Lamar Alexander topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 07/30/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending

  CON:

• 01/23/2012: Disapprove of increasing the debt limit
• 05/02/2012: Ranked by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record
• 02/10/2009: Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 08/12/1995: Reduce government to spur growth
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 02/28/2012: We need insurance against climate change
• 03/19/2004: Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy

  CON:

• 04/01/2009: Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax
• 04/06/2011: Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• 05/15/2007: Voted NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 05/11/2010: Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks

  CON:

• 03/29/2006: Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress
• 05/27/2002: Two-year budget to reduce pork barrel spending
• 03/28/2006: Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 06/04/2008: Celebrate the recovery of the bald eagle

  CON:

• 07/10/2014: Allow importing ivory from controlled sources
• 05/08/2013: Voted NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems
• 01/13/2012: Ranked by HSLF, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record

Renewable Energy

PRO:

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

  CON:

• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence
• 06/16/2005: Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%)
• 06/10/2003: Voted NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010
• 06/17/2008: Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

• 03/02/2004: Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence

  CON:

• 05/27/2002: Criminals--not guns--cause crimes
• 05/25/1999: Strictly enforce gun laws instead of making new ones
• 06/13/2002: Repeal assault weapon ban; enforce existing laws.
• 04/30/1999: More gun laws won`t prevent another Littleton
• 03/27/2007: Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC
• 07/29/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers
• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 04/17/2013: Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record

GMOs and Food Labeling

CON:

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

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 08/18/2014: Non-proliferation includes disposing of nuclear materials

  CON:

• 08/12/1995: Stop the free fall in defense spending
• 12/19/2007: Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11
• 04/20/2005: Voted NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding
• 07/11/2007: Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months
• 05/25/1999: Upgrade retirement and health benefits for veterans
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

PRO:

• 05/25/1999: For intensive treatment; employee "education"; drug testing

  CON:

• 05/25/1999: Revive drug war with credo "Just Say No - Because".
• 05/25/1999: New branch of Armed Services to fight drugs
• 05/25/1999: Stricter enforcement at borders and of drug dealers
• 09/19/2007: Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 04/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 06/04/2004: Expand embryonic stem cell research

  CON:

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 01/22/2008: Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion
• 05/27/2002: Ban partial birth abortion; 3-day waiting period
• 03/14/2008: Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 07/25/2006: Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions
• 10/18/2007: Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record
• 03/12/2003: Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life
• 03/25/2004: Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime
• 03/17/2005: Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives
• 03/05/2009: Voted YES on restricting UN funding for population control policies
• 07/02/1996: Abortion is wrong - let states restrict it.
• 06/14/1999: Supreme Court should interpret Constitution literally

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

CON:

• 06/07/2006: Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance

Repealing ObamaCare

PRO:

• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D
• 05/25/2011: Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 05/25/1999: Patient`s bill of rights with four principles; but not suing
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium
• 02/14/2008: Voted YES on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare
• 04/18/2007: Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 05/25/1999: For uninsured: church-based Health Care Networks
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record
• 11/03/2005: Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics
• 06/11/2009: Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 03/17/2005: Voted NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug
• 10/29/2009: Establishment of Office of Health Care Fraud Prevention

  CON:

• 06/26/2003: Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit
• 05/25/1999: Medicare provides a menu of plans, some with add-on costs
• 01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 05/08/2006: Voted YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 06/21/2004: 1985: Raised state taxes to improve education

  CON:

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 05/25/1999: America needs a "family-friendly" tax code
• 08/03/2006: Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts
• 11/18/2005: Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends
• 05/25/1999: Restore flatter 28% and 15% tax rates
• 08/12/2010: Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation
• 02/13/2008: Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 08/12/1995: Flatter, fairer, simpler federal income tax
• 01/01/2012: Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
• 03/23/2007: Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
• 05/25/1999: End marriage penalty; raise child deductions; cut rates
• 03/11/2009: Keep reduction of capital gains tax
• 03/21/2007: Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 06/08/2006: Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`
• 02/02/2006: Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut
• 05/23/2003: Voted YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

PRO:

• 11/03/2005: Voted NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR
• 07/10/2008: Establish energy security strategy with domestic production
• 06/26/2008: Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing
• 03/16/2005: Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge