Sam Granato in 2010 Utah Senate Debates


On Homeland Security: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; an affront to gay soldiers

Granato and Lee disagreed about how to handle illegal immigration, gays in the military, radioactive waste disposal in Utah and how to save Social Security.

Lee supported continuing the "don't ask, don't tell policy" banning gays from openly serving in the military. Granato called for a repeal, saying many gays now serve honorably and the policy is an affront to them.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

On Immigration: Don't rip apart families; support the DREAM Act

On the immigration front, Bradley endorsed rounding up all immigrants here illegally and sending them home. Lee opposed that, but called for tougher enforcement of immigration laws to pressure them to go home.

"If we enforce laws more faithfully," Lee said, "jobs will dry up and they will go home."

Granato called for compassion and development of comprehensive immigration reform. "I do not believe in ripping families apart," he said. "We need to have compassion as we fix this."

Lee and Bradley also opposed the DREAM Act, which would allow children brought to America by undocumented immigrant parents to qualify for legal residency if they attend and complete college. "I don't believe we should be offering any benefit to people who come here in violation of our laws," Lee said.

Granato countered that the legislation would help children who have known no country except the United States. "I am fully in favor of the DREAM Act," he said.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

On Principles & Values: Utahns choice is mainstream candidate vs. extreme candidate

Granato charged that Lee is too extreme for Utah as a darling of the tea party. But Lee said most Utahns cheer his push to return to constitutionally limited government."Utahns have a real opportunity this year to either elect a mainstream candidate or an extreme candidate," Granato said.

Lee said that his views match Utahns who "are reclaiming their right to constitutionally limited government. We have to focus on limiting the size, scope, reach and power of the federal government."

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

On Social Security: Keep the retirement age but protect Social Security

Granato and Lee disagreed about how to handle illegal immigration, gays in the military, radioactive waste disposal in Utah and how to save Social Security.

On Social Security, Lee said Americans must raise the retirement age to save it. Granato said Social Security must be protected, but without that step.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune coverage of 2010 Utah Senate debate Sep 17, 2010

The above quotations are from 2010 Utah Senate Debates.
Click here for other excerpts from 2010 Utah Senate Debates.
Click here for other excerpts by Sam Granato.
Click here for a profile of Sam Granato.
Sam Granato on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War/Peace
Welfare
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Page last updated: Dec 03, 2018