JD Vance and Tim Waltz discuss climate change, gun control and housing in the first VP debate

In the first vice presidential debate of the year, and likely the last debate of the election cycle, Minnesota Governor and Democratic candidate Tim Waltz and Republican Senator J.D. Vance met on the CBS News stage to discuss climate change, gun control and discuss housing costs. Both candidates agreed to a 90-minute debate with two commercial breaks.

Like Hurricane Helene continues to destroy Across much of the southeastern United States, Vance, on behalf of the Trump administration, was asked what their government would do about the looming threat of climate change. The senator responded by saying that he and Trump want the environment to be “cleaner and safer.”

“The answer is you want to reinvest as much American production as possible, and you want to produce as much energy as possible in the United States of America,” Vance said.

Waltz was given one minute to respond, during which he pointed to investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the increase in electric vehicles in Jeffersonville, Ohio.

“So the solution for us is to continue to emphasize that climate change is real. Reducing our impact is absolutely critical,” Waltz said.

Gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. Vance was asked if he believes holding parents accountable in mass shootings could reduce the number of incidents.

“I think in some cases the answer will be yes, and in some cases it will be no,” Vance said. “… For example, if a child steals a gun, that will be different than if a parent hands over a gun knowing that their child is potentially dangerous.”

Vance continued incorrectly stated that nearly 90% of gun violence is committed with illegally acquired firearms, blaming “Kamala Harris’ open border” for the “mass influx of illegal weapons controlled by Mexico’s drug cartels.”

During his rebuttal, Waltz said his 17-year-old son witnessed a shooting while playing volleyball at a community center.

“We understand the Second Amendment is there, but our first responsibility is for our children to figure this out,” Waltz said. “…There are reasonable things we can do to make a difference.

It doesn’t violate your Second Amendment, and the idea of ​​having some of these weapons just doesn’t make sense.”

In a moment of empathy across the island, Vance apologized for Waltz’s child witnessing that.

Waltz also stated that those struggling with mental health should not be blamed for this American epidemic.

“Just because you have a mental health problem doesn’t mean you’re violent, and I think we end up looking for a scapegoat,” Waltz said. “Sometimes it’s just the guns. It’s just the weapons. And there are things you can do about it.”

The high cost of housing in America remains a growing concern for many young voters. The Harris-Waltz administration has proposed a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, in addition to a $10,000 tax credit.

Waltz was asked if “handing out that kind of money is just going to drive our prices higher?”

“We need to make it more affordable, and one of the things, as I said, is this program that the vice president is putting forward and providing a new way to approach this,” Waltz said.

The Trump-Vance administration plans to take a different approach to reducing housing costs. The pair have pledged to seize federal lands to build homes, eliminate regulations, provide tax breaks and reduce immigration.

Vance was asked where the government plans to build new homes and how that will help provide immediate relief.

Vance began by stating that immigration is “one of the biggest drivers of housing prices in the country” as “twenty-five million illegal aliens compete with Americans for scarce housing.”

“Now you asked, Margaret, what would immediately change the equation for American citizens? If you lower energy prices, as Donald Trump says: drill, baby, drill,” Vance said, speaking to CBS News moderator Margaret Brennan, who facilitated Tuesday night’s debate with Nora O’Donnell. “One of the biggest drivers of housing costs, aside from illegal immigration, is, think about it, if a truck driver pays 40 percent more for diesel than the lumber he delivers to the job site to build a house, that will also be a lot. more expensive.”

Near the end of the debate, the moderators asked about the 2020 election. Vance, who has previously said he would not have certified the election results, was asked whether he would challenge this year’s election results if they were certified by every governor.

Vance, who never answered the question directly, responded that Trump transferred power peacefully on January 20.

Waltz disagreed, pointing to the multiple times Trump refused to acknowledge he lost the 2020 election.

“A president’s words matter. People hear that,” Waltz said. “So I think this issue of settling our differences at the ballot box, shaking hands when we lose, being honest about it… I’ll tell you this, that when this is over, we need to shake hands this election . And the winner must be the winner.”