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WELCOME TO OUR VIEWERS ON
WPRI.COM.
IF YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN WE HAD
A LIVELY 60-MINUTE DEBATE ON
WPRI 12 AND NOW WE'LL CONTINUE
THIS CONVERSATION BETWEEN
CONGRESSMAN DAVID CICILLINE AND
HIS CHALLENGER BRANDAN DOHERTY.
WE'LL GO TO OUR FIRST QUESTION
WITH EDWARD ACHORN FROM THE
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
THIS IS MARTHA AND I'LL START
WITH MR. CICILLINE.
PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOUR
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS AS
MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN AND HOW
WILL THIS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU IN
THE UPCOMING TWO YEARS AS OUR
CONGRESSMAN?
I WOULD SAY THE GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS THE WORK THAT
WAS DONE IN REFORMING AND
IMPROVING THE PROVIDENCE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND DEVELOPING
COMMUNITY POLICING WHICH BROUGHT
THE CITY TO THE LOWEST CRIME
RATE IN 30 YEARS.
IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF FIGHTING
FOR COPS GRANTS AND
UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS FOR FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP IN
PUBLIC SAFETY
MR. DOHERTY, SHE WANTS THE
SAME QUESTION OF YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR STATE POLICE
AND HOW WILL THIS EXPERIENCE
HELP YOU?
I HAD MANY INDIVIDUAL
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I'M VERY
PROUD OF AS SUPERINTENDENT OF
STATE POLICE.
BUT THE ONE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT
THE MOST IS THE RESPECT THAT I
HAVE FOR THE STATE POLICE AND
THE WORK THAT I DID TO MAINTAIN
THE INTEGRITY AND THE REPUTATION
FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE STATE
POLICE.
HERE IN THIS SMALL STATE
SOMETIMES THE STATE POLICE IS
KNOWN AS THE LAST BASHING OF
ETHICAL HELP WHEN IT COMES TO
PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASES.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE TO WASHINGTON MY BACKGROUND
WITH DEALING WITH HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY
THIS QUESTION IS FROM PETER
IN LITTLE COMPTON.
WHAT POLICY LESSON SHOULD WE
TAKE AWAY FROM THE IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WARS?
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE THE BEST AND THE
PWRAOEUEST MILITARY IN THE
WORLD.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME THAT
OUR TROOPS COME HOME, NOT A DATE
CERTAIN, BUT THEY'VE DONE GREAT
THINGS.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME
SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES LATELY WITH
THE TRAGEDIES DURING TRAINING
WITH OUR TROOPS BEING KILLED BY
PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
WITH US.
SO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
WORK ON IT BUT IT'S NOT AN
COMPACTS SEE SCIENCE.
WHAT POLICY LESSONS DO YOU
TAKE AWAY FROM THE IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WARS
I THINK WE LEARNED FROM OUR
BRAVE AND MEN AND WOMEN ARE
HEROS.
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO
THEY'VE DONE.
WE HAVE TO BEGIN BY SAYING, WE
OWE THEM GRATITUDE.
WE'VE BEEN AT WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
11 YEARS AND WE WILL SPEND OVER
$100 BILLION.
WE'LL BUILD ROADS AND BRIDGES
WHEN WE'RE CUTTING THE SAME
THINGS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY AND WE
HAVE TO LEARN IT IS ALSO THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AFGHAN
PEOPLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND
MILITARY OPERATIONS AND
UNDERSTAND THAT WE IN MOMENTS
SUCH AS THIS HAVE TO PUT THOSE
BACK IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
WE CAN'T BE STRONG
INTERNATIONALLY IF WE'RE NOT
STRONG AT HOME.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WALTER
JONES DESPITE I WON'T WORK WITH
REPUBLICANS WHO HAS BEEN A
PARTNER TO ACCELERATE IN A
RESPONSIBLE WAY
ONE OF THE MAJOR DRAW BACKS
FOR COMPANIES IS THE LACK OF A
SKILLED WORKFORCE.
THIS QUESTION IS SUBMITTED BY
THE RHODE ISLAND WORKFORCE.
THREE QUARTERS OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IS FROM
FEDERAL SOURCES INCLUDING THE
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT AND
THEY POINT OUT SOME SCARY TIMES
COULD BE AHEAD IN THE FISCAL
TIME.
COULD YOU IMPOSE ANY CUTS FOR
WORKFORCE PROGRAMS?
NO, I WOULD NOT.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER WE NEED TO
FILL THAT SKILL SETS GAP WHEN
WE'RE WORKING IN SYNERGY WITH
CONGRESS AND OUR LOCAL LEADERS
HERE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A
FORUM LAST WEEK HOSTED BY
LEADERSHIP RHODE ISLAND AND THE
PROVIDENCE COLONEL
THE QUESTION WAS WORDED A
LITTLE ODDLY SO I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I HEARD YOUR ANSWER
CORRECTLY.
THEY ASKED IF YOU WOULD OPPOSE
ANY CUTS?
I WOULD OPPOSE CUTS.
BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO BRING
MONEY AND I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT
THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I BELIEVE WE COULD PUT A PIECE
OF THAT TO BRING TRAINING TO OUR
YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE GRADUATING
FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND OUGHT NOT
TO GO TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE BUT
EMBRACE A COLLEGE AT ONE OF OUR
SCHOOLS, A ONE YEAR PROGRAM OR
TWO-YEAR PROGRAM BECAUSE OUR
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES,
EVERYONE BARRING NONE THAT I'VE
GONE TO, I COULD HIRE 5 OR 10
PEOPLE BUT OUR SKILLS SET GAP WE
CAN'T MATCH THE JOB DESCRIPTION
WITH THE SKILLS
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT
OF AGREEMENT?
HOW DO WE TRAIN PEOPLE SO
THEY HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY?
IT'S NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER OR
GRANDFATHER'S MANUFACTURING FAST
IT.
THEY REQUIRED A MISSIONAL
SKILLS.
BUT THIS ONE WHERE THERE'S A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN PARTIES.
THE REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON IN
THEIR FIRST PROPOSAL REDUCED
FUNDING BY $2 BILLION AND
ELIMINATED FUNDING FOR THE STATE
GRANTS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A
CUT OF $40 MILLION.
MY POINT IS THIS IS THE
REPUBLICAN HOUSE LEADERSHIP
POSITION THAT IN THIS MOMENT OF
RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT WE SHOULD BE
INCREASING INVESTMENTS AND THEY
PROPOSE TO ELIMINATE THE STATE
GRANT PROGRAM.
THIS MISUNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE
AN INTEREST AS AN ECONOMY IN
INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT
GROW THE ECONOMY.
THEY PROPOSE DEEP CUTS IN
TRAINING
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
WHERE YOU'RE BLAMING THOSE GUYS
OVER THERE AND THERE IS A GUY
WHO SAID SOMETHING COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT.
I'M PLEASED TO HEAR MR.
DOHERTY TO SUPPORT THIS.
THE PEOPLE HE'LL KEEP IN POWER
DON'T.
REAL QUICK.
THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE CONGRESSMAN AND I.
WE AGREE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT HE'S
SAYING BASICALLY THAT HE WAS
UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
CUT IN HIS TRAINING PROGRAM, SO
DO WE WANT SOME -- I'VE SAID
THIS BEFORE, THAT BY ALL WAGER
NATIONAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS THE
REPUBLICANS WILL KEEP THE HOUSE.
DO WE WANT SOMEONE AT THE TABLE
THAT CAN CHANGE THAT
CONVERSATION AND ADVOCATE FOR
RHODE ISLAND OR SOMEONE ON THE
OUTSIDE BANGING ON THE WINDOW.
HOW ABOUT IT?
WHY NOT ELECT A REPUBLICAN IF
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY
PARTY
FIRST OF ALL I DISAGREE THAT
THE REPUBLICANS WILL HOLD ON
WHAT IF THEY DO?
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO VOTE
FOR WHO THEY BELIEVE WILL GO TO
WASHINGTON AND FIGHT FOR THE
THINGS THAT MATTER.
YOU DON'T VOTED FOR THE OTHER
TEAM WHO WANT TO REPEAL HEALTH
CARE AND END THE GUARANTEE OF
MEDICARE AND IT'S THINGS WE NEED
TO DO TO GET RHODE ISLAND AND
OUR COUNTRY BACK ON THE RIGHT
TRACK
WE HAVE A LOT OF VIEWER
QUESTIONS.
QUESTION FOR BOTH.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE
CURRENTLY GUN LAWS ARE TOO
STRICT OR TOO LENIENT.
I WOULD SUPPORT A RENEWAL OF
THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.
TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
MENTAL ILLNESSES AND ARE
DANGEROUS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
FIREARMS AND CLOSE THE LOOP HOLE
THAT ALAWS GUN DEALERS WHO HAVE
THEIR GUN LICENSES ARE PERMITTED
UNDER REGULATIONS TO CONVERT
THEIR INVENTORY TO A PERSONAL
COLLECTION AND DISPOSE OF IT
FREE OF REGULATION.
THERE ARE SERIOUS, SERIOUS WEAK
NECESSARIES IN OUR GUN SAFETY
LEGISLATION.
I WORKED ON THAT BOTH AS A STATE
LEGISLATURE AND COSPONSORED
LEGISLATION AND I THINK WE GOT
TO CLOSE THESE LOOP HOLES AND
MAKE SURE GUNS DON'T GET IN THE
HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T
HAVE THEM.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE CALL AN
ASSAULT RIFLE.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FULLY
AUTOMATIC WEAPON I DON'T WANTS
THOSE ON THE STREET AT ALL.
WE NEED TO GET GUNS OUT OF THE
HANDS OF CRIMINALS.
I HAVE BEEN ON GUN TASK FORCES
EARLY IN MY CAREER AND WE NEED
TO NEED TO PUT MORE COPS ON THE
STREET AND MORE EFFORT IN THAT
AREA.
I HAVE A CONCERN AS IT RELATES
TO APPLYING FOR A GUN PERMIT.
IF SOMEONE SUFFERED AS A MENTAL
ILLNESS ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS
CHECK OFF NO.
IF SOMEONE CHECKS OFF THAT THEY
HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF A
FELONY, THE GUN SHOPS HAVE AN
ACT TO CHECK THAT RECORD BUT NOT
WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
YOU COULD HAVE SOMEONE WHERE
THEIR DOCTOR KNOWS THEY DON'T
NEED TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR A GUN.
THIS QUESTION IS FROM JOE IN
CUMBERLAND.
WILL YOU WORK TO CHANGE U.S.
LAWS TO PROTECT MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PATIENTS LIKE STATES
IN RHODE ISLAND WHERE TREATMENT
IS LEGAL
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE SENT A MIXED MESSAGE.
SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY CAN
HAVE THAT AND SOME CAN'T.
AS IT RELATES TO THE STATE LAW
ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, IT WAS
AGAINST THAT.
IT SENDS A BAD MESSAGE BUT
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA I HAVE NO
PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WE SHOULD SUPPORT THAT I SHOULD
SAY, IF IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY.
SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WERE
SUBMITTED IT WAS NOT ENOUGH
SECURITY.
YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE
BILLS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN
RHODE ISLAND?
YES.
SOMEONE WHO IS TERMINALLY ILL,
REALLY DO WE REALLY CARE IF
THEY'RE ABLE TO SMOKE MARIJUANA.
IT DOESN'T MATER TO ME AS LONG
AS THAT PERSON CAN ALLEVIATE
THAT PAIN.
I THINK IT'S RIGHT
YEAH, REPRESENTATIVE TOM
SLATER WHO PASSED AWAY WAS A
RESPONSER OF THAT BILL.
I CERTAINLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO WERE
SUFFERING FROM PAINFUL AND
DEBILITATING ILLNESSES AND I
THINK THE IDEA OF BEING SURE
THERE'S A MECHANISM SO THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO THE TREATMENT THAT CAN
GIVE THEM COMFORT LIKE MARIJUANA
SHOULD HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THERE HAS GOT TO BE
SOME WAY TO ENSURE WHEN A STATE
LEGISLATURE PASSES IT THAT THAT
DETERMINATIONS IS RESPECTED
AS YOU KNOW THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS COME OUT
STRONGLY AGAINST IT.
HAVE YOU PRESSED AT ALL TO
CHANGE IT OR WILL YOU?
IF THERE IS A FEDERAL REMEDY
THAT CAN BE CREATED, WE OUGHT TO
LOOK AT IT IN A VERY SERIOUS
WAY.
MR. DOHERTY, BRIEFLY.
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE
TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND
WORK TOGETHER.
NOW WE HAVE STATE ISSUES VERSUS
FEDERAL ISSUES.
THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY HERE
IN RHODE ISLAND HAS GOTTEN A
MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON THAT
RHODE ISLAND WON'T HAVE
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE
NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND IT'S REALLY THE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY IN
WASHINGTON SHOULD BE TAKING THAT
UP
WE HAVE A QUESTION VERY SHORT
QUESTION FROM PETE IN
PROVIDENCE.
MR. CICILLINE.
AND HE'S ASKING FOR A SIMPLE
RESPONSE, TWO-WORD ANSWER ONLY.
ARE YOU PROCHOICE OR PRO LIFE
PROCHOICE
AND MR. DOHERTY
I AM PROLIFE.
LET'S GO ON TO A NON POLICY
QUESTION FOR A MOMENT JUST KIND
OF TAKE A BREATHER FROM THE
POLICY.
IF YOU HAD A FRIEND THINKING OF
MOVING TO RHODE ISLAND BUT WAS
ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT.
WE'LL START WITH YOU MR.
DOHERTY, WHAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE
THING YOU WOULD SAY TO SELL THIS
STATE TO CONVINCE THEM THIS IS
THE PLACE TO CALL HOME
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND THE
BEAUTIFUL -- ONE THING THE
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
MR. CICILLINE, WHAT WOULD YOU
SAY?
I WOULD SAY IT HAS MOST
EXTRAORDINARY POPULATION OF
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
WHO MAKE THIS AN INCREDIBLY
DIVERSE AND WONDERFUL PLACE TO
LIVE
AND WE HAVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
YOU TWO TONIGHT.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHAT
CAUSED THE PROBLEMS IN RHODE
ISLAND.
MR. DOHERTY WE'LL START WITH YOU
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S JUST THE
CLIMATE OF POOR BUSINESS
ATTITUDE HERE.
WE JUST RECENTLY CAME IN 50 OUT
OF 50 STATES FOR BUSINESS
FRIENDLY STATES AND WE KNOW WE
HAVE A HIGH STATE CORPORATE TAX
AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST FEDERAL
CORPORATE TAX IN THE WORLD.
BUT JUST RIGHT HERE IN RHODE
ISLAND, AGAIN, THE SKILL SETS
GAP, THE HIGH TAXES AND JUST AN
OVERALL POOR ATTITUDE FOR
BUSINESSES.
WE NEED TO GROW THAT AND NOT BY
HIGH TAXES AND REGULATIONS AND
THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT
AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT AND
BACK TO TIM'S QUESTION ABOUT IT,
WE ONLY CAN GO UP FROM HERE
MR. CICILLINE, SAME QUESTION.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE --
I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF
THINGS.
SOME PIECE OF IT IS A CONVINCE
OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY,
OBVIOUSLY.
BUT I THINK THE OBVIOUS
PERMITTING CHALLENGES, ENERGY
COSTS AND LACK OF SALESMANSHIP
OF OUR STATE, GOOD OLD FASHION
SELLING RHODE ISLAND BUT I ALSO
THINK WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS OF
INSTANCES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
WHEN WE'RE COMPETING WITH
BUSINESSES AROUND THE COUNTRY,
THERE IS A COST TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT IN MY OWN
CONVERSATIONS WHEN I WAS MAYOR,
WHAT PRECEDED ME HAD A COST.
WE WERE ABLE TO BRING BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN MY EIGHT YEARS I
THINK PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE
THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH AN
HONEST GOVERNMENT AND I THINK
THAT KIND OF BEHAVER HAS AN
ECONOMIC COST
I THINK YOU'LL GET A CHANCE
TO SAY WHAT YOU WANTS.
CONGRESSMAN I KNOW YOU SAID
EARLIER NO ONE ASKED YOU IN THE
FIRST DISTRICT ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED WITH PROVIDENCE WITH
FINANCES.
BUT WE GOT A NUMBER OF VIEWER
QUESTIONS,QUITE A FEW, SO WE PUT
THEM TOGETHER INTO ONE.
AS YOU MENTIONED AN INTERVIEW
WITH TIM LAST SPRING, YOU SAID
YOU DIDN'T USE THE RIGHT WORDS
TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
CONDITIONS.
HOW CAN VOTERS TRUST YOU TONIGHT
WHEN YOU WEREN'T HONEST?
I EXPLAINED I SHOULD NOT HAVE
DESCRIBED THE CITY THE WAY I D I
SAID THAT REPEATEDLY.
I THINK WHAT I'M ASKING VOTERS
TO DO IS LOOK AT MY WORK AND
DECIDE WHO THEY CAN BELIEVE THEY
CAN COUNTS ON.
I SPENT LAST TWO YEARS TURNING
MEDICARE INTO A VOUCHER AND GIVE
ANOTHER TAX BREAK TO
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
AND END SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL
AND REINVIGORATE MANUFACTURING
AND PROTECT EDUCATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST THIS
AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD
BY THE HOUSE OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS.
JUDGE ON THE WORK I DID THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS AND THE WORK AND THE
THINGS THAT MATTER TO RHODE
ISLAND AND FIGHTING AGAINST
HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE A
DIFFERENT VISION FOR THE KIND OF
AMERICA THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD
MR. DOHERTY NONE OF US WOULD
WANT ONE WORD WE UTTER TO BE OUR
PERMANENT LEGACY
YOU KNOW THE CONGRESSMAN
TURNS THE HEAT UP ON THE RADICAL
REPUBLICAN AGENDA AND BUT IT
GOES BACK TO HIS OTHER STATEMENT
ABOUT PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND
GIVING RHODE ISLAND A BLACK EYE.
WELL, WE'RE ON POLICY, BUT SINCE
WE'RE ON POLICY I WANTED TO SAY
HONEST IS THE BEST POLICY AND
WHEN I WAS IN THE STATE POLICE,
I MADE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR
INVESTIGATIONS WE DIDN'T LEAVE
ANY STONE UNTURN DZ.
AND SOME OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS
ACTUALLY WERE IN THE CITY OF
PROVIDENCE AND PERTAINED TO SOME
ISSUES IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE
WE WORKED WITH WITH THE
PROVIDENCE POLICE WITH.
BUT ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PUBLIC CORRUPTION, LET ME CALL
YOU ON THIS.
YOU TOLD THESE FELLOWS YOU
DIDN'T KNOW RAMIREZ, BUT YET YOU
GAVE HIM $103,000 SECURED LOAN
AND LATER ADMITTED HE DID WORK
ON MY CAMPAIGN --
YOU CAN'T ASK THE CANDIDATE A
QUESTION.
BUT
I JUST MADE A STATEMENT
BUT SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP,
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO
RESPOND?
I TOOK OVER A CITY -- I'M NOT
GOING TO BE LECTURED BY
MR. DOHERTY.
I TOOK OVER A CITY THAT HAD A
DEFICIT THAT PEOPLE HAD LOST
FAITH IN CITY GOVERNMENT, A
POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THERE
WAS EVIDENCE BOUGHT JOBS AND
BOUGHT PROMOTIONS AND WE WENT TO
WORK FOR EIGHT YEARS AND DID
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT I'M
PROUD OF.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE LECTURED ON
THAT BUT THE REALITY IS, MY
POINT IS THAT THAT KIND OF
CORRUPTION THAT CITIES AND TOWNS
HAVE GONE TO HURTS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
PLEASE DON'T THINK I WAS
BEING RUDE WHILE I WAS CHECKING
MY I-PHONE.
I WANTED TO CHECK IN AND ONE
CAME IN FROM LESLIE IN
CUMBERLAND AND SHE WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT SOMETHING WHERE WE
RAN OUT OF TOWN AND THIS IS
ISSUE OF MUNICIPAL FEDERAL
BAILOUT.
MR. DOHERTY, YOUR CAMPAIGN
BLASTED MR. CICILLINE FOR
SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT
PROVIDE A $10 BILLION BAILOUT
FOR DETROIT WHILE NOT OFFERING
ONE FOR RHODE ISLAND.
ARE YOU SABLE
ARE YOU SABLE THAT YOU WOULD
SUPPORT IF T?
NO, IT WOULD PUT MORE ON YOUR
$16 TRILLION DEBT.
MY POINT OF SENDING THAT OUT WAS
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CITIES AND
TOWNS HURTING RIGHT HERE IN
RHODE ISLAND.
WHY ARE WE THINKING ABOUT
DETROIT WHEN THE CONGRESSMAN
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT HE
REPRESENTS RHODE ISLAND
IT SAID DON'T RHODE ISLANDERS
DESERVE THE SAME HEALTH. WE NEED
A REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL PUT
RHODE ISLAND DESERVE THE SAME
HEALTH?
THAT'S NOT I OPPOSE THIS IDEA?
WERE YOU SPINNING IN YOUR PRESS
RELEASE?
TO LOOK AT AREAS WHERE HE CAN
HELP THOSE CITIES AND TOWNS.
I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD TAKE
THOSE FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS AND
RETURN THEM BACK
THE FEDERAL TAXES WERE TAKEN
OUT SO WHY I SHOULD I PAY FOR A
DIFFERENT CITY SEVERAL HUNDRED
MILES AWAY
YOU SHOULDN'T.
YOU WOULD KNOW I'M NOT A SPONSOR
OF THAT BILL.
I WAS ADDED TO IT IN TWO DAYS
AFTER IT WAS FILED.
SO I'M NOT A COSPONSOR OF THE
BILL
DO YOU SUPPORT THE IDEA?
NO.
YOU COSPONSORED THE BILL
I'M NOT --
YOU CAN'T UNRING --
I WAS ADDED TO THE BILL BY
THE SPONSOR EREASON USLY.
BUT IMPORTANTLY EVERY SINGLE DAY
THE WORK I'M DOING ALONG IS
DESIGNED TO HELP CITIES AND
TOWNS IN OUR STATES.
WHETHER IT'S BRINGING FEDERAL
RESOURCES AND HELPING INDIVIDUAL
CONSTITUENTS AND FIGHTING FOR
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
CITIES AND TOWNS ARE ALL
CHALLENGED AND THE IDEA OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTING --
DO YOU RETRACT THAT?
HE'S SAYING IT WAS A MISTAKE.
HE'S SAYING HE DOESN'T SUPPORT
THAT
HE CAN'T UNRING THE BELL.
MR. ACHORN, A QUESTION?
YES, YOU BOTH TOUCHED ON THIS
A LITTLE BIT IN THE FIRST HOUR
BUT I WANTED YOU TO BE MORE
SPECIFIC.
MR. DOHERTY, HOW WOULD YOU
CHARACTERIZE YOUR OPPONENT'S
VIEWS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES AND WHY
SHOULD WOMEN VOTE FOR YOU RATHER
THAN FOR MR. CICILLINE?
WELL, YOU KNOW THERE HAS
BEEN -- AS DAVID HAS MENTIONED
THE CONGRESSMAN MENTIONED I DID
HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AND
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CASES HE
WORKED ONLY BECAUSE HE OPENED
THE DOOR FOR THAT.
I WOULD CATEGORIZE IT AS
HYPOCRITICAL.
MR. CICILLINE?
I'M VERY PROUD THAT I HAVE
THE SUPPORTED OF MANY NATIONAL
WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF
MY LONG RECORD OF RECORD OF
FIGHTING FOR WOMEN.
THE REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON
HAVE TRIED TO PREVENTS STRENGTH
AGAINST VIOLENCE OF WOMEN'S ACT
AND MORE THAN 300 ORGANIZATIONS
OPPOSE THE HOUSE BILL INCLUDING
THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE
ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN, I SOUGHT
TO PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHT TO FULL
REPRODUCTSIVE HEALTH CARE AND
EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK AND
STRENGTH AND VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN ACT AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
WORK THAT I HAVE DONE HAS EARNED
THE BROAD SUPPORT OF WOMEN
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN
COUNTS ON ME TO STANDS UP AND
FIGHT FOR THE THINGS THAT MATTER
TO THEM AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN
SAID IT WAS'S APPALLING
INSENSITIVE TO HAVE A PRESS
CONFERENCE ABOUT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN FRONT OF A BOXING
RING.
BUT LOOK, MY RECORD IN
WASHINGTON, THE WORK THAT I'VE
DONE, HAS EARNED ME THE SUPPORTS
OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF
LOTS OF WOMEN IN THIS DISTRICT.
IF I GET TO GO BACK TO CONGRESS
I'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND STAND
UP FOR WOMEN.
GO AHEAD, MR. DOHERTY.
THE THEME OF -- I HAVE TO
SPEAK TO THAT HAVING IT IN A
BOXING GYM BECAUSE I WAS TIRED
OF THE RHETORIC COMING OVER FROM
THE CICILLINE, THE THEME TO THAT
WERE THE GLOVES WERE OFF.
WHOEVER WORKED WITH ME KNOWS HOW
HOT I WORKED FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE TRAINING AND ***
HARASSMENT TRAINING AND TRAINING
PERTAINING TO PROTECTING WOMEN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS WHEN WE WOULD
HAVE A WOMAN STALKED OR A WOMAN
WAS BATTERED WOMAN I PUT EXTRA
DETECTIVES ON THAT AND SEND THE
MESSAGE TO THE BATTERER THAT WE
MEANT BUSINESS AND I SENT
PERSONAL MESSAGES TOO.
I'M PROUD OF THAT.
SURVEY SHOW A MAJORITY OF
DEMOCRATS THINK GLOBAL WARMING
IS MAN MADE.
IN 2010, THERE WAS A CAP AND
TRADE BILL TO CREATE A PROGRAM
BUT IT DIED IN THE SENATE.
DO YOU SUPPORT A CAP AND TRADE
PROGRAM
I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT
THE DESIGN IS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS OF
CARBON EMISSIONS.
WE NEED AN ENERGY POLICY THAT
PRODUCES AND INSENT ADVISES IT
AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL
OPTIONS
IF YOU WERE IN THE HOUSE IN
'09 WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED IT?
I DON'T KNOW THAT PARTICULAR
BILL BUT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT
EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE
MR. DOHERTY, MANY REPUBLICANS
REMAIN SKEPTICAL.
DO YOU BELIEVE HUMANS ARE
ATTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
THE FOOTPRINT FOR THE UNITED
NATIONS REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE
GASES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
KEEP LOOKING AT IT.
I'M NOT ONE THAT WILL STAND HERE
THAT NO, MANKIND DOES NOT
ATTRIBUTE TO OUR GREENHOUSE
GASES.
WE KNOW IN THE LAST CENTURY OUR
TEMPERATURE HAS RISEN
1.4 DEGREES.
I THINK YOUR QUESTION, WOULD I
VOTE FOR A CAP IN TRADE?
NO, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE
TO LOOK AT IT.
WE'RE A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL
TIMES RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS A TIME TO FISH EXTRA
TIME TO MEND YOUR NETS AND WE
NEED TO MEND OUR NETS.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH CAP AND
TRADE
WE'VE MADE IT TO OUR FINAL
QUESTION OF THE EVENING AND I
DON'T THINK IT WILL SURPRISE
EITHER OF YOU WE RECEIVED A FEW
E-MAILS ON THE ISSUES OF POLLS
ON THE RIVER BRIDGE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR
AND DEAR TO PEOPLE'S HEARTS AND
WALL ET CETERA.
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR
BACKGROUND, THERE WAS A LAW
ALLOWING TOLLS ON THE BRIDGE TO
PAY FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE
STATE'S MAJOR BRIDGES.
BOTH OF YOU HAVE COME OUT IN
OPPOSITION OF THE TOLL.
BUT I'M WONDERING AND WE'LL
START WITH YOU, MR. DOHERTY, IS
IT FAIR TO THE DRIVERS WHO USE
THE NEWPORT PEL BRIDGE WHO RIGHT
NOW SHOULDERS THE ENTIRE BURDEN?
I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THE
HIGHWAY TRUST FUND FORMULA GOING
FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT
WHEN I HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE.
I JUST BELIEVE THAT THE RIVER
BRIDGE IS ONE THAT CONNECTS TWO
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE FRIENDS IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S NOT LIKE -- AND I'M SURE
THIS HAPPENS IN NEWPORT AS WELL.
THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL OVER THE
BRIDGE A KIM OF TIMES A DAY.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE GO OVER IT 7,
8 TIMES A DAY.
WE NEED TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO
PAY FOR THAT BRIDGE
THE BETTER WAYS YOU HAVE IT
TO PAY FOR THE BRIDGE, WOULD IT
ENOUGH TO TEAR DOWN THE TOLL
BOOTH
IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS I WOULD LOOK AT WHEN I
GET TO CONGRESS.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE HIGHWAY
TRUST FUND FORMULA
MR. CICILLINE, YOU'RE IN
CONGRESS, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ABOUT IT?
I THINK THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND ACTUALLY
RAISES A VERY SIGNIFICANT KIND
OF PUBLIC POLICY QUESTION.
I BELIEVE STRONGLY WE HAVE GOT
TO INVEST IN A SERIOUS WAY IN
REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
EVER TIME YOU TOLL ROADS YOU'RE
PROVING TO PRIVATIZATION. THERE
HAS BEEN AN EFFORT AND I'M A
REAL EFFORT TO INCREASE THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL BY
INCREASING OUR INVESTMENT AND A
WAY TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK RIGHT
AWAY.
THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE
EXPENSIVE IT BECOMES.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE SAW IN NEW
ORLEANS AND WHAT WE SAW IN
MINNESOTA.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAYS AN
APPROPRIATE ROLE IT WILL LEAVE
THE MAINTENANCE OPPORTUNITIES --
REDUCE THE MAINTENANCE COST FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND STATES.
THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST
INCREASING AND PROPOSING
DECREASING IT
BLAMING REPUBLICANS IS ONE
THING.
THAT'S ALL YOU DO.
YOU'RE A CONGRESSMAN AND WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEEMS VERY
LONG TERM TO ME.
THESE THINGS COULD GO UP IN JUST
A COUPLE OF YEARS.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
NOW?
WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A
FEDERAL SOLUTION THAT WOULD STOP
IT.
I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF C
CONSTITUENTS ABOUT IT.
THERE IS NOT AN OBVIOUS THING TO
ME WHAT WE COULD DO.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY
UPSET ABOUT IT AND VERY STRONGLY
OPPOSE TO IT
MR. DOHERTY, DO YOU BELIEVE
THERE IS A ROLE TO SHUT IT DOWN
AS A CONGRESSMAN
I ABSOLUTELY DO AND THAT'S
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I'LL DO
WHAT WILL IT BE
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CHANGE
THE FORMULA OF THE HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND.
AND --
AGAIN ISN'T THAT A LONG
TERM --
THAT IS LONG TERM BUT THERE
ARE OTHER PROJECTS COMING TO
RHODE ISLAND.
THERE ARE MONIES EAR MARKED FOR
OTHER PROJECTS AND WE NEED TO
HELP THE STATE OUT SO THE STATE
DOESN'T HAVE TO PUT THAT TOLL.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS
IN PORTSMOUTH AND I WAS AT THE
OPENING OF THE NEW BRIDGE AND
CONGRESSMAN CICILLINE WASN'T
THERE AND HE WASN'T AT ANY OF
THE MEETINGS SO IT'S NOT THAT
IMPORTANT TO HIM
I'LL GIVE YOU THE FINAL WORD,
MR. CICILLINE?
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE VERY
CONSCIENCE OF WHAT YOUR POWERS
ARE AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND
EXPLOIT PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATION BY
THAT BY GOING TO A MEETING.
I HEARD FROM LOTS OF CONSTITUENT
AND FOCUSING MY TIME ON FINDING
OUT IF THERE IS A ROLE WE PLAY
AND SOMETHING WE DO AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AND IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT'S WHAT SHE BE DOING
WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO MODERATE
THIS DEBATE AND I WANT TO THANK
THE EYEWITNESS NEWS WATCHING ON
WPRI.COM FOR SENDING IN YOUR
GREAT QUESTIONS AND DON'T FORGET
OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT AT WPRI 12
AT 11 O'CLOCK.
FOR TED NESI AND ED ACHORN I'M
TIM WHITE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.