Face To Face: North Dakota U.S. Senate Debate 2012

COVERAGE IS PROVIDED IN PART BY AARP, A NONPROFIT NONPARTISAN
ASSOCIATION, 87,000 STRONG IN NORTH DAKOTA, DEDICATED TO
ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AS WE AGE.
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF PRAIRIE
>>> WELCOME TO PRAIRIEPUBLIC'S CONTINUING COVERAGE OF ELECTION 2012.
I'M MATT OLIEN.
THIS IS THE DEBATE FOR NORTH DAKOTA'S U.S. SENATE SEAT BEING
VACATED BY SENATOR KENT CONRAD.
MY GUESTS TODAY ARE THE REPUBLICAN NO, MA'AM MY AND
NORTH DAKOTA CONGRESSMAN RICK BERG AND THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE,
HEIDI HEITKAMP.
THANK YOU FOR BOTH BEING HERE.
BOTH CANDIDATES WILL HAVE A ONE-MINUTE OPENING AND CLOSING
STATEMENT AND QUESTIONS ASKED BUY ME.
BASED ON A COIN FIP, REPRESENTATIVE BERG, YOU'RE FIRST.
>> I'D LIKE TO THANK PRAIRIE PUBLIC AND AARP, YOURSELF,
HEIDI, AND EVERYONE WATCHINGTOP THIS ELECTION MAY BE THE MOST
IMPORTANT ELECTION IN OUR LIFETIME.
YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T GET OUR COUNTRY BACK A TRACK AND ON A
ROAD TO GROWTH AND PROSPERITY, MY SON, OUR SON AND
GRANDCHILDREN WON'T INHERIT THE SAME COUNTRY WE DID.
AS SENATOR, WHILE FIGHT AGAINST BARACK OBAMA'S FAILED
PHYSICALSES AND FIGHT FOR THE IDEA THAT NORTH DAKOTANS, NOT
WASHINGTON, SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FAMILY,
THEIR MONEY AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
I WAS RAISED IN WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND I SERVE IN THE BEST CITIZENS LEGISLATURE IN THE
COUNTRY WHERE WE CRAFTED POLICY THAT HAS MADE NORTH DAKOTA THE
ECONOMIC ENVY OF THE NATION.
WASHINGTON LIKES TO MAKE IT COMPLICATED, BUT IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET BY LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS AND MAKING THE
TOUGH DECISIONS.
NOT TOMORROW, BUT TODAY, IN OUR TIME AND OUR WATCH.
THAT'S THE NORTH DAKOTA WAY AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL FIGHT FOR IN WASHINGTON.
>> OKAY.
HEIDI HEITKAMP, ONE MINUTE OPENING.
>> 11 MONTH AGO I GOT INTO THIS RACE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
I GOT IN BECAUSE LIKE MANY OF YOU, I BELIEVE THAT WASHINGTON
WAS A PLACE THAT WAS BADLY BROKEN.
THE POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON SEEM TO CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR
PARTY THAN THEY DID ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
THEY CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR N SELVES THAN THEY DID ABOUT
MOVING THIS COUNTRY FORWARD.
TWO YEARS AGO, CONGRESSMAN BERG SAT AT THIS TABLE AND PROMISED
US HE WOULD END THE IDLOCK IN WASHINGTON, THAT HE WOULD END
THE PARTISANSHIP AND MOVE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
IN FACT, ON IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION LIKE THE FARM BILL,
CONGRESSMAN BERG SAID I'M WILLING TO CUT $180 BILLION OUT
OF THE FARM PROGRAM, AND CUT CROP INSURANCE 20%.
CONGRESSMAN BERG WAS WILLING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE MEDICARE SYSTEM
THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY COST RETIREES ABOUT 6400 EXTRA DOLLARS A YEAR.
AND HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO MILLIONAIRES AND TAX
BREAKS TO COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS.
I THINK THAT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION.
I AM GOING -- >> THAT'S ONE MINUTE, HEIDI.
WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST TOPIC.
A LOT HAS BEEN SAID IN THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR, ESPECIALLY IN
TV ADS WITH OUT OF STATE MONEY, AND TO START OFF, I WANT TO HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY FACE-TO-FACE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON ANY
ADS THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING.
HEIDI HEITKAMP, YOU START OFF.
>> WHEN I WAS IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE HAD A
CASE CALLED CKLEY VERSUS VA VALEO.
IT WAS SUPREME COURT SASE THAT SAID MONEY EQUALS SPEECH.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF CIVIL CAMPAIGNING AND THE
BEGINNING OF ALL THIS OUTSIDE MONEY.
TO FIGHT THE OUTSIDE MONEY, I ASKED FOR SEVEN DEBATES ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
I ONLY GOT THREE AND SOME OF THEM VERY SHORT LIKE THIS ONE.
I THINK WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WHAT PEOPLE IN THIS STATE
HAD HOPED WOULD HAPPEN IS THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
US SIT ACROSS THE TABLE, ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES
IN A FORMAT THAT REALLY ALLOWED FOR EXPANSION.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE ADS AREN'T ADS THAT ANY OF US PAID
FOR AT THIS TABLE.
BUT WE'RE STUCK WITH THEM AND WE'RE STUCK WITH PEOPLE'S
ATTITUDES ABOUT THEM.
LET'S GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS, LET'S GET BACK TO HAVING
DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WITH THE
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.
>> RICK BERG, RESPONSE?
>> WELL, I MEAN CERTAINLY, I
THINK THE ABILITY TO DEBATE IS THE RIGHT THING.
THE ADS, CERTAINLY FROM A THIRD PARTY AS FLURRY OF ADS.
BUT I BELIEVE NORTH DAKOTANS, THEY BELIEVE IN MEETING PEOPLE
ONE A ONE, BELIEVE IN TALKING THE ISSUES AND THE ISSUES
COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
IT'S AN ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
SOLUTIONS, AND I'M OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DEBATE
AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE CAMPAIGN, I THINK THE FACTS WILL
SET THEMSELVES STRAIGHT AND THE PEOPLE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THIS
ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED BY THE GRASSROOTS.
THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE TRUTH AND WILL COME OUT ON ELECTION
DAY AND I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A GREAT NOVEMBER.
>> I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON TO SPECIFIC ISSUES THEN.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FARM BILL FIRST.
THERE'S NO FARM BILL RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON WHY THERE'S NOT A FARM
BILL RIGHT NOW, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IN DEBATE IS WHY IS
THERE NOT A FARM BILL CURRENTLY AND WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS AFTER
ELECTION IF EACH OF YOU ARE ELECTED TO ACTUALLY PASS A FARM BILL.
RICK BERG, YOU START.
>> OBVIOUSLY, AGRICULTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ME AND THE BACKBONE OF NORTH DAKOTA.
MY FAMILYHOMESTEADED IN NORTH DAKOTA AND MY DAD WAS A VETERINARIAN.
I GREW UP WORKING ON FARMS AND I'M AN AG-E GRAD.
I PUSHED LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY DRAFTED BIPARTISAN LETTERS,
SIGNED A DISCHARGE PETITION, BUT WE PUSHED LEADERSHIP IN THE
HOUSE TO BRING THE HOUSE BY TO THE FLOOR.
WHAT WE NEED AS FARM BILL THAT'S BASED ON CROP INSURANCE AND BOTH
THE SENATE BILL AND THE HOUSE BILL DO THAT.
I'VE WORKED HARD TO GET IT IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH THE SENATE BILL.
CERTAINLY TYING WETLANDS INTO CROP INSURANCE IS SOMETHING A
LOT OF PRODUCERS ARE CONCERNED WITH.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AGRICULTURE IS THE ONE ISSUE
THAT'S BEEN BIPARTISAN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, UP UNTIL THE
LAST TWO WEEKS AND, OF COURSE, THERE WAS AN EDITORIAL THAT
ATTACKED YOU TO ATTACKING ME ON THE FARM BILL AND SAID I'M ONE
OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE TO MOVE THE FARM BILL FORWARD.
THE CHALLENGE OUT THERE IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
CONGRESS THAT DON'T KNOW WHERE FOOD COMES FROM.
THEY THINK IT JUST SHOWS UP IN THE GROCERY STORE AND SO THAT'S
THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE.
JOHN BOEHNER SAID HE WOULD BRING THE BILL UP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
I'M TAKING HIS WORD FOR IT AND IT WILL BE JUST LIKE THE LAST FARM BILL.
>> HEIDI, A RESPONSE.
>> I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER EXAMPLE AT ALL ON THE FAILURE OF
THIS CONGRESS THAN THE FARM BILL.
CONGRESSMAN BERG STANDS HERE, HE'S A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THE SENATE WAS ABLE TO PASS,
ALBEIT A IMPERFECT FARM BILL IN THE SENATE.
WENT OVER TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WAITING FOR IT TO PASS THE HSE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GRIDLOCK, THE GRIDLOCK WE GOT WAS WITHIN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
IT WAS THE FIGHT BETWEEN CANTOR AND BOEHNER TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
CONGRESSM BERG TALKED ABOUT HIS EVIDENT TO MOVE THE FARM --
EFFORT TO MOVE THE FARM BILL FORWARD.
I LIKEN THAT EFFORT TO WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH
QUARTER, SHOOTING THE BALL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BUT YOU'RE 50
POINTS DOWN.
YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THE AG COMMITTEE, YOU SAID YOU WOULD
SUPPORT THE FARM BILL AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE YOU TRIED
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DISCHARGE PETITION, HOW MANY
VOTES WERE REPUBLICAN SIGNATURES ON THE DISCHARGE PETITION?
THERE WAS EIGHT -- ACTUALLY NINE INCLUDING YOURS, AND OVER 40
DEMOCRAT VOTES AND SO YOU CANNOT LOOK AT ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY
THAT YOU HAD ON THE FARM BILL AND CLAIM ANY AMOUNT OF SUCCESS
OR ANY AMOUNT OF LEGITIMATE EFFORT.
THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF SOMEONE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, OF
SOMEONE IN THE CONGRESS, IS TO PASS A FARM BILL.
NOW WE'VE GOT UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE OF THE GRIDLOCK IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND NOT IN CONGRESS.
>> YOU NEED TO GIVE A RESPONSE?
>> CERTAINLY, THE FORUM IS SIMPLY NOT ACCURATE.
THE LAST FARGE BILL EXPIRED AS
WELL, SO YOURACCUSATIONS OF ME, AND I HOPE THEY DON'T APPLY TO
OUR FORMER SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN WHO ARE STRONG
ADVOCATES FOR FARMS AND FARM BILL.
YOU KNOW, MY COUSIN FARMED OUR FAMILY HOMESTEAD FARM.
HE DIED SUDDENLY LAST SPRING.
HIS HIGH SCHOOL SON IS TAKING OVER THAT FARM.
HE WON'T BE ABLE TO FARM IF HE DOESN'T HAVE CROP INSURANCE IN PLACE.
HE NEEDS A FARM BILL PASSED.
THIS IS PERSONAL TO ME AND I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN AND I
WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I CAN TO GET THIS FARM BILL PASSED
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NORTH DAKOTA.
>> HEIDI HEITKAMP?
>> YEAH.
I COME FROM A FARMING COMMUNITY.
I GREW UP ON A FARM.
I GREW UP PICKING POTATOES AND PICKING CUCUMBERS AND I KNOW HOW
CRITICAL THAT SAFETY NET IS.
BUT YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN
YOU COME BACK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE GRIT
LOCK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES.
YOU PROMISED, CONGRESSMAN, THE FARGO FORUM THAT YOU COULD GET
THINGS DONE FOR NORTH DAKOTA BECAUSE YOU HAD SPECIAL
LATIONSHIPS, A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER,
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SPEAKER.
NONE OF THAT HAS COME TO FRUITION, AND I DON'T THINK YOU
CAN LAY THE BLAME FOR LACK OF FARM BILL ON ANYONE'S DOORSTEP
OTHER THAN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF WHICH YOU'RE
THE MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY.
>> RICK BERG, RESPONSE?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD GET INTO,
BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THAT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEM IS
WE HAVEN'T HAD A BUDGET IN THREE
YEARS FROM THE SENATE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A STONEWALL PROBLEM AND I'LL AGREE, THE
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS A PROBLEM ON THE FARM BILL.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I CHALLENGE AND I'VE ACTUALLY
WORKED WITH OTHERS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO PULL THE VOTES TOGETHER.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I'VE HAD THE WORD OF THE SPEAKER THAT HE'S GOING TO TAKE IT UP
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S MY HOPE, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WE'VE ALWAYS PASSED
A FARM BILL.
OUR CHALLENGE IN AGRICULTURE IS, QUITE FRANKLY, ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS OUT IN WASHINGTON, THEY DON'T FOLLOW REGULAR ORDER AND
AS I SAID, WITH THE SENATE, WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, NO BUDGET IN
THREE YEARS.
I THINK THE DEFICIT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS FACING OUR
COUNTRY AND NOT TO EVEN HAVE A BUDGET?
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS A PROBLEM.
>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO -- >> FINAL RESPONSE AND THEN WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO HEALTHCARE.
>> I WANT TO SAY, THE SENATE FARM BILL CUT $23 BILLION.
IN FACT, IT WAS IN EXCESS OF WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
REQUIRED TO DO UNDER SEQUESTRATION.
IT WAS SET UP, IT WAS THERE, IT WAS REAL REFORM.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO SAY JUST BET ON ME, BET ON ME THAT I CAN GET
THE JOB DONE, I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAD A CHANCE IN JULY, HAD A CHANCE IN AUGUST, HAD A CHANCE
AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER AND WE SAW NO ACTIVITY.
I DON'T SEE THAT THE GRIDLOCK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS
GOING TO GET SOLVED BY AN ELECTION.
I THINK IT'S ONLY GOING TO ADD TO THE GRIDLOCK AND WE'RE GOING
TO BE DEBATING FARM POLICY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE
HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEBATE ABOUT SEQUESTRATION AND ABOUT
BALANCING THE BUDGET AND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR NORTH DAKOTA
FARMERS, NOT GOOD FOR CROP INSURANCE AND NOT GOOD FOR
MOVING FORWARD TO PROVIDE A LEGITIMATE SAFETY NET FOR OUR
FARMERS HERE IN NORTH DAKOTA.
>> THAT'S THE LAST WORD ON FARMING.
LE LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE, COMES FROM OUR DEBATE SKOE
SPONSOR, AARP OF NORTH DAKOTA.
WHAT PROPOSALS REGARDING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
BEING DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON ARE MOST CONCERN TO YOU AND ARE
THERE ANY YOU WOULD FAVOR OR SUPPORT?
HEIDI HEITKAMP, YOU START.
>> IT'S OBVIOUS THE THING THAT
IS MOST CONCERN TO ME IS THE SO-CALLED PREMIUM SUPPORT OR
PROVIDING A VOUCHER FOR MEDICARE IN THE FUTURE.
WE KNOW WHAT WILL BE IS SET AN ARBITRARY LINE.
WE'RE GOING TO SAY EVERYBODY
UNDER THE AGE OF 55 WHO FOR YEARS HAS PAID INTO THE SYSTEM
IS FOR YOU GOING TO GET HANDED A VOUCHER.
CONGRESS SAYS, YES, THEY CAN STAY?
TRADITIONAL MEDICARE, BUT WE KNOW TRADITIONAL MEDICARE ONLY
HAS THOSE AMONG THE ELDERLY WHO ARE THE SICKEST, WE HAVE REAL
PROBLEMS IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT SYSTEM IS SOLVENT.
SO I WOULD TELL YOU, CREATING PREMIUM SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE.
THE SECOND BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE
MEDICARE SYSTEM SOLVENT?
CONGRESSMAN BERG TALKS ABOUT 12
YEARS OF SOLVENCY.
WHAT HE DOESN'T TELL YOU IS THAT THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO GIVE YOU
12 YEARS TELL YOU IT'S ONLY FOUR IF YOU REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, AND THAT IS HUGE RISK.
WE NEED TIME TO GET THE MEDICARE SYSTEM BACK WORKING.
MY SOLUTIONS INCLUDE NEGOTIATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, WHICH
I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS WRONG WHEN HE TOOK IT OFF THE TABLE,
GETTING FRAUD AND WASTE AND ABUSE OUT WHICH WOULD BE 70 OR
$80 BILLION GOING INTO THE FUTURE, AND TAKING A LOOK AT
WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE WELLNESS.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING TO PROMOTE WELLNESS
IN NORTH DAKOTA, ESPECIALLY IN THE TOBACCO AREA.
DIDN'T GET MUCH HELP FROM CONGRESS AND BERG WHEN HE WAS IN
THE LEGISLATURE IN THAT REGARD, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE
HEALTHIER IN NORTH DAKOTA AND IN THIS COUNTRY IF WE TRULY ARE
GOING TO SOLVE THE MEDICARE CRISIS.
>> WE NEED TO GET A RESPONSE FROM RICK BERG.
>> CERTAINLY, I'D LIKE TO START OUT THAT FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE
INCORRECT ON YOUR NUMBERS.
MEDICARE WILL NOT GO BANKRUPT IN FOUR YEARS WITHOUT OBAMA CARE.
IT GOES BANKRUPT IN 12 YEARS.
NOW, THERE IS A SHUFFLING OF NUMBERS AND YOU HAVE TO CHECK
YOUR FACTS, BUT THE SHUFFLING OF NUMBERS AND A DOUBLE COUNTING OF
NUMBERS IS A POINT SAYING IT'S FOUR MORE YEARS, NOT FOUR YEARS
AND 12 YEARS, BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS HERE, TWO SOLUTIONS, AND
I JUST WANT TO BACK UP.
12 YEARS, IT GOES BANKRUPT.
IT'S -- THAT'S BAD FOR SENIORS.
THAT'S BAD FOR PELE THAT ARE DEPENDING ON MEDICARE.
THAT WAS A PROMISE TO PEOPLE.
SO LET'S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT.
12 YEARS, IT GOES BANKRUPT.
THERE'S TWO PROPOSALS.
OBAMA CARE, WHICH TAKES $716 BILLION OUT OF MEDICARE,
SETS UP AN UNELECTED BOARD CALLED IPAM THAT'S GOING TO MAKE
DECISIONS FOR SENIORS.
THEY'RE GOING TO RAGS CARE FOR SENIORS.
THAT IS A CHALLENGE, A FUNDAMENTAL CORE, THAT'S HOW
THEY'RE GOING TO BALANCE.
OR THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS THERE'S NO CHANGE FOR ANYONE AT
OR NEAR RETIREMENT.
IF YOU'RE 54 AND UNDER, YOU CAN KEEP MEDICARE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THERE WILL BE TWO OPTIONS, THAT'S THE CHOICE.
YOU GET TWO OPTIONS AT NO COST.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOME, YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO ADD A BETTER
POLICY OR ONE THAT FITS IN MORE TO WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT
CLEAR, THESE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND IT IS GOING BANKRUPT.
>> HEIDI HEITKAMP, RESPONSE.
>> AND CONGRESSMAN BERG, DON'T TRUST ME AND DON'T TRUST ANY
PARTISAN SOURCE.
GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE KAIR FAMILY FOUNDATION WEBSITE.
IT STATES CLEARLY THAT IF YOU REPEAL THE HEALTHCARE LAW, THE
SOLVENCY DATE IS FOUR YEARS.
AND SO I'M NOT BUYING YOUR FACTS ON THAT.
>> SO I JUST -- >> BUT THE OTHER POINT THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU TALK
ABOUT THE $719 BILLION.
IT IS THE BIGGEST FIB IN THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN, AND EVERYBODY
WHO LOOKS AT IT SAYS IT IS A BIG FIB.
AND YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON AT THIS TABLE
WHO EVER VOTED FOR THAT CUT AND THAT'S CONGRESSMAN BERG WHEN HE
VOTED FOR THE RYAN PLAN BOTH TIMES HE VOTED FOR IT, AND SO
LETS CUT THE NONSENSE.
HEALTHCARE AND MEDICARE IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE TO PLAY
POLITICS WITH THE NUMBERS, TO PLAY POLITICS WITH THIS POLICY.
WE NEED TO FIX THE SYSTEM AND THERE ARE LONG-TERM WAYS WE CAN
DO THAT, LIKE NEGOTIATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.
THERE'S LONG-TERM WAYS WE CAN DO THAT, LIKE CUTTING THE FRAUD AND
ABUSE, AND START FACING THE FACTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH
MEDICARE, AND WE DON'T NEED TO PRIVATIZE THE SYSTEM THE WAY YOU
HAVE RECOMMENDED IN THE RYAN PLAN.
>> FINAL WORD ON THIS, RICK
BERG, AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE.
>> IT'S NOT 719 BILLION, IT'S 716 BILLION.
IT CUTS MONEY FROM HOSPITALS AND PHYSICIANS IN NORTH DAKOTA.
IT CUTS HOSPICE.
THESE ARE REAL CUTS.
$716 BILLION FROM MEDICARE.
YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO A LADY THAT MOVED TO NORTH CAROLINA TO
BE WITH HER KIDS, AND SHE SAID SHE WENT TO NORTH CAROLINA, SHE
HAD TO GO TO 23 DIFFERENT PROVIDERS BEFORE SHE COULD FIND
SOMEONE TO TAKE MEDICARE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU CUT 716 LIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA DID TO FUND OBAMA CARE
FROM OUR SENIORS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO QUIT TAKING MEDICARE PATIENTS.
NOW, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR IS IN THE HOUSE
BUDGET, IT DID TAKE 716, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT DID?
IT IT THAT MONEY BACK INTO MEDICARE TO STRENGTHEN IT.
IT DIDN'T TAKE IT TO PAY FOR OBAMA CARE.
WE HAVE A CRISIS ON OUR HANDS AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND THIS
IS THE PROBLEM, THERE'S TOO MUCH RHETORIC AND WE NEED TO DIG IN
THE FACTS, YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR
NUMBERS, KNOW YOUR FAX FACTS, AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT
HELP OUR SENIORS AND DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF MEDICARE.
>> WE'LL SEGUE INTO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR OBAMA
CARE AS IT IS NOW KNOWN BY BOTH SIDES.
WHAT PARTS OF THE LAW DO YOU EACH FAVOR, WHAT PARTS DO YOU
NOT FAVOR AND IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTION YOU TAKE
REGARDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
RICK BERG, YOU START THIS TIME.
>> I WILL VOTE TO REPEAL OBAMA CARE.
THIS IS THE ONE CLEAR DISTINCTION IN THIS RACE.
MY OPPONENT WILL NOT VOTE TO REPEAL IT.
THIS IS A $1.7 TRILLION TAKEOVER OF OUR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEDICARE.
$716 BILLION COMING OUT OF OUR SENIORS.
BUT THE WORST THING, IT CREATES THIS BOARD OF UNELECTED
OFFICIALS THAT'S GOING TO BE THIS IPAP BOARD AND THEY'RE
GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT'S COVERED AND WHAT'S NOT COVERED.
WHAT THAT FUNDAMENTALLY DOES IS IT PUTS GOVERNMENT RIGHT BETWEEN
A DOCTOR AND THEIR PATIENT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG GOVERNMENT SOLUTION THAT'S WRONG.
I REMEMBER SAYING TO MY WIFE, THERE'S A FAMILY PRACTICE
DOCTOR, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM.
IT PUTS GOVERNMENT RIGHT BETWEEN
ME AND MY PATIENT.
MY SON AND I WERE HAVING BREAKFAST SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND
THIS GAL WAS BUSSING TABLES, WORKING HER BUTT OFF, AND SHE
STOPPED BY OUR TABLE AND SAID RICK, I WISH YOU LUCK THIS FALL
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF OBAMA CARE STAYS.
WE STARTED WITH ONE RESTAURANT AND NOW WOVE SEVERAL.
IF THIS KICKS IN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
OLIVE GARD AND RED LOBSTER SAID THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT.
THIS BILL CREATES A CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY AND IS HURTING OUR
WHOLE ECONOMY, HURTING OUR ECONOMIC RECOVER AND IS HARD ON BUSINESS.
>> WE NEED TO GET A RESPONSE.
>> LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOMEBODY I MET IN A RESTAURANT.
SHE WAS A CRUTCHES AND I LOOKED DOWN AND ASKED HER HOW SHE HURT
HER FOOT, AND I LOOKED DOWN AND HER FOOT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T HURT.
SHE HAD BEEN AT SOME POINT CRIPPLED, AND I LOOKED UP AT HER
AND HER FACE WAS SMILING, AND SHE SAID, NO, I HAD POLIO AS A YOUNG GIRL.
I'M ONE OF THOSE VERY FAMOUS PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND SHE
SAID TO ME, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR ME.
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL WE KEEP IT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE ELIMINATE THE LIFE-TIME CAP,
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL WE CONTINUE TO CLOSE THE DONUT HOLE TO
SENIORS HAVE THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WHEN THEY NEED THEM.
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE KEEP KIDS ON OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT'S ALL RT OF THIS HEALTHCARE LAW, BUT THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT REASON, EXACTLY ADDRESSES THE ISSUE THAT
CONGRESSMAN BERG RAISED EARLIER, WHICH IS PAYING OUR PROVIDERS
WHAT THEY'RE DUE.
AND IT'S CALLED THE FRONTIER STATES AMENDMENT.
IT WAS A HARD-FOUGHT PROVISION THAT'S IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT AND IT EQUALIZES MEDICARE PAYMENTS BACK TO OUR PRODUCERS,
BACK TO OUR PROVIDERS SO WE AREN'T ALL PAYING THE COST OF MEDICARE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
CONGRESSMAN BERG WHEN HE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE VOTED AGAINST
THE FRONTIER STATES AMENDMENT AND CONTINUES TO VOTE AGAINST
THE FRONTIER STATES AMENDMENT,
SO I WOULD SUBMIT THAT IF HE WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER,
IN FACT, WE HAD PROVIDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE MEDICARE,
THAT WE NEED TO RETAIN THE FRONTIER STATES AMENDMENT AND SENATOR --
>> WE NEED TO GET A RESPONSE FROM RICK BERG.
EQUAL TIME.
>> I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
WE DID HAVE A VOTE IN 2003 ON
THE FRONTIER AMENDMENT AND THERE WAS A RESOLUTION THAT CAME IN
THAT WASN'T FAIR FOR NORTH DAKOTA, SO WE PASSED ANOTHER
RESOLUTION THAT PASSED UNANIMO UNANIMOUSLY, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, THAT SAID WE SUPPORTED THE FRONTIER AMENDMENT.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DID, THIS
IS WHERE I'M AT IN 2003.
SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE FACTS STRAIGHT.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION WITH THIS CAMPAIGN.
YOU KNOW, OBAMA CARE, WHICH THE PRESIDENT AND HARRY REID
SUPPORTS, WE PASSED 30 BILLS TRYING TO CHANGE OBAMA CARE.
HARRY REID, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, WHO MY OPPONENT HAS
FULLY ENDORSED, HE IS WRONG FOR NORTH DAKOTA.
HE WILL NOT TAKE UP ONE OF THESE CHANGES THAT WILL MAKE OBAMA
CARE A WORKABLE, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
I AGREE WITH THE FRONTIER AMENDMENT, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH
THAT, THE LIFETIME CAP, PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, I THINK
THAT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THE DONUT HOLE AND COVERING KIDS UNTIL THEY'RE 26, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
OBAMA CARE IS 2700 PAGES LONG.
YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE FIVE THINGS ARE?
THEY'RE TEN PAGES LONG.
THIS AS CLEAR DIFFERENCE.
MY OPPONENT SAYS FOR THESE TEN
PAGES, LET'S KEEP THIS 2700-PAGE BILL THAT HAS 21 TAXES, THE
BIGGEST TAX ON MIDDLE AMERICA AND IT QUITE FRANKLY DOES NOT LOWER COSTS.
IT INCREASES COST.
>> A FINAL RESPONSE ON THIS FROM HEIDI HEITKAMP.
>> THE ONLY REASON CONGRESSMAN BERG SAYS REPEAL AND REPLACE
RATHER THAN AMEND IT AND FIX THE
PROBLEM IS BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD POLITICAL SLOGAN.
IT SELLS ON MAIN STREET.
IT'S LIKE TAKING YOUR CAR IN TO GET IT FIXED AND WHEN THEY OFFER
YOU A REPLACEMENT CAR, YOU SAY I DON'T NEED THAT, I GUESS I'LL JUST WALK.
IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
I'VE SAID THERE'S GOOD AND BAD IN THE HEALTHCARE LAW AND IT
NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO NOT
AMEND THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
THE ONLY REASON WE HEAR THIS ARGUMENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS
BECAUSE TOO MANY POLITICIANS ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH OUR
HEALTHCARE, AND THAT NEEDS TO END.
IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.
>> I WANT TO GET A QUICK OIL INDUSTRY FOR SOME BRIEF 40
SECOND RESPONSES AND WE NEED TO MOVE FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
OIL INDUSTRY, EACH OF YOU IF ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE
NORTH DAKOTA'S OIL INDUSTRIES AND REGULATE IT AND MONITOR IT?
HEIDI HEITKAMP.
>> I HAVE A GREAT WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA PLAN.
I PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT BEGINS TO ADDRESS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH TAKES SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOW EARNING AS A RESULT OF THIS AND REINVEST IT
IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S LIKE AN IN LIEU PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT.
WE NEED TO GET INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE, HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSE, WATER SYSTEMS THAT WORK.
WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN THAT PROVIDES BETTER ROADS OUT THERE.
THAT WE NEED TO BETTER BALANCE, I THINK, OUR AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY WITH OUR OIL INDUSTRY, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL LIVE
TOGETHER AS LONG AS WE DO THE INVESTMENT.
I THINK CONGRESSMAN BERG WALKED AWAY FROM GREAT OPPORTUNITIES
WHEN HE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS AND AS
A RESULT, WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT-BALL ONCE AGAIN HERE IN
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA.
>> FINAL 40-SECOND RESPONSE FROM RICK BERG AND WE'LL MOVE TO CLOSING.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCES IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT ENERGY.
IT'S THE HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE NEED NATIONAL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE LIKE WE DID IN
NORTH DAKOTA, EMPOWER WHERE WE BROUGHT REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS TODAY, WE HAD RENEWABLES AND TRADITIONAL ENERGY.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, HARRY REID, WHO YOU ARE GOING TO
PUT IN POWER, YOU AGREED TO SUPPORT HIM, EVEN THOUGH YOU
KNOW HE'S BAD TO ENERGY, HAS SAID COAL AND OIL ARE MAKING US
SICK AND RUINING OUR COUNTRY.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
WE'RE UP AGAINST REGULATION AND TAXATION AGAINST OUR ENERGY
INDUSTRY, THAT HAVE SHUT DOWN THE COAL INDUSTRY, AND WITH
FRACKING, THEY THREATEN THAT.
>> I NEED TO MOVE TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
HEIDI HEITKAMP, YOU'RE FIRST, ONE MINUTE.
>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS I'M RUNNING TO PUT PARTISANSHIP
ASIDE, TO GO AND REPRESENT NORTH DAKOTA INTERESTS.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HARRY REID THINKS ABOUT OIL AND GAS BECAUSE
I HAVE A POINT OF VIEW AND I HAVE A HISTORY IN THE OIL AND
GAS INDUSTRY THAT I THINK IS A HISTORY OF PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, THE QUESTION I GET OFTEN IS HOW DO
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
WE BELIEVE YOU WANT TO GO AND CHANGE THINGS AND STON THE PARTISANSHIP.
I TELL A STORY ABOUT A GUY I MET WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET FOLKS
ON BOARD TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND AN OLD COP CAME UP
TO AND SAID LISTEN HERE, GIRLIE, MEN WILL ALWAYS BEAT
THEIR WIVES AND YOU CAN'T STOP THEM.
I SAID, BOY, I HOPE NOT, I SURE DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE, BUT I
WON'T LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE DON'T TRY.
WE HAVE TO TRY TO STOP THE PARTISANSHIP AND MOVE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
>> ONE MINUTE CLOSING, RICK BERG.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MATT, AARP, HEIDI, AND THANKS FOR EVERYONE WATCHING.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE ALL ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTRY AND ONE PERSON SUMMED IT UP.
IT WAS A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
HE SAID EVERY DAY I SEE CHILDREN AND I WORRY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.
HE SAID, RICK, YOU'VE GOT TO GET THIS FIXED.
THAT'S WHY I'M IN THIS RACE.
FOR MY 12-YEAR-OLD SON, FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
I'M RUNNING TO STOP WASHINGTON FROM DESTROYING OUR ECONOMY WITH
DEBTS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY BACK.
I'M RUNNING TO STOP OBAMA CARE FROM MAKING OUR MEDICAL DECISIONS FOR US.
I'M RUNNING BECAUSE WE CAN GET THIS FIXED AND WE CAN RESTORE
THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM TO OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS IF WE TAKE THE NORTH DAKOTA WAY TO WASHINGTON.
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO
CHANGE AMERICA.
WE CAN DO THIS.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
>> THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR COMING ON PRAIRIE PUBLIC FOR DEBATE.
>> THANK YOU, MATT.
>> NOVEMBER 6t IS ELECTION DAY.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING PRAIRIE PUBLIC'S CONTINUING COVERAGE OF
ELECTION 2012.
>>> FUNDING FOR ELECTION 2012
COVERAGE IS PROVIDED IN PART BY
AARP, A NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN ASSOCIATION.
87,000 STRONG IN NORTH DAKOTA.
DEDICATED TO ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL AS WE AGE.
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF PRAIRIE PUBLIC