Thad Cochran MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

Increase the number of local prosecutors

• 04/17/1996: Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals
• 05/11/1994: Voted YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals

  Support for the construction of prisons or detention centers

• 11/10/1999: Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses

Civil Rights

Support for gun rights

• 09/25/2013: Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty
• 04/17/2013: Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
• 03/23/2009: Dangerousness, not mental incompetence, limits gun rights
• 02/03/2009: Apply concealed carry permit to all other states where legal
• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership
• 07/29/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers
• 05/20/1999: Voted NO on background checks at gun shows
• 05/11/1999: Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows

  Support marriage rights between a man and a woman only

• 12/31/2006: by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance
• 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
• 06/20/2000: Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation
• 09/10/1996: Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation
• 09/10/1996: Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage

  Ban abortions except in limited cases

• 05/05/2011: Prohibit federal funding for abortion
• 10/18/2007: Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 07/25/2006: Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions
• 03/12/2003: Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life
• 06/20/2000: Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions

  Abortion rights: Ban all abortions

• 03/14/2008: Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP

  Abortion rights: Women should choose

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion

  Support for gun control measures

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

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: Less

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million
• 02/13/2008: Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 03/21/2007: Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 12/31/2006: by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation
• 08/03/2006: Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts
• 06/08/2006: Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`
• 02/02/2006: Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 11/18/2005: Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends
• 05/23/2003: Voted YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years
• 04/02/1998: Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes

  Reduce taxes for middle class tax payers

• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 03/23/2007: Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax

  Reduce taxes for small businesses

• 12/31/2003: by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record

Education Issues

Support school vouchers

• 03/02/2000: Voted YES on Educational Savings Accounts
• 06/24/1998: Voted YES on education savings accounts
• 09/30/1997: Voted YES on school vouchers in DC

  Reduce federal government involvement with public education

• 02/06/2014: Denounce the Common Core State Standards
• 04/04/2001: Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction
• 03/09/1999: Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules

  Support privatization of mass education

• 12/31/2003: by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes

  Increase per pupil funding

• 10/26/2005: Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies

Environmental Issues

Support domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

• 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

  Support off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 06/26/2008: Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing
• 06/21/2007: Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies

  Oppose cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 04/01/2009: Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade
• 06/16/2005: Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%)

  Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025

  Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 01/16/2007: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

  Regulate average miles-per-gallon production for consumer vehicles

• 09/15/1999: Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards

Healthcare Issues

Reduce government involvement in the provision of health insurance for taxpayers

• 05/25/2011: Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 01/29/2009: Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 11/01/2007: Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 02/02/2006: Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D
• 12/31/2003: by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record
• 04/18/1996: Voted NO on blocking medical savings acounts

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare

Immigration

Oppose amnesty for undocumented individuals

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities"
• 06/28/2007: Voted NO on comprehensive immigration reform

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

• 07/23/1998: Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work
• 05/18/1998: Voted YES on visas for skilled workers

  Oppose in-state tuition at public universities and colleges for undocumented students

• 05/18/2006: Voted NO on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security
• 06/24/1997: Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants

  Provide amnesty for undocumented individuals

• 05/18/2006: Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship

  Increase border security between U.S. and Mexico

• 09/29/2006: Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border