Gary Ackerman's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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.
Gary Ackerman refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.
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 2010.
- NARAL Pro-Choice America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- National Right to Life Committee. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Planned Parenthood. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 3660. 106th Congress. To amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 4 May 2000. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. H Amdt 209 to HR 1815. 109th Congress. An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 109-96 to lift the current ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 25 May 2005. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. H Amdt 509 to HR 3962. 111th Congress. An amendment printed in Part C of House Report 111-330 to codify the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3962. The amendment prohibits federal funds for abortion services in the public option. It also prohibits individuals who receive affordability credits from purchasing a plan that provides elective abortions. However, it allows individuals, both who receive affordability credits and who do not, to separately purchase with their own funds plans that cover elective abortions. It also clarifies that private plans may still offer elective abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 760. 108th Congress. To prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 4 June 2003. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. S 3. 108th Congress. A bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 2 October 2003. (votesmart.org)
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund. 2010. Gary Ackerman is endorsed by Planned Parenthood for the 2010 General Election. (www.plannedparenthoodaction.org)
- National Taxpayers Union. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 3 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 5638. 109th Congress. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit against the estate tax to an exclusion equivalent of $5,000,000 and to repeal the sunset provision for the estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 22 June 2006. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 8. 108th Congress. To make the repeal of the estate tax permanent. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 13 April 2005. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 1424. 111th Congress. To provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 10 March 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Club for Growth. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the Club for Growth 0 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 1. 111th Congress. Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 13 February 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. Issue Position: Financial Services. "If there is anything that we learned from the near-meltdown of America's financial system in 2008, it's that free markets require effective, broad oversight and capable regulators. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, I saw from a front-row seat how the hands-off regulatory policies of the previous Administration nearly resulted in the total collapse of our economy. Along with my colleagues in the Democratic Congress, I have worked to ensure that the type of financial meltdown we experienced in 2008 can never happen again. I've argued for comprehensive changes to how we regulate the financial services industry, including: oversight of over-the-counter derivatives -- like the Credit Default Swaps that resulted in AIG's near collapse; tougher enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and the creation of a bailout fund, paid for by the financial services industry, to ensure that American taxpayers will never again be forced to pay for Wall Street's mistakes. I have also successfully fought for consumers. I was proud to be invited to the Rose Garden at the White House to watch President Obama sign into law my legislation to prohibit credit-card companies from charging their customers a fee to pay their bills online or by phone as part of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act. I was also pleased when, earlier this year, the SEC finally heeded my advice and reinstituted to so-called "uptick rule," which protects stockholders from losing money when big investment houses make a run on a stock, causing its value to decline precipitously. If the financial services industry is to fully recover and be restored to the strongest, most robust on Earth, we must restore people's confidence in the system. I will continue to fight for common-sense regulation of our financial system and protections for American consumers to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and need not worry about writing the check to cover excessive risk on Wall Street." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. 2005-2006. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants 90 percent in 2005-2006. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. H Amdt 497 to HR 2181. 105th Congress. An amendment to add a new section which provides that in further consideration of death sentence recommendations, life imprisonment shall be imposed instead, if the court has any doubt that a defendent actually committed the offense. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 25 February 1998. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 1. 107th Congress. To close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 23 May 2001. (votesmart.org)
- Home School Legal Defense Association. 1999-2000. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the Home School Legal Defense Association 20 percent in 1999-2000. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. Issue Position: Education. "As a former teacher in the New York City public-school system, I know firsthand the tremendous impact that a quality education provides to students. Unfortunately, the previous Administration never adequately addressed budget shortfalls in America's schools. As a result, teachers often would purchase supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets -- a noble but expensive act. I have continually supported legislation that would make such purchases completely tax deductible." (votesmart.org)
- Environment America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of Environment America 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 2454. 111th Congress. To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 26 June 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 4296. 103rd Congress. To make unlawful the transfer or possession of assault weapons. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 5 May 1994. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 6842. 111th Congress. To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 17 September 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 1025. 103rd Congress. To provide for a waiting period before the purchase of a handgun, and for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system to be contacted by firearms dealers before the transfer of any firearm. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 10 November 1993. (votesmart.org)
- Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Gary Ackerman a grade of F-. (votesmart.org)
- Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 2003. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 100 percent from 1991 and 2003. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 3962. 111th Congress. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted YES on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
- American Public Health Association. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman signed the Progressive Change Campaign Committee letter. "Representatives Jared Polis and Chellie Pingree are asking other members of Congress to join them in signing this urgent letter to Harry Reid: Dear Majority Leader Reid: As the Senate continues to work on health reform legislation, we strongly urge you to consider including a public option." (whipcongress.com)
- Gary Ackerman. Issue Position: Healthcare. "Every American should have quality, affordable health insurance. But America's health-care system has been broken for decades. At the beginning of 2010, 46 million Americans were without health-insurance coverage, including nearly three million children here in New York State. Aside from the moral obligation that the United States -- the richest country on Earth -- owes to its citizens' well-being, those of us fortunate enough to have insurance were paying the price: In 2009, the average American family paid $1,100 more on their health-care insurance premiums to cover the care provided to the tens of millions of Americans who were without coverage. Many uninsured Americans lack coverage due to pre-existing conditions or merely because they got sick. For years, health-insurance companies routinely denied coverage to people with diabetes, asthma or other common, treatable conditions. Those Americans fortunate enough to be healthy when they first purchased their coverage often discovered that their insurance companies dropped their policies when they developed the very types of illnesses that they had purchased insurance to cover them for in the first place. After a century of attempts to improve American's health-care system, change has finally come: Health-insurance reform is now the law of the land, despite all of the misinformation about health-care reform. (There are no "death panels," and the government is not taking over the health-care system.) For the first time in our country's history, health-care is a right, not a privilege. Under the legislation passed by the Democratic Congress and signed by President Obama, every American will have access to quality, affordable health-insurance provided by private insurance companies. Health-insurance companies will no longer be permitted to deny policies based on pre-existing conditions, or drop coverage once a customer becomes sick. Medicare beneficiaries will receive increased coverage, and the dreaded "donut hole" will be closed. And small businesses that provide insurance to their employees are eligible for significant tax credits to offset the costs of their employees' insurance premiums. I could not be more proud of our country -- and our President -- for finally realizing the changes to our health-care system that Teddy Roosevelt first envisioned 100 years ago. I encourage you to read more about how you will benefit from health-care reform." (votesmart.org)
- Federation for American Immigration Reform. 2007-2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 20 percent in 2007-2008. (votesmart.org)
- National Latino Congreso. 2007-2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of the National Latino Congreso 100 percent in 2007-2010. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on Requiring Timetable for Withdrawal from Afghanistan on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. Afghanistan War Powers Resolution. 10 March 2010. "Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the resolution. I am frankly astonished that the resolution has even come to the floor. I am afraid some of our colleagues either misunderstand the plain text of the War Powers Act or would like the House to initiate a legislative version of the so-called "memory hole'' described by George Orwell in his foreboding novel 1984. The War Powers Act provides that in the event U.S. forces are engaged in hostilities without either a declaration of war or a specific statutory authorization, a concurrent resolution can be considered to force the withdrawal of our troops. An important piece of law to be sure, but one that is wholly irrelevant to the actual circumstances under which our troops are currently fighting. Like many others in the House, I was present on September 14, 2001, when the House passed House Joint Resolution 64, to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the then-recent attacks launched against the United States. The vote, I would remind you, was 420 in favor and one against. I would note that the gentleman from Ohio, along with myself, was present and voted aye, as was the gentleman from Texas, as were 420 of us. I would like to quote from that resolution which we are seeking to deny existed, which became Public Law 107-40 on September 18, 2001. It says, quote, ``That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.'' Members may like or dislike the war in Afghanistan. They may think the President's new strategy is wise or foolish. They may regard the costs of the war as bearable or not, but they are plainly not entitled to argue that the hostilities were not pursuant to specific authorization by the United States Congress. The 107th Congress authorized the use of force. The President of the United States signed that authorization into law. If a Member of this House is opposed to the war, and I am sympathetic to such views, then the proper remedy is to pass legislation to mandate withdrawal through the Congress under regular order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. BERMAN. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds. Mr. ACKERMAN. They can likewise vote against the annual and supplemental appropriations that fund the war. What Members ought not be able to do is to waste 3 full hours of the House's time debating a resolution founded, at best, on a mistake and, at worst, a willful intention to pretend that recent history that we did authorize this war by a 420-1 vote can be dropped into the "memory hole.'' No matter what Members believe about the war in Afghanistan, this resolution deserves to fail. " (votesmart.org)
- Peace Action West. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Gary Ackerman supported the interests of Peace Action West 50 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. H J Res 88. 109th Congress. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 18 July 2006. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. HR 3396. 103rd Congress. To define and protect the institution of marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Gary Ackerman voted NO on 12 July 1996. (votesmart.org)
- Gary Ackerman. Issue Position: Civil Rights. "We are privileged to live in one of the most diverse areas of the world. New York is a melting pot: Each of us comes from different countries, practices different religions, and is entitled to our own beliefs. I am dedicated to ensuring equality for everyone, regardless of race, religion, age, disability, gender, or sexual orientation." (votesmart.org)
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) regarding abortion.
| X | a) Abortions should always be illegal. | ||
| b) Abortions should always be legal. | |||
| c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy. | |||
| d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape. | |||
| e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered. | |||
| f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion. | |||
| g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions. | |||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities
| Slightly Decrease | a) Agriculture | ||
| Slightly Increase | b) Arts | ||
| Greatly Increase | c) Defense | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Increase | e) Environment | ||
| Greatly Increase | f) Homeland security | ||
| Slightly Increase | g) International aid | ||
| Slightly Increase | h) Law enforcement | ||
| Greatly Increase | i) Medical research | ||
| Maintain Status | j) National parks | ||
| Slightly Increase | k) Public health services | ||
| Maintain Status | l) Scientific research | ||
| Slightly Decrease | m) Space exploration programs | ||
| Greatly Increase | n) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Maintain Status | o) Welfare | ||
| p) Other or expanded categories | |||
Defense Spending
| a) Armed Forces personnel training | |||
| b) Intelligence operations | |||
| c) Military hardware | |||
| d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment | |||
| e) National missile defense | |||
| f) Pay for active duty personnel | |||
| g) Programs to improve troop retention rates | |||
| h) Research and development of new weapons | |||
| i) Troop and equipment readiness | |||
| j) Other or expanded categories | |||
Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/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 | |||
| a) Charitable contributions | |||
| b) Child tax credit | |||
| c) Earned income tax credit | |||
| d) Medical expense deduction | |||
| e) Mortgage deduction | |||
| f) Student loan credit | |||
| g) Other or expanded categories | |||
| No | 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax? | ||
| No | 5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately? | ||
| 7) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.
| X | a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal 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) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees. | |||
| e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office. | |||
| f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election. | |||
| g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties. | |||
| h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)? | |||
| Yes | i) Should Election Day be a national holiday? | ||
| Yes | j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions? | ||
| No | k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman? | ||
| l) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.
| a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. | |||
| X | b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. | ||
| c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole. | |||
| d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released. | |||
| e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment. | |||
| f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes. | |||
| g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman. | |||
| h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes. | |||
| i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth. | |||
| j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes. | |||
| k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults. | |||
| X | m) Other or expanded principles | ||
| While I support strong penalties for crime and increased federal assistance for law enforcement, I believe stronly that judges should have appropriate discretion in sentencing. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs.
| a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. | |||
| X | b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs. | ||
| X | c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. | ||
| X | d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes. | ||
| e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. | |||
| f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs." | |||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.
| X | a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students. | ||
| b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school. | |||
| c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school. | |||
| d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools. | |||
| e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers. | |||
| f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay. | |||
| g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology). | |||
| h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs. | |||
| i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children. | |||
| j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions. | |||
| l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college. | |||
| m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college. | |||
| X | n) Other or expanded principles | ||
| As a former public school teacher, I believe public resources should be directed to the public school system, which the vast majority of America's families depend on to educate their children. | |||
1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.
| X | 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) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees. | ||
| X | d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies. | ||
| e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment. | |||
| X | f) Increase the federal minimum wage. | ||
| X | g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced. | ||
| X | h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options. | ||
| i) Other or expanded principles | |||
| a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions. | |||
| b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs. | |||
| X | c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs. | ||
| X | d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws. | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.
| 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) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land. | |||
| d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands. | |||
| e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage. | |||
| f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil). | |||
| X | g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. | ||
| h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. | |||
| X | i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution. | ||
| j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel. | |||
| k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits. | |||
| X | l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming. | ||
| m) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.
| X | a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting. | ||
| X | b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of 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. | ||
| X | h) Require a license for gun possession. | ||
| X | i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities. | ||
| j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims. | |||
| k) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.
| a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| X | 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 which includes 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. | ||
| e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts. | |||
| f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. | |||
| X | g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare. | ||
| X | h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans. | ||
| X | i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage. | ||
| X | j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid. | ||
| X | k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare. | ||
| X | l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells. | ||
| X | m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research. | ||
| n) 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) Establish English as the official national language. | |||
| X | c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers. | ||
| X | d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps). | ||
| X | e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States. | ||
| f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism. | |||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States 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 United States. | ||
| c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses. | |||
| d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated. | |||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.
| Yes | a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? | ||
| Yes | b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state? | ||
| No | c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program? | ||
| No | b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program? | ||
| No | c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power? | ||
| Yes | d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan? | ||
| Yes | e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations? | ||
| No | b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations? | ||
| Yes | c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions? | ||
| d) Other or expanded principles | |||
| No | 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba? | ||
| Yes | 5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives? | ||
| No | 7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education? | ||
| 8) Other or expanded principles | |||
| The United States should renew its efforts to win debt relief for Iraq; solicit greater foreign contributions of training and equipment for Iraqi security forces; and accelerate the disbursment of US reconstruction funds by expecting the use of Iraqi firms and workers in existing and future contracts. | |||
International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.
| No | 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)? | ||
| No | 4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States? | ||
| Yes | 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights? | ||
| 7) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.
| a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical? | |||
| Yes | b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism? | ||
| No | c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks? | ||
| Yes | d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country? | ||
| Yes | e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security? | ||
| No | f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security? | ||
| g) 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) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities. | |||
| d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form. | |||
| e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases. | |||
| f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits. | |||
| g) Other of expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.
| a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions. | |||
| X | b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation. | ||
| c) Implement regulation of Internet content. | |||
| d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television. | |||
| X | e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses). | ||
| X | f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet. | ||
| g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| X | h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails. | ||
| i) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.
| a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs. | |||
| X | b) Increase funding for child care programs. | ||
| X | c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants. | ||
| d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations. | |||
| e) Abolish all federal welfare programs. | |||
| X | f) Support housing assistance for low-income families. | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
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