Sorry, Bernie but the Democrats know whose side they are on and whose side they have always been on

[GhostofFDR]

275. Have at it:

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&quot . (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)