Jackson Free Press

- Health Care -

Cochran: Has voted to oppose, defund or repeal the Affordable Care Act 102 times. In 2013, he and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz sponsored the Obamacare Repeal Act because he believes that "Obamacare denies health-care choice, stifles economic mobility and costs American jobs. "

Childers: Voted against the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but is against its repeal. "It is the law of the land now," he told the Sea Coast Echo, a newspaper in Bay St. Louis. "I am very much in favor of health-care reform, and I think we can do a better job. I would be willing to improve on the current law and move on."


- Immigration -

Cochran: Claims to have "consistently voted against inadequate immigration legislation," including President Ronald Reagan's amnesty bill in 1986, which tightened the U.S. border but made individuals who entered the nation before 1982 eligible for amnesty. He has also opposed legislation to grant legal status to immigrants who are already in the U.S.without authorization.

Childers: Signed the Federation for American Immigration Reform's so-called no-amnesty pledge, saying that he opposes both authorization for people who came to the U.S. illegally as well as expanding the guest worker program. "There are too many corporations in our state and across the nation who are hiring illegal immigrants and guest workers instead of providing unemployed Mississippians with opportunities to perform hard work at a decent wage," he said in a news release.

- Guns -

Cochran: Received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.

Childers: Received an A+ rating and endorsement from the National Rifle Association during his first campaign for U.S. House of Representatives.

- Women's Issues -

Cochran: Supported the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, which was designed to combat domestic violence, sex trafficking and other kinds of violence. Cochran is anti-abortion and supported legislation barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion and requiring Affordable Care Act health-care exchange insurers to disclose whether abortions are a covered benefit. Received a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

Childers: Endorsed in his race for Congress by the National Right to Life for his anti-abortion record. Voted against the against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, but has said during his U.S. Senate campaign supports "equal pay for equal work."

- Economic Issues -

Cochran: Voted against the 2008 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Childers: Supported the 2008 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Opposed the Troubled Asset Relief Program for banks in 2008 as well as the auto bailout, the latter of which Childers later said he regrets.