Kirsten Gillibrand in Interviews during 2018-2020
On Government Reform:
Public financing of elections through voter choice
Under Gillibrand's plan, every eligible voter could register for vouchers to donate up to $100 in a primary election and $100 in a general election each cycle, either all at once or in $10 increments to one or more candidates over time.
Each participant would get a separate $200 pool for House, Senate and presidential contests for a total maximum donation of $600 for those federal offices.
To be eligible to receive "Democracy Dollars," a candidate would have to voluntarily agree to forgo any contributions larger than $200 per donor.
The campaign didn't provide an estimate of the total cost of the plan, but said it would pay for the voucher program by limiting a corporate deduction for executive compensation, which it estimates would raise $60 billion over 10 years.
Source: NBC News, "Democracy Dollars," on 2020 Democratic primary
May 1, 2019
On Immigration:
2000s: opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants
Key criticisms of Kirsten Gillibrand: Conservative track record: During her time as a member of the conservative Democrats Blue Dog Coalition when she represented New York's 20th district,
Gillibrand had an 'A' rating from the NRA and opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
Source: Axios.com on 2020 Democratic primary
Apr 22, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Pushed to oust Al Franken from Senate for sexual harassment
Key criticisms of Kirsten Gillibrand:- Al Franken: Some Democrats are upset that Gillibrand moved to oust Franken from the Senate without a public hearing.
- Staff sexual harassment: One of Gillibrand's staffers resigned over
the handling of a sexual harassment complaint against one of the senator's closest aides, showing her office to be at odds with her public persona as a champion of sexual harassment victims.
Source: Axios.com on 2020 Democratic primary
Apr 22, 2019
On Civil Rights:
Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery
At Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention in New York City, most of the 2020 contenders affirmed their support for a bill that would create a commission to study reparations for African-Americans. "I firmly support congresswoman Jackson Lee's
bill," Gillibrand said. "But we must not only study the problem," she said, promising to address a range of related issues if elected president, such as affordable housing, environmental justice and the practice of redlining.
Source: CNBC: 2019 National Action Network & 2020 Democratic primary
Apr 5, 2019
On Immigration:
In House, took hardline for border security, ICE funding
Running for the House in 2006, Gillibrand called securing the border "a national security priority." In a 2007 interview, Gillibrand said "you have to close the borders" as a first step to "right size" immigration. In an interview in May 2007,
Gillibrand said the borders needed to be closed. She co-sponsored a bill expressing displeasure at states giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and then co-sponsored a bill to prevent it. She voted in favor of an amendment
to increase border fencing and technology by almost $90 million. She also voted in favor of an amendment to increase ICE funding by $9 million to work with local law enforcement to identify and remove undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.
A page put up on her website for her 2008 re-election campaign boasted about her record, adding that the congresswoman believed that English should be the official language of the United States.
Source: CNN KFile, "Abolish ICE," on 2020 Democratic primary
Jan 31, 2019
On Immigration:
Hadn't understood issues, changed views in Senate
In January 2009, Gillibrand was appointed to replace Clinton, who had been confirmed to be President Barack Obama's new secretary of state. Her appointment was met with backlash from New York-based immigration activists.
Gillibrand sought to quell the concerns by meeting with immigration groups. Gillibrand moved in the Senate to support policies advocated by activists, including in March 2009, when she signed on as a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act.
Gillibrand was asked about her past positions in a 2018 interview with 60 Minutes, where she said, "I just didn't take the time to understand why these issues mattered because it wasn't right in front of me.
And that was my fault. It was something that I'm embarrassed about and I'm ashamed of."
Source: CNN KFile, "Abolish ICE," on 2020 Democratic primary
Jan 31, 2019
On Health Care:
Provide a public option to get to universal coverage
The biggest worry almost every family in America has is the cost of health care because the insurance industry doesn't care. So the reason why I believe in Medicare for All is I think any family should have access to at least one not for profit public
option so they can compete with the for profit insurance industry that just has to make their quarterly profits and pay their shareholders value and make sure their CEO is make millions of dollars. If you buy into Medicare in the same way you buy into
your Social Security as an earned benefit it is far less expensive for every American than the amount of money they are paying now to the insurance industry. Let them buy in, let them just invest four percent of income, which is what our bill says, to
get access in the same way they invest six percent of their income into Social Security. If create it as a social safety net, people will get higher quality care that is less expensive, and they will always be covered.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interviews: 2020 Democratic primary
Jan 20, 2019
On Immigration:
Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers
Q: Is Trump's offer of three years of protection for DACA recipients enough?A: If you talk to any DACA recipient today, they're anxious. They're worried. They might be at school--they don't know if they can finish school. They might be getting
married. Their lives are being upended and this President has no compassion. I don't think you should even consider this because it's three years. Why not a permanent pathway to citizenship so they actually could have certainty about their lives.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interviews: 2020 Democratic primary
Jan 20, 2019
On Immigration:
Pathway to citizenship gets immigrants connected
It's really important that we give immigrants a pathway to citizenship through comprehensive immigration reform, so they can be part of all the blessings of America. When you create a pathway to citizenship you allow people to buy into their Social
Security. You allow them to invest in our public schools. You allow them to invest in their future and pay taxes. All those things is why you need a pathway to citizenship. And so I really hope we can do that through comprehensive immigration reform.
Source: CNN 2019 "State of the Union" on 2020 Democratic primary
Jan 20, 2019
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021