Carol Shea-Porter

Federal climate change action
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"The Citizens United decision is outrageous, and I hope that the Supreme Court reviews and overturns its decision. But until the Court acts, there are steps citizens and politicians can take to fight back against this decision.

"First, Congress can pass a law requiring full disclosure. I was a cosponsor of the DISCLOSE Act, which requires donors to disclose who they are and banned foreign-controlled corporations from putting money in US elections. Second, require companies to give shareholders a vote on political spending. Shareholders do not have the freedom of speech to say no" to the corporate managers right now. Third adopt public financing. The Fair Elections Now Act which I also cosponsored would give candidates public money if they demonstrated voter support for their candidacies. This would free the candidates from dialing for private dollars all the time reduce donor influence on members of Congress and give the people the same voice in choosing a candidate as the wealthy and powerful. The Government by the People Act would allow small contributions from everyday Americans to make a real difference in elections. I cosponsored the Voter Empowerment Act of 2013 and support universal voter registration and oppose all barriers to universal registration.

"Finally I favor re-imposing reasonable limits on campaign spending and contributions by amending the Constitution and empowering Congress and the states to regulate money in elections and also to clarify the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations. Congress must be able to regulate corporate donations to candidates and spending and political advertising in elections."

Federal funding for Planned Parenthood
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"The fact is that the government does have an important role to play in stopping climate change. I support the Clean Power Plan that will fight climate change by cutting carbon pollution from existing power plants by 30% below 2005 baseline levels by 2030. These limits will not only protect our environment, they will also safeguard our health, and spur innovation in the clean energy economy."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2016

"When you attack Planned Parenthood, you're attacking women and men and their access to health care. But right-wing Republicans started the new year with a vote yesterday to defund Planned Parenthood. It's really sad to see these attacks. Planned Parenthood has been supported through the years by both parties, and politicians always used to work together to provide access to people."

Federal marijuana enforcement
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Federal minimum wage increase
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"It's up to the states to decide."

How to combat Islamic State
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"Raising the wage is one of the most effective ways to jumpstart our economy and put more money into the pockets of working families. I support an increase to a $15/hour minimum wage, raised in stages. "

Increase fossil fuel production
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"Shea-Porter, of Rochester, said that she supported air strikes aimed at ISIS as well as efforts to strengthen the Kurdish forces resisting ISIS. But, she cautioned against arming the Free Syrian Army in the hope it would join the campaign against ISIS since its leadership has said it would turn its weapons to the campaign to overthrow President Assad of Syria."

Increase private care for veterans
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Addressing the Keystone XL pipeline, Shea-Porter said, "History has shown that these pipelines are notorious for springing leaks, and middle class American homeowners, farmers, and ranchers stand to lose the most if there is a spill... What's more, there is no evidence that the oil carried by this pipeline would actually improve North American energy independence... In order to create jobs and boost the economy, Congress should stop delaying legislation to address our nation's infrastructure and clean energy needs and pass comprehensive bills now."

Lower federal tax rate for corporations
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"To guarantee that all New Hampshire vets can access the full range of medical services available in other states, I introduced a bill in 2008 called the Veterans Health Equity Act. This bill would ensure that veterans in every state have access to either a full-service VA hospital or equivalent in-state private care... While the new VA reform law is a big achievement, and will offer veterans private care, the law says the care will only be available for up to three years. We still need a permanent plan for those who live too far away from a VA center. Congress needs to make access to private care for those veterans permanent."

Other, 2013

Shea-Porter has suggested she is open to lowering the corporate tax rate, but only if tax loopholes are closed.

More abortion restrictions
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NSA bulk data collection
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"Americans have a right to make personal medical decisions without government intrusion. This is part of our right to individual privacy."

Other, 2013

"The recent string of stories about the National Security Agency collecting massive amounts of information on law-abiding Americans has been shocking, and this bulk collection of data needs to stop."

Other: Economy, Budget and Taxes
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Privatize social security
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Opposes tax on internet sales

Raise social security retirement age
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"Without Social Security, families would have to make devastating decisions about living arrangements, health care, education, transportation, etc., as they tried to divide resources between the young and the old. Also, reducing future benefits or privatizing Social Security would not be a shared sacrifice. As former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers wrote in Vanity Fair, 'The top 1% of Americans now take home nearly a quarter of all income and control more than 40% of the country's wealth-roughly the same as the bottom 90%.' Not exactly shared sacrifice. Therefore we must stop Paul Ryan and Republican politicians from dismantling this program."

Repeal Affordable Care Act/”Obamacare”
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"Shea-Porter said she would not increase the Social Security retirement age for young workers."

Repeal Dodd-Frank regulations
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"I voted for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to bring coverage to millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans. Fifty million had no insurance, so the Affordable Care Act has filled in the gap, while also prohibiting the abuses of private insurers. Since passage of the ACA, 90% of Americans now have health insurance. Expanded Medicaid uses federal funds from the ACA to treat people with addiction to drugs such as opioids and heroin, and mental illness, as well as covering long-term nursing home care."

"I helped pass the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, which, while not perfect, corrected fundamental flaws in our financial system to try to prevent a future crisis."

Right-to-Work
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Student loan payments by income
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Opposes right-to-work.