SPECIAL EDITIO N Feb. 26, 2020 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Special Edition
ELECTIONs
2020 TRUMP OR THE FIELD?
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Special Edition | When, Why & How to vote
WHEN TO VOTE
OU R VI E W
Voting is the responsibility of every voter-eligible citizen in the U.S.
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eing informed is the most important aspect of democratic nations remaining effective and efficient in sufficing the desires and needs of said country. The next most important aspect is for the country’s citizens to actually vote. As a state in a democratic country, it is our responsibility to vote for our officials in office and the only way to appropriately do that is to educate ourselves on the candidates and each of their policies. Informed, voting citizens are what keep democracy alive and well. According to Business Insider, for the 2016 election, only 138 million Americans voted. This means that only 58.1% of the citizen voting-age population actually voted — that’s barely half the voter-eligible population in the U.S. The reasons for a large portion of the population not voting couldn’t possibly be explained in 250 words or less, but that doesn’t make it OK. Citizens who are eligible to vote, need to educate themselves and take that education to the ballots. We want to ensure that this campus is staying informed of each candidate in the running to be governing officials at any rank. Uninformed voting is irresponsible voting, and not voting at all is being an irresponsible citizen. If you don’t vote, don’t complain about the results and policies that get put into place. Every citizen has an opportunity to make the changes they want to see. Your vote matters, so make it count.
COVER PAGE CREDITS: (TOP-LEFT TO BOTTOM-RIGHT)
Last day for early voting in the Texas Primary Election:
Friday, Feb. 28 Last day to mail a ballot back in for early voting in the Texas Primary Election:
Tuesday, March 3 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Wednesday, March 4 (next business day after Election Day) at 5:00 p.m. if the carrierenvelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m.
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A paper ballot on which you will select your choices and which will be counted by hand; A paper ballot on which you will select your choices by darkening an oval, completing an arrow, or “marking” with the aid of a voting machine; or A slip of paper with a numerical access code or, in some counties, a ballot activator card. In the next available voting booth, enter your code or card and let the on-screen instructions guide you through the process of electronic voting.
Friday, Feb. 28 Last day to register to vote for the national election:
Friday, Feb. 28 Election Day:
Friday, Feb. 28 in Clear Lake, Iowa. Aug. 9, 2019. | (Row 2, 4) Former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden speaking with supporters at a town hall hosted by the Iowa Asian and Latino Coalition at Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 in Des Moines, Iowa. Aug. 8, 2019. | (Row 3, 1) S. Senator. Amy Klobuchar speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Federation of Labor Convention hosted by the AFL-CIO at the Prairie Meadows Hotel in Altoona, Iowa. Aug. 21, 2019 | (Row 3, 2) Tom Steyer speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. June 1, 2019. | (Row 3, 3) Former Mayor Mike
Bloomberg speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Warehouse 215 at Bentley Projects in Phoenix, Arizona. Feb. 1. LORIE SHAULL | COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA (Row 2, 3) Senator Elizabeth Warren speaking at the Heartland Forum in Storm Lake, Iowa. Mar. 31, 2019. | (Row 3,4) U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. June 1, 2019. | Photos by Lorie Shaull | Courtesy of Wikimedia
EDITORS: Kristin Silva, Amos Perkins
Copyright ©2019.
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Bridget Reilly Vol. 84 | No. 9
When you arrive at the polling place, you will be asked to present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification, unless you are a voter with a permanent exemption on your voter registration certificate. If you do not possess a form of acceptable photo identification and you cannot reasonably obtain one, show a supporting form of identification to the election official and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. The election official will ask if you have moved and then ask you to sign the list of people who have voted in the precinct. Depending on the type of election – local, statewide, national or combination – you will be handed:
Texas Primary Election day AKA Super Tuesday:
PHOTO BY GERALT | COURTESY OF PIXABAY (Row 1) Trump. July 27, 2017. PHOTOS BY GAGE SKIDMORE | COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA (Row 2, 1) U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaking with attendees at the Presidential Gun Sense Forum hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Aug. 10, 2019. | (Row 2, 2) Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom
Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd. | Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@msutexas.edu | thewichitan.com
HOW TO VOTE
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ISSUE STAFF: Taylor Anderson, Dallas Wabbington ADVISOR: Jonathon Quam
First copy free. Additional copies $1.00 each. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.
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Special Edition |Where to Vote
WHERE TO VOTE
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n your Voter Registration certificate, you will see a precinct number. Your residence is located in a specific “precinct” or area within the county where you will vote on Election Day. In some cases, precincts may be combined to accommodate joint local elections. Registered and eligible voters may vote at any early voting location located in the county of residence. Early voting locations will be populated on the VoteTexas.gov search site at “My Voter Page” two days prior to the first day of early voting. You may want to contact the Early Voting
ELECTRA
IOWA PARK
Clerk for State and County Elections in your county for early voting locations. Also, many newspapers publish early voting polling locations. Your residence is located in a specific “precinct” or area within the county where you will vote on Election Day. Election Day voting hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all polling places statewide. Your voting precinct number (Pct. No.) is located next to your year of birth on your voter registration certificate.
Precinct addresses in Wichita County: • Allendale Baptist Church, 4650 Allendale Rd, Wichita Falls, 76310 • The Forum, 2120 Speedway Ave, Wichita Falls, 76308 • Western Hills Baptist Church, 5107 Ridgecrest, Wichita Falls, 76310 • Faith Lodge # 1158, 3503 Kemp Ave, Wichita Falls, 76308 • First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd, Wichita Falls, 76308 • Kamay VFD, 8537 SH 258 W, Kamay, 76369 • Texas Highway Dept., 1601 Southwest Pkwy, Wichita Falls, 76302 • Wesley United Methodist Church, 1526 Weeks St, Wichita Falls, 76302 • First Baptist Church at Sheppard, 2101 Puckett Road, Wichita Falls, 76306 • Legacy Church of God, 1420 TX-11 Loop, Wichita Falls, 76306 • Cameron Gardens VFD, 153 FM1740, Wichita Falls, 76305 • Commissioner Pct.2 Bldg., 102W college, Burkburnett • 10th & Broad Church of Christ, 1319 10th Street, Wichita Falls, 76301 • Kemp Sunnyside Community Center, 405 Walnut, Wichita Falls, 76301 • Region IX Education Center, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls, 76306 • First Baptist Family Center, 300 W Bank, Iowa Park, 76367 • Faith Baptist Church, 411 S Wall, Iowa Park, 76367 • Martin Luther King Center, 1100 Smith, Wichita Falls, 76301 • Jefferson St. Baptist Church, 401 Jefferson St, Wichita Falls, 76306 • First Assembly of God, 3101 McNiel, Wichita Falls, 76309 • The Bridge Church, 4725 K Mart Dr., Wichita Falls, 76308 • Life Church, 4350 Seymour Hwy, Wichita Falls, 76309 • Floral Heights United Methodist Church, 2215 10 St, Wichita Falls, 76309 Haws Rd. Community Church, 2635 Haws Rd, Iowa Park, 76367 • First United Methodist Church, 1107 S. Bailey St., Electra, 76360
BURKBURNETT
WICHITA FALLS
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Special Edition| Trump
DONALD TRUMP QUICK FACTS: Birthdate: June 14, 1946 Birthplace: Queens, New York Education: Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania (1968) Faith: Presbyterian
FUN FACTS: 1) Owns 18 golf courses around the world. 2) Was part-owner of Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. 3) Was an executive producer of The Apprentice. 4) Fan of WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment. 5) McDonald’s order: 2 x Big Macs, 2 x Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, and a large chocolate shake. 6) Favorite movie: Bloodsport
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE
Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Fountain Park in Fountain Hills, Arizona. BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR uring his time as President, Trump has tightened the requirements for food stamps, received more money from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, introduced the Protect Life Rule which prohibits any government funding from going to any clinic that performs on-site abortions, put effort into ending ‘vaping culture’ among teens by banning certain products, and made acts of animal cruelty a felony with fines and up to seven years in prison.
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ON HEALTHCARE:
He prioritizes reducing the cost of medicines, and believes that terminally ill patients should have access to new and experimental treatments/medicines. Has allowed some medicine reimportation from Canada. Pursuing the repealing of Obama Care. Trump supports prolife and cut government funding from Planned Parenthood
ON EDUCATION:
He does not support Common Core, which details what K-12 students should know in English, language arts, and mathematics. He supports expanding school choice across the coun-
try so “parents have a voice in their children’s education.”
ON TAXES:
He plans on releasing a proposal for a middle-class tax cut. During 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law which averaged a $1,200 tax return (H&R Block). This tax cut dropped the rates of each bracket by 1%3%, excluding the minimum bracket.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
In 2017, Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement and discarded climate change from the list of national security threats. He
lifted the ban on the use of E15 (gasoline made with 15% ethanol) and approved the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.
ON IMMIGRATION:
Trump has a “zero tolerance” approach to those crossing the border into the U.S. and his 2016 Presidential bid was focused on ending the “catch and release” policy previous Presidents have followed. His immigration policy outlines separating families who crossed the border together, putting the adults in federal prison and the children were put into the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Comic by Dallas Washington
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Special Edition| Bernie | Buttigieg
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Federation of Labor Convention hosted by the AFL-CIO at the Prairie Meadows Hotel in Altoona, Iowa. Aug. 21, 2019.
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE
Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaking with supporters at a town hall at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, Iowa. Jan. 12.
BERNIE SANDERS BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAHY EDITOR ernie Sanders is a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. At 30, Sanders’s political career started in 1971 when he became a member of the Liberty Union Party. The now 78-year-old candidate is considered the “woke” grandpa of the political world and has gained traction among young people through free education, the Green New Deal, Medicare for all, and taxing the rich.
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ON HEALTHCARE:
Sanders believes “healthcare is a human right and should be guaranteed to every American.” He wishes to make the cut-off date for abortions set at 36 weeks. From dental services to pre-existing conditions, Sanders has made a big push for Medicare for all. He would like to lower the costs of medications by allowing the importation of medicines from other countries and break the patent requirement for brands of drugs to make cheaper generics available quicker. His ‘Medicare For All’ plan will be a progression over four years with the goal of an increase in access and choice, increase in quality of care, reduction of prescription drug costs, and eliminate out-of-pocket expenses. To pay for this plan he proposes to create the American Health Security Trust Fund which will be financed by different tax revenues, credits and subsidies.
ON EDUCATION:
Sanders will restrict charter school growth, promote free college education, and give teachers pay increases. Sanders plans on setting a starting salary for all teachers at $60,000 and will provide year-round, free universal school meals from locally sourced food. On the higher-education front, Sanders’s plan is to pass the College for All Act, as well as cancel the $1.6 trillion outstanding student debt for borrowers.
ON TAXES:
Sanders would like to increase the capital gains tax rate, eliminate tax breaks for off-
shore accounts, create a special tax for the “1%” (i.e. billionaires) and create taxes on financial trades. Sanders will create a tax that only applies to the wealthiest 180,000 households in America.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
He supports closing down nuclear power reactors, will ban fracking everywhere, will impose government regulations to reduce carbon emissions, and backs the Green New Deal. If elected, Sanders will commit to transforming the U.S. energy system to 100% renewable energy by at least 2030 and declare a climate emergency to begin “fixing the planet.”
ON IMMIGRATION:
Sanders wants to provide a path to citizenship for all Dreamers, repeal the statute on illegal entry into the United States and will not support building the wall on the Mexico/ United States border.
QUICK FACTS: Birthdate: September 8, 1941 Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Chicago Faith: Jewish (not actively involved with organized religion)
FUN FACTS:
1) Made an appearance in My X-Girlfriend’s Wedding Reception and Sweet Hearts Dance. 2) In college, he was a leader of the Congress of Racial Equality. 3) Was present for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. 4) Released a folk album called “We Shall Overcome” in 1987. 5) Favorite musician: Beethoven.
PETE BUTTIGIEG BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR f elected, Pete Buttigieg will be the youngest and first openly gay President. Buttigieg has described himself as progressive and a supporter of democratic capitalism. Starting his political career in 2002 by interning for Democrat Jill Thompson during her congressional bid, Buttigieg was elected as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana in 2012. He is a strong supporter of lowering drug prices, strengthening the DACA program, creating a carbon tax, and withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
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ON HEALTHCARE:
Pete Buttigieg supports pro-choice and the importation and patent breaking of medicines. Unlike his Democratic counterparts, Buttigieg opposes Medicare for All but rather supports Medicare for All Who Want it and believes in rethinking the Affordable Care Act/coverage expansion. The Medicare for All Who Want it policy will allow American’s to choose if they would like government-funded healthcare. Under a Buttigieg Presidency, out-of-pocket expenses on Medicare will be capped, and he will put an end to surprise medical billing.
ON EDUCATION:
Buttigieg is against for-profit charter schools, doesn’t believe students should have to take on debt and would cancel some student debt, and supports a pay increase for teachers. Buttigieg will support loan forgiveness for households earning less than $200,000 and plans to make
tuition more affordable while giving low and middle-income students free college.
ON TAXES:
Buttigieg will reverse the 2017 corporate cut, expand the earned income tax credit, and supports tax increases on the wealthy. As President, Buttigieg will end the cap on state and local tax deductions eliminating the cap for households that earn less than $400,000. He also proposes giving a $2,000 child tax credit, and an additional $1,000 credit for households with a child under 6-years-old for families earning less than $400,000.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
He supports nuclear power and reducing carbon emissions and wants to end new oil, and gas leases on federal land and end offshore drilling. Buttigieg’s climate plan involves creating a Climate Corps service program which will focus on helping communities become more sustainable, and has stated that he would ban all new fossil fuel development on federal lands.
ON IMMIGRATION:
He supports citizenship for Dreamers and wants to change illegal border crossing from being a crime to being a civil offense. He has pledged to compensate immigrant children separated from their families by fast-tracking their path to citizenship and will end the three and ten-year bars to re-entering the United States.
QUICK FACTS:
FUN FACTS:
Birthdate: January 19, 1982
1) Speaks eight languages - English, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, Maltese, Arabic, Dari, and French. 2) According to the Pottermore Quiz, he has been classed as a Hufflepuff member. 3) Snack of Choice: beef jerky 4) Likes to watch Rick and Morty.
Birthplace: South Bend, Indiana Education: Bachelor of Arts in history and literature from Harvard (2004). Master of Arts in philosophy, politics, and economics from Pembroke College, Oxford (2007). Faith: Episcopalian
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JOE
TAYLOR ANDERSON REPORTER oe Biden registered as an independent in 1968 but changed to the Democratic party when he ran for and won the New Castle County Council. Biden had a long political career before accepting President Obama’s invitation to run on his ticket in 2008. Being Biden’s third bid for the Presidential candidacy, his views have more or less stayed the same, endorsing raising the minimum wage, advocating for climate action, and banning assault weapons. ON HEALTHC ARE: Biden opposes Medicare for All. Instead, he prefers to allow people to choose between keeping their private insurance or going to a public healthcare option. He wants to patch up shortcomings in the Affordable Care Act AKA Obamacare, which will help stabilize the insurance market exchange
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FUN FACTS
• Member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. • When at Syracuse University, Biden and his first wife, Neilia Biden bought a puppy and named it Senator. • Favorite meal: pasta
Elizabeth Warren
BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR lizabeth Warren is widely known for her policies on education - promoting free college and university, as well as Medicare for All. Warren began her political career in mid-1990’s when she served on the National Bankruptcy Review Commission and was elected in 2012 to the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. ON HEALTHC ARE: Warren is pro-choice and supports government funding for Planned Parenthood. She has proposed a government-run pharmaceutical manufacturer that “would act when a drug has shortage of competition or there’s a major price hike.” Her plan to pay for Medicare for All includes taxing the wealthy. ON EDUC ATION: Warren believes education should be free and has proposed a “ultra-millionaire tax” to offset the cost of attending a four-year public university or college. Opposes charter school growth and plans to eliminate the Federal Charter School Program. Her edu-
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Special Edition | Biden | Warren
BIDEN
and lower the eligibility age to 55 for Medicare. Biden plans to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health to continue his fight to find a cure for cancer.
hole. He wants to fix and simplify the debt-relief programs by lowering existing studentloan borrowers’ monthly payments by reducing the interest rate on federal loans. Biden wants to triple Title 1 funding and ON EDUCATION: districts Biden wants to PHOTO COURTESY GAGE SKIDMORE require to give educators make two years Former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden of community speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic more competitive salaries. college or trad- Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. ing school for ON TAXES: free by extending the public school system Biden wants to increase the capital gains tax from 12 to 14 years. The funding for free col- rate. He wants to raise corporate taxes from 21 lege will come from closing a single tax loop- to 28%. He wants to impose a 15% minimum tax
• Favorite movie: Chariots of Fire • Has made appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Parks and Recreation. • Always carries a rosary for good luck.
• Favorite food: chips and guacamole.
on corporations with at least $100 million in net profits so they can’t avoid paying taxes. Biden wants to increase tax rates by 39.6% to the topearning bracket. ON THE ENVIRONMENT: Biden supports the development of new nuclear technology in efforts to fight climate change. The new nuclear reactor will produce 50 to 100 megawatts instead of 1,000 megawatts. He wants to end new oil and gas leases on federal land and end offshore drilling. He wants to reduce carbon emissions by returning much of the proceeds through regular dividend payments to offset higher energy costs. ON IMMIGRATION: Biden wants to give citizenships to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals AKA “DACA children” and others covered by the program. He wants to leave the statute in place for illegal entry and wants to build a fence along the Mexican border.
• Education: Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University
QUICK FACTS
• Birthdate: Nov. 20, 1942 • Born: Scranton, Pennsylvania
tax” where households who have a net worth between $50 million and $1 billion will receive a 2% tax increase and households with a net worth above $1 billion will receive a 6% tax increase. ON THE ENVIRONMENT: She supports banning fracking everywhere, and is for the Green New Deal, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions by imposing government regulations. If elected President, Warren will commit to 100% clean energy with all new buildings to be zero-emissions by 2028, electricity to be carbon-neutral by 2030, and all new cars, trucks, and buses to be zero emissions PHOTO COURTESY GAGE SKIDMORE by 2030. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren speaking with attendees at ON IMMIGRATION: Warren the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at does not support additional the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, funding for building the wall California. on the U.S. - Mexico border. cation policies also include pay increases for Supports repealing Section teachers and canceling some student debt. 1325 out of federal law because “we should not ON TAXES: She wants to increase the capital be criminalizing mamas and babies trying to gains tax rate, raise corporate income taxes, flee violence at home or trying to build a better and impose higher taxes on financial institu- future,” and will allow a pathway for Dreamers tions. Warren has been pushing for a “wealth to acquire citizenship.
of Delaware (1965). Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University Law School (1968). • Faith: Roman Catholic
FUN FACTS
• Published 11 books. • Taught children with disabilities for 1 year in a public school before attending law school. • Appeared on Dr. Phil’s daytime television show. • Was a registered Republican from 1991 to 1996 • From 1995 to 2012, was a lecturer and professor at the Harvard Law School. • Favorite food: chips and guacamole.
QUICK FACTS • Birthdate: June 22, 1949 • Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Education: Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and audiology (1970). Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University - Newark (1976) • Faith: Methodist
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Special Edition | Bloomberg | Klobuchar
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE |
Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Warehouse 215 at Bentley Projects in Phoenix, Arizona.
PHOTO BY LORIE SHAULL| Amy Klobuchar
Mike Bloomberg Amy Klobuchar BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR ike Bloomberg is the majority owner and co-founder of Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg is the eighth richest person in the world with a net worth of $65.2 billion. He was elected as 108th New York City mayor, holding office for three consecutive terms. Bloomberg is well-known for his social entrepreneurship, for his support for gun control, public health initiatives and environmental protections.
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HEALTHC ARE
Bloomberg opposes Medicare for All. Instead, he prefers to allow people to choose between keeping their private insurance or going to a public healthcare option. He wants to improve the Affordable Care Act by adding the option of public healthcare. Bloomberg wants to allow importations of medicines sold overseas at a lower cost. He would limit drugs to just one patent to prevent manufactures from leveraging the system to artificially extend monopoly protections on their products.
EDUC ATION
Bloomberg wants to make two years of college free and debt-free for the lowest-income students. He wants to fix the debt-relief program by lowering existing student-loan borrowers’ monthly payments by reducing federal loans. Bloomberg promotes charter schools.
TAXES
Bloomberg wants to increase the capital gains tax rate. He wants to raise corporate taxes from 21 to 28%. He wants to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit by examining the feasibility of expanding the benefit to cover family caregiving and other forms of unpaid or ineligible employment. Bloomberg wants to create special taxes based on wealth. He proposed that a 5% additional tax on those making more than $5 million a year. He also wants to create a 0.1%
tax on all Wall Street financial transactions.
ENVIRONMENT
Bloomberg is not in favor of the Green New Deal, but vows to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050. His climate plan also focuses on closing all 251 remaining coal plants in the U.S. along with supporting a carbon tax.
IMMIGRATION
Bloomberg believes that improving the immigration system is the most important step to a better economy. He opposes building a wall on the Mexican border and believes that shutting out immigrants is national suicide. Bloomberg supports the immigration reform that secures the rights of illegal immigrants.
QUICK FACTS
• BIRTHDATE: February 14, 1942 • BORN: Boston, Massachusetts • EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University (1964). Master of business administration from Harvard Business School (1966). • FAITH: Jewish
FUN FACTS
• Member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. • Made Eagle Scout within the Boy Scouts organization. • He was a parking lot attendant in college to help pay for his tuition. • He couldn’t be accepted to the U.S. Armed Forces because he had flat feet. • As mayor of New York, he took a salary of $1 a year. • Snack of choice: Cheez-Its
BRIDGET REILLY PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR he New York Times and The New Yorker named Amy Klobuchar as one of the women most likely to become the first female president. Klobuchar began her political career in 1994 when she ran for Hennepin County attorney. Although she didn’t win, she was later elected in 1998.
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HEALTHC ARE
Klobuchar supports the pro-choice movement with limitations, “there are limits there in the third trimester that are very important – about – except for the health of the woman.” She opposes Medicare for All, but would expand coverage and has a strong focus on ensuring rural communities have access to adequate healthcare.
EDUC ATION
She supports charter schools, pay increase for teachers, and wants to expand or fix existing debt-relief programs. Klobuchar is not in support of four-year college for all, but supports free attendance at community colleges and is focused on making higher education more affordable.
QUICK FACTS
• Birthdate: May 25, 1960 • Birthplace: Plymouth, Minnesota • Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science (1982) Yale University. Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School (1985) • Faith: Congregationalist (United Church of Christ)
TAXES
Klobuchar will raise corporate taxes, but plans on keeping them lower than before 2017 and will expand the earned income tax credit. Along with her competitors, Klobuchar would tax capital gains at the same rate as ordinary income. She plans on requiring people earning more than $1 million to pay at least a 30% minimum tax rate.
ENVIRONMENT
She promises that within her first 100 days as President she will restore the Clean Power Plan to reduce power plant emissions and recommit the U.S. to the Paris climate agreement. She does not support banning fracking, but would like to regulate it “better.”
IMMIGRATION
She will support additional wall funding as a part of a broader bill that will provide a path for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship. She also backs citizenship for Dreamers, and the same path will be opened to those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
FUN FACTS
• Was an intern for Vice President Walter Mondale. • Author of Uncovering the Dome and The Senator Next Door: A Memoir from the Heartland. • Was “Attorney of the Year” in 2001. • Favorite food: baked potato. • Valedictorian of Wayzata High School. • Rode her bike 1,200 miles in 11 days.
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Special Edition | Gabbard | Steyer
PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE
U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard speaking with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California.
Tulsi Gabbard QUICK FACTS
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HEALTHC ARE
She believes “we don’t have a health care system, we have a sick-care system,” and does not want big insurance and big pharma in the drafting process. Supports Medicare for All, but would still keep private health insurance. To pay for Medicare for All she plans to tax the top 5% wealthiest Americans.
EDUC ATION
By creating a new tax on stock and bond trades, Gabbard will rid tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities. She would like to fix or expand existing debt-relief programs.
TAXES
Gabbard proposes to eliminate tax breaks for “offshoring.” Supports tax incentives that reward businesses that help work-
Tom Steyer
FUN FACTS
• BIRTHDATE: April 12, 1981 • Became a sitting member of the • BIRTHPLACE: Leloaloa, American House of Representatives from HaSamoa waii’s 1st congressional district at • EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science the age of 21. in business administration with • Loves to surf. a concentration in international • Served in the Army National Guard business and was deployed to Iraq for one • FAITH: Hinduism year. • Worked at the nonprofit, Stand Up for BRIDGET REILLY America, in response to the 9/11 atPHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR tacks. tarting her political career young, Tulsi Gabbard moved up the ranks • Was an educator for the Healthy Hawaii Coalition. from a sitting member of the Hawaii House of Representatives to Vice-Chair of • Favorite food: vegan cupcakes. the Democratic National Committee. In her early years as a state legislator, Gabbard voted against a bill legalizing samesex civil unions. She has since apologized for her previous views, claiming her “views have changed significantly since then.”
PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA
Tom Steyer paid a visit to Des Moines Public Schools on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. He took a tour of the Downtown School and Scavo High School, answered questions from a class at Central Academy, and visited the NeuroSMART program at the Career and Technical Institute.
ers pay off student loans, renewable energy creation and use, and lower prescription costs.
ENVIRONMENT She has been an environmental activist since high school and traveled to different schools around Hawaii to educate students on “the importance of our watersheds.” She has consistently pushed for legislation and funding in order to protect oceans, reefs, water infrastructure, national parks, and drinking water.
IMMIGRATION Gabbard is an advocate for keeping children together except in circumstances such as abuse, neglect, or trafficking. Helped introduce the #KeepFamiliesTogether Act that would put an end to the taking of children from their parents at the border. Also supports refugees seeking refuge in the U.S., “while simultaneously addressing the root causes of the crisis.”
TAYLOR ANDERSON REPORTER om Steyer is a hedge fund manager and philanthropist. He is the founder and former co-senior-managing-partner of Farallon Capital and co-founder of Onecalifornia Bank. In 2010, Steyer and his wife signed The Giving Pledge to donate half of their fortune to charity during their lifetime.
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HEALTHC ARE
Steyer opposes Medicare for All and wants to create universal health care coverage. He wants the federal government to negotiate payment rates for providers and hospitals. Medical providers would have to participate in the public option or lose their contracts with Medicare or Medicaid. Anyone could enroll in the program, including those with commercial coverage and those who are uninsured. Steyer supports abortion rights.
EDUC ATION
Steyer thinks the 1.5 trillion dollars owed in student debt is “unacceptable,” and as President, he will increase teacher’s pay using federal subsidies. In regards to Title IX, Steyer opposes allowing college students accused of
QUICK FACTS
• BIRTHDATE: June 27, 1957 • BIRTHPLACE: New York City, New York • EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Yale University (1979). Masters in business administration from Stanford University (1983). • FAITH: Episcopalian
sexual assault to cross-examine their accusers.
TAXES
Steyer has released his tax returns to the public to show his “charitable giving, political activities, and paid taxes.” He supports the wealth tax and has proposed that in 10-years time his tax policies will have gained 1.7 trillion dollars in tax revenue.
IMMIGRATION
Steyer wants citizenship for dreamers and executive actions that could allow them to obtain legal status. He wants to repeal the statute because it allows for the harsh treatment of migrant families and individuals who arrive at the border. Steyer opposes additional Mexican border wall funding.
ENVIRONMENT
“On day one, we’d do a bunch of things including reentering [the Paris climate accords], freeze and reverse the Trump rulemaking, we’d establish a cabinet-level position, put a climate lens on all purchasing ... and if Congress couldn’t pass a Green New Deal, [we] would set clean energy standards,” Steyer said in regards to a climate emergency declaration.
FUN FACTS
• Was captain of the Yale University soccer team. • Founded NextGen America - a nonprofit that pushes for progressive solutions in the areas of climate change, healthcare, education, and immigration. • Favorite meal: chicken and rice soup. • Favorite song: Balm in Gilead. • Likes to binge-watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.