Benjamin Cardin topics and responses

Stimulus Spending to Beat Great Recession

PRO:

• 05/02/2012: Ranked by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record
• 11/19/2013: Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016
• 02/10/2009: Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package
• 03/13/2008: Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million
• 07/30/2009: Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending

Acknowledging and Addressing Climate Change

PRO:

• 01/24/2008: Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards
• 05/15/2007: Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning
• 06/26/2000: Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol
• 05/15/2008: Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China
• 04/02/2009: Voted NO on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax
• 01/16/2007: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
• 04/06/2011: Voted NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases
• 04/01/2009: Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade

Getting Money Out of Politics

PRO:

• 02/14/2002: Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions
• 09/14/1999: Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads
• 02/25/2013: Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements
• 04/05/2006: Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees
• 07/10/2012: Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures
• 02/25/2009: Military spouses don't lose voting residency while abroad

  CON:

• 07/12/2001: Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties

Saving Elephants, Whales, Dolphins and Lions

PRO:

• 01/13/2012: Ranked by HSLF, indicating a pro-animal welfare voting record
• 02/28/2011: Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs
• 05/08/2013: Voted YES on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems
• 01/09/2009: Fund projects for international conservation of cranes

Renewable Energy

PRO:

• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence
• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels
• 06/17/2008: Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation
• 06/21/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies
• 06/29/2006: Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore
• 06/07/2006: Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries

Making it Harder to Get a Gun

PRO:

• 06/18/1999: Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1
• 01/22/2013: Ban large-capacity ammunition
• 10/20/2005: Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record
• 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
• 04/09/2003: Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse
• 04/17/2013: Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets

  CON:

• 09/06/2007: Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership

GMOs and Food Labeling

PRO:

• 12/31/2003: Ranked by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes

  CON:

• 09/29/2005: Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species

Cutting the US Military Budget

PRO:

• 07/11/2007: Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record

  CON:

• 04/03/2003: Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan
• 02/02/2005: Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses
• 12/19/2007: Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11
• 03/18/1999: Voted YES on deploying SDI
• 07/22/1999: Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill
• 10/25/2006: Voted against war in Iraq, but for funding for troops
• N/A: More research into causes of combat-related illnesses

Legalizing Marijuana and Industrial Hemp

PRO:

• 09/25/2001: Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism
• 09/16/1998: Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests
• 10/14/1999: Voted NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC

Abortion Rights

PRO:

• 05/16/2001: Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad
• 10/29/2006: Support the expansion of embryonic stem cell research
• 06/16/2011: Let military perform abortions in cases of rape or incest
• 01/05/1993: Protect the reproductive rights of women
• 03/14/2008: Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP
• 10/18/2007: Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record
• 10/25/2006: Embryonic research holds promise for reversing diseases
• 04/11/2007: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines
• 03/05/2009: Voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
• 05/24/2005: Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research
• 04/05/2000: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions
• 04/26/2007: Provide emergency contraception at military facilities
• 11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services
• 02/05/2007: Ensure access to and funding for contraception
• 06/30/1999: Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion
• 09/25/2002: Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info
• 10/02/2003: Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother`s life
• 02/26/2004: Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime
• 04/27/2005: Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage

PRO:

• 03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays
• 07/18/2006: Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
• 06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays
• 12/19/2007: Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
• 03/10/2011: Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools
• 07/29/1999: Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC
• 09/30/2004: Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
• 01/23/2006: Supports civil unions, no comment on gay marriage
• 04/03/2001: More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance
• 06/04/2013: Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools

Repealing ObamaCare

PRO:

• 07/24/2003: Voted NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs

  CON:

• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium
• 03/04/2009: Expand the National Health Service Corps
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record
• 11/22/2003: Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients
• 03/13/2003: Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits
• 04/07/2008: Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn
• 06/11/2009: Voted YES on regulating tobacco as a drug
• 07/15/2008: Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare
• 05/25/2011: Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts
• 06/03/2009: Provide for treatment of autism under TRICARE
• 02/14/2008: Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare
• 02/01/2006: Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay
• 11/01/2007: Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility
• 10/06/1999: Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts
• 04/18/2007: Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D
• 01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program
• 06/28/2000: Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage

Addressing and Fighting Income Inequality

PRO:

• 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")
• 02/13/2008: Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M
• 03/09/2000: Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business
• 03/29/2001: Voted NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years
• 07/12/2000: Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty"
• 03/13/2008: Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset
• 03/21/2007: Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
• 12/31/2003: Ranked by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes
• 12/31/2006: Ranked by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation
• 03/23/2007: Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax

  CON:

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

Building the Keystone XL Pipeline

CON:

• 02/28/2001: Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it
• 10/07/2005: Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries
• 11/07/2007: Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness
• 08/01/2001: Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR