VOTING RECORD

WOMEN'S ISSUES

GENERAL ISSUES

RATINGS

MEDIA COVERAGE

GENERAL ISSUES

In addition to his terrible record on women’s issues, McCain also has a troubling record on general issues of interest. Following is a summary, for details about his complete legislative record in the U.S. Senate, search online at the Library of Congress.


HEALTHCARE
EDUCATION
ENERGY & OIL
JOBS & FREE TRADE
SOCIAL SECURITY
DEFENSE & HOMELAND SECURITY
GUN CONTROL
TAX PLAN vs. OBAMA
ENVIRONMENT

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HEALTHCARE

Children’s Health:

McCain Voted To Cut, Eliminate, Restrict Health Insurance Coverage for Low Income Children and Pregnant Mothers At Least SIX Times. [SCR 27, Vote #76, 5/21/97; S 949, Vote #149, 6/27/97; HR 4810, Vote #204, 7/17/00; H.R. 976, Vote #307, 8/2/07; S 3, Vote #45, 3/11/03; H.R. 3963, Vote #401, 10/31/07]

McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children. On October 31, 2007, after President Bush vetoed the first SCHIP reauthorization, McCain again opposed expanding SCHIP to millions of additional children. He voted against a motion to invoke cloture and bring the reauthorization forward for a vote before the Senate. The motion passed 62-33. [H.R. 3963, Vote #401, 10/31/07]

McCain Opposed Reauthorizing SCHIP And Providing Insurance For Millions Of Uninsured Children. In August 2007, McCain voted against passage of H.R. 976, which would have reauthorized the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). According to Knight Ridder, “The Senate proposal would provide coverage to 3.2 million” uninsured children and renew coverage for the 6 million children already covered by the program. The legislation passed 68-31. [H.R. 976, Vote #307, 8/2/07; Knight Ridder, 8/2/07]

McCain Voted Against Allowing Uninsured Parents To Enroll In The Same Plans As Their Children. In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment would allow states to expand coverage under the Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (S-CHIP) to the parents of the children enrolled in the program. The amendment failed 51-47. [HR 4810, Vote #204, 7/17/00]

Uninsured and Access to Care

McCain Opposed Expanding Health Care Coverage And Containing Rising Costs. In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that provided an additional $60 billion over five years to expand health care coverage. The amendment failed 43-53. [SCR 95, Vote #47, 3/11/04]

McCain Voted To Allow Medical Savings Accounts. In 1996, McCain voted in support of an amendment that established medical savings accounts, which allow individuals to make tax deductible contributions to special accounts set up to pay medical expenses. The Washington Post reported critics’ attacks of MSA’s: “Opponents call them a lavish tax break for the rich and a bad idea for the country as the healthy and wealthy choose them and leave the poor and sick in the traditional insurance pool.” The amendment was defeated 52-46. [S 1028, Vote #72, 4/18/96; Washington Post, 4/19/96]

McCain Opposed Expanding COBRA Coverage to Retirees. In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would have expanded COBRA coverage to include retirees whose employer-sponsored health care coverage was terminated and to provide a 25-percent tax credit for COBRA coverage. The amendment failed 30-68. [HR 4810, Vote #202, 7/17/00]

McCain Voted Against Providing Tax Credits to Small Businesses That Offer Health Insurance To Employees. In 2000, McCain voted against considering an amendment that would have provided a tax credit to small businesses that offered health insurance coverage to their employees. The amendment failed 49-49. [HR 4810, Vote #205, 7/17/00]

McCain Opposed Requiring Health Plans To Pay For Post-Stabilization Services At Hospitals Under Certain Circumstances. In 1999, McCain voted to require all group health plans to allow their participants to go to emergency rooms for treatment without prior authorization under the “prudent layperson” standard. McCain voted against requiring a health plan to pay for any post-stabilization services if a health plan could not be reached for instructions on further care within 1 hour after stabilization of a patient and if the care given met the regulatory definition for covered post-stabilization care currently used by Medicare and Medicaid for their health maintenance organization (HMO) participants (that definition is “medically necessary, non-emergency services furnished to an enrollee after he or she is stabilized following an emergency medical condition”). The amendment failed 47-53. [S 1344, Vote #201, 7/13/99]

McCain Voted Against Increasing Benefits For Children With Special Needs In The Social Security Act. In 1997, McCain voted to table an amendment that would revise the Social Security Act to include additional benefits for children with special needs, including physical, speech and language therapy, and mental health services. The motion to table passed 57-43. [S 947, Vote #128, 6/25/97]

McCain Voted Against A $3,000 Tax Credit To Help Seniors Or Their Families Pay For Long-Term Care. In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase the general estate tax exemption and provide seniors with long term care needs or their caregivers a $3000 tax credit phased beginning in 2001. The credit would be $1000 the first year and increase in $500 increments each year. Taxpayers with long term care needs, or with spouses or dependents with long term care need would be eligible for the tax credit. The amendment failed 46-51. [HR 8, Vote #193, 7/14/00]

McCain Opposed Providing $20 Billion Over 10 Years To Home Health Care Providers. In 1999, McCain voted against an amendment to reserve $20 billion over 10 years for relief from the unintended consequences of the Balanced Budget Act on teaching hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care providers, rural and other community hospitals, and other health care providers, by reducing or deferring certain new tax breaks in the bill. The motion was rejected 50-50. [S 1429, Vote #234, 7/30/99]

McCain Opposed a Measure to Create a New Program for Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care. McCain voted against an amendment that would have created a new program to provide States with funds for home and community-based long-term care services for people with disabilities. [Vote #533, Motion Rejected 45-54, 104th Congress, 1st Session, 10/27/95]

Medicaid:

McCain Has Voted To Cut, Restrict, And Underfund Medicaid At Least Seven Times. [HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03; HCR 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96; HCR 178, Vote #156, 5/23/96; SCR 57, Vote #117, 5/16/96; HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95; SCR 13, Vote #173, 5/22/95; S. 947, Vote #124, 6/25/97; S. 947, Vote #111, 6/24/97; HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95]

McCain Voted Not To Improve Health Care Under The Medicare And Medicaid Programs. In 2003, McCain voted against a measure which would have increased funding for health care programs under Medicare and Medicaid by $4.1 billion. The motion was rejected 41-56. [H.J.R. 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03]

McCain Voted To Cut Medicaid Funding By $182 Billion. In 1995, McCain voted for adoption of the conference report on the fiscal 1996 budget resolution to put in place a seven-year plan to balance the budget by 2002 by cutting projected spending by $894 billion, including cuts of $270 billion from Medicare, $182 billion from Medicaid, $190 billion in non-defense spending, and $175 billion from various entitlement programs such as welfare. The conference report was agreed to 54-46. [HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95]

McCain Voted To Cut An Estimated $72 Billion From Medicaid As Part Of The FY 1997 Budget Resolution. In 1996, McCain voted for adoption of the conference report on the concurrent resolution to establish a six-year plan to balance the federal budget by 2002. Projected spending cuts over six years include $158.1 billion in Medicare, $72 billion from Medicaid, $53 billion from welfare and $297.9 billion from discretionary spending. The conference report passed 53-46. [HCR 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96]

Medicare and Prescription Drugs:

 McCain Voted To Restrict Access To Medicare At Least Two Times. McCain has voted to raise the eligibility age and add means testing for Medicare. [S 947, Vote #112, 6/24/97; S 947, Vote #115, 6/25/97]

McCain Voted To Raise The Medicare Eligibility Age From 65 to 67. In 1997, McCain voted in favor of raising the eligibility age for receiving Medicare from 65 to 67 with the change being phased in between 2003 and 2027. The motion passed 62-38. [S 947, Vote #112, 6/24/97]

McCain Supported Increasing The Medicare Eligibility Age. In 1997, McCain voted for an increase in the eligibility age of Medicare, creating a home health co-payment, and means testing Medicare part B. McCain voted to drive healthy people from the Medicare system. The motion failed 25-75. [S 947, Vote #115, 6/25/97]

McCain Has Voted To Cut, Restrict, And Underfund Medicare At Least 18 Times. [S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05; S. 1932, Vote #303, 11/3/2005; S. 1, Vote #253, 6/26/03; S. 1, Vote #247, 6/26/03; SCR 23, Vote #89, 3/25/03; HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03; H.C.R. 83, Vote #73, 4/5/01; S.C.R. 86, Vote #53, 4/1/98; H.C.R. 178, Vote #156, 5/23/96; H.C.R. 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96; H.R. 2491, Vote #584,11/17/95; H.R. 2491, Vote #556, 10/27/95; H.C.R. 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95; S.C.R. 13, Vote #232, 5/25/95; S. 1357, Vote #499, 10/26/95; 5/23/96; S 1357, Vote #524, 10/27/95; SCR 13, Vote #218, 5/25/95; S.C.R. 13, Vote #173]

McCain Voted to Cut $6.4 Billion from Medicare. In 2005, McCain voted for the budget reconciliation bill that cut funding for Medicare by $6.4 billion by requiring that beneficiaries purchase medical equipment and cutting payments to home health care providers. The motion passed 50-50, with Vice President Cheney casting the deciding vote. [S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05]

McCain Voted Against Funding For Rural Medicare Health Care Providers. In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would reduce the enormous tax cut given to the wealthiest American tax payers in order to give a fair reimbursement to rural health care providers under Medicare. [SCR 23, Vote #89, 3/25/03]

McCain Voted Against Increasing Funding For Medicare and Medicaid Programs By $4.1 Billion. In 2003, McCain voted against a measure which would have increased funding for health care programs under Medicare and Medicaid by $4.1 billion. The motion was rejected 41-56. [HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03]

McCain Voted to Cut an Estimated $158.1 Billion from Medicare. In 1996, McCain voted in favor of cutting Medicare by $158.1 billion over six years. He first voted in favor of the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution that contained the cut and then voted for the same cut in the conference report. Both passed 53-46. [H.C.R. 178, Vote #156, 5/23/1996; H.C.R. 178, Vote #159, 6/13/1996]

McCain Voted to Cut Medicare by $270 billion. In 1995, McCain voted for budget that would cut Medicare by $270 billion. [H.R. 2491, Vote #584, 11/17/1995; H.R. 2491, Vote #556, 10/27/1995; H.C.R. 67, Vote #296, 6/29/1995]

McCain Voted Against Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage At Least Twenty-Eight Times. [S 1, Vote #262, 6/26/03; S1, Vote #259, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #254, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #253, 6/26/03; S1, Vote #250, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #240, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #239, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #236, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #234, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #229, 6/19/03; S 1, Vote #227, 6/18/03; S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05; S 1932, Vote #302, 11/3/05; S 1054, Vote #159, 5/15/03; SCR 23, Vote 389, 3/25/03; SCR 23, Vote #83, 3/25/03; SCR 23, Vote #63, 3/20/03; S 812, Vote #199, 7/31/02 ;S 812, Vote #187, 7/23/02; S 812, Vote #186, 7/23/02; S 812, Vote #182, 7/18/02; HCR 83, Vote #66, 4/3/01; HCR 83, Vote #65, 4/3/01; HR 4810, Vote #206, 7/17/00; HR 8, Vote #186, 7/13/00; HR 4577, Vote #144, 6/22/00; SCR 101, Vote #52, 4/5/00; S 1429, Vote #231, 7/29/99]

McCain Voted Against the Prescription Drug/Medicare Bill After Voting Down 12 Important Enhancements to the Legislation. In 2003, McCain voted against a Medicare bill which did little to lower the costs of prescription drugs. Under the limited drug benefit, those with drug costs below $5,800 would still have to pay most of their drug costs, and premiums would vary across the country. The bill passed 76-21. [S 1, Vote #262, 6/26/03]

McCain Voted Against an Amendment Closing the Medicare Prescription Drug Loophole. In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment to ensure that current retirees who had prescription drug coverage but would lose their prescription drug coverage as a result of the enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) would have the option of drug coverage under the Medicare fallback. This amendment was an attempt to give these seniors an option of prescription drug coverage under Medicare. The amendment failed 42-54. [S 1, Vote #259, 6/26/03]

McCain Voted Against Lowering Prescription Premiums for Medicare Recipients. In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would authorize $2.4 billion a year for four years to lower premiums for enrollees in a Medicare prescription drug benefit plan. The amendment failed 39-59. [S 1, Vote #254, 6/26/03]

McCain Opposed Creating a Strong Prescription Drug Plan Under Medicare. In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would have created a prescription drug benefit plan under the traditional Medicare program available to all eligible recipients. The program would be available every year in addition to any private plans offered. The amendment failed 37-58. [S 1, Vote #227, 6/18/03]

McCain Voted Against A Prescription Drug Benefit To Medicare. In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would have added a new prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program would provide prescription drug benefits to Medicare recipients as an entitlement. Private sector contractors would be hired to provide the benefits. Most of the costs of the new program would be paid for by the taxpayers rather than by Medicare beneficiaries. The amendment failed 44-53. [HR 4577, Vote #144, 6/22/00]

McCain Voted Against A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program. In 1999, McCain voted against a motion to recommit the Tax Reconciliation bill to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions that would direct the committee to add language that would reduce the bill’s tax cuts by an amount sufficient to allow establishment of a Medicare prescription drug benefit program. The motion to recommit the bill failed 45-55. [S 1429, Vote #231, 7/29/99]

McCain Has Voted Against Ensuring Medicare’s Future By Opposing Efforts To Extend Its Solvency At Least Nine Times. [H.R. 1836, Vote #137, 5/22/01; H.R. 4577, vote #162, 6/29/00; S. 1429, Vote #228, 7/29/99; H.C.R. 68, Vote #84, 4/13/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #66, 3/25/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #61, 3/24/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #59, 3/24/99; S. 947, Vote #125, 6/25/97; S. 947, Vote #124, 6/25/97]
 
Source: ontheissues.org

EDUCATION

Voted NO on $52M for 21st century community learning centers. The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program was established by Congress for school-based centers to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community. [Amendment to Agencies Appropriations Act; Bill S Amdt 2287 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-279 on Oct 27, 2005]

Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. Bill to provide an additional $5 billion for title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Voting YES would provide $2.5 billion for targeting grants to local educational agencies and $2.5 billion for education finance incentive grants. [Elementary and Secondary Education Amendment; Bill S Amdt 2275 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-269 on Oct 26, 2005]

Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that would adjust education funding while still reducing the deficit by $5.4 billion. A YES vote would:

• Restore education program cuts slated for vocational education, adult education, GEAR UP, and TRIO.
• Increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $4,500 immediately.
• Increases future math and science teacher student loan forgiveness to $23,000.
• Pay for the education funding by closing $10.8 billion in corporate tax loopholes.

[Kennedy amendment relative to education funding; Bill S AMDT 177 to S Con Res 18 ; vote number 2005-68 on Mar 17, 2005 ]

Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. Vote to authorize a federal program aimed at reducing class size. The plan would assist states and local education agencies in recruiting, hiring and training 100,000 new teachers, with $2.4 billion in fiscal 2002. This amendment would replace an amendment allowing parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors. [Reference: Bill S1 ; vote number 2001-103 on May 15, 2001]

Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. Vote to pass an amendment that would authorize $200 million to provide grants to help states develop assessment systems that describe student achievement. This amendment would replace an amendment by Jeffords, R-VT, which would allow parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors. [Bill S1; vote number 2001-99 on May 10, 2001]

Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. Vote to reduce the size of the $1.6 trillion tax cut by $448 billion while increasing education spending by $250 billion and providing an increase of approximately $224 billion for debt reduction over 10 years. [ Bill H Con Res 83 ; vote number 2001-69 on Apr 4, 2001]

Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools. Vote to declare that erecting religious symbols and praying on public school campuses as part of a memorial service does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, and to provide legal assistance to any government entity defending such a case. [Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-121 on May 18, 1999]

Source: ontheissues.org 

ENERGY & OIL

Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). Amendment to improve the energy security of the United States and reduce United States dependence on foreign oil imports by 40% by 2025. The amendment seeks to reduce usage by 7.6 million barrels of oil a day, out of a total usage of 20 million barrels of oil a day. [Energy Policy Act of 2005; Bill S.Amdt. 784 to H.R. 6 ; vote number 2005-140 on Jun 16, 2005; Source: ontheissues.org]

MISSED vote repealing tax breaks for oil companies. In 2007, McCain was the ONLY senator to miss a vote on the energy bill repealing tax subsidies for oil companies. [H.R. 6, Vote #425, 12/13/07; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to impose a windfall profits tax for oil companies and a tax rebate for working families. Amendment would impose a temporary windfall profits tax on oil companies and use the proceeds to provide nonrefundable tax credits to working families. [S.Amdt. 2635, Vote# 341, 11/17/05; S.Amdt. 2587, Vote #331, 11/17/05; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to elminate tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies. Amendment would eliminate tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies related to depletion and drilling costs. [S.Amdt. 2782/HR. 776, Vote #159, 7/29/92; Source: aflcio.org]

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JOBS & FREE TRADE

Voted NO to protect workers’ overtime rights. [S. 1637, Vote #79, 5/4/04; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to protect overseas outsourcing of government contracts. Bill would prohibit the overseas outsourcing of government contracts. [S. 1637, Vote 32, 3/4/04; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO to prevent outsourcing veterans affairs jobs. Amendment would prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. [S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07; Source: aflcio.org] 

Voted YES to bill waiving "Buy American” laws. Bill allowed the Secretary of Defense to waive Buy American laws for defense systems and place our defense manufacturing industry in jeopardy. Additional bill exempted defense goods from six European countries from Buy American requirements that traditionally have required most military equipment and defense systems to be manufactured in the United States. [S. 2400, Vote #135, 6/22/04; S. 1050, Vote #191, 5/21/03; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO on protecting U.S. roads from unsafe foreign trucks. Amendment would prohibit Mexican trucks from operating beyond a limited border zone because they are not held to the same safety standards as U.S. trucks. [H.R. 2299, Vote #252, 7/26/01; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO on Employee Free Choice Act. Act would level the playing field for workers trying to form unions. He voted for a National Right-to-Work for Less law that would attempt to eliminate unions altogether. [H.R. 800, Vote #227, 6/26/07; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted YES to allow employers to hire permanent replacements during a strike. Bill would bar employers from hiring permanent replacements for striking workers. [S. 55,Vote #189, 7/13/94; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO on collective bargaining rights for state and local police and firefighters. [H.R. 3061, Vote #323, 11/6/01; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. Vote to proceed with the bill which establishes negotiating objectives for trade agreements, and renews 'fast track' trade authority for the President, which allows Congress to adopt or to reject a proposed trade agreement, but not to amend it. [Bill S 1269; vote number 1997-294 on Nov 5, 1997; Source: ontheissues.org]

Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. Vote to give permanent Normal Trade Relations [NTR] status to China. Currently, NTR status for China is debated and voted on annually. [Bill HR. 4444 ; vote number 2000-251 on Sep 19, 2000; Source: ontheissues.org]

VOTED YES on NAFTA and supports broadening agreement to include other countries in the western hemisphere. North American Free Trade Agreement signed between the U.S., Canada and Mexico and is the largest trade bloc in the world in terms of combined purchasing power parity GDP ncluding broadening NAFTA to include other countries in the western hemisphere. [HR. 3450, Vote #395, 11/20/93; Source: aflcio.org]

Voted NO on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. Resolution supporting sanctions on Japanese products if car parts markets don't open up; and seeking sharp reductions in the trade imbalances in car sales and parts through elimination of restrictive Japanese market-closing practices. [Reference: Bill S Res 118 ; vote number 1995-158 on May 9, 1995; Source: ontheissues.org]

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SOCIAL SECURITY

McCain Voted to Use Social Security Money to Pay Off National Debt. In 2003, McCain voted to use Social Security funds to pay off federal debt. [HJR 51, Vote #201, 5/23/03; Source: aflcio.org]

McCain Voted Against Protecting Social Security Solvency with a Strategic Reserve. In 2001, McCain opposed reducing tax cuts for the wealthy to create a strategic reserve for Social Security. In the same year, McCain voted against a proposal to create “lockboxes” to protect Social Security and Medicare. [H.R. 1836, Senate RPC, Vote #145, 5/22/01; S. Amdt. 29, Vote #22, 3/13/01; Source: aflcio.org]

McCain Voted to Replace Social Security with Risk-Based Investments. In 1998, McCain voted twice to replace Social Security’s guaranteed benefits with income from risk-based private investments. [SCR 86, Vote #56, 4/1/98; SCR 86, Vote #77, 4/1/98; Source: aflcio.org]

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DEFENSE & HOMELAND SECURITY

Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. Vote on an amendment, SA2032, which amends HR1585, the Defense Authorization bill: To limit the deployment of a unit or individual of the Armed Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom to no more than 12 consecutive months; and to limit Marine Corps deployment to no more than 7 consecutive months; except in time of national emergency. [Hagel Amendment to Defense Authorization Bill; Bill SA2032 to HR1585 ; vote number 2007-243 on Jul 11, 2007]

Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. Amendment would retain the constitutional right of habeas corpus for people detained at Guantanamo. This amendment would strike that provision and make certain that the constitutional right of habeas corpus is maintained. The US Constitution states that "Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." [Specter Amdendment; Bill S.AMDT.5087 to S.3930 ; vote number 2006-255 on Sep 28, 2006]

Voted NO on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. Amendment intended to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by restoring $565 million in cuts to vital first-responder programs in the Department of Homeland Security, including the State Homeland Security Grant program, by providing $150 million for port security grants and by providing $140 million for 1,000 new border patrol agents. [State Homeland Security Grant Program Amendment; Bill S.AMDT 220 to S Con Res 18; vote number 2005-64 on Mar 17, 2005]

Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. Vote to adopt an amendment that makes US businesses and their subsidiaries liable to prosecution for dealing with foreign businesses which have links to terrorism or whose parent country supports terrorism. Reference: Stop Business with Terrorists Act of 2005; Bill S AMDT 1351 to S 1042 ; vote number 2005-203 on Jul 26, 2005]

Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. Amendment to provide for congressional oversight of certain Central Intelligence Agency programs. The underlying bill S. 3930 authorizes trial by military commission for violations of the law of war. The amendment requires quarterly reports describing all CIA detention facilities; the name of each detainee; their suspected activities; & each interrogation technique authorized for use and guidelines on the use of each such technique. [Rockefeller Amendment; Bill S. AMDT 5095 to S 3930; vote number 2006-256 on Sep 28. 2006]

Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. Vote to invoke cloture on a conference report that extends the authority of the FBI to conduct "roving wiretaps" and access business records. Voting YES would recommend, in effect, that the PATRIOT Act be extended through December 31, 2009, and would makes the provisions of the PATRIOT Act permanent. [ Motion for Cloture of PATRIOT Act; Bill HR 3199 ; vote number 2005-358 on Dec 16, 2005]
 

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Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. [Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005]

Voted YES to ban lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. Bill would block certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence. In this bill, trade groups would also be protected. [Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S. 1806/HR 1036; vote number 2004-30 on Mar 2, 2004]

Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. Require background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows. [Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999]

Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. Vote to table or kill a motion to require that all gun sales at gun shows be completed by federally licensed gun dealers. Also requires background checks to be completed on buyers and requires gun show promoters to register with the Treasury. [Bill S. 254; vote number 1999-111 on May 11, 1999]

Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. Vote to table [kill] an amendment to make it unlawful for gun dealers to sell handguns without providing trigger locks. Violation of the law would result in civil penalties, such as suspension or revocation of the dealer's license, or a fine. [Bill S. 2260; vote number 1998-216 on Jul 21, 1998]

Source: ontheissues.org 

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TAX PLAN vs. OBAMA

Summary of Major Provisions of Obama and McCain Tax Plans