First question is about the VA—do you support privatization, and what changes in Congress do you back to speed up reimbursement? Tucker advocating a gradualist approach to health reform, opposes privatizing the VA. Dunkley also opposes privatizing, supports Medicare for all.
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DACA and immigration question. Tucker (using 'illegal' terminology) urges path to citizenship. Believes there's broad common ground on border security, wall is not best use of money. No religious test, but balance security with 'recognition of who we are' as nation of immigrants
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Dunkley: we don't need a wall. Dunkley's father is a Jamaican immigrant. Immigrants come to contribute, are neighbors and friends. Most immigrants who overstay arrive by airplane, not over land border that needs security. Need clear path to citizenship
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Spencer: you negotiate a trade deal; you don't negotiate when it comes to human beings. It is crass and vile to use DACA recipients as a bargaining chip. There is a human right to migrate. We need sensible regulation, not return to chinese exclusion act
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Much of congress sees humanity as commodity when it comes to wages, health care. That is consistent with this senseless idea that you can trade a border wall for human lives. Combs: need clean DREAM act, humans aren't bargaining chips. Immigrants are part of our communities
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Combs: border wall is careless and irresponsible expenditure. Next question on foreign policy to Dunkley. Do you support change in tariff policy? Dunkley: move away from unilateral approach. Tariff policy by tweet is going to harm AR-2, where soybeans and rice are major products
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Ultimately sees it as lack of respect. Spencer: was born in a steel town, was a symbol of American economy. Drastic approach by president using braggadocio and unilateralism on a seeming whim is dangerous. Aricle I of constitution says this is Congress's job
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Combs: tariffs hurt some of the neediest people. A "tweetstorm of antagonizing actions" that jeopardize people.
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Tucker: says he has a complex policy. We've lost steel jobs, China doesn't play by rules. That said, tariff is a bad idea. Soybeans #1 row crop in AR. Also, what's the end game? We need China to be a partner. Free trade is here, globalization is here, but keep workers in mind
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Now closing statements. Spencer starts. The primacy of human dignity takes precedence over political power, party—everything. Human dignity has been derided by bestowing personhood on corporations. Need to wrest back principles like one vote, one voice. We're not commodities
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We don't need a representative who won't remain silent in the face of treating people like commodities. Dunkley: campaign is about a people-centered approach, bring respectability back to politics. Hill does not represent the people in this district.
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Tucker: big fan of America, is running for country and not himself. Goes into a peroration about "cancer and hunger not having a political party". America is a beacon of hope. Grandma told him to run for the common good.
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Combs: only woman, veteran and public educator running. Points out that registration ends April 23—biggest point of the night! Gotta get registered! Arkansas primary will be May 22. Debate wraps up.
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End of conversation
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