Mike Espy in 2020 MS Senatorial race

On Budget & Economy: Congress must help local governments with revenue shortfalls

As we begin to return to normality, our local governments will face revenue shortfalls. Congress must compensate our local governments for these costs and do more to ease the financial strain our municipalities are under. During a time when we need local governments the most, our federal representatives should be doing all they can to provide our local leaders with the resources they need to support our communities--not playing partisan political games. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Budget & Economy: Support small business especially minority/LGBTQ/women owned

Starting and running a small business takes incredible perseverance, hard work, and a love for our community. Mississippi's small businesses are a huge part of our state's economy, making up almost 50% of our state's private-sector workforce. Our leaders need to do more to support our small businesses, especially our minority, LGBTQ+, and women-owned businesses, by providing them the tools they need to grow. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Civil Rights: Make it easier for qualified voters to vote during pandemic

As the election approaches, we should make it easier for qualified voters to vote. No-excuse absentee and early voting should be the law in Mississippi. No one should be forced to risk their health to exercise their right to vote. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Education: Public dollars should go toward public schools--period

I support all schools in our state. But public dollars should go toward our public schools. Period. Too many Mississippi school districts are struggling as dollars meant for them are diverted away. For years, Mississippi's leaders have ignored laws, allowing our public schools to be underfunded by $2.3 billion dollars since 2008. Decisions about education are best left to our educators, teachers, parents and school administrators on the ground, and I will fight to get them the funding they need. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Education: Increase teacher pay; fund teacher training programs

Teachers are superhuman and they deserve to be compensated for all they do. In our state, one in three school districts is designated as a critical teacher shortage area. In 2018, our state had thousands of teacher vacancies. By increasing pay for teachers, adequately funding our teacher training programs, streamlining the licensure process, and expanding federal loan forgiveness, we can begin to recruit first-class teachers to Mississippi's public schools. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Education: Expand apprenticeship/job training programs

Mississippi's employers are facing a shortage of trained workers to fill jobs. I will work to tailor our apprenticeships and job training programs to match the needs of our employers. We'll create new programs and expand our successful ones, such as the workforce training pilot program at our community colleges. By working with employers to expand training and retraining for jobs they need most, we can match education with our most in-demand jobs. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Free Trade: Experience in negotiating multilateral trade treaties

I have the experience of having personally negotiated two multilateral trade treaties that greatly expanded market opportunities for our nation's farmers. They deserve a proven advocate for them in the U.S. Senate--not someone engaged in hyper-partisan political gamesmanship. I will work with any president and any administration to improve opportunities for Mississippi's farmers and make sure those opportunities directly benefit them. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Health Care: Shore up rural hospitals; expand Medicaid

Medicaid and ensuring quality broadband access to every Mississippian. As your senator, I will continue to push for innovative solutions that support investment and development in our rural communities. Quality, affordable health care and access to high-speed internet are desperately needed across the rural areas of our state, that's why my first two priorities in office will be to shore up our rural hospitals and health clinics by expanding Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Health Care: Number one priority will be to expand Medicaid

My number one priority in the Senate will be to expand Medicaid. By failing to expand Medicaid, Mississippi has willingly rejected $11.1 billion in federal funds over the last decade. The revenue from expansion is needed now more than ever to undergird our rural hospitals, to fill the gap for uncompensated care, to address the long-term care crisis, and to be able to enroll an additional 210,000 uninsured Mississippians. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Jobs: Protections for essential workers, paid family/medical leave

America's essential workers disproportionately work more hours, are paid less, and have not traditionally been recognized to the degree to which they deserve. I will be a voice for our workers in Washington. I will ensure their workplaces have health and safety protections in place and that they are prioritized for personal protective equipment, testing, and paid family and medical leave. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Technology: Ensure quality broadband access for every Mississippian

Quality, affordable health care and access to high-speed internet are desperately needed across the rural areas of our state, that's why my first two priorities in office will be to shore up our rural hospitals and health clinics by expanding Medicaid and ensuring quality broadband access to every Mississippian. As your senator, I will continue to push for innovative solutions that support investment and development in our rural communities. Source: 2020 Mississippi Senate campaign website EspyForSenate.com Jun 25, 2020

On Crime: Make lynching a federal hate crime

We need the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act to become law so we can make sure no other family has to live knowing that justice wasn't served for the racially-motivated killing of their loved one. 2020 isn't over yet, and we have already experienced headlines, videos, and live footage of racial violence. Making lynching a federal crime is still a necessity today. We must do everything possible to protect the lives of everyone and help make sure no one in this country feels unsafe. Source: Medium.com e-zine on 2020 Mississippi Senate race Jun 18, 2020

On Crime: Reform police tactics, racial bias training, ban chokehold

Espy is calling for transparency with body cameras, a national database of police officers who misbehave, reforming police tactics by banning the choke hold and racial bias and discrimination training. "All of these policies are meant to identify and root out police injustice and police misconduct at least let the public make them aware of who's doing these things to provide for a system that is less racial and fair for everybody with better opportunities," said Espy. Source: WJTV-12 News Jackson on 2020 Mississippi Senate race Jun 11, 2020

The above quotations are from 2020 Mississippi Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts from 2020 Mississippi Senatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Mike Espy. Click here for a profile of Mike Espy.
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Page last updated: Oct 24, 2020