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>> STAY TUNED FOR A LIVE DEBATE
BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RALPH
NORTHAM AND FORMER CONGRESSMAN
TOM PERRLLO.
IT'S NEXT RIGHT HERE ON YOUR
PUBLIC MEDIA STATION.
Captioning Provided By:
Caption Associates, LLC
www.captionassociates.com
>> THIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE SPONSORED
BY THE GREATER HAMPTON ROADS
DEMOCRATS.
JOIN OUR LIVE CONVERSATION.
NOW, HERE IS TONIGHT'S
MODERATOR, CATHY LEWIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
THIS LIVE DEBATE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TERRIFIC
EVENING TONIGHT.
WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM
THE STUDIOS OF WHRO-TV IN
NORFOLK.
WE ARE BROADCASTING STATEWIDE
ACROSS VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC MEDIA
STATIONS AND STREAMING ON LINE.
VIRGINIANS GO TO THE POLLS JUNE
13TH TO CHOOSE THE MAJOR PARTY'S
STATEWIDE CANDIDATES WHO WILL
FACE EACH OTHER THIS COMING
NOVEMBER.
BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TO PICK
THEIR CANDIDATES.
AND FOR THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL
MEET THE TWO MEN TRYING TO
BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.
BUT FIRST, LET ME THANK THE
SPONSORS, THE DEMOCRATIC
BUSINESS ALLIANCE OF SOUTH
HAMPTON ROADS AND THE GREATER
HAMPTON ROADS BLACK DEMOCRATS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP
WITH TONIGHT'S BROADCAST.
WE DO HAVE A STUDIO AUDIENCE
HERE TONIGHT AND THEY HAVE BEEN
ASKED SINCERELY NOT TO APPLAUD
OR TO MAKE NOISE DURING THE
DEBATE, EXCEPT AT THE VERY END
OF THE BROADCAST AND RIGHT NOW,
WHEN WE INTRODUCE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM AND
FORMER CONGRESSMAN TOM
PERRLLO.
[APPLAUSE]
WELL DONE ON TAKING YOUR CUES,
AUDIENCE.
THAT WAS AMAZING.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE MAKING
TWO MINUTES OF INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS AND WE ACTUALLY DID NOT
HAVE TO GO TO THE POLLS TO
DECIDE WHO WILL GO FIRST IN
TONIGHT'S DEBATE.
WE SETTLED THAT QUESTION WITH
THE TIME HONORED TOSS OF THE
COIN.
TOM PERRLLO WON THE TOSS AND
HE'S ELECTED TO GO FIRST.
CONGRESSMAN, WELCOME.
WOULD YOU PLEASE BEGIN YOUR
OPENING REMARKS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CATHY AND
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING PART OF THIS BROADCAST
TONIGHT.
THERE'S SO MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES
I KNOW WE ALL WANT TO DISCUSS
FROM HOW WE STRENGTHEN OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM TO HOW WE
REFORM OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM HERE IN THIS REGION AND
ACROSS THE STATE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE FACE A
VERY SERIOUS MOMENT HERE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN RECENT WEEKS
HAS DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS
TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE AND A
RECKLESS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE
INTELLIGENCE WITH SOME OF THOSE
WHO ARE NOT EXACTLY OUR ALLIES
ACROSS THE WORLD.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN AND
OUT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY
SECTOR AS A DIPLOMAT AND AS A
CONFLICT ANALYST, I CAN TELL YOU
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY SERIOUS
CHARGES.
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE SEE LEADERS IN WASHINGTON
START TO PROCEED WITH
IMPEACHMENT AND SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR PROCEEDINGS.
THIS IS A MATTER OF OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND IT'S A MATTER OF
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.
AND WE'VE SEEN FAR TOO FEW
REPUBLICANS WILLING TO PUT
COUNTRY AHEAD OF PARTISANSHIP
INCLUDING OUR LIKELY NOMINEE IN
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AT GILLESPIE
WHO HAS BEEN SILENT ON THESE
VERY SERIOUS CHARGES.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED
SERIOUS LEADERS AND SERIOUS
LEADERSHIP.
AND IN THIS CAMPAIGN, WE'VE
TRIED TO DO TWO THINGS.
ONE, TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE
WILL RESIST THE KIND OF AGENDA
FROM DONALD TRUMP THAT'S TRYING
TO DIVIDE US.
BUT ALSO, HOW WE CAN PUT FORWARD
A POSITIVE VISION THAT BRINGS
TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ACROSS
VIRGINIA AND MOVES AWAY FROM
THESE DIVISIONS ALONG REGION AND
RACIAL LINES.
BUT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT
IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE NEW
THREATS OUT THERE.
WE HAVE LEADERS TRYING TO DIVIDE
US ON RACE AS WE'VE SEEN IN MY
HOMETOWN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE WITH
WHITE SUPREMACISTS WHO GATHERED
THIS WEEKEND.
AND WE NEEDED TO CALL OUT IN
PERSON.
WE ALSO SEE IT WITH THE FACT
THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS BEEN
FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER
BEHIND.
AND OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS, WE
COULD SEE 1/3 TO 1/2 OF ALL JOBS
IN VIRGINIA DISRUPTED BY
AUTOMATION.
WE HAVE PUT FORTH THE MOST
AMBITIOUS, NEW PLAN FOR
REJUVENATING THE MIDDLE CLASS
HERE IN VIRGINIA BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO
RESIST DONALD TRUMP IS TO RESIST
THE ISSUES THAT GOT HIM IN THERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BY ENSURING THE AMERICAN DREAM
THAT LEAVES NO RELIGION OR RACE
IN VIRGINIA BEHIND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RALPH
NORTHAM, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR
TWO MINUTES.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO
THE SPONSORS OF THE DEBATE.
MY NAME IS RALPH NORTHAM.
AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE
COMMONWEALTH AND LISTEN TO FOLKS
AND TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AND
RECORD OVER MY 10 YEARS OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, PEOPLE OFTEN ASK
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT?
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE WON
DIFFICULT RACES IN VIRGINIA.
FIRST RUNNING IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT FOR THE SENATE AGAINST
AN EIGHT-YEAR INCUMBENT AND THEN
STATEWIDE IN 2013, I ACTUALLY
RECEIVED MORE VOTES THAN ANY
OTHER STATEWIDE CANDIDATE IN AN
OFF-SEASON ELECTION IN THE
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
I'VE NEVER BEEN AFRAID OF
STANDING UP TO BIG BUSINESSES
AND PACS STARTING WITH THE
N.R.A.
I HAVE A D RATING AND ONLY
CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
WHO HAS NEVER HAD AN A RATING
FROM THE N.R.A.
I HAVE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.
I'VE STOOD UP TO THE TOBACCO
INDUSTRY AND STOOD UP TO BIG OIL
AND GAS.
BEING THE FIRST STATEWIDE
CANDIDATE AND REPRESENTATIVE TO
BE OUTSPOKEN AGAINST OFFSHORE
DRILLING.
FRACKING AND URANIUM MINING.
I LED THE FIGHT AGAINST SEA
LEVEL RISE.
I'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH TERRY
MCCULLOUGH AND HAVE BROUGHT IN
MORE THAN 190,000 NEW JOBS TO
THE COMMONWEALTH.
OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS GONE
TO THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN NINE
YEARS.
WE'VE DONE THAT THROUGH WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
INCLUSIVITY.
I LED THE FIGHT AGAINST THE
ATTACKS ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE.
I STOOD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
MARRIAGE EQUALITY HERE IN
VIRGINIA.
AND I'VE STOOD UP AGAINST THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE MAKING
SURE THAT WE PROMOTE OR TRY TO
PROMOTE MEDICAID EXPANSION.
NO VIRGINIA FAMILY SHOULD BE ONE
ILLNESS AWAY FROM FINANCIAL
DEMISE.
I'M PLEASED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF GOVERNOR, TIM CANE,
VIRGINIA'S STATE DELEGATES AND I
LOOK FORWARD TONIGHT TO SHARING
IDEAS OF MOVING THE STATE
FORWARD WITH YOU.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS
FOR LISTENING.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE HAS
BEEN AGREED UPON BY THE
CANDIDATES' TEAMS DOING VERY
WELL SO FAR.
THE QUESTIONS WILL BE PRESENTED
ALTERNATELY TO EACH CANDIDATE
AND THE CANDIDATE WHO RECEIVES
THE QUESTION WILL HAVE 90
SECONDS TO RESPOND.
THE OTHER CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 60
SECONDS TO RESPOND TO THAT
ANSWER.
THE PANELIST WHO ASKS THE
QUESTION HAS THE OPTION WHICH WE
HOPE NOT TO HAVE TO USE TO JUST
JUMP IN IF A CANDIDATE NEEDS A
FRIENDLY REMINDER TO STAY ON THE
SUBJECT.
BUT AGAIN, WE HOPE NOT TO HAVE
TO DO THAT.
AS YOU NOTE, WE WILL BE KEEPING
A CLOSE WATCH ON TIME TONIGHT.
AND YOU WILL HEAR A BELL WELL
DONE.
WHEN THE CANDIDATE HAS REACHED
HIS ALLOTTED TIME.
AND IT IS NOW MY GREAT PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES,
TONIGHT'S PANELISTS.
BRIAN COLLIGAN IS A MEMBER OF
THE EDITORIAL TEAM AT "THE
VIRGINIAN-PILOT."
AND LEONARD COLVIN IS THE CHF
REPORTER FOR NORFOLK'S "NEW
JOURNAL & GUIDE."
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU,
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO, AND IT
HAS TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE.
I THINK BOTH OF YOU IN YOUR
CAMPAIGNS HAVE CLEARLY STATED
YOUR BELF THAT HEALTH CARE IS
A RIGHT.
BUT I HOPE WE CAN DRILL DOWN
MORE SPECIFICALLY ON THAT.
I WONDER TO WHAT SPECIFIC TYPE
OF HEALTH CARE DO YOU BELIEVE
THAT VIRGINIANS ARE ENTITLED?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY
PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER
OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN
I WAS IN CONGRESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT COST ME
MY SEAT BUT I KNOW IT GOT A LOT
OF PEOPLE COVERAGE AND WE REALLY
SHOULD HAVE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
AND AFFORDABLE COVERAGE HERE.
ONE OF THE GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS TO
EXPAND WHAT'S CALLED THE
ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE.
WHAT THAT IS SAYING HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN NO
LONGER DENY COVERAGE FOR MENTAL
HEALTH COVERAGE, NO LONGER DENY
COVERAGE FOR PRE AND POSTNATAL
CARE AND DENY COVERAGE FOR
ADDICTION SERVICES AND OTHER
ESSENTIAL BENEFITS.
AND THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP AND
THE REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON
HAVE BEEN ATTACKING IN THIS
LATEST BILL.
IT WOULD SET US BACK A DECADE IN
TERMS OF THE KIND OF GUARANTEES
WE FOUGHT HARD TO GET FOR
PATIENTS AND CITIZENS ACROSS
VIRGINIA.
WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT WE WILL
SUPPORT NO WAIVERS IN VIRGINIA
IF THIS BILL GOES THROUGH THE
SENATE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT
MOVE BACKWARDS BUT FORWARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, ED GILLESPIE HAS
SAID HE WOULD PUT HIS INSURANCE
COMPANY CLIENTS AHEAD OF THE
CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA AND WOULD
PURSUE THOSE WAIVERS THAT WOULD
TAKE US BACK TO THE DAY WHERE
BEING A WOMAN COULD BE
CONSIDERED A PRE-EXISTING
CONDITION IN OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
WE MUST MOVE TO EXPAND,
CERTAINLY STARTING WITH THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION THAT WOULD
CHANGE THE LIVES OF 400,000
VIRGINIANS.
BUT IT WOULDN'T JUST PROVIDE
DESPERATELY NEEDED CARE FOR THE
WORKING POOR.
IT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP REDUCE
THE PREMIUMS FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS BECAUSE THE COST OF THE
UNINSURED IS PASSED ON TO THOSE
OF US WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE.
SO WE WILL STAND AGAINST THE
LEGISLATORS IN RICHMOND WHO WANT
TO INCREASE COST FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS TO STICK IT TO THE WORKING
POOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NORTHAM,
YOUR RESPONSE.
>> AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, I HAVE
WORKED AT THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND
TAKEN CARE OF A LOT OF CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND NO FAMILY
SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION
WHETHER THEY GO IN AND SEE A
DOCTOR OR STAY HOME AND PAY
THEIR BILLS.
SO IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
THAT ALL VIRGINIANS HAVE ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HEALTH
CARE.
I WANT TO TELL YOU AS A DOCTOR,
THERE ARE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
NO MORE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
BEING ABLE TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN
ON A POLICY UNTIL THEY'RE 26.
ACCESS TO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE.
ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND
ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE CARE.
I HAVE FOUGHT HARD IN VIRGINIA
WITH A LOT OF GREAT LEGISLATORS
TO EXPAND MEDICAID.
THERE ARE OVER 400,000
VIRGINIANS THAT DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
THAT'S MORALLY WRONG.
WE'RE GIVING TO SURROUNDING
STATES WHO WE COMPETE WITH OVER
$5 MILLION A DAY.
THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES.
VIRGINIA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF
THEIR OWN AND EXPAND MEDICAID
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO LEAD THAT
FIGHT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
LEONARD COLVIN FROM THE "NEW
JOURNAL & GUIDE" AND IT WILL BE
DIRECTED TO YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR.
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN OPPOSING
TORCH MARCHES IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
OVER THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT
ISSUE.
IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO
RESOLVE THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, LEONARD, IT'S A
GREAT QUESTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STOOD UP
IN RICHMOND DURING MY 10 YEARS
OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND EVEN
BEFORE I WAS EVEN IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, TOO, TO REALLY TREAT
PEOPLE FAIRLY WITH EQUALITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO VIRGINIA
IS THAT WE LIVE IN A DIVERSE
SOCIETY.
JUST LOOK AROUND US.
THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE
INCLUSIVE AND WE NEED TO WELCOME
PEOPLE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA.
OUR LIGHTS NEED TO BE ON.
OUR DOORS OPEN.
NOBODY SHOULD EVER LIVE IN FEAR
IN VIRGINIA.
AND WHEN WE SEE THINGS LIKE
THESE MARCHES THAT WE JUST SAW
IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WE NEED TO STAND UP AS A
SOCIETY AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING
TO ACCEPT THIS.
SO THINGS THAT ARE DIVISIVE,
THAT ARE DISCRIMINATING TO
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH,
WE'VE GOT TO STOP.
I THINK THE OTHER THING WE NEED
TO THINK ABOUT, LEONARD, IS WHY
DO PEOPLE GET TO THIS POINT?
YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF
CHILDREN IN MY CLINIC.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE HATRED AND
THE BIGOTRY THAT WE OFTEN SEE IN
TODAY'S SOCIETY.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE
ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR IS EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
CHILDREN ARE SO IMPRESSIONABLE.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO
LEGISLATIVELY TO GIVE LOCALES
SOME INSTRUCTION ON WHAT THEY
SHOULD BE DOING WITH THESE
MARCHES?
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
SURE.
I MEAN, WE COULD DO THINGS LIKE
SET UP A COMMISSION, LEONARD
THAT WOULD STUDY WAYS TO BETTER
DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS AND
GIVE LOCALITIES MORE POWER.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAY.
I MEAN, IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, AS
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE MADE THE
DECISION TO REMOVE THE STATUE.
THAT'S A LOCAL DECISION AND I
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT.
WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE TAKEN THE
CONFEDERATE FLAG OFF LICENSE
PLATES, THINGS WE CAN DO AT THE
STATE LEVEL WE'LL CONTINUE TO
DO.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO WELCOME PEOPLE
TO VIRGINIA AND MAKE THEM FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO, YOUR
RESPONSE.
>> SO PEOPLE WONDER WHY I GOT
INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA FIGHT WITH
THE WHITE SUPREMACIST THAT
ORGANIZED THAT RALLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAND UP TO
HATE AND CALL IT EXACTLY WHAT IT
IS WHICH IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST
NEO-NAZI RALLY HERE IN VIRGINIA
AND IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH
VIRGINIA VALUES.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT ON
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE PRIVILEGE
INCLUDING BECAUSE OF OUR OWN
RACES TO BE PART OF STANDING UP
FOR THAT AND NOT JUST EXPECTING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO CARRY
THE BURDEN OF DOING SO.
THAT'S WHY I CALLED FOR A
COMMISSION ON RACIAL HEALING AND
TRANSFORMATION IN THE WAKE OF
THIS INCLUDING HOW WE
MEMORIALIZE SUCH EVENTS.
I WORKED, ACTUALLY MORE OF MY
TIME AS A PEACE NEGOTIATOR THAN
AS A POLITICIAN AND ONE OF THE
THINGS I'VE LEARNED WORKING ON
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
COMMISSIONS ACROSS AFRICA,
LOOKING AT EFFORTS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND ELSEWHERE IS WE
DON'T DEAL WITH THESE THINGS BY
ACTING LIKE THE PROBLEM ISN'T
THERE.
WE HAVE TO CALL OUT RACISM,
STRUCTURAL AND OVERT WHERE WE
SEE IT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF DEEP
RACIAL INEQUALITY WE HAVE HERE
IN VIRGINIA WHERE THE MEDIAN NET
WORTH REMAINS 111TH OF A WHITE
FAMILY IN VIRGINIA.
WE MUST DEAL WITH THE STRUCTURAL
BARRIERS AND HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS EVEN WHEN THEY'RE
UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
BRIAN COLLIGAN FROM "THE
VIRGINIAN-PILOT."
CONGRESSMAN?
>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED A
SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH REFORM
PACKAGE THAT EXPANDS THE CORE
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, EXCUSE
ME, ABSENT WAS THE FUNDING,
HOWEVER, AND THESE REQUIREMENTS
OF SAME DAY MENTAL HEALTH
SCREENING SERVICES, OUTPATIENT,
PRIVATE CARE SCREENING AND
MONITORING, FOR INSTANCE, WILL
BE COSTLY.
HOW DO YOU THINK VIRGINIA SHOULD
BEST PROVIDE FOR THE MENTAL
HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF ITS
CITIZENS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT?
>> THANK YOU.
THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS
SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERY
COMMUNITY, EVERY CLASS, AND
EVERY RACE.
WE TOOK A STEP FORWARD WITH THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN I VOTED
FOR IT BECAUSE WE INSURED MENTAL
HEALTH PARODY.
THAT DOESN'T COVER THOSE THAT
DOESN'T GET COVERED AT ALL
BECAUSE OUR LEGISLATURE
CONTINUES TO BLOCK THE MEDICAID
EXPANSION THAT WOULD AFFECT SO
MANY OF THE WORKING POOR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
MORE COVERAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE MOVING INTO THIS
PROFESSIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A DEBT
FORGIVENESS PROGRAM FOR THOSE
WHO WOULD MOVE INTO THIS LINE OF
WORK AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE STIGMA
ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING CARE
WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
I HEAR FROM FIRST RESPONDERS
ACROSS THESE NEEDS.
OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL TO THIS AND WE
WERE ABLE TO GET MAJOR
INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS THROUGH THE
STIMULUS ACT AND OTHER EFFORTS
WHEN I WAS IN CONGRESS.
AND WE ACTUALLY FOUND THAT
TELEMEDICINE CAN BE AN
INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE PART OF THE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT NEED
TO BE PROVIDED.
WE ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN
THIS RACE WHO HAS SHOWN WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE REVENUE
TO DO EVERY SINGLE THING WE HAVE
PROPOSED IN THIS RACE.
FROM UNIVERSAL PRE-K TO TWO
YEARS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
TO FILLING GAPS ON MENTAL HEALTH
AND ADDICTION NEEDS.
WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO CLOSE
TAX LOOPHOLES AND THOSE MAKING
$1 MILLION OR MORE TO INVEST IN
THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS THAT
ARE HOLDING BACK THE NEEDS HERE
IN VIRGINIA.
WE NEED TO PUT REVENUE ON THE
TABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND
MAKE SURE INSURANCE COVERAGE IS
THERE AND MAKE SURE THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES DON'T HAVE A
CHOICE BUT TO INCLUDE MENTAL
HEALTH PARODY COVERAGE IN THEIR
EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MENTAL ILLNESS IS A SERIOUS
PROBLEM HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA.
THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE
VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY 10 YEARS
AGO.
IT WAS ALSO RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED
WHEN THE SENATOR'S SON TOOK HIS
LIFE.
A MENTAL HEALTH TASK GROUP WAS
SET UP IN VIRGINIA.
I HAVE CHAIRED THAT.
WE'VE LOOKED AT SEVERAL
DIFFERENT AREAS.
FIRST IS CRISIS INTERVENTION.
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH SOMEONE WHO
IS ACUTELY MENTALLY ILL?
WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ESPECIALLY
WITH THINGS LIKE THE BED
REGISTRY AND WE LOOKED AT
ONGOING THERAPY.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ENOUGH SOCIAL WORKERS,
PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS?
WE LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
FOR TOO MANY OF OUR MENTALLY ILL
ARE IN OUR JAILS AND
PENITENTIARIES AND WHAT TOM
MENTIONED IS TELEPSYCHIATRY AND
TELEHEALTH AND THAT'S AN
EXCITING AVENUE THAT WE'RE ABLE
TO REACH UNDERSERVED AREAS.
HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT?
I'LL TELL YOU IN TWO WORDS,
MEDICAID EXPANSION.
WE HAVE NOT ONLY GIVEN AWAY TO
OUR SURROUNDING STATES WHO WE
COMPETE WITH OVER $10 BILLION
WITH A B DOLLARS.
SO THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES.
WE NEED TO BRING THAT REVENUE
BACK TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA.
AND USE IT FOR THINGS LIKE THE
TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NORTHAM, THE
ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE IS ONE
OF TWO PIPELINES THAT'S BEEN
PROPOSED IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
ATLANTIC COAST ONE IS ABOUT
DELIVERING NATURAL GAS TO
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH.
THIS PATHWAY HAS LANDOWNERS AND
ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON
WATERWAYS
WATERWAYS.
I WONDER IF YOU WOULD EXPLAIN IF
IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST.
>> THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS
ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA AND I HAVE LISTENED TO
MANY OF THEM SUCH AS PROPERTY
RIGHTS, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED
TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF AND
ALSO, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
WE NEED TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT
AGENCIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
DEAL WITH THE PIPELINE AND THE
REGULATIONS.
IN VIRGINIA, WE HAVE THE D.E.Q.
I HAVE WORKED WITH THE D.E.Q.
I WROTE THEM A LETTER SUGGESTING
AND ASKING THEM TO CHANGE FROM A
BLANKET PERMITTING SYSTEM TO A
SITE SPECIFIC PERMIT.
THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO
ACCOUNT AND ARE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THAT.
THAT MEANS THAT ANYWHERE THERE'S
A STREAM OR A RIVER, THAT THERE
WILL BE A SITE SPECIFIC PERMIT
AND THAT WE WILL USE SCIENCE AND
TRANSPARENCY IF THE PIPELINE
MOVES FORWARD.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO ALSO LOOK
AT MY RECORD.
I HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST OFFSHORE
DRILLING.
I HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST FRACKING
IN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS URANIUM
MINING AND LED THE CHARGE ON SEA
LEVEL RISE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
WEAN OURSELVES AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS AND CONCENTRATE ON
ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY
SUCH AS SUN AND WIND AND WE HAVE
MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS THIS PAST
YEAR.
TODAY WAS AN EXCITING DAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY SAW
THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOVERNOR
TERRY MCAULIFFE MADE BUT WHAT
WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR IS BY THE
YEAR 2030, 30% OF OUR ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA WILL BE FROM
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO WEAN
OURSELVES AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS.
DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF CARBON
WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE AIR AND
MAKE VIRGINIA A SAFER PLACE
ENVIRONMENTALLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU DON'T LEAD THE FIGHT
AGAINST SEA LEVEL RISE BY MAKING
A $6 BILLION, 50 YEAR INVESTMENT
IN FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.
RIGHT NOW, OUR UTILITIES WANT TO
RAISE OUR RATES TO BE ABLE TO
INVEST $6.7 BILLION INTO FRACKED
GAS PIPELINES THAT THEY HAVEN'T
EVEN PROVED ARE NECESSARY.
THAT'S NOT WHERE THE JOBS AND
THE BUSINESSES ARE GROWING OVER
THE NEXT GENERATION.
THIS IS LIKE SOMEONE COMING TO
YOU RIGHT WHEN DIGITAL CAMERAS
WERE TAKING OFF AND SAYING YOU
SHOULD BET YOUR PENSION FUND ON
EASTMAN KODAK.
THIS IS NOT WHERE GROWTH IS
RIGHT NOW.
IT IS GOING TO MOVE VIRGINIA
BACKWARDS BECAUSE OF THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
UTILITIES AND THE LEGISLATURES,
BOTH PARTIES IN THE LEGISLATURES
WHOSE BIGGEST FUNDER IS DOMINION
POWER, WE HAVE DROPPED BEHIND
NORTH CAROLINA ON SOLAR ENERGY
JOBS.
AND WE ARE AT REAL RISK OF
FALLING BEHIND MARYLAND ON WIND
ENERGY JOBS.
WE WILL GET THE OFFSHORE WIND.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN
LEADING ON THIS, IT'S GOING TO
BE MARYLAND COMPANIES
MANUFACTURING IT AND MARYLAND
COMPANIES SELLING IT TO US.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP NOW THAT IS
WILLING AS I HAVE BEEN TO TAKE
NOT $1 FROM THE ELECTRIC
UTILITIES AND NOT MAKE A BET ON
50 YEARS MOVING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
VIRGINIA IS A LEADER AND NOT A
FOLLOWER.
THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM LEONARD
COLVIN FROM THE "NEW JOURNAL &
GUIDE".
>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
LEADING TOWARDS A LOT OF PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT PLEDGE.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A GOOD
EXAMPLE OR BAD EXAMPLE LOOK AT
THE TOLLS IMPOSED ON COMMUTERS
TRAVELING BETWEEN NORFOLK AND
PORTSMOUTH WHICH WAS A PUBLIC,
YOU KNOW, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT HURT.
HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE THIS
SITUATION?
WHAT LEGISLATION WOULD YOU PASS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
PARTICULAR PROBLEM WHICH
IRRITATES A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
BOTH CITIES FROM HAPPENING
AGAIN.
>> CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO?
>> THE PORTSMOUTH TUNNEL IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOU DON'T
HAVE LEADERSHIP WITH THE MORAL
COURAGE TO SAY WHAT'S NECESSARY
WHICH IF YOU PAY $2.3 BILLION UP
FRONT FOR THE TUNNEL, WE
WOULDN'T BE PAYING $23 BILLION
FOR IT NOW.
THE TUNNEL IS THERE AND THE
TOLLS HAVE CRUSHED SMALL
BUSINESSES ACROSS PORTSMOUTH.
PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER CROSSING
OVER FOR NIGHTLIFE AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES.
MEANWHILE, THE WORKING POOR THAT
NEED TO CROSS IN THE OTHER
DIRECTION, THAT $10 IS A
CRUSHING DEBT.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
IN MINIMUM WAGE MAKING $14,000 A
YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RAISED
THE MINIMUM WAGE IN VIRGINIA AND
FALLEN BEHIND WEST VIRGINIA.
WE PAY POVERTY WAGES AND THEN WE
SEND PEOPLE ACROSS.
THAT ADDS TOWN REAL MONEY.
THEN YOU LOSE YOUR E. Z.PASS FOR
A DAY.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOUR TOLLS
ARE YOUR DEBT IS GOING
THROUGH THE ROOF.
THEN YOU GET YOUR LICENSE
SUSPENDED.
THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED
LICENSE.
AND WELCOME TO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE
OVERCROWDED PRISONS AND WE HAVE
SEEN TRAGIC RESULTS OF THOSE WHO
ARE HELD WITHIN.
WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT
ESSENTIALLY CRIMINALIZES BEING
POOR.
AND THESE SORTS OF MOMENTS WHEN
WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT
DOESN'T MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS
OF RAISING THE REVENUE NECESSARY
TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS IN
EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WE
NEED, THE LOSERS ARE ALWAYS THE
MIDDLE CLASS AND THE WORKING
CLASS.
WE'VE TRIED TO LEARN FROM THESE
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNER SHIPS ON
SOME OF THE TOLL ROADS IN
NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED
OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO DO THEIR
JOB AND MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS
AND MAKE THE INVESTMENT.
>> IF IT WAS YOU, WHAT
PARTICULAR LEGISLATION WOULD YOU
PROPOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT
EFFORTS DON'T HURT PEOPLE?
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S
JUST THE BUSINESSMEN GETTING
THEIR MONEY BACK BY CHARGING
TOLLS.
>> YEAH.
>> ONCE THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT
UP A LOT OF MONEY.
>> FOR ME, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
THE RETURNS WHEN IT'S A PUBLIC
INVESTMENT INSTEAD OF A
PUBLIC/PRIVATE INVESTMENT HAVE
BEEN BETTER FOR TAXPAYERS.
IT'S JUST THAT LEGISLATORS
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RAISE THE
REVENUE.
WE NEED TO DO THAT AS A
PERMANENT INCREASE IN
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND WE
CAN ASK PEOPLE MAKING A MILLION
DOLLARS OR MORE TO PAY A LITTLE
BIT MORE SO WE CAN INVEST IN
THOSE BRIDGES AND TUNNELS.
YOU KNOW WHO WINS, EVERYBODY
INCLUDING PEOPLE MAKING A
MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OR MORE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> TO YOUR POINT, I WORK IN
NORFOLK.
I OWN A BUSINESS AND WE EMPLOY
ABOUT 250 PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE IN
SUFFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH HAVE SAID
IS RALPH, YOU NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TOLLS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT WAYS OF
DEFRAYING.
THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORST
DEALS THAT WAS EVER AUTHORED AND
SIGNED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA.
AS WAS 460.
A PROJECT THAT NEVER CAME TO
FRUITION BUT COST VIRGINIANS
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I'LL TELL YOU HOW YOU MAKE A
CHANGE.
YOU MAKE A CHANGE WITH
LEADERSHIP.
AND I WANT TO GIVE AUBREY LANE,
OUR SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
CREDIT.
HE GETS HOW TO DO PUBLIC/PRIVATE
RELATIONSHIPS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT
HERE IN HAMPTON ROADS LIKE
EXPANDING 64.
WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND HAMPTON
ROADS BRIDGE TUNNEL, WE'VE
EXPANDED ARE EXPANDING I-66
UP IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNER SHIPS ARE
IMPORTANT.
IT'S ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND IT'S
HAVING PEOPLE AT THE TABLE THAT
UNDERSTAND BUSINESS AND
UNDERSTAND HOW TO NEGOTIATE AND
DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF VIRGINIA TAXPAYERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRIAN
COLLIGAN FROM "THE
VIRGINIAN-PILOT."
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I KNOW
YOU'VE TOUCHED ON THIS BRFLY.
BEING THAT WE'RE IN HAMPTON
ROADS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK THE
NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE WHITE
HOUSE HAS WASTED LITTLE TIME IN
DISMANTLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
RECORD OF THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION INCLUDING AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER TO TRY TO TAKE
PART IN THE CLEAN POWER PLAN AND
CONSIDERING WITHDRAW FROM THE
PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.
THAT CAN OBVIOUSLY HAVE PROFOUND
IMPLICATIONS FOR HAMPTON ROADS,
AND A THREAT TO HOMES AND
BUSINESSES HERE.
AS WASHINGTON STEPS BACK FROM
THE LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS
ISSUE, WHAT MUST THE NEXT
GOVERNOR DO TO ENSURE IT HAS THE
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT IT NEEDS?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT
THAN HAVING A LEADER THAT'S
WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST
WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON
RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY
CONCERNING.
AND I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO STEP
UP AND SAY OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT
IS DANGEROUS.
NOT ONLY FOR THIS COUNTRY BUT
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND JUST AS YOU SAID, HE HAS
THREATENED TO TAKE ALL THE
FUNDING AWAY THAT WE HAVE USED
TO RESTORE THE HEALTH OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY WHICH A HEALTHY
CHESAPEAKE BAY IS WORTH BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS TO OUR ECONOMY IN
VIRGINIA.
HE'S CHANGING THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, THREATENING TO TAKE
HEALTH COVERAGE AWAY FROM
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH.
THAT WILL AFFECT THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
HE'S TAKEN AWAY MONEY FOR H.U.D.
WHICH IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT.
>> YES, I WAS GOING TO GET TO
THE SEA LEVEL RISING.
I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN
THAT.
IF YOU KNOW OF MY HISTORY, I
GREW UP ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
I KNOW ALL TOO WELL WHAT SEA
LEVEL RISE IS DOING TO THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S
AFFECTING, LET'S GO TO TANGIER
ISLAND SINKING INTO THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY.
SO WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, I
ACTUALLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
TO START A STUDY FOR SEA LEVEL
RISE THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW US TO
OBTAIN GRANTS, FEDERAL GRANTS.
THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
WE NOW HAVE FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND SO NOW WE HAVE THE MONEY TO
DO WHAT WE CALL RESILIENCY PLAN
FOR HAMPTON ROADS.
IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE
QUALITY OF LIFE, PROPERTY
OWNERS, BUT ALSO FOR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
THAT MONEY AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE CAN USE THAT MONEY AND
ACTUALLY IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY.
IT CAN BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IF
WE PREPARE HAMPTON ROADS FOR SEA
LEVEL RISE AND THAT'S WHAT I
PLAN TO DO OVER THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS.
>> THANK YOU.
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO?
>> WELL, I DON'T SAY THIS OFTEN
BUT WE CAN'T BLAME PRESIDENT
TRUMP FOR EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE
HERE IN RICHMOND VIRGINIA FALL
BEHIND BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN
WILLING TO DO BASIC STEPS LIKE A
RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD OR CAP
ON CARBON AND THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS IN PLACES LIKE NORTH
CAROLINA THESE HAVE CREATED MORE
JOBS AND MORE BUSINESSES.
THERE ARE MORE AMERICANS WORKING
TODAY IN FOSSIL FUEL, IN CLEAN
ENERGY, THAN IN THE FOSSIL FUEL
INDUSTRY.
IN FACT, THERE ARE ALREADY MORE
VIRGINIANS WORKING IN SOLAR
POWER THAN IN COAL.
THESE ARE THE JOBS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE GROWING OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS.
WHAT'S BEEN A DRIVER FOR THEM IS
STATES WILLING TO STEP UP AND
CREATE INCENTIVES TO PUSH IN THE
DIRECTION OF CLEAN ENERGY.
THE IMPACT, OF COURSE, IS ON OUR
COASTLINE.
THERE'S NO AREA, THERE ARE ONLY
TWO THAT RANK NEW ORLEANS AND
HERE AS THE ABSOLUTE TOP OF THE
LIST AS THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTING
MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA
WITH ENORMOUS IMPACTS ON OUR
NAVAL BASIS AS WELL.
VIRGINIA NEEDS TO DO ITS PART BY
PUTTING THE RULES IN PLACE THAT
CAN UNLEASH THE CLEAN ENERGY
JOBS OF THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO, I WANT TO
NOTE THAT WE HAVE JUST PASSED
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
MASSACRE AT VIRGINIA TECH.
AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK ABOUT GUN POLICY.
AND I WONDER WHAT YOU SEE AS
COMMONSENSE GUN POLICY THAT YOU
COULD ALSO PERSUADE THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY TO ADOPT.
>> WELL, I FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS WHEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP CHOSE TO PICK UP
THAT FIGHT.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
GUARANTEE THE MOST COMMON SENSE
THING IMAGINABLE WHICH IS THE
ONLY WAY WE CAN KNOW THERE'S A
PERSON WITH VIOLENT HISTORY OR
SOMEONE ON THE TERRORIST WATCH
LIST IS UNABLE TO BUY A WEAPON
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
OR ANY WEAPON.
THIS IN VIRGINIA WE CANNOT DO
UNLESS WE HAVE A UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECK.
I WAS PART OF THE FIGHT TO GET
THAT THROUGH THE SENATE.
HELPED RAISE MONEY TO DO A STUDY
TO SHOW THE CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN
STRONGER GUN LAWS AND LOWER GUN
DEATHS.
I'VE GOT AN F FROM THE N.R.A.
AND CALLED THEM IN A LESS
DIPLOMATIC MOMENT A NUT JOB
EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION.
PART OF WHAT'S INCUMBENT NOW IS
FOR RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS AND I
KNOW SO MANY TO BE PART OF
DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM AN
ORGANIZATION THAT NO LONGER
REPRESENTS THEIR INTERESTS OR
THEIR CAUSES.
WE CAN DEFEND A SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND OUR
HERITAGE WITH COMMONSENSE GUN
REFORM RANGING FROM UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS TO LIMITS ON
HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND ONE
GUN A MONTH POLICIES.
THESE USED TO BE THINGS WHERE
PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER AND
FIND COMMON SENSE TO MAKE SURE
WE PROTECT OUR RIGHTS BUT WE
ALSO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE SO MANY
THINGS IN OUR POLITICS TODAY IN
VIRGINIA AND IN WASHINGTON,
WE'VE SEEN THE EXTREMES TAKE
OVER.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A TIME WE NEED
TO BRING THOSE VOICES TOGETHER.
AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE,
REPRESENTED SOUTH SIDE VIRGINIA
AND LIVED THE LAST SIX YEARS IN
NORTHERN VIRGINIA, I BELIEVE
THERE IS A LOT THAT BRINGS US
TOGETHER AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS
IS WANTING OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE
SAFE.
I BELIEVE THESE ARE THE KIND OF
COMMON SENSE REFORMS LONG PAST
DUE IN RICHMOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> LET ME REMIND THE VIEWERS I'M
THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR THAT HAS NEVER HAD
AN A RATING FROM THE N.R.A.
I'VE STOOD UP TO N.R.A. AND
NEVER TAKEN MONEY FROM THEM.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON
GUNS.
I GREW UP ON THE EASTERN SHORE
BUT THEN I WENT AND SERVED IN
THE UNITED STATES ARMY DURING
DESERT STORM AND I KNOW WHAT
ASSAULT WEAPONS DO TO HUMAN
BEINGS.
I'VE TAKEN CARE OF TODDLERS WHO
HAVE PICKED UP LOADED FIREARMS
ON THE BEDSIDE TABLE.
I'VE TAKEN CARE OF WOMEN WHO
HAVE BEEN IN TRAGEDIES BECAUSE
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND I'M
WILLING TO LEAD THAT.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BANS
AGAINST ASSAULT WEAPONS.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BRINGING
BACK ONE GUN A MONTH.
NOBODY SHOULD NEED TO BUY MORE
THAN ONE GUN A MONTH AND WE NEED
TO HAVE SMART GUN TECHNOLOGY
THAT ONLY ONE FINGERPRINT WILL
DISCHARGE THAT GUN.
I'M WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH
PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE, BRING THEM TOGETHER.
AND LET'S FIND SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN AGREE ON.
THAT BEING RESPONSIBLE GUN
OWNERSHIP AND THEN WE CAN MAKE
SOME COMMONSENSE MOVEMENTS TO
MOVES TO MAKE OUR COMMONWEALTH
SAFER REGARDING THE GUN VIOLENCE
THAT WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
LEONARD COLVIN FROM THE "NEW
JOURNAL & GUIDE."
>> POLITICIANS SPECIFICALLY, MR.
TRUMP WHO PROBABLY WON THE WHITE
HOUSE BY BRINGING FORTH THIS
ISSUE, ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE
PLIGHT OF WHITE WORKING CLASS
AMERICANS.
THERE ARE COUNTERPARTS IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN GAY AND
HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THEM
TO RAISE THEIR, YOU KNOW,
OPTIMISM ABOUT THE FUTURE.
>> THIS IS FOR YOU, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR NORTHAM?
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO LEVEL
THE PLAYING FLD AND THERE'S
STILL CRONYISM HERE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
WHEN PEOPLE PUT IN APPLICATIONS
FOR JOBS AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE
ARE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE
TONIGHT THAT UNDERSTAND THAT AS
WELL.
SO, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED
EARLIER AND WE'RE PROUD THAT OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS GONE FROM
5.4% TO 3.8%.
IF YOU GO TO THE EASTERN SHORE
WHERE I'M FROM, THE SOUTH SIDE
OR SOUTHWEST OF VIRGINIA, IT'S
NOWHERE NEAR 3.8%.
SO HOW DO WE LIFT UP ALL OF
VIRGINIA?
AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE
CAN DO.
FIRST OF ALL, IN RURAL VIRGINIA,
WE STILL HAVE POCKETS WHERE THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND.
THAT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE IN
2017.
WE HAVE AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO CELL COVERAGE.
WE HAVE AN OPIOID CRISIS GOING
ON, ONE OF OUR LARGEST
CHALLENGES IN VIRGINIA THAT WE
NEED TO ADDRESS.
HOW DO WE LIFT UP EVERYBODY?
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE JOBS OF
THE 21ST CENTURY ARE AND THEY'RE
IN STEM RELATED AREAS, SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, THE ENGINEERING,
ARTS AND MATH.
WE NEED TO PREPARE THE WORK
FORCE FOR THOSE JOBS.
WE'VE DONE THAT THROUGH THINGS
LIKE AFFORDABLE HIGHER
EDUCATION.
MY G-3 PROGRAM, GET SKILLED, GET
A JOB AND GET BACK THAT HELPS
PEOPLE GO THROUGH COMMUNITY
COLLEGES WITHOUT HAVING ANY
EXPENSES.
WE'VE REALLY EMPHASIZED
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
TRAINING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
LEVEL.
AND FINALLY, WE JUST NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN
VIRGINIA HAS ACCESS TO THE
AMERICAN DREAM AND THAT IS
ACCESS TO THE EDUCATION THAT
WILL ALLOW THEM TO BE IN THE
WORK FORCE FOR OUR 21ST CENTURY
JOBS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO?
>> GROWING UP IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE, I WAS VERY
AWARE THAT VIRGINIA IS THE
BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY.
BUT IT'S ALSO THE BIRTHPLACE OF
AMERICAN SLAVERY.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN BOTH AT THE
FOREFRONT OF JUSTICE, LIBERTY
AND EQUALITY FOR ALL BUT WE'VE
ALSO BEEN A SOURCE OF SOME OF
THE GREATEST SINS AND THE
GREATEST SINS IN OUR COUNTRY'S
PAST AND COMMONWEALTH'S PAST.
IN EACH GENERATION, WE MAKE A
DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OUR
GENERATION IN VIRGINIA IS GOING
TO BE DEFINED AT BEING AT THE
FOREFRONT OF DEMOCRACY OR THE
FOREFRONT OF THOSE DARKER
TRADITIONS.
WE MUST TAKE THEM HEAD ON AND
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE MASSIVE
STRUCTURAL RACIAL INEQUALITY
HERE IN THIS STATE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE PUT
OUT A PAPER ON THE RACIAL WEALTH
GAP AND LOOKED AT BOTH IN TERMS
OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO
HOUSING AS WELL AS A CONTINUED
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT
CONTINUES TO MAKE THIS
EFFECTIVELY A NEW JIM CROW STATE
HERE IN VIRGINIA DESPITE GREAT
EFFORTS BY GOVERNOR MCAULIFFE TO
BEGIN THE EFFORTS OF JUSTICE
REFORM INCLUDING MOVING US OUT
OF BEING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
JUVENILE INCARCERATION IN THE
STATE.
WE CAN BE THAT PROMISE OF
JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY
FOR ALL.
WE CAN'T DO IT BY CLOSING OUR
EARS AND EYES TO THE FACT THAT
THESE INEQUALITIES STILL EXIST.
WE DO IT BY ANSWERING THEM AND
COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO
ADDRESS THEM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM BRIAN
COLLIGAN FROM "THE
VIRGINIAN-PILOT."
>> THIS IS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN.
FOUR YEARS AGO, TERRY MCAULIFFE
PROMISED TO BE A BRICK WALL WHEN
IT CAME TO ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
INCLUDING ABORTION.
YOU SAID THE VOTE THAT YOU
REGRET MOST IS THAT ONE.
SOME DEMOCRATS SUGGEST THERE
SHOULD BE A LITMUS TEST FOR
THOSE SEEKING THE NOMINATION.
EXPLAIN YOUR VIEW ON THIS
INCLUDING THE TYPES OF
RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
PASSED BY A REPUBLICAN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY?
>> I WANT TO COMMEND GOVERNOR
MCAULIFFE AND LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR NORTHAM FOR A WOMEN'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND ADVOCATES
ACROSS THE STATE THAT ENSURE
THAT.
WE'VE SEEN OVER 70 PCES OF
LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY TO LIMIT A WOMAN'S
RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR MEANING AND
DIGNIFIED ACCESS OF THAT CHOICE.
I SUPPORTED ROE V. WADE MY
ENTIRE LIFE AND BELIEVE WE MUST
PURSUE A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT IN THE CHANCE THAT
AFTER JUSTICE GORSUCH, WE GET
ONE MORE JUSTICE THAT CAN
CHALLENGE ROE.
IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A
PLEDGE THAT ENSURE MONTH
TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS
IN THE HEALTH CARE BILL.
I'VE EXPRESSED MANY TIMES MY
REGRET ABOUT THE PLEDGE AND VOTE
TO SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT AS I'M
TRYING TO DO IN THIS RACE AND
NONPROFIT ADVOCACY TO ENSURE A
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND
MEANINGFUL ACCESS IN A STATE
THAT CONTINUES TO SEE 92% OF OUR
COUNTIES HAVE NO PROVIDER AND
PEOPLE OFTEN HAVING TO TAKE TWO
DAYS OUT OF WORK IN ORDER TO GO,
RECEIVE A LECTURE, GO THROUGH A
24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD BEFORE
MAKING A CHOICE THAT IS THEIR
SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO DO.
AND I BELIEVE WE MUST CONTINUE
TO BE A BRICK WALL AGAINST THE
REGRESSIVE ATTACKS FROM THE
LEGISLATURE BUT FIND WAYS FOR
COMMON GROUND ON EXPANDING
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO
CONTRACEPTION AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE DO NOT SEE ATTACKS ON
THESE CLINICS WHETHER FROM THE
OUTSIDE OR WITHIN.
THANK YOU.
WE NEED TO BE OVERHAULING THE
EDUCATION SYSTEM TO CONNECT TO A
VERY NEW AND HOPEFULLY
DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM LEONARD
COLVIN FROM THE "NEW JOURNAL &
GUIDE."
>> THROW THIS OUT TO BOTH OF YOU
AND STARTING WITH YOU, MR.
PERRLLO.
IN THE BATTLE DAYS OF DRUG
EPIDEMIC, CRACK *** WAS
CRIMINALIZED.
NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE NEW WAVE
OF OPIOID ADDICTION, IT'S BEING
TREATED AS A MENTAL ILLNESS, A
SOCIAL DISEASE AND ATTORNEY
GENERAL SESSIONS HAS SAID THAT
HE'S GOING TO STEP UP OR REVAMP
THE LOCK THEM UP TENDENCY TO
PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE THE NATION'S
NARCOTICS LAWS.
MANY GOVERNORS HAVE OPTIONS TO
FIGHT AGAINST THAT.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE
ELECTED TO SAY I'M NOT GOING
BACK TO THE DAYS OF LOCKING HIM
UP PARTICULARLY POOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC
PEOPLE?
AND NOW WHITE PEOPLE SINCE MANY
OF THEM WILL BE ARRESTED FOR
OPIOID ADDICTION.
>> SO LEONARD, FIRST, YOU HAVE
TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS AND WE
HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES CALLED OUT
ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS FOR
THIS RACIST, DOG WHISTLING
POLITICS THAT'S TRYING TO GO
BACK TO THE FAILED POLITICS OF
BOTH RACIAL DOG WHISTLING BUT
ALSO SOMETHING WE CAN'T AFFORD
WHICH IS TO CONTINUE TO
OVERCRIMINALIZE AND
OVERINCARCERATE.
I WAS PROUD WHEN I WAS IN
CONGRESS WE GOT RID OF SOME OF
THE DISPARITIES INCLUDING THE
CRACK *** DISPARITIES THAT
HAD A LONG RACIAL HISTORY.
WE'VE PROPOSED DECRIMINALIZING
LOW LEVEL MAREANA POSSESSION
AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO USE
MEDICAL MAREANA.
IT IS TRUE THAT IT'S A SHAME
THAT WE HAVE A NEW POLITICAL
COALITION FOR THIS ONLY NOW THAT
IT'S AFFECTING WHITER AND MORE
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
WE SHOULDN'T LOSE TO BUILD A
BIPARTISAN COALITION TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THESE FAILED POLICIES
OF THE 1990s.
I FIND IN MY MANY TRIPS TO
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA THAT I USED
TO REPRESENT THAT THE PEOPLE ARE
WAY AHEAD OF THEIR OWN
LEGISLATURES.
WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THESE
VERY CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURES
IN RICHMOND ARE ACTUALLY
REPRESENTING THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE REPRESENTING VERY
RIGHT-WING DONORS WHO SEND THEM
THERE TO BE IDEOLOGICALLY PURE.
WHEN I GO TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS
VIRGINIA, THEY BELIEVE IN SECOND
CHANCES.
THEY BELIEVE IN LOVE OF NEIGHBOR
AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS FAR MORE
EFFICIENT TO INVEST A LITTLE BIT
UP FRONT IN PREVENTION INCLUDING
TRADE SCHOOLS AND APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS INCLUDING INSTEAD OF
THE HUGE COST OF INCARCERATION.
WE HAVE A SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE THAT WE SEE SUSPENSION
RATES GOING THROUGH THE ROOF
EVEN IN THE FIRST, SECOND AND
THIRD LEVEL AND WE NEED TO
CREATE A PIPELINE.
WE BELIEVE THIS PLAN DOES IT.
>> I AGREE, TOM, THAT WE NEED TO
INTERRUPT THE SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK
NUMBERS.
VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW SPENDS $67
MILLION A YEAR ON MAREANA
LAWS.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR IS TO
DECRIMINALIZE MAREANA.
AND PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT
PEOPLE OF COLOR, LEONARD, ARE
2.8 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE
PICKED UP FOR SMOKING MAREANA
THAN THOSE NOT OF COLOR.
WE NEED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING
FLD.
YOU MENTIONED THE OPIOID CRISIS.
THAT IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST
CHALLENGES IN VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW
AND I WOULD SAY THAT IT DOES NOT
DISCRIMINATE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE, PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD
LEAST EXPECT.
LAST YEAR, WE LOST 806
VIRGINIANS TO OPIOID OVERDOSE.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE LOST OVER
1,000.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
IS LOOK AT THE DECRIMINALIZATION
OF MAREANA AND THEN LOOK AT
MEDICINAL USES FOR IT.
AS A DOCTOR, OVER 100 MEDICINES
I USE COME FROM PLANTS.
SO LET'S NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW,
THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX BUT
STEP OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND LOOK
FOR OTHER USES FOR MAREANA AND
STOP PUTTING SO MANY PEOPLE IN
JAIL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BRIAN COLLIGAN HAS OUR NEXT
QUESTION FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
NORTHAM.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS RACE IS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINATION.
LET'S DO A QUICK PREVIEW THAT WE
HEAR IN NOVEMBER.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE TAX AND
SPEND RALPH FOR TAX AND SPEND
TOM.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO TWO PEOPLE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF
GOVERNMENT AND HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT VIRGINIA SHOULD EQUITABLY
PAY FOR ITS NEEDS?
>> YEAH, I'VE BEEN IN THE
LEGISLATURE FOR 10 YEARS NOW.
SIX YEARS AS A SENATOR AND FOUR
YEARS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S
REASONABLE TO HAVE GREAT IDEAS
IN WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO MOVE
VIRGINIA FORWARD.
FIRST QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE
ASKED IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY
FOR IT?
SO I DO HAVE SOME PLANS ON THE
TABLE.
SUCH AS PRE-K EDUCATION AND WE
TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC WHEN WE
PRESENT PLANS TO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND KNOW THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
WE MAY AGREE TO DISAGREE BUT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO
DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF VIRGINIA.
LET ME GIVE YOU PRE-K EDUCATION
AS AN EXAMPLE.
I SHARE THE
I CHAIR THE COMMONWEALTH BOARD
FOR SUCCESS.
I APPLIED FOR A GRANT WITH THE
HELP OF OTHER FOLKS IN RICHMOND
OF $70 MILLION.
WE RECEIVED THAT GRANT.
$17 MILLION OVER EACH YEAR
FOR FOUR YEARS.
WEED WE USED THAT THIS YEAR
TO JUMP-START PRE-K IN VIRGINIA
AND OPENED UP MORE SPOTS THIS
YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT FEDERAL
MONEY.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE'S NOT
ONLY PUBLIC INTEREST, BIPARTISAN
INTEREST.
BUT ALSO INTEREST FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO
PAY FOR THINGS LIKE PRE-K
EDUCATION WITH THE
PRIVATE/PUBLIC SECTOR AND AT THE
END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT GOING
TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES TO DO
THAT.
SO THEY CAN CALL ME TAX AND
SPEND.
BUT I THINK THOSE THAT KNOW ME,
KNOW MY RECORD IN VIRGINIA.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ONE TO STEP
FORWARD AND WANT TO RAISE TAXES
BECAUSE REALISTICALLY, IT'S NOT
POSSIBLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF
VIRGINIA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THERE'S A BIT OF A
DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T THINK THE FIRST QUESTION
IS HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT?
I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION IS
WHAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM?
THIS IS PART OF WHAT'S GETTING
US INTO THIS MESS WHERE WE SEE
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE WORKING
CLASS FALL BEHIND.
WE HAVE TO START WITH THE
INVESTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY GIVE
THE MIDDLE CLASS A CHANCE TO
LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
AND GIVE REGIONS AND RACES THAT
HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND REAL
ACCESS TO THAT AMERICAN DREAM
AND I BELIEVE, UNFORTUNATELY,
THAT WE WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST
ED GILLESPIE WHOSE TRICKLE DOWN
ECONOMIC POLICIES ARE WHAT
WRECKED THIS ECONOMY AND ALMOST
TOOK OUR COUNTRY INTO A GREAT
DEPRESSION.
THEY HAVE TOLD US FOR 30 YEARS
THAT THE WAY TO CREATE GROWTH IS
TO GIVE HUGE TAX CUTS TO THE
RICHEST PEOPLE AND THE RICHEST
CORPORATIONS.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS
THEORY IS EVIDENCE.
THEY'VE SPENT 30 YEARS PEDDLING
THIS TO US, EVERY SINGLE TIME IT
HASN'T CREATED GROWTH.
IT'S CREATED CONSOLIDATION AT
THE TOP AND THAT'S ACTUALLY AN
ANTI-GROWTH STRATEGY.
OUR PROPOSAL IS THE ONE IN THIS
RACE THAT CREATES EVERYTHING WE
NEED TO CREATE THE MIDDLE CLASS
DREAM IN VIRGINIA AGAIN.
I BELIEVE GROWTH COMES FROM THE
DISPOSABLE INCOME FROM THE
WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE MONEY
TO SPEND, WE SEE GROWTH AND
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO
REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS HERE IN
VIRGINIA.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE HEADING TO OUR LAST
QUESTION, GENTLEMEN, SO HERE WE
GO.
THIS IS FOR YOU, CONGRESSMAN
PERRLLO.
THE SUPREME COURT, AS YOU KNOW
SET ASIDE THE CONVICTION OF
FORMER GOVERNOR BOB MCDONALD ON
PUBLIC CORRUPTION CHARGES AND
THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR
OF POLITICIANS ELECTED TO
OFFICE.
I WONDER IF ELECTED, WHAT
ETHICAL LIMITATIONS COULD WE
EXPECT FROM YOU AS GOVERNOR AND
WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO
DETER CORRUPTION IN RICHMOND?
>> WELL, I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT
THE MOST IRONIC THING IS THAT I
NOW HAVE THE TITLE OF THE
HONORABLE BECAUSE I WAS A FORMER
MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE CONSIDER
THAT A LITTLE INCONGRUENT BUT
THE REALITY IS PEOPLE SHOULD BE
APPALLED BY HOW WE FINANCE OUR
ELECTIONS.
THEY SHOULD BE APPALLED AT THE
FACT THERE ARE UNLIMITED
CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS
INCLUDING FROM THE VERY
MONOPOLIES THAT THE LEGISLATURE
IS SUPPOSED TO BE KEEPING AN EYE
ON.
THEY SHOULD BE APPALLED IN HOW
MUCH TIME WE SPEND FUNDRAISING.
INSTEAD OF SPENDING MORE TIME
WITH THOSE WHO MIGHT BE FACING
FORECLOSURE OR FACING THE
MINIMUM WAGE OR TOES THOSE WHO MAY
HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS CAUGHT UP IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
I THINK PEOPLE GET IN POLITICS
FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S
A SYSTEM THAT'S BROKEN.
I BELIEVE IN PUBLICLY FINANCED
ELECTIONS AND WE NEED TO PUT A
CAP ON THE MONEY THAT ANY
INDIVIDUAL CAN GIVE SO THE
POLITICIANS GET BACK TO WORKING
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST
THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD IT.
I BELIEVE THE BROADCAST SHOULD
GIVE SPECTRUMS INSTEAD OF
BLUDGEONING YOU WITH 30 SECOND
SPOTS THAT DO NOT EXACTLY
ELEVATE THE PUBLIC DEBATE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED A COMPLETE
OVERHAUL AND AGAIN, VIRGINIA AS
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE AT THE
FOREFRONT.
I BELIEVE VIRGINIA CAN BE THE
FIRST STATE TO REACH 100% VOTER
PARTICIPATION.
THIS IS DOABLE.
OREGON IS ALREADY AT 83% AND
THEY DO IT CHEAPER THAN OUR
SYSTEM.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
REJUVENATE OUR DEMOCRACY WHEN
PEOPLE ARE SO CYNICAL ABOUT ALL
OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES.
SO SINCE MY TIME IN CONGRESS,
WE'VE FOUGHT FOR THE DISCLOSE
ACT.
FOR THE FAIR ACT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT
IN RICHMOND AND CONTINUE TO
SHINE A LIGHT ON HOW WE ENSURE A
NEW GENERATION OF DEMOCRACY
HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO
ADDRESS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
IT'S REALLY GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.
VIRGINIA, AS YOU ALL KNOW IS THE
WILD, WILD WEST.
THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO WHAT
PEOPLE CAN GIVE.
SO I HAVE ACTUALLY PROPOSED A
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM PLAN
WHERE CANDIDATES DON'T ACCEPT
DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
CORPORATIONS.
I HAVE ALSO PUT A LIMIT OF
$10,000 ON CONTRIBUTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE WATCHED THIS IN
HEALTH CARE.
BACK WHEN I STARTED PRACTICING
MEDICINE, THEY WERE TAKING
DOCTORS TO TRIPS ALL OVER THE
CONTINENT.
AND IT WASN'T RIGHT.
THE PERCEPTION OF IT WASN'T
GOOD.
WE HAVE EVOLVED THROUGH MEDICAL
ETHICS TO NOW I DON'T EVEN TAKE
A PEN.
A WRITING PEN FROM A
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE OF
VIRGINIA, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE
A VOICE.
NOT JUST CORPORATIONS.
AND SO I HAVE WORKED WITH
RICHMOND, WITH ETHICS REFORM AND
I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THAT
DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN
VIRGINIA.
>> THANK YOU BOTH, GENTLEMEN,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THAT WRAPS UP THE QUESTION
PORTION OF OUR EVENING.
AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THOSE
CLOSING STATEMENTS.
CONGRESSMAN PERRLLO, LET'S
BEGIN WITH YOU.
>> VIRGINIA HAS SO MUCH GOING
FOR IT.
WE'VE HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WE HAVE REAL CHALLENGES.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE CHALLENGES
THAT HIT EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF
THE STATE.
WE SEE THE THREAT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE THREATENING OUR COASTLINE
AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
WE SEE AN ECONOMY THAT'S LEAVING
TOO MANY BEHIND.
AVERAGE LEVEL OF STUDENT DEBT
HERE IN VIRGINIA IS NOW $35,000.
AND THAT'S FOR THE KIDS LUCKY
ENOUGH TO HAVE GOTTEN ON A
PATHWAY TO A FOUR-YEAR
UNIVERSITY.
WE'VE SEEN CONSUMER DEBT GO
THROUGH THE ROOF.
AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT'S
DECADES OUT OF PLACE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO
CHANGE THINGS AROUND THE MARGIN.
WE NEED A NEW GENERATION OF
IDEAS THAT UNDERSTANDS THE
THREATS OF TOMORROW ARE NOT
QUITE THE SAME AS THE ONE OF
YESTERDAY.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE AUTOMATION
CHALLENGED JOBS ARE DOWN THE
SCALE.
WE'LL SEE A CONSOLIDATION WHERE
IN THE 90'S, 70% OF NEW
BUSINESSES WERE CREATED IN SMALL
AND MEDIUM SIZED TOWNS.
IN THIS MOST RECENT RECOVERY,
IT WAS ONLY 17% IN MEDIUM SIZED
TOWNS AND 0% IN SMALL TOWNS AND
COUNTIES.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
REJUVENATE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
BY LOCALIZING FOOD PRODUCTION
AND MANUFACTURING.
WE NEED TO IF YOU GO OUT HOW TO
GIVE PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES
COMING OUT OF PRISON BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY INVEST IN EDUCATION
AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM THAT HAS FEWER PEOPLE
GOING INTO THE INCARCERATION IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
WE CAN DO THIS HERE IN VIRGINIA.
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND HAVE
BOLD IDEAS THAT ACTUALLY MATCH
THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIMES.
WE HAVE LEADERS WHO ARE WILLING
TO SAY HERE'S HOW WE CAN SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE THE CASE
AROUND THE STATE.
WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I AM CONVINCED FROM MY TIME
WINNING A TOUGH RACE IN ONE OF
THE RED EST PARTS OF THE STATE,
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT BRINGS
US TOGETHER THAN DIVIDES US.
WHEN WE HAVE HONEST
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACIAL
INEQUALITY AND REGIONS THAT FEEL
THEY'VE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, WE CAN
COME TOGETHER AND FIND THE KINDS
OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED IN
INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTHERN
VIRGINIA AND HAMPTON ROADS.
AND IN RURAL BROADBAND IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE WILL
TREAT MENTAL HEALTH AND
ADDICTION AS HEALTH PROBLEMS AND
NOT AS CRIMINAL PROBLEMS.
WE CAN DO THIS HERE IN VIRGINIA.
I BELIEVE ON JUNE 13TH, WE HAVE
A CHANCE TO TAKE A FIRST STEP IN
A VERY POSITIVE DIRECTION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
CONGRESSMAN.
APPRECIATE IT.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NORTHAM,
YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
>> THANKS TO THE AUDIENCE AND
THOSE WHO ARE VIEWING FROM AFAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
LEARNED IN 2016 WAS THAT THESE
ELECTIONS HAVE TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUS CONSEQUENCES.
AND AS WE TRAVEL AROUND
VIRGINIA, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF ENTHUSIASM.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO HARNESS THAT
ENTHUSIASM AND BRING IT TO THE
POLLS ON ELECTION DAY SO THAT WE
DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE WHAT
WE'RE SEEING IN WASHINGTON.
SO VIRGINIA DESERVES A LEADER
THAT, NUMBER ONE, KNOWS HOW TO
WIN.
NUMBER TWO, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO STAND UP TO THE RECKLESSNESS
AND HATRED WE'RE SEEING IN
WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT
FOR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC
VALUES.
THEY ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL VIRGINIANS NO MATTER WHO YOU
ARE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A WORLD
CLASS EDUCATION THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD WHEN I
WAS GROWING UP.
AND FAMILIES NEED TO HAVE THE
SAME TOOLS THAT PAM AND I HAVE
HAD TO RAISE TWO BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN A
PEDIATRICIAN NOW FOR OVER 25
YEARS.
AND AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, I HAVE
LOOKED INTO AND HELD A LOT OF
BABIES AND LOOKED INTO THEIR
EYES.
WHEN YOU LOOK INTO BABIES' EYES,
YOU DON'T SEE THE HATRED AND THE
BIGOTRY THAT WE SO OFTEN SEE IN
OUR SOCIETY NOW.
YOU SEE LOVE, AFFECTION, AND
JOY, SO THIS ELECTION TO ME IS
ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE BABIES
GOING TO GROW UP TO BE?
ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE INCLUSIVE WHERE PEOPLE
WELCOME EACH OTHER?
ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO
A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION SYSTEM?
ARE THESE BABIES GOING TO GROW
UP TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
AND QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE IN SAFE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE ARE NOT
GUNS ON EVERY STREET CORNER AND
FINALLY, ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE
IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE AIR
AND THE WATER ARE CLEAN.
THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION IS
ABOUT.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL COME
TOGETHER.
THE ELECTION IS ON JUNE 13TH.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR
SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE.
LET'S GET THROUGH JUNE 13TH.
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
NOVEMBER 7TH ELECTION.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING
VIRGINIA IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND GOD
BLESS ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
TONIGHT.
OUR THANKS TO THE DEMOCRATIC
BUSINESS ALLIANCE, SOUTH HAMPTON
ROADS, GREATER HAMPTON ROADS
BLACK DEMOCRATS AND FOR GREAT
QUESTIONS TO OUR COLLEAGUES
BRIAN COLLIGAN FROM "THE
VIRGINIAN-PILOT" AND LEONARD
COLVIN FROM THE "NEW JOURNAL &
GUIDE."
THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE
IS ACTUALLY MONDAY.
YOU WANT TO GET ON THAT.
AND YOU CAN FIND OUT EVERYTHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW OR GET
REGISTERED TO VOTE OR GET AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT AT THE STATE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS' WEBSITE
ELECTIONS.VIRGINIA.GOV.
LONG BEFORE WE GET TO NOVEMBER,
WE HAVE THE PRIMARIES COMING UP
TUESDAY, JUNE 13TH.
I HOPE YOU LEARN SOMETHING
TONIGHT THAT WILL HELP YOU CAST
AN INFORMED VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON YOUR PUBLIC MEDIA STATION.