Mel Martinez on Abortion

• Opposed to abortion--life begins at conception. (Oct 2004)
• Support the partial birth abortion ban. (Jul 2004)
• Vote against government-sponsored abortion. (Jul 2004)
• Support the rights of unborn victims of violence. (Apr 2004)
• Supports Bush signing the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. (Apr 2004)
• Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
• Voted NO 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 NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance. (Dec 2006)
• Apply 14th amendment protections to pre-born fetuses. (Jun 2008)

Mel Martinez on Budget & Economy

• Promote growth and job creation to reduce the deficit. (Oct 2004)
• Voted YES on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)

Mel Martinez on Civil Rights

• Support the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. (Oct 2004)
• Support gay marriage ban. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 11% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)

Mel Martinez on Corporations

• Voted NO 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)

Mel Martinez on Crime

• I support the death penalty. (Oct 2004)
• End illegal Internet gambling and pornography. (Jul 2004)
• Crack down criminals who prey on senior citizens. (Jul 2004)
• Close loopholes on Officer Next Door program. (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)

Mel Martinez on Drugs

• More border security against illegal drugs. (Oct 2004)

Mel Martinez on Education

• Give parents more choice over kids’ schooling. (Aug 2004)
• Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Oct 2007)
• Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)

Mel Martinez on Energy & Oil

• Allow exploration in areas that support drilling. (Oct 2004)
• Increase domestic oil output. (Oct 2004)
• Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
• Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
• Voted NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
• Voted NO 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 NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
• Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
• Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
• Develop technology for carbon dioxide sequestration. (Feb 2008)
• Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing. (Jun 2008)
• Gas tax holiday for the summer. (Apr 2008)

Mel Martinez on Environment

• Open more federal lands for hunting and shooting. (Aug 2004)
• Voted NO on prohibiting eminent domain for use as parks or grazing land. (Dec 2007)
• Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)

Mel Martinez on Families & Children

Mel Martinez on Foreign Policy

• No permission from abroad for military actions. (Oct 2004)
• Block funding for coerced abortions or sterilization. (Jul 2004)
• Oppose aid to countries that don’t support US foreign policy. (Jul 2004)
• Condemns Russia for provocative statements to Georgia. (May 2008)
• Urge Venezuela to re-open dissident radio & TV stations. (May 2007)

Mel Martinez on Free Trade

• Stand up for agriculture in US trade policy. (Oct 2004)
• Support trade that is free and fair. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
• Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
• Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)

Mel Martinez on Government Reform

• Secure Bush’s appointment of federal judges. (Mar 2004)
• In Florida, focused on growth management. (Feb 2001)
• Voted NO on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
• Voted YES on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
• Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
• Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
• Ensure delivery of absentee ballots for troops overseas. (May 2008)

Mel Martinez on Gun Control

• I will always protect our Second Amendment Rights. (Aug 2004)
• Prevent lawsuits from bankrupting firearms manufacturers. (Aug 2004)
• Prevent activists from bankrupting firearms manufacturers. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. (Sep 2007)
• Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
• Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)

Mel Martinez on Health Care

• Support Bush’s plan to provide prescription drug benefits. (Oct 2004)
• Promote health saving account and Association Health Plans. (Oct 2004)
• Relief for 40 million uninsured via small business AHPs. (Jun 2004)
• Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
• Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
• Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
• Voted YES on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
• Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
• Voted NO on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)

Mel Martinez on Homeland Security

• Volunteers for military service make a draft unnecessary. (Oct 2004)
• Funding the strongest military in the world. (Aug 2004)
• Fight to keep all FL military bases open. (Aug 2004)
• Private-public partnerships for anti-terrorism technology. (Aug 2004)
• Ensure veterans obtain all the benefits entitled. (Jul 2004)
• Continue to support first responders. (Jul 2004)
• Ease the burdens of deployed service-members. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
• Voted NO 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 NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
• Voted NO on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
• Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
• Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
• Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
• Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
• Improve educational assistance for veterans. (Apr 2008)
• Set minimum spending on defense at 4% of GDP. (Dec 2007)

Mel Martinez on Immigration

• Strongly oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. (Oct 2004)
• Amnesty rewards lawlessness. (Oct 2004)
• End the flow of illegal aliens. (Jul 2004)
• Voted NO 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)
• Comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty. (May 2005)
• Rated 10% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)

Mel Martinez on Jobs

• Eliminate government regulations to encourage expansion. (Oct 2004)
• 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 NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
• Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
• Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)

Mel Martinez on Principles & Values

• Call to public service strong, but call to family stronger. (Dec 2008)
• Voted with Republican Party 87.8% of 320 votes. (Sep 2007)
• Protect our freedom and our core values. (Sep 2004)
• Escaped communist Cuba at age 15. (Aug 2004)
• Support public displays of religious devotion. (Jul 2004)
• Appreciates serving as HUD Secretary, thanks America. (Mar 2004)
• No Senate run in 2004, but maybe governor in 2006. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES 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)
• Rated B by the Club for Growth, pro-growth but not targeted. (Sep 2004)
• Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006)

Mel Martinez on Social Security

• Social Security is a sacred promise but plan future solvency. (Oct 2004)
• Allow people to invest in a private account. (Oct 2004)
• Support Social Security privatization. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security. (Mar 2007)

Mel Martinez on Tax Reform

• Make Bush’s tax cuts permanent for strong economic growth. (Oct 2004)
• Make the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Jul 2004)
• Voted NO on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
• Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO 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)
• Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)

Mel Martinez on War & Peace

• The decision to use force in Iraq was necessary. (Oct 2004)
• Iraq was the right decision with or without WMD. (Oct 2004)
• 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 NO 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 NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
• Condemn Iranian Pres. Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel statement. (Feb 2008)

Mel Martinez on Welfare & Poverty

• A buck an hour is not going to bring someone out of poverty. (Oct 2004)
• HUD worked through religious organizations. (Oct 2004)
• Led an initiative to help minorities to buy homes. (Mar 2004)
• More spending on homeownership & mutifamily loans. (Apr 2001)
• Supports faith-based charities based on personal history. (Jan 2001)