Brian Higgins on Abortion

• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
• Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
• Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
• Rated 9% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
• Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)

Brian Higgins on Budget & Economy

• Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
• Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)

Brian Higgins on Civil Rights

• Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
• Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
• Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
• Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 88% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 89% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
• Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)

Brian Higgins on Corporations

Brian Higgins on Crime

• Voted YES on expanding services for offendors' re-entry into society. (Nov 2007)
• Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program. (Jan 2007)

Brian Higgins on Drugs

• Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance. (Dec 2006)

Brian Higgins on Education

• Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
• Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
• Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
• Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)

Brian Higgins on Energy & Oil

• Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
• Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
• Voted YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
• Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
• Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)
• Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
• Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)

Brian Higgins on Environment

• Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
• Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
• Promote conservation of rare felids & canids. (Mar 2007)
• Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act. (Apr 2008)
• Inter-state compact for Great Lakes water resources. (Jul 2008)
• Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)

Brian Higgins on Families & Children

• Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)

Brian Higgins on Foreign Policy

• Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
• Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000)

Brian Higgins on Free Trade

• Oppose the Central American Free Trade Act. (Nov 2004)
• Voted NO on promoting free trade with Peru. (Nov 2007)
• Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. (Oct 2007)
• Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
• Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)

Brian Higgins on Government Reform

• Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
• Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
• Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
• Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)
• Establish the United States Public Service Academy. (Mar 2007)

Brian Higgins on Gun Control

• Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
• Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)
• Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)

Brian Higgins on Health Care

• Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
• Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
• Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
• Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
• Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
• Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)

Brian Higgins on Homeland Security

• Voted YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
• Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
• Voted NO on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
• Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
• Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)

Brian Higgins on Immigration

• Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
• Voted NO on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
• Rated 33% by USBC, indicating a mixed record on open borders. (Dec 2006)

Brian Higgins on Jobs

• Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)
• Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)

Brian Higgins on Principles & Values

• Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 75% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2007)

Brian Higgins on Social Security

• Bush raided the Social Security trust fund for tax cuts. (Nov 2004)
• Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)

Brian Higgins on Tax Reform

• Voted YES on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
• Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)

Brian Higgins on War & Peace

• Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)

Brian Higgins on Welfare & Poverty

• Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006)
• Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs. (Aug 2000)
• Develop a strategy to eliminate extreme global poverty. (Dec 2007)