Corpus Christi Caller Times by John C Moritz 9/10/2018
The two candidates to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate differ sharply on immigration, health care, education and impeachment.
With Election Day 2018 just two months away, it's time to take a break from the ups and downs of the opinion polls and take a look at where U.S. Senate candidates Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke stand on issues affecting the lives of every day Texans.
The positions paraphrased below are taken from the candidates' websites, social media platforms, news reports, public speeches and from interviews on the campaign trail.
The economyO'Rourke, the challenger and a Democratic congressman from El Paso, says he'd promote regulations on business and industry that protect consumers, promote competition and grow the economy. He supports stronger antitrust regulations to break up monopolies he says stifle competition and innovation.
To meet the needs of a changing workforce, O'Rourke says, "We must connect those out of work with the high value jobs being created right here in Texas by investing in the training, certification and apprenticeship programs that make it possible."
Cruz, a Republican seeking his second term, says he wants to reform Social Security but would not alter benefits for people who already receive checks from the federal program that dates to the Great Depressions. But for younger workers, he would raise retirement age gradually to reflect longer life spans and longer careers. He'd also allow younger workers to invest portions of their Social Security withholdings into 401k-style plans.
Cruz was also a strong proponent of the 2017 tax cut package championed by President Donald Trump congressional Republicans. He says he still likes the plan he advocated as a presidential candidate in 2016 to replace current income tax structure with a flat tax.
More:
https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/texas/state-bureau/2018/09/10/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-texas-senate-race-health-care-education-and-impeachment/1221571002/
