Democratic Representative (SD-AL):
Stephanie Herseth on
the Issues
Stephanie Herseth 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)
Stephanie Herseth 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)
- Retire half the public debt by 2006. (May 2001)
Stephanie Herseth on
Civil Rights
- Focus on improving quality of life on Indian reservations. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
- Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
- Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
- Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
- Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
- Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
- Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
- Rated 25% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)
- Rated 75% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action. (Dec 2006)
- Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Stephanie Herseth on
Corporations
- Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007)
- Voted YES on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
- Screen imports & ban lead in children's products. (Feb 2008)
Stephanie Herseth on
Crime
- Fund programs that help rural states hire & retain police. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES on expanding services for offendors' re-entry into society. (Nov 2007)
Stephanie Herseth on
Drugs
- Rated -15 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance. (Dec 2006)
Stephanie Herseth on
Education
- Improve education through No Child Left Behind Act. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
- Voted NO 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)
Stephanie Herseth on
Energy & Oil
- No capital gains if money is reinvested in renewable energy. (Jun 2002)
- 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 NO 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)
- Voted YES on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
- Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)
- Balance fossil fuels and viable renewable energy. (Jul 2001)
- Rated 83% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
- Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007)
Stephanie Herseth 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 NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
- Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
- Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
Stephanie Herseth on
Families & Children
- Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)
Stephanie Herseth on
Foreign Policy
- Voted NO 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)
- Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s. (Mar 2007)
Stephanie Herseth on
Free Trade
- Trade negotiators must represent interests of family farms. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES 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)
- Voted NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
- Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)
Stephanie Herseth on
Government Reform
- Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
- Voted YES on granting Washington DC an Electoral vote & vote in Congress. (Apr 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 NO on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
- Voted NO on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
- Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)
- Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform. (Jul 2001)
Stephanie Herseth 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)
Stephanie Herseth on
Health Care
- Give tax credits for long-term care & Medicare drug benefit. (Jun 2002)
- 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)
- Better and immediate funding for Medicare & Medicaid. (Dec 2000)
- Prescription drug benefit within Medicare. (Jun 2000)
- Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
Stephanie Herseth on
Homeland Security
- Increase security by improving benefits for armed forces. (Jun 2002)
- 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 YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
- Voted YES on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
- Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
- 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)
- Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
- Study & address suicides among veterans. (Apr 2008)
- Appoint chiropractors as commissioned officers. (Apr 2008)
Stephanie Herseth on
Immigration
- Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
- Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
- Rated 42% by USBC, indicating a mixed record on open borders. (Dec 2006)
Stephanie Herseth on
Jobs
- Enforce antitrust law & expand opportunities for farmers. (Jun 2002)
- 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)
- Voted YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
- Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
Stephanie Herseth on
Principles & Values
- Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
- Rated 17% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
- Member of the "Blue Dog" Coalition of conservative Democrats. (Nov 2007)
- Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2007)
Stephanie Herseth on
Social Security
- Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)
- Strengthen Trust Funds and take them off-budget. (May 2001)
Stephanie Herseth 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)
- 50-25-25 budget formula for debt-tax cuts-spending. (Feb 2001)
- Rated 67% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
Stephanie Herseth on
War & Peace
- Prevent bioterrorism with close inspection of foreign foods. (Jun 2002)
- Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
- Voted NO 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)
Stephanie Herseth 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)
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