Cynthia Axne's criminal justice policies lean liberal, emphasizing police accountability and reform. She voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and sponsored stricter rules for police accountability. On drug policy, Axne supports decriminalization, not necessarily legalization. While advocating for strengthening borders, she also supports allowing illegal immigrants to apply for citizenship and disallowing immigration bans based on religion. Her approach balances security with humanitarian concerns and systemic reform, reflecting a focus on civil rights and addressing underlying issues within the justice system. Source: Cindy Axne on the Issues Cynthia Axne's economic policies demonstrate a liberal leaning, characterized by her support for robust social safety net programs and government intervention to address economic challenges. She has advocated for expanding federal funding for initiatives such as Social Security and Medicare, and supported significant COVID-19 relief packages, including the American Rescue Plan Act. Axne favors increasing taxes on the wealthy and reversing federal income tax cuts, asserting that lower corporate taxes do not stimulate economic growth and that higher earners should pay their fair share. Furthermore, she is a strong proponent of investing in renewable energy, regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting policies that close the gender wage gap, strengthen unions, and expand apprenticeship programs. Her approach generally prioritizes social welfare and government-led solutions over market-driven recovery. Source: Cindy Axne on the Issues Cynthia Axne's education policies demonstrate a strong liberal leaning, prioritizing robust public education and equitable access. She advocates for universal all-day kindergarten, explicitly opposing lottery systems and school choice vouchers. Axne also supports investments in STEM education and post-secondary pathways, including trade schools or college. Her voting record further reflects this stance, as she voted in favor of private lawsuits addressing school race discrimination, underscoring her commitment to a well-funded and inclusive public education system. Source: Cindy Axne on the Issues Cynthia Axne's energy policies demonstrate a strong liberal leaning, prioritizing renewable energy investment and climate action. She is a proponent of funding wind and solar energy and regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Axne strongly advocates for biofuels, viewing them as a crucial "tool in the toolbox" for addressing climate change and boosting the economy, and has pushed for year-round ethanol sales and infrastructure. Her vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which she championed for its green energy measures, job creation, and climate benefits, further solidifies her commitment to a sustainable and clean energy future. Source: Cindy Axne on the Issues Cynthia Axne's foreign relations stance leans liberal, characterized by her support for international cooperation on climate and a focus on fair trade. She advocated for the United States' re-entry into the Paris Climate Accord, demonstrating a commitment to multilateral environmental diplomacy. Furthermore, Axne expressed concerns about "unfair trade deals" and supported financial aid for farmers affected by trade wars, indicating a protectionist approach to international trade that prioritizes domestic workers and agricultural interests. Her vote for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included funding for Ukraine, also reflects a willingness to engage in international support. Source: Cindy Axne - Ballotpedia Cynthia Axne's stance on government dependency leans liberal, as she advocates for federal intervention and investment to ensure essential services and address social needs. She has expressed strong concerns about the lack of affordable housing and rising rents, particularly for those on fixed incomes, and supports government-backed initiatives to preserve and build more affordable housing. Her engagement in discussions about federal investment in housing infrastructure and holding lenders accountable for supporting affordable housing demonstrates a belief in the government's role in providing a social safety net and ensuring basic necessities, rather than solely relying on market forces. Source: - BUILD BACK BETTER: INVESTING IN EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE Cynthia Axne's healthcare policies demonstrate a strong liberal leaning, focusing on expanding government-backed programs and regulating drug costs. She supports the expansion of Medicare and advocates for a public option, specifically Medicare or Medicaid, to increase access to health insurance. Axne has championed mental health initiatives, including sponsoring the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act and pushing for an expanded mental health workforce and the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline. Furthermore, she voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to cap insulin prices for Medicare beneficiaries and enable Medicare to negotiate drug prices, with plans for further regulation of pharmaceutical costs and pharmacy benefit managers. Source: Iowa’s Congressional Candidates View Health Care as Top Policy Issue • Iowa Capital Dispatch Cynthia Axne's immigration policies demonstrate a strong liberal leaning, as she has consistently opposed xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. She is recognized as a "pro-immigrant candidate" who advocates for an open and inclusive nation, emphasizing policies that uphold the dignity and humanity of all individuals. Her supporters rejected messaging that stereotyped undocumented immigrants as criminals or linked them to drugs, aligning with Axne's progressive views on immigration. This stance highlights her belief in the value immigrants contribute to society and the economy, favoring inclusive approaches over restrictive measures. Source: For Millennials, Immigration Policy Is Personal and Drives Votes Cynthia Axne's policy on national security reflects a blend of approaches. She demonstrates support for the military and its personnel, evidenced by her vote for the National Defense Authorization Act and her advocacy for rural veteran mental health care, which aligns with a center-left to somewhat conservative stance on defense. Conversely, her foreign policy views lean liberal, as she favors avoiding foreign entanglements, requiring congressional approval for military force against Iran, and repealing past authorizations for military action. Additionally, her commitment to combating international and domestic Islamophobia underscores a liberal perspective on civil rights within the realm of security. Source: Cindy Axne on the Issues Cynthia Axne's approach to reducing the budget deficit leans liberal, emphasizing increased revenue from higher earners and corporations rather than spending cuts. She supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which included an estimated $300 billion in deficit reduction through measures like a corporate minimum tax and enhanced IRS enforcement on wealthy taxpayers. While she voted for large spending packages like the Build Back Better bill, which faced Republican criticism for increasing the deficit, Axne maintained these initiatives would be funded by "tweaks to our tax code for the wealthiest corporations and highest earners" and improved tax collection. Her stance against tax breaks for higher earners, such as the State and Local Tax deduction, further underscores her belief that the wealthy should contribute more to address fiscal challenges. Source: Cindy Axne Is the Only Iowan to Vote for Build Back Better Bill Cynthia Axne's stance on the "war on drugs" leans liberal, as she explicitly supports the decriminalization of drugs, though not necessarily full legalization. This position indicates a departure from the traditional punitive approaches often associated with the "war on drugs," favoring instead a focus on reducing criminal penalties for drug offenses. Her views suggest a preference for addressing drug use through public health or alternative justice models rather than strict enforcement and incarceration, aligning with more progressive criminal justice reforms. Source: Axne joins effort to ban 'misleading drug ads' | The Iowa Torch
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