>>> HELLO.

I'M PAMELA KIRKLAND HOST OF "MORNING EDITION" ON GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WELL IN TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB DEBATE SERIES FROM THE STUDIOS OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS IS THE DEBATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2.

THE SEAT IS CURRENTLY HELD BY CONGRESSMAN SANFORD BISHOP.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE IN ALPHABET CAL ORDER, SANFORD BISHOP, A DEMOCRAT.

HAS REPRESENTED DISTRICT 2 SINCE 1993.

CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE TODAY'S DEBATE AND IS REPRESENTED BY AN EMPTY PODIUM.

REPUBLICAN WAYNE JOHNSON SERVED AS A SENIOR OFFICIAL IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

NOW LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

RAUL BALLY IS POLITICS REPORTER FOR WEAE IN ATLANTA AND STANLEY DUNLOP IS A POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE GEORGIA RECORDER.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S PROGRAM PLEASE VISIT ATLANTA PRESS CLUB.ORG.

TO START TODAY'S PROGRAM MR. JOHNSON WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION BY BOTH OF THE PANELISTS.

MR. JOHNSON.

YOU HAVE THE FIRST QUESTION TO WAYNE JOHNSON.

>> HURRICANE HELENE HAS COST $6 BILLION TO GEORGIA FARMERS.

RECENTLY IN SOCIAL MEDIA YOU POSTED THAT REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP HAS FAILED TO PASS THE FARM BILL AND HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS THAT FARMERS ARE FACING IN GEORGIA.

YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOUR PLAN WOULD BE AND HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE THAT IF YOU WERE ELECTED IN CONGRESS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WILL ANSWER AND I'M A FATHER, GRANDFATHER, A MILITARY OFFICER AND JOBS CREATOR.

WITH REGARD TO THE FARM BILL, THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS TO BE PASSED EVERY FIVE YEARS AND HAS WANT BEEN PASSED IN SEVERAL YEARS.

SANFORD BISHOP SITS ON THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSING THE FARM BILL.

WE START OFF WITH THE FACT THAT THE FARMERS ARE HURTING EACH BEFORE THE HURRICANE CAME THROUGH.

THEY DO REFERENCE PRICING AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW TO GO ABOUT THINGS.

AS THE NEXT CONGRESS PASSES SESSION, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'LL HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT THE RELIEF OF THE HURRICANES THAT COME THROUGH AND IT WILL BE A LOT MORE THAN $6 BILLION AND I'M THINKING UPWARDS OF 20 BILLION FOR SOUTH GEORGIA.

>> RAUL BALLY, PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU, PAMELA.

>> DR. JOHNSON, I WANTED TO ASK YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT RECENTLY WHEN IT CAME ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

MORTGAGES FOR $1,000 FOR HOMES AND CARS AROUND $200 A MONTH.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AROUND PRESENTING THAT IDEA.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN?

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JUST THE 2nd DISTRICT OR WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA?

HOW WOULD THAT EVEN WORK?

>> FIRST OF ALL, AS I TRAVELED AROUND ALL 30 COUNTIES IN THE DISTRICT AND I'VE LISTENED TO PEOPLE, WHAT I'VE COME TO GRIPS WITH IS THERE IS A LACK OF ACCESS TO MEDICAL FACILITIES, GROCERY STORES AND PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOLS THAT WILL PERFORM BETTER THAN THE ONES THEY'VE GOT, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE WHEELS.

I STARTED LOOKING INTO THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE COULD GET WHEELS THAT PEOPLE CAN RELY UPON AND IT IS A CAR.

IT IS A FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM ENACTED BY CONGRESS.

I WOULD START BY POLITICKING INTO THE 2nd DISTRICT SIMILAR TO THE HOUSING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIRECT FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM.

PEOPLE SAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE LOAN BUSINESS, BUT WE ARE.

WE MAKE $110 BILLION A YEAR FOR EDUCATION FINANCE AND WE COULD BE DO THE SAME THING AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING AND AVAILABLE FOR CARS AND THESE LOANS COULD COME WITH NO DOWN PAYMENTS AND PAYMENTS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE IT WORK.

HOUSING IS IMPERATIVE, TRANSPORTATION IS -- >> THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST PART OF THE PROGRAM.

THIS IS TRADITIONALLY WHEN CANDIDATES WOULD ASK A QUESTION TO THEIR OPPONENT.

SINCE CONGRESSMAN BISHOP IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE NEXT DEBATE.

YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION AND YOU WILL GET ANOTHER 30 SECONDS TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WISH SANFORD BISHOP WERE HERE.

THIS IS MULTIPLE TIMES HE FAILED TO SHOW UP.

HE FAILED TO SHOW UP ON PRESIDENT CARTER'S BIRTHDAY FOR THE PLAINS PEANUT FESTIVAL.

HE FAILED TO SHOW UP IN FORT VALLEY.

HE FAILED TO SHOW UP AT THE DEMOCRAT FORUM IN ALBANY.

MY QUESTION TO SANFORD BISHOP IS WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL BE BETTER OFF IF THEY GIVE YOU TWO MORE YEARS IN OFFICE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES?

>> AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER 30 SECONDS TO PROVIDE A RESPONSE.

>> I THINK THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, AND I DON'T SEE WHICH CAMERA IS ON HERE, THERE IT IS.

HE'S GOING TO SAY THAT HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE GIVES HIM A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD, AND IT DOES GIVE HIM A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD.

IT GIVES HIM A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF NOT DOING MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE 2nd DISTRICT.

HE'S MUCH MORE ALIGNEDED WITH NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO THAN HE IS WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE 2nd DISTRICT.

ALL SANFORD WANTS TO DO IS TO SAY I HAVE TWO MORE YEARS UNDER MY BELT AND REST ON, I THINK, FALSE LAURELS.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

YOU'RE WATCHING THE DEBATE FOR DISTRICT 2.

CONGRESSMAN BISHOP IS REPRESENTED BY AN EMPTY PODIUM.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATE.

AS A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE, I MAY ALSO ASK QUESTIONS.

MR. JOHNSON, YOU SAN FRANCISCO HAS REPRESENTED THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WHY ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE NOW AND FOR VOTERS TO REPLACE IN THE CONGRESS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, STAN.

WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS YOU HAVE TO GET IN TUNE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE MET LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AS I'VE BEEN ABOUT THIS QUEST OF BECOMING YOUR UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

SANFORD BISHOP NO LONGER SHOWS UP IN THE DISTRICT.

HE SPENDS 85% OF HIS TIME IN WASHINGTON.

HE'S VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE ELITES AND TODAY HE MAY BE OUT RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE WASHINGTON ELITES.

INSTEAD OF STANDING HERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR THE JOB INTERVIEW.

BY HIS OWN INITIATIVE I TALKED TO HIM THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID THESE DEBATES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY STANDING UP TO A JOB INTERVIEW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SANFORD IS -- IF YOU LISTEN TO HIM HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE WILL DO, OR COMMIT TO DO OR PROMISE TO DO TO HELP THE FOLKS IN ALBANY AND MAKE IT IN -- BETTER -- BUT IN EVERY OTHER TOWN WEAVE GOT IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

SO THE NET-NET IS I'M WORKING HARD.

I'VE GOT A LOT TO PROVE TO YOU AND I WANT YOU TO TRUST ME WITH YOUR VOTE AND GIVE ME TWO YEARS TO PROVE THAT I'M THE HARDEST WORKING CONGRESSMAN THERE IS AND I'M ACTIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

RAUL BALLY, YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

DURING YOUR TIME IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION YOU SEE AN EXPANSION OF SCHOOL CHOICE, SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

IS THERE A FEDERAL OR CONGRESSIONAL ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXPANSION IN THE COUNTRY?

>> I THINK THERE IS AN EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAMS.

THERE SHOULD BE A VOUCHER OVERLAY ON TOP OF THE STATE OVERLAYS.

I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT GEORGIA HAS ENACTED $6500 PER STUDENT FOR THE LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

I'D LIKE TO TO BE SO THE PARENTS HAVE TOTAL CHOICE, BUT THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IN MY OPINION, IS SUPPLEMENT THE FUNDS SO PEOPLE HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF CHOICE AND ALSO, AS I SAID EARLIER, IF YOU'LL HAVE CHOICES YOU NEED WHEELS TO GET TO THOSE CHOICES.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE THE VOUCHERS AND ANOTHER THING TO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THERE.

WHAT I'VE COUPLED IN MY PLAN IS YES, WE WILL APPLY VOUCHERS AS A WAY TO MAKE A CHOICE, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GIVE YOU FOR LESS THAN $200 A MONTH TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR KIDS ON THAT CHOICE.

>> STANLEY, YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> LAST WEEK KFF POLICY ORGANIZATION RELEASED THE RESULTS OF SURVEY THAT WOMEN UNDER 30 THAT FOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY CONSIDER ABORTION THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC REPLACING INFLATION.

IF YOU WERE ELECTED IN CONGRESS, WOULD YOU FAVOR RESTORING THE RIGHT TO ABORTION?

>> THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE TO ME.

OUR DAUGHTER, SHE LIVES IN LOUISIANA AND SHE HAD AN ECTOPICAL PREGNANCY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND SHE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE THE DOCTORS IN LOUISIANA WERE SO FEARFUL OF BEING ARRESTED AND THROWN IN JAIL THAT THEY WOULD NOT OPERATE ON HER UNTIL SHE HAD THE EMERGENCY OF THE EMBRYO BURSTING IN THE FALLOPIAN TUBE.

I BELIEVE EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE THE CONSULTATION WITH THEIR DOCTOR, THEIR GOD AND THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE.

I DO HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT LATE-TERM ABORTION.

ANYTHING IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AND EVALUATED.

WE TALK ABOUT PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LATE-TERM ABORTION NEEDS TO BE QUITE FRANKLY SERIOUSLY EVALUATED.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS IT RELATES TO THE LAW OF THE LAND WITH REGARD TO ABORTION.

I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE STATES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK MANY OF THE STATES HAVE GOTTEN IT WRONG AND THAT WILL BE THE CHALLENGE GOING FORWARD.

>> RAUL, YOU HAVE THE NEXT QUESTION, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT I HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW-UP FOR YOU ON THAT.

YOU SAID YOU FEEL SOME OF THE STATES HAVE GOTTEN IT WRONG AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, AS FAR AS GEORGIA GOES.

THE SUPREME COURT EARLIER THIS WEEK RULED TO BLOCK AN APPEALS COURT RULING THAT HAD OVERTURNED THE SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN IN THIS STATE.

DO YOU THINK GEORGIA IS GETTING IT RIGHT OR WRONG?

>> I THINK GEORGIA IS GETTING IT CLOSE TO GETTING IT SEMI-RIGHT.

THE HEARTBEAT BILL, AT LEAST IT SETS A DETERMINATION OF WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VIABLE LIFE.

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS IF ABORTION IS GOING TO OCCUR.

ITS WHAT IS THE LIMITED PRY AM TER AND DETERMINED WHEN IT'S NOT AND CERTAINLY, ONE IS HEALTH, CERTAINLIENEST IS AND QUITE FRANKLY VIABILITY OF THE FETUS AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT VIABLE, AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT NEED TO COME INTO PLAY.

IT IS A PARAMOUNT ISSUE AND LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

PARAMOUNT ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION IS AFFORDABILITY, AND I WOMAN'S RIGHT OF MAYBING DETERMINATION ISSUES ABOUT REPRODUCTION AND QUITE FRANKLY NATIONAL SECURITY AND COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR.

>> WE'LL GET ONE FINAL QUICK QUESTION, RAUL.

IN JUST ONE THING YOU SAID TO STANLEY, GIVING ONE SPECIFIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHETHER IT'S A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE?

>> ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES OF LGSZ IS TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT CAPITAL TO BACK LAWSUITS AND PERSONAL RIGHT NOW PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS ARE OUT OF CONTROL.

COMPANIES ARE SUFFERING MIGHTILY.

DOCTORS AREN'T SAFE TO PRACTICE AND A LOT OF IT I TALKED TO COMMISSIONER JOHN KING RECENTLY.

I ASKED HIM WHY IS THIS HAPPENING SO MUCH?

HE SAID BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FINANCING LAWSUITS AND THE WAY THEY'RE FINANCING IT, SOMEONE WILL HAVE A LEGITIMATE CLAIM.

>> THAT IS ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THAT QUESTION TO MAKE TIME FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> WAYNE JOHNSON, YOU NOW GET 60 SECONDS FOR THAT CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE FOR PAYING ATTENTION TODAY.

IF THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SITUATION WE'RE IN.

THIS A GREAT FORUM TO BASICALLY LET THE VOICE BE KNOWN.

THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION BETWEEN ME, A 40-YEAR BUSINESSMAN WHO HAS SERVED TIME IN WASHINGTON, SO I KNOW HOW WASHINGTON WORKS.

I KNOW HOW THE AGENCIES WORK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I BRING COMMON SENSE, AND I AM REALLY, REALLY FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT ARE PRACTICAL AND IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO NUMBER ONE, AFFORDABILITY, HEALTH CARE AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

MY OPPONENT HAS BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, NOT SERVICE, HE'S BEEN A GOVERNMENTAL-APPOINTED AS A UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN.

I LISTEN TO HIM CAREFULLY WHEN HE TALKS.

HE DOES NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHY HIM CONTINUING TO BE IN OFFICE IS IMPORTANT TO HIM.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY AND ASK YOURSELVES THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.

TWO YEARS FROM NOW WILL YOU BE BETTER OFF WITH HIM OR WOULD YOU BE BETTER OFF WITH ME?

THANK YOU.

>> WE'D LIKE TO REMIND VOTERS THAT EARLY VOTING BEGINS NOVEMBER 15th AND OUR THANKS TO WAYNE JOHNSON AND THE PANELISTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE PRESS CLUB AND GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOR ARRANGE THE PROGRAM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT ATLANTA PRESS CLUB.ORG.

I'M PAMELA KIRKLAND.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE DEBATE CLUB LOUDERMILK YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.

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