2014 13th Congressional District Debate

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LIVE FROM W.I.L.L..
TV AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, A DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES FOR THE 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BROUGHT TO YOU BY ILLINOIS PUBLIC MEDIA, WCIA3, WCIX49, THE NEWS GAZETTE, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE N.A.A.C.P. OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY..
>>> WELCOME TO THE 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES' DEBATE..
I AM YOUR MODERATOR, JENNIFER ROSCOE. WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS DEBATE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS YOU HAVE SEEN. WE ARE GOING INDEPTH ON A FEW TOPICS TO REALLY GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT THESE CANDIDATES BELIEVE..
THERE ARE NO PODIUMS. NO LIGHTS FOR TIME CUES. JUST THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO REPRESENT YOU IN CONGRESS..
LET ME INTRODUCE THEM NOW. REPUBLICAN RODNEY DAVIS, AND DEMOCRAT ANN CALLIS..
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. TOM KACICH FROM THE NEWS GAZETTE AND HANNAH MEISEL FROM W.I.L.L..
MY ROLE IS ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION WHEN NEEDED, MAKING SURE THINGS KEEP MOVING FORWARD FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE. DURING THE DEBATE, WE WILL ALSO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE CANDIDATES FROM OUR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS, AND TWITTER, FACEBOOK. IF YOU ARE ON TWITTER JUST THE HASH TAG IL13TH2014. LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE LAUNCH OF INSURANCE EXCHANGES UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. WE WILL START ON THAT HEALTH CARE. WE DREW STRAWS EARLIER AND CONGRESSMAN DAVIS GETS THE FIRST QUESTION FROM TOM. >>CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, YOU PIVOTED FROM WANTING TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS? >> NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE PIVOTED AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY CLEAR SINCE I WAS A CANDIDATE IN THIS OFFICE AND SERVING. I WOULD BE FOR REPEALING AND REPLACING, AND FRANKLY, I HELPED LEAD THE CHARGE TO MAKE FIXES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. MY LATEST FIX WAS THE HIRE MORE HEROES ACT. IT CAME ABOUT AS AN IDEA FROM MY VETERANS ASSISTANTS, MY VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, AND BRAD LAVITE FROM MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO ENSURE THAT THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE ACTUALLY RECEIVING THEIR HEALTH CARE THROUGH TRI-CARE AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WOULDN'T COUNT TOWARDS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S 50 EMPLOYEE LIMIT. IN THEORY, I WOULD INCENTIVIZE SMALL BUSINESSES TO HIRE MORE VETERANS. HIRE MORE OF OUR HEROES. THAT BILL WENT FROM AN IDEA TO LEGISLATION. IT PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH ONLY ONE NO VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. YOU CAN'T GET MUCH MORE BIPARTISAN THAN THAT. AND IT IS SITTING WAITING IN THE SENATE TO BE HEARD..
IT ACTUALLY PASSED THE HOUSE AGAIN AS PART OF ANOTHER PACKAGE, A LARGER PACKAGE, AND IT SITS IN THE SENATE ALONG WITH OVER 380 GOOD PIECES OF LEGISLATION, MANY COMMON SENSE >>CONGRESSMAN, GETTING TO THE HEALTH CARE ACT, HOW THAT SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE OR REPEAL?.
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE SPECIFIC CHANGE I LED THE CHARGE ON, JENNIFER. SO I AM PROUD TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT CHANGE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT IS NOT GOING TO COST CONSUMERS MORE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THERE WERE MANY IN ILLINOIS OVER 200,000 THAT SIGNED UP FOR PRIVATE POLICIES. BUT 185,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE LOST THEIR COVERAGE BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE COVERAGE THEY WERE PROMISED THAT THEY COULD KEEP. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CHANGES AS TO WHY WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO COVER PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NO LIFETIME CAPS..
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNGSTERS WHO CAN'T FIND A JOB IN THIS ECONOMY ARE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR PARENT'S INSURANCE PLAN UNTIL THEY ARE 26..
THESE PROVISIONS THAT ARE GOOD COMMON SENSE PROVISIONS, BUT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SEE FAMILIES HAVE TO PAY MORE..
IN THE FIRST YEAR, BESIDES THE FACT THAT TWO BILLION WAS SPENT ON A WEB SITE, MANY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 55, WERE PAYING AVERAGE OF 2100 TO $2,800 MORE PER YEAR FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. THE INCREASED COST ON FAMILIES HAVE TO STOP, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO MAKE THE FIXES THAT ARE NECESSARY AND MANY OF THOSE SIT STALLED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, AND THEY NEED TO MOVE TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK..
>>JUDGE CALLIS, ARE THERE PARTS OF THE LAW YOU'D LIKE TO SEE CHANGED, ANYTHING THAT CONGRESSMAN DAVIS HAS SUGGESTED?.
>>I THINK MR..
DAVIS HAS DEVELOPED POLITICAL AMNESIA BECAUSE HE VOTED 50 TIMES TO REPEAL THE ACA AND ALSO SHUTDOWN OUR GOVERNMENT TO THE TUNE OF $24 BILLION BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE THE LAW. HE AND HIS PARTY DIDN'T LIKE THE LAW. BUT TRAVELING AROUND OUR DISTRICT, PEOPLE DO LIKE PARTS OF IT, AND PEOPLE DO -- I HAVE HEARD AS IT UNFOLDS, HAVING BECOME A CANDIDATE WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT AND THEN NOW TRAVELING AROUND, THAT PEOPLE LIKE, THAT THEY CAN STAY ON THEIR PARENT'S INSURANCE POLICY UNTIL THEY ARE 26 SINCE WE HAVE NINE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THIS DISTRICT..
SENIORS LIKE THAT THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COST, MEDICARE PART D SAVINGS, CLOSE TO $2,000 A YEAR, AND NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PREEXISTING CONDITIONS..
SO THEY DO LIKE THAT. AND I HEAR MORE AND MORE STORIES. FOR INSTANCE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, HER SON HAD DEVELOPED NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA. HE WAS AGED OUT OF HER INSURANCE. SHE TRIED TO SHOP AROUND TO GET HIM TREATMENT, IT WAS ENORMOUSLY EXPENSIVE. SHE TOLD ME THAT HER SON FINALLY PASSED AWAY, AND SHE SAID SHE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT IF THE ACA WERE IN PLACE AT THAT TIME, HER SON WOULD BE ALIVE..
SO I HEAR STORIES LIKE THAT. SO WE HAVE TO KEEP IN PLACE WHAT WORKS. 14,000 PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT, IN THE 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAVE INSURANCE NOW THAT THEY DIDN'T BEFORE THE ACA WAS PASSED. SO TO TAKE A CONGRESSMAN DAVIS AND HIS PARTY'S POSITION TO RIP THAT AWAY FROM 14,000 PEOPLE ISN'T WHAT WE SHOULD DO. WE SHOULD SEE WHAT WORKS -- AND WHAT I WOULD DO IS TRAVEL AROUND THE DISTRICT AND LISTEN. HAVE OFFICE HOURS, OPEN IT UP AND LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING SO ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE CAN TURN INTO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. >>RIGHT NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU THINK? >> IF THEY WANT TO STAY TON THEIR OWN INSURANCE POLICY, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR OWN INSURANCE POLICY. I HEAR ABOUT THAT A LOT. I HEAR ALSO SOME SMALL BUSINESS, THEY'D LIKE TO INCREASE THE SIZE INSTEAD OF 50 TO RECEIVE THE SUBSIDY..
SO I DO HEAR THAT..
SO THOSE ARE TWO SPECIFIC THINGS THAT I WOULD TRY TO START WORKING ON. OF COURSE, LOWERING THE COST FOR MIDDLE CLASS AND OUR WORKING FAMILIES. SO THAT'S HOW IT UNFOLDS -- THAT'S HOW I WOULD LISTEN AND SEE HOW IT UNFOLDS AND THEN GET RIGHT TO WORK..
>>WE WANT TO GET THE COST, YOU BROUGHT IT UP..
>>JUDGE CALLIS, IF ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE TO COVER MORE PEOPLE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP FOR MEDICAID AND FOR SUBSIDIES..
BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE SUBSIDIES, STILL SEE PREMIUMS RISING, WHAT CAN CONGRESS DO TO FIX THE LAW TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THESE PEOPLE?.
>> WELL, ONE WOMAN CAME UP TO ME FOR INSTANCE, AND SHE NEVER HAD INSURANCE. SHE IS SELF-EMPLOYED, AND SHE IS TERRIFIED THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE RIPPED AWAY FROM HER IF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY AND REPEAL THE ACA..
SO, AGAIN, IT IS LISTENING, LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND HOW WE CONTAIN COSTS. BECAUSE THAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE ACA IS LOWERING THE COST..
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO LOWER THE COST AND JUST LISTEN AND GET TO WORK. >>BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFICS IN MIND RIGHT NOW?.
>> WELL, YES..
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, AND I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITH COMPANIES THAT ARE 50 PLUS COMPANIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO POSSIBLY RECEIVE SOME OF THOSE SUBSIDIES, AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR OWN INSURANCE..
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO LOWER THE COST..
>>CONGRESSMAN, SAME QUESTION IF THE GOAL OF THE ACA IS TO LOWER COST FOR PEOPLE, DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING?.
>>WELL, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN CHANGING AND REPLACING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WITH MUCH MORE MARKET BASED APPROACH THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO COVER PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LIFE TIME CAPS, GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE COMMON SENSE CHANGES LIKE THE ONES I HAVE HISTORY OFFERED, LIKE THE HIRE MORE HEROES ACT..
I APPRECIATE MY OPPONENT REMINDING THE VIEWERS THAT I VOTED 50 TIMES TO EITHER REPEAL, REPLACE OR CHANGE THE AFFORDABLE ACT TO 54. I WOULD ASK MY OPPONENT WHICH OF THOSE 54 VOTES WOULD SHE NOT HAVE TAKEN. WHAT WOULD SHE NOT SUPPORT? WHAT WOULD SHE SUPPORT? THESE ARE COMMON SENSE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TRIED TO IMPLEMENT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO LOWER PREMIUMS..
I WILL TELL YOU I AM ON OBAMA CARE. BY LAW, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS ON THE ACA EXCHANGE..
MY PREMIUMS WENT UP..
MY DEDUCTIBLES WENT UP. IN MY FAMILY'S CASE, I HAVE ACTUALLY REACHED THE OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM THAT A FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO PAY DUE TO CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS, BECAUSE MY WIFE, SHANNON WHO IS HERE TONIGHT, IS A 15 YEAR COLON CANCER SURVIVOR OF WE HAVE SEEN HOW FAMILIES HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO ACTUALLY MEET THAT OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM. THOSE ARE REAL COSTS TO REAL FAMILIES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE REAL CHANGES TO THIS LAW. >> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE HEALTH CARE AT THAT. BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT TOPIC, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM TWITTER FROM ADDISON, ABOUT HALF OF THE DISTRICT WILL VOTE FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATE..
HOW WILL YOU REPRESENT THE OTHER HALF IF YOU WIN, CONGRESSMAN DAVIS? >> EXACT SAME WAY I HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT FOR THE LAST ALMOST TWO YEARS..
I BELIEVE I HAVE GONE TO WASHINGTON, MAKING THE PROMISE THAT I WANTED TO PASS A FARM BILL, NOT ONLY DID I HELP PASS A FARM BILL, I HELPED WRITE IT FROM ITS INFANCY INTO THE FINAL COMPLETION AS A MEMBER OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, A COMMITTEE WHERE MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES COME TOGETHER WITH MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES FROM THE SENATE, AND WE SIT DOWN AND WORK OUT OUR DIFFERENCES..
WE PUT TOGETHER A GOOD COMMON SENSE PIECE OF LEGISLATION..
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT FARM BILL DID. WE SET GOOD FARM POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT AGRICULTURE REMAINS PILLAR OF A GROWING ECONOMY. WE ALSO SAVED TAXPAYERS $23 BILLION. SO IT IS COMMON SENSE THAT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO ON A DISTRICT WIDE BASIS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ONE VOTES FOR ME. >>JUDGE CALLIS, HOW WOULD YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU? >>I AM GLAD CONGRESSMAN DAVIS DID PASS -- HELPED PASS THE FARM BILL..
BUT THIS IS THE MOST NON-PRODUCTIVE CONGRESS SINCE WE MEASURED CONGRESS. SO IT IS A DO-NOTHING CONGRESS BEING AND WE NEED TO START GETTING THINGS DONE. WHEN I WAS CHIEF JUDGE, I, IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, INSTITUTED SIGNIFICANT COURT REFORMS, STARTED THE FIRST VETERANS' COURT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, IN MADISON COUNTY, AND I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT CONGRESSMAN DAVIS HAS SHOWN AN INTEREST THIS OUR MADISON COUNTY VETERANS. WE STARTED THAT VERY RUDIMENTARILY. NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS..
WHEN I PUT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO INSTITUTE INNOVATION OR REFORM, I NEVER CARED IF THAT PERSON WERE REPUBLICAN. I NEVER CARED IF THAT PERSON WAS A DEMOCRAT. WE PUT THE BEST PEOPLE ON THAT COMMITTEE TO GET THE JOB DONE..
SO FOR INSTANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE THE FIRST VETERANS COURT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, VERY RUDIMENTARILY..
NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS, RECRUITING THE BEST PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM. IT HAS GROWN TO BE A MODEL FOR OUR NATION. HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VETERANS HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM AND GRADUATED SUCCESSFULLY. THEY DON'T REOFFEND..
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD BY CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS, AND IT WON THAT AWARD. ALSO, I HAD TWO--FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS AT AN EVENT, AND HAD TWO VIETNAM ERA VETERANS COME UP TO ME SEPARATELY AND TOLD MEET MADISON COUNTY VETERANS' COURT SAVED THEIR LIFE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY FELT SOMEONE CARED ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH. SO I HAVE A RECORD OF REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE AND GETTING THINGS DONE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD DO. I ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY AS CHIEF JUDGE, LISTENING AND THEN ACTING. >>ALL RIGHT..
NEXT TOPIC, THIS IS A BIG ONE, JOBS AND ECONOMY. HANNAH HAS THE FIRST QUESTION FOR JUDGE CALLIS. THERE IS A QUESTION TO INCREASE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TO $10.10 AN HOUR. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS THAT A HIKE COULD LIFT 900,000 OUT OF POVERTY, BUT ALSO SUGGESTS HALF MILLION PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOB. OF COURSE, SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO EITHER LAYOFF PEOPLE OR PUSH THE PRICE ONTO CONSUMERS BY RAISING PRICES. SO JUDGE CALLIS, DO YOU SUPPORT INCREASE THIS FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE TO 10.10? >>ABSOLUTELY..
ABSOLUTELY..
I HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THIS DISTRICT, AND GONE TO MANY, MANY COMMUNITY CENTERS, PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN FOOD AND DIAPERS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME AND TRYING TO BETTER THEMSELVES, AND THEY KEEP FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND BENEATH THE POVERTY LINE..
IT IS TIME WE RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THIS NATION..
SIX OUT OF THE TEN MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ARE WOMEN. MANY OF THEM HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS. SO ABSOLUTELY..
THEN WHEN WE RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, THESE PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO COMMERCE AND SPENDING MONEY AND REINVIGORATING OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM. >>IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT TO OFFSET THE COST TO BUSINESSES WHO MIGHT STRUGGLE TO RAISE THAT WAGE FOR THEIR WORKERS? >> I JUST THINK IT IS TIME WE RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE..
NOW, AGAIN, I, AS CHIEF JUDGE, I LISTENED, HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY. SO IF I WOULD, OF COURSE, LISTEN AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SEE IF ACTUALLY BUSINESSES WERE COSTS WERE RAISED. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY, IT IS TIME WE RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. IT IS TIME..
I HEAR FROM SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTERS TRAVELING AROUND OUR DISTRICT, AND IT IS JUST TIME..
>>CONGRESSMAN, DO YOU SUPPORT RAISING THE >>I AM CLEAR..
I WOULD SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE AS LONG AS IT WAS PARED WITH TAX CREDITS. SIMILAR TO A BILL I INTRODUCED WITH MY FRIEND, DAN LIPINSKI, IN CHICAGO TO ALLOW FOR BUSINESSES TO HIRE YOUNG APPRENTICES TAX CREDITS IN THE SECTION OF OUR ECONOMY. WE NEED TO GROW INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS. I SAID ALL ALONG, WE NEED TO OFFSET THESE COSTS BECAUSE THE BUDGET OFFICE ASSESSMENT. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST PARTISAN ORGANIZATION. IT ESTIMATES IF THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS INCREASE TO 10.10, WITHOUT OFFSETS, 500,000 FAMILIES WOULD LOSE MINIMUM WAGE JOB. I DON'T WANT ANY FAMILY TO LOSE THEIR JOB. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO GROW OUR ECONOMY. ILLINOIS IS LAGGING BEHIND THE REST OF THE AS A MATTER OF FACT, ILLINOIS OVER THE FIRST -- FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR HAS BEEN LAST IN JOB CREATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT IN SPRINGFIELD. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOWARD CREATING REAL JOBS..
AND I AM HAPPY TO BE JOINED BUT MY DAD HERE TONIGHT..
MY DAD WALKED INTO A RESTAURANT, BRAND NEW RESTAURANT IN 1959 CALLED MCDONALD'S. AND HE STARTED WORKING WHAT WAS THEN A MINIMUM WAGE JOB..
STARTED FLIPPING HAMBURGERS AND SHUCKING FRENCH FRIES AND HAD NO INTENTION OF EVER STAYING THERE..
MY DAD WORKED HIS WAY UP. BECAUSE HE DID THAT, HE ALLOWED MY FAMILY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND NO YOUNG PERSON SHOULD EVER LISTEN TO A POLICYMAKER WHO SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD TURN YOUR MINIMUM WAGE JOB INTO YOUR CAREER NOW. BECAUSE YOUR CAREER SHOULD BE THE AMERICAN DREAM, NOT KEEPING THE JOB THAT IS PAYING YOU MINIMUM WAGE RIGHT NOW. I GO TO COLLEGES, TALK TO MANY STUDENTS, AND I ASK THEM TO RAISE THEIR HANDS IF THEY ARE ON MINIMUM WAGE, AND MANY DO. I SAY HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO STAY IN THAT JOB AND MAKE IT A CAREER? NOT ONE SINGLE HAND IS RAISED. SPEAKING OF COLLEGES, IT WILL COST OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN THIS STATE MILLIONS TO IMPLEMENT ANY MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IN A TIME WHERE THE STATE IS NOT FULLY FUNDING HIGHER EDUCATION. IT IS A TIME WHERE STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO BE LAID OFF FROM A JOB WHEN THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR EVER INCREASING COSTS OF COLLEGE EDUCATION. >> JUDGE CALLIS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, REPORTED THAT THE LOWEST EARNERS IN THE MIDDLE CLASS HAVE LOST GROUND OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES WHILE THE INCOME OF THE HIGHEST EARNERS HAS GROWN SOMETIMES BY THREE DIGITS. IS IT THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE TO ADDRESS INCOME INEQUALITY?.
IF SO, HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT? >> WELL, I THINK WE -- ONE WAY TO ADDRESS INCOME INEQUALITY IS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE. I DON'T KNOW WHO MR..
DAVIS IS TALKING TO WITH THESE STUDENTS THAT SAY THEY WERE CAREER TO HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE JOB JUST BECAUSE THE MINIMUM WAGE IS RAISED, IT WILL RAISE THEM UP TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO ATTEND A COLLEGE AND BE ABLE NOT TO FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND IN THE POVERTY SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I HEARD HIM POINT HIS FINGER AT DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT IN SPRINGFIELD..
BUT HOW ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON D.C. TODAY? I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE CAN ADDRESS INCOME INEQUALITY..
ALSO, IT IS TIME THAT WE PASS THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT..
I TALKED TO MANY, MANY WOMEN AROUND THIS DISTRICT, AND THE FACT THAT IN ILLINOIS, 70 PLUS CENTS ON DOLLAR THAT WOMEN MAKE, NOT COMMENSURATE WITH MEN..
IT IS TIME WE DO THAT. ALSO,I THINK WE COULD EVEN WARREN BUFFET HAS SAID IT IS UNFAIR HE PAYS LESSER TAX RATE THAN HIS SECRETARY PAYS. SO THERE CAN BE SOME REFORM IN THE TAX CODE ESPECIALLY CLOSING SOME OF THESE LOOPHOLES FOR CORPORATIONS..
FOR INSTANCE, THE CORPORATE JET TAX LOOPHOLE WHERE IT IS FOUR BILLION DOLLARS, FOUR BILLION DOLLARS THAT CAN COME BACK INTO OUR NATION'S ECONOMY IF WE CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE. >>CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, HOW ABOUT YOU? >> WELL, I WILL TELL YOU WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MINIMUM WAGE, AND STUDENTS THAT I TALK TO MAKE -- LET ME MAKE MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR. MANY OF THEM WORK AT THE UNIVERSITIES TO PAY THEIR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE. WHEN THE UNIVERSITY TELLS US THEY WILL HAVE TO LAYOFF STUDENTS, THAT'S NOT IN THE POSITIVE IF THEY CAN'T HAVE AN OFFSET TO THAT MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE..
WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR EDUCATION. WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT EQUAL PAY. AND I WILL TELL YOU THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO FIND OUT ON A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR POLITICIAN IS TO -- HOW THEY VIEW EQUAL PAY IS LOOK AT WHAT THEY CAN CONTROL. IF YOU LOOK AT MY OFFICE, I PAY THE WOMEN IN MY OFFICE, AVERAGE OF $4,000 MORE PER YEAR WHILE MY OPPONENT WHEN SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MADISON COUNTY COURT SYSTEM HAD ACTUALLY THERE WAS UNEQUAL PAY OF ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 15% PER YEAR FROM THE MALE AND FEMALE EMPLOYEES. >>HOW ABOUT THE QUESTION ABOUT INCOME INEQUALITY, THOUGH, TAX CODE BE CHANGED? >> OH, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY TO GROW JOBS. INCOME INEQUALITY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON HAS GROWN TO LEVELS WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN DECADES..
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET GOOD PAYING CAREERS..
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO IN MY SHORT TIME IN WASHINGTON..
THAT'S WHY I HELPED WRITE AND WORK THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS PASSED INTO LAW AS MEMBER OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT TO OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT'S ECONOMY. MOST OF THE PRODUCTS THAT GO UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ARE COAL AND GRAIN. THAT SCREAMS THE 13TH DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS. WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR LOCKS AND DAMS AND PUT OUR TRADES AND LABOR FOLKS BACK TO WORK. AND THAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN DOING SO. >>YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. WE GOT TWEETS FROM TWO OF THEM. MICHELLE, I AM A STUDENT, AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT..
HOW DO YOU PLAN ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS LIKE ME?.
ANOTHER SAID WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT MIGHT HELP ME. I AM INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AT UIUC. MY FUTURE AFTER GRADUATION IS UNCERTAIN, EVEN IF I GET A JOB..
JUDGE CALLIS, HOW WOULD YOU HELP THESE STUDENTS? >> FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS, MY OFFICE AS CHIEF JUDGE, INCOME INEQUALITY. MADISON COUNTY WAS UNIONIZED BY AFSCME, AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT. WE COULD DO CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS SET BY AFSCME..
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS COMING FROM WITH THAT AT ALL..
IT IS TIME -- IT IS TIME WE PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM..
I HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THIS DISTRICT. STUDENTS HAVE ADDRESSED THAT. BUT ALSO LOOKING AT GOING THROUGH AND TOURING RESEARCH PARK AND TALKING TO THESE EXECUTIVES AT YAHOO THERE..
THEIR NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS COMPREHENSIVE IT IS TIME MR..
DAVIS ASKS SPEAKER BOEHNER WHO CAME DOWN TO RAISE MONEY FOR HIM, HEY, LET'S TAKE UP THIS BILL AND PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. IT IS NOT -- IT IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS. IT ALSO TEN TO 13 YEARS, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FINES AND THEY HAVE EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS..
IT IS DELIBERATIVE DIFFICULT PROCESS, AND IT STRENGTHENS OUR BORDERS. ALSO, IF WE PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, THE GDP WOULD BE INCREASED IN THE NEXT NINE YEARS, 3.3% ADDING I THINK $1.4 BILLION INTO OUR NATION'S -- $1.4 TRILLION INTO OUR NATION'S ECONOMY WITHIN THE NEXT NINE YEARS..
GDP AFTER THAT, WOULD GO UP 5%. SO IT IS REALLY TIME. I THINK IT WOULD BE $1.4 TRILLION ADDED INTO OUR ECONOMY..
SO IT IS TIME..
>>CONGRESSMAN?.
>>WELL, I HAVE SAID I AM OPEN TO DISCUSSING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM PACKAGE. BUT THE ONE THAT PASSED THE SENATE THAT MY OPPONENT SUPPORTS IS NOT GOING TO PASS IN THE HOUSE..
WE HAVE THROWN OUT SOME GOOD IDEAS TO MOVE IN A STEP BY STEP APPROACH TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT THE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES I AM BLESSED ENOUGH TO REPRESENT MAYBE AFFECTED BY..
I FIND IT -- I FIND IT JUST COMPLETELY WRONG FOR UNIVERSITIES TO ATTRACT STUDENTS INTO MAJORS WHERE WE NEED ENGINEERS. WE NEED MATHEMATICIANS. WE NEED SCIENTISTS..
WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WORK WITH TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IN CYBER SECURITY. I FIND IT WRONG THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WILL THEN ALLOW THEM TO BE EMPLOYED HERE IN AMERICA..
WE TELL THEM TO COME GET EDUCATED HERE, AND THEN TELL THEM TO GO BACK AND COMPETE AGAINST US..
THESE ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF PROVISIONS WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON. BUT THE FAR RIGHT AND FAR LEFT DON'T WANT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE A BROKEN VISA SYSTEM. MOST OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THIS COUNTRY DOESN'T COME FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER. IT COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO FLY INTO OUR AIRPORTS AND OVERSTAY THEIR VISAS. WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT WILL BE A TRUE SOLUTION WITHOUT PLAYING POLITICS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN MY CHILDREN ASK ME 27 YEARS FROM NOW WHICH WAS THE LAST TIME THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT A SOLUTION ON THE TABLE THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK TO FIX THAT BROKEN VISA SYSTEM..
>>WHICH LEADS US INTO FOREIGN POLICY. LAST MONTH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND A HANDFUL OF U.S. ALLIES LAUNCHED AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE GROUP THAT CALLS ITSELF ISLAMIC STATE OR ISIS. OBAMA RECENTLY DESCRIBES IT A LONG TERM CAMPAIGN. TOM GETS TO ASK THE NEXT QUESTION. IT GOES TO CONGRESSMAN DAVIS. >>SO FAR YOU SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT'S LIMITED AIR STRIKES, MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE..
WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU, AND HOW LONG ARE YOU WILLING TO CONTINUE WITH JUST PRIMARILY AIR STRIKES IN THAT REGION? >> WELL, TOM, IT IS A GREAT QUESTION, BUT I DON'T PROFESS TO BE A MILITARY STRATEGIST. I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTELLIGENCE THE PRESIDENT DOES, AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED HIM WHEN HE HAS ASKED. HE SAID HE LISTENED TO THE GENERALS UNDER HIS COMMAND AS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, HE SAID THIS IS A PLAN, STRATEGY THAT WILL SUCCEED. IF HE AND THE GENERALS AND MILITARY LEADERS OFFER UP A DIFFERENT STRATEGY, I AM WILLING TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT AND CONSIDER IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE VICTORY IS WIPING OUT ISIS..
THIS IS THE MOST HUMANE RADICAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR -- IN MY LIFE TIME, AN ORGANIZATION THAT GLORIFIES BEHEADING INDIVIDUALS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES PUT AT 31,000 SOLDIERS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAGING A WAR AGAINST HUMANITY, NOT A WAR AGAINST CHRISTIANITY, NOT A WAR AGAINST THE WEST BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF ISIS HAVE BEEN FELLOW MUSLIMS WHO WEREN'T PURE ENOUGH. THIS IS THE TYPE OF BATTLE WE HAVE TO ERADICATE THIS GROUP..
I DO BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WHEN ISIS WAS MARCHING ACROSS THE OPEN DESERT OF IRAQ. I WISH HE WOULD HAVE ACTED SOONER. I WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT HIS PLAN BEFORE WE LEFT WASHINGTON..
I STAND READY TO GO BACK TOMORROW IF THERE IS A BETTER PLAN..
>>HOW WOULD YOU KNOW YOU ERADICATED IT? IS THERE ANYWAY OF TELLING? COULDN'T THIS GO ON FOREVER? >> WHEN ISIS DOESN'T CONTROL ANY TOWNS OR CITIES IN IRAQ OR SYRIA, I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO ERADICATION. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN THE REGION..
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ISIS DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REGROUP, AND MAKE MORE ATTACKS ON INNOCENT AMERICANS AND INNOCENT SYRIANS AND IRAQIS. >>JUDGE CALLIS, A RECENT CBS NEWS POLL SHOWS MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THINK U.S. GROUND TROOPS WILL EVENTUALLY BE NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE THREAT OF ISIS..
ONLY 20% THINK AIR STRIKES ALONE WILL DO THE JOB..
DO YOU AGREE?.
>> I DO HAVE TO SEPARATE MY PROFESSIONAL FROM MY PERSONAL IN THIS, AND THAT MY SON IS AN ARMY RANGER, INFANTRY OFFICER. HE WAS DEPLOYED TO KUWAIT. HIS DEPLOYMENT WAS EXTENDED BECAUSE OF THE DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION IN IRAQ. HE IS BLESSEDLY HOME NOW. HE WAS ABLE TO WELCOME HIM HOME. THE AIR STRIKES I DID SUPPORT. I AM NOT PRIVY TO THE SECURITY BRIEFINGS. MY SON DID NOT TELL ME MUCH. BUT ONE THING HE TOLD ME IS THE SHEER AND UTTER BRUTALITY THAT IS GOING ON THERE. I THINK WE NEED TO JOIN WITH NON-JIHADIST SUNNIES IN IRAQ..
MULTILATERAL APPROACH, NOT UNILATERAL APPROACH AND LISTEN TO OUR MILITARY LEADERS. I KNOW AND BELIEVE WE HAVE THE BEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD, BUT WE SHOULD NOT GO IN THERE UNILATERALLY AND GET BOGGED DOWN, BUT WOULD HAVE TO BE A WAIT AND SEE. I KNOW IT IS A RAPIDLY, RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SITUATION, AND LISTEN TO OUR MILITARY LEADERS. I THINK MR..
DAVIS YOU MEANT INHUMANE, NOT HUMANE WHEN YOU SAID HUMANE..
>>WOULD YOU SUPPORT BOOTS ON THE GROUND? >> IF OUR MILITARY LEADERS SAY SO, AND IF IT IS A MULTILATERAL APPROACH, I WOULD. I HAVEN'T SEEN FIRSTHAND. I KNOW WE HAVE THE BEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE NATION..
MY SON IS NOW IN A DIFFERENT UNIT, AND I KNOW IF HE IS CALLED OVER THERE, HE AND HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND IN ARMS WILL DO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY TO DEFEND OUR NATION. >>JUDGE, DO YOU THINK MORE TERROR ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S. ARE INEVITABLE? IF SO, SHOULD WE BE PREPARED TO GIVE UP MORE CIVIL LIBERTIES THAN WE HAVE ALREADY? >>IT IS A BALANCE. IT IS A BALANCE..
AND I HOPE IT IS NOT INEVITABLE. I HOPE NOT..
SO I THINK HAVING BEEN A JUDGE, I THINK ANY OF THESE TYPES OF PROCESSES THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO GATHER INFORMATION, WHATEVER THE MEANS, THAT IT SHOULD GO THROUGH JUDICIAL PROCESS. BUT SECURITY HAS TO BE BALANCED WITH OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM. >>ARE YOU CONCERN WITH THE WAY IT SORT OF PLAYED OUT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS? >> WELL, HAVING BEEN A JUDGE, YES. I THINK -- A LITTLE CONCERNED. I JUST THINK IT SHOULD GO THROUGH A WARRANT SYSTEM AND GO THROUGH A JUDICIAL PROCESS AND HAVE JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT. >>UP NEXT, ENTITLEMENTS. FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, FOOD STAMPS AMONG OTHERS. JUDGE CALLIS WILL GET THE FIRST QUESTION. >> SOCIAL SECURITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST DOMESTIC EXPENSES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WITH SO-CALLED BABY BOOMER GENERATION RETIRING, THE CBO EXPECT THE COSTS TO KEEP RISING, WITHOUT THE REVENUE TO FULLY SUPPORT IT. JUDGE CALLIS, YOU SAY YOU WANT TO PRESERVE THE SYSTEM,.
HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT? WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO CHANGING BENEFITS OR INCREASES THE TAXES FOR THE SYSTEM? >> SOCIAL SECURITY IS SO IMPORTANT TRAVELING AROUND THIS DISTRICT, IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS AT A PIG ROAST IN CALHOUN COUNTY, AN OLDER WOMAN CAME UP TO ME AND GRAND MY ARM AND SHE SAID "PLEASE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY." SO I WOULD BE AGAINST ANY CHANGE TO CPI, RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE, BUT I THINK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER, WE CAN CREATE A COMMISSION AND SEE HOW WE CAN KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENT, NOT ONLY FOR THE NOW, BUT FOR FUTURE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS..
I SAW MY GRANDMA WHO WAS AN IRISH IMMIGRANT AND CAME OVER AND SHE WAS A NURSE AT SAINT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL..
I SAW HER WHEN SHE RETIRED RELY ON HER SOCIAL SECURITY FIRSTHAND..
SO WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP ON THE TABLE AND POSSIBLY RAISING THE PAYROLL TAX CAP, AND WHERE THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW..
I'D HAVE TO LISTEN..
BUT IT WOULD BE A GREAT PRIORITY FOR ME TO KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENT. HOW WE DO THAT, HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET IT DONE..
>>IF THE PAYROLL TAX CAP, IF THAT OPTION WASN'T POLITICALLY VIABLE AT THE TIME, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS OF HOW TO RAISE THAT REVENUE TO KEEP IT SOLVENT?.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULDN'T BE POLITICALLY VIABLE AT THAT TIME. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE. BUT ABSOLUTELY..
I WOULD BE AGAINST ANY TYPE OF CHANGE CPI, RAISING RETIREMENT AGE. >>CONGRESSMAN, SAME QUESTION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO KEEP THE SYSTEM SOLVENT? >> I WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING MY ERROR IN GRAMMAR, INHUMANE AND HUMANE..
I APOLOGIZE TO THE VIEWERS. I DO APPRECIATE IT..
I DO AGREE WITH MY OPPONENT. WE DO NEED TO CREATE BIPARTISAN COMMISSION TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL SECURITY. AS WE HAVE SEEN, ACTUARIES SAY SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AS IS. I HOPE WE CAN HAVE AN ADULT CONVERSATION, A BIPARTISAN CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON TO DO SO..
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS PART OF THE RYAN BUDGET PROPOSAL TO DO WHICH WAS TO CREATE A BIPARTISAN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND ITS INSOLVENCY THAT IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 2032, 2033. THESE ARE ISSUES BECAUSE WE BOTH AGREE, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE BENEFITS CUT AT ALL FOR ANYONE WHO IS ON SOCIAL SECURITY. I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY WERE PROMISED. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY, NOT JUST FOR THIS GENERATION, BUT FOR FUTURE TOM, I NOTICE I DIDN'T GET ASKED YOUR QUESTION. I THINK MY VOTING RECORD CLEARLY SHOWS I WANT THE BALANCED APPROACH BETWEEN PRIVACY AND BETWEEN PROTECTING AMERICANS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS DON'T ACQUIRE SO MUCH DATA AND THEY TELL US THEY NEED TO FIND THE NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK. THEY MAKE THE HAYSTACK SO LARGE THEY WILL NEVER FIND THE NEEDLE. MY VOTING RECORD CLEARLY SHOWS I HAVE BEEN IN SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE ISSUES TO REIN IN ISSUES THAT ARE RELATING TO OUR INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND OUR PRIORITIES..
>>BACK TO SOCIAL SECURITY, REAL QUICK, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO RAISING PAYROLL TAXES TO KEEP THE SYSTEM SOLVENT?.
>> I AM OPEN TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BIPARTISAN COMMISSION THAT WILL DISCUSS A PORTFOLIO OF SOLUTIONS..
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT DISCUSSING MEANS TESTING. I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT BILL GATES CAN RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WHEN OTHERS WHO ARE LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY HAVE TO DO SO..
I THINK BILL GATES WOULD GLADLY GIVE UP HIS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO SAVE THE SYSTEM FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT ADULT CONVERSATION, AND I HOPE THERE ARE SOME NEW IDEAS THAT COME OUT..
THE PRESIDENT STOOD IN A ROOM SPEAKING TO REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON AND PROFESSED HIS SUPPORT FOR CHANGED CPI. MANY IN THE ROOM WERE SURPRISED BY THAT. SO I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO WANT TO DISCUSS CHANGED CPI. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD BECOME REALITY OR NOT. >>YOU BOTH BROUGHT UP PARTISANSHIP. WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT ROOM, THIS IS FOR BOTH OF YOU, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR NON-NEGOTIATABLE? WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY? >> THAT THOSE WHO ARE 55, 56 AND ABOVE RECEIVING BENEFITS RIGHT NOW SEE NO BENEFIT CUTS WHATSOEVER. >> WHAT IS YOUR NON-NEGOTIATE? >> AS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY? >> CORRECT..
>>CHANGE CPI, ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THAT AND RAISING THE AGE, ELIGIBILITY AGE, RETIREMENT. >>MENTIONED PAUL RYAN BUDGET WHICH YOU VOTED FOR WHICH WOULD BALANCE FEDERAL BUDGET IN TEN YEARS..
YOU SAID IT WAS IMPERFECT PLAN. ARE THERE PARTS -- A LOT OF PARTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVISE OR UNDO? ELIMINATE?.
>> TOM, THERE IS NO PERFECT BILL THAT COMES OUT OF WASHINGTON, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE JUDGE THE QUALITY PIECES OF THAT LEGISLATION VERSUS THOSE YOU MAY NOT BE AS FAVORABLE ON. AND IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE TO, AS AMERICANS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT BALANCING OUR BUDGET..
THIS IS THE ONLY BUDGET THAT WAS EVER OFFERED THAT BALANCES IN TEN YEARS. I THINK THAT'S A VERY GREAT GOAL. >>YOU SAID IT WAS IMPERFECT. SO YOU MUST HAVE A FEW IDEAS THAT--ABOUT IT THAT NEED TO BE ELIMINATED. >>I DO..
AND WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING PELL GRANTS, WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE RELATED TO SAVING, I BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS BECAUSE A BUDGET IS NEVER GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED FULLY INTO LAW. WE NEED TO GO THROUGH AND REPRIORITIZE HOW WE SPEND MONEY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY YOU NEED A VISION, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS RYAN BUDGET DID..
IT GAVE AMERICA A VISION THAT WILL HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IN TEN YEARS. AND IT ALSO -- IT ALSO GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE SENATE ACTUALLY HAVE TO FULFILL THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND PASS THEIR OWN BUDGET BECAUSE I PROUDLY SUPPORTED ONE OF THE FIRST VOTES I MADE IN WASHINGTON WAS FOR NO BUDGET, NO PAY..
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE OUGHT TO LAY OUT THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA, AND THEY DID BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET PAID IF THEY DIDN'T..
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?.
TYPICALLY, THEIR BUDGET NEVER BALANCES AND INCREASES SPENDING AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO REDUCE OUR DEFICIT TO THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE WORLD WAR II..
IT IS A TRAVESTY THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CUT SPENDING IN AREAS THAT NEED TO BE CUT AND INCREASE IT IN AREAS THAT NEED TO BE INCREASED, AND DO IT THROUGH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL APPROPRIATION PROCESSES WHICH IS THE WAY WASHINGTON USED TO SPEND MONEY WHEN WASHINGTON WORKED. >>HANNAH, YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION? >> YES..
WE WILL MOVE ONTO MORE ABOUT ENTITLEMENTS, MAINLY FOOD STAMPS, WELFARE. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES, THE AVERAGE FOOD STAMP RECIPIENT RECEIVED $133 A MONTH LAST YEAR WHICH IS ABOUT $1.48 A MEAL..
FOOD STAMPS ARE JUST ONE EXAMPLE LIKE I MENTIONED OF THE SAFETY NET OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET..
RIGHT NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POVERTY LINE FOR FAMILY OF FOUR IS $24,000 BASED ON MEASURES FROM THE 1950'S..
CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, FIRST, WHO IS MOST AT RISK OF FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS? HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE PROGRAMS AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE THOSE PEOPLE? >>WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION, HANNAH..
I ACTUALLY MADE SURE I WAS PART OF THAT DEBATE IN THE FARM BILL..
WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER SOME VERY COMMON SENSE PROVISIONS THAT ENSURE THAT WE SAVE TAXPAYERS $8 BILLION. THERE IS A LOOPHOLE SOME STATES WERE USING CALLED THE HEAT AND EAT LOOPHOLE THAT GAVE FOOD STAMPS TO ANYONE WHO QUALIFIED FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE..
WE DIDN'T TAKE AWAY THAT PROGRAM. WE RAISED THE BAROMETER TO $20. IT SAVES TAXPAYERS $8 BILLION IN THE PROGRAM. THAT'S $8 BILLION WE CAN PUT TOWARDS MAKING SURE THOSE WHO NEED BENEFITS THE GOING TO GET THEM..
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE OUGHT TO IMPLEMENT SOME TYPE OF WORK REQUIREMENT THAT WAS COMMONPLACE UNDER THE CLINTON ERA WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN CHANGED DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND I FOR THE LIFE OF ME CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY AMERICA SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN ABLE-BODIED ADULT, WHO HAS NO DEPENDENT CHILDREN, WHO IS NOT ENROLLED IN A TRAINING OR EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHO DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF AN ADULT DEPENDENT, WHO DOESN'T NEED PLETHORA OF OTHER EXEMPTIONS, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T PAIR THEM WITH A IF A JOB IS NOT AVAILABLE, WHY CAN'T WE PAIR THEM WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE OR VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN LEARN SKILLS TO GIVE THEM SKILLS THE BEST BENEFIT THEIR FAMILY CAN HAVE..
>>JUDGE CALLIS. >>TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS, I THINK IT IS NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH TO DEMAND SOMEONE THEY HAVE TO HAVE A JOB WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PERSON IS GOING THROUGH IN THEIR OWN LIVES WITH WHATEVER DOMESTIC ABUSE, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. SO I THINK IT IS A PRESUMPTUOUS WAY TO GOVERN. IF YOU LISTEN TO MR..
DAVIS, THEY WERE BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL THERE PASSING BILL AFTER BILL AFTER BILL. I MEAN THIS IS THE MOST NON-PRODUCTIVE CONGRESS THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE HISTORY OF CONGRESS! SO I THINK IT IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH. AND WE NEED TO, FIRST OF ALL, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE LET, AS CONGRESSMAN DAVIS' CONGRESS DID WHEN THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WERE EXTENDED BY THE SENATE. THEY DIED IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE EVERYBODY WENT ON VACATION THERE..
185,000 VETERANS, 185,000 VETERANS WERE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO?.
WELL, I THINK STRENGTHEN PELL GRANTS, FOR INSTANCE..
SO THESE PEOPLE CAN GO TO SCHOOL, PEOPLE THAT ARE ON MINIMUM WAGE CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND ALSO BE ABLE TO BETTER THEMSELVES, GET A BETTER IT WOULDN'T BE THE RYAN BUDGET WAY WHERE THE NEEDS ANALYSIS TESTING WAS CONSTRICTED, AND THE ELIGIBILITY WAS REDUCED. ALSO, WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DO AS CHIEF JUDGE, AND I THINK THIS IS A PHILOSOPHY THAT I WOULD HAVE AS A CONGRESSPERSON, AND THAT IS YOU ARE ON GROUND AND YOU ARE LISTENING. WHAT CAN YOU DO AT THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS? WHEN I HAVE GONE THERE, PEOPLE HAD -- THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THESE URBAN LEAGUE, LIKE MAN CAMP WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT OF PRISON OR PROBATION TO TEACH THEM HOW THEY CAN GET INTO THE EMPLOYMENT UNIVERSE. SO I REALLY HAVING BEEN A STATE-WIDE LEADER ON JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ISSUES, NOT ONLY VETERANS' COURT, BUT A TRUE BELIEVER IN DRUG COURT, AND MENTAL HEALTH COURT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS BY GOING THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. I CAN SEE WHERE I CAN TRAVEL AROUND OUR DISTRICT TO EACH COUNTY AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE GOING AND SEE WHAT THEY DON'T AND REALLY BEING A BRIDGE TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH I THINK WOULD FILL A TRUE GAP TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT..
>>WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM TWITTER, FROM PERRY, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP IMPROVE NEW FUEL ENERGY IN ILLINOIS AND THE U.S., JUDGE CALLIS?.
>> I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT ILLINOIS IS NUMBER ONE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES. AND WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES HERE WITH OUR NINE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY HERE AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WITH THE WONDERFUL INNOVATORS HERE..
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO EXPAND ON THIS AND GROW GREAT JOBS RIGHT HERE? DRAW OUT OUR INNOVATORS, JOIN THEM WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES..
SO OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM THIS WONDERFUL UNIVERSITY AND WANT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN THESE WONDERFUL WORLD CLASS COMMUNITIES. SO HOW WE CAN ADVANCE THEM FORWARD. I SAW THAT DECATUR HAD A CHANCE TO GET THE GENOTYPE LAB, AND IT WAS LOST TO FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA..
HOW CAN WE DO THAT TO SUSTAIN OURSELF, BUT ALSO DRAW IN BUSINESSES, WHAT CAN WE DO? SO I WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO WORK, BUILD COALITIONS, GET THINGS DONE..
>>CONGRESSMAN DAVIS. >>WELL, I APPRECIATE ANN'S COMMENTS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS BUILD COALITIONS TO ENSURE WE ACTUALLY MAKE OUR NEXT MISSION TO THE MOON TO MAKE OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENT..
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE BUILDING KEYSTONE PIPE COMPANY. THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS OVERSTUDIED THIS PERMIT MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER PROJECT IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND EVEN MEMBERS OF ORGANIZED LABOR ESTIMATE IT WILL CREATE 40,000 NEW JOBS..
THAT OIL IS COMING FROM CANADA, VIA TRAIN, VIA TRUCK NOW..
LET'S PUT IT IN THE SAFE PIPELINE. LET'S MAKE SURE WE CAN CREATE AMERICAN JOBS. THAT'S EXACTLY THE FIRST STEP IN BECOMING ENERGY INDEPENDENT THAT'S HOW WE ACTUALLY USE ALL OF OUR ENERGY SOURCES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE HOME GROWN RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS. WE HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A STATE THAT DECIDED TO MAKE THEMSELVES ENERGY INDEPENDENT, A THAT'S NORTH DAKOTA. NORTH DAKOTA'S MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT SET BY GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW. IT IS THE MARKETPLACE, ABOUT $18 AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE NORTH DAKOTA ENERGY INDEPENDENT, AND THEY ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF A VERY LOW EMPLOYMENT RATE. THE ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF AN ECONOMY THAT IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, AND WE ARE SITTING HERE IN ILLINOIS WITH THE WORST JOB GROWTH IN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THINGS NEED TO CHANGE. I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THAT CHARGE FROM WASHINGTON D.C..
>>NEXT TOPIC, MOVING TO EDUCATION, THE 13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT INCLUDES THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS' MAIN CAMPUS, U OF I SPRINGFIELD, MILLIKIN, PARKLAND COLLEGE, LINCOLN LAND AND A NUMBER OF OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY. RECENT ESTIMATES SHOW TUITION CONTINUES TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE, WHILE TOTAL STUDENT LOAN DEBT HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. EDUCATION IS NEXT..
HANNAH WILL GET THINGS STARTED WITH A QUESTION TO CONGRESSMAN DAVIS. >>CONGRESSMAN, TWO YEARS AGO IN A DEBATE IN THIS STUDIO YOU SAID YOU WOULD INCREASE ACCESS TO PELL GRANTS, AND ADDED YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SUPPORTED THE RYAN BUDGET THAT WOULD HAVE SLASHED FUNDING TO PROGRAMS. IN THE END, YOU DID SUPPORT RYAN BUDGET THAT FREEZES PELL FUNDING OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THUS, CUTTING ABOUT $90 BILLION OVER THE NEXT WHAT CHANGED?.
>> NOTHING CHANGED. FRANKLY, THAT WAS A RYAN BUDGET THAT WAS DONE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED. JUST BECAUSE PAUL RYAN IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, EACH BUDGET THAT GETS PUT OUT TAKES HIS NAME. THAT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT BUDGET THAN THE ONE I SUPPORTED THAT BALANCES IN TEN YEARS. LET'S LOOK AT THE RYAN-MURRAY BIPARTISAN COMPREHENSIVE APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE THAT I SUPPORTED THAT INCREASED PELL GRANTS. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PUTTING A VISION IN PLACE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CUTS, ONLY IN WASHINGTON D.C. CAN ZERO GROWTH IN A VISION DOCUMENT BE CONSIDERED A CUT..
WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BALANCE THE BUDGET..
IF WE GET BACK TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, INSTEAD OF RUNNING OFF CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS PRESIDENT AND LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES AND BOTH HOUSES TO DETERMINE HOW WASHINGTON IS SPENDING MONEY, IF WE CAN GET AWAY FROM THAT PROCESS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THINGS LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD QUESTIONS AND SEQUESTRATION..
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOW RANK AND FILE MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO IS FRESHMAN TO HAVE A SAY IN SPENDING DECISIONS AND HOW WE REPLY OR ADVERTISE TO MAKE SURE COLLEGE IS AFFORDABLE. I AM PROUD I ACTUALLY VOTED TO STOP THE STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES FROM DOUBLING IN JUNE AND JULY OF 2013..
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE AT THAT TIME CONGRESS WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF SETTING STUDENT LOAN RATES..
CONGRESS SHOULDN'T BE IN THE BUSINESS OF SETTING FAMILIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STUDENT LOAN RATES THAT ARE AT HISTORICAL LOWS..
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CHANGE THE DEBATE FROM HOW MUCH A STUDENT IS GOING TO PAY FOR AN EVER INCREASING DEBT AT THE END OF THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION AND WHAT INTEREST RATE IT IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE WE STOPPED THEM FROM DOUBLING..
AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. WHEN I GO TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND THE NINE UNIVERSITIES THAT I AM BLESSED TO SERVE INCLUDING MY ALMA MATER, MILLIKIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MENTIONING, THEM AND EIGHT COLLEGE DISTRICTS THAT MAKE UP THIS DISTRICT, I TALK TO THOSE IN CHARGE, WHEN THEY ASK ME TO RAISE THE PELL GRANT AGAIN, I SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PELL GRANT GOES FURTHER FOR OUR STUDENTS?.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK ON UNIVERSITY IF THEY WANT TO HELP PAY THEIR COLLEGE DEBT SO THEY DON'T HAVE THAT DEBT WHEN THEY LEAVE COLLEGE? THAT'S THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT I HAVE BEEN EXHIBITING ON THIS ISSUE AND IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I IN TEND TO CONTINUE TO DO IN MY NEXT TERM. >>JUDGE CALLIS, WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN INCREASE TO PELL GRANT FUNDING? HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT? >> WELL, ABSOLUTELY. WE NEED TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN PELL GRANT FUNDING..
HOW WE PAY FOR THAT IS I THINK WHAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, AND ALSO THERE IS A BILL OUT THERE CALLED THE GOVERNMENT WASTE REDUCTION IT WILL GO AFTER AND SEE WHERE WE CAN CUT, SEE WHAT WE CAN SLASH, SEE WHERE WE CAN SAVE SOME DOLLARS INTO OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY. I JUST HAVE TO MENTION, MR. DAVIS, YOU SAT IN THIS STUDIO, AND YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T VOTE FOR RYAN BUDGET TO CUT PELL GRANTS, AND THEN YOU VOTED FOR RYAN BUDGET TO CUT PELL GRANTS..
YOU SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER, AND THEN SAY ANOTHER THING AND DO ANOTHER. ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE THAT CAN BRING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS THE HEAT PROGRAM. IT GOES AFTER MEDICARE, FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE AND MEDICAID FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE. IT IS IN SEVEN UNITED STATES CITIES NOW, AND U.S. ATTORNEY DRIVEN PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK STRENGTHENING THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. BUT TALKING TO STUDENTS, THEY DO RELY ON PELL GRANTS..
I TALKED TO ONE WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND AND PARTNER WAS DEPLOYED, AND SHE WAS TRYING TO STRUGGLE AND STILL GO TO SCHOOL, AND PELL GRANTS WERE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HER, AND THAT WAS ON CAMPUS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT EDWARDSVILLE..
SO, ALSO, I THINK PEOPLE -- IT IS NEXT BUBBLE THAT A TRILLION DOLLARS STUDENT DEBT. SO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? I THINK PEOPLE WHO GRADUATED AND HAVE THESE STUDENT DEBT SHOULD BE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE THEIR STUDENT LOANS AT THE CURRENT RATE. ALSO, YOU SHOULDN'T DO WHAT THE RYAN BUDGET DOES, AND THAT WOULD BE CHARGING STUDENTS INTEREST ON THEIR LOANS WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN SCHOOL..
>>NEXT TOPIC..
WE HAVE GET EVERYTHING IN. EARLIER THIS YEAR, CONGRESS PUT ON FUNDING COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION BILL. UNTIL NEXT YEAR THE REVENUE FOR PROGRAM DROPPED OFF RAPIDLY IN YEARS, IN DECADE, TRANSPORTATION SPENDING FELL BY 12%. TRANSPORTATION THE NEXT CATEGORY. HANNAH HAS THE NEXT QUESTION HERE FOR JUDGE >>JUDGE CALLIS, WOULD YOU SUPPORT INCREASE IN THE GAS TAX, 18.4% PER GALLON ON -- EXCUSE ME, FEDERAL GASOLINE TAX FOR BRIDGE AND HIGHWAY REPAIRS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION ITEMS GIVEN WHAT JENNIFER HAS LAID OUT? >> NO..
I WOULD NOT..
I THINK OVERLY BURDEN OUR MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING FAMILIES..
BUT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL, IT WAS -- IT KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR LABOR, WHETHER THEY WILL HAVE ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OR NOT..
I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM A LOT OF OUR LABOR UNIONS..
SO, AGAIN, I WOULD BE AGAINST A GAS TAX. >>CONGRESSMAN, YOU SIT ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> WELL, BEFORE I GET TO THAT, LET ME ADDRESS WHAT MY OPPONENT HAS SAID. LET ME BE CLEAR, THE RYAN BUDGET I VOTED FOR DID NOT CUT PELL GRANTS. THE ONLY ISSUE ON PELL GRANTS THAT I HAVE ADDRESSED IS ACTUALLY VOTING TO RAISE PELL IT IS AN ISSUE THAT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS, AND I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE PUT COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY FIRST BECAUSE I HAVE GOT A DAUGHTER WHO IS GOING TO BE GOING TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR. I KNOW THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE FACING COSTS THAT THEY DIDN'T IMAGINE WOULD BE THAT HIGH WHEN THEY TOOK THEIR CHILD TO KINDERGARTEN FOR THE FIRST DAY AND DREAMT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION. WE NEED TO WORK TO REDUCE THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGES..
MAKE SURE THE STATE LIVES UP TO HITS PROMISE. TRANSPORTATION, DURING MY ENDORSEMENT FROM THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE," I WAS CALLED INFRASTRUCTURE WALK..
THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IN 2012 AND NOW..
I WAS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO ACTUALLY STOOD AND SAID WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN INFRASTRUCTURE. HOW DO WE DO THAT?.
DO WE DO IT BY SIMPLY RAISING THE GAS TAX WHICH EVEN MOST POLICY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT AGREE IS GOING TO GO DOWN AND DWINDLE AND PUT OURSELVES IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION WE ARE TODAY WITH AN EVER DECREASING AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN DEDICATE TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING?.
SO THAT'S NOT THE BEST IDEA. WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS PUTTING TOGETHER A PORTFOLIO OF FUNDING SOURCES..
LET'S LOOK AT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, LET'S BUILD THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE. LET'S TAKE REVENUES FROM MAKING AMERICA ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND PUT IT TOWARDS BUILDING--REBUILDING AND BUILDING OUR CRUMBLING ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID ON THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT I WAS PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR AND PASS. THAT'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT WHEN IT COMES TO HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT DEBATE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I ACTUALLY -- I DROVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE HERE IN CHAMPAIGN AREA BECAUSE IT WAS A TRADE WITH MY COLLEAGUE JANICE HAHN WHO TALKS ABOUT HAVING ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND NEVER FILLING HER CAR UP WITH GAS AND NEVER PUTTING ONE PENNY TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND..
IT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE, A BIPARTISAN EXAMPLE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN HER REGION WHICH IS DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AND MY REGION WHICH IS 14 COUNTIES IN THE ELECTRIC CAR..
I'D LIKE TO THANK, CHARLIE SCHAPLAIN FOR RENTING IT TO ME.FOR A DAY..
I COULDN'T GET HOME TO TAYLORVILLE. SO THESE ARE ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS ON OUR COMMITTEE AND PUT THAT PORTFOLIO. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO WORK ON THAT. >>LOCALLY THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH CHAMPAIGN-URBANA. HOW COULD SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT BE FINANCED WITH TODAY'S FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION REVENUE? >> WELL, IT IS BEING FINANCED, AND IT IS BECOMING A REALITY IN THE CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS CORRIDOR..
I HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED ON THAT PROJECT FROM ITS INFANCY IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER IN THE SPRINGFIELD AREA, AND WE ARE SEEING THE IMPROVEMENTS..
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT GOOD POLICIES IN PLACE. WE MAKE SURE WE GET THAT PORTFOLIO OF SOURCES. THEY GO BEYOND THE TAX -- >>I AM TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THROUGH CHAMPAIGN-URBANA THAT WOULD OPERATE I THINK AT 220. >>THAT'S --.
>>IS THAT REALLY POSSIBLE, THE COST OF THAT? >> I DON'T LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, TOM. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE PUT OUR GOOD POLICIES IN PLACE AND MECHANISMS TO MAKE SURE AMERICA IS ABLE TO AFFORD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT CHAMPAIGN CAN BE THE BENEFICIARY OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR THAT IS GOING THROUGH CHAMPAIGN..
I AM PROUD TO WORK WITH LAURA WISE AND MAYOR GIRARD AND ALL OF THE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE COME TO ME AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I REQUESTED THAT SEAT ON THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I WANT TO GO BACK TO REMAIN ON THAT COMMITTEE. >>JUDGE CALLIS, DO YOU THINK THAT IS A DOABLE PROJECT?.
>> I WOULDN'T ABSOLUTELY SAY NO. MY ROLE AS YOUR CONGRESS WOMAN, IF I AM HONORED TO BE ELECTED, IS WHAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE FEASIBLE AND REASONABLE, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES HERE..
MR..
DAVIS SAID HE WAS IN LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP ON TRANSPORTATION IN D.C., THEN WHY WASN'T A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION BILL PASSED? WHY WAS THE CAN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD? I AM SURE IT IS FUN DRIVING AROUND IN AN ELECTRIC CAR, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HELPS THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT..
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO SERVING THE PEOPLE THAT WE WERE HONORED TO BE ELECTED BY INSTEAD OF SERVING OURSELVES. SO IT IS AN ENTIRE PHILOSOPHY CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE. >>WE ARE JUST GETTING DOWN TO THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES..
TOM, YOU HAD A QUESTION YOU WANTED TO ASK ABOUT MILITARY GEAR TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. >>JUDGE CALLIS, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES AROUND HERE THAT HAS RISEN OUT OF THE EVENTS IN FERGUSON MISSOURI, WAS THE MILITARIZATION OF LOCAL POLICE..
WE HAVE REPORTED A FEDERAL PROGRAM SOLD DOZENS OF ASSAULT RIFLES, NIGHT VISION GEAR HELICOPTER, MRAP SOLD TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IT IS HAPPENING IN SPRINGFIELD AND HERE. IS THAT SOMETHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO?.
>>WELL, PROBABLY SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE IT WAS EXCESS MILITARY GEAR..
BUT SEEING THE VISUALS ON TV WHAT HAPPENED IN FERGUSON WITH THESE TANKS AND THESE POLICE OFFICERS DRESSED IN ABSOLUTE MILITARY GEAR AND WITH ASSAULT WEAPONS WITH DEMONSTRATORS ON THE OTHER SIDE, SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT. I CAN TELL YOU MY SON IS EXPERT ON M4 ASSAULT WEAPONS..
THAT TAKES A LOT OF TRAINING. SO IT CONCERNS ME THAT POLICE OFFICERS WOULDN'T HAVE THE TRAINING EVEN TO HANDLE THESE TYPES OF WEAPONS..
SO, YEAH, I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM..
>>I THINK SOME OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UNLIKE MY OPPONENT, ARE ACTUALLY THE MOST WELL-TRAINED INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE..
BUT I, TOO, AM CONCERNED ABOUT MRAPS. I, TOO, AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE VISUAL WE SAW IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI. AND THAT'S WHY THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT IT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES..
>>WOULD YOU JUST PREFER IT BE SHUT DOWN? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I AM GETTING AT. THE PROGRAM ITSELF, CAN'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER BECAUSE THE SAME PROGRAM HAS GIVEN DEWITT COUNTY A HUMVEE. YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEWITT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES WITH THAT HUMVEE? SHERIFF SENDS DEPUTIES OUT WHEN IT IS SNOWING AND IS ICY AND PULLS STRANDED MOTORISTS OUT OF THE DITCH..
THESE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE BY EXCESS MILITARY EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE TO BE VERY DILIGENT IN MAKING SURE WE DON'T GET RID OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE VISUALS THAT WE SAW IN FERGUSON WITH THE MRAP, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THOSE DRIVING THROUGH DEWITT COUNTY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SERVED BY SHERIFF SHOFNER, TOO. >>QUICKLY, A QUESTION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. >>VERY QUICKLY. FIRST QUESTION GOES TO YOU, CONGRESSMAN. DO YOU BELIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND IS MANMADE?.
WHAT COULD FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE? >> I HAVE BEEN CLEAR. I HAVE SAID CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL. WE CAN DISCUSS HOW MUCH IS NATURAL AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS MANMADE. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT AMERICA HAS DONE, LEAD THE WORLD IN EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS..
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, NOT SACRIFICING GROWTH AND JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY. >>JUDGE CALLIS? >> CLIMATE CHANGE ABSOLUTELY EXISTS. I MEAN MANMADE CLIMATE CHANGE EXISTS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK OUT OUR WINDOW SOME DAYS AND ABSOLUTELY HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE THAT IT EXISTS..
SO, YES, I THINK THAT EMISSIONS RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE IN PLACE, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF JOBS..
SO I THINK IT IS NOT BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE, BUT IT IS A FINE BALANCE. BUT WE CONTINUE--.
I THINK WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE AGAIN WITH OUR NINE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO REALLY GO TO ALTERNATIVE -- TO EXPLORE THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, AND REALLY BE A LEADER IN OUR NATION, IN OUR NATION IN THIS DISTRICT WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES..
>>REALLY QUICK BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE..
BUT I HAVE TO ASK BECAUSE IT IS ON FACEBOOK. IF YOU HAVE HAD A SONG THAT PLAYED WHEN YOU WALKED IN, WHAT WOULD IT BE? >> (LAUGHING).
>>WHAT YOUR THEME SONG BE? >> WE HAVE TO WRAP-UP ON THAT NOTE. >>KATIE PERRY'S "ROAR." >>WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG CONGRESSMAN, DAVIS? WHAT IS YOUR THEME SONG? >> LET'S SAY CREED "HIGHER." >>YOU LIKE THAT. (LAUGHING) WITH THAT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE..
THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS FOR ILLINOIS' 13TH DISTRICT, ANN CALLIS AND RODNEY DAVIS, AND ALSO THE CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATIONS, PANEL OF REPORTERS AND AUDIENCE IN THE STUDIO AND FOLLOWING ON TV, RADIO, AND ONLINE. I AM JENNIFER ROSCOE. GOOD NIGHT..


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