Josh Mandel in 2012 Ohio Senate Debates
On Abortion:
Signed pledge to oppose abortion on demand without exception
Mandel was asked about a pledge he'd signed with Cincinnati Right to Life indicating he'd oppose abortion on demand without exception. He said abortion on demand does not include exceptions to protect the life of the mother.He said he supported laws
to encourage adoption, the ban of federal dollars to pay for abortions and abortions in the ninth month. "Sherrod Brown is an extremist on this issue," Mandel said.
"I trust Ohio women to make their own decisions about their health care," Brown said.
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 25, 2012
On Government Reform:
No government bailout that I would ever support
The two parried on the auto bailout, which Brown supported. Brown said he was "proud of his work," and cited it as a key reason Ohio's economy has recovered more quickly than the rest of the nation's. "My opponent says my vote for the auto rescue was
un-American. To me, that vote was doing my job to fight for their jobs."But Mandel seemed to indicate he opposed all bailouts. "I'm not a bailout senator," he said. "There's no government bailout that I can think of that I would ever support."
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 25, 2012
On Social Security:
Raise retirement age, but not for Baby Boomers or older
Mandel said he "has not come out in support" of Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan's budget plan, which called for reshaping Medicare."I believe it is unfair to change Medicare or Social Security for my grandmother and her generation and my
parents and my generation," he said, before accusing "politicians in Washington" of stealing from the Social Security Trust Fund. "We need to make common sense cuts in other parts of our government in order to fund Social Security and
Medicare far into our future." He said he'd consider raising the retirement eligibility age for "folks at least my age, probably some who are older," but not for baby boomers. Brown, meanwhile, said he wouldn't raise the retirement age for either
program, saying it's unfair to ask working class people to work until they're 70. He said the programs are "reliable and will be reliable for this generation and the next generation."
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 25, 2012
On Abortion:
I believe in protecting life
Asked about abortion, Mandel said, "I am pro-life, I believe in protecting life," and then pivoted to say the real issue for everyone was creating jobs.
Brown said, "I trust women to make their own health care decisions," and said Mandel also opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest.
Source: Toledo Blade on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 15, 2012
On Corporations:
Auto bailout was un-American; I won't be the bailout Senator
Brown touted his support of the auto industry bailout and criticized Mandel for calling that support un-American. That was a reference to news reports in late August when Mandel called Brown's vote for the auto bailout "un-American" and six days later
said Brown "should be ashamed of himself" for voting for the rescue plan. "How you would be so out of touch with both parties boggles the mind," Brown said, facing Mandel."I would not be the bailout senator,"
Mandel said, meaning he would have voted against the auto bailout and the federal stimulus package. Mandel countered that people believe Washington, D.C. is broken because there is a "crop of career politicians who care more about their careers
than their state," referring to Brown's 20-year tenure in Congress, first in the U.S. House and now in the Senate. "The only way to change Washington is to change the people we send there," Mandel said.
Source: Cincinnati.com coverage of 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 15, 2012
On Tax Reform:
I'm proud to pledge for lower taxes
Brown criticized Mandel for signing a pledge not to raise taxes, saying it would handcuff him in making budget decisions to balance the budget and reduce the federal debt. He said it ran counter to
Mandel's pledge not to be beholden to any interest group."I'm proud to stand up for lower taxes," Mandel said, adding that he would do anything to "lower taxes across the board for the middle class and for job creators."
Source: Cincinnati.com coverage of 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 15, 2012
On Corporations:
Businesses hurt by complicated taxes & aggressive regulation
Less regulations and a commitment to stopping reckless spending are the necessary steps to returning jobs to Ohio, Mandel said. His plan to bring jobs back to Ohio included easing tax burdens on small businesses and farmers and creating an environment
conducive to manufacturing. "Small businesses are hampered by an overly complicated tax code and an overly aggressive regulatory environment," Mandel said. "We have a federal government that treats small businesses as guilty until proven innocent."
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Sep 4, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Use responsibly the natural resources we're blessed to have
Mandel said the nation's energy policy should take advantage of natural gas reserves buried under the eastern portion of the state. "The administration--and Congress to a certain extent--fail to see our natural resources as assets,"
Mandel said. "I believe the oil and gas and other natural resources we're blessed to have should be used in a responsible way."
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Sep 4, 2012
On Tax Reform:
Eliminate the death tax; it's an unjust double taxation
Mandel called for the loosening of regulations on farmers and elimination of the so-called "death tax," which he said was an unjust double taxation that stole money from hardworking farmers.Mandel's priorities were a threat to
the middle class, a Sherrod Brown spokesman said, citing the candidate's failure to support the auto bailout, which the Brown campaign said saved 850,000 Ohio jobs.
Source: Dayton Daily News on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Sep 4, 2012
On Government Reform:
Does not accept gifts in public office
Josh Mandel does not take gifts. Or does he? The Ohio treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate asserted that he does not, and he said so in the most public of settings: a roomful of reporters from the Akron Press Club. The club wanted to give
Mandel a token of appreciation (a flash drive with the club's logo) after he addressed it on March 1. "I appreciate it. I don't take gifts," Mandel said.This raises a question: Why did Mandel recently declare in a public document that he got gifts
from 31 people in 2011? That number of gift-givers, and their names, showed up in the state financial disclosure statement that Mandel filed this week. This disclosure led incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown's campaign to declare that
Mandel lied when he told reporters that he doesn't take gifts.
Mandel's campaign spokesman says the gifts were primarily meals at "family gatherings, weddings, meetings and charity events."
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer on 2012 Ohio Senate debates
Apr 20, 2012
On Government Reform:
Public officials should disclose more than is required
[Mandel listed] 31 people as gift-givers in 2011 in the state financial disclosure statement filed this week. [A campaign spokesperson] added that even though Ohio requires state officials to disclose all gifts above $75, many of the meals Mandel listed
cost less but were disclosed anyway, in an abundance of transparency. Mandel has said in his most recent and in past financial disclosure reports that he tries to provide more information than required.If there were gifts of significantly high value
or items that went beyond food or drink, the disclosure forms do not say, as the Ohio Ethics Commission only requires state officeholders to disclose the source of gifts valued at more than $75 but does not require specificity as to the gifts themselves.
The US Senate require only gifts worth more than $335 to be reported. Brown's most recent form said he had none. Mandel "goes above and beyond what is required on his disclosure forms," the spokesperson said. "More elected officials should do that."
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer on 2012 Ohio Senate debates
Apr 20, 2012
On Abortion:
Endorsed by Ohio Right to Life PAC
Pro-life State Treasurer Josh Mandel now possesses a clear path to the GOP nod and a fighting chance at unseating pro-abortion Senator Sherrod Brown (D) in the general election. Mandel brings a solid pro-life position to the race.
Mandel received the endorsement of Ohio Right to Life PAC in his runs for State House and for Treasurer.
During his stint in the House, Mandel championed numerous pieces of life-saving legislation.
He co-sponsored H.B. 280, the Protecting Pregnant Women from Coercion and
Violence Act to increase penalties for domestic violence when the offender knew the victim was pregnant and to require abortion facilities to post a "No One Can Force You to Have an Abortion" notice.
Source: LifeNews.com on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 27, 2011
On Abortion:
Umbilical blood is ethical source of stem cells
Mandel co-sponsored H.B. 314, the Ultrasound Viewing Option Bill and
H.B. 102, a bill to promote umbilical cord blood donation as an ethical source of stem cells.
Source: LifeNews.com on 2012 Ohio Senate debate
Oct 27, 2011
Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018