Lindsey Graham

Voting Record, 2015

Graham is a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015, which provides over $80 million in federal funding for addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery

Candidate's Website, 2015

"We should require illegal immigrants to register with the government to ensure they are paying taxes, learning English, undergoing background checks, and paying restitution for entering our nation illegally. Then, after living under our laws and our rules, we should require they wait for citizenship behind legal immigrants already in line. Finally, after going through this lengthy process -- including paying fines, paying taxes, learning English, and passing an American civics and assimilation exam -- which should take a decade or longer, an illegal immigrant could become a citizen, rather than remaining in the shadows and outside the arm of the law."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"Our individual and corporate marginal rates are some of the highest in the industrialized world, putting our economy and our workforce at an enormous competitive disadvantage. At the same time, the volume and scope of credits, deductions, and carve-outs create enormous loopholes and reward those who can afford an army of tax attorneys at the expense of working families and small businesses. We must lower marginal rates while streamlining the overall process and limiting the use of deductions and credits that are not cost-effective and have a distortionary effect on our tax system."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"The Obama Administration has effectively bribed and coerced states into adopting Common Core. Blanket education standards should not be a prerequisite for federal funding. In order to have a competitive application for some federal grants and flexibility waivers, states have to adopt Common Core. This is simply not the way the Obama Administration should be handling education policy. Our resolution affirms that education belongs in the hands of our parents, local officials and states."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"As a lifelong gun-owner, Senator Graham understands the importance of protecting the Second Amendment and protecting law abiding citizens from continued efforts to infringe on our right to keep and bear arms."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"From my own personal experience, I do not believe either party has the will to bring about a balanced budget. It is clear special interest politics on both the left and right grow stronger every year. The only way to bring about a balanced budget each year is through a balanced budget requirement like 49 of the 50 states already have."

Other, 2015

Believes that climate change is real, but does not support cap and trade. "In my world, we'll focus on energy independence and a clean environment. When it comes to fossil fuels, we're going to find more here and use less. Over time, we're going to become energy independent. I am tired of sending $300 billion overseas to buy oil from people who hate our guts. The choice between a weak economy and a strong environment is a false choice, that is not the choice I'll offer America. A healthy environment, a strong economy and energy independent America--that would be the purpose of my presidency--break the strangle hold that people enjoy on fossil fuels who hate our guts."

Other, 2015

"Graham said a system in which the wealthiest 1 percent pays 20 percent of the taxes, the top 10 percent pays 65 to 70 percent and the bottom half of taxpayers pays less than 10 percent 'is going to fail.' He advocated a flat tax of a percentage in the high teens or low 20s with simple deductions for homeowners and charitable giving and a break for people on a fixed income."

Other, 2015

"If I am president of the United States, I wouldn't put one penny in -- in my budget for Planned Parenthood, not one penny. I'm as offended by these videos as you are. But the one thing I'm not going to do going into 2016 is shut the government down and tank our ability to win."

Other, 2015

Generally opposes the recreational use of marijuana, but also said enforcing federal marijuana laws is "pretty far down my list of priorities"

Other, 2015

Opposes a federal minimum wage increase

Candidate's Website, 2014

"With over $7 trillion added to the national debt under President Obama, Lindsey Graham believes the federal government spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much. ... Graham supported the Bush tax cuts, which included cuts in income tax rates, capital gains rates, and dividend tax rate. The Bush tax cuts also eliminated the marriage penalty and the Death Tax. As Senator, he has voted repeatedly to extend them and make them permanent."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"Where local, moderate groups are taking the fight to the enemy in Syria and throughout the Middle East, we must assist in providing the necessary capacity to undermine and defeat radical forces and keep the fight off of our shores. This will require a U.S. troop presence in the region of 10,000. A force of this size would have a stabilizing effect, and would work in support of a comprehensive strategy that includes:

• "Arming, training, and equipping moderate local forces, particularly the Kurds;
• "Creating safe zones, backed by no-fly zones;
• "Aggressively applying air power;
• "Expanding intelligence operations; and
• "Fully utilizing special operations capabilities."

Candidate's Website, 2014

• "Supports construction of the Keystone XL pipeline
• "Supports increased exploration for domestic sources of oil, including Alaska's ANWR
• "Supports expanding oil refining capability"

Other, 2015

At the No Labels conference in October 2015 Graham said, "We're fighting a bureaucracy that's not going to give up without a fight. How about this idea. If you've served your country and you're eligible for health care, give you a card where you can go anywhere you want to go any time you want to go. That costs money, but money well-spent."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"In the Senate, Graham has been one of the most ardent defenders of unborn children. He is the lead sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortions at 5 months of pregnancy except in case of life of the mother, incest or rape."

Other, 2015

Graham supports the death penalty. Following a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ruled the death penalty was unconstitutional for child rapists, Graham said, "The Court's statement there is a national consensus against the death penalty for cases that do not result in death is a complete misreading of the American people and their views on child rape."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Generally supports NSA domestic surveillance and mass data collection for the purpose of national security, and said, "I'm not worried about the NSA, I'm worried about ISIL penetrating this country and killing a lot of us."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"Acknowledging the reality that Social Security is on an unsustainable path, Graham has consistently worked to put proposals on the table to modernize and strengthen Social Security, while protecting today's seniors. These efforts included leading a reform effort in 2003 that would have created private accounts as well as introducing a plan in 2012 (S.804) with Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee that would make Social Security solvent without raising taxes."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"Graham voted against Obamacare, and since its passage into law has repeatedly voted to get rid of it. Whether it is Repeal and Replace, Defund, Opt-Out or Delay, he has consistently opposed this massive new entitlement."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"Graham has a strong record for supporting the traditional definition of marriage and even coauthored a 'friend of the court' brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He believes we should promote and protect traditional family values, regardless of recent Supreme Court decisions."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"Religious organizations should not be required to provide health care services that violate the pillars of their faith."

Other, 2015

Supports allowing students to refinance their loans, and supports opening the student loan market to the private sector. "Rather than having the Department of Education being the only bank, I would allow more people to compete for student loan business, because the more competition for your business, the better off you are."

Voting Record, 2015

Graham has not voiced an opinion on TPP, but he voted for the TPA in June 2015, a piece of legislation that enables TPP.

Candidate's Website, 2014

"Senator Graham strongly believes that a nuclear-weapons capable Iran is a major threat to our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel, and to the national security of the United States. He has sponsored or co-sponsored nearly 25 pieces of legislation increasing pressure and sanctions on the radical Iranian regime as it suppresses democracy, races to develop nuclear weapons capability, and actively supports terror around the world. Senator Graham has led the Senate effort to strengthen economic sanctions on the Iranian regime and authored legislation that passed the Senate 97-1 that states explicitly that the United States will not simply seek to contain a nuclear-armed Iran."