Tom Carper on Abortion

• Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
• Rated 50% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)
• Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
• Rated 25% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
• Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)

Tom Carper on Budget & Economy

• Criticizes ‘Splurging Away’ Surplus. (Aug 2000)
• Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)

Tom Carper on Civil Rights

• Favors requiring companies to hire more women & minorities. (Sep 2000)
• Supports “Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws”. (Sep 2000)
• Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
• Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 40% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Rated 67% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 79% by NAACP, indicating a mixed record on affirmative-action. (Dec 2006)
• Decide Indian gaming rules at state level, not DOI. (Jul 1999)

Tom Carper on Corporations

• Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
• Rated 70% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Bankruptcy reform: prevent inappropriate Chapter 7 filings. (May 1999)

Tom Carper on Crime

• Supports mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws. (Sep 2000)
• Agressively clean up criminal “hot spots”. (Jun 2000)
• Keep violent offendors behind bars. (Jan 2000)
• Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)
• More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Tougher juvenile crime penalties; but let states set them. (Aug 1999)

Tom Carper on Drugs

• Supports “Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it”. (Sep 2000)
• Monitor hot spots and parolees to ensure “Safe Streets”. (Jun 2000)
• More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War. (Aug 2000)

Tom Carper on Education

• Introduce market forces into our schools. (Oct 2006)
• Opposes parents choosing schools via vouchers. (Sep 2000)
• Focus on discipline in schools. (Jan 1999)
• Public school choice OK. (Aug 2000)
• Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
• Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
• Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
• Three R’s: $35B for Reinvestment,Reinvention,Responsibility. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
• Support the goals and ideals of Charter Schools. (May 2007)

Tom Carper on Energy & Oil

• Supports spending resources to stop Global Warming. (Sep 2000)
• More funding for Amtrak’s high-speed rail. (May 2000)
• Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
• Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
• Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
• Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
• Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
• Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)
• Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically. (Aug 2000)
• Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries. (Aug 2000)
• Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)
• Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence. (Dec 2006)
• Maintain federal funds for transit funding above 12.5% cap. (Jul 1999)

Tom Carper on Environment

• Voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
• Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
• EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)
• Establish commission to examine Katrina response. (Sep 2005)

Tom Carper on Families & Children

• Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Keep TANF program focused on family welfare, not other tasks. (Mar 1999)

Tom Carper on Foreign Policy

• Keep lid on North Korea until reunification, like Germany. (Oct 2006)
• Supports continuing Foreign Aid to Russia, Israel, & others. (Sep 2000)
• Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
• Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000)
• Implement Darfur Peace Agreement with UN peacekeeping force. (Feb 2008)
• Seeds of Peace: promote coexistence in regions of conflict. (Apr 2008)

Tom Carper on Free Trade

• Supports expanding Free Trade. (Sep 2000)
• Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
• Voted YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
• Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
• Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
• Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 50% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)

Tom Carper on Government Reform

• I never received any money from Jack Abramoff. (Oct 2006)
• Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
• Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
• Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
• Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
• Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
• Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)
• More federal funding for FAA and air traffic control. (Jul 1999)

Tom Carper on Gun Control

• Opposes absolute right to gun ownership. (Sep 2000)
• Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
• Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
• Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
• Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)

Tom Carper on Health Care

• Supports More Federal Funding for Health Coverage. (Sep 2000)
• Universal coverage for children is within our grasp. (Jan 1999)
• Voted YES on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
• Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
• Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
• Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
• Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
• Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations. (May 2003)
• Rated 71% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
• Establish a national childhood cancer database. (Mar 2007)
• Protect state tobacco settlement funds from federal seizure. (Apr 1999)

Tom Carper on Homeland Security

• Voted NO on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
• Voted YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
• Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
• Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
• Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
• Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
• Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
• Rated 90% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Apply habeas corpus to Guantanamo detainees. (Jul 2007)
• Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)

Tom Carper on Immigration

• No one proposes that illegal aliens receive Social Security. (Oct 2006)
• Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
• Voted NO on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
• Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
• Rated 25% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)

Tom Carper on Jobs

• Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
• Voted NO on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on limiting farm subsidies to people earning under $750,000. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
• Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
• Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
• Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
• Rated 77% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)

Tom Carper on Principles & Values

• I’ve built bipartisan coalitions in the US Senate. (Oct 2006)
• Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
• Voted YES on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
• Religious affiliation: Presbyterian. (Nov 2000)
• Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
• Member of National Governors Association. (Jan 2000)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2000)
• New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
• Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 67% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2007)

Tom Carper on Social Security

• Opposes privatizing Social Security. (Sep 2000)
• Voted NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)
• Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 60% by the ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues. (Dec 2003)

Tom Carper on Tax Reform

• Opposes making income tax flatter & lower. (Sep 2000)
• Likes cutting taxes, but fairly and sustainably. (Aug 2000)
• Remove marriage tax & estate tax; but no $1.9T tax cut. (Aug 2000)
• Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
• Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
• Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
• Voted NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
• Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
• No national sales tax or VAT. (Feb 2000)
• Rated 16% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)

Tom Carper on War & Peace

• Multinational embargo, not unilateral, against North Korea. (Oct 2006)
• Voted NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
• Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
• Voted YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
• Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
• Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)

Tom Carper on Welfare & Poverty

• Opposes allowing churches to provide welfare services. (Sep 2000)
• $15M in community development grants & loans. (Jan 2000)
• Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs. (Aug 2000)