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Jo Bonner, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Jo Bonner, Jr. refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2012 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

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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 2012.

  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion."
  • Jo Bonner. HR 6099. 110th Congress. Abortion Pain Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 12/06/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Reconciliation Act Of 2010. 24 March 2010. "Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and H.R. 4872, The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. These severely misguided bills authorize $1.2 trillion in new mandatory spending over the next decade, impose costly unfunded mandates on States, increase taxes on small businesses and families by more than $500 billion over ten years, and provide a clear path for federal funding of abortions." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Op Ed: Government Health Care Bill Vote Was Not A Mandate. 16 November 2009. "Perhaps the only positive development that arose from that late night voting session was the passage of an amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-MI, and Rep. Joe Pitts, R-PA, that would continue the prohibition of federal funds being used to pay for abortions. I voted against this amendment which simply extends the reach of existing law banning federally-funded abortions to also cover the speaker's health care plan. Already, many House and Senate liberals are expressing opposition to this amendment and are threatening to remove it once the House and Senate come to conference over the final health care bill. Ironically, the removal of the anti-abortion language could ultimately serve to derail final passage of a government health care bill." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Op Ed: A Bad Health Care Bill. 9 November 2009. "Our health care plan is the result of listening to the American people's choices for reform. Among other things our alternative would […] Prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortions." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Letter to Constituents. 21 March 2010. "The tension continued to build until late Sunday afternoon when, just a few hours before the vote, Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak announced that he had secured a commitment from President Obama to issue an executive order to clarify that no taxpayer dollars could be spent on abortion in the newly reconfigured health care system. Sadly, to those of us who are also 'pro-life,' Congressman Stupak must have forgotten what he learned about the Constitution in law school, as executive orders issued by the president don’t carry the same weight as the law of the land." (www.jobonner.com)
  • National Organization for Women. 04/18/2012. "On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the National Organization for Women attaches more value to those votes it considers more important. For 2008, the National Organization for Women gave Jo Bonner a rating of 29 percent." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 748. 109th Congress. Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 04/27/2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Planned Parenthood. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Family Research Council. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Family Research Council 100 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. S 403. 110th Congress. Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 09/26/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H AMDT 209. 109th Congress. Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 05/25/2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H Amdt 509. 111th Congress. Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 11/07/2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H Amdt 95. 112th Congress. Prohibiting Use of Federal Funds For Planned Parenthood. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 02/18/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 3. 112th Congress. Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 05/04/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • National Right to Life Committee. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 100 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Pro-life" for: "a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?" Abortion Issues Other or expanded principles: "b) yes, when pregnancy results from rape or incest or is an endangerment to the life of the mother."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "g) Medicare, Medicaid, and federal subsidies should be prohibited from being used on abortion procedures."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?" Abortion Issues Other or expanded principles: "b) yes, when pregnancy results from rape or incest or is an endangerment to the life of the mother."
  • Peace Action West. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of Peace Action West 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: "Our Military Deserve Credit for Gains in Iraq." August 16, 2010. "While it is fine for the president to applaud our military's progress in Iraq, I hope he will take to heart the lessons of the last three years and support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines as they dutifully perform their missions. This is especially vital in the battle against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Last December, the president supported the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops to that country as part of a counterinsurgency strategy. Just as we did in Iraq, we must stand behind General Petraeus and our military, giving them the fullest measure of support to complete their mission." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?" International Policy Issues Other or expanded principles: "f) support two-state solution which recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state. h) consistent with current status of forces agreement."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?" International Policy Issues Other or expanded principles: "f) support two-state solution which recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state. h) consistent with current status of forces agreement."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "j) Should the United States increase military support for Afghanistan?"
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Jo Bonner questions open-ended commitment in Afghanistan by U.S. 13 March 2010. "It's a Mess." (blog.al.com)
  • Jo Bonner. War Supplemental that Misses the Point. 22 June 2009. "Our men and women in uniform deserve a funding bill that provides all the tools they need for success in Iraq and Afghanistan." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week In Washington: "Assessing Afghanistan." 15 March 2010. "The men and women of our military are absolutely dedicated to the success of their mission, which is to protect us. We, in return, must continue to give them the tools and support they need to get the job done." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Press Conference with House Republican Leaders. 10 February 2009. "First trip to Afghanistan, and I want to echo what Tom just said. We had an opportunity to see the young men and women who are allowing us to have this conversation today […] without question, we have the most well-trained, most capable men and women. And we've asked in many instances them to do some heroic things. And so we are very fortunate to have them representing the very best face of America while, at the same time, trying to bring peace and freedom in some parts of the world that have never known what it tasted like." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Congressman Jo Bonner discusses Afghanistan. April 29, 2010. "We just need to know what the administration is trying to achieve. Keeping the Taliban out is a good objective […] We must simply make sure that what we are doing is worth American blood and treasure.” (cw.ua.edu)
  • Peace Action. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Peace Action 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H Con Res 28. 112th Congress. Removing Troops from Afghanistan. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 03/17/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: "America Still at War with Terror." 27 September 2010. "Looking ahead, Mr. Obama renewed attention to the war in Afghanistan through the deployment of more troops to assist General David Petraeus's assault on the resurgent Taliban. While I applaud the president's support of General Petraeus and our military in Afghanistan, I join many others in urging caution and careful planning as we reduce our military role in Iraq. That Middle Eastern nation remains in the crosshairs of terrorist groups and the extremist leadership of neighboring Iran who benefit from a return to chaos in Iraq." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Supporting America's Wounded Warfighters. 9 April 2007. "It has now been two months since the president submitted to Congress his urgent request for funds to support the troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, and instead of working to pass a clean war spending bill, the House majority voted to adjourn until mid-April. Our generals on the ground have made it clear that there will be dire consequences facing our military unless they receive this funding in the next few weeks." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 4200. 108th Congress. Defense Department FY2005 Authorization Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 05/20/2004. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H Amdt 13. 112th Congress. Reducing Navy and Air Force Aircraft Procurement. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 02/15/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 4939. 110th Congress. Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2006. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 06/13/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 5631. 110th Congress. Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 06/20/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 1363. 112th Congress. 2011 Department of Defense Budget and Additional Continuing Appropriations. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 04/07/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 3222. 110th Congress. Department of Defense Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2008. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 08/05/2007. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 5631. 110th Congress. Department Defense Appropriations Act, FY 2007. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 09/26/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 2642. 110th Congress. Funding for Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 06/19/2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 4986. 110th Congress. Defense Authorizations Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 01/16/2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'America Again at a Crossroads.' 25 October 2010. "As a first step toward getting government spending under control, I support reducing all non-defense related discretionary spending to 2008 levels. This would save as much as $1.5 trillion over ten years." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Letter to the Honorable David Obey, Chairman, United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. 14 September 2010. "In fact, we believe that we should work together now to cut spending unrelated to defense, veterans and homeland security to the fiscal year 2008 level." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. District Work Period Provides A Breif Respite. 2 June 2005. "That certainly seems an ambitious agenda, and many question whether we can actually meet that goal. To the credit of everyone involved in the appropriations process, we are currently meeting that goal. As of our adjournment two weeks ago, the House has already passed four of the 11 bills: Homeland Security, Energy and Water, Interior, and Military Quality of Life - Veterans Affairs.The passage of these bills was all the more extraordinary when considering that work on them was completed while simultaneously working on such important pieces of legislation as the FY 2006 National Defense Authorization Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Productive August District Work Period. 4 September 2006. "As Congress returns to Washington, one of the first items on our agenda will be passing H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007. This annual spending bill funds critical defense needs including troop protection, operation and maintenance, research and development, and emergency wartime appropriation needs." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. House Panel Avoids Weighing In On Tanker Award. May 19, 2008. "Last week, the House Democratic leaders had a choice to bring to the House floor a clean bill that would provide funding for our troops - ensuring our military men and women engaged in the Global War on Terror have the resources they need to succeed in their missions. Instead, a bill, which completely bypassed the committee process and had the input of only a handful of legislators, was brought to the House floor as three separate amendments: war funding, troop withdrawal, and domestic spending. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Productive August District Work Period. 4 September 2006. "In July, the Office of Management and Budget reported that this year's budget deficit is expected to be $127 billion less than projected just six months ago, putting us on track to balance the federal budget in five years. As Congress returns to Washington, one of the first items on our agenda will be passing H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007. This annual spending bill funds critical defense needs including troop protection, operation and maintenance, research and development, and emergency wartime appropriation needs. At a time when the men and women of our armed forces are being called to duty in dangerous areas on a daily basis, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan, it is important that Congress demonstrates our strong support for their efforts and provide them with some of the support they need, both at home and abroad." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Named to Defense and Financial Services Subcommittees on Appropriations. 21 January 2011. "With an increasing emphasis on the growth of the defense industry in South Alabama, and given Alabama's substantial military infrastructure and defense-related employment state wide, I believe my new assignment on this subcommittee will provide significant benefit to our state and region in the coming years." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. War Supplemental that Misses the Point. 22 June 2009. "Regretfully, the House Democratic leadership actually cut $4.6 billion in defense funding from the war supplemental that was included in the original House-passed version […] Our men and women in uniform deserve a funding bill that provides all the tools they need for success in Iraq and Afghanistan." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. c) Defense"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "c) Defense"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category. c) Defense"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. [?] c) Defense"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. c) Defense"
  • Jo Bonner. Pentagon Reaffirms Commitment to LCS and Tanker. 13 April 2009. "These recommendations essentially reshape the priorities of our nation's defense. The sad truth is that the current budget woefully underfunds our nation's defense; and therefore, the Pentagon was forced to make difficult decisions." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "5) Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent?"
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Votes to Repeal ObamaCare. 20 January 2011. "Instead of a new government bureaucracy funded by job killing taxes and more deficit spending, Americans want an alternative that allows them to keep their own health care plan, protects access to health care coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, stops abuse of medical malpractice lawsuits, prevents insurers from unjustly cancelling a policy or imposing annual or lifetime spending caps, permits Americans to buy health insurance across state lines, and allows small businesses to pool together to obtain health care at lower prices." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'After a Month in Office, New House Having an Impact.' 14 February 2011. "To begin, government should strive to keep taxes low. Last year's extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief was a good start and it is having a positive effect on business. But that's not enough." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'America Again at a Crossroads.' 25 October 2010. "I have joined with other House Republicans in calling on the Democrat leadership of Congress to hold a vote this year to cut taxes in order to spur economic growth. Unfortunately, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have made clear their opposition to renewing the expiring tax cuts for all Americans. Instead, they want to increase taxes on those earning more than $250,000, including more than half of the nation's small business owners. The president says the tax hikes are necessary in order to pay down the record budget deficits created by his administration. He turns a deaf ear to local small businesses, which will be forced to fire employees or implement hiring freezes to pay this new tax burden." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Lame Duck Session Arrives.' 15 November 2010. "One can only imagine the shocking impact on our economy of a 55 percent death tax, not to mention a jump in income taxes for many of the country's small business owners. The death tax punishes those who inherit small businesses, including family farms." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Pelosi Forces Passage of Small Business Tax Increase.' 6 December 2010. "Frankly, the impact of small businesses on our communities is enormous. Nationally, they employ 90 percent of the country's workforce and in most small towns they are the backbone of the local economy. Just as most of us sacrifice to live within our budgets, so must small businesses. Tax hikes on the heels of a prolonged deep economic recession will force local grocery, hardware, restaurant and repair shop owners to choose between hiring new workers and paying Washington more taxes." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Tax Cut Extension Approved.' 4 January 2011. "As families gather from San Francisco to Savannah for holiday cheer, it will surely warm the hearts of more than a few to know that come January first no one's taxes will increase. Speaker Pelosi was prepared to drive our economy over the side of the cliff with a $3.9 trillion tax increase come New Year's Day. Yet, Senate and House Republican leaders were able to forge an agreement with the president to save the public and our fragile economy from her new taxes, and not a moment too soon." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Assisting Alabama's Tornado Victims; First 100 Days of New Congress. 9 May 2011. "On April 15, the House passed the Path to Prosperity plan. This budget blueprint, written by Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, has provoked a national discussion about deficit spending and even forced the president to revise his earlier budget plan. However, unlike the president's approach, the House-passed budget reduces the deficit by $4.4 trillion over ten years through spending cuts and reforms, not new taxes." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: House Awaits Serious Deficit Reduction Response from the President. 9 May 2011. "Meanwhile, the president's second budget proposal in two months now claims to actually reduce the deficit with the assistance of major tax increases -- or as he termed them, 'spending reductions in the tax code.' In contrast, Chairman Ryan's budget takes a path that is closer to what many Americans prefer -- cutting spending to the tune of $6.2 trillion over ten years without raising taxes." (votesmart.org)
  • National Taxpayers Union. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported reasonable tax and spending policies as defined by the National Taxpayers Union 85 percent of the time in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Americans for Tax Reform. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform 100 percent in 2007." (votesmart.org)
  • Citizens for Tax Justice. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Citizens for Tax Justice 0 percent in 2006." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Alabama Sees Firsts in National Tide of Change.' 8 November 2010. "The centerpiece of the new majority's agenda is the Pledge to America, about which I have previously written. In short, House conservatives will push for reduced government spending, lower taxes, more transparency in government and a repeal of the president's unpopular and costly health care plan. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: One Year Later, What Happened to the Recovery Summer? 13 June 2011. "Perception goes a long way in this economy. The feeling of the country's employers is to hold back on expanding and hiring, believing our mountainous national debt will surely lead to sharply higher taxes. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: One Year Later, What Happened to the Recovery Summer? 13 June 2011. "Given these facts, it should be clear to most everyone that the path taken by the White House to spend our way out of the recession has failed miserably. Rather than laying a foundation for an economic recovery, the $1.1 trillion spent by the administration on so-called shovel-ready projects has done little more than add to the country's massive debt." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Shutdown or Deal, The Serious Issues Lie Ahead. 9 May 2011. "We are $14 trillion in debt and unless we make significant and serious cuts to our spending moving forward, our nation faces a looming and catastrophic fiscal crisis. If the bill were to come due today, every U.S. household would have to fork out $120,500 just to cover Uncle Sam's decades-long overspending. Just to balance our federal budget for the current year -- not touching the debt we already owe -- would require our taxes to be increased by 60 percent. None of us could afford that, and Washington cannot continue spending with this reality staring us down." (votesmart.org)
  • U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Votes to Repeal ObamaCare. January 20, 2011. "The Obama administration vastly overreached in forcing all Americans to buy health care insurance, while creating a new bureaucracy that will limit individual care choices and drive up health care costs. The House has responded to the will of the American people by voting to repeal ObamaCare.” (votesmart.org)
  • The Club for Growth. 04/18/2012. "On the votes used to calculate its ratings, The Club for Growth attaches more value to those votes it considers more important. For 2010, The Club for Growth gave Jo Bonner a rating of 83 percent." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 1424. 110th Congress. Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 10/03/2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Americans for Prosperity. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Americans for Prosperity 95 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 5297. 112th Congress. Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 09/23/2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Votes Against Debt Ceiling Increase Without Spending Cuts. 30 May 2011. "I voted against raising the debt ceiling without commitments from the White House to match it with substantial spending cuts. To do otherwise is simply giving a green light to the very practices which have placed this nation under the crushing weight of massive debt. "
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Time to Settle the Debt Crisis. 1 June 2011. "With an August 2 deadline to approve an increase in the nation's credit limit or risk default, the rubber is soon to meet the road. Our creditors and the American people expect an agreement to put our spending in order. Mr. President, the House is ready to enact the difficult but necessary reforms that will get America back on the right track. Where are you?"
  • Jo Bonner. State on Federal Spending Agreement Announced. 9 April 2011. "It cuts hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending over the next decade and lays a foundation for even deeper spending cuts as we regroup to tackle the biggest challenge of our generation -- paying down a $14 trillion debt which endangers both our economy and our national security." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?"
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Reacts to State of the Union Address. 25 January 2011. "Today, I joined my fellow House Republicans in voting to direct House committees to roll back federal non-security discretionary spending to 2008 levels. This is in response to the American people's demand that their leaders take serious steps to control our massive debt. I call upon the president to work with us to spur job creation and restore the promise of a bright future for our children and grandchildren." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Oil Spill Anniversary and House Passes $38.5 Billion in Spending Cuts. 9 May 2011. "While it's true that the amount of cuts passed last week - $38.5 billion - is the largest non-defense federal spending reduction in U.S. history, the really big news is we've put an end to overall annual federal spending increases. The trend of year-after-year increased federal spending -- something Washington simply took for granted for as long as any of us can remember -- has been halted under the Republican budget plan." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: House Awaits Serious Deficit Reduction Response from the President. 9 May 2011. "On April 15, the House officially endorsed Chairman Ryan's budget plan, known as the 'Path to Prosperity', passing it by a 235 to 193 margin. I was pleased to support this budget proposal, which not only sets government on a long-term path of lower spending, but also eliminates roughly $800 billion in tax increases imposed by the president's health care law." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: "After a Month in Office, New House Having an Impact." 14 February 2011. "Government should strive to keep taxes low. Last year's extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief was a good start and it is having a positive effect on business. But that's not enough." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Tax Cut Extension Approved.' 4 January 2011. "Without the tax cut agreement, low and middle income workers would get socked with increases in their tax rates and small businesses would suffer an economic sucker punch right when they could have hired new employees or given long overdue pay raises." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Tax Cuts and Spending Freeze Needed to Jumpstart the Ailing Economy.' 27 September 2010. "The Republican plan would cut non-security related government spending to 2008 levels -- before the reckless stimulus spending began. Furthermore, the Republican plan would freeze the federal tax rates at their current level for two years. These are modest measures that would demonstrate a good faith effort on the part of the government to reduce spending while also providing breathing room for small businesses struggling to navigate our turbulent economic conditions. I support this common sense plan to jumpstart job growth and call on President Obama and Speaker Pelosi to work with Leader Boehner and House Republicans to help rebuild trust in our government and in our economy." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Monroe Journal Editorial Calling for Renewal of Bush Tax Cuts. 29 September 2010. "If the tax breaks are not continued for middle class workers, they would see an average increase of $1,500 per individual in their annual federal income tax. And, if the tax breaks are not continued for small business owners, many of those middle class workers could find themselves on the unemployment lines in 2011." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'America Again at a Crossroads.' 25 October 2010. "The administration's threats of tax increases on small business -- the nation's most reliable jobs providers -- offers further proof the president and the liberal leadership in Congress are out of touch with main street America." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: One Year Later, What Happened to the Recovery Summer? 13 June 2011. "Many believe, as I do, that the best way to return this country to sound economic footing is by removing barriers to new job creation, like the threat of tax hikes to finance runaway government spending, excessive regulations on small business and the uncertainty over high energy costs […] Perception goes a long way in this economy. The feeling of the country's employers is to hold back on expanding and hiring, believing our mountainous national debt will surely lead to sharply higher taxes. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 2. 108th Congress. Jobs and Economic Growth bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 05/23/2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Pelosi Forces Passage of Small Business Tax Increase.' 6 December 2010. "Frankly, the impact of small businesses on our communities is enormous. Nationally, they employ 90 percent of the country's workforce and in most small towns they are the backbone of the local economy. Just as most of us sacrifice to live within our budgets, so must small businesses. Tax hikes on the heels of a prolonged deep economic recession will force local grocery, hardware, restaurant and repair shop owners to choose between hiring new workers and paying Washington more taxes. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Bonner Column: Business Success Impossible Without Government? 23 July 2012. “Whether you believe government is the cure all or not, it should be self-evident that raising taxes on businesses during a recession will only hurt working Americans. A recent study by Ernst & Young concluded that Mr. Obama's tax increase would shrink our economy by 1.3 percent, lower wages by 1.8 percent and lead to 710,000 fewer jobs.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Letter to the Honorable Sander Levin, Chairman Committee on Ways and Means. 25 May 2010. “As you continue to draft renewable energy tax legislation, we urge you to take all efforts to ensure that the tax credits create American jobs and put American manufacturing back to work.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?"
  • Jo Bonner. Congressman Jo Bonner fields questions at Jackson City Hall. 26 January 2006. "(Referring to NCLB) The parents of children in Jackson and Clarke County should not have to deal with bureaucrats and officials in Washington, D.C. on matters relating to their children." (www.southalabamian.com)
  • Jo Bonner. Letter to The Honorable Arne Duncan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. April 1, 2011. "I strongly believe that our local teachers and school administrators are best suited to make decisions about educating our children, and it was a pleasure to meet with the Board of Education to discuss the challenges that we face. […] I am pleased that the delegation is working to communicate their concerns to those in the federal government, and to facilitate a direct meeting between Alabama leaders and government officials." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act. 30 April 2007. "This legislation, originally signed into law in 2002, was designed to help close the achievement gap between students by focusing on proven education methods. And, it is important to note, NCLB is in fact working - nationally, and more importantly, right here in Alabama." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "k) Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind)."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Maintain Status" for: "Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. [?] d) Education"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Maintain Status" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category, you can use a number more than once. d) Education"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Maintain Status" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. d) Education"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "j) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind)."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Maintain Status" for: "d) Education"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Maintain Status" for: "Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category. d) Education"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Support the federal government funding universal pre-K programs."
  • Jo Bonner. HR 3534. 112th Congress. Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 07/30/2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: State of the Union Address Fails to Address Nation's Pressing Problems. 31 January 2011. "[…] the president returned to his previous theme of so-called green energy at the expense of existing cheaper fuel sources. Most notable was his omission of any reference to continued oil drilling and exploration. While those of us on the Gulf Coast painfully realize that oil production comes with risks, we also know it would be irresponsible to abandon domestic resources in favor of costly and as yet unproven alternatives. A policy of safe and accountable oil and gas drilling as our nation develops additional energy sources is what is needed, not radical departures, which drive up the cost of energy for everyone." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: President Signals Shift to More Oil and Gas Drilling. 4 April 2011. "Those of us along the Gulf Coast know a thing or two about 'reality.' We understand the economic importance of oil and gas drilling and certainly feel the impact of excessive regulation and defacto drilling moratoriums through lost local jobs and ever-increasing fuel costs. Despite the economic and job-creating benefits of enhanced development of domestic resources, the administration's current regulations, policies and proposals are hurting jobs, raising energy costs and stunting government revenues." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "i) Support opening a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Support domestic oil exploration in areas that are currently restricted."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "g) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "c) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)."
  • Jo Bonner. Environmentalists argue that use of fossil fuels comes with costs that should dictate policies. 31 March 2011. "Many inherent risks are associated with the production of fossil fuels. Nevertheless, our dependence upon these important energy resources for the foreseeable future demands that we find ways to more safely extract and utilize them." (mobilebaykeeper.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: Energy Independence Demands All-of-the-Above Focus. 6 June 2011. "It has been estimated that as many as 19 billion barrels of untapped oil lie buried off our shores and in Alaska. However, this American oil, as well as some 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, is largely off limits to development because the Obama administration believes it cannot be safely extracted. To borrow from former President Reagan, the White House sees only problems where others see possibilities." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Letter to the Honorable Kenneth L. Salazar, Secretary of the Department of Interior. 31 August 2010. "We believe the BOEM must take immediate and effective action to provide clear guidance to its employees and the shallow water drilling industry concerning NTL-06 requirements, and it must further expedite the review and appropriate approval of applications for shallow water drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico. Until the BOEM does so, offshore oil and gas exploration support companies throughout the Gulf Coast engaged in shallow water drilling activities will continue to be severely affected by the continuing de facto moratorium on the issuance of new offshore shallow water drilling permits. We appreciate your time and attention to this most urgent and dire situation and we look forward to working with you to resolve these issues." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Congressman Jo Bonner Announces Passage of Offshore Drilling Bill. 8 December 2006. “There are no easy answers to our energy needs, but opening the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to drilling will benefit the entire country. As far as I'm concerned, we could not go home without passing the OCS bill, as it will limit our dependency on foreign resources.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H Amdt 773. 112th Congress. Ending Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling Rigs that Meet Certain Safety Standards. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 07/30/2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 1230. 112th Congress. Offshore Leasing Act. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 05/05/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Environment America. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of Environment America 13 percent in 2009." (votesmart.org)
  • Environment America. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of Environment America 13 percent in 2009." (votesmart.org)
  • League of Conservation Voters. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 20 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 910. 112th Congress. Energy Tax Prevention Act. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 04/07/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 2454. 111th Congress. Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade"). Jo Bonner voted Nay on 06/26/2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. The Need for a Sensible Energy Plan. 15 June 2009. “At the forefront of the president’s energy discussion is a cap-and-trade proposal which would create an overall limit on greenhouse gas emissions, a program that would act very much like a national energy tax. Some estimates suggest millions of jobs would be lost as manufacturers ship their plants to countries with less stringent environmental regulations, hurting American workers and the environment. The Administration’s plan would require greenhouse gas reductions of 17% by 2020, growing to over 40% by 2030. It is widely accepted that electric utilities do not currently have the technology to meet these goals, and until those technologies are available, the costs will be passed to the American people in the form of large increases in electricity, natural gas, and petroleum prices. The Democrats’ national energy tax would have a particularly devastating impact on the state of Alabama.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "j) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits under "cap and trade" laws."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "h) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "l) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "c) Support Clear Skies Act to reduce power plant emissions by setting a national cap on pollutants."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "d) Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "m) Support the Kyoto Protocol to limit global warming."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits."
  • Gun Owners of America. 04/18/2012. "In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Jo Bonner a grade of 82." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. S 397. 109th Congress. Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 10/20/2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 0 percent from 1988-2003 (Senate) or 1991-2003 (House)." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 6842. 110th Congress. Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 09/17/2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H AMDT 1156. 110th Congress. Trigger Lock Amendment. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 06/28/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • National Rifle Association. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. National Rifle Association endorsed Jo Bonner in the 2010 general election. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Congress Leaves Town Without Addressing Gas Prices. 7 July 2008. “I am convinced that responsible gun ownership, not more restrictive gun control legislation, must be the primary focus of our law enforcement and judicial systems in addressing gun related crime. I have always been a strong proponent of the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens and have worked hard during my tenure in Congress to support and promote these rights.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Allow individuals to carry concealed guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Require a license for gun possession."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "a) Support current federal laws regarding purchase and possession of firearms."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "a) Support current federal laws regarding purchase and possession of firearms."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Reauthorize the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Ban the sale, ownership or possession of handguns except by law enforcement and other government officials."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "a) Support current federal laws regarding purchase and possession of firearms."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "h) Require a license for gun possession."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "f) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "a) Support current federal laws regarding purchase and possession of firearms."
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Supports Full Repeal of Obamacare. 28 June 2012. "I voted against the passage of President Obama's health care law in 2009 and 2010 and I have joined the House in voting more than two dozen times since January 2011 to both fully repeal and dismantle the costly and unpopular health care law.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 2. 112th Congress. Repealing the Health Care Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 01/19/2011. (votesmart.org)
  • American Public Health Association. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Joins Alabama Republican Members in Launching 'America Speaking Out.' 25 May 2010. "The public has the lowest regard for Congress in history and it's no wonder after the Democrat leadership strong-armed the passage of a host of massive new spending bills that balloon our budget deficit, and in the case of health care, ignores Americans' rights to make some of the most personal choices in their lives." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. "Passed by the narrowest of margins and in open defiance of the will of the American people, President Obama's health care reform law not only is unaffordable, costing taxpayers $1.2 trillion over ten years, but also levies nearly $570 billion in new taxes. At least a dozen of these new tax provisions would impact families earning less than $250,000 a year, and some families making less than $66,150 a year could be forced to pay an individual mandate tax.U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner. This Week in Wasington : Passed by the narrowest of margins and in open defiance of the will of the American people, President Obama's health care reform law not only is unaffordable, costing taxpayers $1.2 trillion over ten years, but also levies nearly $570 billion in new taxes. At least a dozen of these new tax provisions would impact families earning less than $250,000 a year, and some families making less than $66,150 a year could be forced to pay an individual mandate tax." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Rep. Bonner Votes to Repeal ObamaCare. 20 January 2011. "The American people spoke powerfully last November that they want no part of the president's budget-busting, big government-knows-best takeover of the most personal aspect of their lives, their medical care. The Obama administration vastly overreached in forcing all Americans to buy health care insurance, while creating a new bureaucracy that will limit individual care choices and drive up health care costs. The House has responded to the will of the American people by voting to repeal ObamaCare. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'After a Month in Office, New House Having an Impact.' 14 February 2011. "The president's unpopular new health care law threatens to add another $700 billion to the federal deficit while raising premiums for many and forcing some to give up their choice of insurance plans. To address the overreach of ObamaCare, the House voted on January 19 to repeal the massive new law. We also voted to begin the process of writing legislation to replace the controversial big government program with targeted health care reforms that Americans actually want." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'First 100 Days in Congress.' 9 May 2011. "Halting ObamaCare is only the first step in our plan to reform health care to be more responsive to the needs of the American people. The House is currently writing new legislation to expand access to care and protect those with pre-existing conditions through market-based reforms, rather than costly and ineffective government controls." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Judge Challenges ObamaCare.' 7 February 2011. "As the courts line up against the administration, the new House majority is pursuing the most effective ways to choke off funding of the president's health care law. Stopping ObamaCare is not enough, however. We are also working on ways to improve health care access while lowering costs for those who already have insurance and protecting coverage for those with pre-existing conditions." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Obamacare Anniversary.' 21 March 2011. "ObamaCare disrupts and undermines the American health care system; it also adds nearly a $1 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: ObamaCare Repeal Vote More Than Just Symbolic. 24 January 2011. "Our goal is not to craft another big government bill, like the ObamaCare law, but rather to carefully identify ways to improve our current free-market health care system, retaining its innovation and quality while increasing access to care, enabling those with pre-existing conditions to get affordable health care and ensuring that people can keep the plans and doctors they currently have if they so choose." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Battle Against Obamacare Advances;' 27 September 2010. "Six months after the passage of the widely unpopular government health care law, efforts to halt its advance are gaining momentum. With many of its regulations and mandates scheduled to kick in next year, there is a focused urgency to stop its negative impact on our economy and our health care options before it's too late." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Providing healthcare is not a responsibility of the federal government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Implement a universal healthcare program to guarantee coverage to all Americans, regardless of income."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income."
  • National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Heat Rises in Washington: Congress vs. White House on “Fast and Furious” and Immigration. 25 June 2012. “In the waning days of 2010, then Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed through the House legislation known as the DREAM Act, which would have provided illegal immigrants under 30 a path to citizenship. I, along with a majority of Republicans, opposed this legislation.” (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 4437. 109th Congress. Border Security Bill. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 12/16/2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 5281. 112th Congress. DREAM Act. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 12/08/2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Federation for American Immigration Reform. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 100 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Americans for Legal Immigration. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. Americans for Legal Immigration endorsed Jo Bonner in the 2012 general election. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Issue Position: Defend the Nation. 6 June 2011. "Protect our borders from illegal immigration--preserve the rule of law." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Hybrid Kinetic in Jeopardy? 29 September 2009. (In reference to the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program which the plant heavily relies on, and promises a path to citizenship for foreign investors who contribute $500,000 to a business in a high-unemployment area). "My opposition to the bill last week was totally unrelated to the car factory and the visa program." (www.local15tv.com)
  • Jo Bonner. Feds on Wrong Side of Immigration Debate. 12 July 2010. "The idea is ludicrous -- the federal government seeking to punish a state for trying to uphold federal law. Yet that's exactly what's going on right now as the Obama administration files suit against the state of Arizona for attempting to enforce federal immigration law." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Support amnesty for illegal immigrants already working in the United States."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Illegal immigrants should have to return to their countries of origin before being considered for citizenship."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship."
  • Human Rights Campaign. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 0 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • American Family Association. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the American Family Association 100 percent in 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Traditional Values Coalition. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Traditional Values Coalition 85 percent in 2006" (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 3685. 110th Congress. Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA). Jo Bonner voted Nay on 11/07/2007. (votesmart.org)
  • Family Research Council. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Family Research Council 85 percent in 2006." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. H J Res 88. 110th Congress. Same-Sex Marriage Resolution. Jo Bonner voted Yea on 07/18/2006. (votesmart.org)
  • American Civil Liberties Union. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 0 percent in 2006." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. HR 2965. 112th Congress. Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act. Jo Bonner voted Nay on 12/15/2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?" Social Issues Other or expanded principles: "b) The decision is best left to the military to determine."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "i) Do you support a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and woman?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman?"
  • Jo Bonner. Closing a Loophole in the Current Terrorist Surveillance Law. 13 August 2007. "In this electronic age with a sophisticated terrorist enemy - our intelligence community must have the agility to find and fight any and all terrorist threats. The outdated FISA law has forced our intelligence community to go through bureaucratic red tape in order to intercept electronic communications among foreign suspects who are outside the United States." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Op-Ed: A Politically Correct War On Terror? 4 January 2010. "Quite candidly, the Christmas Day terror attempt should have never occurred. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian Islamic extremist who tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines jetliner, was on the U.S. terror watch list. Weeks before the incident, his own father had warned the U.S. government about his son's extremist views. Furthermore, it has been revealed that our government also knew the young Nigerian had been to Yemen -- a hotbed of terrorist activity." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'America Still at War with Terror.' 27 September 2010. "Our intelligence and law enforcement communities have been working overtime in the years since 2001 to help prevent further terror assaults on our homeland. Many such attempts have been thwarted, including planned attacks on Fort Dix, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and New York's subway system. Unfortunately, we've also witnessed terror-related deaths at Fort Hood, Texas. " (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. This Week in Washington: 'Assessing Afghanistan.' 15 March 2010. "Our trip concluded with a stop in Islamabad, Pakistan, where we met with the Pakistani secretary of defense and U.S. officials. Pakistan is a major U.S. ally against Al Qaeda and their government is under increasing international pressure to locate terrorists hiding within their borders." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "e) Do you support pre-emptive military strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to United States national security?"
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?" International Policy Issues Other or expanded principles: "f) support two-state solution which recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state. h) consistent with current status of forces agreement."
  • Alliance for Retired Americans. 04/18/2012. "Jo Bonner supported the interests of the Alliance for Retired Americans 50 percent in 2008." (votesmart.org)
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?" Business and Employment Issues Other or expanded principles: "d) consistent with current and long-standing rights under federal labor law."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2008 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "X" for: "a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts that they manage themselves."
  • Jo Bonner. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alabama Congressional Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves."
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.
Pro-life a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
Yes b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
Yes c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
Yes d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
Yes e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?
b) yes, when pregnancy results from rape or incest or is an endangerment to the life of the mother.

1) SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate 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.

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Slightly Decrease b) Arts
Slightly Increase c) Defense
Slightly Increase 1) Intelligence operations
Slightly Increase 2) Military hardware
Maintain Status 3) National missile defense
Slightly Increase 4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel
Greatly Increase 5) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Maintain Status 6) Research and development of new weapons
Maintain Status d) Education
Slightly Decrease e) Environment
Slightly Increase f) Homeland security
Slightly Decrease g) International aid
Maintain Status h) Medical research
Maintain Status i) Scientific research
Maintain Status j) Space exploration
Slightly Decrease k) United Nations
Maintain Status l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Eliminate b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Slightly Decrease g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Maintain Status h) Income taxes (high-income families)
i) Other or expanded categories
Yes 3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax?
Yes 4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year?
No 5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?
6) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?
Yes b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage?
Yes d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize?
Yes e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers?
d) consistent with current and long-standing rights under federal labor law.
Yes a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?
Yes b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
Yes d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
No f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements?
g) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?
Yes c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
No d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?
Yes e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?
f) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?
No b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?
Yes c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?
Yes d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?
Yes e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid?
f) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
No b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
No c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?
No d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?
Yes e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?
Yes f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy?
Yes g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors?
h) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Yes b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
Yes c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
No d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?
a) Support current federal laws regarding purchase and possession of firearms.
No a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?
Yes b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts?
Yes d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs?
f) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?
Yes b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?
Yes c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language?
Yes d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?
Yes b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?
Yes c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan?
Yes d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?
Yes e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States?
Yes f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
Yes g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates?
Yes h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq?
Yes i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements?
f) support two-state solution which recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state. h) consistent with current status of forces agreement.
Yes a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military?
Yes c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
Yes d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs?
b) The decision is best left to the military to determine.
Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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