GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE KTWU STUDIOS ON THE CAMPUS OF WASHBURN UNIVERSITY.

I'M VAL VANDERSLUIS, GENERAL MANAGER FOR KTWU AND I'M AMBERDICKINSON, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FOR WASHBURN UNIVERSITY.

KTWU AND THE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT ARE PROUD TO BRING THIS EVENING'S DEBATE FORUM TO YOU.

AS THE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION IN NORTHEAST KANSAS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT AS YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS AS AN INFORMED VOTER.

THE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT HAS A LONG TRADITION OF PROVIDING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN THE STUDY OF GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC POLICIES AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR, USING BOTH HUMANISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES AND SKILLS TO EXAMINE THE COUNTRIES AND REGIONS OF THE WORLD.

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PROVIDING A NEUTRAL GROUND FOR OPEN DISCUSSION IN POLITICS AND POLICIES AND CONDUCTING PUBLIC ISSUE FORMS LIKE THIS ONE.

NOW PLEASE STAY TUNED AS WE BRING YOU THE CANDIDATES VYING FOR A SEAT IN THE RACE FOR SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF KANSAS.

KTWU PUBLIC TELEVISION AND THE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PRESENT A POLITICAL FORUM FEATURING CANDIDATES FOR KANSAS SECOND DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE NOW PRESENT MODERATOR BOB BEATTIE.

HELLO I'M BOB BEATTIE.

THE KANSAS SECOND DISTRICT IS SPREAD OUT NORTH TO SOUTH AND EASTERN KANSAS, AND WAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THIS YEAR WHEN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE WAS REMOVED FROM THE DISTRICT AFTER THE 2020 CENSUS.

IT INCLUDES THE STATE CAPITAL OF TOPEKA.

THE SECOND DISTRICT HAS BEEN AROUND IN VARIOUS FORMS SINCE 1874.

IN THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN 18 REPUBLICANS AND NINE DEMOCRATS REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT.

OH, AND ONE POPULIST.

I'M SURE YOU ALL RECOGNIZE THE NAME MASON PETERS FROM 1897.

THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE IS REPUBLICAN JAKE LATURNER.

BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 2020.

HE WAS THE KANSAS STATE TREASURER AND ALSO SERVED IN THE KANSAS SENATE.

HIS CHALLENGER IS DEMOCRAT PATRICK SCHMIDT, HE SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ABOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN AND IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE NAVAL RESERVE.

THIS DEBATE IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT WASHBURN UNIVERSITY, AND THEY HAVE SELECTED THE TOPICS WILL ALSO BE TAKING QUESTIONS FROM OUR AUDIENCE AND FROM YOU.

ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

NOW CANDIDATES BY THE RULES OF THIS FORUM.

YOU'VE EACH BEEN GIVEN TWO MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENTS, AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER.

THANK YOU BOB.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT.

MY WIFE, SUZANNE AND I ARE RAISING OUR FOUR KIDS EVA, JOE, MAGGIE AND GUS HERE IN TOPEKA.

THIS IS A GREAT STATE AND A GREAT COUNTRY AND WE NEED POLICIES IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT REFLECT THAT.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE SERVED YOU IN WASHINGTON, DC FIGHTING AGAINST THE SPENDING OF TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY, THAT HAS CAUSED THIS 40 YEAR HIGH INFLATION.

FIGHTING TO SECURE OUR WIDE OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER THAT HAS RESULTED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL, KILLING HER YOUNG PEOPLE.

FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN'T DEFUNDED BUT HAS THE RESPECT IN THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME HAVE SEEN IS THAT IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THE ONE PARTY RULE IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT'S TIME TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK OUT OF THE DITCH AND BACK ON TRACK, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT.

MY OPPONENT TALKS A LOT, BUT WHAT HE REALLY WANTS IS TO KEEP US IN THE DITCH WITH THE SAME FAILED POLICIES WE'VE SEEN.

THIS YEAR, HE CALLED HER ECONOMY THE BEST SINCE RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT.

HE SUPPORTS OFFSHORING MORE MANUFACTURING TO CHINA.

SUPPORTS A $716 BILLION CUT TO MEDICARE WHEN OUR SENIORS NEEDED THE MOST, AND HE'S RUNNING UNSERIOUS CAMPAIGN, ACCUSING ME OF CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY, CLOSING HOSPITALS BANNING BIRTH CONTROL AND EVEN ACCUSED ME OF BEING A MOUTHPIECE FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED.

I'M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS TO BE A CHECK ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

I WANT TO STOP THIS OUT OF CONTROL GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND ACTUALLY PASSED LEGISLATION THAT SECURES OUR BORDER.

I WILL HAVE THE BACK OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO SAFEGUARD SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.

I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE BECAUSE MY KIDS, YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS DESERVE A STRONG, PROSPEROUS AND SAFE AMERICA.

WHERE EVERYONE STILL HAS A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

HI.

MY NAME IS PATRICK SCHMIDT.

I'M A 6TH GENERATION KANSAN.

MY DAD WAS A FARMER AND CUSTOM CUTTER FROM GOSSEL, KANSAS AND TAUGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN KANSAS FOR 50 YEARS.

MY MOM'S FAMILY SETTLED IN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN THE 1860s WORKING IN THE COAL MINES.

THE LAST SEVEN YEARS I'VE BEEN SERVING THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY, I WAS STATIONED ONBOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN WITH JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK FORCE ARABIAN PENINSULA.

AND THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE AND I NOW SERVE IN THE NAVAL RESERVES.

I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT KANSAS IN OUR COUNTRY.

MY DAD STARTED WORKING AS SOON AS YOU CAN SEE OVER THE DASH OF A COMBINE, WORKING HIS WAY UP IN THE COMBINE AND THE FAMILY FARM AND HARVESTING FROM CANADA TO TEXAS.

HE FOLLOWED HIS PASSION FOR TEACHING AND REMAINED IN THE CLASSROOM FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND TAUGHT UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED, BUT THEY WEREN'T EASY YEARS.

WHEN JAKE AND HIS MENTOR, SAM BROWNBACK, BANKRUPTED KANSAS WITH THEIR FAILED EXPERIMENT, SCHOOL TEACHERS LIKE MY PARENTS BORE THE BRUNT OF THAT FALLOUT.

WHEN MY DAD WAS RAVAGED BY HEART DISEASE AND COPD, JAKE AND HIS FRIEND SAM BROWNBACK SLASHED SCHOOL FUNDING, CRIPPLING KANSAS FAMILIES WHO WANTED TO TEACH DESPITE THEIR DWINDLING SALARIES.

MY DAD HAD TO DECIDE BETWEEN RAISING HIS FAMILY OR TAKING THE EXPENSIVE MEDICINE HE NEEDED TO STAY ALIVE.

IT MEANT HE COULDN'T RAISE TWO SONS AND AFFORD HIS OWN HOME.

IT MEANT HE CHOSE NOT TO TAKE SOME DRUGS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD THEM.

AND IN THE LAST WEEKS OF HIS LIFE, MOSTLY SPENT ON A BREATHING MACHINE IN A HOSPITAL.

HIS ONE CONCERN WAS HOW MUCH THAT TREATMENT WOULD COST.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET JAKE TO CONTINUE EXPERIMENTING WITH OUR LIVES AND OUR LIVELIHOODS.

WE CAN'T LET HIM AND HIS ALLIES EXPERIMENT AND END SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE AND WE CERTAINLY CAN SEE FROM HIS PAST VOTES, WE CANNOT TRUST HIM WITH OUR RIGHTS AND OUR FUTURE.

KANSAS NEEDS A REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL WORK FOR EVERYONE, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM AND IF ELECTED TO SERVE IN THIS OFFICE FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT, I WILL PRIORITIZE THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP KANSAS THE MOST.

UNLIKE JAKE, I WILL PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE WORK TO STRENGTHEN OUR RURAL HOSPITALS, LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES AND WORK WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

REBUILD OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SO THAT EVERY KANSAN CAN COMPETE.

ALRIGHT LET'S GET TO THE QUESTIONS RIGHT AWAY.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

139 HOUSE MEMBERS, INCLUDING MR LATURNER DID NOT VOTE TO CERTIFY DID NOT VOTE FOR CERTIFICATION OF FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS.

SO, MR LATURNER, DO YOU STAND BY THAT VOTE, AND MR SCHMIDT, HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER.

SO JOE BIDEN IS THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE VOTE TO NOT CERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS IN SOME STATES WAS ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING WHAT SOME GOVERNORS AND SECRETARY SECRETARIES OF STATE HAVE DONE, WHICH WAS UNILATERALLY CHANGE ELECTION LAWS.

THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THAT IS UP TO STATE LEGISLATORS, AND I THINK IT WAS TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

WHAT DOESN'T GET DISCUSSED IN THIS, UH IN THIS IS THAT EVERY TIME A REPUBLICAN HAS WON THE PRESIDENCY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, DEMOCRATS HAVE OBJECTED TO IT IN THE HOUSE.

UM WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AS IT RELATES TO OUR ELECTION LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATES GET TO MAKE THE DECISIONS WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN WASHINGTON DC FROM NANCY PELOSI, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND CHUCK SCHUMER IN THE SENATE.

IS THEY WANT A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF OUR ELECTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT HR1 IS ALL ABOUT.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE VOTER ID LAWS.

THEY WANTED TO APPOINT AN ELECTION CZAR.

THAT IS THE WRONG WAY FOR US TO GO.

I WANT STRONG ELECTION LAWS, AND I WANT KANSAS TO GET TO DECIDE THAT.

THINGS LIKE VOTER ID IS COMMON SENSE AND WE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THAT IF YOU WANT TO GET A HOTEL ROOM IF YOU WANT TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE, IF YOU WANT TO RENT A CAR, YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR ID.

YOU STILL SHOULD HAVE TO DO THAT TO EXERCISE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE.

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE MY OPPONENT IN THE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON, D. C. ONE OF FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF OUR ELECTIONS.

PATRICK SCHMIDT, FIRST OFF, OF COURSE, I WOULD HAVE VOTED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

MY OPPONENT, JAKE LATURNER IS LYING.

HE RAN AND HID WHEN THE CAPITAL WAS ATTACKED WHEN POLICE OFFICERS WERE GETTING THE "EXPLETIVE" BEAT OUT OF THEM WITH LEAD PIPES AND AMERICAN FLAGS, AND THEN HE GAVE THE CRIMINALS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED.

FOR NO REASON WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, HE VOTED TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS IN THREE STATES.

AND IN HIS FIRST DAYS ON THE JOB AS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS DISTRICT, JAKE LATURNERS NEW FRIENDS IN CONGRESS REQUESTED A PARDON FROM HIM FROM THE PRESIDENT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'VE NEVER NEEDED A PARDON IN A JOB I'VE BEEN ON IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, BEING A PART OF A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND IT WAS A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.

THE FIRST FAILED PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

THAT'S A RECORD THAT I UNDERSTAND JAKE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

WE NEED TO HOLD THE CRIMINALS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARCHITECTED THAT ATTACK TO ACCOUNT AND INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF DENOUNCING WHAT HAPPENED, JAKE CONTINUE TO SEEK THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PORN STAR PRESIDENT THAT LED THAT ATTACK, AND IT'S TRYING TO DO IT AGAIN.SUPPORTING CANDIDATES THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS BOTH IN 2022 AND 2024.

I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

I THINK IT'S DANGEROUS, AND I THINK IT'S BAD FOR KANSAS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S NOT WHY I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

SO THIS IS A RELATED QUESTION, BUT IT'S NOT A FOLLOW UP EACH GET A MINUTE AND A HALF ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, THE HOUSE PASSED THE ELECTORAL COUNT REFORM ACT.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS HAS A SIMILAR SENATE BILL WHICH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DOES IS IT CLARIFIES THE MINISTERIAL ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.

IT CUTS DOWN ON FRIVOLOUS OBJECTIONS TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND IT STRIKES IN 1845 LAW THAT MIGHT BE USED BY STATE LEGISLATURES TO OVERRIDE THEIR POPULAR VOTE.

SO MY QUESTION FOR THE DO CANDIDATES IS DO YOU SUPPORT THE SENATE VERSION OF THE ELECTORAL COUNT REFORM ACT AND WE START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

I WILL SUPPORT ANY LEGISLATION THAT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN ALL 50 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, AS IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THIS BILL, BUT CERTAINLY WE KNOW GIVEN THAT REPUBLICANS RUNNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OR CAMPAIGNING ON PREVENTING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, BOTH IN 2022 AND 2024.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP THESE CRIMINALS FROM DOING IT AGAIN.

MY OPPONENT SUPPORTS OVERTURNING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

IT WAS THE VERY FIRST VOTE THAT HE TOOK AND NOW IN THIS SEAT IS PROMISED TO TRY AND AGAIN OVERRIDE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

ON AUGUST 2ND KANSAN SPOKE LOUDLY AND CLEARLY REJECTING AN ABORTION BAN IN KANSAS AND THE SECOND DISTRICT BY 18 POINTS.

MY OPPONENT, JAKE LATURNER, SUPPORTS A FULL FEDERAL ABORTION BAN.

HE SUPPORTED THOSE PEOPLE TRYING TO BAN ABORTION IN KANSAS GAVE THEM $100,000 WAS ONE OF THE VERY BIGGEST DONORS TO THE TO THAT BAN CAMPAIGN IN KANSAS AND NOW IS THE SIGNATORY TO EVERY SINGLE FEDERAL BAN IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING IN HIS BUDGET THAT HE WANTS TO ENACT IN 2023.

SO YES, I THINK WE NEED SOMEONE IN THIS OFFICE THAT WILL RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND PRESERVE DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.

JAKE LATURNER.

UH THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN MY OPENING.

IT'S A WE SHOULD ALL BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE THINGS THAT WE SAY .

I THINK MY OPPONENT TRIED TO CONNECT ME TO CRIMINAL CONSPIRACIES AND SEEKING A PARDON, WHICH JUST FLAT OUT IS NOT TRUE.

WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH IS HORRIFIC.

I WAS THERE THAT DAY WITH MY WIFE AND FOUR KIDS.

WHAT I HAVE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ON THE DAY IS THAT THIS CANNOT TAKE PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT BROKE THE LAW THAT DAY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT LEADERSHIP THAT DIDN'T PROTECT THE CAPITAL BUILDING THAT DAY IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEACEFULLY OBJECTING AS DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE AS I MENTIONED IN EVERY TIME REPUBLICAN WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6TH THAT WAS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE.

WHAT I HOPE FOR TONIGHT.

IS THAT WE CAN STICK TO POLICY DISCUSSIONS, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK THE PEOPLE OF THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DESERVE AND NOT RESORT TO SAYING ANYTHING THAT COMES INTO OUR MIND JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

THANK YOU.

WELL THIS QUESTION WAS ACTUALLY FARTHER DOWN IN THE PILE, BUT MR SCHMIDT MENTIONED IT SO WE MAY AS WELL GET TO IT.

ON AUGUST 2ND, KANSAS VOTERS VOTED TO KEEP ABORTION AS A RIGHT IN THE KANSAS CONSTITUTION BY A PRETTY WIDE MARGIN, ALMOST 20 POINTS, SO THE QUESTION IS, IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT QUESTION THAT KANSAS VOTERS VOTED ON AND NUMBER TWO, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION IN CONGRESS IF YOU ARE ELECTED FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT?

AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER I'M PRO LIFE.

I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

I WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRO LIFE.

AND WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS WHAT I THINK MOST KANSANS AGREE ON, WHICH IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE COMMON SENSE PROVISION IN OUR LAW LIKE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION IF A MINOR WANTS TO SEEK AN ABORTION I THINK MOST KANSANS AGREE WITH THAT.

WHAT'S REALLY RADICAL IN THIS DEBATE IS WHAT MY OPPONENT SUPPORTS.

AND WHAT DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL SUPPORT, WHICH IS ABORTION, UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH FOR ANY REASON.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT ALLOW ABORTIONS AFTER 20 WEEKS.

AMONG THOSE COUNTRIES ARE CHINA AND NORTH KOREA.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE ON THAT LIST.

WE NEED COMMON SENSE PROVISIONS.

NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION, AND WE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ABORTION LIKE MY OPPONENT WANTS FOR ANY REASON UP UNTIL THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE MOST KANSANS ARE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IN CONGRESS.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO ON AUGUST 2ND KANSANS SPOKE LOUDLY AND CLEARLY BY 18% AND 18% IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

THEY REJECTED AN EXTREME ABORTION BAN IN KANSAS, WHICH WOULD HAVE BROUGHT US MORE SITUATIONS LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN OHIO, WHERE A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL, A VICTIM OF VIOLENT RAPE, WAS GOING TO BE FORCED TO CARRY THAT PREGNANCY TO TERM WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR HER LIFE OR SAFETY.

FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH BY THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

AND WE DON'T WANT THAT IN KANSAS.

MY OPPONENT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS OF THAT ABORTION BAN IN KANSAS.

HE STATES THAT BANNING ABORTION IS WHY HE ENTERED POLITICS NOT TO HELP PEOPLE BUT TO BAN ABORTIONS.

THAT'S WHY HE GAVE THAT CAMPAIGN $100,000 AND WAS ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST DONORS.

AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW HIS EXTREMISM DOESN'T STOP THERE.

HE IS A SIGNATORY TO EVERY FEDERAL BAN AND ABORTION AND IN HIS BUDGET, HIS STUDY CLUB BUDGET SUPPORTS EVERY SINGLE FEDERAL BAN THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BAN EVEN IN CASES OF THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AND IS SO EXTREME THAT ON JULY 21ST HE VOTED NO ON HR 8373.

HE VOTED TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION.

I DON'T WANT TO BE WHERE WE WERE BEFORE 1972 WHERE WE DON'T HAVE FAIR AND LEGAL ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS, AND I THINK THAT'S WAY TOO EXTREME FOR KANSAS.

THANK YOU.

AND NO MEANS NO.

OKAY.

SORRY THANK YOU.

WE'RE GONNA HEAD INTO FOREIGN POLICY.

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE TO BE HONEST AS WE STAND HERE THAT THERE'S PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.

BEING BOMBARDED, BUT THAT'S THE CASE.

ON FEBRUARY, 24TH RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, AND THE QUESTION IS, IS THE UNITED STATES DOING TOO LITTLE?

ARE TOO MUCH TO SUPPORT UKRAINE?

OR I GUESS I SHOULD ADD JUST ENOUGH.

WE START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

I'M A NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER I SPENT TWO YEARS ON BOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND SOUTH CHINA SEA.

I SUPPORTED SPECIAL FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WORKING TO COUNTER IRAN'S SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM AND THEIR THREAT TO OUR ALLIES.

AND THEN SERVED IN THE OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE WHERE I WORKED ON ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT'S AND INCLUDING RUSSIA.

WE ARE BEING CHALLENGED ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE EASTERN EUROPE.

AND IN THE PACIFIC IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER SERVED IN PERSHING'S ARMY.

MY GRANDFATHER FLEW IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN WORLD WAR TWO AND WE CAN WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM, FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY ON THE FRONT LINES.

AND THE FIRST THE FIRST WAR WE HAVE SEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR.

MY OPPONENT HIS PLAN, THEIR PLAN IN CONGRESS IS TO SACRIFICE UKRAINE TO RUSSIA.

THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASPIRING SPEAKER WANTS TO DO.

HE SAID IT VERY PUBLICLY TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

AND I SAID, I THINK IT SENDS THE EXACT WRONG MESSAGE TO OUR ALLIES.

THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THAT JAKE SUPPORTS WHO IS A COMMUNIST SYMPATHIZER.

THEIR LEADER IS A COMMUNIST SYMPATHIZER THAT WANTS TO CUT SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE FIGHTING RUSSIA AND I THINK THAT'S BAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING FROM IRAN FROM CHINA FROM NORTH KOREA THAT THE UNITED STATES STANDS FIRM AGAINST TYRANTS.

JAKE TURNER.

HERE HE GOES AGAIN.

LET ME BACK UP.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT UKRAINE, BUT QUICKLY LET ME ADDRESS THE PREVIOUS QUESTION WHERE MY OPPONENT SAID THAT I VOTED TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

THERE WAS NOT A VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, NOT ONE TIME TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

I SUPPORT ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.

THE BILL THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WAS A BILL THAT NANCY PELOSI PUT ON THE FLOOR.

THAT DID NOT REQUIRE ALL BIRTH CONTROL TO BE APPROVED BY THE FDA.

IT WASN'T SAFE.

I SUPPORTED ALTERNATIVE BILL THAT GUARANTEED ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.

I WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN THAT POSITION.

NOW UNDER UKRAINE.

AGAIN, MY OPPONENT SAYS THAT WE WANT TO SACRIFICE UKRAINE TO RUSSIA.

ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

I'VE BEEN OVER THERE.

I'VE BEEN TO MOLDOVA AND POLAND AND ROMANIA.

I'VE SEEN THE TERRIBLE TOLL THIS HAS TAKEN ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THIS UNPROVOKED EVIL ATTACK FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN.

I VOTED FOR $40 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR NOT ONLY HUMANITARIAN AID, BUT FOR LETHAL WEAPONS TO HELP THE UKRAINIANS FIGHT THIS WAR AND TO WIN IT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STOP VLADIMIR PUTIN WHERE HE IS HE FIRST WE HAD GEORGIA AND THEN CRIMEA AND NOW UKRAINE.

HE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL HE INVADES A NATO COUNTRY AND THEN WE ARE AT WAR.

THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS TO CONTINUE TO SPORTING UKRAINE.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I STOOD UP TOO MANY IN MY OWN PARTY TO SUPPORT THE $40BILLION IN FUNDING TO UKRAINE BECAUSE IT IS IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST TO DEFEAT VLADIMIR PUTIN.

I'M GOING TO CALL THIS A FOLLOW UP BECAUSE IT'S FOREIGN POLICY, SO YOU'LL EACH GET A MINUTE.

AND SO MY QUESTION IS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RUSSIA AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT RUSSIA IF YOU'D LIKE.

BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST THREATS, MAYBE ALONG WITH RUSSIA TO THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY, PATRICK SCHMIDT.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT OUR ENEMIES CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE LOOKING TO EXPLOIT THE OPENINGS WE HAVE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

AND THE EXTREMISM THE VIOLENT RHETORIC THAT JAKE AND HIS PARTY SUPPORT PROPAGATE HAVE LED TO VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY'VE GIVEN AN OPENING TO OUR ENEMIES TO FURTHER HURT US.

UM YOU KNOW, JAKE'S BEEN ON A FIELD TRIP TO EASTERN EUROPE.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I'VE SERVED IN UNIFORM.

I'VE SERVED DOWNRANGE.

I'VE SERVED ON BOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN SERVED IN MIDDLE EAST I PUT TARGETS ON IRANIANS BECAUSE OF THE THREAT THEY POSE TO US AND OUR ALLIES.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING CHINA OUR BIGGEST OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT CHALLENGE STARTS AT HOME.

THE HIGGINS BOATS THAT WENT OVER THE BEACH ON D DAY WERE MADE BY AMERICANS.

THEY WERE MADE BY AMERICAN WORKERS.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT AMERICAN FAMILIES.

WE NEED TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN FIGHT CHINA.

JAKE LATURNER.

CHINA IS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN.

CHINA IS BEEN INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES WITH THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE, WHICH IS GETTING THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES ON THE HOOK FOR THEM FUNDING THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 10 LARGEST PORTS ACROSS THE WORLD, THEY OWN SEVEN OF THEM.

THEY ARE INFILTRATING OUR TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THINGS THAT AREN'T CLASSIFIED, BUT IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE AND WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO DO THAT IS CLOSEST TO WHERE OUR NUCLEAR FACILITIES ARE.

CHINA IS AN ENORMOUS THREAT, AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP TO THEM AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW.

CHINA IS THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS OVER THE NEXT CENTURY, AND THE UNITED STATES HAS TO HAVE THE WILL THE DETERMINATION THE SERIOUSNESS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING MORE OF OUR MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

MY OPPONENT ON THE OTHER HAND SUPPORT SENDING MORE MANUFACTURING TO CHINA.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW.

WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MAKE KEY INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.

ALRIGHT WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE ECONOMY.

AND IN 1979 THE TOP SONGS WERE HOT STUFF BY DONNA SUMMER.

YMCA BY THE VILLAGE PEOPLE AND THE SONG WE WOULD ALL AWKWARDLY SLOW DANCE TO IN JUNIOR HIGH CALLED REUNITED BY PEACHES AND HERB.

BUT 1979 WASN'T ALL OF THAT, IT WAS ALSO FEATURED 11% INFLATION, AND THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD 9% INFLATION.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT A CONGRESS PERSON CAN DO WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO ABOUT INFLATION, OR IS IT JUST LEFT UP TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER?

THERE ABSOLUTELY IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS.

WHAT WE SAW THIS LAST TWO YEARS IN CONGRESS HAS HURT THE ECONOMY.

YOU MENTIONED BOB INFLATION AT 9% WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF RECESSION.

WHEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WHICH IS JOE BIDEN AND NANCY PELOSI'S BIG GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILL WAS ON THE FLOOR YOU HAD DEMOCRAT LEFT WING ECONOMISTS SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE INFLATION IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

THEN AFTER THEY PASSED THAT THEY CAME UP WITH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WHICH NO ONE IS FEELING THE IMPACT OF IN A POSITIVE WAY.

IT HURT THE ECONOMY EVEN MORE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE STOP THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SPENDING.

WE NEED TO CUT GOVERNMENT WASTE, AND WE NEED TO BRING INFLATION DOWN.

MY OPPONENT AND I HAVE A BIG DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THIS.

HE CALLED THE ECONOMY, THIS YEAR, HE CALLED THE ECONOMY THE BEST IT'S BEEN SINCE RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT IN 1984.

THAT'S SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM.

HE HAS SAID PUBLICLY THAT HE SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

KANSANS ARE HURTING.

THEY'RE SITTING AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE, WONDERING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

WHEN THEY GO TO THE GROCERY STORE IT COSTS MORE.

WHEN THEY GO FILL UP AT THE PUMP IT COSTS MORE.

CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS CUT GOVERNMENT WASTE BRING DOWN INFLATION.

BRING BACK AMERICAN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE SO THAT KANSANS CAN EXPERIENCE SOME RELIEF.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

WELL FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THESE CHALLENGES FIRSTHAND WHEN JAKE BANKRUPTED KANSAS.

WORKING WITH HIS FRIEND SAM BROWNBACK, BROWNBACK, FIRST IN THE STATE SENATE AND THEN IN THE IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

IT HURT MY FAMILY.

MY DAD CHOSE TO NOT TAKE DRUGS.

HE NEEDED THINGS LIKE BLOOD THINNERS BECAUSE THEY COST $300, $400, $500.

AND AT HIS PEAK, HE WAS TAKING 25 PRESCRIPTIONS.

THAT'S A CHALLENGE, AND THAT'S HURTING FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE, AND JAKE MADE THAT PROBLEM WORSE.

HE VOTED TO RAISE TAXES AND KANSAS TO BE THE HIGHEST SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY VOTED TO RAISE THE SALES TAX BOWED TO RAISE THE FOOD TEXT EVERY CHANCE HE HAD SO HE COULD GIVE TAX CUTS TO HIS FRIENDS AND DONORS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID AND TOPEKA , AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DONE IN WASHINGTON.

WE NEED A TAX CUT FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT JAKE VOTED AGAINST FIRST IN TOPEKA, THEN WASHINGTON.

WE NEED TO MAKE THEM REFUNDABLE BECAUSE THEY LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

THEY HELPED THEM GET TO WORK.

HE VOTED TO BLOCK MEDICAID EXPANSION SUPPORTED BY 80% OF KANSAS, THAT WOULD THAT HAS BEEN LOSING KANSAS OVER A BILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING BACK FROM WASHINGTON.

SO JAKE, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, LOOK, MY MOM IN THE EYE AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE ECONOMY AND LET'S TRUST THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, BECAME PRIME MINISTER AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT TAX CUTS.

SO AS SHE DIDN'T LAST AS PRIME MINISTER, BECAUSE THE MARKETS DID NOT LIKE THAT IDEA, SO MY QUESTION IS, I SEE A LOT OF TV ADS ACTUALLY FROM BOTH PARTIES ABOUT TAX CUTS.

IS IT POSSIBLE IN AN INFLATIONARY TIME TO ACTUALLY HAVE TAX CUTS?

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP EACH GET A MINUTE.

WE'LL START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO WHAT WE SAW IN ENGLAND WAS ACTUALLY I THINK VERY FAMILIAR TO KANSAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE LATURNER, BROWNBACK PLAN THAT BANKRUPTED KANSAS WHEN JAKE WAS IN THE STATE SENATE AND STATE TREASURER KANSAS MISSED DEBT PAYMENTS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE BOND MARKET FORCED UPON ENGLAND AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, AS A AS A KANSAN, I DON'T I DON'T GET TO NOT PAY MY DEBT.

I HAVE TO PAY MY CREDIT CARD.

I HAVE TO PAY ANY ANY LOANS THAT I HAVE.

BUT JAKE'S PLAN HE WANTS TO PAY.

HE WANTS TO FORCE TAX CUTS TO PROVIDE TAX CUTS FOR THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE LIKE THE KOCHS PEOPLE LIKE JEFF BEZOS THAT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO TO THE MOON.

BUT STILL NEED A TAX CUT.

I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING.

I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO FAMILIES WITH KIDS SO THEY CAN GET THROUGH THIS PERIOD AND ALSO NOT PROVIDE FALSE SOLUTIONS LIKE ENDING AID TO UKRAINE, SO WE CAN SO WE CAN MAYBE GET A HANDLE ON INFLATION.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT UKRAINE AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THAT ARE WORKING FOR A LIVING.

JAKE LATURNER ONCE AGAIN SADLY, MY OPPONENT IS CHOOSING TO TELL THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE OR AT THE VERY BEST DECEPTIVE.

KANSANS UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CHOICE IN THIS ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING OUT THERE.

INFLATION IS THAT A 40 YEAR HIGH.

AND PEOPLE KNOW WHY.

IT'S BECAUSE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON DC HAVE SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT THAT IT CAUSED INFLATION.

LOOK UP LARRY SUMMERS AND SEE WHAT HE TOLD THE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON, DC.

A LEFT WING, ECONOMIST SAID YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE INFLATION.

THEY SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

IN MY OPPONENT STILL SAYS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PASSED THOSE THINGS.

HE'S SAYING THAT HE WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THOSE THINGS.

THIS ELECTION IS A CLEAR CHOICE.

YOU CAN STAY IN THE DITCH WITH THESE CURRENT POLICIES THAT WERE ON OR WE CAN GET BACK ON TRACK CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STOP SPENDING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENERGY INDEPENDENT ONCE AGAIN GET THIS ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.

WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND THE AUDIENCE.

I'LL START OFF WITH ONE OF THEM, COMBINING ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.

SEVERAL RECENT POLLS SHOW KANSANS SUPPORTING LEGALIZING AT LEAST AT LEAST MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THE MOST RECENT POLL HAD 61% IN FAVOR.

SO TO BOTH CANDIDATES DO YOU SUPPORT GETTING RID OF THE FEDERAL LAW THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO POSSESS CANNABIS EVEN FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, AND WE'RE BACK TO OUR ORDER NOW AND IT'S PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS THAT CAME BACK FROM THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AND KANSANS THAT SERVE THAT WE HAVE IN TOPEKA THAT WE HAVE IN LEAVENWORTH THAT WE HAVE IN IN SHAWNEE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE IN AROUND THE BIG RED ONE.

THAT HAVE PROBLEMS AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THERE ARE THINGS LIKE CANNABIS THINGS LIKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT WOULD HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE PAIN, THE TRAUMA THEY ARE SUFFERING WITH.

THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF DRUGS LIKE OXYCONTIN AND OTHER OPIOIDS.

MY GRANDMOTHER SHE WAS ON OXYCONTIN.

I DON'T KNOW MOM FOR HOW MANY YEARS AND WE KNOW THAT SHE FELL.

WE KNOW THAT SHE HAD COMPLICATIONS.

THAT REALLY HURT HER.

THAT REALLY HURT HER QUALITY OF LIFE.

THAT THAT CAUSED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF FOR VETERANS, MUCH NEEDED RELIEF FOR SENIORS, AND FRANKLY, IT'S PROBABLY A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN A IN A DISTRICT THAT HAS AS MANY VETERANS IN A DISTRICT THAT HAS AS MANY SENIORS.

AND ALSO IN A DISTRICT WHERE THE INCUMBENT IN THIS OFFICE, JAKE LATURNER HAS SOUGHT TO CLOSE HOSPITALS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN LEAVENWORTH AND BROWN COUNTY AND LABETTE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

AND THAT CAN GET THAT RELIEF ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE A TRIP TO A DOCTOR THAT'S FAR AWAY.

JAKE LATURNER.

STATES ARE MAKING THE DECISION ON THIS.

WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IN COLORADO.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN OKLAHOMA.

MISSOURI HAS IT ON THE BALLOT.

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH STATES MAKING THE DECISIONS.

THEY'RE DISCUSSING IT IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE THIS LAST YEAR, AND THEY WILL BE THIS NEXT YEAR AND COME TO A CONCLUSION THROUGH THE PEOPLE'S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

WHAT I HAVE DONE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS SUPPORT THE SAFE BANKING ACT, WHICH ALLOWS THE STATES TO USE OUR BANKING SYSTEM, WHICH MAKES THE PROCESS MUCH, MUCH SAFER.

MY OPPONENT MENTIONED OPIOIDS AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.

I TALKED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH OPIOIDS.

THEY ARE DEALING ESPECIALLY WITH FENTANYL THAT IS FLYING ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL HAVEN'T BEEN WILLING TO SECURE THE BORDER.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF AMERICANS AGES 18 TO 45.

300 AMERICANS A DAY DIE FROM FENTYNAL OVERDOSES.

HERE IN KANSAS WE'VE HAD A TODDLER RECENTLY OVERDOSED ON FENTANYL.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

MY OPPONENT HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS.

TRYING TO GET HIM TO SAY WHAT HIS POLICY WAS ON IS ON THE BORDER IS LIKE TRYING TO NAIL JELLO TO THE WALL.

HE HAS NO PLAN.

HE WILL NOT SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE BIDEN MINISTRATION.

WE NEED TO SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT THE BORDER PATROL NEEDS TO DO THEIR JOB SO WE CAN STOP THIS ON ONSLAUGHT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN KANSAS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I'M GONNA RESPOND TO THAT COUNTIES THAT HAVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN KANSAS TO STOP COUNTIES WHERE JAKE HAS CLOSED THE MOST HOSPITAL STOP COUNTY, LOUBET, BROWN, MONTGOMERY, LEAVENWORTH.

ALRIGHT I'D SAY THAT'S ABOUT 15 SECONDS.

WE'LL GET TURNER MY OPPONENT AGAIN IS SHOUTING THINGS THAT AGAIN ARE NOT TRUE AND ISN'T ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE, WHICH IS THE OPEN BORDER THAT WE HAVE WITH MEXICO.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS NOT PARTISAN.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND MY OPPONENT SHOULD COME CLEAN WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT AND SAY WHAT HIS POSITION IS.

I GOT AN AUDIENCE QUESTION.

I DO.

I DO BELIEVE IT DESERVES AN ENTIRE MINUTE AND A HALF FROM EACH OF YOU THAT THE TOPIC OF OPIOID.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS EAGER TO STOP YOU SO THAT FROM THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE QUESTION THAT SAYS DRUG OVERDOSES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

AS WE'VE HEARD FOR AMERICANS 19 TO 49 IN MY NOTES, I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE CDC FROM 2021 OF NOVEMBER THAT SAYS, QUOTE, DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS AND US TOP 100,000 ANNUALLY.

IN THOSE 12 MONTHS, SO LET'S LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS, AND I WOULD MAYBE ENCOURAGE BOTH OF YOU TO TALK, NOT JUST ABOUT THE BORDER, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN 100,000 PEOPLE ARE DYING ANNUALLY OF THIS AND ACTUALLY, ACCORDING TO THE RULES HERE, IT'S JAKE LATURNER'S FIRST OFF.

100,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.

THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF AMERICANS AGES 18 TO 45.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

I RECENTLY HAD A ROUND TABLE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SHERIFFS FROM COUNTIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THEY ALL SAID.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND WE'RE NOT RECEIVING THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

OPIOIDS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE WIDE OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER.

THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I'M ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.

I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE MULTIPLE TIMES.

I'VE TALKED TO THE BORDER PATROL AGENTS.

I SEE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY FACE.

WE NEED TO SECURE THE BORDER.

WE NEED TO GIVE THE TO PATROL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB AND MY OPPONENT NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HIS POSITION ACTUALLY IS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CRIME.

AGAIN SOMETHING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DEALING WITH ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

CRIME IS ON THE RISE.

WHAT I SUPPORT IS PUTTING 200,000 MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET THROUGH SIGN ON BONUSES AND INCENTIVE BONUSES.

THE WAY POLICE HAVE BEEN DEMONIZED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE NEARING RETIREMENT.

THEY TAKE IT THE SECOND THEY CAN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TELL ME IN THIS DISTRICT THAT IS HARD TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO GO INTO THIS PROFESSION.

WE'VE HAD NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, STATE DEMOCRATS AND LOCAL DEMOCRATS TRYING TO DEFUND THE POLICE TRYING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF BAD ACTORS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PAINT THE ENTIRE PROFESSION WITH THIS BROAD BRUSH.

LAW ENFORCEMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE DOING A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

THEY DESERVE OUR RESPECT, AND THEY DESERVE THE RESOURCES THAT IT TAKES TO DO THEIR JOB.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

UNLIKE JAKE, THAT PEOPLE START GETTING HOOKED ON OPIOIDS.

THEY TURN TO FENTANYL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CARE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL OR THE COUNTIES WHERE JAKE CLOSED HOSPITALS IN THE STATE SENATE TO PAY FOR TAX CUTS FOR THE COAST.

THAT'S BROWN COUNTY.

THAT'S BOURBON.

THAT'S LABETTE.

THAT'S MONTGOMERY.

THAT'S LEAVENWORTH.

AND THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN CRAWFORD.

AND WHEN, WHEN JAKE CLOSES THOSE HOSPITALS WHEN HE BLOCKS MEDICAID EXPANSION, HE BLOCKS TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS.

HE BLOCKS PEOPLE WITH THAT NEED MENTAL TREATMENT.

AND IF YOU ACTUALLY KNOCK ON THE DOORS OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, WHICH JAKE HASN'T I'M NOT SURE THAT HE EVER HAS.

I KNOW HE HASN'T IN THIS CYCLE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST WITH CRIME AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THEY ALSO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT EVERY DOOR I KNOCKED IN GATEWAY PLAZA.

I THINK ABOUT EVERY DOOR I KNOCKED IT EVERLY APARTMENTS IN TOPEKA.

THEY THEY KNOW THAT THEY NEED MORE POLICE THAT THE POLICE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

THEY NEED MORE ADVANCED RESOURCES TO DEAL THAT THE DE ESCALATE SITUATIONS.

JAKE DEFUNDED THE POLICE WHEN HE WAS IN THE STATE SENATE THAT THEY RAIDED THEIR PENSIONS AND THEY CUT FUNDING FOR KBI FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROLMEN.

AND ALSO JAKE LIKES TO JAKE LIKES TO POSITION HIMSELF ON POLICE, BUT HE NOT ONCE HAS TALKED TO A POLICE OFFICER THAT SAVED HIS LIFE ON JANUARY, 6TH.

SIX POLICE OFFICERS DIED.

JAKE HASN'T SAID A WORD AND HASN'T TALKED TO THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES.

SO WE'VE RECEIVED AUDIENCE QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC.

YOU JUST MENTIONED IT, AND I HAD MY OWN QUESTION, SO IT'S A BIT OF A COMBINATION.

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS STUDY ESTIMATES THAT KANSAS LOST OUT ON CLOSE TO $5 BILLION FROM 2014 TO 2021 BY TURNING DOWN MEDICAID EXPANSION AND THEN BILLIONS MORE IN THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FUNDS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE GENERATED.

SO IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION.

DO YOU SUPPORT, NOW, MEDICAID EXPANSION IN KANSAS AND WE START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

THIS IS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM THAT JAKE, CAUSED.

WE'VE FRANKLY, I THINK THE NUMBER IS A LOT CLOSER TO A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR SINCE 2014 THAT IS CLOSED HOSPITALS AND YOU KNOW IF YOUR IF YOUR TOWN IF YOUR COMMUNITY LOSES A HOSPITAL, IT'S A DEATH KNELL BECAUSE YOU LOSE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

YOU LOSE TAX REVENUE THAT KEEPS THE SCHOOLS OPEN.AND JAKE'S HOMETOWN OF GALENA THE SUPERINTENDENT YESTERDAY SENT OUT A MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR DISTRICT 508, AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE TO BE ON GUARD ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP KANSAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN KANSAS.

RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF JAKE'S POLICIES BECAUSE OF JAKE'S VOTES, NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA ARE GETTING KANSAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I WANT KANSAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO STAY IN KANSAS.

I WANT US TO EXPAND CARE.

I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR RURAL HOSPITALS OPEN.

AND IF JAKE IS SUCCESSFUL IN BANKRUPTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, WHICH HE WANTS TO DO IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL, THE SAME SAME WAY THAT HE BANKRUPTED KANSAS THAT HE BANKRUPTED THE DEPARTMENT OF THE FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN KANSAS, THEN IT WILL KILL EVERY SINGLE RURAL HOSPITAL IN KANSAS.

AND IT WILL PUT EVERY NURSING HOME ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

I THINK THAT'S EXTREME.

AND IN CONGRESS, I WILL FIGHT TO BRING EVERY KANSAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS BACK AND THEN SOME.

JAKE LATURNER.

AGAIN WITH MY OPPONENT MAKING IRRESPONSIBLE, FALSE ATTACKS TRYING TO WIN A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

HEALTH CARE IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED ON FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KANSAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, WHERE I'VE WORKED THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN CONGRESS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR HOSPITALS ARE PROPERLY GETTING REIMBURSED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR RURAL HOSPITAL STAY OPEN.

WHEN I TALK TO EVERYDAY KANSANS, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WANT AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

A BIG PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING MEDICARE FOR OUR SENIORS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CARE A LOT ABOUT.

I THINK ABOUT MY GRANDMA RUBY 90 YEARS OLD, RELIES ON SOCIAL SECURITY RELIES ON MEDICARE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THAT FOR HER AND PROTECT THAT FOR ALL OF OUR SENIORS.

THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

WHAT MY OPPONENT SUPPORTS IS A $716 BILLION CUT TO MEDICARE WHEN SENIORS JUST FLAT OUT CANNOT AFFORD IT.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR RURAL HOSPITALS.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A PLACE WHERE INNOVATION TAKES PLACE.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE.

WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS NOT GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON, DC BUT PATIENTS GET TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR THEM.

SO I'M LOVING THIS AUDIENCE.

I WAS HANDED A QUESTION BEFORE THE DEBATE, SO THEY'RE VERY ANXIOUS.

THE QUESTION IS, I READ A RECENT STORY THAT SOME IN CONGRESS ARE FLOATING IDEAS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE THAT INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITIES OF RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE CUTTING BENEFITS.

HIGHER PREMIUMS.

SO CANDIDATES DO YOU SUPPORT ANY OF THESE IDEAS?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT?

POSSIBLE LAWS REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY AS WE GO FORWARD AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER.

I INTRODUCEDLEGISLATION TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY.

LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS.

THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT TO SENIORS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SENIORS HAVE WORKED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES FOR.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE A PROMISE TO SENIORS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT THEY COULD COUNT ON RECEIVING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT THAT AND PROTECT MEDICARE.

WHAT I'VE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS IN THIS AND 117TH CONGRESS IS A BILL THAT CREATES A COMMISSION, A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION SO WE CAN KEEP POLITICS OUT OF IT AND FOCUS ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY.

SO IT IS AROUND FOR OUR SENIORS AND FOLKS THAT ARE NOT QUITE TO RETIREMENT AGE.

WE NEED TO PROTECT IT.

IT'S A DECADE UNTIL WE START SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE BRINGING IN.

AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

JUST LIKE RONALD REAGAN, TIP O'NEILL AND BOB DOLE DID IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES THAT PROTECTED SOCIAL SECURITY.

UNTIL NOW, WE NEED TO CREATE A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION.

I'VE INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

I'M GETTING TIRED OF SAYING IT, BUT I'LL SAY IT AS LONG AS IT'S NECESSARY.

JAKE IS LYING.

HE WANTS TO CUT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE.

HE WANTS TO END THESE PROGRAMS AS WE KNOW IT.

HE WANTS TO DRASTICALLY RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE.

HE WANTS TO END GUARANTEED COVERAGE PROVIDED RIGHT NOW THROUGH MEDICARE.

WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE, MOST RECENTLY TO CLOSE THE DONUT HOLE IN MEDICARE.

UM HE VOTED AGAINST IT.

HE VOTED AGAINST CAPPING INSULIN PRICES FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS, A DRUG THAT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

HE VOTED TO RAISE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, AND HE TALKS A LOT, BUT REALLY, HIS PLAN IS TO PUT SENIOR CITIZENS ON AN ICE FLOW.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

THAT DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

MEDICARE TO KEEP WHAT FEW HOSPITALS WE HAVE REMAINING THE ONES THAT JAKE HASN'T CLOSED.

THEY DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TO KEEP THOSE THINGS OPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT CONGRESS CAN DO.

WHEN JAKE HAD A CHANCE HE VOTED AGAINST CAPPING INSULIN PRICES.

HE VOTED AGAINST CAPPING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

AND HE ALSO HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THE THOUSANDS OF VETERANS ACROSS THIS DISTRICT RIGHT NOW THAT ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF A NEW DECISION FROM TRICARE THAT BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN'T GET THEIR DRUGS FROM THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACIES.

CRITICAL PROVIDERS CRITICAL INSTITUTIONS FOR LOCAL ECONOMIES AND THINGS THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER.

AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND ESPECIALLY PROTECTED FROM JAKE LATURNER AND HIS FRIENDS IN CONGRESS.

OKAY I'M GONNA ASK A FOLLOW UP, WHICH PROBABLY IS GOING TO SOUND MORE LIKE A REBUTTAL BUT BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT AN AUDIENCE MEMBER HAD.

SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT CAN CONGRESS DO TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND AGAIN?

IT'S THE FOLLOW UP, SO IT'S A MINUTE AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER.

WHAT WE CAN DO OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER WORKING WITH OUR RURAL HOSPITALS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO DISCOUNTED DRUGS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

WHAT WE NEED IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS MORE TRANSPARENCY SO PATIENTS HAVE MORE CHOICES TO MAKE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING THE RURAL HOSPITALS.

THAT'S WHY I'M WORKING HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

I'M WORKING HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROTECT MEDICARE.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SOCIAL SECURITY...MY OPPONENT ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT IS BEING IRRESPONSIBLE WITH THE THINGS THAT HE'S SAYING, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY, AND I HAVEN'T JUST BEEN SAYING IT INTRODUCED LEGISLATION I'LL SAY AGAIN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY TO APPOINT A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION THAT CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEVER GOES AWAY FOR OUR SENIORS.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO PEOPLE IN OFFICE CAN DO A LOT TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

WHEN JAKE HAD A CHANCE IN THE STATE SENATE TO BRING A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN KANSAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS BACK TO KANSAS TO KEEP OUR HOSPITALS OPEN, HE SAID NO.

AND WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE IN CONGRESS TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS LIKE MY MOM HE VOTED NO.

HE VOTED TO RAISE THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

HE VOTED TO RAISE INSULIN PRICES.

HE VOTED.

HE ALSO WANTS TO CONTROL WHAT DRUGS YOU CAN TAKE.

HE VOTED ON JULY 21ST TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO LOWER THESE PRICES WE HAVE TO STOP JAKE FROM MAKING HEALTHCARE MORE EXPENSIVE IN KANSAS.

QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OVER TWO MILLION IMMIGRATION ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE ALONG THE US MEXICAN BORDER.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE CONGRESS COULD CAN DO ABOUT THIS?

AND THEN ANOTHER AUDIENCE MEMBER ASKED, WHAT ABOUT THE WALL?

OR IS THE ANSWER JUST TO KEEP ARRESTING AND SENDING THEM BACK?

AND NOW WE START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO CERTAINLY AFTER SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY SERVING IN UNIFORM SERVING TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE.

I WILL WORK WITH ANYONE THAT WILL KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND THAT WILL SECURE OUR BORDER.

THE BORDER IS A PROBLEM.

IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO MORE, AND I'M DISAPPOINTED BY BY THE PEOPLE IN THERE RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE LIKE JAKE LATURNER, WHO HAVEN'T DONE A THING.

BUT I THINK WE CAN'T BE LURED BY THE PROMISE OF FALSE SOLUTIONS.

WE SHOULDN'T JUST BUILD A WALL THAT EL CHAPO CAN DIG A HOLE UNDER OR THAT WILL BLOW OVER IN A STIFF WIND.

YOU KNOW, AFTER AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH PLATFORMS PLATFORMS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND THAT ARE IN THE AIR THAT ARE REMOTE.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN IN THE EAST TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL KEEP KANSAS AND THE COUNTRY IS SAFE.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT DO THOSE HARD JOBS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT WHAT JAKE HAS DONE TO UNDERMINE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT HE DID THE RAID LAW ENFORCEMENT PENSIONS WHEN HE WAS IN THE STATE SENATE HOW HE HASN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE IN CONGRESS HASN'T JOINED THE BORDER CAUCUS, THE BORDER TECHNOLOGY SECURITY CAUCUS.

BIPARTISAN CAUCUS THAT'S WORKING ON THE THINGS THAT WILL KEEP US SAFE.

AND WHAT I WILL DO IN THIS OFFICE, WHICH WILL INCLUDE JOINING THAT CAUCUS AND WORKING ON ACTUAL SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF JUST USING IT AS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL TO RUN FOR THE NEXT OFFICE THAT HE WANTS.

JAKE LATURNER 3.8 MILLION SINCE JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN PRESIDENT.

AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE HAD AN INTERACTION WITH THEY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ESTIMATES THAT THEY'VE HAD 900,000 GETAWAYS.

THAT'S AN ESTIMATE.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AS A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.

I'VE BEEN TO THE BORDER MULTIPLE TIMES.

I HAVE TALKED TO THE BORDER PATROL.

I HAVE TALKED TO THE MIGRANTS CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

NO ONE CROSSES THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITHOUT PAYING THE DRUG CARTELS.

UM THEY ARE USING SMALL CHILDREN TO GET ACROSS THE BORDER, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A SMALL CHILD, IT'S EASIER TO GET INTO THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE SEEING RECORD HIGH FENTANYL THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A POLITICAL ISSUE.

WHY THIS ADMINISTRATION?

WHY THE DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL CAPITOL HILL?

THIS IS ONE PARTY RULE IN WASHINGTON, DC.

WHY THEY HAVEN'T DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IS REMARKABLE TO ME.

WE'VE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO BUILD THE WALL TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY IN THE PLACES THAT THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE AND TO GIVE BORDER PATROL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

WE HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THIS.

WE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT THIS BAD.

TO SAY THAT THIS HAS JUST BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, AND WE SHOULD THROW UP OUR HANDS IS THE WRONG POSITION TO TAKE.

WE KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WE KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER.

WE NEED TO FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

MY OPPONENT IS GOING TO CONTINUE DOWN WHAT WE'VE BEEN ON THE SAME PATH WE'VE BEEN ON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH HAS PUT US IN A VERY BAD POSITION.

THE US LEADS THE WORLD IN MASS SHOOTINGS AND VERY, VERY SADLY, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS DO YOU SUPPORT ANY ACTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS THIS AND WE START WITH JAKE LATURNER?

SUZANNE AND I HAVE FOUR YOUNG KIDS.

UM NO ONE NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES.

WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL.

NO PARENTS SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A MASS SHOOTING AT THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.

AND SADLY THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TODAY.

WHAT I SUPPORT IS HARDENING OUR SCHOOLS, MAKING CERTAIN THAT THAT THEY ARE THEY HAVE THE SECURITY THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEM.

WE NEED MORE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOL TO PROTECT THEM, AND WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMBAT THAT.

WHAT I DON'T SUPPORT OUR RADICAL GUN GRABS FROM WASHINGTON, DC.

I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

I HAVE LED ON THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND IN CONGRESS PASSING LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE'S SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

MY OPPONENT'S SOLUTION TO THIS AND THE SOLUTION TO DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL, ALL TOO OFTEN IS TO PASS SOME MASSIVE GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION WHEN THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE NEED MORE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HARDEN OUR SCHOOLS, SO THEY HAVE THE SECURITY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT, AND THE BIGGEST ONE IS WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THIS.

PATRICK SCHMIDT.

SO I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT I AFTER SERVING IN UNIFORM AS A NAVAL OFFICER, AS A NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, I SUPPORT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT.

I'M A HUNTER.

I GREW UP, YOU KNOW, MY DAD TOOK ME HUNTING BEFORE I COULD SEE OVER THE GRASS.

UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST I STARTED OFF CARRYING A BB GUN AND THEN MOVED ON TO A 20 GAUGE AND I HAVE ABOUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A DOZEN RIFLES, PISTOLS, SHOTGUNS.

AND I'M RATED AS A SHARPSHOOTER SHARPSHOOTER WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

I SUPPORT COMMON SENSE POLICIES THAT WILL REDUCE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

MY OPPONENT DOESN'T IT'S NOT A CREDIBLE SOURCE ON THIS ISSUE, JAKE I WON'T FORCE YOU TO TALK TO MY MOM WHO TAUGHT AND KANSAS FOR 46 YEARS AND SHE WILL TELL YOU HOW DUMB WHAT YOU JUST SAID, IS ABOUT HARDENING SCHOOLS.

WE NEED SERIOUS SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS PEOPLE THAT BEAT UP THEIR SPOUSES THAT BEAT UP THEIR PARTNERS SHOULDN'T YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO TO WALMART AND BUY A GUN THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.

AND CERTAINLY WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROBLEM.

BUT JAKE, YOU'VE CLOSED SO MANY BEDS IN KANSAS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE NECESSARY RESOURCES.

YOU'VE DRIVEN THOSE DOCTORS.

YOU DRIVEN THOSE PROVIDERS OUT OF KANSAS.

YOU'VE SAID NO TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AH THAT WOULD PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES FOR THAT PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED SERIOUS PEOPLE IN THIS OFFICE THAT WILL SUPPORT SERIOUS SOLUTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN KANSAS.

WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

IT HAS TO BE JUST A MINUTE ANSWER FOR THIS ONE.

DO YOU SUPPORT PRESIDENT BIDEN STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM AND WE START WITH PATRICK SCHMIDT.

BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES IT'S CALLED THE GI BILL.

UM YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SERIOUS STUDENT LOAN PROBLEM, BUT I WOULDN'T I TELL EVERYBODY NOW, YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PAY FOR EDUCATION, THE MILITARY IS A SINGLE BEST WAY TO DO THAT TO GET TO GET YOUR EDUCATION PAID FOR TO GET A GREAT JOB THAT WILL PUT YOU ON THE FAST TRACK THAT WILL PUT YOU AHEAD OF YOUR PEERS WHEN YOU MATRICULATE.

UM AND THAT'S WHAT MORE PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER.

PUBLIC SERVICE TO DEAL WITH STUDENT LOANS.

JAKE LATURNER.

I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING AND NOT BEING SARCASTIC AT ALL.

MY OPPONENT IS RIGHT ABOUT THIS THE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN PUT FORWARD FIRST OF ALL SPEAKER PELOSI SAID OVER A YEAR AGO THAT IT WASN'T CONSTITUTIONAL THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE COURTS.

BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT OVER 80% OF AMERICANS THAT DID NOT GO SEEK AH, HIGHER EDUCATION FOR WHATEVER REASON, UM, HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE THAT DO.

AND IT'S UNFAIR TO FOLKS THAT HAVE PAID OFF THEIR STUDENT LOANS ALREADY OR WORKED THROUGH COLLEGE LIKE I DID TO PAY PAY YOUR TUITION, AND SO IT'S UNFAIR.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

CONGRESS SHOULD BE THE ONE APPROPRIATING AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT THAT HE'S NOT WRONG ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS WHERE WE WRAP UP THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PHASE OF THIS DEBATE.

AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR CANDIDATES TO NOW MAKE THEIR FINAL CASE DIRECTLY TO YOU.

THEY HAVE 2.5 MINUTES TO DO SO AND JAKE TURNER YOUR TIME STARTS NOW.

THANK YOU, BOB.

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO REPRESENT FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS AS YOUR CONGRESSMAN.

I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE FAILING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE.

JOE BIDEN AND NANCY PELOSI HAVE DELIVERED A CRIPPLING ECONOMY HIGHER TAXES, A WIDE OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER AND RECORD CRIME RATES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, FILL UP OUR TANKS AND PEAR UTILITY BILLS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS BREATHING DOWN THEIR NECKS.

CONGRESS SHOULD BE TAKING COMMON SENSE ACTION TO HELP STOP THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC THAT'S PLAGUING KANSAS FAMILIES.

AND OUR BRAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS THE STATE SHOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE, MY OPPONENT USED TONIGHT TO TRY TO MISLEAD KANSANS ABOUT MY RECORD IN CONGRESS WHEN SO MANY FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING KANSANS DESERVED THE TRUTH FROM THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR CANDIDATES.

INSTEAD, PATRICK, PATRICK USES THEM FOR POLITICAL GAMES.

IT'S TIME TO UNITE OVER OUR SHARED KANSAS VALUES AND BELIEFS.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU IS SIMPLE.

I WILL FIGHT FOR AN ECONOMY THAT STRONG A NATION THAT'S SAFE, A FUTURE THAT'S BUILT ON FREEDOM AND A GOVERNMENT THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO ALL KANSANS.

I WILL WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO END THE RECKLESS FEDERAL SPENDING THAT'S FUELING INFLATION.

I WILL HELP PASS COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO SECURE THE BORDER.

I WILL HELP IMPLEMENT PRO GROWTH POLICIES THAT PUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKERS BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF OUR ECONOMY.

I WILL VOTE TO FULLY FUND OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND I WILL GIVE POWER BACK TO PARENTS ACROSS OUR STATE.

MY OPPONENT WILL STAY WITH THE STATUS QUO.

FOLKS THESE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WILL HELP DECIDE THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.

YOU CAN EITHER ELECT PATRICK SCHMIDT AND CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF JOE BIDEN AND NANCY PELOSI.

OR YOU CAN SEND ME BACK TO WASHINGTON TO BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE TO HELP AMERICA GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

I WILL NEVER FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM, AND I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR MY FELLOW KANSANS.

I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8TH.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

PATRICK SCHMIDT, YOU HAVE 2.5 MINUTES.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO WATCH TONIGHT.

THIS ELECTION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S A CLEAR CHOICE, ESPECIALLY WITH AS MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLING THE WAY THEY ARE.

MY OPPONENT WAS IT WAS A PART WAS A CHAMPION, WAS A CHEERLEADER FOR THE FAILED BRAND BROWNBACK TAX EXPERIMENT THAT BANKRUPTED KANSAS BANKRUPTED KANSAS FAMILIES THAT CANCELED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT CLOSED HOSPITALS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AS A CAREER POLITICIAN FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS, BOTH IN TOPEKA, NOW IN WASHINGTON, BUT VOTE TO RAISE YOUR TAXES EVERY CHANCE HE HAD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

HE WANTS TO END SOCIAL SECURITY.

HE WANTS TO CUT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM MEDICARE.

HE SUPPORTS A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION AND WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS FOR THE ATTEMPT TO BAN ABORTION IN KANSAS.

HE GAVE $100,000 TO KANSANS FOR LIFE.

AND ON JULY 21ST HE VOTED TO BAN BIRTH CONTROL.

HE HAS VOTED TO RAISE YOUR TAXES AND SOME OF THE VERY FIRST VOTES HE TOOK IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING THE END THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

INCLUDING THE END THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND NOW AS PART OF HIS BUDGET ALSO WANTS TO END THE CROP SUBSIDY PROGRAM AND AT A TIME WHEN KANSAS FARMERS ARE SUFFERING FROM 100 YEAR DROUGHT, BUT STILL BEING ASKED TO FEED THE WORLD.

TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AND TO PROTECT OTHER COUNTRIES FROM RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

HE WANTS TO END THE CROP, THE CROP INSURANCE SUBSIDY PROGRAM AND HE WANTS TO SACRIFICE UKRAINE.

HE AND HIS PARTY WANT TO SACRIFICE UKRAINE SO THEY CAN SO THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER ECONOMIC OUTCOME IN THIS COUNTRY.

RONALD REAGAN TAUGHT US THAT WE DON'T COWER IN THE FACE OF FOREIGN AGGRESSION.

WE STAND STRONG AND WE SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE KEEPING OUR COUNTRY SAFE.

WE SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.

WE SUPPORT OUR MILITARY.

ONE JAKE HAD A CHANCE TO SUPPORT VETERANS LIKE JOE WICKHAM, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT HIS OFFICE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

HE CAME TO ME BECAUSE AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING FOR HELP, HE GOT ABSOLUTELY NONE WHEN JAKE HAD A CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE BURN PIT BILL, HE VOTED NO.

A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE RELIEF TO THOUSANDS OF VETERANS IN THIS DISTRICT THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM EXPOSURE TO TOXIC BURN PITS.

JAKE HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE CHILDCARE PROBLEM.

IF I'M ELECTED TO CONGRESS, THE VERY FIRST THING I WILL DO IS SUPPORT FAMILIES SUPPORT TAX CUTS THAT HELP PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING HELP SOLVE THIS COUNTRY'S CHILDCARE PROBLEM AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE FROM PEOPLE LIKE JAKE LATURNER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE TWO CANDIDATES ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE FOR THE KANSAS SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OUR THANKS TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE PATRICK SCHMIDT AND REPUBLICAN JAKE LATURNER FOR BEING PART OF THIS VITAL PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY BELIEVE IT OR NOT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SOME CANDIDATES HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANY DEBATE.

SO I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU BEING HERE.

ON BEHALF OF OUR AH DEBATE PARTNERS, THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT WASHBURN UNIVERSITY AND FROM ALL THE PRODUCTION CREW AND WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS HERE AT THE STUDIOS OF KTWU IN TOPEKA,I'M BOB BEATTY.

AND THANKS FOR WATCHING AND ALL YOU WHO ARE LISTENING AS WELL, GO VOTE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

GOODBYE.