Fall 2020 is the time for candidates to face off in a series of campaign trails, speeches and debates. Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler currently represents the 3rd Congressional District of Washington state, and Carolyn Long, WSU Vancouver’s very own associate political science professor, is Herrera Beutler’s primary challenger. On Oct. 9, the candidates discussed many issues ranging from the climate crisis to healthcare. In response to the debate, students shared their opinions on both candidates and what policies they currently stand for.
Senior public affairs major, Tom Holtslander, is the internal director of legislative affairs for the Associated Students of WSU Vancouver. More in favor of Long, Holtslander disagrees with Herrera Beutler’s choice to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which reduces the cost of healthcare for those who qualify.
“Herra Beutler voted nay on H.R.1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, which would have expanded the ACA. … Voting nay on H.R.1425 is a partisan effort to try to limit, and eventually repeal the ACA. The ACA has helped many people,” Holtslander said. “She also voted yes on H.R.3762 which would eliminate Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. Limiting a woman’s access to safe, affordable, accessible healthcare is wrong. Herra Beutler has been a vocal opponent of the ACA and has voted many times to further its repeal without a clear, robust, replacement policy.”
While Long supports the ACA, she announced that addressing healthcare is her number one issue, and wants to bring more coverage to as many people as possible.
“I have consistently been in favor of fixing the Affordable Care Act, which is under assault by my opponent and the Republican Party, including in the Supreme Court through the Trump administration, during a global pandemic. This is unconscionable, but I do not think that the Affordable Care Act goes far enough, so I am strongly in favor of a public option, where people if they choose to do so, can access health insurance right from the government,” Long said.
On the subject of healthcare, Herrera Beutler came back with a rebuttal, saying she has determined to protect people’s healthcare, and coverage for pre-existing conditions, in other ways through alternative actions in Congress.
“I have co-sponsored legislation that would make permanent coverage for people with pre-existing conditions irrespective of what happens to the Affordable Care Act. I also believe in and have fought to slash prescription drug prices. In fact, I have crossed party lines and joined with a bill that would bring down the cost of prescription drugs, that Big Pharma was so enraged over they ran attack ads against me. I am not in their pocket, I am not afraid to stand up to anybody,” Herrera Beutler said.
Thomas Spencer, ASWSUV director of legislative affairs, is a senior public affairs major, and has also planned to vote for Long in the upcoming election. Spencer disagrees with Herrera Beutler’s politics and lack of policy record, a large factor that has influenced his opinions on their candidacy.
“[Long’s] platform is more or less in line with my views. … [Herrera] Beutler has represented the 3rd Congressional District for five terms because voters outside of Vancouver tend to lean Republican … Carolyn Long is running on progressive policies that are likely to appeal to younger voters, specifically her support for student loan reform,” Spencer said.
Cecilia Hoxeng, a senior majoring in integrated strategic communications, said she thinks the debate between the two candidates was very much needed. Having four kids, Hoxeng tries to provide them with as much information as possible so they can form their own political opinions. She is interested in what others have to say about their own personal views, and why they feel the way they do, but also believes that policies being discussed today are becoming more important than ever.
“I know politics can be intimidating, but the feeling of being uncomfortable with something is going to make you feel more encouraged to [be] informed. The more informed and educated you are about something, it will give more power to us as a community. I consider my community my family, so for that reason you [will] want to help, you want to keep everybody as healthy and [involved] as possible. I think politics can do that. Unfortunately, right now I also see the side of divisiveness in our country. But, we have to fight that. We have to,” Hoxeng said.
“The more informed and educated you areabout something, it will give more powerto us as a community.” – Cecilia Hoxeng
As election season has ended, choices about various legislative policies will have to be made promptly as the government makes a fresh transition into 2021. To form your own opinions about congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democratic challenger Carolyn Long, consider visiting their campaign websites for more information.
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.
I’m not sure why voters in SW Washington would elect a person who family lives and works in Portland. Long and her husband own a house in Portland and her children attend school in Portland. She is by every definition, an Oregonian! She purchased a condo in Washington so that she could run Congress’s 3rd District. We need an honest and true Washington resident as our Congress person. Long does not fit the bill!