Andrew Yang: 2020 Democratic presidential candidate shares his views on current issues

USA TODAY

Editor's note: Andrew Yang dropped out of the presidential race on Feb. 11

We asked presidential candidates questions about a variety of issues facing the country. This is what Democratic candidate Andrew Yang had to say about climate change, gun control, health care and other issues.

Do you believe the earth’s climate is changing? If yes, do you believe it is caused by humans?

Yes; Yes.

If you could unilaterally make one change, or enact one policy, that would affect the climate, what would that be? And why?

Andrew would implement a carbon fee and dividend. This would create incentives for private companies to find innovative solutions while the government also takes action, and provide a dividend to Americans who are impacted by climate change.

How would you engage foreign leaders to work with the United States on issues related to climate?

Andrew would re-enter the Paris Accords and work with our allies to promote climate change solutions worldwide such as help developing countries build out their energy sectors using U.S. clean energy technology

Read what all the candidates have to say about climate change here.

Should the U.S. explore additional use of nuclear power as an alternative energy source? Why or why not?

Yes. Nuclear power is part of any realistic path to a clean energy sector by 2050.

Read what all the candidates have to say about alternative energy and technology here.

Should the U.S. government offer subsidies for renewable energy, such as wind energy or ethanol? Why or why not?

Yes. The government needs to get the incentives right, so we should provide subsidies to the renewable sector and end them for fossil fuel companies.

How would you address gun violence in America?

Andrew would enact common-sense gun laws and attack the problem at all stages.

Read what all the candidates have to say about gun violence here.

How do you propose making schools safer from acts of violence?

Andrew would enact common-sense gun laws and attack the problem at all stages.

What role, if any, should the government have in regulating large technology companies?

Andrew believes that the current anti-trust framework doesn't address the problem of large companies that don't charge users or feel the need to report a profit. He would promote legislation allowing Americans to own their data and address the impact of technology on their lives, such as the mental health effects. Finally, he'd create a Cabinet-level Department of Technology staffed by experts and located in Silicon Valley to find ways to address the 21st Century problems that these tech companies are causing.

If you are elected, how would you interact with North Korea? What relationship would the U.S. and North Korea have?

Andrew believes that being willing to talk is always better than not talking. He would be open to conversations with North Korea without preconditions, and he'd accept incremental steps while working towards the goal of denuclearization.

Would you re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran? Why or why not?

Yes. We need to stabilize the region and ensure Iran doesn't gain nuclear weapons, and the JCPOA was helping to accomplish these goals. The American people don't want another war.

How do you plan to address the threat of extremism in the U.S.?

Andrew would improve political rhetoric by refusing to use inflammatory language, create a federal domestic terrorism statute, enforce that law and study the rise of extremism through the FBI, DHS, and DOJ. He would direct these agencies to view domestic terrorism as a primary focus, and work with allies abroad to combat the rise of extremism.

Do you believe there is equal access to voting in the U.S.? If not, how would you go about expanding access to voting?

No. Andrew believes we need to increase voting access through automatic voter registration, lowering the voting age to 16, and restoring voting rights to individuals who have committed crimes that don't deprive others of their ability to vote. He also believes we need to make voting more accessible and ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote.

Do you believe voter fraud is a problem in the U.S.? If yes, how do you plan to you address it?

No, studies have found almost no credible instances of voter fraud.

Should it be a crime to enter the U.S. illegally?

No, the court system is overloaded and charging these individuals with a crime only increases that problem. If we get that problem under control, Andrew believes we can then reconsider this categorization.

Read what all the candidates have to say about immigration here.

Should the U.S. expand or limit legal immigration?

Andrew believes the U.S. should return legal immigration levels to Obama-era levels.

In many areas of the country, there is a critical shortage of affordable housing. What would your administration do to address it?

The affordable housing crisis is being driven by local zoning ordinances. Andrew would work with localities to relax these ordinances, offering incentives to both these localities and homeowners in the area.

Read what all the candidates have to say about education, housing and jobs here.

What is your plan to address the growing national debt?

Andrew believes we have a revenue problem and an expense problem. On the revenue side, the biggest companies are paying $0 in taxes. Andrew would pass a Value-Added Tax to ensure that the American people get a slice of every Amazon transaction and Google search. On the expense side, the government needs to find ways to streamline expenses. One area Andrew believes could be channeled in more productive ways is the $750+ billion military budget.

Do you think our national debt is a national security issue? Why or why not?

No, the United States has the world's strongest economy and our trade relationships and alliances ensure that the national debt isn't a national security issue.

Read what all the candidates have to say about the economy here.

Is capitalism the best economic structure for the United States? If yes, why? If no, what is better and how do you believe it will benefit Americans?

Andrew believes the capitalism/socialism dynamic is outdated. Capitalism has driven untold innovation in this country, but technology is highlighting issues with the way it values our work/labor. He believes we need to take the best parts of both systems to build an economy that works for us — Andrew calls it human-centered capitalism.

In many parts of the country, there is a skilled worker gap. How would you close that gap to get more people employed in the industries that need them?

The Freedom Dividend would let people afford to move for a new opportunity. Andrew would also work with states to allow licenses to transfer so that people aren't frozen out of a job because of where they live.

Related: 2020 candidates on the issues

Should the government forgive student loans? If yes, why and for whom? If no, why not?

Andrew believes the government should forgive a significant portion of student loan debt — between 40% and 60% for individuals — based on a number of factors such as income. There should also be additional forgiveness programs for those who work in areas that have a specific worker shortage (e.g., nurses in primary care deserts).

Should community college be free to anyone who wants to attend? Should other colleges and universities be free to attend?

Andrew believes community college should be funded at a level that allows it to be free or nearly free. For other higher education, Andrew believes we, as a country, over-prescribe college and should be focused on providing alternative pathways for students, such as apprenticeship and vocational programs.

Is more funding needed for mental health care in America? If yes, what amount and how should it be allocated? Where should that money come from?

Andrew absolutely believes we need more funding for mental health. He would provide comprehensive mental health coverage through a Medicare for All plan so that all Americans who need it can receive treatment.

Read what all the candidates have to say about health care here.

How would you address rising prescription drug costs, specifically for medications that are necessary for people to live, such as insulin and mental health medications?

First, Andrew would allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. Second, he would push for the use of international reference pricing to control costs. If companies couldn't get costs under control, he would support forced licensing of drug patents to other companies who could. He'd also support the creation of public manufacturing facilities to make necessary medications. Finally, if all else fails, Andrew is in favor of allow drug importation.

What do you believe is the biggest health care issue facing Americans? How would you solve it?

Andrew believes the biggest health care issue facing Americans is the threat of bankruptcy due to medical bills. He'd address it through a Medicare for All system.

How would you address the opioid crisis?

Andrew's first step is to decriminalize personal-use amounts of opioids so that individuals can be referred to treatment instead of arrested and placed in jail. After that, utilizing fines and judgments against the companies that created this epidemic, we should fund treatment centers and give everyone who needs it access. The government was complicit in this, and so Andrew believes we have a moral duty to address it.

Should marijuana be legalized federally for medicinal use? Should it be legalized for recreational use?

Yes and yes.

Do you support a public health insurance option for all Americans? If yes, do you support the elimination of private health care in favor of a government-run plan, or do you support an option where Americans can choose a public or private plan? If no, why?

Yes, No. Andrew believes in a heavily subsidized public option (essentially requiring minimal copays). Andrew would allow private companies to compete with this option, or to provide supplemental coverage, but he thinks that almost everyone would eventually move to the Medicare for All option he supports.

Should the federal government re-institute the death penalty? If yes, for what crimes?

No.