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MODERATOR:

Good evening from the Clark athletic center at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. I'm Jim Lehrer of the news hour on PBS and I welcome you to the first of three 90-minute debates between the Democratic candidate for president, vice ice President Al Gore and the Republican candidate, Governor George W. Bush of Texas. The debates are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates and they will be conducted within formats agreed to between the two come pains. We'll have the candidates at podiums. No answer to a question can exceed two minutes. Rebuttal is limite d to one minute. As moderator I have the option to follow up and extend any give and take three-and-a-half minutes. No single answer can exceed two minutes. The candidates under their rules may not question each other directly. There will be no opening statements but each candidate may have up to two minutes for a closing statement. The questions and the subjects were chosen by me alone. I have told no one from the two campaigns or the commission or anyone else involved what they are. There is a small audience in the hall tonight. They are not here to participate. Only to listen. I have asked and they have agreed to remain silent for the next 90 minutes. Except for right now when they will applaud as we welcome to two candidates, Governor Bush and Vice President Gore. [APPLAUSE]

MODERATOR:

And now the first question as determined by a flip of a coin, it goes to Vice President Gore. Vice President Gore you have requested whether Governor Bush has the experience to be President of the United States. What exactly do you mean?

GORE:

Jim, first of all I would like to thank the sponsors of this debate and the people of Boston for hosting the debate. I would like to thank Governor Bush for participating and I would like to say I'm happy to be here with Tipper and our family. I have actually not questioned Governor Bush's experience. I have questioned his proposals, here is why. I think this is a very important moment for our country. We have achieved extraordinary prosperity. In this election America has to make an important choice. Will we use our prosperity to enrich not just the few, but all of our families? I believe we have to make the right and responsible choices. If I'm entrusted with the presidency here are the choices I will make. I will balance the budg et every year. I'll pay down the national debt. I will put Medicare and Social Security in a lock box and protect them. And I will cut taxes for middle class families. I believe it's important to resist the temptation to squander our surplus. If we make the right choices, we can have a prosperity that endures and enriches all of our people. If I'm entrusted with the presidency I will help parents and strengthen families because, you know, if we have prosperity that grows and grow's we still won't be successful until we strengthen family by ensure that children can always go to schools that are safe. By giving parents the tools to protect their children against cultural pollution. I will make sure that we invest in our country and our families. And I mean investing in education, health care, the en environment, and middle class tax cuts and retirement security. That is my agenda and that is why I think that it's not just a question of experience.

MODERATOR:

Governor Bush, one minute rebutal.

USH:

We come from different places. I come from being a governor. We know how to set agendas as a governor. I think you'll find the difference reflected in our budgets. I want to take one half of the surplus and dedicate it to Social Security. One quarter of the surplus for important projects and I want to send one quarter of the surplus back to the people who pay the bills. I want everybody who pays taxes to have their tax rates cut. And that stands in contrast to my worthy opponent's plan which will increase the size of government dramatically. His plans is three times larger than president Clinton's proposed plan eight years ago. It has expanded programs and create 20,000 new buer oh cats. It empowers Washington. My vision to empower Americans to make decisions for themselves in their own lives.

MODERATOR:

I take it by your answer then in an interview recently with the "New York Times" when you said that you questioned whether or not Governor Bush has experienced enough to be president, you were talking about strictly policy differences.

GORE:

Yes, Jim. I said his tax cut plan, for example, raises the question of whether it's the right choice for the country. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Under Governor Bush's tax cut proposal he would spend more money on tax cuts for the wealthyest one% than all of the new spending he proposes for health care, p rescription drug and national defense all combined. Now, I think those are the wrong priorities. Now, under my proposal, for every dollar that I propose in spending for things like education and health care, I will put another dollar into middle class tax cuts and for every dollar that I spend in those two categories I'll put $2 toward paying down the national debt. I think it's very important to keep the debt going down and completely eliminate it and I also think it's very important to go to the next stage of welfare reform. Our country has cut the welfare rolls in half. I fought hard from my days in the Senate and as vice president to cut the welfare rolls and we've moved millions of people in America into good jobs. It's now time for the next stage of welfare reform and include fat hers and not only mothers.

MODERATOR:

We're going to get a lot of those.

BUSH:

Let me just say that obviously tonight we're going to hear some phony numbers about what I think and what we ought to do. People need to know that over the next ten years it is going to be $25 trillion of revenue and we anticipate spending $21 trillion. Why don't we spend 1.3 trillion of that back to the people who pay the bills. Surely we can afford 5% of the $25 trillion coming to the treasury to the hard working people that pay the bills. There is a difference of opinion. My opponent thinks the government, the surplus is the government's money. That's not what I think. I think it's the hard working people of America's money and I want to share some of that money with you so you have more money to buil d and save and dream for your families. It's a difference between government making decisions for you and you getting more of your money to make decisions for yourself.

MODERATOR:

Let me just follow up one quick question. When you hear Vice President Gore question your experience, do you read it the same way that he's talking about policy differences only?

BUSH:

Yes. I take him for his word. Look, I fully recognize I'm not of Washington. I'm from Texas and he's got a lot of experience but so do I. And I've been the chef executive office of the second biggest state in the union. I have a record of working with both Republicans and Democrats. Our nation needs somebody that can come to Washington let's forget all the finger pointing and get positive things done on Medicare, pres cription drugs, Social Security and so I take him for his word.

GORE:

If I could just respond. I know that. The governor used the phrase phony numbers but if you look at the plan and add the numbers up, these numbers are correct. He spends more money for tax cuts for the wealthy 1% than all of his new spending propose proposals for health care, prescription drug, national defense all combined. The surplus is the American people's money, it's your money. That's why I don't think we should give half of up to the well wealthy 1%.

MODERATOR:

Three-and-a-half minutes is up. New question. Governor Bush, you have a question. This is a companion question to the question I asked Vice President Gore. You have requested whether Vice President Gore has demonstrated the leadership qualities necessary to be president of resident of the United States. What do you mean by that?

BUSH:

Actually what I've said. I've said that eight years ago they campaigned on prescription drugs for seniors. And four years ago they campaigned on getting prescription drugs for seniors. And now they're campaigning on getting prescription drugs for seniors. It seems like they can't get it done. They may blame other folks, but it's time to get somebody in Washington who is going to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get some positive things done when it comes to our seniors. So what I've said is there's been some missed opportunities. They've had a chance. They've had a chance to form consensus. I have a plan on Medicare that's a two-stage plan that says we'll have immediate help for seniors and wh at I call immediately helping hand a $48 billion program. To seniors if you're happy with Medicare, fine, you can stay in the program. But we're going to give you additional choices like they give federal employees in the federal employee health plan. They have a variety of voices choices to choose, so should seniors. As opposed to politicizeing an issue like Medicare. Hoping somebody bites it and try to clobber them over the head for political purposes, this year it's time to get it done once and for all. That's what I've been critical about the administration for. Same with Social Security. There was a good opportunity to bring Republicans and Democrats together to reform the Social Security system so seniors will never go without. Those on Social Security today will have their p romise made but also to give younger workers the option of their choice of being able to manage some of their own money in the private sector to make sure there's a Social Security system around tomorrow. There are a lot of young workers at the rallies we go to that when they hear I'll trust them to be able to manage, under certain guidelines, some of their own to get a better rate of return so that they'll have a retirement plan in the future, they begin to nod their heads and they want a different attitude in Washington.

MODERATOR:

One minute rebuttal.

GORE:

Under my plan all seniors will get prescription drugs under Medicare. The governor has described Medicare as a government HMO. It's let. Let me explain the different. Under the Medicare prescription drug proposal I'm mak ing. You go to your own doctor. Your doctor chooses your prescription. No HMO or insurance company can take those choices away from you. Then you go to your own pharmacy. You fill the prescription and Medicare pays half the cost. If you're in a very poor family or high costs, Medicare will pay all the costs. A dollar 25 premium and much better benefits than you can find in the private sector. Here is the contrast. 95% of all seniors would get no help whatsoever under my opponent's plan for the first four or five years. Now, one thing I don't understand, Jim, is why is it that the wealthy 1% get their tax cuts the first year but 95% of seniors have to wait four to five years before they get a single penny.

BUSH:

I guess my answer to that is the man is running on MEDI scare. It's not what I think and it's not my intentions and not my plan. I want all seniors to have prescription drugs in Medicare. We need to reform Medicare. This administration has failed to do it. Seniors will have not only a Medicare plan where the poor seniors will have prescription drugs paid for but there will be a variety of options. The system today has meant a lot for a lot of seniors and I recognize the intent of the can current system. If you're happy with the system you can stay in it. There are a lot of procedures that haven't kept up in Medicare with the current times. No prescription drug benefits, no preventing medicines, no vision care. We need to have a modern system to help seniors and the idea of supporting a federally controlled 132,000 page government bureaucracy of being a compassi onate way for seniors and the only source of care for seniors is not my vision. We ought to give seniors more options, make the system work better. I know it will require a different kind of leader to go to Washington to say to both Republicans and Democrats, let's come together. You've had your chance, vice president, you've been there for eight years and nothing has been done. My point is is that my plan not only trusts seniors with options it sets aside money for Medicare over the next ten years. My plan also says it requires a new approach in Washington, D.C., require somebody who can work across the partisan divide.

GORE:

Under my plan I will put Medicare in an iron clad lock box and prevent the money from being used for anything other than Medicare. The governor has declined to endorse that idea even though the Republican as well as Democratic leaders in congress have endorsed it. I would be interesting to see if he would say this evening he'll put Medicaid in a lock box. $100 billion comes out of Medicare just for the wealthy 1% in the tax cut. Here is the different, some people who say the word reform actually mean cuts. Under the governor's plan, if you kept the same fee for service that you have now under Medicare your premiums would go up by between 18 and 41% and that is the study of the Congressional plan that he's modeled his proposal on by the Medicare act you tears. A man here tonight named George McKinney from Milwaukee. He's 70 years old. Has high blood pressure, his wife has heart trouble. They have an income of $25,000 a year. They can't pay for their prescrip tion drugs. They're some of the ones that go to Canada regularly in order to get their prescription drugs. Under my plan, half of their costs would be paid right away. Under Governor Bush's plan they would not get one penny for four to five years and then they would be forced to go into an HMO or to an insurance company and ask them for coverage but there would be no limit on the premiums or the deductibles or any of the terms and conditions.

BUSH:

I cannot let this go by the old style Washington politics. If we're going to scare you in the voting booth. Under my plan the man gets immediate help with prescription drugs. It's called immediate helping hand instead of finger pointing he gets immediate help. Let me say something.

MODERATOR:

Your -- GORE:

They get $25 a year income. That makes them ineligible.

BUSH:

This is a man who has great numbers. He talks about numbers. I'm beginning to think not only did he invent the Internet, but he invented the calculator. It's fuzzy math. It's a scaring -- trying to scare people in the voting booth. Under my tax plan that he continues to criticize I set one-third. The federal government should take no more than a third of anybody's check. I also dropped the bottom rate from 15% to 10%. By far the vast majority of the help goes to people at the bottom end of the economic ladder. If you're a family in Massachusetts you get a 50% cut in the income taxes you pay. The difference in our plans is I want that $2,000 to go to you and the vice president would like to be spending the $2,000 on your half.

MODERATOR:

I have no p roblems with it we're over the three-and-a-half. Do you want to have a quick response? We're almost to five minutes on this.

GORE:

It's just clear you can go to the website and look. If you make more than $25,000 a year you don't get a penny of help under the Bush prescription drug proposal for at least four to five years and then you're pushed into an HMO or insurance company plan and there's no limit on the premiums or the deduct ibls or any of the conditions. The insurance companies say it won't work and they won't offer these plans.

MODERATOR:

Let me ask you both this and we'll move on. Both of you want to bring prescription drugs to seniors, correct?

GORE:

Correct.

BUSH:

Correct.

GORE:

I want to bring it to 100% and he wants to bring it to 5%.

BUSH:

That 's totally false for him to stand up and say this. Let me may sure the seniors hear me loud and clear. They have a chance to get something done. I'm going to work with Democrats and Republicans to be -- in the meantime we'll have a plan to help poor seniors and it could be one year or two years.

MODERATOR:

Let me call your attention to the key word there. He said all poor seniors.

BUSH:

All seniors are covered under prescription drug in my plan.

GORE:

In the first year?

BUSH:

If we can get it done in the first year.

GORE:

It's a two-phase plan. For the first four years only the poor are covered. Middle class seniors like George McKinney and his wife are not covered for four to five years.

MODERATOR:

I have an idea. If you have any more to say about this you can say it in your closing statements and we'll move on. New question. Vice President Gore. How would you contrast your approach to preventing future oil price and supply problems like we have now to the approach of Governor Bush?

GORE:

Excellent question. Here is the simple difference. My plan has not only a short-term component but also a long-term component. It focuses not only on increasing the supply but working on the consumption side. Now, in the short term we have to free ourselves from the domination of the big oil companies that have the ability to manipulate the price from OPEC when they want to raise the price, and in the long term we have to give new incentives for the development of domestic resources like deep gas in the western gulf, like stripper wells for oi l but also renewable sources of energy. And domestic sources that are cleaner and better. I'm proposing a plan that will give tax credits and tax incentives for the rapid development of new kinds of cars and trucks and buses and factories and boilers and furnaces that continue have as much pollution and don't burn as much energy and help us get out on the cutting edge of the new technologies that will create millions of new jobs. When we sell these new products here we'll then be able to sell them overseas. Another big difference is Governor Bush is proposing to open up some of our most precious environmental treasures like the arctic national wildlife refuge for the big oil companies to produce oil there. It would only give us a few months worth of oil and the oil wouldn't start flowing for man y years into the future. I don't think it's a fair price to pay to destroy precious parts of America's environment. We have to bet on the future and move beyond the current technologies to have a whole new generation of more efficient, cleaner energy technology.

BUSH:

It's an issue I know a lot about. I was a small oil person for a while in west Texas. This is an administration that's had no plan. All of a sudden the results of having no plan have caught up with America. First and foremost we have to fully fund heat with low income people in the east pay for high fuel bills. We need and active exploration incentive in America. We need to explore at home. I want to open up of a small part of Alaska. When that field is online it will produce one million barrels a day. Today we imp ort one million barrels from Saddam Hussein. I would rather have it come from our own country as opposed to Saddam Hussein. I want to develop the coal resources in America. Have clean coal technologies. We better start exploring it or otherwise we'll be in deep trouble in the future because of our dependency upon foreign sources of crude.

MODERATOR:

If somebody is watching tonight and listening to what the two of you just said. Is it fair to say the differences between Governor Bush and Vice President Gore are like this. You're for doing something on the consumption end and you for the production end.

GORE:

I'm for doing something both on the supply side and production side and on the consumption side. Let me say I found one thing in Governor Bush's answer that we certainly agr ee on and that's the low income heating assistance program. I commend you for supporting that. I worked to get $400 million just a couple of weeks ago. And to establish a permanent home heating oil reserve here in the northeast. As for the proposals that I've worked for for renewables and conservation and new technologies for the last few years in the congress we've faced opposition to them. They've only approved about 10% of the agenda I've helped to send up there. We need to get serious about this crisis, both in the congress and in the White House and if you entrust me with the presidency I will tackle this problem and focus on new technologies that will make us less dependent on big oil or foreign oil.

MODERATOR:

How would you draw the difference?

BUSH:

He should have been tackling it for the last seven years. The difference is we need to explore at home. And the vice president doesn't believe in exploration, for example, in Alaska. There's a lot of shut in gas we need to be moving out of Alaska by pipeline. There's an interesting issue in the northwest at well do we remove dams that produce hydro electric energy. I'm against taking out dams. We need to keep that in line. I was in coal country in vest west Virginia. I know we can do a better job of clean coal technologies. I'm going to ask the congress for $2 billion to make sure we have the cleanest coal technologies in the world. In the short-term we need to get after it here in America. We need to explore our resources and we need to develop our reservoirs of domestic production. We also need t o have a hemispheric energy policy where Canada, Mexico and the United States come together. The null elected president in Mexico I talked to him about how best to expedite the natural gas in Mexico and transport it to the United States so we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. It's a major problem facing America. The administration did not deal with it. It's time for a new administration to deal with the energy problem.

GORE:

I found a couple of other things we agree upon. I strongly support new investments in clean coal techtechnology. I also domestic exploration, yet, but not in the environmental treasures of our country. We don't have to do that. That's the wrong choice. I know oil companies have been itching to do that.

BUSH:

It's the right thing for the consumers. Less dependency about foreign surplus is better for consumers. We can do so in an environmentally friendly way.

MODERATOR:

No question, new subject. Governor Bush. If elected president, would you try to overturn the FDA's approveal last week of the abortion pill RU-486?

BUSH:

I don't think a president can do that. I was disappointed in the ruling because I think abortions out to be more rare in America and I'm important eed that pill will create more abortion and cause more people to have abortions. This is a very important topic and it's a very sensitive topic because a lot of good people disagree on the issue. I think what the next president ought to do is promote a culture of life in America. Life of the elderly and life of those women all across the country. L ife of the unborn. As a matter of fact I think a noeb all goal for this country that any child born or unborn need to be protected by law and welcomed to life. I know we need to change a lot of mines before we get there in America. We can find common ground on issues of parental consent or notification. I know we need to ban partial birth abortions. This is a place where my opponent and I have strong disagreement. I believe banning partial birth abortions would be the first step to reducing the number of abortions in America. It is an issue that will require a new attitude. We've been battling over abortion for a long period of time. Surely this nation can come together to promote the value of life. Fight off these laws that will encourage doctors to -- to allow doctors to take the lives of our seniors. Surely we can work together to create a cultural life so some of these youngsters who feel like they can take a neighbor's life with a gun will understand that that's not the way America is meant to be. Surely we can find common ground to reduce the number of abortions in America. As to the drug itself I mentioned I was disappointed. I hope the FDA took its time to make sure that American women will be safe who use this drug.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore?

GORE:

The FDA took 12 years and I support that decision. They determined it was medically safe for the women who use that drug. This is indeed a very important issue. First of all on the issue of partial birth or so-called late term abortion I would sign a law banning that procedure provided that doctors have the ability to save a woman's life or to act in her health is severely at risk. That's not the main issue. The main issue is whether or not the row versus wade decision will be overturned. I support a woman's right to choose. My opponent does not. It's important because the next president will appoint three and maybe four justices of the Supreme Court. Governor Bush has said he will appoint chief justices who are known for being the most vigorous opponents of a woman's right to choose. He trusses the government to order a woman to do what it thinks she ought to do. I trust women to make the decisions that affect your lives, their destinies and their bodies. And I think a woman's right to choose out to be protected and defended.

MODERATOR:

We'll go to the Supreme Court question in a moment but make sure I understand your position on RU-486. If you're elected president you won't support legislation to overturn this?

BUSH:

I don't think a president can unilatly overturn it.

ODERATOR:

BUSH:

I think once a decision has been made it's been mad unless it's proven to be unsafe to women.

GORE:

The question you asked, if I heard you correctly, was would he support legislation to overturn it. And if I heard the statement day before yesterday, you said you would order -- he said he would order his FDA appointy to review the decision. That sounds to me a little bit different. I just think that we ought to support the decision.

BUSH:

I said I would make sure that women would be safe who used the drug.

MODERATOR:

On the Supreme Court question. Should a voter assume you're pro life.

BUSH:

I am pro life.

ODERATOR:

Should a voter assume that any appointments you make to the court should be pro life.

BUSH:

I have no litmus test on that issue. I'll put competent judges on the bench. People who will interpret the Constitution and not use the bench forwrite social policy. I believe that the judges ought not to take the place of the legislative branch of government. That they're appointed for life and that they ought to look at the Constitution as sacred. They shouldn't misuse their bench. I believe in strict constructionists. I've named four in the State of Texas and ask the people to check out their qualifications. Their deliberations. They're good solid men and women who have made good sound judgments on behalf of t he people of Texas MODERATOR:

What kind of appointment should they expect from you.

GORE:

We reach a similar language to each an opposite outcome. I know that there are ways to assess how a potential justice interprets the Constitution and in my view, the Constitution ought to be interpreted as a document that grows with our country and our history. And I believe, for example, that there is a right of privacy in the fourth amendment and when the phrase the strict constructionist is used and when the names of Thomas are used as bench marks for who would be appointed. Those are code words and nobody should mistake this for saying the governor would appoint people who would overturn Roe versus Wade. I would appoint people that have a philosophy that would uphold Roe versus Wade.

MODERATOR:

Is the vice president right?

BUSH:

It sounds like he's not very right tonight. I just told you the criteria on which I'll appoint judges. I have a record of appointing judges in the State of Texas. A governor gets to name supreme court judges. He reads all kinds of things into my tax plans and into my Medicare plan. I want the views out there to listen to what I have to say about it.

MODERATOR:

Reverse the question. What code phrases should we read about what you said about what kind of people you would appoint.

GORE:

It would be likely that they would uphold Roe versus Wade. If you look at the history of a lower court judge's rulings you can get a pretty good idea of how they'll interpret questions. A lot of questions are first impression and these questions that have been seen many times come up in a new context and so -- but, you know, this is a very important issue. Because a lot of young women in this country take this right for granted and it could be lost. It is on the ballot in this election, make no mistake about it.

BUSH:

I'll tell you what kind of judges, he'll put liberal activists judges to subvert the legislature that's what he'll do.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore if president Milosevic refuses to leave office, what action, if any, should the United States take to get him out of there.

GORE:

Milosevic has lost the election. His opponent has won the election. It's overwhelming. Milosevic's government refuses to release the vote count. There's now a general strike going on. They're demonstrating. I think we should support the people of Serbia and Yugoslavia as they call the Serbia plus, and put pressure in every way possible to recognize the lawful outcome of the election. The people of Serbia have acted very bravely in kicking this guy out of office. Now he is trying to not release the votes and then go straight to a so-called runoff election without even announcing the results of the first vote. Now, we've made it clear along with our allies that when Milosevic leaves, then Serbia will be able to have a more normal relationship with the rest of the world. That is a very strong insensitive that we've given them to do the right thing. Bear in mind also Milosevic has been indicted as a war criminal and he should be held accountable for his actions. Now, we have to take measured steps because the sentiment within Serbi a for understandable reasons against the United States because their nationalism, even if they don't like Milosevic they still have some feelings lingering from the NATO action there. So we have to be intelligent in the way we go about it. But make no mistake about it, we should do everything we can to see that the will of the Serbian people expressed in this extraordinary election is done. And I hope that he'll be out of office very shortly.

MODERATOR:

Governor Bush, one minute.

BUSH:

I'm pleased with the results of the election, it's time for the man to go. It means that the United States must have a strong diplomatic hand with our friends in NATO. That's why it's important to make sure our alliances are as strong as they possibly can be to keep the pressure on Mr. Milosevic.

But this will be an interesting moments for the Russians to step up and lead as well. A wonderful time for the Russians to step into the Balkins and convince Mr. Milosevic that it's in his best interest and his country's best interest. We would like to see the Russians use that sway to encourage democracy to take hold. It's an encouraging election. It's time for the man to leave.

MODERATOR:

What the if he doesn't leave. What if all the diplomatic efforts, all the pressure and he still doesn't go. Is this the kind of thing that you as president would considered the use of U.S. military force to get him gone?

GORE:

In this particular situation, no. Bear in mind that we have a lot of sanctions in force against Serbia right now. And the people of Serbia know that they can escape all those sanctions if this guy is turned out of power. Now, I understand what the governor has said about asking the Russians to be involved and under some circumstances that might be a good idea. But being as they have not yet been willing to recognize the lawful winner of the election I'm not sure it's right for us to invite the president of Russia to mediate this -- this dispute there because we might not like the results that comes out of that. They currently favor going forward with a runoff election. I think that's the wrong thing. I think the governor's instinct is not necessarily bad because we have NO CARRIER

I would take the use of force very seriously. I would be guarded in my approach. I don't think we can be all things to all people in the world. I think we've got to be very careful when we commit our troops. The vice president and I have a disagreement about the use of troops. He believes in nation building. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders. I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore prevent war from happening in the first place. So I would take my responsibility seriously. And it starts with making sure we rebuild our military power. Moral in today's military is too low. We're having trouble meeting recruiting goals. We met the goals this year but in the previous years we have not met recruiting goals. Some of our troops are not well equipped. I believe we're overextended in too many places. And therefore I want to rebuild the military power. It starts with a billion dollar pay raise for the men and women who wear the uniform. It's to make sure our troops are well-housed and well-equipped. Bonus plans to keep some of our high-skilled folks in the services and a commander and chief to sets the mission to fight and win war and prevent war from happening in the first place.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore, one minute.

GORE:

I want to make it clear, our military is the strongest, best trained, best equipped, best led fighting force in the world and in the history of the world. Nobody should have any doubt about that. Least of all our adversaries or potential adversaries. If you entrust me with the presi dency I will do whatever is necessary in order to make sure our forces stay the strongest in the world. In fact, in my ten year budget proposal I've set aside more than twice as much for this purpose as Governor Bush has in his proposal. Now, I think we should be reluctant to get involved in some place in a foreign country. But if our national security is at stake, if we have allies, if we've tried every other course, if we're sure military action will succeed, and if the costs are proportion a*t to the benefits we should get involved. Just because we don't want to get involved everywhere doesn't mean we should back off anywhere it comes up. I disagree with the proposal that maybe only when oil supplies are at stake that our national security is at risk. I think that there are situati ons like in Bosnia or Kosovo where there's a again GENECIDE.

BUSH:

I agree our military is the strongest in the world today but will it be that way in the future. I see moms and dads who son or daughter may wear the uniform and they tell me about how discouraged their son or daughter may be. Recent poll was taken among 1,000 enlisted personnel, as well as officers, over half of whom will leave the service when their time of enlistment is up, the captains are leaving the service. There is a problem. And it's to require the new commander in chief to rebuild the military power. I was honored to be flanked by Colin Powell. If we don't have a clear vision of the military, if we don't stop extending our troops all around the world and nation building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road and I'm going to prevent that. I'm going to rebuild our military proer. It's one of the major priorities of my administration.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore how should the voters go about deciding which one of you is better suited to make the kinds of decisions whether it's Milosevic or whatever. In the military and foreign policy area.

GORE:

They should look at our proposals and look at us as people and make up their own minds. When I was a young man I volunteered for the army. I served my country in Vietnam. My father was a senator who strongly opposed the Vietnam war. I went to college in this great city and most of my peers felt against the war as I did. But I went anyway because I knew if I didn't, somebody else in a small Town o f Carthage, Tennessee, would have to go in my place. I served for eight years in the House of Representatives and I served on the intelligence committee, specialized in looking at arms control. I served for eight years in the United States Senate and served on the armed services committee. For the last eight years I've served on the national security council and when the conflict came up in Bosnia I saw a GENECIDE in the heart of Europe with the most violent war in Europe since World War II. That's where world war 1 started. My uncle was a victim of poisonous gas there. Millions of Americans saw the results of that conflict. We have to be willing to make good, sound judgments. Incidentally I know the value of making sure our troops have the latest technology. The governor has proposed skipp ing the next generation of weapons. I think that's a big mistake because I think we have to stay at the cutting edge.

MODERATOR:

Governor, how would you advise the voters to make the decision on this issue?

BUSH:

I think you have to look at how one has handled responsibility in office. Whether or not it's -- the same in domestic policy at well. Do you have the capacity to convince people to follow. Whether one makes decisions based on sound principles or whether or not you rely upon polls or focus groups on how to decide what the course of action is. We have too much polling and focus groups going on today. We need decisions made on sound principles. I've been the governor of a big state. I think one of the hallmarks of my relationship in Austin, Texas, is that I've had the capacity to work with both Republicans and Democrats. I think that's an important part of leadership. I think what it means to build consensus. I've shown I know how to do so. Tonight in the audience there's one elected state senator a Democrat, a former state wide officer who is a Democrat. A lot of Democrats who are here in the debate to -- because they want to show their support that shows I know how to lead and so the fundamental answer to your question, what can lead and who's shown the ability to get things done?

GORE:

If I could say one thing.

MODERATOR:

Go ahead.

GORE:

One of the key points in foreign policy and nation fall l security policy is the need to establish the old-fashioned principle that politics ought to stop at the water's edge. I worked with former Pr esident Reagan, when I was in the United States Senate I worked with former president Bush, your father, was one of only a few Democrats in the Senate to support the Persian Gulf war. I think bipartisanship is a national a set. We need to find a way to establish it.

MODERATOR:

Do you have a problem with that?

BUSH:

Why haven't they done it in seven years.

MODERATOR:

Should the voters of this election, Vice President Gore, see this in the domestic area as a major choice between competing political philosophies?

GORE:

Absolutely. This is a very important moment in the history of our country. Look, we've got the biggest surpluses in all of American history. The key question that has to be answered in this election is will we use that prosperity wisely in a way that ben efits all our people and doesn't go just to the few. Almost half of all the tax cut benefits, as I said under Governor Bush's plan go to the wealthyest 1%. We have to make the right and responsible choices. I think we have to invest in education, protecting the en environment, health care, a prescription drug benefit that goes to all seniors, not just to the poor, under Medicare, not relying on HMO's and insurance companies. I think that we have to help parents and strengthen families by dealing with the kind of inappropriate entertainment material that families are just heart sick that their children are exposed to. I think we've got to have welfare reform taken to the next stage. I think that we have got to balance the budget every single year, pay down the national debt and, in fact, under my propos eal the national debt will be completely eliminated by the year 2012. I think we need to put Medicare and Social Security in a lock box. The governor will not put Medicare in a lock box. I don't think it should be used as a piggy bank for other programs. I think it needs to be moved out of the budget and protected. I'll veto anything that takes money out of Social Security or Medicare for anything other than Social Security or Medicare. Now, the priorities are just very different. I'll give you a couple examples. For every new dollar that I propose for spending on health care, Governor Bush spends $3 for a tax cut for the wealthyest 1%. Now, for every dollar that I propose to spend on education he spends $5 on a tax cut for the wealthyest 1%. Those are very clear differences.

MOD ERATOR:

Governor, one minute.

BUSH:

The man is practicing fuzzy math again. There's differences. Under Vice President Gore's plan he will grow the federal government in the largest increase since Lyndon Johnson in 1965. We're talking about a massive government, folks. We're talking about adding to or increasing 200 programs, 20,000 new bureaucrats. Imagine how many IRS agents it is going to take to be able to figure out his targeted tax cut for the middle class that excludes 50 million Americans. There is a huge difference in this campaign. He says he's going to give you tax cuts, 50 million of you won't receive it. He said in his speech he wants to make sure the right people get tax relief. That's not the role of a president to decide right and wrong. Everybody who pays taxes ou ght to get tax relief. After my tax plan is inin place. The poorest of Americans, 6 million families won't pay any tax at all. It's a huge difference. A difference between big exploding federal government that wants to think of your behalf and a plan that meets priorities and liberates working people to be able to make decisions on your own.

GORE:

You haven't heard the governor deny these numbers. He's called them phony and fuzzy. The fact remains almost 30% of his proposed tax cut goes to -- only to Americans that make more than $1 million per year. More money goes to the -- can I have a rebutal here?

MODERATOR:

I want to see if he buys that.

BUSH:

Let me tell you what the facts are. After my plan the wealthyest of Americans pay more taxes of the percentage of the wh ole than they do today. Secondly if you're a family of four making $50,000 in Massachusetts you get a 50% tax cut. Let me give you one example. A family in Allen town, Pennsylvania, I campaigned with them the other day they make $51,000 combined income, pay $3500 in taxes. Under my plan they get $1800 of tax relief. Under Vice President Gore's plan they get $145 of tax relief. You tell me who stands on the side of the fence you ask whose plan makes more sense. There is a difference of opinion. He would rather spend the $1800 and I would rather the family spend that money.

GORE:

I'm not going to know to calling names on his fact. I'll tell you what the real facts are. The analysis he's talking about leaves out more than half of the tax cuts that I have proposed. And if you just add the numbers up. He still hasn't denied it. He spends more money on a tax cut for the wealthyest 1% than all his new proposal for all his other things combined. Those are the wrong priorities. For the wealthyest 1%. As I said almost 30% of it goes to Americans that make more than $1 million per year. Every middle class family is eligible for a tax cut under my proposal. Let me give you ex-arms. I believe college tuition up to $10,000 per year ought to be tax deductible to middle class families can choose to send their kids to college. I believe all senior citizens should be able to choose their own doctors and get prescription drugs from their pharmacist with Medicare paying half the bill. Parents need more public and charter school choice to send their kids to a safe school. We need to make education the number one priority in our country and treat teachers like the professionals that they are.

BUSH:

Let me talk about tax cuts one more time. It excludes 50 million Americans.

GORE:

Not so.

BUSH:

The marriage penalty. If you itemize your tax return you get no marriage penalty relief. He picks and chooses. He decides who the right people are. It's a fundamental difference of opinion. We'll spend $25 trillion -- we'll collect $25 trillion in revenue in the next ten years. We need to send 5% back to you that pay the bills. I want to say something. This man has been disparageing my planning with all this fuzzy math. If you're a single mother making $22,000 a year and you have two children, under this tax code for every additional dollar you make you pay a higher marginal rate and that is not right. My plan drops the rate from 15% to 10% and increases the child credit fror $500 to $1,000 to make the code more fair for everybody. Not just a few. Not just a handful. Everybody who pays taxes out to get some relief.

MODERATOR:

Having cleared that up we're going to a new question. Education. Governor Bush. Both of you have promised dramatically to change -- to change dramatically public education in this country. Of the public money spent on education only 6% of that is public money. Is it possible to change it?

BUSH:

We can make a huge difference by saying if you receive federal money we expect you to show results. Let me give you a story about public education if I might. It's about an academy in Houston, Texas, a charter school run by so me people from teach for America. I'm going to do something good for my country. I want to teach. A guy named Michael runs the school. It is a school full of at-risk children. It's unfortunately how we label certain children. Basically it means they can't learn. It's one of the best schools in Houston. Here are the key ingredients. High expectations. Michael says don't put the rules on us but hold us accountable for every grade. That's what we do. As a result these Hispanic youngsters are some of the best learners in Houston, Texas, that's my vision or all around America. Many of the public schools are meeting the call. Unfortunately a lot of schools are trapping children in schools that won't teach and won't change. Here is the role of the federal government. One is to change head start to a reading program. If you want to access reading money you can do so. The goal is for every single child to learn to read. K through 2 diagnostic teaching tools available. We have to consolidate system to free the schools and encourage innovate ors. Let them reach out to recruit teach for the children type teachers. Four, we're going to say if you receive federal money, measure, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade. If they are there will be a bonus plans. If not. Instead of continuing to subsidize failure. The money will go to the federal money will go to the parent for public school or charter school or tutorial or Catholic school. What I care about is children. And so does Michael, and you know what? It can happen in America with the right kind of leader ship.

GORE:

We agree on a couple of things on education. I strongly support new accountability, so does Governor Bush. I strongly support local control, so does Governor Bush. I'm in favor of testing as a way of measuring performance. Every school and school district have every state test the children. I've also proposed a voluntary national test in the fourth grade and 8th grade and a form of testing the governor has not endorsed. I think all new teachers ought to be tested, including in the subjects that they teach. We've got to recruit 100,000 new teachers. And I have budgeted for that. We've got to reduce the class size so that the student who walks in has more one-on-one time with the teacher. We ought to be universal pre-school and make college tuition tax deductible up t o $10,000 a year. I would like to tell you a quick story. I got a letter today as I left Florida. I'm here with a group of 13 people around the country who helped me prepare. We had a great time. We ate lunch at a restaurant two days ago. The guy that served us lunch got me a letter today. His name is Randy Ellis, she has a 15-year-old daughter. Her science class was supposed to be for 24 students. She's the 36th student in the classroom. They can't squeeze another desk in for her so she has to stand during class. I want the federal government consistent with local control and new accountability to make improvement of our schools the number one priority so she will have a desk and can sit down in a classroom where she can learn.

MODERATOR:

All right. Having heard the two of you. What is is the difference? What is the choice between the two of you on education?

BUSH:

There is no new accountability measures in vice president Gore's plan. He says he's for voluntary testing. You can't have voluntary testing. You must have mandatory testing. If you receive money you must show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. That's the difference. You may claim you've got mandatory testing but you don't, Mr. vice president. That's a huge difference. Testing is the Cornerstone of reform. Republicans and Democrats came together and said what can we do to make our public education the best in the country? The Cornerstone is to have strong accountability in return for money and in return for flexibility. We're going to ask you to sh ow us whether or not -- we ask you to post the results on the Internet. We encourage parents to take a look at the comparative results of schools, we have a strong charter school movement that I signed the legislation to get started in the State of Texas. I believe if we find four find poor children trapped in schools that won't teach we need to help the parents. We need to expand savings accounts. Something that the vice presidential running mate supports. He won't support freeing local districts from the strings of federal money.

GORE:

First of all I do have mandatory testing. I think governor may not have heard what I said clearly. The voluntary national test is in addition to the mandatory testing that we require of states. All schools, all school districts, students themse lves, and required teacher testing, which goes a step farther than Governor Bush has been willing to go. Here are a couple of differences, though, Jim. Governor Bush is in favor of vouchers which take taxpayer money away from public schools and give them to private schools that are not accountable for how the money is used and don't have to take all applicants. Private schools play a great role in our society. All of our children have gone to both public schools and private schools. But I don't think private schools should have a right to take taxpayer money away from public schools at a time when Ms. Ellis is standing in that classroom. I went to a school in Dade county, Florida where the facilities are so overcrowded the children have to eat lunch in shift with the first shift startin g at 9:30 in the morning. Look, this is a funding crisis all around the country. There are fewer parents of school-age children as a percentage of the voting population and there is a largest generation of students ever. We're in an information age when learning is more important than ever. 90% of our kids go to public schools. We have to make it the number one priority. Modernize schools, reduce class size, recruit new teachers, give every child a chance to learn with one-on-one time in a quality -- high quality safe school. If it's a failing school, shut it down and reopen it under a new principal with a turn around team of specialists the way governor Jim hunt does in North Carolina. The governor, if it's a failing school, would leave the children in that failing school for three years a nd then give a little bit of money to the parents a down payment on a down payment for private school tuition and pretend that would be enough for them to go out and to go a private school. It's an illusion.

MODERATOR:

Wait a minute, governor.

BUSH:

Okay. Most of this is at the state level. I'm going to make the state do this and make the state do that. All I'm saying is if you spend money, show us results and test every year, which you do not do, Mr. vice president. You don't test every year. You can say you do to the cameras and you don't unless you've changed your plan.

GORE:

I didn't say that.

BUSH:

You need to test every year that's why you determine if children are progressing to excellence. Secondly, one of the things that we have to be careful about in politi cs is throwing money at a system that has not yet been reformed. More money is needed and I spend more money but step one is to make sure we reform the system to have the system in place that leaves no child behind. Stop this business about asking gosh, how old are you? If you're 10 we'll put you here, 12 put you here. Start asking the question, what do you know. If you don't know what you're supposed to know we'll make sure you do early before it's too late.

MODERATOR:

New question. We've been talking about a lot of specific issues. It's often said that in the final analysis about 90% of being the President of the United States is dealing with the unexpected, not with issues that came up in the campaign. Vice President Gore, can you point to a decision, an action you have taken, t hat illustrates your ability to handle the crisis under fire.

GORE:

When the action in Kosovo was dragging on and we were searching for a solution to the problem. Our country had defeated the adversary on the battlefield without a single American life being lost in combat. But the dictator Milosevic was hanging on, I invited the former prime minister of Russia to my house and took a risk in asking him to get personally involved along with the head of Finland to go to Belgrade and to take a set of proposals from the United States that would constitute basically a surrender by Serbia. But it was a calculated risk that paid off. Now, I could probably give you some other examples of decisions over the last 24 years. I have been in public service for 24 years, Jim. And throughout all that time the people I have fought for have been the middle class families and I have been willing to stand up to powerful interests like the big insurance companies, the drug companies, the HMO's, the oil companies. They have good people and they play constructive roles sometimes but sometimes they get too much power. I cast my lot with the people even when it means that you have to stand up to some powerful interests who are trying to turn the -- the policies and the laws to their advantage. You can see it in this campaign, the big drug companies support Governor Bush's prescription drug proposal. They oppose mine because they don't want to get Medicare involved because they're afraid Medicare will negotiate lower prices at all to seniors who now pay the highest prices of all.

BUSH:

I've been standing up to Hollywood, big trial lawyers. Was the question about emergencies?

MODERATOR:

It was about -- okay.

BUSH:

You know, as governor, one of the things you have to deal with is catastrophe. I can remember the fires that swept parker county, Texas, the floods that swept our state. I have to pay the administration a compliment, FEMA has done a good job of working with governors during times of crisis. But that's the time when you're tested not only -- it's the time to test your metal and heart when you see people whose lives have been turned upside down. It broke my heart to go to the flood scene in Dell Rio where families got completely uprooted. I got aid as quickly as possible with state and federal help and to put my arms around a man and his family and cry with . That's what governors do. They are often on the front line of catastrophic situations.

MODERATOR:

New question. There can be all kinds of crises, governor. There could be a crisis in the financial area, the stock market could take a tumble, there could be a failure of a major financial institution. What is your general attitude toward government intervention in such events?

BUSH:

Well, it depends, obviously. But what I would do first and foremost I would get in touch with Allen Greenspan to find out all the facts and circumstances. I would have my secretary of the treasury be in touch with the financial centers not only here but at home. I would make sure that key members of congress were called in to discuss the gravity of the situation. And I would come up with a ga me plan to deal with it. That's what governors end up doing. We end up being problem solvers. We come up with practical common sense solutions for problems that we're confronted with. In this case, in the case of a financial crisis I would gather all the facts before I made the decision as to what the government ought or ought not to do.

GORE:

I want to compliment the governor on his response to those fires and floods in Texas. I was down there when the fires broke up. FEMA has been a major flagship project of our reinventing government efforts roef works extremely well now. On the international financial crisis that come up the former secretary of treasury is here. He's a close advice or. I have had a chance to work with him and Allen Greenspan and others on the collapse of the Mexican PASO. When the Asian financial crisis was on that could affect our economy. The EURO's value has been dropping but seems to be under control. But it started for me in the last eight years when I had the honor of casting the tie-breaking vote to end the old economic plan here at home and put into place a new economic plan that has helped us to make some progress, 22 million new jobs, the greatest prosperity ever. It's not good enough. My attitude is you ain't seen nothing yet. We need to do more and better.

MODERATOR:

So, governor, would you agree there is no basic difference here on intervening -- federal government intervening in what might be seen in others to be a private financial crisis?

BUSH:

There's no difference on that. I think the economy has meant more for the Gore and Clinton folks than the Gore and Clinton folks have meant for the economy. I think most of the growth that has taken place is because of inagain ue tea. In response to the question, no.

GORE:

Can I comment on that?

MODERATOR:

You may.

GORE:

I think the American people deserve credit for the great economy they have. I griagree with that.They were working pretty hard eight years ago. The difference is we've got a new policy. And instead of concentrating on tax cuts mostly for the wealthy, we want -- I want tax cuts for the middle class family and I want to continue the prosperity and make sure it benefits not just the few but all families. We have gone from the biggest deficits to the biggest surpluses. We have a tripling in the stock market. We have the lowest Afr ican-American and Latin American unemployment rates in history and 22 million new jobs. It's not good enough. Too many people have been left behind. We have got to do much more. The key is job training, education, investments in health care, environment, retirement security and we have got to preserve Social Security. I'm opposed to diverting one out of every six dollars out of the trust fund into the stock market. I want new incentives for savings and investment for the young couples who are working hard so they can save and invest on their own on top of Social Security, not at the expense of Social Security as the governor proposes.

BUSH:

Two points. One, a lot of folks are still waiting for that 1992 middle class tax cut. I remember the vice president saying just give us a ch ance to get up there we'll see that you get tax cuts. It didn't happen. Now he's saying that again. They've had their chance to deliver a tax cut to you. Secondly, the surest way to bust this economy is to increase the role and size of the federal budget. They've been projected that they could bust the budget by $900 billion. He'll either have to raise your taxes or go into the Social Security surplus for $900 billion. This is a plan that will increase the bureaucracy by 20,000 people. His targeted tax cut is so detailed, so much fine print that it will require numerous IRS agents. We need somebody to simplify the code to continue prosperity to share some of the surplus with the people that pay the bills, especially those at the bottom end of the economic ladder.

GORE:

He's quoting a partisan press release by the Republicans on the Senate budget committee that's not worth the taxpayer paid paper that it's printed on. Now, as for 20,000 new bureaucrats, as you call them, you know, the size of the federal government will go down in a Gore administration. In the reinventing government program you look at the numbers. It is 300,000 people smaller today than it was eight years ago. Now, the fact is you're going to have a hard time convincing folks that we were a whole lot better off eight years ago than we are today. That's not the question. The question is, will we be better off four years from now than we are today? And as for the surest way to threaten our prosperity, having a 1.9 trillion dollar tax cut almost half of which goes to the wealthy and a $1 trillion dollar Social Security prief tiezation propose all is the sureest way to put our budget into -- BUSH:

I can't let the man continue with fuzzy math. It will go to everybody who pays taxes. I'm not going to be the kind of president that says you get tax relief and you don't. What is fair is everybody who pays taxes ought to get relief MODERATOR:

I thought we cleared this up a while ago. Both of you have Social Security reformed plan so we could spend the rest of the evening and two or three other evenings talking about them in detail. We won't do that. But -- GORE:

Suits me. Many experts, including federal reserve chairman Greenspan, Vice President Gore, say it will be impossible for either of you, essentially, to keep the system viable on its own during the coming baby boomer retirement onslaught without either reducing benefits or increasing taxes. You disagree?

GORE:

I disagree. If we can keep our prosperity going, if we can continue balanceing the budget and paying down the debt the strong economy keeps generating surpluss. Here is my plan. I will keep Social Security in a lock box and that pays down the national debt and the interest savings I would put right back into Social Security. That extends the life of Social Security for 55 years. Now, I think that it's very important to understand that cutting benefits under Social Security means that people like Mrs. Skinner from Des Moines, Iowa, who is here would really have a much harder time because there are millions of seniors who are living almost hand to mouth. You talk about cutting benefits. I don't go al ong with whf I am opposed to it. I'm also opposed to a plan that diverts one out of every $6 away from the Social Security trust fund. Social Security is a trust fund that pays the checks this year with the money that is paid into Social Security this year. The governor wants to divert 1 out of every $6 to the stock market which means he would drain $1 trillion out of the Social Security trust fund in this generation over the next ten years and Social Security under that approach would go bankrupt within this generation. His leading advisor on this plan actually said that would be okay because then the Social Security trust fund could start borrowing. It would borrow up to $3 trillion. Now, Social Security has never done that. And I don't think it should do that. I think it should s tay in a lock box and I'll tell you this. I will veto anything that takes money out of Social Security for prifsh itization or anything else other than Social Security.

BUSH:

I thought it was interesting he spent about a million and a half on my plan. He doesn't want you to know he's loading up IOU's for future generations. He puts no revenues into the Social Security system. All retirees are going to get the promises made. For those of you who he wants to scare into the voting booth to vote for him. A promise made will be a promise kept. You bet we want to allow younger workers to take some of their own money. That's the difference of opinion. The vice president thinks it's the government's money. The payroll taxes are your money you ought to put it in safe investments so $1 trillio n grows to be $3 trillion. It's a part of the Social Security system. He claims it will be out of Social Security. It's your money, a part of your retirement benefits. It's a fundamental difference between what we believe. I want you to have your on as either you can call your own. That you can pass on from one generation to the next. I want to get a better rate of return for your own money than the 2% that the current Social Security trust gets today. Mr. green span I thought missed an opportunity to say there's a third way. To get a better rate of return on the Social Security monies coming into the trust. $2.3 trillion of surplus that we can make sure to use that younger workers have a Social Security plan in the future if we're smart and if we trust worker and if we understand t he power of the compounding rate of interest.

GORE:

Here is the difference. I give a new incentive for younger workers to save their own money and invest their own money but not at the expense of Social Security. On top of Social Security. My plan is Social Security plus. The governor's plan is Social Security minus. Your future benefits would be cut by the amount diverted into the stock market. If you make bad investments that's too bad. Even before then, the problem hits because the money contributed to Social Security this year is an entitlement. That's how it works. The money is used to Faye benefits for seniors this year. If you cut the amount going in 1 out of every $6 then you have to cut the value of each check by 1 out of every $6 unless you come up with the money fro m somewhere else. I would like to know from the governor. I know we're not supposed to ask each other questions, but does that trillion dollars come from the trust fund or does it come from the rest of the budget?

BUSH:

No. There's enough money to pay seniors today in the current affairs of Social Security. The trillion comes from the surplus. Surplus is money -- more money than needed. Let me tell you what your plan is. It's not Social Security plus, it's Social Security plus huge debt. You leave future generations with tremendous IOU's. It's time to have a leader that doesn't put off tomorrow what we should do today. It's time to have somebody to step up and say look, let's let younger workers take some of their own money and under certain guidelines invest it in the private markets.

The safest federal investments yields 4%. That's twice the amount of rate of return than the current Social Security trust. It's a fundamental difference of opinion, folks. Younger workers hear my call to say trust you. Seniors now understand that the promise made will be a promise kept but younger workers now understand we better have a government that trusts them and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

GORE:

Could I respond to that, Jim? This is a big issue. Could we do another round on it?

MODERATOR:

We're almost out of time.

GORE:

Just briefly. When FDR established Social Security they didn't call them IOU they call it the full faith and credit of the United States.ÿ If you don't have trust in that, I do. If you take it out of the surplus in the trust fund that mea ns the trust fund goes bankrupt in this generation within 20 years.

BUSH:

This is a government that thinks a 2% rate of return on your money is satisfactory. It's not. This is a government that says younger workers can't possibly have their own asset. We need to think differently about the issue. We need to make sure our seniors get the promise made. If we don't trust younger workers to handle some of their money with the Social Security surplus it will be impossible to bridge the gap without it. What Mr. Gore's plan will do causing huge payroll taxes for major benefit reductions.

MODERATOR:

New question. Are there issues of character that distinguish you from Vice President Gore?

BUSH:

The man loves his wife and I appreciate that a lot and I love mine. The man loves his family a lot and I appreciate that because I love my family. I think the thing that discouraged me about the vice president was uttering those famous words no controlling legal authority. I felt there needed to be a better sense of responsibility of what was going on in the White House. I believe that -- I believe they've moved that sign the buck stops here from the Oval Office desk to the buck stops here at the Lincoln bedroom. Other he not good for the country and it's not right. We need to have a new look about how we conduct ourselves in office. There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, I don't want you to let me down again. And we can do better than the past administration has done. It's time for a fresh start. It's time for a new look. I t's time for a fresh start after a season of cynicism and so I don't know the man well, but I've been disappointed about how he and his administration has conducted the fundraising affairs. Going to a Buddhist temple and claiming it wasn't a fundraiser isn't my view of responsibility.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore?

GORE:

I think we ought to attack the country's problems not each other. I want to spend my time making this country better than it is not trying to make you out to be a bad person. You may want to focus on scandal. I want to focus on results. As I said a couple of months ago, I stand here as my own man and I want you to see me for who I really am. Tipper and I have been married for 30 years. We became grandparents a year-and-a-half ago. We've got four children.

I have devoted 24 years of my life to public service and I've said this before and I'll say it again, if you entrust me with the presidency, I may not be the most exciting politician, but I will work hard for you every day. I will fight for middle class families and working men and women and I will never let you down.

MODERATOR:

Governor, what are you saying when you mention the fundraising scandals or the fundraising charges that involve Vice President Gore? What are you saying the voters should take from that that's relevant to this election.

BUSH:

They ought to factor in it.

MODERATOR:

In what way?

BUSH:

I think people need to be held responsible for the actions they take in life. I think that -- well, I think that's part of the need for a cultural change. We need to say we each need to be responsible for what we do. People in the highest office of the land must be responsible for decisions they make in life. And that's the way I've conducted myself as governor of Texas and that's the way I'll conduct myself as president of the United States should I be fortunate enough to earn your vote.

MODERATOR:

Are you saying all this is irrelevant?

GORE:

I think the American people should take into account who we are as individuals. What our positions are on the issues and proposals are. I'm asking you to see me for who I really am. I'm offering you my own vision, my own experience, my own proposals. And incidentally, one of them is this. This current campaign financing system has not reflected credit on anybody in either party. And that's one of the reasons I've said before and I'll pledge here tonight. If I'm president, the very first bill that Joe Lieberman and I will send to the United States congress is the McCain Feingold campaign finance reform bill. The reason it's that important is that all of the other issues, whether prescription drugs for all seniors that are opposed by the drug companies or the patient's bill of rights to take the decisions away from the HMO's and give them to the doctors and nurses, opposed by the HMO's and insurance companies, all these other proposals are going to be a lot easier to get passed for the American people if we limit the influence of special interest money and give democracy back to the American people. I wish Governor Bush would join me this evening in endorsing the McCain Feingold campaig n finance reform bill.

BUSH:

You know, this man has no credibility on the issue. As a matter of the fact I read in the New York sometimes he said he co-sponsored that bill. But he wasn't in the Senate with senator Feingold and so, look, I'm going to -- what you need to know about me is I will up hold the law, an attorney general that enforces the law. The time for campaign funding reform is after the election, this man has outspent me and the special interests are outspending me. I am not going to lay down my arms in the middle of a campaign for somebody who has got no credibility on the issue.

MODERATOR:

Senator McCain -- hold on one second. Senator McCain said in August it doesn't matter which one of you is President of the United States in January there will be blood on the floor of the United States Senate and he'll tie up the Senate until campaign finance reform is passed that includes a ban on soft money. First of all would you support that effort by him or would you sign a bill that is finally passed that included?

BUSH:

I would support an effort to ban labor union and corporate soft money as long as there was dues check off. I believe there needs to be instant disclosure on the Internet as to who has given to who. I think we need to fully enforce the law. An attorney general says if a law is broken we'll enforce it. Be strict and firm about it.

GORE:

Look, Governor Bush, you have attacked my character and credibility and I am not going to respond in kind. I think we ought to focus on the problems and not attack each other. One of the serious problems, hear me well, is that our system of government is being undermined by too much influence coming from special interest money. We have to get a handle on it. And like John McCain, I have learned from experience and it's not a new position for me, 24 years ago I supported full public financing of all federal elections. And anybody who thinks I'm just saying it will be the first bill I send to the congress, I want you to know I care passionately about this and I will fight until it becomes law.

BUSH:

I want people to hear what he just said. He is for full public financing of Congressional elections. I'm opposed to that. I don't want the government financing federal elections.

MODERATOR:

We have to stop here and we want to go now to your closing statements. Governor Bush is first.

You have two minutes.

BUSH:

Thank you, Jim, thank the University of Massachusetts and Mr. Gore it has been a lively exchange. I want to empower people in their own lives. I also want to go to Washington to get some positive things done. It is going to require a new spirit. A spirit of cooperation. It will require the ability of a Republican president to reach out across the partisan divide and to say to Democrats, let's come together to do what is right for America. It's been my record as governor of Texas, it will be how I conduct myself if I'm fortunate enough to earn your vote as President of the United States.ÿ I want to get something done on Medicare. Make sure prescription drugs are available for all seniors. And I want seniors to have additional choices when it comes to choosing their health care plans. I want to finally get something done on Social Security. I want to make sure the seniors have the promise made will be a promise kept but I want younger workers to be able handle some of their on money in the private sector under certain guidelines to get a better rate of return on your own money. I want to rebuild our military to rebuild the peace. I want to have a strong hand when it comes to the United States in world affairs. I don't want to try to put our troops in all places at all times. I don't want to be the world's policeman, I want to be the world's police maker by having a military of high moral and well equipped. I want anti-ballistic missiles to protect ourselves and our allies to protect us from a rogue nation. I want to make sure education system fulfills its hope and promise. I've had a strong record of working p Democrats and Republicans in Texas. I understand the limited role of the federal government but it could be a constructive role when it comes to reform by insisting there be strong accountability system. My intentions are to earn your vote and earn your confidence. I'm asking for your vote. I want you to be on my team and for those of you working, thanks from the bottom of my heart. For those of you making p your mind I would be honored to have your support.

MODERATOR:

Vice President Gore, two minutes.

GORE:

I want to thank everybody who watched and listened tonight this is indeed a crucial time in American history. We're at a fork in the road. We have this incredible prosperity but a lot of people have be en left behind. And we have a very important decision to make. Will we use the prosperity to enrich all of our families and not just a few? One important way of looking at this is to ask who are you going to fight for? Throughout my career in public service, I have fought for the working men and women of this country, middle class families. Why? Because you are the ones who have the hardest time paying taxes, the hardest time making ends meet. You are the ones who are making car payments and mortgage payments and doing right by your kids. And a lot of times there are powerful forces that are against you. Make no mistake about it, they do have undue influence in Washington, D.C. and it makes a difference if you have a president who will fight for you. I know one thing about the position of p resident, it's the only position in our Constitution that is filled by an individual who is given the responsibility to fight not just for one state or one district or the well-connected or wealthy but to fight for all of the people, including especially those who most need somebody who will stand up and take on whatever powerful forces might stand in the way. There is a woman named Mrs. Skinner here tonight from Iowa. I mentioned her earlier. She's 79 years old. She has Social Security. I'm not going to cut her benefits or support any proposal that would. She gets a small pension but in order to pay for her prescription drug benefits she has to go out seven days a week several hours a day picking up cans. She came all the way from Iowa in a WINNEBAGO with her poodle to attend here tonight.

I'll fight for a prescription drug benefit for all seniors and fight for the people of this country for a prosperity that benefits all.

MODERATOR:

Well continue this dialogue next week on October 11th at Wake Forest University. The format will be more informal with the two candidates seated at a table with me. The third will be October 17th at Washington university in St. Louis and that will follow a town-hall type format. October 5 there is a debate between Joe Lieberman and Dick Cheney. It will be held at center college in Danville, Kentucky. Thank you, Governor Bush, Vice President Gore. See you next week. For now from Boston I'm Jim Lehrer. Thank you, and good night. [APPLAUSE]

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