2018 Pennsylvania US Senate Voters Guide

Lou Barletta (R) vs Bob Casey (D)

US Senate | Election | Nov 10, 2020

The Candidates

Lou Barletta

Lou Barletta

Republican

Bob Casey

Bob Casey

Democrat

Incumbent

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Lou Barletta (R)

Ban after 20 weeks, except for rape, incest, & life of mother.

Bob Casey (D)

Ban after 20 weeks, except for rape, incest, & life of mother.

Campaign Finance

Require political ads to disclose their largest funders?

Lou Barletta (R)

No. Did not support DISCLOSE Act of 2017, which provides for these disclosure requirements.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Supported original DISCLOSE Act in 2010. Cosponsored DISCLOSE Act of 2017.

Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Climate Change

Consider climate change a critical threat?

Bob Casey (D)

Yes.

Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump’s withdrawal?

Lou Barletta (R)

No: Voted to bar EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Opposes US participation in Paris Climate Accord & supported Trump’s withdrawal from it.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes to regulating greenhouse gases. Supports US participation in Paris Climate Accord & opposed Trump’s withdrawal from it.

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes. Supreme Court ruling on this is “a clear victory for religious liberty.”

Bob Casey (D)

No. Introduced Access to Birth Control Act, stating an employer has no right to deny a woman access to birth control.

Courts

Supported Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

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

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes. Supports Trump’s using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.

Education

Provide vouchers to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?

Bob Casey (D)

No (stand from 2004).

Elections

Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?

Lou Barletta (R)

No. Among Republican congressmen who tried to stop PA Supreme Court from redistricting what they found to be unacceptably gerrymandered districts.

Bob Casey (D)

Unknown.

Environment

Support Environmental Protection Administration cutbacks?

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes.

Bob Casey (D)

No.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Lou Barletta (R)

No. Opposes gay marriage & Supreme Court decision to redefine marriage. Says it should be a state decision.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Position has shifted over time.

Gun Control

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

Lou Barletta (R)

No, except for bump stocks.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Position has shifted. Now supports expanded background checks, ban on bump stocks, & other restrictions.

Health Care

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

Lou Barletta (R)

Repeal.

Bob Casey (D)

Support.

Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Lou Barletta (R)

No.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes.

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes.

Bob Casey (D)

No.

Immigration

Support DREAM Act (DACA), letting “Dreamers” who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Lou Barletta (R)

No. Has sponsored bills to defund & end DACA & “stop DACA in its tracks.” Introduced 2017 bill to remove Dreamers’ work eligibility permits.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Supported 2017 bill to let Dreamers become permanent residents if they meet certain qualifications.

Support path to citizenship for America’s 11 million illegal immigrants?

Lou Barletta (R)

No. Supports zero-tolerance policy to strengthen existing laws & protect borders. Against citizenship for US-born children of illegal immigrants.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Must secure our borders, but also finally address comprehensive immigration reform. Voted for 2013 comprehensive reform bill with earned path to citizenship, which failed.

Iran

Support Trump withdrawal from multinational treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear capability & lifting economic sanctions?

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes. Applauds Trump’s decision.

Minimum Wage

Raise federal minimum wage?

Lou Barletta (R)

Unknown.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes. Increase from current $7.25 to $12 by 2020 & index it to median wages.

Net Neutrality

Support making internet providers provide equal access to all users?

Lou Barletta (R)

No.

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes.

President Trump

Response to President Trump’s actions & policies? Percentage of key votes supporting his positions?

Lou Barletta (R)

Among Trump’s strongest supporters. Voted in support of Trump positions 98% of time as of August 2018.

Bob Casey (D)

Regularly opposes certain Trump actions & policies. Voted in support 30% of time as of August 2018.

Privatization

Support full or partial privatization of Social Security?

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Lou Barletta (R)

No.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes.

Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by more taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren proposal)? Raise student financial aid, like Pell Grants?

Lou Barletta (R)

Unknown.

Bob Casey (D)

Yes.

Taxes

Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Lou Barletta (R)

Yes.

Bob Casey (D)

No.

Voting Rights

Support stricter voting rules like requiring voter ID or reducing registration times, even if prevent some people from voting?

Lou Barletta (R)

Unknown.

Bob Casey (D)

No. Co-sponsored 2015 bill to restore Voting Rights Act of 1965 protections cut by 2013 Supreme Court ruling.

Other senate candidates include Neal Gale (Green Party) & Dale Kerns (Libertarian). Due to limited space, we can’t include their responses, but encourage you to check out their websites.

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