Recapping Illinois’ 13th Democratic District Debate – Illinois Newsroom

URBANA – Democratic candidates, Nikki Budzinski, a former aide to President Joe Biden and Governor J.B. Pritzker and David Palmer, a businessman and former basketball participant, met final Thursday for an Illinois Public Media-sponsored debate. They largely agreed on the problems plaguing Individuals however differed in a number of key areas.

Gun violence

After the current mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and Texas, Palmer and Budzinski mentioned they assist common background checks on gun purchases and crimson flag legal guidelines, which permit weapons to be taken from individuals susceptible to harming themselves or others.

Palmer, a gun proprietor, can be advocating for accountable gun possession. “You already know on this state we now have actually good gun legal guidelines. I’m a gun proprietor. I imagine in accountable gun possession. However that’s simply not likely the case in lots of locations,” he mentioned.

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Whereas Palmer is strongly in favor of an assault weapons ban, in a post-debate information convention, Budzinski didn’t reply instantly about her place on that.

“I assist common background checks, I assist crimson flag legal guidelines,” Budzinski mentioned. “I feel these are issues that haven’t but been achieved, and I feel in Congress these are the issues I might be very targeted on.”

A federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004, however President Joe Biden is looking for to reenact this measure.

Budzinski and Palmer agreed on funding and supporting psychological well being establishments, however mentioned it shouldn’t be an excuse to not cope with gun violence itself.

Agriculture and local weather change

Illinois is the second-largest corn producer within the nation, and Budzinski helps the year-round manufacturing of E-15, which is 15% ethanol and 85% common gasoline. {The summertime} ban on E-15 has already been lifted by President Biden to decrease gasoline costs. 

Budzinski mentioned: “One of many issues I very a lot assist is a year-round E-15 mix, which I feel does a few issues. I feel, one, it offers reduction on the gasoline pump and it offers assist to our household farmers in ethanol.”

Palmer identified the environmental danger of ethanol, together with its carbon footprint and creation of ground-level smog. He as a substitute proposed a gasoline tax vacation, which proponents argue would barely lower gasoline costs.

“We do should do issues that make [farmers] them really feel extra equitable, one thing just like the gasoline tax vacation, which goes to be essential right here.” Palmer said.

They’re equally afraid of leaving working-class individuals in Illinois behind in a nationwide transition to a greener financial system.

The conflict in Ukraine and Russia

Because the conflict rages on in Ukraine, the U.S. will ship one other assist package deal to the nation – this time $700 million in navy assist.

Budzinski referred to as Russian president Vladimir Putin a “thug.” And while each candidates expressed agency assist for the Ukrainian individuals, Palmer disagreed on how one can finest method the scenario. “I feel I do champion the emotions as effectively that we do have to face as much as Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime, however I feel we’re spending an excessive amount of cash,” Palmer mentioned. “I feel we now have too many crisis-level issues occurring proper now in our nation.”

High marketing campaign priorities

As inflation and wage stagnation wreak havoc on U.S. shoppers, Budzinski mentioned it’s the principle focus of her marketing campaign. She sees it as stemming from COVID-19, an overreliance on the worldwide financial system, and the erosion of the center class.

Budzinski indicated her assist for President Biden’s baby tax credit score, amongst different coverage proposals. “After I get to Congress, I’m going to struggle to assist middle-class households hold extra of what they earn. And what I imply by that’s reducing the price of prescribed drugs, it’s capping the price of insulin, it’s extending the kid tax credit score,” she mentioned.

Palmer mentioned security is an important subject, and he introduced up the intersection between gun violence, financial inequality, and an underfunded training system.

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The Democratic debate within the thirteenth Congressional District was hosted by Illinois Public Media and co-sponsored by WAND Information and the League of Ladies Voters of Champaign County. You may see your complete occasion on our YouTube channel.