Media coverage of WA political races in The Seattle Times


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

Abortion     Chris Vance: Keep existing Washington state law on abortion rights.

Budget & Economy     Chris Vance: Deficit-reduction plan like Simpson-Bowles commission.     Dino Rossi: Big government is cause of current crisis, not its solution.     Patty Murray: Government action needed to fix damage done by Wall Street.

Civil Rights     Betsy DeVos: Rescind "weaponized" use of sexual misconduct accusations.

Crime     Betsy DeVos: Require cross-examination of victims of sexual harassment.     Phil Fortunato: Only "criminal homeless" should be incarcerated.

Drugs     Chris Vance: Keep existing Washington state law on legal marijuana.     Jay Inslee: Pilot program for growing industrial hemp.     Michael Baumgartner: Advised counternarcotics team in Afghanistan.     Hilary Franz: Criminal justice sector not set up to handle addiction.     Bob Ferguson: Prepared to defend state marijuana legalization against DOJ .     Jay Inslee: Prepared to defend state marijuana legalization against DOJ .

Education     Betsy DeVos: Obama campus sexual assault standard was ineffective mandate.     Jay Inslee: Reverse transfer credits toward associate degrees.     Maria Cantwell: Opposes parents choosing schools via vouchers.

Energy & Oil     Bill Bryant: Allow oil rigs through Port of Seattle for Arctic drilling.     Bill Bryant: Supported leasing oil drilling port for jobs benefit.     Loren Culp: Climate change: get the bureaucrats out of the way.     Maria Cantwell: Climate change is happening but unclear if manmade.     Michael Baumgartner: One-cent gas tax to pay for veterans' services.     Michael Baumgartner: Climate change is happening but unclear if manmade.

Environment     Hilary Franz: $500M for DNR to prevent wildfires.

Families & Children     Betsy DeVos: OpEd: Stricter rules for sexual harassment mean some ignored.     Knute Buehler: Create a "rapid-improvement team" for foster care.

Foreign Policy     Michael Baumgartner: Served as lead strategic-policy coordinator in Baghdad.

Free Trade     Joe Biden: Push for agreements that don't hurt consumers or business.     Maria Cantwell: Voted for NAFTA; favors China PNTR.

Government Reform     Dino Rossi: Call to halt earmarks; that's what's wrong with D.C.     Patty Murray: Halting earmarks shortchanges important state projects.

Gun Control     Nikema Williams: Supports Delta's decision not to give NRA members discounts.     Phil Fortunato: Displayed sidearm while speaking on 2nd Amendment.

Health Care     Dino Rossi: ObamaCare will require hordes of IRS agents to administer.     Patty Murray: ObamaCare provides money to train future family physicians.

Homeland Security     Gina Raimondo: At least 3% of contracts to go to veteran-owned companies.     Josh Hawley: Provide veterans with free legal help.

Immigration     Dino Rossi: Secure the border, then decide on kids of illegal immigrants.     Lori Swanson: Joined forces to fight against Trump's zero tolerance policy.     Patty Murray: Give kids of illegal immigrants a chance to be citizens.

Principles & Values     Dino Rossi: Murray is shortchanging voters with 2 debates instead of 6.     Maria Cantwell: Voted for Kerry in 2004; he matched Northwest values.     Merrick Garland: An "insider's insider" in understanding Dept. of Justice.     Patty Murray: Long history of limiting debates with her challengers.     Susan Hutchison: Defines herself by her values, starting with love of country.     Semi Bird: OpEd: Got 9% in primary; MAGA bubble bursting in blue state.

Social Security     Bruce Guthrie: Personal accounts if under 25; opt-out if under 50.     Chris Vance: Increase retirement age; change benefit programs.     Dino Rossi: No comment on raising retirement age or other changes, yet.     Maria Cantwell: Opposes privatizing Social Security.     Maria Cantwell: Tax cut on $1.2M earners would keep system solvent 75 years.     Maria Cantwell: Keep progressivity and guaranteed benefit.     Mike McGavick: Personal accounts for younger workers, but not privatized.     Patty Murray: No comment on raising retirement age or other changes, yet.

Tax Reform     Chris Vance: Tax increases on the wealthy Americans and a higher gas tax.     Loren Culp: No tax increase: cut anything with the word "study" in it.     Maria Cantwell: Opposes making income tax flatter & lower.

War & Peace     Bruce Guthrie: Iraq is in civil war; bring the troops home.     Joe Biden: End "forever wars" in Afghanistan & Middle East.     Maria Cantwell: Change the course in Iraq; we can't stay indefinitely.     Maria Cantwell: Leave Afghanistan in 2014 as planned.     Michael Baumgartner: We're wasting resources on democracy-building in Afghanistan.     Michael Baumgartner: Leave Afghanistan now & use funds domestically.     Mike McGavick: Cannot give Iraq to the terrorists or they'll follow us here.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Betsy DeVos Former Education Secretary Bill Bryant Washington Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson Washington Democratic Challenger Bruce Guthrie Libertarian Challenger (2006) Washington Chris Vance Republican Senate challenger Washington Dino Rossi Republican Challenger (2010) Washington Gina Raimondo Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Hilary Franz Washington Democratic Challenger Jay Inslee Washington Democratic Washington Governor Joe Biden Democratic President; former V.P.; former Senator Josh Hawley Republican Sr Senator Missouri Knute Buehler Oregon Republican candidate for governor Loren Culp Washington Republican Governor Challenger Lori Swanson Minnesota Democratic candidate for governor of Minnesota Maria Cantwell Democratic Jr Senator Washington Merrick Garland Attorney General Michael Baumgartner Republican Challenger Washington Mike McGavick Republican challenger (2006) Washington Nikema Williams Democrat U.S. Rep Georgia-5 Patty Murray Democratic Sr Senator Washington Phil Fortunato Washington Republican challenger for Governor Semi Bird Washington Republican Challenger Susan Hutchison Republican candidate for Washington U. S. Senator Washington