Presidential Debate Preview

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The economy is expected to be a part of the debate between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. We’ll discuss economic issues that might come up in the debate with Kerwin Brown, CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona, and Mike Sunnucks from the Phoenix Business Journal.


TED: TONIGHT, A RECORD 100 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO WATCH THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN HILLARY CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP. 90-MINUTE DEBATE IS SET TO START IN JUST ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK. THE DEBATE WILL INCLUDE SIX TOPICS INCLUDING THE ECONOMY. HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT VOTERS SHOULD BE LISTENING FOR IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, IS KERWIN BROWN, CEO OF THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA, AND FROM THE "PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL", WELCOME MIKE SUNNUCKS. THANKS FOR JOINING US, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR TONIGHT? WE'LL GET AROUND TO THE ECONOMY, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR?
KERWIN BROWN: I EXPECT WE GET AROUND TO THE ECONOMY AND WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT WE HEAR SOME SUBSTANTIVE DIALOGUE ON EXACTLY HOW TO GROW THE ECONOMY. YOU KNOW, WE AT THE CHAMBER DEAL WITH A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND GETTING GROWTH BECASUE WE FEEL THAT'S THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE OVERALL ECONOMY AND I'M HOPING TO HEAR FROM BOTH CANDIDATES EXACTLY WHAT THEY PLAN ON DOING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO -- TO HELP -- SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP TO GROW THE ECONOMY.

TED: WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, THESE CANDIDATES DIFFER ON A LOT OF THINGS, DO THEY DIFFER ALL THAT MUCH ECONOMICALLY?

MIKE SUNNUCKS: ON TRADE, I THINK OF TRUMP HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE AGAINST FREE TRADE. HILLARY CLINTON HAS BEEN A LITTLE LATE COMER, PUSHED BY BERNIE SANDERS ON THE TRANSPACIFIC PARTNERSHIP. HER AND HER HUSBAND BACKED NAFTA AND TRUMP HAS BEEN A BIG OPPONENT OF THAT. TAX POLICY, SHE DOES WANT TO RAISE TAXES ON THE TOP EARNERS, TRUMP HAS REFORMS, CHILDCARE CREDITS AND CHANGING HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD TYPE OF THINGS. WHAT YOU'LL EXPECT TO SEE IS BIG BROAD STROKES FROM HIM AND HER MAYBE GETTING INTO MORE DETAILS AND WE'LL SEE HOW LESTER HOLT, THE MODERATE PRESSES EACH FOR HER TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN GENERAL WHAT SHE WANTS AND TRUMP TO OFFER SOME SPECIFICS WHICH HE'S BEEN RESISTANT TO DO.

TED: A LOT OF -- SOME OF THE THINGS, SMALL BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA, WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? TAX POLICY? LOOKING FOR KEEPING JOBS IN AMERICA? TRADE POLICIES, TARIFFS AND THESE THINGS.

KERWIN BROWN: I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. PRIMARILY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE TALKED ABOUT IMPROVING BRIDGES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH, OBVIOUSLY, COULD HELP SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT I REALLY HOPE TO SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT I REALLY HOPE TO HEAR DETAILS, I THINK OF THAT MIGHT BE SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS BUT CERTAINLY COULD HELP TO SPUR THE ECONOMY BUT EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT, LONG-TERM, WHAT POLICY OR INITIATIVES ARE THEY LOOKING TO PROMOTE THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO SPUR THE ECONOMIC GROWTH? THINGS HAVE BEEN SLOW FOR A LONG TIME.

TED: WE KNOW TRUMP WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE NAFTA AND THE TPP, THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP. NO PLACE FOR THAT, SOUNDS LIKE CLINTON WANTS TO KILL ANY DEAL THAT KILLS U.S. JOBS. ARIZONA, SMALL BUSINESS, YOU HEAR ABOUT NAFTA, HOW DOES THAT STAND IN THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

KERWIN BROWN: THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT TALK TO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES, SO, YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE NAFTA. AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT I THINK SMALL BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR WHATEVER CAN COME UP THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM GET INVOLVED IN TRADE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. 80% OF THE MARKET IS GOING TO BE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW NOT JUST THE LARGE CORPORATIONS BUT ALSO SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GET INVOLVED.

TED: I KNOW CLINTON IS TALKING ABOUT TARGETING TARIFFS, ON COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS AND TARGETED TARIFFING -- THE EFFECT IN ARIZONA, WHAT ARE WE SEEING HERE? AND WE HEAR ABOUT NAFTA AND TPP, BUT THOSE OF US WHO DON'T OWN A BUSINESS IT, SOUNDS LIKE TRADE DEALS AND TRUCKS COMING THROUGH AND PLANES TAKING OFF.

MIKE SUNNUCKS : I THINK TRADE IN GENERAL, ITS KIND OF WHER YOU'RE FROM. THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT DO A LOT OF BUSINESS ACROSS THE BORDER WITH MEXICO AND SEE THE BENEFITS OF FREE TRADE BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THE MIDWEST, FROM THE RUST BELT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE RACE WILL BE WON OR LOST PROBABLY. OHIO, WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND MICHIGAN, HAVE SEEN A LOT OF JOBS, A LOT OF PLANTS GO. THERE ARE FOLKS FROM THAT PART THE WORLD THAT UNDERSTAND THE DRAWBACKS TO FREE TRADE AND THE MISTAKES MADE AND TRUMP AND BERNIE SANDERS TAPPED INTO THAT AND YOU'RE SEEING HILLARY CLINTON TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING HER MOVE AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC FREE TRADE REALM INTO MORE TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS AND PROTECTIONS.

TED: AS FAR AS TAXES ARE CONCERNED, PERSONAL AND CORPORATE, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO HEAR TONIGHT?

KERWIN BROWN: THAT'S HARD. EXPECTING? I THINK THAT IT WILL BE BROACHED. I REALLY DON'T KNOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHAT -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS TAXES. YOU'VE GOT ONE -- ONE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING TAXES AND SOMEONE ELSE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING TAXES EVEN THOUGH IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THEY'RE STILL INCREASING TAXES. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.

TED: AS FAR AS CORPORATE TAXES, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

KERWIN BROWN: I THINK THAT ONCE AGAIN, THINGS ACROSS THE BOARD. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR PROBABLY ONE CANDIDATE TALK ABOUT ADDING TAXES, ON A CORPORATE BASIS AND SOMEONE ELSE CUTTING TAXES ON A CORPORATE BASIS. I THINK THE DEVIL IS GOING TO BE IN THE DETAILS SO I'M INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT EXACTLY -- SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING OR ADDING TAXES, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT, WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS FROM DOING THAT AND OVERALL, GOT TO LOOK AT A GLOBAL EFFECT OF EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PLAN IS GOING DO TO THE ECONOMY OVERALL.
MIKE SUNNUCKS : THAT'S BEEN THE WHOLE CHALLENGE OF THE CAMPAIGN, DRILLING DOWN ON THE TAX POLICIES, IT'S SO DOMINATED BY TRUMP AND PERSONALITY AND MRS. CLINTON'S EMAIL ISSUES AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY IS EXPECTING TO SEE TONIGHT. THE CHALLENGE IS FOR THE MODERATOR AND US IN THE MEDIA HOW TO GET THOSE SPECIFICS OUT THERE. A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH HAVE PROPOSED BECAUSE OF ALL THE NOISE.

TED: IF YOU DON'T HEAR PARTICULARS, IF YOU DON'T HEAR SPECIFICS, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

KERWIN BROWN: I THINK IT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. IF THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS ESPECIALLY ON TAXES, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECT, SO WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHATEVER YOUR POLICY IS, WHATEVER YOUR INITIATIVES ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO AFFECT TAXES ITS GOING TO EVERYBODY, WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR POLICIES ARE AND WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THOSE.

TED: AS FAR AS MANUFACTURING IS CONCERNED, I THINK CLINTON AND TRUMP ARE BASICALLY SAYING FORGET GOING OVERSEES, KEEP THE JOBS HERE AND INCREASE THE JOBS HERE AND MANUFACTURING IS ACTUALLY DO WELL, IS IT NOT? COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, FROM THE LATE '70S, NO, BUT NOT BADLY RIGHT NOW.

MIKE SUNNUCKS: THERE'S SOME COMPANIES BRINGING STUFF BACK, BUT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES ITS STILL GOING, YOU SEE THE NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS LIKE CARRIER AND FORD MOVING PLANT TO MEXICO AND THAT IS RIGHT IN TRUMP'S WHEELHOUSE. THOSE ARE THE VOTERS GOING AFTER, WHITE WORKING CLASS VOTERS, LOWER EDUCATED VOTERS AND THAT FITS HIS NARRATIVE SO VERY WELL AND THERE ARE MANUFACTURING JOBS COMING BACK AND GROWING IN SOME AREAS BUT I THINK IT BENEFITS HIM A LOT, AND THE PERCEPTIONS IS STILL THAT THE JOBS ARE LEAVING.

KERWIN BROWN: I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. ADDING TO MANUFACTURING DOESN'T MEAN JOBS ARE COMING BACK.THERES A LOT OF THOSE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED AND NOT COMING BACK. MANUFACTURING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMPUTERIZED. SO I THINK THAT THE PERCEPTION, YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PERCEPTION IS AS FAR AS HAVING MORE MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES.

TED: THE SPECIFICS OF THE MANUFACTURING IS KEY. AGREE WITH THAT?

MIKE SUNNUCKS: THE KEY TO THE DEBATE IS TRUMP NEEDS TO SHOW SOME SPECIFICS. I'M READY TO BE PRESIDENT AND HAVE THE TEMPERAMENT AND I HAVE COMMAND OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES. THE CHALLENGE FOR CLINTON, TALKING TOO MUCH ABOUT TAX BREAKS, SHE NEEDS TO SHOW BROADER STROKES, HOW I'M GOING TO CHANGE FOLKS' LIVES , HOW I EMPATHIZE WITH YOU AND HOW I CAN LEAD THE COUNTRY.

TED: GOOD TO YOU BOTH HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT.

TED: TUESDAY ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," HOW NONPROFITS CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE THEIR MESSAGE AND A PROGRAM THAT IS KEEPING TRACK OF HUMMINGBIRDS AS THEY MIGRATE AROUND THE STATE. THAT'S ON THE NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON. THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IS NEXT AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH A SPECIAL POST-DEBATE EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON." THAT'S IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. YOU ENJOY THE DEBATE! CLOSED CAPTION PRODUCTIONS WWW.CCPRODUCTIONS.COM 844-335-0911

Kerwin Brown, CEO, Black Chamber of Arizona; Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal.

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