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Poll: 50% of likely voters say they will vote for Hochul; 41% say they'll vote for Blakeman

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News 12 Staff

WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17VCostOfLiving__6718f74c-b1a7-4b9c-8113-2f01e92d5aaf

We're devoting the entire first block of this debate to one issue, the economy, and that's because the overwhelming majority of the questions that you sent us focused on the same concern, the cost of living, and it's not hard to understand why everything from groceries to gas to housing costs is. Costing more these days and in Westchester County alone, a typical single family home now sells for more than $1.2 million which is up nearly 10% in just one year candidates. So our first question comes from Heidi Winslow. She's a lawyer from Yorktown Heights, and she joins us from our watch party in Ryebrook. Heidi. Hi, thank you. So, as you mentioned, uh, the affordability of the Hudson Valley has, uh, taken a, a little bit of a downturn in terms of our, our housing, our groceries, um, our, uh, cost of living for healthcare, and it's impacting our seniors, our young people, and our working families. Beyond blaming the other party, what are three specific things that you'll do in Congress to lower the cost of living? And how quickly do you think we'll be able to see results? Congressman Lawler, we'll begin with you, and you have one minute to respond. Well, thank you, Heidi. First of all, we delivered the largest tax cut in American history, putting more than $4000 back in the pockets of hardworking Hudson Valley families. I fulfilled my promise to lift the cap on salt from $10,000 to $40,000. Over 90% of Hudson Valley taxpayers were able to fully deduct their state and local taxes. No tax on tips, no tax on Social Security. No tax on overtime. This was money put back in the pockets of middle class and working class families. In addition, I was proud to lead the largest bipartisan housing bill in over 36 years to pass Congress. It would increase supply, cut red tape. Increase access to capital for home builders and home buyers and ultimately bring down prices. In addition, we're working on permitting reform to increase domestic production of energy. Utility rates in New York are up 58% under Kathy Hochle in the last 6 years because they shut down Indian Point. I want to rebuild and reopen it. They banned natural gas extraction. I want to permit it. Ms. Conley, you have 1 minute to respond. What is your plan and what would it put back into the pocket of an average New York 17 family come next year? Hi Heidi and thank you so much for your question about housing and the housing crisis that we are facing. There's two pieces to this. There's the supply and how do we build more of the supply responsibly, and then how do we help people afford the supply we are building. And this goes back into starting from the top. This administration has made this housing crisis only worse because of things like the reckless Trump tariffs that my opponent has voted for 8 times that have raised the cost of construction materials and thus raised the cost of building the homes that we need so badly. We need to do a better job of actually delivering for people, and that means putting these problems in context and solving them with the urgency and aggressiveness that people. Deserve on the supply side, the other part that we need to encourage is people to have the ability to buy that supply, and that's where I support creating an American Public Service Home Loan program, a program that mirrors the VA home loan program that veterans like me get to benefit from, where after 10 years as a first responder, law enforcement, nurse, or a teacher, you would get the same assistance in buying a home in the communities you serve that veterans like me do. OK, Congressman, you were name checked there and have requested a rebuttal. Go ahead for 15 seconds. Look, New York has the highest tax burden, the worst business climate. We lead the nation in outmigration. New York has driven up prices on energy, on healthcare, on housing routinely over this past last decade. We need to take an all of government approach to tackle this. It's why I focused on taxes. It's why I focused on housing and energy.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17UtilityCosts__7e22a4df-087d-4448-aa54-6858027b1835

Electricity prices in the country now. The latest federal data that we reviewed shows New Yorkers are paying about $29.5 per kilowatt hour, which is way forward, more than 60% above the national average. So we have another viewer question now. This one comes from Davis Stillwell. He's a retired finance executive from Somers. His question first is for Kate Conley. Uh, Ms. Connolly, among your campaign promises is that you will lower electric bills by taking on corporate utility giants. In New York State, electric rates are set in large part by the New York Public Service Commission. The majority of the commissioners are Democrats appointed by Democratic governors. How exactly do you intend to lower electric bills by quote taking on corporate utility giants unquote. OK, Kate Connolly, let's hear your plan to lower energy costs. You have one minute. Thank you so much and thank you for the thoughtful question. There is absolutely a role for the federal government to address the utility and energy crisis that we are seeing, and it does mean reining in monopoly utility companies by allowing the profits that they're making to be tied to performance and reversing the incentives that government sanctioned profits are enabled. And when you look at this, what does that mean? Well, first we need to be banning. Things like unnecessary costs getting passed through to ratepayers, things like private jets, corporate offsites, and lobbying fees, something that my opponent got to benefit from as a former utility lobbyist. But we have to go further than that too. We need to be investing in cleaner, smarter, and more efficient forms of energy. We have to develop more energy. We have to generate more. But this administration, instead of leaning into that, actually has reduced incentives for clean energy development and generation. They even stopped an offshore wind project off Long Island that would have powered 1.2 million homes and instead would rather use nearly a billion dollars in taxpayer money to pay a foreign company to stop development. That is wrong. You deserve better, and that's what I will do. Thank you, Ms. Conley and Congressman, let me Broaden this out a bit and bring you into the mix because New York clearly needs more electricity, but New Yorkers, as we mentioned, are already paying some of the highest rates in the United States. So what can Congress do to expand energy generation without pushing our utility bills even higher? You also get one minute to. Yeah, uh, unfortunately, in my opponent's answer, at no point did she say what she would actually do to increase supply. The fact is this is a supply and demand, uh, issue. New York State has cut off supply. We've shut down nuclear power. We've banned natural gas extraction. We've blocked pipeline. We've required all electric construction. Of course utility rates are going to go up 58% in six years under Kathy Hochle and her PSC that she appointed and approved. Every single rate hike has been approved by Albany, not Washington. We are fighting for permitting reform. Because energy is a national security issue, it is also an economic and interstate commerce issue. We need to increase supply. When you look at your utility bills, the utility bills are through the roof because of the delivery charge. Why? Because we're importing energy from other states to get it to New York. That is wrong and that's why I believe we need to rebuild and reopen Indian Point and allow natural gas extraction as well as all of the. With renewables, Kate Conley has requested a rebuttal. I will get to you in just a moment, but I have a brief follow up for you, Congressman, because you have mentioned Indian Point, and as you know, it is actively being decommissioned right now in order to recommission it. Not only is that a pricey venture, you need sign on from state and local leaders, and Governor Hochul, the current county executive in Westchester, Ken Jenkins say that this is a nonstarter. So how do you sway mines there? And if you can't, how realistic is the plan? Well, look, they're wrong. I mean, Kathy Hochle now is saying we need nuclear and she wants to build it on the Canadian border. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, a Democrat, is recommissioning a power plant that was shut down, Palisades, on Lake Michigan, because she understands you need nuclear power in order to meet the supply. Ms. Conley, go ahead, a quick rebuttal. Yes, so going back to, I did provide solutions, which is our federal government should be incentivized. What are the quickest, cleanest, and most efficient forms of energy development? Those are things like solar and wind power, which this administration enabled by Congress and the one big ugly bill took away incentives from, and we've actually seen residential solar go down, not up at a time where we're in an energy crisis. I have to move on now. Is that enough solar panels to generate the level of electricity. The fact that steel costs have now gone up so much and made it more expensive is incredibly counterproductive, wouldn't you say?

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17SocialSecurity__af8be022-c9e7-480e-8122-00348e39e911

Candidates, I do have to move on now to Social Security. Another issue we heard a lot about from our viewers. The latest projections show the trust fund that pays retirement benefits could run out of reserves in 2032. And if Congress does nothing, only about 78% of scheduled benefits could then be paid. John Ravitz, a businessman from Pelham, wants to know which approach you would support to address it. He joins us now. John, welcome. Thank you. There are two proposals now before Congress aimed at addressing Social Security's long-term solvency the PROMISE Act and the bipartisan Social Security Commission Act co-sponsored by Congress members Cole and Swazzi. We'd love to hear which approach do you favor and why, and please be as specific as possible. Yes, Kate Connolly, those are two fundamentally different approaches. One of them, as John mentioned, includes the backing of a fellow Democrat and your neighboring Long Island congressman Tom Swazzi. Which plan do you support and why? So let's be clear, I will work with anyone to deliver for our seniors for our Hudson Valley, and right now what is happening. Happening, the pressure that our seniors on fixed income are under is just wrong. They have paid into Social Security. They have earned this, and we have to ensure that it continues. But things like the one big ugly bill which in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires literally reduce the solvency of Social Security by 6 months is counterproductive. I believe we need to implement a payroll tax above. $400,000 to help address the solvency issues and meet the needs. Congressman, let's hear your plan to keep Social Security solvent. First of all, my opponent just lied. Social Security was not touched under reconciliation. It can't legally be touched. Second of all, look, I understand how important Social Security is. My grandmother died seven years ago today. And they relied heavily on Social Security. When my dad was dying of cancer, he relied on Social Security disability. We made a promise to the American people, and I will never relent on fulfilling that promise, but we have to recognize doing nothing will automatically reduce benefits, and that is unacceptable. We need to have a bipartisan working group to get this done and bring in new sources of revenue to the system.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17Tariffs__9a32d0f4-7280-4115-8d4c-a28e9ee69aea

I need to talk tariffs now and what they're meaning for businesses here at home. Recent research from the New York Fed found tariffs are raising costs for businesses all across the tri-state, with many passing at least some of those costs onto their customers. And the Fed says a significant share of businesses, they expect to raise prices even more. Our next question comes from Jamie Schutzer. He's the board chairman of our debate partner, the Business Council of Westchester. Jamie, thank you for joining us. Thank you. Building on tariffs introduction, tariffs are increasingly on the minds and impacting the wallets of the Business council of Westchester's members from the largest corporations to the smallest entrepreneurships. What, if anything, would you change about US trade policy to protect American jobs and industries while keeping costs down for businesses and consumers? And Ms. Connolly, we're going to start with you, but I want to add on to that, you know, at your first forum with Congressman Lawler last month, you did say that you do support some tariffs in principle, but you've been a vocal critic of the president's tariff decisions. So let's have you clarify your position on that. Absolutely, tariffs as designed are intended to be used as a scalpel to help foster specific domestic business. are supported with additional policies. That is not what we have seen with this administration, which has been absolutely reckless in the administration of foreign tariffs that have jacked up prices on goods for the average household in the Hudson Valley by $4200. That means families in the Hudson Valley are paying $4200 more today than they were before the tariffs. We are literally We are literally paying the harm of votes like Mike Lawler's 8 times in support of those tariffs, and families deserve better. OK, so just to clarify, which tariffs would you eliminate and which ones would you keep looking for a quick answer here. So under this Trump administration we have seen our tariff policy change more than 50 times, impacting over 80 different counties or countries and territories, often by tweet, and In instances like where my opponent has voted 8 times in support of them, we've seen them again jack up the cost of goods by $4200. Those need to be, let me bring the congressman into the mix now. On the flip side, you have been very supportive of much of the president's trade policies as it relates to his tariff strategies. Is there any part of it that you think he's gotten wrong or that you would change? Look, I said from the very beginning tariffs as a tool to force fair trade is critical. When you look at Europe, for instance, and the American taxpayers subsidizing European prescription drug prices, tariffs actually forced change and Down prescription drug prices by over 3%, the largest decline in 60 years. That was a positive thing, forcing China, a very bad actor when it comes to trade policy, to change its ways and actually invest in the United States is important.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17EducationCosts__9f506f45-7401-49ab-90f5-df068c732559

You know, another major pocketbook issue for a whole lot of local families, of course, is the cost of higher education. For the first time this year, the annual cost of attending 5 New York colleges has topped $100,000. I know college student Mason Dweck from Chappaqua joins us with our next question, and he drove quite a way to be here. Thank you for joining us. Congressman Lawler, Ms. Connolly, thank you both for being here. I'm a freshman at Tufts University and I came home last night specifically to be here today and ask this question because the stakes are incredibly high for my generation and for the future we're gonna inherit. My question is, students, including myself, are being asked to make an enormous investment in our education while also thinking about what life will look like after graduation. What is your plan in Congress to make college more affordable while also creating stronger job opportunities for graduates so young people can afford to pay off their loans, buy a home, start a family, and build a financially secure life after college. And Mason is obviously a not alone congressman. So many of our local families and students are struggling to afford the sky high cost of higher education. So what can Congress do to alleviate some of this financial burden for them? Well, I led on this issue in a bipartisan way with Democrat Jared Moskowitz of Florida. We introduced a 2% cap on interest rates for student loans. The fact is, Kids are coming out of college with upwards of $200,000 in debt and cannot afford it. They don't have many job prospects as a result of some of the cost. They're living at home. They can't get healthcare. These are real challenges. And so from my vantage point, we need to overhaul our education system, including the fact that we need vocational schools. OK, that's time. Thank you, Ms. Conley. Obviously a huge concern. How would you tackle it? Yeah, look, I was raised by a single mom, 3 girls, postal worker's salary, and my parents never graduated from college. I was the first in my family to graduate from college. I know this struggle. I know the struggles families face to try to give their kids an opportunity and a pathway to the middle class. And what is happening right now with higher education is wrong. We do need to cap interest rates on federal student loans. We also need to be investing in pathways that don't require a four-year college degree to make it to the middle class, things like Bosie's programming and trade skills and investing in apprenticeships, and that's where our focus will absolutely be going forward.

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Kate Conley, should members of Congress be banned from trading individual stocks? Yes or no? Yes, Congressman. Yes, and I led on the bill. Congressman, how much do you spend each month on a mortgage or rent? Over $3000. Kate Conley, over $5000. Ms. Conley, what is your go to grocery store here in the Hudson Valley, and on average, how much do you spend on groceries a week? Did she goes in easily over $300 a week, Congressman. Shoprite and as a family of four, well over $500 a week. Congressman, do you personally own any cryptocurrency? No. What about you, Kate Conley? Yes. How much? Uh, I think about $10,000. Kate Conley, legal cannabis here in New York, is it helping or hurting our local economy and neighborhoods? I think it's helping. Mike Lawler hurting congestion pricing. Keep it, eliminate it or expand it. Eliminate it, eliminate it.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17USMilitaryAidIsrael__8d413220-e498-41ad-903f-1273a4db4b8f

You're watching the first debate for the candidates hoping to represent New York's 17th congressional district, and there are few places in the country where the conflict in the Middle East hits closer to home. This district is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country. More than 1 in 5 voters are Jewish. There is Also growing Muslim communities across the Hudson Valley and so as the conflict overseas drags on, the debate over America's role in it is deeply, deeply personal for a whole lot of families here. So let's head back to our watch party for our next question from a viewer from Muncie, Rivka Mandel. Welcome, Rivka. Thank you. Both of you have said you support Israel, but there's growing disagreement over US military aid. Would you support continuing unconditional US military assistance to Israel, including weapons used in Gaza, and is there any circumstance under which you would vote to withhold or condition that aid? Please give voters a yes or no answer first. Ms. Conley, you're going to kick us off here. Your views on aid to Israel, and you have one minute. So I've spent 16 years in active duty, multiple tours to combat zones in the Middle East. I have to tell you, as someone who has been to war, the last thing I want to see is anyone's sons or daughters or anyone's communities continue to be at war. I do support America's continued support to the state of Israel and the Israeli people and support to ensure the safety and security of the Israeli people through military assistance and aid. And right now I support the Leahy laws which are administered for every recipient of foreign military assistance to include Israel. And I will also say, look, I love this country. I was willing to die for this country, America. I criticize Donald Trump when I believe he's doing the wrong thing for America. I believe in Israel's right to exist and in America's responsibility to help support the safety and security of the people of Israel. I also criticize Netanyahu when I believe he's doing the wrong thing for Israel and for America. OK, let me just drill down a little further because it was back in July when 103 of your fellow Democrats, the House Democrats, voted on an amendment that would have stripped more than $3 billion in US aid to Israel. Congressman, you voted against it. Had you been in Congress, which way would your vote have gone, Kate Conley? I would have also voted against it. It also stripped assistance packages and other forms of reconstruction. Now Congressman Lawler, on the flip side to you, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that he wants to wean Israel off of US military aid over the next decade. That is aid that you've been very supportive of. So the question becomes if Israel itself wants Phase out should American taxpayers continue to pay for it. You have one minute to respond. Well, of course, if Israel no longer needs the assistance, that's a decision that they would make. But the assistance very much is in our interest, especially with respect to our military personnel in the region. We have a significant number of bases in the Middle East, as well as over 700,000 Americans living in the state of Israel at a given time. The fact is that Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East. They are a beacon of hope and opportunity and freedom and democracy. They're the only democracy in the Middle East. They have not committed a genocide. Let's be very clear about that. Some of my colleagues, especially on the Democratic side of the aisle, have wavered in their support because of the radical anti-Semitic base of support within their party that has risen. People. Zoran Mamdani, who my opponent says she respects, I don't, I don't respect his position on Israel. I don't respect where the Democratic Party is going when it comes to supporting our greatest ally in the region. Go ahead, a quick rebuttal, Kate Connolly, 15 seconds. I am absolutely disgusted by the rising anti-Semitism that is happening within both political parties on both sides of the aisle, and it has no place here in America. It is fundamentally un-American. And that's why I would also support the Jewish American Security Act because we do have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all our communities, including our Jewish community. I need to wrap you both there because you're going to have an opportunity. I just want to say I'm glad that you support my legislation, the Jewish American Security Act, but do you denounce Oran Mamdani and his radical anti-Semitism? I denounce anti-Semitism regardless. Do you denounce Zoran Mamdani. I denounce anti-Semitism from anyone. Do you denounce Zoran Mamdani. I've denounced Tucker Carlson. I've denounced Candace Owens. This is a denounce Zoran Mamdani. I have firm disagreements with members of the DSA within the Democratic Party. We have any form of hate has no place, period. Full stop. Look, as a former military police officer, I support our law enforcement and ensuring the safety and security of our communities. Support border security as part of national security, and I absolutely call out my own party. I need it when I believe it's wrong, but you don't denounce Iran Modani denounce Donald Trump and the harm that he has caused to our families here in the Hudson Valley. No, you voted with him 100% of the time, Mike. You continue to lie about that. It's provably false. I have not voted with Donald Trump 100% of the time. What I've done is actually do my job, which is to represent my constituents and actually work in a bipartisan way. Why do you think Jared Golden, Democrat from Maine endorsed me. My best friend in Congress is Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat. We work collaboratively all the time. How are you going to engage in bipartisanship? How are you going to engage in bipartisanship when you call Republicans the greatest threat to America? You said Republicans are the greatest threat to America. OK, candidates, now we're talking over one another. The wellness. Oh really? You think we're a greater threat than China and Iran and Russia 100% of the time.

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Should the United States recognize a Palestinian state? Yes or no, Ms. Conley. Yes, Mr. Lawler. Only if Hamas is completely removed from power and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. So then I will pose, because you answered the next question, I'll throw it to Kate Contley. Should recognition of a Palestinian state be conditioned on Hamas being completely disarmed? Yes, we should not have a terrorist organization as part of any governing structure. Full stop, Ms. Connolly. Do you support or oppose further expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank? I oppose. Congressman. Israel is in control of over 60% of the land under Oslo, so Israel is actually certainly within their legal authority to have. Settlements within what is known as the West Bank. Looking for quick answers here, rapper Macklemore was recently dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour after several stadiums refused to host him following his pro-Palestinian remarks that left some concert attendees feeling unsafe. Do you think those venue owners made the right decision, Mike Lawler? Yes, Ms. Conley. I believe we got to stop with hate and Have public leaders. Yes or no. Lower the temperature. Yes or no. I mean the right call. To stop The decision made by the stadium owners, was that the right call? Yes or no? Correct. OK. And finally, do you believe Israel's actions, you already answered this, Congressman. We'll end with you, Ms. Connolly. Do you believe Israel's actions in Gaza constitute a genocide? No. OK.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17Combatingantisemitism__2502dfc9-e215-415e-b71d-04b495ca262d

Beyond the policy debates over Israel, I know we could spend the whole debate talking about this. There's another issue hitting particularly close to home in the district anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League last year recorded the highest number of anti-Semitic assaults in New York since it began tracking them, and this is something again a lot of you sent us in questions about. So Congressman Lawler, what should Congress be doing to not only battle anti-Semitism, but even more broadly target Muslim hate and hate. Towards other religious communities, well, there should be no hate, period, and we as Americans should not tolerate it no matter who it comes from or where it rears its ugly head. It's why I've led with Josh Gottheimer on a number of bills, including the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, including the IGO Anti-Boycott Act to root out anti-Semitism and the BDS movement at the UN. It's why I led on JASA, the Jewish American Security Act. Jewish Americans are under attack in this country, and we have a responsibility to stand up and ensure everyone's safety. Nobody should be in fear for going to synagogue. That's why Ali Chemtov, a Newcastle town councilwoman, endorsed me for reelection. Thank you, Congressman. And now to you, Ms. Connolly. What should Congress do to fight anti-Semitism and rising religious hate? So when I was working at the cybersecurity and infrastructure Security Agency, there was a tremendous amount of work done to support faith-based organizations and specifically synagogues as we saw rising hate against our Jewish community, which again has absolutely no place here in America, and I will very proudly. up and condemn hate in any form, especially anti-Semitism. Going back to the military, I proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with people across the ideological spectrum, the ethnic spectrum, the religious spectrum to serve this nation. That is the best of America and who we are, where everyone should be safe and have a home and not have to live in fear.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17LawBanningICE__10a3a2c7-4e20-40d0-974e-7abdda122ef5

And now I have to uh switch gears here now and we're going to talk about immigration, which is another huge issue in your race, and this is a question from a local family whose story has become part of the national debate. Tom and Jessica Gorman of Yorktown lost their 18 year old daughter Sheridan in March. The college freshman was shot and killed while walking with friends in Chicago. The man Charged with her murder was in the country illegally and had previously been arrested and released, so they have joined our watch party today to ask the candidates about a new law here in New York which bans agreements that allow local law enforcement to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties for ICE. Tom and Jessica, thank you for joining us. Thank you. Our daughter Sheridan Gorman was an 18 year old freshman at Chicago's Loyola University, and in March, she was shot in the back and murdered in cold blood while on the pier with her friends trying to see the northern lights. The man charged with her murder was here illegally and had previously been arrested for a crime and released under Chicago's sanctuary policies. A simple 5 2nd phone call between local and federal law enforcement would have saved her life. A 5 2nd phone call would have saved her life. New York's new law ended the agreements that let local police and county jails work with ICE. That prevents that 5 2nd phone call. We're not asking for condolences or apologies. We simply want to prevent this from happening to another family. So we're asking a three part question of both of you. Do you support New York's new law? Yes or no? And what and would you support federal legislation that would override state laws like this one? And how does your answer make our communities safer? Ms. Connolly, one minute, please get us started. Yeah, my heart absolutely breaks, and what happened to Sheridan is inexcusable. Government failed her And for that we have to make sure that that doesn't happen again and that is, I will tell you as someone who started my military career as a military police officer. The safety and security of our families is something I will be unwavering in and making sure it is a priority and government fulfilling its responsibility. I do believe that border security is national security. I do believe that immigration enforcement is essential, especially in getting violent criminals like who we are talking about off the streets and preventing terrorist groups and drug cartels and human traffickers from being in our communities. What is happening under this administration unfortunately is not a focus on violent criminals, but what we're seeing is them rolling up people like grandmas and nurses, people in our communities. So I want to see that we are prioritizing the safety and security of our families. I will never waver in that. Congressman Lawler, you have the same amount of time, one minute. You've been critical of New York's law. Do you think that Congress should override it? Well, Jess and Tom, what you didn't hear from Kate was an answer to your question. She does support Kathy Hochul's new law, and she would not support federal legislation to end sanctuary policies. Let me be very clear, I stand with you. I am against Kathy Hochul's disastrous new law, and I support any legislation that will end sanctuary jurisdictions in this country. Since Donald Trump took office, Kathy Hochul has released over 7000 convicted illegal immigrants back out onto our streets refusing to honor detainer requests, murderers, rapists, drug dealers, gun traffickers, gang bangers. I refuse to allow that in this state and in this country, and I will. Oppose it with every fiber of my being. I support fixing our broken immigration system. It's why I've led on the Dignity Act. I supported securing our border and stopping the massive influx of illegal immigration that we saw under Joe Biden, over 11 million people, and I want criminals deported out of this country, period. Full stop.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17ImmigrationReform__1445b839-5fef-46bb-bbd8-1af3e28f92de

Now beyond enforcement candidates, um, many of you at home wanted to know what immigration reform would actually look like under each of these candidates. Edgar Guerra Limas grew up in Spring Valley, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, and he's now a student at Fordham, and he came to our watch party today with a question for both candidates. I wanted to greet you both formally. I've, uh, actually met you, Michael Lawler, in person twice. Uh, you came to my graduation in RCC and, uh, you also did the rally in RCC. And so I wanted to speak to you both, uh, plainly. I grew up in Spring Valley. Michael Lawler, you should be very familiar with the area and my. Parents are both immigrants uh in fact they were illegal immigrants and they thank God have attained their uh citizenship and so my question to you because both of you have spoken at length about immigration reform, I want to know the specifics on what you want to reform in both ICE and immigration more broadly. Specific changes to our immigration system. Congressman, 30 seconds. Look, my wife is an immigrant. I've been through this system. It's fundamentally broken. It's why I've been a co-lead on the Dignity Act, pushing back against the administration and those in my own party. We need to fix the broken system and bring Those who have been in this country more than 5 years, 1015, 20 years working in our communities, their children and grandchildren are probably American citizens, give them a legal status to work in this country. I've also led on Haitian TPS pushing back against the president on his position. And we should reform ICE insofar as body worn cameras, no masks, uniform. I've said that repeatedly from the start. Ms. Connolly, same question for you, immigration. Yes, our immigration system is so broken, and we do need to desperately fix it right now. We see people who have been living in our communities who have raised their children and grandchildren in our communities who don't have a pathway to citizenship, and they deserve what if they have not committed crimes. And right now they don't have that. We need to fix this. We are so much better than this as America. The fact that it's been this broken for so long is absolutely unacceptable. But we also must rein in ice. The fact that we have federal agents on American streets murdering American citizens without accountability is wrong, and that's not a partisan issue. That is an American issue. This is about public safety and security, and that's where we do need accountability of our federal agents, making sure they're doing things. Wearing body cameras, wearing identification, not wearing masks and focusing on violent criminals. Conley. OK, go ahead. A 15 2nd rebuttal, Michael. I'll just say what happened in Minneapolis was wrong. Those two folks should never have been killed, Renee Good and Alex Preddy, but equally as wrong as what happened to Sheridan Gorman. If you want accountability with respect to ICE, you should want accountability with respect to the Gormans. You should not support Kathy Hochul. Very quickly, last word on this, Kate Connelly. What is also wrong is you allowing Donald Trump to revoke Haitian TPS status when we have the 2nd largest population in the country and you allowed Donald Trump to come here and visit you. You go to the Oval Office. You literally go to his rallies, but you don't actually hold him accountable for doing the right thing for our own community. Our Haitian population in the Hudson Valley is the backbone of. You should call Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and get it through the Senate. I passed it through the House to extend Haitian GPS done to actually get Donald Trump to reverse the decision that he made. You had him out here in Mexico. I have spoken repeatedly to the administration and I was able to get several extensions delivered, and we have been working on the cases individually to what I hear is a lot of talk but not a lot of delivering, candidates, Trump's agenda.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17LightningQuestPt3__132f363a-edf6-468d-b48b-8d86bc53ef69

I do want to get the first question in. Should the United States keep fighting at Iran until its nuclear program is permanently disabled? Yes or no, Congressman. It's more complicated than yes. They should not possess a nuclear weapon, and we need to do everything in our power to make sure that that is eliminated, as well as their financing of terrorism, which exploded when Kate Conley was on the National Security. Iran get a nuclear weapon, but where we woke up on a Saturday morning to find this administration getting us into yet another reckless war of choice in the Middle East, something I have firsthand experience in without clear military objectives, without an exit strategy, without the support of our allies or the American people is wrong. And my opponent has voted 6 times to wrap to give Donald Trump a blank check on this war in Iran without accountability.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17ReproductiveRights__0ec27968-a319-4af0-8d04-9bb4f4cdbea7

Welcome back. We're going to pick back up now with reproductive rights here in New York. Abortion rights are protected under state law, and voters have also enshrined reproductive health care and autonomy in the state constitution. But the fight at the federal level is far from settled. Kate Permont of Ossin has our next question. Welcome, Kate. Thank you. This federal administration is rolling back women's rights to control our own bodies from denying IVF coverage to veterans, to letting states ban abortion, to hinting that the Comstock Act may come back and deny us birth control. What will you do to help women stay free from government interference in our most private health decisions? OK, Ms. Connolly, what would you do at the federal level to protect reproductive rights? 30 seconds. Yes, we absolutely need to codify Roe v. Wade, but we have to also understand what this administration has done and it's war against women's healthcare, a war that my friend and colleague over here, Mike Lawler, has enabled by doing things like voting for restrictions on Federal funding to Planned Parenthood, one of the largest providers of healthcare to working women in the country. He has voted over 11 times to restrict abortion access to include for service members like myself, brave women serving their active duty military restricting abortion services. This is about restoring funding, restoring women's rights, period. Congressman. Look, I'm against a federal ban on abortion. I've said that repeatedly and would not support legislation to do that. I've also pushed back against the effort to ban access to mifepristone, and I've led on the issue of access to IVF, introducing legislation to make it easier for women and families to be able to plan and to get access to treatments, including creating a new tax credit to help pay for these very costly procedures.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17MentalHealth__ac37dc1f-894d-473d-83cd-0f73bfcf94db

Now to an issue that touches families across every age group and in every part of this district, mental health and the question of what Washington can actually do to improve care here at home. Yael Monsalis, a psychotherapist from Hawthorne, sent in this question. As a mental health provider serving families in Hudson Valley, this is a real concern I see in my practice. Access to affordable therapy, treatment for serious mental illness, and mental health services for children and adolescents can be incredibly difficult for families to navigate. What specifically would you do in Congress to make mental health more affordable and accessible, particularly to families struggling to find care? Congressman Lawler, we'll start with you this time. 30 seconds. Very important issue. Uh, we have a mental health crisis across this country. Uh, people do need access to care, but also caregivers need access, and I was proud to work with Diana Lemon. On creating Dreams Caregiver Access Act to make it easier for those that are engaged in caregiving to get mental health treatment and access to mental health services. We need to look at this holistically and make sure that we are expanding access, taking on the insurance companies, taking on the drug companies, making it more affordable for people to get mental health care in this country. Ms. Connolly, what should Congress do to make mental health treatments more affordable and accessible? Yes, the hypocrisy of my opponent's comments is just egregious. He voted for the one big ugly bill that was record cuts to Medicaid that have impacted nearly half a million New Yorkers, forcing them off of their health insurance between Medicaid cuts and rescinding the premium tax credits. If he cared so much about the health care of our families, of people in our district, then he would not have voted 100% of the time when Donald. Trump's agenda and no matter how much he tries to lie, he is not going to erase the harm he has done for our families. Mental health is health care. We need to be funding it fully, period. Thank you, Congressman. You were invoked, so go ahead, a quick rebuttal. There she goes again. I have not voted 100% of the time. We also voted to protect Medicaid by requiring eligibility verification, proof of citizenship, and work requirements so that able-bodied adults without dependent children are working and we're not taking away from the. Labeled working moms, children, are seniors. Medicaid is growing by 25% even with the common sense reforms that we put in place to protect the system, which doubled under the Biden administration. OK, Ms. Connolly, I'll give you the opportunity to respond. Yes, my opponent is a lifelong political operative, and you are seeing the operative in full effect tonight. He is straight up lying again. He was the deciding vote on the one big ugly bill that ripped healthcare away from hundreds of thousands of people right here in New York. That is real, and families are struggling because of the harm that he has done voting with Donald Trump and his agenda 100% of the time. Go ahead, Congressman. I'm going to give you a quick response and then I have to move on. No matter how many times you say 100% of the time, it's provably false, but moreover, times for the moreover, 6 times for the war in Iran, right, decisive vote on the one day there's 1000 votes and there's over 1000 votes. Look, at the end of the day, I fought for and delivered the extension of the MCO tax which brought back over 1.2 billion. billion dollars to New York's hospital system. We got the FEMA funds released, bringing back over $2 billion to New York's hospital system. We were able to get the basic waiver passed so that people can continue on the essential plan, which is a New York State program. New York State prior to 2015 fully funded it. They need to fund it again. I think our viewers go ahead very quickly and then I. Last year Mike Lawler looked at voters, looked them in the eye, and said, I will not cut Medicaid. Time after time after time, time after time, he said, I will not vote to cut Medicaid. And then was the deciding vote in the one big ugly bill that had record breaking cuts to Medicaid. You cannot trust what this man is saying, period. And we're seeing it with this record. We protected the system for eligible recipient.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17ArtificialIntelligenc__2bd02fbd-73be-473c-8f97-a01e1060d8bb

We're going high tech now, starting with artificial intelligence and some pretty alarming warnings about just how fast this technology is advancing. Some of the biggest names in AI are now calling for the industry to slow down, warning that the technology could soon become too powerful to control. Kathleen Talbot, a retiree from Peekskill, is back at our watch party with our next question, Kathleen. Earlier this month, a former Google DeepMind researcher warned that AI could permanently lead to human extinction within the next decade. How concerned are you about AI getting out of control and eliminating humans in the next decade, and what actions would you call for to prevent that from happening? Tackling AI concerns, Ms. Connolly, get us started. 30 seconds please. I'm incredibly concerned. This is the federal government's job to look out for the public safety and security, and that means regulating AI while ensuring we are still the global leader in AI development. We can do both. We are America. We can both regulate responsibly and lead the world in this technology. But what we're seeing out of my opponent is he voted against allowing states to regulate AI at a time where Congress is absolutely dropping the ball. He is here today and his other colleagues, not in Washington DC, not meeting the moment and actually regulating AI when our country needs them to, but instead running from their responsibility. But he is taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from big tech. OK, we're going to give you a chance to respond here, but I want to ask you, Congressman, President Trump has very strongly been pushing back against these warnings for AI to slow it down, warning that it could potentially put the United States behind China. Do you agree with him, or do you think that these risks, these warnings are serious enough to slow down? No, I don't agree with him, and that's why I've led on this issue with Josh Gottheimer, Democrat from New Jersey. We've introduced numerous pieces of legislation, including the Stop Rogue AI Act to go after these rogue bots and agents that are multiplying, that are hacking into our systems. We also have legislation to require all of these new models that are being created to be tested before they go live. Look. Kate Conley is the AI candidate for the AI industry. She's bought and paid for by them. Only one of us is receiving a paycheck by AI and big tech, and that's her. She's received hundreds of thousands of dollars for a no-show job in which she can't tell you what she does, except that she moved up here to run for Congress. She doesn't pay taxes here. She doesn't own a home here. She'll move back to Virginia as quickly as she got here when she loses in November. Go ahead, Ms. Connolly. A response. So in my world where you put public service against any party or person, I am very proud of my career to include over 16 years in the military, 4 years at West Point, more times in the reserves where I am actually out there going wherever my country needed me to go. That meant Baghdad instead of Bedford, and I do not need to have my service attacked by a guy who never left the comfort of his couch after 9/11. I am incredibly proud of this country. I will always fight to ensure that our service members have all of the tools that they need to be the best military force in the world. It's not attacking your service. I appreciate your service. What I don't appreciate is the revolving door in Washington that you left the Biden administration. To get a private sector job with big AI and big tech to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars only to move up here two months after you got the contract. What exactly are you doing while running for Congress for these AI companies? You've yet to be able to answer it and explain it. You hide behind NDAs. The fact is you have No show gig by these AI companies. You're doing their bidding and now you want to go to Congress to regulate it. Give me a break. Ms. Connolly. Go ahead. Thank you. Yes, so here in the district, Mike, I get thanked for my service. I don't get blamed for it like you do. I just thank you for what we're talking about right now. You want to talk about who has sold out who on Mike Lawler's watch, there have been 5 data centers built in Rockland County, 5 with 3 more on the way. And instead of fighting for greater regulation, Mike Lawler opposes a moratorium on data centers. I support a moratorium on data centers, and what you have seen is him voting for things like the one big ugly bill that gave $80 billion in tax breaks to data center companies for development and reduced regulation. This is not a guy who's actually going to follow through on anything he's saying. He's looking out for himself. He's taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from big tech donations. While he's fighting for their interests, period. You have a very difficult time with the truth. The data centers that were built, the data centers that were built, were built before I was in Congress, number 1. Number 2, they have nothing to do with AI. They have nothing to do with AI. They have to do with our financial industry post 9/11. They were built here to protect our financial services industry. Are you against protecting our financial services industry? I don't understand your argument. I'm against they were built before I ever got to Congress. OK. You keep saying that they were built on my watch. I never was in Congress when they were built. All right, Kate Conley, go ahead. I mean, you have said, I saw a previous interview where you said that you would support data centers if they're a net benefit for the community. So go ahead. I just need to call out his lie. There are literally 3 data centers being built right now in Rockland County on his watch while he's in Congress. The man just lies. What we're talking about is doing the right thing for our communities, not corporate interests. Mike Lawler is a party first politician and lifelong political operative who has been bought and paid for by corporate interests, and the people of the Hudson Valley deserve better. Rockland County is seeing it play out right now.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17AIDataCenter__8b8e3a53-53c6-4b51-bd60-b93c4c52007e

We're getting a lot of pushback specifically on the proposed expansion of a data center in Orangetown. What do you both think should happen with that project, Congressman? It's up to the town. Local jurisdictions have the authority. I support local control of zoning. Always have, always will. I fought back against Kathy Hochul's efforts to eliminate local control of zoning. Kathy Hochul wanted to end all local control of zoning. In the state of New York, I fought back and won on that issue, so I support Orangetown, which put a moratorium in place, as well as East Fishkill, which put a moratorium in place. That's the right decision for those local municipalities. Yes, he just lied again in his own vote against the one big ugly bill for the one big ugly bill. It was against state ability to regulate. So he says he's for local and state level governance and decision making, but then he literally Voted against having the ability for states to regulate these industries that Congress, which he is part of, is failing to do their job in doing so and looking out for the American people. Again, you're the one who went on camera and said we need data centers. We need data centers. They're not going anywhere because you're bought and paid for by the AI companies. OK. The legislation that you're referring to, OK, ultimately had nothing to do with global control of zoning.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17FlockCameras__8819264f-5417-42cf-b6ee-fc42dd00d887

I want to get to this next question a viewer who showed up to ask about another technology that's also sparking a growing debate across New York flat cameras. These automated license plate readers are being used by police to help track down suspects and solve crimes, but they're also raising questions about how much information is being collected on every. Day drivers and that debate has now come to a head right here in this district just 3 days before the state debate, as I'm sure you're both aware, Duchess County announced it was decommissioning its existing cameras amid intense, intense public backlash. CJ Branch, a student from NYA, is ready with our next question. CJ. Thank you. I am 16 years old and I'm from my, I'm the descendant of a grandfather who immigrated to Rockland County. Also in Rockland County, there are over 100 FOT cameras in the county. What do you think about the growing use of flat cameras and what would you do in Congress to protect the privacy of your constituents? Ms. Connolly, you have 30 seconds. Yeah, I do believe that the federal government must play a role in ensuring the safety and security to include the data privacy and protections of the American people and especially right here in the Hudson Valley. What we have seen time and again is Congress failed to step up and do this. We see this with social media companies where Congress has failed to regulate social media companies and now they're literally doing targeted algorithms that are targeting children and exploiting children, causing mental health issues. We cannot trust that this same Congress is going to suddenly get it right when it comes to AI. If we want better solutions, we need new people, and this is where the experience I do bring will get this done. Thank you, Ms. Conley. Congressman, 30 seconds as well. As I said, the AI candidate for the AI industry. Look, at the end of the day, LPRs do play a role. They solve numerous crimes in the Hudson Valley, including The ultimate murder in the Muncy Hanukkah attack just a few years ago that LPR was vital in getting the suspect after he went over the George Washington Bridge. So we need to have a collaborative approach between federal, state, and local on regulations. The Flock cameras are deeply concerning because of AI and the ability to bring all of this information together. Violate privacy. Ms. Connolly, I saw you asked for rebuttal. I can afford you one sentence because I got to give you time for closing arguments. Yeah, if you want to know Michael Lawler, follow the money as a utility lobbyist, he's taken tens of thousands of dollars from the utility industry and done nothing to rein in our calls. He's done the same with data centers, an $80 billion tax break for data center developers and done nothing to actually stop data centers in our own district. He's not going to change. You deserve better.

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WCHVLawlerConleyDebateCongD17ClosingStatements__5dccf9fc-0abf-4d01-ab8a-5f1719749418

Now you each get one final chance to speak directly to the voters. It's time for closing statements. Ms. Connolly, you'll get us started. 30 seconds, please. If you want to know the biggest difference between me and Mike Lawler, just look over the last 20 years. Well, Mike Lawler, as a former political operative, which you saw play out tonight, well-trained liar. Utility lobbyist and politician has found every way possible to profit off of democracy while I was out there defending it. I promise you I will fight every day to root out the corruption in Washington by banning insider stock trading by members of Congress and the White House, by implementing term limits and lowering costs for our families, lowering taxes for our families, because it's just too damn hard for families like my own in the Hudson Valley. Mike Lawler, 30 seconds as well. As Ed Koch famously said, if you agree with me on 9 out of 12 things, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 things, have your head examined. We're not going to agree on everything, and that's a good thing, but I have fought tirelessly to stand up and fight for this district and deliver for it. We delivered the largest tax cut in American history. I've closed over 10,000 constituent cases. We've brought back over $120 million to the district. I've passed over 2 dozen bills, 17 of which have been signed into law. When I agree with the president. I say it when I disagree with him. I say it. I will always fight for this district, and on November 3rd, I hope to have your vote. Well, thank you, candidates. Time flies, right? This went really quick. Thank you both for such a spirited debate and thank you to all of you at home who sent in questions and joined us in Ryeburg. Remember, election day is November 3rd, and News 12 will be with you that night with live results, complete coverage starting at 9 p.m. because local elections lead to national change. I'm Tara Rosenblum. Thank you for joining us.

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News 12 Senior Political Reporter Tara Rosenblum moderated the debate between the candidates.

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