Mark Sanford
Historical Details
Position on Issues
For| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2017
Voted for the "Trump tax plan" bill (HR 1)
For| Read My Position
Sanford co-sponsored a bill that eliminated many of the requirements for what health insurers must cover.
According to the Washington Post, "The plan, endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus, would end the ACA's Medicaid expansion, de-couple health insurance from employers, offer a tax credit of up to $5000 to fund HSAs, and eliminate most regulations on what health plans must cover. Insurers would be able to sell policies across state lines; regulations that mandate birth control coverage would be nixed. ... It eliminate the ACA's essential health benefit requirements, end antitrust laws for health-care providers 'to increase competition and drive down prices for consumers, and turn Medicaid into a block-grant program for states."
Other| Read My Position
"Sanford said he did not support then-President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order, which gives relief to young undocumented immigrants. But he said he's open to the concept of protecting young people."
For| Read My Position
Sanford co-sponsored a bill that eliminated many of the requirements for what health insurers must cover.
According to the Washington Post, "The plan, endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus, would end the ACA's Medicaid expansion, de-couple health insurance from employers, offer a tax credit of up to $5000 to fund HSAs, and eliminate most regulations on what health plans must cover. Insurers would be able to sell policies across state lines; regulations that mandate birth control coverage would be nixed. ... It eliminate the ACA's essential health benefit requirements, end antitrust laws for health-care providers 'to increase competition and drive down prices for consumers, and turn Medicaid into a block-grant program for states."
Other| Read My Position
Project Vote Smart Survey, 2018
"I support the gun control limitations currently in place. There are nine current prohibitions on gun purchase and they make sense. I voted to expand the National Instant Criminal Background System because some were missed in our system. I will keep an open mind, but must be up front about my commitment to the Second Amendment. I believe it is the teeth behind every one of the other rights enshrined within the Bill of Rights. Our Constitution is one of only three on the globe that lists gun ownership as one of the enumerated rights in being an American citizen."
For| Read My Position
Voting Record, 2017
Voted for HR 36, which would have banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Against| Read My Position
Project Vote Smart Survey, 2018
"To me, the issue of marijuana is not about marijuana, but rather about the Founding Fathers' concept of federalism and their belief that not all decisions had to be made in Washington. They believed that those powers not expressly reserved for the federal government, were in fact reserved for states, localities, and individuals. In this vein, I have supported states in their right to enact a patchwork of different proposals with regard to marijuana. I don't believe that the federal government should create policy for, or against, their ability to do so as is now the case."
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Sanford sponsored a bill that would have allowed Puerto Rico to set a minimum wage below the federal standard of $7.25 an hour.
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Project Vote Smart Survey, 2018
"The fact is that tax credits and deductions represent nothing more than a different side of government funding. Whether you appropriate a dollar, or you offer a dollar in tax credit, from a government standpoint they are one in the same. I do believe that there should be a weaning process with regard to solar or wind credits, and I would not support them indefinitely. But in present form, solar credits have helped to create a robust solar market in places like South Carolina that represents an important piece of the puzzle in steps towards energy independence."
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"'You start a trade war, you don't know exactly where it ends,' Sanford said. He called President Trump's strategy to impose tariffs on Chinese goods 'mistaken,' arguing that the tariffs slow national economic growth and hurt American consumers."
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"'You have to look at entitlements,' he said. 'Like Willie Sutton, that's where the money is.' He cautioned that eliminating 'waste, fraud and abuse' isn't going to cut it. I asked him if, within the context of entitlement reform, he'd consider measures such as raising the cap on wages subject to Social Security. 'I think you have to look at the whole basket,' he said. He added, 'Everybody's got to sacrifice.'"
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"I believe a secure border is a key to national security. That's why I've joined with the president and others in efforts to build a wall."
Against| Read My Position
"'Should everyone in this country have health care?' someone asked Sanford near the end.
"'I think it's an individual choice,' he said."
Other| Read My Position
" Sanford said, as president, he would not meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un, breaking with the Trump administration's strategy on North Korea. '[Chairman Kim] has proven himself an awfully bad actor on the world stage,' Sanford said, adding that the North Korean government 'needs to do some things that show verification before we step out in trusting them and meeting with them.'"
Other| Read My Position
"'You have to look at entitlements,' he said. 'Like Willie Sutton, that's where the money is.' He cautioned that eliminating 'waste, fraud and abuse' isn't going to cut it. I asked him if, within the context of entitlement reform, he'd consider measures such as raising the cap on wages subject to Social Security. 'I think you have to look at the whole basket,' he said. He added, 'Everybody's got to sacrifice.'"
Against| Read My Position
Sanford voted for a bill that "expresses the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to American families and businesses and is not in the best interest of the United States."
For| Read My Position
"I've long spoken against the Iran nuclear deal based on money going from the U.S. taxpayer in that direction, based on the fact that I believe it will reward the wrong behaviors and based on the fact that I don't believe it would lead to a non-nuclearized Iran."
