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| Manchester Republican Jim Nussle, and Davenport Democrat Bill Gluba IOWA PRESS #3206>> Borg: IOWA FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JIM NUSSLE WANTS AN EIGHTH TERM IN CONGRESS. DEMOCRAT BILL GLUBA HOPES THAT HE'LL BE ELECTED. WE'LL QUESTION THE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES IN IOWA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MANCHESTER REPUBLICAN JIM NUSSLE AND DAVENPORT DEMOCRAT BILL GLUBA, ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; AND BY CAPITOL RESOURCES, INC., LOCATED IN BROOKLYN, IOWA; AND NICOLE SCHLINGER AND ERIC LANGE INDIVIDUALLY, FUND-RAISING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SINCE 1996. ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG. Borg: TODAY'S "IOWA PRESS" PROGRAM IS THE LAST IN OUR SERIES FOCUSING ON THE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES SEEKING TO REPRESENT IOWA IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TODAY IT'S IOWA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SOME OF WHICH BORDERS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, INCLUDING SOME OF THE CITIES, DAVENPORT, CLINTON, DUBUQUE, WATERLOO, ELKADER, AND WAVERLY. THE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES THERE ARE TWO POLITICAL VETERANS, ONE EXPERIENCED IN CONGRESS, THE OTHER IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. INCUMBENT JIM NUSSLE IS JOINING US BY SATELLITE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. MR. NUSSLE IS A REPUBLICAN FROM MANCHESTER. HE WAS FIRST SELECTED TO CONGRESS IN 1990. CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, WELCOME BACK TO "IOWA PRESS." Nussle: GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. Borg: DEMOCRAT BILL GLUBA OF DAVENPORT WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE. MR. GLUBA SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN THE IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS HIS SECOND TRY FOR A FEDERAL OFFICE. MR. GLUBA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. Gluba: THANK YOU. Borg: AND ACROSS THE "IOWA PRESS" TABLE, TWO MEN YOU BOTH KNOW WELL: "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN AND "ASSOCIATED PRESS" SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER MIKE GLOVER. Glover: MR. GLUBA, LET'S START WITH YOU. THERE ARE TWO CHALLENGES FACING ANYONE RUNNING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT FOR OFFICE, BUT THE FIRST IS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT THE INCUMBENT OUGHT TO GO. WHY SHOULD CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE BE REPLACED? Gluba: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK CONGRESS, INCLUDING MY OPPONENT, SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME AND TOO MUCH MONEY LOOKING OUT FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND CORPORATE INTERESTS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME LOOKING OUT FOR IOWA FAMILIES. AS I TRAVEL THIS DISTRICT FROM DAVENPORT TO CLINTON TO DUBUQUE TO WATERLOO, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SECURITY -- THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THEIR JOB. THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE, WHETHER THEY'RE EVEN GOING TO HAVE IT. THEY'RE WORRIED, IF THEY'RE SENIOR CITIZENS, ABOUT IF THEY CAN AFFORD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. AND IF THEY'RE VETERANS, THEY FEEL THEY GOT SHORTCHANGED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND IF THEY HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL, THEY'RE UPSET WITH THIS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN SURE THAT THEIR KIDS CAN AFFORD THE COLLEGE COSTS IN THE FUTURE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK CONGRESS HAS TURNED A DEAF EAR TO MOST OF THOSE CONCERNS. Glover: AND, CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, THE CHALLENGE FACING ANY INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TERM IS WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO CONVINCE VOTERS YOU DESERVE TWO MORE YEARS IN CONGRESS? Nussle: WELL, FIRST, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. AND I APOLOGY IN ADVANCE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF VOTING TODAY. THIS IS LIVE TELEVISION FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH IT'S TAPED FOR "IOWA PRESS," AND SO I MAY HAVE TO JUMP UP AND GO VOTE AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. I'M GOING TO TRY AND AVOID THAT. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, LET ME SAY THAT I HOLD MORE TOWN MEETINGS THAN PROBABLY ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE IN IOWA, AND I HEAR THOSE PEOPLE THAT BILL HAS NOW BEEN LISTENING TO JUST THESE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR NATIONAL SECURITY, ABOUT THEIR JOBS, ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION. AND THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO SIT AT THE LEADERSHIP TABLE TO GET RESULTS FOR THEM FOR IOWA AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES, TO CREATE JOBS AND PROTECT THE COUNTRY. I HAVE THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND I HAVE GOTTEN RESULTS BY EXTENDING, FOR INSTANCE JUST YESTERDAY, TAX INCENTIVES TO CREATE JOBS RIGHT HERE AT HOME FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES; FARMERS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXTEND THE ETHANOL TAX CREDIT TO NOT ONLY CREATE JOBS BUT MAKE IOWA AN ENERGY STATE; AND TO INCREASE THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICARE SO WE CAN FINALLY GET OUT OF LAST PLACE FOR OUR DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AND PROVIDE THAT HEALTH CARE THAT IOWA DESERVES. Yepsen: CONGRESSMAN, IRAQ. REGARDLESS OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT, WHAT DO WE DO NOW AS A COUNTRY ABOUT IRAQ? Nussle: WELL, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REFLECT, THOUGH, ON HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT BEFORE YOU CAN JUST MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. AND HOW WE GOT HERE WAS BY BUILDING A COALITION OF PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ON A VERY UNSTABLE PART OF THE WORLD, AN EVIL DICTATOR WHO WAS THUMBING HIS NOSE AT THE WORLD COMMUNITY, AT THE UNITED NATIONS. HE THUMBED HIS NOSE AT EVERY UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION. AND SO BY BUILDING THIS COALITION THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT TOGETHER AND BY INCREASING THAT AND HAVING ELECTIONS AND FREEDOM, NOT ONLY IN IRAQ BUT IN AFGHANISTAN AS WELL, WHAT WE VENTURE TO GAIN HERE IS STABILITY IN A REGION THAT HAS BASICALLY BEEN THE BREEDING GROUND FOR TERRORISM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STICK TO THAT FREEDOM COURSE OF ACTION IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON ACCOMPLISHING THAT. Yepsen: BUT WHAT DO WE DO NOW TO GET OUT OF IRAQ? Nussle: WE'RE DOING IT. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE IRAQIS THEMSELVES CAN PROTECT THEIR NATION AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN HAVE FREE ELECTIONS. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE TERRORISTS THAT ARE COMING IN, NOT ONLY FROM IRAQ THAT WERE HIDING IN IRAQ BUT ALSO THOSE THAT ARE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM RIGHT THERE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM ANYWHERE ELSE, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HAVE ELECTIONS AND SELF-DETERMINATION AS WE MOVE TO THE FUTURE. Yepsen: MR. GLUBA, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT DO WE DO NOW IN IRAQ? Gluba: FIRST OF ALL, DAVID, WAR SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT RATHER THAN THE FIRST OPTION. I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE, AS DID A NUMBER OF OTHER CONGRESSMEN. CONGRESSMAN LEACH VOTED AGAINST THAT WAR. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE AS EARLY AS WE WERE. HAD THE PRESIDENT WAITED UNTIL WE HAD THE UNIFIED SUPPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS, HAD WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE REST OF THE WORLD, GERMANY, FRANCE, ET CETERA, WE'D HAVE BEEN IN A BETTER SITUATION TO HAVE PEACE TODAY. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY NO PLAN FOR PEACE. Yepsen: BUT WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I MEAN WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, REGARDLESS OF HOW WE GOT HERE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO PROSPECTIVELY. Gluba: FIRST OF ALL WE'VE GOT TO ENCOURAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE. WE SHOULD HAVE SOMEWHAT OF AN INTERNAL TIMETABLE TO HAVE AN ORDERLY EXIT STRATEGY FROM THE WAR. WE NEED TO TRAIN THE IRAQI TROOPS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKING OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS. WHY I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, IT'S THEIR FREEDOM THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR. IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE YOUNG AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. THERE SHOULD BE MORE IRAQIS TAKING A STRONGER ROLE. THE ARAB WORLD SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DO MORE. Glover: CONGRESSMAN, SHOULD YOU WIN ANOTHER TERM, THE NEXT CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO BEGIN DEALING WITH REVISING, REPEALING, OR RETAINING THE PATRIOTIC ACT. WHAT PORTIONS OF THAT SHOULD BE RETAINED? WHICH PORTIONS OF IT SHOULD BE REPLACED? Nussle: I BELIEVE MOST OF IT SHOULD BE RETAINED AND MOST OF IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED. THERE MAY BE SOME INDIVIDUAL DETAILS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF SHARING INFORMATION BETWEEN INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITIES. AND IN FACT, WE'RE WORKING AS WE SPEAK ON AN INTELLIGENCE REFORM BILL IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION COORDINATION AND SHARING SO THAT WE CAN DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE IN ROOTING OUT TERRORISM. WE DON'T WANT TO TRAMPLE ON ANYONE'S INDIVIDUAL OR CIVIL RIGHTS. AND THUS FAR WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETECT THAT THE PATRIOT ACT ITSELF HAS ACCOMPLISHED THAT, EXCEPT AGAINST TERRORISTS, OF COURSE. BUT EXTENDING THE PATRIOTIC ACT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN EXTEND OUR OWN FREEDOM AND PROTECT IT HERE AT HOME I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE VITAL TO OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS WAR ON TERRORISM. Glover: MR. GLUBA, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. ARE THERE PORTIONS OF THAT BILL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKEN OUT? Gluba: ABSOLUTELY. I TALKED TO A NUMBER OF LIBRARIANS, IOWA LIBRARIANS WHO -- UNDER THIS BILL, PEOPLE ARE CHECKING OUT THE BOOKS THAT INDIVIDUALS READ, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE TERRORISTS. THERE'S A LOT OF NONSENSE IN THERE. I DON'T THINK THE LIBRARIANS OF THE STATE SHOULD BE POLICING THE SITUATION FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY AREAS THAT COULD BE CORRECTED AND ADDRESSED. PEOPLE HAVE A FREEDOM OF SPEECH -- WE CAN'T GIVE UP OUR LIBERTIES TOTALLY IN THIS SITUATION. AND LETTING PEOPLE READ HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR HISTORIC RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED BY SOME FEDERAL BUREAUCRATIC LAW. Borg: MR. GLUBA, THE DISTRICT THAT YOU'RE SEEKING TO REPRESENT, AND I NAMED THE CITIES, IS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING AREA, JOHN DEERE PLANTS PARTICULARLY. MAJOR AGRICULTURAL AREA TOO, LOTS OF GRAIN. WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON THERE, THAT AREA IS INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON TRADE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE. WHAT CHANGES MIGHT YOU PROPOSE TO BETTER SERVE THAT DISTRICT IN EXPORTING ITS COMMODITIES? Gluba: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, DEAN, WE'RE IN A WORLD MARKET. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRADE, BUT IT HAS TO BE FAIR TRADE, NOT JUST FREE TRADE. WE'VE SEEN DEVASTATING RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE OUTSOURCING OF AMERICAN JOBS TO MEXICO AND CHINA AND INDIA. SO WE NEED TO PROVIDE PROTECTIONS IN THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS SO THAT THESE COUNTRIES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS WE HAVE. WE OUGHT TO HAVE WORKER SAFETY PROVISIONS IN THOSE TRADE AGREEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THESE HOST COUNTRIES ARE PROVIDING THEIR WORKERS WITH SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. THERE OUGHT TO BE LIVING WAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE COUNTRIES, THAT THEY PAY THEIR PEOPLE IN INDIA AND CHINA A LIVING WAGE. AND WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS ALLOW LABOR THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE SO THAT THEIR WORKERS ARE PROTECTED. WE CAN'T COMPETE AGAINST SLAVE LABOR IN SOME PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY, DOLLAR-AN-HOUR LABOR IN MEXICO, ANTILABOR PROVISIONS IN CHINA. IT'S SIMPLY NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR AMERICAN CORPORATIONS. AND THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED, AND I INTEND TO WORK TOWARD CHANGING THOSE UNFAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS. Borg: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, DO YOU SEE SOME UNFAIRITY, IF THAT'S A WORD, IN THE CURRENT TRADE LAWS? Nussle: WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THAT MY OPPONENT USED THE WORD PROTECTION AS MANY TIMES AS HE DID. I MEAN WHAT WE DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW IS TO BE PROTECTIONIST, TO PUT A WALL UP AROUND OUR TRADING, PARTICULARLY FROM IOWA WHERE WE ARE SO DEPENDENT. OVER 220,000 JOBS IN IOWA ARE DEPENDENT ON MANUFACTURING ALONE. AND THOSE PRODUCTS, MANY OF THEM AGRICULTURAL BASED, VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS GOING TO THE WORLD MARKET. OUR FARMERS ALONE, ONE-THIRD, YOU JUST GO DOWN IN THE FIELD AND YOU WATCH A FARMER COMBINING JUST A FIELD OF CORN, AS AN EXAMPLE. JUST COUNT EVERY THIRD ROW. EVERY THIRD ROW OF CORN IS GOING INTO THE WORLD MARKET, AND WE DON'T NEED PROTECTIONISM. BILL GLUBA IS PROPOSING WITH WHAT HE JUST SAID SOME KIND OF A WORLD POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WORLD GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE AND DETERMINE ALL THE TRADE -- OR EXCUSE ME, ALL THE LABOR LAWS IN SOME OTHER COUNTRIES. THAT HAS NEVER WORKED. IT HAS RESULTED IN UNFAIRNESS. YESTERDAY ALONE -- AND HE WOULD HAVE VOTED AGAINST THIS BILL. YESTERDAY ALONE WE CLOSED LOOPHOLES FOR CORPORATIONS THAT WERE MOVING JOBS OFFSEAS AND OUTSOURCING, AND WE GAVE INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES TO STAY HERE AND CREATE JOBS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THE TRADE WAR THAT IS GOING ON WITH EUROPE RIGHT NOW WHICH HAS HURT OR FARMERS. BILL GLUBA WOULD HAVE VOTED AGAINST THAT. THAT'S THE WRONG POLICY FOR IOWA AND THE WRONG POLICY FOR OUR COUNTRY IF WE WANT TO CREATE JOBS. Glover: MR. GLUBA, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND? Gluba: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS HERE. WE'VE LOST A MILLION JOBS UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE'VE LOST 1.6 MILLION MANUFACTURING JOBS, JIM. EVERYWHERE WE GO WE SEE CONSTANTLY OUTSOURCING, EXPORTING OF AMERICAN JOBS. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE LAST TWELVE YEARS? SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS -- SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS, WE'VE CONSISTENTLY LOST JOBS, WE'VE HAD TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE NOT FAIR, WE'VE HAD PLANTS IN THIS DISTRICT CLOSING DOWN NUMBERABLE TIMES, AND YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE TELLING US ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU JUST PASSED SOMETHING. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THESE THINGS YEARS AGO. I WANT TO STAND UP FOR AMERICAN JOBS FIRST. I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHERS COUNTRIES THAT YOU SEEM TO BE SO EXCITED ABOUT SENDING OUR JOBS TO. Yepsen: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND THAT? Nussle: WELL, JUST TODAY -- I MEAN BILL NEEDS TO PICK UP A NEWSPAPER. WE JUST CREATED A HUNDRED THOUSAND JOBS THIS LAST MONTH. WE CREATED 1.9 MILLION JOBS JUST SINCE LAST YEAR ALONE. WE'RE CREATING JOBS. WE'RE GETTING BACK ON OUR FEET. I MEAN WE TOOK A GUT PUNCH, BILL, AS A RESULT OF SEPTEMBER 11. OUR ECONOMY IS JUST NOW FINALLY GETTING BACK ON ITS FEET AND CREATING THOSE JOBS. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAYING THE GOLDEN EGG. YOU DON'T WANT TO HURT BUSINESS SO THAT YOU MAKE THEM FLEE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERTAX THEM. YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERTAX SMALL BUSINESS. YOU WANT TO REPEAL THE VERY TAXES THAT ARE HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN IOWA CREATE JOBS, AND THAT IS THE CRAZIEST POLICY AT THIS POINT IN TIME IF, IN FACT, YOU WANT TO UNLEASH THE ENGINE OF JOB CREATION IN IOWA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO I'VE BEEN OUT HERE FIGHTING FOR JOB CREATION, AND WE HAVE RESULTS WITH 1.9 MILLION JOBS CREATED JUST SINCE LAST AUGUST ALONE. Glover: CONGRESSMAN, I'D LIKE TO GO TO ANOTHER KIND OF A GOLDEN EGG QUESTION HERE. YOU CALL YOURSELF A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. YOU'RE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING THE FEDERAL BUDGET. UNDER YOUR WATCH, THE DEFICIT HAS EXPLODED OUT OF SIGHT WITH NO END IN SIGHT. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT? Nussle: WELL, ACTUALLY UNDER MY WATCH WE NOT ONLY WENT FROM HUGE DEFICITS TO BALANCE, BUT UNDER MY WATCH, AS A RESULT OF SEPTEMBER 11, WE DEALT WITH HUGE DEFICITS AND HUGE PROBLEMS, AND WE'RE GETTING BACK ON OUR FEET. LET'S REVIEW THE FACTS. ON SEPTEMBER 10 OF 2001, WE WERE RUNNING A FINANCIAL SURPLUS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BUT IT WASN'T PROTECTING THE COUNTRY. IT WASN'T GIVING US GOOD INTELLIGENCE. IT WASN'T GIVING US A STRONG DEFENSE. IT WASN'T GIVING US NATIONAL SECURITY. AND THE RESULT WAS ON SEPTEMBER 11 WE DISCOVERED THAT WHILE WE HAD A FINANCIAL SURPLUS, WE HAD MANY DEFICITS BELOW THE SURFACE, INCLUDING AN ECONOMIC GROWTH DEFICIT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE CHANGED OUR PRIORITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY, OF SECURING THE PEACE, OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE. AND JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, WE REDUCED THAT DEFICIT. IN FACT, JUST YESTERDAY WE HEARD IT WAS $6 BILLION LOWER, AND THAT'S ON TOP OF A $56-BILLION DECREASE IN THE DEFICIT FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR IN MARCH. SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. IT'S CERTAINLY NEVER AS FAST AS I'D LIKE TO DO IF I WAS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. I GET TO HELP MANAGE IT. I DON'T GET TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE THING. Glover: MR. GLUBA, DEMOCRATS GENERALLY ARE CRITICAL OF CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE ON JUST THAT POINT. WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IS HOW WOULD YOU GET RID OF THE DEFICIT. WHAT TAXES WOULD YOU INCREASE? WHAT PROGRAMS WOULD YOU CUT? SPECIFICALLY HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THE DEFICIT? Gluba: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JIM NUSSLE SHOULD GET HIS FACTS STRAIGHT. HE'S TELLING US WE'VE GOT ALL THESE JOBS OUT HERE THAT HE'S CREATED. MOST OF THEM PAY 21 PERCENT LESS THAN THE ONES GOING OUT THE BACK DOOR, THE ONES COMING IN, ONE. TWO, NOW HE'S TELLING US THAT THE BUDGET DEFICIT IS ALL FINE. HE'S HELPED CREATE THE BIGGEST BUDGET MESS IN OUR HISTORY. HE TOOK A SURPLUS UNDER BILL CLINTON OF $237 BILLION AND IN FOUR SHORT YEARS TURNED IT INTO A DEFICIT OF $422 BILLION. ONLY HOUDINI COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND JIM NUSSLE HAS DONE IT. NOW HE'S TRYING TO SAY, WELL, IT'S ALL FINE, IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT, WE'VE GOT GROWTH. WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ECONOMIC KIND. THEIR TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS THAT HE PUSHED NEVER WORKED. YOU GIVE TAX CUTS HIS PHILOSOPHY TO THE TOP -- PEOPLE AT THE VERY TOP 2 PERCENT, MAYBE A LITTLE WILL TRICKLE DOWN. THAT HAS NEVER WORKED. I BELIEVE IN HUBERT HUMPHREY'S PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT: YOU PUT THE MONEY IN AT THE BOTTOM, AND IT WILL RISE UP TO THE TOP. BUT AS FAR AS THE DEFICIT IS CONCERNED, CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES, SOME $250 BILLION IN THIS HUGE TAX CUT FOR THE VERY TOP ONE PERCENT OF THIS COUNTRY. HE VOTED FOR A BILL -- AGAINST A BILL THE OTHER DAY WHICH WOULD SAY THE PEOPLE IN THE MILLION DOLLAR AND ABOVE BRACKETS WOULD GET 24,000 BACK INSTEAD OF 120,000 BACK. HE'S TAKING CARE OF THE VERY TOP ECONOMIC PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, WARREN BUFFET UNDER HIS TAX BILL WILL GET $342 MILLION BACK. I WANT TO HELP THE PERSON AT THE BOTTOM, NOT THOSE AT THE TOP. THEY'VE GOT PLENTY. Yepsen: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND TO THAT? Nussle: WELL, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS IS THAT IN YOUR QUESTION YOU ASKED IF HE HAD A PLAN, AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE A PLAN. I HAVE A PLAN. I WRITE THE PLAN. I WRITE THE BUDGET. AND OUR BUDGET THIS LAST YEAR SAID TWO THINGS, TWO THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE '90S, NOT BECAUSE BILL CLINTON BALANCED THE BUDGET, TRUST ME. HE DIDN'T HAVE HARDLY ANYTHING TO DO WITH BALANCING THE BUDGET. BUT WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE '90S WHEN I WAS ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND THEN BECAME CHAIRMAN IS TWO THINGS. ONE IS YOU HAVE TO CONTROL SPENDING AND THE SECOND IS YOU HAVE TO UNLEASH ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND SO WE'RE DOING BOTH OF THOSE RIGHT NOW. THE BUDGET I WROTE FROZE SPENDING. I KNOW BILL DOESN'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO INCREASE SPENDING. SO DO MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS, BUT THEY DON'T TELL YOU WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO CUT. WE FROZE SPENDING EXCEPT FOR THE SECURITY ACCOUNTS. AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, YES, WE PROVIDED TAX RELIEF, BUT NOT TO THE 2 PERCENT THAT HE KEEPS CITING AND THE CLASS WARFARE THE DEMOCRATS GO AFTER. EVERY IOWA TAXPAYER WHO PAYS FEDERAL INCOME TAX GOT A TAX CUT AND THE PRESIDENT WAS THERE JUST THIS LAST MONDAY TO HELP CELEBRATE THE EXTENSION OF THAT TAX RELIEF TO IOWA FAMILIES. Yepsen: MR. GLUBA, I WANT TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT ISSUE, MEDICARE. A LOT OF SENIORS IN IOWA, A LOT OF THEM CONCERNED ABOUT MEDICARE AND ITS FUTURE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU'RE ELECTED TO CONGRESS TO CHANGE MEDICARE AND TO KEEP IT SOUND? Gluba: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO FIX THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION BILL THAT MR. NUSSLE CHAMPIONED AND SUPPORTED, WHICH RESULTED IN A BIG MULTIBILLION DOLLAR, SOME OF THE TAX MONEY HE SPENT, GIVEAWAY TO THE DRUG INSURANCE INDUSTRY. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST SELLOUT TO SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN MANY YEARS IN THIS CONGRESS. JIM NUSSLE PROHIBITS UNDER THAT LAW, THE GOVERNMENT -- OUR GOVERNMENT FROM TRYING TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PRICES BY USING THE BUYING POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO REPRESENTS 41 MILLION SENIOR CITIZENS TO GET THESE DRUG PRICES DOWN. JIM NUSSLE VOTED -- OPPOSED ALLOWING THE IMPORTATION OF LESS EXPENSIVE DRUGS FROM CANADA WHERE WE KNOW THEY'RE 30 TO 85 PERCENT CHEAPER. NOW, WHY DID HE DO THIS? BECAUSE MOST OF HIS CAMPAIGN MONEY COMES FROM THE SPECIAL INTEREST DRUG COMPANIES AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES? Yepsen: I ASKED YOU A QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO -- Gluba: WELL, TWO THINGS. Yepsen: -- AND HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT? Gluba: HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT? WE CAN PAY FOR THE DRUG PRESCRIPTION BILL BY, FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BUY IN BULK AND SAVE MONEY ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. WE CAN ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF LESS EXPENSIVE DRUGS. THIS WILL FORCE DRUG PRICES DOWN. AND WHEN WE GET THE PRICES DOWN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAVES A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY ON MEDICARE AND THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM. Yepsen: AND, CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO ABOUT MEDICARE AND HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT, IF ANYTHING? Nussle: WELL, WE MADE A HUGE FIRST STEP AND IT'S A POSITIVE FIRST STEP. AND FOR BILL GLUBA TO TASK THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH COST CONTROL ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IS JUST CRAZY. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE $500 HAMMER. YOU WANT THEM TO GO OUT AND DO COST CONTROL FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. IF YOU GO ON BILL GLUBA'S WEB SITE, IT'S INTERESTING. I JUST DID THIS LAST NIGHT. I HAD A LITTLE EXTRA TIME SO I WAS DOING A LITTLE SURFING. I WENT ON HIS WEB SITE AND I LOOKED UP MEDICARE ON HIS WEB SITE. AND HE'S GOT MEDICARE ON THERE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAYS? SIXTY-FIVE WORDS IS ALL HE SAYS ABOUT MEDICARE, AND HE PROPOSES TWO THINGS: ONE, LET THE GOVERNMENT RUN IT; AND NUMBER TWO, HE SAYS DON'T LET ANYBODY HAVE THE CHOICES THAT THEY HAVE UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN. WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CHOICES. WE THINK THEY MAKE BETTER CHOICES. WE WANT THE PEOPLE CALLED PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS WHO ALREADY KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE PHARMACY BENEFITS TO DO THE JOB THEY CURRENTLY ARE DOING, NOT HIRE A BUNCH OF NEW BUREAUCRATS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN 65 WORDS ON BILL GLUBA'S WEB SITE, HE DOESN'T MENTION IOWA DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL REIMBURSEMENTS ONCE. Borg: CONGRESSMAN -- Nussle: WE SENT $438 BILLION BACK TO IOWA FOR THE INCREASE OF OUR REIMBURSEMENT, AND THAT ALONE WAS ENOUGH REASON TO VOTE YES ON THAT MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL. Borg: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, FARM PRICES ARE PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. SHOULD THE FARM BILL BE CHANGED? Nussle: IT'S A -- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND IT'S ONE THAT WE'RE STUDYING RIGHT NOW. SHOULD IT BE CHANGED? WE SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGES AND I THINK PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE TRADE SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITHIN THE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE AS WE ARE NEGOTIATING THEM RIGHT NOW AND NOT STIMULATE A TRADE WAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET OR, FOR THAT MATTER, A SHOCK ABSORBER TO PRICES. WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD ONE NOW BUT WE MAY NEED TO UNLEASH IT FROM ACTUAL PRODUCTION AND MOVE IT TOWARD CONSERVATION. Yepsen: MR. GLUBA -- Nussle: THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. WE'RE STUDYING THAT IN THE COMMITTEES, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE TO WORK WITH IOWA FARMERS AND COMMODITY GROUPS TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT US AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THAT POSITION. Borg: MR. NUSSLE, WE HAVE MANY QUESTIONS AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON QUICKLY. MR. GLUBA, FARM BILL. Gluba: FARM BILL. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE MEDICARE. JIM SUGGESTED THAT THIS -- THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR THIS TO BUY IN BULK. THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, JIM, AS YOU WELL KNOW, BUYS FOR SEVEN MILLION VETERANS AND FOR DRUGS IT GETS THE COST DOWN. Borg: ALL RIGHT. MAKE THAT -- Gluba: NOW, AS TO THE FARM BILL -- AS TO THE FARM BILL, WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE AROUND THE WORLD. WE NEED TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE BIG MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT ARE PROMOTING VERTICAL INTEGRATION IN OUR AGRICULTURE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME MORE OF THAT AGRICULTURAL MONEY GOES TO AVERAGE FARMERS AND NOT JUST TO THE HANDFUL OF 10 OR 12 PERCENT, 20 PERCENT AT THE TOP. IT'S SLANTED TO BIG FARMERS AND NOT LITTLE FARMERS. I'LL LOOK OUT FOR SMALLER FARMS. WE'VE LOST, UNDER THESE FOLKS, THOUSANDS OF FARMERS IN IOWA. JUST SINCE 1997 WE'VE LOST SOMETHING LIKE 7,000 FARMERS IN IOWA. Borg: THANK YOU. Glover: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE HAS ONCE AGAIN CITED TOM DELAY FOR HIS ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. SHOULD THERE BE SANCTIONS AGAINST HIM, AND WILL BE SUPPORT HIM AGAIN FOR LEADERSHIP? Nussle: WELL, ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE DID. WHAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE DID WAS IT DISMISSED TWO OF THE COUNTS AND IT DEFERRED A THIRD COUNT THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS. THAT INVESTIGATION IS PROMOTED BY A POLITICAL OPPONENT, A DEMOCRAT WHO IS SO UPSET HE LOST HIS OWN PRIMARY, THE DEMOCRATS DON'T EVEN SUPPORT HIM IN TEXAS. BUT HE WAS ABLE TO GET A DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOWN THERE TO FILE A CASE. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE COURTS. THAT'S WHERE IT BELONGS. THE ETHICS COMMITTEE DISMISSED TWO OF THE CASES. IT DEFERRED THE OTHER. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS FOR NOW, AS OPPOSED TO USING THE ETHICS PROCESS, USING THE COURT SYSTEM FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, WHICH I KNOW IS INTERESTING -- Glover: WILL YOU VOTE FOR HIM? WILL YOU VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP JOB? Nussle: IF HE RUNS AGAIN FOR MAJORITY LEADER, I MEAN MY GUESS IS THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CHANGES IN THE LEADERSHIP THAT ARE OCCURRING NATURALLY. BUT IF HE RUNS AGAIN, OF COURSE I WOULD CONSIDER HIM FOR A LEADERSHIP POSITION. Glover: MR. GLUBA, YOUR TAKE? Gluba: WELL, JIM NUSSLE, YOU KNOW HIS LAST MENTOR WAS NEWT GINGRICH. OF COURSE, NEWT GOT RUN OUT OF CONGRESS ESSENTIALLY, AND NOW HIS BIG MENTOR IS TOM DELAY. AND HE'S TAKEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM TOM DELAY'S SLEAZY PACS FROM TEXAS TO FUND HIS CAMPAIGNS. AND WHAT I RECALL, JIM, YOU RAN A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU PUT A BAG OVER YOUR HEAD BECAUSE YOU WERE SHOCKED OR ASHAMED OF WHAT CONGRESS WAS DOING, AND I CHARGE YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING TODAY. YOU'RE TAKING PAC MONEY FROM GROUPS THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE. YOU'RE IN BED WITH THE LOBBYISTS AND IN CONGRESS, ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM, JIM, RATHER THAN THE SOLUTION. AND YOU RAN AGAINST THAT A FEW YEARS AGO. Yepsen: CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO RESPOND HERE. Nussle: WELL, BILL GLUBA'S FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORM, HIS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LOOKS LIKE THE LETTERHEAD OF A LAW FIRM FROM ALL THE TRIAL LAWYERS HE TAKES MONEY FROM. I'M NOT ACCUSING HIM OF BEING IN BED WITH TRIAL LAWYERS. LOOK, IT'S ALL FOR PUBLIC EXPOSURE. PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THAT. IF BILL WANTS TO BRING UP THE BAG, I'LL BE GLAD TO DEBATE THE BAG. WE PUT SIX PEOPLE IN PRISON OVER EXPOSING THAT BAD CHECK BOUNCING SCANDAL IN WASHINGTON. I DON'T THINK, BILL, YOU WANT TO TANGLE WITH THE BAG. Borg: WE WANT TO TRASH THE BAG RIGHT NOW, CONGRESSMAN, AND GIVE YOU A FINAL THIRTY SECONDS HERE TO TALK WITH THE VOTERS AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO REMEMBER AS THEY GO TO THE POLLS. Nussle: WELL, THANK YOU, DEAN. FIRST OF ALL, I ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR VOTE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROMOTE THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT STRONG, WE WILL NOT BE FREE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR NATION SO THAT WE CAN CREATE JOBS AND HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR SMALL TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS IOWA. AND THEN FINALLY WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THAT REQUIRES GOOD SOLID EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND THE ABILITY TO RETIRE IN DIGNITY. Borg: MR. GLUBA -- Nussle: I'M GETTING THOSE KINDS OF RESULTS. Borg: -- THIRTY SECONDS. Gluba: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME KIND OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN ABLE TO WORK HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FIX THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL SO THAT SENIOR CITIZENS ACTUALLY HAVE LESS COST FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. I WANT TO GO TO CONGRESS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, NOT THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, NOT THE CORPORATE INTERESTS, NOT THE LOBBYING INTERESTS AS MY OPPONENTS HAS DONE FOR TWELVE YEARS. Borg: THANK YOU. ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE'RE TAKING A BREAK FROM THE CAMPAIGNS FOR CONGRESS AND LOOKING AT THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. DAVE YEPSEN WILL BE TALKING WITH FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT STATE ISSUES AND SEEING WHAT THEY SEE AS PRIORITIES AND DETERMINING WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE NEXT SESSION. FROM THE SENATE, THEY WILL BE TALKING WITH REPUBLICAN STEWART IVERSON AND DEMOCRAT MIKE GRONSTAL. FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT'S REPUBLICAN CHRIS RANTS AND DEMOCRAT PAT MURPHY. THAT'S NEXT FRIDAY, 7:30; SUNDAY AT NOON. THAT'S THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION; BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; AND BY CAPITOL RESOURCES, INC., LOCATED IN BROOKLYN, IOWA; AND NICOLE SCHLINGER AND ERIC LANGE INDIVIDUALLY, FUND-RAISING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SINCE 1996. |
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