Karen McCormick, candidate for 4th Congressional District

How would choosing you for this office improve the lives of residents of the district?

Our large and diverse district needs a problem-solver, not a politician, and solving problems starts with compassion, cooperation and listening to what people actually want: Coloradans throughout our district have urged me to fight Washington corruption, secure affordable healthcare, create a fairer economy and bring good jobs to our state, improve our school system, strengthen our trade deals and protect our Colorado way of life. That’s exactly what I’ll work hard to do in Congress.

What should Congress do to address the nation’s opioid epidemic?

Congress should improve access to appropriate medical treatment to help people recover from addiction; create a stronger nationwide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program with better training for medical professionals, and fight the factors that lead to addiction such as pain, poverty and depression. We also need to hold drug manufacturers accountable for misleading patients. I support ongoing funding to Medicaid to help people recover, but my opponent’s plan to cut Medicaid would only worsen this crisis.

What is your position on immigration reform?

We need comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform, and cooperation in Congress is the only way to achieve lasting policies we can agree and rely on. Like the vast majority of Coloradans, I support an immediate halt to the cruel separation of children from their families. My constituents have urged me to support a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and a federal guestworker program to help our district meet our labor needs. Like any complex challenge, we need to seek out evidence-based solutions.

What can be done to improve the nation’s health care system?

No American should face bankruptcy or fear losing their insurance due to illness or injury. We can guarantee affordable healthcare to all Americans by using resources wisely, improving access and transparency, making it easier and more affordable for small businesses to provide insurance, and encouraging insurers and providers to compete.  I support a public buy-in option for the popular and cost-effective Medicare system and harnessing the negotiating power of Medicare to reduce prescription drug costs.

What are two other issues that demand attention from Congress?

A fair economy: We’re working harder than ever before, but incomes haven’t kept pace with our productivity or the cost of living. Fair tax reform will help more Americans build wealth and hang onto the earnings we work so hard for.

A better school system: We simply can’t afford to continue neglecting our schools. I will fight to ensure that our teachers and schools get the resources they need.