NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE GUIDE: 2018 INDIANA SENATOR’S RACE

Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Braun – Ban. No exceptions, including rape, incest, or the life of the mother. “I’m 100 percent pro-life… Abortion should never be legal.”

Donnelly – Mostly ban, except for rape, incest, & life of the mother. Reduce abortions “by promoting access to quality affordable health care.”

 

Campaign Finance: Require political ads to disclose largest funders? Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – Yes. Supported DISCLOSE Act. Opposed Citizens United, concerned about “unprecedented spending by special interest groups.”

 

Climate Change: Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – Yes. “Climate change is a serious issue.” Has supported tax credits for renewable energy but voted against allowing EPA to regulate greenhouse gases.

 

Contraception: Can employers withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – No. Voted to prevent for-profit corporations from withholding coverage on religious grounds.

 

Courts: Support President Trump’s choice of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court? (before recent allegations)

Braun – Yes. An “outstanding justice…who will interpret the constitution as written.”

Donnelly – Undecided. Will make a decision after hearings.

 

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

Braun – No. Government isn’t the driver of new job creation or economic prosperity.

Donnelly – Yes. Supported anti-recession stimulus & supports infrastructure investment.

 

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

Braun – At first opposed. Now supports & trusts Trump to negotiate.

Donnelly – Support steel producers but concerned will cause harm to Hoosier farmers.

 

Economy: Support restrictions on offshoring jobs?

Braun – Opposed law to recoup public financial incentives when companies move jobs abroad.

Donnelly – Yes. Restrict tax incentives for these companies & penalize in awarding government contracts.

 

Environment: Support cutbacks of Environmental Protection Administration?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – No. Expressed concern about budget cutbacks.

 

Financial Regulation: Support cutbacks of Consumer Protection Bureau, created by Dodd-Frank financial reform law?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – Voted for Dodd-Frank. Recently backed easing regulations for smaller banks. Opposed attempts to ease lending protections for military members.

 

Gay Issues: Support gay marriage? Allow business owners not to serve gay customers on religious grounds?

Braun – Traditional marriage should be between a man & a woman. Backed Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, letting businesses deny services to gays.

Donnelly – Supports gay marriage after earlier opposition. “One of the best things we can do is to try & make everyone feel welcome.”

 

Gun Control: Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Braun – No. “100% pro-Second Amendment.”

Donnelly – Mostly no. Opposes assault weapons ban, but supports expanded background checks.

 

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

Braun – Repeal. “There is no repairing this broken law…Repeal & replace every word & regulation.” Voted against Medicaid expansion.

Donnelly – Support. “Healthcare is a basic human right for every single American.” Supports ACA, Indiana’s Medicaid expansion & subsidies to make insurance more affordable.

 

Healthcare: Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Braun – No. “I don’t believe it should be funded federally…When it comes down to abortion, they clearly promote it.“

Donnelly – Yes. Supports because “sometimes Planned Parenthood is the only health care provider.”

 

Immigration: Support path to citizenship for “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after being brought here as children? General views on immigration?

Braun – No. DACA recipients should be in the same pool as other illegal immigrants. Build border wall, ban sanctuary cities, demand businesses verify employees’ immigrant status, & end chain migration.

Donnelly – Supported 3-year protection for DACA recipients that deferred question of citizenship.  Supports border wall. Voted for broader immigration bill with more border security & possible citizenship after 13-year waiting period.

Iran: Support President Trump withdrawing from treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?

Braun – Yes. Also supports re-imposing sanctions.

Donnelly – No. Concerned about the resumption of nuclear development. Sees new sanctions as “a good backup plan.”

 

Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Braun – Supports medical use, framing issue in terms of “free markets & freedom of choice” for patients.

Donnelly – Open to medical, no for now to recreational use, though hasn’t ruled out. Backs researching marijuana to treat veterans for PTSD & pain.

 

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

Braun – Likely no. In 2015 opposed increasing Indiana minimum wage to $10.10.

Donnelly – Yes. Voted to increase from $7.25 to $10.10, opposed raising to $15.00.

 

Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Braun – No public statement found.

Donnelly – Yes. Voted to keep Net Neutrality.

 

President Trump: Response to President Trump’s actions & policies?

Braun – Said Trump was an inspiration for his run for office.

Donnelly – Voted with Trump 55% as of Aug 27. “My job is to vote for whatever is in the interest of the state of Indiana.”

 

Privatization: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security and/or VA?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – No. Opposes any privatization.

 

Renewable Energy: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – Yes. Has supported funding renewable energy, but also oil, gas, & coal.

 

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

Braun – No public statements found.

Donnelly – Backed Warren bill. Also voted to keep student loan interest rates at 3.4% rather than 6.8%, and to give students accurate info on loan costs.

 

Taxes: Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Braun – Yes. Government too often gets in the way, so need a tax code that is simple & fair.” “The results are clearly great for our economy.”

Donnelly – No. “Allows Wall Street hedge fund managers to pay a lower rate than a Hoosier firefighter, a Hoosier teacher, a Hoosier police officer, or a Hoosier steelworker.”

 

Voting Rights: Restore voting rights protections erased by Supreme Court?

Braun – Unknown.

Donnelly – Work together to ensure that the right to vote is not denied.