2018 Iowa Governor Voters Guide
Fred Hubbell (D) vs Kim Reynolds (R)
The Candidates
Legal. Will work to reverse IA’s abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country.
Ban. Signed “Heartbeat Bill,” banning abortion if fetal heartbeat detected. In 2010 said abortion should legally “be equivalent to murder,” though would need to research potential penalties for doctors or women.
Yes. “Avoiding the pending disaster of climate change is the responsibility of each and every one of us.” Hubbell and his wife are on board of Environmental Policy and Law Center, which supports Obama’s Clean Power Plan to regulate utility emissions.
No public statements on climate change found. Despite requests from legislators, has not joined US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to fight climate change.
Unknown.
Yes. “A respected jurist who will apply laws as written, not as he would write them.”
Yes. Need full and consistent funding to at least keep up with inflation. Proposed 1% increase is not enough. Position on vouchers unknown.
Small increase. Signed 1% increase passed by legislature. Reynolds had advocated for 1.5% increase. Allow vouchers for private schools, as way to facilitate parental choice.
Yes. “We’ve just been cutting, cutting, cutting.” Proposes tuition payback for students at Iowa colleges who commit to 5 years working in rural Iowa.
No. Supported major cuts to address budget shortfall.
Yes, but not much specificity. Wants public conversation about how gun laws can balance gun rights and public safety. Opposes arming teachers.
No. Supports 2017 sweeping gun rights law as “responsible and reasonable,” including “stand your ground” provisions and prohibitions on local restrictions. Decisions on arming teachers should be local.
Supports ACA and Medicaid expansion. Reverse IA’s Medicaid privatization, with its reduced benefits and widespread denials of coverage.
Repeal ACA, which is “unaffordable, unworkable, and unsustainable.” Rejects Medicaid expansion and supports privatization. Significantly cut Iowa’s Medicaid program.
Yes. Also former chair of Planned Parenthood of Mid-Iowa.
No. Support defunding Planned Parenthood.
Yes. Strongly opposes 2017 legislation which made major reductions in four-decade-old collective bargaining rights for IA public workers. Restore and expand these rights.
Generally no. Applauded 2017 legislation as “long overdue.” Praised Republican efforts to limit collective bargaining laws.
Unclear, although called law withholding funding for cities that didn’t cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement “an attempt to divide people” and a distraction from more important policy issues.
Supported Trump’s decision to phase out DACA, calling it Congress’s responsibility to pass immigration law. Said reform could end up including pathway to citizenship for some Dreamers.
Yes. Strong advocate for expanding investments in renewable energy. Has led efforts to invest state funds in this sector.
Mixed. Wants to continue growing IA’s wind, biofuels, and solar industries, and has supported easing regulations to facilitate their growth. But signed bill cutting funding for energy efficiency subsidies, home retrofits and energy efficient appliances.
No. Opposes major cuts to revenue streams. Considers fiscally irresponsible, and similarly opposed Trump tax cuts as regressive. Also opposes corporate subsidies like giving Apple $20 milliion credit to create 50 jobs.
Yes. Believes they provide important relief to middle and working class individuals and small businesses.
Other candidates include Jake Porter (L). Due to limited space, we can only include responses if candidates poll over 15%, but encourage you to check out his website.
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