2022 U.S. Senate Debate
U.S. Senate Debate Topic Backgrounds
-
WBA Debate Topic: Broadband Access
It’s being said ‘broadband is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for everyday living.’ The pandemic really showed how important broadband is in regard to online learning and telehealth, not to mention helping rural businesses to this day. Wisconsin ranks 33rd in the country in BroadbandNow’s annual rankings of internet coverage, speed and availability. How…
-
WBA Debate Topic: OPEC, Gas Prices
Despite President Biden trying to persuade OPEC, the group of oil-exporting countries announced plans this week to cut production, a move that will likely cause gas prices to rise. How should Congress respond? From the New York Times: Biden’s Choice After OPEC Cuts: Woo Saudi Arabia, or Retaliate?
-
WBA Debate Topic: U.S. Supreme Court
Following recent rulings, surveys have shown public confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court is at its lowest level in years. Critics of the court have suggested changes such as replacing lifetime appointments with term limits or expanding the court beyond nine justices. They have also proposed more strict ethical oversight of the high court because…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Student Loan Forgiveness and Racial Wealth Gap
1. The White House’s student loan forgiveness plan is widely supported by young Americans. Many other voters believe it is unfair. Do you think it is fair to erase as much as $20,000 of a borrower’s debt? Why or why not? 2. One of the White House’s stated reasons for adopting student loan forgiveness is…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Climate Change
The death toll from Hurricane Ian is at least 120 people. The storm made landfall as a devastating Category 4. Scientists say the historic storm was fueled by warm waters, and they say those warmer waters are a direct effect of climate change. What would be three specific solutions you believe in for addressing climate…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Respect For Marriage Act
We’re going to talk about the Respect for Marriage Act. When Roe vs. Wade was overturned, Justice Clarence Thomas referred to other decisions including gay marriage and interracial marriage that had the potential to be overturned. In response to that, Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Collins have proposed bipartisan legislation called the Respect For Marriage Act…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Safe Water, PFAS
From Racine to Wausau to Marinette, people are concerned about the safety of their drinking water because the water contains excessive levels of manmade and industrial chemicals called PFAS, which have been linked to illnesses and conditions including cancer and infertility. For example, hundreds of families on French Island in the La Crosse area have…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Election Certification
1. After the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, the effort to present a false slate of electors from seven states, including Wisconsin, a bipartisan group of 32 senators has proposed the Electoral Count Reform Act. The key provisions include identifying a single conclusive slate of electors, affirming the role of the vice president, raising…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Gun Legislation
Following the mass shootings this year with assault-style weapons in Uvalde, Buffalo, and Highland Park, the bi-partisan gun safety law was passed this summer, but polls show Americans want Congress to do more. To that end, what restrictions, if any, would you put on the sale of military-style assault weapons? And when it comes to…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Public Safety
Milwaukee is on pace to experience a record number of homicides for a third straight year. The City of Milwaukee currently gives more money to its police department than any other city agency. Should Congress do more to address such surges of violence in American cities? If so, what are the three most important actions…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Abortion
1. I’m going to ask a series of questions on abortion. Let’s start with the most general one. Here in Wisconsin since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we are governed by an 1849 law that bans all abortions, except in the life of a mother. Polls say over 60% of Wisconsin residents opposed the…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Minimum Wage
Many Americans continue to struggle to make a living wage. When it comes to the federal minimum wage you both have said you support an increase in the minimum wage. Given the rise in inflation we’ve seen this past year, specifically what dollar figure would you support setting as the minimum wage and why? The…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Social Security
1. We’re going to ask a couple of questions here on social security. According to the Social Security Administration, by 2034, the trust fund that pays out retirement benefits will no longer be able to make full payments to retirees. This first question is more narrow. Sen. Johnson, to address this concern, you’ve said you…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Immigration
There’s agreement on both sides of the aisle that something about our country’s immigration system needs to change, but how is the sticking point, especially as it can affect employment here in Wisconsin. By the year 2030, it’s estimated the working population in our state will shrink by 130,000 people if we don’t have an…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Conditions For Bail
The trial of Darrell Brooks got underway this week in Waukesha County. He’s charged with killing six people in the Waukesha Christmas parade after getting out of jail on bail. The case has raised the issue of which pre-trial defendants should be kept behind bars. A bill introduced in Congress last year discourages states from…
-
WBA Debate Topic: Marijuana Legislation
President Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possessions” of marijuana under federal law. He says it is a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color. What is your position on the federal legalization of marijuana?
