2020 Election Policy Review
Topics
Abortion
Biden
Joe Biden is pro-choice. Despite supporting the Hyde Amendment in the past, he changed his position in 2019, and now defends repealing it. Biden vowed to restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood and reissue guidance stating that states cannot refuse Medicaid funding for abortion service providers. He also pledged to rescind the Mexico City Policy.
Trump
Trump assumed a firm pro-life stance after entering politics. In the last four years, he reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, called for a ban to late-term abortion and medical research that uses tissues from aborted fetuses, overturned previous regulation that prohibited states from defunding abortion services, and defunded Planned Parenthood.
Kamala Harris is a long-time defender of women's reproductive rights and supports federal funding for family planning clinics. She co-sponsored the Women's Health Protection Act in 2019 and is backed by pro-choice organizations, such as NARAL and Emily's List. She expressed her desire to repeal the Hyde Amendment and voted against the bill that would limit abortions to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Mike Pence is a prominent defender of the pro-life movement, with a long history of signing or sponsoring anti-abortion regulations. He was the first to introduce a bill to defund Planned Parenthood at a federal level, back in 2007, and has stated that abortion will be outlawed soon. He is the first vice-president to visit a pro-life pregnancy clinic and is currently touring the country with the 'Life Wins' tour with the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List.
Budget & Economy
Biden
Joe Biden supports allocating federal budgets to promote growth and create new jobs. Biden plans to tax the top 1%, eliminating the benefits of the TCJA. He will raise taxes on ordinary income for those making over $400,000 from 37% to 39.6%. Biden supports expanding tax credits for lower-income workers and raising the national minimum wage.
Trump
Trump opposes increasing income taxes to higher brackets; in fact, he indicated a tax cut for the wealthy. In August, he proposed a tax cut on capital gains and alluded to income tax cuts for middle-class families, but without any further details. He defends tax cuts as a way to promote economic growth, as oppose to increase federal spending. Trump approved the CARES Act, a stimulus package during the pandemic.
Kamala Harris defends raising tax income rates for the higher income brackets. During her campaign trail, she proposed implementing income-based premiums on those making more than $100,000.
Pence's declarations indicate that he favors tax cuts and lower tax rates. During a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he advocated for fewer state employees.
Civil Rights
Biden
Biden has expressed support for affirmative action and legally requiring hiring minorities. He opposes mixing religion with politics. He is proposing laws and policies to ensure full inclusion of individuals with disabilities. He promised to reaffirm that the Civil Rights Acts include LGBT people, support trangender and non-binary people in the workforce, and to stop employment discrimination in the federal government, including revsersing the trangender military ban. He also said he will ensure transgender individuals have access to identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity.
Trump
Trump changed his stance on the Patriot Act and is now opposing the renewal bill. Trump does not seem inclined to defend gender identity anti-discrimination laws. The Trump administration has restricted transgender rights, such as reverting insurance protection, use of bathrooms, and banning transgender individuals from the military. Trump supports historically Black colleges and universities, and signed funding laws to increase money for the federal Pell Grant program. He announced he would repeal and replaced Obama's housing rules aimed at reducing racial bias and discrimination. He is skeptical of use of affirmative actions in college admissions.
Harris strongly favors legally require hiring women and minorities and affirmative actions. She supports reparations for slavery, which should include include HBCU and reforms
Mike Pence has a history of socially conservative positions regarding LGTB and gender identity issues. Neither Trump nor Pence has publicly declared support for the Equality Act. He opposes legally requiring hiring minorities and women. He supports religion freedom and protection. Has a history of voting against legislation that requires employers to provide equal pay or prohibiting discrimination in the workplace based on gender, race or sexual orientation.
Corporations
Biden
Biden plans to raise corporate tax rates from 21% to 28%, with a 15% minimum 'book-tax' for corporations with more than $100 million in income. He is open to the idea of dismantling companies like Facebook.
Trump
Trump said he would extend the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) and reduce payroll taxes as a stimulus measure. He also expressed some concern regarding the monopoly of big tech companies
Harris supports raising tax rates for corporations
Pence shares Trump's views
Crime
Biden
Biden opposes the death penalty and solitary confinement. He also supports reducing mass incarceration.
Trump
Trump supported restarting executions of federal death row prisoners.
Harris opposes the death penalty. She strongly opposes for-profit prisons and has stated that America has a problem of mass incarceration. Developed the Back on Track program for non-violent first-time offenders
Pence supports banning the use of solitary confinement for juveniles. In 2016, he said that government should focus on reducing crime, not penalties.
Drugs
Biden
Biden opposes the death penalty and solitary confinement. He also supports reducing mass incarceration.
Trump
Trump supported restarting executions of federal death row prisoners.
Harris opposes the death penalty. She strongly opposes for-profit prisons and has stated that America has a problem of mass incarceration. Developed the Back on Track program for non-violent first-time offenders
Pence supports banning the use of solitary confinement for juveniles. In 2016, he said that government should focus on reducing crime, not penalties.
Education
Biden
Biden supports banning for-profit charter schools and increasing accountability. He supports free community college. He opposes federal funding directed to for-profit charter schools and vouchers for private school tuition. He supports national, free universal pre-K program.
Trump
Trump favors local education. He implemented the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to allow states flexibility and end top-down mandates. He supports school choice, which gives family more options in K-12 educations, typically referring to vouchers for private tuition or charter schools.
During the Democratic primaries, Harris stated she would provide relief from student debt by allowing debt holders to 'refinance high-interest loans to lower rates, expanding Income Based Repayment.' Harris also co-sponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, supporting universal access to preschool program. Supports national universal pre-K (2019).
In 2016, Pence supported publicly funded vouchers for low- and middle-income families and charter schools. He supports the right to choose schools.
Energy & Oil
Biden
Biden supports nuclear energy. Biden has called for more research into the effects of fracking and opposes new drilling on public lands.
Trump
Trumps supports nuclear energy. In 2016, he stated his support for hydraulic fracking and offshore oil drilling.He also said the US should expand offshore drilling.
Harris favors banning fracking. During her campaign she introduced a plan to address climate change and achieve 100% carbon neutral electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2045. She also said she would end federal subsidies for fossil fuel production.
Pence declared that the Clean Power Plan was 'hamstringing energy in this country, raising the cost of utility rates for working families across this country.' In 2016, he supported the use of hydraulic fracking and offshore drilling.
Environment
Biden
Biden support tax credit for the wind power industry and vowed to accelerate research on battery technology. One of his proposals is to reform and extend tax incentives to clean energy. He vowed to instate policies that would direct the United States to achieve net-zero emissions..
Trump
In 2016, Trump opposed tax credit for the wind power industry. Trump opposes prioritizing green energy.
Harris supports prioritizing green energy. She opposes selling or leasing public land for drilling. She expressed her support for ending the use of coal.
Pence supported tax credits and subsidies for the wind power industry in 2016. Pence opposes prioritizing green energy.
Families & Children
Biden
Biden favors mandatory vaccinations. Biden supports women's access to free birth control and contraceptive coverage.
Trump
In the past, Trump opposed mandatory vaccination and disputed the early childhood schedule. He stated that instead of mandatory vaccination, the government should fund public ad campaigns about risks and benefits. )2016) However, after the measles outbreak, he is now in favor of vaccinations, and signed an executive order to modernize influenza vaccines and 'help protect more Americans through vaccination.' He also expressed support for COVID-19 vaccines, but did not discuss mandatory vaccinations. Trump supports employers' rights to opt-out of providing birth control insurance coverage for moral or religious reasons.
Harris supports the government requiring children to be vaccinated. As a defender of reproductive rights, she believes companies should provide coverage for birth-control, and insurance providers should be required to offer free contraceptives.
In 2015, Pence advocated for letting parents and doctors decide on HPV vaccinations, and lobbied against government mandates. He does not believe insurance providers should be required to offer free birth control.
Foreign Policy
Biden
Biden said he would withdraw the majority of US troops from Afghanistan, but did not mention a target date. Biden wants to end the support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. He also said Saudi leaders should be isolated for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, saying 'there's very little social redeeming value in the present government in Saudi Arabia.' (November 2019) Biden now opposes the TPP, as it will 'incentivize companies to move jobs out of the country.' (2019)
Trump
Trump stated he wants a full military withdrawal from Afghanistan but is yet to set a target date. Trump defended supporting Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen as a way to prevent Iran from gaining more power in the region. Trump opposes the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Harris supports pulling all military troops out of Afghanistan. Harris does not believe the US should provide military aid to Saudi Arabia. Opposes the TPP due to environmental and labor concerns.
Pence supports pulling all military troops out of Afghanistan. Pence opposed military aid to Saudi Arabia. In 2016, Pence supported the TPP and trade agreements with Pacific Rim and China.
Free Trade
Biden
Biden favors trade deals, with reservations. For example, in 2019, he declared 'Either China is going to write the rules of the road on trade or we are. We have to join with the 40% of the world we had with us, and this time make sure environmentalists and labor are there. I would not rejoin the TPP as it was initially put forward.' He believes in using tariffs to get China to lower emissions, and that labor should be involved in renegotiating NAFTA. He said he would push trade agreements that 'don't hamper the international exchange of goods but don't disadvantage American consumers or business, while also holding China accountable for intellectual property abuses.' (2019)
Trump
Trump opposes expanding free trade and favors American businesses. (2018) He typically opposes trade deals. In 2016, he said that 'trade pacts are no good for us and no good for our workers.' Trump is a firm opposer of the NAFTA agreement, calling it the 'worst deal ever.' (2016)
She proposes renegotiating the NAFTA agreement, focusing on environmental and labor standards. (2019) Harris does not support using tariffs to pressure countries, as she believes it hurts American consumers, workers, and companies. (2019)
Pence tends to favor multilateral negotiations and free trade. In 2016, Pence supported the NAFTA and GATT Uruguay Round agreements. Pence also believes government should add or increase tariffs on imported products.
Government Reform
Biden
Biden opposes abolishing the Electoral College. (2020)
Trump
Trump supports the Electoral College. (2019)
Harris has stated that she is open to abolishing the electoral college. (2019)
Pence supports the Electoral College. (2016)
Gun Control
Biden
Biden vowed to end the gun violence epidemic. He stated he would make a priority repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. He will also ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. (2020) He promised to enact universal background check legislation, with limited exceptions, to prohibited individuals adjudicated by the SSA from purchasing or possessing firearms, as well as those convicted for hate crimes. (2020) Biden opposes online sales of guns and ammunition. He also supports working towards ensuring that 100% of firearms sold in the United States are smart guns.
Trump
Trump stated he is a firm believer in the Second Amendment and echoes some of the NRA talking points. It is not likely he would make gun legislation a priority. (2019) In 2018, he expressed support for universal background checks and restricting gun sales for young adults and mentally ill individuals. However, he later backtracked and threatened to veto a background check bill. In 2019, he stated he 'opposes any legislation that unfairly infringes upon the rights of law-abiding citizens.'
Harris supports mandatory buyback for assault weapons, background check legislation, and banning the manufacturing and importation of assault weapons. (2019). During her presidential campaign, she threatened to take executive action on gun control if Congress kept delaying it. (2019) She supports restricting access to gun ownership for dangerous convicts and mentally ill individuals. (2016) Harris supports the 'red flag' law. (2019)
Pence believes gun ownership increases public safety. (2019) He received an A rating from the NRA for his pro-gun voting record. He favors the right to gun ownership and has voted YES on issues favoring gunmakers.
Health Care
Biden
Biden opposes single-payer systems such as Medicare for All. He defends a public option that would 'serve as an alternative, not a replacement, for private insurance.' (2020) He has vowed to strengthen the ACA. (2020) Biden has not positioned himself regarding the federal government producing and selling generic drugs. However, his health care plan includes a provision that would prohibit companies from increasing the price of generic drugs above the inflation rate to participate in Medicare and public option programs. (2020)
Trump
Trump opposes the ACA ('Obamacare') and has used executive power to undermine it. He has not proposed a replacement yet. He opposes the single-payer health care system. (2018) Trump proposed basing the price of Medicare drugs on the price in foreign countries. He also supports importing some prescription drugs to lower costs.
Harris co-sponsored the Medicare for All plan; however, her vision differs from Bernie's. She defended letting people decide if they wanted to purchase insurance from the Government or private companies. She also indicated that employer-sponsored coverage would still exist under her plan. (2019) Harris supports the idea of the federal government negotiating drug prices. (2019)
Pence has a anti-public health voting record and opposes the ACA. Opposes the government regulating drug prices. (2018)
Homeland Security
Biden
Biden criticized Trump's decision to pull troops from Syria. (2019) He supports accepting refugees. (2019)
Trump
Trump opposes accepting refugees from 'terrorist countries.' (2018) In 2019, he said, 'our country is full' while referring to refugees seeking asylum from political persecution. In 2015, he stated that Syrian refugees were a 'Trojan Horse' for ISIS. In 2017, he enacted an executive order banning the entrance of immigrants from various countries, including Syrian refugees.
Harris supported accepting Syrian refugees and opposes abruptly pulling American troops from Syria.(2017)
Pence opposes accepting Syrian refugees, considering he issued an order that prohibited them from entering Indiana. (2015) He supported suspending the Syrian refugee program. (2016) He advocated for closing asylum loopholes. (2019)
Climate Change
Biden
Biden proposes a comprehensive climate plan, including $2 trillion in spending to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035. Biden wants to strengthen auto emission standards, including incentives for manufacturers to produce zero-emission cars. He also proposes a federal procurement program for clean vehicles. He vowed to re-enter the United States in the Paris Climate accord. Supports setting a price on carbon. (2020)
Trump
Trump believes the Green New Deal will not fulfill energy needs in the United States. (2019) In 2017, Trump rejected the Paris accord. In November 2019, he officially announced that the United States would in fact withdraw from the Paris climate accord. In 2017, he signed an executive order to nullify previous climate change efforts and revive the coal industry. In 2018, he stated that the United States needed to end the war on coal. Trump does not have an official climate plan yet, but it is unlikely based on previous actions and statements that he would support extensive carbon tax policies. Trump has replaced Obama's auto emission standards with weaker ones. According to Reuters, he 'Has announced plans to slash air and water regulations but due to abundant natural gas and falling prices for wind and solar power, he has failed to stop coal plant shutdowns during his term in office.'
Harris co-sponsored a resolution opposing Trump's decision to leave the Paris Agreement (2017). She co-sponsored the Green New Deal, the COAST Anti-Drilling Act, and the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, and introduced the Climate Equity Act (2019). During her presidential campaign, Harris lobbied for federal legal action against fossil fuel companies. Harris holds a 91% 'pro-environmental lifetime voting record on the LCV scorecard (that's better than Biden's lifetime score of 83 percent).
In April 2020, Pence expressed his support for Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the 'job-killing' Paris climate accord. He also indicated support for the fossil fuel industry. History of voting against tax credits for renewable and clean energy.
Immigration
Biden
Biden promised to pause deportations for 100 days after assuming office. He opposed Trump's decision to end the DACA program and vowed to make Dreamers eligible for federal college aid. He also committed to providing a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants. Biden said he would 'end the prosecution of parents for minor immigration violations' and reunite separated families. He also promised to rescind the travel bans instated by Trump. Biden does not support temporary ban on all immigration into the United States. He supports access to government-subsidized healthcare, but only for life threatening emergencies or infectious diseases. Stated he did not want to decriminalize illegal border crossings. (2019).
Trump
Trump supports deporting immigrants who have committed crimes. (2016) Trump implemented an emergency policy to allow officials to rapidly deport immigrants caught at the Mexican border. Trump ended the DACA program in 2017 (Supreme court later ruled against his decision), and blocked new enrollment, allowing only renewals that last one year. Trump adopted a zero-tolerance policy to prosecute illegal border crossings in 2018. After receiving backlash, he signed an executive order to end the policy. Trump banned entry to immigrants coming from seven 'Muslim countries' with an executive order. The amended version of this order has now been expanded to other countries. He opposes access to government-subsidized healthcare to illegal immigrants. Trump opposed Catch & Release laws (2018).
Harris supports healthcare for illegal immigrants. (2019) Harris believes illegally crossing the border should be a civil offense, not a crime. (2019) Supports government healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. (2019) Supports creating a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants. (2019)
Pence supported Trump's efforts to deport criminal immigrants, stating that the focus of internal border control enforcement should be on 'criminal aliens.' (2016) He also supported ending sanctuary cities. (2016) He supports returning illegal immigrants to their country of origin before they get citizenship. (2016)
Terrorism/National Security
Biden
Biden stated that he would favor dealing with Iran through diplomacy. He supports re-entering the nuclear deal if Iran returned to compliance with the restrictions. He promised to 'end forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East.' (2019) Supported leaving special forces in the Middle East in 'terms of patrolling the Gulf.' (2020) Biden states that he supported the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, which could show a disposition to endorse assassinating terrorist suspects; however, some dispute his version of the events. (2015)
Trump
In the past, Trump questioned 'he benefits of U.S. military interventions in the Middle East,' but his administration sent more troops to the region. Trump supports limiting access to nuclear weapons to some countries. (2019) He withdrew the US from the nuclear deal made with Iran, Europe, and Russia. It is likely that Trump supports assassinating suspected terrorist in foreign countries given his declarations in 2015. He also ordered a strike that Killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, after Iranian proxies and US military forces clashed in Iraq. Supported military actions to suppress ISIS. (2016)
Supports bringing troops home. (2019) Supports Israel. (2019) Supports rejoining the Iran nuclear deal. (2019)
Supports limiting access to nuclear weapons to some countries. (2019) Pence supports military action against ISIS. (2016)
Defense
Biden
Biden supports boosting the defense budget, but also stated it is necessary to reassess how it is spent.
Trump
In 2016, Trump stated he would cut the Defense budget (along with other departments). However, in 2020, he advocated for increasing defense spending. He is focused on 'rebuilding the military.'
Harris supports cutting the defense budget. (2019)
Pence supports increasing defense spending (2019)
Taxes
Biden
Biden proposes a reduction of the estate tax exemption limit from $11.58 million to $5.49 million, and the reinstatement of homer buyers' tax credit. (2020) He proposed increasing capital gains rates, from 20% to 39.6% on income over $1 million. (2020)
Trump
Trump supports cutting taxes on capital gains. (2020) Supports tax cuts to companies to stimulate the economy and create jobs. (2018) Supports cutting payroll taxes. (2020)
Supports raising capital gain taxes, expanding estate taxes to cover increased teacher salaries, and imposing financial transaction tax on stock trades, bond trades, and derivative transactions. (2019)
Supports reducing tax on capital gains. Supports corporate tax cuts. (2016) Supported lowering taxes for small business and family farms. (2016) Supported the CARES Act, which offered tax breaks for companies keeping employees. (2020)
Racism/Race Relations
Biden
Biden positioned himself as a defender of racial equality. He vowed to spur billions in additional public-private venture capital to minority (Black and Brown) entrepreneurs, invest in minority communities, and promised to appoint the first Black women to the Supreme Court. Supports laws that make it easier to pursue legal action over wage discrimination. Vowed to create new fair-housing and fair-lending projects. Is open to the idea of paying cash reparations to Black people, but wants to study its feasibility.
Trump
Trump responded to the protests over George Floyd's death by 'urging militaristic response.' Trump claims he has helped the Black community more than Obama and Lyndon Johnson, typically mentioning employment numbers. He usually deflects from questions related to white supremacy and has made derogatory comments about some majority Black nations. However, his police reform did help the Black community, and the TCJA also benefited some neighborhoods with high populations of people of color, and directed funds to the HBCUs. Trump supports qualified immunity to police officers.
Harris said, during her presidential campaign, that America should focus on fighting white supremacy. (2019) She supports reparations for Black communities, including investments in HBCUs, poverty, and criminal justice reforms. (2019) Harris has long defended protecting minorities. She equates white supremacy to terrorism and has been vocal about racial issues, including calling out Biden regarding his past. (2019)
In 2016, Pence stated that bringing up implicit bias every time there is a tragedy demeans police officers. Pence initially supported Trump in his desire for military action in response to the protests but also stated that Americans have the right to protest peacefully. He walked out of an NFL game in 2017 after players knelt during the anthem, and refused to say 'Black lives matter,' opting to declare that 'all lives matter.'
LGBT Rights
Biden
He supports the Equality Act, saying it is a civil rights issue. (2019) After being against same-sex marriages in the past, Biden was the first national leader to publicly support same-sex marriage. (May, 2012) Supports transgenders individuals in the military. (2019) Supports LGBTQ adoption, saying 'along with the freedom to marry comes the freedom to build a family.' (2019)
Trump
In 2019, Trump denounced Iran's criminalization of homosexuality. During his 2016 campaign, Trump stated that he was not going to discriminate against the LGBT+ community. He also said that gender identity should be added to anti-discrimination laws. However, after elected, he supported banning transgender individuals from the military. During his presidential campaign, he also said that transgender people should be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice; after elected, he rescinded protections for transgender students in 2017. His administration also scaled back workplace protections for the LGBT community and argued that the federal anti-discrimination law does not protect gay employees. In 2019, the Trump administration submitted a brief to the Supreme Court saying that taxpayer-funded organizations should be able to refuse to work with same-sex couples or anyone whom the group considers in violation of their religious beliefs in response to a case in Philadelphia, which would mean that a non-profit child welfare agency could refuse to place adoptive or foster children with same-sex couples.
Harris is considered pro-LGBT and has supported many initiatives protecting the LGBT community. She has a long history of supporting initiatives to investigate and prosecute anti-LGBTQ violence. She co-sponsored legislation supporting LGBTQ rights and spoked out against the violence faced by transgender women. She announced her chief of staff would be a lesbian woman.
Pence has a history of opposing legislation in favor of the LGBT+ community. He opposed marriage equality, supported the ban of transgender people from the military and businesses' rights to refuse service and employment based on sexual orientation. In 2017 he state that he supported Trump saying that there was no place in the Trump administration for LGBT+ discrimination. He also constantly refers to his faith. He describes himself as 'Christian, a conservative and a Republican--in that order' and has supported religious freedom, even when it goes against the LGBT community. Supported the Anti-LGBTQ adoption rule. (2019)
Social Security
Biden
Biden plans to use the money from the increased taxes to expand Social Security benefits. In the past, he discussed raising retirement age, but his current platforms does not mention the issue. Biden platforms would enable teachers who are not eligible for Social Security to receive pension benefits before than the 10 years that many plans require. He also calls for 'eliminating benefit cuts for workers who are eligible for both Social Security and a separate pension.'
Trump
Trump signed an executive order to cut payroll taxes as a response to the pandemic. It is a temporary provision. However, he said that Social Security will be paid using the general fund instead of payroll taxes in the future, if he wins. (2020) Trump has stated that cutting entitlements will be considered at some point, but for now, this Administrations has not trimmed Social Security benefits. Trump has not provided a specific social security platform for a second term. Some of his actions point towards a reduction in Social Security expenditures. Has defended privatization in the past.
Harris opposes entitlement cuts. (2019)
In 2016, Pence favored personal investment accounts for Social Security retirement.
Criminal Justice
Biden
He supports eliminating mandatory-minimum sentences. (2020) Opposes the use of private prisons by the federal government. (2020) Biden supports reforming qualified immunity. (2020) He opposes defunding the police and promise to invest $300 million in a program to increase diversity and provide training. (2020) Biden supports convicted criminals' right to vote only after they served their sentences. (2019) Defended that police departments should have uniform use-of-force policy. However, he did not clarify if this would be a national policy. (2019) Biden defends that states should pass red-flag laws, and said he would fund implementation. (2019)
Trump
He signed an executive order towards police reform, which encourages police to restrict the use of force, but does not restrict warrants that allow the police to enter proprieties. Trump Signed the First Step Act in 2018, which reduces mandatory-minimum sentences. Trump opposes convicted felons' right to vote. (2016) Supports private prisons. His administration sued the state of California for naming for-private prison contracts. (2020)
Supports eliminating mandatory-minimum sentences for drug possession. (2019) Harris did not clarify whether or not she supports felons right to vote from prison. She indicated that it depends on the crime they committed. (2019)
Supports private prisons. Reinstated mandatory-minimum prison terms during his term as Governor. (2016) Said that Indiana's red flag laws could be used as a blueprint for similar laws across the country. (2019)
Student Debt
Biden
Biden defends student debt relief. (2019) Supports free public colleges and universities for families who earn less than $125,000. (2019) Regarding existing loans, those making less than $25,000 per years wouldn't be required to pay students loans. (2019)
Trump
Trump suspended federal student loan interest and payments until December 31, 2020, as a response to the pandemic, with the possibility to expand even further. (August 2020) His 2020 and 2021 budget proposed consolidation of income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and elimination of Public Service Loan Forgiveness. He increased IDR payments from 10% to 12.5%. He also proposed that undergrads would be eligible to receive loan forgiveness after 15 years, instead of 20. Graduate borrowers, on the other hand, would need 30 years of payment before qualifying for forgiveness.
Harris supports income-based repayments and allowing students to refinance loans. (2019) She also expressed support for funding a program to provide free tuition at public colleges and universities for students with incomes of $125,000 or less.
Pence has not made any recent notable statement regarding student debt, apart from supporting Trump.
Religious Freedom
Biden
Biden opposes allowing businesses to deny service based on religion. (2015) He promised to celebrate pluralism and not favor any religion. (2020)
Trump
Supports religious freedom. Supports allowing businesses and non-profits to deny service based on religion. (2019)
Harris supports Israel but called for a distinction between the Islamic religion and terrorism. (2015) Opposes allowing businesses to deny service based on religion. (2018)
Strong and long-time supporter of religious freedom. Pence has a long history of defending, introducing and voting for legislation that defends religious freedom on multiple themes, often to the detriment of minorities. However, his support is usually focused on freedom for Christianity.
Marijuana
Biden
He supports decriminalizing marijuana, but states should decide on legalizing it. (2019)
Trump
Trump opposes legalizing marijuana.
She called for the legalization of marijuana at a federal level and co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act.
Based on Pence's statements during the 2016 campaign, he does opposes legalizing marijuana at a federal level.
Border Security
Biden
Biden said he would not remove the border wall, but would not continue construction, as he favors investing in border enforcement strategies. (2019) Defends that seeking asylum is not crossing the border illegally. (2019) Supports securing the borders, investing in border technology, and improving screening procedures. (2019)
Trump
Trump is currently building the wall in the border with Mexico, as he promised during his 2016 campaign. Mexico did not pay for any of the construction, it was funded by the US government. He is now seizing lands to further the construction.
Harris defends due process and right to counsel for asylum seekers. (2019) She opposes the wall, calling it a 'vanity project.' (2019)
Pence stated that the government needs to close asylum loopholes, as '90% of the people never show up for their hearing in the months ahead.' (2019) He called the 'unsecured Mexican border' a national emergency and called for more border security. (2019)
Social Media
Biden
Biden also supports revoking Section 230. He called for Facebook to fact-check political posts. Biden has called for social media companies to take action against interference in American elections. (2020)
Trump
Trump accused social media companies of censoring conservatives. After Twitter put fact-checking label on two of his tweets, he signed an executive order seeking new regulatory oversight of tech companies' content moderation decisions. He also backed legislation to weaken Section 230, which exempts platforms such as Twitter from legal liability for users' content.. He is currently trying to ban TikTok.
Harris has been critical of tech companies. It is likely that she would promote algorithmic accountability and transparency. (2020) Like Biden, she has been outspoken about social media companies preventing foreign government interference in the elections. (2020)
Pence has not made any notable statement recently regarding social media companies, apart from supporting Trump and opposing Section 230.
Foreign Aid
Biden
Biden supports expanding foreign aid to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to reduce asylum seekers. (2019)
Trump
Trump proposed in February 2020 a 21% cut in foreign aid the US provides other countries. He stated that Foreign aid should only go to allies with shared values. (2018) When countries voted against the United States right to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Trump considered they should no longer receive American assistance. (2018)
Harris consistently opposed cuts to the International Affairs Budget. She also supported strong funding for vulnerable populations and opposed cuts to foreign assistance in Central America.
He has been accused of rerouting Middle East aid to Christian groups. (2019)
Gerrymandering
Biden
Biden spoke out against partisan gerrymandering, stating that for too long 'partisan gerrymandering has allowed politicians to rig the political process and draw districts in their favor. Voters should choose their representatives — not the other way around.' (2019) He believes that an independent, non-partisan commission should control the redrawing of Congressional districts.
Trump
He opposes an independent, non-partisan commission controling the redrawing of Congressional districts, based on his 2018 statments regarding Pennsylvania's Congressional Map.
Harris release a statement against gerrymandering, saying 'Now is the time to end gerrymandering. Politicians shouldn’t be able to pick their voters, voters should choose their representatives.' (2019)
Pence has been accused of gerrymandering during his time as the Governor of Indiana. (2015) Pence did not make any recent public states related to the issue.
Welfare & Poverty
Biden
Biden does not support universal basic income program but stated he might revisit the issue in the future. (2019)
Trump
Trump has restricted eligibility and proposed expanding work requirements to access social safety net benefits. (2018) He supported drug testing for welfare recipients. (2018)
She supported a massive expansion of the EITC called the LIFT Act, which would add another monthly credit (tied to work) to low-income people who work. She opposes universal basic income.
Pence supports drug testing for welfare recipients. (2015)
Infrastructure & Technology
Biden
Biden vowed to improve water quality in a comprehensive way. He said he would prioritize strategies and technologies that result in greater air and water quality, and develop clean water infrastructure. (2020) Promised to improve existing public transit options, install infrastructure for bicyclist, and provide zero-net emissions public transportation options in cities with more than 100,000 residents.
Trump
He announced $760 million in federal founding for 10 transit projects across the country. (2020) Trump tends to favor spending on roads and highways than public transportation and has tried to cut overall funding for the Department of Transportation. Trump repealed a clean water regulation from the Obama government that limited polluting chemicals that could be used near bodies of water. (2019) The New York Times reported that the Trump administration reversed, revoked, or rolled back at least 11 water pollution regulations.(2020)
Harris introduced legislation to ensure water sustainability, called Water for Tomorrow Act. She supported shutting down the Dakota Pipeline.
Pence has stated that the US has the 'cleanest air and water in the world,' which is somewhat true. The United States ranks number 10 for air quality and is tied for first for drinking water quality. However, it ranks 29th regarding water and sanitation quality. Pence supported the Dakota Pipeline. (2017)
Employment
Biden
Biden supports 12 weeks of mandated paid sick and family leave. (2019) He vowed to ensure middle-class workers would be paid fairly for overtime, but his plan did not provide a threshold. He also plans to extend overtime pay and minimum age to agricultural workers on non-family farms and domestic workers.
Trump
Trump urged Congress to pass the Advancing Support for Working Families Act, extending family leave to mothers and fathers all across the Nation. Supports paid family leave for federal employees. (2020) In 2019, Trump lifted the annual salary threshold below which workers qualify for overtime to $35,568. Employers have to pay time-and-a-half to those making less than the threshold for all hours beyond 40 per week.
Harris supports broad paid family and medical leaves. (2019)
In the past, Pence opposed paid parental leave for federal employees, but he seems to support Trump now.
Economic Inequality
Biden
Biden proposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, eliminating tipped minimum wages, and subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities. (2020)
Trump
Prior to his election, Trump supported raising the minimum wage. He now opposes it. (2020)
Harris supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. (2019).
Pence has a history of opposing minimum wage raises.
Animal Rights
Biden
Biden co-sponsored bills to end animal fighting. He voted against opening the Artic National Wildlife refuge to oil and gas development. He also co-sponsored the Pet Safety and Protection Act.
Trump
Trump signed a bill making animal cruelty a federal felony. (2019) Trump's EPA announced it would start to phase out animal testing. (2019)
Harris is a known defender of animal rights and co-sponsored numerous bills to combat animal cruelty.
It is unclear what is Pence's position regarding animal welfare and animal testing. He has a history of opposing animal welfare bills. On August 20, he strongly supported the consumption of meat.
Supreme Court
Biden
Biden opposes the idea of adding new seats to the Supreme Court, saying 'I would not get into court packing.' (2019)
Trump
Trump stated in 2019 that he would not add more sits to the Supreme Court.
In 2019, Harris said she was open to expanding the Supreme Court. She also said she would be interested in implementing term limits and limiting the number of nominees per president.
Despite criticizing Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Pence has not made any statements regarding term limits or adding more seats to the Supreme Court.
Womens Rights
Biden
Biden vowed to end violence against women, and to address the wealth gap and fight for equal pay. He favors legally require hiring women.
Trump
Trump has blocked and revered equal pay laws during his administration.
Harris supports equal pay and legally requiring hiring women. She proposed fining corporations that do not pay women equally. (2019)
Pence has opposed equal pay bills and requiring employees to hire more women.
School Safety
Biden
Biden opposes teachers carrying guns.
Trump
Trump favors teachers carrying guns to school. He opposes safe spaces and trigger warnings for students.
Harris strongly opposes teachers carrying guns. She supports safe spaces.
Pence supported arming teachers.
Corruption
Biden
In 2013, Biden stated that Edward Snowden should stand trial. Biden released his tax returns. They are currently available on his website.
Trump
Trump strongly opposes laws to protect whistleblowers. He opposes formerly convicted politicians running for office. Opposes candidates being required to release tax returns.
Harris released 15 years of tax returns. She supports whistleblower protection legislation.
Pence opposes laws to protect whistleblowers. Pence has not made his tax returns public since elected.
Election and Voting Process
Biden
Biden supports automatic voter registration and has said that voter ID laws are too restrictive. He supports making voting easier. Biden said in August 2020 that election day should be a federal holiday. He proposes limiting corporate and private spending in elections and declared that his presidential campaign is 'refusing any funding from lobbyists and corporate PACs.' Biden also vowed to enact legislation to bar lobbyists from making contributions.
Trump
Trump stated that universal mail-in voting would result in the most 'inaccurate & fraudulent election in history.' Trump's latest actions led to claims that he was trying to suppress voters by removing drop boxes where voters can deliver mail ballots. In 2016, Trump criticized large donations for presidential campaigns. In 2020, he is being backed by private wealth firms, real estate developers, and energy companies.
Kamala Harris supports making voting easier and more accessible.
Pence's history indicates that he opposes making voter registration easier. Pence said that the kind of mail-in voting proposed would undermine the integrity of the elections, despite voting by mail in this year's Florida primary (2020)
