2003-04 Mass Scorecard for State Representative William Straus

Fundamental Issue in MassDems' Party Platform (Click for full text of platform section)	Summary of related issue put to vote (Click for House Journal references)	This Rep's vote on this issue	Party platform on this issue
Part I: Families & Children   Persons with Disabilities	Jul 10, 2003:Veto override of $200K reduction to blind job program	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
No Child Left Behind	Jul 10, 2003:Veto override of federal school breakfast supplement	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Persons with Disabilities	Jul 10, 2003:Veto override of $900K for disability & mentoring aid	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Domestic Partnership	Feb 11, 2004:defining marriage as one man and one woman	Straus: NO	Platform: NO
Part II: Education   Full Funding	May 6, 2003:3-year moratorium on charter schools	Straus: NO	Platform: YES
Full Funding	Jun 4, 2003:Allow municipal meals tax, in addition to state meals tax	Straus: NO	Platform: YES
Full Funding	Jul 20, 2004:moratorium on expansion of charter schools	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Excellence, Equality and Community	Jul 14, 2003:Exempting two-way bilingual programs from English-only rules	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part III: Health Care   Mental Health	Jul 10, 2003:Veto override of "Turning 22" mental disability program	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Tobacco	Oct 22, 2003:tax credits for all smoking regulation costs	Straus: NO	Platform: NO
Health Care	Jul 14, 2004:amending the Constitution to call for universal health care	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part IV: Economic Growth   A Healthy Business Environment	May 1, 2003:Defeating corporate tax disclosure	Straus: YES	Platform: NO
A Healthy Business Environment	May 1, 2003:Extending corporate tax credit 5 years	Straus: YES	Platform: NO
Supporting the Transition from Welfare to Work	May 5, 2003:Requiring workfare for mothers of 2- to 6-year-olds	Straus: YES	Platform: NO
Workforce Training	Jan 13, 2004:investing in emerging technologies, math & science Fund.	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Competitive Advantage and a Global Economy	Jan 14, 2004:funding for International Trade Council to promote exports	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Supporting the Transition from Welfare to Work	Jul 16, 2003:allowing parents on welfare to go back to school	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part V: Fiscal Responsibility   Tax Fairness and Responsible Budgeting	Apr 30, 2003:Borrow $300 million to offset the budget deficit via bonds	Straus: NO	Platform: NO
Tax Fairness and Responsible Budgeting	Apr 30, 2003:Raising the income tax to 5.95% to offset the budget deficit	Straus: NO	Platform: YES
Part VI: Safety & Justice   Legal Services	Jul 10, 2003:Veto override of Mass Correctional Legal Services	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Crime Prevention	Feb 10, 2004:earmarking funds for women's substance abuse program	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part VII: Housing   Housing	May 10, 2004:removing funds for Affordable Housing Trust	Straus: YES	Platform: NO
Urban Investment	Jul 8, 2004:rejecting $25M earmarked for Housing Trust Fund	Straus: NO	Platform: NO
Part VIII: Environment   Food Safety, Pesticides and Public Health	Jul 8, 2003:Veto override of reduced fees for blood lead level testing	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Safeguarding Natural Resources	Nov 17, 2003:Veto override to keep park maintenance funding within MDC	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Toxics Use Reductions	Jul 30, 2004:requiring dental amalgam (mercury) separators	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part IX: Political Reform	(No votes on which to base response)
Part X: Worker Rights   Occupational Safety	Jul 16, 2003:Early retirement for cases of MWRA-work-related cancer	Straus: YES	Platform: YES
Part XI: America & the World	(No votes on which to base response)
Number of votes in 2003-04 in accord with Democratic Party Platform:		20 out of 27 votes.
Summary letter grade: A=90% or better; B=80%; C=70%; D=60%; F=below 60%		C