Rick Larsen topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 03/06/2013: Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016
• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy
• 07/29/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending
• 07/27/2011: Increase debt limit from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion
• 05/09/2013: Voted NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 08/01/2000: Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases
• 06/26/2009: Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution
• 04/07/2011: Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 02/09/2012: Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures
• 11/15/2011: Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge
• 11/15/2012: Establish 15 days of early voting in all states
• 05/24/2007: Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations
• 02/14/2002: Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions
• 03/12/2013: Corporate political spending is not free speech
• 04/05/2006: Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees
• 01/16/2014: No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote

  CON:

• 07/12/2001: Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 01/04/2007: Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting

  CON:

• 07/17/2009: Voted NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets
• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels
• 06/07/2006: Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries
• 01/18/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 03/15/2011: $5 billion in tax credits for alternative energy projects
• 02/12/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence
• 08/04/2007: Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel
• 05/21/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation
• 06/29/2006: Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

• 08/01/2000: Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology
• 01/03/2013: Ban "fire sale" of firearms after delicensing closure

  CON:

• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record
• 04/09/2003: Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse
• 10/20/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers
• 05/18/2010: Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message
• 01/06/2009: National cross-state standard for concealed carry

GMOs and Food Labeling

PRO:

• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes

  CON:

• 09/29/2005: Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 03/15/2007: Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record

  CON:

• 04/03/2003: Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan
• 02/02/2005: Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

PRO:

• 09/25/2001: Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism

  CON:

• 06/10/2008: Voted YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 03/17/2009: Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception
• 05/24/2005: Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research
• 04/27/2005: Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 02/05/2007: Ensure access to and funding for contraception
• 05/04/2011: Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion
• 02/26/2004: Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record
• 09/26/2006: Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals
• 09/25/2002: Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info
• 10/02/2003: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life
• 01/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 04/26/2007: Provide emergency contraception at military facilities
• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

PRO:

• 04/03/2001: More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes
• 07/08/2013: Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools
• 11/13/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation
• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays
• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes
• 09/30/2004: Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
• 07/18/2006: Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman

Repealing ObamaCare

CON:

• 01/12/2007: Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 01/05/2011: Require insurers to cover breast cancer treatment
• 07/24/2003: Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs
• 03/05/2008: Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health
• 11/22/2003: Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients
• 03/13/2003: Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits
• 08/01/2000: Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 04/15/2011: Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 01/23/2008: Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids
• 02/01/2006: Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record
• 01/14/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 10/25/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 04/13/2011: Voted NO on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 04/18/2002: Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent
• 12/08/2005: Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes
• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years
• 12/12/2007: Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes
• 04/16/2012: Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation
• 09/23/2004: Voted NO on providing tax relief and simplification

  CON:

• 03/29/2001: Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years
• 04/04/2001: Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")
• 06/25/2008: Voted YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

CON:

• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR
• 05/12/2011: Voted NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling
• 10/07/2005: Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries