This election reporting is provided free to all readers as a public service by your locally owned Cascadia Daily News. Thanks for supporting truly local news by donating to CDN or subscribing here.
Editor’s note: Cascadia Daily News asked readers the Citizens Agenda’s prompt: What do you want candidates to be talking about as they compete for votes? Submitted questions were printed and published online, where readers voted for their top questions grouped into two subject categories: questions for candidates for federal and state offices, and regional questions for candidates for state legislative and local offices. The top reader questions were posed to candidates subject to CDN endorsement interviews; their answers — edited for length — are published below.
[ Read more: Incumbent U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen faces off against MAGA Republican Cody Hart ]
Should a woman have access to abortions, and what about in the case of life- and health-threatening pregnancies?
Rick Larsen
Yes, I support reproductive freedom and access to abortion. I am outraged by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This backwards ruling strikes a blow to our basic constitutional rights of liberty, privacy and equality — which is why the American people overwhelmingly oppose the decision. As a member of Congress with a 100% voting record on choice, I will fight to codify abortion rights nationwide in federal law. Last fall, I joined a majority in the House to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade — but Republicans blocked the bill. When Democrats take back Congress, we will make Roe v. Wade the law of the land.
Cody Hart
I, as with many other Christians, have the very strong belief that the lives of all children should be protected and life begins at conception. I also understand the emotion that surrounds this issue, and do agree that in the situations that a mother’s life is at risk, hard decisions must be made, and in those cases, I believe the mother is the one who should make that decision. On the broader issue of birth control, I strongly support birth control as an option to unplanned pregnancies to avoid the unnecessary death of a child.
Are current U.S. Supreme Court tenures too long and restrictions on conflicts of interest too lax?
Rick Larsen
Yes, I support establishing term limits for Supreme Court justices and enacting a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices. Specifically, I support the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act and the Supreme Court Ethics Act. Enacting these proposals will begin to repair the people’s faith and trust in the judicial branch.
Cody Hart
It is my belief the current U.S. Supreme Court tenures are a benefit more than a harm to America’s system of governance and do not see a better option that would justify a change. Similarly, I am not aware of systemic problems that warrant the need to change restrictions on Supreme Court conflicts of interest, but have repeatedly seen this issue in courts throughout Washington state’s court system. As someone who has fought battles in the legal system in many Washington state courts, I have been disgusted by the judicial corruption and blatant biases that have been allowing many state problems to persist and partisan-biased judges to take advantage of those who do not have high-priced lawyers.
Do you think the president should be above the law? And does the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively make that the case?
Rick Larsen
No, I do not believe the president should be above the law, and I support adopting a constitutional amendment to reverse the recent presidential immunity decision. Specifically, I support the resolution to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision to grant presidents’ immunity from criminal prosecution. Enacting this resolution, along with passing the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act and the Supreme Court Ethics Act, will begin to repair the people’s faith and trust in the judicial branch.
Cody Hart
Nobody, including the president, should be above the law. In the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Biden v. Nebraska, the Supreme Court ruled the Biden administration overstepped its authority last year when it announced that it would cancel up to $400 billion in student loans. This is just one more example of a president who is out of control, has been acting above the law and must be held accountable. What if you or I tried to steal 400 billion dollars of tax funds, what would happen to us? Unfortunately, we have had elitist politicians in charge for too long mishandling our government, resulting in America having over $35 trillion dollars of debt that hard-working Americans are told they must pay back through rising taxes. It is clear, the Biden administration and every establishment politician who did this to us must be held accountable.
Do you support Project 2025? If not, how will you protect citizens against its ideology?
Rick Larsen
No, I do not support former President Trump’s Project 2025. His dangerous agenda opens the door to privatizing your air traffic control system, undermining labor standards and calls for a national abortion ban.
To protect citizens from Project 2025, I am working hard to make sure Democrats win the House of Representatives. With control of the House, Democrats will reauthorize the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to continue investing in state and local economies; pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify Roe v. Wade; build on our success capping the price of insulin at $35/month to do more to lower health care costs; and stop Project 2025.
Cody Hart
As with most every other person I know, I have not read the roughly 1,000 pages of Project 2025. I have not read any of it, so I have no idea if I agree or oppose its ideology. However, I have read the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, Constitution of the State of Washington, a number of Patrick McManus books, and more technical manuals and books on science and engineering than I care to admit. My ideology is similar to most Americans I know in that I believe in trying to live a good life, being kind to others and understanding that not everybody is the same. I understand that some in our current political environment are very polarized and very hateful of others’ ideas, but for most Americans, such as me, I feel strongly about my beliefs and simply want what is good for America.
Do you believe our current options for health care in Whatcom County are adequate? What more can be done to make that happen?
Rick Larsen
For too many in Whatcom County and across America, quality health care is unaffordable. I believe health care is a right, and I support universal, affordable coverage. That is why I am working to expand access to high-quality health care that fits families’ budgets. I voted to reduce prescription drug costs: by letting Medicare negotiate drug prices; by imposing a tax penalty if drug companies increase their prices faster than inflation; and by capping the price of insulin at $35 per month. I also voted to reduce premiums for 9 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, and I have long been committed to supporting care for our seniors and to strengthening Social Security and Medicare.
Cody Hart
Health care is a big issue that seems to only have gotten more complicated over the years, and the experience varies so much, person to person, I think the honest answer is that I do not know the answer myself. My guess is that many will say health care in Whatcom County is not adequate, while at the same time many others will say it is adequate, and others, if being honest, will say they don’t know, or more likely, many will say they can’t afford it. I can think of one common answer to improve the situation and that is competition. I believe in a free-market system and the more competition, the better. Competition has been stifled by government regulation that has driven companies out of the industry. Maybe some think more government is the solution, but less government involved in health care is likely the only real change that can help everyone.
County growth plan must protect farming