Melissa’s answers
Their position on each question. ★ = part of their agenda.
Foreign Aidno data
Substantially increase foreign aid as a core tool for reducing global poverty and advancing humanitarian goalsSharply cut or eliminate most foreign aid and focus resources on domestic needs
U.S. Southern Border Securityno data
Shift away from physical barriers and heavy patrols, investing instead in addressing migration's root causes and processing arrivals humanelyPursue maximum enforcement, including large troop deployments and sealing the border against unauthorized entry
Legal Immigration Levelsno data
Substantially expand legal immigration to widen lawful pathwaysCut legal immigration significantly across most categories
Rent Controlno data
Impose strong rent caps that tightly limit annual increases across most rental housingProhibit rent control entirely and let supply and demand set rental prices
U.S. Military Spendingno data
Significantly cut defense spending and redirect funds to domestic and diplomatic prioritiesSubstantially expand defense spending to ensure clear military superiority over rivals
Legalizing Recreational Marijuanano data
Fully legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana nationwide for adult useMaintain the federal ban and enforce it consistently across all states
Death Penaltyno data
Abolish the death penalty in all casesExpand the death penalty and speed up the appeals process to carry out sentences
Same-Sex Marriageno data
Same-sex marriage is a fundamental right that should be fully protected and treated identically to other marriagesMarriage should be legally defined as a union between one man and one woman
Affirmative Actionno data
Such considerations should be actively used to expand diversity and remedy past discriminationRace and ethnicity should never be considered in admissions or hiring decisions
Privatizing Veteran Healthcareno data
Keep all veteran care within an expanded, fully government-run VA health system and limit outside referralsShift most veteran care to the private sector, with the government primarily paying private providers
Tariffs (General Approach)no data
Eliminate most tariffs to lower prices and expand free tradeApply high tariffs across the board to prioritize domestic manufacturing and economic independence
Balancing Tax Increases vs Spending Cutsno data
Close gaps almost entirely by raising taxes, especially on high earners and corporations, with little to no spending reductionClose gaps almost entirely through spending cuts, while reducing taxes wherever possible
Wealth Taxno data
Yes, levy a broad annual wealth tax with meaningful rates to reduce concentration of wealthNo, an annual wealth tax is unworkable and discourages saving and investment
Government Regulation Overallno data
Expand regulation significantly to protect consumers, workers, and the environment.Sharply cut regulations and require strict cost-benefit limits on new rules.
Government Secrecy vs Transparencyno data
Default to disclosure, classifying only narrow material and declassifying aggressively over timePrioritize secrecy by default, giving agencies wide authority to withhold security-related information
Private School Vouchersno data
Prohibit using public funds for private school tuition and keep money in public schoolsProvide universal vouchers or education savings accounts usable at any school
Universal Healthcareno data
Establish a single, government-run health plan that covers everyone and replaces private insuranceRely on the private market and individual choice, with minimal government involvement in coverage
Prescription Drug Pricesno data
Have the government set or cap drug prices directly to guarantee affordabilityLeave prices to the market and rely on private negotiation to control costs
Overall Gun Lawsno data
Much stricter, with broad new limits on sales, ownership, and firearm typesMuch looser, treating firearm access as a strongly protected right
Abortion (Overall)no data
Legal in all cases as a personal medical decisionIllegal in nearly all cases to protect unborn life
Carbon Taxno data
Adopt a high, rising carbon tax to sharply cut emissions, with rebates to householdsReject any carbon tax and address emissions through innovation rather than pricing
Climate Change (Overall)no data
Treat climate change as a top national emergency requiring sweeping, immediate actionMake climate change a low priority and avoid policies that restrict industry or raise costs
Universal Basic Incomeno data
Establish a generous universal basic income large enough to cover basic living costs for everyoneOppose any basic income and rely on work, markets, and private opportunity to support people
Federal Minimum Wageno data
Raise the federal minimum wage substantially and index it to rise with the cost of livingEliminate or freeze the federal minimum wage and let the market set pay
Electoral Collegeno data
Replace the Electoral College with a direct national popular votePreserve the current winner-take-all Electoral College system unchanged
Voter ID Lawsno data
Require no ID; allow voting on signature or affirmation of identityRequire strict government-issued photo ID for all voters with few exceptions
Public Transportation Fundingno data
Dramatically increase public subsidies to expand service and make transit free or nearly free for all ridersMinimize public funding and let transit operate on fares or shift to private operators