Amy Klobuchar coming to Arkansas
Amy Klobuchar coming to Arkansas
ADAM: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING HER EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH MINNESOTA SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR. WE WILL JUMP INT THIS IN TOWN HALL FORMAT. >> WE HAVE A GROWING LIST OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. HAD YOU SET YOURSELF APART FROM THE REST? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT ANNOUNCED IN A BLIZZARD , IN A FOOT OF SNOW. I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE THAT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. I AM ALSO FROM THE HEARTLAND. A VERY IMPORTANT AREA. I AM SOMEONE THAT LIKES TO GET THINGS DONE. I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IF YOU DON’T HAVE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SHOW HOW YOU WOULD PAY FOR IT AND YOU DON’T HAVE A PLAN FOR GETTING IT DONE. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO WITH EVERY JOB I HAVE HAD. THAT IS HOW I GOVERN. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY KEY FOR MY CANDIDACY. I AM ALSO SOMEONE WHO LOVES PEOPLE. I LOVE GETTING OUT THERE AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY IN A CANDIDATE BUT ALSO IN A PRESIDENT. ADAM: ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION COMING IN FROM LYNN. WHAT IS YO STANCE ON UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I THINK IS STEPPING BACK FROM THE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE NEED IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE W WORK HARD IN THIS COUNTRY ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA AND THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED HEL BECAUSE SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN THEIR LIFE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER. WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM. RIGHT NOW, IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE GAME IS NOT FAIR TO SO MANY PEOPLE. WHILE OUR ECONOMY HAS GOT STRONGER, YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPEN SINCE THE DOWNTURN AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. SOME POLICIES WERE PUT IN PLACE TO STEER US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE IS STILL THAT SHARED PROSPERITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE. THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD DO. I WOULD INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE. IT HAS BEEN STUCK FOR SOMETHING LIKE 10 YEARS. IT IS A LITTLE OVER SEVEN DOLLARS PER HOUR. I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB WITH PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND CHILD CARE FOR OUR COUNTRY. I WOULD MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED AND THAT WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON HELPING KIDS TO GET DEGREES AND JOBS THAT WE HAVE NOW. THAT IS WHY I AM SUCH A FA OF WHEN YOUR DEGREES AND TWO-YEAR DEGREES. THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS THAT WOULD GO OFF THE GRID AND MAYBE NOT EVEN TOUCH AWAY FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEEDS IN OUR ECONOMY. WE NEED PEOPLE WITH FOUR-YEAR DEGREES. WE NEED ENGINEERS AND PEOPLE WITH PHD’S. ALL WE CAN D TO GET PEOPLE GOING FAIR NOT PART OF THIS ECONOMY, MAYBE TO HAVE HAD A HARD FAMILY LIFE. ALL WE CAN DO TO GET THEM TO GO INTO TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, THAT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE KEY FOCUSES IN WHAT WE DO HERE. I WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE RETIREMENT. I AM A STRONG BELIEVER IN SOCIAL SECURITY. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. THERE ARE 49 MILLION AMERICANS RIGHT NOW THAT DON’T EVEN HAVE RETIREMENT OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL SECURITY. THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE. MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO JOBS WHERE THEY DON’T HAVE A 401(K). OR MAYBE THEY’RE WORKING AT A SMALL EMPLOYER. I HAVE PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL WITH ANOTHER SENATOR FROM DELAWARE. CHRI COONS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. IT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO DO AS PRESIDENT. WHAT IT DOES IS IT SAY THAT IF YOU’RE WORKING AT A PLACE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A 401(K), YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT. IT WAS ABOUT $.50 PER HOUR INTO AN ACCOUNT. IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT IT IS $600,000 BY THE TIME SOMEONE RETIRES. IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN GET IF YOU’RE A PART-TIME WORKER. IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN GET IF YOU CHANGE JOBS. HERE IS THE BEST PART. AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T HAV EMERGENCY EXPENSES. FOUR OUT OF 10 AMERICANS CANNOT AFFORD A $400 EMERGENCY VISIT. THE FIRST $2500 EACH YEAR WOULD GO FOR EMERGENCY EXPENSES EACH YEAR. IT IS REALLY GETTING AT THE ISSUES WE HAVE RIGH NOW FOR SAVINGS. THE WORLD IS CHANGING. IT IS PAID FOR. IT HAS VERY IMPORTANT TASK CREDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT IS TAKEN FOR ONC WITH UNDER 50 EMPLOYE -- ONES WITH UNDER 50 EMPLOYEES AND ONES WITH UNDER 30 EMPLOYEES. THAT IS TAKEN CA OF BY REPEALING PARTS OF THAT TAX BILL AND PUTTING IN MY 20’S TAX CREDITS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, TO HELP THEM HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE RETIREMENT. QUITE THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MARY ONCE. >> THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MARY WAS. -- MARY WOODS. MARY: HOW WOULD YOU HELP US IN THESE SMALL TOWNS IN THE ECONOMY THAT WE ARE IN? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN RURAL AMERICA. THE COST OF LIVING IS LESS THERE AS LONG AS YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE AMENITIES TO LIVE THERE. I BELIEVE THAT KIDS THAT GROW UP IN RURAL N HAMPSHIRE OR ANY RURAL AREA OF OUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY THERE. WHAT DO THEY NEED? THEY NEED TO HAVE HEALTH CARE. THAT MEANS RURAL HOSPITALS, INCLUDING OUR CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS. THAT MEANS THINGS LIKE BROADBAND. IF THEY HAVE HOOKED UP THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF ICELAND, THAT IS A REALLY TOUGH PLAYS WITH A LOT OF MOUNTAINS. PLEASE TELL ME WHY WE COULD NOT DO THIS. , ALSO, VOLCANOES, THAT WE COULD NOT THIS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IN OUR COUNTRY. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS DONE SOME GOOD THINGS WITH BROADBAND BUT THERE ARE A LOT MORE THINGS WE COULD DO. IT MEANS HAVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BRUTAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND. YOU HAVE SOME FORMS BUT YOU DON’T HAVE AS MANY AS SOME STATES. THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIECE OF IT IS REALLY KEY. DOING THINGS THAT JUST MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN RURAL AMERICA. THE LAST THING I WOULD A IS THIS POLICY I HAVE ROLLED OUT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUGS. RURAL AMERICA HAS BEEN HIT HARD WI DRUGS. IT ALS INCLUDES METH AND OTHER KINDS OF DRUGS THAT HIT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR REALLY HARD. I PROPOSE THIS BECAUSE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE MYSELF, MY DAD STRUGGLE WITH ALCOHOLISM IS WHOLE LIFE. HE HAD TO -- TO DWI’S -- TWO DWI’S. THAT WAS WHEN THE ROLE CHANGED WHERE YOU COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN JAIL AND TREATMENT. HE CHOSE TREATMENT. I TOLD HIM WHAT IT WAS LIKE ROWING OUT WHEN I HA TO TAKE THE KEYS AWAY FROM HIM -- GROWIN UP WHEN I HAD TO TAKE THE KEYS AWAY FROM HIM. THROUGH IT ALL, I HAVE LOVED MY DAD. IT HAS MANY A BETTER LEGISLATOR AND PRESIDENT. YOU CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND STILL WORK WITH PEOPLE AND TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND. IT HAS ALSO HELPED ME TO COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN FIX THIS AND MAKE IT BETTER. THAT INCLUDES TAKING SOME OF THOSE -- TAKING MY FROM THOSE OF YOUR COMPANIES. BY PUTTING THAT MONEY INTO TREATMENT. THAT INCLUDES MONEY FOR BEDS FOR OPIOID TREATMENT. WE WENT FROM INSTITUTIONS TO STATE HOSPITALS TO COMMUNITY-BASED. GO TALK YOUR POLICE OFFICERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHO HAVE TO BE THE COPS AND THE DOCTORS TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS AS OPPOSED TO GETTING PEOPLE HELP ON THE FRONTLINE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RURAL AMERICA AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO. IT IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IN THE SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING AROUND BERLIN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH OUR FAMILY. WE SPENT EASTER WEEKEND CRUISING AROUND UP LITTLETON, TO THAT CAN’T TO COUNT -- CANDY COUNTER. WE WENT TO EASTER SUNDAY CHURCH. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. THEN WE WENT OUT TO MILLER STATE PARK. IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO EARLY A DECISION TO SCRAMBLE UP THAT TRAIL. I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, IS IT PACMANABNOC? DID I GET IT RIGHT? AW, SO CLOSE. WE SCRAMBLED UP THE TRAIL WHEN MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE WALKED UP THE ROAD. THERE WAS A LOT OF MUD AND SNOW BUT WE GOT TO THE TOP AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I NOT ONLY CARE ABOUT IT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, I LOVE RURAL AMERICA. I’M GOING TO BE HERE A LOT. ADAM TWO POINTS FOR A TEMPTING TO PRONUNCIATION THERE. SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I WAS SO CLOSE. I CAN DO WINNIPESAUKEE. ADAM: NEXT UP IS LEONARD. LEONARD: I WILL GIVE YOU A QUOTE THAT YOU MET AND ASK YOU A QUESTION. IF CONGRESS CONTINUES TO SIT ON HIS HANDS AND THE DRUG COMPANIES CONTINUE TO STASH CASH IN THEIR STOCKINGS, AMERICANS WILL FOREVER BE BOUND IN THE JACOB MARLEY LIKE CHAINS OF HIGH PRICES. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN CONGRESS TO CHANGE THAT? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I REMEMBER WRITING THAT. THERE WAS MORE TO IT THAN JUST QUOTING JACOB MARLEY AND THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST. I WAS MAKING HIM THE GRINCH AND I WAS MAKING THEM SCREWS AS WELL. THE WHOLE IDEA WAS THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON THIS. I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WASHINGTON THAT COTTLE UP TO THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. THEY MAY THINK THAT THEY OWN WASHINGTON BUT THEY DON’T ON MAY. THIS MEANS HOW DO WE GET MORE COMPETITION? IT IS BRINGING PRICES DOWN BY UNLEASHING THE POWER OF 43 MILLION AMERICANS TO NEGOTIATE MEDICARE. IT IS BRINGING IN LESS EXPENSIVE DRUGS IN. ANOTHER THIN THAT IS REALLY OUTRAGEOUS IS THAT RIGHT NOW, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES PAY GENETICS - GENERICS TO KEEP THEIR PRODUCTS OF THE MARKET. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PAYING EACH OTHER TO KEEP THEIR PRODUCTS OFF THE MARKET BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHOSE ARE THE CONSUMERS. THAT WOULD SAVE $3 BILLION. THAT IS CONVENTIONAL -- CONGRESSIONAL PROMISE. YOU NEED A PRESIDENT THAT IS GOING TO U THE FOCUS OF THE WHITE HOUSE TO PUSH THIS THROUGH. THE PUBLIC IS SO ON OUR SIDE ON THIS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE. ADAM: THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM JOHN. -- JOAN. JOAN: I WANTED WHAT YOU’RE FEDERAL PUBLIC POLICI -- AGRICULTURAL POLICIES WOULD BE? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I LOVE FARMS. I HA SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON FARMS WITH RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE FAMILY WITH FARMS. I LOVE SMALL FARMS. ONE OF THE SETTINGS WE HAVE SEEN WITH DAIRY FARMS IS MORE AND MORE OF THEM CLOSING DOWN. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE FARM BILL. IT IS NOT A PERFECT BILL BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NUTRITION AND IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONSERVATION. THE FARM BILL IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF THE CONVERSATION -- CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED T DO IS MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS TARGETED TO THE SMALL FARMS. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT MY RECORD, YOU WILL SEE A VERY INTERESTING FIGHT I GOT IN WHEN I WAS A BRAND-NEW SENATOR. WHAT I DID ACTUALLY PASSED A DECADE LATER. IT WAS TO FOCUS THE MONEY ON THE SMALL FARMS WHEN IT CAM TO THE CROP INSURANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE WAS AN EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES COMMENDED ME -- KHAMENEI ME FOR FIGHTING IT. I ACTUALLY LOST 26 BIG BUYS FARMERS BUT -- COMMENDI ME FOR FIGHTING IT. I ACTUALLY LOST 26 BIG RICE FARMERS. MY STATE IS FTH IN THE COUNTRY FOR EXPORTING FROM SMALL FARMS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO THAT WE HAVE A SAFETY NET FOR OUR FARMERS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TARGET WHAT THEY NEED AND TARGET THE FARMS THAT NEED TO HELP. THE OTHER THING IS MAKING SURE THAT W INCLUDE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND OTHER TYPES OF PRODUCTS. THAT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL. NATHAN THIS QUESTION, I HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH. I HAVE A YOUNG SON BUT I AM ALSO A PUBLIC HIGH SCHO TEACHER BY TRADE. MY QUESTION IS WHAT BOTH UC THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CLAIM WITHIN EDUCATION IF YOU’RE ELECTED PRESIDENT? SEN. KLOBUCHAR: WE KNOW THAT MOST PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IS THROUGH THE STATE. WE NEED TO PUSH THROUGH POLICY AND MAKE SURE THAT W ARE WASHING OVER SO THAT ALL AMERICANS GET EDUCATED. WHAT I WOULD DO IS LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE IT IS GETTING FUNDED. I SPEAK FROM THE HEART. I WENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS K-12. MY DAUGHTER WENT TO K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I’M A TALK -- TAUGHT SECOND-GRADE UNTIL SHE WAS 70 YEARS OLD. SHE LOVED IT. I STILL HAVE PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAY SHE WAS THEIR FAVORITE TEACHER. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE BASIS FOR HOW WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AS A COUNTRY. THAT MEANS MAKING SURE THAT TEACHERS ARE PAID WELL AND THAT THERE ARE REALLY GOOD PROPOSALS OUT THERE FOR DOING THAT. IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE FUNDING THINGS LIKE SPECIAL EDUCATION. WHEN WE TELL STATES THEY HAVE TO DO THINGS AND THEN THE MONEY DOESN’T FOLLOW, THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM. WE HAD SOME WRONG TERMS HERE AND THERE WITH GOOD INTENTION WITH THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. OUR HOPE MINNESO DELEGATION WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WITH THE THEY SAW WHAT WAS AHEAD. DESPITE THE GOOD INTENTIONS AND SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE BILL, IT WAS DOING OVER TESTING. IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY MEASURING WHAT WE NEEDED TO MEASURE. I WAS GLAD THAT WE MADE THE CHANGES RECENTLY. WE AMENDED THAT BILL AND GOT BIT OF SOME OF THE BAD PARTS OF IT THAT ACTUALLY GIVE MORE POWER TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND MEASURED WHAT WE SHOULD BE MEASURING. THERE HAS BEEN SOME GOOD WORKED ON RECENTLY. ONE OF M PASSIONS IS TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS ARE GRADUATING AND THEY ARE GETTING DEGREES IN THE THINGS WHERE THEY CAN WORK AND BE HAPPY. PART OF THAT MEANS BETTER PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALLOWING CLASSES TO BE TAKEN. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HASSLES ARE NOT WANT OF THEIR MONEY AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. THAT MEANS ALLOW THESE KIDS TO GO TO THESE CLASSES, APPRENTICESHIPS. WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS BETTER FOR OUR COUNTRY TO WORK THIS WAY. DID I GET IT OFF? --ALL? >> YOU DID. MY MOTHER HAS ALZHEIMER’S AND MY SISTER WAS DIAGNOSED LAST SUMMER. BY 2050 PROJECTED A COST OF 11 $1 TRILLION IN TODAY’S DOLLARS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO DEAL WITH HIS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT HAS IMPACTED ALL OF US? SEN. KLOBUCHAR THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO ESPECIALLY, AND I’M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS IS WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW, IN BEING CARETAKER AND WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND HOW HARD IT IS. THE FIRST THING I THINK WE NEED TO DO IS CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A CURE. THAT WON’T BRING YOUR HUSBAND BACK, AND IT WON’T BRING YOUR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS BACK, BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SPONSOR OF AND LET SOME OF THE EFFORTS TO FUND RESEARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY . THERE HAS BEEN SOME VERY COOL RESEARCH BEING DONE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED IN OUR STATE, AND I GO -- I KNOW DARTMOUTH AS WELL, THE SOONER YOU CAN DETECT ALZHEIMER’, THEN YOU CAN START FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING WITH THESE CURES. SO THAT IS THE FIRST THING. AS A SIDELIN, WHEN WE WERE IN THE TED CRUZ INDUCED GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, I GAVE MY SALARY THAT I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN TO NIH FOR THE RESEARCH BECAUSE THE RESEARCH WAS BEING STOPPED TO THEIR FOUNDATION. THE SECOND THING IS CARETAKERS. I WOULD DO MORE TO HELP CARETAKERS IN TERMS OF TAX CREDITS, THERE ARE SO MANY CARETAKERS THAT ARE HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS OR GO PART-TIME . THERE ARE CARETAKERS THAT ARE IN THE SANDWICH GENERATION, THEY HAVE THEIR PARENTS THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF, AND THEN THEY STILL HAVE KIDS. SO THAT WOULD BE A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL. THE FINAL THING IS, THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THIS, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES SO THEY UNDERSTAND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALZHEIMER’S WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE FUNCTIONING IN THEIR HOMES THAT ARE GOING SHOPPING. WE HAVE DONE THESE GREAT EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE PEOPLE ACTUALLY START UNDERSTANDING, HOW SHOULD I ACT IF I’M A YOUNG KID AS A CLERK IN A GROCERY STORE, GAS STATION, WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN WITH ALZHEIMER’S. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL STORIES ABOUT HOW KIDS, EVEN YOUNG KIDS, HAVE CHANGED THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WITH THAT DISEASE. THEY START TO UNDERSTAND IT. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE THAT IS GOING ON. IT IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT AT A TIME WHEN OUR WORLD IS FRACTURED AROUND US WITH OUR POLITICS. THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE IMPORTANT BEYOND WHAT THEY DO FOR PEOPLE WITH THE DISEASE. ADAM: THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THAT MOSTLY. BETH MOSELY. NICE AND NEPHEW ON AN INDEPENDENT PHARMACY. DO YOU HAVE ANSWERS ON HOW TO PREVENT THE CVS’S OF THE COUNTRY FROM UNFAIRLY CRUSHING SMALLER PHARMACIES? SEN. KLOBUCHAR I LIKE COMPETITION. I THINK I’VE USED THAT WORD A LOT HERE TODAY. I LIKE HAVING INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES. THE ONES THAT KNOW, THEY ARE MOSTLY GIVING ADVICE TO PEOPLE IN THE ROLE OF MEDICAL ADVISOR. A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT THE CONSOLIDATION WE ARE SINGING -- WE ARE SEEING IN GENERAL IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, DONALD TRUMP HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT HE ACTUALLY HASN’T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SMALL AS WELL AS BE COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTRY. THE FIRST IS THAT WE WOULD START HAVING A LACK COMPETITION AND MONOPOLY POWER IN ANY AREA. WE SHOULD BE UP TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE AT THE FTC AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THA ARE AS SOPHISTICATED AS THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROPOSING THESE MERGERS OR MOVING IN AND SHUTTING DOWN COMPETITION. THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS WITH SOMETHING CALLED THE ANTITRUST LAWS. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A GREAT PLACE TO CARE ABOUT ANTITRUST LAWS, BECAUSE YOU ARE A PLACE WITH A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES. WHEN YOU HAVE THE COMPANIES COME IN AND START LIMITING POWER, A GREAT EXAMPLE, NOT IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL AREA, ALTHOUGH THERE’S A LOT OF EXAMPLES THERE, IS ONLINE TRAVEL. YOU THINK YOU ARE GETTING A GOOD DEAL. ONE DAY, JUST CHECK IT OUT ON TH INTERNET, THEY ARE ALL OWNED, I THINK 90% OF THEM ARE OWNED BY ONLY TWO COMPANIES. THEY JUST ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES. WAZE, GOOGLE MAPS JUST POPPED IN. THEN YOU STOP HAVING INNOVATION AND YOU STOP HAVING COMPETITION FOR PRICES AND QUALITY OF SERVICE WHEN YOU SHOT OUT A LOT OF THESE -- WHEN YOU SHUT OUT A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES. I TRY TO REMIND PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY REPUBLICANS THAT WANTED THIS. WHY? BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAD REAL CAPITALISM THAT WAS STRONG. SHERMAN WAS REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM I WILL. TEDDY ROOSEVELT WAS REPUBLICAN. WE SHOULD BE JOINED TOGETHER TO SAY THERE IS TOO MUC -- WHEN YOU’RE DOWN TO CLASS ONE RAIL THAT TRANSPORT STUFF TO MARKET, THERE ARE ONLY FOUR. THERE USED TO BE 63. FOUR IS THE SAME NUMBER ON THE MONOPOLY BOARD. I’M NOT SAYING EVERY COMPANY IS BACKED THAT IS BIG. I HAVE A LOT OF BE COMPANIES IN MY STATES THAT ARE VERY GOOD. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE COMPETITION THAT IS NOT SCREWING WITH CONSUMERS AND NOT PUSHING OUT SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE YOUR PHARMACIES. ADAM THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MARY. MARY: YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT YOUR PLANS TO UPDATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND YOUR CAMPAIGN ON A WEBSITE HAS CITED HER INVOLVEMENT IN GETTING FUNDING FOR FIXING THE I-35 BRIDGE AS A SIGN THAT YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN SECURE THE FUNDING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONE OF THE THING THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CLASS OF THAT BRIDGE WAS A STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAW. THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU BELIEVE FAST TRACKING UPDATES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING THAT A PRIORITY WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVI STRUCTURAL DESIGN FLAWS IN NEW INFRASTRUCTURE? SEN. KLOBUCHAR MY INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES ABOUT FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE SO THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN. I USED THAT AS ONE EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE EIGHT BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE. IT WAS AN EIGHT LANE HIGHWAY THAT LITERALLY WENT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY. 13 PEOPLE OR KILLED. AS I SAID THAT DAY, A BRIDGE JUST SHOULD NOT FALL DOWN IN AMERICA, BUT IT DID. ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT I THE WHITE HOUSE, HE SAID IT ON ELECTION NIGHT, HE SAID HE WON TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING HAPPEN SHORT OF WHAT CONGRESS DID BEFORE HE GOT THERE. YET WE HAVE BRIDGES AND ROADS WITH RATINGS. FROM THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, THE MANCHESTER RAIL THAT ARE RAISED EARLIER, SO I WON’T GO INTO THAT. YOU HAVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CRUMBLING IN PLACES LIKE BALTIMORE WHERE THEY LITERALLY DID NOT HAVE HEAT. YOU HAVE WATER SYSTEMS AND SEWER SYSTEMS, ASK THE PEOPLE OF FLINT. THAT’S WHY I PROPOSE THIS TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON’T JUST TALK THE TALK AND WE SHOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THINGS. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. THE 35 W BRIDGE WAS ABOUT A STRUCTURAL EFFECT, AS YOU POINT OUT, WITH THE BRIDGE THAT WAS DONE DECADES AND DECADES THE WORK. AFTER THAT HAPPENED, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT WE DID IN OUR STATE, DESPITE THE RESISTANCE OF THE GOVERNOR, IS THEY WENT IN, AND WE HAVE FIXED A BUNCH OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND WENT BACK IN, AND GUESS WHAT, A FEW YEARS LATER WE WERE VOTED THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS BY CNBC, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT TO TAKE THAT IN TERMS OF FUNDING FO INFRASTRUCTURE, I HAVE SHOWED HOW I’M GOING TO PAY FOR IT, WHICH IS LIKE TAKING THE AGGRESSIVE PARTS OF THAT TAX BILL WE TALKED ABO, 400 BILLION DOLLARS FROM ONE PORT, $150 BILLION FRO ANOTHER, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A CARVEOUT RULE I THEIR, WHICH IF YOU JUST PUT $25 BILLION FEDERAL MONEY, A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE, YOU WILL GET 30 FROM STATE AND LOCAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY TO COME IN. AND THEN BONDS IS ANOTHER WAY YO CAN DO THIS. SO THOSE ARE THE IDEAS I HAVE. ADAM TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION WITH YOUR DAD. SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS DEALT WITH ADDICTIO, CERTAINLY I HAPPY OR YOUR TORN WITH THE FEAR OF LOSING THEM AND THE ANGER OF THE SITUATIONS THEY PROVOKE THERE. YOU’RE CLEARLY A STRONG PERSON. WAS THERE EVER A MOMENT IN THAT RELATIONSHIP WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WALK AWAY? SEN. KLOBUCHAR NO, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT FOR SOME FAMILIES, OR SOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUG ADDICTION, IT’S ACTUALLY NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO STAY AROUND THEM, OR THE BEST THING MAY BE TO WALK AWAY FOR A WHILE. IN MY CASE ON -- IN MY CASE IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING. MY DAD GOT THOSE DWIS WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE KEPT BEING MY DAD, HE KEPT DOING HIS JOB, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE TOLD THE WORLD THAT HE WASN’T DRINKING ANYMORE. WHEN IN TRUTH, WE WOULD FIND THE LIQUOR BOTTLES IN TH BASEMENT, OR HE WOULD BE DRINKING OUT OF THE BACKSEAT OF A CAR. I JUST KEPT PUSHING HIM AND PUSHING HIM. THEN I WENT TO COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL. I CAME BACK, AND WHEN I SAW IT WAS STILL GOIN ON, I ACTUALLY CALLED HIS EMPLOYER AND SAID, WOULD YOU HELP ME PLEASE? HE WAS DRINKING THIS WEEK, AND IT IS SO DANGEROUS. THEY SAID NO, HE JUST CELEBRATED HIS SOBRIETY. SO I FEEL LIKE I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD, WHICH A LOT OF FAMILIES DO. A YEAR LATER, HE GOT THAT THIRD DWI. LUCKILY, HE ACTUALLY DIDN’T RAM INTO ANYONE IN A CAR OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE, BUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE HAPPENED. IN HIS OWN WORDS, WHEN HE GOT THAT TREATMENT, HE WAS PURSUED BY GRACE WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME AROUND HIM. HE IS NOW AT AGE 91 IN ASSISTED LIVING. A FEW MONTHS AGO, HE TOLD ME IT’S HARD TO GET A DRINK WHEN YOU ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING HERE AND HE WAS KIDDING, BUT IN TRUTH, HIS AA GROUP STILL COMES OVER TO SEE HIM, WHICH IS A PRETTY COOL THI AREA THAT IS WHAT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE TO HIM. THERE’S A FEW THINGS GOING ON HERE. ONE THAT FOR DRUGS IN OUR CALL AND MENTAL HEALTH, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF DETECTING IT EARLY AND GETTING PEOPLE TO HELP IN GETTING RID OF THAT STIGMA. THAT MEANS COUNSELORS AT SCHOOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SECOND PIECE IS MAKING SURE THERE’S THE BEDS. I TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE MAKE THAT TRANSITION. THEN THE THIRD THING IS WHEN PEOPLE GET OUT AND THEY HAVE RECOVERED, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET A JOB. THE FINAL THING IS JUST PUSHING INSURANCE COMPANIES WITH AND TO HELP PARITY TO BE ABLE TO COVER THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A REAL ISSUE WITH THAT. ONE LAST THING OF INSPIRATION, YOU REMEMBER THAT BOTH NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MINNESOTA WITH THE WINTER OLYMPICS. THE PAIR OF THE TWO WOMEN THAT WERE NOT EXPECTED TO W, ONE WAS JESSE FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND HER SKI JUST MADE IT OVER THE LINE AND THEY WON THE GOLD MEDAL. THIS WAS JUST IN THE LAST OLYMPICS. SHE ACTUALLY OVERCAME AN EATING DISORDER AND WON THE GOLD MEDAL. SHE SAID SHE COULDN’T EVEN SOMETIMES PUT ON H CROSS-COUNTRY SKI SUIT BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT MADE HER LOOK FAT. ANOREXIA IS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE MENTAL ILLNESS CAUSE OF DEATH OF WOMEN. WHAT I THOUGHT FOR THE, WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF WOMEN SENATORS, WAS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD PARITY AND THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE BEDS FOR MENTAL ILLNESSES LIKE ANOREXIA AS WELL. SO IT WAS PRETTY COOL. SHE GOT THAT TREATMENT, BUT TO HEAR HER TELL HER STORY OF HOW SHE WON THE GOLD MEDAL AFTER OVERCOMING A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER LIKE THAT, WHILE --WOW. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. ADAM: THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES. THANK YOU TO THE AUDIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. WE WILL BE BAC NEXT W
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Amy Klobuchar coming to Arkansas
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is headlining a fundraiser for Democrats in Arkansas next month, the second presidential hopeful to campaign at the party's annual summer gathering.The Democratic Party of Arkansas said Friday that Klobuchar will be the keynote speaker at its Naturally Blue Evening in Little Rock on Aug. 15. Chairman Michael John Gray says the party is honored to host her during its signature weekend.Klobuchar is speaking two days before presidential hopeful and former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke will headline the party's annual Clinton Dinner in Little Rock on Aug. 17. The Naturally Blue Evening kicks off the party's annual summer gathering, which will also include a block party.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. —
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is headlining a fundraiser for Democrats in Arkansas next month, the second presidential hopeful to campaign at the party's annual summer gathering.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas said Friday that Klobuchar will be the keynote speaker at its Naturally Blue Evening in Little Rock on Aug. 15. Chairman Michael John Gray says the party is honored to host her during its signature weekend.
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Klobuchar is speaking two days before presidential hopeful and former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke will headline the party's annual Clinton Dinner in Little Rock on Aug. 17. The Naturally Blue Evening kicks off the party's annual summer gathering, which will also include a block party.