Pat Roberts topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

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

  CON:

• 05/02/2012: Ranked by UFCW, indicating a pro-management voting record
• 07/08/2014: Ok to spend in time of war; otherwise don't be over-generous
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million
• 02/10/2009: Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 01/23/2012: Disapprove of increasing the debt limit
• 02/04/2013: Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 09/09/1998: Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases

  CON:

• 04/01/2009: Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 04/06/2011: Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• 05/15/2008: Voted NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China
• 11/02/2010: Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP
• 05/15/2007: Voted NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax

Getting Money Out of Politics

CON:

• 04/02/2001: Voted NO on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations
• 10/07/1997: Voted NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance
• 03/29/2006: Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress
• 03/20/2002: Voted NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads
• 09/19/2014: 2012: No transparency of PAC donors; 2014: Some transparency
• 09/19/2014: No term limits for Congress
• 03/28/2006: Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

CON:

• 01/13/2012: Ranked by HSLF, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record
• 05/08/2013: Voted NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 09/15/1999: Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards
• 06/10/2003: Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010

  CON:

• 08/20/2008: Increase oil and gas production at home
• 06/21/2007: Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 06/16/1999: Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy
• 06/17/2008: Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation
• 03/13/2002: Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months
• 06/16/2005: Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%)
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

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

  CON:

• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 01/06/2009: National cross-state standard for concealed carry
• 05/11/1999: Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows
• 07/21/1998: Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record
• 04/17/2013: Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 03/27/2007: Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC
• 04/12/2011: Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad
• 09/19/2014: Don't mess with people's right to bear arms
• 03/23/2009: Dangerousness, not mental incompetence, limits gun rights
• 02/03/2009: Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal
• 05/20/1999: Voted NO on background checks at gun shows

GMOs and Food Labeling

CON:

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

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 09/09/1998: Reduce federal government size & scope, including military

  CON:

• 12/31/2003: Ranked by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record
• 12/19/2007: Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11
• 07/11/2007: Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months
• 04/20/2005: Voted NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding
• 03/17/1999: Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP
• 10/30/1997: Voted YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects
• 07/08/2014: $200M for new fleet of tankers at McConnell Air Force Base
• 01/30/2002: Supports $48 billion in new spending for anti-terrorism
• 09/27/1994: No US troops under UN command; more defense spending
• 05/26/1999: Voted NO on allowing another round of military base closures
• 02/24/1999: Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

CON:

• 05/14/1999: Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations
• 11/10/1999: Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses

Abortion Rights

CON:

• 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
• 10/18/2007: Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 01/22/2008: Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion
• 09/19/2014: Let insurance plans deny abortions based on employer beliefs
• 06/20/2000: Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 03/25/2004: Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime
• 04/11/2007: Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 04/24/2008: Staunch stance as an advocate for life and families
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance
• 03/12/2003: Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life
• 07/25/2006: Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions
• 05/05/2011: Prohibit federal funding for abortion
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record
• 03/14/2008: Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

CON:

• 06/20/2000: Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance
• 02/12/2014: State definition of marriage supersedes federal gay marriage
• 06/25/2008: Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage
• 06/07/2006: Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage
• 06/11/2002: Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes

Repealing ObamaCare

PRO:

• 07/13/1999: Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction
• 03/17/2005: Voted NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug
• 01/29/2009: Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 06/24/1997: Voted YES on Medicare means-testing
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium
• 07/04/2010: Repeal any federal health care takeover
• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D
• 09/19/2014: Immediate and complete repeal of ObamaCare
• 04/03/2001: Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record
• 06/11/2009: Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 04/18/2007: Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 11/03/2005: Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics
• 11/01/1996: Encourage tax-free medical savings accounts
• 06/22/2000: Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare
• 10/29/2013: First to call for Sebelius resignation over ObamaCare fiasco

  CON:

• 06/26/2003: Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit
• 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
• 05/24/2002: Tax credits for those without employee health insurance
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 02/14/2008: Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare
• 05/24/2002: $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 10/02/1998: Voted NO on Internet sales tax moratorium
• 09/09/1998: Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts

  CON:

• 08/12/2010: Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes
• 08/03/2006: Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts
• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut
• 11/18/2005: Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends
• 04/04/2001: Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction
• 02/02/2006: Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 05/23/2003: Voted YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 06/08/2006: Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`
• 04/05/2000: Voted YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts
• 01/01/2012: Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
• 05/17/2001: Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates
• 07/18/2000: Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'
• 02/13/2008: Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 03/11/2009: Keep reduction of capital gains tax
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation
• 03/21/2007: Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 04/02/1998: Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes
• 03/23/2007: Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
• 09/27/1994: Repeal marriage tax; cut middle class taxes

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

PRO:

• 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
• 04/06/2000: Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling
• 06/26/2008: Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing