Justin Amash in 2018 House MI elections
On Civil Rights:
Allow transgender people in the military
The House delivered a stinging rebuke to President Trump's transgender military ban, adopting an amendment that would bar the use of U.S. funds to pay for the policy. The vote on the amendment, introduced by Reps. Anthony Brown (D-MD) and Jackie Speier
(D-CA), was 243-183 and largely along party lines. The amendment passed with bipartisan support. Nine Republicans--including Rep. Justin Amash--voted "yes" on the measure.[Voting yes would overturn the Trump Administration's ban on military service
by people with gender dysphoria; voting no would maintain the ban on transgendered military service.]
Before April, transgender people could enlist and serve openly in the military thanks to a policy change during the Obama administration.
But under the new Trump administration policy, a diagnosis of gender dysphoria disqualifies potential enlistees, and a diagnosis of gender dysphoria--with the exception of transgender people already serving in the armed forces--is cause for discharge.
Source: Washington Blade on 2018 Congressional MI-3 election
Jun 18, 2019
On Abortion:
Would extend 14th Amendment rights to fetuses
He believes fetuses are protected by the 14th Amendment and supports banning all abortions.
[The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to former slaves, via the phrase "all persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens." Amash would interpret that as extending to the pre-born].
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2018 Congress MI-3 election
Nov 30, 2013
On Budget & Economy:
Wants major cuts of government programs
He doesn't just want the government out of your data: He wants it out of practically everything else too--public education, central banking, industrial investment, and the Middle East.
On the fiscal front, he thinks the Ryan budget doesn't go far enough: "He's for sequestration on steroids," says the executive director of the Michigan Democratic Party [about Republican Amash].
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2018 Congress MI-3 election
Nov 30, 2013
On Civil Rights:
Government shouldn't be defining marriage
And while Amash was an outspoken critic of the Defense of Marriage Act, arguing that such issues should be left up to the states, as a member of the
Greek Orthodox Church he's personally opposed to same-sex marriage. "My position has stood since the beginning of time: I don't think government should be defining marriage."
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2018 Congress MI-3 election
Nov 30, 2013
On Homeland Security:
Led fight in House against domestic NSA surveillance
Amash had brought the House of Representatives to a standstill with a measure that would have prohibited the NSA from indiscriminately collecting Americans' phone and internet data. Leaders in both parties opposed his amendment.
In just a few days he'd cobbled together 205 votes split almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats--and might even have seen his measure pass had House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the White House not applied last-minute pressure to stop it.
Source: Mother Jones magazine on 2018 Congress MI-3 election
Nov 30, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021