Mark D. Leighton

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

We need to continue to have police to deal with dangerous criminals, so I oppose any calls to defund the police. We must not be naive about the reality of crime. But there are useful changes we can make. Many calls to 911 do not require a person with a gun. Sometimes they are noise complaints or other disputes that can be handled with different approaches, such as by sending conflict resolution specialists instead. I support new ideas like this, while giving law enforcement the tools they need to stop people with bad intentions. Learn more

Economy

I have a plan with several specific parts: First, the Federal Reserve needs to withdraw the money that it flooded into the system. They have begun doing it, but Congress can pass legislation to direct them to withdraw more, and also to prohibit them from flooding the system again without Congress's permission. When that happens, the inflation rate on goods and services will lessen and things like mortgage rates will come back down to normal levels. Yes, it's more of a long-term solution than something that will take immediate effect, but the best policies are always ones that plan for the long term. Second, the government can help with the price of oil. There are a lot of non-OPEC countries with oil that are friendly with the U.S. Many of them are producing less oil per day than they were only a few years ago. We can work with them to get their production back up and help increase the supply, and lower the price we're all paying at the pump. And while we're at it, we can help them limit their carbon emissions, because the U.S. Produces oil more cleanly than any other country. Learn more

Environment / Energy

I support funding to launch a massive reforestation program to help counteract global carbon emissions, as well as aid to other countries in forestry management, which can maximize the amount of carbon removed from the air. Learn more

Foreign Policy

I absolutely support the funding for Ukraine to help fight off Russia's invasion. Unfortunately, opportunities to settle this issue back in the 1990s were missed, and NATO's expansion helped to erode Russia's trust at a time when they had a very pro-Western government. Now we face the situation we have, and we must make sure Ukraine can win back their territory before any peace deal can be contemplated. Learn more

The migration and drug problems we face from Latin America are symptoms of those countries' difficult histories. America shares some responsibility for this history. Engaging with these countries more and making them a true partner is both the right thing to do as well as the right policy for us. I will consistently call for the administration to do more to reach out and help alleviate these countries' difficulties, and thereby make us all stronger. Learn more

We rightly should condemn Hamas's barbaric attack on Israel. But we should also recognize the plight of innocent Palestinians and work to foster a peaceful solution. Learn more

Guns

I believe in gun safety, not gun control. Learn more

I believe there should be gun licensing requirements in order to purchase a weapon, so people who aren't capable of being responsible with firearms won't be able to get them. Learn more

Healthcare

I support the recent law allowing the government to negotiate prices with drug companies for now. But I believe the long term solution is to address our drug patent laws and stop allowing companies to close off generics and other types of competition. We can reward innovation but still make sure we have a competitive marketplace that keeps prices low. Learn more

When consumers can shop around, that will generate a huge amount of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in the health care sector, which makes up 14% of our economy. That will drive economic growth for years to come. As health providers and insurers compete for customers, quality will improve and costs will decrease. Lower health costs in turn will help shore up the financial outlook of our entitlement spending, which largely consists of health-related programs like Medicare and Social Security. And saving money there will save us interest on the national debt, and free up money for other priorities, like paid family leave and child care, climate change reduction, and much more. This is a win-win-win-win scenario. Learn more

Housing

It's hard to build homes when the best places are not available. We need to respect local communities and not change their fundamental character, but many residents are open to rezoning in appropriate places, to allow higher-density homes to be built. The federal government can help by making tax credits and matching grants available for qualifying projects. Learn more

There is currently a ban on new construction of public housing in the U.S. Given the huge shortage of affordable homes, that ban needs to be eliminated so more people can have access to more homes. Learn more

Immigration

As a Democrat I am very supportive of immigration, and believe our country is enriched with more diversity. We should especially welcome high-skilled workers who can help grow our economy and add vital expertise. But I also think any immigrant who comes here should follow the rules and not be allowed to manipulate our good intentions. Many earlier immigrants who came here and are now citizens agree with that. So let's have a fair solution that welcomes people in an orderly process and doesn't allow anyone to take advantage. Learn more

The other main element is border security. I have always believed that any country ought to be in control of its borders, and I think most Democrats do too. Unfortunately Republicans have been using this as an issue for too long, which is part of the reason I'm trying to address it head on. A secure border is necessary and desirable, but we should not turn the border into a militarized zone that separates children from their parents. That is a very achievable goal. The Dreamers who came here as children with their parents are a special exception, and they ought to be allowed to remain while we are sorting out the rest of our immigration policies. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

We don't need to reinvent the wheel here (pardon the pun), but there are some important principles to always keep in mind: 1. Always work with the local community that is affected and get their input. You only have to look at the outrage over the data centers to know what happens when you don't pay attention to people who are impacted by governmental decisions. 2. Work on a regional basis. We are very closely linked with neighboring districts, cities, and counties, as well as the District and Maryland. Any long-time solution will need to be part of the larger, regional picture. 3. Protect the environment from adverse impacts. I know I don't need to explain why this is so important. Bike paths and walkable areas have a huge impact on quality of life as well as beautifying spaces. 4. Integrate other issues like housing decisions. Transportation issues don't exist in a vacuum. Things like housing have a huge impact on the solutions. I support higher-density homes being built in appropriate places in order to reduce the number of people living far away from their jobs. Learn more

Legislation

I will introduce a bill to prohibit any college or university from accepting student loans unless they hold yearly tuition to the average inflation rate. They must also demonstrate that graduates are able to get gainful employment, or else lose access to federal loans. Learn more

Taxes / Budget

I am sympathetic towards President Biden's loan forgiveness plan, but I think it's flawed because it doesn't include a tax on the worst actors, namely the for-profit schools that took students' loan money and sold them an inferior education that is mostly useless. I would introduce a bill to tax them and claw back some of their ill-gotten gains. The federal government has some responsibility for inflating this mess, so it's only right that it should help alleviate the problems. Learn more