Kaine: ‘There is a moral vacuum in the White House’

Incumbent Sen. Timothy M. Kaine (D) has not been afraid to voice his opinion on controversy, most recently in his push to gain federal protection for school drinking water. According to a September press release, Kaine held “double-digit leads over Republican nominee Corey Stewart (R) among both registered and likely voters.”

That could change, however, come November 6.

We sent survey questions to Kaine and all local candidates running in the upcoming election. Below are Kaine’s responses.

PL: What role can you play in helping to improve traffic conditions in Northern Virginia? What can Congress do when it comes to improving traffic or public transportation in the region?

Kaine: I have always supported making the critical investments in infrastructure that will not only create jobs here in the Commonwealth but improve the daily lives of Virginians. That means investing in both public transportation like Metro and traditional roads and bridges. The Silver Line was a project on the drawing board for twenty years before I ensured construction to Wiehle Avenue began as Governor, and in the Senate I helped secure the funding to extend access to Dulles. Metro is vital to Northern Virginia, and I’ve worked to strengthen its safety and efficiency, which lead to the creation of the Metro Safety Commission. I’ve secured FASTLANE grants for Virginia projects like the I-95 Express Lanes, in addition to funding to fully repair the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Traffic and infrastructure impact the daily lives of almost everyone in Virginia, and I will continue to fight to improve traffic, spur economic development and work to ensure that we have livable communities throughout Virginia.

PL: How would you characterize President Trump’s first year and a half in office, in terms of his administration’s impact locally, nationally and internationally?

Kaine: I believe there is a moral vacuum in the White House, which is why I’ve been a strong critic of the President’s policies that hurt Americans. From calling out attempts to take away health care from thousands of Virginians and millions of Americans and tax cuts that benefited those at the very top, to divisive attacks on our immigrant communities and tariffs that hurt Virginia farmers and consumers, I’ve worked hard to make it clear that we should be fighting for legislation that uplift all Virginians, rather than just a few, and that a President should unite us, rather than divide us. That’s also why I’ve always worked hard to reach across the aisle to work on priorities that bring us together, and why I’m proud to say that the President has signed into law important legislation of mine on issues such as helping military families and expanding career and technical education.

PL: What’s your view on the recently enacted tax reform bill — and on the potential for a second round of tax cuts?

Kaine: A rushed and deeply partisan process produced a tax reform bill that does not have the right priorities – it provides tiny, temporary, expiring cuts for working people and deep, permanent tax cuts for corporations. I grew up in a middle class family, working in my dad’s ironworking shop, and I believe in putting middle class families first, rather than hoping that benefits trickle down from those at the very top. It was a real missed opportunity – true tax reform has been long overdue. We need to make sure we get our priorities straight in future attempts to reform our tax code.

PL: Where do you stand on immigration reform? What should happen with DACA and TPS recipients, particularly those in the Northern Virginia area? Do you support using taxpayer funding for a border wall?

Kaine: I believe America is made stronger by its diversity, and that the promise of the American Dream is being threatened right now by attacks on our immigrant communities. I strongly believe in comprehensive immigration reform like the legislation that passed the Senate in 2013 that would have created a path to citizenship and funded additional border security. Attempts to ban immigration from Muslim countries, harshly restrict legal immigration, and threaten DACA and TPS recipients with deportation are wrong for Virginia and the country. Inclusion makes us stronger – immigrants bring so much to our communities, including skills and talents that make America competitive in a global economy. That’s why I’m fighting for solutions for Dreamers and TPS recipients as part of comprehensive reform that makes sure our immigration system keeps us safe, while being fair.

PL: What’s your view on salaries and retirement benefits for federal workers, particularly those in this area?

Kaine: Virginia is proud to be home to many of our nation’s federal workers – they play a crucial part in keeping our nation safe and our government running. Their salaries and retirement benefits should absolutely be protected – that’s why I worked hard to make sure a pay raise for federal workers was included in the omnibus spending bill that passed this spring. And it’s also why I was an outspoken critic of the President’s attempt to block that pay raise – Virginia is home to more than 170,000 civilian federal employees, one of the highest concentrations in the country. It’s insulting to blame these unfair pay cuts on ‘economic conditions’ as President Trump’s policies have lined his own pockets and blown up the debt projections by trillions of dollars. Federal employees work hard every day to provide for their families and contribute to our communities, and are a valued part of our Commonwealth, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure these hardworking public servants get the pay and benefits they deserve.  

PL: What’s your position on how to improve the nation’s health care system and the status of the Affordable Care Act?

Kaine: I’m fighting to expand health care for all Virginians. When President Trump and Republicans in Congress tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, I stood up for the tens of millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Virginians who would have had their health care taken away. Since the ACA was signed into law, more than 400,000 Virginians have gained access to health insurance, and I will continue to oppose efforts to roll it back. This means continuing to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and ensuring that plans provide “essential health benefits,” such as coverage for pregnancy, maternity, newborn care, mental health, and substance use disorders.

But I’m also working hard to build on the ACA and bring costs down while expanding access to more. That’s why I introduced a plan called Medicare-X, which would give all Virginians access to a plan similar to Medicare. This public option would give more Virginians a real choice when it comes to health insurance, at a lower cost.

There’s also so much more to do – from protecting Medicare from proposed cuts and defending the Children’s Health Insurance Program to fully funding efforts to combat the opioid crisis and improving mental health care. All Virginians deserve access to high-quality, affordable health care, and I will continue to work to make that ideal a reality.