2018 Tennessee US Senate Voters Guide

Marsha Blackburn (R) vs Phil Bredesen (D)

Tennessee Voters Guide

US Senate | Election | Nov 6, 2018

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The Candidates

Marsha Blackburn

Republican

Website
marshablackburn.com

Phil Bredesen

Democrat

Website
bredesen.com

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Ban. Multiple votes to ban or restrict.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Legal, but hasn’t made high priority.

Climate Change

Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. “The science around it is not a settled science.” Applauded withdrawal from Paris Climate agreement.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Yes. “It’s a serious issue.“ Supported US moving toward 25% renewable energy by 2025, although thought Obama’s Clean Energy Plan should have been passed by Congress, not regulation.

Courts

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

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. “Will make a fine Supreme Court Justice … a strong constitutionalist.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

Undecided. “Deserves a fair and timely confirmation hearing.”

Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Likely no. Has supported across-the-board federal spending cuts.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Yes. Empower TVA to help bring rural broadband internet access “just as they did with electricity.“

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

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Still considering but “increasingly concerned these tariffs are a bad deal for Tennesseans.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

No. “The same as a new tax on Tennesseans.”

Address debt and deficit?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Promote “balanced budget…cut bureaucracy,” and “across-the-board spending cuts.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

“Pay for corporate tax cuts by closing loopholes,” rather than adding $1.5 trillion of debt.

Education

Provide public support for parents to choose private schools for their children?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes, has voted for vouchers.

Phil Bredesen (D)

No. Supports charter schools but “not wild about vouchers.“

Environment

Support cutbacks in Environmental Protection Administration?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. Has voted to cut budget. Also proposed merging with Dept of Energy and cutting budget.

Phil Bredesen (D)

No specific stand, but enacted major environmental regulations as governor.

Gay Rights

Can businesses withhold services to same-sex couples?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. “People of faith should be free to practice their beliefs.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

No. Gay people should not be subjected to indignities when seeking goods and services in an open market.

Guns

Support more restrictive gun control legislation?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. Has opposed most gun regulations. But wants background check system to work properly and record appropriate red flags.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Some. Against banning semi-automatic weapons, but close gun show loophole, ban bump stocks and tighten background checks.

Health Care

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

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Repeal. Support health savings accounts, Association Health Plans and purchases across state lines. Also ban Planned Parenthood receiving public funds for non-abortion health services.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Initially critical, but now supports with fixes: “Stabilize what we have.” On Medicare for Al, might support some initial baseline coverage, then add or adjust from there.

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Give states option to require this.

Phil Bredesen (D)

No stand found.

Immigration

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

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. Deal with compassionately but DACA “offered the false hope of amnesty that led to a surge of illegal immigration.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

Yes. “Deporting them back to a country that’s not theirs and they don’t know would be a terrible un-American kind of thing to do.”

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

Marsha Blackburn (R)

“No amnesty. We cannot have individuals get in the queue before others who have been going through the legal immigration process. Period.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

Maybe. “A more complicated problem,” “need to control borders,” but if “willing to learn English and pay their taxes and not have convictions for serious crimes… some sort of a path to become permanent residents and possibly citizens.”

Iran

Support Trump withdrawal from treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. “A terrible deal that will put in jeopardy the safety, security and stability of generations to come.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

Unknown.

Marijuana

Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. Has voted against loosening federal regulations.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Unclear on legalization but “federal government should give states the rights to make those decisions.”

Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum wage?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. “A growing and competitive economy — not Washington mandates — will create an environment where companies compete…through better wages.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

Yes. Should at least keep pace with inflation. “Federal level is far more effective, as it avoids driving jobs from one community or state to another.“

Net Neutrality

Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. “Tennesseans do not want government-controlled internet.“

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. “Should guarantee equal access for everyone.”

President Trump

Trump: Percentage of key House votes supporting Trump positions.

Marsha Blackburn (R)

92% as of Sept 1.

Phil Bredesen (D)

N/A. Will work with Trump on areas good for TN, oppose areas that aren’t.

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. Has voted no on related bills. Considers it inappropriate intervention in the economy.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Yes. Early advocate of developing this sector. “It seems beyond dispute that ‘green energy’ will be an area of vast importance and growth.”

Student Debt & Financial Aid

Allow Planned Parenthood’s receiving public funds for non-abortion care?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

No. Voted against earlier proposal to refinance student loans.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Some level of support. “I’m someone who went to school with student loans, but they were much lower interest than these student loans and (had) longer pay-out times.”

Student Financial Aid

Should federal student financial aid, like Pell Grants, be increased?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Unknown.

Phil Bredesen (D)

Unclear, but earlier pushed for free community college tuition.

Taxes

Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Yes. “People can keep more of the money they earn throughout their lives.”

Phil Bredesen (D)

No. “They threw a few crumbs to the middle class to give these huge breaks to wealthier people and corporations.”

Click to take and share the Presidential quiz!

Other Senate candidates include Trudy Austin (I), John Carico (I), Dean Hill, (I) Kevin Lee McCants (I), Breton Phillips (I), and Chris Todd (I). Due to limited space, we can only include candidates polling 15% or more, but encourage you to check them out.

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Marsha Blackburn

republican

Phil Bredesen

democratic


See guides.vote for online guides with links & sources	http://www.marshablackburn.com/	http://www.bredesen.com/
Abortion Mostly ban or mostly legal?	Ban. Multiple votes to ban or restrict.	Legal, but hasn’t made high priority.
Climate Change Consider climate change a critical threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?	No. “The science around it is not a settled science.” Applauded withdrawal from Paris Climate agreement.	Yes. “It’s a serious issue.“ Supported US moving toward 25% renewable energy by 2025, although thought Obama’s Clean Energy Plan should have been passed by Congress, not regulation.
Courts Supported Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court?	Yes. “Will make a fine Supreme Court Justice … a strong constitutionalist.”	Undecided. “Deserves a fair and timely confirmation hearing.”
Economy Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?	Likely no. Has supported across-the-board federal spending cuts.	Yes. Empower TVA to help bring rural broadband internet access “just as they did with electricity.“
Education Provide public support for parents to choose private schools for their children?	Yes, has voted for vouchers.	No. Supports charter schools but “not wild about vouchers.“
Environment Support cutbacks in Environmental Protection Administration?	Yes. Has voted to cut budget. Also proposed merging with Dept of Energy and cutting budget.	No specific stand, but enacted major environmental regulations as governor.
Gay Rights Can businesses withhold services to same-sex couples?	Yes. “People of faith should be free to practice their beliefs.”	No. Gay people should not be subjected to indignities when seeking goods and services in an open market.
Guns Support more restrictive gun control legislation?	No. Has opposed most gun regulations. But wants background check system to work properly and record appropriate red flags.	Some. Against banning semi-automatic weapons, but close gun show loophole, ban bump stocks and tighten background checks.
Health Care Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?	Repeal. Support health savings accounts, Association Health Plans and purchases across state lines. Also ban Planned Parenthood receiving public funds for non-abortion health services.	Initially critical, but now supports with fixes: “Stabilize what we have.” On Medicare for Al, might support some initial baseline coverage, then add or adjust from there.
Immigration Support DACA, allowing “Dreamers” who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?	No. Deal with compassionately but DACA “offered the false hope of amnesty that led to a surge of illegal immigration.”	Yes. “Deporting them back to a country that’s not theirs and they don’t know would be a terrible un-American kind of thing to do.”
Iran Support Trump withdrawal from treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?	Yes. “A terrible deal that will put in jeopardy the safety, security and stability of generations to come.”	Unknown.
Marijuana Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?	No. Has voted against loosening federal regulations.	Unclear on legalization but “federal government should give states the rights to make those decisions.”
Minimum Wage Raise the federal minimum wage?	No. “A growing and competitive economy — not Washington mandates — will create an environment where companies compete…through better wages.”	Yes. Should at least keep pace with inflation. “Federal level is far more effective, as it avoids driving jobs from one community or state to another.“
Net Neutrality Require internet providers to provide equal access to all?	No. “Tennesseans do not want government-controlled internet.“	Yes. “Should guarantee equal access for everyone.”
President Trump Trump: Percentage of key House votes supporting Trump positions.	92% as of Sept 1.	N/A. Will work with Trump on areas good for TN, oppose areas that aren’t.
Renewable Energy Support government subsidies for renewable energy?	No. Has voted no on related bills. Considers it inappropriate intervention in the economy.	Yes. Early advocate of developing this sector. “It seems beyond dispute that ‘green energy’ will be an area of vast importance and growth.”
Student Debt & Financial Aid Allow Planned Parenthood’s receiving public funds for non-abortion care?	No. Voted against earlier proposal to refinance student loans.	Some level of support. “I’m someone who went to school with student loans, but they were much lower interest than these student loans and (had) longer pay-out times.”
Student Financial Aid Should federal student financial aid, like Pell Grants, be increased?	Unknown.	Unclear, but earlier pushed for free community college tuition.
Taxes Support President Trump’s tax cuts?	Yes. “People can keep more of the money they earn throughout their lives.”	No. “They threw a few crumbs to the middle class to give these huge breaks to wealthier people and corporations.”