Brian Higgins MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

Increase the number of police officers working in high-crime communities

• 01/23/2007: Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program

Civil Rights

Abortion rights: Women should choose

• 11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services
• 01/01/2012: by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice stance
• 05/04/2011: Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion
• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 04/27/2005: Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions

  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

• 01/25/2011: Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad
• 10/20/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers

  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

  Support for gun control measures

• 01/03/2013: Ban large-capacity ammunition

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: More

• 12/31/2006: by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation
• 12/08/2005: Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 11/02/2004: Bush raided the Social Security trust fund for tax cuts

  Taxes for large corporations: Increase

• 04/15/2013: Sponsored enforcing against corporate offshore tax haven banking

  Invest money in more public projects to improve infrastructure

• 03/13/2013: Sponsored investing $1 billion in transportation projects

Education Issues

Increase per pupil funding

• 04/11/2013: Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015

  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
• 02/10/2005: Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances
• 08/01/2000: Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases

  Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 11/02/2011: Extend through 2016 the renewable energy tax credit
• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets

  Use tax incentives to promote efficient energy production and conservation

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

  Increase tax incentives for solar energy development and use

• 02/12/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy

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

• 01/05/2011: Establish a public insurance option via healthcare Exchanges

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

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