Mccain On The Issues
Here are some of the regional and national issues Republican presidential candidate John McCain discussed Wednesday during interviews and public appearances in Washington state:
Removing dams to restore Northwest salmon: McCain said he would consider breaching federal dams on the Snake River if that’s what was necessary to save endangered salmon runs. “I’d leave it on the table. I’d like to see sufficient scientific evidence gathered before I made the decision … but I would not rule that out.”
He has criticized studies of ways to restore Northwest salmon as “pork barrel spending,” but said he was opposed to the way the money was added to congressional spending bills, not the goal of the studies.
Removing grain and medicine from products involved in sanctions against foreign countries, which Palouse wheat farmers have urged: “I would not do that. When we impose sanctions, we can’t just lift them because of economic reasons.” He particularly would oppose lifting such sanctions against countries such as Cuba and North Korea. “We sold grain to North Korea and it propped up that regime while millions of people starved.” Instead he would support using a plan like the United States used with Vietnam, where restrictions were lifted gradually as relations improved.
Closing more military bases: “I’m for a base closure commission. We’ve got to close more bases.”
Taxes: He opposes any taxes on Internet commerce, and would raise the federal inheritance tax - sometimes called the death tax - to apply only to estates worth more than $5 million. That would exclude most small businesses and family farms, he said. He also said he would limit any tax cut to low- and middle-income groups.
Affirmative action: He would not let the federal government do anything to override states like Washington, which have banned programs that offer preferences to women and minorities. “It’s obviously a state issue.”
Capital punishment: He supports a moratorium in Illinois to halt executions while cases are checked against new DNA evidence, but he would not ban them. “There are certain crimes which warrant the death penalty.”
Drugs: He would support a federal program of education and rehabilitation for first-time offenders. “But not for dealers.”