Sheldon Whitehouse topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 10/23/2012: Grow the economy from the middle class out
• 03/22/2012: Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million
• 07/30/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending
• 02/10/2009: Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 05/02/2012: Ranked by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record
• 11/19/2013: Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 05/15/2008: Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China
• 04/01/2009: Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 01/24/2008: Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards
• 05/15/2007: Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning
• 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

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 05/02/2006: Stricter rules for lobbyists and ethics
• 09/12/2006: Total ban on gifts from lobbyists
• 11/05/2007: Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting
• 02/25/2013: Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements
• 01/16/2014: No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote
• 07/10/2012: Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures
• 10/23/2012: Overturn Citizens United; it undid 100 years of regulations

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 06/27/2012: Establish an International Conservation Strategy
• 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
• 01/13/2012: Ranked by HSLF, indicating a pro-animal welfare voting record

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 06/21/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 09/12/2006: Push for tougher CAFE standards
• 06/17/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

• 07/27/2006: Fight to keep guns off our streets
• 07/27/2006: Common-sense solutions to fight gun crime
• 04/02/2009: Voted NO on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 01/22/2013: Ban large-capacity ammunition
• 05/07/2009: Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales
• 09/06/2007: Voted NO on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 04/17/2013: Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets

GMOs and Food Labeling

PRO:

• 02/11/2013: Sponsored enforcing against illegal ocean fishing

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 07/11/2007: Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months
• 09/13/2006: Our presence in Iraq worsens situation in Israel

  CON:

• 12/19/2007: Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

PRO:

• 09/12/2006: Supports drug treatment and alternative drug courts

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 04/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 10/18/2007: Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 07/26/2011: Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions
• 11/29/2005: Opposes Alito on grounds of woman`s right to choose
• 03/14/2008: Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 09/12/2006: Deeply committed to protecting a woman`s right to choose
• 02/05/2007: Ensure access to and funding for contraception
• 07/18/2006: Expand federal support for Stem Cell research
• 09/13/2006: Firmly believes family planning decisions should be private
• 11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services
• 03/05/2009: Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

PRO:

• 03/10/2011: Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools
• 09/13/2006: Regulation of marriage has always been a state issue
• 04/23/2006: Repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military
• 06/04/2013: Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools
• 12/19/2007: Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
• 04/23/2006: Fight a constitutional ban on gay marriage
• 09/13/2006: Don`t use Constitution to divide gay people from others
• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays

Repealing ObamaCare

CON:

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium
• 01/22/2009: Disclose payments from manufacturers to physicians
• 01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 05/25/2011: Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 03/16/2009: Expand health services for women veterans
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 05/02/2006: Scrap Medicare Rx plan, and negotiate for drug prices
• 05/02/2006: Provide all families with insurance
• 03/04/2009: Expand the National Health Service Corps
• 06/11/2009: Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 04/18/2007: Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 04/07/2008: Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn
• 02/14/2008: Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 02/13/2008: Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 10/23/2012: Tax code is broken, but flat tax is a lousy idea
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 09/13/2006: We owe $1 trillion to China to fund Bush tax cuts
• 03/22/2012: Sponsored minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1M
• 08/12/2005: $300 tax rebate a bad deal if it means $150,000 future debt
• 08/12/2005: Roll back the tax reductions to America`s wealthiest
• 04/15/2013: Sponsored enforcing against corporate offshore tax haven banking
• 03/21/2007: Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 10/23/2012: $2T in new revenues, and $2T in cuts, to balance budget
• 09/13/2006: Bush tax cuts are improvident & unfair--repeal them
• 03/23/2007: Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

CON:

• 11/07/2007: Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness