Congressional candidates face off
The three candidates running for Congress in the 8th Congressional District spoke about their priorities Oct. 13 at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Rep. Don Beyer, the Democratic incumbent, stressed the need to tackle the climate crisis and touted his experience representing the 8th District since 2015 and his leadership in Congress.
Beyer chairs the Joint Economic Committee, chairs the Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Space, and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Republican candidate Karina Lipsman, said the economy is her top priority and touted her background working in the defense and intelligence industries.
Both Lipsman and independent candidate Teddy Fikre have never run for political office before. Both also immigrated to the United States as children, Lipsman from Ukraine and Fikre from Ethiopia.
During the forum, Fikre said he would focus on ending the divisiveness in politics and reorienting the economy away from big corporations and toward small businesses and individuals.
Here’s how they responded to questions submitted by the public to the League of Women Voters:
The economy
Karina Lipsman: “We need to fix the supply chain, start manufacturing in the U.S., and give tax breaks to companies to get people working again.”
She said Congress shouldn’t subsidize huge companies like Ford and General Motors, but instead give tax credits to startups for breakthrough technology
Teddy Fikre: “Both political parties are captive to multinational corporations.” The current system is designed “to enrich Wall Street and decimate Main Street. Wealth is transferred upward and poverty is transferred downward.”
Don Beyer: The economy is critical, and while inflation is painful, we will get it under control.
The way to promote a strong economy is to take action on the climate crisis. We’re already seeing the impact of climate change, with fires, storms, and drought. Unless we act, one billion people will be displaced by 2050.”
Voting
DB: To ensure fair elections, Congress needs to pass the John Lewis Act, which would prevent states from restricting voting access.
Other priorities include getting rid of money in politics, ending gerrymandering, and preventing state legislatures from overriding democracy by deciding who won an election.
KL: Being from Ukraine, “I understand corruption. We’re lucky in America we have one of the best election systems in the world.”
TF: “There is rampant corruption in America.” Since the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United that corporations are people, “elections have been inundated with dark money.”
“We cannot have a government that works for us be commandeered by special interests and billionaires.”
Affordable housing
KL: Homelessness started soaring in the 1970s when the federal government closed mental health institutions, which also led to increased drug addiction.
We need more money for shelters because the homeless “shouldn’t be on the street.”
TF: After losing a job as a defense contractor, “I made some bad business decisions and was homeless for two and a-half years.”
“The establishment likes to talk about symptoms; we need to address the root cause.” When people can’t keep up with their bills, they have to negotiate between rent and food, and that leads to depression and anxiety.
“America has turned into a land of riches for the few and kernels for the rest of us. We need to do what Teddy Roosevelt did – break up monopolies and restore competition.”
DB: We need 150,000 more affordable units in the D.C. region for low-income households. Tax credits will help and so will legislation to help first-in-their-family homebuyers afford a home.
Immigration reform
DB: “I would start with a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers.” Then we need to provide a clear path for immigrants with Temporary Protection Status, increase the number of legal immigrants, and provide more funding to immigration judges to relieve the backup on the southern border.
“We are a country built on immigration. We need to respect that.”
KL: “We need more legal immigrants” and a better process for applying for citizenship. We need to secure the southern border, because a lot of weapons and drugs, including fentanyl, are coming to Northern Virginia.
TF: To improve the ability of people to become citizens, “we need to start electing independents. The political parties turned this into a contentious issue.”
Abortion rights
TF: Individuals should make decisions about their own bodies, as long as those decisions don’t infringe on other people. “Government should not be involved at all.”
DB: “I disagreed strenuously with Dobbs v. Jackson,” the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In the short run, many states are going to completely ban abortion while some are amending their constitution to protect abortion rights.
The House already passed legislation to codify Roe. Until the Senate passes it, we need to make birth control available at no cost to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
KL: “Women should not have the federal government tell them what do to with our bodies. The Supreme Court left it up to the states, and that’s where it should be.”
“It’s okay to put an unwanted child up for adoption.” We need to reform the adoption process because too many people who want to adopt are rejected.
Gun violence
DB: Congress needs to pass legislation requiring universal background checks and banning assault weapons. We also need to strengthen the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms.
So much more needs to be done. “I will continue to fight for common-sense gun measures.”
KL: “People who have a background of abuse or gun violence should not own a gun.” I support “common-sense laws, such as a waiting period for gun purchases.”
The real problem, though, is mental health. “People who want to hurt someone will use a hammer or screwdriver.”
Lipsman criticized Beyer for wanting to tax gun manufacturers and dealers.
DB: “I like the idea of a 1,000-percent tax on gun manufacturers. We can pass that with only 51 percent of the vote.” Meanwhile, to get real action on gun legislation, we need to get rid of the filibuster.
TF: The gun violence issue is just another way to pit people against one another. “Every time there’s a national tragedy, the first action is taking away people’s rights.”
Higher education
TF: “There is no reason students should come out of college six figures in debt. Higher education should not be a for-profit venture.”
Billionaires who recklessly gambled with the economy were bailed out, so student borrowers should be forgiven, too.
DB: President Biden’s plan to forgive student debt up to $10,000 – now in the courts – would benefit those most burdened. “I’m a strong supporter of doubling Pell grants and making sure everyone who wants a higher education can get there.”
The long-term fix calls for state governments to provide more funding for colleges and universities.
KL: We should destigmatize vocational and trade schools, which can lead to high-paying jobs.
Public education
KL: Parents should have a choice in which school their children attend, and the money should follow the student. Schools should raise standards and focus on basic math, reading, and history.
TF: Education has become too politicized. “We should make our own decisions. The government has no place determining what should be taught.”
National security threats and Ukraine
KL: “Our biggest threats are China, Russia, and North Korea. We need to protect the U.S. and continue our stance as a global leader.”
Even with family still in Ukraine, “I do not believe we should send blank checks to Ukraine without transparency.”
TF: “The biggest threat is here in the United States – with rising inflation and the threat of recession.”
Regarding Ukraine, “we cannot continue endless military expeditions around the world. Reinvest in America.”
DB: “The biggest threat is climate change. “The best leaders are the ones looking farthest down the road.”
The next biggest threat is the dependence on fossil fuels, followed by China. “We want our vision of democracy to prevail.”
Military constituents
TF: “While people on Wall Street and heads of the military industrial complex are making fortunes, people in the military making our country safe are struggling to get by.”
We also need to do more to take care of traumatized and homeless veterans.
DB: My biggest concern is military families. It was disturbing to see many military spouses at a food bank. “When you move every two years, it’s difficult to have any kind of meaningful job or career.”
KL: We should reform the Veterans Administration and use the GI bill not just for education but to help veterans start small businesses.
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the Beyer campaign has raised $1.7 million, Lipsman raised $155,000, and Fikre raised zero.