Ed Markey in 2020 MA Senatorial race
On Abortion:
Massachusetts should lead in protecting right to choose
Now is the time for Massachusetts "to be the leader in ensuring we put on the books" a women's right to choose,
Markey said. "The decision has to be made by women," Markey said.
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Pay for $2000 stimulus checks by repealing Trump tax cuts
O'Connor emphasized the need to reopen businesses and schools "safely." Markey said that could only be done with more federal support.O'Connor said Markey was being too extreme, particularly the senator's proposal to send $2,000 monthly payments to
every individual with an income below $100,000, retroactive to March. "It is a grossly irresponsible proposal," O'Connor said, arguing it was unaffordable.
Markey said the payments could be paid for, at least in part, by repealing the Trump tax cuts.
Source: The Boston Globe on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Green New Deal has shifted the whole discussion
Markey calls for ramping up renewable energy production and green energy jobs while curbing the impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable communities. "The Green New Deal has shifted the whole discussion.
The goals have lifted the gaze of Americans and political leaders," he said. "I'm going to continue to advocate for the Green New Deal, which saves all of creation while investing in massive job creation."
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
COVID: Supported travel ban from China
O'Connor repeatedly criticized Markey's "failure" to call out China for not sharing information about COVID-19. "Senator Markey has a long record of weakness in terms of dealing with China and his weakness, on a sustained basis, poses the greatest
threat to American security and American safety,""That's just plain wrong," Markey shot back. "When the President said that he was going to cut off travel from China, I agreed with him and I said so publicly."
Source: The Boston Globe on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Health Care:
COVID: Trump's response "criminally negligent"
Markey faulted Trump's handling of the COVID-19 response, calling the Republican president "criminally negligent." Markey noted that he requested information about the Trump administration's preparations and also called on Trump to appoint a coronavirus
response czar. "I was the first senator to call upon him to use the Defense Production Act to produce the testing, the PPE, the tracing technologies that were necessary," he said.
Source: The Boston Globe on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
On Crime:
Ban "weapons of war" including tear gas from police use
O'Connor painted Markey as someone who wants to "defund police". O'Connor's answer to resolving racial justice issues is to "enforce the law." He noted that he was the "first diversity and inclusion coordinator of what was then the largest law firm in
Boston 20 years ago." O'Connor said cops were not to be blamed, arguing the focus should be on Markey's "failed record in terms of social programs and failed inner city schools."
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 5, 2020
On Technology:
Expand program to get every child internet access
Markey pointed to his E-Rate program, which he authored as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The bill, he said, helped ensure "every child in America, especially poor children, had the internet on their desk." He noted he's leading efforts
to expand the $54 billion program by another $4 billion, to "make sure kids get it at home," not just schools and libraries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reframed the way students learn across Massachusetts and the country.
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Oct 5, 2020
On Government Reform:
Ok with outside PAC ads, if positive ads
Markey and Kennedy sparred over a "People's Pledge," which would limit outside money spent in the race. Kennedy supports it, while Markey only limits negative advertisements. Markey has been endorsed by Environment Massachusetts, which plans to put
together a $5 million campaign to support his candidacy."We should welcome positive voices, disclosed voices," like those from "environmental groups," Markey said.
"Who gets to say these are voices we like?" Kennedy replied.
Source: CNN coverage of 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On Immigration:
Would not trade protecting DACA for wall
Asked if he would entertain a deal that was once on the table from Trump that included money for the president's proposed border wall in exchange for protecting so-called Dreamers -- those brought to the United States as children by their
undocumented parents, Markey said he wouldn't. "Here's what I would trade. I would trade presidents," Markey said.
Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Legislating is about issues: look at my record
Markey spent much of the night highlighting a record that includes filing the Green New Deal and passing laws related to pollution, Alzheimer's research and gun control, "Yes, filing the right legislation and voting the right way is a critical part
of this job, but if there's one lesson from today's Washington, D.C., it's that this is about power and if we're serious about putting the people and the causes that we care about first, you have to go out there and you have to take it," Kennedy said.
Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On War & Peace:
2003 Iraq war vote was a mistake; 2013 Syria vote was not
Kennedy was particularly critical of Markey's votes to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in 2003 and his present vote in committee a decade later in 2013 on a resolution authorizing military action in Syria. Markey said he voted present on
Syria because the Obama administration had not provided all the information he needed to make a decision. He called the ultimate release of the information by the administration a "disinfectant" that led to the withdrawal of the resolution.
"A present vote is not a disinfectant. It's hard for me to understand when a present vote is going to be a profile in courage," Kennedy said.
Markey said that he regretted his Iraq war vote, which he blamed on being lied to by President George W. Bush. "It was a mistake," Markey said, noting the support his campaign has received from groups like Mass Peace Action.
Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Feb 18, 2020
On Environment:
Nuclear power is a very expensive way to boil water
Almost 20 percent of the nation's electricity comes from nuclear power, Markey said, but "it's a very expensive way to boil water." For the same price of two new nuclear plants that will generate 2,200 megawatts, developers could produce more than
6,000 megawatts with solar power, Markey said. "These plants will phase out over time but they're going to be replaced very quickly by wind off the coastline of Massachusetts, solar panels on the roofs of citizens and with the energy efficiency
technologies partnered with battery storage," Markey said.Shannon Liss-Riordan said nuclear power "may be carbon free, but it is not risk free." She added, "It is not the direction of our future. We need to be moving toward these renewable
sources that will be more competitive as we invest in the infrastructure to get solar, wind and geothermal power that we need."
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Nov 11, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
More offshore wind and solar--but no Green New Deal
While Markey and Liss-Riordan agree that the nation must move toward a green economy with sharp increases in offshore wind, solar and geothermal energy, Liss-Riordan argued the Green New Deal and Markey's environmental message contained a good deal
of "lofty language" but not much in the way of financial planning.Markey acknowledged that the Green New Deal does not have "individual prescriptions" on "how to get there," but calls for a "revolution in every city and town and every campus," with
aggressive targets in "every sector" including automotive, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing.
"I know if we have a climate bank with billions of dollars, it could unleash trillions of dollars in investment to increase efficiency," said
Markey, who also called for raising fuel economy standards and tax incentives for those who buy electric vehicles. "We should strip the tax breaks for gas and coal and oil industry and give those tax breaks to wind and solar--we will have a revolution."
Source: Springfield Republican on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate
Nov 10, 2019
On Abortion:
Champion of woman's ability to make her own decisions
Congressman Markey is a strong proponent of ObamaCare, which ensures that preventive services: such as breast cancer screenings and contraception --are available free of charge.Endorsed by NARAL, Ed is pro-choice and a strong champion of a woman's
ability to make her own decisions about her reproductive health. He voted against the "Stupak Amendment," which would have denied women the ability to purchase private insurance plans that cover abortion services, even when using their own money.
Ed believed this represented an unprecedented intrusion between a woman and her doctor, and he voted against it.
Ed is also a leading advocate for investing in research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to prevent, treat, and cure diseases that affect women, including breast and lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression and Alzheimer's.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Oct 23, 2014
On Health Care:
Expand online clinical trials registry
The field of medical research is central to the Massachusetts economy and to the health and well-being of our residents.
Federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports 35,000 jobs in Massachusetts, which receives more NIH funding per capita than any other state.
Ed is a leader in the effort to ensure full funding for NIH, supporting our researchers and helping Massachusetts remain the global leader in medical research and biotechnology.
Ed also led the reform at the FDA to greatly expand an online clinical trials registry database so the public can determine which medications are the subject of clinical trials.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Oct 23, 2014
On Immigration:
Supports comprehensive immigration reform
What unites us in the Massachusetts and across America is the unshakable belief that no matter where you come from, no matter your circumstances, you can achieve the American Dream.The immigration system we have now doesn't reflect those values:
it hurts our economy and hurts our national security. Ed backs President Obama's goals for improving our immigration system.
He'll fight in the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform that encourages individuals who were educated here to
innovate here, cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers, lays out a path to citizenship for the eleven million undocumented immigrants who are already here and allows the
DREAM Act's "dreamers": those individuals who were brought here at a young age: to earn citizenship by serving in the U.S. military or pursuing higher education.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Oct 23, 2014
On Social Security:
Opposes privatizing, or any changes that reduce benefits
Time and again, Ed has fought to protect Social Security and Medicare, which provide retirement security to more than one million people in Massachusetts. He opposes any changes to Social Security that would reduce benefits for our nation's seniors,
including misguided proposals to raise the retirement age or reduce cost of living adjustments. And Ed will always fight against Republicans' attempts to privatize Social Security.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Massachusetts Senate race
Oct 23, 2014
Page last updated: Sep 17, 2022