Erica Smith in 2020 NC Senatorial race


On Health Care: Expand ObamaCare but would not vote against Medicare for All

Two of North Carolina's Democratic U.S. Senate candidates disagreed on health care policy at the first meeting of their campaigns. They were among four Democrats and one Republican candidate who appeared at a forum sponsored by Charlotte's Black Political Caucus at West Charlotte High School. All are trying to replace Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

Asked about health care, former state Sen. Cal Cunningham said he would build on the Affordable Care Act by adding a public option. He also said he supports Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.

State Sen. Erica Smith didn't answer the question directly. "We get caught up in labels," she said, "This is not about left or right. This is about wrong and right." Last year, she said she would build on the ACA, better known as Obamacare. But if Medicare for All is the only option, she said "would not vote against it."

Tillis has voted to repeal the ACA.

Source: Charlotte Observer on 2020 North Carolina Senate debate Jan 21, 2020

On Energy & Oil: Opposed state moratorium on wind farms

Smith-Ingram said the developers have had permits in place for the last three years and have invested millions of dollars already. "[That's] $1 billion of impact that is lost with this wind moratorium," she told the Senate. "To have this financial impact in my district is absolutely unconscionable.
Source: WRAL Raleigh-Durham on 2020 North Carolina Senate race Jun 28, 2019

On Abortion: State "born alive" abortion law criminalizes women & doctors

"It seeks to demonize and criminalize women and doctors when they are most vulnerable," said Smith, adding that the real concern for African-American women is infant mortality and death during childbirth. "There's no such thing as abortion during labor and delivery. Any suggestion otherwise is just not true.
Source: WRAL Raleigh-Durham on 2020 North Carolina Senate race Apr 15, 2019

On Education: Stop cuts to education; compensate our teachers

Smith's campaign website highlighted her four-point plan:
  1. Re-engineer policy and economic initiatives to ensure that workers can find jobs, fair wages and forward growth;
  2. Create business incentives to attract high tech companies and innovative agricultural technologies to our area.
  3. Stop cuts to education so that our teachers can be adequately compensated for their valiant work and students will have the resources they need to be prepared for 21st century competencies, degrees & careers;
  4. Promote an agenda for public safety and equal protection and opportunity under the law for all citizens of North Carolina.
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2020 North Carolina Senate race Nov 1, 2014

The above quotations are from 2020 North Carolina Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2020 North Carolina Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Erica Smith on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War/Peace
Welfare
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Page last updated: Jul 27, 2020