Lou Barletta in 2018 PA Senate race

On Abortion: Ban abortion after 20 weeks; de-fund Planned Parenthood

Lou Barletta (R): Ban after 20 weeks, except for rape, incest, & life of mother.

Bob Casey (D): Ban after 20 weeks, except for rape, incest, & life of mother.

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

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supreme Court ruling on this is "a clear victory for religious liberty."

Bob Casey (D): No. Introduced Access to Birth Control Act, stating an employer has no right to deny a woman access to birth control.

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

Lou Barletta (R): No.

Bob Casey (D): Yes.

On Budget & Economy: Recovery is found in private business, not big government

Lou Barletta (R): No. "Key to job creation & economic recovery is found in small, private businesses, not in big government."

Bob Casey (D): Yes.

On Education: Empower parents to choose kids' education environment

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Wants to "empower parents to choose the education environment for their children."

Bob Casey (D): No (stand from 2004).

On Energy & Oil: Don't regulate greenhouse gases; we're in a cooling trend

Lou Barletta (R): No. "Climate science seems to not be settled." "We are . in a cooling trend."

Bob Casey (D): Yes.

Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump's withdrawal?

Lou Barletta (R): No: Voted to bar EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Opposes US participation in Paris Climate Accord & supported Trump's withdrawal from it.

Bob Casey (D): Yes to regulating greenhouse gases. Supports US participation in Paris Climate Accord & opposed Trump's withdrawal from it.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Lou Barletta (R): No.

Bob Casey (D): Yes.

On Families & Children: Opposes gay marriage; let states decide

Lou Barletta (R): No. Opposes gay marriage & Supreme Court decision to redefine marriage. Says it should be a state decision.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. Position has shifted over time.

On Free Trade: Use tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supports Trump's using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. We must go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs.

On Government Reform: No disclosure of political donors

Lou Barletta (R): No. Did not support DISCLOSE Act of 2017, which provides for these disclosure requirements.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. Supported original DISCLOSE Act in 2010 & 2017.

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

Barletta: Unknown.

Casey: No. Says the ruling has enhanced the power of corporate special interests & a handful of wealthy individuals.

On Gun Control: No background checks; but limit bump stocks

Lou Barletta (R): No, except for bump stocks.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. Position has shifted. Now supports expanded background checks, ban on bump stocks, & other restrictions.

On Immigration: Zero-tolerance policy; stop DACA in its tracks

Lou Barletta (R): No. Has sponsored bills to defund & end DACA & "stop DACA in its tracks." Introduced 2017 bill to remove Dreamers' work eligibility permits.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. Supported 2017 bill to let Dreamers become permanent residents if they meet certain qualifications.

Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?

Lou Barletta (R): No. Supports zero-tolerance policy to strengthen existing laws & protect borders. Against citizenship for US-born children of illegal immigrants.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. Must secure our borders, but also finally address comprehensive immigration reform. Voted for 2013 comprehensive reform bill with earned path to citizenship, which failed.

On Social Security: Explore privatization of Social Security

Lou Barletta (R): Supported 2011 Ryan budget that would have explored privatization.

Bob Casey (D): No.

On Technology: End Net Neutrality; don't require equal access to all users

Lou Barletta (R): No.

Bob Casey (D): Yes.

On War & Peace: Withdraw from Obama's Iran nuclear treaty

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Applauds Trump's decision.

Bob Casey (D): No. Strongly opposes Trump's decision.

On Immigration: Avoiding immigrant family separation is amnesty

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Lou Barletta took an aggressive approach against his own party's immigration plan. "I hate it," he said. "What does it accomplish? It's amnesty."

Barletta said he has compassion for the children caught up in the immigration debate. But he said he wouldn't support an immigration bill unless it also blocked employers from hiring immigrants who are in the US illegally, eliminated "sanctuary cities" & ended family-based migration.

Barletta said his party should "absolutely" fear a political backlash from its base this fall should Republicans push through the current compromise.