Paula Jean Swearengin in 2020 WV Senate race
On Jobs:
Supports living wage and workers' rights
Q: What would be your top priorities, if elected?A: A Living Wage and Workers' Rights. Minimum wage has not kept up with the cost of living. It has been nearly ten years since the last modest increase the federal government was willing to pass.
Over that same time, the wealth gap grew larger than ever. This is about justice and basic human decency. If you work hard and you work full time you shouldn't live in poverty.
And all workers should have their rights protected! I support strong unions and collective bargaining. I am forever proud to have stood on the lines and at rallies at the
Capitol with the West Virginia teachers and public employees who helped reignite the Labor movement across the country.
Source: Ballotpedia statement for 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 10, 2018
On Drugs:
Hemp & cannabis can be cash crops for West Virginia
Kentucky has fostered a burgeoning hemp and marijuana industry. Hemp and cannabis can once again be a cash crop for
West Virginia but in order to see real success we must decriminalize cannabis on a federal level and legalize production within our state.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Modernize roadways, bridges, water systems; expand broadband
We must take immediate steps to invest in updating and modernizing our roadways, bridges and water systems. Too many West Virginians fear the water they are drinking out of the tap. Industry is rapidly changing.
West Virginia's economic growth is stifled by a lack of access to modern telecommunications services. If we want to grow our economy and prospects we must call for federal and statewide investments in broadband and telecommunications.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Drugs:
Address the causes of addiction; not severe punishments
Q: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? A: Addiction and the horrific deaths related to it are consuming our citizens and destroying families at an alarming rate. This is a public health crisis that cannot be met solely
with severe punishments for street dealers. Congress must listen to the professionals who advocate for long term care, comprehensive cannabis policy, more strict regulation of pill mills, proper oversight of pharmaceuticals, and more resources to
disrupt the fentanyl black market. We need to address the causes of addiction and the entrenched systems that feed it for profit. Congress can immediately act on removing federal roadblocks to legal medical and recreational cannabis. This would allow
states to continue to reap the rewards of the economic boom and permit states like West Virginia to create jobs and join in the prosperity. Every effort should be made at both the state and federal level to accomplish this goal.
Source: Ballotpedia statement for 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 10, 2018
On Drugs:
Hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for opioid crisis
One of the most tragic developments in West Virginia has been the devastating effects of opioid addiction. Paula Jean is fighting to allocate more money for local hospitals and provide access to quality health care for every West Virginian. We
must hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in creating this national crisis and this includes federal legislation that pushes pharmaceutical companies to front a chunk of the bill in helping individuals acquire treatment and recovery.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Education:
Free state colleges, community colleges, trade schools
Education and economic development go hand in hand. Our communities need great and well-paid teachers, doctors, scientists and entrepreneurs.
Our campaign supports tuition free state colleges, community colleges and trade schools. West Virginians beginning their careers shouldn't have to start with the burden of massive debt.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Education:
Supports federal subsidies in childcare
As a mother of four, Paula Jean understands the burden of the cost of childcare. She supports federal subsidies in childcare, so parents no longer have to choose between the cost of keeping a job and putting food on the table.
She also understands that we must improve pre-K as well as K-12 education opportunities for all of our youth and help our children gain an education that will help prepare them for a 21st century workforce.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Federal investment in the renewable energy sector
Q: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? A: We need federal investment in the renewable energy sector. In 2017, renewable energy jobs grew 12 times faster than the rest the our economy.
These products must be built in place and maintained by workers who live right here.
These jobs can't be outsourced or moved out of state. West Virginia is the perfect place to start.
With the coal industry in decline due to mechanization, mountaintop removal requiring many fewer miners, and the competition of cheaper extraction in the natural gas industry, there is a workforce here ready and able to take on the challenge.
Source: Ballotpedia statement for 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 10, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
We must transition from coal, move to clean energy
The very serious question that faces West Virginia today is: What are we going to do when the coal is gone? Paula Jean understands that we must transition from coal. Paula Jean will fight to bring innovative solutions to these age-old problems.
We can learn from successes we see in other states. In Ohio, they've grown a clean energy market that's helped create tens of thousands of jobs.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Congress needs to support the Green New Deal
West Virginians have been impacted by pollution for years. The industrial revolution was built on the backs of Appalachians. Our waterways, mountains and health have paid the price. Climate change is impacting us now.
Congress needs to take it seriously by supporting the Green New Deal, and the Reclaim Act. I'll fight for federal funds to support states like ours.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 4, 2020
On Environment:
West Virginia rivers and streams are constantly threatened
Q: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? A:
West Virginia rivers and streams are constantly threatened by drainage, dumping, spills, and run-off from all of the industries who get tax and regulation breaks in the name of jobs.
Explosions, leaks, and five-day chemical fires have filled our air with toxins. Even worse, most of the companies guilty of these abuses are often headquartered out-of-state and are reporting record profits!
CEOs are raking in millions in salaries and bonuses at the expense of our health. Clean air and water should always be part of the cost of doing business.
Source: Ballotpedia statement for 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 10, 2018
On Government Reform:
Voter turnout depressed due to money influencing elections
Q: What would be your top priorities, if elected?A: Ending Corruption in Washington. Voter turnout continues to be depressed because people feel defeated by the massive sums of money spent influencing politicians and elections.
Our current campaign financing system is largely legal bribery. Representatives who gladly take huge checks from industry and special interests are not representing the will of their constituents. This has to stop!
We have already seen the mess caused by dark money and unchecked corporate donations. Our goal to create free and fair elections should be a clean public financing system.
A Constitutional amendment to overturn the corrupt Citizens United ruling will help stem the tide. Americans deserve free, fair, accountable, secure elections so we can trust that Washington is on the side of the people.
Source: Ballotpedia statement for 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 10, 2018
On Government Reform:
We as voters need to hold representatives accountable
Primaries are the voters' opportunity to kick out politicians that aren't working for them. Right now both parties prop up and protect their incumbents and undermine primaries. Gerrymandering, voter suppression and corrupt millionaires and
billionaires have done all they can to keep their power. More people need to run for office and we as voters need to hold our representatives accountable.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 4, 2020
On Health Care:
Health care is a human right, decouple health care from jobs
Health care is a human right, plain and simple. This is why Paula Jean fully supports Medicare for All. In the long run Medicare for All could save the country billions by cutting out the middle-man and investing in true preventative care.
She also supports decoupling health care with jobs so that each individual can decide their own future without being burdened with the weight of losing their health care plan.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Jobs:
Supports protections for unions, ending "right to work" laws
Supporting industry also means supporting workers. That's why we support federal protections for Unions and demand a living wage for all individuals working across the country.
We all deserve good-paying jobs, that's why our campaign supports a federal jobs guarantee, worker rights expansion and ending stifling right to work legislation.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
On Jobs:
Wants a living wage, but not advocating for set amount
Swearingen said she wants West Virginians to have a living wage. She is not advocating for a set amount, she said. She pointed out that $15 an hour in California is not much. For many West Virginians, on the other hand, $15 would be a "game changer."
"I'm not stuck on the amount," she said. "We need to make sure people can make a living, but we also need to make sure that small businesses can create a path. "We don't want small businesses to go bankrupt because we're paying $15 an hour."
Source: The Register-Herald on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Jan 18, 2020
On Principles & Values:
When we unite for justice, we can accomplish our goals
On unity: "No one person or election will solve the systemic injustices that plague our society," said Swearengin. "But, together, we can stand in solidarity with the cause.""When we unite our fight for justice, we can accomplish our
goals," she added. "We can end systemic racism. We can guarantee healthcare as a human right. We can ensure every person has clean air to breathe and clean water to drink."
Source: Common Dreams on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Jun 10, 2020
On Principles & Values:
We need Congress to do right, even if breaking with party
We've seen representatives from both parties who are bought and paid for by big corporations. We have to work together to get things done, but we also need a Congress that will do what's right, even if that means breaking with the party.
It means working with others to find real, lasting solutions. And it also means putting people over profits.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 4, 2020
On Social Security:
Fix solvency by lifting cap on incomes over $137,000
The solvency of Social Security is easily fixed by lifting the cap on incomes over $137 thousand. But solvency isn't the real problem. We need accurate and adequate cost of living adjustments
now for our future generations, we need to bring back unions and strengthen our social security so all of us can have comfortable retirement.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 4, 2020
On Technology:
Federal government must help states expand broadband
The COVID-19 crisis has shown us how critical access to internet is. To operate in the 21st century we need access to modern telecommunications. Our state doesn't have enough revenue to make these changes our own.
As a U.S. Senator, I'll fight for funding for our state to expand broadband to grow small business and bring modern communications to West Virginian families.
Source: The Herald-Dispatch on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
Apr 4, 2020
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023