Karen McCarthy on Abortion

• Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
• Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
• Voted NO on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
• Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
• Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
• Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women. (Apr 2001)
• Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Budget & Economy

• Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)

Karen McCarthy on Civil Rights

• Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
• Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
• Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
• Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
• Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
• Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 87% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Supported legislation on violence against women & safety. (Jul 1999)
• Supported funding for women's and disadvantaged businesses. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Corporations

• Voted NO on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
• Voted YES on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 32% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Crime

• Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
• Voted YES on maintaining right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
• Voted NO on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
• Rated 67% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
• Moratorium on death penalty; more DNA testing. (Mar 2001)
• More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)

Karen McCarthy on Drugs

• Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
• Voted NO on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
• Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)

Karen McCarthy on Education

• Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
• Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
• Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
• Teacher development grants to improve math & science classes. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
• Supported funding for teacher training & other initiatives. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Energy & Oil

• Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
• Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
• Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
• Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
• Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
• Preserve Alaska's ANWR instead of drilling it. (Feb 2001)

Karen McCarthy on Environment

• Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
• Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. (May 2001)
• Rated 75% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Families & Children

• Voted NO on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 18% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Supported funding child care, child health, & child housing. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Foreign Policy

• Voted YES on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
• Voted NO on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
• Voted YES on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
• Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)

Karen McCarthy on Free Trade

• Voted YES on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
• Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
• Rated 47% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)

Karen McCarthy on Government Reform

• Voted NO on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
• Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
• Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
• Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
• Allow same-day voter registration on election day. (Jan 2001)

Karen McCarthy on Gun Control

• Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
• Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Health Care

• Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
• Voted NO on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
• Voted NO on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
• Voted NO on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
• Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
• Voted NO on Prescription drug coverage under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
• Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
• Rated 83% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
• Collect data on birth defects and present to the public. (Apr 1998)
• Supported funding women's health needs. (Jul 1999)
• Supported funding older women's health. (Jul 1999)
• Supported funding Prenatal and Postpartum Care. (Jul 1999)
• Supported funding Family and Children's Coverage. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Homeland Security

• Voted YES on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
• Voted YES on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
• Voted NO on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
• Rated 89% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Recognize women veterans; assist military families. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Immigration

• Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
• Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
• Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Jobs

• Voted NO on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
• Voted NO on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)

Karen McCarthy on Principles & Values

• Religious affiliation: Catholic. (Nov 2000)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2000)
• New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
• Member of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. (Jul 2001)

Karen McCarthy on Social Security

• Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
• Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
• Rated 90% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Supported pension reform and tax credits for long-term care. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Tax Reform

• Voted NO on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
• Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
• Voted NO on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
• Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"). (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
• Reduce the capital gains tax . (Jan 2001)
• Rated 25% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
• Tax incentives for child care; eliminate marriage penalty. (Jul 1999)
• Tax incentives for education, new schools, & families. (Jul 1999)

Karen McCarthy on War & Peace

• Voted NO on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
• Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
• Voted NO on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)

Karen McCarthy on Welfare & Poverty

• Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
• Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
• Voted YES on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. (Nov 1999)