After Tuesday’s Presidential debate (debacle?), if you’re not sure about candidates’ positions on important issues, you’re not alone. So TMM offers this guide to former VP Biden’s positions, from a variety of sources.

 

Abortion: Personally opposed, but supports women’s choice

In his 2007 book, Promises to Keep, Biden (a Catholic) wrote while he’s ‘personally opposed to abortion’, he didn’t feel he had the ‘right to impose [his] view on the rest of society’.

 

COVID-19: National strategy

While Biden published his plan for combatting Coronavirus recently, he’s received scrutiny for conflicting comments about a national mask mandate (and its constitutionality).

Economy: “Build Back Better” recovery plan

Biden’s plan asserts, “We can’t solve the jobs crisis until we solve the public health crisis.” In the immediate term, he promises additional funding for local governments, extending COVID unemployment benefits, and a “comeback package for Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs”.

Environment: Invest in clean energy future (creating jobs and mitigating climate change impacts)

During the debate, Biden stated again he doesn’t support the Green New Deal. Biden’s Clean Energy Plan includes $1.7 trillion government investment, funded by rolling back Trump tax incentives for corporations.

Guns: Background checks on all gun sales and assault weapons ban

Biden previously said, “As we watched in horror at the events in El Paso and Dayton, Chicago suffered its most violent weekend of 2019. We cannot go on like this. We must muster up the courage to take on the NRA, pass common-sense reform, and end our gun violence epidemic.”

 Healthcare: Improve Affordable Care Act

This November 10 (immediately after election day), the Supreme Court will hear arguments from a coalition of Republican State Attorneys General with this goal: striking down the Affordable Care Act. Biden has stated, “I worked hard to pass the Affordable Care Act. It was a milestone for American health care. I will continue to oppose every effort to tear it down. We have come too far to start over. Read my plan to protect and build on Obamacare at joebiden.com.”

Immigration: Dismantle Trump changes, reinstate Obama policies

The Trump administration has undertaken more than 400 executive actions on immigration, according to recent NPR story highlighting Biden’s immigration position paper.

Law and Order: Do NOT defund police

Biden stated, “We need real police reform that holds all cops up to high standards that so many of them actually meet — that holds bad cops accountable, and that repairs the relationship between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to protect. And we need to stand up as a nation — with the black community, and with all minority communities — and come together as one America.”

Race Relations: Proposal to advance equality

Biden has said, “We need a comprehensive agenda for racial equity in this country. This isn’t just about police reform. It’s about dealing with the deep wound of systemic racism in this nation.”

Taxes: Raise Corporate Tax Rate (21% to 28%), DON’T raise taxes on Americans making less than $400,000

 

Previously, Biden said, “It’s time to reward work, not just wealth. On day one, I’ll move to eliminate the Trump tax cut for the super-wealthy, cut the unjustified loopholes in our tax code, and use that money to invest in America’s future.”

 

TMM reminds Moderates that candidates’ positions rarely match 100% of our own. A better question: all things considered, which candidate is more likely to lead our country in directions I want us to go?

Ponder that one, Moderates – then VOTE.

 

Laurentine Nicoletto, TMM Staff Writer

Images: Google Images

Featured Image – Biden and Harris: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Trump and Biden Debate: Fox News

Pro-Choice Protest: José Luis Magaña/AP

Wind Farm: storymaps.arcgis.com

Police Reform Protest: newpol.org

Trump Tax Cut Signing Ceremony: vox.com