Sheldon Whitehouse 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

  Legal age for prosecution as an adult: Increase

• 01/01/2006: Rules out death penalty for juveniles

  Use of treatment centers for violators of criminal laws targeting drug-use

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

Civil Rights

Abortion rights: Women should choose

• 11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services
• 01/06/2009: Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception
• 03/14/2008: Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 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
• 09/13/2006: Firmly believes family planning decisions should be private
• 09/12/2006: Deeply committed to protecting a woman`s right to choose

  Support for gun control measures

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

  Support marriage rights between same-sex individuals

• 09/13/2006: Don`t use Constitution to divide gay people from others
• 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
• 04/23/2006: Fight a constitutional ban on gay marriage

  Prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: More

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

  Taxes for large corporations: Increase

• 04/15/2013: Sponsored enforcing against corporate offshore tax haven banking

Education Issues

Increase per pupil funding

• 04/11/2013: Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015
• 09/21/2011: $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools
• 09/13/2006: NCLB`s teaching-to-the-test hurts children`s learning
• 05/12/2006: Fully fund No Child Left Behind

  Oppose school vouchers

• 10/23/2012: Extend "Race to the Top" to middle school
• 09/12/2006: Vouchers are a poor use of scarce federal dollars

Environmental Issues

Eliminate tax incentives and/or subsidies to the fossil fuel industry

• 09/13/2006: Replace oil lobby with entirely new energy strategy
• 04/28/2006: New technologies for environmentally-friendly energy

  Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

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

  Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 04/01/2009: Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade

  Regulate average miles-per-gallon production for consumer vehicles

• 09/12/2006: Push for tougher CAFE standards

  Oppose domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

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

Healthcare Issues

Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

• 04/14/2011: Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 04/07/2008: Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn
• 05/02/2006: Scrap Medicare Rx plan, and negotiate for drug prices

  Increase amount of children covered by Medicaid reimbursements for health costs

• 01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility

Immigration

Provide amnesty for undocumented individuals

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities"
• 06/28/2007: Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform
• 09/13/2006: Path to citizenship after illegal aliens have paid dues
• 09/12/2006: Immigrants should be able to realize dream of citizenship

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

• 09/14/2012: Allow more visas for STEM college graduates
• 05/22/2007: Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program