Jim Webb
A Democrat, Webb is a former US senator from Virginia.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Rated just above average by the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Fair Taxation;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Received low ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Sen. Webb voted three times against defunding sanctuary cities, voted against defunding the Justice Department's lawsuit against Arizona's SB 1070 law.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
"And as a clarification, I have always supported affirmative action for African Americans. That's the way the program was originally designed because of their unique history in this country, with slavery and the Jim Crow laws that followed. What I have discussed a number of times is the idea that when we create diversity programs that include everyone, quote, "of color," other than whites, struggling whites like the families in the Appalachian mountains, we're not being true to the Democratic Party principle of elevating the level of consciousness among our people about the hardships that a lot of people who happen to be have - by culture, by the way." --
CNN Democratic Party Presidential Debate
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Position on travel ban unknown.
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
Former Democratic Senator Jim Webb reportedly opposes the death penalty in "all but extreme cases." Source
Webb, a Democrat, opposes capital punishment except in some "significantly severe cases," said spokeswoman Jessica Smith.
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Rated just above average by the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from the Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Elizabeth Warren
A Democrat, Warren is a US senator from Massachusetts.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Rated just below average by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is pushing her Senate colleagues to reject a Pacific Rim trade deal that's considered a key pillar of President Obama's second term.
"I hope Congress will use its constitutional authority to stop this deal before it makes things even worse and even more dangerous for America's hardest-working families," Warren said Tuesday.
She added that the agreement "would tilt the playing field even more in favor of a big multinational corporations and against working families."
Source
Immigration Issues:
Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is criticizing the Republican Trump administration's promised crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities.
Source
Elizabeth Warren was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown. Sen. Warren has apparently no public comments on affirmative action possibly because she was accused of fraudulently using affirmative action to gain an advantage in the job market. Warren described the allegations as untrue and hurtful.
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"Turns out, an illegal Muslim ban by another name is still an illegal Muslim ban. So the courts just blocked [Trump's] second one," Warren tweeted.
Source
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes "predatory, for-profit private prisons".
Source
With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
"The alternative to the death penalty—it’s not as if you set this guy free. He’s put away…he’s not someone who is able to keep sucking up a lot of energy. The families need their chance to move on."
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Rated just above average by the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Mark Warner
A Democrat, Warner is a US senator from Virginia.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Rated just above average by the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "yea" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Rated just above average by the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Mark Warner was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
I'd like to see an America where there's not a need for affirmative action, but for now, we need to make sure there is a level playing field for everyone to participate. I come from the business world, and I think most business people will tell you that they want to recruit employees who were educated in an environment where they were exposed to diverse people and ideas. -- 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot , Oct 17, 2008
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"One of the things that concerns me about the president's tweets this morning, where he in effect is calling for a Muslim travel ban again, even though the courts have continued to turn that down, if the president wanted 90 days to re-examine how individuals from certain countries would enter the United States, he's had more than 90 days," said Warner, speaking on "Face the Nation."
Warner continued, "If there's new procedures put in place, put those procedures in place. Don't continue to call for this travel ban, which is frankly all of the leaders in the intelligence community have said would be in effect, a slap in the face to Muslim Americans and others, and in many ways, might actually incite more incidents."
Source
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
Mark Warner supports the death penalty. But Mark knows that when government has the authority to take someone’s life, it must do everything reasonably possible to make sure that the government convicts the right person.
Source
Rated just above average by The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Donald Trump
A Republican, Trump is the US President.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
As a presidential candidate: "We are going to repeal Obamacare. We are going to repeal Obamacare. We are going to replace Obamacare with something so much better," said Donald Trump. Source
I'm a conservative on most issues but a liberal on health. It is an unacceptable but accurate fact that the number of uninsured Americans has risen to 42 million. Working out detailed plans will take time. But the goal should be clear: Our people are our greatest asset. We must take care of our own. We must have universal healthcare.
Source
"I will fight to end Obamacare and replace it with something that makes sense for people in business, something that will not bankrupt the country"
Source
Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes - AUTISM. Many such cases! Trump Twitter account.
"Autism has become an epidemic. Twenty-five years ago, 35 years ago, you look at the statistics, not even close. It has gotten totally out of control," Trump said. "I am totally in favor of vaccines. But I want smaller doses over a longer period of time. Same exact amount, but you take this little beautiful baby, and you pump—I mean, it looks just like it's meant for a horse, not for a child, and we've had so many instances, people that work for me."
Source
Employment Issues:
"Now, I want to create jobs so that you don't have to worry about the minimum wage, you're doing a great job, and you're making much more than the minimum wage," he said via phone on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "But I think having a low minimum wage is not a bad thing for this country."
Source
Government budget Issues:
Mr. Trump believes reckless government borrowing and stimulative policies by the Federal Reserve threaten the long-term health of the American economy and undermine the dollar, which, he said in 2012, "is going to go to hell."
Source
Larry King: If you were in the Senate, would you vote for the stimulus plan?
Trump: Well, I'd vote for a stimulus plan. I'm not sure that all of the things in there are appropriate. Some of the little toys that they have are not really appropriate, and they're a little surprising that they seem to want it, because the publicity on it has been terrible.
I would certainly vote for a stimulus, but I would really vote for banks having to loan out the money because they're not doing that.
Source
Business Issues:
Called for lowering the corporate tax rate and encouraging corporations to bring the profits and workers back from overseas.
Trade policy Issues:
He strongly opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, calling it "an attack on America's business" that fails to penalize Asian nations like Japan when, he says, they engage in currency manipulation to boost exports. He takes particular aim at China, accusing it of currency manipulation and flooding the United States with low-cost exports that "are truly hurting our economy and our jobs" - including, as it turns out, products with the Trump label. He attacked Mr. Obama last year for visiting China and "celebrating the fact that they're ripping us off."
Source
"I think that fair trade is a much better word than 'free trade.' I listen to these people saying, 'Oh, that's going to hurt free trade.' What's 'free trade' when a country has imbalances of hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars...?"
Source
Immigration Issues:
"We will end the sanctuary cities that have resulted in so many needless deaths. Cities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars, and we will work with Congress to pass legislation to protect those jurisdictions that do assist federal authorities."
Source
The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Control borders; even legal immigration should be difficult. (Jul 2000)
Limit new immigration; focus on people already here. (Dec 1999)
Source
TRUMP: Well it all starts with the Federal government not coming out with a law. They've been talking about it for years and they still haven't done anything about it. And Arizona is really getting crime-ridden. There's people coming over, there's killings all over the place, there's shootings all over the place.
LARRY KING: But do you favor stopping people on the street?
TRUMP: What are you going to do? I mean, are you going to stop people to see if they're supposed to be there? And personally as a citizen I wouldn't mind, I really wouldn't mind... I think everybody needs to have papers, you know, and be legally here. We need to have papers if we go anywhere else in the world, so people need to have also the papers here.
Source
Minority Issues:
The [Trump] Justice Department’s civil rights division is going to have some of its resources allocated toward lawsuits against universities over affirmative action policies perceived as hostile to white people, according to a document reported by The New York Times. The Times also reports that the internal announcement to the civil rights division explicitly asks for lawyers who would be willing to pursue "investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions."
Source
Source
"This represents a turning point for the people of this country. We are determined to take our country back," former KKK leader David Duke said. "We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That's what believed in. That's why we voted for Donald Trump."
Trump came under fire during the election for his reluctance to disavow Duke, which he eventually did. Still, Duke supported Trump and publicly celebrated his win in November.
Donald Trump said Monday he believes the Black Lives Matter movement has in some cases helped instigate the recent killings of police officers, and suggested he might direct his future attorney general to investigate the civil rights activist group.
"Certainly, in certain instances they are," Trump told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly when he asked whether the group has been "a fuse-lighter in the assassinations of these police officers."
International & Security Issues:
"That's right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won't help us protect our people!"
Source
He would have liked to fire the Bush Administration for its decision to invade Iraq, according to an interview in the August edition "Esquire," due to be released on Friday.
"Look at the war in Iraq and the mess that we're in. I would never have handled it that way. Does anybody really believe that Iraq is going to be a wonderful democracy where people are going to run down to the voting box and gently put in their ballot and the winner is happily going to step up to lead the country?"
"Bin Laden would have been caught long ago. Tell me, how is it possible that we can't find a guy who's six-foot-six and supposedly needs a dialysis machine? Can you explain that one to me? We have all our energies focused on one place, where they shouldn't be focused," he said.
Source
The U.S. must continue to nurture and safeguard our special relationship with the state of Israel. This relationship must remain the cornerstone of our policy tactics through the entire Middle-East region, as it has been for administrations of both parties for more than half a century.
Source
"I don't like people like (Edward Snowden) because there could be a national security concern, and there probably is," he said. "At the same time, what he's doing is wrong and I think also what the government is doing is wrong."
"They're going way too far, at the same time you never like a guy like this."
Trump said it's hard to trust the government right now and questioned how the monitoring program will affect U.S. relations with other countries.
"Well it's very hard to trust (the government) right now. If you really look at it, what's going on with other nations, how are they going to trust us anymore?" Trump said.
Source
Crime & Punishment Issues:
The Trump administration will unveil a new plan Monday to roll back limits on a controversial program that provides local law enforcement agencies with surplus military gear, marking the end of a policy implemented during the Obama administration.
Source.
Supports prison privatization.
Source
Meyers revealed that for-profit contract prison firms, such as GEO Group, had pumped "big money" into pro-Trump groups during the 2016 election campaign and inauguration. Coincidentally, GEO Group has since won a $110 million government contract to build a federal immigrant detention center in Texas.
Source
"I have always been a big believer, and continue to be, of the death penalty for horrendous crime." JULY 31
After a woman was viciously attacked while jogging in Central Park in 1989, Mr. Trump took out full-page newspaper advertisements that declared, "Bring back the death penalty."
Source
capital punishment isn't uncivilized; murderers living is. (Jul 2000)
death penalty deters like violent TV leads kids astray. (Jul 2000)
Source
Poverty Issues:
If you’re a poor person in America, President Trump’s budget proposal is not for you.
Trump has unveiled a budget that would slash or abolish programs that have provided low-income Americans with help on virtually all fronts, including affordable housing, banking, weatherizing homes, job training, paying home heating oil bills, and obtaining legal counsel in civil matters.
During the presidential campaign last year, Trump vowed that the solution to poverty was giving poor people incentives to work. But most of the proposed cuts in his budget target programs designed to help the working poor,
Education Issues:
When it comes to education, the values of Trump and his education secretary Betsy DeVos couldn't be clearer – private schools deserve money, and public schools and vulnerable students don't.
2007-2008 Bring on the competition; tear down the union walls. (Jul 2000)
School choice will improve public schools. (Jul 2000)
Source
The Republican presidential hopeful was asked what measures he would take, as president, to ensure middle-to-low income Americans are able to "pay their tuition [and] afford books while they're going to school."
"Well the only way you can do it is you have to start some governmental program and you have governmental programs right now," Trump told the moderator during the forum, which was held at a local community college. "They go, and they work, and they take loans, and they're borrowed up, and they can't breathe, and they get through college and the worst thing is, they go through that whole process and they don't have any job," the billionaire said, referring to the majority of undergraduates enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Source
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The Marijuana Policy Project.
Supports medical marijuana, but not widespread legalization Source
Religious & Social Issues:
Received low ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency
"They should not be able to marry," he said. But asked whether gay couples should be able access the same benefits as married couples, he said his "attitude on it has not been fully formed."
Given a second to think, Trump said on marriage and civil benefits, "As of this moment, I would say no and no."
Source
Mr. Trump says that his views on marriage are "evolving" but that he still favors "traditional marriage," between "a man and a woman." (He has been married three times.) Same-sex marriage, he says, isn't his "thing."
Source
Second Amendment Issues:
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America
I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today's Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record.
Source: The America We Deserve, by Donald Trump, p.102 Jul 2, 2000 Source
"I'm against gun control" he told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2011.
Source
Abortion Issues:
"If I do run for president, I want you to know I'm pro-life,"
Source
"I'm very pro-life." Except in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother Source
Previously pro-choice, but ban partial birth abortion. (Jul 2000) Favors abortion rights but respects opposition. (Dec 1999)
Source
Environmental Issues:
He is less outspoken on other environmental issues, though he sued unsuccessfully in 2013 to block plans for wind turbines in Scotland that would power 65,000 homes, arguing, in part, that they would mar the view from a golf course he was proposing to build.
Source
Trump: If There Are Low Temperatures And Snow, "Where The Hell Is Global Warming?" In February 2015, Trump tweeted, "Record low temperatures and massive amounts of snow. Where the hell is GLOBAL WARMING?" [Donald Trump Twitter, 2/14/15]
Trump: Global Warming "Hoaxters" Are Using "Any And All Weather Events ... To Justify Higher Taxes." In January 2014, Trump tweeted, "Any and all weather events are used by the GLOBAL WARMING HOAXSTERS to justify higher taxes to save our planet! They don't believe it $$$$!" [Donald Trump Twitter, 1/26/14]
Trump: Global Warming Is A Hoax. In January 2014, Trump tweeted, "NBC News just called it the great freeze - coldest weather in years. Is our country still spending money on the GLOBAL WARMING HOAX?" [Donald Trump Twitter, 1/25/14]
Source
"We have to be very concerned," Donald Trump, the New York real estate mogul, said on Fox News on Tuesday. "I'm in favor of nuclear energy, very strongly in favor of nuclear energy. If a plane goes down, people keep flying. If you get into an auto crash, people keep driving. There are problems in life. not everything is so perfect. But we do need nuclear energy, and we need a lot of it fast." Source
Immigration issues He opposes efforts to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants, calling that a "suicide mission" for Republicans because "every one of those 11 million people will be voting Democratic." He proposes instead to fortify the nation's borders by building "a real wall" to keep immigrants out.
Source
Retirement Issues:
Let people invest their own retirement funds
Source
Bernie Sanders
An independent, Sanders is a US senator from Vermont.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Medical Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Received high ratings from the Taxpayers for Common Sense
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received very low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Received very low ratings from the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Received very low ratings from the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation;
Rated just below average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Trade Barrier Votes
Immigration Issues:
Mr. Sanders rightly defends "sanctuary city" policies that protect public safety by building trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.
Source
Rated just above average by the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Immigration Control;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement on Thursday after the Supreme Court provided a victory for affirmative action by rejecting a challenge to the University of Texas admissions program:
"Diversity on college campuses benefits all students. The Supreme Court decision reaffirms that our students are better prepared and our nation is stronger when we create a more diverse and inclusive environment in higher education."
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
The veteran senator, who ran against Hillary Clinton, condemned the policy and dismissed White House claims it is needed to protect Americans from terrorism.
"Trump’s Muslim ban isn’t about keeping us safe," he wrote on Twitter. "A president intent on keeping us safe wouldn't give ideological ammunition to terrorists.
Source
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. I have recently introduced legislation that will put an end to for-profit prisons. My bill will bar federal, state, and local governments from contracting with private companies who manage prisons, jails, or detention facilities.
Source
With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
"The state itself, in a democratic, civilized society, should itself not be involved in the murder of other Americans." OCT. 29
Mr. Sanders took to the Senate floor in October to make a case against the death penalty, offering an implicit contrast with Mrs. Clinton.
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities;
Received high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants;
Received high ratings from The National Criminal Justice Association
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received low ratings from The Home School Legal Defense Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Rated just below average by The American Land Rights Association;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans;
Received high ratings from The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Deval Patrick
A Democrat, Patrick is a former governor of Massachusetts.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Supports the Affordable Care Act: "health care is a public good and that every citizen deserves access to quality, affordable care."
Employment Issues:
As governor, signed a bill raising the state's $8 per hour minimum wage to $11 per hour
Governor Deval Patrick has sought a more moderate proposal on limiting collective bargaining rights.
Government budget Issues:
Rated just below average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
Patrick wrote in his book, A Reason to Believe: Lessons From An Improbable Life,
"The financial bottom line is not the only bottom line. There is also a community bottom line, an environmental bottom line, a moral bottom line, and public leadership should try to integrate all of them."
Trade policy Issues:
Favors international trade
Immigration Issues:
The move [by Patrick's successor, Gov. Baker (R)] reverses a sanctuary policy imposed by former Gov. Deval Patrick that barred State Police from honoring ICE detention requests and limited communication between agencies.
Source
Prevented state police from detaining undocumented immigrants:
Patrick enacted as governor in 2014, state police were prohibited from asking individuals about their immigration status unless it was related to a criminal inquiry. Law enforcement was also told to stop honoring ICE requests to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested.
Minority Issues:
"Well, I think that affirmative action is one of those issues that suffers from the very poor quality of public discourse. I think it is a widely misunderstood device, both in terms of its operation and its purpose. There is a right way and a wrong way to do affirmative action." -- PBS, January 10, 1997
Source
Was Bill Clinton's United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
International & Security Issues:
Position on travel ban unknown.
Gov. Patrick also weighed in on the controversy surrounding attempts to build am Islamic cultural center, including a mosque, near Ground Zero. Echoing Mr. Obama, he told Crawford, "I think if we don't stand up for religious freedom and religious pluralism then the terrorists have won. The sooner we separate the peace in the religion of Islam from the violence and hate of terrorists the better for all of us."
Source
Patrick's opinion is in direct opposition to that of The Center for Security Policy
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
"I am philosophically opposed to the death penalty, as I believe Eric Holder is. But I also understand that he is doing what the law requires."
Source
Deval Patrick opens up about issues of race, policing "I don't think anybody has ever believed that the job of police officers is easy, isn't fraught with danger, isn't made more so because of the proliferation of guns. At the same time we expect and train restraint because that's what the rule of law means. It really does mean that you don't get to be judge and jury and executioner out on the street."
Poverty Issues:
Proposed $25 million in new funding to aid homeless families
By limiting shelter to families in emergency situations, the goal is to get more families out of shelters and motels with an estimated savings of $25 million and reinvest the savings into housing programs.
Education Issues:
Rated just below average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group.
NEA’s Greatest Governor Award
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick earned the accolades of the 9,000 NEA RA delegates today, as well as the respect and admiration from the National Education Association’s 3 million educators.
The governor received this year’s "America’s Greatest Education Governor Award" during the Association’s Representative Assembly.
Cannabis Issues:
"I don’t have a lot of enthusiasm for the medical marijuana."
Not adamantly opposed to legalizing recreational cannabis.
Religious & Social Issues:
Patrick on NY Mosque: "Stand Up For Religious Freedom" In the wake of President Obama's comment that he has "no regrets" supporting plans for a Mosque to be built near Ground Zero, Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) agreed, saying that if American don't stand up for religious freedom then the terrorists have won.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America
Environmental Issues:
Patrick signed into law an Executive Order on Environmental Justice that directs all state agencies to devote resources to protect the health, safety and environment for the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth.
He was joined by our Massachusetts Environmental Justice Alliance (MA EJ Alliance), comprised of environmental and social justice organizing and grassroots groups from across the state
Retirement Issues:
Opposes plans to privatize Social Security
Martin O'Malley
A Democrat, O'Malley is a former governor of Maryland. See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Martin O'Malley believes access to health care should be a right--not a privilege. Supports the goal of affordable health care for all Maryland families and understand that without federal leadership we cannot achieve these goals.
Source
Employment Issues:
Supports minimum wage laws. His campaign website said: "Martin O'Malley supports Living Wage legislation for all companies doing business with the State. Companies that want Maryland's business must support Maryland's values, and that includes a fair wage for a fair day's work." Source
Government budget Issues:
Rated just below average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
US Chamber of Commerce rating: 0. AFL-CIO rating: high. US Chamber of Commerce rating: . AFL-CIO rating: . Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's campaign for governor secured an unusually early and lopsided endorsement yesterday from Maryland's largest labor organization. A committee of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO, which claims nearly 300,000 members, voted 52 to 11 to back O'Malley (D) over Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), who had lobbied hard for the endorsement. Source
Trade policy Issues:
O’Malley will support free trade agreements—but only those agreements that establish strong and enforceable rules for fair competition, creating opportunity for American workers while lifting standards in our partner nations.
The United States already has the leverage we need to meet this high standard, including in the TPP. Other nations sought to join the TPP in order to receive privileged access to the U.S. market. We should do everything in our power to assert a progressive trade agenda, rewarding countries with high labor and environmental standards—and encouraging those with weaker standards to make meaningful changes in order to join any trade deal.
Immigration Issues:
Former Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Md.) on Friday defended "sanctuary cities," which limit cooperation with federal officials on deportations
Source
Received very low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration. In a debate during the 2010 campaign, O'Malley referred to undocumented immigrants as "new Americans", as he endorsed tougher enforcement against illegal immigration by the federal government.[47] In May 2011, O'Malley signed a law that would make the children of undocumented immigrants eligible for in-state college tuition under certain conditions.[48] The law provides that undocumented immigrants can be eligible for in-state tuition if students have attended a high school in Maryland for three years and if they or their parents have paid state income taxes during that time. Source
Minority Issues:
Mayor Martin O'Malley's vow to defend Baltimore's affirmative-action program will push the city into what some mayors are calling the "new Selma" of the civil rights struggle: black economic empowerment.
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King
International & Security Issues:
O’Malley tweeted, "We’re at war with ISIL but this sort of bigoted, adolescent stupidity by Trump plays right to their hands #MuslimBan"
Source
Since 9/11, Governor O’Malley has been recognized as a national leader on homeland security and public safety issues. He has led nation-wide homeland security efforts as an advocate, exemplar of best practices, and adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Governor O’Malley considers public safety one of the most sacred and important responsibilities of those in public service.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. As president, Governor O’Malley will: Phase Out Federal For-Profit Prisons. This includes closing for-profit immigration detention centers, while using alternatives to detention in the immigration context whenever possible.
Source
"The longer we continue to support this expensive and failed policy, the more we fall short of our values as a people." NOV. 6
Mr. O’Malley successfully pushed to repeal the death penalty when he was governor of Maryland.
Source
O'Malley called capital punishment "inconsistent with a nation that is founded on the belief in the dignity of every human being."
Source
March 2013, Maryland legislature bans capital punishment--O'Malley signed the bill.
Poverty Issues:
Our parents and grandparents should be able to retire in dignity—not poverty...That is why Governor O’Malley has set a national goal of increasing the number of Americans with adequate retirement savings by 50 percent within two terms in office.
Integrate Employment And Housing Strategies To Prevent And End Homelessness. Increasing access to meaningful employment is one of the most effective ways to end homelessness. To that end, Governor O’Malley will increase funding for the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program. Implementing VetStat nationally would better synchronize homelessness assistance with workforce needs, connecting individuals to employment with living wages. In addition, federal programs and resources need to be better utilized and leveraged with local, state, and philanthropic sources to expand employment and training programs to veterans experiencing homelessness.
Education Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group. Opposes education vouchers for public or private school. (Aug 2010) Source
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The Marijuana Policy Project. "Now open to legalizing medical marijuana" O'Malley has in the past been opposed to legalizing marijuana, but telegraphed that he'd support a limited measure that would make it available at academic research centers. "I'm focused on other things this year" he told reporters when he suggested he'd sign such a bill.
Source
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency. Gov. Martin O'Malley announced this afternoon that he will lead the charge for gay marriage in Maryland and put his name on a bill that allows same-sex couples to wed.
"Marylanders of all walks of life want their children to live in a loving, stable, committed home protected under the law," O'Malley said. He said it would be one of "a small handful" of legislative priorities.
Source
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association. Gov. Martin O'Malley on Monday announced broad details of a sweeping four-point proposal to limit gun violence in Maryland, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines like those used in the Newtown school shooting, as well as some of the nation's strictest gun licensing rules. Source
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America. The governor defended his belief that abortion should remain legal.
"I believe that it is an issue that is best left to the individual conscience of women," he said, "and in the meantime, as a society, we should do those things that we can to advance the dignity of every human life." Source
Environmental Issues:
Maryland League of Conservation Voters endorses Gov. Martin O'Malley Source
"Climate change is not an ideological issue any more than gravity is"... "It is physics, pure and simple"... "Maryland might not be able to change what people in India or China do with respect to climate. We can, however, use the prospect of a carbon constrained world as the means to invent a more prosperous future, and to drive innovation, education, industry, jobs, and growth." Source
Retirement Issues:
Moreover, the costs of the big entitlements for the elderly -- Social Security and Medicare -- are growing at rates that will eventually bankrupt them and that could leave little to pay for everything else government does. We can't just spend our way out of the problem; we must find a way to contain future costs. The federal government already spends seven times as much on the elderly as it does on children. To allow that ratio to grow even more imbalanced would be grossly unfair to today's workers and future generations. In addition, Social Security and Medicare need to be modernized to reflect conditions not envisioned when they were created in the 1930s and the 1960s. Social Security, for example, needs a stronger basic benefit to bolster its critical role in reducing poverty in old age. Medicare needs to offer retirees more choices and a modern benefit package that includes prescription drugs. Such changes, however, will only add to the cost of the programs unless they are accompanied by structural reforms that restrain their growth and limit their claim on the working families whose taxes support the programs.
Source
Gavin Newsom
A Democrat, Newsom is the lieutenant governor of California.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Supports Obamacare; proposes California universal health care plan.
Drafted a statewide universal health care plan based in part on Healthy San Francisco. That’s the citywide program he signed into law as San Francisco mayor in 2006.
Employment Issues:
California nurses union endorses Gavin Newsom in governor's race.
Endorses Ballot Initiative to Raise California’s Minimum Wage
Government budget Issues:
Newsom described himself as a "social liberal and a fiscal watchdog."
As San Francisco mayor, Newsom budget slashes jobs, taxes big business / Mayor battles $300 million deficit
Business Issues:
Newsom's support for business interests at times strained his relationship with labor leaders.
Newsom ran as a business-friendly centrist Democrat and a moderate in San Francisco politics; some of his opponents called him conservative.
Trade policy Issues:
Favors international trade
Immigration Issues:
The man who wants to be California’s next governor [is] pushing back at the next president, and the incoming Trump administration’s threat to sanctuary cities.
"What kind of world are we living in? You can’t just sit back and take it from these guys. You can’t just have the misogyny and the xenophobia the nativism. You can’t have all this just allow to be run free and run rough shod over the state of California and our people. We’ve got to step up and push back," Newsom said.
Source
"The USA: founded by immigrants in the name of freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, & freedom of opportunity."
Minority Issues:
Newsom’s spokesman said...the lieutenant governor believes in affirmative action policies to expand opportunity and ensure public institutions reflect the state’s diversity. "As a UC Regent and CSU Trustee, he’s been a leader in advocating for policies and reforms to attract, retain and graduate more California students from communities of color," spokesman Dan Newman said.
As San Francisco mayor, Newsom joined with then-Supervisor Tom Ammiano on legislation to protect affirmative action for city contracts after a judge in 2004 ruled the city’s policy was illegal.
Source
International & Security Issues:
Gavin Newsom visited San Francisco International Airport Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, to share with protesters his outrage at President Trump’s executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country.
Source
Pretty simple: Our national security adviser shouldn't be working to undermine our natl security interests. The end.
If what is being reported is true, Flynn should immediately step down and his security clearance must be revoked. Outright lies and cover ups involving dangerous authoritarian leaders must never be tolerated. Do not accept this as normal.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. This legislation would allow detention centers to be classified as childcare facilities -- and private prisons will profit off of it.
Source
"I realize that this is a controversial issue that raises deeply felt passions on all sides," Newsom said. "But I also believe that decades from now, like with so many other once-contentious issues, America will look back at the death penalty as an archaic mistake. On issues such as this, elected leaders owe it to themselves and to their constituents to speak up and speak out — regardless of political consequences."
Source
Publicly supported ballot measures to reduce sentences for some crimes, legalize marijuana, require background checks for ammunition sales and eliminate the death penalty.
"Our policies have been dictated through the prism of anger and fear," Newsom said. "And they've been exploited for political advantage."
Poverty Issues:
As San Francisco's mayor Gavin Newsom, took the most aggressive stance yet toward tackling the issue. In 2004, he announced a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness. While it failed to reach that goal, it did result in moving 22,000 homeless people off the streets either into housing or onto buses headed home.
Education Issues:
From governor campaign site: "Gavin believes we must update the way we educate our kids, from early brain and language development, and continuing through college. He believes we must create a new job-training system that gives people relevant skills so they can thrive in the new global economy, and keep pushing forward to reform our state’s criminal justice system."
Cannabis Issues:
Newsom received strong support and contributions from pot growing industry.
Religious & Social Issues:
Newsom promotes, officated same-sex marriage After 55 years Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin are married by Mayor Gavin Newson, Monday June 16, 2008, in San Francisco, Calif. Lyon, 83, and Martin, 87, were the first couple married four years ago when Newsom told the county clerk's office to start offering marriage certificates to same-sex couples.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The California Pro-Life Council
Environmental Issues:
Gavin Newsom: Making the Environment His Personal and Political Mission In 2006, while most of this country’s leaders were engaged in a contentious debate over whether or not climate change is real, Mayor Newsom had already authored the Urban Environmental Accords, closed a fossil-fuel burning power plant, created the country’s largest alternative fuel fleet of buses and cars and passed numerous laws to help San Francisco’s residents and businesses be more environmentally conscious. From solar panels and mandatory composting and recycling to authoring the strongest municipal green building standards in the United States for new construction and major renovations, Mayor Newsom has turned San Francisco into one of the greenest cities in the world and has established himself as one of the greenest mayors in the country.
Retirement Issues:
Chris Murphy
A Democrat, Murphy is a US representative from Connecticut.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Rated just above average by the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received low ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Chris Murphy was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Rated just below average by the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown.
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Murphy's statement after President Trump re-issued his restriction on refugees and immigrants from certain Muslim-majority nations in Africa and the Middle East:
"President Trump is handing ISIS recruitment gold and is putting American lives at risk," said Murphy. "Our enemies’ dream is to paint a picture of global war between Islam and the West, and today's travel ban plays right into their hands. I will immediately revise and re-introduce my bill to block its implementation."
Source
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found. Position on the death penalty not found.
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Rated just above average by The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Seth Moulton
A Democrat, Moulton is a US representative from Massachusetts.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Immigration Issues:
Rep. Seth Moulton also voted against the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. In a statement, he said listened to the concerns of local law-enforcement officials about how bills like that can pose a threat to public safety. Moulton said the provisions of that bill would undermine the ability of state and local law-enforcement officials to keep communities safe.
"Furthermore, if passed, the consequences of this bill would erode public trust between the community and local law enforcement in reporting crimes, providing witness statements, and in disseminating crime prevention information," Moulton said his statement.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown.
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"President Trump is leading our country out of fear instead of facts. His executive orders banning refugees and immigrants from some Muslim majority countries to the United States play right into the hands of our enemies. ISIS has already used his statements to help recruit new suicide bombers, and you can bet Trump’s policies will help inspire attacks against Americans both at home and abroad."
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
I’m morally opposed to the death penalty, and you can't be morally opposed to something like that and make exceptions, even for something like his.
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund
Retirement Issues:
Jeff Merkley
A Democrat, Merkley is a US senator from Oregon.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from theThe Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received average ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Rated low by the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Rated very low by The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received average ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
"TPP is a bad deal for American workers. Instead of creating an even playing field, this deal increases the global race to the bottom in worker pay. American manufacturing jobs will continue to go abroad as Buy America rules are further eroded." --signatory. Source
"Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today denounced the announcement from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Trump administration would begin withholding Department of Justice grants from sanctuary cities and counties." Source
Immigration Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
"For far too long, the contracting process and the management of contract facilities housing immigrant detainees have been opaque. The lack of transparency has led to a lack of accountability. Unlike federally-run institutions, these facilities are not obligated to provide to DHS or Congress information about their cost, operational efficiency, or ability to provide adequate detention conditions. And the results are unacceptable." Source
Opposes the death penalty Source: Oregon State 1998 National Political Awareness Test Source
Poverty Issues:
Rated as average by the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Rated very low by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Rceived high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Terry McAuliffe
A Democrat, McAuliffe is the governor of Virginia.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Fix; don't replace
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Friday that Obamacare definitely needed some fixes, but repealing it was unnecessary.
McAuliffe, who says he personally opposes capital punishment, has allowed two other executions to proceed while he has been in office and has commuted the sentence of one inmate.
Employment Issues:
Supports increased minimum wage Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed Republican legislation preventing local governments from raising the minimum wage, an issue that has been debated across the country.
Government budget Issues:
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: D.
McAuliffe raises revenue by $136 million, urges teacher raises
Americans for Tax Reform critical: "McAuliffe's Budget Full of Costly Gimicks and Shell Games"
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Spending;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Overall Fiscal Policy;
Business Issues:
Favors corporate tax cuts Gov. Terry McAuliffe called Thursday for a reduction in Virginia’s corporate tax rate that he said would save businesses roughly $64 million over two years and put the state in a better position to attract new companies.
Trade policy Issues:
Favors global trade
"International marketing missions are a critical component of Virginia’s aggressive and pro-active approach to economic development. They provide the best opportunity to personally convince corporate leaders to invest in Virginia and bring jobs back for our citizens," said Governor McAuliffe.
Immigration Issues:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation banning localities from restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
McAuliffe, a Democrat, announced his veto Monday, saying the measure would stoke fears among the state's immigrant communities. He had promised to veto the measure when it passed the GOP-controlled General Assembly in February.
Source
McAuliffe vows vetoes as immigration issue heats up in Virginia
Virginia’s Democratic leaders are taking a stand against President Trump over immigration enforcement, with Gov. Terry McAuliffe promising to veto three bills passed by the Republican-controlled legislature designed to help the federal government roust undocumented residents.
Race relation Issues:
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe decried hatred, racism and bigotry in a defiant speech Sunday after a violent white supremacist rally turned deadly over the weekend in Charlottesville, Va.
Speaking at the Sunday services at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church in the same city where the rally took place, McAuliffe called the white supremacists "dividers." McAuliffe said he and the state of Virginia stand with the African-American community and doubled down on his denunciation of the white supremacists who gathered in his state.
International & Security Issues:
"I am outraged and disappointed by the actions President Trump has taken to ban travelers from certain Muslim nations and to close our country to families seeking refuge from persecution. This executive order is antithetical to the values that make America great, and it will make our country less safe.
Source
"These threats do not stop at state lines," Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who chose cybersecurity as his main initiative as chair of the National Governors Association, told his fellow governors Friday at their summer meeting.
In Virginia, McAuliffe has worked to increase cybersecurity training and to make it a national resource for cybersecurity education.
Virginia currently has 36,000 open cyber security jobs, where starting pay is $88,000 "and you don't need a four-year degree," only a two-year degree or less, the governor said at a cyber-security panel discussion.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
McAuliffe, who says he personally opposes capital punishment, has allowed two other executions to proceed while he has been in office and has commuted the sentence of one inmate.
More than 200,000 convicted felons will be eligible to vote and run for public office in Virginia under a sweeping executive order announced Friday by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
McAuliffe said his actions would help undo Virginia's long history of trying to suppress the black vote
Poverty Issues:
Virginia provided housing to 1,432 homeless veterans last year, more than double the 620 identified in January as part of an annual one-day count of the homeless.
That qualifies Virginia as the first state in the country to effectively end veteran homelessness, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial.
Education Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group.
Signed legislation to reduce community college tuition for active duty military students.
Education, technology focus of Gov. McAuliffe McAuliffe said after visiting both labs that last year the state put a billion dollars into education to redesign its K-12 system.
"I think the biggest challenge we have faced is that we have done not only here in Virginia, but all over the country, the same type of education system for 100 years," he said. "It was built during the Industrial Revolution, our high schools were. Big buildings with classrooms with seats. You got credit for seat time. That is meaningless to a 21st Century economy."
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
McAuliffe supports same-sex marriage, and supported the United States Supreme Court rulings in June 2015, which deemed the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Pro-Choice In 2013, McAuliffe said he supports "keeping existing Virginia laws on when abortions are legal." He opposes new state health and safety regulations on abortion clinics. In February 2017, he vetoed a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood.
Environmental Issues:
McAuliffe has declined to go into detail on his stance on many of his own views on energy and environmental policy, sticking to broad outlines.[78] McAuliffe believes human activity has contributed to global warming, and characterizes clean energy as a national security issue.
Retirement Issues:
Says that Americans can retire with dignity because of Social Security and Medicare.
Amy Klobuchar
A Democrat, Klobucha is a US senator from Minnesota.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Rated just below average by the Taxpayers for Common Sense
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received very low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Rated just below average by the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Trade Barrier Votes
Immigration Issues:
Amy Klobachar was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Rated just above average by the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Immigration Control;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown.
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"For the second time, this Administration has put in place an order that bans all refugees from all over the world for 120 days, and drastically reduces the number of refugees who will be welcomed to the United States each year. Minnesota and the entire country are strengthened by our refugee and immigrant communities. As legal workers, they are a vital part of our economy. Refugees are extensively vetted as it is, and if the Administration wants to change the vetting process, they could do so without immediately banning all refugees from every country in the world."
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
If there's a decision made in this country that we ought to change the rules and not have the death penalty, that's one thing. My own view from experience as a district attorney is that it's a deterrent if it's properly used. It has to be properly used, but that's a complicated subject.
Source
Received high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants;
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Rated just below average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group;
Rated just above average by The Home School Legal Defense Association
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just below average by The Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Rated just below average by the Gun Owners' Action League;
Rated just below average by the Gun Owners of America
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans;
Received high ratings from The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
John Kasich
A Republican, Kasich is the governor of Ohio.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
A plan to shore up Obamacare— spearheaded by Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich and Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper — would initially preserve and strengthen key elements of the Affordable Care Act and then give states flexibility to unravel some of Obamacare's coverage requirements.
Source
Employment Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very low ratings from the AFSCME;
Government budget Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: B.
Business Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received very high ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received very high ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Counci
Trade policy Issues:
"I will tell you that if the Republican Party does not evolve, the Republican Party is going to die," Kasich said. "The Republican Party cannot be antitrade, anti-immigrant, not out there practicing the politics of people...Kasich visited the White House to discuss TPP, the free-trade agreement between the US and 11 other Pacific Rim nations. He later took questions at a press briefing where he explained why he was supporting the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's "pivot to Asia" in foreign policy.
Immigration Issues:
Gov. John Kasich today found himself in agreement with President Trump in opposing the creation of sanctuary cities in Ohio and elsewhere in America where local law enforcement resist enforcement of federal immigration law.
Source
Rated just below average by the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
"Affirmative action has a negative effect on our society when it means counting us like so many beans and dividing us into separate piles."
Source
"How about if you are a member of the minority community, an African-American? You wonder the system, I think, sometimes doesn’t just work for me, but sometimes I feel like that system works against me. And you think about the troubles that many of our African-Americans still face today in a world where we have worked to provide equal rights and opportunities. Sometimes they are not so sure, and I don’t blame them."
International & Security Issues:
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who sparred with President Trump during the 2016 Republican primaries, on Sunday criticized the Trump administration's executive order restricting immigration from a number of majority-Muslim countries, saying: "This order should be replaced with a more thoughtful approach consistent with our values."
Source
Gov. Kasich has proposed a comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS, strengthen our military, and work with our allies to confront ongoing threats to our mutual security. Bullets may win battles, but ideas win wars. It is not enough to defeat terrorists and stand-down regional bullies. We must reassert our Western values of democracy, human rights, and individual freedom if we hope to secure the long-term stability of America and preserve our way of life.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Supports prison privatization. Kasich, a Republican, announced Tuesday he wants to sell five Ohio prisons and lease lucrative state liquor profits to JobsOhio, his new private economic development corporation that replaced part of the Department of Development.
Source
"I support the death penalty and will continue to do that because a lot of times, families want closure when they see justice done." MAY 31
Mr. Kasich has said the death penalty "isn't about revenge; it's about justice."
Source
Received low ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants
Poverty Issues:
Rated just below average by the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group;
Rated just above average by The Home School Legal Defense Association
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws;
Rated just below average by The Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very low ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very high ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very low ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very high ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very high ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received low ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received high ratings from The American Land Rights Association
Retirement Issues:
Rated just below average by The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Tim Kaine
A Democrat, Kaine is a US senator from Virginia.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "yea" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
"Unfortunately, since Tim Kaine voted to fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Republicans now have a new opening to attack Democrats on this economic populist issue."
According to a report in the Huffington Post, Kaine has told Clinton he now opposes the TPP, though he praised the agreement as recently as Thursday.
Source
Immigration Issues:
Tim Kaine was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Virginia's affirmative action law comes from Executive Order Number One, issued in 2006 by former Governor Tim Kaine (D). The order requires state agencies to take affirmative action with regards to the employment of women, minorities, disabled workers and older workers.
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"I am appalled by the cruelty the Trump Administration has demonstrated over the past 24 hours. By indefinitely suspending the Syrian refugee program and imposing a religious test at our borders, he has defied everything our nation stands for. He's also weakened our national security by empowering ISIL's narrative that the West is at war with Islam and encouraging Muslim countries to further cooperate with adversaries like Russia and Iran. For decades, America has acted as the Good Samaritan and extended a welcoming hand to those who yearn to be free. We should continue to thoroughly vet all refugees who enter the United States, but we cannot abandon our core principles. If we turn our backs on widows and orphans fleeing the very evil we despise, we do not defeat our enemies; we surrender to them."
Source
Received very low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. "I was thankful to have the opportunity to tour FCC Petersburg with AFGE President J. David Cox and Warden Wilson," Kaine said. "We have a tough debate ahead because President Trump wants to make drastic cuts to domestic spending. If you’re here at a correctional institution and the Administration freezes federal hiring, you’re not able to hire correctional officers, which makes it more dangerous for the workers, inmates, and surrounding community."
Source
Tim Kaine opposes the death penalty, describing his stance as a "moral position." He also represented death-row inmates as a defense lawyer, something his Republican opponent tried to use against him when Kaine ran for governor in Virginia.
Source
Rated just above average by The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Rated just above average by the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Jay Inslee
A Democrat, Inslee is the governor of Washington state.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Medical Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Rated just above average by the Taxpayers for Common Sense
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: F.
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received very low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
Rated just above average by the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Rated just above average by the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very high ratings from The National Retail Federation;
Received very high ratings from The libertarian Cato Institute - Trade Barrier Votes
Immigration Issues:
Inslee order makes Washington a 'sanctuary state'
Washington state will remain a "welcoming jurisdiction," -- despite White House promises of immigration crackdown -- per an executive order signed by Gov. Jay Inslee Thursday morning.
The order spells out that state resources won't be used to support federal immigration efforts, except where required by law.
Source
Received high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Inslee and other officials denounce immigrant ban ‘train wreck’
Gov. Jay Inslee and other elected officials held a news conference at the airport to denounce what they called a poorly coordinated, reckless and un-American policy, unveiled late Friday by Trump.
"These people couldn’t run a two-car funeral," Inslee said of the White House. "It is a train wreck. It can’t stand. We’re drawing the line here at Sea-Tac."
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Rated just above average by The Center for Security Policy;
Rated just above average by The Council for a Livable World;
Received high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he thought long and hard about imposing a moratorium on the state’s death penalty. Inslee told "Think Out Loud" host Dave Miller that the temporary halt in executions came only after an examination of the entire justice system in Washington state.
"The state could not continue to administer unequal justice with such extreme costs, with no deterrence of crime, and a very high failure rate of our prosecutions," Inslee said. "We’ve had 75 percent of our capital punishment sentences overturned."
Inslee acknowledged he used to be in favor of capital punishment. But he says it’s different as governor.
"I’m responsible for administration of justice," he said. "And what I found in the real world is that we have a very flawed system of justice in our state, which has incredibly unequal results."
Source
Received high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants;
Received high ratings from The National Criminal Justice Association
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
John Hickenlooper
A Democrat, Hickenlooper is the governor of Colorado.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
A plan to shore up Obamacare— spearheaded by Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich and Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper — would initially preserve and strengthen key elements of the Affordable Care Act and then give states flexibility to unravel some of Obamacare's coverage requirements.
Source
Employment Issues:
Gov. John Hickenlooper endorses higher minimum wage
Unions account for large share of Hickenloopers top contributors
31460419 Service Employees Local 105 $10,000.00; Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 58 $5,100.00; Service Employees International Union / SEIU $5,000.00; Colorado State Conference Of Electrical Workers $5,000.00; Colorado AFL-CIO Colorado Federation Of Teachers$2,000.00; Boulder Valley Education Association$2,000.00; Rocky Mountain District Council Of Sheet Metal Workers$2,000.00; International Association Of Sheet Metal Air Rail & Transportation Workers / SMART
Government budget Issues:
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: D.
Business Issues:
Governor Hickenlooper's goal is to create the most pro-business state government, but with the highest environmental and ethical standards. His administration has already examined more than 16,000 rules and regulations, and either eliminated or streamlined more than half of them. They have created the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) and provided Advanced Manufacturing Grants to accelerate start-ups and early stage technology businesses.
Trade policy Issues:
Hickenlooper believes Colorado stands to gain much more than it might lose under pending trade deals. And he's not happy with what he's been hearing from some of the presidential candidates.
"To be blunt, I am concerned. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be protecting jobs in Colorado, making sure the system is fair," Hickenlooper said. "But commerce between two countries, throughout history, has always, has almost always, led to improving quality of life on both sides."
Immigration Issues:
John Hickenlooper
Democratic candidate for governor John Hickenlooper defended himself last week against mounting accusations from Republicans that, as mayor, he has run Denver as a so-called sanctuary city, where illegal immigrants are directly and indirectly protected against federal immigration laws and possible deportation. It’s a charge that has gained traction in the weeks since Arizona lawmakers passed a controversial suite of immigration laws and as the move to remake federal immigration policy in Washington heats up.
"The city has never adopted any sort of ‘non-cooperation’ policy in regard to the enforcement of federal immigration laws or communications with federal officials in regard to immigration matters. Denver has and will continue to fully cooperate with and refer cases to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has always complied with state and federal immigration law," Eric Brown, spokesperson.
Source
"Let’s get the system fixed"
CBS4’s Jim Benemann talked with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Monday about President Donald Trump’s new travel ban.
Hickenlooper said he’s against it, but says Trump’s actions have drawn the spotlight to a critical issue. Hickenlooper says this is the time to — in his words — "resolve all the conflicts around immigration.
"Let’s make compromises. Let’s figure out where we can give a little; everyone gives a little, and solve the problem so we don’t have millions of people; many of the little kids living in the shadows," Hickenlooper said. "They can’t hold a job out in the open. Right now we need more and more workers. Some of them are even working right now, they’re working here illegally. If they all left, I don’t know what would happen … let’s get the system fixed."
Minority Issues:
Hickenlooper opposed Colorado Amendment 46 the "Colorado Civil Rights Initiative", a ballot measure that would have ended public affirmative action programs statewide.
Source
Hickenlooper did not voice support for any police reforms or other state action to address issues highlighted by Ferguson, as state lawmakers consider measures on the topic. He deferred to municipal leaders to work with lawmakers if they need legislation on topics such as racial profiling and special prosecutors for police shootings
Asked about the seriousness of the tensions exposed by the slayings in New York and Ferguson, Hickenlooper said "the racial issue exists all across the country."
He recalled being "staggered" as a kid when reading about the race riots and violence in the South.
"I grew up in Philadelphia, and it’s weird, when you grow up in a place and there’s no adult telling you that black people are different then you don’t even think about it," he said. "I think we’ve made tremendous progress since then, but I don’t think we’ve delivered on Dr. King’s dream yet, where everyone is going to be judged on the merit of their character."
International & Security Issues:
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is urging President Donald Trump to rescind his executive order temporarily banning refugees.
Hickenlooper said Monday the order serves as "a powerful recruiting tool" for the U.S.’ enemies because it bans nearly all citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations. He also says it needlessly antagonizes U.S. allies.
Source
Hickenlooper warned that unless states take a proactive approach to cybersecurity education and investment, leaders will find themselves susceptible to crippling attacks from hackers and organized cybercrime.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Supports prison privatization. [Colorado’s] crime rate has sunk by a third in the past decade, and since 2009, five state-run prisons have shuttered because they weren’t needed. Many more prison beds remain empty in other state facilities. Yet the state chose not to fill those beds because Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and CCA cut a deal to instead send 3,330 prisoners to CCA’s three Colorado prisons. Colorado taxpayers foot the bill for leaving those state-run prisons underused.
Source
John Hickenlooper said Sunday he has changed his mind since his first run for governor and now opposes the death penalty.
Source
Hickenlooper granted an indefinite stay of execution to Nathan Dunlap, who was facing execution for the 1993 murder of four employees at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. The decision came after victims' families asked Hickenlooper to allow the execution of Dunlap to proceed as scheduled.[21] Hickenlooper stated: "It is a legitimate question whether we as a state should be taking lives."
Governor John Hickenlooper signed HB 17-1313, a bill passed by more than three-fourths of the Colorado legislature to rein in civil asset forfeiture and ensure that property seizures in Colorado abide by due process protections in Colorado law.
Source
Poverty Issues:
Hickenlooper has campaigned for increasing homeless services since 2003. He announced a "10 Year Plan to End Homelessness" at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.
Education Issues:
Rated just above average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group.
Colorado Education Association with their $11,350.00 donation was a top contributor to his gubernatorial campaign.
Look at the need to reinvent the way we do workforce training . We have- you know, two thirds of our kids are never going to get a four-year college degree. And we really haven't been able to prepare them to involve them in the economy where, you know, the new generation of jobs require some technical capability.
COLORADO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION $11,350.00
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
On January 23, 2015, he said that "[Legal pot] was a bad idea", that other governors should wait and see what the consequences will be. As Colorado's new laws have been implemented and the results become more clear, Hickenlooper has indicated that his views have evolved, stating in May 2016 that Colorado's approach to cannabis legalization is "beginning to look like it might work".
Religious & Social Issues:
Civil unions As recently as 2006, Colorado voters had approved a measure amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. But in 2012, after some debate among his advisers, Hickenlooper used part of his state-of-the-state address to call on the House to pass a law legalizing civil unions. "We just felt that it had already been too long," he told me, noting that he’d championed the issue as mayor.
President Obama publicly announced his support for gay marriage the same day. The Governor, who previously had seemed to approach every issue as if it could be subjected to a cost-benefit analysis, teared up as he told the story of a gay friend and former employee who called him and insisted, "If not now, when?"
Hickenlooper is a Quaker. He taught math and science at a Quaker high school.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association. On March 20, 2013, Hickenlooper signed bills HB1224, HB1228 and HB1229. HB1224 created a limit of 15 rounds in magazines that could be bought, sold or transferred within the state. HB1229 requires background checks for any firearm transfer within the state, and HB1228 taxes firearm transfers to recover costs of the background checks from HB1229.
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America
Environmental Issues:
Colorado on Tuesday joined the growing number of states and cities committed to meeting or exceeding greenhouse gas reduction targets set in the international Paris climate agreement that President Donald Trump rejects.
Gov. Hickenlooper orders statewide greenhouse gas emissions cut
Gov. John Hickenlooper issued an executive order compelling a greenhouse gas emissions cut before 2025 by at least 26 percent below 2005 levels. Hickenlooper also declared Colorado will sign on to the U.S. Climate Alliance of states and companies countering the Trump administration by shifting more quickly to wind and solar energy. This move added Western heft to widening efforts to try to ease the impacts of rising temperatures.
Retirement Issues:
Hickenlooper signed a bill into law that is designed to protect seniors from financial abuse.
The governor signed House Bill 1253 on Friday in Westminster that requires people like investment advisers to report any suspected abuse to police
The new law also gives seniors the authority to delay a transaction if they think there is a financial exploitation.
Hickenlooper slammed President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, calling it a "devastating" plan that would benefit the rich at the expense of the poor.
"It really is Robin Hood in reverse — stealing from the poor (and the middle class) to give to the rich," Hickenlooper, a Democrat, said in a statement.
The $4.1 trillion spending plan, unveiled by the Republican president earlier in the day, proposes deep cuts to an array of domestic programs, including Medicaid.
Kamala Harris
A Democrat, Harris is a US senator from California.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Republicans who voted to repeal Obamacare: 'You need to lose your job'
California's junior U.S. senator told California Democrats on Saturday that they should focus on defeating Republicans in the state's congressional delegation who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "If you vote for people to lose their healthcare, then you need to lose your job."
Employment Issues:
The minimum wage must be a living wage, and families should have tools they need to compete in the workforce – from affordable childcare and early childhood education to paid family leave and truly equal pay.
Government budget Issues:
"A budget is a reflection of our nation’s values and it’s clear from this proposal, President Trump does not value government’s essential functions of public health, public safety, and public education. If you are a child, college student, or senior, live in a rural or urban area, are a worker in need of a safe workplace, or simply want to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and drive on good roads, this budget is a disaster for you and your family. We will not make our country stronger with cuts to meals and jobs programs for seniors, scientific research to cure cancer, financial assistance to students, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to make our nation safer, support for farmers, or affordable housing."
Business Issues:
Not considered business-friendly
Trade policy Issues:
Harris told the Times that she doesn’t support TPP in its current form. She added that trade agreement — which aims to deepen economic ties between 12 countries by reducing tariffs — risks "invalidating California’s landmark climate change and environmental laws" and is a threat to U.S. workers.
Immigration Issues:
Harris hopes Trump’s talk of cutting federal funds to sanctuary cities and states was just campaign hyperbole, but she is mindful of the possible scenario.
"We have to be braced for the fact that, when people say something, we have to hear them and believe them," said Harris.
Source
Kamala Harris knows that California and the nation are stronger today because of the generations of Americans who came to this country in search of a better life. She’s the daughter of immigrants and knows that embracing our diversity makes the fabric of our society stronger, our economy more innovative, and our community more inclusive.
Finally Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Congress has repeatedly refused to pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects our borders and provides a fair and just pathway to citizenship. That failure has hurt our economy, made it harder for our businesses to compete in the global marketplace, and hamstrung local and state governments’ ability to meet the needs of their communities. Worse yet, Washington’s failure has forced more than 11 million undocumented immigrants to live, work, and raise a family in the shadows of our society. That’s unconscionable.
Minority Issues:
"In a friend of the court brief submitted in the Fisher case, California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris asked the Supreme Court to "reaffirm its decision that public colleges and universities may consider race as one factor in admissions decisions." She made it clear that California wanted the option to revisit Proposition 209. There is indeed a move to repeal the measure and Fisher vs. Texas will likely add fuel to that effort."
Source
Eliminate Obstacles To Voting: Voting is fundamental to our democratic society, but participation too often has been abysmal. Kamala believes that we must make it easier for everyone to vote, stop voter suppression, and zealously protect access to the ballot box for all Americans. She’ll work to strengthen protections against discriminatory laws, modernize voter registration systems, and expand early voting so everyone has ample opportunity to vote.
Strengthen The Voting Rights Act: In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key section of the Voting Rights Act. In the Senate, Kamala will work to update and reinvigorate the vital protections of the Voting Rights Act and ensure that our fundamental rights are protected throughout the entire country.
International & Security Issues:
"Make no mistake, this is a Muslim ban," Harris said in a statement Friday. "Broad brush discrimination against refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, most of whom are women and children, runs counter to our national security interests, and will likely be used as a terrorist recruitment tool."
Source
She’s been at the forefront of addressing cyber threats and prosecuting those who try to inflict harm on individuals, businesses, and vital infrastructure. She believes we must do everything we can to protect our nation and our allies from the threats we face around the world – from terrorism to cyber-attacks to inadequately secured nuclear weapons to global climate change and health threats like Ebola.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
It boggles the mind that the governor now wants to take $730 million of the state’s precious reserves over two years to move inmates to private prisons and vacant county jail cells in order to deal with the Supreme Court order to reduce overcrowding. Harris ought to be calling him on it — especially since Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has a better plan that’s in line with her thinking and would avoid releasing hundreds of prisoners to California’s streets, a prospect Brown clearly sees as a potential public safety and political nightmare.
Source
Kamala Harris opposes the death penalty
Source
Kamala believes that we must maintain a relentless focus on reducing violence and aggressively prosecuting violent criminals. But as a career prosecutor, she has also seen firsthand the devastating effects of mass incarceration and the revolving door of recidivism. We deserve a better return on our investment. Instead of a justice system that responds to all crime as equal, we need a "smart on crime" approach – one that applies innovative, data-driven methods to make our system more efficient and effective. Being smart on crime means that we focus on the most serious and violent offenses at the top of the crime pyramid and avoid treating all offenders the same way.
Poverty Issues:
Expand Pro-Work Tax Credits: Together the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) help keep millions of families from falling into poverty and enable many parents to afford childcare, which allows them to work and provide for their families.
Education Issues:
Make Public Education More Equitable: Providing our children with a world-class education is the first rung of the ladder of opportunity and the first step to success in life. Unfortunately, too many schools lack the resources needed to meet the needs of each student, and too many children are left behind as a result. Success in school shouldn’t be decided by where students live, the color of their skin, their immigration status, or their parents’ income.
Cannabis Issues:
Kamala Harris Is Our Greatest Weed Advocate
"Let me tell you what California needs, Jeff Sessions. We need support in dealing with transnational criminal organizations and dealing with human trafficking — not going after Grandma’s medicinal marijuana."
Harris joins a bipartisan list of U.S. senators, including Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in advocating for further decriminalization of marijuana.
Harris has not come out for a specific proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, but said she is generally supportive of the idea, which she suggested is inevitable given the current climate.
Religious & Social Issues:
End Discrimination Against The LGBT Community Nationwide: America has come a long way in recognizing marriage rights for same-sex couples. But in many places across the country, it’s still legal for businesses and institutions to discriminate against members of the LGBT community. In fact, in 31 states, a person can be fired or evicted simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Kamala was proud to lead the team that helped bring down California’s Proposition 8 at the U.S. Supreme Court and to fight for marriage equality nationwide.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The California Pro-Life Council
Protect A Woman’s Right To Choose: Kamala Harris has been a champion for a woman’s right to choose and access to comprehensive reproductive health care throughout her entire career. When the U.S. Supreme Court took up important cases on women’s health, Kamala fought to require for-profit companies like Hobby Lobby to provide their employees with health insurance that covers contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act and to protect patients’ rights to access reproductive health clinics.
Environmental Issues:
As Attorney General, Kamala defended California’s landmark climate change law from challenges by the biggest polluters, like Big Oil. She continues to be a leader in fighting to improve air quality across our state and prosecuting polluters who disregard our environmental protections. She’s partnered with other attorneys general in the important effort to defend the President’s Clean Power Plan.
Retirement Issues:
"The debate in Washington around this issue is totally backwards. For millions of seniors, Social Security is the difference between getting by and living in poverty. Congress must protect and expand Social Security -- not cut benefits for seniors."
Kirsten Gillibrand
A Democrat, Gillibrand is a US senator from New York.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Rated just below average by The National Federation of Independent Business;
Rated just below average by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Received low ratings from the National Foreign Trade Council;
Rated just above average by The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Kirsten Gillibrand was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
"Diversity makes us stronger. It's wrong for Sessions and @TheJusticeDept to try to diminish this @SCOTUS decision on affirmative action."
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Gillibrand believes Trump’s travel ban targeting seven predominantly Muslim countries will not hold up to constitutional law.
"It was antithetical to those core values," Gillibrand said. "It’s antithetical to what the Statue of Liberty stands for."
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
She supports the death penalty
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Rated just above average by the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Advocates further decriminalization of marijuana.
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Rated just below average by The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Tulsi Gabbard
A Democrat, Gabbard is a US senator from Hawaii.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Rated just below average by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
"The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is a bad deal for the American people."
Source.
Immigration Issues:
Voted against H.R. 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act
Source
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Position on affirmative action unknown
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"True to our history and values as a nation, we have served as a place of refuge to the most vulnerable in the world. We should not be putting in place a blanket ban of refugees, especially when we have actively been fueling the counterproductive regime change wars that have caused them to flee their homes in the first place. These people would much rather stay in their homes and live in peace. That’s why we must address the cause of this refugee crisis and end the destructive U.S. policy of counterproductive regime-change wars, as we’ve seen most recently in Iraq, Libya, and now in Syria."
Source
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Rated just below average by The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. "I believe it is morally wrong that America’s criminal justice system allows for private corporations to make a profit off the mass incarceration of millions of people, which is why I'm calling for a nationwide ban on private prisons in this country."
Source
Tulsi Gabbard: Assad should be 'executed' if proven behind Syria chemical attack
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Rated just below average by The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Al Franken
A Democrat, Franken was a US senator from Minnesota.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from theThe Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Rated just below average by the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Rated just below average by The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Received high ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Al Franken was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
Franken: USO tour in Iraq 'very moving' "Well, this is my fourth USO tour, and I love doing the tours. This is my first time in an active theater of battle. I was in Kosovo in '99, but it was very different.
It was very moving, to see these guys who are -- and women -- who are in harm's way. And also very moving to see -- like on the first show we did in Kuwait, we sang "God Bless America" every night at the end of the show. And looking at the guys in the front row, I saw there was a black soldier with his arm linked with a white soldier, with a woman, and going back and -- and swaying back and forth, and really, this was America to me. And thinking that, you know, the military can really teach a lot of college campuses a lot about affirmative action." -- Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Source
Senators call on Attorney General Sessions to answer for anti-affirmative action program.
The Senators [including Al Franken] also note that the Trump administration has begun soliciting resumes from career Civil Rights Division attorneys for a new effort to sue universities and colleges over affirmative action policies the administration deems to discriminate against white college applicants. The letter includes a series of questions about the proposed anti-affirmative action program, including why it would be managed out of the Division’s front office – manned with Trump political appointees – rather than by its Educational Opportunities Section.
Source
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"This new executive order is more of the same discrimination and fear-mongering from the Trump Administration: the order bans people from entering our country based solely on their refugee status or where they come from, goes against who we are as a nation, and actually makes us less safe," Sen. Franken said. "I strongly opposed President Trump's previous travel ban because it was poorly thought out, poorly executed, and above all, it hurt Minnesota families. Make no mistake, it remains discriminatory, short-sighted, and completely unacceptable. I'm going to continue to fight for Minnesota families because this executive order is not who we are as Americans."
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
We’ve been too long in learning the lesson of Illinois: there should be a moratorium on the death penalty until the tools to determine guilt and innocence based on sound, rigorous science are in widespread use.
And if that does not happen, we should consider abolishing the death penalty altogether.
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Rated just above average by the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Rated just below average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
Received just below average ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Rated just above average by The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Keith Ellison
A Democrat, Ellison is a US representative from Minnesota.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Taxpayers League of Minnesota;
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just below average by the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Rated just above average by the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Voted against H.R. 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act
Source
Received very high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Rated just below average by the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
"I hope that as long as we have people systemically burdened by America’s legacy of racial discrimination, we will continue to use Affirmative Action to make sure America’s workforce looks like America. What will the Supreme Court do? I think [it] will look for ever greater amounts of proof that the entity asked to engage in Affirmative Action has a specific legacy of discrimination. It’s going to be a tougher and tougher case to make."
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Keith Ellison, deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the first Muslim elected to Congress, said that President Donald Trump is "OK" with Muslims, as long as they’re rich and aren’t among the millions fleeing conflict globally.
In an appearance on MSNBC Monday, Ellison criticized the Supreme Court decision to reinstate part of Trump’s travel ban, temporarily halting people from six Muslim-majority countries—Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—entering the U.S. unless they have a "bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States." It will also reinstate the 120-day ban on refugee claimants.
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. "Today’s announcement by the Department of Justice that it will end the use of private prisons will allow us to once again prioritize justice, which should be the sole incentive when taking away someone’s freedom. Never profit. When these private prison corporations began spending millions of dollars lobbying the government for harsher sentencing and immigration laws, our country saw a sharp increase in its prison population – essentially turning millions of people into commodities. "
Source
I never supported the death penalty. Bad business for government to be in. Any type of lethal injection is cruel and unusual #SCOTUS
Source
Received high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action;
Received very high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Andrew Cuomo
A Democrat, Cuomo is the governor of New York.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Cuomo issued an executive order establishing a New York health insurance exchange after state senate Republicans refused to do so.
Employment Issues:
AFL-CIO rating: high. Today, the 2 ½ million member New York State AFL-CIO endorsed the candidacy of Andrew Cuomo for Governor of New York State. President Denis Hughes praised the Attorney General's record of fighting for the middle class against monied interests. Source.
Cuomo proposed in his 2013 State of the State that New York raise its minimum wage to $8.75 per hour. Source. March 2013: Supports $9 minimum wage.
The state minimum wage is current $7.25, which Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic members of the legislature have argued has not kept up with the rising cost of living. The new plan would result in an eventual raise of $9 by the start of 2016. Source
Government budget Issues:
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: B.
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
US Chamber of Commerce rating: low.
Trade policy Issues:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also striking a populist tone on one major trade deal in particular: The Trans Pacific Trade Partnership, a deal aimed at opening up the Asian market which was forged by President Obama.
"When they tell you now we're going to pass TPP, what they're saying is they don't understand the damage they've done in the first place and now they want to redo it and extend it with TPP," said Cuomo, D-New York.
Source.
Immigration Issues:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the leader of the state Senate are not as enthusiastic about making New York a sanctuary state as are Assembly Democrats, who passed a bill earlier this week.
Cuomo, who has spoken out strongly for immigrants and against President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, is not committing right now to support a bill to designate New York as a sanctuary state for immigrants.
Source
Dream Act: Cuomo is still considering the idea, but is reportedly close to embracing offering in-state tuition to upstanding undocumented New York students. Source.
Minority Issues:
"Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced bold actions to increase the number of minorities in the State government workforce, including advancing legislation to accelerate the hiring of highly-qualified diverse candidates and expanding access to Civil Service exam preparation and tests."
Source
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he and "New Yorkers reject the hateful and ugly rhetoric and violence taking place in Charlottesville." He continued: "We condemn the language of white supremacy and ugly racist hate speech and stand appalled at the violence that has resulted in injury and death. Driver Charged With Murder in Deadly Va. Car Attack "There are not many sides to the violence of last night and today - these actions and this speech are a poison and serve to bring us all down to the lowest and most un-American of moments."
International & Security Issues:
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s travel ban was "the exact opposite of what I believe."
"As New Yorkers who live in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, we welcome new immigrants as a source of energy and celebrate them as a source of revitalization for our state," Cuomo said in a statement. "We will ensure New York remains a beacon of hope and opportunity and will work to protect the rights of those seeking refuge in our state."
Source
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the first-in-the-nation cybersecurity regulation to protect New York’s financial services industry and consumers from the ever-growing threat of cyber-attacks will take effect on March 1, 2017. The final regulation requires banks, insurance companies, and other financial services institutions regulated by the Department of Financial Services to establish and maintain a cybersecurity program designed to protect consumers’ private data and ensure the safety and soundness of New York’s financial services industry.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons.
New York does not allow private prisons.
"I am against the death penalty" Source
Poverty Issues:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced nearly $21.6 million has been awarded for eight supportive housing projects that will create a total of 265 units for homeless New Yorkers. The awards, made through the New York State's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, will fund supportive housing projects in Suffolk and Oneida counties for homeless veterans and their families, as well as ones in New York City, Erie, Nassau and Oneida Counties for homeless individuals and families. All eight projects are part of Governor Cuomo's historic $10 billion commitment to building affordable housing and combating homelessness. "New York has put forth a comprehensive plan that takes decisive actions to end our homelessness crisis and this funding is a key component of that strategy," Governor Cuomo said.
Education Issues:
Rated just below average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cuomo vetoed a bill in 2011 that would have given school vouchers to special education students. Source.
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just below average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Marijuana: Andrew Cuomo is asking state legislators to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana that are in public view. Saying the aim was to avoid unnecessary misdemeanor charges against thousands of New Yorkers--"disproportionately black and Hispanic youth," according to a statement from the governor's office--the legislation "brings consistency and fairness" to New York's marijuana laws. "There is a blatant inconsistency. If you possess marijuana privately it is a violation, if you show it in public it's a crime. It's incongruous. It's inconsistent the way it has been enforced," Cuomo told reporters at a press conference in Albany on Monday. Source: CNN.com "Decriminalize Possession" , Jun 4, 2012 Source.
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency
As a result of Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York passed the Marriage Equality Act making our state the largest and most influential state in the nation to extend full marriage equality to all its citizens. Source.
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
NRA - F Following the December 14, 2012 school shooting in Newton, Connecticut, Gov. Cuomo sought to make gun control a major issue in 2013. To that end, one of the first things the Legislature did in its 2013 session was to pass a tougher assault weapons ban that includes restrictions on ammunition and the sale of guns, as well as provisions to keep guns from the mentally ill who make threats. New York was the first state to pass new laws after the tragedy. Source.
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America
Pro-choice NARAL Pro-Choice New York today announced its support for Andrew Cuomo's candidacy for Governor of the State of New York. NARAL Pro-Choice New York President Kelli Conlin was joined by dozens of women in support of Andrew Cuomo to praise his record and commitment to issues of particular importance to women including protecting a woman's right to choose and support of the Reproductive Health Act. Source.
Environmental Issues:
Rated just below average by The American Land Rights Association
Endorsed for governor by the New York League of Conservation Voters Source.
Cuomo's New York, along with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, continues to work to cap and reduce CO2 emissions in the power sector. Source.
Nuclear Energy: New York is home to some of the greatest natural resources in the world. We need to protect our environment to make sure that we leave our State clean and inhabitable for generations to come. As Governor, Andrew Cuomo will continue to be an environmental champion, by pushing to find alternative sources of energy generation to replace Indian Point nuclear facility because it is too dangerous to continue operating. Source: 20%.10 gubernatorial campaign website, andrewcuomo.com , Nov 1, 2010 Source.
Retirement Issues:
AARP: Governor Cuomo Aims to Make NY First Age-Friendly State in Nation "As an initial order of business, the Governor will charge the Health Across All Policies effort with implementing actions to make New York the first Age-Friendly state in accord with the eight Age-Friendly/Livable Community Domains outlined by the World Health organization (WHO) and AARP," according to the State of the State message.
Hillary Clinton
A Democrat, Clinton is a former secretary of state.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Medical Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families, (anti-union, minimum wage, etc.);
Received very low ratings from The Competitive Enterprise Institute
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO
Received very high ratings from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Received very high ratings from The Service Employees International Union
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union
Received very low ratings from The National Tax Limitation Committee;
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Rated just below average by The United States Chamber of Commerce
Rated just above average by The National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
She’s case-by-case on trade," Gene Sperling, former director of the National Economic Council. Source.
Rated just above average by The National Foreign Trade Council
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Received high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform
Received low ratings from Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
"Hillary Clinton believes that sanctuary cities can help further public safety, and she has defended those policies going back years," said Xochitl Hinojosa, a campaign spokeswoman, in a statement made public Thursday. "As she made clear, this particular individual should not have been on the streets...She believes that we need a system where people like this don’t fall through the cracks and that is why she continues to fight for comprehensive immigration reform."
Source
Minority Issues:
"I think we've got to have affirmative action generally to try to give more opportunities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds -- whoever they are. That's why I'm a strong supporter of early childhood education and universal pre-kindergarten."
-- Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate Between Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
Source
Following today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the University of Texas’ admissions policies, Hillary Clinton issued the following statement:
"The Supreme Court’s decision today in Fisher v. University of Texas is a win for all Americans. It means that universities can continue to make diversity and inclusion central goals of their admissions processes, and means our college campuses will continue to be places where young adults of all backgrounds can learn from each other.
"Having a student body with diverse experiences and perspectives breaks down barriers, enriches academia, and prepares our young people to be leaders and citizens in our increasingly diverse country. We need to guarantee that the doors to higher education are open not just to some, but to all—and that we are giving students equal opportunities to succeed and thrive. Today’s Supreme Court decision affirms a basic truth about our country: we are stronger together."
Source
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Hillary Clinton mocks Donald Trump over his '3-0' travel ban defeat
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation
Rated just above average by The Center for Security Policy
Rated just above average by The Council for a Livable World
Received high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. "I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system," she said. "I want to see them ended in the state system. You shouldn't have a profit motivation to fill prison cells with young Americans."
Source
"I think there are certain egregious cases that still deserve the consideration of the death penalty, but I’d like to see those be very limited and rare." OCT. 28
Mrs. Clinton has said that the death penalty has been applied too frequently and often in a discriminatory way, but she does not favor its abolition.
Source
Received high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants
Received high ratings from The National Criminal Justice Association
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group protesting the words "In God We Trust" printed on our currency
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners of America
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation
Received low ratings from The American Land Rights Association
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Steve Bullock
A Democrat, Bullock is the governor of Montana.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
He expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, cutting the rate of the state’s uninsured by over half, implemented stricter campaign finance laws and made Montana one of the few states to increase support for higher education.
Source.
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
In 2006, Steve Bullock, who at that time was a private citizen, sat down with labor leaders to devise a plan to raise Montana’s minimum wage. They chose a ballot initiative (I-151) as their vehicle. The Montana Labor Movement agreed to support and resource the effort.
In fact, the successful passage of I-151 in 2006 owes much of its success to the Montana AFL-CIO and MEA-MFT. Source.
His top 13 political campaign contributors include five labor unions.
Source.
Government budget Issues:
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Overall Fiscal Policy Score (Gubernatorial)
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Spending Score (Gubernatorial)
Rated just below average by The Cato Institute - Tax Rate Score (Gubernatorial)
Business Issues:
Mr. Bullock, is an unapologetic, business-friendly pragmatists with a focus on economic development that borders on obsessive.
Source.
Rated just above average by the Montana Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
"Montana’s economy is strong and growing and Montana products and services are in demand all across the globe," said Governor Steve Bullock. "These new funds will increase opportunities for Main Street businesses all across the state to compete in a global economy and move more Montana goods to international markets that demand our quality products."
Source.
Immigration Issues:
Vetoed a bill a bill that would have prevented Montana from allowing sanctuary cities.
Source
Minority Issues:
[Bullock] defended racial preferences for university admissions, essentially reintroducing discussion of color and race in determining a person’s worth.
At the debate, Bullock said, "I did join a friend of the court brief saying, you know what, universities can, actually, use racial preferences. In Montana, 10 percent of the kids coming out of our high schools are American Indian. The (Montana University System) Board of Regents, for years, has had (a policy saying), ‘Let’s provide those opportunities and provide a way to have a diverse student body.’"
Source
International & Security Issues:
"Montana will not allow any terrorist organization to intimidate us into abandoning our values. The safety of Montanans is my top priority. No Syrian refugees have been settled in the state and we have had no formal requests to do so.
"Montana has a process in place for considering refugee settlement requests; we are reviewing those protocols to ensure that if a request comes, we take all appropriate steps to ensure that the safety of Montanans will not be jeopardized by their placement. If there are safety concerns about any refugees that are requesting settlement, they will be denied."
Source.
Position on travel ban unknown.
Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed a bill that would have banned Shariah and other foreign laws from being used in Montana courts, saying Thursday that the measure would "upend our legal system and debase what we stand for as Montanans and Americans."
Source
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
On the death penalty, six Republican candidates and Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock support it.
Source
Poverty Issues:
Gov. Steve Bullock told attendees Wednesday at a summit aimed at helping homeless youths in Montana that they had a huge task ahead of them: Not only were they to help children who are among the most vulnerable people in society, but they also had a mission to help children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
Bullock was among the speakers at the Montana Youth Homelessness Summit sponsored by the Pride Foundation, the Poverello Center and Empower MT. The event at the Great Northern Best Western Hotel, attended by 40 educators and a network of community-based providers, was to look at youth homelessness in the state and had a special focus on LGBTQ youths.
Source.
Education Issues:
"We can talk free college for all all we want, but there’s a whole lot of people that can get a darn good job, like in Montana, out of an apprenticeship," Mr. Bullock said, citing programs he has supported as governor. "Sixty-thousand-dollar average salary, and they’re making money while they’re getting there."
Source.
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform (Governors)
Top political campaign contributors include the American Federation of Teachers and The National Education Association.
Source.
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just above average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Gov. Steve Bullock recently became the first governor in Montana history to officiate a same-sex marriage. Source.
Second Amendment Issues:
Rated just below average by The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America
Environmental Issues:
Montana's governor says President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement is "short-sighted and dangerous." Source.
Retirement Issues:
Bullock on Social Security: It Is a Promise I Will Fight to Keep Source.
Sherrod Brown
A Democrat, Brown is a US senator from Ohio.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Medical Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received very low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Received very low ratings from the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Received very low ratings from the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation;
Rated just below average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Trade Barrier Votes
Immigration Issues:
Sherrod Brown was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Received high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Immigration Control;
Received very low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform
Minority Issues:
He supports affirmative action and has repeatedly received a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign, an pro-LGBT activist group.
Source
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown says Trump created a humanitarian crisis.
"[The travel ban] made us less safe because it just gives more propaganda to the people who want to do us harm," he said.
"It seems to me that the person most loudly whispering in the president’s ear is a white nationalist, Steven Bannon, and he has now been put on the security council in an unprecedented kind of move. It concerns me that he has already found a way to have more power in this administration as a white nationalist, a man who has played to racism, has played to anti-semitism. It’s clear that he is all of those things, and he has been elevated in this White House to more, it seems, than an advisory role," Brown said.
Source
Rated just below average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received very high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Some Democrats who have previously received campaign donations from the private prison industry now express concerns.
"We have this whole industrial complex of harsh sentencing, too many nonviolent offenders in prison," said Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, home to two private detention facilities.
Brown received $1,000 in 2012 and $2,500 in the 2014 cycle from CCA’s PAC. His leadership PAC, America Works, got $5,000 in 2014 and $2,500 in the 2016 cycle.
Source
Sherrod Brown voted for an amendment that would apply the death penalty to terrorists. [CQ; Vote 514, 10/8/04]
Source
Received very high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants;
Received high ratings from The National Criminal Justice Association
Poverty Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received very low ratings from The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group;
Rated just below average by The Home School Legal Defense Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received low ratings from The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
Rated just below average by the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Rated just below average by the Gun Owners of America;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very low ratings from The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans;
Received very high ratings from The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Jerry Brown
A Democrat, Brown is the governor of California.
When someone in the crowd yelled "president," Brown responded, "But I’d be 82 then," then paused before saying, "Don’t rule it out."
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Gov. Jerry Brown urges Republican 'penance' for healthcare vote
And this time, the man who once trained to be a Jesuit priest singled out the state’s Republican members of the House for their unanimous vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act — a move that alone would result in California losing $18.6 billion in federal funds a decade from now.
"They weren’t sent to Congress just to take orders from that crowd, or from Donald Trump," Brown said. "I think they made a mistake, and they’re going to have to do penance for it."
Employment Issues:
California, the sixth-largest economy in the world, continues to advance its nation-leading climate goals while also growing its economy faster than the rest of the United States. In the past seven years, California has created more than 2.5 million new jobs, cut its unemployment rate in half, eliminated a $27 billion budget deficit and boosted its credit rating to the highest level in more than a decade.
Government budget Issues:
Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2016 grade: F.
Rated just above average by The libertarian Cato Institute - Taxes
Business Issues:
Orange County Business Council:
OCBC applauds Governor Brown’s leadership. To get California moving again requires financial sacrifices and a growing economy for more revenue to help all ships rise with the tide – it requires structural reforms and investment in California’s future. Needed now more than ever is a bipartisan approach toward a more business-friendly climate – where business has the confidence to grow and hire. Governor Brown understands the complexity of the challenges facing California, and California needs leaders who won’t just kick the can down the road, but who tackle these issues head-on. This Governor is doing just that.
OCBC supports the Governor’s plans for government employee pension reform and agrees it is a critical step towards restoring public trust in government while addressing the state’s long-term fiscal stability. Further, business growth and regulatory relief has never been more fundamental to turning around California’s economy.
Trade policy Issues:
Brown, who opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement during his 1992 campaign, later called it the "principal foundation" of expanding California-Mexico trade. But he has declined to provide an updated assessment of the pact.
Nor has Brown stated a position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, a deal infuriating to many Sanders supporters.
"I’m not articulating my position on that," he said, "out of deference to the president."
Immigration Issues:
California governor endorses potential 'sanctuary cities' lawsuit
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday endorsed the idea of his state taking the Trump administration to federal court over its threat to pull law enforcement funding unless cities agree to cooperate with a federal call for stricter immigration enforcement.
Source
The governor said people in the country illegally who have committed crimes "have no business in the United States," but said he wants to help others who have contributed to California.
"We want to be very understanding of people who have come to our state, have worked in our economy, often for decades, picking our food, working in our restaurants, working in high-tech industries, the whole range of what constitutes the life of California has been contributed to by many of these immigrants that are not documented," he said.
Minority Issues:
Brown has long defended affirmative action policies, including during his time as attorney general.
"I do think that because of where we are in the gaps between the races, I think we need some degree of affirmative action," he said.
Source
Brown signs legislation to protect minorities from racial profiling and excessive force
In the wake of national public anger over killings by police in New York, Ferguson, Mo., and elsewhere, landmark California legislation to protect minorities from racial profiling and excessive force won Gov. Jerry Brown's signature Saturday.
At the same time, the governor issued a blunt warning against the proliferation of laws criminalizing behavior as he rejected a trio of proposals intended to bar the misuse of unmanned drones.
International & Security Issues:
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has also rebuked Trump’s policies, warning the new president that California "is not turning back. Not now, not ever."
Source
In an effort to protect and expand the military’s vital role in national security and California’s economy, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today established the Governor’s Military Council and appointed former Congresswoman and Under Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher as chair.
"California plays a crucial role in our nation’s defense, and military bases and activities are vital to our state’s economy," said Governor Brown. "As federal priorities shift to cyber security and new military technology, this Council will work to expand defense-industry jobs and investment in California."
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Supports prison privatization.
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown plans to increase California's use of private prison cells and leases with local jails even if federal judges agree to give the state more time to meet crowding limits within its own lockups, his budget documents show.
Source
private prison operator is on list of maxed-out Brown contributors
Source
The outcome means California may resume executions during Brown’s final two years as governor, potentially challenging the legacy of the former Jesuit seminarian who was once so morally opposed to capital punishment that he protested outside the gates of death row.
Source
California crime rate
The data show that from 2010 through 2015, the most recent year from which Moorlach likely drew his conclusions, California’s overall crime rate declined slightly from 3,069 crimes per 100,000 population to 3,047 crimes per 100,000
Gov. Jerry Brown said Thursday that criminal gangs "too often run" California prisons or hold undue influence over them, as he scrambles to qualify a ballot measure to make certain prisoners eligible for early parole.
Brown, addressing an annual gathering of crime victims and their families at the Capitol, said many criminals "develop even worse habits" once they are incarcerated in state prisons.
"So we have to make sure that our prisons can be in a very important way transformative, so that people learn to respect the law and not just respect the gangs, which too often run the place or have undue influence," Brown said. "I don’t like to say that, but it happens to be true."
Poverty Issues:
California continues to have – by far – the nation’s highest level of poverty under an alternative method devised by the Census Bureau that takes into account both broader measures of income and the cost of living.
Under the traditional method of gauging poverty, adopted a half-century ago, California’s rate is 16 percent (6.1 million residents), somewhat above the national rate of 14.9 percent but by no means the highest. That dubious honor goes to New Mexico at 21.5 percent.
He cited the Jan. 1 minimum wage hike to $10 an hour, a new earned income tax credit for the extremely poor, an expansion of paid sick leave and new health care coverage for undocumented children.
But in his budget proposal this year, Brown pushed back against two ballot measures that would raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour, saying they would cost the state as much as $4 billion a year by 2021 and return the state budget to annual deficits.
Education Issues:
NEA’s Greatest Governor Award Goes to California
Gov. Jerry Brown: "Nothing is more determinative of our future than how we teach our children"
Rated just below average by The Center for Education Reform: pro-charter school group
Cannabis Issues:
The proposal drew swift reactions from the marijuana industry.
The California Cannabis Industry Association, United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council and the California Cannabis Manufacturers Association applauded Brown for upholding the will of voters.
Rated just below average by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Religious & Social Issues:
California Gov. Jerry Brown today signed three major pro-LGBT bills into law today.
Second Amendment Issues:
Brown signed bills banning the sale of semi-automatic rifles with magazines that can quickly be detached by pressing a button, as well as banning possession of high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds.
He also signed legislation subjecting people who buy ammunition to a background check.
Rated just below average by The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The California Pro-Life Council
Environmental Issues:
As President Trump retreats from the nation's previous path on environmental policy, Brown has the distinction of being America's unofficial ambassador on climate change.
"Trump is going against science. He's going against reality," Brown said in an interview with The Times on Wednesday. "We can't stand by and give aid and comfort to that. We have to do what's right."
Received very high ratings from The California League of Conservation Voter
Retirement Issues:
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed sweeping bipartisan pension reform legislation that saves billions of taxpayer dollars by capping benefits, increasing the retirement age, stopping abusive practices and requiring state employees to pay at least half of their pension costs.
"This is the biggest rollback to public pension benefits in the history of California pensions," said Governor Brown. "We’re lowering benefits to what they were before I was Governor the first time and reducing costs by up to $55 billion in PERS and billions more in other local pension systems. Under the new rules, employers and employees alike are going to contribute their fair share of the costs, resulting in a more sustainable system."
Cory Booker
A Democrat, Booker is a US senator from New Jersey.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee
Business Issues:
Received low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Rated just above average by The National Federation of Independent Business;
Rated just below average by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Rated just above average by the United States Chamber of Commerce
Trade policy Issues:
Voted "nay" H.R. 1314: Trade Act of 2015, which included Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as well as Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Received low ratings from the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received high ratings from The National Retail Federation
Immigration Issues:
Cory Booker was among Senate Democrats who blocked legislation that would punish "sanctuary cities" in a 54-45 vote.
Source
Rated just above average by the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Rated just above average by The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Rated just below average by the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
When asked if affirmative action in university admissions should be based on class or race or banned completely, Booker said both race and class should be considered and cited the 2003 US Supreme Court ruling, Grutter v. Bollinger.
Source
Received high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
"Each cruel iteration of President Trump’s Muslim travel ban has been at odds with America’s most fundamental values and ideals, a repudiation of the idea that America is a land of refuge and hope for the persecuted and oppressed. Excluding immigrants on the basis of religion or national origin is un-American and doesn’t make us any safer."
Source
Rated just above average by The American Security Council Foundation;
Received low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received high ratings from The Council for a Livable World
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Opposes private prisons. With other senators was a signatory of a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. The senators stated that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison companies in immigration detention" and raise alarm about the lack of transparency in detention contracts, which has too often led to poor conditions and exorbitant costs to the taxpayers.
Source
"Sorry, I'm against death penalty..."
Source
Received very high ratings from The National Association of Police Organizations: legislative priorities
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association
Cannabis Issues:
Received high ratings from The Marijuana Policy Project
Advocates further decriminalization of marijuana.
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received very low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Rated just above average by The American Land Rights Association;
Received very high ratings from The Clean Water Action
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans
Healthcare Issues:
In 2004, Bloomberg said, "We've got a health care system that's not only breaking the bank, and not only leaving one out of six Americans uninsured, but which also provides decidedly ineffective care". "We have the most expensive and most advanced health care system in the world, yet we lag on such basic measures as life expectancy, and we fail to prevent death and disability for millions of Americans with common conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes."
The Mayor told conference participants that universal health insurance alone won't automatically lead to the health improvements unless we start paying for prevention as well as treatment, saying that, "We're paying for a disease care system, not a health care system. We must fundamentally reorder our priorities –and start rewarding the primary and preventive care that keeps people out of hospitals in the first place."
Source
Employment Issues:
Bloomberg, who is a highly successful businessman, garnered strong support from labor unions in re-election bid for mayor.
Source Despite often tense relations with teachers' unions, he negotiated an average raise of 15% for teachers in exchange for givebacks and productivity increases.
Source: Wikipedia.org entry, "Michael_Bloomberg" May 2, 2007
Government budget Issues:
He raised property taxes to help solve a fiscal crisis after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Source
Trade policy Issues:
Favors free trade.
Source
Immigration Issues:
"In an editorial for The Wall Street Journal and two nationally televised interviews, the mayor reiterated his long-standing belief that the 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States should be given the opportunity for citizenship, saying that deporting them is impossible and would devastate the economy."
Source
Minority Issues:
International & Security Issues:
Crime & Punishment Issues:
"Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg reiterated his opposition to capital punishment yesterday, after Staten Island prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing two police officers."
Source
Poverty Issues:
Education Issues:
Cannabis Issues:
"You bet I did. And I enjoyed it," said then Mayoral candidate Bloomberg just before the elections last year when a New York magazine reporter asked about his pot use. However, he enforced NYC's drug laws and has not advocated decriminalization of marijuana.
Source
Religious & Social Issues:
Second Amendment Issues:
He favors gun control.
Source
Abortion Issues:
He is pro-choice.
Source
Environmental Issues:
"On 23 May 2007 he announced that by 2012 all of the city's Yellow Cabs will be hybrid cars." Source
"'Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Doctoroff today announced GreeNYC, an integrated marketing and advertising campaign that is the consumer education component of PlaNYC. The initiative, consisting of television, radio, print, online and outdoor advertisements supported by Bank of America, is designed to educate, engage and mobilize all New Yorkers on the simple steps they can take to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, and to create a greener, greater New York City."
Source
Retirement Issues:
Among problems Bloomberg says Washington is ducking is Social Security. "What would Bloomberg do as President? If the New York experience teaches anything, he will attack problems by spending more money and raising taxes. He has argued that he is really a conservative because he believes people want services and that to give them, you have to pay for them..."
Source
Joe Biden
A Democrat, Biden is a former vice president of the United States.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Academy of Family Physicians;
Received very high ratings from the American Nurses Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Medical Association;
Received very high ratings from the American Public Health Association
Employment Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Campaign for Working Families (opposes minimum wage and unions);
Received very low ratings from the Competitive Enterprise Institute;
Received very high ratings from the AFL-CIO;
Received very high ratings from the AFSCME;
Received very high ratings from the SEIU
Government budget Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste;
Received low ratings from the National Taxpayers Union;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Tax Reform ;
Received very low ratings from the National Tax Limitation Committee;
Received high ratings from the Taxpayers for Common Sense
Business Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Business-Industry Political Action Committee;
Received low ratings from The National Federation of Independent Business;
Received very low ratings from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council;
Received low ratings from the United States Chamber of Commerce;
Received very low ratings from the National Retail Federation
Trade policy Issues:
Received very low ratings from the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Received very low ratings from the National Foreign Trade Council;
Received very low ratings from The National Retail Federation;
Received low ratings from The libertarian Cato Institute - Trade Barrier Votes
Immigration Issues:
Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
Source
Received high ratings from the American Immigration Lawyers Association;
Received very low ratings from the Americans for Immigration Control;
Received low ratings from The Federation for American Immigration Reform;
Received very high ratings from The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda;
Received low ratings from the Numbers USA which seeks to reduce both legal and illegal immigration
Minority Issues:
"Yes, [affirmative action] should be used, and the reason I say that is unless we’re going to eliminate it all-all incentives-like, for example, in the case in Michigan everybody is talking about now. You know you get four points if you’re a legacy... I mean how many people would get into Harvard, Yale, and the rest of these places if their father had not gone?" Hardball College Tour.
Source
Received very high ratings from The Drum Major Institute: founded by Martin Luther King;
Received very high ratings from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
International & Security Issues:
Trump's proposed plan to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., Biden said, calls into question the U.S.'s standing as the "greatest democracy in the history of the world."
"Alienating 1.5 billion Muslims--the vast, vast majority of whom, at home and abroad, are peace-loving--will only make the problem worse. It plays into the narrative of extremists," Biden said.
Source
Received low ratings from The American Security Council Foundation;
Received low ratings from The Center for Security Policy;
Received very high ratings from The Council for a Livable World;
Received high ratings from the Voices for Creative Nonviolence - Iraq-Afghanistan
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Position on prison privatization not found.
"As the author of two major federal crime laws that extend the availability of the death penalty to sixty additional crimes, I support capital punishment as a crime-fighting technique. But we must implement the death penalty in a way that is consistent with our values as Americans. Just as we would not execute a 12-year-old, I have long argued that we should not execute a mentally retarded person whose mental capacity might be far more limited."
Source
Received very high ratings from the Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants;
Received high ratings from The National Criminal Justice Association
Poverty Issues:
Received high ratings from the Results.org;
Received very high ratings from The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law;
Received very high ratings from the Bread for the World
Education Issues:
Received very high ratings from The National Education Association;
Received very low ratings from The Home School Legal Defense Association
Cannabis Issues:
Rated just below average by the Marijuana Policy Project
Religious & Social Issues:
Received high ratings from the BillStamp.com, a secular group opposing the words "In God We Trust" on our currency;
Received very low ratings from The Christian Coalition of America
Second Amendment Issues:
Received high ratings from The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners' Action League;
Received low ratings from the Gun Owners of America;
Received low ratings from The National Rifle Association
Abortion Issues:
Received very high ratings from the Planned Parenthood;
Received very high ratings from the NARAL Pro-Choice America;
Received very low ratings from The Campaign for Working Families;
Received very low ratings from The National Right to Life Committee
Environmental Issues:
Received very high ratings from The League of Conservation;
Received very high ratings from The Climate Hawks;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Action Fund;
Received very high ratings from The National Parks Conservation Association
Retirement Issues:
Received very high ratings from The Alliance for Retired Americans;
Received very high ratings from The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
The Koch Brothers*
*The billionaire Koch Brothers are not potential candidates in 2020, neither together nor individually. Both brothers will be octogenarians in 2020. However, they have the potential to have an outsized influence on the next presidential election. They are libertarians and describe themselves as being socially liberal and fiscally conservative.
The Cato Institute is an American libertarian think tank which was founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974 by Charles Koch and others. David Koch was the 1980 Libertarian vice-presidential candidate.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Koch Brothers critical of U.S. Senate healthcare bill, says it doesn't go far enough to dismantle Obamacare "We have been disappointed that movement has not been more dramatic toward a full repeal," said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, a grassroots advocacy group backed by Charles Koch and his brother, David. Source
"We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs." -- From the 1980 Libertarian Party platform. David Koch was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate then. Source
Employment Issues:
The Koch Brothers are opposed to labor unions. Source
Charles Koch: "What we’re saying is, we need to analyze all these additional policies, these subsidies, this cronyism, this avalanche of regulations, all these things that are creating a culture of dependency. And like permitting, to start a business, in many cities, to drive a taxicab, to become a hairdresser. Anything that people with limited capital can do to raise themselves up, they keep throwing obstacles in their way. And so we’ve got to clear those out. Or the minimum wage. Or anything that reduces the mobility of labor." Source
Government budget Issues:
"What I want these candidates to do is to support a balanced budget," Koch said. "I'm really focused intensely on economic and fiscal issues, because if those go bad the country as a whole suffers terribly."
Source
"I think it’s essential to be able to achieve spending reductions and maybe it’s going to require some tax increases," he said. "We got to come close to balancing the budget; otherwise, we’re in a terrible deep problem."
Business Issues:
The Koch Brothers are ideological allies of the US Chamber of Commerce. Source
Trade policy Issues:
Source Koch Industries Spent Up To $40 Million Lobbying On Pacific Trade Deal
Immigration Issues:
The political network of libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch is poised to back a bill protecting young undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Spokespeople for the Koch network confirmed to The Daily Beast that it will press Congress for a legislative fix to the recently rescinded Obama-era program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, that shielded undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children.
Source
Minority Issues:
Their position on affirmative action and minority issues. unknown, although these long-time Libertarians are unlikely to favor affirmative action. They do share at least one position with the Black Lives Matter movement: they think too many people are incarcerated. (See Crime & Punishment Issues, below)
International & Security Issues:
The Koch Brothers Oppose President Trump's Immigration Ban Source
Koch said he thinks the U.S. military should withdraw from the Middle East and said the government should consider defense spending cuts, as well as possible tax increases to get its fiscal house in order — a stance anathema to many in the Republican Party.
Crime & Punishment Issues:
The Koch Brothers have spoken out against mass incarceration. "Overcriminalization has led to the mass incarceration of those ensnared by our criminal justice system, even though such imprisonment does not always enhance public safety." Source
Charles is the brother with the passion for this subject, and Mark V. Holden, senior vice president and general counsel of Koch Industries Inc., is the man who speaks for him.
Mark V. Holden: The fundamental problem with our current criminal justice system is that it is a two-tier system. The wealthy and connected experience dramatically better treatment than the poor, and guilt and innocence are often irrelevant. That is immoral, constitutionally dubious, and fiscally ruinous. We spend more than $250 billion per year on our entire criminal justice system, including over $80 billion a year on incarceration, which is three to four times more than we spend per capita on public primary and secondary education.
MVH: I have my own personal views on the issue, but Koch has not and does not plan to take a public position on the issue. It is a complicated and emotional issue, with each side of the debate making powerful points in favor of their positions. As you know, the Supreme Court has ruled that the death penalty is not a per se violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, but it does govern when and how it can be utilized. Given the number of documented imperfections in our justice system that have become more and more apparent over the past few years (including the vast number of individuals who have been wrongfully convicted who were actually innocent), it should go without saying that any use of the death penalty in those jurisdictions that permit it must be done with excruciating care and deliberation.
Source
The Libertarian Koch Brothers are not opposed to private prisons.
The Charles Koch Institute, founded by its conservative billionaire namesake, considers the restrictions (on providing police departments with surplus military vehicles and gear) under Obama’s executive order "a decent start," said William Ruger, vice president of policy and research.
"We don’t want local police departments to be incentivized to get the types of equipment that in most cases are a better fit for the war zone," he said.
Source This is counter to the position of the National Association of Police Organizations.
Poverty Issues:
The political operation created by the billionaire conservative mega-donors Charles and David Koch is quietly investing millions of dollars in programs to win over an unlikely demographic target for their brand of small-government conservatism -- poor people. Source
Education Issues:
"We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws." -- From the 1980 Libertarian Party platform. David Koch was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate then. Source
Cannabis Issues:
The Trump administration’s tough talk on marijuana is creating an unusual alliance: pot smokers and the conservative Koch political network.
Mark Holden, one of the influential network’s top leaders, decried President Donald Trump’s administration for returning to the "harsh sentencing era of the war on drugs."
"You are never going to win the war on drugs. Drugs won," he told reporters as the network opened a three-day retreat Saturday at The Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ directive to re-evaluate marijuana policies is a particular problem. Even though it remains a federal crime to possess and use marijuana, he said, "it’s legal in a number of states, so we have to come to grips with that somehow."
Source
Religious & Social Issues:
[David Koch said,] "I believe in gay marriage" when asked about the GOP’s stance on gay rights. Source
Second Amendment Issues:
The Charles Koch Foundation, which was founded in 1974 and then changed its name to the Cato Institute two years later, would like you to know something about gun control. In a commentary titled "Gun Control, Myths and Realities," their director of publications, David Lampo, writes:
[T]he facts show that there is simply no correlation between gun control laws and murder or suicide rates across a wide spectrum of nations and cultures. In Israel and Switzerland, for example, a license to possess guns is available on demand to every law-abiding adult, and guns are easily obtainable in both nations. Both countries also allow widespread carrying of concealed firearms, and yet, admits Dr. Arthur Kellerman, one of the foremost medical advocates of gun control, Switzerland and Israel "have rates of homicide that are low despite rates of home firearm ownership that are at least as high as those in the United States."
Source
Abortion Issues:
Pro-choice Source
Environmental Issues:
[Charles Koch] did not deny global warming, but he did downplay the risks of climate change, based on his read of the scientific evidence. The full exchange sheds new light on Koch’s beliefs about climate and carbon regulation.
"What’s being done is symbolic, even under their own thing. It’s not reducing CO2. Not approving the Keystone pipeline – so the oil is produced, now it’s shipped by rail and shipped to China, rather than by pipeline. So that’s symbolic. And making wood pellets, subsidizing making wood pellets, I mean, we’re back in medieval times, we’re going to burn wood. And shipping them to Europe. How is that reducing CO2? And we’re going to put a tax on natural gas, on BTUs, here, so we’ll be making less chemicals and fertilizers here, and we’ll be doing it in China, where they make it out of coal gas, and per unit the production has five times the CO2 emissions. So these things don’t make sense."
Source
"We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency." -- From the 1980 Libertarian Party platform. David Koch was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate then. Source
Retirement Issues:
"We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary."
"We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs." -- From the 1980 Libertarian Party platform. David Koch was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate then. Source
Jill Stein
A member of the Green Party, Stein is doctor from Massachusetts.
See other candidates and their views.
Healthcare Issues:
Establish an improved "Medicare For All" single-payer public health insurance program to provide everyone with quality health care, at huge savings. Source
Employment Issues:
Set a $15/hour federal minimum wage. Source
We support the irreducible right of the working people, without hindrance, to form a union and to bargain collectively with their employer.
All workers must have unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, access to job search programs.
Government budget Issues:
Greens denounce austerity budgets, calling them a ploy to balance budgets on the backs of working people, destroy unions, and enlarge the power of corporations Green solution to deficits and economic recession rescind tax cuts for the rich, end the wars and reduce military spending, enact Medicare For All and public works programs. Source
Business Issues:
"My Power to the People Plan creates deep system change, moving from the greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy that puts people, planet and peace over profit." Source
Trade policy Issues:
Re-formulate all international trade relations and commerce as currently upheld by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc.
Immigration Issues:
[Create] a welcoming path to citizenship for immigrants. The Green Party stands firmly for social justice for all those living in this country regardless of their immigration status. Source
Minority Issues:
"It is unfortunate that more than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, African-Americans still have been denied equality in our country. We need to ensure that all Americans have access to housing, a living wage job, universal health care, and a free, quality education, including college. It is also time for the United States to deliver on the promise of reparations for the sins of slavery, a promise made in 1865," said Stein.
Source
International & Security Issues:
Establish a foreign policy based on diplomacy, international law, and human rights. End the wars and drone attacks, cut military spending by at least 50% and close the 700+ foreign military bases that are turning our republic into a bankrupt empire. Stop U.S. support and arms sales to human rights abusers, and lead on global nuclear disarmament. Source
The Green Party is the party of Peace in that we have long recognized that improvements in our nation’s destructive fire-power are not nearly as important to progress as improvements to diplomacy. We are a nation that has been quick to go to war. This is costly on many fronts.
We oppose attempts to pass legislation sacrificing civil rights, democratic principles and domestic needs in the name of "anti-terrorism" or "home security." Source
Crime & Punishment Issues:
Abolish the death penalty. Source
End police brutality and mass incarceration. Create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to understand and eliminate the legacy of slavery that lives on as pervasive racism in the economy, education, housing and health. Ensure that communities control their police rather than police controlling our communities, by establishing police review boards and full time investigators to look in to all cases of death in police custody. Demilitarize the police. Source
Poverty Issues:
Guarantee economic human rights, including access to food, water, housing, and utilities, with effective anti-poverty programs to ensure every American a life of dignity.
Create living-wage jobs for every American who needs work, replacing unemployment offices with employment offices. Advance workers rights to form unions, achieve workplace democracy, and keep a fair share of the wealth they create. Source
Education Issues:
Abolish student debt to free a generation of Americans from debt servitude. Guarantee tuition-free, world-class public education from pre-school through university. End high stakes testing and public school privatization. Source
School vouchers will drain money from our already under-funded public school system. Source
Cannabis Issues:
Replace drug prohibition with harm reduction, and legalize marijuana/hemp. Source
Religious & Social Issues:
Protect LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination. Dr. Stein noted that she had declared her support for same-sex marriage in 2002.
Second Amendment Issues:
Thoughtful, carefully considered gun control laws such as the "Brady Bill" and the waiting period for record search before gun dealers may sell a gun should be supported. Source
Abortion Issues:
Supports abortion rights -- a woman's right to choose. Source
Environmental Issues:
Only an economics that is based upon environmental health is sustainable. Land ownership and property rights: Insist that every property right has an implied responsibility to provide for the common good of people, places and the planet. Source
"Climate change is the gravest environmental, social and economic peril that humanity has ever met." This statement central tenet of the Green Party. Source
Retirement Issues:
The Greens said that the Social Security program is financially sound; even if nothing was done, it is projected that Social Security would still be able to pay out 78% of benefits 27 years from now. A few minor tweaks is needed (e.g., raising the cap on the income for the social security tax).
Source
Julian Castro
A Democrat, Castro is a former mayor of San Antonio and a former HUD secretary.
Healthcare Issues:
"Seven presidents before him - Democrats and Republicans - tried to expand health care to all Americans. President Obama got it done." Source
Employment Issues:
Position not yet known by SelectSmart staff. Source
Government budget Issues:
"[San Antonio's] Riverwalk is the most visited site in Texas now for tourists and it was a WPA project under Roosevelt. People talk about stimulus money and what it can do. That's a perfect example of a good use for public investment, and it's still paying dividends for the city. I think it made sense to infuse the national economy with resources. It has helped cities and counties create jobs and bridge a lack of resources at the local level. I'll give you an example. We got $10.2 million to hire new police officers, and those folks are out on the street right now making the streets safer. But I think the federal government should have worked closer with cities and localities." Source
Business Issues:
Position not yet known by SelectSmart staff. Source
Trade policy Issues:
Position not yet known by SelectSmart staff. Source
Immigration Issues:
"Immigrants are not a net threat to the nation. They are part of the fabric of the nation, and hard workers that help propel local economies, as they have here." Source
"And because [Barack Obama] knows that we don't have an ounce of talent to waste, the president took action to lift the shadow of deportation from a generation of young, law-abiding immigrants called dreamers." Source
"As my family story shows, Latinos have been a blessing for USA for many generations. The future of America depends in part on the success of the Latino community, and this opportunity is just one more signifier of that." Source
Minority Issues:
Castro has credited affirmative action for his admission into Stanford, telling The New York Times, "Joaquín and I got into Stanford because of affirmative action. I scored 1210 on my SATs, which was lower than the median matriculating student. But I did fine in college and in law school. So did Joaquín. I’m a strong supporter of affirmative action because I’ve seen it work in my own life" Source
International & Security Issues:
"This so called Muslim ban or de facto Muslim ban was a perfect example of this. I said very publicly on issues that it doesn't matter whether your super liberal or super conservative or somewhere in between, you cannot just take an ideology and then dump that into policy implementation. You have to be able to operationalize policy. And they -- what they did was they just took an ideology, keep these people out and they dump that into the operational system of the Department of Homeland Security and everybody else. And it turned into a terrible mess."
Opposes sourthern border wall: "Saying that Mexico is going to have to pay for it, is to me just strikes me as a way to humiliate the other country. And doing it in a way that that inflames that country and given the history of United States and Mexico relations." Source
Crime & Punishment Issues:
"We have to reform our criminal justice system so that everybody can get an effective second chance," Castro said. "Florida has the opportunity on the ballot to make sure that you do that here in November."
Castro also provided commentary on the recent shooting death of Markeis McGlockton in Clearwater: "Laws like Stand Your Ground have no place in any state in the United States and ought to be changed immediately."
Castro spoke in support of Florida's Amendment 4 which would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded. Source
Poverty Issues:
"The number one way that we can address these long-term challenges of poverty, of education, is to invest in early childhood education." --Julian Castro Source
Education Issues:
Favors public school solutions. "[He] embarked on his most ambitious effort, a citywide expansion of prekindergarten education called "Pre-K for SA," he persuaded the two biggest CEOs in San Antonio—Charles Butt, founder of the HEB grocery chain, and Joe Robles, head of the U.S. Automobile Association—to spearhead the campaign to pass a $30 million sales-tax increase to get it rolling." Source
Cannabis Issues:
"The White House may crack down on recreational marijuana use— even in states where voters have approved it," Castro said Saturday on Facebook referencing a Huffington Post report. "That's a mistake."
"The federal government should focus its resources on more serious crimes. Not only that, growing evidence from Colorado and other states suggests we can sensibly legalize marijuana use with reasonable controls in place," he said. "State voters should have that power."
Source
Religious & Social Issues:
Castro has been an advocate for LGBT rights and, as mayor, opposed the law in Texas that denied legal recognition to same-sex marriages. "San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro says now is the time for Texas to overturn its eight year old Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage, saying as gay marriage is legalized across the country, Texas' law will begin to hurt the state's economy..." Source
Second Amendment Issues:
"I believe that Senator Feinstein has it right with regard to the assault weapons ban, that it ought to be reintroduced," [Julian Castro] said. But the mayor called gun rights "a complex issue," saying that he does not support eliminating the right to bear arms; he just thinks it should be regulated. "There is a feeling that the Second Amendment is there in the Constitution, folks will have the right to bear arms," Julián said. "At the same time, like every other freedom, there are reasonable limits, regulations to be placed on it." Source
Abortion Issues:
Supports the pro-choice positions of Planned Parenthood. Source
Environmental Issues:
Position not yet known by SelectSmart staff. Source
Retirement Issues:
Position not yet known by SelectSmart staff. Source
