Where do candidates Alex Padilla and Mark Meuser for California’s senate seat stand on issues?
Mark Meuser
Party: Republican
Age: 48
Birthplace: Huntington Beach
Residence: Pasadena
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Oak Brook College of Law
The candidate did not respond to questions.
Alex Padilla
Party: Democratic
Age : 49
Birthplace: California
Residence: California
Occupation: U.S. Senator
Education: Bachelor’s degree, mechanical engineering, MIT
Offices held: Los Angeles City Council, 1999-2006; California State Senate, 2006-2014; California Secretary of State, 2015-2021; U.S. Senate, appointed in 2021
Website: alex-padilla.com
You have said you support abortion rights. What law would you like to see codified?
By reversing protections that women have counted on for half a century, the Supreme Court has put the lives and futures of millions of women at risk. We must protect women’s reproductive rights and freedoms by making Roe the law of the land. I’m a proud co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act in the Senate that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law.
What steps will you urge to help reduce federal deficits?
It’s important that we find solutions to move our country forward without raising the national debt. This is a key component of our Inflation Reduction Act, which will tackle inflation while reducing our federal deficit. While the Inflation Reduction Act will provide additional resources for the IRS to crack down tax avoidance, I also believe we need to take additional steps to ensure that billionaires and wealthy corporations are paying their fair share of taxes. That’s why I support reversing the Trump tax cuts and why I’ve joined my colleagues in introducing numerous bills like the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2021.
What changes if any do you support if Congress considers improving Obamacare?
I believe that health care is a human right. While we made huge improvements through the Inflation Reduction Act to help reduce costs for prescription drugs and insurance premiums, there is still more work to be done to increase access to quality health care, further reduce costs, and expand benefits to critical aspects of health care like hearing, vision, and dental. That’s why I support Medicare for All to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care regardless of tax bracket or zip code.
What should Congress’ next step be in trying to encourage efforts to combat climate change?
The climate crisis is not a far-off threat. It’s here right now and we need to treat it with the urgency it demands. I’m proud that I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to aggressively tackle climate change. This historic legislation will lower our carbon emissions and invest billions in clean jobs, reduce pollution, support drought resiliency, bolster wildfire prevention, and preserve our coasts and public lands. I also helped secure significant investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to electrify our school buses, replace our lead pipes, and strengthen our electric grid. These are historic steps forward that build off of California’s leadership in the fight against climate change–but we know it’s not enough, and we need to incorporate climate action into every aspect of policymaking. That’s why I’m a proud supporter of the Green New Deal.