Positions

Massachusetts 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
- I support Roe v. Wade. Women's rights are human rights, and perhaps the most consequential decision a woman makes is whether or not to become a mother. I oppose the Hyde Act and so-called "Mexico City" policy which limits funding for family planning as part of foreign aid and has led to needless maternal and neo-natal deaths in Third World

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
- I would consider increasing taxes on upper tax brackets and closing loopholes. I would also consider raising cap on FICA payroll deductions to assure the solvency of Social Security and Medicare trust funds. With regard to defense spending, I believe savings can be identified in a thoughtful review of almost any federal program. That said, I would support good pay and benefits for armed forces, investments in human intelligence and capital, and DOD research and development. I oppose spending proposed by the Trump Administration on weapons systems the Joint Chiefs themselves do not endorse or request.

Campaign Finance

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- I have proposed legislation, The Shareholders' Protection Act, that would require a majority of shareholders to approve any political expenditure of a public company. I have also supported Constitutional amendments seeking to remedy the harm done by the Citizens' United decision.

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
- As a now senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have consistently fought for investment in infrastructure. It would create good jobs and promote sustainable growth.

Education

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- But, I believe state and local authorities should have wide latitude in implementing these standards.I voted against No Child Left Behind because I thought it too rigid.

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
- No Answer

Guns

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- The time for common-sense gun control legislation is long past. Too many have died needlessly, and I welcome the energy and passion of student activists to the struggle.

Health Care

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- I Have long supported "Health Care for All," a public option. I regret this was not achieved with the ACA and I will continue to fight for it. I am one of the original members of the "Heathcare for All" Caucus in the House.

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
- I support Comprehensive Immigration Reform and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented aliens. In most cases, I would see no reason to require an alien, long resident, employed, parent of U.S. citizen children, with no criminal convictions -- and I believe this describes the vast majority of the 11 or 12 million undocumented -- to return to country of origin

Marijuana

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

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?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- I supported the Iran Deal and I continue to believe that diplomacy should always be attempted to prevent nuclear proliferation. I am a co-sponsor of the Markey-Liu bill to prohibit a first strike. That said, I would never take force off the table in dealing with reckless despots. I insist on the authority the Constitution vests in Congress to declare war. I joined other Members in a bi-partisan suit against President Obama for attacking Libya without consulting Congress. Ico-sponsored legislation to prohibit the deployment of US combat troops to Syrian without authorization for use of military force.

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.
- We must fight against economic inequality. Persistent divisions, based on all too real disparities in education and opportunity, threaten our common future. We must fight racism and sexism. We must recognize all Americans as fellow citizens, worthy of respect even when we do not agree. We must resist President Trump who has fostered enmity at home and abroad. Our country should be a beacon of hope to the world. We can have secure borders without tearing children from their mothers' arms and putting them in cages. We can defend our national sovereignty without insulting democratic allies and fawning on despots.