Rick Larsen MyOcracy topics and responses

Civil Rights

Abortion rights: Women should choose

• 05/04/2011: Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion
• 03/17/2009: Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception
• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 04/27/2005: Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 02/26/2004: Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 10/02/2003: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life

  Prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes
• 11/13/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation

  Support for gun rights

• 05/18/2010: Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message
• 10/20/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers
• 04/09/2003: Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse

  Support marriage rights between same-sex individuals

• 12/31/2006: by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance
• 07/18/2006: Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
• 09/30/2004: Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage

  Support for gun control measures

• 01/03/2013: Ban "fire sale" of firearms after delicensing closure

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: More

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

  Increase taxes for all tax payers

• 12/31/2003: by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes

  Taxes for wealthier tax payers: Less

• 04/04/2001: Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")

Education Issues

Increase per pupil funding

• 04/11/2013: Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015
• 12/31/2003: by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes
• 03/14/2001: Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3

  Limit the authority of public educator unions

• 08/01/2000: Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice

  Oppose school vouchers

• 03/30/2011: Voted NO on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program

Environmental Issues

Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 05/12/2011: Voted NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling
• 01/18/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 06/29/2006: Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore

  Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 06/26/2009: Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution
• 08/01/2000: Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases

  Increase tax incentives for solar energy development and use

• 03/15/2011: $5 billion in tax credits for alternative energy projects
• 02/12/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy

  Use tax incentives to promote efficient energy production and conservation

• 05/21/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation

  Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets

  Regulate average miles-per-gallon production for consumer vehicles

• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels

  Oppose domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR

Healthcare Issues

Increase amount of children covered by Medicaid reimbursements for health costs

• 01/14/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 01/23/2008: Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids
• 10/25/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility

  Establish government-assisted non-profit organizations from which all taxpayers would obtain health insurance

• 12/31/2003: by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare

Immigration

Allow in-state tuition at public universities and colleges for undocumented students

• 05/20/2004: Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment

  Increase the number of work visas granted to foreign workers each year

• 09/14/2012: Allow more visas for STEM college graduates