2018 Mississippi US Senate #2 Runoff Voters Guide

Mike Espy (D) vs Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Mississippi Voters Guide

US Senate | Runoff | Nov 27, 2018

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The Candidates

Mike Espy

Mike Espy

Democrat

Website
espyforsenate.com

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican

Incumbent

Website
cindyhydesmith.com

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Mike Espy (D)

Legal. “I’m anti-abortion, but I’m pro-choice.” “Women should have the basic right to make their own decisions about their personal health.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Ban. “100% pro life.” “All children, including the unborn, are guaranteed the right to life by our creator.”

Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Mike Espy (D)

Yes. Supports federal spending on infrastructure, broadband & childcare, to grow the economy. But rein in “abhorrent” wasteful spending.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Mixed. Sees value in federal spending on local projects. But “controlling spending” is priority. Supports balanced budget amendment, spending cuts.

Support President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Mike Espy (D)

No. Tariffs need to come to a halt. They harm Mississippi soybean production.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Yes. Hard for soybean growers, but they “just have to hold on…They will be better off in the long run.”

Environment

Support restraints on Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)?

Mike Espy (D)

Fought EPA regulations that would have hurt Mississippi’s farming industry, but pushed for food safety regulations after an e-coli outbreak.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Yes. Supports deregulatory path taken by Trump EPA.

Financial Regulation

Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?

Mike Espy (D)

No. “Laws against waste, fraud & corruption… protect the American citizenry.… Wall Street seems immune from any restraint.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Unclear. In 2018 voted to roll back CFPB rule protecting auto purchasers against potentially discriminatory loan rates.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Mike Espy (D)

Yes. “Committed to ALL Mississippians having access to their rights of citizenship,” regardless of sexual orientation.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

No. “Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman.”

Gun Control

Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Mike Espy (D)

Yes, up to a point. “I believe in the Second Amendment.…but things have changed. … anyone who has been declared a danger to himself or others should not own a firearm…” No assault weapons to anyone under 21.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

No. Says, “Right to bear arms is essential to American Liberty… No law-abiding Mississippian should EVER be denied their constitutional rights.”

Health Care

Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Mike Espy (D)

Support. Protect while expanding mental health & prescription drug coverage & offering preventive services without cost-sharing. Also supports paid family & medical leave.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Repeal. Help families afford health insurance coverage without expanding government role. Repeal Obamacare.

Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Mike Espy (D)

Probable yes. Says will fight for women’s rights & reproductive health care… targeting especially sufficient health insurance coverage & medical services.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

No. Opposes public funds going toward family planning services at healthcare organizations that also provide abort ions.

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Mike Espy (D)

No. “Mississippians should have full access…” Expand funding of Medicaid & CHIP.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Unclear. Support Farm Bill amendment adding a work requirement to food stamp programs.

Immigration

Response to family separation policy being used as a deterrent to illegal immigrants. General immigration policies?

Mike Espy (D)

“The policy of separating children from their families is misguided. America can do better —we can have secure borders WITHOUT punishing innocent children.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

“Distressing to me as a mother, but we cannot lose sight that U.S. immigration laws must be enforced.”

Position on border all & general policies?

Mike Espy (D)

Border wall cost can’t be justified, but supports “a secure border and enforced immigration laws that are fairly applied to all.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

“I’m pretty firm, firm, firm on the wall.” On immigrant workers, “We want them legal. If they are not legal now, get legal.”

Marijuana

Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Mike Espy (D)

Wouldn’t say absolutely no. Maybe medical first. “I’d be open to reviewing the facts….I would just have to know if it was safe” & “a financial benefit to the state.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Voted to block amendment that would have allowed banks to work with legitimate cannabis businesses.

Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 hr?

Mike Espy (D)

Yes. Strongly for increased minimum wage and increased Earned Income tax credit.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

No position found.

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Mike Espy (D)

No position found.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Supports biofuels. No other position found.

Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, possibly paid for by increasing taxes on high earners?

Mike Espy (D)

Unclear. Supports “increasing interest subsidies on student loans.” Also protecting students from predatory for-profit schools.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

No position found.

Taxes

Support President Trump’s tax cut bill?

Mike Espy (D)

Probably would have voted for them but wants to “make sure people see the benefits,” not just corporations.

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Yes. Supports Trump’s tax cuts. Only member of Senate to have voted with Trump’s agenda “100 percent” to date.

Voting Rights

Support voting rules that prioritize preventing the possibility of fraud, even if they limit access?

Mike Espy (D)

Probable No. Says “I stand firmly for civil rights, voting rights & women’s rights.”

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)

Yes. Voted for legislation requiring specific forms of voter identification in order to vote.

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Mike Espy

democratic

Cindy Hyde-Smith

republican


See guides.vote for online guides with links & sources	https://espyforsenate.com/	https://cindyhydesmith.com/
Abortion Mostly ban or mostly legal?	Legal. “I'm anti-abortion, but I'm pro-choice.” “Women should have the basic right to make their own decisions about their personal health.”	Ban. “100% pro life.” "All children, including the unborn, are guaranteed the right to life by our creator."
Economy Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?	Yes. Supports federal spending on infrastructure, broadband & childcare, to grow the economy. But rein in “abhorrent” wasteful spending.	Mixed. Sees value in federal spending on local projects. But “controlling spending” is priority. Supports balanced budget amendment, spending cuts.
Environment Support restraints on Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)?	Fought EPA regulations that would have hurt Mississippi's farming industry, but pushed for food safety regulations after an e-coli outbreak.	Yes. Supports deregulatory path taken by Trump EPA.
Financial Regulation Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?	No. “Laws against waste, fraud & corruption… protect the American citizenry.… Wall Street seems immune from any restraint.”	Unclear. In 2018 voted to roll back CFPB rule protecting auto purchasers against potentially discriminatory loan rates.
Gay Rights Support gay marriage?	Yes. “Committed to ALL Mississippians having access to their rights of citizenship,” regardless of sexual orientation.	No. “Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman.”
Gun Control Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?	Yes, up to a point. “I believe in the Second Amendment....but things have changed. ... anyone who has been declared a danger to himself or others should not own a firearm…” No assault weapons to anyone under 21.	No. Says, “Right to bear arms is essential to American Liberty… No law-abiding Mississippian should EVER be denied their constitutional rights.”
Health Care Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?	Support. Protect while expanding mental health & prescription drug coverage & offering preventive services without cost-sharing. Also supports paid family & medical leave.	Repeal. Help families afford health insurance coverage without expanding government role. Repeal Obamacare.
Immigration Response to family separation policy being used as a deterrent to illegal immigrants. General immigration policies?	“The policy of separating children from their families is misguided. America can do better —we can have secure borders WITHOUT punishing innocent children.”	“Distressing to me as a mother, but we cannot lose sight that U.S. immigration laws must be enforced.”
Marijuana Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?	Wouldn’t say absolutely no. Maybe medical first. “I'd be open to reviewing the facts….I would just have to know if it was safe” & “a financial benefit to the state.”	Voted to block amendment that would have allowed banks to work with legitimate cannabis businesses.
Minimum Wage Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 hr?	Yes. Strongly for increased minimum wage and increased Earned Income tax credit.	No position found.
Renewable Energy Support government subsidies for renewable energy?	No position found.	Supports biofuels. No other position found.
Student Debt & Financial Aid Refinance student loans at lower rates, possibly paid for by increasing taxes on high earners?	Unclear. Supports “increasing interest subsidies on student loans.” Also protecting students from predatory for-profit schools.	No position found.
Taxes Support President Trump’s tax cut bill?	Probably would have voted for them but wants to "make sure people see the benefits," not just corporations.	Yes. Supports Trump’s tax cuts. Only member of Senate to have voted with Trump's agenda "100 percent" to date.
Voting Rights Support voting rules that prioritize preventing the possibility of fraud, even if they limit access?	Probable No. Says “I stand firmly for civil rights, voting rights & women’s rights.”	Yes. Voted for legislation requiring specific forms of voter identification in order to vote.