DEBATE3 CONLON.JPG

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt prepare for the second and final debate Democratic U.S. Senate debate this past week in Newark.

(Frank Conlon/For The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON — Curious to know where the candidates running in New Jersey's special U.S. Senate race stand on the issues?

Here is look at the platforms of the four candidates running in today's primary election for the Democratic nomination: Newark Mayor Cory Booker, U.S. Rep Rush Holt, state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone.

The winner will run in Oct. 16's general election for the Senate seat vacated after Frank Lautenberg's death.

DEBT CEILING

Shortly after taking office, the winner of the special Senate race may face a vote on raising the debt ceiling. House Republicans want to secure long-term spending cuts before they agree to raise it, but President Obama has said he will not negotiate. How would you vote? As part of a deal, would you agree to spending cuts, tax increases, or a combination of the two? If you support spending cuts, are any areas such as Medicare or the Defense Department off limits?

Was3844201.JPG

MORE U.S. SENATE RACE COVERAGE

• Chat about Tuesday's U.S Senate primary election with Star-Ledger political experts

FRANK PALLONE

I believe that it is important that we raise the debt ceiling and that America honors its financial commitments, however, it cannot be done on the backs of the middle class. First, any deal should end the arbitrary spending cuts of sequestration. I voted against creating sequestration and believe that investing in our economy rather than making arbitrary cuts will lead to job creation and in turn increased tax revenues. I would cut defense spending and eliminate corporate tax loopholes to increase tax revenues. I would also change business taxes to encourage manufacturing in the United States. I firmly believe that Social Security and Medicare must be protected and would oppose any cuts to those programs. I believe that a compromise is needed to increase the debt ceiling, but we cannot do it by cutting infrastructure, education, and research programs that will create jobs. We need a more balanced approach that grows the economy through smart investments.

CORY BOOKER

We must address our debt challenges, but not allow Congressional Republicans to hold the budget hostage by playing debt ceiling brinksmanship. Last time, that resulted in the sequester and the shaking of the world’s confidence in America’s full faith and credit.

We are facing a very real debt problem, but we are cutting where we should invest – in our workforce, in R&D, in education. We must change course if we are to create jobs, make this country more competitive, and grow our way out of our significant debt. And no, cuts to vital programs like Medicare and Social Security should not be part of this conversation. Targeted cuts to areas of government excess and inefficiency, and to parts of the defense budget where our own generals tell us we’re wasting money, should be on the table. Likewise, we should consider progressive reforms to the tax system to ensure that everyone pays their fair share.

In Newark, I inherited a $118 million budget deficit. But we made the necessary investments — and tough choices — and, this year, we were able to balance the budget and give residents a tax cut. If Washington were making more tough decisions, we would have fewer tough decisions to make at the local level. That’s the perspective, and the record of results, I hope to bring to the United States Senate.

SHEILA OLIVER

As a Senator I would certainly vote to raise the debt ceiling, it would be irresponsible to the financial future of our nation not to. I believe we need to look at spending cuts in our military budget to start. I am committed to not cutting Social Security and Medicare but would be willing to discuss program changes for new entrants moving forward. But the President is right not to negotiate on the debt ceiling -- Washington needs to move away from manufactured crises that harm the economy and get serious about creating jobs and aiding the economic recovery.

RUSH HOLT

America always has and must pay its bills. So, yes, I will vote to raise the debt ceiling. Some would have us believe that America is a poor, debtor nation. It isn’t. It is a wealthy nation — in fact, the wealthiest nation that has ever existed. We can afford to, and must, make investments that will pay off in the years to come: investments in education, infrastructure, and research. To be sure, making these investments will require making wise choices. As a former member of the House Budget Committee, I believe that we should cut wasteful spending and remove ineffective programs. We need to end all tax breaks for special interests and reduce our bloated defense budget. Yet, we also must preserve investments in our economic future, including infrastructure, research, and education, along with safety-net programs. We will not be able to cut our way to economic growth.

ECONOMY

The Dow Jones average has risen above pre-2008 levels but unemployment in New Jersey remains historically high, foreclosures have soared and manufacturing and other companies have fled. Camden and other cities in New Jersey are hurting. What's the best way to rev up the economy? Should Congress tighten financial regulations on Wall Street? Do you support raising the federal minimum wage?

FRANK PALLONE

Growing our economy and creating jobs must be Congress’ top priority. We need to make investments in our nation to improve our infrastructure, expand educational opportunities and encourage research and development. Infrastructure investment should include not only transportation, but rebuilding our crumbling schools. I have proposed a school modernization plan that would create jobs while having the added benefit of improving learning environments for our children. I have also cosponsored a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to help the middle class and those trying to join it. It is critical that we remember that it was Wall Street and the big banks that hurt our economy and brought on the recent recession. We made good progress in establishing greater oversight of financial institutions by passing the Dodd-Frank reforms. We still have a lot more to do including better regulations of derivatives, overhauling the foreclosure process (including requiring banks to refinance) and closer monitoring of large increases in CEO salaries.

CORY BOOKER

While the economy has started to come back from the worst economic downturn in generations, New Jersey was the last state in the country to join the jobs recovery, and we continue to lag behind. Even among those who are employed, too many are finding that jobs aren’t paying like they used to. I support raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, doing more to alleviate child poverty to strengthen our long-term competitiveness, investing in job-creating R&D, improving workforce development, and growing our manufacturing sector and exports. But as we come back from this economic downturn, we must also make sure that a crisis like this never happens again. The era of Too Big to Fail must end. The Dodd-Frank legislation brought a number of important changes to Wall Street. Now, we must hold the big banks accountable by implementing the bill’s key provisions as soon as possible. I would support exploring additional rules that would limit risky behavior by financial institutions and prevent consumers from ever being on the hook to bail out the big banks again .I’m proud of what we have accomplished in Newark. With only 3 percent of New Jersey’s population, Newark is now home to more than 30 percent of all commercial and multifamily development in New Jersey. As your senator, my number one priority will be to fight for economic fairness and put New Jerseyans back to work in good-paying jobs.

SHEILA OLIVER

Income inequality is a serious problem in our country with the gulf between the haves and the have-nots increasing constantly. The contrast between the rising stock market and flat take home pay is a stark reminder of this problem. I absolutely believe that we need stronger regulation of Wall Street, which is why I support Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 21st century Glass-Steagall bill. The federal minimum wage should be increased and I have been a leader on that issue here in New Jersey, advocating for a higher state minimum wage. We must also invest in our educational system and our crumbling infrastructure to not only create jobs and help the economy in the short term, but improve our long term prospects.

RUSH HOLT

The most straightforward way to create jobs is directly to hire people to perform public services. Although that is the not the longest lasting approach, it is useful in stimulating the economy and in accomplishing needed work. We should keep cops on the beat, teachers in the classroom, and researchers in the lab. At the same time, we must undertake longer lasting, but slower, approaches to help put people to work with investments in job training, research and tax breaks for hiring workers. Most important, we must also help encourage overall economic growth.

We must increase the minimum wage and implement a living wage so no hardworking families have to live in poverty. And we should finish the job of putting cops on the beat on Wall Street by breaking up the "too big to fail us too big to exist" banks.

Many poor and minority students in the state's cities miss out on a public education, which is linked to higher crime and persistent poverty. What can Congress do? Do you support more charter schools and vouchers? How would you fix the public schools, and should the remedy include teacher evaluations? What should be done to stop the sharp rise in college tuition?

FRANK PALLONE

Congress needs to invest more in education by providing funds to local schools to prevent teacher layoffs and repair school buildings. Federal programs should encourage quality teacher training. There is too much reliance on standardized testing as a method of student performance and teacher evaluation. Charter schools may be one option if a community decides that it would complement the current education opportunities for their children. However, I do not support the use of public dollars to fund private schools via vouchers or tax credits because it would increase the burden on the public education system as its funding and enrollment is threatened. Congress must focus on college affordability through low interest student loans, expanded Pell grants and work-study. Yet, as federal and state educational funding has declined, tuition at institutions of higher education has increased. We must ensure state governments do their part and look at innovative incentives that push universities to keep tuition costs down. Federal investment in colleges and universities should be prioritized as a way to keep tuition costs down.

CORY BOOKER

I will stop at nothing to make sure that we have the best public education system in the world, and that every child, no matter where they’re born or who they’re born to, has a chance to go to a great school and to succeed in life. That’s why, even though I have no statutory authority over Newark schools, I have made improving them and supporting our teachers a central part of my work, including raising over $200 million to support them. It’s why so many of my policy proposals in my senate campaign have focused on educating our kids, including advocating for universal preschool and making college more affordable. There are currently more than 100,000 students in chronically underperforming schools right here in New Jersey. It is with this understanding that I have supported programs that my opponents have criticized me for, despite, in the case of two of them, having supported similar programs themselves. People mean different things when they use the word "vouchers," so let me tell you what I support: tax credits for parents whose child is in a failing school but who lack the resources and options enjoyed by well-off parents. When it comes to the poorest kids in failing schools, I will never stand in the way of a parent who wants to make a decision in the best interest of that child, in that moment. But this problem requires a bigger solution, which is why, as Senator, I will never rest until every child in New Jersey and across the country has access to world-class public schools.

Finally, we should tie federal aid for colleges and universities to keeping tuition costs down, start college and professional school trust accounts for children in Earned Income Tax Credit households to ensure that the rising costs of tuition does not prevent millions of low-income children from having the ability to receive a college education.

SHEILA OLIVER

The federal government can do much more to improve education and as a Senator it would be among my highest priorities to improve education in our urban areas. In poverty stricken urban areas we must provide more social support through recreational outlets, libraries, arts institutions and other opportunities for disadvantaged children.

Alongside non-profit partners, I would work to increase funds for those types of programs as well as funding for education to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes. We should invest in new facilities to replace the crumbling buildings in many of our cities. Teachers should be held accountable, but evaluations should not be based solely on standardized test scores but on a more complete look at performance and student development. On college tuition we should expand access to grants and scholarships while also looking at reducing student loan rates.

RUSH HOLT

As a former teacher and a current member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I have worked to invest in teacher training, improve early childhood education, and improve science and foreign language education. I know it is critical that we make the necessary investments in public education and sustain those investments over the long term.

I believe in public schools — in neighborhood public schools — and I have always opposed and voted against education voucher schemes.

Charter schools are part of public school systems, and we must hold them accountable and be willing to shut down charter schools that fail to meet expectations. We also should set interest rates for student loans at the same rate the big banks pay to borrow. And we must ensure that all children have access to high quality pre-kindergarten so that no one starts the race of life already behind.

GLOBAL WARMING

Storms have slammed into the East Coast in recent years, causing historic devastation. NASA says surface temperatures have risen increasingly faster in the last 100 years because of human activity. Is this an urgent issue? Should Congress raise taxes or write new regulations on carbon emissions?

FRANK PALLONE

Superstorm Sandy clearly showed that climate change is an urgent issue and the time to act is now. The science behind global climate change cannot be denied and doing so is dangerous.

I agree with President Obama’s recently proposed plan to address global climate change. First the U.S. must aggressively limit carbon emissions including coal powered utility plants. A carbon tax should be considered as part of that effort. Second, efforts to bolster our defenses against future storms and natural disasters must be accelerated including flood control and beach replenishment in New Jersey. Third, the U.S. must push for international agreements to reduce greenhouse gasses from major global sources.

CORY BOOKER

Global warming is a real and serious threat, and we must start acting like it. I applaud the President’s recent significant steps to regulate carbon emissions, but he was forced to act when Congress failed to come together around a path forward. We must pass legislation that reduces our carbon production, and employ a market-based approach, such as cap and trade or a carbon tax. Such a measure, and particularly a carbon tax, must be designed in a way that is sensitive to poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans, and to our economic growth. Either must also be paired with significant government investment in energy research and development so that consumers and businesses have access to cheap low-carbon alternatives. If done right, we can lead the world in both fighting global warming and creating good-paying jobs in the emerging green economy

SHEILA OLIVER

Climate change is clearly an urgent issue that government must act on. The millions of people impacted by Superstorm Sandy are proof positive that something more must be done. I support President Obama’s plan to fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions, accelerating clean energy leadership, building a 21st century transportation infrastructure and much more. It is unfortunate to see the kind of right wing, anti-science agenda that has taken hold of the Republican Party in Washington and is holding us back from taking meaningful action to solve this problem.

RUSH HOLT

The evidence is overwhelming: Climate change is real and deadly, and humans are largely to blame. Humans have dumped so much carbon dioxide into the air that concentrations are up 39 percent worldwide. And the consequences are exactly what physics predicts. Every single month since 1985 has been warmer than the historic average. All 12 of the warmest years on record have come in the last 15 years. We must cap greenhouse gas emissions and end the assault that corporate interests are waging on our planet. And we must institute a carbon tax to make polluters pay for the greenhouse gases they dump into our atmosphere.

GRIDLOCK

Deep divisions in Congress have impaired the government's ability to tackle major problems. What would you do to mend relations in Washington?

FRANK PALLONE

New Jersey needs a Senator who will get things done to improve the lives of working families. Getting significant legislation passed in Congress often requires reaching across the aisle and working with both parties. This kind of common sense approach is how I have worked to find solutions like bringing Sandy funding back to rebuild the Shore, improving drug and food safety, and cleaning up toxic sites through Brownfields legislation. Recently, I worked with my Republican colleague, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) to ensure that doctors continue to accept Medicare patients, so seniors can still see their own doctors. I have frequently worked in the House to break the logjams that have plagued Congress and believe I have made a difference in people’s lives. I will bring the same approach to the Senate.

CORY BOOKER

The gridlock and partisan bickering in Washington hurts America. Congress failed to pass a comprehensive jobs bill. They failed to pass a budget. Sequestration harms our servicemen and women and citizens across the country. But here in Newark, we acted. As mayor of New Jersey’s largest city, I worked with Governor Christie, with whom I frequently disagree, to create the largest economic development period in Newark since the 1960s. I also worked with the conservative Manhattan Institute to develop a re-entry program that reduced recidivism and increased employment. By finding areas of agreement, we improved the lives of the citizens of Newark. It’s time to bring that vision to the rest of New Jersey and the country. It’s time for a different type of experience in Washington. As your senator, I will work with anyone if it means making New Jersey a better place to live.

SHEILA OLIVER

President Obama came into office with a belief in bipartisanship and working with both sides in order to get things done for the American people. He was met by nothing but disrespect, intransigence and hostility by Republicans in the House and Senate. I believe in bipartisanship, as evidenced by my record as Assembly Speaker and the legislation that I worked on with both parties. But I also know that as Democrats we cannot allow the middle class and working families to be left behind and we must always stand up for the least among us. As a Senator I would work in good faith with anyone who was interested in solving problems, but I would never compromise my principles in the name of bipartisanship alone.

RUSH HOLT

My approach has always been to start with the evidence and work from there toward policies and solutions. Often, that’s an effective way to build consensus. For instance, when I learned about a constituent who had taken his own life after serving in Iraq, I worked with the soldier’s family, examined the evidence on military suicide, and reached across the aisle. Together with a New Jersey Republican, Rep. Jon Runyan, I secured $80 million for military suicide prevention programs at the Department of Defense and the VA. I’ve also partnered with Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, another New Jersey Republican, to help save 100 New Jersey energy research jobs and to increase funding for flooding prevention. I will continue to collaborate when possible — while always fighting for the deeply held beliefs of my constituents on issues like economic fairness, environmental protection, and human rights.

GUNS

After a mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut in December, the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg pushed for new limits on the number of bullets in magazines. But within months Congress all but gave up on tightening the nation's gun laws. Would you try to revive the debate?

FRANK PALLONE

Yes. I believe Congress has a responsibility to pass laws that will help protect Americans from senseless gun violence. I am a cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to strengthen and expand our background check system. I voted for the original Federal Assault Weapons Ban and I support reinstating it and closing the notorious gun show loophole.

Recently, I cosponsored a bill that would expand research into serious mental illness, improve access to mental health services, and increase public health research on gun violence. The legislation would also prohibit the sale of gun kits like those used in the Santa Monica shooting earlier this year, which allowed the shooter to exploit a loophole in state and federal gun laws to purchase a partially completed gun online. We need to take bold steps to assuage gun violence in our cities and communities throughout the nation and we can start with these common sense solutions.

CORY BOOKER

Yes. Illegal guns are pouring onto New Jersey’s streets every day, and there is no time to lose when it comes to passing sensible, common sense gun legislation. It is remarkable to me that when 90 percent of Americans agreed on the need for universal background checks, Congress still couldn’t find common ground. I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of illegal guns in American communities. While we have driven down shootings 27 percent in Newark since I took office, there’s still much more to do, and we, and communities across America, are working against the tide of nonsensical gun law loopholes and congressional underfunding of the ATF. We can do better. We must pass universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, and other clearly necessary measures that would keep our communities safe, and do so without infringing on Second Amendment rights. There is much common ground to be found — and I will reach across the aisle to find it, because nothing less than thousands of young people’s lives are at stake.

SHEILA OLIVER

The debate on gun control absolutely must be revived and as a Senator I would continue Senator Lautenberg’s push for stricter gun laws. As Speaker I have been combatting the gun lobby already as we have pushed for tighter background checks, limits on magazine size and other common sense reforms that the vast majority of New Jersey residents support. At every turn the gun lobby has pushed back hard, but I will never relent when it comes to fighting against the scourge of gun violence. Since Newtown there have been over 6,500 gun deaths in America and there are no signs of the violence stopping. The federal government must act and I would immediately take up that fight as a Senator

RUSH HOLT

Absolutely. We have lost far too many Americans to gunfire — more than 80 every day. We must bring gun violence under control. As New Jerseyans, we are fortunate to be protected by strong gun laws at the state level — but our safety is undermined by lax gun laws elsewhere in the country. So we must strengthen gun protections at the federal level. We must finally require universal background checks before any purchase of a firearm. We must ban military-style assault rifles, which are weapons of mass murder that have no use in sport or self-defense. We must establish national gun licensing registration laws. We must invest in the security necessary to ensure that our schools are sanctuaries from gun violence. And we must invest in mental health care to fight the kind of despair that leads a human being to use a gun to end a life.

IMMIGRATION

The Senate in June passed a bipartisan bill that redoubles border security and allows an estimated 11 million people who entered the country illegally to seek citizenship after 13 years, but the bill has met resistance in the House. How would you influence the process if the House and Senate appoint a conference committee to strike a deal?

FRANK PALLONE

It is clear that our immigration system is broken and I will work as a senator to see a comprehensive immigration reform bill signed into law. I strongly support the bill passed by the Senate, but believe that it is imperative that that Senate and House come together and pass a bill that will become law. I have served on conference committees in the past and I understand what it takes to negotiate a final bill that maintains a reasonable pathway to citizenship while allowing for sensible compromise. As a senator, I will leverage my connections in the House, with Republicans and Democrats alike, to craft a final comprehensive immigration bill that will create an earned pathway to citizenship, unite families, secure our borders and protect our workers.

CORY BOOKER

Senator Menendez and the Gang of Eight deserve tremendous credit for coming together to forge a Senate agreement that does not represent the ideal of either side, but makes practical compromises to move this important legislation forward. The House should pass the Senate bill, which already represents significant give and take, and stop politicizing an effort that is vital to human rights and to our nation’s economic prosperity. From increasing the number of H-1B visas to keeping families together to offering a path to citizenship for millions of people living in the shadows of our society, this legislation is needed, and needed now.

SHEILA OLIVER

Immigrants are an essential part of the American experience and the additions made to our culture by people from other countries have been innumerable. We are at an immigration crossroads in America, that is why I am in support of the current Senate reform legislation as well as the DREAM Act. I would work to create collaborations with the faith-based community. I suggest a series of roundtables facilitated by Congress that brings together Catholic Bishops; National Episcopal, Protestant and other denominational groups as well we the Chamber of Commerce and business groups to come to the best equitable solution. This issue is too important to be derailed by the usual Washington gridlock and we need to break out of the conventional wisdom to place pressure on anti-reform factions that are holding us back.

RUSH HOLT

I support the bipartisan Senate-passed bill as a great improvement over the broken system that exists. Most importantly, it represents a step toward bringing undocumented residents out of the shadows, and it will help create a more rational system for welcoming others who wish to pursue the American dream.

But I believe we must go farther and reframe the way we think about immigration. We must stop viewing immigration as a problem to be solved and start looking at it as an opportunity to be embraced. Our country has for generations been enriched culturally, social and economically by immigrants. A liberal immigration policy is an opportunity we must not pass up. It would make us a richer nation.

NATIONAL SECURITY

A National Security Agency program called PRISM, which collects phone data from all U.S. citizens, has alarmed lawmakers in both parties. Should the government be able to collect data without showing probable cause that a crime has been committed? Is this program constitutional? Would you take action on this issue in the Senate?

FRANK PALLONE

Unauthorized surveillance of citizens is unacceptable. I have serious concerns with the federal government’s warrantless wiretapping plan. I voted against the extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act because I believe American citizens have a constitutional right to privacy that should not be jeopardized by government intrusion. The Senate needs to investigate and ultimately rein in the National Security Agency’s program. The U.S. should not run a secret monitoring program against our own citizens without any cause for suspicion.

CORY BOOKER

I was deeply troubled by recent revelations regarding the scope and nature of the National Security Agency’s domestic data collection. Since the enactment of the PATRIOT Act, Congress has failed to take on a robust and thorough debate about whether the practices that the NSA and others have adopted conform to the letter and spirit of the Fourth Amendment. The PATRIOT Act must be amended to better strike the balance between privacy and security, and I will approach finding that balance recognizing the very real need to protect both American’s fundamental rights, and defend against the very real threat of terrorism.

SHEILA OLIVER

There is a delicate balance between safety and freedom when it comes to our privacy in the 21st Century. We absolutely must have transparency and disclosure. The government has to be more transparent with the American people on intelligence gathering techniques. I believe our citizens need to be aware of the ways in which we are potentially gathering intelligence both at home and abroad

RUSH HOLT

If you are innocent of wrongdoing, the United States government should not spy on your phone calls and e-mails. This is a simple belief, rooted in the clear language of the Fourth Amendment. Our government must never regard Americans as suspects first and citizens second. As former chairman of the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel, I know that warrantless surveillance programs have compromised Americans’ rights while providing only the illusion of security. I have introduced legislation repeal the Patriot Act and end warrantless spying on innocent Americans. I will continue to be the most outspoken voice in Congress to stop the NSA from following you around the Internet.

OBAMACARE

There is speculation that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, called Obamacare, could change significantly or be stunted by challenges as it is being implemented in coming years. If you support the law, are there aspects you can live without? If you don't support it, are there aspects you can live with? Will President Obama's decision to delay the employer mandate hurt consumers?

FRANK PALLONE

As one of the authors of Obamacare, I am proud of what it will achieve in providing health insurance with good benefits to most Americans at an affordable price. However, I have consistently opposed Medicare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which is a part of the health law. The IPAB is an unelected body that is tasked with making changes to the Medicare payment system independent of Congress, which is a process that I believe should not be ceded to an unelected body.

The president’s decision to delay the employer mandate portion of the law (which only applies to companies with 50 or more employees) will not have a major impact on the law’s effectiveness since 94 percent of companies with 50 to 199 employees and 98 percent of firms with 200 or more employees already offer health insurance. Americans who do not receive employer coverage will be able to purchase affordable insurance through the new health insurance marketplaces.

CORY BOOKER

The Affordable Care Act is a vital step in the right direction, and we must protect it from those in Congress who are trying to derail it. The ACA has already begun to provide millions of Americans with access to quality, affordable health insurance. We are seeing some of the early benefits, including a prohibition on denying coverage due to preexisting conditions and enhanced access to free preventative services, such as blood pressure screenings and mammograms. Instead of wasting time trying to repeal the bill — 40 times at last count — Republicans in Congress should instead come to the table and work to make sure it is successful. There is still much work to do to improve the quality of care and to design more effective cost control measures. While I am eager for Congress and the states to continue implementing the bill as quickly as possible, we must do so thoughtfully, and I stand with the President on his decision to delay the employer mandate, so that this breakthrough healthcare law that will help millions of Americans can be successful.

SHEILA OLIVER

I am a strong supporter of the President’s health care reforms because they will expand access to affordable health insurance for thousands of New Jersey residents who are currently uninsured. With anything this large in scope there are bound to be false starts and aspects of the law that need work, and I was happy to see the administration delay the employer mandate to give businesses more time to understand the implications of the new law. I believe that placing a burden on some very small business owners could cause some to make the choice to cut back on benefits to their employees - contradicting the intention of the legislation. As a Senator I would work for safeguards to protect small businesses while also covering their employees.

RUSH HOLT

I supported Obamacare, and even helped to write portions of it at the committee level, because it represented a step toward universal health care coverage. But it was only a step toward that goal. Even when it is fully enacted, millions of Americans will remain uninsured and costs will be only partially checked. The only way to guarantee high-quality care for every American is to create a single-payer system. Such a system — essentially, an expansion of the very successful Medicare program to cover all Americans &mdashl would be in keeping with the model that has successfully held down costs in countries all around the world.

TAXES

High taxes, a major issue for most voters, are a centerpiece of the debate in Congress. What changes would you make to the tax code, and are there loopholes you would try to close? In most opinion polls, New Jersey voters have favored higher taxes on wealthy earners. Do you?

FRANK PALLONE

The U.S. tax system is in need of substantial reforms to make it fairer, simpler and more efficient. As the Senate begins considering comprehensive tax reform, I will fight for a tax system that is fairer to middle class and low-income families and closes tax loopholes for corporations. We need to offer families security by permanently extending tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. We also need business tax reforms that create conditions for manufacturers to produce more goods in America. I also support tax incentives to promote green energy technology. At the same time, we must be concerned about our deficit, so I support tax reforms that would shift more of the burden to millionaires and large corporations.

CORY BOOKER

I am in full support of a tax code that is simple and in which everyone pays their fair share. We cannot allow middle-class Americans to disproportionately shoulder the country’s tax burden while we ignore loopholes that benefit the few, such as the tax break for owners of corporate jets. Everyone should have to play by the same set of rules. These are things that we should all be able to agree on, and I look forward to being able to reach across the aisle in Washington to make them happen.

SHEILA OLIVER

I believe we need a major overhaul to our tax policy. Our system is overly complicated and full of loopholes. However during this process we need to protect items that help middle class families like mortgage interest and charitable deductions while taking a hard look at the substantial subsidies given to corporations. Congress must focus on revamping our tax code, starting with fixing the inequity in taxation on our nation’s top earners and making sure everyone pays their fair share.

RUSH HOLT

Our tax code is broken. It charges high taxes on activities we should be promoting, such as research and development, while charging very low taxes on activities that hurt our country — such as Big Oil’s drilling and the outsourcing of jobs overseas. And our current tax code raises too little revenue. We should fix these problems. We should expand the R&D tax credit. We should end the special tax loopholes for Big Oil and other megacorporations. And we should raise more revenue in smart, targeted ways — for instance, by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay the same Social Security tax rate as ordinary Americans. Finally, it’s time to pass a carbon tax to seriously address climate change before it becomes too late. Polluters should pay the price for the damage they do to the air we breath, the water we drink, and the land we cherish.

VOTING RIGHTS ACT

The U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down the Voting Rights Act, a landmark civil rights law, writing that the statistics Congress relied on when it passed the law in 1965 no longer accurately reflect how minority voters are kept from the polls. Can Congress strike a deal to update the law? Would you take an active role?

FRANK PALLONE

Voting is a basic civil right and our obligation in a democracy is to expand and improve access to voting. I strongly disagree with the Court’s rationale for striking down section 4 of the Voting Rights Act since discrimination continues to exist in those states that have been historically subject to preclearance. President Obama has called for a two phase action program. First he authorized U.S. Attorney General Holder to sue states that continue to obstruct voting rights under other sections of the law. Second, he has called upon Congress to pass legislation that would revise section 4 to require preclearance against any state that obstructs voting regardless of its pattern of historical discrimination. I am fully committed to working in the Senate to craft a revised Voting Rights Act that can become law and survive judicial challenge. While we have made great advancements towards ending discrimination, the success of the Voting Rights Act should not be used to justify its elimination.

CORY BOOKER

The threat to voting rights in America remains very real. The Voting Rights Act has been instrumental in the fight to protect one of our most precious constitutional rights and Congress must now act decisively in the wake of the Supreme Court’s deeply troubling and damaging decision. But, remarkably enough, updating the law and once again putting in place robust protections will not be easy. It will take a national conversation and working across the aisle. I remain confident, though, that if a divided Congress in 1965 could draft and pass this landmark civil rights legislation, we can successfully revisit that work today. In the meantime, the Justice Department and advocates should continue using other avenues within the law, left untouched by the Court’s decision, to actively protect minority voting rights.

SHEILA OLIVER

Congress must act to pass a 21st century Voting Rights Act and if elected I will work toward an immediate restoration of the most important aspects of the law to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their race or socio-economic class, have full and equal access to the ballot box and equitable representation. Minority voter suppression tactics are a serious problem in many states and without a strong, clear Voting Rights Act it will be difficult to continue the fight to protect everyone’s right to vote.

RUSH HOLT

The Voting Rights Act is a bedrock civil rights law, and Congress must act to restore federal oversight to prevent voter discrimination in America, not only the in the old Confederacy states. But we must go further to ensure that every voter’s voice is heard. We must fight back against state laws that disenfranchise minority voters by placing burdensome requirements on their right to vote. We must pass a federal law that sets high, uniform standards for voting machines — ensuring that no voter casts a ballot on insecure, unverifiable electronic machines. I will continue to be the leader in Congress on election reform to restore voter’s confidence that their votes are recorded and counted as intended.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Election 2013: Where the Republican U.S. Senate candidates stand on the issues

• Democratic U.S. Senate candidates debate in Newark

• All four Democratic U.S. Senate candidates debate in Montclair

• Complete coverage of the 2013 special U.S. Senate election

FOLLOW STAR-LEDGER POLITICS: TWITTER | FACEBOOK