Mark Udall topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 03/22/2012: Sponsored raising cap on credit union small business loans
• 02/10/2009: Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy
• 07/30/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 06/26/2000: Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol
• 09/09/2008: We must pass legislation to limit carbon emissions
• 04/06/2011: Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• 04/02/2009: Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax
• 03/02/2008: Immediate response to global climate change
• 04/01/2009: Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 02/10/2005: Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 05/11/2010: Require Internet disclosure of all earmarks
• 05/24/2007: Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations
• 07/10/2012: Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures
• 02/14/2002: Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions
• 02/25/2009: Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad
• 04/05/2006: Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees
• 01/06/2009: Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises
• 09/14/1999: Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads
• 02/25/2013: Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements

  CON:

• 07/12/2001: Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 03/09/2007: Promote conservation of rare felids & canids
• 01/04/2007: Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting
• 02/28/2011: Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs
• 05/08/2013: Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025
• 03/02/2008: Being green is MAKING green
• 06/07/2006: Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries
• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets
• 02/12/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy
• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels
• 08/04/2007: Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel
• 08/16/2008: Expand funding for work towards mitigating climate change
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence
• 01/18/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 06/29/2006: Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore
• 05/21/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

• 04/17/2013: Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 04/09/2003: Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse
• 10/20/2005: Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers
• 06/18/1999: Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record

  CON:

• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 03/02/2008: Hunting & angling tradition generates income and jobs

GMOs and Food Labeling

PRO:

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

  CON:

• 09/29/2005: Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 03/18/1999: Voted NO on deploying SDI
• 11/01/2000: No missile defense until proven technically & politically
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record
• 03/15/2007: Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts

  CON:

• 02/02/2005: Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses
• 04/03/2003: Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan
• 12/19/2007: Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11
• 06/12/2008: Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans
• 07/22/1999: Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

PRO:

• 12/31/2006: Ranked by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance
• 07/23/2001: Legalize medical marijuana
• 01/01/2014: Ranked by NORML, indicating a pro-legalization stance
• 10/14/1999: Voted NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC

  CON:

• 06/10/2008: Voted YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs
• 04/29/2010: TV ads to prevent teenage meth use
• 09/25/2001: Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 08/05/2014: AdWatch: defend woman's right to make her own choices
• 03/05/2009: Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies
• 04/05/2000: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record
• 05/24/2005: Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research
• 09/25/2002: Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info
• 02/05/2007: Ensure access to and funding for contraception
• 10/02/2003: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life
• 06/30/1999: Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion
• 09/26/2006: Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals
• 01/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance
• 02/26/2004: Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 04/27/2005: Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 09/09/2008: Expand stem cell research; promise for treating disease

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

PRO:

• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance
• 07/18/2006: Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
• 12/19/2007: Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
• 03/10/2011: Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools
• 06/04/2013: Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools
• 09/30/2004: Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
• 11/13/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation
• 07/29/1999: Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC
• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 08/16/2008: Support civil union; let states decide on gay marriage laws
• 04/03/2001: More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes

Repealing ObamaCare

PRO:

• 07/24/2003: Voted NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs

  CON:

• 11/22/2003: Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 03/13/2003: Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits
• 06/28/2000: Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage
• 06/11/2009: Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 02/01/2006: Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay
• 01/29/2009: 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
• 03/05/2008: Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health
• 10/06/1999: Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts
• 03/02/2008: Make Congress` healthcare options available to all
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record
• 05/25/2011: Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 01/12/2007: Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 10/25/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years
• 04/04/2001: Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")
• 03/09/2000: Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business
• 03/02/2008: Bush tax cuts were reckless and unfair
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation
• 04/18/2002: Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes
• 12/08/2005: Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 12/12/2007: Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes

  CON:

• 06/25/2008: Voted YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income
• 07/12/2000: Voted YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty"
• 03/29/2001: Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

CON:

• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR
• 02/28/2001: Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it
• 10/07/2005: Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries