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Democratic Murray Professor Files for Kentucky 1st District Congressional Race

votepaulwalker.com

A Murray State University professor has filed to run for Kentucky’s District One seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sydni Anderson speaks with Paul Walker - a Democrat - about issues including healthcare, education and the coal industry.

 

Education

Walker said he believes that there are threats to education at all levels, including funding and laws that are “passed to limit what is taught in the classroom or to direct students and young people away from professions that are valuable and have been valuable for a long time.”

Walker said policies and pathways need to be ensured for students to choose any option, from apprenticeships and vocational schools to universities, to do what they want to do. He said he supports public schools over charter schools.

Healthcare

Walker said if elected he would oppose Republican reform to Medicare and Medicaid. He said he supports expanded Medicaid and believes healthcare is a right for all U.S. citizens.

“When we’re healthy we contribute to society,” Walker said. “I think that access to healthcare for everyone is essential to us living in a beneficial society.”

Right to Work and Financial Security

Walker said he supports policies that help U.S. workers. He said he would oppose Republican reform to social security if elected.

Walker said he supports living wages and is pro-labor unions because “labor unions respect workers.” He said ‘Right to Work’ laws have a misleading name and take away collective power from workers.

Coal Industry & Sustainability

Walker said he believes the country can innovate with renewable energy at the same time as supporting the coal industry in the state. He said coal jobs can be transitioned to renewable energy sources like solar that will “put us in a place where 50 years from now we will have numerous, viable energy sources.”

Diversity & Inclusion

Walker said he supports rights and inclusion for everyone. He said equality is not complete without the full respect for others.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re like us or think like us or do things the way we think things should be done,” Walker said. “Every human being deserves our respect and the protection to do anything that they want to do within the law. ”

Walker said he agrees with the #MeToo and #TimesUp social movements.

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Walker faces musician Alonzo Pennington in a Democratic primary. The winner of the primary faces Republican James Comer.

 

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