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If you live in Philadelphia or thereabouts, the October baseball playoffs have brought almost unbridled joy from a Phillies hot streak, punctuated by an epic bat flip and an inside-the-park home run and marred only by jarring interruptions from the most shockingly crude and, arguably, racist political ads since Willie Horton hit the small screen in 1988.

Every few innings, the dark, grainy TV spots with a flood of unsettling images of urban crime and civic unrest, or large migrant caravans streaming toward the U.S. border broke up the stream of otherwise cheerful spots for iPhones or car insurance. One says illegal immigration is draining our paychecks, wrecking our schools, ruining our hospitals and threatening your family blaming President Biden, and telling Democrats to stop hurting our children, against an ominous, empty playground swing. The crime spot blames liberals for a wave of violence, bloodshed and death as men with machine guns roam an urban wasteland.

You wont be shocked to learn that the ads are deliberately dishonest, conflating Democratic immigration policies, for example, with the horrific case of one undocumented immigrant named Christopher Puente accused of raping a toddler at a fast-food restaurant in Chicago (She was 3 ... years ... old, the narrator intones, milking the pathos). Whats not said is that the alleged assault occurred in February 2020, more than three years into the presidency of Republican Donald Trump, well before Biden took office.

Thats appalling, but thats not whats most upsetting about these ads, which, according to social media, have been broadcast nationally during the baseball telecasts on Fox Sports 1. There is absolutely no filter of jarring and often violent imagery, the racist overtones and the xenophobic innuendo, and the unrelenting darkness of the American carnage vibe. No one cares that this is afternoon baseball and little girls and boys are watching. This is America now.

In fact, the comparison to that infamous Willie (really William) Horton ad isnt even fair. That spot which attempted to stir up racial panic by (misleadingly, of course) linking Democrat Michael Dukakis to a Black inmate who committed a rape and murder after a weekend pass only aired on TV one time, because just 34 years ago even most Republicans found it too crude, and over the edge. Listen to that 1980s spot and the tone that offended many folks back then seems calm and measured compared to the Natural-Born-Killers-on-acid vibe of the 2022 attack ads. Today, any and all guardrails have been taken down.

One other thing that wont surprise you about the new attack ads is that the people behind them arent eager for you to know exactly who they are.

The required tagline lists the sponsor as a new group calling itself Citizens for Sanity. On one level, thanks to some excellent research by the campaign-finance watchdog Open Secrets, we know a lot about who these Citizens for Sanity are: the very worst, xenophobic remnants of Team Trump, offering America not just a new low for the 2022 midterms but a sneak preview of the nightmare that the 45th presidents 2024 comeback crusade is likely to be.

Open Secrets reports a close overlap between the trustees of Citizens for Sanity as identified to the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC and the pro-Trump America First Legal Foundation, which is spearheaded by Stephen Miller, the former Trump White House official behind harsh immigration policies such as family separation at the southern border.

It says three political operatives involved with the Miller-founded legal group Gene Hamilton, John Zadrozny and Ian Prior are also listed as involved with Citizens for Sanity. Zadroznys path, for example, has taken him from the fiercely anti-migrant Federation for American Immigration Reform which the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed as a hate group to the Trump administration, including a stint as a top U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service official, to the vile ads youre seeing on TV now. Citizens for Sanity treasurer Hamilton was point man on Trumps efforts to kill the program seeking legal status for young migrant Dreamers.

Thats all important to know, but the most important thing about Citizens for Sanity remains secret: Just who is providing the evidently millions of dollars to pay for all of this, including now ads on national baseball telecasts. Thats because Citizens for Sanity is a dark-money group of the kind that have flourished in more than a decade since the Supreme Courts Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates of untraceable billionaire, or corporate, cash.

In the end, the radical new thing that may tip the scales in Novembers election in which both control of the House and the Senate appear to be up for grabs may be one of the oldest stories around: very rich people buying the outcome, thanks to their ability to spend millions of dollars on emotionally manipulative attack ads. But while the concept billionaires using their wealth to bail out reactionary politicians wholl keep their taxes low and defend corporate power has been around, 2022 is standing out for the far-right extremism that the 1 Percent is now willing to fund.

READ MORE: Racist Willie Horton-style fearmongering on crime may win midterms for GOP

Indeed, among those wealthy donors that we can identify, Exhibit A is now a key player in this years fraught Pennsylvania governors race: Wisconsin Schlitz beer heir and packaging industrialist Dick Uihlein and his wife, Liz. They have pumped a staggering $26 million into 2022s federal elections as well as the largest donation to Pennsylvanias far-right GOP gubernatorial candidate, Doug Mastriano, of some $900,000.

A recent New York Times profile of the Uihleins, as the most influential Republican donors that youve never heard of, chronicles their penchant for backing some of that partys most extreme candidates, from the Alabama 2017 Senate candidate Roy Moore, who was accused of sexual misconduct involving teen girls, down to local school board candidates who vehemently oppose transgender rights.

But the Uihleins are hardly unique at a time when people whove accumulated wealth in Americas so-called knowledge economy are now spending their fortunes on candidates who support Trumps Big Lie and other dangerous assaults on actual knowledge. Silicon Valley billionaire and Trump supporter Peter Thiel said to have invested more than $30 million in conservative candidates this cycle almost single-handedly saved the U.S. Senate campaigns of Arizonas Blake Masters, who has blamed Americas gun-violence crisis on Black people, frankly, and Ohios J.D. Vance, who thinks women should stay in violent marriages for the sake of the children. Ditto Oregons Nike sneaker mogul Phil Knight, who has spent $4.75 million on not one but two candidates in an effort to make sure that his normally progressive state rejects a Democratic gubernatorial candidate he doesnt like.

The world has seen this before. When fascism and other forms of right-wing extremism rose across Europe in the 1930s, large corporations and their rich investors who one might have hoped would have been revulsed by the ugliness, violence and racism of such movements instead hopped on the bandwagon, supporting some of the worst dictators. It took decades for corporations like Volkswagen, Siemens, and IG Farben successor Bayer to apologize for supporting Germanys Nazi government. In 2020s America, it feels like the cycle is just starting.

Some might find that comparison extreme, but this falls rise of Citizens for Sanity shows that some secret billionaires are willing to fund commercials that feel like the modern heirs to Goebbels-inspired propaganda. Before this weekends ad blitz, Citizens for Sanity was engaged in coast-to-coast political trolling in the crude, owning the libs style that Trumpism has brought into the mainstream. Many are sarcastic broadsides that Democrats are pro-criminal.

It placed an ad in Philadelphias oldest African American newspaper, the Philadelphia Tribune, sarcastically applauding Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman for the courage to wear a hoodie in even the most formal settings. The courage to grow a ratty goatee and wear it proudly. The courage to demand cold-blooded killers murderers be freed from prison. Giant billboards in a similar, hyper-ironic style attacking prominent Democrats have gone up from California to Massachusetts.

The common theme is demonizing out groups, or The Other alternating between transgender youth, refugees crossing America southern border, or images that play to stereotypes about Black criminality. Students of history have seen this ugliness before, and things usually get worse. Tomorrows textbooks about this momentous midterm election of 2022 are being written today, and we will look back on this moment when secret billionaires worked to make white supremacy and political hate as all-American as baseball and cherry pie.

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Whos behind those vile, right-wing political TV ads during the baseball playoffs? - The Philadelphia Inquirer

In Indiana, Republican Sen. Todd Young is working to defend his seat against challengers Democrat Thomas McDermott Jr. and Libertarian James Sceniak on the November ballot.

So far, Young is seen as the frontrunner as a well-known fundraiser with more name recognition, but both McDermott and Young have ads on TV as of this week.

IndyStar asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire explaining their stance on key issues, from abortion to marijuana legalization. Here's where candidates stand on the issues, in 100 words or less, edited only for length and lightly for grammar.

Meet Sen. Todd YoungYoung attempts to focus on bills rather than talk show soundbites

Meet Thomas McDermott Indiana Democrat running for U.S. Senate compared to Donald Trump

Meet James SceniakLibertarian Sceniak plays the long game

Question: Should Congress pass any laws either restricting abortions or codifying abortion-rights into federal law? If so, what provisions should those laws contain?

McDermott: First of all: Im pro-choice. I believe all Hoosiers deserve to make their own health care decisions. Elected officials like our current senator that support fully banning abortion with no exceptions are extreme and simply cruel. I will fight in Washington, D.C. to codify Roe and restore Hoosiers' freedoms and civil liberties. The gerrymandered supermajority in the Indiana Statehouse has already shown us that they refuse to protect women or even listen to them. That means we must codify Roe on the federal level.

Sceniak: I consider myself personally pro-life, but banning and criminalizing does not work. Abortions will still be performed and often with greater risk, thus losing more lives. Our end goal should always be to preserve life. This can only be done by increasing society's support for life. My plan for reducing abortions involves supporting adoption through substantial tax breaks and continuing to subsidize the cost of adoption, supporting foster care, ensuring every individual has the opportunity and freedom to pursue happiness by ensuring we fight inflation and waste, and to ensure we educate young men and women in safe sex practices.

Young: It was the right decision for the Supreme Court to restore authority over this issue back to the states, allowing each state to make its own laws regarding abortion. I am pro-life, but I also understand this issue divides our country and divides Washington. In the Senate, there are not 60 votes to legalize or ban abortions, and this is an issue that will be decided by each individual state.

Q; Should Congress address inflation or rising gas prices, and if so, how?

McDermott: Elected officials need to do more to address the needs of working families and that means tackling inflation, making sure jobs pay living wages, and fighting unnecessary taxes. My opponent has been in Washington for over a decade, yet he points the finger at the president when it comes to inflation. I promise that when Im in Washington, regardless of whom the president is, I will work to pass policies that help Americans and their financial well-being. We can tackle inflation in real, meaningful ways if we can look beyond the partisan politics that currently dominate our U.S. Senate.

Sceniak: Inflation is a monetary phenomenon and is caused by the rising money supply. The money supply doubled from 2020 to 2021, putting too many dollars in circulation at the same time there were supply shortages. What Congress can do to reduce inflation is reduce wasteful spending, which means less borrowing, resulting in less pressure to increase the money supply. As far as addressing rising gas prices, Congress should encourage more drilling and more refining capacity to increase the supply of oil and repeal laws like the Jones Act that make it difficult to transport oil across the country.

Young: When President Joe Biden and the Democrats took control of Washington, the cost of a gallon of gas was $2.38. Gas skyrocketed in price because of his policies. On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline and supported other anti-energy production policies found in the Green New Deal.

High gas prices hit everyone, but they especially hurt middle class and low-income families, and people on fixed incomes. The best way to reduce gas prices is to unleash American energy production. A Republican Congress will pass legislation expanding our domestic energy supply.

Q: Congress passed a gun reform law this summer. What else, if anything, should be done to limit mass shootings?

McDermott: As a gun owner and a Navy veteran, I was taught how to use firearms responsibly. I support the Second Amendment and I don't want to take away your gun. I have a lifetime license to carry. Still, I believe military-style assault weapons do not have a place on our streets, where they can be used against our police, our children and our neighbors. We need to pass effective gun safety measures, eliminate loopholes that put guns in the hands of those that shouldn't have them, and protect our children so that schools are safe and secure.

Sceniak: "Shall not be infringed" is self-explanatory. I will always support the civil rights of people to defend their family, person and property. Creating better access to mental health resources should be a starting point. The more we take care of our neighbors through these services the more we will address the heart of these issues. When we create a culture of mentally healthy and happy individuals, who have a future to look forward to, violence will decrease including those violent acts that are not committed with a gun.

Young: I support the Second Amendment. When it comes to violent gun crime, lawful gun owners are not the problem, criminals are. We dont have to choose between protecting Second Amendment rights and making our communities safer. We can and should do both. To deal with the root causes of violence, I have long supported increased federal funding for better access to mental health services and to train more mental health providers, particularly in school settings. To that end, I supported the Safer Communities Act because it is the most substantial investment in community-based mental health services in our nations history.

Q: Are there any federal election reforms, such as those updating the 1887 Electoral Count Act, that you would support?

McDermott: Yes, I support the Electoral Count Act and would also fight to end Citizens United to remove unfettered money in politics that allows special interest groups to dominate elections over the American people. Money is power in todays politics, and that power is too concentrated at the moment in favor of corporations and Super PACs instead of ordinary Americans. Taking dark money out of our elections will help elect candidates that have to answer to people and not corporations or special interests.

Sceniak: Election security and reforms are essential for civil conversations and politics to take place. Election security is extremely important. We need to ensure that every vote counts and we have confidence in our electoral system. The Constitution leaves the electoral process to each state, and election reforms should happen at the state level. At the federal level, the top priority is to ensure that states practice equality within their voting laws, ensuring that all voices are heard through the democratic practice of elections.

Young: I joined a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues in introducing the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act. This bill was the result of several months of discussion and negotiation within a bipartisan working group.

This legislation establishes clear guidelines and common sense reforms for our system of certifying and counting electoral votes through the Electoral Count Act, and has received several endorsements across the ideological spectrum. I hope to see this bill get signed into law this year.

Q: Is the House Jan. 6 committee necessary to investigate what happened on Jan. 6, 2020?

McDermott: Yes. Americans deserve to know the full scope of what happened that day and how it happened. My belief is that no one is above the law, and when our Capitol Police are attacked and our elected leaders targeted with violence, its essential that we get to the truth of the matter and punish those that were involved. My opponent says he supports law enforcement, but when given the chance to support the Capitol Police he turned his back on them by refusing to support their efforts to get to the bottom of what happened on Jan. 6.

Sceniak: No one person is above the law. If a crime is thought to be committed, it should go through the proper channels of investigation. House committees can be part of this process. We should hold government officials to high standards as well as investigate what broke down with security. In addition to those issues, we should also investigate why so many Americans did not believe their voice was heard through the election process. My caution is that in investigating we do this to seek justice and not simply to gain political momentum.

Young: I was appalled by the violence on Jan. 6, as I stated at the time and many times since. I am against all violent protests. I have never been shy to condemn violence from any group, no matter their political background. The most critical investigations are the legal ones. We have a Justice Department that charges and prosecutes criminal activity and that process is ongoing, as it should be.

Q: Should protections for same-sex and interracial marriages be enshrined in federal law?

McDermott: Yes. The Supreme Court has shown us that it is not afraid to get rid of 50 years of precedent when it overruled Roe v. Wade. If left to the states, we will have a patchwork of different laws in different states that will deny basic freedoms that are already protected by federal law through Supreme Court precedent.

Sceniak: I am proud to stand with all Hoosiers and their families. Interracial marriage and same-sex marriage is part of the unique cultural diversity in Indiana as well as throughout all of America. Ideally the government should not regulate marriage and love through licensing, but because it does, we must seek laws that protect all marriages. Discriminatory practices against interracial marriage and same-sex marriage should not be tolerated by states nor federal law. I stand with the Libertarian party that recognized this from their inception in 1971, before either of the other parties. Love is love.

Young: Given the Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage in 2015, I think most people consider this issue settled. A lot of Hoosiers I hear from wonder why the government regulates marriage at all. In the Senate, there are continued conversations about how to ensure any bill the Senate considers would include religious freedom protections, which are critically important. If a bill related to this topic comes to the floor for a vote, I will review it and discuss it with my constituents before deciding how I will vote.

Q; Are there any immigration reforms you think Congress should pursue?

McDermott: I support real immigration reform, not the empty talk, scare tactics, and political stunts you see in Washington year after year. As the husband of an immigrant, I know how important immigrants are to America and our history. As a Navy veteran, I know how important the safety and security of our border is. We must look at smart and compassionate solutions. This is America we know these things dont have to be mutually exclusive. My opponent has been talking about immigration for 12 years and hes done nothing about it. Lets elect someone that will work toward real solutions.

Sceniak: Immigration is a top priority. We are a nation of immigrants and a melting pot of unique cultural diversity. Just as a castle has a moat, we need to protect our nation with a vetting process. Our drawbridge should be wide and welcoming, allowing for any peaceful person who seeks freedom and prosperity to come to America. As a senator, I will promote and vote with policies that allow for those who want to live, work, and contribute to our society and economy to have access through work visas and accept refugees from oppressive regimes like Venezuela.

Young: I served on the Arizona-Mexico border while I was in the Marines. I have seen firsthand the drugs and human smuggling that result from open borders. Im doing everything I can in Congress to work with the brave men and women of the Border Patrol who, I'm proud to say, have endorsed my campaign for reelection to get them the tools they need to handle this crisis. That effort will include an actual physical fence in some areas, and other technologies, so that we have the people and resources to cover the border, including the desolate area where I served.

Q: Do you agree with President Bidens student loan forgiveness plan, and do you support any other initiatives to either reduce the cost of college or decrease student loan debt?

McDermott: I agree with this one-time debt relief solution. However, I also believe that the program should be extended to those who attended community colleges and took non-college paths like trade unions and other professions. We all know the real problem is the ever-rising price of a college education. Ive tried to tackle this problem as mayor of Hammond by starting the College Bound Scholarship Program, which has provided scholarships to thousands of Hammonds graduating seniors. We must reduce the costs and lower barriers to an education in this country so that we do not stifle yet another generation's economic opportunities.

Sceniak: The president's student loan forgiveness is a transfer of wealth from taxpayers to a specific group of people college graduates. I believe, due to financial institutions and federal policies, that many students were extorted into debt that is difficult to pay down. Some relief, such as forgiving the interest due on that debt, is a good policy. With a nation that is $31 trillion in debt we are not in a position to forgive all college debt without bringing substantial harm to future generations and their economic opportunities.

Young: Asking Hoosiers who didnt attend college or already paid off their college debt to foot the bill for others is an unfair, misguided proposal. It will do nothing to make higher education more affordable, which is what we should really be focused on. I know the value of education. I served for it, attending the Naval Academy and commissioning in the Marine Corps. Student loan repayment is a short-term solution that fails to address the root of the issue: the out-of-control costs of higher education, and the lack of incentives to study practical subjects.

Q: Biden recently announced that he has directed his administration to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. Do you support the federal decriminalization of marijuana?

McDermott: Decriminalizing marijuana is the right thing to do. Hoosier seniors and veterans are especially on my mind when it comes to the reclassification of cannabis. Sen. Todd Young and other Indiana leaders have abandoned them on this issue and they deserve access to the health benefits marijuana provides, as well as the economic benefits that would come to the Hoosier state.

Sceniak: Yes. Cannabis usage and possession has no victim, therefore it should not be a crime. The drug war has wasted countless taxpayer resources. Cannabis laws have often been over enforced in minority communities while ignored in others causing further discrimination to these families. Instead, we should treat drug abuse as a medical issue, which would allow those who have addictions to get the help they need rather than fearing they'll be sent to a jail cell. Prohibition did not work with alcohol and we see the same result with cannabis.

Young: This is another example of President Biden taking unilateral action to grab headlines and distract from his other failures. I continue to support more research about the health impact of marijuana use, and Ive co-sponsored legislation to begin clinical trials for veterans. Ultimately, the legalization question is best addressed by states.

Call IndyStar Statehouse and political watchdog reporter Kaitlin Lange at 317-432-9270 or email her at kaitlin.lange@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter:@kaitlin_lange.

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Where Indiana Senate candidates stand on the issues - IndyStar

Editor's Note: This is one in a series of "On the Record" pieces highlighting the policy stances of candidates running for major offices in the 2022 Nevada election. Click here for more information on the policy positions of Tituss opponent, Mark Robertson.

Five-term incumbent Rep. Dina Titus is no stranger to campaign season, but her re-election bid this year against Republican challenger Mark Robertson is more competitive than in past years after redistricting changed the boundaries of Nevadas Congressional District 1.

District 1 includes the heart of Las Vegas and now extends into Henderson and Boulder City, which added more Republican voters to the once safely blue district. Before redistricting, District 1 had more than 147,000 registered Democrats and fewer than 66,000 registered Republicans. September voter registration statistics showed District 1 has 155,315 active registered Democrats and 112,245 Republicans.

The Cook Political Report has classified this years District 1 race as a toss up, adding it to the list of competitive contests in Nevada that could determine control of Congress.

Despite the increase in Republican voters, Titus told The Nevada Independent that she and her team have been campaigning all over the district parts of which she represented as a state legislator.

Titus hasnt been shy about expressing her displeasure with the redrawn district. Her concerns, she said, are that redistricting made three of the four congressional seats more competitive and that District 1 was broken up in a way that it no longer has a cohesive set of issues or values.

As for CD1, Titus said the new boundaries divided the Hispanic community and that the new district will become disproportionately Republican over the coming decade as the population grows.

Titus said that her priorities, if re-elected, would lie in strengthening infrastructure (she serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee), maintain the recovery trajectory in the tourism and hospitality industries, addressing climate change and preserving the environment including efforts to turn Avi Kwa Ame, an area that includes Spirit Mountain in the southern part of Clark County, into a national monument.

I think this is a time when you need experienced, compassionate representation. I have been representing the people of Nevada for a while through thick and thin, through good times and bad, she said. [People] know where I stand, because I don't beat around the bush. And I hope that even if we disagree on one issue, we can find another issue to work together So I'd like the opportunity to go back and kind of finish the recovery that we've already started.

Below is a summary of Tituss interview with The Nevada Independent.

Economy

Most economic experts say rising inflation comes from a combination of sources, including federal pandemic stimulus and relief aid, but Titus said the tradeoff was worth it.

According to a September inflation report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices climbed far more quickly than expected 8.2 percent.

Inflation is caused by the spending only a small bit. It's also caused by supply chain problems, the war in Ukraine, Titus said, noting that its a problem affecting markets around the world. If we hadn't spent that money to give loans to small businesses, to give unemployment extension to people out of work we would have had unemployment, then, like a Great Depression.

Nevadas unemployment rate peaked at 28 percent in April 2020. As of August, the states unemployment rate dipped to 4.4 percent, similar to the rate in early 2019.

The minimum wage in Nevada rose this summer to $10.50 an hour for workers who are not offered qualifying health insurance, and to $9.50 an hour for those who are offered health benefits. By 2024, the minimum wage will reach $12 an hour for those not offered insurance, and $11 for those who are. In November, Nevadans will vote on a ballot measure that would set a flat rate of $12 per hour starting July 1, 2024 regardless of health insurance, which Titus said she supports.

Federal COVID-19 relief aid also went to K-12 education, which has raised concerns that the one-time infusion will hurt schools when the money runs dry. Titus said that there is ongoing federal funding for education already established, although not as large as the COVID relief aid.

But improving public education is a combined effort from the federal, state and local levels, she said.

It's not just the federal hand reaching down saying what else should be done, because school districts vary and schools themselves vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, Titus said. The thing to remember, though, is that the school is the anchor of a neighborhood. And the better it is, the stronger the neighborhood becomes.

Since March, the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates in an attempt to tame inflation, but that move has created fears that if it raises rates too aggressively, it could dampen economic growth and trigger a recession. For now, Titus said, Nevadas continued economic and job growth proves the state is not in a recession.

I would continue a lot of the things that we have done, she said, adding that the Inflation Reduction Act was a good step to continue investing in infrastructure, environmental efforts, and affordable health care, which aims to create jobs and lower costs.

Titus has also supported the gas tax holiday to lower gas prices, but Nevada law establishes that the states fuel tax would automatically increase by the exact amount of any reduction at the federal level. Titus said she does not believe the gas tax holiday contradicts Nevada law as it is a temporary relief, arguing that Nevada law addresses a permanent reduction.

She suggested that to reduce gas prices, the country should work toward not relying as much on Saudi Arabia, which is the largest petroleum exporter to the United States, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. In 2021, the U.S. share of petroleum imports was about 11 percent and 13 percent for crude oil imports Saudi Arabia was the source of 5 percent of the countrys total petroleum imports and 6 percent of crude oil imports.

Housing

In regard to a lack of affordable housing, Titus said the problem isn't anything new.

She said pandemic-era legislation that helped subsidize mortgage and rent payments and enacted eviction restrictions was very important to do. The congresswoman also commended Gov. Steve Sisolaks Home Means Nevada initiative, which invests $500 million to lower the cost and boost the availability of housing.

One of the problems, she said, is corporations that buy homes in neighborhoods to turn them into short term rentals, which takes them off the market for others.

That's certainly something that needs to be looked at, she said.

Titus added that there should be provisions for when housing developers buy public land to build affordable housing in exchange for access to public lands. She also suggested offering investors and developers some kind of tax break program so they can focus more on affordable housing.

Environment and climate change

Lake Mead dropped to a historically low level earlier this year. Between the infrastructure package and Inflation Reduction Act, Congress has approved billions of dollars to address water infrastructure and drought issues, primarily in the Southwest.

As for water-saving measures, Titus said she does not believe desalinization would be a good solution as it would cost a lot of money, and the proposed idea of bringing water to Southern Nevada from elsewhere would have various implications and jurisdictional problems.

I think [climate change] is existential. If we don't do something about it now, it'll be too late. We don't have a very big window to start making changes, she said. One thing that I'd like to see us do is do away with single-use plastic.

Looking at the big picture, though, she said she would like the country to move away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy, such as wind or solar, and people should be encouraged and rewarded to make those changes.

She said that if Republicans take control of Congress, they would roll back many of the clean energy provisions and regulations already in place.

Immigration

Polling shows that immigration does not seem to be among voters top concerns, but Titus said immigration has to be totally overhauled.

Republicans idea of immigration reform is to build a wall. I've never seen a wall somebody couldn't climb over or crawl under, she said. And that's just not a humane way to deal with the issue.

While immigration is a complex issue, Titus said the delegation needs to first address the people who are already in the country, including those under the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status.

People can't really function to their fullest potential if they don't know what their status is. That needs to be resolved, she said. It needs to be reformed top to bottom. But I would start with Dreamers and TPS, because that's a piece you can deal with, perhaps more easily, those people are already here. Let's take care of that and then try to get some sense for the rest.

She said that she doesn't support an open border but does not believe the best way to handle immigration is by building a wall.

Republicans have called the situation at the southern border a crisis. Titus said the country is facing a lot of crises not just at the border.

I think we need a strong border. We need to put more funding into training for border officers. We need more high-tech equipment to detect what is coming across the border, she said. But you also need to invest in those who are coming for asylum with more courts of asylum or judges to deal with asylum cases, so they can be resolved more rapidly.

She also suggested investing in countries, such as El Salvador, where people are coming from. Titus believes that if the United States helped build up those economies, the people would have jobs and would be less likely to feel the need to immigrate.

Foreign affairs

Titus said she supports the Biden administrations approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Russia is not our friend And Ukraine has kind of become a symbol there of European resistance, she said. And it's not just Ukraine. It's Poland. It's Hungary. It's the countries around there that we need to support and these are our friends. These are our allies.

She also supports the decision to not send troops to assist Ukraine, while sending other humanitarian and military aid. She said she would change her mind if Ukraine joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the defense alliance made up of 30 member nations.

Titus gave President Joe Biden an A grade for his performance in the past 21 months, but an incomplete to see whats to come in his term.

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On the Record: Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent

Democratic congressional candidate Christina Bohannan showed her support for organized labor and talked education and other issues during campaign stops in Burlington on Thursday.

Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor and Democratic state representative from Iowa City, is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa for Iowa's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District.

Bohannan first stopped to meet with striking workers outside of the Case New Holland International plant, tweeting: "They deserve a fair contract wages that keep up with inflation, better retirement plans, and a more consistent time-off policy. And we want to get them back to work. I support them 100%."

Bohannan then hosted a town hall meeting at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 13, speaking to an audience of approximately a dozen. She answered questions on topics including her background and family, her support for labor unions, the Case strike, concerns that Democrats are losing support from union members, education, and workforce issues.

Bohannan began by explaining her support for unions, describing the types of adversities she saw her father experience working as a non-union laborer.

"My dad was a construction worker. He worked really long hours," she said. "But he did not belong to a union. And life was rough a lot of times."

More:Democrats Christina Bohannan, Mike Franken tout support for working class at Burlington picnic

Bohannan described how her uncle, who was also a non-union laborer, died at a construction site due to unsafe conditions.

She also described her father's experience becoming ill with emphysema and losing his health insurance after battling the illness for 10 years.

"We'd never had much before that, but when that happened, we really lost everything," Bohannan said of her family's financial struggles after her father's illness. "So I saw up close how sometimes even people who work really hard don't get a fair shot."

In contrast, Bohannan went on to describe how her brother, who is an IBEW worker, has been able to lead a prosperous life in part due to his union membership, and in spite of his recent battle with cancer.

"He's had the health care that he needs," she said. "(IBEW) have been there for him. And he's had the time off that he needed, to be with his family, to have the care. And so I've seen that up close and seen the difference that one generation and union membership makes.

"For me, it really is about making sure that when people work hard, they can afford to have a basic wage, that they can have a home, that they can have health care."

More:Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Christina Bohannan spar on abortion in 1st Congressional District debate

Bohannan spoke about her visit to the Case New Holland picket line Thursday, adding that she's been to several other picket lines this year.

"We're kind of having a labor moment here in Iowa," Bohannan said. "(Case workers) have been out there for months. And it's getting cold. ... It's so important to stand up for people, and a lot of Iowans have been striking this year because they're not getting a fair contract, because they're not getting a fair shot.

"And people want to be at work. They don't want to be striking. But if you're not treated with respect, if you're not given a decent contract, if you're not treated well, (strikes are) going to happen."

Bohannan added that work needs to be done at the federal level to prevent employers from interfering with collective bargaining and spoke about the importance of prevailing wages.

"I've been in the state Legislature the last couple of years. I fought really hard for strong labor protection, and I've watched some really bad bills go through, and I've done everything I could to stop those things. But it's rough in Iowa right now," Bohannan said.

Bohannan accused Miller-Meeks of not supporting the working class and organized labor.

More:Iowa City a focus for U.S. House candidates Christina Bohannan, Mariannette Miller-Meeks in first ads

"(Miller-Meeks) voted against the infrastructure bill, which is incredible when you think about Iowa, you think about southeast Iowa, you think about all of the locks and dams and the bridges that are in trouble and the roads," Bohannan said. "She voted against funding to fix those things and the jobs that are going to come from that. ... Even Chuck Grassley voted for that bill, and she voted against it.

"Now, (Miller-Meeks) is going to all these ribbon-cutting ceremonies and doing these op/eds and taking photos in the papers, smiling at these different projects that she didn't want to happen."

Bohannan also criticized Miller-Meeks for her vote against the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which will invest billions of dollars over the next five years in semiconductor chip manufacturing in the U.S.

"We could be a great place for semiconductor manufacturing here in Iowa," Bohannan said. "We've got everything you would need to do that. And she voted against that. She voted against bringing those jobs back to the United States."

More:U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks rallies supporters during Burlington campaign stop

Bohannan went on to describe her distaste for extreme partisan bickering and her desire to fight for Iowans regardless of the agenda of the leaders of either party in Congress.

She also acknowledged support Democrats have lost among union members in recent years, pointing to immigration as one area of concern for some.

"I think both of our parties have failed on immigration," Bohannan said. "I think sometimes Democrats don't acknowledge some of the problems at the border. They don't acknowledge that border states do face particular challenges with the influx of people, and with people dying in trucks at the border."

She went on to express her support for border security, bipartisan immigration reform, and pathways to citizenship for immigrants.

"I've been talking to a lot of people, including here today in Des Moines County, about how we need that workforce, we need more working," Bohannan said. "And immigrants to Iowa are one place where our population is growing. ... I'm hearing from businesses that (immigrants joining the Iowa workforce) would be helpful, but it needs to be done in a lawful, orderly way."

Bohannan expressed support for gun ownership but also described her support for some gun control measures.

More:Christina Bohannan takes aim at Mariannette Miller-Meeks at Iowa State Fair during Soapbox speech

"Law-abiding, responsible gun owners have nothing to fear from me," she said. "I am a gun owner myself. ... It's one of my most cherished possessions, because my dad gave it to me. It's one of the few things I have left of him, and he gave it to me to take care of myself."

Bohannan added that she has supported "common-sense" gun reform measures, including background checks and mental health services.

More:Mahaska County GOP censures U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks over support of same-sex marriage

She also spoke of the importance of funding public education.

"Education, for me, it changed my life," Bohannan said. "Neither of my parents had graduated high school. For me, I went to engineering school and then law school at a public university. I worked my way through it. But getting a good public education prepared me for that. And I think (education) is the great equalizer. I think it's what lifts people up. And it lifted me out of poverty and gave me opportunities."

More:New midterm election Iowa Poll to be released Saturday

Bohannan said she believes it is important to provide more funding for education at all levels.

"I would like to see (the U.S. make) a national investment in (education) like we did with infrastructure," she said. "A targeted, focused investment in our public education system, which includes preschool, not just K-12, and then all the way up, including community colleges, apprenticeships.

"I really think that needs to be a focus, because we are losing ground in the United States, and Iowa for sure, but across the United States, our education system is not excelling the way that it did. We are falling behind. In countries like China, you better believe they are investing heavily in their education. And we really can't afford to fall behind."

More:Meet Christina Bohannan & Mariannette Miller-Meeks, running for Iowa's 1st Congressional District

Bohannan finished the town hall by asking that those who plan on voting for her be vocal about their support and share their reasons for supporting her with others.

"Hearing it from you will mean more than coming from some stranger or somebody who is knocking at their door that they don't know," she said.

Ryan Drew, president of the Southeast Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council, and one of the moderators of the town hall, said he believes Bohannan is the candidate to beat Miller-Meeks, but stressed the importance of getting out the vote.

"This race was decided by six votes the last election," Drew said. "I think we have a better candidate than we did before. Nothing against Rita Hart, but I think (Bohannan) has more fire in her. ... But six votes. It does matter."

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Labor, education tops of Bohannan campaign stop in Burlington - Burlington Hawk Eye

September sales were up year-over-year in all but one individual retail category, electronics and appliance stores.

Despite continued inflation and an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, retail sales remained strong month-over-month with no change from August in September and in year-over-year comparisons, gaining 8.2 percent from September 2021.

September retail sales confirm that even with rising interest rates, persistent inflation, political uncertainty and volatile global markets, consumers are spending for household priorities, explained the National Retail Federation (NRF) President and CEO Matthew Shay.

Septembers totals from the U.S. Census Bureau compared with increases of 0.4 percent month-over-month month and 9.4 percent year-over-year in August. On a three-month moving average, sales were up 9.2 percent total year-over-year.

Sales were uneven across retail categories and inflation is the main factor that is determining how much shoppers are willing to spend, added Jack Kleinenz, the NRFs chief economist. Households are tapping into savings, accessing credit and reducing their savings contributions as they meet higher prices head on. Shoppers are looking for bargains and value in the current economic environment and even more so as we head into the holiday season.

The NRFs calculation of retail sales which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail showed September was up 0.3 percent from August and up 7.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year. In August, sales were also up 0.3 percent from the previous month and were up 8.5 percent in comparison to August 2021.

Numbers from the NRF were up 7.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year on a three-month moving average as of September. Sales were up 7.2 percent in yearly comparisons for the first nine months of the year, keeping results on track with NRFs forecast that 2022 retail sales will grow between 6 percent and 8 percent over 2021.

September sales were up in all but one individual retail category, electronics and appliance stores, on a yearly basis, with gains led by online sales, building materials stores and grocery stores, and increased in five out of nine categories on a monthly basis.

More specifically, online and other non-store sales were up 0.5 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 11.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year. General merchandise stores were up 0.7 percent from August and up 4.8 percent from September 2021.seasonally adjusted and up 4.8% unadjusted year over year. Clothing and clothing accessory stores were up in monthly and yearly comparisons, rising 0.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. Furniture and home furnishings stores had a harder month, down 0.7 percent from August seasonally adjusted but up 1.5 percent unadjusted from 2021.

As we enter the holiday season, shoppers are increasingly seeking deals and discounts to make their dollars stretch, and retailers are already meeting this demand, concluded Shay. However, the Biden administration must enact policy measures to relieve inflationary pressure and lower costs for American families. While the Federal Reserve tackles long-term actions meant to end inflation, we believe removing China tariffs, enacting smart immigration reform to address the worker shortage, and increasing investments in supply chain resiliency can and will have an immediate impact on consumers and the economy.

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Retail Sales Grew Again in September. Hear from Experts on Whether or Not This Can Last - Gifts & Decorative Accessories