GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M RAY HARDMAN, ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER FOR CONNECTICUT PUBLIC.

WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEBATE LIVE FROM THE SBM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM ON THE CAMPUS OF MANCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CONNECTICUT AND CONNECTICUT PUBLIC.

BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES, LET ME FIRST GO THROUGH THE CUMULATIVE TIME FORMAT.

THE FORMAT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE CANDIDATES TIME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES.

THE ONLY RULE IS THAT THE TOTAL TIME USED BY EACH CANDIDATE, BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE DEBATE, MUST BE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE RESTRICTED TO ONE OR TWO MINUTE RESPONSES.

INSTEAD, THEY MAY SPEND AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH TIME AS THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS EACH ISSUE.

OUR GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE DEBATE.

THE CANDIDATES WILL TAKE TURNS BEING THE FIRST TO RESPOND TO A QUESTION AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE QUESTION PERIOD OF THIS DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL MAKE A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.

MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ARE SERVING AS TIMERS FOR THE DEBATES AND WILL KEEP US INFORMED OF THE TIME EXPENDED IF A SERIOUS IMBALANCE IN TIME USED OCCURS DURING THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE.

I WILL CALL IT TO THEIR ATTENTION.

APPLAUSE IS PERMITTED AT THE START AND AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S WELCOME TO THE STAGE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE JOHN LARSON.

AND REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DR. LARRY LAZOR.

THE FIRST QUESTION WAS CHOSEN BY A COIN FLIP AND IT GOES TO MR.LARSON.

MR. LARSON, THIS IS A QUESTION FROM JOHN IN BLOOMFIELD.

DO YOU SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OVERTURN CONNECTICUT'S LAWS REGARDING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION?

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, RAY, AND THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND ALSO PBS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS DEBATE AS SENATE PRESIDENT IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT BACK IN 1990.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUES, A YOUNG MAN NAMED GEORGE JEFFERSON, WHO BECAME ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND ANOTHER YOUNG MAN NAMED RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, WHO WAS IN THE SENATE AT THE TIME.

WE BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION.

TO CODIFY ROE VERSUS WADE.

AND IT IS MY FOCUS TODAY.

WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHEN YOU SEE WHAT WOMEN HAVE GONE THROUGH.. AND TO SEE THIS Court decision.

WREAK HAVOC ON PEOPLE'S LIVES AND TO CRIMINALIZE MOTHERHOOD TO ME IS SO WRONGHEADED, THAT WE WILL FIGHT, AS WE HAVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CONTINUE TO PASS WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND SEND THEM ON TO THE SENATE.

AND MITCH MCCONNELL CAN DO EVERYTHING HE WANTS TO TRY TO BLOCK IT.

BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK AND SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR.

I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

I COMMEND MY OPPONENT, WHO WROTE A VERY THOUGHTFUL ARTICLE IN THE HARTFO AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO DOCTORS AND NURSE PRACTITIONE BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THE WOMEN WHO ARE INVOLVED AND WHO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ORDEAL OF PREGNANCY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT AND SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE.

MM HMM.

DR. LAZOR.

THANK YOU I WANT TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TELEVISION AND REA FOR PUTTING THIS EVENT ON.

THESE DEBATES ARE CRITICAL TO LEARN ABOUT JOHN, LEARN ABOUT MYSELF, AND SO I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNIT I'M AN OB GYN PHYSICIAN.

I'VE BEEN THAT SINCE 1990.

I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH SINCE THAT TIME I THINK I COULD BE A GOOD INFLUE IN CONGRESS TALKING ABOUT THIS I I'VE MET WITH WOMEN ONE ON ONE I DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, TALKING ABOUT THEIR DECISIONS.

AS JOHN ALLUDED TO, I WROTE AN OP ED IN THE HARTFORD COURANT.

I'M A REPUBLICAN WHO'S PRO-CHOIC I THINK WHAT WE NEED IS WE NEED A CONGRESSIONAL LAW THAT COMES OUT AND SAYS WOMEN HAVE CHOICE.

I THINK SPEAKING FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I CAN PROBABLY HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE ON THAT, ON THAT BILL.

AND I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR TH LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT, THOUGH, TALKING ABOUT THIS DEBAT THESE DEBATES ARE CRITICAL IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.

AND TONIGHT, WE EACH HAVE A HALF AN HOUR TO TALK.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO CONGRESSMAN LARSON, WE HEARD ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT DEBATES ARE IN POLITICS.

WHY DON'T WE DO MORE DEBATES?

TONIGHT I HAVE A HALF AN HOUR.

YOU HAVE A HALF AN HOUR I THINK AT A TIME WHERE GOVERNMENT HAS LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE HAVE 12% OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE FAITH IN CONGRESS.

WE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT DEMOCRACY.

JOHN, WE SHOULD DO MORE DEBATES.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.

MY THOUGHTS?

TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

TALK ABOUT INNER CITIES.

TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE.. TALK ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY THAT IF WE'RE GOING T A DEBATE AND WE HEARD IN THE BEG HOW IMPORTANT THESE DEBATES ARE, 30 MINUTES EACH IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.

And so I would ask Congressman Larson, you have the ability to do more debates.

Would you be willing to do more debates?

Larry, thank you for that.

And I would clearly like to do more debates in terms of making the record clear.

And I believe we have several appearances that are scheduled.

And I like to start with Social Security, and we're visiting every 30 senior centers around the first Congressional District I welcome you to join me at any of those and debate Social Security because in Washington, D.C., not a single Republican has sign to our proposal on Social Security.

And as much as I appreciate your stance as well in what you wrote in the Hartford Courant, the Republicans in this Congress Are extreme.

And they are proposing a total ban on abortion.

They are opposing a.

They are proposing to end contraceptives And go after gay marriage as well.

That is not the kind of America that anyone in this audience or the state of Connecticut or I daresay the country wants.

And so I'm more than happy to do that.

And you're welcome to join us anywhere.

You're welcome to join us at the disability forum tomorrow.

You're welcome to join us later on this week.

I know we have a couple of other scheduled appearances.

I'm more than happy to debate any time on any issue so that that's not a debate, John.

That's a forum to talk about Soc Security, which I'm more than happy to talk about Social Security.

You know, we need a solution for Social Security.

And you have a you have a proposal.

And people can go on my website and look at the proposal and look at the reviews There's a problem with your proposal.

There's never been a benefit package for Social Security that's been temporary.

Your proposal has benefits increase for five That's never happened in Social Security in the history of Social Security.

And it's very difficult for seniors to plan when benefits are only for five years What happens at the end of five years?

Right now, they plan to go back down.

Now, John, if they don't go back down, your plan makes the Social Security in a worse fiscal situation than it is now.

And so I would have people you could Google Social Security 2100.

And look at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and it'll pop up on your phone and look at that because John's proposing it.

And this is kind of what John does all the time.

John constantly proposes spending and I'm all for government reaching out and helping people in need.

The problem is, John is always spending more than what you need to do, and those benefits are not covered by the increased taxation you talk about.

And there's a price for that.

and that price is inflation, that price is higher taxes, that price is debt.

Never before have we seen so much debt.

So I think one of the biggest things that will distin John Larson and Larry Lazor is the amount of spending.

And I think families and small business get hit with that and we need to push back.

So the answer on the debates, John, is yes or no, we're going to do more debates.

Larry, thank you for your response.

Let me just say a couple of things.

First and foremost, those are good talking points that you rai But they're they're not a plan and they're not a program.

Tell the 5 million seniors that get below poverty level checks from the government in th wealthiest nation in the world, we're spending too much.

Tell the individuals who have to continue to work after they retire and find that where they're working They're getting taxed on their Social Security.

Tell people who have been waiting for more than 51 years for Congress to extend benefits You're right.

I'm not just about protecting Social Security.

I'm about expanding the benefits because it hasn't been done.

It hasn't been done in 51 years.

And not only that, Larry.

10,000 baby boomers become eligible for Social Security every single day.

This is a need that Congress can no longer neglect.

Martin Luther King called it the fierce urgency of now.

And you talk about inflation.

What group is impacted more?

By inflation, then seniors in this country, they've been impacted the most by the pandemic.

Of the million plus people who have perished over 756,000.

Are over the age of 65.

And who are the people impacted by inflation?

They're seniors, the people that are on fixed income.

And that's why they need a benefit increase and that's why they need it now.

And there's the statistics that you cite.

There are over 350 groups.

Who have supported social SECURITY 2100 A SACRED TRUST AND THE REASON THEY DO SO IS BECAUSE WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT FOR SO LONG, TEACHER, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, HAVE BEEN PENALIZED UNDER THIS SYSTEM, THEY NEED RECEIVE A BENEFIT THEY CAN DEPEND ON.

SO MANY AMERICANS FIND THAT SOCIAL SECURITY -- SECURITY, IS EXACTLY FOR THEM, THE ONLY BENEFIT THAT THEY HAVE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE FOR THEM.

>> Dr. LARSON, WE'LL LET YOU RESPOND BUT WE HAVE GONE FAR AFIELD FROM THE QUESTION A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

SO I'LL LET YOU RESPOND.

>> I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU'RE THROWING A CURVE BALL THERE.

I HAVE A MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO ACCEPTS SOCIAL SECURITY, A FATHER-IN-LAW ACKERMAN SENTS SOCIAL SECURITY, THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY AND YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE OFF FISCALLY.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY, IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE BENEFIT INCREASES, MAKE THEM PERMANENT.

YOU CANNOT HAVE INCREASES THAT ARE TEMPORARY.

SECONDLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIX SOCIAL SECURITY, MAKE IT FISCALLY SOUND.

YOUR PLAN IS NOTIFIES CALY SOUND AND I WELCOME, WE'LL HAVE AN OUR WEBSITE A REVIEW ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

I'M HAPPY TO DEBATE YOU ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND I THINK -- JOHN, IT IS MY TIME.

I AM HAPPY TO DEBATE YOU ON SOCIAL SECURITY BUT LET'S TALK FACFACTS AND NOT YOU SENIORS, A, SCARE THEM AND SCARE TACTICS.

I BELIEVE IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE-THERE SHOULD BE BENEFITS BUT LET'S HAVE PLAN THAT WORKS.

PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE CENTER OF BUDGET AND POLICY AND LOOK THAT YOUR PLAN RIGHT NOW EITHER IT IS GOING TO DECREASE BENEFITS AFTER FIVE YEARS AGO IT WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY IN HOW MANY YEARS?

FOUR MORE YEARS, IT RUNS OUT OF MONEY.

SOS NO ARE FACT, JOHN.

I'LL TALK FACTS.

JOHN, YOU'RE THROWING A CURVE BALL.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS NEED AND WE NEED TO HAVE BENEFITS AND PEOPLE NEED DO THEIR OWN READING AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S RIGHT.

>> THEY ARE NOT -- THESE ARE THE FACTS.

THESE ARE THE FACTS, LARRY.

WHAT LARRY IS SAYING THAT HE DOESN'T WANT CONGRESS TO HAVE TO VOTE.

SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN 2100 IS PAID IN FULL, LARRY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT REQUIRES?

>> NO, IT IS NOT, JOHN.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> NO IT IS NOT.

>> IT IS PAID IN FULL ALL BENEFITS ARE PAID FOR.

PROVIDED THAT CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT.

AND WHAT DOES CONGRESS HAVE TO DO TO DO THAT, LARRY?

THAT WOULD KNOWN THAT CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE.

UNLIKE IN THE SENATE, WHERE MITCH MCCONNELL HAS BLOCKED OVER 500 -- 546 OF THE BILLS PASSED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> JOHN, YOU'RE THROWING CURVE BALLS AND LET'S TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON.

>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY LATER.

>> FAR FROM A CURVE BALL.

I THINK HE'S THROWING A COUPLE OF SLIDERS THERE.

I KNOW THE YANKEES ARE PLAYING TONIGHT.

>> Dr. LARSON, THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

AND YOU TOUCHED ON IT A BIT.

INFLATION IS A CONCERN OF MANY VOTERS THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO FIGHT IT?

>> INFLATION IS A HUGE CONCERN.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IT AFFECTS THE LOWEST SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS MORE THAN ANYONE AND SENIORS.

AND EVEN DEMOCRATIC ECONOMISTS, LOOK AT LARRY SUMMERS, PRESIDENT OF THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND BILL CLINTON'S TREASURY SECRETARY.

BARACK OBAMA'S TOP ECONOMIC ADVISER.

LOOK AT STEVE RATMER.

DAVID BROOKS WHO WRITES ABOUT IT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

OVERSPENDING HAS BEEN A BIG CAUSE OF INFLATION.

DAVID BROOKS WOULD SAY, 2 TO 4% MOST ECONOMISTS SAY.

WE DON'T HAVE FLYNN WHO SPENDS MORE THAN JOHN LARSON.

NO ONE SPENDS MORE.

LOOK AT HIS LOAN FORGIVENESS.

BIDEN PROCESSES 10,000, JOHN PROCESS 50,000, WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM?

DO WE WANT SENIORS AND BLUE COLLAR WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PAY FOR THAT?

WE NEED TO GET CONTROL OF SPENDING.

SINCE JOHN TOOK OFFICE IN 1998, GOOGLE THE DEBT?

GOOGLE THE SPENDING.

SPENDS, THE MORE THAT YOU'LL LIKE HIM.

SOMETIMES AS A LEADER, YOU HAVE TO CONTROL COSTS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU STOP SOCIAL SECURITY.

EVEN MEANS THAT YOU CAN BENEFIT SOCIAL SECURITY BUT LET'S TALK FACTS.

INFLATION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW, AS RATES GO UP, WE SEE THAT IF YOU WANT A MORTGAGE A YEAR AGO, IT WAS 3%.

NOW IT IS 7%.

LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU CAN BORROW WITH THAT.

IN CONNECTICUT, WE HAVE TOUGH SITUATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS.

I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SMALL BUSINESS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIGH TAXES, HIGH OVERHEAD, HIGH COST OF LABOR, AND THEN YOU FLOW THE BIGGEST HEAD -- HEAD WIND FOR INFLATION, THE BIGGEST HEADWIND FOR SMALL BUSINESS IS INFLATION.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR LEADERS GET TO RESPONSIBLE ABOUT SPENDING.

I BELIEVE IN SPENDING BUT JOHN, BETWEEN SOCIAL SECURITY, THAT DOESN'T ADD UP, BETWEEN LOAN FORGIVENESS DOESN'T ADD UP, BETWEEN HIGHWAYS THAT DOESN'T ADD UP.

JOHN IS A SPENDER.

AND WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH THE VOTERS, AND THEY CAN READ ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY, AND SEE WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTHS ABOUT THAT.

>> WE ARE HONEST WITH THE VOTERS AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT OF PLATITUDES AND I GUESS YOU'RE FALLING RIGHT IN LINEWITHTHEM, THERE Dr. LARRY.

AND THEY SAY IT IS INFLATION AND CLEARLY, PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED AND PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND THEY ARE FRIGHTENED DURING THIS TIME OF INFLATION THAT'S DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO RIM PACTEAREIMPACTED THE MOST B. I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THIS SESSION.

FIRST, HE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHERE WE PUT VACCINATIONS IN PEOPLE'S ARMS.

KIDS BACK IN THEIR SCHOOL SEATS.

PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

AND MONEY IN THEIR WALLETS AND NOW REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT, BUT THEY ARE THE VOTE NO AND TAKE THE DOUG H AND SEND LETTERS OUT TO EVERYONE TO ASK IF THEY GOT A STIMULUS CHECK.

WE PASSED HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS NEEDED, ALL THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS WHO GOT THE MONEY AND LOBBIED FOR THAT, LARRY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

NONE OF THEM HAVE CALLED AND ASKED FOR IT BACK.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, EVERY SINGLE TOWN IN THIS DISTRICT RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GO LOCALLY FOR THEIR EDUCATION SYSTEMS, TO GO INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY, AND ALSO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE MONEYS THERE FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTING AND ALL OF THE ESSENTIALS THAT WE NEED.

567 MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU CALL THAT WASTEFUL SPENDING?

I CALL THAT DIRECT RELIEF FOR PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC WHO NEEDED IT.

AND, THEN MOST OF ALL, THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE FOR FIRST TIME.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNITED STATES AGAIN IS A LEADER IN THIS AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL HAVE CLEANER AIR, CLEANER WATER, AND ALSO, DEAL WITH ENERGY COS COSTS THATE RISING.

WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN.

WE HAVE TAKEN ACTION ON THESE PLANS AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN THE PROCESS, LARRY?

WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE AND CUT THE DEFICIT BY A TRILLION DOLLARS.

AND THEN, IN THE AMERICAN -- AND THEN IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, AN ADDITIONAL $350 BILLION DOLLAR CUT AS WELL.

SO DON'T TELL ME ABOUT SPENDING, GIVE ME YOUR PLAN AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR PEOPLE.

YOU CAN GIVE ALL OF THE PLATITUDES THAT YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN, THEN IT IS NOT WORTH MUCH.

>> JOHN, YOU DIDN'T DECREASE THE DEFICIT.

WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND THANK YOU.

I WAS GIVING VACCINES IN THE HOSPITAL CARING FOR PEOPLE.

WE HAD A DEFICIT OF 2.7 TRILLION SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THIS IDEA THAT SAYS, OKAY, WE HAD THIS BRUTAL YEAR IN 2020.

WE LOST 2.7 TRILLION.

AND NOW, WE'RE LOSING A TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR SO THEREFORE, WE HAVE ANOTHER 1.7 TRILLION TO SPEND BECAUSE WE DID NOT LOSE AS MUCH AS 2020.

THAT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNMENT, JOHN.

OKAY.

YOU WANT TO DECREASE INFLATION, DECREASE SPENDING.

DECREASE YOUR COLLEGE LOAN FORGIVENESS AND THAT GOES TO THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS IN FUTURE INCOME.

YOU'RE PROPOSING $50,000 PER STUDENT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT'S FUNNY BUT YOU'RE PROPOSING 50,000 FOR STUDENTS.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM?

OKAY.

YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT YOU HAVE, AND YOU SAY, HOW ARE WE GO TOOK PAY FOR IT AND JOHN HAS THIS GREAT THING OF GOING AROUND TO TOWNS AND SAYING, I'M GIVING $20 MILLION TO MANCHESTER, GREAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE SHOULD DO?

WE CALL HIM A BAD SANTA BECAUSE JOHN, DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE GIVING THE MONEY, YOU'RE RAISING THE DEBT AND THE TAXES AND RAISING INFLATION.

EVEN DEMOCRATIC MUSTS ARE SAYING THAT.

YOU NEED TO BE HONEST WITH PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THE MONEY, SAY WHAT'S THE COST OF THAT?

THERE IS NOT AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MONEY.

JOHN TENDS TO THINK THAT THERE IS.

AND WE ALL END UP PAYING THE PRICE, PARTICULARLY THE POOREST PEOPLE WHO ARE LEFT WITH GOING TO THE GROCERY.

DID YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MORE MONEY YOU HAVE TO PAY THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SPENDING.

GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR GAS STATION, PAY YOUR UTILITIES A FAMILY OF FOUR IS PAYING 6,000 MORE THIS YEAR FOR BUYING EXACTLY THE SAME PRODUCTS THEY BOUGHT LAST YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO YOU GIVE OUT MONEY, TELL PEOPLE OUR DEBT IS NOW $31 TRILLION.

IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 100 MILLION FAMILIES IN AMERICA, THAT'S 300,000 PER FAMILY AND THAT DON'T COUNTED STATE OR TOWN DEBT.

JOHN, YOU'RE A MASSIVE SPENDER AND I THINK IF WE DRAW A SPENDIG IS ONE AREA THAT I WOULD GO BUT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAYS TO STOP?

THE HIGHWAYS, THAT WAS $17 BILLION A FEW YEARS AGO AND NOW PROBABLY 25 BILLION.

THIS IS THE YEAR WE'VE HAD THE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE BILL EVER, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

NO WAY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT MISSES OUT ON ALL OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY.

PEOPLE IN HARTFORD WHO WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THEY WANT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND BETTER EDUCATION.

THEY WANT BETTER HEALTHCARE.

THEY WANT CRIME TO GO DOWN.

THEY WANT A BETTER BORDER AND YOU'RE TALK THE HIGHWAYS AND GIVING PEOPLE 50,000 A YEAR FOR COLLEGE FORGIVENESS.

THAT'S MISSING THE BOAT, JOHN.

>> THOSE ARE YOUR PLATITUDES AND TALKING POINTS.

THEY ARE FAR FROM THE TRUTH AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

>> WELL, THAT'S UNTRUE, JOHN.

>> A LIST OF THINGS.

>> CAN I SPEAK?

>> HERE ARE A LIST OF THINGS, AND LET'S START FIRST WITH I-91 AND 84.

IT AMAZES ME THAT YOU COULD LIVE IN WEST HARTFORD AND NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE CHOKE HOLD IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

THE NUMBER ONE CHOKE HOMICIDE IN NEW ENGLAND.

NUMBER THREE, NATIONALLY IN TERMS OF THE WORST TRUCK TRAFFIC OVER THE BUCKLEY BRIDGE.

WHEN YOU THROW IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO LEVIES, BORDERING EAST HARD FORT AND HARTFORD.

BOTH IN BAD NEED OF REPAIR BECAUSE OF SAND PIPING, THAT CAUSED THE COLLAPSE OF THE NINTH WARD DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS AND CITIES LIKE HARTFORD, EAST HARTFORD WHO HAVE BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE RIVER AND ALL OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT OCCURS THERE, AND NORTH HARTFORD, THAT BETWEEN THE VIADUCT, IN '84, HAS ISOLATED THAT COMMUNITY AND PREVENTED ANY KIND OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND IN CONNECTICUT, CONNECTICUT PAID MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE INTO AN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT, AND I AM PROUD THAT WE PASSED LEGISLATION HIS CITIAL AMOUNTS OF FUNDING.

NO REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR HAS RETURNED ANY OF THE MONEY THAT WE SENT TO THEM, LARRY.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NO MAYOR, WHETHER A 15 REPUBLICAN MAYORS HAS RETURNED ANY OF THE MONEY THAT THEY GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THE MONEY TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT YOU SEEMED TO MISS HERE IS THAT IT IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND YOU HAVE AMNESIA WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPUBLICAN'S IDEA OF HEALTH BUT YOU DID NOT MENTION THE $2 TRILLION TAX CUT THAT WAS GIVEN OUT IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, 83% OF WHICH WENT TO THE NATION'S WEALTHIEST 1%.

AND WHAT DID EVERYBODY ELSE GET?

PEOPLE HAVE SHORT-PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SHORT MEMORIES.

THEY REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 AND 2009 WHEN THEY SAW THEIR 401K BECOME A 101K.

BUT BIG THAT TIME, SOCIAL SECURITY NEVER MISSED A PAYMENT.

NOT A PENSION PAYMENT.

NOT A IT WAS DISABILITY PAYMENT, NOT A SPOUSAL PAYMENT.

NONE OF THE ABOVE.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT HAS THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TRUST BUT IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED, LARRY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD A BENEFIT INCREASE.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE COST?

THE COST OF MILK IN FACT 1971 WAS 72 CENTS.

LOOK AT WHAT IT IS TODAY.

AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE VERY SENIORS WHO HAVE WORKED ALL OF THEIR LIVES AND PUT THEIR HARD WORK AND SWEAT AND TEARS INTO HAVING THAT KIND OF A RETIREMENT.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE INVESTING THERE KIND OF MONEY IN OUR SENIORS FOR THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE.

5 MILLION OF THEM LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, LARRY.

BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

THEY WORKED ALL OF THEIR LIVES TO GET CHECKS FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

THAT'S WHY I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND SO SHOULD YOU.

>> JOHN.

>> I'LL LET YOU RESPOND.

>> TWO MINUTES.

>> I'LL LET YOU RESPOND AND WE'LL MOVE ON.

>> YEAH.

SO, JOHN, YOU KEEP GETTING RED IN THE FACE AND YELLING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY LIKE I DON'T CARE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO THAT'S A CURVE BALL TO VOTERS.

I BELIEVE IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

I'LL DEFEND SOCIAL SECURITY.

THE TUNNELING IDEA, WE, WE NEED TO FIX OUR HIGHWAYS AND EXPAND AND CAP 91.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS MASSIVE SPENDING, JOHN, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR.

IF SOMEONE MAGIC GLITCHES US THE MONEY FOR THAT FINE.

MAGICALLY GIVES US THE MONEY, FINE.

I WENT AROUND HARTFORD 30 TIMES THIS CAMPAIGN TALKING TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, NIGHT OUTS, PARK CLEANUPS, BLOCK PARTIES, HAVING COFFEE WITH LEADERS.

NO ONE MENTIONED TUNNELING AS AN IDEA FOR HARTFORD.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT TUNNELING.

FIX THE HIGHWAYS.

FIX THE LEVIES.

EXPAND THEM.

NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT TUNNELING.

SO IT IS A WASTE OF MONEY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION AND SPENDING, EXAMPLE NUMBER THREE, JOHN, THAT'S SPENDING.

SO, THERE IS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER, AND, TUNNELING THE HIGHWAYS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, THE A WASTE OF TIME.

AND PEOPLE IN HARTFORD IF YOU ASK THEM, THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR THAT.

>> DID YOU EVER ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION?

DID YOU EVER ASK ANY ENGINEERS?

I'M SAYINGWE SHOULD FIX THE HIGHWAYS.

>> I'M HAPPY TO -- >> IF -- (TALKING OVER).

>> GENTLEMEN, YOU KNOW, PLEASE.

LISTEN, IF YOU TALK OVER EACH OTHER, THAT IS A HARD LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH OUR TIME KEEPERS.

OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

I THINK WE EXHAUSTED THAT SUBJECT.

THAT IS QUESTION FOR Mr. LARSON.

THE SENATE HAS PUT OFF A VOTE ON A BILL THAT WOULD CODIFY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE UNTIL AFTER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THE BILL HAD PREVIOUSLY PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

DO YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION CODIFYING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?

>> WE DO.

AND I AM -- WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

AND WE HAVE TO DO SO BECAUSE, WE OUGHT TO LISTEN TO THE REPUBLICANS LOUD AND CLEAR WHEN THEY SAY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THEY ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT.

AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, JUST LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH ROE VS. WADE.

AND CLARENCE THOMAS HAD TO SAY AS WELL.

AND HOW HE FEELS THAT IMPORTANT TO GO AFTER CONTRACEPTIVES AND GAY MARRIAGE NEXT.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED A CONGRESS THAT WILL DEFEND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND PROTECT CONTRACEPTIVES AND MAKE SURE THAT GAY MARRIAGES ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, THAT ARE ALLOWED.

PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MARRY.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE, RAY.

AND YES, I WILL ALWAYS STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THAT.

>> Dr. LARSON.

>> I A.>> I TAKE CARE OF GAY WO, TRANSWOMEN, HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN, AND I SUPPORT THE GAY COMMUNITY.

I SUPPORT ALL OF THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET MARRIED.

I WILL FIGHT FOR THAT.

I WILL LOCK ARMS WITH JOHN.

I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT LIKE WOMEN'S RIGHTS TO CHOOSE.

SO, THAT ISSUE, I THINK THAT THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE IS THAT I CAN HAVE MAYBE A BIGGER EFFECT TALKING WITH THE HISTORY OF MY CAREER.

TALKING TO PATIENTS AND GOING TO WASHINGTON AND DOING THAT.

BUT I'M IN AGREEMENT.

WE NEED TO BACK UP AGAINST RIGHTS.

>> GREAT.

NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU, Dr. LAZOR AND IF YOU STICK THE GERM OF THE QUESTION, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THE QUESTION IS FROM LOTTI.

IF ELECTED WOULD YOU STRENGTH PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

>> WE'LL GO THERE AGAIN.

>> YES, WE ARE.

SO, ABSOLUTELY.

WE WE HAVE TO SUPPORT SOCIAL SECURITY.

JOHN IS GOING IN CIRCLES HERE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING.

MAYBE IS TALKING ABOUT WITH IT OTHER PEOPLE BUT I BELIEVE IN BACKING SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE NEED TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS.

WE NEED A SOUND PLAN THOUGH.

PEOPLE NEED TO READ ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY 2100.

DON'T TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT OR MY WORD FOR IT, READ ABOUT IT THERE A GOOD REVIEW.

IT IS ACTUALLY A LEFT-SIDED THINK TANK THAT TALKS ABOUT AND IT SAYS, JOHN, IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, IF YOU MAKE BENEFIT INCREASES, MAKE THEM PERMANENT.

HIS PLAN DOES NOT MAKE THEM PERMANENT.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> NO.

>> FIVE YEARS.

PEOPLE DO A FACT CHECK ON JOHN TO SEE IF HE GOT THAT RIGHT BECAUSE HE DID NOT GET THAT RIGHT AND HE KNOWS THAT, YOUR PROPOSAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY 2100 SAYS AFTER FIVE YEARS THE BENEFIT GOES AWAY.

AND THERE IS A TRICK HERE, PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE TRICK.

JOHN INCREASES BENEFITS FOR FIVE YEARS AND GO BACK DOWN.

WHAT DOES HE DO TO TAXES?

THEY STAY UP SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS FINANCIALLY BETTER THAN IT IS.

THAT'S THE TRICK.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S DONE.

PEOPLE NEED TO READ ABOUT IT AND AGAIN, THERE IS A TWO-PAGE REVIEW THAT YOU SOCIAL SECURITY 2100, CENTER FOR BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES AND YOU WILL GET A TWO-PAGE REVIEW THAT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IT NEEDS TO BE SAVED AND WE NEED A SOUND PLAN, AND I AM IF FAVOR OF SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY I'M IN FAVOR OF BENEFITS BUT HIS PLAN TWO TWO FAULTS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE THE BENEFITS PERSONNANT, AND FINANCIALLY RUNS OUT OF MONEY IF FOUR YEAR.

WE NEED A PLAN THAT IS GOING TO WORK FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS OR SO AND WE CAN'T HAVE A PLAN THAT'S ONLY FOR FOUR.

>> Mr. LARSON.

>> YES, WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN BECAUSE LARRY WANTS TO LOCK ARMS WITH ME, IN SOME WAYS BUT THAT'S WHO HE'S NOT GOING TO BE LOCKING ARMS WITH IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES, HE'S GOING TO BE LOCKING ARMS WITH REPUBLICANS, AND WHAT THEY HAVE SAID AGAIN, IS VERY CLEAR: TALK ABOUT COMPARE AND CONTRAST WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PLANS ARE.

THEIR PLANS ARE TO CUT PRIVATIZE AND END SOCIAL SECURITY.

THEY HAVE DONE SO, AND THEY IS HAVE SAID FLIT A REPUBLICAN STUDY PLAN.

THEY HAVE SAID SO WITH RICK SCOTT'S PLAN.

THAT'S WHO HE IS GOING TO BE CAUCUSING WITH AND THAT'S WHO HE'S GOING TO BE VOTING FOR, AND THAT'S WHO HE IS GOING TO BE WORKING FOR THE I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO CONGRESS.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND PEOPLE AROUND THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT FOOLED BY WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING.

JUST TODAY AGAIN, THERE WAS ANOTHER RELEASE OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WHERE THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO CUT ACROSS THE BOARD ENTITLEMENTS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY.

A 21% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT.

WE'RE THERE TO EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 51 YEARS.

WITH ALL OF THE BENEFIT INCREASES THAT ARE NEEDED.

LARRY THINKS THAT THAT'S WASTEFUL SPENDING.

HE SAYS, PLATITUDES THAT HE IS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A PLAN TO TELL YOU HOW HE GETS THERE OR WHAT HE WOULD SPEND ON.

WE DO.

WE HAVE TAXED PEOPLE OVER 400,000.

WE SAY TO THEM, IT IS ABOUT TIME WE LIFTED THE CAP ON YOU AND YOU PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE.

THEY HAVEN'T PAID THEIR FAIR SHARE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT AFTER 142,000 DOLLARS, YOU STOP PAYING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO BILL GATES, FOR EXAMPLE, STOPS PAYING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY ON JANUARY 1.

SO ISN'T IT FAIR, AND ISN'T AT THIS TIME RIGHT THING TO DO TO LIFT THAT CAP SO THAT NOBODY UNDER ANY OF THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED IN THIS CONGRESS, WHO IS -- HAS AN INCOME BELOW 400,000, IS GOING TO BE TAXED.

THAT'S THE FAIR THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SOCIAL SECURITY 2100.

AND YES, BY THE WAY, IT IS PAID IN FULL AND NEVER IS INTENDED FOR IT NOT TO BE PAID IN FULL.

AND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR IT NOW NOT TO BE PAID IN FULL?

CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE.

IN SENATE, MITCH MCCONNELL DOESN'T LIKE TO VOTE ON THE 40 400 -- 547 BILLS THAT WE SENT OVER THERE BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

YOU'RE READY TO LOCK ARMS WITH THE PARTY TO TAKE US BACK TO YESTERDAY.

WHETHER IT IS HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, YOU THINK IT IS GOOD TO GO BACK TO EISENHOWER ADMISSION, GOD BLESS YOU BUT IT IS TIME TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE FACED, AND NOT PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND SAY, OH, NO, WE CAN'T SPEND ANY MONEY THERE.

>> NEVER SAID THAT YOU CAN'T SPEND ANY MONEY THERE.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE VOTERS, AND TELL THEM THAT SOCIAL SECURITY 2100 IS PAID IN FALL FULL.

HOW MANY YEARS IS IT PAID IN FULL?

>> SOCIAL SECURITY 2100, WHEN IT IS PASSED INTO LAW, WILL BE PAID IN FULL AND -- >> BENEFITS DON'T STOP AFTER FIVE YEARS.

>> IF CONGRESS HAS TO VOTE AND CONGRESS SHOULD BE VOTING EVERY YEAR.

LET ME ASK YOU, LARRY, DO YOU THINK THAT CONGRESS SHOULD VOTE ON SOCIAL SECURITY?

>> I THINK THAT WE NEED PLAN ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> I HAVE A PLAN, WHAT'S YOURS?

>> MY PLAN WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BE FISCALLY SOUND.

>> THAT'S NOT PLAN.

>> YEAH, JOHN, I THINK THAT IF YOU WANT TO -- I'M HAPPY TO DEBATE YOU WITH SOCIAL SECURITY BECAUSE I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WIN THAT AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK YOU TO ABOUT THAT BUT YOUR PLAN HAS BENEFITS FOR FIVE YEARS THAT GO AWAY.

ARE YOU TELLING PEOPLE THAT'S NOT TRUE?

>> >> I'M NOT TELLING PEOPLE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> VOTERS NEED TO GO OUT AND READ BECAUSE I'M ON A DIFFERENT PLAN NET TERMS OF WHAT SOCIAL SECURITY 2100 SAYS.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO READ AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS.

I'M IN FAVOR OF SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE BENEFITS BUT WHAT PUTS SOCIAL SECURITY AT RISK?

COLLEGE LOAN FORGIVE THIS IS FOR $50,000 PER STUDENT.

TUNNELING HIGHWAYS.

OVERSPENDING.

THAT PUTS SOCIAL SECURITY AT RISK.

SOCIAL SECURITY TAKES UP 25 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET.

WE NEED TO SAVE IT.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO FIGHT POVERTY.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE OUR SENIORS STABLE.

I'M LOOKING AT YOU IN THE EYE AND I WILL FIGHT TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY.

BUT, JOHN'S PLAN HAS A FEW ISSUES THAT HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT AND SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL PLAN THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM FOR THE END EARLY.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.

AND THE REPUBLICANS DO HAVE A PLAN.

THEY PLAN TO CUT, THEY PLAN TO PRIVATIZE, AND THEY PLAN TO END IT.

SO THAT'S WHO YOU'RE LOCKING ARMS WITH.

>> REPUBLICAN'S PLAN,S IS.

>> THAT'S WHO YOU ARE LOCKING ARMS WITH.

YOU DON'T HAVE PLAN, YOU HAVE THEIR PLAN.

AND OUR PLAN SAYS, NO, WE PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND WE EXPAND THOSE BENEFITS.

EXPAND BENEFITS THAT ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ALL OF THEIR LIVES AND GET BELOW PROPERTY OF LEVEL CHECKS FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT, WHILE REPUBLICANS ARE CONTENT TO GIVE 83 -- TWO TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT GIVING 83% OF THE TAX CUT FOR THE WEALTHIEST ONE PERCENT.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, LARRY.

>> JOHN, YOU JUST SAID, REPUBLICANS WANT -- >> OR ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ON RECORD THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE, LET'S HAVE AN INTELLIGENT DEBATE, PEOPLE.

OKAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT FACTS.

WE WANT TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY, AND LET'S HAVE A SMART PLAN.

LET'S MAKE BENEFITS PERMANENT SO SENIORS DN'T THINK THAT THEY'LL GET A BENEFIT AND THEN IT IS TAKEN AWAY.

LET'S HAVE IT PAID FOR.

YES, WE NEED TO INCREASE TAXES AND SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY.

I TOTALLY GET THAT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WORKS.

>> LET'S MOVE ON THE THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> WE WILL.

JUST NEED TO VOTE ON IT, ALREADIRY.

THAT'S ALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A QUESTION FOR Mr. LARSON.

IT HAS BEEN 12 YEARS SINCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BECAME LAW.

SHOULD OBAMA CARE BE STRENGTH STRENGTHSENNED OR STRUCK DOWN ALL TOGETHER?

EXPANDED.

AND, LISTEN, AGAIN, I'LL GO TO WEST HARTFORD.

AND, Mr. ROD YEARWOOD.

STOOD UP AFTER WE PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND SAID, I WANT TO THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN, BECAUSE I WAS PAYING PREMIUMS OF $1300 HUNDRED A MONTH.

AND THIS IS REAL SAVINGS IN A TIME INFLATION.

NOW I'M PAYING $20 A MONTH.

AND WITH THAT MONEY, WITH THAT SAVINGS, I'M NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAVE FOR MY DAUGHTER'S, MY TWO DAUGHTERS' EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT, GETTING PEOPLE THE KIND OF CARE THAT THEY NEED.

THE REPUBLICANS TRIED TO REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT 72 TIMES OVER AN 8-YEAR PERIOD AND FAILED EVERY SINGLE TIME.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED THIS AND I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TO -- THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO A TIME WHEN YOU'RE PENALIZED AND PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE NOT EVEN COVERED AND THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

>> Dr. LAZOR.

>> YES, EVERYONE NEEDS HEALTHCARE.

HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO CHANGE.

HEALTHCARE IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

IT IS TOO CONFUSING.

AND THERE ARE TOO MANY DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE.

INNER CITY PEOPLE DON'T DO AS WELL.

MINORITIES DON'T DO AS WELL AND THOSE ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES AND WE NEED SMART POLICIES AND DON'T NEED TO POUR MONEY IT INTO.

DO YOU KNOW THAT THE UNITED STATES, THE AVERAGE COST PER PERSON FOR HEALTHCARE, IS $12,500.

THE NEXT MOST EXPENSIVE HEALTHCARE -- COUNTRY WITH HEALTHCARE IS SWITZERLAND AT 7,500.

AND WE DON'T NEED MORE MONEY POURED INTO HEALTHCARE, WE NEED SMARTER PLANS.

WE NEED VALUE-BASED BALANCE.

VALUE-BASED PLANS WOULD SAY IF THIS GENTLEMAN OR THIS WOMAN HAS DIABETES OR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, LET'S PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR A NURSE CALL THEM OR EVEN HAVE SOMEONE GO AND VISIT THEIR HOUSE, EDUCATE THEM, AND SO WE PREVENT THOSE EMERGENT VISITS.

3,000, 5,000.

WE MAY PREVENTED A POLICE STATION TO THE HOUSE, MAYBE 20 OR 30,000.

OR 30,000.

%-úR SERVICE.

SO, IF I SEE 30 PATIENTS IN A DAY, VERSUS 20 PATIENTS IN A DAY, I MAKE MORE MONEY.

I DON'T GET COMPENSATED FOR MY PATIENTS AS WELL.

I GET COMPENSATED BASED ON VOLUME.3 HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, JOHN, IS HEALTHCARE JUST LOOK AT JOHN'S EXAMPLE.

SO JOHN SAID LISTEN TO THIS GENTLEMAN, HE WAS PAYING $1300 A MONTH AND NOW HE'S PAYING $20 A MONTH.

THAT'S A LUCKY GUY BUT WHO WILL BE PAYING FOR THAT?

THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL PAY FOR THAT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE IS GOING UP.

WE HAVE SEEN HEALTH INSURANCE GO UP AND UP AND UP.

IT IS SQUEEZING SMALL BUSINESS.

IT IS SQUEEZING FAMILIES.

WE NEEDS TO FIND HOST EFFECTIVE PLANS.

IT IS NOT JUST POURING MONEY INTO IT AND THAT'S WHAT JOHN ALWAYS DOES HE JUST POURS MONEY INTO IT.

GREAT, THIS GUY WENT FROM 1300 TO $20.

SOMEONE HAS TO PAY NOR THAT AND YOUR MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH INSURANCE HAS TO GO UP.

THERE IS CONSTANT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THIS BETTER.

HEALTH INSURANCE CAN BE RUN AS A BETTER COMPETITION AND WE NEED GOOD PLANS.

A GOOD EXAMPLE I GIVE IS UCONN HEALTH CENTER.

THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT BILLS THEM OUT $250 MILLION A YEAR.

DRIVE DOWN PLAIN STREET IN HARTFORD, WHERE MAIN STREET HITS PRATT AND GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOCIAL CLUB AND TELL ME HOW MANY DOCTOR OFFICES THAT YOU SEE.

ZERO.

WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE WE HAVE A WARPED SYSTEM IN HEALTHCARE.

WE NEED TO SPEND DOLLARS MORE INTELLIGENTLY.

WE CAN DO THIS.

BUT WE NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT LANES.

WE WANT QUALITY HEALTHCARE.

WE WANT HEALTHCARE THAT WE TRUST.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 32 YEARS, TALKING TO PATIENTS.

I KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HEALTHCARE THAN YOU.

I HAVE BEEN THERE.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SYSTEMS THAT ARE COST EFFECTIVE WITH GOOD QUALITY.

I THINK THAT I BRING THAT MORE THAN JOHN.

>> WE HAVE COME UP WITH A SYSTEM, THOSE SYSTEM AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LOCK ARMS WITH WANT TO DESTROY THOSE SYSTEMS.

THEY WANT TO RETURN TO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.

35 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR WHAT THE REPUBLICANS CALLED OBAMA CARE.

FACT CHECK AND NEWS FLASH: OBAMA DOES CARE.

BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE.

AND SO DO WE.

AND WE BUILT ON THE ACA MORE THAN FOUR MILLION PEOPLE GAINED COVERAGE SINCE BIDEN HAS BECOME PRESIDENT.

WE ALSO CAPPED SENIOR DRUG COSTS.

AGAIN, DEALING WITH THEIR CONCERNS AND DEALING WITH INFLATION.

WE ALSO CAPPED SENIOR INSULIN COSTS AT $35 A MONTH.

THOSE ARE ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THAT YOU CALL SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE SPENT IT IN AN AREA WHERE IT WAS MOST NEEDED.

WE DIDN'T GIVE AWAY 83% OF A TAX CUT TO THE NATION'S WEALTHIEST 1% AND, LET EVERYBODY ELSE HANDLE WHAT MIGHT TRICKLE DOWN FROM THEM.

WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS WITH MEDICARE, NEGOTIATIONS.

IN THIS CONGRESS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU REPEAL, YOU WOULD REPEAL THE INFLATON REDUCTION ACT.

YOU REPEAL THAT WHICH IS, DEALS WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> I NEVER SAID THAT, JOHN.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU READ THAT.

>> YOU DID NOT SAY THAT YOU WOULD REPEAL THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT?

>> I NEVER SAID THAT I'M A PRO CLIMATE POLITICIAN.

>> THE COMMITMENT FOR -- TO AMERICA?

>> IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH SPENDING THAT YOU SPENT OVER THE LAST FEW BILLS, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT BUT I'M A PROLY MAY PERSON.

I BELIEVE IN CLIMATE.

I'M A SCIENTIST.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT AND DO IT SMARTLY I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE FLIT A SMART WAY WHERE IT PUT NEWS AN AWKWARD SITUATION WHENNER GI AND TRYING TO HELP OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE.

LOOK AT THE COSTS OF FUEL IN COLORADO.

IT IS ABOUT -- IT IS ABOUT $75.

I'M PRO CLIMATE.

>> YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANYTHING ON IT.

>> JOHN -- SO THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE.

SO JOHN IS, YOU KNOW, NEVER WANT TO SPEND.

DID YOU SEE THE EXTREME?

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY.

WE NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL HOW WE SPEND MONEY.

NEVER HAVE WE SPENT AS MUCH MONEY AS WHEN JOHN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

NEVER.

LOOK AT OUR DEBT.

LOOK AT INFLATION.

LOOK AT OUR TAXES.

AMERICA IS GOING ON A COURSE OF MASSIVE SPENDING.

I WOULD PUSH BACK.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN NO SPENDING.

THE PROBLEM, JOHN, WHEN YOU SPEND SO MUCH MONEY, IT DOESN'T LEAVE MONEY FOR THE CLIMATE.

IT DOESN'T LEAVE MONEY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY OR LEAVE MONEY FOR INNER CITIES.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

LOAN FORGIVENESS, 50,000 PER STUDENT.

THAT'S 100,000 FOR A COUPLE THAT MAY BE MAKING UP TO $250,000.

WHERE IS MONEY COMING FROM?

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM, FOR THE TUNNEL.

YOUR PLANS ARE PIE IN THE SKY IN TERMS OF SPENDING AND PEOPLE PAY THE PRICE AND THAT'S INFLATION, TAXES AND DEBT.

>> REAL QUICK: I'M GLAD THAT NOT EVERYONE THINKS THAT DEALING WITH THE NUMBER ONE CONGESTED HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE STATE, IN NEW ENGLAND, NUMBER THREE IN THE NATION WITH REGARD TO TRUCK TRAFFIC, THE LEVIES THAT PROTECT BOTH HARTFORD AND EAST HARTFORD THINK THAT THAT IS EXCESSIVE SPENDING, LARRY OR THINK THAT'S A PIPE DREAM.

THAT'S REALITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HELP CONGRESS.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HELP TO RECONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES TO THE RIVER FRONT AND HELP TO END THE ISOLATION OF NORTH HARTFORD AS WELL.

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THAT BECAUSE, HOW -- >> ARE WE GOING TO TUNNEL THE HIGHWAYS?

>> GENTLEMEN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO.

>> GENTLEMEN, HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING-(TALKING OVER).

>> GENTLEMEN).

>> GENTLEMEN: >> GENTLEMEN.

WE HAVE COVERED THIS GROUND A FEW TIMES ALREADY TONIGHT'S.

CAN WE MOVE ON.

I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES BUT WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO COVER.

WE HAVE COVERED THIS GROUND.

THIS IS A QUESTION FROM Dr. LAZOR FROM NORA IN MAN CHESTEST.

IF ELECTED WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE LONG-TERM CARE IN MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> I HAVE SEEN THAT FIRSTHAND WITH MY FATHER WHO I IS 91.

WE HAD TO MOVE HIM INTO A SENIOR LIVING PLACE SIX MONTHS AGO AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND HELP H YOU NEED A 24-HOUR-A-DAY HELP.

THE LAST 30 MONTHS I VISITED MY DAD, 28.

I GO UP ONCE A MONTH FOR A LONG WEEKEND AND IN THE SUMMER A WEEK HERE OR THERE BUT IT WAS ABOUT THREE HOURS AWAY AND I'M AN OB/GYN BECAUSE I'M ON CALL CALL AND TWO SISTERS WHO HELP OUT.

A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

WE DEFINITELY NEEDS HELP IN THAT AREA.

AND GAIN SO THIS WOULD BE THE THEME, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT SPENDING BECAUSE WE NEED MONEY FOR OTHER AREAS.

JOHN IS GOING TO EXAGGERATE AND SAY I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON ANYTHING.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY, IF WE IMPROVE THAT, WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE COME AND HELP WITH THAT.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED A POLICY TO HELP WITH SENIORS FOR LONG-TERM CARE.

WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A QUALITY LIFE.

AND MOST PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

AND THERE IS WAYS TO DO THAT.

BUT, THAT'S AN AREA THAT I THINK THAT YOU NEED HELP.

I DON'T THINK THAT YOU TOTALLY MAKE THAT A PUBLIC SERVICE.

BUT YOU CAN HELP PRIVATE COMPANIES COME UP WITH SITUATIONS THAT CAN HELP SENIOR CITIZENS SO THAT'S A BIG ISSUE AND I HAVE SEEN THAT FIRSTHAND.

AND I THINK THAT WE ALL WANT TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT WHEN WE'RE OLDER.

GENTLEMAN.

>> I THINK AGAIN YOU HEAR AN AWFUL LOT OF PLATITUDES BUT NO, NO PLAN.

AND, NO REAL DESIRE TO STEP IN AND -- >> SNOW DESIRE?

>> WHERE IS -- WHERE IS THE PLAN?

HOW DO YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> I THINK THAT WE NEED PLANS THAT -- >> WE HAVE A PLAN.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE PUT FORWARD.

AND WE STAND BEHIND THAT.

AND WE SAY THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT.

AND WE HAVE HAVE PUBLIC OPTIONS.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HEALTHCARE IS AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

>> -- >> AND WE HAVE TO KEEP WORKING FOR IT.

BUT, YOU DON'T -- YOU'RE WILLING TO LOCK ARMS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO REPEAL THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

THAT'S WHAT THEY PUT DOWN IN WRITING.

AND JUST TODAY AGAIN, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH ENTITLEMENTS.

YOU HOOKED UP WITH THE WRONG PARTY.

WHAT CAN I TELL YOU?

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING ARMS WITH.

>> LOOK, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF AMAZING LEADER, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND A LESS FAMOUS THE SENATOR FROM MAINE.

AND, SHE WAS THE FIRST SENATOR IN 17950 TO STAND UP TO JOE McCARTHY.

SHE STOOD UP THERE IN HER FIRST YEAR AND SAID THIS IS WRONG AND I'LL PUSH BACK.

YOU KNOW, JUST FOUR HOURS AGO, ADAM KINSINGER ENDORSED ME.

HE'S THE ONLY -- I'M THE ONLY REPUBLICAN THAT HE HAS ENDORSED.

HE SAID I'LL STAND UP AND SAY WHAT'S RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE THAT WITH BIDEN WITH THE BORDER OR CRIME ISSUES BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM STANDING UP WITH PEOPLE AND SAYING IF THEY ARE RIGHT OR WRONG.

>> NEITHER DO I.

>> OKAY.

>> NEITHER DO I.

>> BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY OF GREAT LEADERS AND LEADERS NEED TO HAVE A FEW THINGS.

THEY NEED HAVE SMART POLICY.

THEY NEED TO HAVE EMPATHY.

AND THEY NEED TO HAVE TRUST.

AND I THINK THAT, THAT'S WHAT VOTE ARE LOOKING FOR AND WE'RE TRYING TO BRING TO THIS CAMPAIGN.

I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

I THINK THAT I HAVE A HISTORY A REPUTATION OF DOING THAT IN A HOSPITAL FOR 32 YEARS.

AND I ENJOY THAT CHALLENGE.

I THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE AND YES, I DO AGREE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS TO SHIFT.

I ALSO THINK THAT, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO SHIFT A LOT.

HOUSE PRIME.

HOUSE PRIME.

HOW IS THE BORDER?

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF DEATH IN OUR COUNTRY UNDER THE AGE OF 50, IS OPIATE OVERDOSE.

AND THAT IS HAS INCREASED FOUR TIMES SINCE JOE BIDEN TOOK OVER.

WE NEED A PUSH BACK.

HARTFORD HAS A 20-YEAR HIGH MURDER RATE AS DO Mr. CITIES BECAUSE AS WE SAW GEORGE FLOYD GET MURDERED AND WE SAID YES, WE NEED OVERSIGHT.

WE NEED DEESCALATION, THERE IS A PUSH FROM YOUR PARTY, JOHN, TO DECREASE POLICE OFFICERS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WENT 30 TIMES INTO HARTFORD, PEOPLE WANT MORE POLICE.

THEY DON'T WANT LESS.

THEY WANT MORE POLICE BECAUSE THE GREATEST RETURN TO CRIME IS THE -- DETERRENT TO CRIME IS THE PRESENCE OF POLICE.

I TALK TO POLICE AND THEY FEEL WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT?

THEY WANT THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AND OVERSIGHT AND DEESCALATION AND WE THAT AND THAT WAS A DEMOCRATIC THING.

WE BOS LOST THE BORDER.

EDUCATION HAS NOT DONE WELL.

IF YOU THINK THAT WE DID WELL WITH EDUCATION DURING COVID YOU'RE TIRE TIED INTO A TEACHERS UNION.

YOU TAKE MONEY FROM THE TEACHER UNIONS AND THE TEACHER UNIONS GIVE 99% OF THEIR MONEY TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

DO YOU THINK THAT INFLUENCES THE DEMOCRATS OF WORKING WITH EDUCATION?

OUR KIDS GOT HURT STAYING OUT OF SCHOOL CAN.

ANXIETY LEVELS WENT UP AND LEARNING GAPS WENT UP, JOHN.

THERE WAS A PRICE FOR THAT.

CAN YOU CHALLENGE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU GET MONEY FROM, YOU GET ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS, FROM PACK MONEY, CAN YOU GO AGAINST THEM, AND CAN YOU FIGHT FOR THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE KIDS AND NOT THE UNIONS.

>> AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START BECAUSE YOU RAMBLED ON DIFFERENT FRONTS.

SINCE YOU DID FOCUS ON CRIME AND AS PART OF IT OF THE DIATRIBE, LET ME SAY, ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT WE GOT FOR WEST HARTFORD FOR ITEM AND FOR THE POLICE?

AND WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF THAT?

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE 15 POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE GOT MONEY FOR, IN HARTFORD, NEW POLICE OFFICERS, TO GO ON THE STREETS?

YOU SAID THAT YOU WALKED THE STREETS OF HARTFORD.

DID YOU EVER WALK WITH MOTHERS UNITE AGAINST VIOLENCE?

>> WAS THAT THE ONE TIME THAT YOU WERE IN HARTFORD, JOHN.

>> WHERE SHOOTINGS HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN PLACE.

HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH PEOPLE IN HARTFORD?

>> PEOPLE IN HARTFORD SAY THEY DON'T SEE YOU.

>> -- THAT CARE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ON THE STREET WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE?

WE GOT MONEY FOR EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

AND WE GOT IT AND WE GAVE IT TO THE MUNICIPALITY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SO THOSE LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, OF WHICH 15 OF THEM, OF THE 27 ARE REPUBLICANS AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

NONE OF THEM RETURNED ANY OF THAT MONEY, THEY USED IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY ASKS DISTRICT AND THEY SPENT IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

DURING THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WITH ALL KINDS OF BOTTLE NECK PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, AND THAT FURTHERER WERE COMPOUND BY THE MOST HORRIFIC EVENT THAT I CAN RECALL IN GOVERNMENT IN THE TAKEOVER OF THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 6 WHICH CAST A PALL OVER THIS ELECTION BECAUSE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN TERMS OF THE TRANSFER OF POWER IN WASHINGTON.

YOU'RE WILLING TO LOCK ARMS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE OVER OR HOPE THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE OVER, AND, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DENIAL ABOUT THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION, OF AN ELECTION AND DENIAL ABOUT THE ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN, IN DENIAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THAT IT EXISTS AGAINST WOMAN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THIS IS ON THE BALLOT AGAINST VOTING RIGHTS.

UNWILLING TO TAKE UP CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THAT I HAVE BEEN A SPONSOR OF EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS.

DON'T TELL ME ABOUT SPECIAL INTERESTS.

I'M A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER.

AND I AM PROUD OF MY ASSOCIATION WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS A TEACHER AS WELL AND I'M PROUD OF HER.

SHE TEACHES HISTORY AT EAST HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL.

AND YOU KNOW, THOSE TEACHERS WORK INCREDIBLY LONG HOURS, AND FOR NOT MUCH PAY EITHER.

AND THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB, AND IT IS ABOUT TIME WE RECOGNIZE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED UNDER A SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND YES, IF THAT COSTS MONEY, I AM WILLING TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

BY SAYING WE OUGHT TO LIFT THE CAP ON PEOPLE OVER 400,000.

SO THEY ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE THAT THE -- THAT A PERSON MAKING 35 OR 50,000 IS PAYING AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT THE TRANSFER OF POWER IS ABOUT, PROTECTING THE VERY WEALTHY AT THE TOP AND HOPING THAT WHATTIC FROMLED DOWN WILL SATISFY EVERYBODY IN THE MIDDLE CLASS.

WELL, IT ISN'T.

PEOPLE HAVE CAUGHT ON TO THAT GAME.

THEY UNDERSTAND THEY WANT DIRECT RERELIEF LIKE A CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT LIFTS CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY IN THE FIRST DISTRICT AND ACROSS STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND AROUND THERE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE, THOSE CHILDREN'S LIVES MATTER.

>> Dr. LAZOR I'LL LEPT YOU RESPOND AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.

>> TALK IN WAYS AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT, I BELIEVE THAT SPENDERSING IN CERTAIN AREAS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT EXCESSIVE SPENDING HAS A PRICE TO IT.

AND AS YOU GO AROUND, AND SAY, HERE IS $20 MILLION FOR MAN CHESTER AND HERE IS $20 MILLION FOR THIS TOWN, JUST MAKE SURE TO TELL PEOPLE, THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE INFLATION, AND WE HAVE HIGH TAXES, AND HIGH DEBT.

THERE IS A COST TO EXCESSIVE SPENDING.

YOU DON'T HAVE AN ENDLESS FLY OF MONEY TO KEEP SPENDING AND YES I HAVE BEEN IN HARTFORD A LOT.

TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AND THEY WANT PROTECTION.

THEY WANT MORE POLICE.

AND, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOUR PARTY, HAS VILIFIED THE POLICE OFFICERS.

LOOK AT DEFUND THE POLICE.

HOW DID THAT GO IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT OR SAN FRANCISCO OR IN CHICAGO GO HOW IS -- DO YOU WANT TO GET ON A SUBWAY IN NEW YORK.

THINK MOST PEP AND VOTERS WILL LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A PARTY THAT BACKS UP THE POLICE OFFICERS.

AND WOULD BE A BETTER PARTY FOR CRIME.

AGAIN, I'M HAPPY -- LOOKING WE'RE TALKING FOR A HALF AN HOUR, AND GETS HELTED AT TIMES BUT THIS IS DEMOCRACY.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT.

I'LL GET BACK TO MY INITIAL POINT.

JOHN IS ONLY GOING ONE DEBATE.

ONE DEBATE.

JOHN, IF YOU FEEL SO STRONGLY AND YOU'RE SO PRO DEMOCRACY, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND WE CAN GET MORE INTO THERE'S ISSUES AND TALK MORE.

I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

THE PROBLEM IS, JOHN, YOU'RE TALKING OUT BOTH SIDES OF YOUR MOUTH.

JOHN IS STAYINGTHAT HE'S ALL THIS BUT HE'S NOT WILLING TO DO MORE THAN ONE DEBATE.

JOHN TAKES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS AND PAC MONEY.

I TOOK MONEY FROM ONE, WHICH WAS THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OB/GYN.

JOHN HAS TO ANSWER FOR WHAT HE DOES WITH THAT MONEY AND WHY HE TAKES IT.

YOU CAN'T DO BOTH.

IF YOU'RE PRO DEMOCRACY, LIKE WE TALK ABOUT, YOU SHOULD BE WILLING TO STAND UP, AND TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

TALK ABOUT THE INNERRITY CITIES AND TALK ABOUT THE BORDER.

TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

THAT'S WHAT VOTERS WANT.

>> LARRY, I TALK ABOUT THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I AM OUT IN THIS DISTRICT EVERY DAY.

AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO ME, TO ANY -- YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO ME TO MANCHESTER ANY TIME AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE IN MANCHESTER ABOUT HOW THEY FELT THAT MONEY THAT CAME INTO THIS COMMUNITY, WAS WASTEFUL SPENDING.

BECAUSE YOU'RE TELLING THE PEOPLE OF MANCHESTER THAT, OH, DON'T BE FOOLED BY THAT MONEY.

THAT MONEY IS SOMEHOW GOING TO CREATE A DEBT THAT YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT MONEY HERE IN MANCHESTER.

YOU DON'T HAVE LOCAL TAX ISSUES OR STATE TAX ISSUES.

YOU DID NOT HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAT REPEALED STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT CAUSE DOUBLE TAXATION IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

SO THAT YOU DON'T MENTION THE MONEY THEY WASTED, TWO TRILLION UNPAID SENATOR GOES TO THE NATION'S WEALTHIEST 1% BUT YOU BEMONEY THE FACT THAT SOMEONE IS A RESIDENT IN MANCHESTER WILL GET MONEY SO THEIR PROPERTY TAXES DON'T GO UP?

SO POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN BE EQUIPPED AND HAVE BETTER OR TEACHERS MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE BETTER OR MIGHT BE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO STAY HOME DURING COVID, THAT THEY HAD COMPUTERS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE HOME AND LAPTOPS.

YOU THINK THAT'S WASTEFUL SPENDING.

THOSE WERE NECESSARY THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEEDED DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

YOU GUYS ALSO HAVE AMNESIA ABOUT INFLATION.

YOU THINK THAT JOE BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE AND THERE WAS INFLATION.

WELL, GUESS WHAT?

A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, A WAR, THE LARGEST WAR IN 79 YEARS IN EUROPE, THAT IMPACTED BOTH OIL AND WHEAT PRODUCTION, IMPACTS GLOBALLY, INFLATION.

WE'RE PART OF A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

WEDS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES HERE, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEALING WITH IN, CUTTING, AND LOWERING THE NATIONAL DEBT BY A TRILLION DOLLARS, JUST THERE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

>> JOHN.

>> JUST THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR.

>> GENTLEMEN WE HAVE TO MOVE ON AND THE LAST QUESTION.

>> DON'T I GET A REBUTTAL?

>> YULE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

>> >> THERE IS A REASON THAT MOST AMERICANS WANT TERM LIMITS AND MOST AMERICANS THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE 12 YEARS.

AND THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY WANT THAT AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WANT NEW ENERGY AND NEW IDEAS COMING INTO WASHINGTON, D.C.

THEY ALSO WANT POLITICIANS TO GET AWAY FROM SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY.

THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT.

JOHN HAS SERVED 24 YEARS.

I THINK THAT'S AN AWFUL LONG TIME.

I THINK THAT THERE IS TIME FOR NEW IDEAS, AND NEW ENERGY.

SO LIKE MOST AMERICANS, I WOULD PROPOSE A 12-YEAR TERM LIMIT.

I THINK IT IS BETTER FOR GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THAT WE CAN GET FLU IDEAS AND WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THESE FIXED SYSTEMS.

I TAKE IT IT WAS A NO ABOUT MORE DEBATES AND WE'RE DEBATING FOR A HALF HOUR.

AND THAT'S A NO.

THAT'S A DODGE.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE, IF YOU BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, WHICH I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE DO, YOU'LL STAND UP AND SAY WE NEED TO DEBATE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT MADISON AND FOUNDING FATHERS THAT WE SHOULD GET UP AND DEBATE.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS PRETTY, ARGUING BACK AND FORTH BUT PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THAT AND HEAR OUR IDEAS.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT THOSE IDEAS ARE.

WHAT'S OUR IDEA FOR HEALTHCARE.

WE SPEND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE REQUEST COME UP WITH BETTER SYSTEMS.

WHAT'S OUR IDEA FOR CONTINUER CITIES THE INNER CITIES ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD, JOHN.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 24 YEARS.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE INNER CITIES PLACES OF OPT MITCH AND WHERE THE ECONOMY CAN WORK.

I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND LIFE-LONG DEMOCRATS WHO HAD BUSINESSES IN HARTFORD FOR 45 YEARS, ARE SPITTING NAILS BECAUSE THEY WANT CHANGE CHANGE.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WHEN I CAMPAIGNED THAT'S WHAT I TELL PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

BETTER AT THE BORDER, BETTER AT SPENDING, AND BETTER AT HEALTHCARE, AND BETTER EDUCATION AND THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING FOR.

>> SENTENCE.

>> I'M GLAD THAT LARRY WANTS EVERYTHING BETTER.

ES EVERYTHING BETTER, AND HE MANO PLAN TO PAY FOR IT.

BUT HE SAYS, ABSOLUTELY, ON ANYTHING THAT HE THINKS IS NOT A TALK POINT, OR IS NOT GOING TO STRIKE AN EMOTIONAL CHORD WITH PEOPLE, HE SAID, WELL, I AGREE WITH JOHN ON THAT BUT THEN WHERE THE TYPICAL REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT COMES IN, HE TRIES TO PRESS THAT ISSUE.

BUT, LOOK, LOOK AT THE FACTS: THE FACTS ARE, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTION IN THE NATION'S HISTORY.

BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS IN THE AFTERMATH OF JANUARY 6.

I WAS THERE, IN FENCES AND BOMB WIRE AROUND THE CAPITOL.

AFTER A IS SEDICIOUS ELEMENT TK OVER THE CAPITOL.

146 POLICE OFFICER POLICE OFFICERS 3 DADE.

MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.

AND WE HAD 147 MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SAID, THE ELECTION RESULT WEREN'T VALID.

AND THAT'S ONLY CONTINUING TO GROW.

AND THEY LOCKED ARMS, AND NOW AS THE NEXT ELECTION APPROACHES THAT THEY'LL GO BACK AND CONTEST THOSE ELECTIONS AS WELL.

OUR VERY DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE HERE.

OUR REPUBLIC.

AND THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, IT COMES DOWN TO WHO ARE WE GOING TO TURN THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT OVER TO.

I BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS.

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

THEY SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY SEE A PARTY THAT IS STOKING FEAR, THEY SEE A PARTY THAT TRIES TO EXPLOIT PEOPLE, BUT, IT LA NO SPECIFIC PLAN FOR FUTURE.

>> Dr. LAZOR, FINAL WORD.

>> SO I THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL ELECTION.

I REALLY DO, AND JOHN, IN MY LEAD VIDEO GETTING INTO THIS CAMPAIGN I CAME OUT AND SAID THAT JANUARY 6 WAS A BRO T BLOWO OUR DEMOCRACY AND I SPOKE OUT AGAINST THAT.

THAT'S NOTECASE.

I ALSO T.>> THE SECRETARY OF BIT NOW SAID THAT TRUMP STOLE THE ELECTION IN 2016, AND, THERE WERE OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO SAID THAT.

SO I'M SURE THAT YOU SPOKE AGAINST THAT, RIGHT?

SO, YOU HAVE TO CALL IT BOTH SIDES.

THINK WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR LEADERS THAT HAVE CHARACTER AND CAN CALL THEIR OWN PARTY OUT AND CALL THE OTHER PARTY OUT.

JOHN IS A NICE GUY.

I THINK THAT JOHN IS A NICE GUY AND I THINK THAT HE'S A GOOD PERSON AND I KNOW THAT WE GOT LEETED BUT, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HEAR THESE ISSUESEN WHEN I'M LEFT WITH 30 MINUTES TO TRY TO TALK IN FRONT OF A T.V.

AUDIENCE, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE LITTLE BIT AGGRESSIVE.

YOU HEARD HIM NOT WANTING TO DEBATE.

LISTEN TO THAT.

THAT'S DEMOCRACY.

RIGHT?

NO.

THAT'S NOT DEMOCRACY.

HE NEEDS TO ANSWER FOR THAT.

BECAUSE WE NEED -- IT IS AN ALL-TIME LOW LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT.

12% OF PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN CONGRESS AND JOHN WANTS TO DEBATE 30 MINUTES EACH.

THAT'S A MESSAGE.

I AM HERE TO PROVIDE SOME NEW ENERGY AND NEW IDEAS.

I DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS A CHANGE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M COMING IN.

WE NEED NEW LEADERS.

LEADERS THAT WE COULD LOOK UP TO AND TRUST.

I'M A PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICAN.

THINK THAT I THE ELECTION WAS FAIR AND I THERE THAT I JANUARY 6 WAS A BLOW TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND I HAVE STAYED A THAT PUBLICLY.

IT IS REAL REALLY AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

I HAVE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT TO DO THIS.

I'M 60 YEARS OLD, I HAVE THREE KIDS, AND I HAVE A GREAT WIFE AND I AM EXCITED TO TAKE THIS ON AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IS THINK THAT OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS THAT.

I THINK IT NEEDS MORE PEOPLE COMING IN.

AND YES, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO SAVE CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING BECAUSE THAT'S LEADING TO INFLATION.

AND THAT IS LEADING TO FAMILIES REALLY STRUGGLING.

>> GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS TONIGHT.

WE DO HAVE TIME NOW FOR FINAL REMARKS AND YOU BOTH HAVE TWO MINUTES AND WE START WITH Mr. LAZOR.

>> IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE THIS DISTRICT.

AND I AM PROVIDES TO HAVE DONE IT FOR 12 TERMS.

AND I ASK YOUR SUPPORT FOR 13TH TERM.

I ASK THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP THIS ECONOMY OUT IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS.

WHETHER IT IS THE F OS 35 OR WHETHER IT IS BABY FORMULAS.

WE HAVE SHOWN THAT WE CAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THIS GREAT NATION OF OURS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HELPING THE PEOPLE HERE AT HOME.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

I GO AROUND THIS DISTRICT AND LISTEN AND LEARN AND THEN TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPOSALS AND IDEAS, AND TURN THEM INTO ACTION.

WE HAVE GOT -- WE HAVE TAKEN ACTION, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN RESULTS FOR THIS DISTRICT.

I AM SO PROUD OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN MANUFACTURING AND DURING THE WORST ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN AEROSPACE HISTORY NOR HISTORY NE MACHINIST WAS LAID OFF BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER THE YEARS IN PROMOTING THE F-35.

I DID THAT BIPARTISANLY INCLUDING WHEN I WAS IN THE MINOR TY.

I WAS PROUD TO NOMINATE LIZ CHENEY FOR THE PROFILES IN COURAGE AWARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT SHE HAD THE GUTS AND GUMPTION TO STAND UP TO A PARTY.

BUT HER PARTY HAVE ABANDONED HER AND Mr. KISSINGER BECAUSE THEY ARE A PARTY OF EXTREME AND THAT PARTY OF EXTREME WANTS TO TAKE OVER THIS COUNTRY.

>> 30 SECONDS.

>> AND WE CANNOT STAND FOR THAT.

AMERICA HAS TO RISE UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WITNESSED AND SAW ON JANUARY 6, CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN OVER THE REIGNS OF GOVERNMENT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

JOHN KENNEDY SAID WE CAN YOU DIDN'T MAN ON THE MOON IN TEN YEARS AND WE DID FLIT NINE.

THAT'S AMERICA!

WE'RE AN AMERICA O ASPIRATION AND WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF US ARE TOO GREAT FOR US AND NOT TO PUT OUR BEST SHOT FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU.

Dr. LAZOR.

>> YES, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO PRESENT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOR FOR US TO ASK FOR BETTER, BORE GOVERNMENT.

PEOPLE ELECT CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR TWO YEARS FOR A REASON: THAT THEY RESPOND TO THE VOTERS.

THAT THEY ARE OUT THERE MEETING THEIR VOTERS AND THAT THEY ARE DEBATING.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT FOR REPRESENTATIVES, TO GET OUT AND REPRESENT YOU AND TO LISTEN TO YOUR IDEAS.

LOOK, CONNECTICUT IS A GREAT STATE.

AND WE HAVE GREAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FOR DEFENSE.

BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS HURTING.

FROM 2008 TO 2020, CONNECTICUT HAD THE WORST ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ANY STATE.

AND A UCONN PROFESSOR SAID NOT JUST LAST PLACE BUT DISTANT LAST PLACE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT SPENDING.

I AGREE THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO NOT DO IT EXCESSIVELY.

DURING COVID, A FAMILY OF FOUR IN 19 DEMOCRATS STATES GIVE THE EQUIVALENT OF 100,000 A YEAR NOT WORKING.

I SAW PEOPLE WHO HAD SMALL BUSINESSES THEM COULDN'T GET THEIR EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK.

THAT'S A DOUBLE NEGATIVE.

YOU HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN'T FUNCTION AND YOU HAVE GOVERNMENT PLAYING EXCESSIVE WAGES FOR PEOPLE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU LEAVE PEOPLE IN THE COLD.

I SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS THE BOTTOM 20% WITH GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES MAKE AS MUCH AS THE BOTTOM 40% WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE BUT WE NEED TO HAVE MOTIVATIONS TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

>> 30 SECONDS.

>> I LOVE THE INNER CITIES AND I LOVE HEALTHCARE.

INNER CITIES RIGHT NOW NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THEY ARE NOT PLACES OF OPTIMISM AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

WE NEED DO A LOT OF THINGS.

CRIME, WE NEED TO PROMOTE EARLY EDUCATION SO WHEN KIDS COME TO SCHOOL, THEY ARE READY PARTICULAR ENTRY INNER CITIES.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS.

I'M A WORKER.

I TEND TO DO A LOT OF PROJECTS AND GET THINGS DONE.

IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU AND, I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSION IN FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

>> GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING CONNECTICUT PUBLIC AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CONNECTICUT'S DEBATE SERIES.

DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL JUST YET.

CONNECTICUT PUBLIC'S FRANK IS STANDING BY WITH YOUR POST DEBATE COVERAGE.

ON THE NEXT DEBATE, IT WILL LAP THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CONNECTICUT'S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

Dr. BROWN-DEAN WILL BE YOUR HOST LIVE FROM NORWALK, COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE CANDIDATES, HEAD TO CTPUBLIC.ORG/VOTE.

I'M RAY HARDMAN.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

>> THANK YOU FORAY HARDMAN FOR MODERATING A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE INSIDE THE AUDITORIUM AT MANCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU TO RAY AND THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS AT CONNECTICUT PUBLIC FOR PUTTING ON TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

I'M FOR CONNECTICUT PUBLIC AND IN A MOMENT, I'LL BE JOINED BY RON NEWTON AND CTINSIDE IRTO BREAK DOWN THE DEBATE THAT WE JUST SAW BUT FIRST, I'LL TALK TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, REPRESENTING THE CANDIDATES TONIGHT THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH THEM THIS FALL TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES, AND TONIGHT THEY'LL TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW THEY THINK THE CANDIDATES FARED TONIGHT.

MY FIRST GUEST THE MAYOR OF MANCHESTER.

JAY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

NOT ONLY IS HE THE MAYOR OF MANCHESTER BUT YOU'RE A COLLEGE ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR AND WORKING A UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT.

IF THESE TWO WERE RUNNING A RACE AND OF COURSE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO JOHN LAZOR THE DEMOCRAT, HOW DO YOU THINK IF HE'S RUNNING THAT RACE HE FARED TONIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT'S FINISHED FIRST.

HE DID A GREAT JOB.

HAVING JOHN LAZOR ALWAYS LISTENS, HE RESPONDS TO HIS CITIZENS AND RESPONDS TO LOCAL LEADERS AND MUNICIPALITIES.

JOHN A LEADER.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS NO BETTER NUMBER ONE CHAMPION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY IN THERE THE COUNTRY THAN JOHN LAZOR.

AND JOHN IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP, TRYING TO TAKE ON INFLATION AND BRING DOWN HEALTHCARE COSTS ENERGY COSTS AND PROTECT AND EXPAND THAT SOCIAL SECURITY.

BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THE A.A.R.P.

A FUNDS.

IT WAS NOT 20 MILLION, 40 MILLION CAME TO THE TOWN OF MAN CHESTER TO HELP US TO DO SO MANY THINGS TO GET US RECOVERED.

>> JUST REALLY QUICKLY, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND MAYBE GET THAT WITH JOHN LAZOR IF HE WIN, WHAT KIND OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS DO YOU HAVE?

>> I THINK THAT HE'S -- WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT I THINK MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES JOHN WILL HELP US COMING OUT OF COVID WE NEED FEDERAL SUPPORT.

I THINK THE SCHOOLS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE SUPPORT AND THINK THAT I JOHN LAZOR WILL BE THERE AND ISSUES COME ALONG, THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON.

WHEN YOU PICK UP THE PHONE HE RETURNS YOUR CALL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR SOMEONE TO GO TO WASHINGTON.

NOT FORGET THE CONSTITUENT BACKS HOME.

JOHN LAZOR ALWAYS CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND REMEMBERS WHERE HE COMES FROM AND THERE IS NO BETTER FIGHTER FOR HIS DISTRICT THAN JOHN LAZOR IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE MAYOR OF MANCHESTER JOINING US TO AND ANOTHER GUEST JOINING ME RIGHT NOW.

A POLITICIAN AND YOU HAVE BEEN WALKING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TODAY TOGETHER IN CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AND NEWINGTON AND WEST HARTFORD AND I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU BOTH TOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU GUYS, YOU WORK IN SBA LOAN ADMINISTRATION.

I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK THAT WE GOT TO SEE LARRY LAZOR THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE GOT TO SEE THAT TONIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THINK WE GOT TO SEE LARRY LAZOR AND I UNDERSTAND HE'S FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT I WE NEED MORE DEBATES AND I THINK THAT, IF LARRY WAS ALLOWED THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO FOR US.

>> THE TWO OF YOU GUYS ARE RELATIVE NEWCOMERS TO POLITICS I WOULD SAY.

A YEAR YOURSELF AND ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO WE HAD LARRY LAZOR AND ANNOUNCE THAT HE WOULD BE IN THIS RACE.

THANK YOU PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW LARRY LAZOR TONIGHT?

>> YES.

LARRY LAZOR IS FOR THE PEOPLE AND WALKS THE STREET OF HARTFORD AND WEST HARTFORD AND INNER CITIE AND HE'S FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> ANASTACIA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND ON THAT LAST QUESTION, IT GOES TO ELECT ABILITY I WOULD SAY.

I WANT TO KNOW IF PEOPLE KNOW LARRY LAZOR AGAIN, A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO POLITICS, SO RONNIE NEWTON I HAVE TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW LARRY LAZOR TONIGHT?

>> >> RONNIE NEWTON ASKING YOU ONE MORE TIME, I WANT TO KNOW IF PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW LARRY LAZOR HERE INSIDE OF THE SBM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM?

>> (NO AUDIO).

>> I WANTED TO -- WE'RE TALKING WITH ANASTACIA ABOUT ELECTABILITY AND WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE KNOW LARRY LAZOREN DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW HIM TONIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE GOT TO KNOW HIM AND I THINK THAT, I HAVE A NOTE FROM A TEXT FROM SOMEBODY DURING THE DEBATE AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE SAID, HE SEEMS LIKE HE WAS HOLDING HIS OWN AND HAD GOOD IDEAS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THE ELECTION OUTCOME UNFORTUNATELY FOR DEMOCRACY DOESN'T HINGE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CANDIDATES.

IT HINGES ON HOW WELL-KNOWN THE NAME IS AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY.

HAVE AND IN THAT, WE DO NOT HAVE A BALANCED RACE HERE.

>> JOINING US NOW INSIDE OF THE SBM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM, I HAVE DAN.

TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT WHO IS THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR AT HURST CONNECTICUT MEDIA.

RONNIE NEWTON IS OVER THERE ON THE LEFT ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT.

THE MANAGING EDITOR AND OWNER AND A COUPLE OF INFLECTION POINTS TONIGHT BUT, WHEN WE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HIGHWAYS, TUNNELS, AND SPENDING, YOU SAW LARRY LAZOR GET TO -- HERE IS WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH THIS.

WE TALK A LOT IN RECENT YEARS ABOUT JOHN LAZOR'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE WHICH INCLUDES TREATING THIS BADLY CONGESTED AREA OF I-84 VIADUCT WITH A TUNNEL IN THAT AREA AND BURYING THAT PART.

AND THEN ALSO, PART OF I-91, WITH A TUNNEL ALONG THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.

SO, DID YOU GET A SENSE OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS COMINGEN.

>>> LARRY LAZOR IS SAYING HE DOESN'T THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IN THE YEAR OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> YEAH, Dr. LAZOR IS MAKING A TWIN CRITICISM HERE.

ON THE ONE HAND HE'S SAYING THAT JOHN LARSON AND THE DEMOCRATSING CONGRESSMAN LARSON AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY AND SPENDING MONEY EVERY TIME THAT CONGRESSMAN LARSON COMES TO THE DISTRICT WITH $10 MILLION HERE AND $10 MILLION THERE.

HE PLAYED A POINT IN THE DEBATE, TELL THEM ALSO THAT IT IS RAISING THEIR TAXES, INCREASING DEBT AND CAUSING INFLATION.

SO, S TO MAKE THAT POINT WHICH IS A STANDARD REPUBLICAN CRITICISM BUT IN RESPECT FOR THE TUNNEL WHICH COULD BE 40, 50, 60, 80 BILLION DOLLARS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE BIG DIG LOOK LIKE NEW PLUMBING, AND.

>> WE WERE TALKING 17, 25 BILLION AND YOU'RE SAYING WELL NORTH OF 40.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BURYING THE ENTIRE LAST TWO MILL MILES OF 84 AND GOING UNDER THE PARK.

UNDER HISTORIC PARK TO EAST HARTFORD AND REJOINING NEAR -- YOU'RE TALKING A GARGANTUAN PROGRAM.

HE'S SAYING THAT CAN'T HAPPEN AND BY FOCUS ON THAT YOU'RE TAKING YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES SO HE WAS BOTH CRITICIZING A HUM DRUM OF DAILY CONGRESSIONAL.

>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S PALPABLE IN THE DISTRICT.

PEOPLE MAY BE BEING NOT ONLY TIRED OF TRAFFIC ISSUES BUT MAYBE TIRED OF NOT SEEING AS MUCH ACTION ON THIS PLAN?

>> I THINK THAT, WHAT Dr. LAZOR WAS SAYING IS THAT, EVEN IN THE YEAR WHERE WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY AND SO MUCH FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR INFORMATION, PEOPLE REALLY AREN'T EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE TUNNEL AS BEING A VIABLE IDEA.

I HONESTLY HAVE NOT TALKED TO THAT MANY PEOPLE IN WEST HARTFORD AND I TALK TO PEOPLE IN WEST HARTFORD ALL THE TIME WHO NECESSARILY THINK THAT, THEY DEFINITELY THINK THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH HARTFORD BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE TUNNEL BEING AN IDEA THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE THROUGH THE TIME IT TAKESTOO BUILD A TUNNEL AND PLUS IT IS NOT GOING MAKE THAT MUCH OF A POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> HIGHWAY, TUNNELS AND SPENDING A BIG POINT WHERE THE TWO CANDIDATES SPARRED.

AND IN TERMS OF SPENDING, SOCIAL SECURITY.

BIG WAY THAT WE SAW THE TWO CANDIDATES COME TOGETHER TONIGHT.

I WANT TO ASK YOU FIRST, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY, AND PLANS LAID OUT, DO YOU THINK THAT Dr. LARRY LAZOR WAS ABLE TO LAYOUT A PLAN?

>> HE NEVER LAID OUT A SPECIFIC PLAN BUT WHAT HE SAID IS WE NEED TO DO IT MORE INTELLIGENTLY, THAN JOHN LAZOR AND JOHN LAZOR IS CORRECTLY CREDITED WITH PROPOSING THE BIG SOCIAL SECURITY 2100.

HE'S A SUCCESSOR TO HIS PREDECESSOR BAR WAS A BIG SOCIAL SECURITY ADVOCATE.

I GUESS IT GOES WITH THE CONNECTICUT FIRST DISTRICT I SUPPOSE.

BUT, HE'S OPPOSING THE -- HE'S SAYING THAT IT IS NOT PAID FOR WITH THE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUES.

THAT'S A MATTER OF DEBATE THESE THINGS ARE REALLY REALLY HARD TO SCORE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AND YOU SAY IS THIS PAID SENATOR IT IS A DYNAMIC MODEL BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE WHOLE ECONOMY.

AND HE'S SAYINGENDING BENEFITS AFTER FOUR YEARS IS NOT INTELLIGENCE TO DO AND B NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE BENEFITS WILL KEEP GOING UP.

>> BEFORE I GET YOUR COMMENT ON THIS, I WANTED TO SAY, LET MS.

EXPAND THIS FURTHER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REVAMPING SOCIAL SECURITY AND PLANS TO REVAMP FOR SENIOR CITIZENS BY BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS.

YOUR COMMENT ON?

>> I HAVE TO AGREE COMPLETE LIZ WITH WHAT DAN SAID.

I CAN'T SAY IT ANY MORE INTELLIGENTLY.

IT IS Dr. LAZOR DID NOT LAYOUT A SPECIFIC PLAN BUT HE SAID HE'S GOING TO END UP BEING TOO EXPENSIVE.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE TEMPORARY AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT WILL HAVE RESULTING TAB INCREASES.

>> THIS COULD BE THE LAST QUESTION WE HAVE BUT WE SAW FIRE WORKS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

THE OF COURSE ON SOCIAL SECURITY BUT, MORE THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF THE DEBATE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT ABORTION BUT THEN ENDED UP BEING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND SPENDING.

AND, IT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT AND HAD A BIT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT CRIME.

I'LL START FIRST WITH YOU, RONNIE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LARRY LAZOR TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE REFORMS SINCE GEORGE FLOYD DIED AND DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

HOW DO YOU THINK HE SCORED WHEN HE WAS TALKING THERE?

>> I THINK HIS IDEAS ARE PRETTY MAINSTREAM AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

THEY -- IF HE WERE TO BE ELECTED AND IF HE WERE TO TRY TO FORWARD THE IDEAS HE HAS, I THINK THAT HE WOULD RUN INTO OPPOSITION FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOING UP AGAINST.

SOME MAY AGREE THE IDEAS MAKE A LOT OF SENSE AND THE FIRST THING THAT'S SAID WHEN I MET HIM WAS THAT HE IS PRO-CHOICE, AND, HE'S IN FAVOR OF GUN CONTRO BUT THE PROBLEM IS, HE'S NOT NECESSARILY ALIGNED WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY.

>> AND JUST REALLY QUICKLY.

I GUESS THAT THIS WAS ABOUT CRIME.

I THOUGHT THE CANDIDATES WERE KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE IN TERMS OF THE TOPICS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUT IT SEEMED LIKE ELA LITERATURE WAS GETTING INTO IS THERE ABOUT CRIME.

HE'S ASSOCIATING LARRY LAZOR WITH REPUBLICANS THAT STORMED THE CAP TOOL OR AT LEAST REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAT STORMED THE CAPITOL JANUARY 6 OR MAYBE EXTREMISTS REPUBLICANS.

WHATEVER IT IS.

DO YOU THINK THAT HE WAS ABLE TO LAND THAT PUNCH OR THAT JAB THAT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE THERE AND ASSOCIATE THE TWO?

>> IN A GENERAL WAY, YES, BECAUSE WHAT HE IS SAYING IS, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE VOTERS OF THE CT1 DISTRICT TO SEND SOMEONE TO CONGRESS IN WHAT COULD BE KEVIN McCARTHY'S CAUCUS IF REPUBLICANS WIN AND HE BECOMES THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

AND SO, ANY DEMOCRAT, ANY REPUBLICAN IN THAT CAUCUS BECOME AS VOTE FOR THAT CAUCUS.

EVEN THOUGH LARRY LAZOR, HIS ARGUMENT IS I WILL BE A VOICE OF PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT WITHIN THAT CAUCUS.

THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT WITH GEORGE LOGAN HAYES, THE SAME DEBATE.

THE CORE ISSUE HERE, THE CLASH IS THAT, THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING ANY REPUBLICAN IS A REPUBLICAN AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING ANY DEMOCRAT IS A DEMOCRAT, SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT BUT ONLY SO LIMITED TIME.

AND THIS IS NOT THE LAST DEGATE A THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A DEBATE COMING UP THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00.

IT IS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT BETWEEN JAMES STEVENSON AND JIM HINES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CONNECTICUT PUBLIC.

FORAY HARDMAN, RONNIE NEWTON, I'M FRANKIE GRAZ I WANT ANO.

GOOD NIGHT FROM MANCHESTER.