MISSISSIPPI CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS- INCUMBENTS AND CHALLENGERS BY RUTH KING

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/mississippi-2014-candidates-for-congress-where-they-stand

To see the actual voting records of all incumbents on other issues such as Foreign Policy, Second Amendment Issues, Homeland Security,  and other issues as well as their rankings by special interest groups please use the links followed by two stars (**). 

U.S. Senate

Roger Wicker (R) Next election in 2018

 Thad Cochran (R) Incumbent

http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/     http://thadformississippi.com/issues/
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Thad_Cochran.htm**

•Rated 0 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)

 ISSUES

GOVERNMENT OVERREACH   Thad has opposed the Obama Administration’s efforts to limit gun rights; he opposed the Wall Street bank bailout; he opposed the President’s bloated and ineffective stimulus package of 2009; he opposed Obamacare; and he has consistently voted against the Administrations’ failed immigration proposals. Thad cosponsored legislation that would prevent the IRS from targeting individuals because of their political beliefs, and Thad supports legislation to restore the Tenth Amendment, sending power back to the states. Thad has introduced legislation to prevent overregulation of family farms by the EPA. He recently worked successfully to stop overregulation of family farms by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

ENERGY   The United States can enjoy a secure and affordable energy supply. Thad believes in an all-of-the-above policy to harness our nation’s energy resources. He has supported efforts to expand offshore oil and gas development, and to return a portion of federal offshore revenues to the states for natural resource conservation and other purposes. Thad opposes President Obama’s delay in approving the Keystone XL Pipeline. A recent report by Obama’s own State Department concluded that the pipeline would support over 42,000 jobs, during construction and beyond. It is time to create these jobs and make the U.S. more energy independent. Thad is committed to supporting common sense energy policies.

Thad has spent his entire career making Mississippi a leader in energy independence. He has worked to bring investments in power generation throughout the state and has enabled Mississippi universities to conduct cutting-edge research in energy innovation. Over 22,000 Mississippi jobs are directly attributable to our energy assets, but more jobs are needed. Reliable and abundant energy sources are good for Americans because they help lower electric bills and prices at the pump. Diverse, affordable energy sources also are critical to attracting high skilled manufacturing and technology companies.

He is staunchly opposed to a “carbon tax” and sees it as a sure job killer, particularly in states like Mississippi that are growing manufacturing jobs. Thad has supported legislation to block EPA overregulation of American industry and energy providers. Thad will continue to fight for an all-of-the-above energy policy that is fair to the American consumer.

HEALTHCARE   Thad continues to fight against Obamacare. He has voted to oppose, defund or repeal Obamacare’s overreach 102 times on the Senate. In 2013, Thad cosponsored the Obamacare Repeal Act authored by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Thad believes that Obamacare denies healthcare choice, stifles economic mobility and costs American jobs. In fact, a February Congressional Budget Office report confirms that Obamacare is reducing American jobs.

Thad also cosponsored legislation that would prevent taxpayer-funded bailouts of health insurance companies at the Obama Administration’s discretion, as permitted under Obamacare. Beyond the cost of these bailouts, these payments would likely end up being one more smokescreen to hide just how harmful and costly this ill-conceived law is turning out to be. Thad believes that lawmakers must go back to the drawing board and draft legislation that will work better for all Americans and actually reduce the cost of healthcare services without spending billions of taxpayer dollars to support these failing policies. The White House’s delay of the employer mandate past the 2014 elections is a sign that employers are responding to Obamacare’s mandates exactly as critics have contended: by cutting back on workers and hours. More recently, we learned that Medicare is being raided to pay for Obamacare. Seniors could lose access to the doctors they liked and were told they could keep. The President has shown he isn’t afraid to cherry-pick which parts of the law he delays, so he should stop these harmful cuts to Medicare.

Thad believes healthcare decisions are best made by families, not bureaucrats in Washington. That’s why he has made sure Mississippians have access to high quality care and transformative research. Thad forced the National Institutes of Health to stop putting Mississippi at the back of the pack and advocated a greater focus on Mississippi academic research partnerships. Today, doctors and researchers at the Guyton Research Complex headquartered in Jackson work with other world-class institutions to find cures for diseases affecting thousands of Mississippians.

IMMIGRATION   Thad has consistently voted against inadequate immigration legislation. He even voted against his friend Ronald Reagan’s amnesty bill in 1986. In fact, he is one of three Senators in history to vote against every comprehensive immigration reform bill that sought to provide amnesty to those who have entered our country illegally (1986, 2006, 2007, 2013). Thad has voted against all legislation that would allow a process to grant legal status to illegal immigrants now in the United States. Thad realizes the importance of guest worker policy improvements that would benefit agriculture, seafood, high-tech and other industries in Mississippi and other states. However, as a member and first chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that secures our borders, Thad knows better than almost anyone that before solving the nation’s border security or law enforcement problems, we must not consider a path toward citizenship for those here illegally. Thad believes that the United States needs to improve its legal immigration policies and consistently enforce laws already on the books so that we remain globally competitive.

Travis Childers (D) Challenger

http://childersforsenate.com/

 

 


 

U.S. CONGRESS

District 1

Alan Nunnelee (R) Incumbent

https://nunnelee.house.gov/     http://www.nunneleeforcongress.com/

http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Alan_Nunnelee.htm**

•Rated -4 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)

 ISSUES

ENERGY   People in Mississippi are suffering because of the extreme policies of the Obama Administration. New technologies are making it possible to recover vast reserves of natural gas and shale oil all across America. Sadly, the President continues to drag his feet on American energy production because he is beholden to an environmentalist fringe that is hostile to energy development.

An example of the President prioritizing his environmentalist base over helping ease pain at the pump is the indefensible decision to block the Keystone XL Pipeline. This project would increase the share of our energy supply coming from Canada and the United States, thus reducing our dependence on less stable and more hostile regions of the world. In short, the Keystone XL project would create both infrastructure and high paying energy sector jobs, as well as improve our energy security.

Our domestic energy supplies will help lower gas prices over the long term and are a boon to our economy and our national security. We must continue to fight for responsible development of our natural resources.

IMMIGRATION   We should first and foremost secure the borders and enforce existing laws. We also need to start dealing with the magnet that draws people here and that is the jobs. I have successfully fought for language to be included in spending bills that bans any federal agency funded by the bill from hiring an employee that has not been cleared through E-Verify, a program that allows employers to ensure a person applying for a job is in the country legally.

HEALTHCARE   We need to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to clear the way for patient centered health care reform.  Here is how we can do it:

1.      Individuals and families should be able to keep the same insurance when they change jobs.
2.      Insurance should not be restricted by state lines.
3.      Self employed individuals and families should be able to join a group plan and enjoy the same tax advantages as corporations.
4.      Insurance companies should not be allowed to drop individuals or families because of illness.
5.      Small businesses should be able to purchase coverage at similar rates as large corporations and government agencies.
6.      Medical bills should be more transparent and easier to understand.
7.      We must pass comprehensive tort reform.
8.      Elected officials should not have special coverage. 

Ron Dickey (D) Challenger

https://twitter.com/Dickey4MS/media

District 2

Bennie Thompson (D) Incumbent

•Rated 0 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)

http://benniethompson.house.gov/      http://www.ontheissues.org/house/bennie_thompson.htm**

 ISSUES

HEALTHCARE   Mississippi continues to face tremendous challenges as we confront our health care needs. In fact, all twenty-three counties in the Second District are medically under-served and many citizens are unable to afford health coverage. To help address these challenges Democrats introduce the Affordable Care Act of 2010 to improve the quality of health care and insurance coverage for 315,000 residents. The law extends coverage to 95,000 uninsured residents and allows 16,500 residents with preexisting conditions to obtain coverage just in Mississippi’s Second District alone.

In the first few days of the 112thCongress, with less than eight hours of debate, The House of Representatives voted to chip away at a concrete policy that took more than eighteen months to put together. With the people of the Second District in mind, Congressman Thompson cast a vote against a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT   Voted against the Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments.   Protecting the environment is vital to guarding the health of all Americans, particularly our children. Congressman Thompson are fighting for cleaner air, cleaner water, and preservation of our natural resources, understanding that what we do today has an impact on future generations of Americans. We stand up for fair policies that protect America’s environment while allowing for economic opportunity-priorities that can work together.

To create the next generation of clean energy jobs, make our nation more secure and reduce the pollution that causes global warming, Congressman Thompson and Congressional Democrats are committed to investing in our nation’s clean energy future. By investing in renewable sources of energy and funding research on the next clean technology breakthroughs, Democrats are fighting to not only increase our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but create jobs right here in America.

District 3

 

Gregg Harper (R) Incumbent

http://www.greggharper.ms/     http://harper.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Gregg_Harper.htm**

•Rated -3 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)

 ISSUES

CUTTING SPENDING   Apr 10, 2014 eNewsletters    There’s no question: Spending is out of control under the Obama administration. From the failed stimulus to the ballooning cost of ObamaCare, this White House continues to spend money we just don’t have. But House Republicans have a plan to balance the budget and grow the economy. It’s called the Path to Prosperity. And the plan repeals ObamaCare, provides a fairer tax code, and cuts $5.1 trillion over the next decade – targeting wasteful Washington spending and reforming government programs driving the nation’s debt.

ENERGY   Voted in Favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments.   “America should embrace an all-of-the-above energy strategy that harnesses new technologies and increases domestic energy production from oil, natural gas, renewables, clean coal technology and nuclear power.”

Congressman Gregg Harper believes that Congress must advance ideas that stabilize fuel prices and build a steady supply of American energy, which leads to good-paying energy industry jobs.

HEALTHCARE   “The so-called ‘Affordable Care Act’ is nothing short of politics above economics. I support health initiatives that protect the patient-doctor relationship and lower health care premiums through increased competition and choice.”

Instead of advancing a bill that focuses on access to care, protects the patient-doctor relationship and lowers health care premiums through increased competition and choice, the president signed a $1.7 trillion law that raids $764 billion from Medicare and raises taxes over $1 trillion. This figure is the result of 21 tax increases contained in ObamaCare, more than half of which impact everyone regardless of income level.

IMMIGRATION   “Congress must establish control of the border and take steps to ensure that our current immigration laws are being enforced properly.”

Congressman Gregg Harper understands that it is illegal to be in the United States without proper documentation, and those who are here illegally should have to face consequences. Amnesty for illegal aliens is unacceptable.

Doug Magee (D) Challenger

http://ballotpedia.org/Doug_Magee 
 

District 4

Steven Palazzo (R) Incumbent

https://palazzo.house.gov/     http://www.palazzoforcongress.com/#!prettyPhoto

http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Steven_Palazzo.htm**

•Rated -4 by AAI, indicating  anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)

 ISSUES

HEALTHCARE   One of the biggest concerns I hear from my constituents is how terrible Obamacare is for them and their families. That is why I have voted to repeal, replace, delay, defund, and dismantle this law. I will vote another 40 times to do it until it is off the books for good. I’ve also introduced and received a tremendous amount of support for a constitutional amendment to rip the heart out of Obamacare. My “Right to Refuse” legislation is simple – it prevents Congress from enacting taxes that punish you for refusing to purchase a good or service like healthcare. This common
sense solution would solve the impending Obamacare crisis once and for all. Below are just a handful of the problems we’ve seen with Obamacare.

Increases Healthcare Costs –  The primary goal of Obamacare was to make healthcare more affordable, and it doesn’t even do that, it actually makes healthcare more expensive for most Americans. Even Medicare’s Chief Actuary said that Obamacare does not keep cost down.

Causes Insurance Premiums to Rise   –   In an already sluggish economy, the last thing we need to do is force Americans to fork out more money for their healthcare, and that is exactly what Obamacare does. It has been estimated that Obamacare will cause between 1% and 9% increase in premiums. This means that most American families will have to fork out on average $2,100 more for health insurance, and in most cases they are getting less coverage than what they have now.

Hurts Quality of Healthcare   Obamacare has been so catastrophic to the healthcare industry to the point that a large percentage of physicians will completely stop practicing medicine, thus making the doctor shortage worsen, leading to a more limited access to healthcare and longer waits for patients.

Adds nearly $570,000,000,000 in Tax Hikes   Most of these tax hikes are going to fall on the backs of Middle Class Americans and Small businesses.    Adds Over $500,000,000,000 to the National Debt
Need I say more?

ENERGY    Voted for construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments.   An energy independent United States of America is one of my top priorities in Congress. Our country must cut back on its reliance on foreign oil, and to do this, we must increase the domestic production of energy, including oil, natural gas, and clean coal.

Green energy technologies may have promise in the future, but they are still being developed and remain costly. I do not believe in picking winners and losers in the marketplace by providing millions of taxpayer dollars to unproven industries. Now-bankrupt companies like Solyndra have shown that handing out taxpayer funds for these technologies is both unwise and ultimately, unsuccessful.

By increasing domestic production of energy, we can lower our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and create high-paying American jobs. In the 112th Congress, the House of Representatives passed dozens of bills that would reduce regulations on the energy industry and help stimulate such job creation: http://www.majorityleader.gov/jobstracker. In the 113th Congress, I remain committed to American energy independence.

DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY   In 1988, I enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves and was proud to serve with the 3rd Force Recon in the Persian Gulf War spending time in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In 1997, I enlisted in the MS National Guard where I currently still serve. Most recently, I spent a year supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom at Mobilization Center Camp Shelby. I have also had opportunities to visit our soldiers serving overseas during my time in Congress.

I believe that one of my first obligations in upholding the United States Constitution to ensure we provide for a strong national defense.

 

 

Matt Moore (D) Challenger

https://www.facebook.com/mattmoore4ms

 


 


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