Maryland Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Other or expanded principles
- The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a woman's right to control her own reproductive health is constitutionally guaranteed. As a Member of Congress, I have given my solemn oath to uphold our Constitution and all of our constitutional rights.

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- The Republicans' 2017 tax bill will provide massive tax cuts to the wealthy while leaving middle-class families behind and ballooning the deficit by $1.5 trillion during the next decade. Far too many Maryland families will be harmed. Most experts expect any positive impact on our economy to be minor. Although I have always supported a strong national defense, the current $700 Billion commitment is excessive in light of the essential domestic needs for expanded federal aid to education, health care and our social safety net.

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- I disagree with the Supreme Court's Citizens' United decision, and would support a constitutional amendment to reform that ruling. In addition, I am a Vice-Chair of the House Democracy Reform Task Force, Chaired by Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes, that is working to advance positive democracy reform of our ethics laws, campaign finance system and government accountability.

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- Supply-side economics, exemplified by the Republicans' tax bill that further enriches major corporations and our most affluent citizens while doing little to lift up the lives of everyday working American families, have not been shown to significantly promote economic growth. I support Demand-side economics, focused upon the moderation of federal taxes for working families, targeted support for the small businesses that create most of our jobs, and increased federal investment in education, health care, cleaner energy, affordable housing and public transportation.

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- An excellent public education is every person's human right - and must be a civil right as well.

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- Climate change is a real, existential threat to our society. As a practical, scientific matter, it must be addressed on a national and international basis.

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- Gun violence has devastated the lives of tens of thousands of American families every year, including my own. Yet, opposition by the NRA has prevented us from taking the reasonable steps that would better protect us, including an expanded and more effective background check system and assuring that those with serious mental health issues do not have access to firearms. For example, in past sessions of Congress, I have been proud to be among those leading the fight to pass the bipartisan Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2015 [H.R. 3455].

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- I have long supported universal access to healthcare under a single-payer system based upon expansion of Medicare to all Americans at birth. Although I have strongly supported the Affordable Care Act as an important first step toward this goal, I was disappointed that we were unable to overcome opposition to a public option in the legislation. I continue to believe that creating a public option for Americans in the individual market, together with stronger federal efforts to control the rising cost of prescription drugs, would significantly improve the ability of all Americans to afford high-quality health care.

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- We need immigration reform that will ensure strong border security, reasonable financial penalties, and a path to legal residency for the nearly 12 million undocumented workers already here in the U.S. (and a path to citizenship for many, including the Dreamers brought here as minors). In this way, we can strengthen our country for years to come.

Marijuana

1. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- I would eliminate federal criminal penalties for the possession of marijuana and concentrate our federal efforts on addictive substances. The states should regulate and tax marijuana in the same manner as alcohol is controlled.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- Unknown Position

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Unknown Position

3. Other or expanded principles
- Article I of our Constitution entrusts the decision to use military force (to declare war) to the Congress. These decisions should not and cannot be made in the abstract.

Administrative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My priorities have always been and remain to do everything within my power to create living wage jobs, expand access to affordable, high-quality health care and housing, and to protect our environment. In addition, I will continue our fight to hold the President and Executive Branch accountable; to defend our voting rights and electoral process from both foreign and domestic interference; to better protect our communities from inadequately regulated firearms; to drive down the cost of prescription medicines; and to strengthen and sustain Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid.