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Ed Towns on VoteMatch

 



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Based on these stances:
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Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's right
(+5 points on Social scale)
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1
Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals: Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Let military perform abortions in cases of rape or incest: Favors topic 1
Require pharmacies to fulfill contraceptive prescriptions: Favors topic 1
Protect the reproductive rights of women: Strongly Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on banning partial-birth abortions: Favors topic 1
NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad: Favors topic 1
NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes: Favors topic 1
NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime: Favors topic 1
NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1
YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2:
Require hiring more women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Get minorities into home ownership & global marketplace: Favors topic 2
Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice: Favors topic 2
Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors topic 2
Rated 92% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights: Strongly Favors topic 2
Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy: Favors topic 2
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2
Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2
Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP: Favors topic 2
NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions: Favors topic 2
YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3:
Same-sex domestic partnership benefits
(+5 points on Social scale)
Increase funding for AIDS treatment & prevention: Favors topic 3
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3
Rated 88% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3
ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays: Favors topic 3
Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3
Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on banning gay adoptions in DC: Favors topic 3
NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3
YES on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes: Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4:
Teacher-led prayer in public schools
(+2 points on Social scale)
Opposes requiring schools to allow school prayer: Opposes topic 4
Rated 8% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Rated 67% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4
NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer: Strongly Opposes topic 4
YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror: Strongly Favors topic 4
YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: Favors topic 4
NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4
YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Opposes topic 8:
Death Penalty
(+5 points on Social scale)
Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 8
YES on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment: Strongly Opposes topic 8
NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder: Strongly Opposes topic 8
YES on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9:
Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws
(+2 points on Social scale)
Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids: Favors topic 9
Life imprisonment for repeat sexual predators: Strongly Favors topic 9
NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime: Opposes topic 9
YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.: Strongly Opposes topic 9
YES on expanding services for offenders' re-entry into society: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Close the Gun Show Loophole; restrict show sales: Opposes topic 10
NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5:
More federal funding for health coverage
(-5 points on Economic scale)
More funding for Rx benefits, community health, CHIPs: Favors topic 5
Rated 89% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5
Include mental health services under Medicare: Favors topic 5
Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health: Favors topic 5
YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on repealing the "Prevention and Public Health" slush fund: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts: Favors topic 5
NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts: Favors topic 5
NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage: Favors topic 5
NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs: Opposes topic 5
NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits: Favors topic 5
NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients: Favors topic 5
NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5
YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5
YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5
YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5
YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Reject proposals for private saving accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Reject privatization; don't raise the retirement age: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Exclude Medicare and Social Security from deficit reduction: Opposes topic 6
YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox: Opposes topic 6
NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits: Opposes topic 6
YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable: Favors topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Parents choose schools via vouchers
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7
$25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7
NO on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program: Strongly Opposes topic 7
NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools: Opposes topic 7
YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences: Opposes topic 7
YES on $40B for green public schools: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 18:
Replace coal & oil with alternatives
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup: Opposes topic 18
Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it: Favors topic 18
Rated 65% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18
Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rated 50% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18
YES on tax incentives for renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18
NO on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18
NO on opening Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling: Strongly Favors topic 18
NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels: Strongly Opposes topic 18
NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18
NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries: Strongly Favors topic 18
NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on investing in homegrown biofuel: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC: Favors topic 18
YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets: Favors topic 18
YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution: Favors topic 18
YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19:
Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it
(+5 points on Social scale)
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19
Allow rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Expunge records for first drug offenders after probation: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Distribute sterile syringes to reduce AIDS and hepatitis: Opposes topic 19
NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 19
YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs: Favors topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20:
Allow churches to provide welfare services
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Increase the earned income tax credit: Opposes topic 20
NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations: Opposes topic 20
NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks: Strongly Opposes topic 20
YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention: Opposes topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11:
Make taxes more progressive
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Rated 27% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated 83% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty": Favors topic 11
NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business: Favors topic 11
NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years: Favors topic 11
YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years: Opposes topic 11
NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"): Favors topic 11
NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on providing tax relief and simplification: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income: Opposes topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12:
Illegal immigrants earn citizenship
(+5 points on Social scale)
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12
Rated 0% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
Let illegal alien children attend school: Strongly Favors topic 12
NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers: Opposes topic 12
NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment: Strongly Favors topic 12
NO on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project: Strongly Favors topic 12
NO on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral on topic 13
Impose tariffs against countries which manipulate currency: Opposes topic 13
NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements: Strongly Opposes topic 13
NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 13
NO on withdrawing from the WTO: Strongly Favors topic 13
NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement: Strongly Opposes topic 13
NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Favors topic 13
YES on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade: Strongly Favors topic 13
YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization: Opposes topic 13
YES on promoting free trade with Peru: Favors topic 13
Opposes topic 15:
Expand the armed forces
(+2 points on Social scale)
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence: Strongly Opposes topic 15
NO on deploying SDI: Opposes topic 15
YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 15
YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16:
Stricter limits on political campaign funds
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Ban stock trading based on Congressional insider knowledge: Strongly Favors topic 16
Require debates for recipients of public campaign financing: Strongly Favors topic 16
YES on banning soft money and issue ads: Favors topic 16
NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties: Opposes topic 16
YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions: Favors topic 16
NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees: Favors topic 16
NO on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 14:
The Patriot Act harms civil liberties
(+5 points on Social scale)
Address abuses of electronic monitoring in the workplace: Strongly Favors topic 14
YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations: Strongly Favors topic 14
YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Favors topic 14
NO on retroactive immunity for telecoms' warrantless surveillance: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 17:
US out of Iraq & Afghanistan
(+2 points on Social scale)
Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine: Strongly Favors topic 17
Member of the Out-of-Iraq Congressional Caucus: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strengthen sanctions on Syria & assist democratic transition: Strongly Opposes topic 17
No contact & enforce sanctions on Iran until threat is gone: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Boycott & sanctions against Iran for terrorism & nukes: Opposes topic 17
Terminate funding for Iraq War on Dec. 31, 2011: Strongly Favors topic 17
YES on removing US armed forces from Afghanistan: Strongly Favors topic 17
NO on banning armed forces in Libya without Congressional approval: Opposes topic 17
NO on authorizing military force in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17
NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date: Strongly Favors topic 17
YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days: Strongly Favors topic 17
YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq: Favors topic 17

Other candidates' VoteMatch: Ed Towns on the issues:
NY Gubernatorial:
Andrew Cuomo
Mike Bloomberg
NY Senatorial:
Bob Turner
Charles Schumer
Colia Clark
George Maragos
Kirsten Gillibrand
Scott Noren

Retiring to run for other office:

Running for President:
TX-14:Ron Paul(R)

Running for Mayor:
CA-51:Bob Filner(D)

Running for Governor:
IN-6:Mike Pence(R)
WA-1:Jay Inslee(D)

Running for Senate:
AZ-6:Jeff Flake(R)
CT-5:Chris Murphy(R)
FL-14:Connie Mack(R)
HI-2:Mazie Hirono(D)
IN-2:Joe Donnelly(D)
MO-2:Todd Akin(R)
MT-0:Dennis Rehberg(R)
ND-0:Rick Berg(D)
NM-1:Martin Heinrich(D)
NV-1:Shelley Berkley(D)
NY-9:Bob Turner(R)
WI-2:Tammy Baldwin(D)
2011-2012 Special Elections:
AZ-8:Gabby Giffords(D)
AZ-8:Ron Barber(D)
CA-36:Jane Harman(D)
CA-36:Janice Hahn(D)
NJ-10:Donald Payne(D)
NV-2:Dean Heller(R)
NV-2:Mark Amodei(R)
NY-9:Anthony Weiner(D)
NY-9:Bob Turner(R)
NY-26:Chris Lee(R)
NY-26:Kathleen Hochul(D)
OR-1:David Wu(D)
OR-1:Suzanne Bonamici(D)

Lost Primary 2012:
IL-16:Donald Manzullo(R)
NJ-9:Steven Rothman(D)
OH-2:Jean Schmidt(R)
OH-9:Dennis Kucinich(D)
PA-4:Jason Altmire(D)
PA-17:Tim Holden(D)
TX-16:Silvestre Reyes(D)

Retiring 2012:
AR-4:Mike Ross(D)
AZ-8:Gabby Giffords(D)
CA-2:Wally Herger(R)
CA-6:Lynn Woolsey(D)
CA-18:Dennis Cardoza(R)
CA-24:Elton Gallegly(D)
CA-26:David Dreier(R)
CA-41:Jerry Lewis(R)
IL-12:Jerry Costello(D)
IL-15:Timothy Johnson(R)
IN-5:Dan Burton(R)
KY-4:Geoff Davis(R)
MA-1:John Olver(D)
MA-4:Barney Frank(D)
MI-5:Dale Kildee(D)
NC-9:Sue Myrick(R)
NC-11:Heath Shuler(D)
NC-13:Brad Miller(D)
NY-5:Gary Ackerman(D)
NY-10:Ed Towns(D)
NY-22:Maurice Hinchey(D)
OH-7:Steve Austria(R)
OK-2:Dan Boren(D)
PA-19:Todd Platts(R)
TX-20:Charles Gonzalez(D)
WA-6:Norm Dicks(D)
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Budget/Economy
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Drugs
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Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
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Health Care
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Contact info:
Mailing Address:
Rayburn HOB 2232, Washington, DC 20515
Official Website
Phone number:
(202) 225-5936

Page last updated: Jun 14, 2012