Shawn O'Connor

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should there be a path to citizenship for some illegal/undocumented immigrants?

"As it is critical that we know who is in the country for security reasons and we cannot break up families with undocumented parents and American children, we should provide a path to legal residency for undocumented immigrants."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the government compel corporations to pay more in federal taxes, for example by closing “loopholes?”

"Yes, provided that we lower our corporate tax rate from the third highest in the world (after Chad and the United Arab Emirates) to the average rate globally. We need to collect corporate tax revenue, but we don't want to create incentives for businesses to take jobs and investment overseas."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Shawn strongly supports a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United. Shawn will propose and support legislation to ensure full transparency in campaign finance. He will also seek to significantly reduce the impact that money has in politics by supporting legislation that would allow Congress to regulate the spending by and/or eliminate so-called Super PACs, through which less than 100 members of the top 0.1% fund a very significant proportion of our political campaigns."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government expand background checks for firearms sales?

"We have seen that the current background check system in NH is not functioning adequately as evidenced by the recent shooting of two Manchester police officers by a violent criminal who should have been denied a gun. We need fully operational, instantaneous background checks to do everything possible to keep guns out of the hands of domestic terrorists, violent criminals, and those who have committed domestic violence."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Generally speaking, should the federal government give states more control over welfare/entitlement spending through block grants?

"The federal government should not give states more control over entitlement spending through block grants."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the government do more to combat climate change, for example by restricting emissions, taxing carbon, or providing incentives to develop clean energy?

"The government should do more to combat climate change."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government institute a flat income tax for all income brackets while eliminating many deductions?

"We should eliminate federal taxes for individuals making under $37,450 and dramatically reduce taxes for individuals making under $75,000."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?

"We must ensure that all women have access to mammograms, cancer screenings, and preventative care. I would support funding to Planned Parenthood and other such providers for these important services."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the government enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized marijuana?

"I support the medical use of marijuana. I oppose the use of marijuana by anyone under 21 or anyone operating a vehicle. I think further research needs to be conducted regarding the long-term impact of marijuana usage and its potential for being a gateway drug before we legalize it for recreational use by adults."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government raise the minimum wage?

"The federal government should raise the minimum wage."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should higher income brackets pay more in federal taxes than they currently do?

"We need to close loopholes, such as the carried interest loophole, that allows 2,000 Wall Street executives to avoid $12 billion in taxes per year. But we should not raise rates on any Americans."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

How should the U.S. combat the Islamic State?

"I oppose the use of ground forces in Syria and Iraq, with the exception of Special Operation Forces already on the ground. I believe that it is essential to engage with our NATO allies and our allies in the Middle East as well as our Muslim-American communities to have the best intelligence to prevent future attacks in the U.S. and abroad. We should cooperate with our allies to provide air support in the fight against ISIS."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government increase spending on defense?

"We need to audit the Department of Defense to identify areas of duplicative, wasteful spending. This audit will also help uncover areas which are underfunded as the Department of Defense shifts to combatting new threats to our security, such as cyberterrorism."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government increase support for scientific research and development?

"The federal government should increase support for scientific research and development."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government increase funding for transportation infrastructure, such as road repair and highway expansion?

"The federal government should increase funding for infrastructure."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Shawn will seek to immediately end all subsidies for fossil fuels. To reverse the dramatic impact of climate change, he will strongly advocate to move the U.S. and the world to carbon neutrality in the coming decades by strongly supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies that will create good-paying American jobs while protecting the global environment."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government lower the corporate tax rate?

"Both President Obama and House Republicans agree that we need to cut the corporate tax rate to bring $2.1 trillion in US profits parked overseas home. The President wants a cut to 28% and House Republicans want a cut to 15%. I support a compromise cut to 22.6% which would take us from the 3rd highest rate in the world to the average rate globally."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government reform Social Security by requiring means testing?

"I oppose means testing for Social Security."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Shawn vigorously supports the continuation of Medicaid expansion in New Hampshire which provides much-needed healthcare to 42,000 Granite Staters."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Shawn will defend a woman's right to make her own healthcare choices with her doctor."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government provide health care and/or insurance to every citizen?

"It is fiscally responsible for us to find a way that all Americans have insurance as this will lower insurance premiums because when the uninsured use the emergency room as their primary care it increases costs for all of us. However, the federal government should not insure everyone. We should improve the ACA exchanges and let young people buy into Medicare if they choose to."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government privatize some or all of Social Security?

"I oppose the privatization of Social Security."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government reform Social Security by raising the retirement age from today's age of 67?

"I oppose raising the retirement age."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government repeal the Affordable Care Act/”Obamacare” entirely and start again?

"As the repeal of Obamacare seems unlikely, we need to fix this program. I am very familiar with the challenges Granite Staters face with Obamacare as I buy my insurance on the ACA exchange. We should create a regional New England Exchange which will increase competition, lower costs, improve quality, and allow Granite Staters to use any doctor or hospital in New England."

Candidate's Website, 2016

O'Connor has not specifically addressed Dodd Frank. However, on his website he writes, "In law school, Shawn studied financial regulation with now Senator Elizabeth Warren. Shawn will strive to be the 'Elizabeth Warren' of the House of Representatives. He will protect Main Street by regulating institutional trading strategies which disadvantage the average investor and by requiring easier-to-understand financial disclosures. Shawn will also partner with regulators to break up 'Too Big To Fail' Wall Street banks and to fight predatory lending, such as pay day lending and title loans which carry exorbitant interest rates."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"In 29 states you can get married on a Saturday and fired on Monday. As your next Congressman, I will work tirelessly to protect all Americans through comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination that protects our community from discrimination in housing, education, employment, credit, and public accommodations."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Shawn will defend a woman's right to make her own healthcare choices with her doctor. He will seek to overturn the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision that gives a woman's employer a voice in her healthcare decisions."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2016

Should the federal government allow student loan payments to be reduced based on income?

"We need to reduce student loan interests rates to 1-2% on new and existing loans and increase Pell Grants to lower the cost of higher education."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"I share your grave concerns about the TransPacific Trade Deal. We need FAIR trade not free trade, and we need to raise the labor and environmental standards of the rest of the world up to our level."