Stefanik and Trump share similar views on defunding Planned Parenthood, opposing marriage equality and privatizing Social Security
Vulnerable House Republican Elise Stefanik is now fully on board the Trump train. Over the holiday weekend, Stefanik told WWNYTV, “I will support Donald Trump.”
“Now that Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is backing Donald Trump, she will be spending the rest of the election defending her chosen nominee’s bombastic rhetoric that divides our country, incites violence, tramples on the Constitution and that Republican national security experts warn would make America less safe,” said Bryan Lesswing at the DCCC. “It’s no surprise that Elise Stefanik is endorsing Donald Trump for president, as they both share similar views on defunding Planned Parenthood, opposing marriage equality and privatizing Social Security.”
Trump at the top of the ticket is bad news for vulnerable Republicans like Stefanik.
Remember that only a few months ago, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee Rep. Greg Walden warned that Trump’s dangerous rhetoric “puts, certainly, competitive seats in jeopardy.” Similarly, the NRCC’s deputy chair warned that Trump “would be devastating to our attempts to grow our majority and would cost us seats.”
And it’s no surprise Stefanik is endorsing Trump, given their shared views on a number of issues. Here is just a brief preview of the Trump-Stefanik ticket:
Defund Planned Parenthood: Since entering Congress, Stefanik has voted to defund Planned Parenthood five times. Trump opposes funding for Planned Parenthood.
Oppose Marriage Equality: As policy director of the 2012 Republican National Platform Committee, Stefanik helped author a document that included supporting passage of a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. Trump said last summer, “I’m for traditional marriage.”
Privatize Social Security: When asked if she’d support privatizing Social Security back in 2014, Stefanik said that the programs needed to be “modernize[d].” As a top advisor to Paul Ryan, Stefanik helped author the far right wing platform that would privatize Social Security and end the Medicare guarantee, turning it into a voucher system and raising seniors’ costs. In 2000, Trump said that Social Security, “Privatization would be good for all of us.”