Election season is right around the corner, and for many of our seniors, so is their first time to vote on a Presidential Election. Joe Biden is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party in the 2020 race and is running alongside his potential Vice President Kamala Harris. Without further delay, let’s talk about policy.
COVID-19 Responses:
Where does Biden stand on approaching COVID-19?
Biden believes that as president, he should have the authority to make a nationwide mask mandate, and for state governors to enforce them. “I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public,” he said in June. Biden said he would adopt nationwide testing and contact tracing by doubling the number of drive-thru testing centers and increasing federal funds for, “regular and reliable COVID-19 testing for every worker called back on the job.”
Withdrawl from the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Opposing competitor, Donald Trump, Biden is against withdrawing from The WHO.
Trade and Economy:
Where does Biden stand on raising the minimum wage?
Biden supports the notion of raising the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour as well as ending the lower minimum wages for tipped workers and people with disabilities.
What about “Made in America” policies?
Biden’s proposal will penalize American companies for moving manufacturing and service jobs overseas and then selling their products in the United States. He called for the federal government to spend $400 billion over four years on materials and services made in the United States, as well as $300 billion on U.S.-based research and development involving electric cars, artificial intelligence, and similar technology.
Taxes and Finance:
How about eviction relief during the pandemic?
Biden supports an eviction relief period during the pandemic. His plan promises “immediate relief” for renters facing eviction, and support for legal assistance and community programs that provide alternatives to eviction.
What is Biden’s stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal?
*Once fully implemented, the CPTPP will establish a free trade area that spans the Asia-Pacific region, with its 11 member countries representing 13.5% of global GDP and 500 million consumers
Biden helped craft and promote the original deal to counter China’s rising economic might, but now says parts of it would need to be renegotiated for him to support it.
Where does Biden stand on cutting Social Security?
Biden opposes the cut of social security instead his plan pledges to prevent cuts to Social Security and extend more benefits to the oldest Americans. “We urgently need action to make the program solvent and prevent cuts to American retirees.”
Does Biden support the 2017 GOP tax cut?
Biden proposes to reverse the tax cut on large corporations from 2017 and use that tax money to fund in part, costly climate, education, and health-care plans and does not intend on taxing anyone who makes less than $400,000 in a year’s salary.
How about supporting increasing capital gains taxes?
Biden’s plan would effectively double the rate by subjecting capital gains to his plan’s top marginal rate, 39.6 percent, for people with incomes of $1 million or more.
Does Biden support the increase of the corporate tax rate?
Biden would raise the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent. For reference: President Trump lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% in his 2017 tax cut.
Healthcare:
Where does Biden stand on the Affordable Care Act?
Biden supports the ACA from Barack Obama’s presidency and wants to make a requirement for medical insurance to cover pre-existing health conditions across the board.
Supports allowing undocumented immigrants to get insurance through Medicaid or other public insurance programs?
*directly quoted paragraph from the Washington Post. This is not my writing.
The Biden campaign has a policy position that undocumented immigrants should be able to purchase insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, but without receiving any subsidies. “You cannot let people who are sick, no matter where they come from, no matter what their status, go uncovered,” Biden said during the first Democratic primary debate.
Criminal Matters:
Is Biden in support of defunding the police?
As reported by the Washington Post, “Biden has rejected calls to defund police departments. His proposal advocates spending an additional $300 million a year on community policing initiatives and conditioning existing funding on reforms. “The vast majority of police are decent, honorable people, but there are bad apples, man. And we have to change how we teach police. We have to release all the information,” he said at a fundraiser.|
What is Biden’s stance on ending qualified immunity, which shields police from lawsuits?
Biden doesn’t support the end of qualified immunity, but does call for it to be, “reined in.”
Does Biden support the federal legalization of Marijuana?
No, but he does want to decriminalize it and expunge prior arrests for cannabis possession. His focus is legalizing medical use federally and letting states opt for recreational legalization and reclassify it to allow more research on its effects.
Where does Biden stand on the death penalty and pay bail?
Biden wants to end cash bail, calling it a “modern-day debtors’ prison and wants to abolish the death penalty altogether.
Voting and Government:
Does Biden support quickly filling the Supreme Court vacancy following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death?
No, Biden has said on more than one occasion that the “rushing” of the filling of RBG’s Supreme Court judge spot is reckless and urges Senate Republicans to not vote under the current circumstances for anyone President Trump nominates.
Where does Biden stand on restoring voting privileges for felons who have served their sentences?
He is advocating for the approval of these privileges to be returned to felons if they have completely served their sentences.
How about supporting Puerto Rico in the process of statehood?
Joe Biden issued a statement saying, “I believe statehood would be the most effective means of ensuring that residents of Puerto Rico are treated equally, with equal representation at the federal level. But the people of Puerto Rico must decide, and the federal government must respect and act on their decision.”
And, what on eliminating the Electoral College?
Both President Trump and Joe Biden are against the ending of the Electoral College.
Foreign Policy:
Who supports withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban?
Both President Trump and Joe Biden are for removing troops out of Afghanistan, except for focusing on Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
What about increasing the Defense Department budget from current levels?
Joe Biden support increasing the budget, but has given a statement, “We have to move away from investments in legacy systems that won’t be relevant for tomorrow’s wars, and we have to rethink the contributions we and our allies make to our collective security.”
Climate and Environment:
Does Biden support an active role for the federal government in reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes, Joe Biden proposed a $2 Trillion Plan to eliminate carbon emissions along with other promises by 2035 in his “Green New Deal.”
Does Biden support a fracking ban?
No, but he advocates for banning additional fracking on public land.
What about banning Fossil Fuel exports?
Biden’s campaign has not clarified its stance by publication as of 9/29.
Supports the use of nuclear power?
Biden’s campaign has been somewhat noncommital, but Biden says he is, ” open to it [the use of nuclear power], but we must look at all low- and zero-carbon technologies,” in an effort to minimize environmental harm.
Immigration:
Who supports building an additional wall on the U.S.-Mexico border?
While Joe Biden doesn’t support building a wall the way President Trump does, he also is opposed to the open border policy from the Obama Administration, his solution is to instead, “make investments in improving screening infrastructure at our ports of entry.”
Does Biden support the United States accepting fewer than 50,000 refugees per year?
No, Biden wants to start with 125,000 refugees in his first official year, and then seek the raise the limit yearly in proportion to what the US can handle on a domestic and global scale.
Abortion:
Does Biden support public funding for abortions?
Yes, but it should be noted that he held a longtime opposing view to this idea right up until the Democratic primary.
Should there be restrictions on late-term abortions?
Both candidates agree that there should be restrictions on late-term abortions.
Education:
Does Biden support making public colleges tuition-free?
Not entirely, he plans on making public college tuition-free for families making less than $125,000 annually.
Does Biden support federal funding to send students to private schools?
No, Biden opposes vouchers for private school education.
Should there be more cross-examination of accusers of sexual assault at colleges and universities?
Biden strongly discourages schools from allowing this type of cross-examination at a hearing.
Gun Control:
How about a federal assault weapons ban?
Although Biden supports a federal assault weapon ban, and a voluntary gun buyback for high magazine weapons, he doesn’t support a program for widespread mandatory gun confiscation.
What is Biden’s stance on a requirement for gun owners to register their firearms?
Biden’s compromise gives assault weapon owners two choices: to either voluntarily sell these weapons to the federal government or register these types of weapons to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Other non-assault weapon gun owners would not be legally obligated to register their weapons with the federal government.
And what about requiring background checks on every gun purchase?
Biden does, in fact, support required background checks for any gun ownership.
LBGTQ Rights:
Where does Biden stand on extending federal anti-discrimination protections to gay and transgender people?
Biden advocates for federal intervention on current states that allow for the “panic defense” in the hate crimes against LGBTQ citizens.
Does Biden support the ban on transgender people in the military?
No, Biden does not support the notion of banning Transgender people from serving in the military.
Regardless of who you choose to vote for this election, it’s extremely important to know exactly who and what you’re endorsing. Of course, we can’t cover every policy out there, but hopefully this article gave you a better idea of where Joe Biden stands on some current issues. Happy voting, Falcons.
Sources Used:
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-53575474
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/trump-policies-vs-biden-policies/