As the presidential election is underway, there are many issues facing the nation and Michigan. From foreign policy to medical marijuana, a lot of these issues concern local and Michigan residents.
Some issues that the presidential candidates have a stance are issues that local and state municipalities are facing. Here are five issues that have been hot topics here in Michigan.
Medical Marijuana
The original medical marijuana law was approved by Michigan voters eight years ago, and continues to be looked at by local municipalities and the legislature with new rules and regulations. Under federal law, cannabis is still illegal.
Both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton are for medical marijuana being an option, according to the website ProCon.org.
2 – Immigration
A topic of debate locally and nationally is immigration. In Michigan, Lansing is among the cities that welcomes refugees. Last year, Lansing City Council Members signed a pledge making Lansing a welcoming city for immigrants and refugees.
Two presidential immigration issues are allowing undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to become legal residents, and should the United States allow Syrian refugees into the country.
According to ProCon.org, Clinton is for both allowing undocumented immigrants to become legal residents, and for allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S.
The website says that Trump is against allowing Syrian refugees into the country, and that undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to become legal residents.
3 – Sex and Gender
A heated topic this year was the issue of transgender rights and bathroom policies. The State Department of Education looked at creating a policy that the department’s president, John Austin said the ultimate goal is to ensure every student; gay, straight or transgender, has a comfortable, safe place to use the bathroom.
According to ProCon.org, Trump’s position on whether or not transgender people should be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice is unclear at this time. Previously, the website says that trump expressed a pro opinion regarding this issue.
Hillary, according to the website, is for transgender people to be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice.
4 - Minimum Wage Increase
Across the nation and locally, some residents have been wanting to have an increase in the Minimum Wage. The national minimum wage is $7.25, and some people want to see it raised to $15 an hour.
Both Trump and Clinton are for raising the minimum wage.
Clinton previously stated, according to ProCon.org, that she would want to raise the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour, and encourage communities to go higher.
Trump, according to politifact.com, said the minimum wage has to go up, but it should be done by individual communities. He would like to raise the federal minimum wage to at least $10 an hour.
5 – Gun Control/Second Amendment
Gun Control and stricter regulations regarding firearms has been a topic of discussion federally based on mass shootings that have taken place over the past several years. In Michigan, a shooting spree that happened in Kalamazoo killing six people and injuring more, has brought several different pieces of legislature.
Clinton, according to ProCon.org, is for there being more gun control laws to be enacted.
Trump is against having more gun control laws enacted, based on the website.
To see more issues and where the Libertarian Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein, click here.
