>> "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE" CONTINUES.
ADAM: WELCOME BACK TO OUR "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE," AND TONIGHT’S GUEST SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS.
WE’RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN WITH OUR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE, AND WE WILL START WITH LAUREN BYRNES.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND LISTENING TO US.
SEN. HARRIS: MY PLEASURE.
>> WHAT POLICIES OR PRINCIPLES DO YOU HOLD THAT WILL APPEAL TO THE REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT VOTER WHO IS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, IS LOOKING FOR A REAL ALTERNATIVE,
BUT IS ALSO NOT MOTIVATED BY THE TRADITIONAL LIBERAL PLATFORM?
SEN. HARRIS: YEAH, THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION AND THANK YOU.
SO, I WILL TELL YOU, THE PLACE I AM COMING FROM AND I CAN SHARE WITH YOU SOME POLICIES.
THE PLACE I’M COMING FROM IS THIS.
I STRONGLY AND DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT AS AMERICANS, WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT SEPARATES US.
AND I THINK PART OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS WE HAVE HAD POWERFUL FORCES THAT ARE TRYING TO SOW HATE AND DIVISION AMONG US AND HAVE US AS AMERICANS POINTING FINGERS AND
THAT’S NOT WHO WE ARE.
SO I COME FROM A PLACE OF STRONGLY BELIEVING WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON AND WHAT SEPARATES US.
MY AGENDA, I CALL IT THE 3:00 A.M. AGENDA AND BY THAT I MEAN THIS.
3:00 A.M., SOME PEOPLE CALL THAT THE WITCHING HOUR, RIGHT?
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
WHEN WE WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THAT THOUGHT WEIGHING ON US?
FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF US, ONE WILL WAKE UP THINKING THAT THOUGHT IT’S NEVER THROUGH THE LENS OF THE PARTY WAS WHICH WE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.
IT IS NEVER THROUGH THE LENS OF SOME SIMPLISTIC DEMOGRAPHIC SOME POLLSTER PUT A SIN.
FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF US IT HAS TO DO WITH ONE OF A VERY FEW THINGS -- OUR PERSONAL HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN OR OUR PARENTS, CAN I GET A JOB, KEEP A JOB, PAY THE BILLS AT THE
END OF THE MONTH, RETIRE WITH DIGNITY?
FOR SO MANY OF US IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE HAVE TO PAY OFF THE STUDENT LOANS.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE HIGHEST IN-STATE TUITION OF ANY STATE.
PERSONALLY FAMILIES, RIGHT, WHAT’S WE HAVE IN COMMON?
WORRIED ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET OUR FAMILY MEMBER OF THEIR OPIOID ADDICTION OR THEIR DRUG ADDICTION?
SO THE WAY I COME FROM MY PRIORITIES IS FROM THAT PLACE, WHICH I KNOW TO BE ACCURATE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM PROPOSING WHAT ECONOMISTS HAVE SAID WILL BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MIDDLE-CLASS TAX-CUT WE HAVE HAD IN GENERATIONS.
IN PROPOSING THAT FOR FAMILIES THAT MAKE LESS THE $100,000 A YEAR THEY GET A TAX CREDIT OF UP TO $6,000 A YEAR THEY CAN COLLECT AND UP TO $500 A MONTH, WHICH WILL BE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GETTING THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH OR NOT.
WHAT’S THE BASIS? IN AMERICA TODAY, FOR A MUST-HAVE AMONG AMERICAN FAMILIES, THEY CANNOT AFFORD A $400 UNEXPECTED TO SPEND -- EXCELLENT SPIRIT THAT COULD BE THE CAR BREAKS DOWN.
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT FOUR TIRES COST?
ANOTHER ONE OF MY PRIORITIES IS INFRASTRUCTURE.
AMERICA’ IS INFRASTRUCTURE I -- AMERICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE IS EITHER IN 50 YEARS OLD.
NOT TO MENTION BUILDING UP A STRUCTURE FOR NOBLE ENERGY.
THAT WILL MEAN JOBS AND ALSO, BACK TO THAT POINT ABOUT THE $400 UNEXPECTED EXPENSE THAT CAN TOPPLE AMERICAN FAMILIES?
WHY DO YOU NEED TO BUY NEW TIRES?
ALL THOSE POTHOLES.
THESE ISSUES ARE CONNECTED.
THESE ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY DIRECTLY CONNECTED.
MY PRIORITIES, WHEN ELECTED, GOD WILLING, IS TO FOCUS ON THE 3:00 A.M. AGENDA.
WHAT IS KEEPING PEOPLE UP AT NIGHT?
PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS ABOUT HOW THEY WILL TRANSFORM AND UP AND, BUT HEY, WE FIRST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH EVERYDAY BECAUSE IT’S DOABLE.
IT’S NOT EVEN BIPARTISAN APPROACH, IT’S A NONPARTISAN APPROACH.
THAT’S HOW I THINK ABOUT IT.
ADAM: THANK YOU, LAUREN.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM NANCY FREDHOLM.
>> WELCOME.
SEN. HARRIS: THANK YOU.
>> RECENT PRESIDENCIES SEEM TO MAKE LIBERAL USE OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO PROMOTE INITIATIVES THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS.
MANY OF THIS YEAR’S CANDIDATES ARE PROMISING ACTIONS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF TAKING OFFICE WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW TIME FOR REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE.
IF ELECTED, HOW WILL YOU USE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AUTHORITY?
SEN. HARRIS: SO, I DO PLAN TO USE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND EXECUTIVE ACTION, AND IN PARTICULAR ON THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME ON WHICH THERE IS BEEN NO
MOVEMENT.
I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO AROUND REASONABLE GUN SAFETY LAWS.
I WILL TELL YOU A LOT OF THE ISSUES I THINK ABOUT, I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THROUGH THE LENS OF A CHILD.
I WILL TELL YOU WHY.
YOU CAN AND SHOULD JUDGE SOCIETY BASED ON HOW IT TREATS ITS CHILDREN.
EVERY DAY IN AMERICA, OUR CHILDREN -- ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -- ARE GOING TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DRILL WHERE THEY ARE TAUGHT ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD
CROUCH IN THE CORNER OR HIDE IN THE CLOSET IN THE EVENT THERE IS A MASS SHOOTER ROAMING THE HALLWAYS OF THEIR SCHOOL.
OUR KIDS ARE LITERALLY EXPERIENCING TRAUMA AT THE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN.
THEY ARE SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN THEY SHOULD BE OPENING THEIR MINDS TO THE WONDERS OF MATH OR SCIENCE OR ART AND THEY ARE AFRAID SOMEONE MIGHT RUN IN THE CLASSROOM AT
ANY MOMENT.
SO, HERE’S THE THING.
WHEN THAT CHILD GOES HOME AT NIGHT, AFTER HAVING THAT DRILL, AND THEY ARE SITTING DOWN AT THE FAMILY TABLE, THEY ASKED THEIR PARENT, Y, MOMMY AND DADDY, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DRILL?
IN THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE THE SUPPOSEDLY LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., OVER ALL THESE YEARS OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, HAVE FAILED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO ACT, HAVE FAILED TO
HAVE THE COURAGE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S A FALSE CHOICE TO SAY YOU’RE EITHER IN FAVOR OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT OR YOU WANT TO TAKE EVERYONE’S GUNS AWAY.
HAVE FAILED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY, HEY, FINE IF YOU WANT TO GO HUNTING, BUT WE NEED REASONABLE GUN SAFETY LAWS IN OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND A
RENEWABLE OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.
I’M A FORMER PROSECUTOR.
I HAVE ATTENDED MORE POLICE OFFICER FUNERALS THAN I CARE TO TELL YOU.
I HAVE HELD IN MY ARMS MORE MOTHERS OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS THAN I CARE TO TELL YOU.
I HAVE PERSONALLY REVIEWED AUTOPSY PHOTOGRAPHS.
AND WHEN WE ASK ABOUT WHY CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO ACT, LISTEN, IT’S NOT BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE TRAGEDY.
WE HAVE SEEN THE WORST OF HUMAN TRAGEDIES.
IT’S NOT LIKE WE ARE WAITING FOR A GOOD IDEA.
THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, INCLUDING FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT DEBATE CHAIN -- DEBATE STAGE, MOST OF WHOM I SUPPORT IN TERMS OF THEIR IDEAS.
IT’S ABOUT ACTION.
ON THIS POINT I WILL GIVE THE CONGRESS MORE THAN A COUPLE DAYS TO READ I WILL GIVE THEM 100 DAYS AFTER ARMALITE DID TO PUT A BILL -- AFTER I AM ELECTED TO PUT A BILL ON MY DESK AND IF
THEY FAIL TO DO IT, I WILL TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION AND PUT IN PLACE WILL BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE THAT GRAHAM JACK REQUIREMENTS.
I WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE ATF -- AND WE PUT RESOURCES IN THE ATF -- TO TAKE THE GUN LICENSES OF DEALERS WHO VIOLATE THE LAW.
YOU SHOULD KNOW 90% OF THE GUNS ASSOCIATE WITH CRIME ARE SOLD BY 5% OF THE DEALERS.
WE NEED ENFORCEMENT.
AND FINALLY, BY EXECUTIVE ACTION, I WILL BAN THE IMPORTATION OF ASSAULT WEAPONS INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
SO, THE WAY I COME AT THIS ISSUE IS THERE ARE CERTAIN MATTERS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND CONGRESS FAILS TO ACT.
WHOEVER IS IN THE CONGRESS AND WHOEVER IS IN THE MAJORITY.
WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE ACTION AND THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE.
ADAM: THANK YOU, NANCY.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BEVERLY COTTON.
>> THANK YOU.
MY QUESTION -- CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR POSITION ON HEALTH CARE?
I’M WANTING TO KNOW, IS IT PRIVATE OPTION, MEDICARE FOR ALL?
SEN. HARRIS: ABSOLUTELY.
I AM IN FAVOR OF MEDICARE FOR ALL.
I BELIEVE IT’S THE BEST OPTION.
THERE’S NO QUESTION -- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MEDICARE FOR ALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS.
I WAS WITH A PEDIATRIC -- IT WAS A PHYSICIAN, A PEDIATRICIAN WHO WORKS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
SHE SAID, KAMALA, WITH.
MEDICARE FOR ALL.
BUT WHEN WERE DOING IT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THAT MEANS THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE REACHED A CRISIS POINT AND IT’S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
THE OTHER POINT -- 90 PERCENT OF THE DOCTORS IN AMERICA ARE IN MEDICARE.
SO WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THEY HAVE POWERFUL LOBBYISTS -- THEY HAVE HAD A POWERFUL CAMPAIGN, AD CAMPAIGN TRYING TO CONVINCE THE AMERICAN FAMILY, YOU WANT TO FIGHT FOR YOUR
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
NO, YOU DON’T.
YOU WANT YOUR DOCTOR.
YOU WANT THE SAME DOCTOR THAT GAVE BIRTH TO THE FIRST CHILD, TO THE THIRD CHILD, YOU’RE WHAT THAT DOCTOR YOU’VE BEEN GOING TO YOU TRUST IN YOU KNOW AND YOU HAVE SPENT TIME TALKING TO YOUR
FAMILY OVER THE YEARS.
90% OF THE DOCTORS ARE MEDICARE.
THE ONES THAT ARE NOT ARE MOSTLY THOSE DOING CAUSE MEDIC SURGERY AND SOME PEDIATRICIANS, BUT WE CAN FIX THAT -- COSMETIC SURGERY AND SOME PEDIATRICIANS, BUT WE CAN FIX THAT.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR DOCTOR.
THE OTHER PART THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLED SENIORS TRANSITION INTO MEDICARE WITH VERY LITTLE PROBLEM.
SO, I AM IN FAVOR OF MEDICARE FOR ALL.
ON THE ISSUE OF PRIVATE INSURANCE, WE WILL HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, BUT WE WILL GET TO THE PLACE WITH FOUR MEDICARE FOR ALL, IN MY VISION OF MEDICARE FOR ALL, THAT
INCLUDES DENTAL, THAT INCLUDES VISION, THAT INCLUDES HEARING AIDS.
SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND NOT CURRENTLY COVERED.
THAT’S MY VISION FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL AND THE PRINCIPAL WITH WHICH I APPROACH THIS IS, LISTEN -- WE HAVE TO AGREE THAT ACCESS FOR HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE AND
THE BIGGEST BARRIER FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IS LITERALLY COST.
AND ALSO, IF I MAY, I WILL OFFER YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE ABOUT THE PRIVATE INSURANCE PIECE.
ANY GIVEN -- MIDNIGHT, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, THERE IS SOME PARENT WHOSE CHILD HAS AN OUT-OF-CONTROL FEVER.
THEY CALLED THE PEDIATRICIAN OR 911, THEY ARE TOLD, WHAT SHOULD I DO QUESTION MARK THEY ARE TOLD, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THEY PUT THE BABY IN THE CAR, THEY DRIVE TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY ARE SITTING, LOOKING AT THESE SLIDING GLASS DOORS OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM, ONE HAND ON THE BABY’S WARHEAD.
WHY ARE THEY PAUSED?
THEY KNOW IF THEY WALK THROUGH THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS THEY WILL BE OUT OF POCKET THE $5,000 DEDUCTIBLE.
THEY’VE GOT INSURANCE.
OVER THE YEARS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN JACKING UP DEDUCTIBLES, JACKING UP PREMIUMS, JACKING UP CO-PAYS, SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR VALUES AND ALSO WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT,
WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT IS THEY WANT THEIR DOCTOR AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE WITHOUT BEING BURDENED ABOUT CAN THEY AFFORD IT?
THAT’S HOW I THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
ADAM: THANK YOU, BEVERLY.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM LEE ANN KLUGER.
SEN. HARRIS: THANK YOU.
>> SENATOR WHAT INITIATIVES WILL , YOU TAKE TO RESOLVE ISSUES AT THE BORDER, SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT WILL END CHILD SEPARATION FROM PARENTS AND ALSO PROVIDE , SUPPLIES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO THE
WILL BE HEALTHY AND SAFE?
SEN. HARRIS: YOUR QUESTION MAKES THE POINT THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING OF THIS DOOR NUMBER OF LENSES, WHICH INCLUDES BEING HUMANITARIANS AND UNDERSTANDING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN,
WERE TALKING ABOUT PARENTS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES THAT HAVE THEN DESCRIBED AS THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND THE PART OF THE WAY A THINK ABOUT IT IS THIS --
AND IT’S A GENERAL BASIC POINT -- MOST PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO LEAVE HOME.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
MOST OF US DON’T WANT TO LEAVE HOME.
WE DON’T LIKE TO LEAVE HOME.
AND WE LEAVE BECAUSE -- IT IS WE ARE FLEEING SOMETHING WHERE THERE’S NO OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?
BUT WE HAVE TO FOR SOME REASON.
I LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PRINCIPLE, BUT LET’S GO FURTHER.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED MURDER CAPITALS OF THE WORLD.
THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF A MOTHER OR FATHER WHO MAKES THE DECISION TO PAY AT COYOTE, TO PAY A STRANGER, TO TRANSPORT THEIR CHILD FROM THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, THROUGH THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY OF MEXICO, FACING UNKNOWN PERIL -- WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?
IT’S BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF THEY STAYED WHERE THEY ARE IT WOULD BE WORSE, BUT WHAT HAS THIS ADMINISTRATION DONE?
IT LOOKS OF THESE FAMILIES AND IT SAYS, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
IT’S INHUMANE AND IT’S UN-AMERICAN.
SO WHAT WOULD WE DO, WHAT WOULD I DO?
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE PROCESS AT ABOUT HEARING THEIR CASES AND GIVING THEM A LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK ASYLUM.
WHEN WE CONSTRUCTED THE LAWS OF OUR NATION, WE IMAGINED THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN, THAT PEOPLE FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES WILL ARRIVE HERE FLEEING HARM, SO WE PUT IN PLACE PROCESS -- A
PROCESS.
LET’S HONOR THAT PROCESS.
THE OTHER THING IS THESE PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES.
AFTER THE DEBATE THAT WE HAVE THE LAST TIME IN MIAMI, THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE DOWN TO A PLACE IN FLORIDA CALLED HOMESTEAD.
IN HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, THERE IS A PRIVATE DISTENTION -- DETENTION FACILITY THAT CURRENTLY -- AT LEAST AS OF LAST WEEK -- HAS HIS 2700 CHILDREN.
I’M A MEMBER OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
I’M A MEMBER OF THE SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.
THAT PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITY IS BEING PAID WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS.
I WAS THERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THEY WOULD NOT LET US IN.
SO THEN, I WALKED DOWN THE ROAD AND CLIMBED UP A LADDER AND LOOKED OVER THE FENCE AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I SAW.
I SAW CHILDREN LINED UP SINGLE FILE, BASED ON GENDER, BEING WALKED INTO BARRACKS.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IS SOME OF THEM HAVE PARENTS THAT WERE LITERALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT FENCE SAYING, PLEASE LET ME BE WITH MY CHILD.
IT’S INHUMANE.
SO PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WOULD DO IS SHUT THEM DOWN.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.
-- I WILL TELL YOU WHY.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL.
THE BUSINESS MODEL OF A PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITY IS SOMEBODY IS PROFITING -- ONE HUMAN BEING FROM THE INCARCERATION OF OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, AND IN THIS CASE CHILDREN.
OUR POLICIES MUST BE BASED ON OUR VALUES, WHICH IS TO BE HUMANE AND TO AGREE THE STRONG ARMS OF AMERICA SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE BUSINESS OF EMBRACING AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO ARE FLEEING
HARM.
ADAM: SENATOR, THIS CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE ON ERROR I AND -- ON AIR AND ONLINE.