Claire McCaskill in 2018 MO Senate race


On Abortion: Fund Planned Parenthood; protect abortion providers

Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Josh Hawley (R): Ban. Called Roe v. Wade "one of the most unjust decisions" in U.S. judicial history.

Claire McCaskill (D): Legal. Supported bill to prevent abortion providers being singled out for medically unwarranted restrictions.

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

Josh Hawley (R): Yes. Was lawyer in Hobby Lobby case that gave businesses religious freedom rights to withhold this coverage.

Claire McCaskill (D): No. Says best way to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions is by expanding access to birth control.

Q: Allow public funding of Planned Parenthood for non-abortion health services?

Josh Hawley (R): "No tax money of any kind."

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Taking away birth control will increase abortions.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Corporations: Amend banking rules in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Q: Financial Regulation: Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Josh Hawley (R): Yes. Argued that its creation was unconstitutional.

Claire McCaskill (D): No, but voted to amend some of its banking rules.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Corporations: Supports Net Neutrality: equal access to all users

Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Co-sponsored bill to restore rule requiring this.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Drugs: Supports medical marijuana & alternative drug sentencing

Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana.

Josh Hawley (R): "Inclined" to support medical marijuana in initiative.

Claire McCaskill (D): Supports medical marijuana, alternatives to prison for nonviolent drug offenders, "might support" recreational marijuana.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Education: Increase student financial aid, like Pell Grants

Q: Refinance student loans at lower rates, by raising high-earner taxes? Increase student financial aid, like Pell Grants?

Josh Hawley (R): Unclear, but says universities waste billions of public funds and leave families with billions of debt, giving students "worthless degrees" and indoctrinating them in far-left thinking.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Co-sponsored Elizabeth Warren proposal to refinance student loans. Supports increasing Pell Grants.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Energy & Oil: Subsidize alternative energy, but build Keystone Pipeline

Q: Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit or tax greenhouse gas production?

Josh Hawley (R): No. Criticized Obama's "job-killing `climate agenda'" and "climate change crusade." Backed lawsuit against Obama Clean Power Plan.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes, but asked for more time for coal plants to implement Obama Clean Power Plan, while opposing its repeal. Opposed carbon tax but supports US participation in Paris Climate Accord.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Supports alternative energy subsidies, but also recognizes Missouri's dependence on coal and supported Keystone Pipeline.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Environment: Limit EPA farm regulations, but no EPA cuts

Q: Support cutbacks in Environmental Protection Administration?

Josh Hawley (R): Fought Obama EPA "overreach." Opposed EPA "Clean Power Plan."

Claire McCaskill (D): No, but opposed some EPA regulations affecting farmers.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Families & Children: Supports gay marriage

Q: Support gay marriage?

Josh Hawley (R): No. Supports "the biblical truth about husband and wife, man and woman."

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Free Trade: Opposes Trump's tariffs on China

Q:Support President Trump's tariffs on Chinese steel and other products?

Josh Hawley (R): Supports approach but worried about farmers, so wants to see the deal.

Claire McCaskill (D): Opposes.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Government Reform: Limits on corporate campaign donations; full disclosure

Q: Require political ads to disclose their largest funders?

Josh Hawley (R): Unclear. Has said need ethics reform, but no stands requiring this.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Backed bills to require.

Q: Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations and unions?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown, although Citizens United PAC supported for Attorney General.

Claire McCaskill (D): No. Restore reasonable limits.

Q: Elections: Support nonpartisan "Clean Missouri" redistricting initiative to address partisan gerrymandering and limit gifts by lobbyists.

Josh Hawley (R): No current stand.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. "Couldn't be more enthusiastic"

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Government Reform: Opposes voter ID requirements

Q: Voting Rights: Support stricter voting rules like voter ID requirements or reduced registration times, even if they prevent some people from voting?

Josh Hawley (R): Defended strict Missouri Voter ID Law, but may have just been in his role as Attorney General.

Claire McCaskill (D): Opposes.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Gun Control: Supports background checks and assault rifle ban

Q: Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Josh Hawley (R): Supports background checks, banning bump stocks, but not assault rifles.

Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Supports Second Amendment, but supports background checks, closing gun show loophole, assault rifle ban.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Health Care: Protect coverage of pre-existing conditions

Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare?

Josh Hawley (R): Repeal & replace ACA, which "was never constitutional." Part of lawsuit to end required coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Claire McCaskill (D): Supports "improving" ACA. Offered Senate resolution to protect coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Immigration: Opposes border wall; also opposes path to citizenship

Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions? Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?

Josh Hawley (R): Opposes general path to citizenship. "Amnesty is not the answer." Supports Trump border wall. Position on DACA unclear. Criticized McCaskill for "giving illegal immigrants a free pass and allowing them to use children as a human shield."

Claire McCaskill (D): Voted for 2010 DREAM Act. Worked on bipartisan immigration proposal with path to citizenship for DACA kids combined with more border security. Opposes Trump's wall and family separations. Has opposed general path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Jobs: Opposed MO ballot initiative on Right to Work

Q: Support "Right to Work" laws, which make union dues optional?

Josh Hawley (R): Yes.

Claire McCaskill (D): No. Opposed MO ballot initiative.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Jobs: Increase minimum wage to $12 by 2023

Q: Support Missouri minimum wage initiative?

Josh Hawley (R): Hasn't made up mind. "Worried it may actually result in lost jobs."

Claire McCaskill (D): Supports MO initiative to raise to $12/hour by 2023.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Social Security: Opposes privatization of Social Security and VA

Q: Support full or partial privatization of Social Security and VA?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown.

Claire McCaskill (D): Opposes privatization.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Technology: Supports federal infrastructure investment

Q: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Josh Hawley (R): Unknown.

Claire McCaskill (D): Supports federal infrastructure investment.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On War & Peace: Supported treaty limiting Iran nuclear capability

Q: Support Trump withdrawal from treaty limiting Iran nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?

Josh Hawley (R): Yes.

Claire McCaskill (D): Supported original treaty. "Concerned about what comes next" and effect on the relationship with allies.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

On Tax Reform: Ad-Watch: Supports middle-class tax cuts, not all tax cuts

[Josh Hawley's TV ad accused McCaskill of opposing tax cuts]. McCaskill's team sent several instances where she did favor middle-class tax cuts.