Ruben Hinojosa MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

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

• 06/22/2000: Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.
• 10/14/1999: Voted NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC
• 09/16/1998: Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests

  Increase the number of police officers working in high-crime communities

• 01/23/2007: Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program

  Legal age for prosecution as an adult: Decrease

• 06/17/1999: Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime

Civil Rights

Prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays
• 04/02/2009: Voted YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes
• 11/13/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation
• 07/29/1999: Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC

  Abortion rights: Women should choose

• 05/04/2011: Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion
• 02/26/2004: Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 06/30/1999: Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion

  Support for gun rights

• 10/20/2005: Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers
• 04/09/2003: Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse

  Ban abortions except in limited cases

• 04/27/2005: Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 10/02/2003: Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life

  Support for gun control measures

• 01/03/2013: Ban large-capacity ammunition
• 06/18/1999: Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1

  Abortion rights: Ban all abortions

• 04/05/2000: Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions

  Support marriage rights between same-sex individuals

• 09/30/2004: Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: More

• 12/08/2005: Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends
• 04/18/2002: Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent
• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years

  Taxes for large corporations: Increase

• 03/09/2000: Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business

  Invest money in more public projects to improve infrastructure

• 03/13/2013: Sponsored investing $1 billion in transportation projects

  Increase taxes for all tax payers

• 12/31/2003: by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes

  Taxes for wealthier tax payers: Less

• 04/04/2001: Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")

  Implement a flat tax

• 09/23/2004: Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification

Education Issues

Increase per pupil funding

• 04/11/2013: Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015
• 03/21/2013: Sponsored 10/10 Loan Forgiveness: cancel college loans after 10 years
• 12/31/2003: by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes
• 03/14/2001: Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3

  Oppose school vouchers

• 03/30/2011: Voted NO on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program
• 08/06/1998: Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools
• 11/04/1997: Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools

Environmental Issues

Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 06/26/2009: Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution
• 01/16/2007: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
• 06/26/2000: Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol

  Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 05/12/2011: Voted NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling
• 01/18/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies

  Use tax incentives to promote efficient energy production and conservation

• 05/21/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation

  Support off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 06/29/2006: Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore

  Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets

  Increase tax incentives for solar energy development and use

• 02/12/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy

  Reduce or remove environmental regulations that address oil refinement

• 09/29/2005: Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species

  Oppose domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR

Healthcare Issues

Increase amount of children covered by Medicaid reimbursements for health costs

• 01/14/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 10/25/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility

  Establish government-assisted non-profit organizations from which all taxpayers would obtain health insurance

• 12/31/2003: by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

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

Immigration

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

• 09/14/2012: Allow more visas for STEM college graduates
• 09/24/1998: Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers

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

• 05/20/2004: Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment