Amy McGrath, candidate for United States Senate, speaks with reporters before a campaign event at Buela Nunn Park in Glasgow, Ky. on Sept. 8, 2020.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW, Ky. – As Election Day approaches, candidate for U.S. Senate Amy McGrath made an appearance in Glasgow on Tuesday evening. Approximately 80 people gathered at Beula Nunn Park, which is located at the Veterans Honor Wall in downtown Glasgow.
McGrath spoke to the crowd following another campaign stop in Kentucky. While at the event, she spoke about her military experience and challenges as a young woman who had dreams of serving as a combat pilot.
“I had to learn, how do you change a law?” McGrath said. “What’s this thing called government? What’s this thing called the Senate and the House, and why do they matter? For me, they only mattered for that one law. And I became an advocate at the age of 12.”
McGrath said the law prohibiting her from participating was the Combat Exclusion Law, which was lifted for aviation positions in 1993.
Since Election Day is 55 days away, candidates McGrath and Mitch McConnell are making their way across communities to encourage constituents to vote. In McGrath’s pitch to constituents throughout the area, she explained her plan for rural Kentucky called ‘Partnering with Rural Kentucky.’
The plan includes several aspects, which were recently released.
- Have immediate aid
In that immediate aid, McGrath called for extensions in CARES Act funding and access to unemployment benefits for Kentucky’s workers.
She called the recent bill introduced by Sen. McConnell a “teeny, tiny” bill.
- Tackle healthcare
McGrath said rural Kentucky’s healthcare needs surpass several in the state and the nation. She cited facts like diabetes rates among Kentuckians and the overall well being of those same people.
One of the largest components of the healthcare subunit of her plan includes “tackling prescription drug prices”
McGrath rallied those in attendance around the idea that McConnell has long neglected to allow legislation to move forward regarding drug prices.
“We have a senator who over and over and over again sides with special interests; sides with the Washington Swap; sides with the wealthiest 1%, even at the expense of Kentucky,” McGrath said. “Over and over and over again.”
- Rebuild Kentucky
In her connection to her veteran status, McGrath reminded the crowd that she is “for America.” In that claim, she said she intends to work to ensure jobs return to the United States.
For decades, she said, McConnell has allowed jobs to leave the states. She cited several ways her opponent has worked to “line the pockets of CEOs,” leaving the worker behind.
“How y’all doing?” McGrath said. “He’s doing very well for himself. How y’all doing? Not good. And do you think in the next six years that he’s going to come up with something that he hasn’t in the last 36 years.”
And rebuilding Kentucky includes several other ideas such as infrastructure investment – “modern infrastructure.”
McGrath said two tools for students’ success today are the computer and Internet. Given those two things, many can succeed. However, several still go without services like broadband internet and cellular service.
- Tackle massive inequality and racial injustice
Criminal justice reform and promoting racial justice were among the topics McGrath spoke about.
The candidate said she often hears people ask whether the United States will return to “normal” after the pandemic. Fitting into the current protests across the country, McGrath said “normal” is what led America to its current state.
“Normal is what got us 25 million Americans in the street demonstrating in the street for racial equality,” McGrath said. “We’ve got to do better.”
McGrath briefly spoke about her desire to initiate universal pre-K for families. In that topic, she related her relevance as a mother.
- Tackle corruption in Washington
As a newcomer, McGrath often touts her ability to offer new ideas and replace those that have long been stagnant. In simplest terms, McGrath said corruption elimination begins by eliminating the man who started it – McConnell.
“We have a senator who is bought off by Big Pharma. Six bipartisan bills passed the House – bipartisan bills. He won’t even allow them to the floor of the Senate,” McGrath said. “He won’t allow it to the floor of the Senate because he’s bought off by Big Pharma. It’s not rocket science.”
Another topic she spoke about in that point of her plan for rural America was enacting term limits. McConnell was elected when McGrath was 9 years old.
She cited President Donald Trump’s agenda for his next term, if elected, and it includes congressional term limits. That’s something she agrees with.
“I’m with you,” McGrath said. “I think we need it. Nobody should be in the Senate for 42 years. Nobody.”
- Expand voting rights
In a final explanation to constituents, McGrath voiced her support for expanding voting rights and promoting political efficacy. She said that begins with passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
McGrath finished her visit by talking to those in attendance.