Exclusive Interview With Debbie Stabenow, Democratic Party Candidate For The United States Senate From Michigan

Debbie Stabenow is the Democratic Party candidate running to serve in the US Senate on behalf of Michigan. Her Republican opponent is John James. [1,2]

Last month, Saline Journal invited each individual to share their thoughts with our readers on a specific series of questions. Responses from Democrat Stabenow appear below. Responses from Republican James ran in Saline Journal yesterday. [3]

Saline Journal: “What would you list as your top five priorities for 2019?” [4]

Debbie Stabenow:

• Growing a diverse economy that provides job opportunities for everyone
• Lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs
• Protecting our Great Lakes, waterways and drinking water
• Passing another Farm Bill that supports Michigan
• Lowering the cost of college and increasing job training opportunities

Saline Journal: “Saline is home to a number of excellent facilities and programs in support of the elderly. In what ways can they anticipate working with you as a Senator to order to make the most of their offerings?”

Debbie Stabenow: “Thanks to strong community partners as well as the work of families and caregivers, Saline offers excellent support and services for seniors.

I am committed to doing my part to continue to bring federal resources to the community to support and strengthen these services. I am a strong supporter of the Older Americans Act, which provides seniors a range of services like Meals On Wheels and home health care. I am leading efforts to protect funding for Social Security and Medicare, which should not be subject to the political whims of the annual budget process. [6,7,8,9]

Thanks to my bipartisan HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, Medicare now pays for new individual care plans to support Alzheimer’s patients and their family caregivers. [10]

I am also focused on making sure that seniors can afford their health care and medications. My bipartisan bill to end gag clauses that prohibit pharmacists from telling patients the lowest price was just signed into law. I have introduced bills to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for seniors, allow seniors to purchase safe, FDA-approved drugs from Canada, and require drug companies to disclose price increases.

Saline Journal: “Can you cite an example of a manufacturing operation in Saline that is impacted by foreign trade policy, and indicate what it means to get that ‘right,’ versus what’s a risk of getting it ‘wrong’?”

Debbie Stabenow: “Businesses and consumers across Michigan, including those in Washtenaw County and specifically in Saline, have been impacted by our nation’s trade policies.

Our soy milk producers in Saline are just one example. Trade enforcement needs to be implemented strategically and take into account unintended consequences to our farmers as well as our manufacturers. We need to keep good-paying jobs here and crack down on countries like China that cheat on our trade laws. I support strong trade enforcement including modernizing NAFTA, combating currency manipulation, enacting strong and effective labor and environmental rules, and updating provisions related to the new technology economy.

I created a new US trade enforcement center, wrote the Bring Jobs Home Act to eliminate the tax loophole for companies that ship jobs overseas, and authored the Make It In America Act. Changes should lead to an improvement in our quality of life and higher wages for Michigan families, not a race to the bottom and higher costs. The goal must be to export our products, not our jobs.” [11,12]

Saline Journal: “Why is the voter in Washtenaw County important to you, personally?” [9]

Debbie Stabenow: “I was born and raised in Michigan and I am fortunate that my family all still lives here. Every day, I suit-up for Michigan and fight for our way of life and for families across our state and in communities like Saline.

My top priority is continuing to help create jobs across our state. I am laser-focused on growing a diverse economy that includes manufacturing, technology, small business, agriculture, and tourism. That includes a focus on education and skilled trades, and of course, protecting our Great Lakes. I am committed to lowering costs for families, whether it’s the cost of college, health insurance or prescription drugs.

One out of five jobs in Michigan is connected to our water, which is why I authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010 and am laser-focused on protecting our water. People across Michigan, including families living near the Huron River, are living with incredible uncertainty about the impact of PFAS-contaminated water on their health and wellbeing. I recently introduced two new pieces of bipartisan legislation to address PFAS contamination and secured funding to investigate and clean up contaminated water and soil. [13]

Saline Journal: “If you were asked to pitch Saline as a tourist attraction, what amenities would you cite in making the unique case for this destination?”

Debbie Stabenow: “In Michigan, you’re never more than six miles from a body of water, and Saline is no exception. One in five jobs in our state are tied to water. That makes tourism one of our top industries, including fishing, boating, and kayaking in waterways like Mill Pond and the Saline River.

I also love the Celtic Festival and enjoy the beautiful downtown! [14,15]

Saline Journal: “What experience have you never had in Saline that should be on your bucket list?”

Debbie Stabenow: “I am a big movie buff and can’t wait to see a movie at the Emagine Theatre in Saline. I worked with the Emagine team as the company got started with the help of a federal small business loan. I am excited to see the company continue to grow and can’t wait to enjoy one of their newest theatres.” [16]

Additionally, each candidate was offered the opportunity to put forth a question of their own and then answer it for publication here.

Debbie Stabenow: “What do you do to work across the aisle and get things done in Washington?

I work every day with Republicans and Democrats to get things done for Michigan on issues like protecting our Great Lakes, addressing the opioid crisis, supporting Michigan’s defense industry, and funding our roads and infrastructure.

I’ve led the passage of two bipartisan Farm Bills that support our farmers as well as our small towns.

I also recently passed my bipartisan legislation that gets rid of gag clauses prohibiting pharmacists from telling patients when they can pay less for their medications and legislation to improve veterans health care and the GI Bill. I have partnered with Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt to pass the Excellence in Mental Health Act which has resulted in over $27 million in funding for seven new Community Behavioral Health Clinics to Michigan. [17,18,19]

References

1. Debbie Stabenow: Made in Michigan (home page).
2. United States Senate (home page).
3. “Major Political Party Candidates Have Answered Questions In Races Of Local Interest To Saline Michigan” Dell Deaton (October 12, 2018) Saline Journal.
4. Candidates were requested to limit their responses to ten words or less per item.
5. “Farm Bill” USDA: United States Department of Agriculture.
6. “Older Americans Act” NCOA: National Council on Aging.
7. Meals on Wheels America (home page).
8. Social Security Administration (home page).
9. The Official US Government Site for Medicare (home page).
10. “The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act” Alzheimer’s Association.
11. “Bring Jobs Home Act” Senator Debbie Stabenow D-MI (January 30, 2017) Congress.
12. “Make it in America Act” Senator Debbie Stabenow (April 7, 2017) Congress.
13. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (home page).
14. Saline Celtic Festival (home page).
15. Saline Main Street (home page).
16. Emagine (home page).
17. “Senate Passes Stabenow’s Bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill” (June 28, 2018) Debbie Stabenow: United States Senator for Michigan.
18. Roy Blunt: US Senator for Missouri (home page).
19. “Excellence in Mental Health Act” National Council for Behavioral Health.