John Thune MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

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

• 03/23/2007: Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program
• 09/25/2001: Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism

  Legal age for prosecution as an adult: Decrease

• 06/17/1999: Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime

  Support for the construction of prisons or detention centers

• 06/22/2000: Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Civil Rights

Support for gun rights

• 09/25/2013: Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty
• 04/17/2013: Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 04/12/2011: Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad
• 08/11/2010: by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 03/23/2009: Dangerousness, not mental incompetence, limits gun rights
• 02/03/2009: Sponsored bill to apply concealed carry permit to all states
• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 07/29/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers

  Abortion rights: Ban all abortions

• 02/04/2009: Declare preborn as persons under 14th amendment
• 03/14/2008: Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 04/11/2007: Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 04/05/2000: Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions
• 06/30/1999: Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion

  Support marriage rights between a man and a woman only

• 06/25/2008: Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage
• 12/31/2006: by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance
• 06/07/2006: Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage
• 07/29/1999: Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC

  Ban abortions except in limited cases

• 05/05/2011: Prohibit federal funding for abortion
• 10/18/2007: Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 07/25/2006: Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions

  Support for gun control measures

• 06/18/1999: Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: Less

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million
• 02/13/2008: Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 03/21/2007: Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 12/31/2006: by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation
• 08/03/2006: Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts
• 06/08/2006: Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`
• 02/02/2006: Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 11/18/2005: Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends
• 04/04/2001: Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")
• 03/14/2001: Phaseout the death tax

  Reduce taxes for middle class tax payers

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 03/23/2007: Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
• 07/12/2000: Voted YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty"

  Taxes for large corporations: Decrease

• 03/11/2009: Keep reduction of capital gains tax
• 03/09/2000: Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business

  Reduce taxes for all tax payers

• 01/01/2012: Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
• 08/12/2010: Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes

  Implement a flat tax

• 05/16/2001: Voted YES on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years

Education Issues

Support school vouchers

• 08/06/1998: Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools

  Increase per pupil funding

• 10/26/2005: Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies

  Oppose school vouchers

• 11/04/1997: Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools

Environmental Issues

Oppose cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 11/02/2010: Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP
• 04/01/2009: Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 06/16/2005: Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%)
• 06/26/2000: Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol

  Support domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

• 11/03/2005: Voted NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR
• 03/16/2005: Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• 08/01/2001: Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR

  Support off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 06/26/2008: Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing

  Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 06/21/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies

  Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025

Healthcare Issues

Reduce government involvement in the provision of health insurance for taxpayers

• 05/25/2011: Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 01/29/2009: Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 07/15/2008: Voted NO on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 11/01/2007: Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D
• 10/06/1999: Voted YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium

Immigration

Oppose amnesty for undocumented individuals

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities"
• 06/28/2007: Voted NO on comprehensive immigration reform
• 05/18/2006: Voted NO on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship

  Increase border security between U.S. and Mexico

• 09/29/2006: Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border

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

• 09/24/1998: Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers

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

• 05/18/2006: Voted NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security