Crossposted (and edited) from Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.
Today is the big day to decide which Democratic contender will replace the irreplaceable Senator Ted Kennedy. Voters must choose between four highly qualified Democrats, each with a different field of specialty, but all competing to continue Kennedy's progressive legacy. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley brings a distinguished career as a legal advocate. Alan Khazei, co-founder of City Year, also worked with Bill Clinton to develop AmeriCorps. Michael Capuano is in his sixth term as U.S. Congressman for the 8th District of Massachusetts, representing Cambridge, Somerville and much of Boston. Steve Paglicua offers business expertise as managing director of the private equity firm, Bain Capital, and co-owner of the Boston Celtics.
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, a national network of progressive Asian Americans and allies that came out of the Dean campaign, contacted the four campaigns, all of whom agreed to answer questions on progressive and Asian issues and here are their answers (in the order they were received). We hope they will help you make your decisions!
CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL CAPUANO
- What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing immigrants in the United States, and how will you address this as Senator?
The most pressing issue is passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform, which Congress has not considered since the summer of 2007, when the Kennedy-McCain bill died in the Senate. I support its provisions, including a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens of good moral character who have lived in the United States for some time - the exact number of years is open for discussion. I support also the proposal to permit persons who earned advanced degrees in the United States in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields to apply for green cards. In addition, I have co-sponsored the DREAM Act, which offers in-state tuition to students who came here as children and thus did not knowingly violate US law, and the Uniting American Families Act which would permit same-sex couples in committed relationships the same immigration sponsorship rights as married heterosexual couples.
- The Cape Wind Project has been a controversial issue in Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy fought against this project and Senator Kirk appears to be continuing Kennedy’s legacy on the issue. Where do you stand on Cape Wind, and are there any renewable energy projects that you believe are worthy of federal funds?
I support Cape Wind. I have consistently supported R&D on renewable alternative energy as well as grants for innovative companies. I helped a Charlestown firm secure a federal grant for wind blades, the next generation of wind turbines. I am now privileged to represent great universities and research institutes, and I have worked to accelerate the progress from lab to factory, in support of green jobs, including start-ups everywhere in my district, from Cambridge to Roxbury.
- What role do you believe the federal government should play in advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights?
I believe the federal government is charged with the most important role of defending civil rights and human rights for all our citizens no matter what their sexual identity, orientation, race, ethnicity or religious persuasion. I do not compromise on matters of principle, and human rights must be understood to include dignity for LGBT persons. I consistently co-sponsored the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes bill, which extended existing federal hate crime legislation to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual (or perceived) gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. I fought hard to preserve its provisions in conference committee after it was included in a defense authorization bill. The President has since signed it into law. Since being elected to Congress I have consistently supported and fought for equal rights and legal recognition of GLBT people from the Repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” to the “Uniting Families Act”.
- What are your priorities for education in Massachusetts?
To make the American Dream a reality for every child, to enable all students to develop their abilities to the fullest and to respect the abilities and the opinions of others.
I voted against No Child Left Behind because I oppose the imposition of unfunded mandates on states and municipalities and high stakes testing. I do not oppose charter schools, but I vehemently oppose the formula on which they are funded: the average per pupil cost within a public school system. Public schools must educate all children, those not yet fluent in English and those with disabilities, physical, emotional, and cognitive. Charter schools may cherry pick motivated pupils who are far less expensive to educate. I have been honored by the endorsement of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association and the American Federation of Teachers.
- Given your life experiences, priorities, and goals, how will you be an effective advocate in the U.S. Senate for the Asian Pacific American community?
As the Congressman for the 8th CD I have represented Boston’s Chinatown for almost 11 years. During this time I have come to know the unique interests and concerns of the Asian Pacific American community and in particular the Chinese American community. I am keenly aware they are not the same: within the broad mantle of “Asian-Pacific” there are important differences, culture, language, and many others, as well as many shared concerns. The causes I have championed as a Congressman are closely aligned, I believe, with those of the community at large: immigration reform, access to education and environmental justice.
- How will you follow in Senator Ted Kennedy’s footsteps as a true progressive?
I will uphold civil liberties, human rights and the dignity of all persons. I will fight for economic and environmental justice. I will seek common ground with principled colleagues, despite our differences. Senator Kennedy worked with Sen. Orin Hatch to promote stem cell research and with Senator John McCain to reform our immigration laws. In my six terms in the House, I co-founded the Community Health Center caucus with rural Republicans and the Sudan caucus with conservative Christians. Like Senator Kennedy, I will never forget the importance of constituent service. The people of Massachusetts knew that they could look to him for help: with the Veterans’ Administration, with Medicare or Medicaid, with immigration problems. The people of the 8th Congressional district already know they can depend on me, and I will assume his responsibilities as a sacred trust.
ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTHA COAKLEY
- What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing immigrants in the United States, and how will you address this as Senator?
Immigrants, like all Americans, have been hit hard by the current economic crisis. In Washington, I will continue to hold the perpetrators of the financial crisis accountable, while also fighting for federal policies that will grow the economy and create jobs. We need targeted investments in growth industries like green energy and Workforce Development programs, as well as tax incentives for businesses to hire new workers. We also must ensure that there continues to be a strong safety net available to those who have been hit hardest, which means extending unemployment assistance, health insurance benefits, food stamps, and housing assistance.
- The Cape Wind Project has been a controversial issue in Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy fought against this project and Senator Kirk appears to be continuing Kennedy’s legacy on the issue. Where do you stand on Cape Wind, and are there any renewable energy projects that you believe are worthy of federal funds?
I support Cape Wind. I believe that our nation’s prosperity and security depends on developing renewable energy. If we are not dependent on oil, our environment and our economy will improve. I think businesses that develop renewable energy are good candidates for federal funds, as long as our goal is to create jobs.
- What role do you believe the federal government should play in advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights?
I believe the federal government should prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. I support equal marriage rights, and will fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
- What are your priorities for education in Massachusetts?
I am committed to providing quality, well-funded, public education. In Washington, I will fight to improve teacher compensation, fund programs that connect students to innovative technologies and industries, and implement education reform that fosters and rewards innovation. We need to tailor public schools to the needs of students, who have different backgrounds, language abilities, and learning styles.
- Given your life experiences, priorities, and goals, how will you be an effective advocate in the U.S. Senate for the Asian Pacific American community?
I have spent 25 years in public service, fighting for the people of the Commonwealth, and I have a deep appreciation for and pride in the diversity of this state. I have fought against discrimination based on race and ethnicity in housing, health care, veterans services, education, and financial services. In the Senate, I will remain committed to fighting against discrimination and I will focus with care on the diverse needs of the people of this state, including of course those in the Asian Pacific American community, who bring so much to the richness of the Commonwealth.
- How will you follow in Senator Ted Kennedy’s footsteps as a true progressive?
I share Senator Kennedy’s commitment to health care reform, civil liberties, progressive economic policies, peace and diplomacy, green energy, and reproductive choice. Senator Kennedy was a true progressive Senator because over 47 years, he fought for policies that lifted people up. He also provided stellar constituent services, so people in the Commonwealth knew they had someone fighting for them, and that is something I plan on emulating in the Senate.
CITY YEAR FOUNDER ALAN KHAZEI
- What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing immigrants in the United States, and how will you address this as Senator?
At this moment in our country’s history, I think immigrants are most concerned about the same things that tug at the minds of all Americans: jobs. Many immigrants, like my father, come to this country to find the freedom to vote and speak their minds. But they also seek the freedom to succeed, the freedom borne of our prosperity and opportunity. And right now that freedom is being smothered by a brutal economy which constricts the hopes of immigrant and citizen alike.
As a U.S. Senator, my number one priority will be to create good paying jobs for the people of Massachusetts. I am the only candidate for U.S. Senate who has called for a second stimulus focused entirely on increasing consumer spending and creating jobs. More details are available on my website, including increasing access to capital for small business, incentivizing job creation through tax credits, and growing non-profit and social entrepreneurial opportunities.
- The Cape Wind Project has been a controversial issue in Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy fought against this project and Senator Kirk appears to be continuing Kennedy’s legacy on the issue. Where do you stand on Cape Wind, and are there any renewable energy projects that you believe are worthy of federal funds?
The only issue where I disagree with Sen. Kennedy is on Cape Wind, which I support. The project is expected to generate around 75% of the total electricity demand for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. It is estimated that the carbon dioxide emissions the project would offset is equivalent to taking 175,000 cars off the road and saving 113 million gallons of oil every year. We urgently need to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy. And the federal government needs to be a part of that.
That said, I believe in strong oversight and accountability for large-scale energy projects. We should carefully consider the potential benefits against any adverse impact on the local environment. And if the project meets rigorous environmental standards, then it should be approved.
- What role do you believe the federal government should play in advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights?
The federal government should play an extraordinary role indeed. Discrimination against LGBTQ Americans is not only wrong, but makes our country less secure, less prosperous, and less free. We are less secure when 9,000 service members are discharged from our armed forces under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – which we need to repeal. We are less prosperous when in dozens of states hardworking Americans can be fired or denied a job on account of their sexual orientation – which is why we need to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as soon as possible. And we are less free when committed same-sex couples across the country are denied federal benefits that other married couples enjoy – which is why I will fight to repeal DOMA and enact the Uniting American Families Act, which will end official discrimination against same-sex couples by allowing the permanent partners of Americans to obtain permanent resident status.
- What are your priorities for education in Massachusetts?
The most important in-school variable in improving achievement is the quality of teachers and principals. So my first priority is make teaching and educational leadership one of our most respected and revered professions; to treat, pay, and reward our teachers and school leaders as the professionals they are.
Second, we must support innovation and invest to scale what works – including expanding charter schools and allowing increases in their academic day and year.
Third, I believe that we must replace the No Child Left Behind Act with a reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act that builds on its strengths and fixes its failures.
Fourth, we must make a college education affordable and accessible to every single Massachusetts child who wants one.
Fifth, we need a plan to pay for these investments in Massachusetts’ future, which starts with getting the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 passed in the Senate.
- Given your life experiences, priorities, and goals, how will you be an effective advocate in the U.S. Senate for the Asian Pacific American community?
I am the son of immigrants; my father left a dictatorship in Iran to come to a country of democracy and freedom. I have been fortunate to travel across the Pacific, to China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, to work with leaders in those countries. Here at home, my work with City Year has given me insight into the entrepreneurial experience as well. And from City Year’s inception I’ve spent a lot of time working in Asian American neighborhoods and communities.
Furthermore, I believe that my priorities and goals are strongly aligned with those of Asian Pacific Americans in particular and with all other Americans more generally. Those goals include strong aid to support small businesses and develop more jobs, and comprehensive and critical efforts to improve our educational system to ensure that it provides full opportunity to every child.
Finally, my independence from PAC and lobbyist money means that I will always be more attuned to the needs of real people and communities.
- How will you follow in Senator Ted Kennedy’s footsteps as a true progressive?
The philosophy behind my campaign and my life is one I call Big Citizenship. And there was no bigger citizen than Ted Kennedy. He was a big citizen, and a true progressive, because he was willing to work tirelessly for the common good throughout his life. I want to follow in his footsteps by continuing his vital work on extending healthcare to all Americans, continuing to expand the service movement which he and I worked on together for so many years, and being ever-vigilant towards the welfare of the people of Massachusetts.
I think Ted Kennedy left a powerful legacy of pragmatic progressivism. I believe that there’s an emerging progressive consensus that we need to move beyond reliance on either big government or big business.
BAIN CAPITAL FOUNDER STEVE PAGLIUCA
- What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing immigrants in the United States, and how will you address this as Senator.
I have said repeatedly that I am in favor of broad reform of our immigration policy and that such reform necessarily begins with the creation of a path to citizenship for the large number of immigrants already in this country. I believe we need to strengthen our borders and develop a forward-looking approach to economically necessary immigration but think reforms are fruitless if they do not account for those immigrants already living in this country. Corporations welcomed undocumented workers for decades and our country needs to acknowledge this past with a fair solution of a path to citizenship that will allow for a fresh start and a thoughtful immigration policy going forward.
I also oppose the harsh enforcement tactics of the Bush administration and think aggressive immigration enforcement of otherwise law-abiding people is not a way to show good will or achieve our goal of comprehensive reform. The round-ups that were the hallmark of the Bush years were counterproductive for two reasons; first they scared immigrants further into the shadows which is the opposite of what needs to occur to bring about real change, and second, they caused tremendous social cost by separating parents from their citizen children, leaving single parents and the government to meet their needs. It is time for a new direction on immigration reform and with president Obama's leadership, I believe we can make great progress.
- The Cape Wind Project has been a controversial issue in Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy fought against this project and Senator Kirk appears to be continuing Kennedy’s legacy on the issue. Where do you stand on Cape Wind, and are there any renewable energy projects that you believe are worthy of federal funds?
I fully support Cape Wind and think it is both a practical and effective means of providing a substantial portion of Cape Cod’s energy needs and a wonderful example of the effective use of alternative resources for others to follow. I believe America needs to start now in making itself a leader in alternative energy sources and think that addressing the issue one community at a time is a great place to start.
I also support strong federal subsidies and involvement in the development of alternative energy solutions. I favor a model of public private partnerships to marry our state’s research and economic resources and promote meaningful advances in many technologies, including the energy sources that will fuel our nation for years to come.
Alternative energy sources are the key to America’s energy independence, reversing much of the damage we’ve done to the earth, making our world a safer and more peaceful place, and making America a prosperous nation for generations to come. If small steps are what it takes to get the movement going, I think it’s time to start taking them.
- What role do you believe the federal government should play in advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights?
The government needs to protect the rights of all people and ensure that all people are treated the same under our laws. I have said that I will immediately introduce legislation to repeal DOMA which I regard as designed to promote inequality and which increases hatred and division, and I will also fight to remove Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which I also regard as a slight to America’s commitment to equality. The GLBT community needs to be welcomed and respected in this country and any laws that require an invalidation of one’s individuality for participation have no place in our great society.
- What are your priorities for education in Massachusetts?
When it comes to education I have four essential priorities. The first is the expansion of pre-kindergarten to every student. Universal pre-k is of fundamental importance in giving all children an equal chance at success. My second priority will be to promote innovation at primary and secondary levels. This innovation will take the form of best-practice sharing, support for alternative curricula, merit pay for teachers, creation of charter and pilot schools and by supporting initiatives live as “Race To The Top” that reward innovation. With respect to higher education, my first priority is to make college more affordable. The best way to do that is to expand the purchasing power of Pell grants (which have never kept pace with the spiraling cost of education). Finally, I would call for significant investment in job training, which will help prepare workers young and old for participation in the state’s key industries and allow them to be at the forefront of the economic growth fueled by green-tech, high-tech and life sciences. My detailed education plan is available on my website, www.stevepagliuca.com
- Given your life experiences, priorities, and goals, how will you be an effective advocate in the U.S. Senate for the Asian Pacific American community?
My door will be open to the American Pacific American community the same way it will be open to any other group who wants to be heard. I have vowed never to accept lobbyist or PAC contributions and will always been an independent voice for Massachusetts. I share the Asian Pacific community’s concerns about immigration reform and affordable housing.
- How will you follow in Senator Ted Kennedy’s footsteps as a true progressive?
My goal as a senator will be to honor Senator Kennedy’s legacy of impactful leadership and meaningful representation of my constituents. I have more than 25 years of experience building and working in partnerships to accomplish shared goals and will work tirelessly to advance the causes of equality and fairness that he so ably championed. In keeping with my pledge, I will never accept PAC or lobbyist money. This independence will allow me to fight aggressively for the progressive causes that matter most to the people of this commonwealth.