Bognet, Cartwright explain their positions on abortion, climate change, elections and Ukraine

Oct. 16—For three consecutive editions, The Sunday Times is presenting the issue positions of the candidates in the 8th Congressional District election.

The candidates are U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat who lives in Moosic, and Jim Bognet, a Republican who lives in Hazle Twp.

The job pays $174,000 a year and House members serve two-year terms.

Last week, the candidates addressed inflation, Medicare, Social Security and taxes.

This week, the topics are abortion, climate change, election integrity and the Russian war on Ukraine.

Next week, the candidates will address crime, gun control and immigration.

The election is Nov. 8.

Cartwright's answers are based on an interview. Bognet's answers come from a statement provided by his campaign spokeswoman, despite repeated attempts to interview him.

{strong style="font-size: 1.17em;"}Abortion{/strong}

Facts: On Jan. 22, 1973, a United State Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs. Wade guaranteed a right to abortion under the U.S. Constitution. On June 24, 2022, a new Supreme Court ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, found Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided and undid the constitutional right to abortion. That left states to decide abortion's legality.

The new ruling thrust abortion to the forefront as an election issue.

Bognet: Considers himself anti-abortion except in cases of rape, incest or protecting the mother's life. Boasted on Twitter about signing the National Pro-Life Alliance pledge. The alliance promotes the Life at Conception Act, which does not provide for exceptions. Accuses Cartwright of flip-flopping and lying by telling voters he was anti-abortion when he first ran and voting in favor of allowing abortions.

Cartwright: Says he's personally against abortion, but says he always favored a woman's right to choose an abortion. Calls the Dobbs ruling "a flat out attack on women's right to reproductive freedom." Voted for a bill in July to make Roe vs. Wade the law of the land.

Feels comfortable with the Roe vs. Wade standard that prohibited abortion bans before a fetus can survive outside the womb, known as fetal viability.

Says he changed his mind and now favors allowing the spending of federal tax dollars on abortion because poorer women may be unable to afford one otherwise.

Accuses Bognet of favoring a total abortion ban because he signed the National Pro-Life Alliance pledge.

Climate ChangeFacts: The vast majority of scientists who study the climate say climate change is real. The United Nations says "burning fossil fuels that generate greenhouse gas emissions" are the main driver of climate change with emissions acting "like a blanket wrapped around the earth, trapping the sun's heat and raising temperatures."

Because of that, Earth is about 2 degrees warmer than in the 1800s, according to the U.N., and could be almost 8 degrees warmer by the end of the century.

"The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity," according to a U.N. fact sheet.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which President Joe Biden signed into law in August, includes $369 billion to address climate change through a wide variety of measures.

Bognet: Believes the climate is changing, but says much more study is necessary to determine how human activities affect climate.

Says the further study should not block increased oil and natural gas production "and disadvantage American workers." Believes it is self-defeating to impose limits on American industry without addressing China's status as the top source of carbon dioxide releases. Sees Pennsylvania as a potential "American energy powerhouse with the ability to heat and power the whole East Coast."

Cartwright: Calls climate change real and says more frequent flooding in Northeast Pennsylvania and broader flood-plain maps prove it. Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act and began introducing legislation to limit climate change as far back as 2014.

Does not see his support for the natural gas-to-gasoline plant proposed near Nanticoke as conflicting with his climate change position because the nation will need gasoline until the transition to cleaner energy takes greater hold. Does not want to ban fracking for natural gas. Opposes the Keystone XL Pipeline, saying it wouldn't have been ready to help this gasoline crisis and most of the gasoline would have been exported anyway. Unsure about allowing more drilling for oil and natural gas on federal lands.

Election Integrity

Facts: President Joe Biden is the president of the United States, legitimately elected by American voters on Nov. 3, 2020, an election ratified by the Electoral College on Dec. 14, 2020, and the United States Congress on Jan. 7, 2021.

Dozens of court challenges to Biden's election failed to overturn the results or demonstrate widespread voter fraud. To this day, former President Donald Trump falsely contends the 2020 election was stolen from him. Many polls have shown the overwhelming majority of Republicans believe Trump, despite the evidence.

Bognet: Favors repealing a state law that allows mail-in balloting, eliminating vote drop boxes and instituting voter ID requirements. Claimed in a campaign TV commercial earlier this year that the election was stolen from Trump. Filed an unsuccessful federal lawsuit that challenged the state Supreme Court's ruling allowing the counting of mail-in ballots that arrived after polls closed on Election Day 2020.

Cartwright: Has no doubt Biden was legitimately elected and gave a fiery speech on the lack of evidence of fraud early on the morning of Jan. 7, 2021, on the House floor, hours after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and before the House voted to affirm the election results.

Favors requiring prospective voters to prove their identity and citizenship when they first register to vote, but says they shouldn't be required to do that each time they vote. Believes "mail-in ballots are fair and secure and proper." Faults Bognet for filing the lawsuit because it cost Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $85,000 in legal fees.

UkraineFacts: On Feb. 24, 2022, after weeks of denying it would, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating a war that began in 2014. The United States and its allies have supplied tens of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid. Biden has promised to back Ukraine "as long as it takes."

Bognet: Condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but blames Biden's "weak leadership and disastrously executed evacuation of Afghanistan" for emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade. Promised more oversight of money sent to foreign countries once Republicans take over Congress.

Cartwright: Says Biden administration is supporting Ukraine's defense at "appropriate and measured" levels. Sees no "reason for flagging in our efforts to support Ukraine." Touts the inclusion of his bill to use seized Russian assets to help Ukraine in a larger defense appropriations bill. Opposes using American troops in Ukraine or establishing a no-fly zone using American jetfighters because "we have to stay out of war with Russia."

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.