WELCOME TO THE IDAHO DEBATES
A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES ON THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION
BALLOT FOR CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT 1.
THE IDAHO DEBATES ARE A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG THE
IDAHO PRESS CLUB, BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO'S
MCCLURE CENTER, IDAHO STATE
UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE, THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS' VOTER EDUCATION
FUND, AND IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
FUNDING FOR THE IDAHO DEBATES IS
PROVIDED BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION AND THE IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT...
>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE
IDAHO DEBATES ON IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
TONIGHT THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES VYING TO REPRESENT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 TAKE
THE STAGE TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THE WINNER OF THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY WILL FACE THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEE FOR CD1 IN THE NOVEMBER
GENERAL ELECTION.
CANDIDATES: ALEX GALLEGOS,
CHRISTY PERRY, MICHAEL SNYDER,
DAVID LEROY, AND RUSS FULCHER.
ASKING THEM QUESTIONS TONIGHT
WILL BE REPORTERS SELECTED BY
THE IDAHO PRESS CLUB: BETSY
RUSSELL OF THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW,
CAMERON RASMUSSON OF THE
SANDPOINT READER, AND BILL
SPENCE OF THE LEWISTON TRIBUNE.
I'M MELISSA DAVLIN, HOST OF
"IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
I'M MODERATING TONIGHT'S DEBATE
AND WILL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE
ALL THE CANDIDATES GET EQUAL
TIME AND STAY ON POINT.
TO HELP ME AND TO REMIND THE
CANDIDATES HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN
TALKING IS A VOLUNTEER
TIMEKEEPER FROM THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS, BARB WOOD.
WE'VE ASKED THE CANDIDATES TO
ENGAGE EACH OTHER ON THE ISSUES.
IN OTHER WORDS, LESS EMPHASIS ON
A RIGID FORMAT AND MORE FOCUS ON
INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION THAT
HELPS YOU THE VOTER CAST A MORE
INFORMED BALLOT.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE GIVEN 90
SECONDS FOR OPENING COMMENTS AND
90 SECONDS FOR CLOSING.
WE DREW NAMES A FEW MINUTES AGO
AND COLONEL GALLEGOS WILL BEGIN
WITH HIS OPENING REMARKS.
>> THANKS.
I'M LIEUTENANT COLONEL RETIRED
ALEX GALLEGOS, NATIVE OF CANYON
COUNTY.
I ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL.
DURING MY CAREER, I DEPLOYED SIX
TIMES, I EARNED THREE DEGREES,
AND I SERVED AT EVERY LEVEL OF
THE ARMY, INCLUDING TWICE AT THE
PENTAGON.
MY WIFE IS A COLONEL ON ACTIVE
DUTY.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE NEARLY HALF A
CENTURY OF ACTIVE SERVICE.
I'M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE
I DEEPLY CARE ABOUT OUR NATION.
I KNOW THAT CONGRESS HAS FAILED
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND IS
HURTING IDAHOANS.
THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN
CONGRESS IS PLACING IN JEOPARDY
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR
CHILDREN'S FUTURE, AND/ OUR
AMERICAN VALUES.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE WHO WE ELECT.
WE NEED TO ELECT LEADERS WHO
HAVE DISCIPLINE, COURAGE, AND
HAVE COMMON SENSE.
IN THE CASE OF NATIONAL
SECURITY, WE NEED LEADERS WITH
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
OUR FAMILY UNDERSTANDS
SACRIFICE.
OUR CHILDREN'S FATHER, A REAL
AMERICAN HERO, CAPTAIN DAN
AGERS, PAID THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE.
WITH YOUR CONFIDENCE, I PROMISE
TO DEFEND AND PROTECT OUR
FREEDOM AND HONOR THE SACRIFICES
OF OUR FALLEN BY RESTORING
DISCIPLINE IN CONGRESS.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REPRESENTATIVE PERRY.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND FOR EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED IN MAKING THESE
DEBATES POSSIBLE TONIGHT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY
HUSBAND AND MY FAMILY FOR
JOINING US IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY
AS WELL.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER
MET ME, MY NAME IS CHRISTY
PERRY, AND I'M A STRONG
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
CHRISTIAN WOMAN FROM CANYON
COUNTY WHO, ALONG WITH MY
HUSBAND, OWN AND OPERATE A GUN
SHOP HERE IN IDAHO.
I'M THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GUNS.
I COME FROM HARD-WORKING
CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER
BEEN HANDED A THING.
I'M THE FIRST PERSON IN MY
FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, A
MASTER'S DEGREE.
I HAVE SERVED AS A REPUBLICAN
PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN, AND I'M A
FOUR-TERM REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR
FROM THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
OF CANYON COUNTY.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANT
TO BE YOUR NEXT CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 1.
MY ONE QUESTION FOR YOU TONIGHT
IS, WHAT HAVE THESE GOOD OLE
BOYS DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
I'LL TELL YOU.
THEY'VE GIVEN US A $21 TRILLION
DEFICIT.
THEY HAVE BANKRUPTED THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND.
THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR OUR
HEALTH CARE CRISIS OR
IMMIGRATION CRISIS.
RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE WORKING ON
RULES TO INFRINGE ON YOUR SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
WE NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE NEED A STRONG CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICAN CHRISTIAN WOMAN IN
CONGRESS, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO
SEND ME, CHRISTY PERRY, THE GIRL
WITH ALL THE GUNS TO FIGHT FOR
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SENATOR FULCHER.
>> HI.
I'M RUSS FULCHER.
I'M A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AN
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMAN, A
REAL ESTATE BROKER, AND A FORMER
STATE SENATOR.
I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
FORGOTTEN THAT THEY ARE HERE TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT THE OTHER
WAY AROUND.
AND I WANT TO PLAY A PART IN
SHIFTING SOME OF THAT CONTROL
FROM THE GOVERNMENT BACK TO THE
PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO HAVE
DEEP ROOTS IN THIS STATE.
THE FIRST 20 YEARS OF MY LIFE
WAS SPENT ON A DAIRY FARM IN
MERIDIAN.
THE NEXT 20-PLUS YEARS WAS SPENT
TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU GET JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF AN APPRECIATION
FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE
GOVERNMENT WORK AND SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT JUST DON'T.
FROM THERE, I WAS BLESSED AGAIN
TO BE IN THE IDAHO STATE SENATE
FOR TEN YEARS WHILE RUNNING A
REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
I WANT TO TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE,
BUT I WANT TO USE IT ON YOUR
BEHALF.
I WANT TO HELP PUT A PLAN IN
PLACE TO SECURE OUR BORDER.
I WANT TO HELP PUT A PLAN IN
PLACE TO ENABLE THE FREE MARKET
SYSTEM AND OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE LOWER
COSTS AND BETTER CARE.
AND I WANT TO HELP PUT A PLAN IN
PLACE TO EMPOWER WISE MANAGEMENT
OF OUR LANDS, PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT AND OUR ACCESS.
MY FRIENDS, EXPERIENCE REALLY
DOES MATTER.
A POSITIVE MESSAGE REALLY DOES
MATTER.
I WILL BE YOUR CHAMPION IN
CONGRESS, AND I HAVE THE RECORD
TO PROVE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MR. SNYDER, YOUR REMARKS,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL SNYDER.
I'M ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
CONSERVATIVE AUTHORS IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
I'VE TOUCHED MORE PEOPLE FOR
CONSERVATIVE CAUSES THAN
EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS STAGE
COMBINED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE ALL OF MY FELLOW
CANDIDATES HERE TONIGHT FOR
ADOPTING PRO-TRUMP MESSAGING FOR
THEIR CAMPAIGN AND FOLLOWING MY
LEAD IN DOING SO, BUT SHOULD WE
TRUST THE LATE BANDWAGON
JUMPERS?
WE KNOW ORIGINALLY ALL THE OTHER
LEADING CONTENDERS IN THIS RACE
TRIED TO KEEP DONALD TRUMP OUT
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY DID NOT WANT DONALD TRUMP
WHILE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I
WAS A TRUMP SUPPORTER EVEN
BEFORE DONALD TRUMP GOT IN THE
RACE.
I RESONATED WITH HIS MESSAGE.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT A WALL.
I WAS TALKED ABOUT OUR
IMBALANCED TRADE WITH CHINA.
WHEN HE CAME ALONG, ME AND MY
WIFE JUMPED ON BOARD RIGHT AWAY.
THESE GUYS, THEY'RE LATE TO THE
GAME.
THEY SAY TRUST US.
LET ME GIVE YOU ONE CLUE.
IF SOMEONE SURROUNDED THEMSELVES
WITH PEOPLE WHO HATE DONALD
TRUMP, PROBABLY NOT A PRO-TRUMP
CANDIDATE, SO WE DON'T LIKE FAKE
TANS.
WE DON'T LIKE FAKE NEWS, AND WE
CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEND A
FAKE PRO-TRUMP KRCANDIDATE TO
WASHINGTON.
LISTEN TO US.
EVALUATE US.
COMPARE.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ME,
COMPARE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO THE
OTHER GUYS.
WHEN YOU DO, I THINK YOU'LL VOTE
FOR THE PRO-TRUMP CANDIDATE, THE
MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN
THIS CASE, AND THE PERSON THAT'S
MOST OUT FRONT ABOUT TAKING
CHRISTIAN VALUES BACK TO
WASHINGTON, D.C.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY.
>> GOOD EVENING, IDAHO.
I'M DAVID LEROY.
117 YEARS AGO MY AN SCESTORS CAME
TO IDAHO TO FARM.
I SPENT A NUMBER OF GLORIOUS
SUMMERS ON THE LAKE.
I'M A TWO-TERM COUNTY
PROSECUTOR, WAS FORMERLY THE
YOUNGEST ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE
COUNTRY, APPEARING THREE TIMES
BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT.
FOR FOUR YEARS, I WAS LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR OF IDAHO PRESIDING OVER
THE SENATE.
WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS OUT OF
STATE FOR 254 DAYS, I WAS ACTING
GOVERNOR OF IDAHO.
IN THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION, I
SERVE ED AS A PRESIDENTIAL
APPOINTEE, BUT NOW I'M CITIZEN
DAVE.
BEEN OUT OF POLITICS FOR 20
YEARS.
WHY WOULD I COME BACK?
BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS A CHANGE
AGENT.
IF WE PUT CONSERVATIVE
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF HIM,
HE'LL PASS IT.
HE'LL SIGN IT.
AND HE'LL ENACT IT INTO LAW.
YOU SEE, WITH MY CONSIDERABLE
BACKGROUND, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE
A CONTRIBUTION IN CONGRESS FROM
DAY ONE.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS RUN A FEDERAL
AGENCY, I HAVE GOOD IDEAS ABOUT
THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW TO
IMPROVE IT.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS TESTIFIED
FREQUENTLY BEFORE CONGRESS, I
WILL LEARN HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS,
LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS, AND MAKE
PUBLIC POLICY.
IF YOU'LL SEND MY WIFE NANCY,
LEROY, AND I TOGETHER AS A TEAM
TO CONGRESS, WE'LL REPRESENT YOU
HONORAB
HONORABLY, ETHICALLY,
AGGRESSIVELY, EFFECTIVELY.
IT'S OUR TURN AND OUR TIME TO
PRESERVE THE REPUBLIC.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REPRESENT MALEK.
>> THANK YOU, MELISSA.
MY NAME IS LUKE MALEK, AND I'M
RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.
I'M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS TO
FIGHT FOR OUR SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHTS, TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THE
LIFE OF THE UNBORN, TO FIGHT TO
PRESERVE OUR INDEPENDENT WAY OF
LIFE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, AND
TO DEFEND AGAINST THE HEAVY HAND
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I FIGHT BECAUSE, LIKE YOU, I
FIGHT FOR WHAT I LOVE, AND I
LOVE OUR COUNTRY.
I LOVE THE STATE OF IDAHO.
I LOVE MY FAMILY, AND I LOVE OUR
CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT I'LL FIGHT?
BECAUSE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER
THAN WORDS.
I'VE FOUGHT AND I HAVE WON.
WHEN OBAMA WAS SPYING ON US
USING OUR CELL PHONES, I SUED
HIM TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS.
WHEN OBAMACARE THREATENED TO
BANKRUPT IDAHOANS, I FOUGHT TO
MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH CARE
DECISIONS REMAINED IN OUR HANDS.
I FIGHT FOR IDAHOANS, WHICH IS
WHY I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY OUR
FIREFIGHTERS, BY OUR POLICE
OFFICERS, BY MANY NMAYORS, BY
MANY PROSECUTORS, BY MEMBERS OF
THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, THE
TIMBER INDUSTRY, THE MINING
INDUSTRY, AND MANY MORE.
AND I AM AUTHENTIC TRUE
CONSERVATIVE, AND I FIGHT FOR
WHAT I LOVE.
AND I CAN'T BE BOUGHT, WHICH IS
WHY I AM RUNNING FOR CONGRESS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AUTHENTIC
LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE 90 MINUTES OF DEBATE
AHEAD OF US.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM
CAMERON TO COLONEL GALLEGOS.
>> COLONEL GALLEGOS, GIVEN THE
DISTINCT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DYNAMICS THROUGHOUT YOUR CONTROL
pFOR REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY?
>> THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL FOR
THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN.
AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO LISTEN
AND OBSERVE WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THE COMMUNITIES.
IDAHO IS HURTING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE'S A SKILLS
GAP IN JOBS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT EDUCATION IS
ATTRIBUTED TO THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE COMMUNITIES
AND FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR
THEM.
OUR AG INDUSTRY IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN IDAHO.
WE HAVE TO, AS A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE UNITED STATES, MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING OUR
RANCHERS AND FARMERS.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM,
AND TO SUSTAIN THE INCOME THEY
NEED, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I WILL TELL YOU MY FAMILY FARMS
IN WISCONSIN, AND I KNOW HOW
DIFFICULT THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
ARE.
I WILL TELL YOU THERE WILL BE NO
ONE BETTER THAN ME TO REPRESENT
YOU IN CONGRESS BECAUSE I KNOW
WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE THAT WE
FACE.
>> VERY GOOD.
AND GIVEN THAT IDAHO IS JUST TWO
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS AND
SOMETIMES THE INTEREST BETWEEN
THE DISTRICTS CONFLICT WITH EACH
OTHER, WHAT IS YOUR DUTY TO
REPRESENT ALL OF IDAHO -- THAT
IS TO SAY, IS IT YOUR DUTY TO
REPRESENT ALL OF IDAHO AND NOT
JUST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1?
>> AS A SERVICE MEMBER, WHAT WE
LEARN IS TEAMWORK IS PARAMOUNT.
YOU HAVE TO OPERATE AS A TEAM TO
ACHIEVE ANY OBJECTIVE.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS
SPLITTING IDAHO IN HALF AND
CREATING TWO SEPARATE IDAHOS.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN BOTH
DISTRICTS TO REACH COMMON
OBJECTIVES.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
FARMERS AND RANCHERS ON ONE SIDE
OF THE STATE AREN'T ANY
DIFFERENT THAN FARMERS AND
RANCHERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE STATE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, SAME
QUESTION.
>> IN THAT REGARD, I THINK
WHAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BOTH
FOR ALL PARTS OF IDAHO ARE THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE GOT TO PUT
SOME INVESTMENT INTO OUR
S.T.E.M. EDUCATION ACROSS THE
STATE AND EDUCATION AND
TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THE STATE.
AS I'VE TRAVELED UP AND DOWN THE
DISTRICT, THERE'S SOME CONCERNS
THAT CONSISTENTLY COME UP.
ONE OF THEM IS THIS QUESTION OF
THIS URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE.
RURAL IDAHO TRULY FEELS LEFT OUT
OF THE EQUATION.
THAT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE, SO WE
HAVE GOT TO PUT SOME TIME INTO
FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE ENSURE
THAT RURAL IDAHO AND THEIR
CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME ECONOMIC
VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND
OPPORTUNITIES AS URBAN IDAHO
DOES.
THOSE ARE THINGS AT THE IDAHO
LEGISLATURE WE HAVE CERTAINLY
ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON.
UNLIKE MR. GALLEGOS HERE, WE'VE
WORKED ON THOSE.
WE KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT THESE
ISSUES ARE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS, SO IT IS
EDUCATION AND IT IS THE
INVESTMENT IN S.T.E.M.
AND IT IS ALSO INVESTMENT IN
TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IN ORDER
FOR BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS IDAHO
TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE GOT TO
HAVE A VIABLE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.
NORTHERN IDAHO CAN'T BE TAKING A
HELICOPTER AND HAULING THE TREES
OUT OF THERE.
WE'VE GOT TO BUILD SOME
INFRASTRUCTURE SO THEY CAN
SUCCEED.
TO RESPOND TO THAT BRIEFLY.NTED
>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE
WOULD CONTEST THAT.
PEOPLE ON THIS PANEL HAVE SERVED
THE STATE OF IDAHO.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOURSELF --
IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE TALK
ABOUT S.T.E.M. EDUCATION, BUT
IDAHO HAS A HORRIBLE RECORD OF
EDUCATION.
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THESE THINGS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF
HIYPERBOLE TONIGHT.
I HOPE WE HEAR HUMILITY AND
AUTHENTICITY AS WELL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, WHAT
COMMITTEES WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SERVE ON AND HOW WOULD THEY
IMPROVE THE COMMITTEE?
>> THE COMMITTEE IS OBVIOUSLY
NATURAL RESOURCES.
THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
IDAHO.
AGRICULTURE IS ALSO INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT.
THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE, WHICH REALLY ALTHOUGH
THE NAME SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING
ELSE, IT REALLY DEALS WITH
HEALTH CARE.
ID
IDAHO O
IDAHOANS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE
HEALTH CRISIS.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO EVEN MAKE
THE PREMIUMS.
IF THEY CAN'T, THEY'RE BEING
PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET, SO
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO
BE DEALT WITH ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL.
I'VE WORKED AN AWFUL LOT IN THAT
ARENA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO HELP THE
CITIZENS OF IDAHO.
>> SENATOR FULCHER, YOU'RE USED
TO WORKING IN A DEEP RED STATE,
BUT WHEN YOU GET TO CONGRESS,
IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH MORE
EVEN DIVIDE.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO WORK WITH THE
OTHER SIDE IF YOU ARE ELECTED?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS
ABLE TO DO DURING MY SERVICE IN
THE IDAHO STATE SENATE WAS GAIN
THE CONFIDENCE OF MY COLLEAGUES
ACROSS THE STATE.
SO MUCH SO THAT THEY ELECTED ME
AS ONE OF THEIR LEADERS FOR SIX
OF THE TEN YEARS THAT I SERVED.
YOU DON'T DO THAT WITHOUT BEING
ABLE TO WORK ACROSS A BROAD
SCALE.
MANY OF THE BILLS I SPONSORED OR
DEALT WITH, THERE WAS CO-SPONSOR
CO-SPONSORS FROM THE MINORITY
PARTY.
I THINK THAT WILL SERVE ME WELL
IN A PLACE LIKE WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'M A
LITTLE BIT EXCITED ABOUT, TO BE
HONEST, IS I THINK I MIGHT KNOW
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS
PRESIDENT THINKS.
THE REASON OF THAT IS IN MY
EARLY DAYS AT MICRON TECHNOLOGY
I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WOULD INTERACT WITH A LOT OF
HIGH-PROFILE PEOPLE.
NOT AT THE TIME, BUT LATER.
THE STEVE JOBS OF THE WORLD AND
THAT MIND-SET AND HAVE SOME
COMMON THOUGHT PROCESSES.
IMAGE THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT
OF COMMONALITY THERE.
>> MR. SNYDER, LET'S GO WITH THE
SAME QUESTION.
>> SURE, BUT I HAVE A DIFFERENT
APPROACH THAN THESE GUYS.
GOING TO CONGRESS, I'LL WORK
WITH ANYBODY THAT WORKS WITH ME
ON ANY ISSUE.
SYSTEM UPSIDE DOWN.TURN THE -
LET ME EXPLAIN.
WE JUST GOT DONE WITH A TWO-WEEK
TOUR ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE DOING TWO OR THREE OF
THOSE A DAY.
I WOULD ASK THE AUDIENCE A VERY
SIMPLE QUESTION.
I SAID, IF YOU APPROVE OF THE
JOB CONGRESS IS DOING, GO AHEAD
AND RAISE A HAND.
IN ALL THOSE MEETINGS, NOT A
SINGLE PERSON RAISED A HAND,
WHICH IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE I
WAS TALKING TO REPUBLICAN
AUDIENCES.
I WAS TALKING TO CONSERVATIVE
AUDIENCES, BUT REPUBLICANS ARE
ALREADY IN CONTROL IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT EVERYBODY
HATES CONGRESS.
CONGRESS HAS A 15% APPROVAL
RATING TODAY.
IN THIS ELECTION, WE HAVE A VERY
CLEAR CHOICE.
WE CAN CHOOSE A CONVENTIONAL
CAREER POLITICIAN WHO IS NOT
GOING TO MAKE ANY WAVES IN
WASHINGTON.
IF WE ELECT ONE OF THESE GUYS,
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'LL
COME BACK AND EVERYBODY WILL
TALK ABOUT HOW THEY HATE
CONGRESS, BUT I'M GOING THERE IN
THE LAST DEBATE.
WE NEED TO SEND A FIREBALL TO
WASHINGTON LIKE DONALD TRUMP.
I AM THAT FIREBALL.
I'M GOING THERE TO EXPOSE THE
CORRUPTION AND TAKE ON THE
LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES AND
SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
IT THIS WAY ANY LONGER.
>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP HERE, YOU
KNOW, HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH A
POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN
CONGRESS?
>> ON CERTAIN ISSUES, THERE'S
COMMON GROUNDS, BUT ON CERTAIN
ISSUES THERE'LL NEVER BE COMMON
GROUND.
FOR EXAMPLE, FUNDING PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
I HAVE MADE A PLEDGE THAT I WILL
NEVER, EVER VOTE FOR ANY BILL
THAT HAS FUNDING FOR PLANNED
PARENTHOOD EVEN IF IT IS $1.
IT'S AN AUTOMATIC NO VOTE FOR
ME.
THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU CAN
COMPROMISE ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE
WE GOING TO SPEND ON REPAIRING
ROADS THIS YEAR, BUT THERE ARE
OTHER THINGS WHERE WE MUST STAND
ON PRINCIPLE.
UNLIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN
THIS RACE, I HAVE A BACKBONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY, I
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS
ABOUT COMMITTEES YOU'D LIKE TO
SERVE ON.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT?
>> I DO.
THE COMMITTEES I WOULD LIKE TO
SERVE ON RELATES BACK TO YOUR
QUESTIONS, ONE, TWO, AND THREE,
HOW DO YOU BRIDGE TOGETHER THE
NORTH AND THE SOUTH, THE RURAL
AND URBAN, THE FIRST AND SECOND
DISTRICT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE JEW
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE
HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF
GOVERNMENT AND REFORM.
THEY HAVE THEIR TENTACLES
WRAPPED AROUND ALL THE LAWS OF
THE UNITED STATES AND
REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
MANY OF THE THINGS THAT IMPACT
US IN A PUBLIC LAND STATE WITH
62% OR 63% PUBLIC FEDERAL LAND
AND TIMBER INDUSTRIES WITH
ACCESS TO RECREATION,
BACKCOUNTRY AIRPORTS INCLUDED,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE WRAPPED
UP IN REGULATIONS AND LAWS.
THOSE TWO COMMITTEES CAN BE
INSTANTLY AVAILABLE TO HELP ALL
OF IDAHO, ALL OF THE INDUSTRIES,
ALL OUR CITIZENS.
IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT, IN
MY OPINION, IN THIS TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WHERE ON FIRST
YEAR'S PERFORMANCE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION CUT 22
REGULATIONS FOR EVERY 1.
UNLESS WE CHANGE THE STATUTES,
WHICH DATE BACK TO THE 70s AND
80s, EVEN THE 60s UNDER WHICH
THESE REGULATIONS WERE INITIALLY
ADOPTED, THEY'LL BLOOM AGAIN
UNLESS WE NARROW THE DEFINITIONS
AND NARROW THE AUTHORITIES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND JUST TO CONTINUE WITH THAT,
HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT ALL
IDAHOANS?
CAN YOU REFERENCE THAT A LITTLE
BIT?
COULD YOU KIND OF CONTINUE WITH
THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
FOR INSTANCE, UNLESS WE HAVE A
CHANGE IN EPA REGULATIONS OR A
WAIVER FROM EPA REGULATIONS,
EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF NAPA,
IDAHO, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN,
WILL BE PAYING $111 PER MONTH
MORE FOR SEWER ACCESS AND SEWER
FEES BECAUSE OF AFFLUENT
REGULATIONS DUMPING OUT OF THEIR
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, SO
WE NEED TO, IN THE CASE OF NAPA,
GET AN IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THAT.
IF NOT IN THIS CONGRESS, THEN
CERTAINLY EARLY IN THE 116th
CONGRESS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK, LET'S GO
BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND
THE SOUTHWEST AND HOW YOU WOULD
REPRESENT BOTH OF THOSE
DIFFERING REGIONS.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION,
CAMERON.
IF I AM ELECTED IN CONGRESS,
WHEN I'M ELECTED TO CONGRESS,
I'LL BE THE FIRST CONGRESSMAN
FROM KUTNEY COUNTY SINCE THE
1950s.
THE NORTH HAS BEEN IGNORED, BUT
I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE BUILT
RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE CANADIAN
BORDER DOWN TO THE NEVADA
BORDER.
THIS DISTRICT IS 600 MILES LONG
AND TAKES ABOUT TEN HOURS TO
DRIVE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER,
AND I DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STATE, AND I
KNOW PEOPLE WITHOUT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BONNERS FERRY AND
ORIANA.
THE ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT.
THE LANDSCAPE IS DIFFERENT.
WHAT RUNS THROUGH THIS DISTRICT
IS AN INTENSE DEDICATION, FIERCE
FIERCELY INDEPENDENT PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT IN
THEIR LIVES AND WANT SOMEONE WHO
UNDERSTANDS THAT INDEPENDENCE,
WHO IS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM, WHO
WILL FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE
IN.
I BELIEVE THAT I WILL BE
UNIQUELY SUITED AND REPRESENT
THE ENTIRE DISTRICT VERY WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS --
>> CAN I ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE
QUESTION REAL QUICK BECAUSE THEY
ALL GOT TO?
>> WE CAN GET TO THAT IN JUST A
SECOND.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> THAT'S A DISTINCTION THAT WE
HAVE.
>> BRIEFLY, REAL QUICK.
>> SURE.
I'LL START WITH A BECAUSE I'M
ALEX.
AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCES ARE
IMPORTANT TO IDAHO.
THEN WE CAN START WITH
APPROPRIATIONS.
APPROPRIATIONS IS ARGUABLY THE
MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEE IN THE
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY GIVE
MONEY.
WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO DO THAT?
AS A SERVICE MEMBER, THE ARMED
FORCES AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE IS SO IMPORTANT.
THERE'S NO ONE MORE QUALIFIED ON
THAT PANEL TO REPRESENT VETERANS
IN IDAHO THAN I AM.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MALEK, OVER
THE LAST 40 YEARS, CONGRESS HAS
TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO TIE ITS
OWN HANDS AND FORCE SOME LEVEL
OF FISCAL DISCIPLINE UPON
ITSELF.
NONE OF THOSE MECHANISMS HAVE
WORKED.
THEY CONTINUE TO DEFICIT SPEND.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A
CONSTITUTIONAL BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE
AND IF SO, WHAT KIND OF
EXCEPTIONS WOULD YOU INCLUDE IN
THAT?
>> THANK YOU, BILL.
I WOULD NOT BE ACTIVELY LOOKING
FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
I BELIEVE CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO
ITS JOB.
ONE OF THE ONLY JOBS OF
CONGRESS, WHO IS ELECTED BY THE
PEOPLE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PASS A BUDGET ON A REGULAR
BASIS.
I CAN TELL YOU AS A MEMBER OF
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE I
UNDERSTAND THE TOUGH DECISIONS
THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE THAT A BUDGET IS
BALANCED.
IN IDAHO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
THINGS AND SAY, YEAH, THAT WOULD
BE REALLY NICE FOR THE STATE OF
IDAHO, BUT OUR REALITY MEANS WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS
NECESSARY.
WE NEED THAT SORT OF PRAGMATISM
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>> REPRESENTATIVE, YOU AND I
HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THIS,
THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEMS
ARE.
THEY KNOW SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS.
THE ISSUE IS THEY DON'T TRUST
THEMSELVES TO HAVE THE
DISCIPLINE TO ACTUALLY ABIDE BY
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S TOO HARD.
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK TOO HARD IS AN
EXCUSE.
MAYBE I'M NAIVE TO THINK I CAN
GO BACK THERE AND BE DIFFERENT,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'M NOT GOING
BACK THERE TO BE PART OF THE
SYSTEM.
I LOVE THE STATE OF IDAHO.
I LOVE WHERE I LIVE.
MY WIFE AND I OWN A BUSINESS
HERE.
WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
I'M GOING BACK THERE TO DO WHAT
IS RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT THING TO
DO IS TO MAKE SURE CONGRESS DOES
ITS JOB.
I'M GOING BACK THERE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE PASS A BUDGET, AND
THAT WE DO THE OTHER JOBS THAT
CONGRESS NEEDS TO BE DOING.
I DON'T THINK THAT MY POLITICAL
CAREER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE VERY, VERY PERTINENT ISSUES
THAT ARE FACING THIS COUNTRY.
I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND LIKE
I'M TOO IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED
IN THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE OR TOO
IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN
SOLVING OUR SOCIAL SECURITY
CRISIS.
I'M GOING BACK THERE TO FIX
THESE PROBLEMS.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT CONGRESS NEEDS
TO GET A HANDLE ON IT WITHOUT A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
LAST DECEMBER, THEY APPROVED THE
TAX REFORM PACKAGE BY SOME
ESTIMATES THAT ADDS $1.5
TRILLION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT.
THAT'S ON TOP OF ANOTHER 10
TRILLION THAT'S ALREADY GOING TO
HAPPEN UNDER THE STATUS QUO.
WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THAT
PLAN?
>> I ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE
SUPPORTED THE TAX BILL THAT WAS
PASSED IN DECEMBER.
OUR TAXES ARE UNIVERSALLY
RECOGNIZED AS BEING TOO
COMPLICATED.
THEY'RE UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED
AS BEING TOO ONEROUS IN A GLOBAL
ECONOMY.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IN
A GLOBAL ECONOMY.
I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT
BILL.
IF EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME,
THIS IS GOING TO REDUCE REVENUE,
BUT WE HAVE ALLOWED EMPLOYERS,
JOB CREATORS, TO CREATE MORE
pEMPLOYEES, SO I BELIEVE THE LONG
RUN WILL SHOW THIS TAX REFORM
HAS CREATED A MORE HEALTHY
UNITED STATES.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, YOU
WANTED TO RESPOND TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANTED TO RESPOND TO MR.
SPENCE'S DISCUSSION AND QUESTION
REGARDING THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT BECAUSE I HAVE
ACTUALLY WORKED ON THAT FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS ACTUALLY IN THE
IDAHO LEGISLATURE.
I'M ONE OF A FEW LEGISLATORS WHO
WENT DOWN TO ARIZONA WHEN THEY
ACTUALLY DID A CALL TO DO A
CONVENTION OF STATES TO DISCUSS
THAT VERY ISSUE.
THAT WAS IN ITSELF HISTORIC
BECAUSE YOU HAVE STATES NOW
RECOGNIZING THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS INEPT AT BEING
ABLE TO CONTROL ITS SPENDING.
THEY ARE ADDICTED TO IT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONGRESS NOT
BEING ABLE TO TRUST THEMSELVES,
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THAT
THEY TRUST THEMSELVES.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE PUTTING
THEMSELVES AHEAD OF THE PEOPLE
THAT THEY SERVE, AND THE DEBT IS
ABSOLUTELY DESTROYING AMERICA
FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SO I JUST
KIND OF WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT IS ON RECORD THAT I HAVE
WORKED WITH THAT FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS IN THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.
THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY USUALLY
BEEN POISED TO PASS A HOUSE
BUDGET AMENDMENT.
IF WE DO AN AMENDMENT, THAT'S
THE PEOPLE SPEAKING.
THAT'S THE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
ENGAGE INTO THIS PROCESS, AND
THEY CAN START TAKING IT OVER
AND START TELLING CONGRESS WHAT
THEY WANT TO SEE DONE.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK
WITH THE PUBLIC TO HELP GET THAT
DONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR
REPRESENTATIVE PERRY?
>> REPRESENTATIVE -- SO, THAT'S
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUT
THAT'S STILL GOING TO TAKE TIME,
EVEN IF CONGRESS WERE TO APPROVE
IT.
IN THE INTERIM, AS
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK WAS SAYING,
CONGRESS NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IT
ITSELF.
THE HOUSE IS ALREADY TALKING
ABOUT ADDITIONAL TAX CUTS ON TOP
OF WHAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT TAX CUTS THAT
EXPAND THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT?
>> AND KEEP YOUR ANSWER BRIEF,
PLEASE.
>> I WOULD.
I WOULD SUPPORT THE TAX CUTS,
BUT I WOULD DEMAND CUTS IN
PROGRAMS TO HELP OFFSET THAT AND
THEN LET THE ECONOMY GROW BY
HAVING THE EXTRA MONEY IN THE
PUBLIC'S HANDS AND POCKETBOOKS.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, LET'S GO
BACK TO THE --
>> I WANT TO VOLUNTEER ON YOUR
LAST ONE.
AFTER AN HOUR AND 20 IN YOUR
BASEMENT LAST WEEK, I NEVER
THOUGHT I WOULD VOLUNTEER ON
ANOTHER ONE.
HOWEVER, I DO SUPPORT A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THE TAX
CUT BILL SIMPLY BECAUSE THE
DEFICIT THERE -- YOU SAID 1.5
TRILLION.
OTHERS SAY 1.3 TRILLION.
IT'S BASED ON STATIC
COMPETITIONS, NOT DYNAMIC
COMPETITIONS.
BUT THE REAL KEY TO YOUR
QUESTION HERE IS WHAT DOES
CONGRESS DO IN THE MEANTIME.
FOR THE LAST YEAR, I'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING THAT WE ADOPT
SOMETHING CALLED THE PENNY PLAN.
IF WE WILL SIMPLY TRIM ONE PENNY
OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR, 1% OUT OF
EVERY BUDGET ACROSS THE BOARD,
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS,
WE CAN ACHIEVE A BALANCED
BUDGET.
NOT REDUCING THE TOTAL DEBT, BUT
A BALANCED BUDGET NOT
ACCUMULATING ANY MORE DEBT.
INTERESTINGLY, SENATOR RAND PAUL
JUST TEN DAYS AGO INTRODUCED A
BRAND-NEW 2018 PENNY PLAN.
I HAVE HIGH ASPIRATIONS FOR
THAT.
>> OKAY.
MR. SNYDER, I WANT TO GET YOUR
VIEWS ON THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
>> YEAH.
VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE $1.3
TRILLION OMNIBUS BILL THAT WENT
THROUGH CONGRESS.
MOST REPUBLICANS VOTED IN FAVOR
OF IT, AND IT EXPLODED SPENDING
LEVELS, WHICH WE CAN'T DO.
WE JUST DID TAX CUTS, WHICH IS
GOOD, BUT WE CAN'T EXPLODE THE
SIZE OF GOVERNMENT AT THE SAME
TIME.
THAT'S INSANITY.
I IMMEDIATELY CAME OUT AND SAID
I WOULD HAVE BEEN A RESOUNDING
NO VOTE TO THAT BILL.
AND I REPEATED MY PLEDGE THAT I
WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR PAUL RYAN
FOR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE
HE WAS THE AUTHOR AT THE TIP OF
THE SPEAR ON THAT BILL.
I CAME OUT WITH THAT PLEDGE.
I URGED AT LEAST ONE OTHER
MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE RUNNING
AGAINST ME TO JOIN THAT PLEDGE.
I WISH ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE AT
THAT TIME.
WE FOUND OUT LATER PAUL RYAN WAS
STEPPING AWAY.
I WAS VERY, VERY HAPPY ABOUT
THAT, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP DOING
WHAT WE'RE DOING IN WASHINGTON.
FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE BARACK OBAMA
ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE, WE'VE
BEEN STEALING MORE THAN $100
MILLION EVERY SINGLE HOUR OF
EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BEYOND
CRIMINAL.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR NATIONAL
SUICIDE, AND WE MUST STOP --
THAT'S WHY WE'VE TO SEND
SOMEBODY WITH A BACKBONE TO
WASHINGTON.
>> I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEWS ON
THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
>> YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ONE THAT IS
PAIRED WITH IT, AND THAT HAS TO
DO WITH TERM LIMITS.
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH IS DO THE
PERPETUAL SITUATION WHERE WE'VE
GOT THE SAME PEOPLE YEAR AFTER
YEAR, DECADE AFTER DECADE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
PAIRING IN ORDER TO HELP TRY TO
PUT SOME OF THAT SYSTEM IN
CHECK.
I WOULD ALSO ADD ON THE TAX CUT
I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THE TAX
CUT THAT WENT THROUGH.
IN FACT, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE
GONE FURTHER BECAUSE ONCE
THAT -- ONCE THE PEOPLE OUR
BUSINESSES AND OUR INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO
HANG ON TO MORE OF THEIR MONEY,
THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING
WITH IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO CIRCULATE THAT
THROUGH THE ECONOMY, SO I
BELIEVE THAT'S A TRIGGER FOR AN
ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT WILL HELP
WITH THIS WHOLE DEBT SITUATION.
>> TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT IN A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
YOU TALK ABOUT CUTTING TAXES,
CUTTING SPENDING, BUT YOU ALSO
TALK ABOUT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS YEAR, THE FEDERAL DEFICIT
IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF $450 BILLION.
THAT'S ROUGHLY HALF OF ALL
NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING.
HOW DO YOU BRING THAT BACK INTO
BALANCE?
>> I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
THERE HAS TO BE AN ATTACK ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION.
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AGGRESSIVE
STANCE ON THE REDUCTION IN
SPENDING.
THERE'S A REAL GOOD PLACE TO
START, AND THAT'S THE FEDERAL
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
POTENTIALLY THE ELIMINATION OR
REDUCTION OF THE EPA, AND A LOT
OF THE FOREIGN AID THAT DOES NOT
HAVE TO DO WITH HOMELAND
SECURITY FOR AMERICA OR MILITARY
SUPPORT FOR AMERICA.
ON THE SPENDING SIDE, THERE'S A
GOOD PLACE TO START.
WHAT I JUST LISTED OFF, THERE'S
A BIG, BIG NUMBER.
ON THE ECONOMIC ENGINE START,
BILL, WE'VE GOT TREMENDOUS
POTENTIAL.
WE'VE GOT A TURBO CHARGED V-8 IN
THIS POTENTIAL ECONOMY, AND
WE'RE RUNNING ON THREE
CYLINDERS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF ISSUES WHY
THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT AMONG THEM IS JUST SO MANY
REGULATIONS AND SO MUCH
BUREAUCRACY THAT IT IS HAMPERING
OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR FAMILIES.
JUST WITH THE TAX REFORM THAT
WAS RECENTLY PLANNED, THAT HAS
INFUSED A CONFIDENCE WITHIN MUCH
OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO
REINVEST IN AMERICA, REINVEST IN
JOBS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
CONTINUE AND EXPAND.
>> OKAY.
REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, AGAIN,
THAT $450 BILLION DEFICIT, WHAT
DO YOU CUT TO GET BACK INTO
BALANCE?
>> YOU NEED TO GO BACK, JUST
LIKE WE DO HERE IN IDAHO -- WE
HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT DO WE WANT
VERSUS WHAT DO WE TRULY NEED.
THOSE ARE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS
THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT
DO NOT WORK, BUT ONCE THEY WERE
PUT IN PLACE, THEY CONTINUE TO
BE FUNDED.
WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK THROUGH
EVERY AGENCY.
WE NEED TO START PAIRING DOWN
THOSE AGENCIES, AND WE NEED TO
START TRANSFERRING THE DUTIES OF
AN AGENCY MORE TO THE STATE AND
STOP MAKING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BE THE LARGEST
EMPLOYER IN THE NATION.
WE CANNOT RELY ON THE
GOVERNMENT.
JOBS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CREATED
BY THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
BUSINESSES OF THIS NATION, AND
WE'VE GOT TO START CUTTING THOSE
REGULATIONS AND ALLOWING THAT
GROWTH AND SOME BREATHING ROOM
SO THAT THEY CAN.
THAT'S WHERE I WOULD BEGIN ON
THAT.
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT BOTH SIDES ARE EQUAL.
I'M ALWAYS FOR THE TAX CUTS.
I THINK THAT PUMPING MONEY BACK
INTO THE ECONOMY IS IMPORTANT.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, MY
HUSBAND AND I CERTAINLY SEE THAT
WHEN PEOPLE RECEIVE A BONUS,
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA
MONEY IN THEIR PAYCHECK.
THEY'RE COMING IN TO SPEND IT.
THAT MONEY GOES THEN TO THE
PEOPLE WE EMPLOY.
THIS IS REALLY HOW IT IS
SUPPOSED TO WORK.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
>> COLONEL, SIMILAR QUESTION FOR
YOU.
IF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WERE
EASY, CONGRESS PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE DONE IT BY NOW.
THE REASON IT'S HARD IS BECAUSE
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY INCURS
PAIN.
IN YOUR VIEW, WHO BEARS THE
BURDEN OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION.
I THINK THIS IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT QUESTION IN PROBABLY
THIS ELECTION.
I THINK THE DEFICIT OR THE DEBT
IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY FOR A LOT OF
REASONS BECAUSE MONEY TRANSCENDS
EVERY ASPECT OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE $19 TRILLION -- GDP IS
ABOUT $19 TRILLION.
YET WE SPEND $21 TRILLION.
WE'RE $21 TRILLION IN DEBT.
THIS IS A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE TO LIMIT GOVERNMENT.
BY FAR, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
AGENCIES.
I WOULD CALL FOR AN AUDIT OF THE
AGENCIES IMMEDIATELY AND THEN
CUT OFF ALL THE --
OVERSTRENGTHEN THOSE AGENCIES,
BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT RESTORING --
MY CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT DISCIPLINE.
DO YOU KNOW CONGRESS HASN'T
PASSED A BUDGET ON TIME IN THE
FISCAL YEAR IN 20 YEARS?
YOU NEED TO SEND A
REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS
THAT'S GOING TO HOLD OTHER
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RESPONSIBLE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO.
BETSY RUSSELL TO LIEUTENANT -
GOVERNOR LEROY.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY, IT
IS COMMON FOR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO BE HIGHLY CRITICAL
OF A PRESIDENT AND THAT
PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATION WHEN
THAT PRESIDENT IS OF A DIFFERENT
PARTY THAN THE MEMBER OF
CONGRESS.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS OF THE
SAME PARTY, SOMETIMES THE
SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
ARE YOU WILLING TO HOLD THIS
PRESIDENT, SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED
TO CONGRESS, AND HIS CABINET TO
THE SAME STANDARDS YOU WOULD
HAVE FOR A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION AND BE VOCAL IN
YOUR CRITCRITICISM?
>> I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE
ANY PROBLEM BEING
STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH ANY
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
WERE I TO SWEAR TO UPHOLD THE
SAME CONSTITUTION THAT HE DOES
OR SHE DOES.
I BELIEVE THAT APPROACHING THAT
IN AN OBJECTVE AND IMPARTIAL A
WAY IS VERY USEFUL.
ON THE OTHER HAND, OF COURSE,
PARTISANSHIP IS PART AND PARCEL
TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN AN
UNCONVENTIONAL PRESIDENT IN
SEVERAL REGARDS, AND THAT
UNCONVENTIONALITY IS PAYING
SIGNIFICANT DIVIDENDS FROM TIME
TO TIME, SUCH AS IN NORTH AND
SOUTH KOREA TODAY.
I THINK APPROACHING THE PEOPLE'S
BUSINESS FROM THE PEOPLE'S BEST
INTEREST AND BEING CANDID ABOUT
IS IT VERY USEFUL.
I DO DETEST THE AMOUNT OF
PARTISANSHIP THAT'S RANK IN
BETWEEN THE CANDIDACIES, IN
BETWEEN THE POLITICS, BETWEEN
THE PARTIES IN THE CONGRESS AND
IN THE SENATE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE WOULD
BETTER BE SERVED BY HAVING A
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE EVERY
WEEK WITH THE MINORITY LEADER
AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
STANDING AT THE SAME PODIUM THAN
HAVING THESE VERY DIVERSE, VERY
CAUSTIC HEARINGS AND PRESS
CONFERENCES THAT WE HAVE NOW,
BUT I'M WILLING TO COMMIT TO BE
PARTIAL WITH A POLITICAL
OVERLAY.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY COMMENTS OR
BEHAVIOR FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP
THAT RAISED ETHICAL CONCERNS FOR
YOU?
>> THE ETHICAL CONCERNS THAT ARE
ALLEGED AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT
HAVE ALL FAIRLY WELL SHOWN NOT
TO BE EXISTENT IN A YEAR OR
MORE'S WORTH OF INVESTIGATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, RUSSIAN COLLUSION.
THAT HAS JUST COLLAPSED IN THE
HOUSE OF INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
REPORT THAT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF
COLLUSION.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ETHICAL.
I DON'T APPROVE OF NAME CALLING.
I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERY
ACTION OF THE PRESIDENT, BUT I
DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE
IS BOLD, THAT HE'S TAKING THE
INITIATIVE, THAT HE'S THE KIND
OF LEADER THAT AMERICA SEEMS TO
APPRECIATE AND HAS CERTAINLY
ELECTED AND RESPONDED TO
SUBSEQUENTLY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSTANDING
LAST NIGHT WHEN NANCY AND I WERE
WATCHING TELEVISION TO SEE THE
PRESIDENT ON ONE HAND IN
MICHIGAN SPEAKING TO 30,000
PEOPLE AND EXPLAINING WHERE HE
WAS AND EXPLAINING HOW HE'D BEEN
DISADVANTAGED BY, WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, THE MEDIA AND
CONTRASTING THAT TO THE WHITE
HOUSE'S BLACK TIE DINNER.
THIS PRESIDENT DOES HAVE TOUCH
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
HE DOES HAVE A CORE OF GOOD
SOLID ETHICS.
THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM HAVE
REMAINED UNPROVEN.
>> MR. SNYDER, THE SAME
QUESTION.
WOULD YOU HOLD THIS
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE IN
THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD OF AN
ADMINISTRATION IN ANOTHER PARTY?
>> IN TERMS OF DONALD TRUMP,
EVERYONE WANTS TO CRITICIZE HIM.
WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE
GREAT THINGS THAT HE'S DOING?
LOOK ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
WE HAVE PEACE FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN DECADES.
WE'VE GOTTEN THOUSANDS OF PAGES
OF REGULATIONS THAT ARE BEING
ELIMINATED.
WE'VE GOT AN ECONOMY THAT'S
GROWING AGAIN, BUT PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
HIS APPROVAL RATINGS ARE RISING.
THAT'S WHY I'M VERY, VERY PROUD
TO STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
YOU'LL SEE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF
MY SIGNS, "VOTE PRO-TRUMP."
ON OUR CAMPAIGN BROCHURES AND
WEBSITE, EVERYTHING SAYS
PRO-TRUMP BECAUSE THE WAY THIS
PRESIDENCY HAS STARTED IS THE
GREATEST START WE'VE SEEN TO A
PRESIDENT IN THE POST-WORLD WAR
II ERA.
WE SHOULD BE APPLAUDING HIM.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION, THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATION.
I'M ON RECORD AS SAYING ROBERT
MUELLER SHOULD BE FIRED
IMMEDIATELY.
I WOULD LIKE ONE OF THE OTHER
GENTLEMAN UP HERE TO JOIN WITH
ME IN THAT PLEDGE, IF THEY'RE
WILLING TO, BUT LET ME GO ON
RECORD AGAIN.
ROBERT MUELLER SHOULD BE FIRED.
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS
RUSSIAN COLLUSION THING, TOTAL
WHI
WITCH HUNT.
IT NEEDS TO END.
HILLARY CLINTON NEEDS TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
MOST CONSERVATIVES HERE IN THE
DISTRICT WOULD VERY MUCH AGREE
WITH ME ON THAT.
>> WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD
CAUSE YOU TO WITHDRAW YOUR
SUPPORT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP?
IS THERE ANYTHING HE WOULD DO?
>> AS LONG AS DONALD TRUMP
STICKS TO THE MAKE AMERICA GREAT
AGAIN AGENDA AND DOES WHAT HE
SAYS HE'S GOING TO DO, THERE'S
NO REASON TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT.
I'M NOT GOING TO WITHDRAW MY
SUPPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT
BECAUSE I TRUST HIM.
HE'S A MAN OF HIS WORD.
HE'S FOLLOWING HIS AGENDA.
NO.
WHY SHOULD ANY OF US BE THINKING
ABOUT WITHDRAWING SUPPORT?
WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT HOW
CAN WE GET MORE ON THE BANDWAGON
AND GET MORE BEHIND TRUMP?
THAT'S WHY SOMEONE FROM TRUMP'S
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TEAM CAME AND
JOINED MY CAMPAIGN, IS HELPING
RUN MY CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE THEY
KNOW WE'RE WITH TRUMP.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THE DISTRICT
AND IN THE STUDIO TODAY WHO
JOINED MY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I'M
THE TRUMP CANDIDATE, SO NO.
I'M NOT GOING TO CRITICIZE THE
PRESIDENT.
I'M GOING TO APPLAUD HIM FOR THE
START OF A TREMENDOUS
PRESIDENCY.
>> YOU HAVE PORTRAYED YOURSELF
AS THE MOST PRO-TRUMP CANDIDATE,
THE ONE THAT WAS WITH TRUMP FROM
THE BEGINNING, BUT YOU DIDN'T
CAST A VOTE IN IDAHO'S
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY
WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS RUNNING
FOR PRESIDENCY.
WHY NOT?
>> I DID A LOT OF TRAVELING FOR
TELEVISION AT THE TIME.
I WAS CALLED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY.
I WAS TRAVELING A LOT DURING
THAT TIME, BUT CERTAINLY YOU CAN
GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY WRITING.
ALL THROUGHOUT 2016, YOU'LL SEE
I PROMOTED DONALD TRUMP
EXTREMELY STRONG.
THAT SAME TIME FRAME ALL THE
OTHER LEADING CONTENDERS UP HERE
WANTED TO KEEP DONALD TRUMP OUT
OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY WERE BACKING OTHER PEOPLE.
THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I WORKED EXTREMELY HARD ALL
THROUGHOUT 2016 TO PROMOTE
DONALD TRUMP, AND I'M VERY PROUD
TO HAVE DONE SO.
>> SENATOR FULCHER, THE SAME
QUESTION.
WOULD YOU HOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP
AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AS
ACCOUNTABLE AS YOU WOULD A
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION?
>> YES, AND I'VE GOT A HISTORY
OF DOING EXACTLY THAT.
WHEN I WAS SERVING AS A SENATE
LEADER, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS THAT I
WAS HAVING TO DEAL WITH SOME OF
THAT FALLOUT.
ONE OF THEM WAS THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION WITH A HORRENDOUS
FEDERAL MANDATE ON HEALTH CARE.
THAT WAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON US
AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE
HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM STILL.
WHEN GEORGE H.W. BUSH WAS IN
PLACE, HE HAD A PROFICIENCY FOR
SPENDING, SPENDING TOO MUCH.
THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON US AS WELL
HERE IN IDAHO BECAUSE MORE
THAN 1/3 OF THE BUDGET THAT
COMES TO THE STATE OF IDAHO IS
FROM SOME FEDERAL KIND OF A
SUBSIDY.
YES, I WOULD, AND YES, I HAVE.
I WOULD BACK THAT UP IN THIS
CASE BY SAYING, HOWEVER, THAT
THIS PRESIDENT HAS INFUSED SOME
CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY
BECAUSE HE'S TAKEN A VERY UNCON
UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH.
HE DOESN'T LOOK AT THE WORLD THE
SAME AS YOU AND I DO.
HE SEES EVERYTHING AS A COST
CENTER AND PROFIT CENTER.
THAT'S JUST HOW HE FUNCTIONS.
IF YOU KNOW THAT AND YOU KNOW
HOW TO COMMUNICATE ON THOSE
TERMS, THEN I THINK THAT THERE'S
SOME EXCITING THINGS YOU CAN DO
WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIME FRAME.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, BETSY, JUST
TO -- THERE'S ANOTHER EXCITING
COMPONENT.
THAT IS WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THE
LARGEST TURNOVER IN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS IN PROBABLY
ABOUT 50 YEARS.
IF YOU INFUSE ALL THOSE NEW
MINDS AND A PRESIDENT THAT'S
WILLING TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, THERE'S SOME EXCITING
THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
>> THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE RECENTLY VOTED TO
PROTECT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER,
WHO YOUR OPPONENT MR. SNYDER
WANTS TO FIRE, FROM BEING FIRED
BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.
HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED?
>> TO ME, THOSE ARE
DISTRACTIONS.
THEY'RE DISTRACTIONS FROM
GOVERNING.
THEY'RE DISTRACTIONS AS TRYING
TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE POSITIVE
THINGS THAT CONGRESS IS TRYING
TO DO, TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM
THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO DO.
TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, I
HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN FOLLOWING IT
THAT CLOSELY.
THE ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE ON THE
THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
TO IDAHO.
IF YOU GO TOP TO BOTTOM, IT'S
REALLY CLEAR.
IT'S IMMIGRATION.
IT'S HEALTH CARE.
IT IS THINGS TO DO WITH OUR
RESOURCE BASE AND REGULATIONS.
THAT'S WHERE MY ATTENTION IS
GOING.
I'M NOT FOLLOWING A LOT OF THIS
PROPAGANDA.
>> YOU THINK THE SENATE
JUDICIARY'S VOTE TO PROTECT
MUELLER WAS PROPAGANDA?
>> NOT PROPAGANDA.
A DISTRACTION.
THIS WHOLE THING IS A
DISTRACTION.
OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON THE
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO
IDAHO AND TO AMERICA.
THAT'S MY POSITION ON IT.
I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN FOLLOWING IT
THAT CLOSELY.
>> YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT
CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE ANY ROLE IN
THAT MATTER?
>> IN WHAT MATTER?
>> IN WHETHER OR NOT THE SPECIAL
COUNSEL SHOULD BE FIRED BY THE
PRESIDENT?
>> I THINK CONGRESS SHOULD BE
WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MR. SPENCE BROUGHT UP, AND
THAT IS THE FISCAL HEALTH OF
THIS NATION AND GO ABOUT THE
PROCESS OF GOVERNING.
THAT'S WHERE CONGRESS SHOULD BE
FOCUSING ITS EFFORTS.
>> OKAY.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY WANTED
TO RESPOND.
KEEP IT BRIEF, PLEASE.
>> YES.
FRANKLY, BETSY, I THINK YOU'VE
GOT RUSS ON A KEY ISSUE.
THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION ON THE
POSITION OF SENATE COUNSEL AND
SPECIAL COUNSEL IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ONE AND POTENTIALLY A
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS FOR THIS
NATION.
THAT INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE
WRAPPED UP VERY SWIFTLY.
IT NEEDS TO COME TO A SPECIFIC
AND FULLY DETAILED CONCLUSORY
REPORT.
AND WHEN IT DOES AND AS I EXPECT
IT TO DO, IT CLEARS THE
PRESIDENT OF ANY FINDINGS OF
CRIMINALITY IN THE
ADMINISTRATION.
THEN WE HAVE DONE OURSELVES A
SOUTHBOU
SERVICE, AND WE CAN GET BACK TO
THE BUSINESS OF IDAHO AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
THAT'S NOT JUST A DISTRACTION.
THAT'S A POTENTIAL
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
THE BILL BEFORE THE SENATE IS
UNNECESSARY.
THE DYNAMICS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE, THE PRESIDENT, AND
AN OCCASIONAL SPECIAL COUNSEL
WORKING OR COOPERATING WITH THE
CONGRESS OF THE THE UNITED
STATES, THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE, IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE
OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST A DISTRACTION.
>> SINCE I WAS MENTIONED --
>> PLEASE BRIEFLY.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF.
I'M NOT PUCKERED OVER THAT.
I'M SIMPLY MAKING THE POINT IF
THE ATTENTION OF CONGRESS AND
THE ATTENTION OF THE EXECUTIVE,
LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCH
WAS WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE,
WE WOULDN'T BE DEALING WITH THIS
KIND OF THING.
WE WOULD BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS
OF THE HEALTH OF THIS NATION.
THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS HAS GOD
TO BE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MALEK, YOU HAD
SOMETHING TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, MELISSA.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED
THAT SENATOR FULCHER IS NOT
PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN CONGRESS WITH THIS.
I DIDN'T HEAR AN ANSWER TO
BETSY'S QUESTION ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE WHAT LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR LEROY SAID HERE BECAUSE
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE'S A SEPARATION OF
POWERS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
MAINTAINING CONSTITUTIONAL
INTEGRITY ON THESE ISSUES.
I CAN'T SECOND GUESS WHERE THE
SENATOR IS AT ON THIS, BUT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
INTEGRITY IN THE PROCESS SO WE
HAVE FULL FAITH IN THE PRESIDENT
AND THE PROCESS.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED
THAT THE SENATOR WAS NOT PAYING
ATTENTION TO THAT ISSUE.
>> SINCE I WAS MENTIONED AGAIN,
I DON'T WANT TO SHOCK
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK TOO MUCH.
I DON'T THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO
COMMUNICATE IS THAT DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND.
MY POINT ONCE AGAIN IS THAT IF
THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WERE
FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE,
WE WOULDN'T BE RUNNING DOWN
THESE RABBIT TRAILS NOW.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?
>> ENSURING WE'RE DEFENDING THE
CONSTITUTION IS AN ABSOLUTELY
FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
BETSY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MALEK, THE
SAME QUESTION THAT I'VE OPPOSED
TO YOUR OPPONENTS HERE.
WOULD YOU HOLD THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE IN
THE SAME WAY THAT YOU WOULD AN
ADMINISTRATION OF THE OTHER
PARTY?
>> THANKS, BETSY.
NO ONE IS ABOVE REPROACH,
INCLUDING MYSELF.
I'VE BEEN QUITE VOCAL ABOUT SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T AGREE
WITH THE PRESIDENT ON, AND I'VE
BEEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING TOO
CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT.
BUT ODDLY ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES
TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ISSUES
THAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING TO
MAKE SURE THIS COUNTRY IS MOVING
FORWARD, I AGREE WITH HIM MORE
THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS STAGE.
I HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR THE
THINGS THAT I HAVE AGREED WITH
THE PRESIDENT ON.
WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE DON'T HAVE A LOOPHOLE IN OUR
LAWS WITH GUN STOCKS, I STAND
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING SURE WE
KEPT THE GOVERNMENT MOVING
FORWARD WITH AN OMNIBUS BILL
WHICH I WILL ADMIT IS A COMPLETE
ATROCITY, I'M THE ONLY ONE ON
THE STAGE WHO STOOD WITH THE
PRESIDENT ON THIS ISSUE, SAYING
WE NEED TO FIX OUR FISCAL AND
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE MOVING THE BUSINESS
FORWARD.
pFIX ONE PROBLEM.E BUSINESS TO
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND
CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
THOSE THE THINGS I'VE BEEN
CRITICIZED FROM MY OPPONENTS
HERE.
I STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT ON
MORE ISSUES THAN I DON'T AND
MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS
STAGE.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY COMMENTS OR
BEHAVIOR FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP
THAT FOR YOU RAISES ETHICAL
ISSUES?
>> WELL, THERE'S ACCUSATIONS
THAT GO WITH EVERY
ADMINISTRATION.
THE ETHICAL ISSUES THAT BEEN
RAISED -- I BELIEVE IN THE RULE
OF LAW.
I BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS.
I'M NOT ABOUT TO JUMP ON ANY
BANDWAGON CONDEMNING THE
PRESIDENT OF SOMETHING OF THAT
THERE'S NO PROOF.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS SAID IN THE PAST
THAT HAS GOTTEN UNDER MY SKIN.
I WAS RAISED IN A HOUSEHOLD
WHERE YOU RESPECT WOMEN.
SOME OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT
HAS SAID IN THE PAST ABOUT WOMEN
HAS REALLY GOTTEN UNDER MY SKIN,
BUT I AGREE WITH HIM WHERE HE'S
TAKING THE COUNTRY.
THE FACT THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO
DO WHAT HE'S DONE ON THE KOREAN
PENINSULA -- I'M NOT ABOVE
HOLDING ANYBODY ACCOUNTABLE, BUT
I'M ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
GOOD THINGS THE PRESIDENT IS
DOING FOR OUR COUNTRY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, THE
SAME QUESTION.
HOW WOULD YOU HOLD THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE AND
WOULD YOU DO IT IN THE SAME WAY
THAT YOU WOULD HOLD A DEMOCRATIC
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE?
>> I THINK THAT'S ONLY FAIR THAT
YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE
PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION
ACCOUNTABLE, BUT PART OF THE
CONVERSATION IS IF CONGRESS IS
WILLING TO POINT FINGERS
SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY ALSO HAVE
TO POINT FINGERS AT THEMSELVES
AND THEY NEED TO HOLD THEMSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY NEED TO STOP ARGUING OVER
THINGS LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN HERE
ALREADY AND START DEALING WITH
THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER.
IN REGARDS TO TRUMP AND SOME OF
THESE ACCUSATINS THAT ARE
AGAINST HIM AND WHETHER THE
SENATE IS DOING THEIR THING WITH
ROBERT MUELLER CORRECTLY, I
THINK THAT TRUMP IS FULLY IN
CHARGE OF HIS EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
IF HE WANTED TO GET RID OF HIM,
HE WOULD HAVE ALREADY, BUT I
BELIEVE HE ALLOWS THESE THINGS
TO GO THROUGH, AS HE SHOULD,
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE END
HE'S GOING TO BE VINDICATED.
I THINK A LOT OF WHAT IS GOING
ON UP THERE RIGHT NOW IS REALLY
SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
WE'RE DISTRACTING EVERYBODY
ELSE, AND WE'RE NOT PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT
REALLY MATTER.
CONGRESS HAS BROUGHT IN MARK
ZUCKERBERG BASICALLY TO EDUCATE
THEM ON HOW THE INTERNET WORKS
WHEN THEY REALLY OUGHT TO BE
HOLDING HEARINGS ON HOW TO
BALANCE THIS BUDGET AND
REINSTATING A BUDGET PROCESS SO
WE'RE NOT BEING FACED WITH
OMNIBUS BILLS LESS THAN 24 HOURS
WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTED TO VOTE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD
YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
I WANT TO SAY ONE THING
CERTAINLY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
YES, HE IS UNCONVENTIONAL, BUT I
HAVE TO SAY HOW EXCITING IT WAS
TO WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE
KOREAN PENINSULA.
FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
SERVICES WHO SERVED IN THE
KOREAN CONFLICT, I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU.
I HOPE THEY FEEL VINDICATED AND
FEEL THAT THEIR SERVICE WAS WELL
DONE BECAUSE IT WAS.
>> COLONEL GALLEGOS, THE SAME
QUESTION.
HOW WOULD YOU HOLD THIS
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE IN
THE SAME WAY THAT YOU WOULD HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE AN ADMINISTRATION
FROM THE OTHER PARTY?
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT
QUESTION, AND I AGREE WITH MY
PEERS.
NO ONE IS BEYOND REPROACH WHEN
IT COMES TO INTEGRITY AND
CHARACTER.
I THINK WE HAVE TO HOLD THE
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE, ANY
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THAT MATTER.
I WOULD TELL YOU I KEEP GETTING
THROWN IN A GROUP OF FOLKS
HERE -- BUT I WOULD HAVE
SUPPORTED THE OMNIBUS BILL AS
WELL EVEN THOUGH I HATE THE
SPENDING IT HAD.
ARE WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD
HOLD IN HIGH ESTEEM.
IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, WE HAVE A
PROBLEM IN GOVERNMENT.
IT IS A CONSTITUTION ISSUE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LOOK AT
THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT LENS.
IT IS ALSO A MATTER OF NATIONAL
SECURITY.
WHEN WE HAVE OTHER GOVERNMENTS
AND OTHER COUNTRIES INTERFERING
WITH OUR ELECTIONS, WE HAVE TO
HAVE DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
CYBER WARFARE IS REAL.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A LOT OF
THINGS.
MOSTLY IMPORTANT IS JUST HOLDING
EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE AND
STOPPING THE PARTISAN POLITICS
BECAUSE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
DISCIPLINE ARE PARAMOUNT.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY COMMENTS OR
BEHAVIOR FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP
THAT RAISES ETHICAL QUESTIONS
FOR YOU?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE
ALLEGATIONS OF ANYONE.
I WILL TELL YOU I LIKE WHAT MR.
SNYDER SAID.
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD COALESCE
AROUND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE COMMANDER
AND CHIEF.
HE HAS AN IMPORTANT JOB, AND
HE'S REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF
AMERICA.
AMERICANS DECIDED THAT THEY
WANTED TO ELECT A COMMANDER AND
CHIEF AND A CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF
TALENT SKILLS AND ABILITIES.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SUPPORT
THE PRESIDENT.
AS COMMANDER AND CHIEF, I'M USED
TO DOING THAT.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
BILL SPENCE FOR REPRESENTATIVE
PERRY.
WE ARE GETTING ALREADY SHORT ON
TIME.
IF YOU KEEP YOUR ANSWERS BRIEF,TOPICS.
>> ON THIS ISSUE, I DO WANT TO
TALK TO THE COLONEL FIRST ON IT
BECAUSE IF I'M CORRECT, IT IS
EITHER YOUR PARENTS OR
GRANDPARENTS WHO EMIGRATED TO
THIS COUNTRY.
TALK TO ME ON YOUR VIEWS ON WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.
>> MY GRANDMOTHER CAME HERE IN A
LEGAL WAY.
SHE IS THE EPITOME OF THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
I'M A SECOND-GENERATION
AMERICAN.
SHE WORKED HARD.
SHE RETIRED FROM A CAREER.
SHE WAS ABLE TO BUILD A
FOUNDATION FOR OUR FAMILY, WHICH
WE BUILT UPON OURSELVES.
THE FIRST THING IS ABOUT THE
RULE OF LAW.
THERE'S NO ONE ABOVE THE RULE OF
LAW.
I THINK IMMIGRATION IS A MATTER
OF NATIONAL SECURITY.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT WE ARE
A SOVEREIGN NATION.
WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT AND SECURE OUR FREEDOM
AND THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS.
I SEE IMMIGRATION A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY AGAIN BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT THERE ARE THREATS.
THERE'S THREATS FROM CRIMINALS,
CARTELS, DRUG TRAFFICKERS, HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS.
IT IS ABOUT SEAPORTS AND
AIRPORTS AS WELL.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO
JUMP IN ON THIS CONVERSATION,
BUT I WOULD TELL YOU NO ONE IS
ABOVE THE LAW.
WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE LAW.
THAT'S WHAT OUR NATION WAS
FOUNDED UPON.
>> COLONEL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT
IMMIGRATION POLICIES BEFORE IN
PLACE WHEN YOUR GRANDPARENTS
EMIGRATED.
THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
HAVE TALKED ABOUT, LOOK, WE NEED
TO FOCUS ON THE BEST AND THE
BRIGHTEST AND NOT JUST THE
RIFFRAFF.
IS THAT AN APPROACH THAT YOU
WOULD SUPPORT?
>> FOR SURE.
FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T ALLOW
AMNES
AMNESTY.
WE HAVE DONE THAT.
THE REAL PROBLEM THAT CONGRESS
HAS TO ADDRESS IN THE 116th
CONGRESS IS THE 11 MILLION
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT WE HAVE.
SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE DACA
APPLICANTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TO GET RID OF CHAIN
MIGRATION.
I BELIEVE THAT AS WELL.
THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
THOSE ARE TOUGH POLICY ISSUE
THAT THE NEXT CONGRESS HAS TO
DEAL WITH.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, THE
CONCEPT OF A BORDER WALL WITH
MEXICO WAS A BIG ISSUE DURING
THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
DO YOU SUPPORT THAT CONCEPT?
>> I DO.
I DO SUPPORT BEING ABLE TO
PROTECT OUR BORDERS IN THE WAY
THAT WE FIND NECESSARY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS NOT JUST
BUILDING A WALL UP ON TOP.
WE KNOW THAT THE TUNNEL SYSTEMS
EXIST.
ISRAEL HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A
COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED
TO THAT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER
TO FIND THOSE TUNNELS.
I BELIEVE THAT TECHNOLOGY THAT
WE SHOULD BE SHARING THAT
INFORMATION WITH ISRAEL AND
BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT
OURSELVES.
I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE
DO THAT.
I THINK THAT VETTING IMMIGRANTS
IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IN MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE DOCUMENTING
THEIR PAST HISTORY AND WHO
THEY'RE RELATED TO AND WHO THEY
ARE NOT AND WHO THEY ARE
COOPERATING WITH AND WHO THEY'RE
NOT.
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW IN THIS DISTRICT, IN THE
FIRST CD, THAT'S BEEN AN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO
THEM.
PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE, BUT
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO BE HERE.
THEY WANT TO BE PART OF AMERICA.
THEY WANT TO COME AND JOIN, AND
THEY WANT TO WORK FOR THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
THEY'RE ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR FULCHER, SIMILAR
QUESTION.
YOUR VIEWS ON THE WALL, BUT I
ALSO WANT TO FOCUS YOU ON THE
COST.
WHEN THIS IDEA WAS ORIGINALLY
PRESENTED, IT WAS MEXICO IS
GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
THAT HASN'T MATERIALIZED.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY
FOR THAT CONCEPT?
>> SURE.
FIRST OF ALL, BILL, WITH THE
WHOLE IMMIGRATION ISSUE, THE
BORDER SECURITY IS FUNDAMENTAL.
THAT'S THE BUILDING BLOCK THAT
YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
TRAVELING A LOT AROUND THE
WORLD.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE REST OF
THE WORLD PUTS A HIGH PRIORITY
ON THEIR BORDER SECURITY FOR A
GOOD REASON.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT
HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH OF A
PRIORITY HERE AS IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN.
THE BORDER SECURITY IS
ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT.
I DO SUPPORT THAT, AND THEN
THERE'S SOME OTHER PROGRESS THAT
APPEARS TO BE COMING ALONG THAT
HAS TO GO WITH THAT IN JUST THE
CHANGE IN THE IMMIGRATION
SITUATION, THE ELIMINATION OF
CHAIN MIGRATION.
BY FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT IS
DEALING WITH THE DACA SITUATION.
THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME
PROGRESS ON THAT.
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE FAMILIES
SPLIT UP, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND
YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE CITIZENS
HERE AND THEIR PROFICIENCY TO
HAVE TO PAY AND JUST SECURITY
CONCERNS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE COST, I
THINK THAT WAS THE SECOND PART
OF YOUR QUESTION, THAT'S
SOMETHING WHERE I THINK THE
PRESIDENT'S FIRST COMMENTS ABOUT
THAT AND HAVING MEXICO PAY FOR
THAT WITH THE TRADE IMBALANCE, I
THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE
NEEDS TO GO REVISIT AGAIN.
>> OKAY.
MR. SNYDER, KIND OF A RELATED
QUESTION.
IF YOU GO BACK A GENERATION,
FRANKLY, ONE OF THE GREAT
MOMENTS OF FOREIGN POLICY WAS
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SAYING
MR. GORBACHEV, TEAR DOWN THIS
WALL.
WHY ISN'T THAT APPROACH AND THAT
PHILOSOPHY APPLY TO US AS WELL
AS TO RUSSIA?
>> IN TERMS OF THE BERLIN WALL,
THE COLD WAR WAS ENDING.
IT WAS NO LONGER NEEDED.
WE SENSED SEEING GERMANY
REUNIFIED, BUT NOBODY SUGGESTS
THAT THE UNITED STATES AND
MEXICO ARE GOING TO UNIFY.
ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, WE HAVE
SEEN MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS UPON
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ILLEGALLY
CROSS THAT BORDER FOR DECADES,
WHETHER IT HAS BEEN THE
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION OR THE
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HAVE NOT SECURED OUR
BORDER.
COME ON IN, DRUG DEALERS, GANG
MEMBERS, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
ABUSE THE SYSTEM, EVEN ISLAMIC
TERRORISTS.
WE NEED TO BRING AN END TO
SANCTUARY CITIES.
WE NEED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICIALS
THAT HAVE SET UP SANCTUARY AREAS
ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE NEED TO
BUILD THE WALL.
I'VE BEEN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP
ON THIS SINCE DAY ONE, UNLIKE
THE OTHERS UP HERE, BECAUSE WE
HAVE AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT
IS TOTALLY BACKWARDS.
WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED SOME
IMMIGRATION TO THIS COUNTRY, BUT
OUR SYSTEM OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION
IS TOTALLY MIESSED UP.
IT IS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED AND
EXPENSIVE.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE LEFT THE BACK
DOOR WIDE OPEN FOR ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION.
WE NEED TO SLAM THE BACK DOOR
SHUT WITH A WALL, MAKE SURE
EVERYONE COMES IN THE RIGHT WAY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WIFE IS A
LEGAL IMMIGRANT.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST IMMIGRANTS.
WE JUST WANT EVERYONE TO FOLLOW
THE LAW.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY,
YOUR THOUGHTS ON RONALD REAGAN.
>> WELL, YOU ASKED MICHAEL TO GO
BACK A GENERATION.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK A QUESTION.
NOBODY ANSWERED SPECIFICALLY
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WALL
AND THE COST.
LET ME START THERE.
DECEMBER 29th, I WANTED TO KNOW
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, SO
I SPENT A DAY, SIX HOURS IN
FACT, DRIVING AND WALKING ALONG
THE MEXICO BORDER WITH THE
I ASKED HIM HOW MUCH MORE .
PHYSICAL STRUCTURE DO YOU WANT,
EXPECTING HIM TO SAY 10 MILES,
20 MILES.
HE SAID ANOTHER MILE WOULD DO.
A HALF A MILE ON EITHER SIDE OF
PORT OF ENTRY.
THE RIO GRANDE THERE IS ABOUT
100 METERS WIDE, 90 FEET DEEP.
HE ALSO HAS A ROAD SYSTEM ALONG
THAT BORDER WITH CHECKPOINTS
EVERY 30 MILES.
IN A BEND TO THE RIO GRANDE, A
CH
CAMERA LOOKING ONE MILE EACH WAY
AND A MILE THE OTHER WAY COULD
SUFFICE.
HE HAS A 60 TO 90-MILE
IMPASSABLE DESERT BEHIND THE
TOWN.
AT THE JUNCTION WITH THE PECOS
RIVER, THERE'S A NATURAL WALL, A
SHEER CLIFF, ALONG THE RIVER.
WHAT THE SHERIFF TOLD ME WAS IF
WE WOULD ASK OUR LOCAL SHERIFFS
AND POLICE CHIEFS WHAT WOULD
BEST SERVE, WE COULD HAVE AN
EFFECTIVE BORDER SECURITY SYSTEM
WITHOUT THINK KIND OF MEGA
TRILLION DOLLAR COST, MEGA
BILLION DOLLAR COST.
IT COULD BE ACHIEVED.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WALL AND
THE COST OF IT, SENATOR MALEK?
>> WE HAVE AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS
IN THE COUNTRY.
IT IS AN CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY OF
CONGRESS THAT THEY HAVE
ABDICATED.
THEY HAVE NOT DONE THEIR JOB ON
MAKING SURE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT
IMMIGRATION POLICY IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND THAT IS
COMPREHENSIVE.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SECURE AS
A COUNTRY.
IF WE HAVE A OPEN BORDER, WE
HAVE NO WAY OF KEEPING OUT
CRIMINALS OR KEEPING OUT THREATS
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE OVERSEAS FIGHTING
FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE TO
MAINTAIN OUR SAFETY HERE AT HOME
AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE GOOD LAWS
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO COME TO
THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY
PERSONAL TO ME.
MY WIFE AND HER FAMILY EMIGRATED
TO THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY DID IT
LEGALLY, WHICH MEANT THEY SPENT
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS AND YEARS TRYING TO DO
IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND IT'S A COMPLICATED SYSTEM.
WE NEED A WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
DIVERSE FABRIC OF OUR NATION AND
BE AMERICANS TO BE AMERICANS.
RIGHT NOW, OUR LAWS -- MANY
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA
WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ENFORCED ON ONE DAY OR NOT ON
THE NEXT, WHICH MEANS WE ARE
COMPLETELY UNDERMINING THE RULE
OF LAW.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO ITS JOB AND
FIX THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS IN
THIS COUNTRY.
AND IS IT GOING TO COST MONEY TO
DO THAT?
ABSOLUTELY, JUST LIKE IT COSTS
MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS.
THIS IS GETTING VERY PERSONAL TO
ME BECAUSE I HAVE A BROTHER
THAT'S CURRENTLY FLYING
HELICOPTERS IN AFGHANISTAN FOR
THE AIR FORCE OVERSEAS.
I GET TOUCHY ON THIS ISSUE
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE DEFENDING OUR NATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
CAMERON FOR COLONEL GALLEGOS.
>> COLONEL GALLEGOS, YOU'VE
PROBABLY HEARD OF SENATOR JIM
RICH'S PROPOSAL TO DECLARE
SCOTCHMAN PEAKS AS DESIGNATED
WILDERNESS.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
THAT PROPOSAL AND PERHAPS YOU
CAN ALSO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
PUBLIC LANDS IN A GENERAL SENSE?
>> FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW, I READ ALL THE ARTICLE
ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE OMNIBUS
BILL AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES
GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT.
THIS IS PETTY TO ME.
I THINK WE HAVE BIG PROBLEMS IN
CONGRESS, AND WE HAVE TO REQUIRE
CONGRESS TO HAVE DISCIPLINE.
PUBLIC LANDS ARE IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR MANAGEMENT
OF FEDERAL LANDS.
THEY OWN TOO MUCH OF IT.
IF WE WANT OUR FARMERS AND
RANCHERS TO GRAZE AND HAVE WATER
RIGHTS, WE WANT THEM TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE ABUNDANCE OF
RESOURCES WE HAVE IN IDAHO, THEN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO
COME OUT OF THAT.
NAMING PUBLIC LANDS AND
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS, THOSE ARE
IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR SURE, BUT
WE NEED TO LOOK AT ARTICLE 1
SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION
ELIMINATING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S OVERREACH INTO
STATE POLICIES AND LAWS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE PERRY, SAME
QUESTION.
>> I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MORE OF A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND
CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITH THE
VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE
STATE BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND
MOVE FORWARD.
LAND USE IN IDAHO IS TREMENDOUS.
IT'S OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT UP
AND DOWN THIS DISTRICT AS I HAVE
TRAVELED UP AND DOWN THERE, AND
THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE
LANDS HERE IN IDAHO ARE MULTIPLE
USE.
THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE
STATE OF IDAHO HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MANAGE
THOSE LANDS AND NOT HAVE THE
FEDERAL OVERREACH AND TELL US
HOW TO DO THAT.
THEY WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE
RESOURCES.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HARVEST
THE TIMBER, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE
FOREST FIRES HAVE DEVASTATED THE
FOREST.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE
MINING.
THEY WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO
RECREATION ACTIVITIES AS WELL,
AND SO ANY CONVERSATIONS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR
FORESTS AND OUR FOREST USE, MUST
BE COLLABORATIVE IN NATURE AND
ABSOLUTELY MUST INCLUDE MULTIPLE
USE ON ANY OF THE LANDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SENATOR FULCHER, I GUESS
FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, PERHAPS
YOU CAN SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
LAND MANAGEMENT, PARTICULARLY
FOREST MANAGEMENT GIVEN THE
WILDFIRES AND OTHER ISSUES THAT
WE'VE SEEN THERE.
>> CAMERON, RIGHT NOW, WE KIND
OF ARE OPERATING UNDER A
LOSE-LOSE SCENARIO.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR 2/3 OF THE LAND
WITHIN OUR BORDERS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
MANAGE IT, SO THEY DON'T.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE FUEL
LOAD IN OUR FORESTS GETS BUILT
UP.
IT GETS DISEASED, AND OUR
PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS KEPT FROM
CLEANING THAT UP AND REMOVING
THE FUEL LOAD.
A LIGHTNING STRIKE HITS, AND THE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING
TO BURN A HALF MILLION ACRES A
YEAR OR MORE AND IN THE MEANTIME
KICK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
CARBON UP INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
AND DECIMATE WILDLIFE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OPERATING IN A
LOSE-LOSE SCENARIO, BUT THERE'S
HOPE ON THE HORIZON.
BECAUSE I THINK THE STATES THAT
ARE SUBSIDIZING US, WHICH IS
GENERALLY THE EAST, I THINK
THEY'RE STARTING TO FIGURE THAT
OUT.
THERE'S MORE AND MORE PRESSURE
TO ALLOW FOR THE WEST TO BE MORE
ACTIVE IN MANAGING THE RESOURCE
BASE THAT IS UNDER OUR FEET.
WHOEVER CONTROLS THE LAND,
WHOEVER CONTROLS THE RESOURCES,
CONTROLS THE ECONOMIC DESTINY.
THAT WOULD BE A REAL BIG ISSUE
FOR ME.
I WANT TO GET OUR STAKEHOLDERS
INVOLVED AND PUT SOME WISDOM IN
HOW THAT'S DONE AND MAKE SURE
THAT ACCESS IS KEPT OPEN AND THE
ENVIRONMENT IS CLEAN.
>> VERY GOOD.
MR. SNYDER, WATERWAY ISSUES ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN NORTH
IDAHO, AND THESE ARE AFFECTED BY
INTERSTATE ISSUES.
WE HAVE A PROPOSED SMELTER IN
EASTERN WASHINGTON.
WE HAVE PROPOSED MINES IN
WESTERN MONTANA.
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
HOW YOU WOULD TACKLE THOSE
INTERSTATE ISSUES IF YOU'RE
ELECTED?
>> YEAH, THE SMELTER IN
WASHINGTON STATE IS VERY CLOSE
TO OUR BORDER, SO IT IS GOING TO
AFFECT NORTH IDAHO VERY DEEPLY.
I'M FROM NORTH IDAHO SO I'VE
TALKED WITH PEOPLE EXTENSIVELY
ABOUT THIS.
I DID A FULL INTERVIEW WELL OVER
AN HOUR WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT
ISSUES WITH THE SMELTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SO
QUIET ABOUT IT, BUT I'M 100%
AGAINST THAT SMELTER.
I'LL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO SHUT
THAT SMELTER DOWN BECAUSE IT IS
GOING TO AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT
IN NORTH IDAHO, AFFECTING OUR
WAY OF LIFE.
IN TERMS OF GETTING BACK TO
FEDERAL LANDS, YOU HAVE TO GO
BACK TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
NOWHERE IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
DOES IT AUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL ANY OF OUR
LAND.
CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTIONALLY, WE HAVE A
PROBLEM.
I KNOW DAVE LEROY DISAGREES WITH
ME ON THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE
ANYONE TO SHOW ME ANYWHERE IN
THE CONSTITUTION WHERE IT
AUTHORIZES THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL OUR LAND.
WE'VE GOT OIL AND NATURAL GAS
AND PRECIOUS METALS.
WE HAVE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS.
WE SHOULD BE A GLOBAL CENTER FOR
THE RARE EARTH INDUSTRY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO RELY ON
CHINA.
THEY HAVE US OVER A BARREL
BECAUSE WE IMPORT RARE EARTHS
FROM CHINA.
>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON, I THINK.
YOU DID MENTION LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR LEROY THERE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> MICHAEL REFERRED TO THE FACT
THAT DURING THE TIME I WAS
ATTORNEY GENERAL ON IDAHO I
SERVED ON THE STATE LAND BOARD
KEEPING OUR TIMBER MILLS
FLOWING, OUR SMALL TOWNS AND OUR
MINERS HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND WELL
ADJUSTED.
AS A PART OF THAT, I ALSO WAS
LOOKING AT THE SAGE BRUSH REBEL
REBELLI
REBELLION, THE ISSUE OF FEDERAL
AND LAND STATE TITLE MANAGEMENT.
WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES MENTION WAS THE FACT
THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A VERY
SIGNIFICANT JOINT MANAGEMENT
AUTHORITY CALLED THE GOOD
NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY BY WHICH
STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW
MANAGING THE RESOURCES ON
FEDERAL LAND AND PROPOSING CUTS
IN COLLABORATIVE WITH PRIVATE
INDUSTRY.
OF THE 12 MILLION ACRES
AVAILABLE FOR THAT KIND OF LAND
MANAGEMENT IN IDAHO, 4 MILLION
ARE BEING MANAGED BY THE STATE
OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS.
ON THE WATERWAYS ISSUE, THEY'RE
CRITICAL TO NORTH IDAHO.
I WANT PORT OF LEWISTON TO BE OF
USE TO WHEAT FARMERS AND THE
PEOPLE AT THE MILL.
IN ADDITION, LIKE MICHAEL, I AM
VERY SUSPICIOUS OF ANY STATE
THAT PROPOSES TO LOCATE A
NOXIOUS FACILITY ON THE VERY
DOWN WIND BORDER OF THAT STATE.
SQ
>> WE ARE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME.
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK, LET'S STAY
ON LAND USE.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR
ON THE RECORD.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF SENATOR RICH
AND THE WORK HE'S DONE.
WHEN I WAS A KID WORKING ON HIS
STAFF, WE WERE DOING THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS AROUND THAT.
IT FITS SO WELL INTO A MATRIX OF
LAND MANAGEMENT IN IDAHO THAT IS
THE ENVY OF THE ENTIRE NATION
BECAUSE OF GOOD PROJECTS LIKE
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.
MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF HAVE HAD
SOME OF THE MOST FORMATIVE
EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE ON THE
LANDS OF IDAHO.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME
I KILLED AN ELK HERE IN THE
STATE OF IDAHO.
I LOOK BACK AT THAT MOMENT AND I
THINK THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT
MADE ME A MAN, SO WE NEED TO
PRESERVE THAT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS, BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT WE DO ANYTHING THAT
HARMS OUR TIMBER INDUSTRY.
IN FACT, I WAS JUST UP IN
OROFINO ON FRIDAY MORNING
TALKING TO THE ASSOCIATED
LOGGING CONTRACTORS ABOUT THESE
ISSUES.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A
BROAD WAY OF MANAGING LAND FROM
WILDERNESS AREAS LIKE THE
SCOTTSMAN PEAK TO MANAGING
FEDERAL LANDS WITH THE STATE OF
IDAHO AND THE STATE OF IDAHO TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE MANAGING
DISEASE, MAKING SURE WE'RE
MANAGING THE BUGS THAT ARE
INFESTING OUR FOREST.
THIS IS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT.
THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IS
SUPPORTING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH
THE WILDERNESS UP THERE.
LIKEWISE, THE ADVOCATES OF
WILDERNESS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE
TIMBER INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THEY'RE MAKING TO
LAND MANAGEMENT.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES
UNTIL CLOSING COMMENTS, SO
YOU'RE GOING TO GET BONUS POINTS
FOR KEEPING IT BRIEF.
DON'T MAKE ME CUT YOU OFF.
>> VERY, VERY BRIEFLY.
EACH OF YOU SAID OBAMACARE WAS A
BAD IDEA AND SHOULD BE REPLACED
WITH SOMETHING BETTER.
VERY BRIEFLY TELL US.
DESCRIBE WHAT IS THAT SOMETHING
BETTER.
REPRESENTATIVE MALEK?
>> WE NEED MORE LOCAL AND STATE
CONTROL.
THE MORE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE
PUT INTO HEALTH CARE, THE LESS
SUCCESSFUL WE'LL BE.
>> FREE MARKET HEALTH CARE WITH
HIGH RISK POOLS AT THE STATE
LEVEL.
>> MR. SNYDER?
>> WE BELIEVE IN DIRECT PRIMARY
CARE.
WE BELIEVE IN ASSOCIATION BIND
GROUPS.
WE BELIEVE FREE MARKETS WORK.
IF WE GO BACK TO A FREE MARKET
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, IT WILL
WORK.
>> I WISH I WAS FIRST ON THAT.
IT'S THE FREE MARKET ANSWER.
IT'S PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS BACK
IN THE POCKETS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
AND TRANSPARENCY SO YOU CAN SHOP
WISELY AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO PAY BEFORE YOU HAVE TO
GO THROUGH A PROCEDURE.
THE FREE MARKET ANSWER.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY?
>> FROM THE AVERAGE PUBLIC
PERSPECTIVE, IT IS FREE MARKET
AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE YOUR
CHOICE OF HEALTH CARE.
HOWEVER, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE
FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A MEDICAID
SYSTEM TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE
DISABLED AND WHO NEED FULL-TIME
AROUND THE CLOCK CARE.
IN THAT REGARD, WE HAVE TO
REFORM OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM SO
THAT IT IS NO LONGER OPERATING
UNDER A FEE-FOR-SERVICE MODEL,
THAT IT IS ACTUALLY PAYING FOR
THE OUTCOMES.
WE NEED TO STOP PAYING ATTENTION
TO OUTPUTS AND PUT OUR EMPHASIS
ON OUTCOMES.
>> I AGREE FREE MARKET SYSTEM
OBVIOUSLY, BUT THERE'S A BIGGER
PROBLEM THAT CONGRESS HAS TO
DEAL WITH AND THAT'S SPECIAL
INTERESTS.
A LOT OF FOLKS WILL ACCEPT
SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE INSURANCE
AGENCIES AND PHARMACEUTICALS.
AS A VETERAN, I HAVE TO PAY FOR
MY MEDICATION.
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
SO FAR SENIORS OUT THERE, I
WOULD TAKE ON THE PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANIES.
YOU CAN BET FOR THAT.
>> I FULLY EXPECTED ALL OF YOU
TO TALK A LOT LONGER THAN THAT,
SO I HAVE ONE MORE YES OR NO
QUESTION.
WOULD YOU VOTE FOR AN AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT REPEAL WITHOUT A SOLID
REPLACEMENT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SHAMEFUL
THAT THE CONGRESS HASN'T PASSED
OR REPEALED THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
IT'S OBVIOUS.
WOULD I SUPPORT ONE WITHOUT --
WE HAVE TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT.
WE CAN'T ALLOW CONGRESS NOT TO
HAVE A REPLACEMENT.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY?
>> I WOULD NOT SUPPORT REPEALING
IT WITHOUT HAVING A REPLACEMENT.
I WOULD PUT IN THE FACT THAT THE
DUAL WAIVER BILL THAT I BROUGHT
TO THE FLOOR TWICE DURING THE
IDAHO LEGISLATURE WOULD BE A
GREAT REPLACEMENT IDEA TO WORK
FROM.
>> I WOULD SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT
WOULD FORCE THE CONTROL WHERE IT
BELONGS, MORE LOCAL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> YES, AN IMMEDIATE REPEAL OF
OBAMACARE I WOULD VOTE FOR.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE MUCH MORE
WORK TO DO AFTER THAT.
YES, I WOULD VOTE FOR IT.
>> YES, I WOULD AS WELL.
I HAVE BEEN ENSURED BY INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND INSURERS AND
MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND OUR OWN
DEPARTMENT THEY COULD BE UP AND
RUNNING WITHIN TWO MONTHS ON
THEIR OWN REPLACEMENT.
>> I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THE
REPEAL BILL THAT THE FREEDOM
CAUCUS TANKED, THE FREEDOM
CAUCUS THAT HAS ENDORSED SENATOR
FULCHER.
I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT BILL
THAT THEY TANKED.
>> THAT WAS QUITE AN END
STATEMENT.
IT IS TIME FOR CLOSING REMARKS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH
COLONEL GALLEGOS.
>> THANK YOU, MELISSA AND AGAIN
IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION.
THE NUMBER ONE THING I HAVE
HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN
IS THAT I FACE AN IMPOSSIBLE
CHALLENGE.
THE PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME THAT
MUST NOT BE FROM IDAHO BECAUSE
IDAHOANS THRIVE ON CHALLENGES,
AND WE APPRECIATE HARD WORK.
I BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ATTRIBUTE OF ANY LEADER IS
AUTHENTICITY.
I'M NOT A LAWYER OR A
BUSINESSMAN, BUT I'VE SPENT MY
LIFE DEPLOYING AND PROSECUTING
OUR NATION'S GLOBAL WAR ON
TERROR.
I'M NOT A SMALL BUSINESSER O EE EE EER --
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, BUT I'VE
FACED GUNS TOWARDS THE ENEMY.
IN 2016, AMERICANS MADE A
CHOICE.
THEY DECIDED TO GO A DIFFERENT
WAY.
IDAHOANS HAVE A SIMILAR
OPPORTUNITY.
AS YOU CONSIDER THE DIRECTION OF
OUR GOVERNMENT, I ASK YOU TO ASK
YOURSELF ONE QUESTION.
ARE WE BETTER TODAY THAN WE WERE
YESTERDAY?
IS OUR EDUCATION BETTER?
IS HEALTH CARE BETTER?
DO WE HAVE HIGH-PAYING JOBS THAT
IS COMMISERATE WITH THE INFLUX
OF PEOPLE?
MANY OF THESE CABINETS HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE OUR
LIVES.
NOW THEY WANT TO REPRESENT YOU
IN WASHINGTON.
I'M NOT A SEASONED POLITICIAN,
WHICH IS CLEAR.
MY PASSION TO SERVE STEMS FROM
TWO THINGS -- LOVE OF GOD AND
COUNTRY.
AS A CAREER CIVIL SERVANT, I'VE
PREPARED MYSELF FOR THIS MOMENT.
IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO
REPRESENT EVERYONE AND THE
PEOPLE OF IDAHO.
>> REPRESENTATIVE PERRY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION AND ALL THOSE WHO
PARTICIPATED AND WATCHING THE
DEBATES TONIGHT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TOUGH CAMPAIGN.
IT'S A BIG DISTRICT.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW TOUGH
IT'S BEEN FOR RUSS HERE BECAUSE
HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO RUN FOR
THIS SEAT.
HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR LAST TIME.
HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR THIS TIME.
AND HE HAD ALL HIS SIGNS MADE
OUT FOR GOVERNOR.
THEN LABRADOR AND SOME SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUPS CAME IN AND
WOULDN'T ALLOW HIM TO DO THAT,
SO HE FOLDED.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS HIS SIGN
STILL SAID FOR GOVERNOR.
AS WE WENT AROUND THE DISTRICT,
HE PUT TAPE OVER THEM AND SAID
CONGRESS.
AS THE TAPE PEELED BACK, IT SAID
GOV GRIS.
THAT'S THE REAL JOKE.
IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THE GUTS TO
STAND UP AND STAY IN THE RACE HE
WANTED TO, HOW IS HE GOING TO
HAVE TO THE GUTS TO STAND UP FOR
YOU?
WHAT HE DIDN'T TELL YOU WAS THAT
THE VOTERS REJECTED HIM BACK IN
'86 WHEN HE LOST TO A DEMOCRAT
AND AGAIN IN '94 WHEN HE LOST TO
A STRONG CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
WOMAN FROM THIS DISTRICT.
HE'S KIND OF 0 FOR 2 AND THIS IS
HIS LAST BREATH.
THAT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO US.
WE KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE
CONGRESSMAN IS A 58-YEAR-OLD
WHITE MALE, RIGHT?
WHAT HAVE THEY GIVEN US?
$21 TRILLION IN DEBT, A BANKRUPT
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
WE HAVE NO SOLUTIONS FOR A
HEALTH CARE CRISIS.
WE NEED TO SEND A STRONG
REPUBLICAN OF CONSERVATIVE AND
CHRISTIAN WOMAN TO CONGRESS.
I'M ASKING YOU TO SEND THE GIRL
WITH ALL THE GUNS, CHRISTY PERRY
PERRY.
THANK YOU.
>> SENATOR FULCHER.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE PERRY
FOR THE INACCURATE HISTORY
LESSON.
THE SHORT LESSON IS IT IS CALLED
SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.
FOLKS, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN
WORDS.
THERE IS A REASON THAT I'VE BEEN
ENDORSED BY CONGRESSMAN LABRADOR
AND THE LIKES OF SENATOR TED
CRUZ AND SECOND AMENDMENT
CHAMPION DICK HELLER AND CLUB
FOR GROWTH.
IT'S BECAUSE WITH YOUR HELP I'VE
ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
SOMETHING.
WITH ME, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO GET.
SOMEONE WITH DEEP ROOTS IN IDAHO
WHO KNOWS THIS STATE.
SOMEONE WITH GLOBAL EXPERIENCE
IN BUSINESS AND ALSO IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
AND AN OPTIMIST, QUITE FRANKLY,
THAT'S EXCITED ABOUT MOVING
FORWARD WITH THIS.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SPECIFICALLY
ALL OF OUR ADVERTISEMENTS HAVE
BEEN POSITIVE, AND THAT'S ON
PURPOSE.
FRIENDS, THIS IS AN EXCITING
TIME.
WE'RE IN A NEW ERA OF HISTORY.
CONGRESS IS ABOUT TO HAVE THE
LARGEST TURNOVER IT'S HAD IN 50
YEARS.
WE'VE GOT A PRESIDENT WHO IS
WILLING TO LOOK AT THINGS IN A
DIFFERENT WAY.
RIGHT NOW, I'M ON A JOB
INTERVIEW.
WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER.
I BELIEVE IT.
IF YOU HIRE ME, I WILL NOT LET
YOU DOWN.
I'M RUSS FULCHER.
THANK YOU.
AND GOD BLESS.
>> MR. SNYDER.
>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE
OTHER CANDIDATES, PEOPLE ALL
OVER SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THIS
PROGRAM AND THROUGHOUT THE WEEKS
HAVE BEEN DEBATING ONE THING.
RUSS FULCHER VERSUS MICHAEL
SNYDER.
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT
IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO IN
THIS CAMPAIGN.
NUMBER ONE, I WAS THE ORIGINAL
PRO-TRUMP CANDIDATE.
RUSS FULCHER, EVEN THOUGH WE
KNEW HE WAS AGAINST TRUMP AND
NOW HE IS FOR TRUMP, BUT IF YOU
GO TO HIS WEBSITE, HIS CAMPAIGN
TEAM IS FULL OF NEVER TRUMPERS.
NUMBER TWO, BOTH OF US ARE
CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE,
BUT THE PRESS SAYS THAT I'M THE
MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN
THIS RACE, BUT DON'T TAKE THEIR
WORD FOR IT.
COMPARE WHAT I BELIEVE ON MY
WEBSITE AND THEN GO TO RUSS'
WEBSITE AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT
HE BELIEVES.
YOU'LL COME TO THE SAME
pI HAVEN'T HAD ONE VOTER EVER
COME BACK TO ME SINCE I'VE BEEN
RUNNING JULY 4th AND SAY, RI
ACTUALLY THINK RUSSELL IS A LOT
MORE CONSERVATIVE.
I WANT TO TAKE CHRISTIAN VALUES
BACK TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
FOR DECADES, WE'VE BEEN MARCHING
DOWN THE ROAD TO SOCIALISM AND
A
ATHEI
ATHEISM.
WE NEED TO SEND A FIREBALL.
WE NEED TO SEND A FIGHTER.
I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE ON MAY
15th.
GO TO MICHAELSNYDER
MICHAELSNYDERFORCONGRESS.COM.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN THIS THING
ON MAY 15th.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LEROY.
>> WITH MY LAST BREATH --
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> -- LET ME THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING TONIGHT.
MY HERO ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID
AMERICA IS THE LAST BEST HOPE OF
EARTH.
HIS HERO, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
SAID THAT WE HAVE A REPUBLIC, IF
WE CAN KEEP IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD NOT ONLY KEEP
IT, BUT WE SHOULD ENHANCE IT AND
PRESERVE IT BY RETURNING TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY, FREEDOM,
LIBERTY AND GOVERNMENT, AND
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE TRUMP PRESIDENCIES OFFERS US
A UNIQUE POSSIBILITY OF DOING
EXACTLY THAT.
I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THESE
COLLEAGUES AND EXCHANGE STORIES
AND PRINCIPLES BACK AND FORTH.
WE ALL TALK ABOUT EXPERIENCE.
BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE
EXPERIENCE THAT WASHINGTON NEEDS
RIGHT NOW IS NOT ANOTHER
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMAN OR
EVEN A GIRL WITH A GUN.
THE EXPERIENCE WASHINGTON NEEDS
RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE GRAY HAIR,
A LOT OF GOOD JUDGMENT, AND
PERHAPS A TOUCH OF
STATESMANSHIP.
I OFFER THAT.
DONALD TRUMP HAD A HECK OF A
WEEK.
305 TREASURY REGULATIONS WERE
CANCELLED.
THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT
APPLICATION LEVEL IN 48 YEARS.
IN KOREA, DENUMENT.
IF YOU SEND NANCY TO WASHINGTON,
I'LL GO WITH HER.
>> REPRESENTATIVE MALEK?
>> DAVID, I DON'T THINK
WASHINGTON NEEDS MORE HAIR.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M
LIKE YOU.
I FIGHT FOR WHAT I LOVE, AND I
LOVE OUR COUNTRY.
I LOVE OUR WAY OF LIFE, AND I
LOVE OUR CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU'RE
OFFENDED THAT D.C. SPECIAL
INTERESTS ARE SENDING NEARLY $1
MILLION INTO THIS STATE TO BUY
THIS RACE.
A GROUP CALLED THAT MIKE
HUCKABEE CALLS THE CLUB FOR
AGREED HAS DECIDED THAT RUSS
FULCHER, THE GUY WHO GAVE A LONG
RAMBLING ANSWER ON IMMIGRATION
AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING
ON IN THE SENATE, BUT CAN TALK
ABOUT EXPERIENCES AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CAN'T NAME A
SINGLE ONE, THEY HAVE DECIDED HE
SHOULD BE THE NEXT CONGRESSMAN
FOR IDAHO.
MY NAME IS LUKE MALEK, AND I'M
RUNNING FOR CONGRESS TO FIGHT
FOR OUR CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
I AM THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS A
PROVEN EFFECTIVE HISTORY.
I CANNOT BE BOUGHT.
I'M RUNNING TO PROTECT THE
SECOND AMENDMENT TO FIGHT FOR
THE LIVES THAT ARE UNBORN, TO
FIGHT FOR OUR INDEPENDENT
SPIRIT, AND TO FIGHT BACK
AGAINST THE HEAVY HAND OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ME AT
LUKEMAL
LUKEMALEK.COM.
YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT MY HISTORY
AS A PROSECUTOR.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOUR VOTE ON
MAY 15th.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE
CANDIDATES AND REPORTERS.
THNK YOU FOR WATCHING.
ELECTION DAY IS MAY 15th.
WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.
THE IDAHO DEBATES ARE A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG THE
IDAHO PRESS CLUB, BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO'S
MCCLURE CENTER, IDAHO STATE
UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE, THE LEAGUE OF
WOMEN VOTERS' VOTER EDUCATION
FUND, AND IDAHO PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
FUNDING FOR THE IDAHO DEBATES IS
PUBLIC TELEVISION AND THE IDAHO
PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT...