NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE GUIDE: 2018 ARIZONA SENATOR’S RACE

Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Martha McSally – Ban. “I’m pro-life.” Voted to ban after 20 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, & life of the mother.

Kyrsten Sinema – Legal. Uphold Roe v. Wade. “A woman, her family, & her doctor should decide what’s best for her health – not Washington politicians.”

 

Campaign Finance: Support DISCLOSE Act to require political ads to disclose their largest funders? Stand on Supreme Court Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Martha McSally – No stand found on DISCLOSE Act or Citizens United. On separate bill voted against making it easier to see who was funding TV ads.

Kyrsten Sinema – Co-sponsored DISCLOSE ACT.“Overturn Citizens United.”Only way to fix “our broken political system is to get the vast sums of secret money out of politics & shine a light with more transparency.” 

 

Climate Change: Consider climate change a serious threat?

Martha McSally – Unclear how serious a threat she considers. Says climate is changing, & that humans have played a role. But also voted to end Defense Dept assessments of climate-related threats to military installations & operations.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. “Our climate is changing & human activity is contributing.”Voted for continued Defense Dept assessment of threat.

 

Climate Change: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Martha McSally – No. Opposed Obama Clean Power plan, citing impact on Apache generating station. Voted against the potential carbon tax in 2018.

Kyrsten Sinema – Mixed. Supports limits & opposed condemning Obama Clean Power plan, but raised issues about impact on Apache& opposed potential carbon tax.

 

Contraception: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree morally?

Martha McSally – Yes. Says not about women’s access to contraception, which she supports, but legality of Obamacare mandates.

Kyrsten Sinema – No. “Women in our district want a chance to…make their own health care decisions.”

 

Courts: Support Brett Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations)

Martha McSally – Yes. Calls Kavanaugh “a highly qualified nominee.”

Kyrsten Sinema – Unclear.  “Should be judged by his body of work & the judgment of his peers.”

 

Economy: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Martha McSally – Generally, no. Need to get spending under control.Did support federal transportation funding for AZ.

Kyrsten Sinema – Mixed. Supports infrastructure bank to help “create good jobs,”cosponsored Balanced Budget Amendment.

 

Economy: Support President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Martha McSally – Unclear. Opposed tariffs on imported solar cells. Backed tariff exceptions for products used in manufacturing.

Kyrsten Sinema – No. Worry about retaliatory tariffs & “reckless trade war.”

 

Education: Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?

Martha McSally – Yes. Supports education vouchers. Backed SOAR Act to help DC students attend private schools.

Kyrsten Sinema – No. Opposed SOAR Act, & vouchers in general for eroding public education.

 

Financial Regulation: Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Martha McSally – Yes. Voted for 2017 Financial Choice Act, which weakened the CFPB.

Kyrsten Sinema – Mostly no. Opposed Financial Choice Act & legislation that would have ended independent CFPB funding.

 

Gay Marriage: Support gay marriage?

Martha McSally – Personally opposes, “marriage is between one man & one woman,”  but now accepts as the law.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. Sinema is Bisexual and strong LGBT rights supporter. Called Supreme Court decision “A historic victory for families.”

 

Gun Control: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Martha McSally – Mostly no. Enforce existing laws & address mental illness issues, rather than enacting new gun laws. Supports banning bump stocks.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. Supports some gun rights but also stronger background checks.Voted to end law banning federally funded research on gun violence.

 

Healthcare: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Martha McSally – Repeal. Says, “Obamacare, which was flawed from the beginning, is collapsing under its own weight.” Says should replace with a different plan based on bringing down costs & increasing competition.

Kyrsten Sinema – Support, shaped by not always having health insurance as a child. “No family should be forced to choose between getting the care they need & paying their bills.”Says Repeal would strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, & skyrocket premiums for older patients & those with pre-existing conditions.

 

Healthcare: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Martha McSally – No. Voted to defund.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes.  Voted to continue allowing.

 

Immigration: Support path to citizenship for “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after coming here as children?

Martha McSally – Formerly supported citizenship options. Now supports extending DACA protections but no path to citizenship.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. “Congress must act to secure our borders & provide an earned path to citizenship for Dreamers.”

 

Iran: Support withdrawal from treaty limiting Iran nuclear capability while lifting sanctions?

Martha McSally – Yes. Supports decision “to terminate U.S. participation in this rotten deal.”

Kyrsten Sinema – No. Withdrawing without defined strategy does not make us safer.

 

Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Martha McSally – No. Voted against letting states legalize medical or recreational cannabis. Would allow prescriptions for veterans.

Kyrsten Sinema – State option. Voted to let states legalize medical or recreational cannabis.

 

Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr?

Martha McSally – No stand found.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. Has supported increase to $10.10 an hour.

 

President Trump: Percentage voting with President Trump?

Martha McSally – Voted with Trump 98% of the time as of Sept. 24.

Kyrsten Sinema – Voted with Trump 61% of the time as of Sept 24.

 

Privatization: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?

Martha McSally – Possibly. Increase retirement age for younger workers & let them privately invest part of their contributions.

Kyrsten Sinema – No. Opposes gambling in stock market with Social Security returns.

 

Renewable Energy: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Martha McSally – Unclear. Has said supports new technologies, but led by private sector.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. Supports government funding to develop renewable energy.

 

Student Debt & Financial Aid: Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren proposal)? Position on Pell grants?

Martha McSally – No on Warren proposal. Did not join 181 sponsors.Initially supported budget that would radically cut Pell grants.Recently more supportive, like allowing for summer courses.

Kyrsten Sinema – Yes. Voted for Warren proposal. Also restore Perkins loans for low-income students, increase Pell Grants, & allow for summer courses.

 

Taxes: Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Martha McSally – Yes. Voted for it. Says average taxpayer in her district saved $1,029.

Kyrsten Sinema – No. Voted against. Says increases debt by $1.456 trillion, threatens cuts to Medicare, & doesn’t help most ordinary taxpayers.