Pete Buttigieg in CNN N. H. Town Hall

On Drugs: Put boundaries on what phamra companies can do

BUTTIGIEG: Of course. This is part of why we have government, is to make sure that it stands up for people. When people are disempowered by the behavior of a private actor, whether we're talking about an insurance company, whether we're talking about a provider, or whether we're talking about a pharmaceutical company. And we should not be afraid to put boundaries on what these companies can do in order to make sure that patients come first & families come first. That's part of why we have laws to begin with. The laws are too loose, and their enforcement is too lax. That will change when I'm president.

On Education: Stand up and support public education

BUTTIGIEG: If we could honor our teachers a little more like we do our soldiers and pay our teachers a little more like we do our doctors, this entire country would be a better place. So what we've got to do is make sure, yes, first of all, that more resources are going into public education. It means making sure that we massively expand the funding for Title I because, in particular, I'm concerned about those districts and schools where the students are most in need. And a lot of that needs to go to the compensation of teachers. The time has come for us to stand up and support public education in this country. And, yes, that begins with having a secretary of education who believes in public education and supports the profession.

On Families & Children: Healing & Belonging Grants: more mental healthcare support

It means making sure that we're supporting in particular areas that are underserved, getting more of those providers that they need, rural areas. It means using technology.

I'm proposing that we use federal dollars to fund what we call "Healing and Belonging Grants" to local communities, because often a different area will have a different combination of struggles when it comes to mental health, behavioral health, and addiction. And so I don't think all of the answers have to come from Washington, but more of the money should.

And we will empower local health departments, local communities, and local organizations seeking to deliver those solutions and make sure that they get funding to help them as they do.

On Health Care: Support people facing assisted suicide from terminal illness

BUTTIGIEG: This is a good example of where I don't believe that my interpretation of my religion ought to be imposed on anybody. That's a personal approach. I believe that we need to look at the laws of this country and examine how we can best support people confronting these decisions. There's no easy answers. But I believe nationally we need to assess whether knowing what we now know about pain, about the management of the end-of-life, whether we've got it right or whether there are more steps we can take to make sure that as people are in their last days that they are able to pass away in dignity and in as little pain as possible.

On Immigration: Community Renewal Visas: fast-track rural immigration

It's why part of what I've proposed is what we call "Community Renewal Visas", as part of my vision for how we increase the economic prospects of rural areas, is that if an area that's hurting for population wants to welcome more--and many do, even in more conservative areas--that they can apply for an allotment of community renewal visas that fast-track folks who are new to America and will commit to living in those communities.

We need to lift up the role of immigration as an engine for our economy, for the development of our communities, and not just pay lip service to legal immigration.

On Principles & Values: Government belongs to people of every religion & no religion

BUTTIGIEG: Where do we begin? I mean, especially for a president who tries to cloak himself in religion, I'm pretty sure that there's a whole lot of scripture about the dangers of pride and arrogance, and the importance of humility. I'm very committed to the idea that this country, the Constitution, the presidency, belong to people of every religion and of no religion equally. That is a core principle in our country. But I also think this is a time for those who are guided by faith to think about the choice that they have. And if you belong to a faith tradition that tells you that so much depends on how we make ourselves useful to those who are marginalized and oppressed, I just can't imagine that that requires of you that you be anywhere near this president.