Bruce Poliquin in Survey of 2014 House campaign websites
On Abortion:
Pro-life and proud of it
I was raised in a traditional Franco-American Catholic home in Central Maine. We cherished the values of close family, religious freedom, independence, and hard work.From that upbringing, reinforced by a family tragedy when
my son was still in diapers, I developed a deep appreciation for the invaluable role families play in our society. I believe that our government policies should support and strengthen American families.
These experiences also reminded me how fragile and precious life is. Raising my son as a single dad, I understand the many challenges as well as the special joys of rising children alone.
I believe in strong family values and in life. I am the only candidate in this Congressional race who is pro-life, and I'm proud of it.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Budget & Economy:
Build a less intrusive and less expensive federal government
In Congress, I'll fight entrenched bureaucrats and status quo politicians to build a limited, less intrusive, and less expensive federal government.
Less government spending and borrowing will allow taxes to be cut. Eliminating unnecessary regulations will make it less complicated and costly to start and run a business.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Education:
Expand from 10 charters to more parental choices
Parents, not Washington bureaucrats, are better able to determine the right education for their kids. The best education is closest to home.I strongly support the widest educational and school choices for students and their parents.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until 2012 that Maine students experienced expanded educational choices offered to students in 40 other states. For many years, the teachers union convinced enough Maine legislators to ban publically funded charter schools.
Even today, Maine students will benefit from the flexible curriculums of only ten charter schools statewide. Education should be about the children, not the adults.
I have lived and share the educational values of our 2nd District families.
I will carry this experience to Washington and fight for local control, student and teacher performance standards, learning excellence, and school choice.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Energy & Oil:
Fully develop all sources of domestic energy
While in Congress, I'll fight for the federal government to assist American companies to fully develop and transport all sources of domestic energy within environmentally responsible ways. Our free enterprise system can best determine which sources
become affordable. Politicians and bureaucrats should not spend limited taxpayer dollars, or borrow more, to subsidize expensive sources of energy.Currently, our nation imports about one-half of our oil consumption, often from unfriendly countries.
At the current price, American families and businesses send roughly $250 billion per year to other countries to import their oil. Keeping those purchases here at home would create tens of thousands of American jobs to explore, extract, refine, and
transport that energy. Untold tens of thousands more jobs would be created by the lower costs to run our companies. Increasing the supply of domestic oil could lower the crushing $250/month gas and diesel bills swamping Maine family budgets.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Free Trade:
Promote trade and investment opportunities
Support Our Unique Maine Industries and Their Jobs:ACTION ITEMS:- Fight to remove unnecessary federal regulations and mandates
- Promote trade and investment opportunities
- Secure federal infrastructure projects.
For the health and freedom
of our 2nd District families, it is critical that government help, not hinder, our small businesses that employ our workers. Red tape and unnecessary paperwork from Washington smother our companies with higher costs that result in job losses.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Government Reform:
12-year term limit on members of Congress
Once elected, the primary concern of long-time politicians is to use the advantages of their offices to get re-elected. They use our tax dollars to grow government programs to secure more votes in the next election. They increasingly lose touch with
those they are responsible to represent. Problems grow and remain unsolved because career politicians avoid making difficult and unpopular decisions that invite criticism and might lose votes.The best way to break this dysfunctional cycle is to
limit the terms of our elected officials in Washington: 12 years in the House of Representatives and 12 years in the Senate are reasonable periods of time to get the People's work done. Term limits will encourage elected officials to do what's right
instead of what's politically advantageous to get re-elected.
15 state legislatures, including Maine's, and 8 of our 10 largest cities impose term limits on their senior elected officials. It's time Washington does the same.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Gun Control:
Strong supporter of the Second Amendment
Maine residents have a long history of safe and law-abiding gun ownership. We have one of the highest rates of firearms possession and one of the lowest rates of gun violence. For generations, 2nd District families like my own have responsibly used
firearms to enjoy our long tradition of hunting and target shooting, and to ensure the protection of our rights and property. I'm a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and always have been. I still use my Marlin rifle that I bought at age 14.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Health Care:
Replace ObamaCare with cross-state & group insurance
End ObamaCare and Replace with Free Market Solution to Improve Health Care: ACTION ITEMS:- Promote competition among insurance companies to lower monthly premiums
- Allow purchase of health insurance across state lines
- Help those who can't
afford coverage with subsidies
- End ObamaCare exemption for Congress.
It's a bad idea for the federal government to take over our free market health care industry. Although promised otherwise, millions of frightened Americans are seeing their
health insurance plans cancelled because they do not include unwanted and expensive coverage mandated by the new one-size-fits-all health care law.One alternative to ObamaCare is to allow families to shop across state lines to buy the
health insurance that fits our needs at a price we can afford, just like purchasing automobile insurance. Small businesses should also be allowed to band together to buy coverage.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Homeland Security:
NSA tracking of US citizens violates 4th Amendment
For years, the National Security Agency has systematically tracked and collected our emails, phone calls, and other communications. Notwithstanding the counter-terrorism purpose and provisions of the Patriot Act, this surveillance
activity of Americans might be in violation of our Fourth Amendment protection against "unreasonable searches and seizures." If so, these activities should stop and our laws tightened to prevent further such Constitutional violations.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Top spending priority is full financing of military
Freedom isn't free. A top spending priority for Congress should be the full financial and logistic support for our brave men and women in uniform during active and reserve duty. When they return to civilian life, our commitment must continue
to those who protected our homeland and kept us free. America must always be grateful to our military personnel and their families for the sacrifices made to ensure our special way of life.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Immigration:
Legal immigration is good for America; illegal isn't
Support Legal, Not Illegal, Immigration: ACTION ITEMS:- Promote legal immigration; discourage illegal entry
- Secure our borders
- Ensure no unfair advantage for illegal immigrants
- Welcome those with specific skills to grow our economy.
Legal immigration is good for America; illegal immigration is not. We should encourage individuals and families to enter our country legally, not the other way around. Our borders and ports should be fully secured to prevent further illegal entry.
Then, we should reform our immigration system to control the number of new non-criminal immigrants who seek the blessings of American freedom and opportunity.
The federal government should institute a system, backed by stiff penalties, to verify that employers only hire workers who are here legally.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Social Security:
Adjustments to future retirees, but not current ones
Our critically important and popular Social Security and Medicare programs must be saved and protected. For decades, millions of senior citizens have paid taxes into these programs to ensure they will have basic retirement and health care security during
their later years.The good news is that we CAN keep the retirement and health care promises made to our senior citizens; save Social Security and Medicare for future generations; and still address our nation's fiscal and jobs crises.
There should be no change to the expected benefits received by our retirees or soon-to-be seniors. However, adjustments to the programs must be made for future generations if those benefits are to be there when needed.
As Maine State Treasurer, I helped lead the successful effort to solve a similar problem in Augusta.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Tax Reform:
Reduce taxes to create jobs
Grow Maine's Economy and Create Jobs: ACTION ITEMS:- Eliminate unnecessary job-killing regulations
- Lower heating oil, gasoline, electricity costs
- End ObamaCare
- Stop wasteful overspending
- Start paying off
$17 trillion national debt
- Reduce taxes
- Recruit new businesses to Maine
Having spent 35 years growing businesses and creating jobs, I understand what must be done to expand our economy and increase employment here in Maine.
For far too long, we have sent career politicians to Washington with little or no experience running a company and creating jobs.
They bicker to score political points while our serious problems grow worse. The economy struggles to recover and our families suffer. We need a new approach.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On War & Peace:
Congress' approval before going to war; stay out of Syria
Support and Defend the Constitution: ACTION ITEMS:- President must secure Congressional approval before going to war
- Ensure only Congress can commit to military conflict
- Stay out of Syrian civil war
-
Ensure IRS does not violate 1st Amendment right of free speech
- Protect our 2nd Amendment right
- Investigate NSA surveillance for 4th Amendment violations.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
On Welfare & Poverty:
War on Poverty has failed after spending $16 trillion
Strengthen the Welfare Safety Net while Reducing Dependency: ACTION ITEMS:- Promote jobs as best cure for poverty
- Save welfare for those truly in need
- Stop dependency that traps families in poverty.
Fifty years ago,
President Lyndon Johnson declared the War on Poverty in America. Since then, $16 trillion taxpayer dollars have been spent on welfare programs to eliminate those conditions.
Today, however, 15% of Americans still live in poverty; there were 19% when the initiative began. By any objective measure, the well-intended War on Poverty has been a sad and expensive failure.The American dream is not about becoming comfortable
entrapped in big government welfare programs for our subsistence. Rather, it's to take advantage of our unique free market democracy to improve our lives, live independently, care for our families, and enjoy more happiness and freedom.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018