This posting is made for Peter by his communication staff. The transcript was made in real time and may contain errors. The debate was held at the Rotary 21 Club in Downtown Spokane. About 200 people attended the lunch forum.
Questions came from Rotary members and were read by a program moderator. The candidates stood behind podiums on the stage.
The debate is available at
khq.com in the "Video Now" section.
McMorris: I hit the ground running, creating jobs, keeping our community and nation safe. We successfully fought to hold low energy rates. Working to meet the needs of the next work force, pushed for more math and science teachers in our classrooms. Would like to see more done to remove excessive regulations that strangle small business.
On security, I've helped protect Fairchild. We've increased funding for vets from 66 billion to 78 billion. The president just this year signed legislation to crack down on meth. Want to see our families and businesses prosper. More than unites us than separates us. Nothing is more important than Eastern Washington, and I ask for your vote.
Goldmark: Introduced his sons Jesse and Jay. I'm proud of the things I've done in my 33 years on the ranch--raised five children--devoted time to public service, locally and statewide. Inventor who created new wheat varieties for eastern Washington, exported from this state to the world.
Economic realities in eastern Washington are difficult, facing high energy and fertilizer costs while energy prices stay low. Concerned our nation is losing its way. I see distressed economic conditions right in my home town--but I don't see anybody doing anything about it. I see dangers from terrorism, but confused and inadequate responses from our government.
Honesty and democratic values are eroding all around us, visible most painfully in our nation's capital where so many are caught in a miasma of greed and money. Our system was built on open representation and not the sweet temptation from money and lobbyists. I have to look my children in the eye and say our future is okay. I know we can do better.
Q: In treatment of detainees, do you agree recent legislation is going to remind the world of America as something similar to Nazis?
Goldmark: Our country needs to remain extremely strong. We must have a strong military and intelligence, so we can intercept the terrorists abroad before they enter our country. I support strong borders and we need to do more to protect ourselves domestically. We must set a strong example to other nations of the world--strong in principle and unrelenting in our defense of civil liberties and individual rights. I will work hard to maintain that image--we must rebuild our relationships with nations around the world. I am saddened when bills arise that erode our liberties, such as the recent habeas corpus.
McMorris: We face a new enemy, without uniform or country. Our nation set up standards whereby these people are brought to justice. It is good we work to protect their rights--rights to an attorney, and it is good legislation.
Q: How can we disentangle ourselves from lobbyists and those who represent other interests than those in our district?
McMorris: Nothing has discouraged me more than divisiveness and partisanship in Congress. It is such an extreme that it takes away from what is best for this country. There is a role for lobbyists--some who represent every member in this room. They plan an important role, even though they get a bad rap at times. They help educate us as to what people are facing in different sectors. It is important that I build relationships here in eastern Washington, and I have been home most weekends and every break traveling around the district so I know the district first hand.
Goldmark: I agree there are many lobbyists that come from our state to represent members of the House, but there are many others who come with lots of cash, promises, opportunities. Because of that, I've taken a pledge that when I go back to DC, I will take no gifts, no meals, no trips--because I believe we need to open the doors and increase access of people to Congress.
Question: Recent fires have consumed over 200,000 acres of timberland because of Forest Service "Let it burn" policy. How do you feel about this policy, and do you support timber harvesting?
Goldmark: I believe in smart management of all of our resources. If we have diseased timber, we should 1) capture economic value, and 2) remove fire threat. In Okanogan county, residents of Methow and Okanogan valleys lived through difficult conditions. The wildfires used much timber that could have been used otherwise. We need to do everything we can to assure that these fires are kept in control.
McMorris: Our national forests are being overrun by disease and infestation. We need to salvage as much as possible, that's why I'm working on the NEPA policy. Tribes salvage 90 percent of trees following a burn, but our national forest burns allow salvage only 5 percent.
Question: English as official language of the U.S.?
McMorris: I support it and I've cosponsored legislation on it.
Goldmark: I support it and support the need for diversity awareness.
Question: What strategies will assure Medicare can continue?
Goldmark: Medical care is one of the most serious issues facing us--one left unresolved in previous years. My health insurance went up from 800 per month to 1460. This is unacceptable and unsustainable. As I've talked with health care professionals, there seems to be confusion about what should be done. Medicare, according to health care professionals, report a price shift because Medicare doesn't pay the true costs of medical care, so costs are shifted to private and retail customers. We also know that we are paying the insurance costs for 47 million uninsured in this country. We have to solve the problem of health care.
McMorris: Providing health care has been one of my top priorities. Need bipartisan input to sustain a solution. Hospitals and doctors are seeing their reimbursements reduced. What's really driving the cost of healthcare are liability costs, prescription drug costs, and new technologies. Prescription drug program in Medicare is a big success as costs for drugs have gone down.
Question: What can be done to check the rising costs of health care including the donut hole of Medicare Part D:
McMorris: That is going to need to be addressed. Those who are forced to choose between food and medications are being helped. The donut hole, don't remember the numbers right now, but there is a portion where you pay the full cost of drugs until you reach another level. That part of the program is going to have to be addressed.
Goldmark: Medicare Part D is a prime example of what happens when pharmaceutical companies write the legislation. It's a disaster, confusing, a no-bid system where seniors pay their share, and government pays its share with no bidding going on. We must have competitive bidding, must write the legislation in common language, must eliminate the donut hole. It's not common sense. Needs to be overhauled. Not written for patients, seniors, but for the industries.
Question: Should tariffs be used to protect U.S. Farm products?
Goldmark: Agriculture is near to my heart. Protecting America is a priority imperitive to our future. We know about being reliant on Middle Eastern Oil. We have to start creating it here--it's a national security issue. The same is true for food. We need to not depend on others for our food. We have to maintain a safe and plentiful food supply for our country. When I go to congress I'll make sure the industry is strong.
McMorris: Washington exports 90 percent of the wheat from this state. We export more than we use. Trade agreements need to level the playing field. Our exports have a 62 percent tariff, where our imports average 10 percent tariff. Trade agreements level our playing field so our producers can compete. I am confident if the field is level, our growers will compete successfully.
Question: If you had to cut one part of the budget, what part would that be? If you had to increase one part, what would that be?
McMorris: Difficult question. Lots of great ideas but then you have to figure out how to fund. We must do better job of setting priorities. I believe in balanced budget amendment because Congress will never have the will without the amendment. I look for opportunities to lower spending. No matter what I decide to cut, I hear from people. We rarely cut a program--we might reduce the rate of increase.
Goldmark: I would cut the pork in the federal budget. We have a pork-laden Congress where at the last minute these 200 million bridges to nowhere get inserted. We can also cut on the corruption and problems in federal agencies such as Katrina, and corruption that has occurred there. Twelve of 13 Iraqi building projects are overbudget. We must make sure these programs are overseen.
Question: Do you have a position on Iraq that differs from the Republican party?
Goldmark: We are all concerned about our service people valiantly fighting there, and we owe them huge thanks for their service. We owe them a plan for what we're doing there. But before we have a plan, we must have answers. The government must be straight and answer questions--exactly how is retraining going of Iraqi police and army--exactly what is the nature of the conflict? Insurgency or civil war? What is really going on. We also deserve a straight answer on the influence of Iran there. Is it real, imagined? Increasing, decreasing? Our government must answer these questions in a straight manner, so Congress can be fully informed about what is happening there. I think we must reach a rapid conclusion so that we can safely bring our troops home.
McMorris: I oppose the cut and run approach proposed by some. I traveled there in April and watched police training. There is more work to be done, but we have seen tremendous progress in Iraq, an important mission and one piece in the war on terrorism. We've made tremendous progress, with the country adopting a constitution and government--we need to push and assist them in doing that and that needs to happen as soon as possible.
Closing statement:
Goldmark: I'm very concerned about the integrity of our Congress and the current cloud over Congress, and the lack of leadership in dealing effectively with the growing scandal that is growing in their ranks. They need to take responsibility, acknowledge it and do what needs to be done. I'm concerned about our record deficit accruing every year. We have to bring spending under control. Lastly energy and health care costs need to be addressed.
McMorris: When I was elected, I promised to work hard and listen--that's exactly what I've done. I'm proud of my endorsements. I could imagine that of the 1200 votes I've taken, I can imagine there are some you would disagree with. But I'm about working hard, solution oriented, for Eastern Washington. It's easy to criticize, but more difficult to move issues across the aisle, and that's what I'm committed to in this election.
Discussion:
Each candidate had a chance to draw their key points for the 200 attendees. Peter spoke with conviction about the need for new direction in Congress and called for moving away from lobbyist influence.
Since his campaign is driven by individual contributions rather than huge PAC contributors, we all need to lend a hand to make sure he gets to Congress. If each of us could contribute $5, $10, $25 or $100, Goldmark can reach his fundraising goal, get his message out over the din of PAC-backed McMorris commercials,and hopefully change our ridiculous electoral system which requires candidates either to be gazillionaires or spend all their time raising money. You can contribute to Goldmark's campaign at votepetergoldmark.com or mail it to him at Goldmark for Congress, P.O. Box 1512, Spokane, WA 99201. Thank you and let's ride with Goldmark!