This past Monday, two congressional candidates for the 6th District of Virginia stepped up to the debate stage and participated in some civil discussion about what separates them going into Election Day. Challenger Kai Degner had been asking 24-year incumbent Bob Goodlatte to debate with him for many weeks now, and Goodlatte finally agreed. Since you were busy at work at noon on a Monday, I'm here to fill you in on what happened.

Opening statements.

Bob Goodlatte opened up by giving us a tour of his district, naming cities and stops that he takes when he's driving through on his way to or from Washington. Interestingly, in his opening statement, he mentioned that "his constituents have conservative values like he does," upsetting many of the Democrats in the audience.

Kai Degner picked up on this and opened his statement with "I'm like the 1992 Bob," the one who will take all of his constituents' concerns to Washington and will only run for a few terms in order to do so. He proceeded to tell the audience that as a small business owner and constituent of Bobs, he did not feel represented in the 6th District at all.

Q1: Congress is in gridlock. What actions will you take to work across party lines?

Degner answered the question by contrasting his own views with the current Democratic party stances. He stands against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) while Obama supports it, he stands against pipelines while the Democratic Governor of Virginia supports it. He quoted the Founding Fathers and their warning about forming political parties and offered that he would work across party lines if elected to Congress.

Goodlatte responded by saying that he has "never passed a partisan bill," always making sure that the bills have bi-partisan support. He offered that 48 bills have been signed by Obama that have left the Judiciary Committee, for which Goodlatte serves as chairman. He continued by telling the audience how he works with Ranking Democrats in Congress to work on criminal justice reform. He concluded with "I have always done that and I always will."

Degner responded by arguing that bi-partisan bills are great to an extent. Bills need bi-partisan support in order to gain votes; however, gridlock in Congress is exemplified by Goodlatte's seat on the Judiciary Committee, where Degner argued that progress is being stopped for partisan reasons.

Goodlatte responded by saying that thousands of bills are passed through the committee, so he and the rest of the committee must choose which ones hold merit. He concluded by mentioning again that he works for all of his constituents, but, said "most of his constituents believe what I believe," again upsetting Democratic, and less conservative, constituents in the audience.

Q2: Speak to how you would ease the code of Federal regulations?

Goodlatte responded to this by arguing that regulations empower a federal bureaucracy in the executive branch. Subsequently, businesses are hit the hardest by these regulations. He proceeded to highlight the legislation passed through the Judiciary Committee to use checks on these regulations.

Degner responded by arguing that as a small business owner, some regulations are necessary. The repeal of the Glass-Stegall Act was to regulate banks and ten years later, we had the longest financial crisis. He offered that saying regulation is bad is just too simple. He then moved on to talk about cannabis regulation. "Regulating cannabis is adverse to the goals of criminal justice and in the way of the hemp industry." He attacked Goodlatte by saying that he is keeping those regulations in place.

Goodlatte responded by saying "I'm not for legalizing marijuana," but he had helped hemp by providing researchers at James Madison University the tools to research hemp seeds in the Shenandoah Valley. He was not able to finish his thought as he went over time.

Degner responded by saying that "Rescheduling hemp would be consistent with a free market and getting regulations out of the way." However, those regulations are still in place, because the researchers had to have extensive background checks in order to touch any of the seeds. He concluded by saying how profitable hemp could be in the 6th District if it was not regulated.

Q3: How do you propose Congress tackle the growing financial crisis?

Degner responded to this by highlighting what contributes to the national debt. We are quick to blame entitlement programs for this crisis; however, they only make up a small percentage of the budget. One of the biggest contributions is war. Degner attacked Goodlatte's decision to support the Iraq War, and that we should be more careful about intervening in future wars.

Goodlatte responded by offering that we need to balance the budget in order to decrease the financial crisis. He told the audience that he has always voted for the tightest budgets possible and attacked Degner's support of raised taxes at the City Council level in Harrisonburg. He concluded that he will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility.

Degner responded by saying, "Let's connect some dots." He defended his position to raise taxes in order to educate students at James Madison University.

Goodlatte responded by attacking Degner and saying, "Fiscal responsibility starts at home." He then proceeded to tell the audience that Degner's first vote in Washington would be to elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and attacked him and the rest of the Democratic party as being fiscally irresponsible.

Q4: Do you support free college?

Goodlatte responded that colleges should take it upon themselves to balance a budget more responsibly. As a nation, he said, we cannot afford free college education, but free community college can occur. He highlighted his efforts to make free community college in his hometown of Roanoke.

Degner responded by offering that he, himself, is still paying student debt. He continued by offering that investments in education are some of the "best investments society can make." He offered that it would be more advisable not to let billionaires continue to receive huge tax breaks and spending money on a war. He finished with, "Think about the economic engine that we could be providing by investing in people, not bombs." To which the crowd had a very positive reaction.

Goodlatte responded by arguing that the first job of the government is to keep people safe. He mentioned that when "Terrorists are flying airplanes into skyscrapers, the answer is to find them where they are."

Degner responded by attacking Goodlatte, that this many years later, "You're still conflating 9/11 to our invasion of Iraq, when it has been proven that it was misguided." He repeated that 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq had nothing to do with each other and by connecting that it is "disrespectful to our veterans."

Q5: Can you address what you will do to keep schools safe from school shootings?

Degner began with a narrative from his high school graduation speech, because Columbine occurred while he was writing it. He proceeded to say that he respects the rights protected by the 2nd Amendment, but offered that we should be able to at least have a dialogue about what we can do differently. He said PACs and rhetoric keep us from having those conversations. He concluded by saying we should ensure the right to bear arms, while protecting citizens from accidents that could have been prevented.

Goodlatte responded by saying that the best way to save people's lives is to "enforce the already available gun laws." He then continued to say that the NRA does more to educate people about firearms about safety.

Goodlatte is interrupted by the moderator, since he has gone over time to which Degner interrupts and says, "It's okay, he's been paid by the NRA, he has to get his commercial in."

Degner responded by arguing that Goodlatte supports the Dicky Amendement that keeps us from studying guns.

Goodlatte responded by saying the CDC has nothing to do with gun control. He offered that we should focus on Zika, heart disease, and cancer in the CDC and instead, stop people who shouldn't have guns (people with mental health issues) by enforcing the law.

Q6: Do you believe executive order should be limited?

Goodlatte responded by that executive order should be limited. He told a narrative about Obama's State of the Union Address to Congress after his inauguration in 2008. When executive action is used, then the "people's house is nullified." He proceed that when this happens, that we must challenge the president.

Degner responded by arguing that executive privilege is used because of the gridlock in Congress. Subsequently, he added that we need a healthy debate in Congress to make open and honest decisions. He then moved on to TPP and how that would give more power to the executive branch from Congress.

Goodlatte responded by accusing Degner of being "for TPP before he was against it." He said he does not have a stance on TPP and he will continue to study it.

Degner responded by saying if TPP was only about trade, then it would be simple. He speaks to say that the government is rigged. Corporations and government are too overlapped. He hopes that Goodlatte will be against TPP.

Q7: Mr. Degner has accused Goodlatte about financially benefiting from the pipelines. Can you address these accusations?

Degner responded that it is not an accusation, but facts. He said Mr. Goodlatte's family has investments in the Roanoke Gas Company which is a 1% investor in the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines. He continued that the pipelines are a for-profit project and Goodlatte would benefit from imminent domain. He moved on to address that we need green energy and a clean environment, by avoiding fracking and building into the bedrock of our nation.

Goodlatte responded by saying that the pipelines do not go through the 6th District. He offered that he was most offended by the claim that he would benefit from this. He accused Degner of manufacturing claims about him in his press release, where Degner said that Goodlatte has stocks in the Roanoke Gas Company. Goodlatte responded by saying he does not, but his wife does. To which the crowd erupted into laughter.

Degner responded by saying, "Let's just move on." He accused Goodlatte's argument of difference without distinction. Goodlatte is missing the point and Degner argued that we need to focus on energy besides carbon based fossil fuels.

Goodlatte responded that his job is to lead oversight on laws that are created. His job is to make sure the law is followed; he does not have any position on any of the pipelines in the area.

Q8: Do you stand behind either presidential candidate?

Goodlatte responded by saying, "I support Donald Trump. I don't condone some of the things that he has said, but we cannot have Hillary Clinton elected." He proceeded that she is dishonest and her foreign policy is disastrous.

Degner responded by speaking directly to Trump supporters. He said that Trump supporters are against the establishment. He attacked Goodlatte by saying he is only supporting Trump, because there is an R behind his name. Degner said that Goodlatte is not supporting Trump for the same reasons Trump supporters are, if they are anti-establishment.

Goodlatte responded by saying that Trump chose a powerful vice president and put together a list of conservative justices for the Supreme Court. Goodlatte attacked Degner as being a career elected official, because he has run for local, state, and national office.

Degner responded by arguing that service in City Council is not a career. He said he works hard in his small business just to support his running for service.

Audience question: How would you help the 95 million unemployed to reenter the workforce?

Degner responded by arguing that people need dignity. He says we need to offer re-training and offer community college to educate. Government doesn't need to do it for you, but that helps you do it through a livable wage.

Goodlatte responded by offering there should not be an over-regulation of the economy. He then talked about tax reform and reduce the corporate tax rate. "We need a reform of our tax code." He said it is the responsibility of the individual to be lifted out of poverty, not for government entitlement programs to help them stay in poverty."

Degner responded by saying that the backbone of the economy are small businesses. "We need to invest in people with ideas."

Goodlatte responded by offering that tax reform will help small businesses.

Closing statements.

Degner concluded by saying that the candidates should debate once again, particularly, where they agree. "Let's focus on the coalition building."

Goodlatte concluded by contrasting himself from his opponent. In conclusion, Goodlatte said, he will continue to uphold the Constitution.

You can watch the full debate from the Staunton News Leader.