2022 Nevada Senate Voters Guide
Catherine Cortez Masto (D) vs Adam Laxalt (R)
The Candidates
Legal. After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, supports a bill to “enshrine Roe protections in federal law and guarantee access to abortion” nationwide. Opposes a bill to ban abortion in every state after 15 weeks. Supports bills to ensure women can access contraception and travel safely to get abortions in states.
Ban. Said Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision “was always a joke.” Overturning it was a “historic victory for the sanctity of life.” Supports a referendum banning abortion after 13 weeks and opposes taxpayer funding for abortion. Abortion should be decided “on a state-by-state basis.”
Yes. Voted for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including $369 billion in clean energy incentives. In 2019 cosponsored a bill to restore US climate regulations to what they were before Trump took office. Seeks federal support for Nevada’s solar energy industry.
No. Humans play a role in climate change, but “vigorous debate” is needed on the issue. Poor forest management, not global warming, causes wildfires. Solar and wind power will “never get the job done.” “The sun can stop shining, the wind can stop blowing, and these things take energy just to be able to use.” Opposes IRA.
Increase. During COVID, “fought for emergency relief to save Nevada’s small businesses.” Supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with “historic investments in Nevada” and in “American jobs and manufacturing.”
Decrease. “We need less regulations, not more.” Opposes the spending in the Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats’ pumping “trillions of dollars into an already overheated economy” through COVID relief bills was what caused inflation.
Tighten. Introduced bills to foster wastewater recycling and erosion control to combat drought. Has opposed efforts to make Yucca Mountain a nuclear waste site. As attorney general, supported a $1 billion settlement with Anadarko Petroleum toward Lake Mead cleanup.
More. Co-sponsored bills in 2019 to ban high-capacity magazines and 2021 to expand background checks to all gun sales. Voted for a bill to fund implementing red-flag laws and strengthen background checks.
Less. Opposed a red-flag bill that became Nevada law in 2020. “Increasing restrictions on law-abiding citizens’ access to firearms is not effective in reducing gun violence.” In 2017 supported national legislation for citizens to carry concealed weapons in states where they do not live.
Yes. “Repeatedly voted to defend the Affordable Care Act” (Obamacare). Supported allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for people on Medicare.
No. Opposes Obamacare, which subsidizes states to expand Medicaid, but in 2018 said wouldn’t reverse NV Medicaid expansion. Supports deregulating the pharmaceutical industry to lower drug prices. Would establish work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
Introduced a bill to expand joint operations programs to “ensure our border is secure.” Opposed ending Title 42, which let border officials turn away asylum seekers, warning it would lead to a surge. U.S. must “do more to put Dreamers on a path to citizenship.”
Easier. Cosponsored a bill to “strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize.” “Will continue to work every day to improve the economy and protect the right to organize.“
Harder. Opposes “prioritizing unions over ordinary Nevadans.” “Supports Nevada’s right-to-work law,” which allows employees in a unionized workplace to not pay union dues.
Expand. Cosponsored a bill prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in employment, education, credit, jury service, and housing. Supports gay marriage.
Limit. Has opposed gays in the military, personally opposed same-sex marriage, and sought protection for people denying services to same-sex couples on religious grounds.
Legal. Supports federal decriminalization. Cosponsored a bill to let each state decide “the best approach to marijuana” and give legal cannabis businesses access to banking. Opposed 2016 Nevada recreational legalization initiative because the infrastructure wasn’t yet in place.
Yes. In 2016 supported a $12/hour minimum. Voted for a 2021 amendment to add a $15/hour wage to COVID relief.
“I don’t support defunding police departments. I support reforming them.” Would “rethink policing” with behavioral health services as first responders dealing with homelessness or substance abuse, rather than police. Introduced a bill for domestic violence advocates to accompany police response teams.
No specific position found on use of force. “This anti-cop rhetoric, this demonization of police, is demoralizing.” “Few things are more important to me than fighting rising crime in Nevada and across the country.” “I will oppose defunding the police and ensure our officers have the tools they need to do their jobs.”
Yes. Would “expand Pell Grants for lower income students, target loan forgiveness to those in need, and actually make college more affordable for working families.” Biden debt forgiveness does not address college affordability.
Mostly no. Calls Biden’s debt forgiveness plan “unconstitutional, immoral, and fundamentally bad policy.” Has proposed a program to forgive doctors’ student loans if they practice in Nevada for a set number of years.
Mixed. Supports the Inflation Reduction Act’s taxation of “billionaires and large corporations.” But opposed a tax increase on Nevada’s mining industry because it would kill jobs.
Unclear. Opposes the Inflation Reduction Act, saying it will “increase taxes on millions of Americans across every income bracket.”
No. Cosponsored bills to expand voting access and restrict state practices to limit voting rights. “American democracy is under attack, with states targeting voters of color and suppressing their right to vote.”
We include only candidates polling 15% or more. But check out others, including Barry Lindemann (I).
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