U.S. Senate Democratic Primary

One of Kentucky’s two U.S. Senate seats, currently held by Mitch McConnell, is up for re-election in 2020. There are both Democratic and Republican primary elections on June 23 to select the candidate for each party to run in the November 3 General Election.

Ten candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination. Eight responded to the KFTC candidate survey.

Jimmy Ausbrooks

www.jimmyforkentucky.com

www.facebook.com/ jimmyforUSSenate

@jimmy4congress

Charles Booker

www.bookerforkentucky.com

www.facebook.com/ Booker4KY

Twitter handle: @booker4ky

Mike Broihier

www.mikeforky.com

www.facebook.com/ mikebroihierky

Twitter: @mikeforky

Photo not provided

Maggie Jo Hilliard

www.ElectMoJo.com

www.facebook.com/ ElectMoJo

Twitter: @ElectMojo

Amy McGrath

www.amymcgrath.com

www.facebook.com/ AmyMcGrathKY

Twitter: @AmyMcGrathKY

Eric Rothmuller

www.ericrothmuller.com

www.facebook.com/ ericrothmuller

Twitter: EricRothmuller

John R. Sharpensteen Bennie J. Smith

benniejsmith.com

www.facebook.com/ BJSMITH4US20

@BennieJSmith1

QUESTION:

What’s your vision for Kentucky? How will the lives of Kentuckians be improved as a result of your time in office?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: My vision for Kentucky is one of prosperity and renewal. I want to see economic growth for our communities. I want Kentucky to engage in and invest in Green / Renewable Energy so we can bring sustainable jobs to Kentucky.

Provide equal opportunity for education and training to meet the needs of this expanding transition from fossil fuels and insure miners of employment and wages.

I would like to see true representation by our leadership, expanding equality, human rights, and social justice across the Common Wealth. We will secure living wages for our hardworking families and every single Kentuckian. I want healthcare coverage with affordable prescriptions so Kentucky families do not have to worry about putting food on the table or buying insulin. I want to see lives saved by responsible and affordable healthcare. I want to mandate changes for pharmaceutical companies. They no longer should be allowed to continue putting profits over the lives of Kentucky families. I see our family farms being supported and provided opportunities for growth and sustainability. Securing high yields and unprecedented prices by protecting farmers in Trade Deals that benefit our farmers and their families. Generation family farms that are working hard and doing the … [response exceeds word limit]

Charles Booker: My vision is a Kentucky where people from every corner of the Commonwealth; no matter who you are, where you come from, who you answers continued on next page

U.S. Senate – Democratic primary

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Vision for Kentucky …

love, how much money you have in your pocket, what you believe, what pronouns you use, whether you are walking or in a wheelchair; that you know that your lives matters. It is a vision where everyone is heard and accounted for and is represented by a government that elevates your voice over corrupted interests. This campaign is about building a movement where Kentuckians are encouraged to stand, lock arms and lead for the changes we deserve.

By taking this stand not only will we beat Mitch McConnell, but we will win our future. We will no longer die because we choose to feed our families over buying necessary life saving medicine. As U.S. Senator I will lead by creating a process for transparent and authentic engagement to ensure the voices of Kentuckians are the priority. As a result of our leadership in Washington we will stand to end generational poverty, address structural racism and inequity, and build pathways of opportunities for all the people of Kentucky.

Mike Broihier: My vision is one where the nation acknowledges its centuries-old extractive relationship with Kentucky where first timber, then coal, were stripped out of the state and the residents were abandoned with ill-health, pollution, crumbling infrastructure and poverty. My vision includes a federal plan that addresses the wrongs done, not just to Kentucky, but all of Appalachia’s coal producing states, were the entire region’s infrastructure (roads, waterways, bridges, schools, hospitals) are rebuilt or improved in a comprehensive manner where the work is done by union workers or workers getting paid the prevailing wage. Instead of working underground, retrained workers would work in the solar and wind powered energy field on the grounds of reclaimed coal mines. In my vision of Kentucky, we are a commonwealth where our education system, infrastructure and skilled workers instead of tax breaks are a lure for businesses.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: In my practice, I hear individuals’ stories about the effects of government inefficiency, systemic discrimination, corporate corruption, consumer fraud, financial distress, injustice and healthcare policy every day. Our Senator ranks number one in legislative seniority, but Kentucky is 45th in the nation for high school graduates, 47th in the nation for the number of bachelor’s degree-holders, leads in opioid and cancer deaths, and it is home to over 30 sites where drinking water has tested positive for PFAS and PFOA cancer-causing toxins. Kentucky is also home to corporate pollution leftover from coal extraction methods that have toxified our environment. Kentuckians need to feel heard and understood, but 58% of registered voters do not vote. Mitch is not advocating for election security, universal healthcare, free college education, net neutrality, raising the minimum wage nor acting on the environmental crises here at home. Kentucky deserves a fighter that will bring the people’s many issues to the forefront and seek to address them in democratic fashion. Senator McConnell’s cynical viewpoint is not helping everyday people, but I hope to bring innovation, optimism and empathy to Washington.

Amy McGrath: I’m running because like most Kentuckians, I’ve had enough of the D.C. establishment and the dysfunction where nothing gets done. If we keep the same people in power, nothing will change. Mitch McConnell is everything that is wrong with Washington. Kentucky needs a new generation of leaders, specifically someone who has worked in the 21st century global economy and world. I am running for Kentucky’s future, for my kids’ future. Working Kentucky families demand and deserve respect, and I will work to ensure their voices and concerns are heard in D.C. Let’s just take one example, many Kentuckians have to decide whether they can pay the rent or pay for their prescription medication each month. I’ll be a senator who will not be bought off by Big Pharma and will actually fight to get these prices down. We need to put country over party and take on the special interests running Washington.

Eric Rothmuller: My campaign isn’t just about Kentucky, the vast majority of Americans are struggling. America is the wealthiest country in the world but we’re also world leaders in income and wealth inequality. Over 500,000 Americans are homeless every night, nearly half of all workers make less than $30k a year, credit card debt is over $1 trillion, student loan debt is over $1.5 trillion, and while productivity and corporate profits are at record highs, most Americans still live paycheck to paycheck.

It’s not just income and wealth inequality either, it’s political inequality. The Supreme Court’s decisions on Buckley v. Valeo (1976) and Citizens United (2010) have allowed big money to flow into the political process which has led to the literal buying of elections and a government that doesn’t reflect the will of the people. Research clearly shows that today in America the bottom 90% of income earners have virtually zero impact on legislation passed.

All of my policy positions are aimed at reversing our current trajectory, restoring democracy, and transforming our system into one that works for all Americans. As one of the poorer and more disenfranchised states in the union, Kentucky will be positively affected more than others.

John R. Sharpensteen: Better health care, equal treatment under the law, better and more job opportunities, education, better treatment for Veterans, cleaner environment, more opportunities for senior citizens, etc.

Bennie J. Smith: My immediate vision for Kentucky is to change the external and internal perception of Kentucky by implementing more 21st century ideas while addressing the health, education and socio-economic needs of its citizens.

We will focus on closing the achievement gap of students; focus on getting citizens more healthier so they can feel better and cut into health care costs; focus on climate change while implementing renewable energy and energy efficient technology jobs for urban, rural and Appalachian areas; offer Universal Healthcare via a single payor system for Kentucky residents that includes pre-existing conditions; more funding for public schools and more funding for the arts; investment in jobs skills training while encouraging high school students not entering post-secondary education options to learn a trade or skill; restoration of the air, water and land with cleanup of polluted areas of the states affected by fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond.

Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

QUESTION:

How would you create a more equitable federal tax structure – where everyone pays their fair share – that raises adequate revenue, fights poverty, and invests in under-resourced communities

Jimmy Ausbrooks: The first thing I would do is repeal the Trump’s Tax Cuts for the Wealthy 1% and corporations. Companies like Amazon that reported over $10 Billion in profits and somehow did not pay a dime in taxes has to stop.

I would look at a defined tax structure that insures families making less than $55,000 a tax credit and a 7% federal tax rate for families making less than $100,000. I would also favor a flat tax rate for families making over $100,000 a year. I would also demand a fixed federal tax rate for corporations making over $500,000 a year, I do not want to increase the burden small business, but I do want major corporations to pay their share. I would remove loopholes and unwarranted tax credits for major corporations and the elites.

I would increase the minim wage, this is imperative to working families. The increase in wages will drive additional tax revenues. I would seek a 0% tax for individuals and families making less that $25,000 to aid in decreasing poverty. I will advocate for additional federal resources to expand rural community agencies by offering grants and incentives for economic growth … [response exceeds word limit]

Charles Booker: Our federal tax structure is broken. This problem was made even worse by the 2017 Republican tax bill that Mitch McConnell helped shepherd through the Senate. Now, those of us near the bottom are paying a greater portion of our income in taxes than rich folks like Donald Trump. Kentuckians and all Americans deserve real action on tax reform that will provide relief for struggling families, and ensure that large corporations and the wealthiest few pay their fair share. It is time to address our regressive structure, so that Kentuckians can thrive and live gainful lives.

As Senator, I would press for an overhaul of the federal tax code that undoes the harm caused by the 2017 tax law, closes loopholes that corporations and the wealthy use to avoid paying their fair share, and eases the burden on working families in communities like mine and all across Kentucky. My campaign and this movement is focused on ending structural racism, gross inequity, and generational poverty. I believe that no Kentuckians should have to decide between paying the rent, or buying a life saving prescription. I believe that all Kentuckians deserve the security of a good paying, unionized job. And yes, I … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: I envision a tax structure where all profit is taxed in a graduated system, not just the income of those who work. Whether it’s an individual or corporation, if you’re net value is more on Dec. 31 than it was on Jan. 1, you’re going to be taxed. By removing exemptions and loopholes, like allowing the very rich to pay a lower Capital Gains tax vice income tax, I’d ensure that the very wealthy are paying their fair share. I also believe that the tax system can be used to reinforce positive behavior. For example, green energy improvements, climate change mitigation actions, savings for higher education are all areas that I’d feel comfortable in incentivizing.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: I favor many existing proposals to tax extreme wealth to fund individuals’ childcare needs, college education and resolve the student loan crisis (Sen. Warren’s proposal). I also find Andrew Yang’s VAT (Value Added Tax) to work similarly, yet more directly, to combat corporate tax avoidance and pay citizens directly for corporate exploitation of our shared resources. Bernie’s plan acknowledges the more urgent need to close the wealth gap by reducing billionaires’ wealth by half over 15 years. All these plans acknowledge the problem – Mitch McConnell’s promises to deliver a trickle-down of wealth to the people have been broken. In McConnell’s office, money talks and people are ignored, so I would also approve plans to tax lobbyists at high rates when spending over $500K to influence government policy, similar to Warren’s plan. Federal taxation policy must consider America’s past errors and correct the many complex results of systemic inequity.

Amy McGrath: Kentucky deserves a leader who will work toward fair and comprehensive tax reform. The only thing Sen. McConnell did when he led his party and it had the full power of both chambers and the presidency was to pass a massive tax scam that showered tax cuts and benefits on corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent. I am not bought off by special interests and will work toward a more equitable tax structure that will benefit everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Eric Rothmuller: In order to ensure corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, I will vote for and fight to: - Pass an annual tax on the extreme wealth of the top 0.1% of U.S. Households (which will only affect roughly 200,000 families whom hold about 20% of the entire wealth in this country). - Establish a progressive estate tax on multi-millionaire and billionaire inheritances. - End special tax breaks on dividends and capital gains for the wealthy. - Establish a Wall Street speculation tax. - Eliminate many tax loopholes that allow corporations and the wealthy to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. - Eliminate all tax havens that allow corporations and the wealthy to hide money from taxation. - Increase the top marginal tax rate on incomes above $10 million.

The revenue generated from ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share will help fund many programs that benefit normal Americans like guaranteeing tuition-free public college, universities, trade schools, and minority serving institutions; eliminating student loan debt; creating millions of good paying jobs by investing in green renewable energies and our infrastructure; eliminating medical debt; and providing universal healthcare for all Americans though Medicare For All.

John R. Sharpensteen: I would do away with ALL tax deductions and set a fair tax rate for all citizens based upon the ability to pay. This would include all businesses. With the possibility of those earning at the poverty level or less not paying any taxes at all.

Bennie J. Smith: I would offer to deschedule and legalize marijuana-cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes. Also set up licensed dispensaries and tax appropriately to generate revenue as well as fairly offer other hemp growers an opportunity and create the unlimited products made from hemp with manufactirers based in Kentucky. Build hotels in regional Kentucky counties modeled after Hotel Louisville and Wayside Christian Mission to aggressively address the homeless issue. This will assist many of our homeless citizens and veterans get the health and wellness treatment needed and offer job skills training in various service and hospitality careers to get them back on their feet to being productive citizens.

QUESTION:

What would you do to make sure that every Kentuckian has quality, affordable health care? What are your top health policy priorities, and what approaches to health care coverage do you support? Do you support Medicare For All?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: I will support the best healthcare program that meets the needs of Kentucky families. I do not care if it is called Medicare For All, Medicare For All That Want It, or the expansion of Obama Care. I am going to fight for Healthcare For All. I am committed to no individual being denied healthcare because of cost or any pre-existing conditions. Healthcare should never again be viewed as a privilege, but rather as the human right it is. I will demand that any healthcare program also include expanding of mental health care services and substance abuse treatment, and in addition, a truly affordable if not free prescription care program. No longer will pharmaceutical companies profit off the lives of hard working Americans and their families. Life is to precious, no amount of profits should ever be valued higher than a human life.

Charles Booker: As a Type 1 diabetic, I personally know the reality of having to ration insulin because there isn’t enough money. That is unacceptable. I believe that healthcare is a right for all Kentuckians and Americans, regardless of how much money they have in their pocket. When Kentuckians are healthy and productive, we all benefit. With this being said, I am an advocate for Medicare for All. Like many families, I had to make the choice of whether to take care of my family or buy my expensive medication. I chose my family, and almost died. Kentuckians deserve so much more than that.

When I say I support Medicare for All, it is rooted in a core belief that your zip code or financial status should not determine your health prospects. Our lives are not commodities. We need a Senator who fully understands this, and not someone who would call themselves the ‘Grim Reaper’ we continue to die.

Mike Broihier: I support a single-payer health care system and I think the fastest way there is through expanding the ACA with a Medicare Option. My first priority would be to authorize HHS to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Second, I’d reauthorize all of our healthcare agencies (HHS, CDC, NIH, etc.) to return to science-based policy making, getting rid of ideological proscriptions against gathering data on gun violence, benefits of marijuana use, etc. Lastly, while I don’t specifically oppose Medicare For All, I can’t see a path forward without an intermediary step like enhanced ACA.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: I support any plan that makes it possible for every American to receive affordable, adequate and accessible universal health care coverage, including preventative care, dental care, eye care, mental health treatment, emergency treatment, annual exams, medicine and physician-guided treatment. Too many people do not get medical assistance because of economic hardship and administrative mazes. Medicare For All is a very viable solution to eliminate the administrative headaches of private insurance eligibility, enrollment, renewal, coverage, deductibles, benefit/coverage confusion and would not prevent Medicaid coverage extension for vulnerable populations against the high out-of-pocket costs. Some MFA proposals would eliminate nearly $200BN in state spending on Medicaid, saving state’s the trouble of administering 50 different systems across the nation. The Affordable Care Act was created so we all would fund a national plan to assure everyone was covered by all choices, but provisions (i.e. the mandated funding, for example) have been chipped away leaving sick Kentuckians in limbo. Kentucky’s health is poor and we rank 47th in poverty, with far lower median incomes and higher income inequality than other states. Healthcare workers’, families’ and patients’ voices are being ignored, and I would fight to change that by inviting more people to the table … [response exceeds word limit]

Amy McGrath: I remain committed to fixing, in a bipartisan way, the problems with the Affordable Care Act, which brought down Kentucky’s uninsured rate in a dramatic way. Every Kentuckian needs access to high-quality, affordable health care and that includes a government insurance plan like the one I purchase for my family as a military retiree. A public option would lower premiums and guarantee that in those counties with just one or two insurers, rates would not artificially spike with a lack of competition.

The average Kentuckian spends over $2,000 annually on prescription medications—the second highest in the nation. We must address the rising cost of prescription medications. There are bipartisan bills to fix this issue sitting on Sen. McConnell’s desk that he is actively blocking. That is inexcusable.

Eric Rothmuller: I fully support Medicare For All. Our current health care system leaves us paying the most in the world, 32,000 - 45,000 Americans dying because their either uninsured or underinsured, and over 500,000 Americans going bankrupt with medical bills being a contributing factor. Those advocating for simply expanding the Affordable Care Act are advocating for a system that still leaves millions of Americans uninsured, tens of thousands dying, hundreds of thousands going bankrupt, and Americans still paying the most in the world, all so that the Health Insurance Industry can rake in hundreds of billions in profit.

I believe it is beyond time that we join the rest of the industrialized world in providing healthcare to all Americans through a single payer health care system. For those whom don’t know what single payer system is, it simply means that the government is the sole insurer. Every industrialized country in the world has one version or another of a single payer system, they cover all of their people, pay about half the price as us, and no one goes bankrupt or dies because they lack health insurance. Medicare For All is a single payer system and it’s a damn good one.

John R. Sharpensteen: My plan for health care is to introduce legislation that would mandate the ENTIRE health care system to become a non-profit. Possibly with the formation of health care Co-Ops. I believe in health care for all but do not support Medicare for All. However taking the profits from health care could be a way to finance Medicare for All of it becomes a reality.

Bennie J. Smith: I support Universal Healthcare with a Single Payor System (SPS) that would allow insurance companies to compete across state lines and help reduce costs in prescription drugs and premiums. We can address that by keeping AFFORDABLE CARE ACT and tweak it to allow those who already have coverage who like their coverage to keep it. No person should go without health care regardless of your age, class, economic or social status. I also support Paid Maternity Leave and FMLA.

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond.

Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

QUESTION:

Do you support comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for young people and adults? What are your plans to expand support and resources for immigrants and refugees, undocumented or otherwise?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: I recognize we need comprehensive immigration reform. We are a nation of immigrants. I am proud of my long family history in America, but I recognize we came here as immigrants too.

I would immediately get children out of cages at our boarders and reunited them with their family. No human being deserves to be treated like an animal, no family should be separated, and especial children separated from their parents when they are looking for a better way of life and a safer living situation for their families. The need to trek across countries or find passage across continents demonstrate both commitment and need. We need to offer these individuals and families mental healthcare services and medial care at our boarders.

I will support Dreamers receiving citizenship. Not just a pathway, but actually provide them with citizenship. I recognize that we will have a task before us in having comprehensive immigration reforms, but with diligence and stewardship we can and will address immigration. We have to also recognize that we are going to have to demonstrate change to make any attempt of build back and obtaining the trust of illegal immigrants, refugees and undocumented workers in our country. We … [response exceeds word limit]

Charles Booker: I fully support comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for young people and adults. In fact, I believe we need immigrants and refugees to bring their skills, talents, resources, and hard work to the United States in order to continue to grow our economy. Our nation thrives on the multiculturalism that comes with immigration. Embracing this truth is exactly how we will win our future.

I fully support comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for young people and adults. In fact, I believe we need immigrants and refugees to bring their skills, talents, resources, and hard work to the United States in order to continue to grow our economy. Our nation thrives on the multiculturalism that comes with immigration. Embracing this truth is exactly how we will win our future.

Progressive, comprehensive immigration reform starts with undoing many of the harsh, inhumane policies of the Trump Administration. As Senator, I would support legislation that makes it illegal to separate children from their families at the border, end the “Remain in Mexico” policies, reassess legal immigration quotas, codify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Arrivals, and create a path to citizenship for … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: Immigrants, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are all unique cases despite the Trump administrations attempt to paint them all as one evil mob. The first step is to rebuild and refund the Department of State which has been under attack for the last three years. Engaging with all four groups should start overseas with a fully functional State Department not at points of entry. The latter two are protected under international conventions to which we are signatories. We need to follow existing law on their protected status and stop contributing to conditions that cause them to flee their homes to start with. As America ages and we approach full employment there is a growing need for both migrants and immigrants to keep our economy afloat. I’d rather see labor organizations for both skilled and unskilled work helping to obtain migrant visas than individual companies. For immigrants, I’d open the door to anyone who is of good character and wants to contribute to our nation. Maggie Jo Hilliard: Yes, we need reform and a pathway to citizenship for everyone living in America. Human DNA is over 99% similar, so there is no reason to deny kindness and compassion to everyone regardless of their heritage. I am disturbed that post-9/11 racism and the extreme-right’s lack of compassion for non- citizens have seeped into 2020 politics as though it were the 1940’s. President Trump, similar to Hitler,seeks to blame immigrants for the many problems Americans’ face today as a result of governmental, corporate, environmental, economic and international policy disasters. Torturing asylum-seekers, preventing resident reentry, complicating lives for Dreamers, forbidding immigrant employment, denying healthcare to children or any denial of civil rights to any human being is wrong. A wall will not fix our lack of jobs due to automation; disallowing Muslim Americans does not assure anyone’s safety; separating a child from her mother will have no positive societal nor psychological consequences; and American citizens commit more crime than non-citizens. If I were elected, I would vote to modify policies to reflect actual data, not racist traditions and restore funding to the many existing government administrations and nonprofit entities which lost federal support after the 2016 elections.

Amy McGrath: I’ve been to the border. I’ve talked with Border Patrol officers. The entire immigration issue is manageable if we’re just sensible about how we handle it. We need leaders with the courage to stand for secure borders but who will do so in a humane way in accordance with our American values. We will only solve this issue if Congress is willing to act on meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform.

Eric Rothmuller: I fully support comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. We are a nation of immigrants. Outside of the native american people, all of our families came here from somewhere else. America has consistently been world leaders on the amount of legal immigrants and refugees we accept into our country. In believe this tradition is morally correct and extremely beneficial to us all. Here are some of the policies I support: - Reinstate and expand DACA and DAPA. - Provide a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. - Stop construction on the ineffective U.S.-Mexico border wall and invest in more innovative methods to counter the threats of drug importation and human trafficking. - Overturn the Trump administration’s Muslim Ban and pass legislation that’ll limit the President’s ability to target classes of people and restrict or suspend their entry. - Protect sanctuary cities from being denied Federal funding. - Eliminate ICE and CBP (both were created in 2003) and have their responsibilities go back to their previous departments. - Establish a more humane and fair review process for asylum claims. - Appoint more immigration judges to hear asylum and immigration cases quicker. - End for-profit immigration detention facilities and ensure …answer exceeds word limit

John R. Sharpensteen: Yes. We need to get all immigrants registered and into the system and treat them as any others citizen. answers continued on next page

U.S. Senate – Democratic primary

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Comprehensive immigration reform …

Bennie J. Smith: Absolutely. This immigration policy is broken and we should of immigrants wanting a better life for themselves and their families should offer do all we can in providing resources to assist in processing those human beings more humane measures to address the legal process. who work in this country a pathway to citizenship. Business owners who knowingly thwart the rules and employ undocumented immigrants should make Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. arrangements to speed up the process to assist their workers to become U.S. citizens. I am also a DACA supporter. The current policy of the criminalization Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

QUESTION:

Is dealing with the climate crisis a high priority for you, and if so, do you support federal legislation for a Green New Deal? How would you ensure that solutions to the climate crisis benefit all Kentuckians – no matter the color of our skin, income, immigration status, or zip code?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: Climate Change is real and climate change has to be a priority. We have a limited opportunity to redirect this crisis. This crisis is not just a crisis bases on your skin, social economic status, or zip code. This crisis is blind to prej udices and is not bias. We are all impacted by climate crisis, farmers, families, etc.

I do not only support a Green New Deal, but I want to engage Kentucky in being a center for Green/Renewable energy jobs, technology, and educational opportunities. We have an opportunity to educate, train and bring innovation to Kentucky. We should bring the Kentucky fossil fuel industry leadership to the table, they should utilize their resources to aid in developing technology and sustainable jobs. Together, through collaboration and commitment we can find solutions, aid in transition, and provide valuable opportunities to hardworking men and women in Kentucky. We need to save the planet and our Kentucky. Generations to come need to be able to enjoy rural Kentucky. We have some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. I want generations to come have the opportunity to witness a green meadow with wildflowers in Simpson County, a stag walking across … [response exceeds word limit]

Charles Booker: Make no mistake, we are in a state of emergency. The movement we are seeing in Kentucky, and across the country, is an urgent declaration that we must lead now. I have two young daughters, and I want them to grow up and thrive in a Commonwealth that can support them. I believe addressing the climate crisis is not only one of the greatest imperatives of our time, but also one of the greatest economic opportunities for Kentucky. Further, addressing environmental injustice and racism is critical to protecting our families and our livelihood. That is why I’m an enthusiastic supporter of the Green New Deal, and why I’ve signed the No Fossil Fuel Dollars pledge. This is not a time to be politically calculated, or shirk away from the real challenges we face. This is not about outsiders telling us what we should do. This is about us taking a stand. For me, it is not simply that we need a Green New Deal, but we need a Kentucky New Deal. It’s time for us to lead the way.

Make no mistake, we are in a state of emergency. The movement we are seeing in Kentucky, and across the country, … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: Climate change, ultimately, will respect no boundary. Leading the world in transitioning to a green economy will be a great first step in mitigating climate change but also provide huge economic benefits for working Americans, raising wages and increasing awareness for the need for better education as we move into a post-industrialism era. The Green New Deal annunciates a vision where good jobs at good wages are a solution to our growing climate crisis and I support it.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: The climate crisis is my highest priority because Earth is our only home. Poor farming practices, pesticides, corporate pollution and our dietary preferences are causing the destruction of our natural resources, killing wildlife species, eroding beaches, melting polar ice, polluting water and contaminating food. Citizens alone cannot fix the problem, as 71% of the problem is corporate-caused. Smart voters acknowledge that blame games aren’t fixing problems, and The Green New Deal will require our sacrificing of many spoils of the industrial age like convenient plastics. We must work together to change the way we live so resources will sustain future generations. During WWII, Americans made sacrifices for the war effort to defeat fascism and genocide, and we can, again, acknowledge our common evil and join together to resolve it. To deny science in the face of floods and fires is foolhardy. I would like to see a growth in worker cooperative companies, which would grant ownership rights, voting rights and fair pay to employees. These entities, which are common throughout the world, consider human and planetary needs over corporate profits.

Amy McGrath: Climate change is intricately tied to our national security. Climate change and resource scarcity are with us today—we already have climate change refugees in America. Scientists around the world know it, and the United States military is already testing, adapting, and researching how to operate and succeed in these rapidly changing environments.

Our naval bases around the globe are seeing the effects now. In the past 10 years, nine major floods crippled Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Key West Naval Air Station (where I learned to dogfight in the F/A-18) will be almost completely under water in the next 80 years. Weather patterns are changing as well, with tragic effects. We are seeing hurricanes, floods, and fires in ways we’ve never seen before. Large parts of the world (the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia) are experiencing dramatic desertification at an alarming rate. This means less food will be produced and large migrations of people will be forced out of the lands they occupy today. In the 20th century, we fought wars over values or economic clashes. In the 21st century, it will be over water and resources.

This is the world we will live in. This is the world our children … [response exceeds word limit]

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Green New Deal …

Eric Rothmuller: The science is settled. Climate change is real and we must take immediate action. It’s a global emergency and the United States should be leading the fight. It’s the right thing to do morally, logically, and economically. There are millions of jobs waiting for us in the renewable energy sector if we choose to be leaders in this fight. I will vote for and fight for the following: - The Green New Deal. - Rejoining The Paris Agreement. - Investing in the research and development of green renewable technology which will lead to millions of new jobs here in America. - Setting progressive limits on carbon emissions to get our companies and consumers to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. - Financial support to the Green Climate Fund. - Ensure displaced fossil fuel and coal workers (not executives) get preferential treatment in the hiring process for new jobs created in the renewable energy sector.

We only have one planet Earth and we all call this home. All countries must come together and work together to solve this problem.

QUESTION:

Jimmy Ausbrooks: The role of the U.S. Congress is to serve the people and protect the constitution of the United States. I accept their is a imperfect and sometimes bias world we live in, but I hold true to basic fundamental rights of equality. I believe all men are created equal, our constitutions states that, but it has been hundreds of years in the making and we have not yet perfected it.

As a member of the U.S. Congress I would have to accept that Freedom of Speech is a fundamental right and it will take diligence and fortitude to overcome injustices and inequality that has played out on the stage of life for centuries.

We have to strive and work tirelessly to oppose discrimination and inequality. I feel that it is imperative that we bring education to the forefront of addressing racial inequality, negative stereotypes of people of color, and indigenous people, and immigrants. Education is key, openly expressing hate is usually more about fear, insecurities and a lack of knowledge. Encouraging inclusion and opportunity for engagement is beneficial.

I would initiate an Educational Inclusion Act, this policy that is directed at and for every public school and every … [response exceeds word limit] Charles Booker: I believe we cannot move forward as a nation until we come to terms with our past. This requires us to acknowledge our structural ills, and dedicate our policy and budgetary decisions directly toward removing inequity that has continued for generations. I’m a lifelong Kentuckian, and several generations of my family have called the Commonwealth home. I’ve had relatives who were enslaved in Kentucky. I’ve had relatives lynched in Kentucky. My grandparents were redlined in Kentucky. I understand intimately the legacy of slavery and white supremacy isn’t in our distant past; we still grapple with it today.

I’m running my campaign because I believe it’s time for Kentuckians to stand up for system-level change and tackle structural racism and inequity headon. I also believe we need real criminal justice reform, including an end to the war on drugs, as well as expungement opportunities and automatic restoration of voting rights to all people with felonies in their past. This belief is why I have John R. Sharpensteen: I am a firm believer in Global Warming. I don’t know a lot about the Green New Deal so I will hold my comments. I will work with other like minded Senators to find the best solutions possible. I view all citizens of Kentucky equally regardless of race, creed or religion. I will not bow to the rich or ignore the not so rich. what is good for one Kentuckian I hope will be good for all Kentuckians.

Bennie J. Smith: First of all, fire-powered plants that spew out green gas emissions affects the health of all within the areas of the facilities. I want to ensure that we create and lure renewable energy and energy efficient technology jobs to our urban, rural and Appalachian areas. With the continuous decline of the coal industry, we have to offer those miners and their families alternative sustainable options for an economic rebirth for their respective areas and their families. We can train and license those citizens, including immigrants and refugees, who want

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

What is the role of the U.S. Congress in opposing white supremacy, addressing racial inequality and supporting racial justice for Black people, Indigenous people, Latinx people, immigrants, those who are undocumented, and all people of color in our country? Please identify at least two policy initiatives you would propose while in office to address racial and systemic inequalities.

to work, go to school, and improve their lives. been a relentless advocate in the Kentucky State Legislature for amending the Kentucky Constitution to allow for the automatic restoration of voting rights. I am grateful to have worked alongside KFTC in this effort during my time … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: For decades, tracking the growth and behavior of White Supremacist groups has fallen solely on non-governmental groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Jewish Defense League and the NAACP when it should have been the portfolio of the FBI and national anti-terrorism agencies. Those selfless groups should continue to provide oversight, but the burden of tracking all hate groups and those who espouse violence should be done by the federal government. Congress needs to be wary of prior restraint, free-speech and privacy concerns but legislating against ideologies that espouse violence and discrimination is surely constitutional. If elected, I’d have two priorities in addition to environmental and voting issues discussed in this questionnaire. The first, readdress the status of our treaties with indigenous nations. I’d form an independent commission to exam ine all existing claims of tribal sovereignty and associated treaties with the United States to ensure that the promises made over a long period of time are collected, reconciled and reaffirmed by Congress. Secondly, I would support a commission to address reparations for the descendants of formerly enslaved persons.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: Systemic racial injustice was built into American government and corporate systems through centuries of government-sponsored slavery, discrimination, criminal injustice, and separatist policies. American jurisprudence is based on white supremacy; thus, economic and societal equality will require a moral change in Washington. Elected leaders must be leaders – to tell constituents the truth about our gross history and move forward with plans to correct past errors and prevent future ones. Mitch McConnell should be loudly protesting racial injustice at all levels, yet he supports a hateful and discriminatory answers continued on next page

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Opposing white supremacy and racial inequality …

president and administration. Unfortunately, these are the cynics that have appointed judges which will determine Constitutional interpretation for years to come. If I were elected, I would like to work on bills like Cory Booker’s plan to require the FBI and DOJ to allocate resources to fight white- supremacist-inspired-violence at the same level as international terrorism funding. Our government needs to respect and defend indigenous lands and heritage against harmful corporate behavior and set the record straight on the true positive consequences of fair immigration when discussing our borders, instead of inciting violence, exclusion and hate. Equal protection under the law should be afforded to everyone, especially those which have, historically, been underserved … [response exceeds word limit]

Amy McGrath: I will be a leader who has the courage to speak out against injustice, prejudice and racism. I will be a leader who celebrates diversity, pushes for inclusion, and encourages people to speak out and speak up when injustice is occuring. And further, speak out and speak up when our government tries to pass harmful legislation in education, health care and other areas vital to the well-being of minority communities. Kentucky needs a senator that will work to ensure economic justice and opportunity for all, no matter where you live, where you come from, or what you look like.

Eric Rothmuller: The United States Congress plays a vital role in ensuring that the protections granted to people by the United States Constitution are upheld and in protecting people from discrimination in areas where the Constitution falls short. Here are just some of the initiatives I will fight for while in office that address racial and systemic inequalities: - Restoration of voting rights for all Americans whom have had their voting rights taken away and ensuring the right to vote of every American citizen over 18 years of age shall never be taken away.

QUESTION: most impacted by this system?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: Currently I am in support of Kentucky House Bill 221. It would be an initiative to decrease incarceration for non-violent offensives. I would advocate to shut down for profit prisons. Once these for profit prisons are closed we will see a drastic decrease in incarceration. When prisoners are no longer profit able we will have a real opportunity for change, treatment, and education.

The legalization of marijuana could also decrease the incarceration rates, while bringing in vital revenues into the state. Legalization of marijuana could provide viable and legal employment/entrepreneurial opportunities. As a professional counselor, I understand that prison has been an unethical means to imprison those that need both mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment, not incarceration.

I believe in opportunities not limitations. I recognize the injustices of our current criminal system. I recognize the bias and conservative attitude within Kentucky especially in some rural areas and pledge to bring more inclusive educa- Making Election Day a national holiday. - Automatic voter registration. - End voter suppression and gerrymandering. - End redlining practices that still exist. - Raise the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and tie it to inflation so we don’t have to keep having this fight. Raising the minimum wage will increase the wages of over 30% of African-American and Latinx workers. - Prioritize infrastructure spending on poverty stricken communities. - Guarantee tuition and debt-free public colleges, universities, trade-schools, and minority serving institutions (HBCUs & Tribal Colleges) and eliminate student loan debt. - Guarantee health care to all Americans through Medicare For All and eliminate medical … answer exceeds word limit

John R. Sharpensteen: The role is to lead by example. This actually falls on the shoulders of the voters to really know who they are electing. I would put into place programs to work with employers to train employees for good paying jobs. I would also work to establish guide lines for a living wage.

Bennie J. Smith: 1. I would strengthen the federal TITLE VII Anti-Discrimination Law that prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, sex and sexual orientation. 2. I would also create legislation that would target Domestic Terrorism as aggressively as we target other outside terrorist groups. Seizure of assets for individuals and groups would also be a means of redress.

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond.

Kentucky has the ninth highest incarceration rate in the nation, is second in the nation for incarcerating women, and has the second-highest rate in the country of children separated from a parent due to incarceration. In addition, Black Kentuckians make up 8.3 percent of the state population but 21 percent of the state’s incarcerated population. Are you committed to ending mass incarceration in Kentucky and in the United States as a whole? Why or why not? If elected, what will you do to make strides toward ending mass incarceration and reinvesting resources into the communities

Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond. tional programs to both urban and rural communities through federal grants and incentives.

Charles Booker: I am extremely committed to ending mass incarceration, as well as mass criminalization. Our justice system is rooted in inequities that dispropor tionately harm minority and impoverished communities; we lock up people of color at a rate much higher than other communities, and it costs the government and taxpayers a lot of money to do it. According to the ACLU, one in every three black boys and one in every six Latino boys will go to prison at least once in their lifetimes compared to just one in every seventeen white boys. These numbers are clear proof that mass incarceration is putting people of color behind bars at alarm ing rates. This is not keeping communities safe. This is not helping families to heal.

As a community organizer, former director at a national non-profit focused answers continued on next page

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Ending mass incarceration …

on comprehensive solutions to violence, and now as a State Representative, I 20% of the world’s prison population. Our system focuses more on punishing have dedicated my passion and expertise to this work. It is why I sought to serve people and does very little in terms of focusing on rehabilitation and trying to on the House Judiciary Committee in the Kentucky General Assembly. I firmly reduce recidivism. There are many things we can do to address these issues and understand that reforming our justice system will heal generational trauma, boost here are just some of the policies I support and will fight for: our economy, and directly combat poverty. As U.S. Senator, I will stand with the - Legalize marijuana, expunge past marijuana convictions, and decriminalize all growing … [response exceeds word limit] drugs with an emphasis on rehabilitation. Maggie Jo Hilliard: After 15 years working in criminal courts, I am moved to to fight addiction stigma and encourage rehabilitation for those that need a handtoward comprehensive criminal justice reform. Eric Rothmuller: The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the

QUESTION:

Jimmy Ausbrooks: Every American deserves the right to vote, it is a constitutional right. No person should be denies the right to vote. We should not now nor ever muffle or silence a citizens voice by denying them of their vote. I com- Release all non-violent drug offenders. Mike Broihier: I envision a country where incarceration is the last resort, where - Institute a just transition program for prisoners upon release. the first time a person receives health care or dental care or treatment for mental - End cash bail. illness or addiction isn’t behind bars. Mass incarceration gives lie to the those who - Ban for-profit prisons. claim to be fiscal conservatives because study after study prove that money spent - Abolish three strikes laws, mandatory minimum sentences, and the death penalty. on programs as diverse as universal pre-K education, school nutrition and drug - Institute a housing for all program to address homelessness. use prevention pay huge dividends on the back end in preventing incarceration. I - Allow certain types of felony convictions to be expunged after the sentence is am, therefore, committed to ending mass incarceration and educating the nation, served and a decided amount of time has passed with no other convictions. as best as possible, in the efficacy, moral and economic, of investing in people - Refocus our criminal justice system into one that focuses less on punitive meabefore they run afoul of the law. sures and more on rehabilitation programs. This includes investing in rehabilitarun for office to provide an insider’s look into our criminal justice system, its John R. Sharpensteen: Yes. Mass incarceration isn’t the answer. We need to many injustices and economically wasteful processes. The death penalty is ineffecdevelop alternate programs to punish and rehabilitate wrong doers. Community tive at deterring crime, expensive for taxpayers, unequally applied and can unforservice could be an answer as well as allowing those whose crimes are as severe to tunately kill innocent people awaiting court action. I am moved to run for office possible serve their time in the military instead of a prison. up, not a jail cell, to cure the root causes of their criminal behavior. Incarceration Bennie J. Smith: I have always been one opposed to the Prison Industrial Sysshould be reserved for violent offenders, not PTSD-sufferers or Cancer-patients tem. It appears focus of resources have been more concentrated on locking up using cannabis. I believe solitary confinement should be banned. Citizens need a citizens, particularly citizens of color, rather than rehabiliation. Most citizens who vote in local criminal laws and procedures by way of “citizen review boards” and may have alcohol or drug addiction need treatment and rehabilitation rather than more pathways to post- conviction relief for victims of injustice. All too often, being criminalized. Private prisons have been built in communities in an effort our slow criminal system leaves taxpayers footing bills to incarcerate harmless and to boost their respective community’s economic outlook. Resources should go innocent people, or those in need of medical, not penal, attention. Americans toward assisting those who lack a GED to receive one while incarcerated. Also are growing more savvy on matters of criminal law with the emergence of social resources should go toward job skills training to help prevent recidivism. There media, video technology, genetic testing for the masses, documentary films and should also be resources to assist in the aftercare of those released to allow them news stories, yet the system works frustratingly show to release the innocent, heal to be more productive citizens. Transportation services should be provided for the ill, … [response exceeds word limit] families who have loved ones incarcerated at a distance to assist with their visitaAmy McGrath: I will work to reduce our prison population through increased be reviewed to determine if there’s any excessive hardships on families. I would federal funding for state and local rehabilitation programs and opioid treatment want to investigate why women incarceration rates have significantly increased? centers. We also need to look at reduced sentences for non-violent offenders. Is there something we as a society can do to address this issue on a community I applaud the Senate for passing the First Step Act, since it was a crucial step support basis? And what steps can we take to address youth violence? world. We account for only 5% of the world’s population but we have nearly Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

Do you support restoring voting rights to Kentuckians with felonies in their past? Specifically, do you support the Democracy Restoration Act to restore voting rights to people upon release from prison for purposes of voting in federal elections? Do you support restoring the Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure strong federal oversight of state and local governments with a history of voter suppression aimed at communities of color? Please explain.

tion programs for those incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. tion. And predatory services from vendors at these correctional facilities should Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. pletely support the Democracy Restoration Act. The reason I fee that all citizen should have the right to vote is because our founding fathers were all criminals in answers continued on next page

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Voting rights …

the eye of their government, the English King. They stood together, revolted, and created a country founded on freedom. One such freedom was the right to vote, hold open and fair elections, and providing opportunity to collectively make changes as need arises. We no longer have to live under tyranny or a tyrant. “The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence”

Each American citizen deserve their right to vote and not suppression.

Charles Booker: Yes, yes, and yes!

I fully support restoring voting rights to Kentuckians with felonies in their past. This has been my top priority as a legislator, and will continue to be my urgent focus as our next U.S. Senator. This session, I am the lead sponsor of a bill in the Kentucky General Assembly that would automatically restore voting rights to all Kentuckians who finish their sentences. I fully support the Democracy Restoration Act.

Our criminal justice system systematically targets the poor and people of color, and too many of our brothers and sisters in Kentucky have had their voices taken away because they’ve lost voting rights due to a past mistake they’ve already paid for. This is very personal to me. Some of my own family members who helped raise me, instruct me, inspire me, and push me to succeed, cannot vote today because of felony disenfranchisement.

The federal government -- and all governments -- have a responsibility to make voting as easy and accessible as possible for all of its citizens. That means that we must have strong oversight to ensure that voter ID laws aren’t able to disenfranchise voters, that voters aren’t removed from voting roles, that early … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: I fully support the restoration of voting rights for prior felons on both the state and federal level. In light of the previous question which highlights the disproportionate jailing of people of color, restoration of voting rights is as much about individual fairness as it is about equal representation. The Voting Rights Advancement Act would go far to codify rules regarding the supervision of states that have repeatedly and flagrantly acted in an unconstitutional manner and has my full support.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: No human should ever be voiceless in their governments’ decisions. I support Universal Suffrage for people over 16-years-old and will create a beta-version online voter platform during my candidacy to offer a survey to all people who may wish to voice their opinions on pressing political issues, not media headlines nor political figures; and provide citizens information to connect to elected leaders and organizations to assist with emergencies. At age 16, each

QUESTION:

Jimmy Ausbrooks: I support Kentuckians, and the Just Transition bills, it demonstrates potential opportunities/options and considerations for a lingering problem for both Kentucky and millions and hardworking individual’s lives and the lives of their families. American should be automatically registered to vote without any restrictions or preconditions and granted a government-issued email address by the U.S. Postal Service through which their votes would be cast and validated. A democracy is “a system of government by the whole population”. Technology is available to create a more democratic country. Our current system is fraught with politics and data insecurity, old machines and varied laws by jurisdiction as to who may vote, and who may not. Antiquated American election traditions which exclude voters for one-reason-or-another have proven to cause social disruption for lack of trust in the process. It will take all of us to tackle the climate crises and correct historical errors, and all voices should be heard.

Amy McGrath: Formerly incarcerated individuals have paid their debt to society. Giving non-violent offenders a chance to become full citizens again aligns with the American principles of due process and fairness. It only hurts our Democracy to prevent people from participating and contributing to our election process.

Eric Rothmuller: I do support restoring voting rights to all Americans with felonies convictions. In my view, the Democracy Restoration Act doesn’t go far enough because it doesn’t allow people currently serving felony convictions the right to vote. I would support the Democracy Restoration Act but would propose an amendment to ensure that the vote will never be taken away. I personally believe all American citizens 18 years of age and older should have an inalienable right to vote and that right should never be infringed.

I do support the Voting Rights Advancement Act. It’s clear many states and local governments have been participating in gerrymandering and voter suppression. The Federal Government needs to step in and provide oversight to help curb these discriminatory and undemocratic practices.

John R. Sharpensteen: Yes. Everyone should have the right to vote. Voter suppression should not be tolerated. However I would like to see programs available to actually educate the voters on how to select the best candidate regardless of party, race or social status. We need to get past voting for one party or the others just because that was who mom or dad would vote for or even because that is who our spouse would vote for.

Bennie J. Smith: One of our platform initiatives supports the restoration of voting rights for nonviolent ex-felons. We also support job skills training, housing, job preparation and transport assistance to those reentering society. Definitely better aftercare resources are needed to help get each person leaving incarceration

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

Do you support proposed Just Transition bills in Congress to take care of coal miners and communities by investing in abandoned mine land reclamation (H.R. 2156 and H.R. 4248) and extending current funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for another 10 years (H.R. 3876 and S.3171)? Why or why not?

a hand up in improving their lives.

We have to recognize the plight of miners and seek compensation and security. The Black Long Disability Trust Fund should in equivalently be extended. These miners did their jobs in good faith and the threat of harm should have answers continued on next page

RESPONSES CONTINUED: Just Transition …

been address well in advance and the government and mines/ mine owners are responsible for the illnesses and deaths. The miners and their families deserve compensation.

Charles Booker: Absolutely. Those coal miners are our family. They gave their livelihood and sacrifice their lives, just so we can have light and warmth. It is time we stand up for them, and push back on corrupt interests that only seek to exploit, extract from them, and leave them stranded on the tracks. We know the coal industry is declining. Instead of abandoning our family, we need to be intentional about investing in them and providing pathways to opportunities for them to pursue their dreams and take care of their loved ones.

Coal miners and coal communities deserve respect. That means that we need leaders who recognize what the people and communities of coal-producing regions like Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky have given to our country. It also means that we must take much-needed steps to protect the land and water and create economic opportunities in coal country.

Not only am I a proponent of previously-introduced legislation such as the RECLAIM Act and ensuring funding for black lung benefits for our miners, I am pushing that work in the Kentucky General Assembly. I am proud to have joined a bipartisan group of legislators this session in co-sponsoring legislation that would make … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: Yes, and yes. Just Transition and the BLDTF aren’t just about mitigating past damage but acknowledging where responsibility for those damages lie. By blocking these bills, politicians, most notably Mitch McConnell, shift the cost of righting wrongs from corporations (and large donors) onto taxpayers. The inequity of this shift has grown starker as the current administration has rolled back environmental regulations that will only exacerbate poor living conditions in coal country. I will fight to reinstate environmental regulations that place the responsibility for clean operation and mitigation where it belongs, on those who seek to profit from an extractive economy. My wife and I are farmers. We run our operation on sustainable principles: no chemical pesticides or herbicides, no GMO seedstock and no prophylactic hormones or antibiotics. It is a more challenging path, but you can make a living while being good stewards of the land. There is no reason that everyone shouldn’t be held to the same high standard we set for ourselves.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: Yes, absolutely. Expediting $1BN from the Abandoned Mine Land Fund to clean-up abandoned coal mining sites must be done to address the scars of mountaintop removal mining (MTR), valley fills and toxic pollution. The RECLAIM Act would grant miners access essential healthcare, fairer pay for their work and secure retirement funding while also employing thousands of Kentuckians in efforts to restore damaged land and water resources. MTR causes contamination to groundwater, streams and the air around topped mountains, resulting in lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the loss of fish and other wildlife. In 2016, federal laws required mining companies to monitor and restore the more-than-500 mountain regions impacted by MTR, but McConnell and Trump got rid of the Stream Protection Rule early in the Trump administration. Such rules will need to be back in place to protect Kentuckians.

In 2018, McConnell neglected The Black Lung Disability Trust Fund tax, allowing it to revert back to 1978 levels; then the rate was extended for just one year. Now the rates are set to expire in December of 2020 without government action to extend care. Communities impacted by coal production deserve consistent support, not political rhetoric. Central Appalachia is facing a … [response exceeds word limit]

Amy McGrath: Kentucky coal miners have powered this nation for generations. The country now owes a debt to Kentucky’s coal regions for their service in the construction of America. When paid, that debt will help build a new economy for the future of Kentucky’s coalfields. One way we can do this is by passing the RECLAIM Act.

I will work to make sure coal miners’ and their families are guaranteed the benefits and pay they earned through years of hard work. That’s why I support extending current funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

Eric Rothmuller: I support all four bills. Coal country has been hit hard. Many don’t see light at the end of the tunnel and I don’t blame them. The coal industry is dying. Trump and other politicians can tell you they’re going to save the coal industry but I won’t lie to you. They can’t, I can’t, and you can’t. The market has spoken and coal power is ever increasingly becoming a thing of the past. The people of coal country are the ones that suffer. They’re left with economic troubles, environmental issues, and health issues. We must invest in these communities and take care of our people.

Beyond those four bills, I will also fight for amendments to be added to any bill that has to do with investing in renewable energies (which I support) so that a transition plan is laid out for displaced fossil fuel and coal workers (not executives) be implemented where those displaced workers get preferential treatment in the hiring process for new renewable energy jobs. I will also fight to get those jobs located in communities affected by job loss due to our divesting in the fossil fuel and coal industries.

John R. Sharpensteen: I am not very familiar with theses resolutions but will take the opportunity to meet with as many coal miners as possible as soon as possible to get a better understanding of what they need and want.

Bennie J. Smith: I had a father--in-law (Mr. Woodrow Lowe) who was a 50- year coal miner in Harlan, KY who eventually experienced a long and painful death with BLACK LUNG DISEASE. So I know firsthand the scourge of this dreaded disease. So I am wholeheartedly in favor of any legislation and efforts to assist our coal miners and their families, especially extending funding permanently for the BLACK LUNG DISABILITY TRUST FUND.

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.

Presidental Primary

Also in the primary election, Democratic voters may select their preference for U.S. president. Though most of these candidates have suspended or ended their campaigns, they will still be listed on the ballot: Michael Bennet, Joseph R. Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, John Delany, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang.

QUESTION:

What will you do to support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer) Kentuckians? What will you do to protect people from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

Jimmy Ausbrooks: As a member of the LGBTQ community, I would be Kentucky’s first openly gay United States Senator, first openly gay elected Federal official and be the best preson to advocate and demonstrate the need for protection from discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, fostering/ foster to adoption, and many other imperative issues facing the LGBTQ community. I will demand consideration on the Senate floor the the Equality Act. I will advocate for LGBTQ education in public schools, I will support and advocate for LGBTQ youth, be an effective and positive role model to other LGBTQ individuals and break the stigma associated with being LGBTQ. I will join two other positive role modes currently serving in the United States Senate. I will be a strong advocate.

Charles Booker: I’ve always been an ally to our LGBTQIA+ family -- in my personal life, as a candidate, and in my role as state Representative. I’ll continue to be an ally as Kentucky’s next U.S. Senator. My declaration for this movement that will beat Mitch McConnell and help us win our future, is a clarion call that no matter where you are from, what you look like, how much money you have in your pocket, who you love, or what pronoun you use, that you matter and deserve a government that is accountable to you.

Our governments have ignored discrimination against LGBTQIA people for too long. In the State House, I co-sponsored legislation to ban conversion therapy in Kentucky, as well as legislation to create statewide fairness. I believe we should have a nationwide fairness law that ensures that our loved ones recognized as a protected class, and makes housing and workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity illegal.

I am also firmly committed to locking arms with all Kentuckians, and fighting back against hateful legislation that would seek to infringe on access to public accommodations based on gender identity. Those types of laws cause trauma, intense heartache, and … [response exceeds word limit]

Mike Broihier: `A decade ago, as editor of a weekly rural newspaper, I argued in an editorial titled, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Care,” that the only people who cared about LGBTQ people in the military were preachers and politicians and they only cared because they thought my readers cared. I said, in my wife’s and my combined 40-years in the military, we knew few people who cared about this issue. Those who go in harm’s way care only about dependability, integrity and intrepidity, not who someone loves. Shockingly, it was well received. What I learned was that even rural, conservative, religious people are open to progressive ideas presented with reason, patience and an appeal to fairness. While I believe that the 14th Amendment should be enough and acknowledge that it is unfair to urge patience on those whose rights are being denied, I’d point to the progress of the Fairness Campaign as they’ve won the passage of ordinances in over a dozen cities. I will argue on the basis of fairness and legislate on the basis of Equal Protection that discrimination because of sexual orientation or sexual identity, in any form and in any forum is morally wrong and legally unconstitutional.

Maggie Jo Hilliard: I will support the LGBTQ community in every way possible to ensure equal access to all privileges of American life regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or other traits. I am an ardent supporter of inclusion at all levels of society and government for the LGBTQ community, including marriage equality, military inclusion, public accommodations, universal healthcare, hate-crime enhancements for violent acts against the LGBTQ community, and the federal Equality Act to give nationwide legal protections to the LGBTQ community. Leaders should fervently speak-out against discriminatory acts we see on our news daily, and equally represent their constituents regardless of the color of their skin, where they are from, whom they wish to love and associate, the God they worship or other differences. Fueling ignorant acts of hate or ignoring it, is wrong. The majority of Americans do not hate people at first sight nor seek to harm people that are different from them. The extremists that hurt people because of their differences should be punished, not endorsed, by our leaders.

Amy McGrath: No Kentuckian should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and I will support legislation that protects LGBTQ Kentuckians from any discrimination they may face whether in housing or employment or public accomodations.

Eric Rothmuller: I am proud to have seen so much progress made in this country over the course of my lifetime in support of the LGBTQ+ community but there’s still work to be done. The law still allows discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community in many areas of their lives and this needs to be changed. Here are some of the policies I support and will fight for: - Support for any bill that protects against LGBTQ+ discrimination. - Pass The Equality Act. - Pass The Student Non-Discrimination Act and The Safe Schools Improvement Act - Oppose any legislation aimed at protecting religious liberty at the expense of others’ rights. - Institute a ban conversion therapy. - Expand affirmative civil rights testing for anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. - Expand the Fair Housing Act to make it illegal to deny housing to any LGBTQ+ person. - Make it illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people by banks, and creditors. - Institute anti-discrimination protections for workers by supporting the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act. - Repeal the Trump Administration’s ban on transgender people from serving in the military.

John R. Sharpensteen: As a Born Again Christian I believe we are to love one another regardless. I will not discriminate against the LGBTQ community and will oppose anyone that does. I don’t believe in their chosen life styles but respect their right to choose.

Bennie J. Smith: I will simply support any legislation that prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex and sexual orientation.

Andrew J. Maynard: Did not respond. Mary Ann Tobin: Did not respond.