Editor’s note: these are the candidate’s responses to questions provided by RIPR. The views expressed are the candidate’s alone, edited only in cases of inappropriate or libelous language. No changes have been made to correct errors of fact, spelling or grammar.
If elected, what will be the candidate’s top three priorities?
With President Trump in the White House, the battles ahead in Washington will have enormous consequences for Rhode Island. I’m going to keep fighting every day in the Senate to grow the middle class, protect health care and the programs ours seniors rely on like Medicare and Social Security, and leave our planet a better place for the next generation.
If given the opportunity, how would the candidate vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court?
While I intend to hear Judge Kavanaugh out during our Judiciary Committee hearings, I am deeply suspicious of any nominee literally chosen by President Trump off a list from a special interest group. The American people can’t help but think the Supreme Court is rigged against them when, in case after case, a 5-4 partisan majority ignores precedent to deliver wins to wealthy corporations over middle-class workers. Just this past term, Justice Roberts’s 5-4 majority eroded workers’ rights to organize for fair pay, deprived voters of an important say in their democracy, upheld President Trump’s admittedly religious-based discrimination, and denied women information about their own health care and family planning options. Now a woman’s right to choose, our ability to provide insurance to people with preexisting illnesses, and the integrity of American democracy at the hands of big dark-money interests are all on the line with this nomination.
What are the candidate’s positions on immigration reform?
Each wave of hardworking immigrants who settled in Rhode Island dating back to Roger Williams has made our community stronger and more prosperous. We need comprehensive immigration reform that brings undocumented workers out of the shadows so they can become law-abiding, taxpaying residents; strengthens border security in a way that is reasonable and humane; and allows businesses to grow and create jobs. I supported the bipartisan immigration reform that the Senate passed in 2013, which Republican leadership in the House refused to consider. Congress needs to get back to work finding a bipartisan path forward.
Do you support the ACA or how should it be changed?
I was proud to vote for the Affordable Care Act, which brought the peace of mind that comes with health insurance within reach for millions. I will fight any attempts by President Trump and Republicans in Congress to roll back the Affordable Care Act. Those efforts threaten to take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions. Our focus should be on improving the quality of patient care while bringing down costs. The United States pays far more for health care per person than any other country in the world and yet our life expectancy lags Saudi Arabia. I’ve introduced legislation that would create a public health insurance option, guaranteeing access to an affordable, high-quality plan in every insurance market in the country and lowering costs for consumers across the board.
