As we draw-down the number of troops, we must stay vigilant in ensuring that Afghanistan is never used again as a base for attacks against our citizens. I support bringing our troops home quickly and prudently before the end of 2014.

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.

In order to balance the budget,

I believe we need a responsible, bipartisan plan that balances spending cuts and revenue increases, to bring our debt and deficit under control, get people back to work, and ensure sustainable economic competitiveness. I support broad tax reform, including a broadening of the tax base through elimination of special deductions and loopholes and simplification across the board. I also support responsible reductions in military spending that do not compromise our national security or the safety of our troops.

I strongly believe that the Citizens United decision should be reversed. At a minimum we should pass legislation, such as the Disclose Act, to create transparency in the system.

We are emerging from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and too many people are still struggling. Our entrepreneurs, our investors and our businesses need a pro-growth environment to thrive and succeed. We need to do everything we can to make sure they have the tools and resources they need to start hiring, and that government is helping them rather than standing in the way. That's why I support a simpler tax policy and smarter business and environmental regulations. But a pro-growth environment also means an educated workforce and investments in infrastructure.

I support the President's Race to the Top program. I believe we need a comprehensive policy plan for education that addresses each step along a child's path: from early childhood learning that prevents the achievement gap, to K-12 classrooms that strive for universal proficiency and dynamic innovation, to higher education that remains accessible to all and creates clear pathways to careers, to workforce training so that workers' skills stay current.

My highest priority is implementing a comprehensive national energy policy that increases conservation and efficiency and accelerates a shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable sources. While I would prefer to limit offshore drilling wherever possible, I recognize that a broader national plan is likely to allow some further domestic production of fossil fuels in the short term. I would work hard to ensure that any new drilling is done prudently and is subject to responsible review and oversight.

With climate change threatening irreparable harm on our ecosystems and economy, we need to move away from carbon-intensive sources of energy. I support federal environmental and economic policies that will reward zero- and low-carbon energy producers and make us less reliant than ever on energy imported from regimes that share neither our values nor our interests.

The federal government should provide some basic protections on the use of firearms in America, including an assault weapons ban and ending the gun-show loophole. Beyond these basic protections, the states should be responsible for setting their own gun control standards. Enacting these measures would go a long way to keeping Americans safe.

I believe the ACA is one of the most important laws in a generation and will vigorously fight any effort to have it repealed. The ACA extends coverage to more than 32 million Americans and extends the solvency of Medicare eight years without cutting benefits. Healthcare reform guarantees access for everyone-- insurers can no longer discriminate against women or those with pre-existing conditions-- and adds new coverage for cost-effective prevention and wellness program without increasing copayments or deductibles. The ACA also takes steps towards cost containment, which I believe should be an absolute priority.

I believe that we need immigration reform that is comprehensive in nature including efforts to secure our borders, strengthen enforcement, reform the immigration process and provide an opportunity to earn citizenship. I support increased cooperation and information-sharing between local and federal law enforcement, but I believe that federal immigration law should be enforced by federal agencies.

I support marriage equality because people are looking for this country to make true on that basic promise that each of us gets a fair shot-- no matter our background, our family, our income, our gender, our race, our sexual orientation or anything else. We'll never have a level playing field as long as we have laws on the books that enshrine discrimination. That's why I support the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.

Efforts to contain the growth of nuclear weapons are essential, including crippling sanctions on Iran to ensure they do not acquire nuclear arms. We can take no options off the table in preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons-- it would pose not only a threat to Israel but potentially set off a destructive nuclear arms race in the region.

While we must take action to ensure the solvency of Social Security system, the system is by no means inherently broken. I believe that attempts to privatize the program are misguided and put the integrity of the program at risk. In 2011 nearly 55 million Americans, including retirees and their dependents, underage survivors of deceased workers, and the disabled, received $727 billion in Social Security benefits. Social Security is a bedrock program that we should cherish and honor.

Spending

Indicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Taxes

Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Our number one priority must be getting people back to work. Our efforts will fall short if we fail to get back to a country that rewards hard work and gives everyone a fair shot. We need to create a pro-growth environment by reforming our tax code to ensure that it is straightforward and fair, opening up access, and simplifying burdensome regulation. Additionally, we need to make strategic investment in education and infrastructure that support economic growth. I also believe we need a comprehensive approach to balance the budget, one that includes both spending cuts and revenue increases.