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My Opponents's Voting Record in the House |
My opponent from the Democrat Party was first elected to the US House in 2002 at age 29 and has been elected to two other terms after that. He is currently running for his 4th term. During this term he has missed only 4% of the votes in the House, but he has voted with his party’s leadership 98% of the time when he has voted. The following is a list of lowlights of his voting record during the 2007 calendar year, followed by lowlights from his first two terms in office. When I describe a vote as a lowlight, I am describing a vote that does not protect the Constitution as his oath of office demands, did not help the citizens and businesses of Ohio’s 17th district, and does not help our nation at large. The following is how our representative has voted while representing our district.
2007 Lowlights
● voted to pass a budget that paves the way for the largest tax increase in American history (Roll No. 212)
● voted to pass a budget that paves the way for one of the largest tax increases in history and a raid on the Social Security surplus (Roll No. 377)
● voted to cut seniors' Medicare, create a new tax on private health insurance, and open the door to taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants (Roll No. 787)
● voted for a Democrat troop withdrawal bill that tied spending for our soldiers to billions of dollars in pork (Roll No. 186)
● voted to strip workers of their right to a secret ballot in union organizing elections (Roll No. 118)
● voted against allowing consideration of an amendment to block the next congressional pay raise (Roll No. 580)
● voted to keep provisions in a homeland security bill that would impose multiple bureaucratic obstacles to constructing the border fence (Roll No. 476)
● voted against fully funding the construction of the border fence (Roll No. 490)
● voted for a $4 billion tax increase on U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies that employ Americans here in the U.S. (Roll No. 746)
● voted against amending a bill that creates special legal protections based on sexual orientation to also expand those protections to senior citizens, military members and veterans (Roll No. 298)
● voted to block a reprimand of a Democrat House Leader for breaking House rules (Roll No. 402)
● voted against a motion that would replace millions of dollars in earmarks with needed funds for military housing and combating illegal drugs in local communities (Roll No. 71)
● voted against a motion that would require proof of citizenship to join a union, thereby opposing this effort to prevent illegal immigrants from joining (Roll No. 117)
● voted to raise taxes on energy companies and increase the costs of domestic exploration and production of energy (Roll No. 40)
● voted against a motion that would declare our country's sovereignty in matters of national security, and instead voted to maintain provisions in the bill that would seek to give the U.N. authority over U.S. efforts to prevent spread of WMDs (Roll No. 14)
● voted against a motion that would prohibit the government from discriminating against faith-based organizations that consider religion when making hiring decisions (Roll No. 284)
● voted against allowing consideration of an amendment that would require Members to vote on increasing in the debt limit of the country before such an increase could occur (Roll No. 375)
● voted against restoring accountability and transparency to the earmark process (Roll No. 451)
● voted against an amendment that would increase funding to assist local governments in removing illegal aliens (Roll No. 469)
● voted against prohibiting taxpayer funding for cities that deliberately harbor illegal immigrants (Roll No. 485)
● voted against prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to sue companies that require employees to speak English on the job (Roll No. 734)
● voted to keep a provision in a foreign aid bill that overturns the ban on taxpayer funds for international groups that promote or provide abortions (Roll No. 534)
● voted to continue to allow taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America (Roll No. 684)
● voted against requiring certification that an energy-restricting bill does not raise gas prices and home heating costs before being implemented (Roll No. 578)
● voted to allow taxpayer funds to be spent on new needles for drug addicts (Roll No. 589)
● voted to federalize certain lands without protecting private landowners from eminent domain (Roll No. 615)
● voted to use taxpayer funds to pay for an earmark that would create a personal library and private office for a New York City congressman (Roll No. 678)
● voted in support of mandates that favor unions for government contracts, thereby shutting out small businesses and increasing the cost to taxpayers (Roll No. 712)
● supported a giveaway to the trial lawyer lobby that would drastically expand the time limit for filing workplace lawsuits, even decades after an alleged violation occurred (Roll No. 768)
2002 – 2006 Lowlights
Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy
Voted against extension of tax cuts that have helped strengthen and grow the US economy, generating five million jobs since their enactment in 2003. Failure to extend these provisions would have meant a tax increase to millions of working Americans. (vote #135, 5/10/06)
Voted against a budget resolution authorizing 2nd tax cut plan. (vote #141, 4/11/03)
Voted against 2nd tax cut package twice. (vote #182, 5/9/03 & vote #225, 5/23/03)
Voted against the Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 2003 which extends the $1,000 per child tax credit to 2010 (HR 1308) (vote # 274, 6/12/03)
Voted for a limited Senate version of the act in the previous bullet point. (HR 1308) (vote #614, 11/6/03, vote # 572, 10/28/03, vote # 541, 10/15/03, vote #529, 10/12/03, vote #525, 9/30/03, vote #509, 9/23/03, vote #501, 9/10/03, vote #493, 9/10/03, vote #477, 7/25/03, vote #449, 7/25/03, vote #447, 7/25/03, vote #446 7/25/03, vote #398, 7/21/03, vote #396 7/18/03, vote #390, 7/17/03, vote #370, 7/16/03
Voted to extend the upper income limit for the 10% tax bracket (vote #170, 5/13/04, vote #169, 5/13/04)
Death Tax
Voted against a bill that would have provided permanent relief from the estate tax for many families and increased the minimum wage for working Americans (vote #425, 7/29/06)
Voted in favor of an amendment to replace the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act with language that set the rate at 47% for eligible estates. (vote #288, 6/18/03)
Voted to keep the estate tax in place and establish a tax rate of 49% on non-exempt estates. (vote #287, 6/18/03)
Tax Cuts for Health Care
Voted against the creation of two tax-free medical savings accounts to cover health care expenses including prescription drugs. Individuals would be able to contribute up to $2,000 a year, and families could contribute up to $4,000 a year. (vote #328, 6/26/03)
Tax Reform
Voted against a bill that would have…
Eliminated penalties against individual filers who submit faulty filings as a result of incorrect advice from the IRS.
Disallow the IRS from charging a late fee of 10% before payment is 15 days over due.
Grant a 15-day extension to those who electronically file their returns thus moving the due date to April 30.
Allow the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status from any organization designated as a terrorist organization by the US government.
Voted against these and other reforms (vote #4, 1/7/03)
Other Tax Cut Provisions
Voted against s final version of a corporate tax overhaul which included a reduction in the corporate tax rate and an extension of a depreciation deduction aimed at small businesses. The bill was also necessary so that an illegal export tax break could be repealed. (vote #509, 10/7/04)
Voted to revise the Fiscal year 2005 budget resolution to include $14.2 billion more in spending while offsetting the money with a reduction of $18.9 billion in tax cuts. (vote #301, 6/24/04)
Voted against a corporate tax overhaul similar to the one in the first point of this category. (vote #259, 6/17/04)
National Defense
Voted against granting rapid acquisition to the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of obtaining needed equipment during time of combat emergencies. (vote #234, 6/14/04)
Voted to support an international treaty banning space-based weapons, limiting our future ability to ensure national security.
Voted to transfer $21 million from studying new nuclear weapons to research for conventional weapons programs. (vote #216, 5/22/03)
Voted against punishing those who reveal our intelligence activities to the press. (vote #357, 6/29/06)
Voted to engage in a political witch hunt that compromised our intelligence community. (vote #320, 6/26/03, vote #319, 6/26/03)
Voted against an amendment prohibiting economic assistance funding to any country that is party to the International Criminal Court and has not pledged to not surrender US nationals to said Court. (vote #387, 7/15/04)
Voted for a resolution urging equal pay increases for federal civilian employees along with pay increases to military personal in fiscal year 2005 equating civilian administrators with our troops fighting overseas. (vote #104, 3/31/04)
Voted to restrict presidential authority to respond to any action by Iran that would put US citizens and allies in jeopardy. (vote#300, 6/20/06)
Foreign Policy
Voted against a proposal that encouraged a democratic Palestinian government that denounces and combats terrorism and agrees to respect the boundaries and sovereignty of its neighbors and the human rights of all people. (vote #395, 7/20/05)
Voted to oppose funding to prevent obstetric fistula, an easily treatable but potentially life-threatening condition that affects 2 million pregnant women in developing nations. (vote #389, 7/19/05)
Supported an amendment to cut funding for the Andean Counterdrug Initative by $100 million which would curb the import of drugs from Columbia into the US
Voted for an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to enforce new restrictions and rules in regard to the Cuban travel ban. (vote #460, 9/21/04)
Voted for an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to carry out the embargo on Cuba (vote #461, 9/22/04)
Voted to block money for implementing new restrictions on gifts to Cuba and personal baggage for travelers to Cuba (vote #329, 7/7/04)
Voted for an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to enforce restrictions on remittances of Cuban nationals. (vote #484, 9/9/03)
Global War on Terror
Voted against resolution stating that terrorist detentions and interrogations are NOT fundamental to the successful prosecution of the War on Terror. (vote #298, 6/23/04)
Voted against expressing support for the efforts of the Intelligence community. (vote #293, 6/23/04)
Iraq
Vote against a resolution opposing a hasty withdraw from Iraq. The resolution also supported continuing the efforts to establish a stable democracy for the Iraqis, honored those Americans who have served their country in the fight against terrorism and have been wounded or killed, and commended the Iraqi people for their successful elections. (vote #288, 6/16/06)
Voted against an amendment for achieving a free and stable Iraq sustained by Iraqi security forces is the primary goal of US operations in the country. (vote #397, 7/20/05)
Voted for an amendment urging the President to develop a timeline for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. (vote #220, 5/25/05)
Voted against a resolution condemning Iraqi prisoner abuse. (vote #150, 5/6/04)
Voted against allocating funding for the war. (vote #562, 10/17/03 & vote #601, 10/31/03)
The United Nations
Voted against withholding funding of a $1.7 billion planned renovation of UN headquarters in New York. This was after the GAO testified that “the UN is vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement” (vote #342, 6/28/06)
Voted for a proposal to undermine the proposed UN reforms in spite of mounting evidence of corruption at the highest levels. (vote #281, 6/17/05)
Voted against measures to require substantive UN reforms prior to the US making additional monetary contributions to the UN. (vote #385, 7/19/05 & vote #282, 6/17/05
Voted against reducing funding for international organizations by $20 million.
Voted against an amendment that would prohibit funding to the UN. (vote #335, 7/7/04)
Voted not to deny funding to UNESCO (vote #333, 7/7/04) President Reagan withdrew the US from UNESCO in 1984 for its radicalism and anti-Western bias.
Voted against barring the use of funds to request the UN to oversee and assess the validity of elections in the US (vote #385, 7/15/04)
Voted against capping our contribution to the regular budget of the UN to that of no more than any other permanent member of the Security Council. (vote #365, 7/15/03)
China
Voted against initiating officer training and exchange programs with the Taiwan military. (vote #204, 5/20/04)
Our Flag
After an appellate court declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, he voted against an amendment barring the Department of Justice from using funds to enforce the ruling. (vote #406, 7/22/03)
Voted against a Constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to prohibit the physical desecration and burning of the US flag. (Vote #234, 6/23/03)
Response to the Attacks of 9/11/01
Vote against intelligence reform as recommended by the 9/11 commission. (vote #523, 10/08/04)
Voted to declassify the intelligence budget, take steps to shore up our borders and remove certain military functions from the military. (vote #510, 10/08/04)
Voted to eliminate a section of the intelligence overhaul package aimed at restricting asylum and refugee rights of terrorists. (vote #518, 10/8/04)
Voted to eliminate a section of the intelligence overhaul package requiring the expedited removal of aliens. (vote #521, 10/8/04 & vote #517, 10/8/04)
Voted against allowing judges to impose lifetime supervision over those guilty of committing terrorist offenses. (vote #515, 10/8/04)
Voted to block funding to combat terrorism through the Antiterrorism Assistance Program (vote #389 7/15/04 & vote #428 7/24/03)
Voted to eliminate from the Patriot Act and defund a section that permits the federal government, with a court order, general access to library and book records in order to track terrorist. (vote #339, 7/8/04)
Homeland Security
Voted against a measure to create a bipartisan committee to investigate Hurricane Katrina (vote #475, 9/15/05)
voted against expedited construction of a fence along the US-Mexico border to fill two gaps in the barrier. (vote #519, 10/8/04)
Voted against capping the number of grants available under the High Density Urban Area Security Initiative. (vote #271, 6/18/04)
Voted against forbidding homeland security funds to local and state governments which restrict citizenship and immigration information to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. (vote #270, 6/18/04)
Voted against an amendment transferring $450 million from formula-based state and local homeland security programs to the High Density Urban Area Security Initiative. (vote #266, 6/18/04)
Voted against the final funding bill which gives intelligence authorization to Homeland Security and the FBI. (vote #649, 11/20/03)
Voted against forbidding law enforcement assistance funds to local and state governments which restrict citizenship and immigration information to the Department of Homeland Security. (vote #409, 7/22/03)
Voted to decrease funding for counter drug initiatives by $34 million. (vote #106, 4/3/03)
Voted against a bill establishing a smallpox vaccination compensation fund for first responders. (vote #92, 3/31/03)
War on Terror
Voted to end the National Security Agency's Terrorism Surveillance Program (vote #295, 6/20/06)
Voted against a bill requiring any nation considered a state sponsor of terrorism to disclose any activity. (vote #294, 6/20/06)
Voted to block extension of the Patriot Act. (vote #414, 7/21/05, vote #627, 12/14/05, & vote #20, 3/7/06)
Voted against expressing support for the efforts of the intelligence community. (vote #293, 6/23/04)
Voted against support of terriorists detentions and interrogations. (vote #298, 6/23/04)
Disclosing Intelligence Information
Voted to make it easier to disclose sensitive information
Voted to report the names of potential terrorists targeted by the National Security Agency's Terrorists Surveillance Program. (vote #107, 4/26/06)
Border Patrol
Voted against funding for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (vote #373, 7/14/04)
Voted against assigning military personnel to assist the Department of Homeland Security with border security. (vote #196, 5/19/04)
Voted against authorizing the Secretary of Defense to use members of the armed forces in conjunction with border security activities. (vote #206, 5/21/03)
Illegal Immigration and Border Security
Voted against an amendment to prohibit sharing the location of border patrol groups with Mexico. (vote#224, 6/6/06)
Voted against enforcing existing law that requires local law enforcement personnel to report illegal immigrants to federal immigration authorities.
Voted to extend temporary protected status to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.(vote #222, 5/25/06)
Voted against an amendment reaffirming existing law against allowing illegal immigrants to obtain food stamps at the taxpayer's expense. (vote #189, 5/23/06)
Voted against immigration reform legislation, (vote #661, 12/16/05)
Voted against an amendment to eliminate the visa lottery program. (vote #653, 12/16/05)
Voted against enforcement of immigration laws by state and local law enforcement and deny access to information on illegal criminal aliens for state and local officials. Also voted against funding for local and state law enforcement training regarding illegal immigrants. (vote #656, 12/16/05)
Voted against construction of the San Diego border fence. (vote #29, 2/10/05)
Voted against increasing penalties for certain crimes committed by illegal immigrants and against tracking immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center Database. (vote #165, 5/11/05)
Voted for an amendment to limit the ability of the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to manage detention facilities. (vote #178, 5/17/05)
Voted against authorizing state and local law enforcement personnel from detaining illegal immigrants who are stopped in a routine traffic stop. (vote #185, 5/18/05)
Voted against enforcing existing law that requires local law enforcement personnel to report illegal immigrants to federal immigration authorities. (vote #267, 6/16/05 & vote #262, 6/16/050
Voted against enforcing existing law that requires US sponsors of legal immigrants to take financial responsibility for immigrants they have sponsored. (vote #237, 6/8/05)
Voted against expedited construction to fill two gaps to the barrier along the US-Mexico border. (vote #519, 10/08/04)
Voted against renewal funding for the Bureau of Customs and Boarder Protection and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (vote #373, 7/14/04)
Voted against an amendment emphasizing that none of the funds provided to the Food Stamp program can be used in contravention of existing immigration law in regard to applicants and their sponsors. (vote #367, 7/13/04)
Voted against adding funding for local and state law enforcement who assist the federal government with enforcement of immigration laws. (vote #341, 7/8/04)
Voted against forbidding homeland security funds to local and state governments, which restrict citizenship and immigration information to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. (vote #270, 6/18/04)
Voted to block funding for outsourcing of some services by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. (vote #269, 6/18/04)
Voted against a bill requiring hospitals to report information on potential illegal immigrants before being reimbursed for treatment. (vote #182, 5/18/04)
Voted against an employment verification system that businesses can use to determine the legal status of workers. (vote #570, 10/28/03)
Voted against authorizing the Department of State to issue regulations in regards to the issuance of consular identification cards. (vote #367, 7/15/03)
Voted against prohibiting funding to local and state governments, which restrict citizenship and immigration status information to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. (vote #309, 6/24/03)
Job Creation, Small Business, & Workplace Regulations
Voted to deny small businesses a right to challenge a citation or penalty issued by OSHA. (vote #369, 7/12/05)
Voted against increasing the number of commissioners on OSHA from three to five. (vote #370, 7/12/05)
Voted against a measure to ensure that small businesses can recoup the high cost of legal fees if it is determined that an OSHA citation or fine is without merit or not justified. (vote #372, 7/12/05)
Voted against a resolution affirming the need to take steps to remove barriers to economic competitiveness like trade restrictions, the high cost of health care, education, burdensome government regulation, and the oppressive and confusing tax code. (vote #367, 7/12/05)
Voted against a bill that required companies to deduct employee stock options from their earnings. (vote #397, 7/20/04)
Voted for an amendment sanctioning the SEC to establish accounting standards on its own initiative without Congressional oversight. (vote #395, 7/20/04)
Voted to expand government by creating an Under Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Technology. (vote #357, 7/9/04)
Voted against giving unemployed individuals grants to be used for job training services. (vote #225, 6/3/04)
Voted against legislation which would effectively reimburse small businesses any attorney fees for successfully contesting an OSHA ruling. (vote #189, 5/18/04)
Voted against allowing the OSHA Review Commission from making exceptions to the 15-day deadline employers must face for citations issued by OSHA. (vote #183, 5/18/04)
Voted to block funding for the Department of Labor to update complex regulations to classifying overtime pay. (vote #351, 7/10/03)
Trade Policy
Voted against allowing trade sanctions to be applied to Red China so that our own businesses can compete on a level playing field. (vote #437, 7/27/05 & vote #421, 7/26/05)
Voted to allow American companies incorporated in countries with less restrictive tax laws to compete for a win government contracts. (vote #351, 6/30/05)
Voted to prohibit government contracts with companies incorporated in the Caribbean (vote #453, 9/14/04)
Voted against a resolution to urge President Bush to get the European Union to end its moratorium on American agricultural products. (vote #256, 6/10/03)
Tort Reform
Voted against the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act. (vote #553, 10/27/05)
Voted to gut the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. (vote #531, 10/19/05)
Voted to allow parents to sue restaurants and marketers for contributing to the poor eating habits of children under the age of eight. (vote #530, 10/19/05)
Voted against the Class Action Fairness Act. (vote #38, 2/17/05)
Voted against the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. (vote #108 4/14/05)
Voted against legal protection for nonprofit athletic groups such as Little League. (vote #445, 9/14/04)
Voted against toughening the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures which would impose sanctions and suspensions on abusive lawyers. (vote #450. 9/14/04)
Voted against medical liability reform to battle the high costs of medical malpractice insurance. (vote #166, 5/12/04)
Voted against protecting the food industry from frivolous lawsuits. (vote #54, 3/10/04)
Voted for an amendment to allow weight-related lawsuits against the food industry to go forward. (vote #53, 3/10/04)
Voted to weaken a bill aimed at protecting the food industry from frivolous lawsuits. (vote #48, 3/10/04, vote #49, 3/10/04)
Voted against overhauling bankruptcy laws that allowed people to walk away from their debts. (vote #10, 1/28/04)
Voted against the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003. (vote #272, 6/12/03)
Voted against an overhaul of bankruptcy laws allowing people to walk away from their debts. (vote #74, 3/19/03)
Voted against medical liability reform. (vote #64, 3/13/030
Voted against a bill to reform the nation's pension system and provide American workers and seniors with confidence that their promised pension benefits will be there. (vote #422, 7/28/06)
More Taxes
Voted against corporate tax overhaul that extended depreciation deduction aimed at small businesses. This bill would have also repealed an illegal export tax break. (vote #259, 6/17/04)
Voted against a bill altering the funding for pension plans and temporarily easing formula requirements for companies. (vote #117, 4/2/04)
Voted against the Pension Security Act of 2003. (vote #189, 5/14/03)
Unions
Voted to block funding for any changes made to regulations governing civilian defense employees' right to collectively bargain. (vote #283, 6/22/04)
Voted against the Social Security Protection Act of 2003 which allowed workers such as teachers to collect their state retirement benefits and social security benefits if they had income in both areas. (vote #100, 4/2/03)
Voted against the first increase in the minimum wage since 1996. (vote #425, 7/29/06)
Voted against the Job Training Improvement Act which reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act. This bill would coordinate with state and local governments to get unemployed workers a new job. (vote #48, 3/2/05)
Voted to deny faith-based organizations that receive federal job training dollars the right to hire employees that hold religious beliefs consistent with the mission of the organization. (vote #46, 3/2/05)
Energy
Voted to block oil and gas exploration on less than 8% of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. The American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act provided for drilling of oil not from a foreign source and would have created several union jobs. (vote #206, 5/24/06)
Voted against a bill to streamline the application process for companies to build refineries within the US. (vote #116, 5/3/06)
Voted against the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that reduced demand on foreign oil, lowered gas prices through conservation, domestic production and processing and research into various alternative fuels. (vote #132, 4/21/05)
Voted against modernizing public utility laws that dated back to 1935 with new standards to meet current market demands. (vote #123, 4/20/05)
Voted against drilling for oil in an area of 0.01% of ANWR. (vote #122, 4/20/05)
Voted to raise fuel economy standards for cars which forces automobiles to be lighter and unsafer. (vote #121, 4/20/05)
Voted to eliminate incentives designed to increase domestic gas production in the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. (vote #128, 4/21/05)
Voted for an amendment to strike liability protections for manufacturers of the gasoline additive MTBE to prevent frivolous lawsuits. (vote #129, 4/21/05)
Voted against an amendment to make it easier to build liquefied natural gas terminals by streamlining local, state and federal permitting processes. (vote #131, 4/21/05)
Voted to block funding to maintain the strategic petroleum reserve beyond a certain level. (vote #262, 6/17/04)
Voted against a version of a national energy plan which strengthened national security and promoted a cleaner environment. (vote #630, 11/18/03)
Voted against the Energy Policy Act of 2004 which mirrored the conference version of the Energy Policy Act of 2003. (vote #241, 6/15/04, vote #630, 11/18/03)
Voted against a comprehensive energy plan which provided for research and development in renewal energy and promotion of clean coal grants. (vote #145, 4/11/03)
Voted to increase federal control in the gasoline market by establishing a Gasoline Availability Stabilization Reserve. (vote #137, 4/10/03)
Voted to delete a provision authorizing oil and gas drilling leases in ANWR. (vote #135, 4/10/03)
Voted against oil drilling in 2000 of ANWR's 19 million acres. (vote #134, 4/13/03).
Voted for an amendment setting extreme fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks.
Voted to keep states from opting out of a permanent federal moratorium on oil and gas drilling within 50 miles of the US coast. (vote #356, 6/29/06)
Voted to keep states form sharing in the royalties from off shore oil drilling. (vote #354, 6/29/06)
Voted against easing burdensome federal regulations that drive up the cost of gas. (vote #232, 6/7/06)
Voted against an amendment which would lift existing restrictions on natural gas development along much of the US coastline. (vote #192, 5/19/05)
Voted to reduce funding for nuclear waste management and reprocessing. (vote #207, 5/24/05)
Voted to fund renewable energy programs at the expense of nuclear weapons computer programs. (vote #321, 6/25/04)
Voted against waiving fuel additive requirements for certain states during significant fuel supply disruptions or shortages. (vote #247, 6/16/04)
Voted against the building and expansion of refineries. (vote #246, 6/16/04)
Voted simplifying assessment and licensing regulation for alternative energy projects. (vote #242, 6/15/04)
Voted to increase funding for renewable energy programs at the expense of nuclear waste disposal. (vote #392, 7/18/03)
Safeguarding the Environment
Voted against the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act which would replenish federal lands after a natural disaster. (vote #151, 5/17/06)
Voted against developing forest management plans that employed the best scientific evidence. (vote #254, 6/16/04)
Vote against increasing funding for the US Forest Service at the expense of the National Endowment for the Arts. (vote #249, 6/16/04)
Voted to cut forest undergrowth to reduce the threat of wildfires. (vote #656, 11/21/03)
Voted to block funding for finalizing new regulations which would make needed improvements to forest management. (vote #384, 7/17/03)
Voted against transferring funds to firefighting funds for the US Forest Service from the National Endowment for the Arts. (vote #379, 7/17/03)
Voted to limit recreational fees at National Park Service Areas to be used for repairs and upkeep. (vote #377, 7/17/03)
Voted to prevent the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from clearing forest undergrowth to prevent wildfires. (vote #200, 5/20/03)
Voted to eliminate environmental reviews for forest thinning near communities and water supplies. (vote #198, 5/20/03)
Voted to burden research and development in nanotechnology with unnecessary environmental regulations and studies. (vote #165, 5/7/03)
Voted against funding a land acquisition fund that would protect private property from wildfires. (vote #381, 7/17/03)
Senior Issues
Voted against a permanent repeal of the estate tax and voted to keep the estate tax in place raising the tax rate to 49% on non-exempt estates. (vote #288, 6/18/03 & vote #287, 6/18/03)
Voted against the Social Security Protection Act of 2003 which protected seniors from falling prey to deceitful practices from designated representatives for beneficiaries of Social Security. (vote #44, 3/5/2003)
Voted to keep retired teachers from collecting both their state retirement income and social security income if they have paid into both systems. (vote #100, 4/2/03)
Health Issues
Voted against funding the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes for Health, Community Health Centers, and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. (vote #321, 6/24/05)
Voted against prescription drug coverage aimed at providing relief for seniors. (vote #669, 11/22/03)
Voted for the importation of prescription drugs from the European Union, Canada, and other nations. (vote #445, 7/25/03)
Voted against a prescription drug plan aimed at providing relief to seniors. (vote #332, 6/27/03)
Voted for a $1 trillion prescription drug plan. (vote #330, 6/27/03)
Education
Voted against reauthorization and funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (vote #154, 4/30/03)
Voted against authorization of a school voucher program in Washington, DC (vote #490, 9/9/03, and vote #478, 9/5/03)
Voted to strike funds from a school voucher program in Washington, DC. (vote #479, 9/5/03)
Voted against the FY2004 Washington DC appropriations bill which included a school voucher plan. (vote #491, 9/9/03)
Voted against allowing parents with disabled child(en in private schools to receive certificates to pay for specialized services. (vote #152, 4/30/03)
Voted against an amendment to use money for disabled children to attend private schools. (vote #151, 4/30/03)
Voted against the College Access and Opportunity Act to reauthorize federal higher education programs. (vote #81, 3/30/06)
Voted against reauthorization and funding of Head Start programs. (vote #493, 9/22/05)
Voted against Department of Education funding for Pell Grant funding, special education programs and improvement of teacher quality. (vote #321, 6/24/06)
Voted against reauthorization of Head Start programs. (vote #444, 7/25/03)
Voted against hiring protections for religious organizations that provide Head Start services. (vote #492, 9/22/05)
Voted against allowing faith-based organizations to use religion as a factor in hiring teachers which operate Head Start programs (vote #441, 7/25/03)
Health Care
Voted against the Small Business Health Fairness Act which allowed employees affordable health insurance. (vote #426, 7/26/05)
Voted to subject small businesses to burdensome state and federal mandates resulting in higher health care costs to employers. (vote #424, 7/26/05)
Voted against the Health Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act of 2005. (vote #449, 7/28/05)
Voted in favor of an amendment that would have prohibited the most qualified medical researchers from having input into the approval of new drugs. (vote #232, 6/8/05)
Voted against funding for the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes for Health, Community Health Centers and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. (vote #321, 6/24/05, vote #628, 12/14/05)
Voted against the creation of association health plans which allow small businesses to band together to buy insurance for their employees. (vote #174, 5/13/04)
Voted to bar funding for the establishment of Health Savings Accounts under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan. (vote #456, 9/15/04)
Voted to force small businesses to pay for half of all employee premium costs of mandated health insurance coverage. (vote #172, 5/13/04)
Voted against flexible spending accounts which can be transferred to Health Savings Accounts. (vote #163, 5/12/04)
Voted for an alternative health benefits bill for businesses at the expense of eliminating certain tax provisions. (vote #161, 5/12/04)
Voted against the creation of tax free Health Savings Accounts. (vote #542, 10/15/03, and vote #533, 10/7/03)
Voted for the importation of prescription drugs from the European Union, Canada, and other nations. (vote #445, 7/25/03)
Voted against the creation of two tax-free medical savings accounts to cover health care expenses and prescription drug cost. (vote #328, 6/26/03)
Voted against the creation and funding of national standards to improve the interoperability of health information technology. (vote #416, 7/27/06)
Budget
Voted against a budget that provided lower taxes and called for cuts in spending. (vote #158, 5/18/06)
Voted for FY2007 budget proposal that increased taxes by $772 billion. (vote #157, 5/18/06)
Voted for FY2007 alternative budget proposal which would have increased taxes and cut defense spending. (vote #155, 5/17/06)
Voted to revise FY2005 budget resolution to include $14.2 billion more in spending and offset $18.9 billion in tax cuts. (vote #301, 6/24/04)
Voted against Deficit Reduction Act which eliminated unnecessary spending to ensure availability of vital federal programs. (vote #601, 11/18/05 & vote #670, 12/19/05)
Voted against reducing funds to the National Endowment for the Arts. (vote #195, 5/19/05)
Voted to limit the EEOC restructuring process by preventing it from closing or consolidating EEOC despite recommendations by the General Accounting Office. (vote #256, 6/15/06)
Voted against consolidating the government-wide travel management program into one electronic system which would have saved $450 million. (vote #356, 6/30/05)
Voted against competitive bidding for federal services preventing government contracts going to small businesses. (vote #357, 6/30/05)
Voted against offsetting non-discretionary spending for a supplemental funding bill for hurricane victims in Florida. (vote #500, 10/6/04)
Voted against reducing federal appropriations for the District of Columbia for FY2005 by 1%. (vote #398, 7/20/04)
Voted against reducing FY2005 Treasury and transportation appropriations by 1%. (vote #360, 7/12/04)
Voted against reducing money for the US Court of Federal Claims by 50%. (vote #343, 7/8/04)
Voted against an amendment to eliminate funding for the early design of the short form for the 2010 census. (vote #331, 7/7/04)
Voted against reducing FY2005 energy and water appropriations by 1%. (vote #324, 6/25/04)
Voted against reducing FY2004 Treasury and transportation appropriations by 1%. (vote #481, 9/9/03)
Voted against reducing FY2004 Washington, DC appropriations by 1%. (vote #480, 9/5/03)
Voted against reducing FY2004 foreign operations appropriations by 1%. (vote #427, 7/24/03)
Voted against reducing FY2004 energy and water appropriations by 1%. (vote #393, 7/18/03)
Voted against reducing FY2004 interior appropriations by 1%. (vote #378, 7/17/03)
Voted against reducing FY2004 agriculture appropriations by 1%. (vote #356, 7/14/03)
Pork
Voted to authorize an additional $1.5 billion for the Washington, DC Metro System (vote #376, 7/17/06)
Voted against an amendment to block federal funding to promote tourism to Kentucky (vote #338, 6/28/06)
Voted against an amendment to cut federal funding for the Bronx Council for the Arts. (vote #335, 6/28/06)
Voted against an amendment to defund an aquarium in Connecticut. (vote #298, 6/20/06)
Voted against an amendment to cut funding to renovate a public swimming pool in California. (vote #277, 6/14/06)
Voted to recommit a transportation bill so funding could be increased by 12.85%. (vote #480, 9/30/04)
Voted to recommit a transportation bill so funding could be increased to $318 billion. (vote #113, 4/2/04)
Voted for a salt cedar and Russian olive tree control project costing $18 million. (vote #26, 2/24/04)
Voted for an additional $800,000 to enforce federal fighting laws. (vote #355, 7/14/03)
Voted for continued funding of the following NIH grants: “Mood Arousal and Sexual Risk Taking”, “Study on Sexual Habits of Older Men”, “Study of San Francisco's Asian Prostitutes & Masseuses”, & “Study on American Indian Transgender Research” (vote #352, 7/10/03)
Voted for an omnibus spending package that included $800,000 to the GRAMMY Foundation. (vote #32, 2/13/03)
Reforming the Budget Processing
Voted against a reform measure which would authorize the President to eliminate unnecessary federal funding while preserving the Constitutional authority of Congress by requiring Congressional approval of expedited rescission. (vote #317, 6/22/06)
Voted against the Spending Control Act of 2004 which established caps on discretionary spending and PAYGO requirements for mandatory spending. (vote #318, 6/25/04)
Voted against adopting an “enhanced rescission process” for the president. (vote #313, 6/24/04)
Voted against creating Budget Protection Accounts intended to target wasteful projects with savings devoted to deficit reduction. (vote #312, 6/24/04)
Voted against an amendment making the budget resolution binding. (vote #311, 6/24/04)
Voted against establishing entitlement caps for mandatory spending. (vote #308, 6/24/04)
Voted against establishing the Federal Agency Sunset Commission which would review excess federal programs that could be eliminated. (vote #305, 6/24/04)
Eliminating the Deficit
Voted against a plan that would increase funding for national defense and homeland security and cut the deficit by half. (vote #149, 4/28/05)
Voted for an amendment to increase taxes by $25.8 billion while reducing defense spending during wartime by $1 billion. (vote #82, 3/17/05)
Voted in favor of a substitute budget resolution for FY2006 that would have increased taxes by $160 billion. (vote #87, 3/17/05)
Public-Private Partnership
Voted against the Workforce Investment Act which is a job training bill for laid off workers. (vote #175, 5/8/03)
Ending the Welfare State
Vote against reauthorization of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. (vote #30, 2/13/03
Voted to weaken welfare reforms by eliminating the 30 hour per week work requirement. (vote #28, 2/13/2003 & vote #27, 2/13/03)
Crime
Voted to expand President Clinton's COPS program by $106.9 million with an offset coming from the US Census Bureau. (vote #330, 7/7/04)
Voted in favor of an amendment to prevent the Department of Justice from enforcing federal law concerning the illegal use of marijuana. (vote #255, 6/15/05 & vote #333, 6/28/06)
Voted to cut funding to the Andean Counterdrug Initiative to curb the inflow of cheap heroin from Columbia. (vote #242, 6/9/06, vote #329, 6/28/05 & vote #426, 7/24/03)
Voted against an amendment increasing funds for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement. (vote #45, 3/16/06)
Voted to bar funding to enforce marijuana laws. (vote #334, 7/7/04 & vote #420, 7/23/03)
Voted to block funding for the sentencing phase of any case in which the prosecutors seek the death penalty. (vote #421, 7/23/03)
Mainstream Values
Voted against defunding the UN Population Fund which supports forced abortions in Communist China (vote #362, 7/15/03)
Voted in favor of allowing abortions at taxpayer-funded overseas military hospitals and facilities. (vote #197, 5/19/04)
Voted to override President Bush's veto of federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (vote #388, 7/19/06)
Voted for a bill allowing federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (vote #204, 5/24/05)
Voted against blocking the federal courts from hearing cases regarding the Pledge of Allegiance. (vote #385, 7/19/06)
Voted against an amendment that would deny funding to enforce a federal court ruling that prohibited prayer in the Indiana House of Representatives. (vote #345, 6/28/06)
Voted for an amendment prohibiting funding from FY2006 funds to enforce a ruling against a county courthouse in Indiana that had a display of the Ten Commandments. (vote #257, 6/15/05)
Voted against the prohibition of funds to prevent abusive eminent domain rulings. (vote #350, 6/30/05)
Voted against an amendment that would protect private citizens homes from wildfires. Instead the bill allowed for federal purchase of the property after the wildfire damage had been done. (vote #381, 7/17/03)
Voted against an amendment to an HIV/AIDS assistance package that put funding towards abstinence programs. (vote #157, 5/1/03)
Voted against an amendment that prohibited funding for enforcing a ruling ordering the removal of a Ten Commandments display from the Alabama Supreme Court. (vote #419, 7/23/03)
Voted against faith-based organizations which provide job training services to use religion as a factor in hiring. (vote #175, 5/8/03)
Voted against transferring $15 million from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Endowment to the Humanities. (vote #255, 6/16/04)
Voted against reducing funding to the National Endowment for the Arts. (vote #249, 6/16/04)
Voted for additional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. (vote #248, 6/16/04 & vote #376, 7/17/03)
Voted against transferring funds from the National Endowment for the Arts to firefighting funds under the US Forest Service. (vote #379, 7/17/03)
Voted against a Constitutional amendment declaring that marriage shall consist of the union of one man and one woman. (vote #378, 7/18/06 & vote #484, 9/30/04)
Voted against the Marriage Protection Act. (vote #410, 7/22/04)
Voted against the prohibition of funds to enforce a federal court ruling that declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. (vote #406, 7/22/03)
Voted against a Constitutional amendment that would prohibit the physical desecration or burning of the US flag. (vote #234, 6/3/03)
Voted against using taxpayer's dollars in paying high salaries for executives in international organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. (vote #155, 5/1/03)
Voted against the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 which strengthened penalties for members of Congress who violated laws regarding interactions with lobbyists. (vote #119, 5/3/606)
Voted against barring funds to request the UN to oversee and assess the validity of elections in the US. (vote #385, 7/15/04)
Voted to strip provisions of an appropriations bill requiring states to hold a special election to replace vacancies in the House of Representatives within 49 days. (vote #299, 6/22/05)
Voted against House approval of the Continuity of Representation Act. This act allows local voters to pick their representatives in the event a terrorist act creates numerous vacancies. The alternative that your Democrat representative supported allowed a government committee to select your representative. (vote #52, 3/3/05 & vote #130, 4/22/04)
Voted against a speedy election amendment to the Continuity of Representation Act. (vote #49, 3/3/05)
Voted for a Constitutional amendment allowing Governors to appoint new US representatives rather than the local population electing them in the case of a terrorist attack leaving many vacancies in the US House. (vote #219, 6/2/04)
Voted to weaken the control of political parties have in selecting congressional nominees. (vote #129, 4/22/04)
Voted to extend the time frame for conducting special elections from 45 days to 75 days in the event of many House vacancies. (vote #128, 4/22/04)
Voted against splitting the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into three circuits. (vote #492, 10/5/04)
Voted against gridlock rules in US House procedures. (vote #323, 6/26/03)
Voted against reducing legislative branch appropriations by 1% for FY2005. (vote #360, 7/12/04)
Miscellaneous Issues
Voted against an amendment to eliminate the unfunded mandate on state and local governments requiring them to provide voting materials in languages other than English. (vote #340, 6/28/06)
Voted to increase funding for Amtrak to over fives its previous budget even though the rail line is perpetually unprofitable. (vote #263, 6/13/06)
Voted against slashing funding for Amtrak (vote #473, 9/4/03 & vote #470, 9/4/03)