2018 Washington 5th Congressional District Voters Guide

Lisa Brown (D) vs Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Washington Voters Guide
State House | Election | Nov 6, 2018
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The Candidates

Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown

Democrat

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Republican

Incumbent

The Issues

Abortion

Campaign Finance

Require political ads to disclose their largest funders?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes. Supports the DISCLOSE Act & exposing “dark-money donations.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No. Called for more campaign finance transparency. Voted against 2010 DISCLOSE Act & blocked debate on it in 2018.

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

Lisa Brown (D)

No. “I took the End Citizens United pledge to make it clear to people in the 5th District that PAC money won’t determine who gets in the door.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Yes. Blocked debate to reverse Citizens United. Doesn’t support regulating indirect campaign contributions from corporations or unions.

Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes. Supports investments in “infrastructure & education.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No. Stop “burdensome” regulations. Cut spending. Balance budget.

Support President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports?

Lisa Brown (D)

No.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Unclear. Opposed tariffs but didn’t back Republican bill to limit new Trump tariffs.

Environment

Support cutbacks in Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)?

Lisa Brown (D)

Likely no. Wants to “ensure strong environmental protections, support clean water, healthy forests.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Yes. Amended 2019 act to restrict funding from being used to implement EPA’s water quality standard.

Financial Regulation

Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Lisa Brown (D)

No statement found.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Yes.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No.

Guns

Support more restrictive gun control legislation, including semi-automatic weapons?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes. Favors “banning bump stocks, closing loopholes in background check system” & raising legal age for owning semi-automatic weapons to 21.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Somewhat. Supports bump stock ban & some background checks, but opposes others, like raising age limit for owning semi-automatic weapons.

Health Care

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

Lisa Brown (D)

Support. ACA is “far from perfect” but has “greatly improved” access to healthcare.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Repeal & replace. “Replace it with a system that puts the people—not the government—at the heart of healthcare.”

Let Planned Parenthood get public funds for non-abortion healthcare?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No. Voted to take funding away from Planned Parenthood.

Require people to work to receive Medicaid or SNAP

Lisa Brown (D)

No for Medicaid & SNAP.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No statement found.

Immigration

Support path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, including DACA recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in US after being brought here as children?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes on DACA. Unclear on other illegal immigrants. Calls for “comprehensive immigration bill that is negotiated between… Democrats & Republicans.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Unclear. Has supported path to citizenship for DACA recipients who meet certain criteria. Open to “merit-based visa” for other illegal immigrants.

Iran

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

Lisa Brown (D)

No. Implementation & enforcement issues need to be fixed, but unilaterally pulling out without a clear strategy was wrong.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Yes. Treaty was flawed & didn’t do enough to stop Iran. We need a new direction.

Net Neutrality

Require internet providers to give all users equal access?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes. Supports “keeping the Internet open & fair for people & businesses.”

Lisa Brown (D)

No. Says regulations hamper investment & reduce consumer choice.

Privatization

Support full or partial privatization of Veterans Affairs?

Lisa Brown (D)

No for both Social Security & VA.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Yes to partially privatize VA.

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Lisa Brown (D)

Yes. “Encourage transition to cleaner energy systems through incentives & taxes.“

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

No. Opposes.

Voting Rights

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

Lisa Brown (D)

No. “Anything you can do, regardless of what side you are on, to get people to participate, that is really important.”

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Mixed. Voted for bipartisan legislation to extend original Voting Rights Act in 2006, but has also voted for stricter voter restrictions, including photo IDs.

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