Card image cap

Lloyd Doggett II's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (TX) - District 37

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Lloyd Doggett II is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "NEW: In response to SCOTUS' wretched order to eliminate the constitutional right to reproductive freedom, I'm leading an effort with @RepFletcher, joined by 80+ colleagues, urging Biden Admin to issue national emergency and public health emergency declarations on abortion access." (twitter.com)
  • "An outrageous ruling from the Fifth Circuit further endangers Texas women as they are denied life-saving abortion care. We must restore and codify Roe v. Wade to protect reproductive freedom and save lives." (twitter.com)
  • "Marched with congressional pro-choice colleagues from the House steps to the Supreme Court yesterday, ahead of our votes and as the Court considered a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. #AbortionIsEssential" (twitter.com)
  • "The Supreme Court’s wrongful decision to overturn decades of reliance upon Roe v. Wade one year ago has sparked fear, endangered lives, and reversed the clock on decades of progress in reproductive freedom and gender equality." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (None)
  • "Despite these benefits, the drive to dismantle Social Security remains a real threat. Some see privatization as an option, a tantalizing prize for a host of Wall Street financial interests. But privatizing will only reduce solvency and endanger benefits for millions of current beneficiaries." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "I have also authored legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include hearing, vision, and dental care. Because I believe health care is a right, not a privilege, I support Medicare for All and endorse approaches to build toward that goal, including lowering the age for Medicare. I also filed the Stop the Wait Act, fighting for fairness for people with disabilities and ending burdensome waiting periods before collecting disability payments and receiving Medicare coverage." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "Your retirement nest egg faces many threats. I am working to ensure seniors can enjoy a safe and healthy retirement that they worked a lifetime to earn. AARP honored me with its Champion Legislative Leadership Award for my efforts to strengthen seniors’ access to healthcare.In the wake of the 1929 stock market crash and bank failures, President Franklin Roosevelt actually understood how to "Make America Great Again." It wasn’t through stirring hate or fear mongering; he didn’t settle for the "every person for themself" approach. Instead, he established that pillar of retirement safety, Social Security. In more than eight decades, Social Security has never been a day late or a dollar short." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "President’s Biden’s tax plan is a good start. In addition to closing loopholes that allow corporations to escape paying any tax whatsoever, it would tax income from wealth like income from work, for millionaires and above." (twitter.com)
  • "As everyone would pay the same 30% tax rate no matter their income, billionaires would pay the same rate as a teacher, fire fighter or nurse. A plan like this would raise taxes on 80% of Americans while cutting taxes on millionaires by 40%." (twitter.com)
  • "McCarthy backroom deals will continue seeping out. After approving their 1st bill to protect ultra-wealthy by reducing audits of individuals like Trump + multinational corporations, GOP will apparently vote to abolish all corporate + individual income tax." (twitter.com)
  • "Their scheme would substitute a new form of taxation to shift more of the burden to working Americans, while the top 1% would receive huge tax cuts. This regressive approach was even too much for George W Bush, who rejected it as too extreme. Today, extremism dominates the GOP." (twitter.com)
  • "Republicans’ professed concern for our nation’s deficit is as real as a three-dollar bill. During a Ways & Means Committee markup, I spoke against Speaker Johnson's zeal to protect wealth tax cheats, which would add $12 billion to our debt." (twitter.com)
  • "There’s nothing "fair" about slashing taxes for the wealthiest few, increasing taxes on working Americans and threatening earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare that Americans have paid into. We can’t afford the GOP’s radicalism. #RepublicanTaxHike" (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (None)
  • "As a sponsor of several campaign finance reform bills, including House Democrats’ broad reform package, H.R. 1, I am working to reform a political system awash with secret corporate money, which distorts congressional priorities. We will not be able to enact real reform on a number of fronts until we pass effective campaign finance laws. I have supported a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court’s Citizens United case." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "Our Nation is designed to be a government of the many, not of the money. But 10 yrs ago, #CitizensUnited opened floodgates of corporate $$ into our democracy. Now, McConnell continues blocking our House-approved For the People Act, #HR1, to end this era of dark money dominance." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021" (None)
  • "Tonight, with my strong support, the House approved the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Because Black and Brown lives do matter, we passed this legislation to achieve greater justice for all in an America that is safer for all." (twitter.com)
  • "As the name of this bill, ``Justice in Policing,'' indicates this bill is not about removing the police; it is about removing the injustice. It seeks accountability. It seeks equal justice under the law by our law enforcers, particularly for people of color, who have too often been victimized by systemic racism. Instead of working with us to make it better and secure our communities and more justice for all, many of today's Republican opponents are only spouting the poisonous slogans of Trumpism. Because Black and Brown lives do matter, let's approve this bill to achieve greater justice for all in an America that is safer for all." (None)
  • "In 2020, millions of Americans joined together as one voice, to protest racial injustice and make it clear that Black lives matter. I am an original sponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed the House but remains blocked by the Republican obstruction in the Senate." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (None)
  • Voted against HR 2670 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (None)
  • Voted against HR 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (None)
  • "Build Back Better begins with children and families--a tax cut in the form of a child tax credit, affordable child care to enable more to return to work, expanded educational opportunities from pre-K to post-grad, responding to the climate crisis, accessing a family physician" (twitter.com)
  • "I discussed a new report led by Henry Cisneros on our need for infrastructure investment that not only maintains + enhances the current network but also looks to the future—including focus on climate change resiliency & public transportation." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (None)
  • "Congrats to Natasha Harper-Madison, who will soon represent Libby and me on the Austin City Council. Natasha's advocacy for East Austin and her passion for issues such as affordable housing, transportation and equity will serve her well as she serves the residents of District 1." (twitter.com)
  • "Just arrived at @MuellerAustin to break ground on Wildflower Terrace, 201 units of affordable housing for seniors" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (None)
  • "Under @POTUS and Congressional Democrats, we're growing the economy, creating jobs, and putting money back in families' pockets. New data shows inflation is slowing down. We've still got more work ahead to create an economy that works for all of us, but this is promising news." (twitter.com)
  • "With prescription drug prices skyrocketing up to 10 times the rate of inflation, I authored legislation to help rein in costs by allowing the government to negotiate Medicare drug prices. It's past time to #EndRxMonopolyPrices" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7688 "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (None)
  • "Who but DeVos thinks it should be harder to get student loan forgiveness? W/ $1.5 trillion in outstanding student debt we should be easing crisis, not protecting predatory for-profit colleges that saddle students w/ debt they can’t repay w/ a phony degree." (twitter.com)
  • "The student debt crisis in this country continues to worsen, and it is due time for Congress to provide common sense, reliable solutions to this problem. I joined @DonaldNorcross, @RepBrianFitz, and @RepLloydDoggett in introducing the bipartisan Student Loan Refinancing Act." (twitter.com)
  • "Student debt is more than a student problem. Older Americans are delaying retirement to pay student loan debts." (twitter.com)
  • "Crushing student debt prevents Americans from buying homes, starting families & even saving for retirement. I joined @RepMikeTurner, @RepBrianFitz & @DonaldNorcross in introducing the Student Loan Refinancing Act to help federal borrowers get the lowest interest rate possible." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (None)
  • ".@TheJusticeDept should work to #RestoretheVOTE, not make it harder as it now is in TX Voter ID case." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4 "John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021" (None)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (None)
  • "#MovingForwardAct modernizes our energy infrastructure by investing over $70 billion to transform our electric grid, promote new and strengthen existing renewable energy infrastructure, develop electric vehicle charging networks and to support efficiency & climate resilience." (twitter.com)
  • "Enacting an energy policy that strengthens our economy and protects our health and the environment is long overdue. Texas, in particular, is well-positioned to reap the benefits of a clean energy economy. Texas already leads the nation in installed windmill capacity, and we have among the highest solar resource potential. Our state is home to plentiful renewable resources, which empowers us to be a pioneer for clean energy. Unfortunately, seniors, children, and those with respiratory illnesses such as asthma are at risk because of the polluters' irresponsible efforts to avoid shifts to solar and wind power. We cannot ignore the disproportionate effects of climate change on marginalized communities. Clean energy protects us all, and we should implement energy policies that protect public and environmental health." (doggett.house.gov)
  • "If we want to change the climate, we need to change the political climate. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement was an historic mistake. I am pleased that the Biden/Harris Administration has reversed course. This is a necessary step to reducing our carbon emissions and restoring American leadership on climate change. A warming planet will overwhelm our Gulf Coast, expand the Sonoran desert into much of Texas, and hasten the spread of disease. We need an agenda governed by sound science that truly reflects the consequences of inaction. Together, and by reaching out to our neighbors, we must act now to create a sustainable, green economy, reduce carbon emissions, and increase renewable energy. For my work, the Sierra Club has endorsed my re-election." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "With a Democratic majority in the House, I worked with my colleagues to pass H.R. 1446, background checks bill. But too many Republicans, backed by the gun lobby, continue to block action in the Senate. Republicans are making almost every place we go less safe." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "Mr. Speaker, this bill simply requires that the background check for a purchase that occurs within a gun shop applies outside a gun shop. That doesn't take away anyone's right, but it does protect us from convicted criminals, fugitives, and family abusers who are prevented from evading the law to buy a weapon of war online or at a gun show. Texas Gun Sense knows the gap in safety makes no sense. Unfortunately, NRA has come to stand for ``No Republican Action.'' They offer us only moments of silence for mass murder, but they always come up short with one very important type of ammunition--courage. Students in March for Our Lives have that courage. Moms Demand Action are steadfast in demanding meaningful action." (None)
  • "Unfortunately, NRA has come to stand for No Republican Action. I took to the floor to urge support for our background check bill, and to respond to Republican falsehoods on gun safety" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021" (None)
  • "Pleased to partner with activists and community leaders like Luis of @OrganizeTexas and @OurRevolution to ensure access to affordable medicines and Medicare for all. #GenericPharmaSavesLives #MedicareForAll" (twitter.com)
  • "I have also authored legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include hearing, vision, and dental care. Because I believe health care is a right, not a privilege, I support Medicare for All and endorse approaches to build toward that goal, including lowering the age for Medicare. I also filed the Stop the Wait Act, fighting for fairness for people with disabilities and ending burdensome waiting periods before collecting disability payments and receiving Medicare coverage." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "Our great Nation should not have millions of citizens without health coverage. For months, I've worked with those developing #MedicareforAll legislation. I'm pleased it fully incorporates my bill to lower Rx drug prices through ending monopoly pricing." (twitter.com)
  • "The Republicans’ repeated attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act risk the health of American families. While the Department of Justice sought to destroy the entire ACA, I opposed Republican efforts to sabotage health care. Republicans merely offered a "Trumpcare" health plan, attempting to replace Obamacare with "I don’t care." I firmly opposed Republicans’ "NothingCare" proposals. Instead of repealing Obamacare, Congress needs to work together to ensure health care is affordable." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (None)
  • "I am working tirelessly to ensure a just, healing #BuildBackBetter package—ensuring those with few lobbyists but the greatest needs receive the full benefit of health care access, paid leave, child care, and more." (twitter.com)
  • "Navigating child care and parenting in this pandemic can create a crushing burden. In our hearing today, discussed the urgent need to provide paid medical leave and affordable and high-quality child care to help working mothers, who lead their families and help drive our economy" (twitter.com)
  • "We must invest in the #CareEconomy to provide access to affordable and high quality child care and paid leave. So no one has to make the impossible choice between the well-being of themselves or their family and their financial wellbeing." (twitter.com)
  • "Our great Nation should not have millions of citizens without health coverage. For months, I've worked with those developing #MedicareforAll legislation. I'm pleased it fully incorporates my bill to lower Rx drug prices through ending monopoly pricing." (twitter.com)
  • "As pharmaceutical drug prices continue to soar, we need federal legislation to reform the broken system of incentives and loopholes that allow companies to get away with sky-high prices. Partnering with Senator Warren, I have urged the President to use his existing legal authority to provide much-needed relief. For example, when pharmaceutical companies use taxpayer-funded research to develop budget-busting drugs, the Administration should use existing law to ensure that people are given access to the medicine at a fair, reasonable price. After all, an unaffordable drug is 100% ineffective." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "Because of pharmaceutical price gouging, a diagnosis of cancer or other dreaded disease or condition is too often a prognosis for financial ruin or hardship, even for those who have insurance. I have made lowering the price of prescription drugs a top priority as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee. My first hearing as Chair tackled the topic of rising drug costs, and I continue to hold hearings and conduct oversight on this pressing issue. I authored the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, the most comprehensive and bold prescription drug reform legislation in Congress, which has been endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and dozens of consumer groups. At Senator Sanders’s request, I also filed companion legislation to his Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act and have partnered with him for years in working to rein in Big Pharma monopoly power. I also founded and chair the Prescription Drug Task Force, which is working to stop prescription drug price gouging like the outrageous hike in the cost of EpiPens." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "I have filed several other bills to shed light on the cost of development and pricing practices, to end pay-for-delay deals, and filed a bill with Senator Warren to ensure reasonable prices on taxpayer-funded drugs." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "We are a nation of immigrants and immigration has always made us stronger. Immigration reform will grow our economy as more individuals can fully participate in our economy and more students complete their education. It will also continue to culturally enrich our state and country. Passing comprehensive immigration reform should have been accomplished years ago, but remains stalled with the Republican hold in Congress and the White House. In addition to blocking progress on the Dream and Promise Act, Republicans have introduced a string of anti-immigrant bills. As a consistent sponsor of the Dream and Promise Act, I am fighting not only for a secure future for these Americans in all but a piece of paper, but also for broader immigration justice for the many more who have been barred from applying for citizenship for far too long." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "During the Trump years, my vote was always: not one more dime for Trump’s wretched anti-immigrant policies." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "They could be working to avoid another government shutdown this month, to save lives in Ukraine from Russian attacks & to reform our broken immigration system. Instead, House GOP came to Texas to spread Trump’s anti-immigrant message & promote Abbott's failed Operation Lone Star." (twitter.com)
  • "I voted "no" on a bill that included over a billion in new border wall funding and lacked constraints on Trump’s ability to seize funds for his anti-immigrant efforts and his wall." (twitter.com)
  • "Productive disc. w/ Dreamers & advocates for immigration reform. Powerful stories indicate the importance of immediate action. Thank you. I stand w/ #Dreamers & will not give up despite Trump's artificial deadline & House GOP Leadership refusing to debate a fair bill." (twitter.com)
  • "NEW: Urged my colleagues to pass the Dream and Promise Act #HR6 on the House floor today. Dreamers are Americans in every sense—except for the documents that allow them to fully participate. #DreamandPromiseNow" (twitter.com)
  • "Our malicious Texas AG Ken Paxton is at it again. He just does not think that the Trump Administration is sufficiently anti-immigrant. Now he seeks a court order to terminate all #DACA protection for #Dreamers." (twitter.com)
  • "We are a nation of immigrants and immigration has always made us stronger. Immigration reform will grow our economy as more individuals can fully participate in our economy and more students complete their education. It will also continue to culturally enrich our state and country. Passing comprehensive immigration reform should have been accomplished years ago, but remains stalled with the Republican hold in Congress and the White House. In addition to blocking progress on the Dream and Promise Act, Republicans have introduced a string of anti-immigrant bills. As a consistent sponsor of the Dream and Promise Act, I am fighting not only for a secure future for these Americans in all but a piece of paper, but also for broader immigration justice for the many more who have been barred from applying for citizenship for far too long." (www.votedoggett.com)
  • "NEW: In an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House just voted to block Trump Administration’s sanctions relief on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s companies. If only President Trump were as eager to reopen our government as he is to reopen this sanctioned Russian company." (twitter.com)
  • "In addition to strategizing on getting them immediate assistance, President Zelensky specifically stressed the importance of continuing to isolate Russia economically through sanctions, cutoff of banking privileges, and ending their trade access—as my new legislation would do." (twitter.com)
  • "Met with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Justice @IrynaRMudra on holding Russia accountable for its war against Ukraine. I've filed bills to strengthen our ban on Russian oil & to apply a war crimes tax on income generated on frozen Russian assets for use in reconstructing Ukraine." (twitter.com)
  • "NEW: Today, more than 40 lawmakers joined me in urging President Trump to enforce strong sanctions on those responsible for the murder & dismemberment of American resident, @washingtonpost journalist Jamal Khashoggi." (twitter.com)
  • "In addition to strategizing on getting them immediate assistance, President Zelensky specifically stressed the importance of continuing to isolate Russia economically through sanctions, cutoff of banking privileges, and ending their trade access—as my new legislation would do." (twitter.com)
  • "In addition to speaking and support of our aid to Ukraine at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly — an international human rights conference taking place in Vancouver — I discussed the harm of plastics to our health and our environment." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (None)
  • "We stand with courageous Ukrainians who refuse to submit to Putin’s war crimes. Urged support last night of the Ukraine assistance package, including both weapons and humanitarian aid" (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
b) Abortions should always be legally available.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
X g) Other or expanded principles
ABORTION SHOULD BE IN ACCORD WITH ROE V. WADE WHICH PERMITS LIMITATIONS ON LATE TERM ABORTION.

Budgetary PrioritiesUsing the key below, indicate what levels of federal funding you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.

Slightly Decrease Funding a) Agricultural
Maintain Funding Status b) Arts
c) Defense
Slightly Increase Funding d) Education
Slightly Increase Funding e) Environmental
f) International Aid
Slightly Increase Funding g) Law Enforcement
Slightly Increase Funding h) Medical Research
Maintain Funding Status i) National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA)
Maintain Funding Status j) National Parks
Slightly Increase Funding k) Public Health Services
Slightly Increase Funding l) Scientific Research
Slightly Increase Funding m) Terrorism Prevention
Slightly Increase Funding n) Transportation and Highway Infrastructure
o) Welfare
Eliminate Funding p) Other or expanded categories
CORPORATE WELFARE, TOBACCO SUBSIDIES

Defense SpendingUsing the key below, indicate what levels of federal funding you support for the following categories. Select one number per category.

a) Armed Forces personnel training
b) Covert intelligence operations
c) Military hardware
d) Pay for active duty personnel
Greatly Decrease Funding e) National Missile Defense Program
f) Programs to improve military retention rates
g) Research and development of new weapons
h) Troop and equipment readiness
i) Other or expanded categories

TaxesUsing the key below, indicate what levels you support concerning taxes, deductions, and tax credits in the following categories. Select one number per tax.Income Taxes - Family IncomeIncome Taxes - Retiree IncomeOther TaxesDeductions/Credits

a) Less than $25,000
b) $25,000 - $75,000
c) $75,000 - $150,000
d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
f) Over $40, 000
g) Other or expanded categories
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable deductions
Maintain Status b) Medical expense deductions
Maintain Status c) Mortgage deductions
d) Child tax credit
Slightly Increase e) Earned income tax credit
f) Student loan tax credit
Eliminate g) Other or expanded categories
Corporate tax shelters

Taxes

Yes 2) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
3) Would you use Social Security surpluses to balance the budget?
4) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and governmental reform issues.

a) Support public taxpayer funding for congressional candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Provide free or low-cost television advertising to candidates who agree to voluntary campaign spending limits.
X e) Ban unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
f) Prohibit non-U.S. citizens from making soft money contributions to national parties or party committees.
X g) Require full disclosure of funding sources of issue advocacy commercials which appear within 60 days of an election.
h) Remove all contribution limits to federal candidates and parties.
i) Require congressional candidates to raise over half of their campaign money from their home state.
j) Require that unions give members the option of not having membership dues used for political purposes.
Yes k) Support the federal government mandate that creates national voting system standards.
No l) Do you support amending the Constitution to limit the number of terms that members of Congress can serve?
m) Do you support voting on-line?
n) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

a) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Increase spending to build more federal prisons.
X c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
X f) Increase funding for community policing programs.
g) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X i) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
j) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X k) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
X l) Other or expanded principles
CONTINUE FUNDING TO PUT MORE COPS ON THE STREET AND DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT CRIME

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning illegal drugs.

a) Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X c) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
d) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning education.

X a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any publicly-funded school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious.
X d) Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Increase funding for block grants to states to help them hire additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
g) Increase funding for computers and computer training in public schools.
h) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
i) Eliminate restrictions on federal education funding, giving educators or local school districts more flexibility to design and implement their programs.
X j) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X k) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
X l) Other or expanded principles
SUPPORT QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment and affirmative action.

a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Establish empowerment zones in areas with large numbers of unemployed people.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
e) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
f) Eliminate any federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X g) Increase the federal minimum wage.
h) Considering race and gender in government contracting decisions is appropriate for the federal government.
X i) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
X j) Continue federal affirmative action programs.
k) Discontinue federal affirmative action programs.
l) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding America's environment and natural resources.

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
d) Support the U.S. re-entering the current Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
e) Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately owned land.
X f) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
X g) Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline or diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
h) Provide tax credits for state and local bonds to preserve open spaces, build parks, improve water quality and redevelop brownfields.
X i) Support the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act prohibiting commercial logging in our national forests.
j) Provide states and local communities with more flexibility to address their respective environmental problems.
k) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Raise the minimum age for ownership of handguns from 18 to 21.
j) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights to define and enforce the rights of insured patients, including greater access to specialists and emergency rooms, wider choice of health care providers, and appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
X d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
X e) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
X f) Support legislation to provide prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X g) Increase research funding of the human genome to find cures for diseases such as cancer, AIDS/HIV, Alzheimer's, and heart disease.
X h) Increase federal funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
i) Prohibit the procedure of cloning human embryos.
j) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Provide extra federal aid to states with higher numbers of immigrants for necessary medical and social services.
c) Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services (medical care, education) to illegal immigrants or their children.
d) Increase the immigration quota for computer scientists and other information technology workers.
e) Establish English as the official U.S. language.
f) Collect fingerprint data from all U.S. visa applicants which would be accessible to all federal immigration-related agencies.
g) Allow legalization for certain illegal immigrants working in the U.S.
h) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles (if any) you support regarding U. S. economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the U. S.
c) Aid should be granted to countries that are close allies of the U. S. and in need of financial/military assistance.
d) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
e) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated except for extraordinary circumstances.
f) Other or expanded principles

International PolicyIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United States-United Nations relationship.

a) The U.S. should take military action against Iraq only as part of an international effort.
b) The U.S. should end the economic embargo against Iraq.
c) The U.S. should not continue to play a prominent leadership role in the peace process between Israel and the Palestine Authority.
d) The U.S. should support the formation of a Palestinian state.
e) Other or expanded principles
a) The U.S. should participate in United Nations peacekeeping missions only when vital U.S. interests are involved.
b) The U.S. should not commit military troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
c) The U.S. should withdraw completely from the United Nations.
d) Other or expanded principles
Yes 3) Should the U.S. have full diplomatic relations with Cuba?
No 4) Should the U.S. recognize and extend full diplomatic relations to Taiwan?
No 5) Should the U.S. increase its financial support to Colombia for the "war on drugs?"
Yes 6) Do you support the cooperative threat reduction programs with Russia to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided
No 7) Do you support the recent withdrawal of the U.S. from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty in order to deploy a national missile defense system?
Yes 8) Should the U.S. hold nations accountable for terrorists who operate from their country?
9) Other or expanded principles

International Trade

1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
Yes 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Yes 3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Yes 4) Do you support China becoming a member of the World Trade Organization?
Yes 5) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) trading status with the United States? ___ Yes ___ No ___ Undecided
6) Should the President have "fast-track" authority to negotiate trade agreements?
No 7) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
8) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

No 1. Do you support the President using military tribunals to try terrorist suspects when the President deems ordinary civil courts to be inappropriate or impractical?
Yes 2. Should the U.S. adopt higher qualification rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
3. Should law enforcement agencies be granted greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
4. Should federal law enforcement agencies share intelligence data with local law enforcement agencies?
Yes 5. Should the federal government provide states with funding for homeland security?
6. Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) The federal government should invest a portion of Social Security's assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of U.S. Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower Social Security's annual cost-of-living increases.
X f) Support a "lock box" measure, limiting Congress's ability to spend Social Security and Medicare surpluses on any other federal programs except Social Security and Medicare, until each program's long-term solvency is guaranteed.
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology.

a) Continue the moratorium on Internet sales taxes.
b) Implement regulation of Internet content by the federal government.
c) Regulation of the Internet should not be controlled by the federal government.
d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
X e) Other or expanded principles
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES; FOR E-COMMERCE- NO ACCESS CHARGES, NO DISCRIMINATORY TAXATION, AND MINIMAL REGULATION.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding poverty and the welfare system.

X a) Support housing assistance for welfare recipients.
b) Provide homeless families with apartment vouchers they can use to defray the cost of an apartment.
X c) Continue to give states and local governments responsibility for welfare programs through TANF block grants.
X d) Maintain current welfare-to-work requirements in order for states to qualify for block grants.
X e) Restore food stamp programs to legal immigrants.
f) Transfer homeless housing programs to states through block grants.
X g) Provide continued Medicaid benefits for those welfare recipients who have moved from welfare to work.
h) Require states to return any unused welfare block grant funding to the federal government.
i) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
j) Provide states with additional funding for Medicaid programs to alleviate increasing state budget deficits.
X k) Other or expanded principles
increase availability of quality child care
1) Fiscal Responsibility: Avoid further federal debt and ensure Social Security's solvency for our children. 2) Continue working to improve the quality of life for Central Texas families; local transportation improvements; a Patients' Bill of Rights and affordable prescription medications; safe, quality child care and public education; clean air and water; real reductions in crime and domestic violence. 3) Close unfair tax loopholes and hold corporations accountable when they do not play by the rules.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward