2018 Michigan Senate race: debates and news coverage

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Debbie Stabenow: Countless women rely on Planned Parenthood.     John James: De-fund Planned Parenthood; bad abortion even for rape.     John James: 100% pro-life; always have been; always will be.     Marcia Squier: Fund Planned Parenthood; abortion is an unrestricted right.

Budget & Economy     John James: Focus on cutting waste and getting to a balanced budget.     Marcia Squier: Stimulus counters ever-growing income inequality.

Civil Rights     John James: Employers shouldn't be able to fire someone for being gay.     John James: Opposed laws protecting LGBTQ from employment discrimination.     Marcia Squier: Support affirmative action and reparations like urban repair.     Marcia Squier: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.

Corporations     John James: Trump tax cuts encourage companies to do business in America.     Debbie Stabenow: Supported recession bailouts saving the auto industry.     Bob Young: Regulatory overreach hurts small businesses.     Bob Young: Regulation hurts liberty AND hurts communities.     Bob Young: I believe in limited government (but not no-government).

Crime     Marcia Squier: End mass incarceration.

Drugs     Debbie Stabenow: Time to decriminalize medical and recreational marijuana.     John James: Opposes marijuana legalization for recreational use.     Marcia Squier: Cannabis is a life-saving drug and must be legalized.     Marcia Squier: Legalization will help utilize the endless benefits of pot.     Marcia Squier: Legalization of pot will help healthcare costs.

Education     Debbie Stabenow: Supports student loan refinancing and Pell Grants.     John James: Supports public money for private schools.     John James: Every high school student should be career- or college-ready.     Marcia Squier: No vouchers for schools, but ok for colleges.     Bob Young: Parents should decide to which school they send their kids.     Marcia Squier: More funding needed for public schools; now more than ever.

Energy & Oil     Debbie Stabenow: Climate change is real & human activity contributes.     Marcia Squier: Green energy is intertwined with job creation and education.     Marcia Squier: Fund renewables by defunding the military.

Environment     Debbie Stabenow: Reverse cuts to Great Lakes funding.     John James: Protect the national treasure of the Great Lakes.     Marcia Squier: End the War on Oil, for national security AND environment.     Marcia Squier: EPA should regulate for-profit corporations.     Marcia Squier: Repeal the DARK Act: require full GMO labeling.

Families & Children     Debbie Stabenow: Schools must prohibit bullying due to sexual orientation.

Foreign Policy     Marcia Squier: End our interventionist strategies, and welcome refugees.     John James: More military influence on the foreign policy team.     Marcia Squier: We need to support our troops by bringing them home.

Free Trade     John James: Let master negotiator Trump re-work trade deals.     John James: Free but fair trade, to keep jobs in Michigan.     Marcia Squier: Replace free trade deals with zero export taxes.

Government Reform     Debbie Stabenow: Repeal Citizens United; fight big money in politics.     Debbie Stabenow: Voter ID places undue burden on voters.     Marcia Squier: Easier voter registration; restrict superdelegates.     Marcia Squier: Dem. superdelegates cheated Michigan voters of their choice.

Gun Control     John James: Second Amendment says semi-automatic weapons ok.     John James: 2nd Amendment is enough said.     Marcia Squier: Graduated licensing & training for guns, like military.

Health Care     John James: Remove the monstrosity of ObamaCare.     Bob Young: ObamaCare should be repealed to increase competition.     Marcia Squier: Expand ObamaCare towards universal health care.     Bob Young: The federal government broke our health care system.     Marcia Squier: Universal single-payer healthcare is the way to go.

Homeland Security     John James: Help prepare our veterans for re-entry into society.     Marcia Squier: Cut the military budget by at least 50%.     Marcia Squier: Reappropriate military spending to social needs.

Immigration     John James: We must end illegal immigration & secure the border.     John James: Proponent of Kate's Law; defund sanctuary cities.     John James: No nonsense view of illegal immigration--has to stop now.     Bob Young: Penalize the insanity of sanctuary cities.     Bob Young: We have the right to kick out people we don't want here.     Marcia Squier: Support pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.

Jobs     John James: Opposes raising federal minimum wage to $15/hr.     John James: Incumbent does not do enough to create or protect jobs.     Marcia Squier: Stop stiffing tipped worker wages!

Principles & Values     John James: Fight for the Constitution's principles, as written.     Marcia Squier: Government should be separate from private religion.

Social Security     John James: Returning lifelong investment to seniors is moral obligation.     Marcia Squier: Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security.

Tax Reform     Bob Young: Taxes need to be made simpler and flatter.     Marcia Squier: Wealthiest get wealthier via tax loopholes.

Technology     Debbie Stabenow: Supports net neutrality.     John James: Repair of infrastructure is stepping stone to the future.

War & Peace     John James: Iran nuclear treaty was a fatally flawed deal.     John James: Army veteran who flew Apache helicopters in Iraq.     Marcia Squier: No more profit-driven interventionist military strikes.     Marcia Squier: Refuse donations from the military-industrial complex.

Welfare & Poverty     John James: Eliminate poverty instead of just making it more comfortable.     Bob Young: We can't continue with an entitlement mentality.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Bob Young Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senator Michigan Debbie Stabenow Democratic Jr Senator Michigan John James Republican candidate for Michigan U.S. Senator Michigan Marcia Squier Green Challenger for MI Senator Michigan