Marcia Squier: Agree
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): Strongly agree
Q: What would you do about it?
Squier: I agree that racial inequality continues to be a serious problem in America. I believe that all people are created equal, and that reparations need to be made in order to begin to move towards healing the racial divisiveness. i believe that racism is a learned behavior, and although some progress has been made, we still have a long way to go, especially in terms of police brutality, education, and health care. I would support strict accountability legislation for all authority figures, flipping the current status quo. Authority figures MUST be held to a higher standard of justice than the American public. It is their choice to "protect & serve", and they will be held accountable.
Lawrence: We need comprehensive criminal justice reform, comprehensive immigration reform, & education equality.
A: If an American auto company wanted to open a plant in another country in order to reduce costs and increase its competitiveness worldwide, it should be able to do so, just as any other company in any other industry.
Q: Should it have to pay additional taxes or fees for work performed overseas?
A: It should have to pay additional taxes and fees. I believe, by the way, that all vehicle manufacturers, should become fossil fuel-free by 2030, as we move towards exclusively using renewable energy like solar and wind power. I would offer incentives to those who achieve that goal early, including companies, as well as cities, counties, states, and even other countries (who abide by international human rights laws).
Q: What would you do to help colleges control the cost of tuition?
Marcia Squier: I would implement an extension of the public education system to include all ages of people, from preschool to PhD. I would encourage online curriculum and offer free internet access to all students. If elected, I would support full federal funding of public universities. Private colleges and charter schools would not receive federal funding and would be considered as for-profit corporations and taxed accordingly to provide additional funding for public education. I also support the elimination of all current student debt through quantitative easing.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): Require public private partnerships and connecting education to jobs. Companies should be investing in the cost of education by the industry that will receive the worker. We need extended programs like Teach America where students get credit.
A: I believe that the U.S. should concentrate its job creation efforts in renewable energy, infrastructure improvements, education, and health care. The people of this nation and elsewhere are unhealthy and under-educated. The conditions in which a vast majority of us live are deteriorating rapidly. We need to heal ourselves, and the environment in which we all live, in order for there to be prosperity and peace. I support the Green New Deal, which will provide an emergency jobs program, providing livable wages to tens of millions of people. I believe that all vehicle manufacturers, should become fossil fuel-free by 2030, as we move towards exclusively using renewable energy like solar and wind power. I would offer incentives to those who achieve that goal early, including companies, as well as cities, counties, states, and even other countries (who abide by international human rights laws).
A: Poor. I believe that more individuals need to be held accountable for the poisoning of an entire region. Strict precedence needs to be set here in Michigan because similar issues like this are popping up all over the country, and the people need to rest assured that they come first and foremost in the law of the land. I also believe that the water-line infrastructure needs to be completely overhauled, and that the residents of Flint should not only receive clean water, but they should also receive automatic, full-coverage health insurance, and a living expense stipend or relocation expenses.
Q: Should Congress provide funding to help Flint?
A: Yes, Congress should provide funding to help Flint and other cities across the U.S. to eliminate lead service lines. If elected, I will vote in favor of federal funding of this critical issue. It is our obligation and duty to take care of our own.
Marcia Squier: I absolutely do NOT support the TPP, the TTIP, the TISA, or any other similar trade deal! They will eliminate jobs, not create them. Those of us from the Motor City know how disastrous NAFTA was and is to the auto industry. The TPP is known as NAFTA on steroids, especially since corporations will be able to sue municipalities for prevention of future profit, regardless of any environmental or human-rights violations. Corporations should never be allowed to overrule the law of the land. If that happens, we will be powerless to stop human suffering and planetary destruction.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): While we do live in a global economy and we must resolve to balance the scales. We should not enter into any agreement that would allow any other country or countries to be given an advantage in trade that will take jobs and financial benefits out of the US.
Marcia Squier: I would wholeheartedly support an amendment that would repeal Citizens United. We desperately need to get the money out of politics. Campaigns should be publicly funded. Campaign donations should be strictly limited and enforced. Broadcasting stations and journalists should should be banned from making donations, as well as the companies that produce anything related to the electoral process, such as the voting machine manufacturers, which by the way, I believe should be banned in favor of hand-counted paper ballots, or at the very least, open-sourced coding software with audit-able paper trails and independent oversight. For my campaign, I am not soliciting campaign donations at this time.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): Yes, I firmly believe we need campaign finance reform.
Marcia Squier: I would reduce the number of firearm-related injuries and deaths in the U.S. in several ways. By having universal background checks for violent offenders, we can ensure that vicious people can't legally own a gun. By decriminalizing Marijuana and ending the war on drugs, we can decrease a major factor in many of these violent crimes. Black market drug dealers will be a thing of the past because they can earn a legally recognized income. In addition, by offering universal health care and public funding of higher education, we will prevent crime by letting people receive mental health therapy and a college education. Add that to a basic livable wage, and you have a great recipe for success.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): We need to enact common sense gun control reforms that include closing the background check loopholes and putting in place no fly, no buy.
Marcia Squier: I think the Affordable Care Act, ObamaCare, should be repealed. I would instead extend the age requirement for Medicare to include all ages of people, from cradle to grave. I would include full coverage for all, with income-based deductibles for care and prescriptions. I would also include dental, vision, mental health, and chiropractic care because we all need and deserve to be healthy and no one else should die because of a lack of health insurance.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): I support ObamaCare and think it is sound policy. I do believe that there are amendments that could be made to resolve some of the unintended consequences, particularly for small business owners. However, the republicans do not want do discuss improving ObamaCare, they continue to attempt to repeal it.
Marcia Squier: I do support a moratorium on the deportation of undocumented immigrants whose children were born in the United States. We should also give all such parents the opportunity to become legally recognized.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): Yes.
Q: Do you favor the deportation of all undocumented immigrants?
Marcia Squier: I do not support the deportation of all undocumented immigrants. I support giving them the opportunity to become legally recognized.
Brenda Lawrence: No.
Marcia Squier: I definitely believe that income inequality is a problem in America. I would introduce and/or support legislation that would help bring back the middle class, and lift up the lower class as well, by reducing the stranglehold that the top 10% have on our currency flow. For example, I support a $15/hr minimum wage (including myself in Congress, if elected). I would offer incentives to companies with net gains in employment and subsidies to small businesses. This will reduce the amount spent on low-income assistance programs.
Marcia Squier: Our country does face critical shortages in eldercare services. I believe that Congress should move to include these services in universal health care, from cradle to grave, with income-based deductibles for care and prescriptions. In addition, with publicly funded education from preschool to PhD and elimination of ALL current student debt, we will be able to provide even more qualified professionals in this critical field.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): We need to focus our efforts on community initiatives that will allow our aging population to age in place. We must protect social security, Medicare and Medicaid programs that aid seniors.
Marcia Squier: I think that several things need to be done to make the U.S. tax code fairer. For example, exported goods should be tax exempt, but imported goods should always be taxed. This will discourage corporations from shipping jobs overseas and encourage job creation and retention here at home. I also believe that corporate tax loopholes should be closed, large corporations should be paying the most in taxes. Small businesses should receive tax exemptions and government grants for creating a sustainable, vibrant "Main Street". These same rules should be applied to people as well. The highest earners should pay the highest taxes, while the other 90% should receive tax exemptions and incentives.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): I believe in a progressive tax. I think we should not be taxing anyone living below the poverty line. Also, I think we should raise the amount allowed for deductions for children.
Marcia Squier: I believe that the U.S. needs an immediate cease-fire and weapons embargo on all countries, especially in the Middle East. Throughout history, our great nation has been a place of refuge for people displaced by war and acts of terror. There is a stark contrast this time, however. We are the ones supplying the Middle East with weapons while bombing them at the same time. We are exacerbating their reason for seeking refugee status in the first place. Therefore I support a 50% military budget cut.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): The stringent process that refugees go through to obtain that special status is very thorough and takes years. Talking points of refugees being terrorist is just more fear tactics.
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The above quotations are from House delegation from Michigan.
Click here for other excerpts from House delegation from Michigan. Click here for other excerpts by Marcia Squier. Click here for a profile of Marcia Squier.
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