Richard Durbin MyOcracy topics and responses

Criminal Justice

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

03/23/2007: Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program

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

05/20/1999: Voted YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program

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

11/10/1999: Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses

Increase the number of local prosecutors

04/14/1994: Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment

Civil Rights

Abortion rights: Women should choose

11/13/2013: Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services

12/17/2009: Emergency contraception at all military health facilities

03/17/2009: Teach teens about both abstinence & contraception

03/14/2008: Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP

03/13/2008: Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion

03/02/2008: Preserve women`s reproductive rights

10/18/2007: Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions

07/25/2006: Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions

03/25/2004: Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime

03/12/2003: Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life

06/20/2000: Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions

Support for gun control measures

04/17/2013: Voted YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets

01/22/2013: Ban large-capacity ammunition

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

09/06/2007: Voted NO on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership

07/29/2005: Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers

03/02/2004: Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence

05/20/1999: Voted YES on background checks at gun shows

05/11/1999: Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows

Prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

03/03/2010: Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays

06/24/2009: ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays

06/11/2002: Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes

06/20/2000: Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation

Support marriage rights between same-sex individuals

05/05/2013: Extend partner immigration rights to gay couples

12/31/2006: by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance

06/07/2006: Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage

Economic Issues

Taxes for wealthier tax payers: More

01/06/2013: Close tax loopholes and gain $1.2T from the wealthy

03/22/2012: Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million

03/13/2008: Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million

03/13/2008: Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset

03/02/2008: Call on the wealthiest people to pay their fair share

02/13/2008: Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M

03/23/2007: Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax

03/21/2007: Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million

12/31/2006: by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation

08/03/2006: Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts

06/08/2006: Voted NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`

02/02/2006: Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends

11/18/2005: Voted NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends

05/23/2003: Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years

04/02/1998: Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes

Invest money in more public projects to improve infrastructure

01/22/2013: Strengthen infrastructure, including rail, dams, & Internet

Increase taxes for all tax payers

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

Education Issues

Increase per pupil funding

04/11/2013: Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015

09/21/2011: $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools

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

04/04/2001: Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction

03/09/1999: Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules

Oppose school vouchers

03/02/2000: Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts

06/24/1998: Voted NO on education savings accounts

09/30/1997: Voted NO on school vouchers in DC

Reduce federal government involvement with public education

10/26/2005: Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies

Environmental Issues

Support cap-and-trade programs to address industrial emissions

04/01/2009: Voted NO on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade

01/16/2007: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

06/16/2005: Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%)

02/10/2005: Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances

Oppose domestic continental drilling to tap new oil sources

11/07/2007: Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness

11/03/2005: Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR

03/16/2005: Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

04/06/2000: Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling

Regulate average miles-per-gallon production for consumer vehicles

07/19/2006: Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018

03/13/2002: Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months

02/08/2002: Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes

Use tax incentives to promote efficient energy production and conservation

03/19/2004: Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy

Oppose off-shore drilling to tap new oil sources

06/21/2007: Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies

Use tax incentives for wind energy development and use

01/17/2007: Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025

Eliminate tax incentives and/or subsidies to the fossil fuel industry

01/06/2013: Energy tax to fund infrastructure investment

Increase tax incentives for solar energy development and use

06/16/1999: Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy

Healthcare Issues

Lower eligibility age for Medicare to increase coverage of older taxpayers

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

04/07/2008: Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn

02/02/2006: Voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D

Increase amount of children covered by Medicaid reimbursements for health costs

01/29/2009: Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program

11/01/2007: 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

Reduce government involvement in the provision of health insurance for taxpayers

05/20/2003: Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations

Immigration

Provide amnesty for undocumented individuals

04/14/2013: Our border with Mexico is strongest it's been in 40 years

03/13/2008: Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities"

06/28/2007: Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform

05/18/2006: Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship

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

05/18/2006: Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security

06/24/1997: Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants

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

05/22/2007: Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program

05/25/2006: Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program