I’M ADAM SEXTON.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS OCTOBER SUNDAY, WITH JUST ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY.
THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FEATURES AN INCUMBENT WHO FACED A CLOSER-THAN-EXPECTED RACE IN 2016, BUT SHE STILL WON BY ABOUT 4%.
MIDTERMS TEND TO BE KINDER TO THE PARTY OUT OF POWER, BUT DEMOCRAT ANNIE KUSTER IS TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED IN THIS VOLATILE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
CONGRESSWOMAN KUSTER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
THANKS SO MUCH.
ADAM: LET’S START WITH THE BASICS.
WHY SHOULD VOTERS SEND YOU BACK TO WASHINGTON FOR A FOURTH TERM?
>> IT IS THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING ON IMPORTANT ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE OPIOID CRISIS AND VETERANS.
I BROUGHT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
WE PASSED 54 BILLS IN JUNE ON THE OPIOID ISSUE AND ARE STARTING TO GAIN TRACTION.
$30 MILLION COMING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS I PUT IN TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SO HARD-HIT.
ON VETERANS, AGAIN, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I WAS ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS ON THE BIPARTISAN BILL AND I WORKED WITH SENATOR SULLIVAN FROM ALASKA TO MAKE SURE NEW HAMPSHIRE VETERANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CARE IN THE
COMMUNITY IF THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED.
I AM PROUD OF MY RECORD.
I WILL STAND BY IT.
I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO ONE MORE TERM HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
ADAM: THE NATION IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THIS VERY DIVISIVE FIGHT OVER THE SUPREME COURT NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH.
YOU’RE AN ATTORNEY.
DO YOU TRUST THAT HIS RULINGS ON THE HIGHEST BENCH IN THE LAND WILL BE NON-PARTISAN?
>> HERE IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT.
THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER.
AND THEY HAVE A TRADITION OF NONPARTISANSHIP, FRANKLY OF NOT LETTING POLITICS ENTER.
I WAS SHOCKED BY SOME OF THE COMMENTS HE MADE.
I KNOW HE HAS A HISTORY AS A REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE, IF YOU WILL.
AND I QUESTIONED HIS DEMEANOR AND TEMPERAMENT.
BUT I HAVE GREAT FAITH IN JUSTICE ROBERTS AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE, BUT ALSO THE OTHERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO BRING HIM IN AND SAY THESE ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS, BUT THIS IS THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.
WHAT I POINT TO IN OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR FOREFATHERS THOUGHT THIS THROUGH, IT IS THE BALANCE OF POWER.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THE LEGISLATIVE, AND THE JUDICIAL, WHICH IS NOT POLITICAL.
I THINK HIS COLLEAGUES WILL IMPRESS THAT UPON HIM.
ADAM: DEMOCRATS WERE STRIDENT AND SUSTAINED IN THEIR CRITICISM OF JUDGE KAVANAUGH.
FOR THEM, THIS WAS BOTH A DEEPLY FELT AND A MORAL STAND.
WHY AREN’T WE SEEING THIS SAME SUSTAINED LEVEL OF OPPOSITION AND CRITICISM OF STATE SENATOR JEFF WOODBURN, WHO IS FACING ACTUAL CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK YOU SAW THE ENTIRE FEDERAL DELEGATION, MYSELF INCLUDED, CALLING FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS POSITION.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL FOLLOW THIS PROCESS THROUGH.
CERTAINLY IF HE IS CONVICTED, I EXPECT HE WILL LEAVE THE SENATE.
I THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.
HE STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS POSITION AS THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE SENATE.
I THINK HIS COLLEAGUES WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE AND PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
ADAM: NOW THAT THE BAR HAS BEEN SET AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH MR.
KAVANAUGH, HAVE YOU RE-EVALUATED YOUR OPINION OF FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO HAS FACED SEVERAL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS?
>> THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT.
EVERYBODY IS REEVALUATING.
AS A COUNTRY, WE DID NOT TAKE THE ALLEGATIONS SUFFICIENTLY SERIOUSLY.
I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW IS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK, FRANKLY, THAT WAS PROBABLY PART OF PEOPLE’S SENTIMENTS TOWARDS HILLARY CLINTON.
IT MIGHT NOT BE FAIR THAT IT WAS TOWARD HER, BUT I THINK YOU HEARD THAT IN THE VOTERS.
THEY HAD THOSE CONCERNS.
OTHER CANDIDATES THAT MIGHT BE THINKING OF RUNNING, IF THEY HAVE THESE ACCUSATIONS IN THE PAST, THIS WOULD BE A TERRIBLE TIME TO TRY TO COME FORWARD.
TO ME, I THINK IF PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING THEIR FUTURE IN THEIR ACTIONS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS A GOOD THING.
I CERTAINLY THINK WE SHOULD RAISE A GENERATION AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY THEY ACT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT.
I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS LONG OVERDUE.
ADAM: WOULD YOU CAMPAIGN FOR HIM IF YOU CAME HERE?
>> I DON’T THINK I WOULD.
THAT IS A BIG STATEMENT.
I HAVE NO HUMAN THE PAST.
I THINK IT WOULD BE -- I HAVE KNOWN HIM IN THE PAST.
I THINK IT WOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
TO CAMPAIGN WITH HIM I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE STOCK OF THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT.
WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE.
I HAVE ALSO CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO HAVE STEPPED DOWN WHEN ALLEGATIONS CAME FORWARD ABOUT THEM.
I BELIEVE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN SOMEONE COMES FORWARD, THEY SHOULD BE HEARD AND WE SHOULD TAKE US SERIOUSLY.
ADAM: IF WE SEE A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS IN 2019, WHAT IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SHORE UP HEALTH CARE.
I AM TROUBLED BY THE COMMENTS MADE BY EDDY EDWARDS SAYING PEOPLE NEED TO BE WEANED OFF SOCIAL SECURITY.
I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE LONG RUN.
WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF THE WORKPLACE, PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE IS A BIG ISSUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE NATIONALLY.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A FEDERAL RESPONSE BASED ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR SOME MECHANISM.
BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE WORKPLACE.
I HEAR STORIES ALL THE TIME HOW DIFFICULT IT IS GETTING STARTED.
OUR WAGES ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH.
OUR SCHOOL LOANS ARE TOO HIGH AND THE COST OF HOUSING IS TOO HIGH.
IT IS A DIFFICULT TIME TO GET STARTED AND SUSTAINED WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES.
BOOSTING WAGES, PROVIDING HEALTH CARE ACROSS THE BOARD.
MEDICAID EXPANSION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE, THEY CAN AFFORD HOUSING, AND CAN RETIRE WITH DIGNITY.
ADAM: YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM.
YOU ARE ALSO A PROLIFIC FUNDRAISER.
IT IS A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT TO OPERATE IN.
>> I KNOW PEOPLE SUPPORT ME FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, PRIMARILY INDIVIDUALS, BUT SOME COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
THE SIERRA CLUB, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THOSE TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS.
I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO.
BUT I DO SUPPORT CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM.
I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE WAY WE HANDLE OUR ELECTIONS.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD LIMIT PARTICULARLY THAT DARK, OUTSIDE MONEY THAT RIGHT NOW IS UNLIMITED.
WE HAVE TOTAL DISCLOSURE.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANY DONOR.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THAT TRANSPARENCY.
BUT IT IS THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DARK MONEY WITHOUT DISCLOSURE.
IN 2014, THE KOCH BROTHERS SPENT $4 MILLION AGAINST ME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
TERRIBLE ADS.
WE WON HANDILY, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM.
I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WILL DO IN JANUARY.
ADAM: IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE OPERATING IN THE SYSTEM AND GETTING A A LOT OF MONEY.
>> I WOULD LOVE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.
THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE EXPENSIVE.
WHEN SOMEONE COMES AGAINST YOU WITH $4 MILLION TO KNOCK YOU OUT, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT.
IT TURNS OUT TO BE ADVERTISING IS EFFECTIVE, BUT ALSO WE ARE RUNNING A VERY STRONG GROUND CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS HAVING CONVERSATIONS NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR.
I WAS VISITING SMALL BUSINESSES YESTERDAY.
I DO THAT EVERY DAY, VISITING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, COMMUNITIES, TOWNHALL MEETINGS, MAKING SURE THAT CONVERSATION IS A TWO-WAY STREET, THAT I AM LISTENING TO WHAT IS ON THEIR
MIND.
YESTERDAY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW METHAMPHETAMINE IS THE NEW, BIG THING.
WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT OPIOIDS.
WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE THE SWITCH.
METHAMPHETAMINE IS A VERY