8th District Democratic congressional candidates Shaughnessy Naughton and Kevin Strouse weigh in on a few hot topics.
Reason for running
Naughton
I think we need to have a Bucks County voice representing us in Washington and not a Washington voice representing us in Bucks County.
Strouse
We’re gonna drag the rest of Congress kicking and screaming because there is a dearth of leadership right now.
Warrantless wiretapping
Naughton
I don’t think we need to take away personal liberties to ensure national security — there’s a limit. I don’t think there’s enough oversight.
Strouse
What [Edward] Snowden did in my opinion is reprehensible. I think it would be a mistake to scrap the whole program without having a fuller discussion about it, but I do think there’s a need for greater oversight.
Climate change
Naughton
We do have to deal with climate change — it’s here.
Strouse
I’m a believer in climate change and I am so worried about global warming and our air getting polluted. I support natural gas drilling.
Editor’s Note: After publication of this article, the Strouse campaign requested that the following statement be added to the record.
Strouse: I am deeply concerned by climate change which is very real and must be curbed, as well as threats to our air and water quality. That’s why we must diversify our energy sources and ease our addiction to coal and foreign oil. We need improved oversight and greater transparency to ensure that any natural gas development is done safely. I welcome any opportunity to create good-paying local jobs so long as we do it the right way and doesn’t risk the safety of our community in the process.
Undocumented workers
Naughton
The 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country deserve a path to citizenship, especially those who are brought here as children.
Strouse
They’re already doing the work so we might as well bring them into the economy. These people didn’t come here for nefarious purposes. They came here to raise their family.
Same-sex marriage
Naughton
Attending school in New Hope and going to a women’s college, Bryn Mawr, this is something I’ve really cared about my whole life. I am for gay marriage and I’m glad our country is moving in that direction.
Strouse
I support marriage equality. The reason is that it doesn’t seem to me that the government should be telling two people that love each other that they can or can’t get married.
