Elizabeth Warren: 2020 Democratic presidential candidate shares her views on current issues
We asked presidential candidates questions about a variety of issues facing the country. This is what Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren had to say about climate change, gun control, health care and other issues.
Do you believe the earth’s climate is changing? If yes, do you believe it is caused by humans?
Climate change is not a matter of belief, it’s a matter of scientific fact. The world’s leading experts have long known that climate change is man-made and we are running out of time to avoid the most disastrous impacts, which Americans all across the country are already beginning to experience. I will prioritize defeating the climate crisis from day one of my administration and use every tool in my power to confront the greatest challenge of our time
If you could unilaterally make one change, or enact one policy, that would affect the climate, what would that be? And why?
We won’t defeat the climate crisis with one policy or one piece of legislation. We need a comprehensive approach to meet the urgency of the moment — one that brings sustained, big, structural change across all sectors and industries, at home and abroad. That’s why I’ve woven climate policy throughout my plans — from directing Congress to pass 100% clean energy legislation to transition America’s electricity, building, and transportation sectors to 100% clean energy within the next decade to issuing a sweeping climate executive order that will include rolling back all of Trump’s disastrous pro-fossil fuels policies, (and) banning new fossil fuel leases offshore and on public lands.
How would you engage foreign leaders to work with the United States on issues related to climate?
I have a plan to use all the tools in our diplomatic and economic arsenal to encourage other countries to purchase American-made clean, renewable, emissions-free energy products including making a $100 billion commitment to accelerate exports of American-made clean energy technology. I also will transform our approach to trade to tackle climate change. Under my plan, countries will be required to join the Paris Climate Agreement and eliminate domestic fuel subsidies as a precondition for entering trade negotiations with the U.S. I will seek a new multilateral agreement to protect domestic subsidies for green products and preferential treatment for green energy production from WTO challenges.
Should the U.S. explore additional use of nuclear power as an alternative energy source? Why or why not?
There are concerns about waste and environmental justice. In my administration, we're not going to build any new nuclear power plants. But I recognize that nuclear is about 55% of our clean energy today. We should phase it out and replace it with renewable energy, not fossil fuels. I want to get 100% clean energy as quickly as possible and that's why I have adopted and built on Governor Inslee's plan.
Should the U.S. government offer subsidies for renewable energy, such as wind energy or ethanol? Why or why not?
A Warren administration will end the legacy of handouts to the fossil fuel industry to level the playing field for clean and renewable electricity, zero emission vehicles, and green products for commercial and residential buildings. To reach the goal of net zero emissions by 2030, we will need to subsidize the economic transition towards the clean technologies of the future because that is what the scope and scale of the climate crisis demands. We must support investments in sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including distributed generation and clean energy technologies like solar, wind, and water power.
Read what all the candidates have to say about alternative energy and technology here.
How would you address gun violence in America?
While mass shootings get the bulk of attention, these shootings occur in our homes, on our streets, and at our playgrounds. Gun violence is a public health crisis, and Black and Latinx Americans have borne the brunt of it. I will immediately take executive action to rein in an out-of-control gun industry by requiring nearly all gun sellers to obtain a federal license and directing my government to investigate and prosecute all those who violate existing gun laws. I support reforms like federal licensing, background checks, waiting periods, reporting on multiple purchases, raising the minimum age to purchase a gun, and more. I believe we need a new federal assault weapons ban.
How do you propose making schools safer from acts of violence?
Parents shouldn’t have to buy bulletproof backpacks for their children — guns have no place on our campuses or in our schools, and teachers shouldn’t be armed. Congress should improve the Gun-Free School Zones Act to include college and university campuses, and apply to individuals licensed by a state or locality to carry a firearm. We must also make schools safe environments for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. In 2017, more than half of LGBTQ+ students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and over 70% of LGBTQ+ students reported being verbally harassed or bullied.
What role, if any, should the government have in regulating large technology companies?
Today’s big tech companies have too much power — too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy. They’ve bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field against everyone else. And in the process, they have hurt small businesses and stifled innovation. I believe we must break up big tech by passing legislation that requires large tech platforms to be designated as “Platform Utilities” and broken apart from any participant on that platform.
Our goal should be the full elimination of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. But while we work toward that goal, we must reduce the threat now. We need serious, realistic negotiations to address this threat. As a first step, and in coordination with our partners and allies, I would be prepared to consider partial, limited sanctions relief in return for a strong, verifiable agreement that keeps North Korea from expanding its arsenal or proliferating to other countries. An interim agreement would open the door to negotiations to reduce North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, control conventional weapons, and stop the regime’s crimes against humanity.
Would you re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran? Why or why not?
If Iran returns to compliance with its obligations under the nuclear deal, the U.S. should return as well. If Iran is not in compliance, I will pursue strong and principled diplomacy in concert with our allies to bring both the U.S. and Iran back into the deal. The JCPOA is only the beginning. We will need to negotiate a follow-on to the agreement that continues to constrain Iran’s nuclear program past the “sunset” of some of its original terms. We also need to address serious concerns about Iran’s policies beyond its nuclear program, including its ballistic missile program and support for destabilizing regional proxies. The JCPOA made addressing these problems easier.
How do you plan to address the threat of extremism in the U.S.?
Violent extremism of any kind has no place in American society, and that includes white nationalism. We’ve got to recognize the threat. White supremacists pose a threat to the United States like any other terrorist groups, like ISIS, like al-Qaida. As president of the United States, I will use every tool available to me. My Justice Department would go after white nationalists with full prosecution.
Do you believe there is equal access to voting in the U.S.? If not, how would you go about expanding access to voting?
No, there is not. Voting should be easy. But instead, many states make it hard for people to vote. It is time to make high-quality voting in the greatest democracy in the world easy, convenient, and professional. We need federal standards to ensure everyone can vote. I have a plan to mandate automatic and same-day voter registration, early voting, and vote by mail. My plan will mean no more arbitrary voter purges. No more registration issues. And no more gerrymandering. We will also make Election Day a holiday to make it easier for people to get to the polls.
Do you believe voter fraud is a problem in the U.S.? If yes, how do you plan to you address it?
No. Voter suppression is a problem. The right to vote is a fundamental right, and we will not let racist and corrupt politicians undermine it or our democracy.
Should it be a crime to enter the U.S. illegally?
Entering the country without authorization has always been a violation of civil immigration law, but thanks to a former segregationist Senator, it’s also a criminal violation. This additional criminal provision is totally unnecessary for border security, and for a century, it was rarely enforced. But since the early 2000s, it has been used to build and sustain a massive immigration detention complex. In 2016, over half of all federal criminal prosecutions were for immigration violations — more than prosecutions for terrorism, organized crime, hate crimes, or financial fraud. This obsessive focus ties up federal prosecutors and overwhelms federal courts. It’s costly and unnecessary.
Should the U.S. expand or limit legal immigration?
As president, I will work to expand legal immigration. America should welcome more legal immigration — done in the right way and consistent with our principles. We should use targeted immigration as a tool to create jobs and businesses and grow our economy. We should reflect our values, which means expanding family reunification and making it easier for relatives of citizens and green card holders to come to the United States. We should put American workers first by ensuring that workers already here get the first opportunity to fill any available positions.
In many areas of the country, there is a critical shortage of affordable housing. What would your administration do to address it?
Housing costs have skyrocketed and a big part of the reason is developers are building mansions and high rises instead of basic housing for families. Another reason is the federal government isn’t making the investments it used to make in housing for lower-income and middle-class families. My housing plan would build, preserve, or rehabilitate 3.2 million housing units across this country for lower-income and middle-class Americans. An independent analysis found my plan would bring down rents by 10% across the country and create more than a million good jobs.
What is your plan to address the growing national debt?
I’ve proposed a number of ways to bring in more tax revenue from the wealthy and big corporations — including a two-cent wealth tax on fortunes above $50 million. But we need to rethink our approach to the debt. It’s less about the size of the debt and more about whether we are making the right investments to grow our economy. When we invest in infrastructure or universal child care for every kid ages 0-5 or reducing the student loan debt burden so people have chances to buy a home or start a business — all of those are good investments that build financial security for working families and boost our economy.
Do you think our national debt is a national security issue? Why or why not?
We should not ignore the national debt. But the national debt poses nowhere near the threat to current and future generations as climate change, the rise of white nationalism, or any number of other issues.
Is capitalism the best economic structure for the United States? If yes, why? If no, what is better and how do you believe it will benefit Americans?
I believe in markets. Markets can create wealth and opportunity. But markets without rules is theft and there are areas where markets just don’t work, like health care.
In many parts of the country, there is a skilled worker gap. How would you close that gap to get more people employed in the industries that need them?
I believe we should take aggressive steps to overhaul our worker training programs so they produce better results for American workers and companies. I will dramatically scale up apprenticeship programs by increasing investment in apprenticeships tenfold and make a $20 billion commitment to apprenticeship programs for the next ten years. These efforts should bring together community colleges, technical schools, unions and companies. I also want to create sectoral training programs — a model that has been successful in Wisconsin. These local or regional sector training partnerships would help align training with the local job market (and) leverage the community college system.
Should the government forgive student loans? If yes, why and for whom? If no, why not?
I have a plan to cancel student debt for more than 95% of the nearly 45 million Americans with student loan debt. It cancels $50,000 in student loan debt for every person with household income under $100,000. It provides substantial debt cancellation for every person with household income between $100,000 and $250,000. The $50,000 cancellation amount phases out by $1 for every $3 in income above $100,000. It offers no debt cancellation to people with household income above $250,000 (the top 5%). My plan will close the racial wealth gap. It’s paid for by a 2% tax on giant fortunes over $50 million.
Should community college be free to anyone who wants to attend? Should other colleges and universities be free to attend?
Yes. Our public schools for K-12 students are free for everyone. That’s because we understand that a high school-level education is a basic need for our society and our economy — and it should be available to all. My plan will eliminate the cost of tuition and fees at every public two-year and four-year college in America. The federal government will partner with states to split the costs of tuition and fees and ensure that states maintain their current levels of funding on need-based financial aid and academic instruction. This is paid for by my 2% tax on giant fortunes over $50 million.
Is more funding needed for mental health care in America? If yes, what amount and how should it be allocated? Where should that money come from?
Yes. In addition to the right to physical health care, we must prioritize affordable, high-quality mental health services. Despite the widespread need for these services, many Americans are denied coverage. Medicare for All will fix that. But in the transition to Medicare for All, my Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act would hold insurers accountable for providing adequate mental health benefits and ensure Americans receive the protections they are guaranteed by law. In the Senate, I secured increased funding for the Mental Health Block Grant, which supports early intervention for children experiencing serious mental illness for the first time.
How would you address rising prescription drug costs, specifically for medications that are necessary for people to live, such as insulin and mental health medications?
Prescription drug prices are crushing families. My Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to step in and manufacture affordable generic drugs where the market has failed. Further, Medicare and Medicare for All should aggressively negotiate with drug companies. We should crack down on rampant abuse of the patent and regulatory system. And we should import drugs from countries that sell the same medicines and meet strong safety standards but that charge their citizens a fraction of our costs.
What do you believe is the biggest health care issue facing Americans? How would you solve it?
I have spent my whole career studying why families go broke and found that one of the top reasons for that is medical problems -- even for families that have insurance. Private insurance companies raked in $23 billion last year while premiums skyrocket and prescription drug copays are going through the roof. It’s not right, and it’s not sustainable. Medicare for All should be the law of the land. And under Medicare for All, hard-working families across this country will see their health care costs go down.
How would you address the opioid crisis?
I have introduced the most comprehensive plan to tackle the opioid crisis in Congress. My legislation, the CARE Act, would provide $100 billion in federal funding over the next decade for states that are hardest hit, giving communities the tools they need to take on the epidemic. It combines federal funding with local decision-making, allowing communities to decide how the dollars should be spent to address their most urgent prevention, treatment and recovery needs. My bill also acknowledges this crisis didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen on its own. And I would make it easier for us to hold corporate executives at companies that fueled the epidemic accountable for their actions
Should marijuana be legalized federally for medicinal use? Should it be legalized for recreational use?
Yes. I believe we should legalize marijuana and wipe clean the records of those unjustly jailed for minor marijuana crimes. I'm a proud co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act. I also have a bill that says if states have already decided on legalizing marijuana, the federal government should back off. By outlawing marijuana, the federal government is putting communities of color, small businesses, public health, and safety at risk.
Do you support a public health insurance option for all Americans? If yes, do you support the elimination of private health care in favor of a government-run plan, or do you support an option where Americans can choose a public or private plan? If no, why?
I believe Medicare for All should be the law of the land and that is why I’m a co-sponsor of the Medicare for All legislation in the United States Senate. I spent my whole career studying why families go broke, and came to find that one of the top reasons for personal bankruptcies is health crises and medical expenses — even for families with insurance. Medicare for All should be the law of the land.
Should the federal government re-institute the death penalty? If yes, for what crimes?
Studies show that capital punishment is often applied in a manner that’s biased against people of color and those with a mental illness. I oppose the death penalty. A Warren administration would reverse Attorney General Barr’s decision to move forward with federal executions, and I believe Congress should abolish the death penalty.