Libby Vaughan

Bernie Sanders
I.

Immigration
a. Believes in path to citizenship, keeping families together,
ending inhumane deportation programs/detention centers,
creating swift and fair path to citizenship, creating secure
borders while respecting local communities, access justice for
incriminated immigrants, modernized visas
b. Wants to give more legal protection to US-born children of
immigrants and their parents; those living here for 5+ years
(over 85% of undocumented immigrants) given more rights
without fear of deportation
c. Properly fund immigration courts to make them constitutional
and fair for those seeking citizenship; end for-profit detention
centers that want more laws against those seeking citizenship or
refuge in America
d. Believes in modern, efficient, and secure borders (not a wall), but
also respecting local communities; wants roadmap to citizenship
before highly militarized wall; it is a myth that hoards of
immigrants are pouring into the U.S. (in 2007 there was a peak
of 12.2 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. and in 2014
there was 11.3 million immigrants and it has been level since
about 2010; the annual immigration from Mexico alone was

II.

770,000 in 2000 and just 140,000 in 2010)

Climate Change
a. Supports action on climate change, believes it is real and caused
by humans (has served on key Senate committees including
Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural
Resources)
b. Fossil fuel industry spent $2.26 billion in federal lobbying since
2009 which prevents action taken on promoting clean energy
c. Currently burning fossil fuels will cause more disease, hunger,
drought, extreme weather, etc.; investing in clean energy will
stop worst effects of climate change solar industry is adding

Libby Vaughan
workers 20x faster than overall economy (created nearly 80,000
jobs in the past 5 years), will also add 7,000 to 8,000 new jobs
(10x the amount coal energy would)
d. Co-sponsored Super Pollutants Act of 2014 (to reduce superpollutants), gold standard climate bill (aimed to reduce GHG
emission 80% by 2050), Climate Protection Act of 2013 (tax GHG
emitters directly and transition workers to clean energy work),
and End Polluter Welfare Act (stops taxpayer-funded giveaways
to oil, gas, and coal companiessaves taxpayers over $135
III.

billion over 10 years)

Islamic State
a. Wants to be aggressive in destroying ISIS, but is opposed to US
military presence/war wants Muslim nations to assemble
troops and lead the fight; does not want to make same mistake
of war in Iraq twice (lives lost, expensive, problem not solved)
b. Believes coalition should be created to tackle ISIS; said in
September 2014 that Saudis have a big air force and the area
has enough resources and reasons to put some skin in the
game; February 2015 said he has supported U.S. airstrikes
against ISIS when they are authorized and meant to protect
American citizens interests, however war against ISIS will never
be won unless allied nations in Middle East step up and fight,
Saudi Arabia is a nation controlled by one of the wealthiest
families in the world and has fourth largest military budget
c. Voted against war in Iraq and against resolution that gave

IV.

permission to Bush to enter Iraq in 2002

Role of Government (Tax and Economic Policy)
a. Believes wealth/income equality is a huge issue in America
b. The top 10% has almost as much wealth as the bottom 90%, we
have highest childhood poverty rate (32.2) of nearly every
developed country, Americans work longer hours for lower wages
c. Wants the wealthy and large corporation to be taxed more;
increase minimum wages to $15/hour by 2020; add jobs through
investing $1 trillion to infrastructure; bringing manufacturing jobs

Libby Vaughan
into the U.S. instead of China; getting pay equity; free tuition for
public college; unions for workers