Paula Jean Swearengin in 2018 WV Senate race
On Government Reform:
Upgrade equipment to safeguard elections
Q: Do you favor more federal aid to upgrade equipment to protect election procedures?A: A growing number of states are upgrading their election systems to safeguard against security threats and to replace outdated equipment. These costs
are necessary and should be divided between the states and the federal government. States require ongoing assistance to counter any compromises that may occur. Of course, elections held with all paper ballots are far more secure and cost-effective.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Mar 27, 2018
On Gun Control:
Common-sense gun regulations & background checks
Q: What measures could help prevent gun violence and mass shootings?A: I support the 2nd Amendment, but common sense gun measures are needed. Every loophole for background checks should be closed. Online sales and gun shows should face more strict
regulation. Reducing poverty and improving the health and education quality of our communities can reduce violence of all types.
Q: What measures do you favor on background checks for gun purchases?
A: The overwhelming majority of citizens support common-sense gun measures. Background checks should be expanded to include purchases made at gun shows and private sales. The reporting criteria for checks must also be
mandated and further expanded to include red-flag behaviors, like non-gun violence, threats, mental health incidents, and school disciplinary actions. This will make background checks more effective overall.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Mar 27, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Rein in our bloated military budget
Q: What measures would you support to address the budget deficit and the national debt?A: Rein in our bloated military budget and eliminate wasteful spending. Reduce Agribusiness subsidies. Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies entirely.
Allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers. Replace the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction with a refundable credit to reduce the artificial incentive for developers and investors to finance high-end home construction.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Mar 27, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
Create investment banks that will create jobs
Our plan calls for creating regional and state investment banks to invest in kickstarting high-wage industries and modernizing existing industries. These new banks will invest in high-wage industries that will create millions of jobs for the
American people. These regional and state investment banks will work hand in hand with a new national investment corporation that will work to find game-changing new ventures in which the banks can invest.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Crime:
End mandatory minimum sentencing
Judicial discretion has eroded due to the politicization of law enforcement. Loss of discretion means that judges are compelled to deliver sentences that are often harsher than the crime committed. If discretion is given back to the courts,
judges may have greater latitude in delivering a sentence that gives an individual in the system a chance to get his or her life back on track, rather than waste away in prison for years.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Drugs:
End the wasteful, harmful, war on drugs
Invest all that saved money in drug diversion and mental health programs which have proven to be successful at slashing drug use.
The time has come to stop the government from wasting money and fix the drug problem once and for all. Legalize and tax marijuana just like we do alcohol and tobacco, which will save us over $13 billion per year.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Education:
Free college or trade school to all qualified students
Provide a tuition-free education to qualified students at all public universities, colleges, and trade schools. If we want to rebuild our economy and encourage innovation in America, we need a highly-educated and highly-skilled workforce.
Saddling students with debt is not only destructive to students' futures, it also slows and depresses our economy.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Education:
Ensure adequate funding; encourage best practices
A range of best practices covering teaching methods, teacher training and school discipline have been demonstrated to work. Participating districts will receive funding along with management training and teacher training.
From the start a federal grant program will ensure all districts receive adequate funding regardless of their local property tax base.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Need to invest in renewable energy now
The cheap renewable energy economy is coming. If we choose to build it now instead of decades from now, we'll create millions of jobs and free up trillions of dollars from energy costs for other projects.
This will be a huge boon for American workers and this cheap renewable energy will give American businesses a competitive edge. We have a choice: fall behind the rest of the world or build America's cheap, renewable energy economy right now.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Families & Children:
Make 6 months of family leave available to all parents
Expand the earned income tax credit by $1 trillion for families raising children. Make 6 months of family leave available to all parents -- both women and men.
Build and fund of a new network of childcare centers.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Government Reform:
Cut regulations favoring big businesses
We will establish a department in the small business administration that identifies burdensome regulations that are strangling the potential of America's small businesses.
This department will make recommendations to Congress for which regulations to repeal.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Health Care:
Medicare for all as part of insurance free market
Provide all Americans with healthcare through Medicare. This will include high-quality general, dental, vision, and mental health coverage. Medicare is more efficient than any private insurance provider and is accepted by 95% of doctors.
Under our plan, private insurance companies will be allowed to compete with each other in a truly free market to offer supplemental insurance plans.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Immigration:
Create swift, secure path to citizenship
One of our great strengths as a society is our healthy population growth thanks to immigration. The idea that America would be better off deporting 11 million contributors to our society and economy is ludicrous. Immigrants pay taxes and perform
millions of important jobs. We need them. We should establish legal immigration centers around the world to recruit the best working families in Latin America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere to join us.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Jobs:
Raise minimum wage; tie rate to inflation
Adjusted for inflation, today's $7.25/hour minimum wage is actually $4 lower than the minimum wage of 50 years ago. No one can survive in America today on $7.25/hour, especially if they are trying to raise a family.
We will raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, tie it to inflation, and encourage states and local governments to increase the minimum wage further in places with higher costs of living.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Principles & Values:
Part of "Brand New Congress" to fight special interests
I am joining a team with hundreds of other candidates in a single campaign to rebuild our country. Brand New Congress candidates like Paula Jean Swearengin are completely funded by small donations.
As a Senator, Paula will be free to serve, rather than fundraise and meet with lobbyists. Paula will work for all Americans without pressure from corporations and special interests.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Cut taxes for middle/working class
Our plan lowers taxes and provides tax rebates/refunds to working and middle class people. We will eliminate the need to file federal taxes, since, for regular W2 employees, the government already knows what you owe.
We will bring U.S. corporate taxes into line with global norms, and slash tax loopholes and giveaways in the tax code which they overwhelmingly benefit big business.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Technology:
Invest $4.6 trillion in infrastructure
We will fund the national and state agencies that oversee our major roads, bridges, dams and more for the projects they have been begging to start for decades. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that $4.6 trillion is needed to get
America's infrastructure back up to par. Much of this is straightforward "shovel ready" work that can be started right away. The rest requires planning across the private and public sector.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On War & Peace:
End wars of choice; protect human rights when needed
America must take action as part of the international community to protect peace and human rights when necessary. Totally against "wars of choice" and will stop presidents from taking America to war unnecessarily.
The best role America can play is to support economic development as we did with the Marshall Plan after World War II. Such investment can help our own economy as much as others.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
On Abortion:
Pro-choice, including abortion alternatives
Q: Do you think that being pro-choice is a non-starter in a state like West Virginia?A: We need to think outside the box on abortion. If they banned abortions tomorrow, there are still people who are going to have abortions.
You cannot be pro-life if you don't think about people after birth too, and about sick people.
If you build up the workforce, you give women access to health care so they can have adequate birth control.
You can give them better, livable wages so they don't have to worry about bringing a child into this world and not being able to take care of them.
Source: The New Republic on 2018 West Virginia Senate race
May 19, 2017
On Civil Rights:
Worrying about somebody's sexuality is just ridiculous
A: I honestly don't even understand the argument against LGBT rights. We have real issues to worry about and I think worrying about somebody's sexuality is just ridiculous.
Q: Do you think that being pro-LGBT rights is a non-starter in a state like West Virginia?
Source: The New Republic on 2018 West Virginia Senate race
May 19, 2017
Page last updated: Jan 03, 2020