Massachusetts Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Other or expanded principles
- Reproductive rights are human rights. To achieve gender equality, women must have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and health. This means access to education and affordable health care options such as birth control and abortion care. As a board member of Girls Inc. of Lowell and Women Working Wonders, I?ve been a champion for girls and women. In Congress, I?ll continue fighting to make sure Planned Parenthood and organizations that support women and girls are fully funded. I?ll also support legislation that supports women in the workplace while they?re pregnant and raising their families.

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- It?s unwise, unfair, and immoral to increase corporate welfare and tax cuts for the top 1% of Americans. Congress needs to rescind the tax bill passed in December 2017 so that top income brackets contribute their fair share. This will help balance the budget and reinvest in the middle class. The same goes for our defense spending. It?s crucial to have a strong military, and I believe it can still be strong with strategic reduction. Much of our budget goes to wasteful and unnecessary spending that unfairly squeezes critical health care and education programs that Americans rely on.

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- Running for office is expensive. Candidates are incentivized by existing party structures to fundraise large amounts to prove viability. This is the beginning of the problem. People of means will be more able to donate to political campaigns, which gives this group more access to candidates ? and a greater voice. It leaves low income Americans and people of color, who are less likely to have means to donate, without access and a voice. Add in the Citizens United ruling and unlimited corporate political spending it allows, and the voices of marginalized people are erased from campaigns, governing, and policy-making.

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- Economic inequality is a major problem in the United States, and it has a negative drag on economic growth. We need to reprioritize. Federal investments must focus on education, health care, and public infrastructure so we can address the issues of stagnant wages and lack of quality job opportunities. Public investments should be broad where all Americans can participate and benefit from. The recent tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy was unjust and immoral. It did nothing for middle-class families and it will hurt our economy for the long term.

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- The U.S. must ensure that every child, no matter their zip code, has access to free, high-quality education from grades K through 12. Access to higher education also needs to be improved. I believe that community colleges, state colleges and trade schools should be free to attend. It?s important to invest in our youth. When they succeed, we all succeed! President Obama?s Race to the Top program was a creative step in the right direction and helped encourage states to adopt innovative new education policies. We need to continue to find creative ways to advance education and improve schools.

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- We must rejoin the Paris Agreement, strengthen the EPA, and transition to renewable energy. I will end fossil fuel subsidies, support clean energy incentives, and expand investment of renewable energy projects. I support moving the U.S. toward a 100% clean energy economy by 2050. These policies will not only save our planet but will also grow our economy with the jobs of the future. The United States and can should be the global leader on renewable energy.

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- We must take sensible and immediate action to address gun violence. It?s not right for parents to send their kids to school and be afraid that their kids won?t come home. It?s not right for kids to be afraid to go to school. I am proud to be a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. In Congress, I?ll work to expand and strengthen background checks and close dangerous loopholes in our current laws. I support the reinstatement of the 1994 assault weapons ban. We need to regulate firearms in the same manner as vehicles and drivers? licenses.

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- Health care is a human right. The Affordable Care Act wasn?t perfect, but it was a huge step in the right direction to ensure all Americans have access to health care. The number one cause of bankruptcy is unpaid medical bills, and Americans should not be enslaved to their illnesses. In Congress, I?ll fight to protect, fix and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. As a trustee of Lowell General Hospital, I see how expensive and complex our current system is. I?ll support a Medicare For All system where everyone is able to get the same quality and affordable care.

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- We need to protect our borders, but we don?t need a wall. As an immigrant, it saddens me that America today is turning its back on people seeking a better life. I will fight to defend DACA and pass a clean Dream Act, create a clear path to citizenship for law-abiding citizens, and protect families seeking refuge at our borders. Undocumented immigrants shouldn?t live in fear. They are a part of our communities and economy.

Marijuana

1. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- Addiction is a disease, and drugs and alcohol, particularly the opioid crisis, have become an epidemic. These are mental health issues that need a comprehensive approach to treatment, prevention and recovery, not harsh punishment in our criminal justice system. Decriminalizing marijuana is the first step. In Congress, I?ll oppose increasing penalties for drug-related crimes and instead will fight for the treatment people desperately need. I support the Marijuana Data Collection Act introduced by Rep. Gabbard (D-HI) to study the effects of legalized marijuana programs on the economy, public health, criminal justice and employment.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- When Secretary Mattis was CENTCOM Commander, he said, ?If you don?t fully fund the State Department, I?ve got to buy more bullets.? All means of diplomacy should be exhausted before we send our young men and women into harm?s way. Military force should always be the last resort. To make it first is unconscionable. We must negotiate variable reductions of WMD throughout the world. President Trump?s decision to pull out of the JCPOA was a serious mistake that could have far reaching and tragic consequences. When elected, I will call for increasing funding for both the State Department and USAID.

Administrative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- Education and immigration are my top priorities. Education is the foundation for reducing poverty, strengthening our economy and protecting our national security. Every child, regardless of their zip code must have access to a high-quality public education. Additional funding would come from the reduction of defense spending and allowing corporations and the top 1% to contribute their fair share. We are a country of immigrants. We must reform our laws and policies to help people, not hurt them. It?s sinful how we are treating immigrants when they strengthen our communities and economy. We have always been a nation of immigrants.