Herald News — U.S. Senate candidate Markey talks issues in Fall River stop
Standing in front of a case of pastries, U.S. Senate candidate Edward Markey took a less-than-sweet stance against some of the hot topics currently before Congress as he greeted supporters Thursday afternoon.
“I’m running for the Senate because I want to make sure we get these assault weapons off our streets,” Markey said after beginning his visit to Barcelos Bakery on Bedford Street with the traditional pleasantries and introductions.
Markey spoke of eliminating gun show loopholes that permit purchases without background checks and regulating magazines fit for “battlefields.”
He continued by speaking in support of equal pay for women and voiced concern about climate change.
“The planet is running a fever. There are no emergency rooms for planets,” Markey said. “We have to ensure that we guarantee that Superstorm Sandy does not become a preview of coming attractions for Fall River or New Bedford. … There, for the grace of God, goes Fall River if that storm moves just a few degrees north, and we would still be digging out from the catastrophic circumstances of warming oceans, intensifying storms that are changing our relationship with nature.”
Markey further promoted Fall River as a location to take advantage of wind energy resources.
Addressing the crowded bakery, Markey lent his support to the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community, and immigration reform through a “set of legal guidelines.”
He defined sequestration as a “big word that just means cut” and said discussions on cuts should be steered away from health care, Pell grants, and funding for early education and nuclear weapons programs.
“My goal is to make sure Massachusetts’ voice is heard,” Markey said. “What Massachusetts is saying is that they’re unhappy with the Tea Party agenda.”
After providing a glimpse into his agenda, Markey turned his focus to the potential Republican field. While not mentioning any candidates by name, Markey said there would not be a repeat of the last special Senate election, when Scott Brown emerged to defeat Martha Coakley. He added the victories by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama in Massachusetts have already shown that tide has changed.
