Collin Peterson MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

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

• 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

  Support for the construction of prisons or detention centers

• 06/22/2000: Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.
• 11/20/1993: More prison cells; more truth in sentencing

  Increase the number of local prosecutors

• 02/08/1995: Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder
• 04/14/1994: Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment

  Legal age for prosecution as an adult: Decrease

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

Civil Rights

Support for gun rights

• 10/12/2011: Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases
• 01/25/2011: Allow veterans to register unlicensed guns acquired abroad
• 05/18/2010: Teach kids Eddie Eagle GunSafe's lifesaving message
• 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

• 05/05/2011: Prohibit federal funding for abortion
• 07/29/2010: Bar funding for abortion under federal Obamacare plans
• 04/27/2005: Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 02/26/2004: Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 10/02/2003: Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life

  Support marriage rights between a man and a woman only

• 04/02/2009: Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes
• 06/25/2008: Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage
• 07/18/2006: Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
• 09/30/2004: Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
• 07/29/1999: Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC

  Abortion rights: Ban all abortions

• 12/01/2011: Ban abortions for sex selection or race selection
• 05/04/2011: Voted YES on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion
• 04/05/2000: Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions
• 06/30/1999: Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion

  Prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

• 11/13/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation

  Support for gun control measures

• 06/18/1999: Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1

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
• 04/04/2001: Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax")

  Support a balanced federal budget by constitutional amendment

• 01/05/2011: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution
• 01/06/2009: Balanced Budget Amendment with 3/5 vote to override

  Taxes for large corporations: Decrease

• 03/09/2000: Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business

  Reduce taxes for small businesses

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

  Increase taxes for all tax payers

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

  Implement a flat tax

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

  Implement national sales tax instead of income-based tax code

• 07/30/2003: Abolish IRS--replace income tax with national sales tax

Education Issues

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

  Increase per pupil funding

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

Environmental Issues

Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

• 11/02/2011: Extend through 2016 the renewable energy tax credit
• 09/26/2008: Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets
• 01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025

  Support off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 05/12/2011: Voted YES on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling
• 06/29/2006: Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore

  Consumer tax credits for the purchase of hybrid or electric vehicles

• 05/03/2011: Require 80% fuel-choice vehicles by 2018
• 04/27/2005: Tax credit for gas stations providing 85% ethanol fuel

  Use tax incentives to promote efficient energy production and conservation

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

  Support domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

• 08/01/2001: Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR

  Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

• 01/18/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies

  Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 06/26/2009: Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution

  Oppose cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

• 06/26/2000: Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol

  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

• 02/28/2001: Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it

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
• 01/23/2008: Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids
• 10/25/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 12/05/2000: Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid

  Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 06/28/2000: Prescription drug benefit within Medicare

  Reduce government involvement in the provision of health insurance for taxpayers

• 02/08/1999: Expand medical savings accounts for employers & individuals

Immigration

Increase border security between U.S. and Mexico

• 09/14/2006: Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border
• 06/06/2006: Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project

  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