THING.
THEY SPENT TWO YEARS
MASTERMINDING A MASSIVE NEW
2,000-PLUS PAGE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAM, AND TALK ABOUT THINGS
WE CAN'T AFFORD WHEN WE SHOULD
BE FOCUSED ON JOBS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU
WEIGH IN, SENATOR IF WE COULD ON
THE CORPORATE TAX RATES.
YOUR OWN PRESIDENT HAS SAID WE
SHOULD LOWER IT TO 28%.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD
SUPPORT?
THE CORPORATE TAX SYSTEM IS A
NIGHTMARE RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TAX
SYSTEM THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS
THAT SAY THAT AMERICANS SPENDING
7 BILLION HOURS EVERY YEAR
ENGAGED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS
COMPLICATED CODE.
AT HOME IT MEANS FOR INSTANCE,
CVS A GREAT COMPANY HERE IN
RHODE ISLAND PAYS A FULL 35% TAX
RATE.
OTHER COMPANIES, LIKE, FOR
INSTANCE, CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
PAY A 0.8% TAX RATE.
GE HAS PAID VIRTUALLY ZERO.
THE OIL COMPANIES PAY AROUND 7.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THAT --
WHAT SHOULD IT BE?
I THINK 28% IS REASONABLE.
BUT IF WE TAKE ALL OF THE
SAVINGS FROM THE TAX CODE AND
ONLY PUT THEM INTO LOWERING
RATES AND DON'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THE DEFICIT, WE HAVE
MISSED A OPPORTUNITY.
MR. HINCKLEY 30 SECONDS TO
GIVE YOUR FINAL WORD ON THE JOB
SECTION.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
AN AVERAGE EMPLOYEE AT MY
COMPANY THAT I FOUNDED THAT NOW
HAS 175 EMPLOYEES MADE ABOUT
$68,000 A YEAR BEFORE TAXES.
AFTER COMPLIANCE, COST OF
GOVERNMENT, HEALTHCARE,
REGULATION, COMPLYING WITH TAX
CODE THAT EMPLOYEE COSTS ME
ABOUT $93,000.
THE REASON AMERICA IS
UNCOMPETITIVE IS BECAUSE THE
COST OF GOVERNMENT THAT HE WANTS
MORE OF ALMOST DOUBLES THE COST,
AND IN SOME INDUSTRIES DOES
DOUBLE THE COST OF EMPLOYING
PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THANK YOU, AND NOW TO EDWARD
FITZPATRICK.
MR. HINCKLEY THE WINNER OF
THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT WILL
INHERIT A SUPREME COURT THAT
SPLITS 5 TO 4 OPINION.
HOW IS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE
COURT, AND WHAT IS THE SUPREME
COURT RULING YOU WOULD MOST LIKE
TO OVERTURN?
THE SUPREME COURT OBVIOUSLY
IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COUNTRY
IN MANY, MANY WAYS.
AS FAR AS OVERTURNING, OF COURSE
I WAS UNHAPPY WITH JUSTICE
ROBERT'S DECISION ON THE MANDATE
FOR THE HEALTHCARE, AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THAT OVERTURNED, BUT
IT IS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR
NOW, AND THE PRESIDENT AND ANY
SENATE HAS A MAJOR SAY BY
NOMINATING AND CONFIRMING THESE
NEXT JUSTICES, SO I BELIEVE IT'S
AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHO OUR
NEXT PRESIDENT IS BECAUSE IT
WILL HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON ANY
SUPREME COURT.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE WHAT IS
THE FIRST QUESTION YOU WOULD ASK
OF THE NEXT SUPREME COURT
NOMINEE?
AND HOW IS THE ELECTION
IMPORTANT TO THE COURT.
I THINK THE QUESTION WOULD
DEPEND ON WHO THE NOMINEE WAS.
I THINK THE IMPORTANCE TO THE
COURT IS VERY REAL, AND IT WILL
BE VERY REAL IN THE LIVES OF
RHODE ISLANDERS.
WE HAVE A COURT THAT HAS TURNED
TO THE EXTREME RIGHT.
AND THE RESULT HAS BEEN REALLY
TOUGH DECISIONS LIKE POOR OLD
LILLY LEAD BETTER WHO WAS
BASICALLY CHEATED OUT OF A FAIR
WAGE, AND THE SUPREME COURT
THREW HER CASE OUT BECAUSE THEY
SAID SHE HADN'T FOUND OUT EARLY
ENOUGH.
THE DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE
OVERTURNED, WITHOUT A DOUBT IS
THE CITIZEN'S UNITED DECISION.
THAT LAW OVERTURNED A HUNDRED
YEARS OF REGULATION IN THE
ELECTIONS WORLD.
IT UNLEASHED BILLIONAIRES, BIG
CORPORATIONS, FOREIGN
CORPORATIONS TO SPEND UNLIMITED
AMOUNTS OF MONEY IN OUR
ELECTIONS AND THE WAY THEY ARE
DOING SO NOW IS VERY OFTEN DOING
IT SECRETLY.
IT'S A PRESCRIPTION FOR SCANDAL
AND DISASTER AS JOHN McCAIN SAID
IN OUR BRIEF TO THE SUPREME
COURT.
THANK YOU, AND TED BEFORE WE
GO TO YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM EACH
OF YOU, AND MR. HINCKLEY WHO IS
YOUR FAVORITE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE?
ACTIVELY SERVING RIGHT NOW.
I DO LIKE CLARENCE THOMAS
QUITE A BIT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE
STOOD FOR, AND, YOU KNOW, OF
COURSE HOW HE GOT THERE.
HE HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL BATTLES
ALONG THE WAY.
MR. WHITEHOUSE.
FOR SIMILAR REASONS JUSTICE
STOUDEMIRE.
SHE HAS COME UP FROM VERY LITTLE
AND SHE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB
SO FAR IN THE COURT, AND OF
COURSE WE NEEDED MORE WOMEN ON
THE COURT.
THANK YOU.
TED NESI.
MR. WHITEHOUSE THE BUDGET FOR
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID IS
EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BETWEEN NOW
AND 2050 TO COST ALMOST 13% OF
THE U.S. ECONOMY AS YOU KNOW.
CAN THE NATION AFFORD TO SPEND
THAT MUCH ON MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID OR WILL CONGRESS HAVE
TO CUT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS?
I DON'T THINK THE NATION CAN
AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO SPEND WHAT
WE SPEND ON HEALTH CARE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IT SPENDS 18% OF ITS GROSS
DOMESTIC PRODUCT ON HEALTH CARE.
WE HAVE A 50% INEFFICIENCY
PREMIUM OVER OUR MOST
INEFFICIENT COMPETITOR.
THAT IS A PROBLEM.
AND IT'S A PROBLEM THAT RHODE
ISLAND IS DOING GREAT THINGS TO
SOLVE WITH A LOT OF LEADERSHIP,
A PROBLEM THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
HEALTH CARE BILL DOES A LOT TO
SOLVE.
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT WE SOLVE
THAT PROBLEM.
IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO
REDEFINE THAT PROBLEM, AND SAY
THIS ISN'T A HEALTH CARE
PROBLEM, THIS IS A MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID PROBLEM.
AT THAT POINT YOU ARE LETTING
THAT 18% MACHINE CONTINUE TO
ROLL, THE WASTE AND THE EXCESS
COSTS THAT IS ALSO BLUE CROSS,
KAISER, VA, ACROSS THE SYSTEM,
AND THEN YOU ARE SAYING TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICARE, BY
THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
CUT YOUR BENEFITS BECAUSE WE'RE
NOT GOING TO DO THE HARD WORK OF
FIXING OUR SYSTEM AS IT SHOULD
BE.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY FIRST
HAVE MR. HINCKLEY WEIGH IN
ON -- SOME REPUBLICANS INCLUDING
PAUL RYAN HAVE PROPOSED THAT
MEDICARE BE CONVERTED TO A
PREMIUM CARE OR VOUCHER PROGRAM.
IS THAT THE WAY TO GO?
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE SPENDING WAY
TOO MUCH ON HEALTH CARE BECAUSE
WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
MEDICARE IS GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD
FOR ANY AMERICAN.
AND WHEN YOU WALK INTO A
RESTAURANT, DO YOU WANT ONE
CHOICE OR TWO?
WHAT I SEE THROUGH THE RYAN PLAN
IS CHOICE.
SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S
A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS
BEING OFFERED, BUT THE SENATE
WON'T EVEN DEBATE IT.
WE HAVE TO GET CONGRESS WORKING
AGAIN IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION
LIKE TIP O'NEILL AND RONALD
REAGAN DID.
WE ALSO HAVE TO ENGAGE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP SOLVE
THESE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NO TRACK RECORD
OF RUNNING THINGS ON TIME OR ON
BUDGET.
SO IF YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT
IS GOING TO SOLVE YOUR HEALTH
CARE PROBLEMS AND LOWER COSTS, I
HAVE ANOTHER THING FOR YOU.
YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT THE
NATIONAL DEBT, BUT LOOKING BACK
AT THE HISTORICAL RECORD, DURING
GEORGE W. BUSH'S TWO TERMS IT
ROSE BY $6.1 TRILLION.
AND HAS INCREASED ANOTHER
$5 TRILLION UNDER PRESIDENT
OBAMA --
ALTHOUGH I JUMP IN TO SAY ONE
OF THE REASONS IT HAS CONTINUED
IS BECAUSE THE BUSH POLICIES
HAVE CONTINUED.
I WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO
RESPOND SENATOR.
BUT MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD
VOTERS BELIEVE THAT REPUBLICANS
WILL HOLD DOWN THE DEBT WHEN IT
INCREASED UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH
AS WELL.
I THOUGHT THE BUSH YEARS WERE
A TRAIN WRECK.
$300 BILLION A YEAR WAS
OUTRAGEOUS.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THE PRESIDENT
WOULD GET IT UP TO FIVE TIMES
THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK
TO THE BUSH YEARS, BUT JUST
BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS A LABEL
BEHIND THEM DOESN'T MAKE THEM
BAD.
I'M A SENORISTS, I WILL VOTE
LIKE SCOTT BROWN.
HE READS THE BILLS ON BEHALF OF
HIS CONSTITUENTS AND I WILL DO
THE SAME THING.
EXTREME PARTISAN IS KILLING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE SENATOR HERE VOTES 98% OF
ANY TIME WITH THE LEADERSHIP.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 96 IN THIS
SESSION.
OH, OKAY.
BUT YOU WOULD PUT MITCH
McCONNELL AHEAD IN THE SENATOR,
AND HOW WOULD YOU CONVINCE THEM
TO DO OTHERWISE.
FIRST OF ALL I HAVE NEVER
SPOKEN FOR MITCH McCONNELL, SO I
MIGHT NOT VOTE FOR HIM.
I'M A BIG FAN OF THE NEXT
GENERATION.
I'M 46 YEARS OLD.
MY GENERATION IS INHERITING THE
TRAIN WRECK OF THE LAST FOUR
YEARS.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS
PROBLEM.
MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE AUDIENCE
THIS EVENING.
MY CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
PAY THIS DEBT BACK, AND JUST TO
PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE
RACK UP DEFICITS OF OVER A
TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
AND TO PUT THAT INTO
PERSPECTIVE, 1 TRILLION SECONDS,
JUST ONE IS ALMOST 32,000 YEARS.
THAT'S THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM
THIS RUN AWAY GOVERNMENT
SPENDING IS HANDING OUR
CHILDREN.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE TACKLED.
THANK YOU.
MR. WHITEHOUSE.
LET'S JUMP IN ON THE RYAN
BUDGET.
BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN THE TOPIC.
BY OPPONENT SAID HE WOULD
SUPPORT IT --
I SAID THE SIMPSON BOLLS
PLAN.
NO, YOU SAID YOU WOULD VOTE
FOR THE RYAN BUDGET, AND IT'S A
GOOD STARTING POINT --
[ OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
SO I AM DEEPLY OPPOSED TO THE
RYAN BUDGET.
I THINK IT'S DISASTROUS, AND
VIEWERINGS MAY THINK SHELDON IS
A DEMOCRAT, RYAN IS A
REPUBLICAN, I'M SURE THIS MAY BE
A PARTISAN ISSUE.
THE -- RONALD REAGAN WAS A
PRETTY GOOD REPUBLICAN.
HIS BUDGET DIRECTOR SAID ABOUT
THE RYAN BUDGET THAT IT APPEARS
TO BE AN ATTACK ON THE POOR IN
ORDER TO CODDLE THE RICH.
HE CALLS IT A TOXIC BREW THAT
WORSENS OUR TRILLION DOLLARS
DEFICIT.
RONALD REAGAN'S ECONOMIC ADVISOR
SAID THIS, THE RYAN PLAN IS A
MONSTROSITY.
THE RICH WOULD RECEIVE HUGE TAX
CUTS WHILE THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET
WOULD BE SHREDDED TO PAY FOR
THEM.
IT IS LESS OF A WISH LIST THAN A
FAIRYTALE.
BACKED UP BY MAKE-BELIEVE
NUMBERS AND UNREASONABLE --
WE UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T LIKE
THE RYAN PLAN, SENATOR --
ONE LAST --
WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF
TIME.
THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS SAYS THE
RYAN PLAN FAILS THE BASIC MORAL
TESS, SO YEAH, WE DO DISAGREE ON
THE RYAN PLAN.
I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE PLAN --
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN THEN?
$16 TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT.
WE KNOW YOU DONE LIKE THE RYAN
PLAN, SO HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH
THAT COUNT-UP CLOCK OF
$16 TRILLION AND COUNTING RIGHT
NOW?
THE TARGET NUMBER THAT
EVERYBODY AGREES TO INCLUDING
THE SIMPSON BOLES GROUP IS WE
NEED TO ELIMINATE $4 TRILLION IN
A TEN-YEAR BUDGET PERIOD.
SO THAT'S BEEN THE TARGET OF
SIMPSON BOLLS AND ALL OF THE
DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON.
$2 TRILLION OF THAT I BELIEVE
SHOULD BE CUTS ON THE SPENDING
SIDE.
$2 TRILLION OF THAT, I BELIEVE
SHOULD BE ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
AT THE MOMENT, WE HAVE A
TRILLION OF THOSE 2 TRILLION IN
CUTS ALREADY IN PLACE UNDER THE
BUDGET-CONTROL ACT.
WE HAVE THE SECOND TRILLION
LOOMING IN THE SEQUESTER.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE HOW THAT IS
ORGANIZED, BUT YOU CANNOT DENY
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT
$2 TRILLION IN CUTS ON THE
TABLE.
FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE YOU
HAVE MAD NOTHING.
SUBSIDIES FOR THE BIG OIL
COMPANIES, FIGHTING FOR IT.
WARREN BUFF FETED, PAYING A
LOWER TAX RATED THAN HIS
ASSISTANT, FIGHTING TO DEFENDING
THAT.
THEY DIDN'T IDENTIFIED A SINGLE
LOOPHOLE THAT THEY WOULD GET RID
OF.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE THE
REPUBLICANS DO WHAT MY OPPONENT
SAYS THEY SHOULD BE, WHICH IS
COME TO THE MIDDLE, NOT FOLLOW
THE EXTREME TOXIC BREW
MONSTROSITY OF A RYAN BUDGET,
AND INSTEAD PUT SOME REVENUE ON
THE TABLE.
MR. HINCKLEY I ALLOWED HIM TO
GO A LITTLE LONG THERE, SO I'LL
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT TOPIC.
HOW DO YOU COME TO THE MIDDLE
WHEN YOU VOTE 96% OF THE TIME
WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IT IS COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER
AND LET'S REMEMBER THAT CONGRESS
IS A GAME.
IT GOES FROM THE HOUSE TO THE
SENATE.
THEY PLAY PING-PONG BACK AND
FORTH.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, MARK IT UP
AND SECOND IT BACK, AND THEN GET
IT IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENT.
AND THE U.S. SENATE HAS BEEN
CLOSED FOR BUSINESS AND WON'T
EVEN HEAR THESE BILLS.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT MARK IT UP
AND SECOND IT BACK --
WOULD YOU CONSIDER HIGHER
TAXES?
ED WILL ATTEST TO THE FACT
THAT THE RICH WILL HAVE TO PAY
MORE.
WE ARE HAVING A NATIONAL
DISASTER OF DEBT.
BUT I BELIEVE IN A GROWING
ECONOMY, FEWER DEDUCTIONS, A
FAIRER SIMPLER TAX CODE THAT IS
EASIER TO COMPLY WITH.
THAT'S HOW WE SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS.
THE BIGGEST RACKET THAT THE
PEOPLE HAVE RIGHT NOW, IS THAT
THE HYPERRICH PAY AT A TAX RATE
OF 15%, WHILE THE POLICE OFFICER
THAT PAT ROLES THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PLUMBER WHO
COMES TO FIX THEIR SINK HAS TO
PAY A HIGHER TAX RATE.
THAT IS A RATE THAT HAS TO GO
UP.
IT SIMPLY IS WRONG AND BAD
POLICY --
I DON'T THINK -- MR. HINCKLEY
PLEASE.
IN THE SAME OP-ED, I SAID
INCOME IS INCOME IS INCOME, AND
IF YOU ARE PAYING AT THE 15%
THAT WILL BE TAXED AS INCOME
JUST LIKE SIMPSON BOLES TODAY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO FOREIGN
POLICY.
IN THE WAKE OF THE ATTACKS LAST
MONTH ON THE US CONSULATE IN
LIBYA, YOU HAVE CALLED FOR AN
END TO FOREIGN AIDE TO LIBYA,
EGYPT, AND PAKISTAN.
EXPLAIN HOW THAT WOULD HELP STOP
TERRORIST ATTACKS.
A COUNTRY LIKE EGYPT, 80% OF
THEM NOW BEING RUN BY THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD, 80% OF EGYPTIANS
SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT OUR MONEY.
WE'RE FACING A TOLL OVER THE
BRIDGE.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET A FREE BRIDGE
IN RHODE ISLAND FOR $5 TRILLION
IN DEBT THAT THEY HAVE RACKED UP
IN FOUR YEARS.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE OLD SAYING,
IF YOU PULL OUT OF THESE
COUNTRIES ALMOST ENTIRELY, CUT
OFF THE AIDE, THE OLD SAYING IS
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND YOUR
ENEMIES CLOSER.
YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT?
AFTER WORLD WAR II WE ENHAIR
RATED THE WORLD'S POLICE FORCE
FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
IT IS TIME FOR THE REST OF THE
WORLD TO STEP UP AND HELP US
OUT.
WHY DO WE GET THE BILL FOR OUR
U.S. NAYY KEEPING THE PERSIAN
GULF OPEN?
THE FACT THAT WE ARE BORROWING
$0.40 ON EVERY DOLLAR, RHODE
ISLANDERS WANT THAT MONEY AT
HOME.
IT IS BECOMING MORE EVIDENT
THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IF NOT
THE WHITE HOUSE WAS WELL AWARE
THAT THE ATTACK IN LIBYA WAS AN
ORGANIZED ASSAULT ON THE
ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 RATHER THAN
THE STORY LINE THAT IT WAS A
PROTEST GONE BAD.
WHY HAVEN'T YOU CALLED FOR
CONGRESSIONAL HEARS?
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN COMMENCED.
AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
IS LOOKING INTO IT ON ITS OWN.
ON THE EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT
THE FUNDING FOR EGYPT AND LIBYA,
THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE
COUNTRY AND UNITED STATES SENATE
WHO SHARE MY OPPONENTS POSITION.
RAND PAUL IS ONE OF THEM.
HE DIDN'T EVEN WIN AMONG
REPUBLICANS, AND THE REASON IS
THAT -- TWOFOLD.
FIRST, ISRAEL IS A VITAL ALLY IN
THAT AREA.
AND ISRAEL WANTS US TO CONTINUE
TO ENGAGE WITH EGYPT.
WE HAVE, IN FACT A TRY-LATERAL
AGREEMENT --
HOW ABOUT THAT MR. HINCKLEY?
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE REST OF
THE WORLD -- THIS ISN'T ABOUT
NOT SUPPORTING THE MIDDLE EAST,
IT'S ABOUT WHO DOES IT.
WE'RE BROKE.
THE SENATOR GAVE A FRIGATE AWAY
TO THE COAST CARD IN MANILA.
IT'S WHO DOES IT.
WE NEED THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TO STEP UP.
MR. WHITEHOUSE I FEEL LIKE
YOU BRUSHED OFF MY QUESTION ON
LIBYA, SO I'LL ASK IT ANOTHER
WAY.
ARE YOU UNHAPPY WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE ON THIS ISSUE?
LOOK, MY DAD WAS A FOREIGN
SERVICE OFFICER.
HE WAS ASSIGNED ALL OF HIS LIFE
IN DANGEROUS PLACES.
WE HAVE BEEN UNDER HOUSE ARREST
IN AFRICA.
HE WAS SHOT AT IN VIETNAM.
HE WAS MANY YEARS IN THE
SOUTHEAST ASIAN CONFLICT, WE
WON, I THINK EVERY DISAGREEMENT.
SO THE KILLING OF AMBASSADOR
STEPHEN IS VERY REAL AND
IMPORTANT TO ME.
TWO THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
ONE, GET TO THE BOTTOM OF EBB
ABOUTLY WHAT HAPPENS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY THAT WE FIND OUT WHO
DID THIS, AND THAT WE BRING TO
THEM THE SAME KIND OF JUSTICE
THAT WE BROUGHT TO OSAMA BIN
LADEN.
YOUR FORMER PROSECUTOR, DO
YOU TAKE ISSUE AT ALL AGAIN WITH
THE WHITE HOUSE AND HOW THEY
HAVE HANDLED IT.
TOOK 14 DAYS FOR THEM TO PIVOT
AWAY FROM THE --
IT WASN'T AN ISSUE DAY BY DAY
AS TO WHERE THEY WERE THAT I
FOCUSED ON.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT IT IS
VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO
THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED TO
ASSESS THE POINT.
BUT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
THAT WE FIND WHO DID THIS AND
THAT WE TAKE THEM OUT.
MR. HINCKLEY.
IT WAS VERY DISTURBING THAT
THE AMBASSADOR WAS IN DIRECT
CONTACT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE FOR
SEVEN HOURS AND HE DIDN'T GET
HELP.
SEVEN HOURS WENT BY WHERE THEY
ARE HOLDING ON BY A THREAD, AND
EVENTUALLY AN AMBASSADOR WAS
KILLED.
SINCE THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION,
IT WAS A TRAGIC TRAIN WRECK.
WE WENT IN THERE, KICKED THE
HORNET'S NEST, AND LEFT THE
AMBASSADOR WHO ASKED FOR MORE
PROTECTION TOTALLY UNPROTECTED.
THANK YOU.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE CAN YOU
TELL US WHY YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO
SEND YOUR KIDS TO PRIVATE
SCHOOLS?
AND WHAT IS THE MAIN CHANGE YOU
WOULD MAKE FORPUBLIC EDUCATION
IN RHODE ISLAND?
I WANT THE BEST EDUCATION
THAT I COULD GET FOR THEM, AND I
FELT IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES THE
PLACES THAT I CHOSE TO SEND THEM
WERE THE BEST SCHOOLS FOR THEM.
I THINK THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION HAVE BEEN TWOFOLD.
THE FIRST IS RACE TO THE TOP,
WHICH GOT US OUT FROM UNDER THE
BUSH NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
PROBLEMS THAT WERE DRIVING OUR
SCHOOLS OFF OF THE FISCAL CLIFF
TO USE THAT PHRASE, AND WEREN'T
IMPROVING OUTCOMES WITH KIDS.
SO WE PASSED THAT IN THE
RECOVERY ACT, AND RHODE ISLAND
HAS DONE VERY WELL UNDER IT.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, MIRUS
SIS -- LEANNY IN PARTICULAR.
THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS
MOVE THE BILL THAT WE
PASSED -- A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT
HAS ANOTHER PIECE IN IT THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, WHICH IS
TO EXTENT THE REFORMS THAT RACE
TO THE TOP AND OTHER PROGRAMS
PERMIT, THAT THE WAIVERS ARE
PERMITTING THAT EXTENTS THOSE
REFORMS TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN A REAL
TURNING POINT IN CHILDREN'S
LIVES, AND IF WE GET OUT OF HAND
THERE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
RECOVER.
MR. HINCKLEY CAN YOU TELL US
WHY YOU HAVE DECIDED TO SEND
YOUR KIDS TO PER OAKAL SCHOOLS.
FIRST OF ALL I CAN'T AFFORD
THE $45,000 SCHOOL THAT THE
SENATOR SENDS HIS KIDS TO.
SECONDLY, I REALLY, REALLY ENJOY
THE FACT THAT MY CHILDREN KNOW
WHO JESUS CHRIST AND GOD IS.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE AS A
YOUNG MAN TO HAVE THAT MORAL
COMPASS, SO I'M VERY HAPPY MY
CHILDREN WILL BE IN THE
SITUATION WHERE THEY AT LEAST
WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A CHOICE
WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG ADULTS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WAS
BROUGHT OUT HERE WAS THE SENATOR
AND I CAN AFFORD TO SEND OUR
KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT IF
YOU ARE IN PROVIDENCE THERE IS A
LARGE PERCENTAGE CHANCE THAT YOU
WILL SEND YOUR KIDS TO A FAILING
SCHOOLS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT
ALL KIDS -- WE CAN TAKE THE
EXACT MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATES, AND
TOWNS, AND COME UP WITH A GRANT
OF AROUND $11,000 AND GIVE EVERY
FAMILY IN RHODE ISLAND A GRANT
FOR $11,000 SO THE PARENTS CAN
CHOOSE ON WHERE THOSE KIDS GO TO
SCHOOLS, AND THEY ARE NOT STUCK
IN A FAILING SCHOOL.
IS EXTENDING THE PELL GRANT
FOR K-THROUGH 12 CODE FOR A
VOUCHER PROGRAM?
IS FOOD STAMP CODE FOR A
VOUCHER PROGRAM, SURE.
MR. HINCKLEY --
I USED THE THEME OF PELL
BECAUSE THAT'S EDUCATION --
AND IT RINGS TRUE HERE.
IT'S A GRANT FOR COLLEGE, WHY
WOULDN'T IT BE A GRANT FOR HIGH
SCHOOL ANDEL MEANT TRY SCHOOL.
OUR CHILDREN ARE NUMBER 25 IN
THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD OUT OF
32 NATIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A
MONOPOLY ON PRIMARY AND
SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR DECADES
AND LOOK WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE.
LET'S GIVE PARENTS A CHOICE WITH
A GRANT, AND SEND THEM TO
CATHOLIC SCHOOL LIKE I DO OR
SEND THEM TO A FANCY PRIVATE
SCHOOL LIKE SENATOR WHITEHOUSE'S
KIDS GO TO.
TED?
YOU SAID YOUR PLATFORM IS
PART DEMOCRAT AND PART
REPUBLICAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO
EXPAND ON THAT.
AS YOU KNOW, I AM PRO CHOICE,
AND I'M VERY, VERY PRO GAY
RIGHTS.
I CAME OUT AGAINST DOE MA A LONG
TIME AGO.
IF YOU ARE AN AMERICAN YOU
DESERVE EVERY SINGLE RIGHT THAT
OTHER AMERICANS HAVE.
OUR IRS IN MY OPINION LARGELY IN
PART BECAUSE OF DOMA
DISCRIMINATES AGAINST GAY
COMMITTED COUPLES, AND I THINK
THAT IS WRONG.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ISSUES I
WOULD SAY THAT LINE UP MORE WITH
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
CAN YOU POINT TO A PLACE
WHERE YOU DISAGREE WITH THE
ISSUES THAT MITT ROMNEY IS
RUNNING ON THIS YEAR.
HE IS OBVIOUSLY PRO LIFE, AND
I AM PRO CHOICE.
YOU VOTED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY 96% OF THE TIME.
BUT ON SOME ISSUES YOU HAVE
TRIED TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.
CAN YOU NAME ONE ISSUE WHERE YOU
AGREE WITH MR. ROMNEY.
CHINESE CURRENCY.
THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN
MANIPULATING THEIR CURRENCY.
GOING AFTER THAT IS PART OF THE
MANUFACTURING JOB STRATEGY THAT
I HAVE.
IT HAS ALLOWED CHINA TO MAKE
THEIR PRODUCTS ARTIFICIALLY
CHEAPER THAN AMERICAN PRODUCTS,
AND THAT GIVES THEM UNFAIR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN WORLD
MARKETS.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO COMING
THROUGH OUR COMPUTERS AND
STEALING OUR INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, AND THE TAX BENEFITS
THAT WE GIVE INTERNATIONAL AND
AMERICAN COMPANIES WHEN THEY
RELOCATE JOBS OVERSEAS.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF
THAT, THOUGH.
PAUL KRUGMAN WROTE JUST
YESTERDAY THAT THE DEBATE ABOUT
CHINESE CURRENCY MAN IP
LEGISLATION AN ISSUE WHO'S TIME
HAS PASSED.
IT HAS GONE UP ABOUT 10 OR
11%.
I THINK IT HAS GONE FROM MAYBE
6.2 TO 6.8, WHERE IN THERE.
BUT -- AND THERE'S SOME EARLY
OPINION AS YOU POINT OUT SAYING
THAT ARE KIND OF IN BALANCE NOW.
BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF
OPINION THAT SAYS THEY ARE NOT
IN BALANCE YET.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A CONSENSUS
OPINION YET.
IT'S A VERY SPONGY NUMBER.
ONCE YOU HAVE DECLARED THEM A
CURRENCY MANIPULATE FOR, YOU
CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT TOOL TO
WORK WITH.
ON THE 96% YOU POINT OUT.
BY THE TIME A BILL GETS TO THE
FLOOR, THE VOTE IS BASICALLY
OVER.
SENATOR ENSY OF WYOMING LIKES TO
SAY THAT 80% OF THE WORK NEVER
GETS TO THE FLOOR.
THE 20% THAT GETS FOUGHT OVER
GETS ALL OF THE ATTENTION.
I HAVE STARTED AN OCEANS CAUCUS
WITH LISA MARCOWSKI WHO IS A
REPUBLICAN --
MR. WHITEHOUSE I'M GOING
INTERRUPT YOU.
ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS THE
FAVORITE PART OF THE EVENING FOR
ALL CANDIDATES.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO ANSWER
TO A YES OR NO QUESTION.
MR. HINCKLEY YES OR NO, DO YOU
THINK THE SENATE SHOULD CHANGE
ITS RULES TO CHANGE THE
FILIBUSTER RULES.
LET THEM STAND UP AND READ
THE PHONE BOOK LIKE THE OLD
DAYS.
SO YOU DO NOT SUPPORT A
CHANGE?
NO.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
YES.
SHOULD RHODE ISLAND PASS A
LOU ALLOWING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?
YES.
YES.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER DROPPING
THE 52-YEAR OLD TRADE EMBARGO
THE U.S. HAS AGAINST CUBA.
NOT REALLY.
NOT YET.
I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I DON'T
THINK IT'S --
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE HAS CALLED FOR US TO
END THAT TRADE EMBARGO --
IT'S NOT REALLY A PRIORITY
FOR ME.
TO FIGHTING TO END A TRADE
EMBARGO IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR
ME.
YES OR NO?
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.
IF IT CAME TO A VOTE.
THEN I WOULD DRILL DOWN ON IT
AND LOOK AT IT THEN.
YES OR NO MR. WHITEHOUSE
WOULD YOU SUPPORT TERM LIMITS
FOR THE U.S. SENATE, AND IF SO,
HOW LONG?
I WOULD NOT.
SO NO LENGTH, AND IF I WERE TO
DO IT WOULD BE MORE THAN 36
YEARS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
[ INAUDIBLE ] PELL SERVED.
AND HE WAS A GREAT CONTRIBUTION
FROM RHODE ISLAND TO THE
COUNTRY.
YES OR NO, MR. HINCKLEY.
YES, FOR TERM LIMITS.
12 YEARS IS ENOUGH.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
THINGS I HEAR ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL.
PEOPLE SAY YES, WE NEED CONSTANT
FRESH FACES.
THESE FOLKS GET VERY
DISCONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE HERE.
OKAY.
WE HAVE BUTCHERED THE YES OR NO
SESSION HERE --
WE'RE POLITICIANS, WE HAVE
TO.
YOU SAID IT.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW YOUR
STANCE ON THIS, BUT TO GET
CLARITY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU
EACH A QUESTION AND LET YOU
EXPAND ON IT BRIEFLY.
MR. WHITEHOUSE ARE YOU PRO
CHOICE OR PRO LIFE?
I AM PRO CHOICE.
I THINK THE DOCTOR AND THE WOMAN
HAVE A PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP, AND
THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE
BUSINESS IN THAT.
MY CHOICE IS LIFE.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A
CHOICE.
MR. FITZPATRICK.
MR. HINCKLEY, HERMAN CANE
PROPOSED A NINE, NINE, NINE TAX
PLAN, NINE% INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE,
NINE% CORPORATE, AND NINE% SALES
TAX.
OUR TAX CODE IS ALMOST 4
MILLION WORDS LONG, AND THAT IS
A TRAIN WRECK.
IT'S ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
IT WILL BE A HUNDRED NEXT YEAR.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID WE NEED AED
NEW FINANCIAL REFORM THAT I
DISAGREE WITH -- SO WHAT I LIKE
ABOUT HERMAN CAIN IS IT IS A
STARTING POINT.
IT GOT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE
FACT THAT WE NEED REAL
MEANINGFUL TAX REFORM THAT
DELIVERS LOWER RATES FOR
FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.
FAIR AND SIMPLER, AND MUCH
EASIER TO FOLLOW.
WE CLEARLY NEED A FAIR AND
SIMPLER TAX CODE, BUT THERE'S
ANOTHER MEASURE THAT TAX REFORM
HAS TO MEET, AND THAT IS THAT IT
CAN'T THROW MORE BURDEN ON THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE
THINGS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND MY OPPONENT RECOMMENDING
WILL MOVE TAXES ON TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
THE NINE, NINE, NINE PLAN IS A
LOUSY IDEA.
IT WILL PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN EXTRA TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES, WHILE LIFTING THE
BURDEN OFF OF OUR ALREADY RATHER
EASY GOING ON THE TAXES, VERY
HIGH END FAMILIES.
WHEN MY OPPONENT WAS IN
MASSACHUSETTS RUNNING A FAIR TAX
OUTFIT HE PROPOSED ELIMINATING
THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, THE
ESTATE TAX, AND MOVING THOSE
TAXES ON TO GOODS AND SERVICES
THAT EVERYBODY PACE.
THAT LOADS UP TAXES ON THE
MID-ED CLASS.
THAT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION TO
GO.
WE HAVE TRIED TO EXTEND THE BUSH
TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES MAKING
LESS THAN $250,000.
THE HOUSE IS BLOCKING THAT
BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS DON'T
WANT THAT TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE
THEY DON'T WANT THE MIDDLE CLASS
TO GET AWAY --
WOULD YOU SIGN OFF ON --
I AM NOT SIGNING OFF ON ANY
FURTHER TWEAKS TO A BROKEN TAX
CODE.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO START
OVER.
WE NEED A TAX CODE THAT IS FAIR
AND SIMPLER.
WE NEED A NEW TAX CODE.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO EXTEND.
I DON'T AGREE IN RAISING TAXES
DURING A RECESSION.
THE SENATOR ADMITTED THAT OUR
WORK FORCE PARTICIPATION IS AT
AN ALL-TIME LOW.
OUR TAX RECEIPTS ARE AT A
60-YEAR LOW.
THE TAX CODE IS BROKEN, OUR
ECONOMY IS BROKEN.
THAT'S WHY WE PAY PEOPLE LIKE
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE WHO HAS BEEN
THERE FOR SIX YEARS, WE PAID HIM
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND THERE
HAS BEEN NO MOVEMENT ON THIS
ISSUE.
OVER 70% OF AMERICAN FAMILIAR
LIST SAY OUR TAX CODE IS BROKEN.
I WILL NOT VOTE TO DO ANYTHING
TO FURTHER COMPLICATE A BROKEN
TAX CODE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, EXTENDING
THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR FAMILIES
MAKING LESS THAN $250,000 A YEAR
IS NOT A TAX HIKE ON ANYONE.
THE REPUBLICANS AREN'T OBJECTING
IT TO BECAUSE IT'S A TAX HIKE.
THEY ARE OBJECTING TO IT BECAUSE
IT LETS THE MIDDLE CLASS GET
AWAY, AND THEY CAN NO LONGER
HOLD THEM HOSTAGE TO DEMAND TAX
BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES, AND
BILLIONAIRES.
MR. WHITEHOUSE I RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM ONE OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND SHE WANTED ME
TO ASK YOU THIS.
SHE A STATE WORKER, AND SHE SAID
YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS IGNORED
RETIREES WHEN ASKED TO FIGHT THE
PENSION CUTS.
AND IS IT HYPOCRITICAL TO SAY IN
YOUR CURRENT TELEVISION ADS TO
KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY OUT OF --
LOOK I THOUGHT THE SOLUTION
THAT RHODE ISLAND DEVELOPED TO
THE PENSION PROBLEMS THAT IT HAD
WAS NECESSARY.
I THINK THAT YOU SAW GOVERNOR
CHASY, THE TREASURER, THE
SENATE, AND SPEAKER FOX WORK
TOGETHER IN REALLY EXCERPT LAIR
FASHION.
AND RHODE ISLAND HAS SOLVED ITS
PENSION QUICKER THAN OTHER
STATES.
I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD
JOB, AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT THE EFFECT HAS BEEN ON SOME
OF THE PEOPLE WHO'S PENSIONS
HAVE BEEN CUT AS A RESULT.
THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO
DEFEND SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RUNS
SOCIAL SECURITY, THE
MUNICIPALITIES RUN THESE
DIFFERENT PENSIONS.
WHY I HAVE AUTHORITY WHICH IS
WITH THE FED REALLY GOVERNMENT,
I'M GOING TO PROTECT SOCIAL
SECURITY.
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL PILLAR OF THE
MIDDLE CLASS, AND LIFE WITHOUT
IT WOULD BE ALMOST UNIMAGINABLY
WORSE FOR SENIORS AND YOUNG
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, MR. WHITEHOUSE.
WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT
SOCIAL SECURITY -- RIGHT NOW THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE NO PLAN.
I DON'T WANT TO PROTECT MY LIFE
ON ANYONE ELSE.
I HAVE PAID INTO SOCIAL SECURITY
FOR 24 YEARS.
12.4% OF MY INCOME IF YOU COUNT
THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION, WHICH
AS AN EMPLOYER, I CAN TELL YOU
THE MONEY I PAY ON YOUR BEHALF
YOU DON'T GET.
LET'S SAY I WORK ANOTHER 24
YEARS.
BILE 72 YEARS OLD.
I WILL HAVE PAID INTO SOCIAL
SECURITY FOR 49 YEARS, AND
BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLAN FROM
THE LEADERSHIP, AND THEY ARE IN
THE MAJORITY, THEY HAVE
TWO-THIRDS OF THE GOVERNMENT,
THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY
TELLING ME TODAY THAT SOCIAL
SECURITY GOES BROKE A YEAR
BEFORE I RETIRE.
SO WHAT KIND OF DEAL IS THAT?
ASK YOURSELF IF IT'S YOU IN THIS
POSITION, OR YOU ARE A
GRANDPARENT AND HAVE YOU KIDS MY
AGE, ASK YOURSELF IS THAT FAIR
TO PAY INTO A PENSION SYSTEM
MANAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND
GET NOTHING?
LET ME TAKE THAT TO THE NEXT
STEP.
WHAT WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO DO
INSTEAD.
SOCIAL SECURITY NEEDS TO BE
SOLVED BY ACTUARIES.
THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIAL SECURITY
IT'S MANAGED BY CAREER
POLITICIANS, NOT PROFESSIONALS.
WE CAN CALL IN ACTUARIES WHO CAN
SOLVE THIS IN AN AFTERNOON.
I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY LATER IN LIFE, SO WE
NEED TO EXTEND --
SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO
VOTE -- THAT SEEMS LIKE A COPOUT
BECAUSE THE ACTUARIES --
I WOULD SAY LISTEN LET'S HIRE
SOME PROFESSIONS TO SOLVE THE
PENSION PROBLEM.
LET'S SAY SOCIAL SECURITY IS A
PENSION.
YOU BRING IN PENSION EXPERTS,
YOU SAY HOW DO YOU THIS IN
ACTUARIAL BALANCE, THEN YOU
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND YOU
DON'T MANAGE IT POLITICALLY --
ALL OPTION ON THE TABLE?
YEAH.
YOU MEANS TEST IT, AND AT LEAST
BE HONEST WITH THAT PERSON THAT
PAID INTO IT THEIR WHOLE LIFE,
AND SAY IT IS A TAX.
WE HAVE ABOUT 5 MINUTES LEFT
BEFORE WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU A
CLOSING STATEMENT.
I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT --
MR. WHITEHOUSE YOU'RE VERY
HEAVY ON TIME.
[ OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
MR. HINCKLEY YOU HAVE CALLED
FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE
REFORM ACT TO BE REPEALED.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE ENTIRE
LAW BE DONE AWAY WITH?
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
GOVERNMENT GONE WILD.
2700 PAGES IS ESTIMATED.
HIS PARTY EVEN ADMITTED THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN IT
BEFORE THEY VOTED ON IT.
WE HAVE SPECIFIC THINGS LIKE
STAYING ON YOUR PARENT'S HEALTH
CARE UNTIL 26, MAKING SURE WE
HAVE COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
WE DON'T NEED A 2700 PAGE PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT IS NOW
DRIVING DOCTORS OUT OF
BUSINESSES.
I TALKED TO A DOCTOR YESTERDAY,
AND HE TOLD ME, BARRY MY PEERS
AND I ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE
TAKE MEDICARE.
$716 BILLION THEY TOOK OUT OF
MEDICARE AND MOVED INTO
OBAMACARE --
SOME MIGHT SAY DOCTORS GET
PAID TOO MUCH.
WHY DON'T YOU TRY PAYING FOR
THEIR EDUCATION.
THEY HAVE MASSIVE DEBTS WHEN
THEY GET OUT, AND THEY ARE
MAKING LESS AND LESS EVERY YEAR.
A WOMAN SAID HER DOCTOR FIRED
HER AFTER 15 YEARS BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T TAKE MEDICARE ANYMORE.
THAT'S TRAGIC.
SO YOU JUST LAID OUT THAT YOU
LIKE INSURANCE FOR KIDS UNDER
THE AGE 26 --
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
HAVE TEARABLE ECONOMY.
LIKE IN MY BUSINESS, I HIRED
KIDS RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, 21
YEARS OLD, AND GAVE HIM HEALTH
CARE AT 21 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED MORE OF.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE KIDS ON
THEIR PARENT'S HEALTH CARE IF
50% OF KIDS COULD GET JOBS --
IF YOU HAD TO TAKE AN UP OR
DOWN VOTE ON OBAMACARE AND IT
LEFT THOSE THINGS ON THE CUTTING
ROOM FLOOR, NO HEALTH CARE FOR
PEOPLE UNDER 26, AND
PREEXISTING --
THAT'S DRACONIAN --
YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE RED
BUTTON OR THE GREEN BUTTON --
BEFORE YOU PUSH THE BUTTON.
YOU FIGHT FOR THE THINGS IN THE
BILL THAT ARE GOOD, AND GET RID
OF THE STUFF THAT DOESN'T WORK.
MR. WHITEHOUSE ON THIS TOPIC,
MOST RHODE ISLANDERS HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE YET THE COST IS TAKE A
BIGGER CHUNK OF THEIR PAYCHECK
EVERY YEAR, IF OBAMACARE ISN'T
REVEAL WILL RHODE ISLANDERS PAY
FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE AND WHEN?
I'M NOT SURE.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE COASTAL CARE IN
RHODE ISLAND BECOMING AFFORDABLE
CARE IN ORDER TO REAP THE
BENEFITS, AND YOU SEE JEFF WHO
IS GETTING THE 35% TAX CREDIT
FOR INSURANCE HIS EMPLOYEES, YOU
CAN SEE THAT THAT DAY WILL COME.
MY OPPONENT CAN'T DENY TWO
THINGS.
ONE THE RYAN BUDGET GETS RID OF
MEDICARE IN TEN YEARS, AND TURNS
IT INTO A VOUCHER PROGRAM, AND
TWO, HE WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR AND
SUPPORTS THE RYAN BUDGET.
I ALREADY SAID I SUPPORT
SIMPSON BOLES.
WE NEED BY PARTISAN SOLUTIONS.
WHEN YOU GET 100% OF WHAT YOU
WANT, THE OTHER PARTY GETS
OBAMACARE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
HAVE.
NOW THIS PART OF THE EVENING,
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE A
CHANCE TO MAKE CLOSING REMARKS,
A REMINDER TO EVERYONE IN OUR
LIVE AUDIENCE, WHO HAS BEEN
GREAT THIS EVENING, WE ASK THAT
YOU PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE
COMPLETED THEIR REMARKS.
MR. HINCKLEY.
I'M A BUSINESSMAN AND A
FATHER.
FATHER.
RHODE ISLAND IS FAMOUS FOR.
TONIGHT YOU HEARD ABOUT MORE
GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE YOUR
PROBLEMS.
I HAVE SIGNED OVER 15,000
PAYCHECKS.
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE ONLY KNOWS
WHAT COMES OUT OF A PAYCHECK.
WE NEED TO GET RHODE ISLAND BACK
TO WORK, AND WE NEED TO SECOND A
JOB CREATOR TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
THANK YOU.
MR. WHITEHOUSE?
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE WHO WAS LISTENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO
WASHINGTON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK FOR YOU VOTE TO GO BACK TO
CONTINUE THE FIGHTS THAT I HAVE
FOUGHT SO HARD FOR, SO PROTECT
MEDICARE AND MEDICARE BENEFITS
IN PARTICULAR, TO PROTECT SOCIAL
SECURITY AGAINST BEING
PRIVATIZED OR CUT, TO PROTECT
THE MIDDLE CLASS WHEN PEOPLE GET
TOGETHER FOR TAX SCHEMES THAT
HURT THE MIDDLE CLASS AND SEN
THE BENEFITS TO THE TOP.
I WILL KEEP THE FAITH WITH YOU
ON THOSE ISSUES.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
NOW TO OUR LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE,
YOUR CHANCE TO APPLAUD THE
CANDIDATES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK RHODE
ISLAND COLLEGE FOR HAVING US
HERE TONIGHT.
THAT DOES IT FOR OUR CAMPAIGN
2012 SENATE DEBATE.
WE WILL CERTAINLY BE TALKING A
LOT ABOUT POLITICS IN THE DAYS
AND WEEKS AHEAD, AND WE REMIND
YOU THE ELECTION IS
NOVEMBER 6TH.
BE SURE TO WATCH THE NEWS FOR A
COMPLETE WRAP-UP OF TONIGHT'S
DEBATE AS WELL AS EXPERT
ANALYSIS FROM OUR POLITICAL AN
CYST, JOE FLEMING.
AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR
CAMPAIGN COVERAGE ON WPRI.COM.
I'M TIM WHITE, AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS
EVENING.
GOOD NIGHT FROM RHODE ISLAND
COLLEGE.
♪