2012 Arizona Senate debates in primary and general election

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Richard Carmona: Championed women's health and pre-natal health services.

Budget & Economy     Richard Carmona: Supply-side economics is valid.     David Ruben: Wealth has become concentrated in the hands of a few.

Corporations     David Ruben: Take corporate money out of politics.

Energy & Oil     Jeff Flake: Opposes EPA coal plant emission rule changes.

Environment     Jeff Flake: Water is the lifeblood of AZ; and CA is the biggest threat.     Jeff Flake: Uranium mining OK; it won't threaten Grand Canyon.     Jeff Flake: Skeptical on Proposition 120; cooperate with Forest Service.     Richard Carmona: No uranium mining in Arizona Strip watershed area.

Foreign Policy     Jeff Flake: Push to end the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba.

Free Trade     Jeff Flake: It's out of whack to get sued by Brazil over cotton subsidy.

Government Reform     Richard Carmona: All earmarks are not pork.     Jeff Flake: Opposes Open Government initiative for non-partisan primary.     Richard Carmona: Supports Open Government initiative for non-partisan primary.

Health Care     Richard Carmona: Repealing ObamaCare means public pays for the uninsured.     Richard Carmona: Would not have voted for ObamaCare.     Richard Carmona: Eliminate waste, fraud, & abuse--then prevention.     David Ruben: Stop restricting how doctors can prescribe pain medication.     Richard Carmona: Helped open the first trauma center in southern Arizona.     Richard Carmona: Indignity of being poor patient in hospital sensitizes me.     Jeff Flake: ObamaCare is a heavy anchor to drag around.

Immigration     Jeff Flake: Revamp guest-worker programs; it fails our needs.     Richard Carmona: Comprehensive immigration reform ties into the economy.     Richard Carmona: More visas for day-workers to enhance commerce.     Jeff Flake: Replicate operational security from Yuma Sector.     Richard Carmona: Dynamic interdiction plus prevention.     Jeff Flake: Secure the border; then comprehensive reform.     Jeff Flake: SB1070 was imprudent & unconstitutional, but let it stand.     Richard Carmona: Vitriolic 'deport everybody' message loses Hispanics.

Jobs     Jeff Flake: ObamaCare inhibits small business hiring.     Jeff Flake: Stifling regulations are the biggest job killers.     Richard Carmona: Farm Bill should offer support to struggling farmers.

Principles & Values     Jeff Flake: Vowed not to serve more than 3 terms in Congress; broke vow.     Richard Carmona: 1999: shot and mortally wounded a deranged murderer.     Richard Carmona: Classified as disabled veteran from Vietnam wounds.     Richard Carmona: Of Puerto Rican descent; grew up poor in Harlem.     Richard Carmona: Seeks to earn the respect of disenfranchised populations.

Social Security     Jeff Flake: Nobody's talking privatization; ensure solvency after 2026.     Richard Carmona: Raise retirement age; raise payroll tax ceiling above $106K.

Tax Reform     Jeff Flake: I have not and will not sign Americans for Tax Reform pledge.     Jeff Flake: Full extension of Bush tax cuts.     Richard Carmona: Extend Bush tax cuts as part of comprehensive reform.

Technology     Richard Carmona: Criticized Bush for placing politics ahead of science.

War & Peace     Richard Carmona: Whatever means necessary to prevent Iranian nukes.

Welfare & Poverty     Richard Carmona: Experienced poverty and homelessness as child in Harlem.

Click for quotations from other sources by: David Ruben Jeff Flake Richard Carmona