Tammy Baldwin in 2024 WI Senate race
On Health Care:
Address racial disparities in health care system
Health Care: Increase or decrease government support for health care?Tammy Baldwin (D): Increase. "No American should have to choose between basic necessities... and paying for the drugs they need."
Introduced the Capping Prescription Costs Act. Supports expanding Obamacare, Medicare, and Medicaid. Calls for addressing "racial disparities that exist in our nation's health care system."
Eric Hovde (R): Decrease. "Obamacare created monopolies and oligarchies and wiped out the family doctor." Repeal it.
It's "stupid" to keep young adults on their parents' insurance until age 26. Would continue protecting benefits for pre-existing conditions.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
On War & Peace:
Two-state solution for Israel and Palestine
Baldwin joined a group of senators in announcing plans to reiterate longstanding U.S. policy: "It is the policy of the United States - "to support a negotiated comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states with
Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace, security, dignity, and mutual recognition; and
- "that such a solution must ensure the state of Israel's survival as a secure, democratic, and Jewish state, and fulfill the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinian people for a state of their own."
"A two-state solution is the only path to long-term peace that would ensure both the Israeli and Palestinian people can achieve self-determination and live in safety," said Senator
Baldwin. "I have long supported a two-state solution and am proud to reaffirm my commitment to that goal because it is more important than ever that we clearly lay out a vision that will bring lasting peace, stability, and security to the region."
Source: Senate press release on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Jan 24, 2024
On Drugs:
Rated A+ by NORML: long-time advocate for cannabis
NORML Politician Info: rated A+- Candidate: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): Holds office: U.S. Senate; Candidate for Senate on August 13, 2024
- Summary: LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE/DECRIMINALIZE/MEDICAL USE
- Biography: Senator Baldwin has been a long-time advocate for cannabis consumers.
- Comments: Senator Baldwin has "long supported decriminalization of marijuana," She said her support is based on "a number of
different reasons, including the ramifications when use and possession is criminalized". (12/2/22)
- "Baldwin, a longtime supporter of medical cannabis dating back to her days in the State Assembly and before will be facing the winner of the
GOP primary. Her position has been consistently and strongly supportive and she has regularly cosponsored federal medical cannabis legislation in Congress." (8/13/12)
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
On Corporations:
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy
Economy Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?Tammy Baldwin (D): Increase. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy." Supports Buy American rules and fair-trade practices.
Opposes "corporate mergers that ... reduce competition." Supported the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
Eric Hovde (R): Decrease. Calls for a private-sector-driven "pro-growth environment." Criticizes growth in size of national debt.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
On Environment:
Community projects to clean up the Mississippi River
Environment: Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?Tammy Baldwin (D): Tighten. Supported the Inflation Reduction Act to "preserve our way of life, economy, and wellbeing." Called for community projects to clean up
the Mississippi River. Worked to increase funding for Great Lakes restoration.
Eric Hovde (R): Loosen. Would roll back some environmental regulations to expand energy production and resource development.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race
Sep 9, 2024
On Abortion:
A woman's rights shouldn't depend on her zip code or state
Baldwin: A woman's right and freedoms should not depend upon her zip code or state. We have services accessible in 3 out of our 72 counties. That means 69 counties, there's no access. Harrowing things are happening to women in this state. I've talked
to women who face the risk of sepsis and near death before they can get the services that they needed. That's why I'm so proud to lead the Women's Health Protection Act which would restore it nationwide. My opponent has said that he is 100% opposed to
abortion rights.Hovde: We as a state should resolve this in a common and compassionate approach. I believe in the beauty of life. I agree with exceptions for rape, incest, and the health of the mother. I think women should have a right to
decide early on in their pregnancy. Senator Baldwin, you have passed or pushed to allow abortion to happen up to the point of delivery. where a healthy baby can be born alive and be terminated. To me, that is unconscionable.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Education:
Create a debt-free path to nursing degrees
Baldwin: We need to focus on the workforce. We need to have multiple pathways to get a great paying job. Caring for our seniors. I believe in apprenticeships. I believe in the programs that are starting nursing programs in
high school and then creating a debt-free path to getting a higher degree. There's a lot we can do and there's a lot that has already been advanced into congress to do just that.
Hovde: The problem is we have a lot of people out of the workforce today. We've got to get more people back into the workforce. That's an important part. A lot of nursing homeowners are struggling with the massive amounts of regulations that
they are also dealing with Senator Baldwin and politicians that continue to heap on them. So we have to take a private-sector approach to try to drive more employment into that sector.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Foreign Policy:
Keep some hope alive of the two-state solution in the region
Baldwin: Israel has the right to defend itself. But as we've seen this war unfold, we've also seen untold civilian casualties. children, women. We have to help foster a path towards cease-fire. so that the hostages can be released and so that
humanitarian aid can be searched into Gaza. I'm hopeful that with the confirmed death now of the Hamas leader, that we will have a path to that peace and keep some hope alive of the two-state solution in the region.Hovde: Let's go back to what
this conflict is really about. It's not so much between the Palestinian people and Israel. It's really between Iran and Israel and the U.S. Iran controls Hamas and Hezbollah.
President Trump put in crushing sanctions and had Iran on its back. Senator Baldwin goes back and votes for the deal that Joe Biden lifted the sanctions that funded terrorism. That's why we are in this war today.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Foreign Policy:
Ukraine is about democracy versus dictatorship
Baldwin: This conflict is truly about democracy versus dictatorship and we have to stand on the side of democracy. Vladimir Putin is a dictator. He illegally invaded a sovereign democratic nation. The free world stood up to Ukraine's defense.
But it seems that Donald Trump doesn't know the difference between our allies and our enemies. Eric Hovde would have voted against the legislation to fund Ukrainian weaponry.Hovde: Do I think that Vladimir Putin is an absolutely evil man? Absolutely.
But I think we need to try to find a way to get to peace. Sadly what's happening in Ukraine is wiping out generations of their people and turning a lot of their cities into rubble. While I was supportive of Ukraine at first, the amounts of
tens of billions of dollars that have gone to Ukraine that are not accountable causes great concern for me. so I don't think we should continue to fund endlessly money into Ukraine.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Government Reform:
We have seen laws passed to make it harder for some to vote
Baldwin: Voting rights are so critical. At the state level including here in Wisconsin, we have seen laws passed to make it harder for some to vote. Some people don't want some people to vote. My opponent has talked about people in nursing homes.
I think the exact quote was, people in nursing homes have five or six months to live. They are at no point to vote. My grandmother broke her hip and voted in my first congressional election from her nursing home. Hovde:
We have to create confidence in our voting system. It's causing too much tension in our country. Let me tell you, it doesn't help when our state Supreme Court brings back drop boxes when those were only used for a pandemic. Why are they being brought
back? I have an important question for Senator Baldwin. Are you going to vote for that provision that would stop non-US citizens from voting in our elections?
Baldwin: It's already illegal for people who are noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Health Care:
We need to build upon the Affordable Care Act
Baldwin: It was my provision that allowed young people to stay on their parents health insurance until they turned 26. Sadly my opponent called that provision stupid and has said that he would overturn the Affordable Care Act in its entirety.
He opposes efforts to negotiate with the big pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of prescription drugs. We need to build upon the Affordable Care Act and we need to build upon our efforts to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.
Hovde: I'm the one who was against Big Pharma. It's your Wall Street partner who invests in Big Pharma. You oversee it and take massive amounts of money. I can't even believe she would say that I don't want to negotiate against drug prices.
I think drug prices are wildly too high. I will actually do something about it because I'm not taking Big Pharma money. I'm not taking special-interest money. Her partner is making money off of it and doesn't even disclose the profit she's making.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Immigration:
Bipartisan bill would have added 1500 border patrol agents
Baldwin: We negotiated on a bipartisan basis in the senate the toughest border bill that they've seen in years. It would have added 1500 border patrol agents to our southern border. Had it passed in the spring, they would be there now. The bill also
deployed technology to our southern border to allow us to scan every vehicle that comes through the ports of entry. But you know what? Eric Hovde and Donald Trump wanted the political issue. They wanted the chaos. they didn't want the solution.
Hovde: That bill was dead on arrival. It was masquerading as a border bill but it was really funding Ukraine. Every senator once they found out what was in it was opposed to it. The simple fact is, it would have codified allowing
5000 illegal immigrants coming into our country every single day. It wasn't going to change any of the asylum laws for immigration laws at all.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
On Social Security:
Extend solvency of Social Security by lifting income cap
Baldwin: We can extend the solvency of Social Security very easily. It's called lifting the income cap. Right now, multimillionaires like my opponent pay minute amounts. They are not doing their fair share. If we lifted that income cap,
the solvency would be extended for many years. Let me tell you about something even more troubling: The plan that reverts and resets spending levels to levels from the last decade would cut social security by 28%.
Hovde: I believe we need to protect Social Security. Keep it sacrosanct for everybody who is on Social Security or getting ready to retire. If you want to know why Social Security is in trouble, it is simple. We have taken federal debt from
$5.5 billion to $36 trillion. We would have kept Social Security in a trust and not pilfered from it like you have. We have to look at things for Social Security for those younger people because life expectancy is going up, make adjustments for that.
Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate
Oct 18, 2024
Page last updated: Oct 30, 2024