the
Volume 117, Issue 19
Joseph Biden
VISTA
Michael Bloomberg
Bernie Sanders
Tom Steyer
“Our Words, Your Voice.”
Pete Buttigieg
Elizabeth Warren
vistanews1903 @thevista1903 @thevista1903 The Vista ucentralmedia.com Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Tulsi Gabbard
Donald Trump
Amy Klobuchar
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the
February 25, 2020
Contents
VISTA
Content
Poll /Broyles..................................................................................3 Sunday Liquor Store Sales............................................................4 Campus Chat...............................................................................5 Park Tax/Voter Info.......................................................................6 Candidate Platforms....................................................................7 Candidate Platforms....................................................................8 Candidate Platforms....................................................................9 Ballot Cheat Sheet.....................................................................11 Delegate Info.............................................................................12 Delegate Info.............................................................................13 Sample Ballot Dem....................................................................14 Sample Ballot Rep.....................................................................15
Staff Jeff Elkins Haley Humphrey CiCi Simon Megan Thele JaNae Williams Kevin Blair Lauren Morris Chelsye Bacon Gerald Leong Teddy Burch
THE VISTA
is published as a newspaper and public forum by UCO students, weekly during the academic year, at the University of Central Oklahoma. The issue price is free for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy obtained.
EDITORIALS
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Photographer Photographer Adviser
Opinion columns, editorial cartoons, reviews and commentaries represent the views of the writer or artist and not necessarily the views of The Vista Editorial Board, the Department of Mass Communication, UCO or the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The Vista is not an official medium of expression for the Regents or UCO.
must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s printed name, major, classification and phone number. Phone numbers are included for contacting purposes only. Letters are subject to editing for libel, clarity and space, or to eliminate statements of questionable taste. The Vista reserves the right not to publish submitted letters.
ADDRESS LETTERS TO:
Editor, The Vista, 100 N. University Dr. Edmond, OK 73034-5209, or deliver in person to the editor in the Communications Building, Room 131. Letters can be emailed to thevista.ads@gmail.com.
LETTERS
The Vista encourages letters to the editor. Letters should address issues and ideas, not personalities. Letters
Advertise with us! The Vista is published weekly during the spring, summer and fall semesters. In all issues, The Vista has opportunities for both digital, online and print ads. For information or questions contact: 405-974-5549 or thevista.ads@gmail.com
On the Cover: Nine presidential candidates are featured on the cover of this issue. Candidates running for the Democratic nomination are Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren. Incumbent Republican President Donald Trump is also featured on the cover. Thumbnail photos provided by Wikimedia Commons.
Poll/Broyles
February 25, 2020
A Note From the Vista The Vista’s staff wants to remind you that, as a citizen of the United States of America and a registered voter, everyone has the right and privilege to vote in the coming election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The Vista is here to help inform you about platforms, state questions and any other information you might need before you head to the polls. Inside, you’ll find just that. For first time voters, Misha Mohr, Oklahoma State Election board’s public information officer gave the following information to know: If there is not a line, approach the table where the poll workers are located and check-in. You will be asked to show proof of identity: https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Proof_of_Identity/ index.html. You will then be asked to sign the poll book next to your printed name. The poll worker will hand you your assigned ballot(s). If you are an Inde-
pendent voter and want to vote in the democratic primary, please ask for a primary ballot. Go to any voter booth and mark your ballot (there are instructions on the ballot). If you do not want to vote for everything on your ballot, you do not have to vote for everything. The voting machine will still record votes for the candidates and/or propositions you marked. Check your ballot to make sure you have marked it as you intended. Insert your ballot into the voting machine. You may insert it any direction: face up, face down, head first, or tail first. The machine will read your ballot no matter how you insert it into the voting device. Exit the polling place immediately after you finish. If you don’t know where to vote, visit https://okvoterportal.okelections.us/ to find where you are registered. Be sure to find your voting place be-
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How UCO Voted on Popular Concerns
The above poll is a screenshot from the Vista’s Twitter account, which depicts that health care is the top concern of University of Central Oklahoma students. The poll was tweeted out Feb. 18. These four issues were compiled from UCO mass communication students as a research project for their Covering Presidential Elections class.
fore the day of the election, and have your Oklahoma State I.D. on hand for verification. Mohr recommended voting
mid-morning or mid-afternoon when lines are shorter. Happy voting, Bronchos!
Abby Broyles Seeks Senate Seat In Upcoming Election Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 REPORTER
Abby Broyles is one of eight candidates running for U.S. Senate against Jim Inhofe, who has been in his current office since 1994. Broyles has a tweet with over 17,000 likes asking residents to #UnseatInhofe. Some of her tweets have alluded to when Inhofe brought a snowball onto the Senate floor to say climate change did not exist. “This is the air we breathe. This is the water we drink,” Broyles said. “We are missing out on investing in clean energy...I believe in science, and I believe what scientists say.” Broyles is from Oklahoma and worked at KFOR until she decided to run for office. She said she can remember the moment she decided to leave her journalism career and run for office. “In October, Sen. Inhofe was down in Midwest City to visit the base housing where families were dealing with mold and asbestos and we’d cover their stories for years, and a lot of these families were forced to move into RVs across from their home because the housing conditions were so poor,” Broyles said. “And I was anchoring that night, I was watching the story on the monitor, and Sen.
Inhofe told these families, ‘Boy, the housing here sure is nice. If it was this nice when I was in the army, I’d have stayed longer.’” This point is when Broyles said she felt that Inhofe was out of touch with Oklahomans and that she should take action. Broyles said her careers as a journalist and lawyer make her good at listening and connecting with people, and she said being a lawyer specifically has helped her understand the language of complex legislation and policies. She also said as an elected official, her most important job is to listen to her constituents. While she is running from the Democrat party, she said she does not prioritize “party line.” “I think that is one of our biggest hurdles right now,” Broyles said. “We are not going to change things if we don’t have people in office who are willing to work with both sides and put people first instead of partisan politics.” Broyles said student debt can be crippling, and that she has experienced it herself, having pulled out a loan to attend law school. “Your interest rate for your student loan shouldn’t look like an interest rate for a credit card,” Broyles said. “As a senator, something that would be very important to me as far as legislation would be putting caps on interest rates for student
loans. The government shouldn’t be making money off of student loan interest.” Another one of her main policies includes health care, especially in rural Oklahoma. “I’ve covered many stories of rural hospitals closing and it’s devastating for those communities when our government officials aren’t investing in rural Oklahoma, especially when it comes to health care,” Broyles said. “Often times, when the hospital closes, the school might be the next to close because it’s a ripple effect on that community.” Broyles also said she thinks the current tariffs on farmers is hurting the economy, and that the government should be uplifting farm-
ers instead. “There are so many ways we can invest in agricultural Oklahoma,” Broyles said. She also supports recreational use of and decriminalization of marijuana; the Second Amendment and universal background checks; reducing prison sentences for low-level and nonviolent drug crimes; keeping military bases fully funded; and closing the gender pay gap. “I think 2020 is a year for change,” Broyles said. “I think I’m offering an alternative to folks who feel like they’ve lost their voice in D.C.” The primaries for Oklahoma representation in the Senate will be on June 30.
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February 25, 2020
Sunday Liquor Store Sales
Sunday Liquor Store Sales Up For Vote Jeff Elkins @JeffElkins12
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On March 3, or Super Tuesday, voters in Oklahoma County, as well as six other counties will decide whether they want to allow liquor stores to operate on Sundays. In addition to Oklahoma County, Cleveland, Creek, Kingfisher, Muskogee, Tulsa and Washington counties will also vote on the measure. In December 2019, Oklahoma County Commissioners voted 2-1 on SB 211 to send the measure to a vote of the people. Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan, the lone no vote, said more access to more alcohol correlates to more alcohol-related problems. A PubMed study on crime in states that relax their alcohol laws revealed that alcohol-related serious crime increased 10 percent. Another PubMed study looked at five states that repealed their laws restricting Sunday alcohol sales. They compared those states to 12 control states that still had Sunday sale law restrictions in place. Three out of the five states examined had increases in consumption. Northwest Oklahoma City resident Connie Smith said having the option to buy a bottle on a Sunday would not necessarily increase the frequency or amount she drinks, but on occasion, she could see herself making a purchase at a liquor store on a Sunday. “I do know there have been times where the weather was nice on a Sunday and if I wanted a drink on a patio, I had to go to a bar,” Smith said. Smith said she thinks the change would benefit those in the service industry who have to work on weekends. Jill Ogden, co-owner of 2nd Street Wine Co. in Edmond said while she doesn’t expect a busy business day on
A selection of wines sits on a wine rack inside The Wild Turkey liquor store in northwest Oklahoma City. On March 3, Oklahoma voters will decide if liquor stores will operate on Sundays. (Jeff Elkins/The Vista)
Sundays, she still thinks it will be beneficial to open because more people are looking for convenience. “I think that any amount of business we can get back from what we lost to grocery and convenience stores a little over a year ago will just be helpful to us,” Ogden said. “You know, we are all ordering from Amazon and there are 24-hour stores open on every corner for different types of things, so I think that it would be a service to our customers to be here, for at least part of the day on Sunday.” The implementation of SQ 792 in October 2018 brought forth changes in how liquor stores operate. Oklahoma liquor stores can now sell refrigerated beer and wine. They can also sell alcohol-related items like corkscrews, shot glasses, juice and soda. The amending of Oklahoma’s constitution relaxed regulations on grocery and gas stations as well. Walmart, which donated nearly $5 million to Yes on 792, Inc., and other grocery and convenience stores can now sell wine and full-strength beer. Prior to October 2018, beer sold in grocery
and convenience stores could not exceed 3.2 percent alcohol by weight. “After the law change, yes, someone can go to any grocery or convenience store and get 80 percent of what we sell, because hard liquor is the only thing you can’t get in grocery or convenience stores,” Ogden said. “Since the law change, we are all down in business, so Sunday sales would help to level the playing field.” Ogden said there will be a trial period in regard to hours of operation on Sunday if the measure passes, but she and her husband will initially run the store by themselves, operating from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays,” Ogden said. “There will be some scheduling
“I just doubt that it will not be worth it to at least be open for six hours on Sundays.” Jill Ogden, co-owner of 2nd Street Wine Co.
Case stacks of liquor sit in the foreground at The Wild Turkey in northwest Oklahoma City. In Oklahoma, liquor can only be purchased by the bottle at liquor stores. (Jeff Elkins/The Vista)
The liqueur section at The Wild Turkey in northwest Oklahoma City is displayed. Consumers would be able to purchase liqueurs and other liquors from a store on Sundays if the measure passes on March 3. (Jeff Elkins/The Vista)
changes, but when you are a small business owner and you have been damaged as much as all of us Okies have that are liquor store owners, because of the law change, you have to work a little bit harder.” For some liquor store owners, having Sunday off was important, and Ogden said those store owners won’t be required to open, it’s simply an option. “For the rest of us who are in an area where people have on-demand products on every corner, like here, it is important to offer our service for at least part of the day,” Ogden said. Vance Gregory, the owner of Edmond Wine Shop, said allowing him to open on Sundays would help during holiday seasons. “Right now we can’t be open at all on Sundays,” Gregory said. “Say Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday, it is definitely detrimental to that season’s sales. So, Sunday sales will enable us to better compete.”
Campus Chat
February 25, 2020
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Which presidential candidate is most appealing to you, why?
Irene Vasquez, Biology, first year graduate: “I’m thinking of voting for Bernie Sanders from the Democratic party. I really like his views on health care and supporting universal health care to help, not only the rich, but the poor and middle class citizens.”
Keionna Johnson, Accounting and Business Law, freshman: “Buttigieg. He is more down-to-earth. I feel like he can get our country back to where it needs to be.”
Emily Yannatone, Psychology, senior: “A lot of the candidates are very much leaning more toward the liberal, progressive agenda, and as much as their ideas seem amazing, I just don’t think they’re feasible, at least right now. Even though President Donald Trump has had his issues and made mistakes, he’s also done some really good things for this country, so I’m sticking with him.”
Willy Enriquez, Math Education, sophomore: “So far, not really. I'm really thinking about Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren just because of name recognition. I definitely know not Mike Bloomberg just because he has pushed for the privatization of school, which to me, does not seem like a good thing to do.”
Sarah Minton, History, junior: “Beto did and then when he dropped out of the race, I stopped paying attention, so I’m not really sure who is the front-runner right now. His stances on things, I mean, I’m more left politically than anything else. His policies obviously aligned more with my political beliefs.”
Shaun Holmes, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, freshman: “Bernie Sanders. I really love his track record and his policies.”
Stevie Freeman, Sociology and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, senior: “Elizabeth Warren, her health care plan, her universal child care plan specifically is my biggest interest, and college debt, obviously.
Michael Williams, Forensic Science and American Chemical Society Chemistry, freshman: “At the moment, it’s Trump, but everyone has their pros and cons. I typically tend to look at stats versus everything else. Stats are showing positive from what I’ve seen. So, if it’s a continuously good trend, you might as well just continue it, right?”
Caleb Peters, Biomedical Science, senior: “As of right now, I’m probably looking at Buttigieg or Biden. They’re kind of in between. They’re not too irrational or extreme far left or far right.”
Lizzette Rincon, Elementary Education, junior: “Bernie Sanders. He has a lot of plans and ways to get through those plans. One of the main things, he’s not accepting money from billionaires like everybody else has. Trump has recently let go a whole bunch of white collar criminals and they have funded his campaign, while Bernie Sanders only accepts money from just regular people.”
Daouda Silue, Economics, junior: “Right now, I would say Elizabeth Warren because I think of her message and I think it makes sense when it comes to what she’s trying to do and my values align more with hers.”
John Trower, Theater Performance, freshman: “Not really, there isn’t one that appeals to me more.”
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February 25, 2020
OKC Park Tax/Voter Info
Oklahoma City to Vote On Potential Park Tax Lauren Morris @TheVista1903 REPORTER
Oklahoma City residents will be voting for more than presidential candidates on March 3, with a city proposition for a sales tax to fund parks on the ballot. It came about from a resident’s initiative petition, No. 42. Similar to State Questions, the citizen must file a copy of the petition to the city clerk and has 90 days to fill the required amount of signatures. As of right now, that number is 6,499 signatures. The proposed sales tax would add a permanent one-eighth cent sales tax for Oklahoma City park operation, maintenance and programming. It would change the sales tax rate by 0.125 percent, or $1.25 for every $10. Oklahoma City’s sales tax would rise up to 8.75 percent if the petition is passed. The tax would start July 1 of this year. There is a sample ballot on the Oklahoma City Government website that shows what the question will be stated like when residents go to vote: “The Ordinance levies an excise tax of one-eighth of one cent on the gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from all sales taxable under the
Wheeler Park’s Ferris wheel is located at 1120 S. Western Ave. in Oklahoma City. OKC Parks is in charge of the upkeep of almost 200 parks in the metro area. (Cici Simon/ The Vista)
sales tax laws of Oklahoma; specifies expenditures for OKC parks as the limited purpose for which the tax shall be expended; prohibits expenditure of the tax to operate, maintain, improve or otherwise benefit directly or indirectly any OKC park operated in whole or in part by any private, non-governmental foundation or
other similar private entity; establishes the OKC Parks Tax Fund; provides for administration of such fund; and provides for cumulative effect of such tax.” The City Council would oversee spending of revenue from the proposed parks sales tax, according to the website.
“The rest of the permanent Oklahoma City sales tax goes to the General Fund for day-to-day operations, which is also mostly public safety services,” the website said. Initiative Petition No. 42 was filed with the city clerk’s office on Sept. 6, 2019. By December, the petition had reached its required amount of signatures. Edward Shadid II, M.D. was the citizen who made the initiative petition. He lives in Oklahoma City and is the business owner and practitioner behind Spine & Pain Care of Oklahoma, which has multiple locations across the state. “Our parks and transit agencies have been chronically underfunded and a one-eighth cent dedicated sales tax for OKC parks and one-eighth cent for public transit would bring transformative change throughout OKC,” Shadid said on his social media. “A [yes] on March 3 will not only be transformative for our city, but [it] will help spread the cost to all who enjoy our wonderful neighborhood parks.” The Oklahoma City Government said the finance department estimated the proposed parks sales tax would raise about $15 million annually.
Everything You Need to Know Before Heading to Your Polling Place JaNae Williams @janaebwilliams
REPORTER
At The Polls To vote in Oklahoma’s primary on March 3. 2020 you must: • Have registered to vote before Feb. 7, 2020. • Know your polling place. You can find this online at https://www. ok.gov/elections/. • Present a form of photo identification issued by the United States government, the state of Oklahoma or a federally recognized tribal government. The identification must have your name and be unexpired as of the date of the election you are voting in. The name on your identification must also match your name in the registry. Without a photo ID, you can vote with a voter identification card issued and mailed to you by the County Election Board or you can choose to vote by provisional ballot if you sign a sworn affidavit. If you do not have your voter ID
card, you can request a replacement from the county election board office in the county where you are registered. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election days in Oklahoma. Early Voting The county election board office where each voter is registered allows early voting from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday before all elections. For state and federal elections only, early voting is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Saturday before the election.
to register for voting in the General Election is Oct. 9, 2020. To register you must: • Be 18 years of age or meet pre-registration requirements found at https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Register_to_Vote/. • Be a U.S. citizen and a resident of
the state of Oklahoma. Remember, you cannot register to vote online in the state of Oklahoma. Applications can be picked up at your local tag agency or county election board. Most post offices and public libraries also make applications readily available.
Absentee Voting Oklahoma does not require an excuse to take part in absentee voting, but you must apply by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the election you plan to vote in. For the Oklahoma primary election, that’s Feb. 26. A county election board must receive returned absentee ballots by 7 p.m. on the day of the election. Registering to Vote If you did not register to vote for the 2020 Primary Election, the deadline
Voters will be filling out their ballots in Oklahoma’s primary on Super Tuesday on March 3. Oklahoma’s polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The time ranges from state to state. (Provided/Pixabay)
Candidate Platforms
February 25, 2020
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2020 Presidential Candidate Platforms Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is one of eight Democratic presidential candidates in the 2020 election. Klobuchar was elected to the Senate in 2006 and is currently serving her third term. Her main focuses include prescription drug prices, the opioid crisis and increasing mental health care. Klobuchar has a bipartisan approach to politics and plans on using this to win. In February 2019, Klobuchar announced her bid for the 2020 presidential election. Following the announcement, she released a $100 billion plan to combat addiction and improve mental care. A few weeks after her plan was released, Klobuchar released an extensive list of what she would get done in the office in her first 100 days if elected. By the end of the 114th Congress, Klobuchar had passed more legislation than any other senator. Her bipartisan approach
Tom Steyer
Tom Steyer, a candidate vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, states he wants to “fix a broken Washington” if elected president of the United States. Steyer is a 62-year-old businessman born in New York, and currently living in San
Pete Buttigieg
has often won praise from both sides of the aisle. Klobuchar is moderate on issues such as climate change and health care. She would keep the Affordable Care Act in place and lower premiums, as well as expand health care to universal access. Other issues that are important to Klobuchar include opposing the death penalty, the pro-choice movement and supporting LGBT rights. Klobuchar told the New York Times that she has never acknowledged support for banning guns but she would call for universal background checks and other tactics to get guns away from people who shouldn’t have them. In 2008 she endorsed Barack Obama in the primary and supported Hillary Clinton during her second presidential campaign in 2016. Klobuchar was born in Plymouth, Minnesota in 1960. She graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree in political science and continued to the University of Chicago Law School where she earned her Juris Doctor. In her early career, she was a corporate lawyer and was elected Hennepin County attorney in 2008. Kolbuchar is currently polling at 7 percent, according to the Washington Post.
Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is a candidate running for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election. Buttigieg is a graduate of Harvard University, has served as a Lieutenant in the Navy and is the first openly gay candidate running for office, as well as the youngest person in the race. At last Wednesday’s Democratic debate, health care, among other issues, was a part of the conversation for candidates. While other candidates are pushing for a single-payer option, Buttigieg’s “Medicare For All Who Want It” entails expanding Medicare while not abolishing private health insurance that many Americans use through their work. Buttigieg said this policy will let Americans choose the public option if private insurance does not meet their needs. Buttigieg’s campaign released a TV ad in South Carolina at-
Francisco. Steyer plans to call term limits in Congress, decriminalize illegal border crossings and expand the Supreme Court. He is also prioritizing breaking the influence of corporations, and addressing climate change. One of Steyer’s plans would place a limit of 12 years of service on Capitol Hill, combining House and Senate terms, and institute a national referendum process for up to two issues per year. At the beginning of the year, Steyer unveiled an immigration proposal to allow immigrants fleeing from the effects of climate change to enter the U.S. legally, and plans to work with Congress to approve a
pathway to citizenship for millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally and for current Dreamers. As for climate change, Steyer plans to declare a “national emergency” over climate change immediately upon taking office. Steyer said climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed rather than talked about. Steyer also has plans for the economy and wants to raise the minimum wage. Laws have recently been passed regarding abortion, and Steyer plans to protect a woman’s right to abortion. Steyer stated in a previous conference that he is pro-choice. In regards to health care, Steyer plans to expand ac-
tacking Sanders over his plan to open up Medicare to all and get rid of private insurance. “On health care, there’s a choice. Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for all would completely eliminate private insurance, forcing 150 million Americans off their current plans, including 20 million seniors on Medicare advantage,” the ad said. For some, candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are too old to maintain the presidency. Others think Buttigieg is too young to serve as the president, while others say the country needs a young person to lead the nation. “The ideal president is probably between 45 and 60,” said Loren Gatch, a UCO political science professor. “In adulthood, I think you’re more stable in terms of your character and in terms of your capacity to use judgment. You could be smart or stupid, that’s another thing. Whoever you are, you’re going to come into who you are by the time you’re in your 40s until 60. After that, you start cognitive decline.” On climate change, Buttigieg’s campaign website states that he aims to make the U.S. a net-zero emissions country no later tha than 2050 by working aggressively toward immediate targets. One of those targets is to end subsidies for fossil fuel companies.
cess to health care through more Obamacare funding and a public option. The public option would be a new program where the federal government would negotiate payment rates for providers and hospitals. It would operate separately but similarly to traditional Medicare and Medicaid. Candidates on this page were researched by: Sierra Carpenter, Chris Krummrich, Jeff Elkins and Megan Thele.
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Febuary 25, 2020
Candidate Platforms
2020 Presidential Candidate Platforms Donald Trump
The 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, incumbent, is running for a second term as one of the 2020 Republican presidential candidates. After nearly four years as president, the real estate developer turned reality television star is running to remain in office. Trump’s platform for the 2020 campaign is similar to his 2016 campaign, with immigration, trade and healthcare as his key issues. In regards to student debt and education, Trump has said he wants to continue the yearround Pell Grant distribution, which includes the summer. Trump has also reformed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, by removing 22 questions from the application which he called burdensome paperwork.
Tulsi Gabbard
If elected president, Tulsi Gabbard would bring many firsts, including being the first female combat veteran to run for president and the first Hindu. She is 38 years old, was born in American Samoa and lives in Kailua, Hawaii, and Washington. She is a four-term congresswoman representing Hawaii’s 2nd District, first elected in 2012. Gabbard is presently a major in the US Army National Guard and an outspoken critic of re-
Trump has been outspoken of his want to build a wall along the U.S. and Mexico border, has made removals of illegal immigrants a priority, eliminated the visa lottery program and instructed the Department of Human Services to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. During his presidency, Trump declared the opioid crisis as a nationwide public emergency and that he wants to cut the Medicare budget. Trump said he believes gun rights should be protected, but mental health needs to be addressed. He also said that weapons should be removed from dangerous individuals, not all Americans. Thus far in his presidency, Trump has been vocal about his disbelief in climate change and global warming. In June 2017, Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, which deals with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance, which had been signed in 2016. The president proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, which would establish emission guidelines for states to develop plans to address greenhouse gas emissions.
Michael Bloomberg
gime change wars and the new cold war. Her campaign policies revolve around foreign affairs and peace building. Reports of chemical attacks in Syria, war, diplomacy, international trade, veteran care and war and waste are among the 20 detailed issues on her campaign website. Although her focuses are international, Gabbard has detailed plans and solutions to national problems. “No one should be forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for life-saving medication,” Gabbard said in a 2019 press release. “But that’s exactly what’s happening to millions of Americans as a result of Big Pharma’s chokehold on Medicare.” Her concerns with healthcare reflect in the legislation she has supported and helped to conceive.
Gabbard is the co-sponsor of the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which provides healthcare to all Americans. She also supported the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act, Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2019 and Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act, among others. Regarding student debt she also participated in the creation and support of legislation to expand and invest in adequate resources. Gabbard participated in the College for All Act of 2017, which amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. She was also involved in the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2015, allowing the discharge of private educational loan indebtedness without the need to show an undue hardship. Immigration and gun control tie in closely to her stances on
With just a few weeks until the Democratic Party chooses their presidential nominee, one candidate is hoping that a late start and his sizable personal wealth will carry him through Super Tuesday. With a multibillion-dollar net worth, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is one of eight 2020 democratic candidates and the wealthiest person to run for president in U.S. history. In the last nine weeks he has spent about $409 million campaigning, $220 million in the last month alone. Some of the key issues of Bloomberg’s campaign are economy, immigration, gun control, health care, education and climate change. These are among 32 detailed plans on his campaign website. As detailed on his website, the specifics of lowering costs in-
clude several factors. For example, cutting the cap on student loan payments by 50 percent and forgiving loss tax-free after 20 years. Bloomberg hopes to make public college debt-free for the lowest income students by funding the cost of attendance, including expenses for books, meals, transportation and child care, according to his website. His plan includes creating a pathway for 11 million undocumented people and creating place-based visas to address economic and social needs. Bloomberg also wants to improve and expand on the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act. His plan involves creating a Medicare-like public option, which expands the ACA, capping health care prices and banning surprise medical bills, lowering drug costs and widening health care options in rural areas. The campaign’s focus on gun control is closely related to Bloomberg’s mayoral success in NYC. Bloomberg co-founded Mayors Against Illegal Guns which merged with the grassroots group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, aimed at reforming gun control in the U.S. international and foreign affairs. While believing in and supporting the Second Amendment, she has supported a stricter policy on background checks and bans on assault rifles, along with creating further protections for domestic abuse victims. Gabbard’s immigration policies further the protections at home. “It will be my policy to balance border security, have an asylum process that reflects our values as a nation of immigrants and include a path to legal status for Dreamers,” Gabbard said. The Oklahoma primary election will take place on March 3 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Candidates on this page were researched by: Micah Wilson and Sarah Hite.
Candidates
Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democrat from Vermont, is one of the eight presidential candidates hoping for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Sanders, 78 years old, was born in Brooklyn, New York, but currently lives in Burlington, Vermont. He is the former mayor of Burlington and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990, before joining the Senate in 2006. Sanders was the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic primary, making this his second consecutive run for the presidency. Sanders is a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. Democratic socialism is a political ideology in which aspects of a socialist economy, like public ownership of the means of production are contained within a democratic political system. Sanders’ platform focuses heavily on his belief that healthcare is a basic human right. His “Medicare for All” plan is an attempt to provide U.S. citizens with comprehensive health coverage with no cost at the point of service. A $15 minimum wage is another key part of Sanders’s platform. “Just a few short years ago, we
Joe Biden
Joe Biden, on the back of his near $70 million campaign, is looking to challenge President Donald Trump in this year’s election. With a campaign focused on his electability, Biden cites his record of stability and Obamaera nostalgia.
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Febuary 25, 2020 were told that raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour was ‘radical,’ but a grassroots movement of millions of workers throughout this country refused to take ‘no’ for an answer,” Sanders said. Sanders is an advocate for tuition-free public college, which has now been embraced by many Democrats. In Sanders’ plan for student loan debt, he has called for tuition being canceled at public universities and has helped write legislation that would eliminate student debt in the country. Also in his higher education plan, is the intention to invest $1.3 billion annually into private, non-profit historically black colleges and universities and minority serving institutions. “The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that work for all is with a grassroots movement — the likes of which has never been seen in American history,” Sanders said. According to Federal Elections Commision data, Sanders has not taken any donations from billionaires while other candidates have taken at least one billionaire donor. His individual contribution is $95.9 million up to now. The first poll following the Nevada caucuses show Sanders has a significant lead over the other Democratic candidates at 28 percent. Sanders’ total mentions in the news since 2019 is 39,063, in second place, behind Joe Biden. This candidate was researched by Xunhong Zhou and Jeff Elkins.
Biden, 77 years old, was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Delaware at a young age and served as a senator there for six terms starting in 1972 and ending in 2002. He then served as vice president to Barack Obama from 2008-2016. Biden has chased presidency twice before in 1988 and 2008. Health care has always been at the forefront of Biden’s politics, as his personal life has seen much loss. Biden lost his wife and a child in a car accident in 1972, and his son Beau in 2015 from brain cancer. Alongside President Barack Obama he passed the Affordable Care Act, and wants to expand on affordable health care, giving citizens a government provided option if
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren was one of the first to come on the radar as a potential Democratic presidential nominee when she announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee on Dec. 31, 2018. She officially announced her filing to run for president on Feb. 9, 2019. Warren, who is 70, was born and raised in Oklahoma and was an educator for several decades, but has served as a Democratic senator representing the state of Massachusetts since 2013. Warren’s campaign highlights her plans to end corruption in Washington, take on the climate crisis and cancel student loan debt. Imposing “big, structural change” is how Warren states corruption must be handled in Washington. Her campaign website states that she will do this by holding corporations and billionaires accountable to pay their fair share in taxes and opposing lobbyist and special interest control of Washington. Warren was one of the original cosponsors of the Green New Deal resolution proposed by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This plan “commits the United States to a they cannot access or afford private health insurance. In opposition to Trump, Biden would look to reverse decisions like the travel ban on multiple Muslim countries and the seperation of families at the southern border. Biden has also voiced his displeasure with how Trump has changed the world’s perspective on the United States, specifically noting his interactions with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. “Folks, American foreign policy, I think, has to be purposeful and inspiring,” Biden said. “Based on clear goals, driven by sound strategies, not by Twitter tantrums. And the overarching purpose of our foreign policy, I believe, must be to defend and
10-year mobilization to achieve domestic net-zero emissions by 2030.” Warren’s plan regarding higher education calls for the Secretary of Education to “cancel up to $50,000 in debt for 95 percent of student loan borrowers,” which is nearly 42 million Americans, as well as providing “universal tuition free public two- and four-year college and technical school.” According to elizabethwarren.com, all of Warren’s plans fall under at least one of 10 key areas. When combined and successfully seen through, these plans will accomplish her overall objectives. Warren hopes to end Washington corruption and fix the problem’s she sees in U.S. democracy, make the rich pay their fair share, fight climate change and build a green economy. She wants to provide solutions to fix what her campaign refers to as America’s broken health care system, ensure racial and economic justice and opportunity for all, raise wages, create more American jobs, protect American communities, fix U.S. foreign policy and stop endless wars, according to the site. Warren plans a transitional Medicare for All option. She will lower the enrollment age to 50 while also working to lower prescription drug prices during her first 100 days in office. Her plan will allow everyone the option to enroll in Medicare while leaving private options available for purchase. This candidate was researched by JaNae Williams.
advance our security, prosperity and democratic values that the United States stands for.” Biden has faced criticism in recent months due to his history of misquoting facts and contradicting himself at rallies or debates. The same concerns arose during his 1988 campaign when he misattributed a quote that he used during a speech, and again when he gave inaccurate information about his academic history in leaked footage from Newsweek. The most recent New York Times poll shows Biden at 16 percent. This candidate was researched by Jacob Silva.
Ballot Cheat Sheets
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February 25, 2020
Republican Primary Ballot Cheat Sheet Did you know voters are allowed to bring in “cheat sheets” into polling places? The Vista staff has compiled platform summaries of the Rep. Primary Candidates that will be on the OK ballots Mar. 3, 2020. Cut this out and bring it along! All article facts compiled from candidates' websites.
BOB ELY
Health care: Would offer a $4,500 premium subsidy for health insurance. Student debt: Nothing listed. Gun control: Close gun showbackground check loophole. Immigration: Wants amnesty for illegal aliens.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Health care: Maintain private health care. Student debt: No official stance listed. Gun control: Pro 2nd Amendment. Some policies to place weapon modifications. Immigration: Funding border wall. Removal of illegal immigrants.
MATTHEW JOHN MATERN
Health care: Against universal health care, but protect insurance for people with pre-exisiting conditions. Student debt: No official stance listed. Gun control: No official stance listed. Immigration: Pro legal immigration and is for a legal path of citizenship for Dreamers.
ZOLTAN G. ISTVAN
Health care: Develop and spread science and technology to eliminate all disabilities in humans who have them. Improve the disability laws to encourage the adoption of these innovations. Student debt: Wants free education at all levels. Gun control: Stop mass shootings and terrorism with drones, robots, AI scanners and other technology. Immigration: Advocate for open borders.
ROQUE ROCKY DE LA FUENTE
Health care: Reform health care to lower cost and maintain equality. Student debt: Create more access to education and audit Department of Education to decrease over-spending. Gun control: No official stance listed. Immigration: Reform that will view all immigrants as assets, rather than liabilities.
CITY OF OKC PROPOSITION: Oklahoma City voters will be voting on the new parks sales tax. It is a one-eighth of one cent sales tax to be used on parks maintained by OKC parks.
Democratic Primary Ballot Cheat Sheet
Did you know voters are allowed to bring in “cheat sheets” into polling places? The Vista staff has compiled platform summaries of the Dem. Primary Candidates that will be on the OK ballots Mar. 3, 2020. Cut this out and bring it along! All facts compiled from candidates' websites.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN
TOM STEYER
Health care: Public health insurance option, while maintaining private insurance as well. Student debt: Invest in community colleges and reform the current loan forgiveness programs. Gun control: Supports background checks and additional gun safety laws and reforms. Immigration: Overturn many of Trump's policies and new system.
Health care: Build universal health care. Student debt: Borrowers deserve protection. Gun control: Licenses for all gun ownership. Immigration: Protect immigrants.
PETE BUTTIGIEG
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
Health care: Medicare for all who want it. Student debt: Reform current student loan process. Gun control: Create responsible gun ownership, including universal background checks. Immigration: Modernize the system and reinstitute aslyum options.
Health care: Government run health care, but not universal. Student debt: Would make community college free and double pell grants and slash bill in half. Gun control: Stricter background checks. Immigration: Humane immigration enforcement.
AMY KLOBUCHAR
Health care: Universal health care via a public option. Student debt: Reforms of student loan system. Gun control: Universal background checks and other reforms. Immigration: Path for citizenship for Dreamers.
TULSI GABBARD
Health care: Opposes repealing Obamacare. Student debt: Tuition cost should be eliminated at four-year university level. Gun control: Sensible gun control. Immigration: Secure borders and institute humane conditions.
BERNIE SANDERS Health care: Medicare for all program. Student debt: Cancel all student debt. Gun control: Unlawful to own assault weapons. Immigration: Propose health care for all immigrants.
ELIZABETH WARREN
Health care: Medicare for all with additional private insurance available. Student debt: Provide at least some debt cancellation for 95 percent of people with loans. Gun control: Background checks and other reforms. Immigration: Wants to decriminalize immigration and establish a fair path to status.
CITY OF OKC PROPOSTION: Oklahoma City voters will be voting on the new parks sales tax. It is a one-eighth of one cent sales
tax to be used on parks maintained by OKC parks.
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February 25, 2020
Delegates
Super Tuesday’s State by State Breakdown Voting Age Population in 2016: 3,741,806 Delegates: Democrat - 61 (52 Pledged, 9 Super) Republican - 50
2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) Donald Trump (D)
Voting Age Population in 2016: 2,259,350 Delegates: Democrat - 36 (31 Pledged, 5 Super) Republican - 40
2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) Donald Trump (R)
Voting Age Population in 2016: 29,649,348 Delegates: 2016 Winners: Democrat - 494 Hillary Clinton (D) (415 Pledged, 79 Super) Donalrd Trump (R) Republican - 172 Voting Age Population in 2016: 4,109,494 Delegates: 2016 Winners: Democrat - 80 Bernie Sanders (D) (67 Pledged, 13 Super) No 2016 Primary (R) Republican - 37
ALABAMA
State Nickname: Cotton State Entered the Union: December 14, 1819
ARKANSAS
State Nickname: Natural State Entered the Union: June 15, 1836
CALIFORNIA
State Nickname: Golden State
Entered the Union: September 9, 1850
COLORADO State Nickname: Centennial State Entered the Union: August 1, 1876
Voting Age Population in 2016: 1,071,112 Delegates: Democrat - 32 (24 Pledged, 8 Super) Republican - 22
2016 Winners: Bernie Sanders (D) Ted Cruz (R)
Voting Age Population in 2016: 5,354,940 Delegates: 2016 Winners: Democrat - 114 Hillary Clinton (D) (91 Pledged, 23 Super) Donald Trump (R) Republican - 41 Voting Age Population in 2016: 4,175,347 Delegates: 2016 Winners: Democrat - 92 Bernie Sanders (D) (75 Pledged, 17 Super) Marco Rubio (R) Republican - 39
State Nickname: Pine Tree State
MAINE
Entered the Union: March 15,1820
MASSACHUSETTS State Nickname: Bay State Entered the Union: Februsary 6, 1788
MINNESOTA
State Nickname: Land of 10,000 Lakes
Entered the Union: May 11, 1858
Delegates
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February 25, 2020
NORTH CAROLINA Voting Age Population in 2016: 7,656,415 Delegates: Democrat - 122 (110 Pledged, 12 Super) Republican - 71
OKLAHOMA Delegates: Democrat - 42 (37 Pledged, 5 Super) Republican - 43
TENNESSEE Delegates: Democrat - 73 (64 Pledged, 9 Super) Republican - 58
TEXAS Delegates: Democrat - 262 (228 Pledged, 34 Super) Republican - 155
VERMONT Delegates: Democrat - 35 (29 Pledged, 6 Super) Republican - 40
UTAH Delegates: Democrat - 23 (Pledged, 7 Super) Republican - 17
VIRGINIA Delegates: Democrat - 124 (99 Pledged, 25 Super) No Republican Primary
2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) Donald Trump (R)
State Nickname: Tar Heel State Entered the Union: November 21,1789
Voting Age Population in 2016: 2,925,352 2016 Winners: Bernie Sanders (D) Ted Cruz (R)
State Nickname: Sooner State Entered the Union: November 16, 1907
Voting Age Population in 2016: 5,054,826 2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) Donald Trump (R)
State Nickname: Volunteer State Entered the Union: June 1, 1796
Voting Age Population in 2016: 19,841,344 2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) Ted Cruz (R)
State Nickname: Lone Star State Entered the Union: December 29, 1845
Voting Age Population in 2016: 504,976 2016 Winners: Bernie Sanders (D) Ted Cruz (R)
State Nickname: Green Mountain State Entered the Union: March 4, 1791
Voting Age Population in 2016: 2,038,787 2016 Winners: Bernie Sanders (D) Donald Trump (R)
State Nickname: Beehive State Entered the Union: January 4, 1896
Voting Age Population in 2016: 6,457,174 2016 Winners: Hillary Clinton (D) (R) - No 2016 Vote
State Nickname: The Old Domimion Entered the Union: June 25, 1788
Information gathered from census.gov, 270towin Election Calendar, Britannica Online Encyclopedia and New York Times Elections 2016. The data for these states was gathered by Kevin Blair.
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February 25 , 2020
Dem Sample Ballot
Super Tuesday Democratic Sample Ballot
Rep Sample Ballot
February 25, 2020
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Super Tuesday Republican Sample Ballot