Survey Questions and Candidate Responses

Cassandra Martineau | Participating Election

We need the energy behind the New Deal, except focusing on the environment and jobs. Let's have a Green New Deal, with local control, implementation, and maintenance. Currently, we are importing solar panels, etc. While both mainstream parties are dedicated to carbon fuels, giving them outrageous subsidies and tax breaks, neither is addressing climate catastrophe in a real way. Time is running out to mitigate the worst of climate change. We need real, immediate, and drastic changes in how we make and distribute energy, and we do not have the time to wait for Big Oil to profit from it.

Bruce Walczak | Participating Election

Climate change is real, and it has far reaching implications for our survival. We must re-join the Paris Accord and lead the world in addressing this issue. The US and other world powers will need to prepare to spend huge amounts to correct our current issues and assist developing countries to avoid our past and current mistakes. The time horizon is short, and we must begin to develop policies and practices to reverse this trajectory. Ct can lead in technology to be a leader in solutions, creating jobs and an entire industry.

Joe Courtney | Participating Election

Beyond the threat it poses to our planet, tackling this challenge is an opportunity to create good jobs in manufacturing and a green economy. I support the US rejoining the Paris Accord, restoring fuel efficiency standards and methane controls at once. I recently helped pass HR 4447, a bipartisan bill which would take critical steps toward combating climate change while also boosting our economy. The bill will grow new renewable energy sources, increase the energy efficiency of homes and other buildings, modernize and harden our electric grid, and help electrify our transportation sector.

Justin Paglino | Participating Election

Climate Science tells us clearly, and most Americans understand, that we must act urgently to reduce our emissions or else face grave consequences. Truly urgent action means not only a Green New Deal investing in clean energy, but also putting a price on carbon pollution or banning fracking outright, policies which also enjoy wide support among the public, but not among members of Congress . The time to act was 30 years ago, and now that we have delayed our actions must be more bold. The majority of Americans, including 90% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans, also support reducing our military spending, which has ballooned by 50% over the past 20 years, to the point it has become over 50% of the discretionary budget. These increases have however been very popular in one place - Congress. Our current representative for example recently voted For the $740 Billion 2021 Pentagon Budget (HR6395) and Against a proposed modest 10% cut (Pocan amendment 839) that would have made $74Billion available for funding solutions to pressing needs regarding clean energy, housing, education, healthcare, public health and prevention, and poverty. Americans need jobs, and there is work to be done converting to a clean-energy economy: internal combustion engines need to be replaced with electric motors - we need to drastically increase electricity generating capacity and storage capacity - and buildings need to be refitted so that heat needs to come from electricity, not fossil fuels. A Federal Jobs Guarantee is another policy that enjoys majority support among the public but not in Congress. My father Vincent was an aeronautical engineer who helped design blades for the Blackhawk helicopter at Sikorsky. Sikorsky makes a fine helicopter, but I bet they could produce a fine wind-turbine too, if we act to build demand, and to free the needed funds by cutting back on the bloated Pentagon budget.

Stephen Dincher | Participating Election

Cut military spending, yes.

John Larson | Participating Election

There is no doubt, we are in the midst of a global climate crisis. We need to act to address climate change and I believe the best way to do that is tackle the problem at its source, pollution and carbon emissions. I've introduced the America Wins Act which would slash our carbon emissions in half over the next 10 years while investing $1 trillion in rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. I'm also a supporter of the Green New Deal, a resolution that sets the goals we need to address this crisis. We have some of the brightest minds and some of the most innovative technology in Connecticut. I am proud of the Yankee ingenuity that our manufacturing base produces day in and day out. Many of our companies are already transitioning to clean power and are creating more energy efficient options. Connecticut is also home to some of the biggest fuel cell manufacturers in the world.

Brian Merlen | Participating Election

I believe we need to better utilize existing resources on technologies that offer green alternatives to fossil fuels. Battery farms, solar plants, EV cars, and many technologies promise a better and cleaner future. I believe we need to put Connecticut's existing engineering, manufacturing, and technical project management expertise into what we need in the future, batteries and clean technologies.

Rosa DeLauro | Participating Election

Global warming is an existential threat, which is why I am a proud original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, which will ensure environmental justice for minority and vulnerable communities while protecting workers and investing in green jobs and technology. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee I also pushed for the investment hundreds of millions of dollars into clean energy. In the House, I have also pushed for legislation that would move our economy to green energy sources, including the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act and the 100% Clean Economy Act.

Justin Anderson | Participating Election

The question here assumes we know America can have an impact on world climate change. We cannot even get India and China to make any meaningful commitments towards climate change policy. America has done better, than most of the world, in terms of lowering the carbon footprint and ensuring cleaner air and water. The Obama administration invested $500 million on Solyndra, for solar power. Solyndra went bankrupt. I am not against subsidies for alternative energy projects, but fossil fuel is a proven commodity. When a specific energy source has become a proven alternative to fossil fuel, then we can lean in that direction. As technology improves, it would make sense that alternative energies will become more viable and we can phase out the need for fossil fuels. Many do not know that fossil fuels are required to create other renewable energy sources. As a Soldier, that has served in a combat theater multiple times, I understand the need to keep our troops out of harm’s way, when possible. The best way to ensure peace is through a strong military force, which stands as a deterrent to global threats. Supporting this expenditure not only makes America safer, it protects the Connecticut economy. Manufacturing, commercial and small business has been pushed out of our state and the government contracts we obtain help ensure a tax base to support the state’s economy and state budget. These important economic contracts are supported by Electric Boat, Sikorsky and Pratt & Whitney, among others.