Michelle Lujan-Grisham in CampusElect.org 2018 Gubernatorial coverage

On Abortion: Support Planned Parenthood; support employer contraceptives

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Legal. Opposed bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks unless women's life was at risk or pregnancy was from rape or incest.

Steve Pearce (R): Ban. Voted to ban abortion after 20 weeks unless women's life was at risk or pregnancy was from rape or incest.

Q: Contraception: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Access to free contraception essential "regardless of employer's religious beliefs."

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. "This is not an issue of birth control, it's an issue of government control."

Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Values their preventive care.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Willing to shut down government to stop any public funding of them.

On Civil Rights: Supports marriage equality

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supported NM marriage equality before Supreme Court ruling.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Personally opposes, voted against, but now settled law.

On Drugs: Supports medical marijuana and recreational legalization

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supported NM medical marijuana program & voted in Congress to protect. Supports recreational legalization.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Strongly opposes recreational legalization. "It would hinder the economic fortunes of poor people."

On Education: Supports universal pre-K; opposes school vouchers

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports passing constitutional amendment to allow distributions from NM Permanent Fund. Also supports universal pre-K & shifting funding from administrators to classroom teachers.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Reluctant to dip into Permanent Fund, for pre-K or in general. "Far more complex than just throwing more money at the situation." Support better management, mental health support & apprenticeship programs.

Q: Provide publicly funded vouchers to help pay for private schools?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Strongly opposes school vouchers.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. "Vouchers break link of low-income & low-quality schools."

On Education: Expand Pell Grants; lower student loan interest

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Find sources of money to replace lottery. In Congress opposed budget that would have lowered Pell Grants.

Steve Pearce (R): No. "Right now we don't have the money." Must first grow the economy. so that we have the money.

Q: Increase federal or state student financial aid?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Backed Elizabeth Warren proposal to lower student interest rates by taxing the wealthy. Also backed Pell Grant support & financial aid for people not pursuing 4-year degree.

Steve Pearce (R): Unclear. Voted for a 2015 Federal budget that significantly cut Pell Grants. Also 2006 budget that cut student loan support in favor of deficit reduction.

On Energy & Oil: Limit greenhouse gases, lead on renewable energy

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. It would be irresponsible to ignore human impact on the changing climate. Modern science should guide our policy.

Steve Pearce (R): No. In 2010 said Intergovernmental Panel, which measured climate change, "doesn't even believe the crap."

Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Lujan-Grisham: Yes. Says: Limit greenhouse gases, join Paris Climate Accord, lead on renewable energy--50% of energy from renewables by 2030, 80% by 2040.

Pearce: No. "Burdensome regulations are killing jobs & driving up energy prices." Voted to prohibit EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Called Paris Accord an unfair deal for Americans.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Lujan-Grisham: Yes. Committed to facilitating investments in renewable energy sector.

Pearce: No. Wants to "support every form of energy." Voted repeatedly against credits or support for renewables.

On Free Trade: Opposes tariffs & short-sighted trade war

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Concerned will cause "dangerous & short-sighted" trade war, harming NM agriculture & consumers.

Steve Pearce (R): Some reservations. "I will not support putting our businesses at a disadvantage & raising prices on our consumers."

On Government Reform: Reveal political donors; reverse Citizens United

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes, on disclosure. Sponsored bills to reverse Citizens United, & require tax-exempt social welfare organizations that run political ads to reveal donors.

Steve Pearce (R): Supported Citizens United. No position on disclosure bills. Voted to defund House Ethics office after it investigated his staffer.

On Government Reform: No voter ID laws; no purging of voter rolls

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. "Burdensome voter ID laws & purging of voter registration rolls . disproportionately impact poor, elderly, disabled & Americans of color."

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. Voted for photo ID in federal races.

On Gun Control: Strengthen background checks; ban assault weapons

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Strengthen background checks, ban assault weapons & high-capacity magazines. Ban anyone convicted of domestic violence from buying guns.

Steve Pearce (R): No. "I don't think Gun Control legislation works." Restrictions would divert resources to "cataloguing & confiscating the guns of law-abiding citizens."

On Health Care: Support ObamaCare; keep Medicaid without work requirement

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Supports ACA, voted against repeal. Protect & strengthen Medicaid.

Steve Pearce (R): "Repeal & replace." Voted for repeal.

Q: Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Opposed work requirements enacted by current governor Susana Martinez.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. Require "able-bodied" Medicaid recipients to work.

On Immigration: Supports earned path to citizenship for DREAMers and others

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Worked to protect their status. Supports earned path to citizenship, for DACA recipients and illegal immigrants in general.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. On DACA, proposed 10-year "conditional protected status" with option to renew but no path to citizenship. Supports guest worker program, without amnesty.

On Jobs: Opposes right-to-work law (supports unions)

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No, opposes.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes, supports.

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage to $10 now & $12 later

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports raising to $10 immediately, & to $12 in 4 years, indexed to inflation.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Raising the minimum wage would hurt small business & people at the bottom of the economic ladder.

On Tax Reform: Trump tax cuts reward the wealthy & special interests

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. They resemble failed past policies that "reward the wealthiest people & special interests, while adding as much as $1.5 trillion to our national debt."

Steve Pearce (R): Yes. Will "give a shot in the arm to all manufacturers, & small businesses will be able to become a little more stable."

On Technology: Supports Net Neutrality: equal access to Internet

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Co-sponsored Congressional resolution to reinstate net neutrality.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Net neutrality rules "undermine the free marketplace."