The congressional candidates’ thoughts on the hot topics surrounding the upcoming election.
By: Mikaila Bluew
Michigan’s 8th District Congressional Candidates Paul Junge and Kristen Mcdonald-Rivet made appearances at Delta College’s main campus on Oct. 18. Delta students created presentations to showcase local and national concerns to community leaders during the Delta Backyard Issues Forum. Candidates were mingling with students and discussing their takes on the hot topics surrounding the upcoming election prior to making statements.
During this downtime I was able to personally interview each candidate regarding some of the important issues on voter’s minds this election cycle, here are their thoughts:
Q: If elected, what do you plan to do about the cost of living?
A: Kristen Mcdonald-Rivet –
“Essentially what that did is reduce child poverty by 50%. We can cap the cost of prescription drugs, which so many of our seniors in particular are struggling with. The other thing that we need to do is make higher education, college, Community College in particular more affordable across the country, as well as here in Michigan. Get a handle on the amount of student debt, student loan debt that so many of our young people are carrying minimally, we ought to be looking at why the federal government charges such a high interest rates on federally backed student Loans. These are just things that feel crazy to me, there are things that we can do. We just have to be able to have grown-ups in Congress that are willing to work through issues, build bridges to the other side of the aisle, and actually get something done.”
A: Paul Junge –
“There are at least two or three things that I know we can do to address inflation. One of them is the price of gasoline and energy cover carries through all parts of the economy. So, I think it’s important that we have an all of the above energy policy. We pursue solar and wind that we pursue fossil fuels, that we pursue nuclear energy, everything that we can do. America is an innovative place with a lot of great resources and so if we unleash the American economy and the American energy sector, we can have more abundant energy that will help bring down the costs of energy, and that will help make things across the board cheaper. One other aspect of the plan and the program is one of the drivers of inflation was government spending.”
Q: What is your policy on illegal immigration?
A: Kristen Mcdonald-Rivet –
“My primary concern about what’s happening Is the flow of fentanyl into our Streets. That, right across the border It’s through our ports of entry, we have to really focus on that. It’s why I’ve been endorsed by our county prosecutor, (and) our County Sheriff, because of the way that I believe, and the things that I stand for that help law enforcement deal with the issue. But most importantly, let me say that we have an immigration system that is fundamentally broken and has been broken for decades because it is a political football that – you know – both parties want to use in election time, so they stop it when it’s in Congress. And I just simply don’t play those partisan games, a working immigration system. That allows people who want to come to our country, work, follow our laws, contribute there ought to be a legal route for them to get here.”
A: Paul Junge –
“We do welcome immigrants legally in this country every year, but we don’t need to be doing that illegally. I’ve been to the southern border recently and you know, I’m told by law enforcement there that as much as they hate to admit it, that border is controlled by the criminal cartels South of the border, not by American law enforcement. So that leads to human trafficking, it leads to sex trafficking, leads to drugs, it leads to all kinds of problems. So, we need to secure that border and allow immigrants in legally, but not illegally.”
Q: What would you say to voters afraid of voter security due to illegal immigration?
A: Kristen Mcdonald-Rivet –
“There is no evidence that this is an issue. In fact, it has been studied, it has been litigated, it has gone through courts in multiple states. It just simply isn’t there. I will tell you that I believe that that’s a scare tactic, and a way of leaders across this country who are far more interested in dividing us than uniting us to get something done. Quite frankly, I think Americans and Michiganders in particular are ready to turn the page and go on to something that is about the things that they’re worrying about. Which is the cost of living, which is protecting our reproductive freedoms, which are making sure that our seniors are not living in poverty. Those are the things we need to focus on, not selling lies that make people fearful that our elections.”
A: Paul Junge –
“Well, certainly I think that’s one distinction between the Democrats and myself as a Republican candidate. Just recently in Washington, DC, House Republicans had to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government, and they tried to put one measure on that, and that was to reaffirm that only U.S. citizens could vote in elections and the Democrats 100% voted against that extra provision. Which seemed to be a suggestion that they’re willing to turn the other way and allow illegal aliens, non-us citizens, to vote in an election. I think you know that dilutes the value of votes for citizens, for people who this really – it – it’s their country and they should have a say, and not let people who are not permitted to vote influence our election, so that’s important.”
Q: What is your policy on abortion rights in the U.S, and how does it affect Michigan?
A: Kristen Mcdonald-Rivet –
“OK, so this is really, really important I have four daughters and right now in this country, they have less rights than I did at their age. Our reproductive freedom, we protected two years ago here in Michigan, but a national abortion ban would impact and erase that law and all that hard work that we did – work that I did – in the state Senate. We need to make sure that our rights are protected and codify the rights that we had under Roe v. Wade. I really want to point out that we have a lot of Republicans, my opponent, including that are trying to change what they said two years ago (and) Four years ago, about their views on women’s reproductive rights, and we shouldn’t trust them.”
A: Paul Junge –
“Well, listen I am pro-life, and I when we had an abortion measure on the ballot last election cycle, I said to the voters I understand that the voters of Michigan are going to decide this issue. However they decide it, that’s where we will leave that issue – and that is – I stand by that position. My opponent has suggested that I would want to impose a national ban, and that’s simply not true. I’ve said repeatedly that I will not, if elected, seek to overturn, or in any way disrupt what the voters of the state of Michigan have said on that issue and we’ll see politically where we go with that. I mean – you know – certainly the Democrats have tried to make a big deal out of that issue, and it was important. Certainly, it remains an important issue, but it was in my view settled largely last election cycle and hopefully it won’t be top of mind for all voters.”
