Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, Republican former state Rep. Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton, from left, participate in a U.S. Senate Debate, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Indianapolis.(Photo: Darron Cummings/AP)

Here is the latest from the second and final U.S. Senate debate with Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, Republican Mike Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton.

The one-hour debate is hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission. It will be moderated by PBS anchor Amna Nawaz.

IndyStar’s Chris Sikich previewed the debate. The election is Nov. 6. There is also a roundup of IndyStar stories on the candidates and the issues.

IndyStar’s Voter Guide allows users to enter their address and see profiles of candidates for all of the races.

Opening statements

Donnelly: “Who is Mike Braun? Mike Braun has a $10,000 deductible for health care at his company … at the same time he gave himself $18 million. But he also wants to go after your healthcare.”

Braun: “Career politicians talk a good game. No action. … I’ve done things in the real world. That’s the difference me and the senator. … The senator takes his orders from Chuck Schumer.”

Brenton: “I have great news. Only seven short days until the attack ads end. … I will uphold and defend the constitution.”

Trump said he plans to end birthright citizenship through executive order

Donnelly: “I’m the only person on this stage who voted three times for a border wall. … That’s the 14th Amendment of our constitution. How this should be handled is by the congress. … I’d want to see that legislation and make sure it’s constitutional.”

Braun: “Finally, we have a leader in the White House who is doing something about it. … We’ll see how (legislation) pans out. …”

Brenton: Politicians always want to make laws. What if your leaders are doing the wrong thing?”

Positive immigration policies?

Braun: “Until we actually build a wall … you’re going to have these issues keep coming up” such as sanctuary cities.

Brenton: “America has been a melting pot … We’re the greatest country in the world is because we welcomed the greatest minds in the world. … If they’re willing the work, we should be willing to accept them.”

Donnelly: “In 2013, I stood with John McCain that provided 20,000 more immigration agents. … We can make this country greater, together.” 

Affordable healthcare

Donnelly: “Mike Braun supports a lawsuit that would take away pre-existing condition coverage. … That’s how important this election is.”

Braun: “It’s the Unaffordable Care Act. It was doomed to fail. … I took on the health insurance companies 10 years ago.” He said he would never be for anything that takes away coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Brenton: “There are already free market solutions in place for healthcare. … Because the insurance companies were allowed the write the laws, of course they wrote them for themselves. … Let the free market decide.”

Donnelly: Braun is not telling truth about where he stands on pre-existing conditions. … “Those are the facts and he can’t deny that.”

Braun: “My policy costs one-fourth of Obamacare.”

Low-cost contraceptives

Donnelly: “I am pro-life. … But I also have exceptions.”

Braun: “Another typical case where the senator wants to have it both ways. … I would never demonize someone’s point of view. 

Brenton: “I have 10 children. So the subject of contraceptives is something I’m very interested in. (Audience laughed.) Of course, contraceptives should be affordable.”

Tax cuts

Donnelly: “We can’t have tax cuts that just help the wealthiest.”

Brenton: It’ll be “economic slavery” for children because of the national debt.

Braun: “This is the hottest economy we’ve had in years.”

Alliance with Saudi Arabia

Brenton: “Why are we still playing footsie with regimes that murder? What’s really at stake here is how we end our dependence on foreign oil.”

Donnelly: “I read the classified materials on this. … Here’s what’s clear. The Saudis murdered a journalist. … He’s an Indiana State graduate. He’s a Sycamore. I have said we should have a temporary halt to arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”

Braun: “That is behavior that can’t be tolerated. … The senator was for the Iran deal. … We now have regained respect in the world because it’s based on strength.”

Hunger in Indiana

Donnelly: “I serve on the agriculture committee. … In the farm bill is not only great provisions for our farmers … but also good nutrition programs run responsibly and encourage people to work.”

Braun: “A lot has to do with government. … I wouldn’t look to the government as much as the senator would. Those policies have not worked. … I would trust what we do here in the state more than the federal government.”

Brenton: “I know what it’s like to budget and know what each meal is going to cost. … We’re the best country in the world. We’re the land of plenty.” Too much federal money is going for junk food.

Protecting sexual assault survivors

Braun: “Whenever there is an alleged issue, it needs to be fully vetted. … I’m glad it has come to the forefront.”

Brenton: “I had my ‘Me Too’ moment. … Thousands of rape kits sit untested while people who are non-violent are in jail for drug crimes. That’s got to stop.”

Donnelly: “We need to fully enforce the law at every single turn. … Sexual harassment can affect males as well.”

Diversity

Brenton: “I don’t see color. I don’t see the differences of people that are shallow.” She noted that Martin Luther King talked about “the content of your character.”

Donnelly: “We want everybody to have a chance in America and Indiana.” He talked about diversity on his staff. “They have to have a chance, an opportunity, and that’s my responsibility. … Our campaign and our senate office should reflect the face of Indiana.”

Braun: “You base things on merit, and it should be colorblind. … When it comes to diversity, it should be a natural thing.” He said his business has “been a place of opportunity.”

Climate change

Donnelly: He said he has worked with utilities to reduce carbon footprint. … “What we are working on every day on climate change … (includes making) sure we’re standing up for our farmers.”

Braun: “We’ve got to have clean air and we’ve got to have clean water. … I’ve been a tree farmer. I’ve been a conservationist. I’ll always be attentive to it.”

Brenton: “We are killing Mother Earth. … Hemp will fix carbon. Hemp can be used for bio-diesel. Just Google it.”

Top priority in office

Donnelly: “Ending the opioid scourge.”

Braun: “The first thing I’ll do there … I want to lower the cost of healthcare.”

Brenton: “Reducing the size of the federal government.” 

 

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