7:32 p.m.: So as you can probably tell from the quasi-transcription below, this was a joint press conference rather than a debate proper, and pretty much dull as dirt. Absolutely nothing interesting was said. Thanks for following along, though!

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7:12 p.m.: Holy moly, closing statements already!

CAFFREY: Diagnoses the entire Congress with “antisocial personality disorder.” Who do we get out of it? With his New Green America program! Greenland — he repeats — is melting. Except for Courtney (BFF) none of these other candidates talk as if climate change is a real thing. 

COURTNEY: The deficit is killing us. “We’re in agreement — at least the two of us — that CO2 is a real problem.” We need federal term limits. Congress has a nine percent approval rating — “And that’s probably a bit higher than it should be.” We need to amend the Constitution to limit Congressional terms.

HUFFMAN: He has 18 years of experience as an elected official, and that is important. Look at his career — it will show you that he has strong Democratic values. But he doesn’t just talk — he gets things done. This year he has: lead fight to save state parks and passed legislation to bring manufacturing jobs to California. Mike Thompson endorses him. Every major environmental group endorses him.

LAWSON: Is deeply concerned about economy. There is a shrinking middle class and the worst income disparity in 50 years. Check out her jobs plan. Again, she emphasizes humble roots: She grew up in a trailer. But she was able to go to Harvard and get an education and start small business “and that’s what I’m fighting for.” “I’m the only candidate in this race with 20 years of experience in the economy, and that’s important.” 

LEWALLEN: “I’m not just running for Congress, here — I’m here to inspire everyone to become active. That’s the only way forward with the catastrophic issues that face us.” LET’S LEGALIZE MARIJUANA. And also restore watersheds. Let’s stop the regulations that stop fishermen and other “ocean food providers” from providing us with food. Let’s meet and talk about this stuff. And also let’s cut the military budget.

RENEE: Says she’s running a “right-sized” campaign. She has worked on renewable energy issues in Sonoma County. She knows how to get things done on a local level.

ROBERTS: Courtney is right about the debt problem and also about term limits. Doesn’t support “wars of opportunity of adventure.” Will focus on families and small businesses. When inflation inevitably comes, it’s going to really screw the middle class. Wages aren’t going to keep up with it. Washington spending is “a silent swindle.” 

SOLOMON: He doesn’t know he’s going to be elected, unlike some, but he has a pretty good chance. What does he want to do? Example: Rural broadband. We want broadband to the rural areas, but why do we let Comcast charge people $1,000 a year for it? It should be a right! Legalize marijuana. Protect our water from rapacious southerners. Stop corporations! He is the only candidate with foreign policy experience, and Howard Dean’s organization endorses him.

ADAMS: She has deep family roots in Humboldt County. Has already worked on district-wide programs such as clean energy, and envisions that the Second District will be off fossil fuel electricity in 10 years. She’s a hard worker. “When I’m coming back and forth between here and Washington, half of the time I’ll be living int he south part of the district and half in the north part.”

EDUCATION

Roberts: Education is a state issue, not a federal issue. “The best educational product you can get would have the least governmental experience.” Put local school boards in charge. Close the federal Department of Education.

Renee: This is related to the foreclosure crisis, actually. And that’s Wall Street’s fault. With plummeting home prices come plummeting revenues for schools. We need to shift away from defense spending. We need a 21st century workforce.

Solomon: The federal government demands No Child Left Behind at the same time it starves schools. [Technical difficulties.]

Adams: We need to also invest in vocational programs and other things to “tap into each of our childs’ unique needs.” Help students pay back loans.

Caffrey: Let’s fund schools from something other than property tax, so that we can equalize the quality of education in rich areas and poor. Teach children how to make their own jobs.

Courtney: Emulate Finland. Best schools ever. We have troops in over 100 countries, but we starve our schools.

Huffman: He is supported by state superintendent of schools and teachers. Why? Because he has two kids in public schools and is married to a school teacher: It’s personal. “I want to play offense!” One thing: We need to fund special education at the federal level.

Lawson: She is an educator herself, at UC Berkeley. We need to fully fund education. Also need vocations programs and trade programs and such.

Lewallen The federal government can and should play a big role. This country, here, it’s spending its money on “suicidal” military programs. We need to spend it on schools. Also: Tax weed!

HOW DO WE REFORM HEALTH CARE?

Courtney: Single-payer. “We need to move money from the military sector into domestic.”

Huffman: Has co-authored single-payer bills every year in the legislature. But since we’re stuck with private insurers right now, we need to make sure they don’t take away patient rights.

Lawson: Emphasizes poor, small-town background, and realizes need for safety net. Also supports single-payer.

Lewallen: Single-payer advocate. Thanks Huffman for his legislative efforts.

Renee: As vice-mayor of Petaluma, has seen rising care of health insurance for public employees. Wants to extend Medicare to all public employees as a path to a single-payer system.

Roberts: “It’s time for a reality check. Medicare is going to go bankrupt, and Social Security is going to follow.” We have to have tort reform to bring down the cost of care.

Solomon: John Conyers, the principal author of a single-payer bill in the House, has thanked him for his efforts to make single-payer a part of the Democratic Party platform. “I will fight like hell to defend Social Security and Medicare in Washington!”

Adams: “If you want someone who knows and swims well in the area of health care, that’s me.” “If you want someone who has fought the insurers, I’m your gal.”

Caffrey: In tribal cultures, the shaman does not charge for health care. Everyone here is going to fight for health care, but who’s talking about ending pollution? There are 1,000 pollutants in his body, for example. 

WHAT WOULD A FAIR TAX SYSTEM LOOK LIKE?

Norman Solomon: We have to tax the rich! “You gotta be willoing to refuse to take corporate tax donations.” Cut taxes for working people and increase taxes on corporations. Applause.

Susan Adams: We have to fix the school system. We still support oil companies with subsidies — that has to hand. “It’s time for us to look at equity in our tax system.” We must move from a war economy to a peace economy.

Andy Caffrey: “Anybody been to New Orleans lately?” That economy is dead. The polar ice caps are melting. We need to tax the rich and get money back to the middle class.

Courtney: Advocates a flat tax, which he says would hit all types on income equitably.

Huffman: “We have the least equitable tax system that we’ve had in generations.” A fan of the Wall Street transaction tax. Admires President Obama’s corporate tax proposal, because it brings back revenue from large corporate tax cheats.

Lawson: “One of the fastest and fairest way to rebalance our picture is with tax reforms.” End loopholes. End tax breaks for oil companies. Institute Wall Street transaction tax.

Lewalllen: Tax the corporations. Close loopholes. Legalize marijuana, so we can tax the fundamental industry of Mendo and Humboldt Counties.

Renee: Addresses income inequality. Pro-transaction tax. Pro-cap and trade. End Bush tax cuts. 

Roberts: “My position, as the only Republican  — I don’t agree. We have a spending problem, not a tax problem.” “The higher the tax rates, the lower the revenue” (as Reagan demonstrated.)

6:42 p.m.: The questions first answer a question about jobs and the economy. Sadly, with the accelerated schedule your Lost Coast Outpost has been unable to live blog this bit so far. Andy Caffrey says: There are no jobs on a dead planet. Stacey Lawson: We need to make Wall Street pay. William Courtney: Is a small business owner. Jared Huffman: Humboldt County is already way ahead of the curve, but it needs a champion in Congress. From now on, more detail.

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Well, they sensibly started a bit early — nine candidates in one hour was going to be a bit of a stretch. Moderator Ryan Emanaker is already running a very tight ship, cutting off candidates mid-stream. An hour to go.

Your Lost Coast Outpost missed the opening statements, but we’re here in Fortuna and will bring you the rest of the debate as it happens.