Left-leaning Kennedy shares views on issues
ALBANY — In a first peek at her positions on policy matters, U. S. Senate hopeful Caroline Kennedy supports gay marriage rights, restoring a ban on assault weapons and keeping the Bush administration’s tax cuts in place for now.
She backs President-elect Barack Obama’s drawdown plan for U. S. troops in Iraq and also supports abortion rights.
Kennedy aides offered the positions Saturday, after The Buffalo News last week sent her inquiries involving several policy areas she would have to consider if she is selected by Gov. David A. Paterson to succeed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Kennedy’s positions on many of the issues are not surprising for a New York Democrat, but her left-leaning ways could put her out of step with some more conservative upstate Democrats.
Kennedy responded by e-mail through her spokesman, Stefan Friedman.
On gun control: She supports gun-control efforts and specifically wants restored the ban on assault weapons that was lifted during the Bush administration.
On gay marriage: She supports “full equality and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.”
On the death penalty: She opposes the death penalty.
On Iraq: Kennedy “supports President-elect Obama’s plan to work with our military leaders to begin a responsible withdrawal.”
On trade: The North American Free Trade Agreement has had “unintended consequences in some regions of New York and that is why she agrees with President-elect Obama that we need to take a careful look at the agreement and pay particular attention to its impact on jobs and wages in American manufacturing communities,” the aide wrote.
She also says “American communities and workers” must benefit in future trade pacts involving the United States.
On health care: Kennedy, like her uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, says expanding the availability of health insurance “is one of the nation’s most urgent priorities.” Without saying how she would pay for it, Kennedy believes a program must ensure lower costs for all payers and improvements in quality.
On abortion: She is a supporter of abortion rights.
On tax cuts: Tax cuts created during the Bush White House should be rolled back for wealthy taxpayers. “However, with the economy so fragile, now is not the time,” Friedman wrote.
Kennedy was measured in her response to a question about raising taxes on wealthy individuals in New York. Some lawmakers, unions and others are pressing Paterson to reduce some of his recently proposed cuts to the budget by raising income taxes on wealthier people, especially those earning over $1 million a year.
“Based on what she’s read about the budget released a few days ago, Caroline believes that Governor Paterson’s budget appropriately includes both revenue increases and budget cuts while still protecting the most vulnerable. On the issue of where to cut or what revenue to increase, she leaves that up to the governor and the legislature,” Friedman wrote.
For good measure, the answer on income tax increases also included a couple of kind words for Paterson, who will make the appointment.
“Governor Paterson was one of the first elected officials in the nation to sound the alarm about our fiscal crisis, and he has led the charge to get Washington to give aid to New York because we have been hit so hard by the financial meltdown,” the aide wrote.
On the upstate economy: Kennedy noted the “suffering” in upstate, and the departures of young people, whom she described as “our most precious resource.” She said the first step is for Congress to pass Obama’s economic stimulus plan, which she believes will create jobs by investing in infrastructure projects, such as roads and schools.
On illegal immigration: The answers were vague, with talk of a “need to do more to control our northern border.”
Kennedy also wants tighter enforcement in work places to reduce illegal immigration.
“Employers who hire and abuse illegal workers depress American jobs and wages,” Friedman wrote.
On bailouts for companies: Kennedy supports the recent rounds of federal bailouts of private companies, though she says “too little attention was paid to taxpayer protections and transparency.”
On energy: She believes a comprehensive package is needed, with a focus on alternative energies, such as wind, solar and bio-fuel.
“Nuclear power may be a part of this platform, but only if it can be determined to be safe and economical,” the aide wrote.
On education: Kennedy has been touting her ties to education. For several years, she has been involved in efforts to raise money for New York City public schools. Kennedy believes the federal No Child Left Behind law must be reformed. She did not say how.
Kennedy supports charter schools and opposes private school vouchers. As for merit pay for teachers based on student performance, Kennedy believes “programs should be developed cooperatively with schools and teachers, as was done in New York City’s public schools,” Friedman wrote.
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