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342 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Don't you know that we have to accept "conservative" lies and smears about us or we don't deserve to win?
Are you on Twitter,Facebook or listened to any of his speeches?
He's on fire about it (along with excoriating Rethugs, the AHCA, Sessions, the despicable hate crimes etc etc etc).
He's trying to save the party. There's a section of the Dem party that's intent on discounting the "Bernie" wing.
Never complained when the Vermont Democratic Party overlooked progressive Democratic candidates of color and backed him instead. Nope. Never called the party establishment or corrupt when they were in his corner. God forbid there might have been a little more support last year for a candidate that has worked for the party her entire life. The party he only joined temporarily for the money and media. Nope, if it ain't in the bag for him, then it's corrupt and an "absolute failure".
but I wonder where he would stand
List of members of 114th Congress who voted against their party the most
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/06/11/here-are-the-members-of-congress-who-vote-against-their-party-the-most/?utm_term=.cc2d3be3d5b2
Joe Manchin of WV voted against the party over 25% of the time, followed by 9 other Democratic senators. I'm sure there's data out there that shows how Bernie compares but I have no time to look right now and I'm mucking it up royally now as it is. 
Edited for accuracy
You may have the last word. With all that's happened in the country today grown adults should have better things to do than play the mental equivalent of a toddlers' game. I know I do.
Voted 94.1 % with Democrats on over 324 votes.
So, what below do you find that he "isn't" Democrat enough for you?
From OntheIssues:
Abortion
○ Lifetime pro-choice record, plus funding for family planning. (Sep 2015)
○ Advocate for family planning and funding for contraceptives. (Sep 2015)
○ Women have the right to choose, regardless of income. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies. (Mar 2009)
● Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
○ Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
○ Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
● Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
● Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
● Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
○ Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
● Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
● Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
● Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
○ Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals. (Sep 2006)
○ Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Provide emergency contraception at military facilities. (Apr 2007)
○ Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions. (Jul 2011)
○ Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. (Nov 2013)
○ Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions. (Jan 2015)
○ Protect the reproductive rights of women. (Jan 1993)
○ Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
○ Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. (Jan 2009)
Budget & Economy
○ Should top 1/10 of 1% owns as much wealth as the bottom 90%? (Mar 2016)
○ Yes, limit size of government, but address inequality. (Feb 2016)
○ I led the effort against deregulation, but we lost. (Feb 2016)
○ We need a 21st-century Glass-Steagall legislation. (Feb 2016)
○ The greed of the billionaire class is destroying our economy. (Dec 2015)
○ Almost all new wealth goes to the top 1%. (Oct 2015)
○ Economic justice: Address root causes of economic inequality. (Sep 2015)
○ Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups. (Jun 2015)
○ Break up large banks; add fees for high-risk investments. (Apr 2015)
○ We've transferred trillions from middle class to the top 1%. (Apr 2015)
○ Comprehensive 12-step agenda for moving America forward. (Jan 2015)
○ Dairy price fluctuations help no one but speculators. (Oct 2012)
○ Why did we bail out South Korea? (Dec 2010)
○ Middle class spending $2,200 each to bail out Wall Street. (Oct 2008)
○ Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
○ Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
○ Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
○ Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
○ Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
● More enforcement of mortgage fraud and TARP fraud. (May 2009)
○ Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)
Civil Rights
○ What kind of response would happen if Flint MI were white? (Feb 2016)
○ Combat institutional racism and reform justice system. (Oct 2015)
○ Vermont implemented ENDA 22 years ago; so should feds. (Sep 2015)
○ Black Lives Matter: deal with institutional racism. (Jul 2015)
○ Right to love each other, regardless of sexual orientation. (Jul 2015)
○ Voter ID laws marginalize communities of color. (Jun 2015)
○ Remove Confederate flag from State Houses. (Jun 2015)
○ Equal pay for equal work by women. (Mar 2015)
○ Bush’s tracking citizens’ phone call patterns is illegal. (Jun 2006)
○ 1964: civil rights activist in Congress on Racial Equality. (Jun 1997)
○ Never accept racism, sexism, nor homophobia. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013)
● Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
● Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
● Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
● Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
○ Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 93% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
○ Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
○ ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
○ Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (Mar 2011)
○ Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights. (Aug 2012)
○ Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender. (Jan 2013)
○ Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. (Jun 2013)
○ Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Corporations Regulation
○ Let's create America that works for all, not handful on top. (Dec 2015)
○ If Teddy Roosevelt saw modern banks he'd say "break them up". (Nov 2015)
○ Fix estate tax so mega-rich pay their fair share. (Sep 2015)
○ If a bank is too big to fail, it is too big to exist. (May 2015)
○ Worker-owned cooperatives instead of corporate tax breaks. (Mar 2015)
○ Bank bailout was socialism for the rich. (Feb 2015)
○ Americans want change: corporations get rich & people don't. (Sep 2014)
○ Investigate huge dairy processors for anti-trust violations. (Oct 2012)
○ Corporations do not have First Amendment rights. (Dec 2011)
○ Greed is addictive; their sickness hurts country terribly. (Dec 2010)
○ Small banks did just fine during financial crisis. (Dec 2010)
○ Deregulation led to incredible greed of $39B in CEO bonuses. (Oct 2008)
○ Cap deductions for CEO pay; count perks as profit. (Jun 1997)
○ In 1980s, wealthiest 1% got 2/3 of all wealth increases. (Jun 1997)
○ The needs of the rich & large corporations are never ignored. (Jun 1997)
Banking Reform
○ The auto industry bill was really a bailout for Wall Street. (Mar 2016)
○ If we don't break up banks, we'll be bailing them out again. (Feb 2016)
○ Corporate America & Wall Street won't like President Sanders. (Dec 2015)
○ Wall Street will not be in my Cabinet; their model is fraud. (Nov 2015)
○ I'm not part of casino capitalism that wrecked our economy. (Oct 2015)
○ Fraud is the business model of Wall Street. (Oct 2015)
○ Make Wall Street bail out Wall Street; but middle class did. (Oct 2015)
○ Wall Street business model is a fraud & led us to recession. (Aug 2015)
○ Casino-type capitalism causes devastating problems. (Jul 2015)
○ Break up major Wall Street firms. (Mar 2015)
○ Break up the Wall Street giants; they can't be reformed. (Jan 2015)
○ Crooks on Wall Street started Great Recession & got richer. (Nov 2012)
● Regrets vote to deregulate swaps and derivatives. (Apr 2016)
● Stop $31M Pentagon payments for corporate mergers. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
● Voted NO on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
○ Require Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad. (Aug 2001)
● Rated 14% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business. (Mar 2012)
○ Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record. (May 2012)
○ Corporate political spending is not free speech. (Mar 2013)
Crime
○ 1990s "super-predator" was racist term and everybody knew it. (Apr 2016)
○ Crime bill had good parts (VAWA) & bad parts (death penalty). (Mar 2016)
○ We need fundamental police reform. (Feb 2016)
○ By 2020, I pledge to have fewer people in jail than China. (Feb 2016)
○ Whites & blacks smoke pot equally, but blacks go to jail. (Feb 2016)
○ Government should not be part of the death penalty. (Feb 2016)
○ Create criminal records for corrupt white collar criminals. (Feb 2016)
○ Involve U.S. Justice Dept. in every police killing. (Jan 2016)
○ Police officers should not be shooting unarmed people. (Dec 2015)
○ Jobs and education, not jails and incarceration. (Dec 2015)
○ America has more people in jail than any country on earth. (Oct 2015)
○ Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned & killed by police. (Sep 2015)
○ Reinstate voting rights to address school-to-prison pipeline. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)
○ Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
○ Voted YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
● Voted NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
○ Voted YES on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
○ Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
○ More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
○ Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)
○ Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program. (Jan 2007)
○ Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance. (Mar 2007)
○ Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues. (Dec 2014)
Drugs
○ Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for opioid epidemic. (Jan 2016)
○ Why police records for marijuana but not white collar crime? (Jan 2016)
○ Take marijuana out of the controlled substances list. (Dec 2015)
○ Treat addiction as a disease, not a crime. (Dec 2015)
○ I would vote for recreational marijuana, to reduce jailings. (Oct 2015)
○ War on drugs is a failed policy; treatment over punishment. (Sep 2015)
○ Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization. (Sep 2015)
● Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
● Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
○ Legalize medical marijuana. (Jul 2001)
○ Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana. (Aug 2012)
○ Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws. (Mar 2013)
Education
○ Low income kids deserve free education, including college. (Feb 2016)
○ Student debt is crushing young graduates. (Feb 2016)
○ Tax Wall Street and make public universities free. (Dec 2015)
○ $70B to make public colleges & universities tuition-free. (Nov 2015)
○ Look at college degree like high school diploma 50 years ago. (Nov 2015)
○ 1950s "high school for all" is now "free college for all". (Oct 2015)
○ Free public university tuition, like we had 50 years ago. (Sep 2015)
○ Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach. (Sep 2015)
○ Ok to include mandates and incentives in Common Core. (Sep 2015)
○ Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools. (Sep 2015)
○ Charter schools ok if held to public school standards. (Sep 2015)
○ Taught low-income preschoolers through Head Start program. (Sep 2015)
○ Other countries recognize benefits of free college. (May 2015)
○ Do away with fill-in-the-bubble standardized tests. (May 2015)
○ Education begins before age 4 or 5. (May 2015)
○ $18B to fund two years free tuition at state colleges. (Apr 2015)
○ College loan repayment is regressive; refinance & forgive. (Apr 2015)
○ Quality affordable education, from child care to higher ed. (Mar 2015)
○ Make college affordable for everyone. (Jan 2015)
○ Cutting education cuts off our noses to spite our face. (Dec 2010)
○ 170,000 high school grads annually have no funds for college. (Dec 2010)
○ 1976: produced educational filmstrips on New England history. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
○ Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
○ Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
● Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
○ Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
● Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
● Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
○ Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
○ $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools. (Sep 2011)
○ Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015. (Apr 2013)
○ Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible. (Jan 1993)
○ Don't count combat pay against free school lunch. (Mar 2009)
Energy & Oil
○ Need revolution to move away from coal and oil. (Mar 2016)
○ End fracking in the US. (Mar 2016)
○ I oppose fracking; anyone who says it is safe is wrong. (Mar 2016)
○ Climate change partly causes rise of terrorist groups. (Nov 2015)
○ Address climate change so we can leave planet to our kids. (Oct 2015)
○ Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon. (Oct 2015)
○ Opposed Keystone Pipeline from day one. (Oct 2015)
○ Combat climate skeptics with overwhelming evidence. (Sep 2015)
○ Keystone pipeline transports the dirtiest fossil fuel. (Sep 2015)
○ Charge companies for carbon emissions; then fund renewables. (Apr 2015)
○ Transform to sustainable system & away from fossil fuels. (Mar 2015)
○ Weatherize millions of homes and buildings. (Jan 2015)
○ Gas tax increases are regressive. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
● Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
● Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
○ Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
○ Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
○ Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
○ Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
● Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
● Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
○ Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
○ Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
○ Regulate wholesale electricity & gas prices. (Mar 2001)
○ Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it. (Feb 2001)
○ Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
○ Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
○ Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Jan 2007)
○ Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness. (Nov 2007)
○ Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
○ Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards. (Jan 2008)
Environment
○ Climate change will lead to international security crises. (Nov 2015)
○ Advocate of animal welfare and humane treatment. (Sep 2015)
○ Protect important watersheds and wildlife areas. (Sep 2015)
○ GMOs are ok, but only with required labeling. (Sep 2015)
○ Our kids will ask why we made planet less habitable. (Oct 2013)
○ Sophisticated equipment transformed farms to overproduction. (Oct 2012)
○ Very large farms raise questions about animal cruelty. (Oct 2012)
○ Cut subsidies of wealthy farmers; increase grazing fees. (Jun 1997)
○ City residents often frozen out of development decisions. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. (May 2013)
○ Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Aug 2009)
● Voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
○ Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
○ Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
● Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
● Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
○ Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands. (Apr 2001)
○ Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
○ Promote conservation of rare felids & canids. (Mar 2007)
○ Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements. (Mar 2009)
○ Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs. (Feb 2011)
○ Prohibit invasive research on great apes. (Apr 2011)
○ Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species. (Sep 2012)
○ Rated 100% by HSLF, indicating a pro-animal welfare voting record. (Jan 2012)
○ Require labeling genetically engineered food. (Apr 2013)
○ Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
Families & Children
○ $1.61 a week for paid family & medical leave. (Dec 2015)
○ Increase payroll tax to guarantee paid family leave. (Oct 2015)
○ We're the only major country without paid family leave. (Oct 2015)
○ LGBTQ values are family values. (Sep 2015)
○ Provide affordable childcare & early pre-K education. (Sep 2015)
○ Violence Against Women Act applies to men and gays, too. (Sep 2015)
○ Real family values means paid family leave & sick time. (Jun 2015)
○ 1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women. (May 2015)
○ Parents worry more about kids than themselves, economically. (Dec 2010)
● Voted NO on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
● Voted NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
○ Member of the Missing & Exploited Children's Caucus. (Jan 2001)
● Rated 7% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Ban high lead levels in children's toys. (Nov 2005)
○ More funding & services for victims of domestic violence. (Jan 2013)
Foreign Policy
● Opposed Monroe Doctrine interventionism in Latin America. (Mar 2016)
○ Ending embargo with Cuba is right step. (Mar 2016)
○ Vulture capitalists responsible for Puerto Rican debt. (Mar 2016)
○ America stands for hope; we should take Syrian refugees. (Feb 2016)
○ Won't take advice from Henry Kissinger; he assisted genocide. (Feb 2016)
○ Beef up NATO against Russian aggression. (Feb 2016)
○ Key doctrine: We can't do it alone; must work in coalition. (Feb 2016)
○ North Korea is run by nuclear-armed paranoid dictator. (Feb 2016)
○ I worry about Putin in Crimea but worry more about N. Korea. (Feb 2016)
○ Lean on China to deal with North Korea. (Jan 2016)
○ Make Putin regret invading Crimea & the Ukraine. (Oct 2015)
○ Normalize relations with Cuba; & respect their independence. (Sep 2015)
○ Begrudgingly supports NATO, but no eastward expansion. (Sep 2015)
○ Promote democracy in China, but not at expense of US workers. (Sep 2015)
○ US should be more selective about using drone strikes. (Aug 2015)
○ War is a local issue because local youngsters fight and die. (Jun 1997)
Mideast
○ Need to look at consequences of removing dictators. (Feb 2016)
○ We should try and talk to enemies, even Iran. (Feb 2016)
○ Encourage Saudis and Iran to work together, despite distrust. (Feb 2016)
○ Move forward with Iran with relations the long-term goal. (Feb 2016)
○ Normalize relations with Iran even though we disagree. (Jan 2016)
○ Think about what happens AFTER we get rid of dictators. (Dec 2015)
○ Not policeman of the world; focus on ISIS first. (Dec 2015)
○ I do not believe in unilateral action against terrorism. (Dec 2015)
○ Easy to overthrow a dictator but hard to control aftermath. (Dec 2015)
○ Moral responsibility to reach out to Syrian refugees. (Nov 2015)
○ Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar should take charge in Syria. (Oct 2015)
○ Address humanitarian crisis in Syria with allies in region. (Sep 2015)
○ Two-state solution for Israel & Palestine. (Sep 2015)
○ We have to negotiate with others, even Iran. (Aug 2015)
○ Focus on domestic needs instead of international conflict. (Apr 2015)
● Voted NO on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Oct 2008)
○ Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
● Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
○ Voted YES on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
○ Voted NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
○ Voted YES on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
● Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
○ Voted YES on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
○ Allow Americans to travel to Cuba. (May 2000)
○ Member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)
○ Urge China to respect religious freedom. (Mar 2001)
○ Impose sanctions and an import ban on Burma. (Oct 2007)
○ Remove African National Congress from terrorist list. (May 2008)
○ Implement Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force. (Feb 2008)
○ Seeds of Peace: promote coexistence in regions of conflict. (Apr 2008)
○ Rated +2 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
○ Condemn violence by Chinese government in Tibet. (Apr 2008)
○ Allow travel between the United States and Cuba. (Feb 2009)
Free Trade
○ Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs. (Feb 2016)
○ I disagree with Obama on TPP, but he's done a great job. (Feb 2016)
○ I will take on corporations that take their jobs to China. (Feb 2016)
○ I strongly opposed NAFTA and DOMA from their inception. (Oct 2015)
○ Does not support ANY free trade agreements. (Oct 2015)
○ China trade has led to loss of 3M American jobs so far. (Sep 2015)
Priority of trade deals should be helping American workers. (Sep 2015)
○ Base trade policy on working families, not multinationals. (Jun 2015)
○ Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here. (Apr 2015)
End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China. (Mar 2015)
○ Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. (Jan 2015)
○ How can we compete against people who make 23 cents an hour? (Dec 2010)
○ 48,000 US factories shut down under Bush due to trade. (Dec 2010)
○ Disastrous trade policies lead to collapse of middle class. (Dec 2010)
○ US trade policies represent interests of corporate America. (Jun 1997)
○ Agreed with Ross Perot's critique of trade policy. (Jun 1997)
○ NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America. (Jun 1997)
○ NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
● Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
● Voted NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
● Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
● Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
○ Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
○ Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
○ Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)
○ Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation. (Jun 2009)
○ Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency. (Feb 2011)
○ Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions. (Dec 2012)
○ No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights. (Nov 1999)
Government Reform
○ It's oligarchy when billionaires buy elections. (Mar 2016)
○ Campaign financing is corrupt; no Super PAC for me. (Feb 2016)
○ Dept. of Defense is only agency never to have been audited. (Feb 2016)
○ Establishment candidates are beholden to big money. (Feb 2016)
○ Congress represents the wealthy; they donate to ensure that. (Feb 2016)
○ Litmus test for Supreme Court on Citizens United. (Feb 2016)
○ Overturn Citizens United: America is one person, one vote. (Feb 2016)
○ Presidency isn't winnable with public financing. (Feb 2016)
○ GOP loves voter suppression because it lets them win. (Feb 2016)
○ Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest. (Oct 2015)
○ Super-PACs pervert the democratic process. (Sep 2015)
○ Public funding of elections to promote even playing field. (Sep 2015)
○ We now have government of, by, and for the billionaires. (Sep 2015)
○ Reinforce voting rights to end voter suppression. (Sep 2015)
○ Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling. (Apr 2015)
○ Citizens United opens up the road to oligarchy. (Sep 2014)
○ Underclass see the political deck stacked; and don't vote. (Mar 2014)
○ America struggles between organized people & organized money. (Nov 2012)
○ Best dairy policy is USDA board's supply management. (Oct 2012)
○ Rich people use wealth to elect people to make them richer. (Dec 2010)
○ Introduced Federal Reserve Transparency Act with Ron Paul. (Sep 2010)
○ Low-income workers don't vote because it's irrelevant. (Jun 1997)
○ Competitive bidding saves government money. (Jun 1997)
○ Receives more contributions, but fewer dollars, than GOP. (Jun 1997)
○ Accepts PAC money, but not from special interests. (Jun 1997)
○ Same-day automatic voter registration & 3-day voting. (Jun 1997)
○ Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on Congressional pay raise. (Jul 2009)
○ Voted YES on providing a US House seat for the District of Columbia. (Feb 2009)
○ Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
● Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
● Voted NO on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
● Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
● Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
● Voted NO on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
○ Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
● Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
○ Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
○ Proportional IRV voting for Electoral College. (Mar 2001)
○ Criminalize false or deceptive info about elections. (Nov 2005)
○ Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures. (Jul 2012)
○ Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements. (Apr 2013)
○ Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers. (Feb 2015)
Gun Control
○ FactCheck: No, never supported by National Rifle Association. (Apr 2016)
○ I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues. (Dec 2015)
○ People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations. (Dec 2015)
○ Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity. (Nov 2015)
○ I want to shield gun shops from lawsuits, not manufacturers. (Oct 2015)
○ Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers. (Oct 2015)
○ Bring together rural states & urban states with common sense. (Oct 2015)
○ Common sense, incremental gun control plan. (Oct 2015)
○ 1988: NRA opposed Congressional opponents more than him. (Sep 2015)
○ Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole. (Aug 2015)
○ Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable. (Jul 2015)
○ Guns in Vermont are for hunting; but in L.A. are for killing. (Jul 2015)
○ Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans. (Jun 2015)
○ OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms. (Jun 2015)
○ Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights. (Apr 2015)
○ I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. (Apr 2013)
○ Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. (Apr 2009)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
● Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
○ Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
Health Care
○ For $500 more taxes, everyone gets $5,000 more healthcare. (Feb 2016)
○ US is the only major country without universal health care. (Feb 2016)
○ Other countries cover everyone; why can't we? (Feb 2016)
○ Health care for 29 million more uninsured. (Feb 2016)
○ Medicare for All: insure 29M people beyond ObamaCare. (Jan 2016)
○ Single payer: Increased taxes offset by insurance cuts. (Jan 2016)
○ I helped write ObamaCare; extend it to 29M more uninsured. (Jan 2016)
○ The middle class will pay less with single payer health plan. (Dec 2015)
○ We spend more on care than countries with single-payer. (Dec 2015)
○ Mental health coverage would stop suicides AND homicides. (Oct 2015)
○ Healthcare is a fundamental right in a civilized society. (Sep 2015)
○ Medicare for all: healthcare is a human right. (Sep 2015)
○ Vaccinations work; electing not to vaccinate is dangerous. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted for ObamaCare; but prefers single-payer system. (Apr 2015)
○ U.S. is only major country without guaranteed healthcare. (Apr 2015)
○ Move toward a single-payer system. (Mar 2015)
○ 1972: Pushed for dental care for low-income children. (Jun 1997)
○ Civilized societies provide healthcare for the poor. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (May 2011)
○ Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Jun 2009)
○ Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
○ Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
● Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
○ Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
○ Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
● Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
● Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
● Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
○ Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
● Voted NO on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
● Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
● Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
● Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
○ MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare. (Jan 2001)
○ Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
○ Improve services for people with autism & their families. (Apr 2007)
○ Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
○ Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy. (Apr 2011)
○ Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn. (Apr 2008)
○ Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE. (Jun 2009)
○ Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps. (Mar 2009)
○ Collect data on birth defects and present to the public. (Apr 1998)
○ Make health care a right, not a privilege. (Nov 1999)
Homeland Security
○ CIA activities in Iran and Chile led to dictatorships. (Feb 2016)
○ Strengthen the V.A.; don't privatize the V.A. (Feb 2016)
○ It does us no good to NOT talk to adversaries. (Feb 2016)
○ Promise to never privatize V.A. (Feb 2016)
○ We spend billions on nuclear weapons & only 10% on terrorism. (Nov 2015)
○ I opposed Vietnam as conscientious objector. (Oct 2015)
○ Shut down the NSA surveillance program. (Oct 2015)
○ Snowden showed us our civil rights are being undermined. (Oct 2015)
○ PATRIOT Act was 99-1, and I was the one. (Oct 2015)
○ I pushed bill for $15B for veterans' healthcare services. (Oct 2015)
○ Continue using drones and special forces. (Oct 2015)
○ NSA is unconstitutionally out of control. (Sep 2015)
○ Reduce nuclear budget by $100B; end proliferation worldwide. (Sep 2015)
○ Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being. (Sep 2015)
○ Worried about invasion of privacy from NSA corporate America. (May 2015)
○ Cut defense by $18B to pay for 55% of all college tuition. (Apr 2015)
○ We need a strong military, but stop wasting tens of billions. (Apr 2015)
○ V.A. doesn't have resources to accommodate 2 million vets. (May 2014)
○ F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport. (Oct 2012)
○ End nuclear weapons and B-2 bomber production. (Jun 1997)
○ 1991: Billions should improve human life, not destroy it. (Jun 1997)
○ Too much spent on Cold War; and too little spent on ISIS. (Jan 2016)
○ Rid our planet of this barbarous organization called ISIS. (Nov 2015)
○ Don't let released terrorists get back onto the battlefield. (Jun 2014)
○ War in Iraq will cost us $3 trillion including veteran care. (Dec 2010)
○ Pentagon lied about Iraq; expect same for future wars. (Jun 1997)
○ 2009: Voted against closing Gitmo; 2015: supports closing it. (Sep 2015)
○ Oppose outrageous boost in military expenditures. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
● Voted NO on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
○ Voted YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
● Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
○ Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
○ Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
○ Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
● Voted NO on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
● Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
○ Voted YES on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
● Voted NO on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
● Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
○ Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
● Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
● Voted NO on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
○ End the use of anti-personnel mines. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
○ Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays. (Mar 2010)
○ Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials. (Aug 2014)
○ Address abuses of electronic monitoring in the workplace. (Apr 1993)
○ Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
Immigration
○ I do not support the Minutemen anti-immigrant vigilantes. (Mar 2016)
○ Base policy on uniting families, not dividing families. (Mar 2016)
○ 2007 immigration bill was a bad bill, opposed by many. (Mar 2016)
○ Support Obama's reforms on DAPA and DACA. (Mar 2016)
○ I support children entering for asylum from war-torn areas. (Mar 2016)
○ Focus policy on bringing families together, not deportation. (Feb 2016)
○ 2007: I voted against slavery-like guest worker programs. (Feb 2016)
○ Supports path to citizenship for illegals. (Feb 2016)
○ 2007: No comprehensive reform: guest workers are semi-slaves. (Oct 2015)
○ Comprehensive reform with no border fence & no guest workers. (Sep 2015)
○ Secure borders without building a fence. (Sep 2015)
○ Open borders for guest workers pushes down U.S. worker wages. (Jul 2015)
○ Since NAFTA, Mexican undocumented immigration up 185%. (Jun 2015)
○ Disgraceful to shunt our workers into the shadows. (Jun 2015)
○ Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers. (Apr 2015)
○ Climate change lays groundwork for mass migration. (Oct 2013)
○ Immigrant labor should be treated as valuable, but are not. (Oct 2012)
○ English-Only, based in xenophobia, hurts legal immigrants. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
● Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
● Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
○ Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
● Voted NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
○ Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)
○ Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Jobs
○ I investigated undocumented farm workers in FL. (Mar 2016)
○ Minority youth more underemployed than others. (Mar 2016)
○ $15 minimum wage might lose some jobs, but it helps many. (Nov 2015)
○ Obama rebuilt jobs; but middle class is disappearing. (Oct 2015)
○ Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. (Mar 2015)
○ Corporate opposition makes union organizing difficult. (Mar 2015)
○ Create worker-owned cooperatives & grow unions. (Jan 2015)
○ Real unemployment is 16%; official unemployment only 9%. (Nov 2012)
○ Extend unemployment benefits whenever jobless rate over 7.2%. (Dec 2010)
○ 1950s manufacturing job created middle class, but not now. (Dec 2010)
○ Unions are freedom of association; but gets you fired. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Nov 2008)
○ Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
● Voted NO on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
○ Voted YES on limiting farm subsidies to people earning under $750,000. (Dec 2007)
○ Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
● Voted NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
● Voted NO on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
● Voted NO on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
○ Member of the Congressional Rural Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Require full disclosure of outsourced employees. (Feb 2001)
○ Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
○ Form unions by card-check instead of secret ballot. (Mar 2009)
○ Raise the minimum wage to $14.10 per hour by 2016. (Jan 2014)
○ Extend unemployment compensation during recession. (Jan 2008)
○ Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue. (Jan 2009)
○ Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination. (Jan 2009)
Principles & Values
○ It is not unrealistic to fight for middle class. (Feb 2016)
○ I walk the walk of progressivism, with no Super PAC. (Feb 2016)
○ I am longest serving Independent but caucus with Dems. (Feb 2016)
○ Too late for establishment politics: we need a revolution. (Feb 2016)
○ Progressives don't have SuperPACs with $15M from Wall Street. (Feb 2016)
○ Agrees with Hillary, but more fervently, on many issues. (Jan 2016)
○ Political revolution: millions of people vs.few billionaires. (Oct 2015)
○ I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires. (Oct 2015)
○ Social change cannot occur without mass participation. (Oct 2015)
○ I'm not a capitalist; I'm a democratic socialist. (Oct 2015)
○ What's wrong with modeling U.S. on socialist Scandinavia? (May 2015)
○ Registered Independent; calls himself a democratic socialist. (Apr 2015)
○ My form of democratic socialism is not Communism. (Mar 2014)
○ Corporate interests fund the Tea Party. (Mar 2014)
○ Revolution will not start at "progressive bastion" Harvard. (Jun 1997)
○ GOP convinces middle class to vote for interests of the rich. (Jun 1997)
○ Progressive movement fights for social justice. (Jun 1997)
Past Campaigns
2011: Primary challenge keeps Obama from moving to the right. (Feb 2016)
American people are tired of hearing about Hillary's email. (Oct 2015)
Lost campaigns in 1972, 1974 & 1988 before winning in 1990. (Mar 2014)
Current administration has numbed American outrage. (Jun 2005)
1971: Ran for Vermont Senate seat under Liberty Union Party. (Jun 1997)
First Independent elected to Congress in 40 years. (Jun 1997)
Personal Background
I am very proud to be Jewish; it is much of what I am. (Mar 2016)
My spirituality: we are all in this together. (Feb 2016)
High school athlete: basketball and long-distance runner. (Jan 2016)
Father immigrated to Brooklyn at 17, penniless & no English. (Jan 2016)
Family immigrated from Poland in WWII, escaping Holocaust. (Sep 2015)
Voting Record
Voted with Democratic Party 94.1% of 324 votes. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on confirming of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. (Aug 2009)
Religious affiliation: Jewish. (Nov 2000)
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Oct 2001)
Profiled in "Jews in American Politics". (Jan 2001)
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Nov 2007)
Social Security
○ Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years. (Feb 2016)
○ Criminal to not have COLA increases for seniors. (Oct 2015)
○ Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security. (Oct 2015)
○ No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit. (Sep 2015)
○ Raise the Social Security cap on taxable income. (Aug 2015)
○ Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it. (Mar 2015)
○ We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it. (Jan 2015)
○ Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus. (Jun 2012)
○ Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund. (Dec 2010)
○ Most successful Federal program in history of our country. (Dec 2010)
○ Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. (Sep 2006)
○ It's regressive to increase taxable Social Security income. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
○ Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
○ Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women. (May 2001)
○ Reject proposals for private saving accounts. (May 2002)
○ Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age. (Aug 2010)
○ Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Apr 2013)
○ Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
Tax Reform
○ End loophole that allows zero taxes via Cayman Islands. (Feb 2016)
○ Wealthiest will pay more but not as much as under Eisenhower. (Nov 2015)
○ Tax increases may affect more than top 1%. (Oct 2015)
○ Increase tax on wealthy; close loopholes for corporations. (Sep 2015)
○ Raise top marginal income tax rate from 39% to over 50%. (Sep 2015)
○ Lower cutoff for estate tax from $5.4M to $3.5M. (Sep 2015)
○ Increase estate tax rates on inheritances over $3.5M. (Jun 2015)
○ Double the capital gains tax for the wealthiest 2%. (Apr 2015)
○ We need a progressive tax system based on ability to pay. (Mar 2015)
○ Real tax reform based on ability to pay. (Jan 2015)
○ Filibustered against Obama-Republican tax deal. (Dec 2010)
○ Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich. (Jun 2006)
○ Cap the home mortgage interest deduction at $300,000. (Jun 1997)
○ Property taxes are highly regressive & hurt poor & seniors. (Jun 1997)
○ 1% room-and-meal tax instead of property tax. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
● Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
○ Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
○ Voted YES on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
● Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
● Voted NO on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
● Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"
. (Apr 2001)
● Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
● Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
○ American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person. (Feb 2001)
○ Rated 28% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
○ Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
○ Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million. (Mar 2012)
Technology
○ Tax wealth stashed in Caymans to rebuild our infrastructure. (Feb 2016)
○ Net Neutrality: no preferential treatment for corporations. (Sep 2015)
○ I support funding NASA, but our planet has to come first. (Sep 2015)
○ Stop bailing out Wall Street & start repairing Main Street. (Mar 2015)
○ $1 trillion investment in infrastructure. (Jan 2015)
○ Invest in infrastructure: My water system is 150 years old. (Dec 2010)
○ Infrastructure does not get better if you ignore it. (Dec 2010)
○ US invests 2.4% on infrastructure; Europe 5% and China 9%. (Dec 2010)
○ Sued cable TV company to pay city for damaging streets. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on authorizing states to collect Internet sales taxes. (May 2013)
○ Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure. (Nov 2007)
○ Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet). (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)
● Voted NO on promoting commercial human space flight industry. (Nov 2004)
○ Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on allowing telephone monopolies to offer Internet access. (Feb 2002)
○ Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Facilitate nationwide 2-1-1 phone line for human services. (Jan 2007)
○ Ensure net neutrality: no corporate-tiered Internet. (Jan 2007)
○ Overturn FCC approval of media consolidation. (Mar 2008)
War & Peace
○ Iraq war led to ISIS creation, as I predicted would happen. (Feb 2016)
○ Qatar is wealthy; needs to get skin in game against ISIS. (Jan 2016)
○ Work with Russia & Iran to get rid of Assad in Syria. (Jan 2016)
○ End perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East. (Dec 2015)
○ Tell Qatar and Saudi Arabia that they must fight ISIS. (Dec 2015)
○ Invasion of Iraq led to ISIS; Hillary voted to invade. (Nov 2015)
○ Form Muslim-led coalition to defeat ISIS. (Nov 2015)
○ Diplomacy and coalition-building before unilateral action. (Oct 2015)
○ Keep U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan. (Oct 2015)
○ Syria is a quagmire within a quagmire; don't get involved. (Oct 2015)
○ Support force only when we are threatened & have coalition. (Oct 2015)
○ Stop ISIS, but only with an international & Arab coalition. (Sep 2015)
○ Iraq war destabilized Mideast; stay out of Mideast quagmire. (Sep 2015)
○ Iran nuke deal is victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling. (Sep 2015)
○ Middle Eastern countries must contribute to fight ISIS. (Aug 2015)
○ Get Saudis & regional powers involved with fighting ISIS. (Oct 2014)
○ Arm the Peshmerga against ISIS, as international effort. (Oct 2014)
○ 1983 war against Nicaragua was illegal and immoral. (Jun 1997)
● 1990: Opposed authorizing all-out war in Kuwait with Iraq. (Jun 1997)
● 1991: instead of Persian Gulf War, spend on America. (Jun 1997)
● I voted against 1st Gulf War, which led to 2nd Gulf War. (Dec 2015)
○ Voted for Afghan War, to capture Osama bin Laden. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
● Voted NO on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
○ Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
● Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
○ Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
○ Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
○ Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran. (Oct 2007)
Welfare & Poverty
○ We should not lead the world in childhood poverty. (Oct 2015)
○ Economic inequality & institutional racism exist in parallel. (Sep 2015)
○ Advocate for social benefits of public assistance programs. (Sep 2015)
○ 3.5 million Americans homeless is unacceptable. (Sep 2015)
○ All religions call usury immoral: apply that to credit cards. (Dec 2010)
○ Predatory lending practices caused 2008 recession. (Oct 2008)
○ Economic insecurity is pivotal in how one lives one's life. (Jun 1997)
○ Land Trust: affordable housing by resale below market rates. (Jun 1997)
● Opposed cutting food stamps. (Jun 1997)
○ U.S. has highest income inequality in industrialized world. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention. (Mar 2009)
○ Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
● Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
● Voted NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. (Nov 1999)
○ Increase the earned income tax credit. (Jan 1993)
○ Fully fund Head Start; Job Corps; and WIC food program. (Apr 1993)
○ Support school breakfast for low-income children. (Mar 2009)
○ Reduce the concentration of wealth & wage inequality. (Nov 1999)
So, what below do you find that he "isn't" Democrat enough for you?
From OntheIssues:
Abortion
○ Lifetime pro-choice record, plus funding for family planning. (Sep 2015)
○ Advocate for family planning and funding for contraceptives. (Sep 2015)
○ Women have the right to choose, regardless of income. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies. (Mar 2009)
● Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
○ Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
○ Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
● Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
● Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
● Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
○ Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
● Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
● Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
● Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
○ Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals. (Sep 2006)
○ Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Provide emergency contraception at military facilities. (Apr 2007)
○ Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions. (Jul 2011)
○ Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. (Nov 2013)
○ Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions. (Jan 2015)
○ Protect the reproductive rights of women. (Jan 1993)
○ Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
○ Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. (Jan 2009)
Budget & Economy
○ Should top 1/10 of 1% owns as much wealth as the bottom 90%? (Mar 2016)
○ Yes, limit size of government, but address inequality. (Feb 2016)
○ I led the effort against deregulation, but we lost. (Feb 2016)
○ We need a 21st-century Glass-Steagall legislation. (Feb 2016)
○ The greed of the billionaire class is destroying our economy. (Dec 2015)
○ Almost all new wealth goes to the top 1%. (Oct 2015)
○ Economic justice: Address root causes of economic inequality. (Sep 2015)
○ Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups. (Jun 2015)
○ Break up large banks; add fees for high-risk investments. (Apr 2015)
○ We've transferred trillions from middle class to the top 1%. (Apr 2015)
○ Comprehensive 12-step agenda for moving America forward. (Jan 2015)
○ Dairy price fluctuations help no one but speculators. (Oct 2012)
○ Why did we bail out South Korea? (Dec 2010)
○ Middle class spending $2,200 each to bail out Wall Street. (Oct 2008)
○ Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
○ Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (May 2009)
○ Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
○ Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
○ Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
● More enforcement of mortgage fraud and TARP fraud. (May 2009)
○ Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)
Civil Rights
○ What kind of response would happen if Flint MI were white? (Feb 2016)
○ Combat institutional racism and reform justice system. (Oct 2015)
○ Vermont implemented ENDA 22 years ago; so should feds. (Sep 2015)
○ Black Lives Matter: deal with institutional racism. (Jul 2015)
○ Right to love each other, regardless of sexual orientation. (Jul 2015)
○ Voter ID laws marginalize communities of color. (Jun 2015)
○ Remove Confederate flag from State Houses. (Jun 2015)
○ Equal pay for equal work by women. (Mar 2015)
○ Bush’s tracking citizens’ phone call patterns is illegal. (Jun 2006)
○ 1964: civil rights activist in Congress on Racial Equality. (Jun 1997)
○ Never accept racism, sexism, nor homophobia. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013)
● Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
● Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
● Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
● Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
○ Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 93% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
○ Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
○ Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
○ ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
○ Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (Mar 2011)
○ Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights. (Aug 2012)
○ Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender. (Jan 2013)
○ Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. (Jun 2013)
○ Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Corporations Regulation
○ Let's create America that works for all, not handful on top. (Dec 2015)
○ If Teddy Roosevelt saw modern banks he'd say "break them up". (Nov 2015)
○ Fix estate tax so mega-rich pay their fair share. (Sep 2015)
○ If a bank is too big to fail, it is too big to exist. (May 2015)
○ Worker-owned cooperatives instead of corporate tax breaks. (Mar 2015)
○ Bank bailout was socialism for the rich. (Feb 2015)
○ Americans want change: corporations get rich & people don't. (Sep 2014)
○ Investigate huge dairy processors for anti-trust violations. (Oct 2012)
○ Corporations do not have First Amendment rights. (Dec 2011)
○ Greed is addictive; their sickness hurts country terribly. (Dec 2010)
○ Small banks did just fine during financial crisis. (Dec 2010)
○ Deregulation led to incredible greed of $39B in CEO bonuses. (Oct 2008)
○ Cap deductions for CEO pay; count perks as profit. (Jun 1997)
○ In 1980s, wealthiest 1% got 2/3 of all wealth increases. (Jun 1997)
○ The needs of the rich & large corporations are never ignored. (Jun 1997)
Banking Reform
○ The auto industry bill was really a bailout for Wall Street. (Mar 2016)
○ If we don't break up banks, we'll be bailing them out again. (Feb 2016)
○ Corporate America & Wall Street won't like President Sanders. (Dec 2015)
○ Wall Street will not be in my Cabinet; their model is fraud. (Nov 2015)
○ I'm not part of casino capitalism that wrecked our economy. (Oct 2015)
○ Fraud is the business model of Wall Street. (Oct 2015)
○ Make Wall Street bail out Wall Street; but middle class did. (Oct 2015)
○ Wall Street business model is a fraud & led us to recession. (Aug 2015)
○ Casino-type capitalism causes devastating problems. (Jul 2015)
○ Break up major Wall Street firms. (Mar 2015)
○ Break up the Wall Street giants; they can't be reformed. (Jan 2015)
○ Crooks on Wall Street started Great Recession & got richer. (Nov 2012)
● Regrets vote to deregulate swaps and derivatives. (Apr 2016)
● Stop $31M Pentagon payments for corporate mergers. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
● Voted NO on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
○ Require Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad. (Aug 2001)
● Rated 14% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business. (Mar 2012)
○ Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record. (May 2012)
○ Corporate political spending is not free speech. (Mar 2013)
Crime
○ 1990s "super-predator" was racist term and everybody knew it. (Apr 2016)
○ Crime bill had good parts (VAWA) & bad parts (death penalty). (Mar 2016)
○ We need fundamental police reform. (Feb 2016)
○ By 2020, I pledge to have fewer people in jail than China. (Feb 2016)
○ Whites & blacks smoke pot equally, but blacks go to jail. (Feb 2016)
○ Government should not be part of the death penalty. (Feb 2016)
○ Create criminal records for corrupt white collar criminals. (Feb 2016)
○ Involve U.S. Justice Dept. in every police killing. (Jan 2016)
○ Police officers should not be shooting unarmed people. (Dec 2015)
○ Jobs and education, not jails and incarceration. (Dec 2015)
○ America has more people in jail than any country on earth. (Oct 2015)
○ Blacks are disproportionately imprisoned & killed by police. (Sep 2015)
○ Reinstate voting rights to address school-to-prison pipeline. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)
○ Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
○ Voted YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
● Voted NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
○ Voted YES on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
○ Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
○ More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
○ Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)
○ Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program. (Jan 2007)
○ Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance. (Mar 2007)
○ Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues. (Dec 2014)
Drugs
○ Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for opioid epidemic. (Jan 2016)
○ Why police records for marijuana but not white collar crime? (Jan 2016)
○ Take marijuana out of the controlled substances list. (Dec 2015)
○ Treat addiction as a disease, not a crime. (Dec 2015)
○ I would vote for recreational marijuana, to reduce jailings. (Oct 2015)
○ War on drugs is a failed policy; treatment over punishment. (Sep 2015)
○ Decriminalize marijuana and study recreational legalization. (Sep 2015)
● Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
● Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
○ Legalize medical marijuana. (Jul 2001)
○ Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana. (Aug 2012)
○ Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws. (Mar 2013)
Education
○ Low income kids deserve free education, including college. (Feb 2016)
○ Student debt is crushing young graduates. (Feb 2016)
○ Tax Wall Street and make public universities free. (Dec 2015)
○ $70B to make public colleges & universities tuition-free. (Nov 2015)
○ Look at college degree like high school diploma 50 years ago. (Nov 2015)
○ 1950s "high school for all" is now "free college for all". (Oct 2015)
○ Free public university tuition, like we had 50 years ago. (Sep 2015)
○ Replace NCLB standardized testing with holistic approach. (Sep 2015)
○ Ok to include mandates and incentives in Common Core. (Sep 2015)
○ Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools. (Sep 2015)
○ Charter schools ok if held to public school standards. (Sep 2015)
○ Taught low-income preschoolers through Head Start program. (Sep 2015)
○ Other countries recognize benefits of free college. (May 2015)
○ Do away with fill-in-the-bubble standardized tests. (May 2015)
○ Education begins before age 4 or 5. (May 2015)
○ $18B to fund two years free tuition at state colleges. (Apr 2015)
○ College loan repayment is regressive; refinance & forgive. (Apr 2015)
○ Quality affordable education, from child care to higher ed. (Mar 2015)
○ Make college affordable for everyone. (Jan 2015)
○ Cutting education cuts off our noses to spite our face. (Dec 2010)
○ 170,000 high school grads annually have no funds for college. (Dec 2010)
○ 1976: produced educational filmstrips on New England history. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
○ Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
○ Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
● Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
○ Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
● Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
● Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
○ Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
○ $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools. (Sep 2011)
○ Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015. (Apr 2013)
○ Make employee educational assistance tax-deductible. (Jan 1993)
○ Don't count combat pay against free school lunch. (Mar 2009)
Energy & Oil
○ Need revolution to move away from coal and oil. (Mar 2016)
○ End fracking in the US. (Mar 2016)
○ I oppose fracking; anyone who says it is safe is wrong. (Mar 2016)
○ Climate change partly causes rise of terrorist groups. (Nov 2015)
○ Address climate change so we can leave planet to our kids. (Oct 2015)
○ Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon. (Oct 2015)
○ Opposed Keystone Pipeline from day one. (Oct 2015)
○ Combat climate skeptics with overwhelming evidence. (Sep 2015)
○ Keystone pipeline transports the dirtiest fossil fuel. (Sep 2015)
○ Charge companies for carbon emissions; then fund renewables. (Apr 2015)
○ Transform to sustainable system & away from fossil fuels. (Mar 2015)
○ Weatherize millions of homes and buildings. (Jan 2015)
○ Gas tax increases are regressive. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011)
● Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax. (Apr 2009)
● Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade. (Apr 2009)
○ Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
○ Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
○ Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
○ Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
● Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
● Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
○ Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
○ Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
○ Regulate wholesale electricity & gas prices. (Mar 2001)
○ Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it. (Feb 2001)
○ Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
○ Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
○ Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Jan 2007)
○ Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness. (Nov 2007)
○ Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
○ Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards. (Jan 2008)
Environment
○ Climate change will lead to international security crises. (Nov 2015)
○ Advocate of animal welfare and humane treatment. (Sep 2015)
○ Protect important watersheds and wildlife areas. (Sep 2015)
○ GMOs are ok, but only with required labeling. (Sep 2015)
○ Our kids will ask why we made planet less habitable. (Oct 2013)
○ Sophisticated equipment transformed farms to overproduction. (Oct 2012)
○ Very large farms raise questions about animal cruelty. (Oct 2012)
○ Cut subsidies of wealthy farmers; increase grazing fees. (Jun 1997)
○ City residents often frozen out of development decisions. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. (May 2013)
○ Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Aug 2009)
● Voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
○ Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
○ Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
● Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
● Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
○ Prohibits commercial logging on Federal public lands. (Apr 2001)
○ Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
○ Promote conservation of rare felids & canids. (Mar 2007)
○ Make tax deduction permanent for conservation easements. (Mar 2009)
○ Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs. (Feb 2011)
○ Prohibit invasive research on great apes. (Apr 2011)
○ Prohibits breeding or possessing Big Cat species. (Sep 2012)
○ Rated 100% by HSLF, indicating a pro-animal welfare voting record. (Jan 2012)
○ Require labeling genetically engineered food. (Apr 2013)
○ Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
Families & Children
○ $1.61 a week for paid family & medical leave. (Dec 2015)
○ Increase payroll tax to guarantee paid family leave. (Oct 2015)
○ We're the only major country without paid family leave. (Oct 2015)
○ LGBTQ values are family values. (Sep 2015)
○ Provide affordable childcare & early pre-K education. (Sep 2015)
○ Violence Against Women Act applies to men and gays, too. (Sep 2015)
○ Real family values means paid family leave & sick time. (Jun 2015)
○ 1972: wrote fictional "satire" about men oppressing women. (May 2015)
○ Parents worry more about kids than themselves, economically. (Dec 2010)
● Voted NO on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
● Voted NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
○ Member of the Missing & Exploited Children's Caucus. (Jan 2001)
● Rated 7% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Ban high lead levels in children's toys. (Nov 2005)
○ More funding & services for victims of domestic violence. (Jan 2013)
Foreign Policy
● Opposed Monroe Doctrine interventionism in Latin America. (Mar 2016)
○ Ending embargo with Cuba is right step. (Mar 2016)
○ Vulture capitalists responsible for Puerto Rican debt. (Mar 2016)
○ America stands for hope; we should take Syrian refugees. (Feb 2016)
○ Won't take advice from Henry Kissinger; he assisted genocide. (Feb 2016)
○ Beef up NATO against Russian aggression. (Feb 2016)
○ Key doctrine: We can't do it alone; must work in coalition. (Feb 2016)
○ North Korea is run by nuclear-armed paranoid dictator. (Feb 2016)
○ I worry about Putin in Crimea but worry more about N. Korea. (Feb 2016)
○ Lean on China to deal with North Korea. (Jan 2016)
○ Make Putin regret invading Crimea & the Ukraine. (Oct 2015)
○ Normalize relations with Cuba; & respect their independence. (Sep 2015)
○ Begrudgingly supports NATO, but no eastward expansion. (Sep 2015)
○ Promote democracy in China, but not at expense of US workers. (Sep 2015)
○ US should be more selective about using drone strikes. (Aug 2015)
○ War is a local issue because local youngsters fight and die. (Jun 1997)
Mideast
○ Need to look at consequences of removing dictators. (Feb 2016)
○ We should try and talk to enemies, even Iran. (Feb 2016)
○ Encourage Saudis and Iran to work together, despite distrust. (Feb 2016)
○ Move forward with Iran with relations the long-term goal. (Feb 2016)
○ Normalize relations with Iran even though we disagree. (Jan 2016)
○ Think about what happens AFTER we get rid of dictators. (Dec 2015)
○ Not policeman of the world; focus on ISIS first. (Dec 2015)
○ I do not believe in unilateral action against terrorism. (Dec 2015)
○ Easy to overthrow a dictator but hard to control aftermath. (Dec 2015)
○ Moral responsibility to reach out to Syrian refugees. (Nov 2015)
○ Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar should take charge in Syria. (Oct 2015)
○ Address humanitarian crisis in Syria with allies in region. (Sep 2015)
○ Two-state solution for Israel & Palestine. (Sep 2015)
○ We have to negotiate with others, even Iran. (Aug 2015)
○ Focus on domestic needs instead of international conflict. (Apr 2015)
● Voted NO on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Oct 2008)
○ Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
● Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
○ Voted YES on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
○ Voted NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
○ Voted YES on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
● Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
○ Voted YES on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
○ Allow Americans to travel to Cuba. (May 2000)
○ Member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)
○ Urge China to respect religious freedom. (Mar 2001)
○ Impose sanctions and an import ban on Burma. (Oct 2007)
○ Remove African National Congress from terrorist list. (May 2008)
○ Implement Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force. (Feb 2008)
○ Seeds of Peace: promote coexistence in regions of conflict. (Apr 2008)
○ Rated +2 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
○ Condemn violence by Chinese government in Tibet. (Apr 2008)
○ Allow travel between the United States and Cuba. (Feb 2009)
Free Trade
○ Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs. (Feb 2016)
○ I disagree with Obama on TPP, but he's done a great job. (Feb 2016)
○ I will take on corporations that take their jobs to China. (Feb 2016)
○ I strongly opposed NAFTA and DOMA from their inception. (Oct 2015)
○ Does not support ANY free trade agreements. (Oct 2015)
○ China trade has led to loss of 3M American jobs so far. (Sep 2015)
Priority of trade deals should be helping American workers. (Sep 2015)
○ Base trade policy on working families, not multinationals. (Jun 2015)
○ Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here. (Apr 2015)
End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China. (Mar 2015)
○ Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. (Jan 2015)
○ How can we compete against people who make 23 cents an hour? (Dec 2010)
○ 48,000 US factories shut down under Bush due to trade. (Dec 2010)
○ Disastrous trade policies lead to collapse of middle class. (Dec 2010)
○ US trade policies represent interests of corporate America. (Jun 1997)
○ Agreed with Ross Perot's critique of trade policy. (Jun 1997)
○ NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America. (Jun 1997)
○ NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
● Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
● Voted NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
● Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
● Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
○ Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
○ Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
○ Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)
○ Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation. (Jun 2009)
○ Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency. (Feb 2011)
○ Rated 13% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions. (Dec 2012)
○ No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights. (Nov 1999)
Government Reform
○ It's oligarchy when billionaires buy elections. (Mar 2016)
○ Campaign financing is corrupt; no Super PAC for me. (Feb 2016)
○ Dept. of Defense is only agency never to have been audited. (Feb 2016)
○ Establishment candidates are beholden to big money. (Feb 2016)
○ Congress represents the wealthy; they donate to ensure that. (Feb 2016)
○ Litmus test for Supreme Court on Citizens United. (Feb 2016)
○ Overturn Citizens United: America is one person, one vote. (Feb 2016)
○ Presidency isn't winnable with public financing. (Feb 2016)
○ GOP loves voter suppression because it lets them win. (Feb 2016)
○ Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest. (Oct 2015)
○ Super-PACs pervert the democratic process. (Sep 2015)
○ Public funding of elections to promote even playing field. (Sep 2015)
○ We now have government of, by, and for the billionaires. (Sep 2015)
○ Reinforce voting rights to end voter suppression. (Sep 2015)
○ Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling. (Apr 2015)
○ Citizens United opens up the road to oligarchy. (Sep 2014)
○ Underclass see the political deck stacked; and don't vote. (Mar 2014)
○ America struggles between organized people & organized money. (Nov 2012)
○ Best dairy policy is USDA board's supply management. (Oct 2012)
○ Rich people use wealth to elect people to make them richer. (Dec 2010)
○ Introduced Federal Reserve Transparency Act with Ron Paul. (Sep 2010)
○ Low-income workers don't vote because it's irrelevant. (Jun 1997)
○ Competitive bidding saves government money. (Jun 1997)
○ Receives more contributions, but fewer dollars, than GOP. (Jun 1997)
○ Accepts PAC money, but not from special interests. (Jun 1997)
○ Same-day automatic voter registration & 3-day voting. (Jun 1997)
○ Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on Congressional pay raise. (Jul 2009)
○ Voted YES on providing a US House seat for the District of Columbia. (Feb 2009)
○ Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
● Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
● Voted NO on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
● Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
● Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
● Voted NO on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
○ Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
● Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
○ Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
○ Proportional IRV voting for Electoral College. (Mar 2001)
○ Criminalize false or deceptive info about elections. (Nov 2005)
○ Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures. (Jul 2012)
○ Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements. (Apr 2013)
○ Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers. (Feb 2015)
Gun Control
○ FactCheck: No, never supported by National Rifle Association. (Apr 2016)
○ I have shown courage against NRA on gun issues. (Dec 2015)
○ People have the right to buy guns, with sensible regulations. (Dec 2015)
○ Do more than reverse gun manufacturer immunity. (Nov 2015)
○ I want to shield gun shops from lawsuits, not manufacturers. (Oct 2015)
○ Deal federally with straw-man gun purchasers. (Oct 2015)
○ Bring together rural states & urban states with common sense. (Oct 2015)
○ Common sense, incremental gun control plan. (Oct 2015)
○ 1988: NRA opposed Congressional opponents more than him. (Sep 2015)
○ Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole. (Aug 2015)
○ Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable. (Jul 2015)
○ Guns in Vermont are for hunting; but in L.A. are for killing. (Jul 2015)
○ Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans. (Jun 2015)
○ OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms. (Jun 2015)
○ Mixed approach to gun control vs. gun rights. (Apr 2015)
○ I'm pro-hunting, but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. (Apr 2013)
○ Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. (Apr 2009)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
○ Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
● Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
○ Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
Health Care
○ For $500 more taxes, everyone gets $5,000 more healthcare. (Feb 2016)
○ US is the only major country without universal health care. (Feb 2016)
○ Other countries cover everyone; why can't we? (Feb 2016)
○ Health care for 29 million more uninsured. (Feb 2016)
○ Medicare for All: insure 29M people beyond ObamaCare. (Jan 2016)
○ Single payer: Increased taxes offset by insurance cuts. (Jan 2016)
○ I helped write ObamaCare; extend it to 29M more uninsured. (Jan 2016)
○ The middle class will pay less with single payer health plan. (Dec 2015)
○ We spend more on care than countries with single-payer. (Dec 2015)
○ Mental health coverage would stop suicides AND homicides. (Oct 2015)
○ Healthcare is a fundamental right in a civilized society. (Sep 2015)
○ Medicare for all: healthcare is a human right. (Sep 2015)
○ Vaccinations work; electing not to vaccinate is dangerous. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted for ObamaCare; but prefers single-payer system. (Apr 2015)
○ U.S. is only major country without guaranteed healthcare. (Apr 2015)
○ Move toward a single-payer system. (Mar 2015)
○ 1972: Pushed for dental care for low-income children. (Jun 1997)
○ Civilized societies provide healthcare for the poor. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (May 2011)
○ Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Jun 2009)
○ Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
○ Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
● Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
○ Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
○ Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
● Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
● Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
● Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
○ Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
● Voted NO on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
● Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
● Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
● Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
● Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
○ MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare. (Jan 2001)
○ Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
○ Improve services for people with autism & their families. (Apr 2007)
○ Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
○ Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy. (Apr 2011)
○ Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn. (Apr 2008)
○ Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE. (Jun 2009)
○ Sponsored bill expanding the National Health Service Corps. (Mar 2009)
○ Collect data on birth defects and present to the public. (Apr 1998)
○ Make health care a right, not a privilege. (Nov 1999)
Homeland Security
○ CIA activities in Iran and Chile led to dictatorships. (Feb 2016)
○ Strengthen the V.A.; don't privatize the V.A. (Feb 2016)
○ It does us no good to NOT talk to adversaries. (Feb 2016)
○ Promise to never privatize V.A. (Feb 2016)
○ We spend billions on nuclear weapons & only 10% on terrorism. (Nov 2015)
○ I opposed Vietnam as conscientious objector. (Oct 2015)
○ Shut down the NSA surveillance program. (Oct 2015)
○ Snowden showed us our civil rights are being undermined. (Oct 2015)
○ PATRIOT Act was 99-1, and I was the one. (Oct 2015)
○ I pushed bill for $15B for veterans' healthcare services. (Oct 2015)
○ Continue using drones and special forces. (Oct 2015)
○ NSA is unconstitutionally out of control. (Sep 2015)
○ Reduce nuclear budget by $100B; end proliferation worldwide. (Sep 2015)
○ Costs of endless war detract from citizens' well-being. (Sep 2015)
○ Worried about invasion of privacy from NSA corporate America. (May 2015)
○ Cut defense by $18B to pay for 55% of all college tuition. (Apr 2015)
○ We need a strong military, but stop wasting tens of billions. (Apr 2015)
○ V.A. doesn't have resources to accommodate 2 million vets. (May 2014)
○ F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport. (Oct 2012)
○ End nuclear weapons and B-2 bomber production. (Jun 1997)
○ 1991: Billions should improve human life, not destroy it. (Jun 1997)
○ Too much spent on Cold War; and too little spent on ISIS. (Jan 2016)
○ Rid our planet of this barbarous organization called ISIS. (Nov 2015)
○ Don't let released terrorists get back onto the battlefield. (Jun 2014)
○ War in Iraq will cost us $3 trillion including veteran care. (Dec 2010)
○ Pentagon lied about Iraq; expect same for future wars. (Jun 1997)
○ 2009: Voted against closing Gitmo; 2015: supports closing it. (Sep 2015)
○ Oppose outrageous boost in military expenditures. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
● Voted NO on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
○ Voted YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
● Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
○ Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
○ Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
○ Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
● Voted NO on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
● Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
○ Voted YES on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
● Voted NO on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
● Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
○ Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
● Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
● Voted NO on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
○ End the use of anti-personnel mines. (Mar 2001)
○ Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
○ Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays. (Mar 2010)
○ Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials. (Aug 2014)
○ Address abuses of electronic monitoring in the workplace. (Apr 1993)
○ Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
Immigration
○ I do not support the Minutemen anti-immigrant vigilantes. (Mar 2016)
○ Base policy on uniting families, not dividing families. (Mar 2016)
○ 2007 immigration bill was a bad bill, opposed by many. (Mar 2016)
○ Support Obama's reforms on DAPA and DACA. (Mar 2016)
○ I support children entering for asylum from war-torn areas. (Mar 2016)
○ Focus policy on bringing families together, not deportation. (Feb 2016)
○ 2007: I voted against slavery-like guest worker programs. (Feb 2016)
○ Supports path to citizenship for illegals. (Feb 2016)
○ 2007: No comprehensive reform: guest workers are semi-slaves. (Oct 2015)
○ Comprehensive reform with no border fence & no guest workers. (Sep 2015)
○ Secure borders without building a fence. (Sep 2015)
○ Open borders for guest workers pushes down U.S. worker wages. (Jul 2015)
○ Since NAFTA, Mexican undocumented immigration up 185%. (Jun 2015)
○ Disgraceful to shunt our workers into the shadows. (Jun 2015)
○ Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers. (Apr 2015)
○ Climate change lays groundwork for mass migration. (Oct 2013)
○ Immigrant labor should be treated as valuable, but are not. (Oct 2012)
○ English-Only, based in xenophobia, hurts legal immigrants. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
● Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
● Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
○ Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
● Voted NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
○ Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)
○ Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Jobs
○ I investigated undocumented farm workers in FL. (Mar 2016)
○ Minority youth more underemployed than others. (Mar 2016)
○ $15 minimum wage might lose some jobs, but it helps many. (Nov 2015)
○ Obama rebuilt jobs; but middle class is disappearing. (Oct 2015)
○ Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. (Mar 2015)
○ Corporate opposition makes union organizing difficult. (Mar 2015)
○ Create worker-owned cooperatives & grow unions. (Jan 2015)
○ Real unemployment is 16%; official unemployment only 9%. (Nov 2012)
○ Extend unemployment benefits whenever jobless rate over 7.2%. (Dec 2010)
○ 1950s manufacturing job created middle class, but not now. (Dec 2010)
○ Unions are freedom of association; but gets you fired. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Nov 2008)
○ Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
● Voted NO on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
○ Voted YES on limiting farm subsidies to people earning under $750,000. (Dec 2007)
○ Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
○ Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
● Voted NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
● Voted NO on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
● Voted NO on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
○ Member of the Congressional Rural Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Require full disclosure of outsourced employees. (Feb 2001)
○ Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
○ Form unions by card-check instead of secret ballot. (Mar 2009)
○ Raise the minimum wage to $14.10 per hour by 2016. (Jan 2014)
○ Extend unemployment compensation during recession. (Jan 2008)
○ Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue. (Jan 2009)
○ Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination. (Jan 2009)
Principles & Values
○ It is not unrealistic to fight for middle class. (Feb 2016)
○ I walk the walk of progressivism, with no Super PAC. (Feb 2016)
○ I am longest serving Independent but caucus with Dems. (Feb 2016)
○ Too late for establishment politics: we need a revolution. (Feb 2016)
○ Progressives don't have SuperPACs with $15M from Wall Street. (Feb 2016)
○ Agrees with Hillary, but more fervently, on many issues. (Jan 2016)
○ Political revolution: millions of people vs.few billionaires. (Oct 2015)
○ I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires. (Oct 2015)
○ Social change cannot occur without mass participation. (Oct 2015)
○ I'm not a capitalist; I'm a democratic socialist. (Oct 2015)
○ What's wrong with modeling U.S. on socialist Scandinavia? (May 2015)
○ Registered Independent; calls himself a democratic socialist. (Apr 2015)
○ My form of democratic socialism is not Communism. (Mar 2014)
○ Corporate interests fund the Tea Party. (Mar 2014)
○ Revolution will not start at "progressive bastion" Harvard. (Jun 1997)
○ GOP convinces middle class to vote for interests of the rich. (Jun 1997)
○ Progressive movement fights for social justice. (Jun 1997)
Past Campaigns
2011: Primary challenge keeps Obama from moving to the right. (Feb 2016)
American people are tired of hearing about Hillary's email. (Oct 2015)
Lost campaigns in 1972, 1974 & 1988 before winning in 1990. (Mar 2014)
Current administration has numbed American outrage. (Jun 2005)
1971: Ran for Vermont Senate seat under Liberty Union Party. (Jun 1997)
First Independent elected to Congress in 40 years. (Jun 1997)
Personal Background
I am very proud to be Jewish; it is much of what I am. (Mar 2016)
My spirituality: we are all in this together. (Feb 2016)
High school athlete: basketball and long-distance runner. (Jan 2016)
Father immigrated to Brooklyn at 17, penniless & no English. (Jan 2016)
Family immigrated from Poland in WWII, escaping Holocaust. (Sep 2015)
Voting Record
Voted with Democratic Party 94.1% of 324 votes. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on confirming of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court. (Aug 2009)
Religious affiliation: Jewish. (Nov 2000)
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Oct 2001)
Profiled in "Jews in American Politics". (Jan 2001)
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Nov 2007)
Social Security
○ Lift cap on wealthy: at $250,000 program lasts 58 years. (Feb 2016)
○ Criminal to not have COLA increases for seniors. (Oct 2015)
○ Defend against chained CPI, and expand Social Security. (Oct 2015)
○ No cuts; no privatization; even to deal with deficit. (Sep 2015)
○ Raise the Social Security cap on taxable income. (Aug 2015)
○ Strengthen the social safety net, instead of weakening it. (Mar 2015)
○ We must strengthen the social safety net, not weaken it. (Jan 2015)
○ Chairman of the Defend Social Security Caucus. (Jun 2012)
○ Payroll tax holiday diverts revenue from Trust Fund. (Dec 2010)
○ Most successful Federal program in history of our country. (Dec 2010)
○ Despite GOP rhetoric, Social Security is NOT going bankrupt. (Sep 2006)
○ It's regressive to increase taxable Social Security income. (Jun 1997)
● Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
○ Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
○ Changing Social Security disproportionately affects women. (May 2001)
○ Reject proposals for private saving accounts. (May 2002)
○ Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
○ Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age. (Aug 2010)
○ Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI". (Apr 2013)
○ Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance. (Jan 2013)
Tax Reform
○ End loophole that allows zero taxes via Cayman Islands. (Feb 2016)
○ Wealthiest will pay more but not as much as under Eisenhower. (Nov 2015)
○ Tax increases may affect more than top 1%. (Oct 2015)
○ Increase tax on wealthy; close loopholes for corporations. (Sep 2015)
○ Raise top marginal income tax rate from 39% to over 50%. (Sep 2015)
○ Lower cutoff for estate tax from $5.4M to $3.5M. (Sep 2015)
○ Increase estate tax rates on inheritances over $3.5M. (Jun 2015)
○ Double the capital gains tax for the wealthiest 2%. (Apr 2015)
○ We need a progressive tax system based on ability to pay. (Mar 2015)
○ Real tax reform based on ability to pay. (Jan 2015)
○ Filibustered against Obama-Republican tax deal. (Dec 2010)
○ Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich. (Jun 2006)
○ Cap the home mortgage interest deduction at $300,000. (Jun 1997)
○ Property taxes are highly regressive & hurt poor & seniors. (Jun 1997)
○ 1% room-and-meal tax instead of property tax. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
● Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
● Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
○ Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
● Voted NO on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
○ Voted YES on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
● Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
● Voted NO on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
● Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
● Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"
. (Apr 2001)
● Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
● Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
○ American People's Dividend: Give $300 to every person. (Feb 2001)
○ Rated 28% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
○ Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
○ Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million. (Mar 2012)
Technology
○ Tax wealth stashed in Caymans to rebuild our infrastructure. (Feb 2016)
○ Net Neutrality: no preferential treatment for corporations. (Sep 2015)
○ I support funding NASA, but our planet has to come first. (Sep 2015)
○ Stop bailing out Wall Street & start repairing Main Street. (Mar 2015)
○ $1 trillion investment in infrastructure. (Jan 2015)
○ Invest in infrastructure: My water system is 150 years old. (Dec 2010)
○ Infrastructure does not get better if you ignore it. (Dec 2010)
○ US invests 2.4% on infrastructure; Europe 5% and China 9%. (Dec 2010)
○ Sued cable TV company to pay city for damaging streets. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on authorizing states to collect Internet sales taxes. (May 2013)
○ Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure. (Nov 2007)
○ Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet). (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)
● Voted NO on promoting commercial human space flight industry. (Nov 2004)
○ Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)
● Voted NO on allowing telephone monopolies to offer Internet access. (Feb 2002)
○ Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus. (Jan 2001)
○ Facilitate nationwide 2-1-1 phone line for human services. (Jan 2007)
○ Ensure net neutrality: no corporate-tiered Internet. (Jan 2007)
○ Overturn FCC approval of media consolidation. (Mar 2008)
War & Peace
○ Iraq war led to ISIS creation, as I predicted would happen. (Feb 2016)
○ Qatar is wealthy; needs to get skin in game against ISIS. (Jan 2016)
○ Work with Russia & Iran to get rid of Assad in Syria. (Jan 2016)
○ End perpetual warfare in the quagmire of the Middle East. (Dec 2015)
○ Tell Qatar and Saudi Arabia that they must fight ISIS. (Dec 2015)
○ Invasion of Iraq led to ISIS; Hillary voted to invade. (Nov 2015)
○ Form Muslim-led coalition to defeat ISIS. (Nov 2015)
○ Diplomacy and coalition-building before unilateral action. (Oct 2015)
○ Keep U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan. (Oct 2015)
○ Syria is a quagmire within a quagmire; don't get involved. (Oct 2015)
○ Support force only when we are threatened & have coalition. (Oct 2015)
○ Stop ISIS, but only with an international & Arab coalition. (Sep 2015)
○ Iraq war destabilized Mideast; stay out of Mideast quagmire. (Sep 2015)
○ Iran nuke deal is victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling. (Sep 2015)
○ Middle Eastern countries must contribute to fight ISIS. (Aug 2015)
○ Get Saudis & regional powers involved with fighting ISIS. (Oct 2014)
○ Arm the Peshmerga against ISIS, as international effort. (Oct 2014)
○ 1983 war against Nicaragua was illegal and immoral. (Jun 1997)
● 1990: Opposed authorizing all-out war in Kuwait with Iraq. (Jun 1997)
● 1991: instead of Persian Gulf War, spend on America. (Jun 1997)
● I voted against 1st Gulf War, which led to 2nd Gulf War. (Dec 2015)
○ Voted for Afghan War, to capture Osama bin Laden. (Sep 2015)
○ Voted YES on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
● Voted NO on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
○ Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
● Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
● Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
○ Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
○ Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
○ Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran. (Oct 2007)
Welfare & Poverty
○ We should not lead the world in childhood poverty. (Oct 2015)
○ Economic inequality & institutional racism exist in parallel. (Sep 2015)
○ Advocate for social benefits of public assistance programs. (Sep 2015)
○ 3.5 million Americans homeless is unacceptable. (Sep 2015)
○ All religions call usury immoral: apply that to credit cards. (Dec 2010)
○ Predatory lending practices caused 2008 recession. (Oct 2008)
○ Economic insecurity is pivotal in how one lives one's life. (Jun 1997)
○ Land Trust: affordable housing by resale below market rates. (Jun 1997)
● Opposed cutting food stamps. (Jun 1997)
○ U.S. has highest income inequality in industrialized world. (Jun 1997)
○ Voted YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention. (Mar 2009)
○ Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006)
● Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
● Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
● Voted NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. (Nov 1999)
○ Increase the earned income tax credit. (Jan 1993)
○ Fully fund Head Start; Job Corps; and WIC food program. (Apr 1993)
○ Support school breakfast for low-income children. (Mar 2009)
○ Reduce the concentration of wealth & wage inequality. (Nov 1999)
Party affiliation matters to me, and to a lot of voters because it provides a basis for their positions. It's not a "warped view of politics."
Why do you think Bernie suddenly felt the need to run on an established platform? If you can't see that, you have a warped view of his run....
If they start to deviate from the Democratic platform, then that affects the support they will get from Democrats. And that goes a long way to making sure their votes on issues that are determined in the platform agree with the platform. An independent has no such allegiance that would ensure they would deviate on a particular individual legislative vote. Is that clearer?
I never stated that I disagreed with "the stances and votes you listed." Perhaps you are confusing me with someone else?
Perhaps you found a sale on straw men.
“The Democratic party needs fundamental change. What it needs is to open up its doors to working people, and young people, and older people who are prepared to fight for social and economic justice,”
Why is it an attack to look for ways to improve?
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/15041-democrats-and-labor-a-tale-of-abuse
The Democratic Party’s participation in the recent national “sequester” cuts is yet another big dent in their love affair with organized labor. But break-ups are often a protracted process. Before a relationship ends there is usually a gradual deterioration based on irreconcilable differences, until the split becomes inevitable. The decades-long marriage of labor unions and the Democratic Party is nearing such a divorce. Labor unions are becoming frustrated as the Democrats flaunt their affair with corporate America and Wall Street.
What are some of the issues driving towards separation? It just seems that no matter how much labor leaders shower the politicians with money and affection, the Democrats just aren’t returning the love.
Although the Democrats were always a fickle partner, their coldness evolved into aggression under Bill Clinton, who oversaw a slew of anti-worker legislation, most notably NAFTA and welfare “reform.”
Obama has continued this rightwards trajectory, while portraying himself brilliantly as the “lesser evil” compared with the more honest anti-union rhetoric of the Republicans. He fulfilled none of his promises to labor in 2008, and essentially ignored all labor issues in his 2012 campaign. Labor leaders misinterpreted Obama as playing “hard to get,” when in fact the Democratic Party had already moved on.
To prove his fidelity to his new crush, Wall Street, Obama has made it a pet project to target the most powerful union in the country — the teachers’ union — for destruction. Obama’s innocent-sounding Race to the Top education reform is in actuality an anti-union dismembering of public education, with its promotion of charter schools and its mass closings of public high schools that Obama labels as “failing.” Bush, Jr.’s anti-union No Child Left Behind looks innocent compared to Obama’s education “reform.”
In fact, Obama has overseen the worst environment for organized labor since Ronald Reagan. But the problem is bigger than Obama. It’s the entire Democratic Party. For example, Democratic governors across the United States continue to work in tandem with Republicans in weakening public employee unions — the last bastion of real strength in the labor movement.
It is true, however, that in the UK a greater percentage of young voters bothered to actually show up and cast a ballot.
After this, therefor because of this.
A rather popular and most trendy fallacy held onto until a narrative or bias calls for it.
I don't view Senator Sander's remarks as some sort of attack on the Democratic Party. I see him as the canary in the coal mine. If the Democratic Party (and I have voted for every candidate since George McGovern) wishes to be relevant going forward, it must move left, move away from corporate backing AND back to people backing.
You ask, "Where is {Bernie's} focus on GOPutin and their efforts to destroy this democracy?"
I did a search and didn't even get through the first page of results before I had enough links to make my point. A sampling:
"Sanders: Investigate Trump Ties to Russia" (Bernie press release from his website)
"Bernie Sanders Explains How Trump Favors Putin"
"Bernie Sanders: What does Russia have on Donald Trump?" (subheadline, quoting a Bernie tweet: "'How does it happen that we have a president who has nothing but nice things to say about Mr Putin?'"
Incidentally, you're not alone in criticizing Bernie on the Trump-and-Russia issue. He's also been denounced by "Russia Insider": "Two-Faced Grandpa Issues Twitter Fatwah Against Putin" (subheadline: "Vermont's Eternal Disgrace" . This site has been described by the BBC as a "pro-Kremlin English-language website".
Hope this helps.
does enjoy it's divide & conquer strategy.. it does tend to work.
I've had more lucks on the twitter.. straight coverage - no editorializing
It deepens the divisions that already exist and it weakens our party.
?width=960
(Excerpt) ===================================
I don't know who Bernie was talking about at the Conference
yesterday but that same kind of talk help put us where we
are today. It pisses me off!"
===================================
Yes... you've expressed my feelings exactly. Thank you!
People who denigrate Democrats and the Democratic party aren't helping. It's divisive and hurtful. In my opinion, it actually weakens our party.
especially if that non-Democrat keeps touting gestational slavery advocates like Heath Mello. Democratic women are tired of being told, over and over again, year after year, and most recently by non-Democrat Sen Sanders, that (1) the sacred civil, human and Constitutional rights of HALF OF AMERICA are a "wedge issue" and (2) Planned Parenthood represents "the establishment".
(NB: I am a lifelong Democrat, have been voting for over 40 years, and WAS a supporter of Sen Sanders until midway in the 2016 electoral cycle. I did NOT support then-Sen Clinton's 2008 candidacy, either.)
But your post is a perfect example of why the Democratic Party is floundering...
I am a registered Democrat myself, and I am worried that my party (aside from Bernie and the Progressive Caucus in the House) watches the rise of fascism with a "business as usual" attitude, and doesn't stand with working people who are being ripped off by the Trump Mob Family...
Bernie was talking about how hard it was to get the platform you described accepted at the Democratic National Convention in 2016...as for environmental causes, I don't remember HRC ever saying anything about the environment...and Obama was at some point ready to sell us out with a "Grand Bargain"...
Fighting Bernie is the exact opposite way to go to gain support from progressive voters, who are the majority in urban settings. The party needs to embrace him, and open a productive dialog, instead of constantly trashing him as you do Niki. I for one, believe that had he won the primary, he would have won the Presidency.
...
You really helped me understand the divide in the party better, and to see it realistically from this point in time.
I learned something today.
who actually has been proven to represent the will of the people. And it's actually Sec'y Clinton who is being bashed and silenced.
...Bernie is bitter about losing the primary. He should be proud of his time as a Democrat and helping Hillary win the vote! The party has the "caucus" system which enabled him to do exceptionally well - and promote progressive ideas. Come back, Bernie, and you'll be on the winning side!
wish I had half your energy like me.. I be they don't need BS telling them how to act.
