MA 5 Debate: Where Clark, Colarusso Stand On National Issues

In their first debate for the 5th Congressional District in Massachusetts, U.S. Representative Katherine Clark and her challenger, Stoneham Selectwoman Caroline Colarusso, talked the pandemic, police reform, reproductive rights and climate change Tuesday.

The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters. Here is where the candidates stand on five key issues:

Coronavirus

Clark: Emphasized child care as the "crux of how we are going to get our economy reopened." Clark said the country is at risk of losing millions of child care slots as the industry suffers, meaning parents cannot go to work and businesses will stay closed.

Soundbite: "Childcare is absolutely critical to our economy."

Colarusso: Understood and supported the initial shutdown but feels the state is reopening too slowly. Colarusso said schools and child care centers should reopen, and described the pandemic as "deeply personal," as she lost her aunt in April.

Soundbite: "Everyone's ready to get things rolling again."

Bipartisanship

Clark: Touted her work with lawmakers across the aisle to address the opioid crisis and establish the Early Education Caucus. Clark hit President Donald Trump for "turning his back" on the American people during the pandemic.

Soundbite: "We passed the heroes act in May that set up the first comprehensive national plan that the president and Republican supporters have failed to do for the American people. We have been at the negotiating table, we have offered compromises, and we remain there."

Colarusso: Slammed Clark for "voting lock, step and barrel" with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Colarusso said despite being the only Republican on the Stoneham Select Board, she frequently votes with her colleagues.

Soundbite: "I will not get on a plane, like she did last Friday, and fly home, and tweet about the flight attendant who's going on furlough. I'll roll up my sleeves, I'll walk over to Mitch McConnell, I'll walk over to Nancy Pelosi or whoever the leadership is, and work for the people of this country."

Police Reform

Clark: Discussed her record of meeting with both local activists and police departments. She said the issue of racism goes beyond police brutality and into all aspects of culture, such as housing, education, voting rights, healthcare and economic opportunity.

Soundbite: "These are difficult conversations, but I want every single mom to have that same sense of security that I have when our three sons leave the house."

Colarusso: Disagreed with Clark's approach to addressing racism, while acknowledging that it exists in America. She said Democrats want to defund the police and warned about a "mass exodus of police officers" if qualified immunity is ended.

Soundbite: "Communities are all going to be left vulnerable, and with all the rioting going on, racial tensions are only going to increase."

Reproductive Rights

Clark: Hit back against Colarusso's accusations of her being "extreme" on the subject of abortion. Clark said Americans overwhelmingly support reproductive rights.

Soundbite: "They make up gruesome things. Caroline, you apparently claim that I support dismembering babies that are born live. It's just pathetic."

Colarusso: Emphasized that she is anti-abortion and said Clark would support third trimester abortions.

Soundbite: "You want to know who's going to suffer? The 9-month-old baby that's dismembered under the extreme, late-term abortions that you support."

Immigration

Clark: Stressed the importance of developing comprehensive immigration reform. Clark said she has met many DREAMers in the 5th District.

Soundbite: "They are American in every single way but on paper, and what has President Trump done? He's pulled the rug out from underneath them."

Colarusso: Promised to work with Democrats toward comprehensive immigration reform that includes a provision for DREAMers. Colarusso said the plan would have to include securing the borders.

Soundbite: "Nancy tells her, hold the line, we want open borders. She has to march to those orders."

Click here to watch the full debate.