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Jerry Lewis' 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.
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.

Jerry Lewis 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.

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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 2010.

  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 25 May 2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. S 3. 108th Congress. A bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 2 October 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 3660. 106th Congress. To amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 4 May 2000. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 760. 108th Congress. To prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 4 June 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • National Right to Life Committee. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Planned Parenthood. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 17 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 22 June 2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 8. 108th Congress. To make the repeal of the estate tax permanent. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 13 April 2005. (votesmart.org)
  • National Taxpayers Union. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 80 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Club for Growth. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the Club for Growth 74 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 13 February 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 10 March 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 28 January 2009. "I would love to support the gentleman's amendment. Indeed, if there were an offset within this bill relative to those things that aren't producing jobs, this is an amendment I could get very excited about. In the meantime, it does raise the top line, and everybody should know that. I know that Mr. Oberstar loves that, for it helps him out when he is trying to pass the bill down the line when he is short of money. But in the meantime, on this side of the aisle the vast percentage of my Members would prefer that we have an offset before we start raising the line of spending. So I will reluctantly have to oppose the amendment." (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. 29 September 2008. "There is no question that investing in the market also poses risks, but if we can reduce market uncertainty, those risks are reduced for everyone. That is the only way to protect the investments made by seniors who built our economy's foundation and localities serving our constituents. Allowing the markets to crash and leaving Wall Street to its own devices does punish the decisionmakers who fueled this crisis. But we all know it won't stop there. Millions of Americans will suffer the consequences, even those who felt they were being careful with their retirement nest egg. There is no question that we in Congress must move deliberately and do everything we can to reduce or eliminate the risk to taxpayer funds. And whatever action is taken by Congress, we must make certain that those who got us into this mess do not profit further from the solutions we develop. But we cannot avoid risk. Ultimately, we must face the realization that doing nothing will cause a potential catastrophe, and the suffering won't be felt just on Wall Street. It will be on every Main Street in America." (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Another Season Of Federal Spending. 26 February 2010. "Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, we are about to enter another season of federal spending decisions, beginning with a new stimulus package that will add another $150 billion to our outrageous federal debt. What are we getting for this spending? In my home counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, California, we have lost 30,000 jobs in the past year. Our unemployment rate is 14 percent. Houses have lost half of their value in 3 years, and foreclosures have gone from 3,000 3 years ago to nearly 48,000 last year. The stimulus and runaway spending have not brought jobs to my constituents, but they have increased one thing: Each man, woman and child could soon owe $48,000 for their share of the federal debt. The CBO tells us that just 10 percent of last year's stimulus is being spent on job-creation. Let's not make that mistake again this year." (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Congressman Jerry Lewis Praises State of the Union as an Impressive Action Plan. 3 Febuary 2005. "This was not just a speech about possibilities. It was the announcement of a clear plan of action that the President will be working hard to put into place for the next months and years. The President has made it clear that he will under no circumstances change or reduce the benefits for those who are now receiving Social Security or who will be eligible in the near future. What he is committed to doing is to change the outlook of those young workers who will be paying for the program their entire lives but who believe they will never see a single benefit check when they reach retirement age. I believe the plan the President has proposed will bring security and optimism to our nation's retirement system, and I believe he will convince the American people of that as he travels the nation in the next few months. We saw tonight that the President is adamant about bringing freedom and peace around the world and security from terrorism to Americans. He is sending our new Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, on a campaign to convince our allies that the promise of freedom we saw with the Iraqi elections can be a springboard to democracy and peace throughout the Middle East. Neither the President nor the Secretary of State will rest until that goal is achieved. We in Congress have been given a challenge to reduce the burden on taxpayers and future generations of Americans will bear because of the growing federal deficit. I have told the President we are committed to meeting that challenge, while at the same time balancing the needs of our troops on the front lines against terrorism and maintaining vital programs here at home." (votesmart.org)
  • Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. 2005-2006. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants 10 percent in 2005-2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 25 February 1998. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 23 May 2001. (votesmart.org)
  • Home School Legal Defense Association. 1999-2000. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the Home School Legal Defense Association 60 percent in 1999-2000. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. 10 August 2010. "States across America have as their number one responsibility the education of our young. If the States cannot allocate their own spending in order to carry out that top responsibility, we will never solve the problem with a bailout from Uncle Sam. A multibillion-dollar bailout today will set the stage for nationalized education tomorrow. That will surely push our economy over the cliff of bankruptcy...I am very proud of the fact that three of my four children are teachers. They work very hard to provide quality education in the classroom. They know that schools should be run by parents, teachers, and local communities. The more we approve these bailouts, the more the Federal Government takes over that role." (votesmart.org)
  • Environment America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of Environment America 20 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 26 June 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 2003. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 0 percent from 1991 and 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Jerry Lewis a grade of A-. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Congressman Lewis Praises Supreme Court Decision Upholding the Second Amendment. 26 June 2008. "Congressman Jerry Lewis Thursday hailed the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the restrictive Washington, D.C. gun ban and upholding an individual's right to own a firearm under the Second Amendment to the Constitution. 'The Washington, D.C. gun ban was the most egregious example of a law that didn't work - it restricted law-abiding citizens from protecting their homes and families, but had virtually no affect on gun-related crime,' Lewis said. 'The Supreme Court absolutely made the right decision to throw out this unconstitutional law, and I believe our Nation's Capital will now be a safer place'." (www.house.gov)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 10 November 1993. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 4296. 103rd Congress. To make unlawful the transfer or possession of assault weapons. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 5 May 1994. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 6842. 111th Congress. To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 17 September 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • American Public Health Association. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 11 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. 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: Jerry Lewis voted NO on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Government Should Not Come Between Doctor and Patient. 28 July 2009. "Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, excellent health care begins with a great personal relationship between a physician and his or her patient. Government should not attempt to get between them. America has a health care delivery system second to none. Problems such as portability and covering preexisting conditions can be underwritten actuarially without throwing out a system that works for the vast percentage of Americans. Every American family knows excellent care does involve some costs. While we pay our doctors fairly for their service, government should not get in the way." (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. Government-Run Health Care Plan Will Cost Jobs And Increase Taxes, Congressman Jerry Lewis Warns. 22 July 2009. "The government-run health care plan that is being rushed through Congress by the Democratic majority will cause many small businesses to sacrifice jobs, raise health care costs, and could allow government bureaucrats to decide what health care choices are available to all Americans, Congressman Jerry Lewis warned Thursday...I am strongly opposed to this plan for all of these reasons. My top priority is to keep quality health-care coverage for people who have it while looking for innovative ways to provide health care coverage to those who need it. Having a government takeover of healthcare will cause costs to rise and reduce choice, and it will not work for Americans." (votesmart.org)
  • Federation for American Immigration Reform. 2007-2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 62 percent in 2007-2008. (votesmart.org)
  • National Latino Congreso. 2007-2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of the National Latino Congreso 25 percent in 2007-2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Peace Action West. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jerry Lewis supported the interests of Peace Action West 8 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted NO on Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted NO on Requiring Timetable for Withdrawal from Afghanistan on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. H J Res 88. 109th Congress. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 18 July 2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jerry Lewis. HR 3396. 103rd Congress. To define and protect the institution of marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jerry Lewis voted YES on 12 July 1996. (votesmart.org)

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