Media coverage of Massachusetts political races in Springfield Republican


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Brian Herr: Supports abortion rights.     Ed Markey: Massachusetts should lead in protecting right to choose.

Civil Rights     Brian Herr: Supports gay marriage as an issue of equal rights.     Gabriel Gomez: Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.     Kevin O`Connor: Racial justice: enforce the lawl problem isn't the police.     Sonia Chang-Diaz: Social equity loans for those impacted by cannabis arrests.     John Deaton: Supports marriage equality.

Corporations     Shannon Liss-Riordan: I see the games corporations play to rig the system.

Crime     Ed Markey: Ban "weapons of war" including tear gas from police use.

Drugs     Charlie Baker: Vigorously oppose recreational marijuana but medical pot ok.     Charlie Baker: Get dispensaries open for medical marijuana.     Sonia Chang-Diaz: Make retail cannabis market accessible to smaller players.

Education     Bill Weld: Prefers state input on education, not one national standard.

Energy & Oil     Ed Markey: More offshore wind and solar--but no Green New Deal.     Ed Markey: Green New Deal has shifted the whole discussion.     Kevin O`Connor: Green New Deal would sell out American workers.     Shannon Liss-Riordan: More offshore wind and solar--and Green New Deal.

Environment     Ed Markey: Nuclear power is a very expensive way to boil water.     Shannon Liss-Riordan: Nuclear power may be carbon free, but it is not risk free.     John Deaton: Represented people stricken by asbestos-related illnesses.

Government Reform     Charlie Baker: Declined to sign "People's Pledge" against outside PAC ads.     Christy Mihos: $1B shifted from special-interest projects to local aid.     Joe Kennedy III: Proposed pledge to limit spending from outside groups.     Shannon Liss-Riordan: Pledge to limit campaign spending from outside groups.

Gun Control     Brian Herr: People have a right to defend themselves and their property.

Health Care     Charlie Baker: Opposed Republican bill to eliminate ObamaCare.     Don Berwick: Triple Aim strategy: improve experience, health, and cost.     Don Berwick: Explore single payer system in Massachusetts.     Elizabeth Warren: Supports the President's Affordable Care Act.     Gabriel Gomez: Universal affordable coverage, but repeal ObamaCare.     Jay Gonzalez: System is fundamentally dysfunctional; we need single-payer.

Homeland Security     Gabriel Gomez: Fight to preserve Western Massachusetts' military units.

Immigration     Brian Herr: Create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.     Gabriel Gomez: Pathway to citizenship should include learning English.

Jobs     Shannon Liss-Riordan: Raise the minimum wage; eliminate the sub-minimum wage.

Principles & Values     Elizabeth Warren: Grassroots movement will beat Trump, not Bloomberg billions.     Mike Bloomberg: Knows how to beat Trump and his vile policies.

Tax Reform     Kevin O`Connor: Trump tax cuts led to greatest economy in last 40 years.

Technology     Charlie Baker: Ban hand-held cellphone use while driving.     Christy Mihos: Springfield Initiative: $300M for biotechnology center.     Christy Mihos: Sell Turnpike service areas & remove tollbooths west of 128.     Don Berwick: Safe, convenient, responsive, reliable transportation system.     Don Berwick: Switch from gas tax to pay-per-use fees on mileage.     Ed Markey: Expand program to get every child internet access.     Gabriel Gomez: Let the people decide if rail needed to Western Mass.     Jay Gonzalez: High-speed rail between Springfield and Boston.

Welfare & Poverty     John Deaton: Authored "Food Stamp Warrior", a memoir.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Bill Weld Massachusetts Republican presidential primary challenger Brian Herr Republican Senate Challenger Massachusetts Charlie Baker Massachusetts Republican Governor Christy Mihos Former Independent Challenger 2006 Don Berwick Massachusetts Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Ed Markey Democratic Jr Senator Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren Massachusetts Senator Gabriel Gomez Republican Challenger Massachusetts Jay Gonzalez Massachusetts Democratic candidate for Governor Joe Kennedy III Democratic Senate challenger Massachusetts John Deaton Republican Challenger Massachusetts Kevin O`Connor Republican Challenger Massachusetts Mike Bloomberg New York Mayor of NYC Shannon Liss-Riordan Democratic 2020 Senate Challenger Massachusetts Sonia Chang-Diaz Massachusetts Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger