Biden signed a bill this summer that extended certain benefits to veterans of recent combat operations who were exposed to toxic chemicals. Do you agree with that legislation?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voted against the legislation. Disagreed with how the bill limited Congressional oversight of some Veterans Affairs spending.
Natasha Hill Yes. Says that the country put the veterans in harm's way and we have responsibility to compensate them for those injuries.
The Supreme Court ruling on abortion proclaimed Roe v. Wade "egregiously wrong from the start." Should states or the federal government control abortion, and what should those policies look like?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Says states are best positioned to make their own laws, because Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion. Believes life begins at conception, and every life is worth protecting, and several states and Congress have considered laws that go too far in permitting abortions. Says that in cases where the mother's life is threatened, exceptions should be allowed, but not in cases of rape or incest. Says states should not be required to provide emergency contraception.
Natasha Hill Says Congress should codify a woman’s right to receive an abortion, at a minimum, and states can make laws that go further. Suggests Washington's law should be a model for federal legislation, including exceptions to protect the life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest. Says states should have to provide access to emergency contraception.
A bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina would prohibit abortions nationwide after 15 weeks, with exceptions for instances where the mother's life is endangered and in certain rape cases. Do you support this legislation?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Yes. Says the legislation mirrors what's in place in several European countries, and Democratic counterproposals to the Dobbs abortion decision go too far in permitting abortions.
Natasha Hill No. Says abortion is health care and the proposal is in conflict with what a majority of Americans believe.
Legislation that has passed the House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate would require a licensed gun dealer to conduct a background check between two private parties interested in buying and selling a firearm. Do you support this requirement?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers No. Says the background check system needs to be improved and that the measure would have raised concerns about due process rights for law-abiding gun owners.
Natasha Hill Yes. Says that rights are not unfettered or absolute and have to be balanced with the health, safety and welfare of communities.
Do you support forgiveness of student loan debt for those who remained employed during the previous year and made less than 100,000, as proposed in pending legislation that differs from the executive action President Joe Biden took earlier this year?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers No. Believes that would make inflation worse, and taxpayers should not have to pay for the decisions made by individual borrowers who could have made other choices about post-secondary education or employment.
Natasha Hill Yes, as a starting point. Believes that Congress should explore other options for forgiving student debt, including raising the cap to $250,000 and forgiving interest on all loans.
The House approved a bill this spring that gave the Food and Drug Administration $28 million in emergency funding to address the infant formula shortage. Do you agree with that action?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers No. Believes the Food and Drug Administration did not deserve additional funding after moving too slowly once learning of a potential shortage months before February 2022. Says a GOP-backed proposal would hold the FDA accountable in the future.
Natasha Hill Yes. Says an immediate response was needed, even if it wasn’t perfect.
What is the largest contributing factor to inflation in this country, and what would you propose Congress does about it?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Rampant government spending, including trillions of dollars spent since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Says Congress should work to rein in government spending, including so-called "zombie programs" that are automatically approved each year.
Natasha Hill Says the United States has had years of policies that have incentivized corporations to pursue profits for their shareholders and avoid paying taxes at the expense of livable wages for workers, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House in September approved a bill that codified the process by which a vice president is to certify presidential election results and raise the threshold of lawmakers needed to challenge the counting. Do you agree with that legislation?
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Voted against the legislation. Says Republicans were not "really involved" in the drafting of the bill and that it was introduced too quickly in the House of Representatives.
Natasha Hill Yes. Says those checks and balances needed to be stated directly to ensure what happened on Jan. 6, 2021, doesn't happen again.
