Here you find an overview of all issues. You can click on an issue to see your repsonses and responses from Bill Richardson as well as the sources on which they are based.
Gun control
Proposition 1:
People should have a background check and obtain a license before they can buy a gun
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
 |
Debate transcripts |
| |
COOPER: Governor Richardson, you have one of the highest NRA ratings.
RICHARDSON: The issue here, I believe, is instant background checks.
RICHARDSON: Nobody who has a criminal background or is mentally ill should be able to get a weapon. That is the key, and that includes gun sales. That includes gun sales at gun shows.
The key is going to be also attacking poverty, bringing people together, dealing with those kids in the ghettos that are heavy users of gun violence and they are victims of gun violence, to make sure that this country attacks the core problems of poverty, having child care, bringing parents together.
CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate transcript 23-07-2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/
GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, listen, I know—I’ve been in public life 25 years. I was the whip when President Clinton was—I was the whip, in other words, in charge of getting some of those votes for the crime bill, which put 100,000 cops on the street, which took some of those initiatives. But, look, Tim, you know, I—I’m a gun owner. I’m a western governor. I believe the issue is not gun control. The issue, as, as happened in, in Virginia Tech where I, I just—those—the tragedy there, the issue is instant background checks. I am for instant background—I am for a bill that Carolyn McCarthy is doing now in the House of Representatives which tightens background checks, which, which says...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18818527/
|
|
Proposition 2:
Stricter gun control will not reduce crime
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Candidate's book, columns or other publications |
| |
First, it is my duty as a representative in Congress to represent the views of my constituents. Since a majority of my constituents have expressed their opposition to any form of gun control through letters, phone calls, annual surveys and town meetings, it is my duty to support their views and, in this case, to vote against gun control.
If particular weapons are banned, will the criminals who use these weapons during the commission of these crimes stop committing crime? Absolutely not! They'll continue to commit the crimes they'll either obtain the weapons illegally or choose to use a different weapon. In fact, the assault weapons banned in this bill are used in less than 1 percent of serious crime and in less than 3 percent of all firearms related crime.
(Bill Richardson in Santafenewmexico.com May 3, 2007)
|
|
Proposition 3:
All semi-automatic weapons should be banned
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
MR. RUSSERT: Let me turn to gun control, and this is an article from your Sante Fe Mexican newspaper. “Listening to U.S. Representative Bill Richardson”—senior congressman—“explain his position on gun control to a Sante Fe audience is like watching Fred Astaire dance. ‘I voted to repeal the assault weapons ban because it’s always been my view that occasionally a member of Congress on an issue where he or she has some difficulty in justifying a vote, that I should respect the wishes of my constituents. In this case, the strong majority favor repealing the ban. That doesn’t mean it’s the right vote.’”
You voted to ban assault weapons, uzis, street sweepers, then you voted to repeal it, and you’re basically saying, “Well I know it’s not the right vote but my constituents want it, therefore, I’ll give it to them.”
GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, listen, I know—I’ve been in public life 25 years. I was the whip when President Clinton was—I was the whip, in other words, in charge of getting some of those votes for the crime bill, which put 100,000 cops on the street, which took some of those initiatives. But, look, Tim, you know, I—I’m a gun owner. I’m a western governor. I believe the issue is not gun control. The issue, as, as happened in, in Virginia Tech where I, I just—those—the tragedy there, the issue is instant background checks. I am for instant background—I am for a bill that Carolyn McCarthy is doing now in the House of Representatives which tightens background checks, which, which says...
MR. RUSSERT: Well, why do hunters need street sweepers or uzi machine guns. You voted to ban those. As president, would you seek to ban assault weapons.
GOV. RICHARDSON: Tim, Tim, the assault weapons ban did not work. It didn’t work.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18818527/
|
|
Environment
Proposition 1:
The effects of global warming are grossly exaggerated
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Dramatically Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 90% by 2050
20% by 2020, 80% by 2040 -- ten years faster than scientists say is necessary because we must lead the world, and we can't afford the possibility of backsliding and inaction. We will start with a market-based cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions to create incentives for the electric and industrial sectors to make significant reductions in their carbon emissions. Economists say the world can protect itself from drastic climate change at a cost of 1-3% of our economic activity. We can afford to protect the climate. Given the risks of catastrophic climate change, we can't afford not to do it.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/energy
|
|
Proposition 2:
An additional carbon tax on fuel will effectively reduce pollution
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
We will start with a market-based cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions to create incentives for the electric and industrial sectors to make significant reductions in their carbon emissions. Economists say the world can protect itself from drastic climate change at a cost of 1-3% of our economic activity. We can afford to protect the climate. Given the risks of catastrophic climate change, we can't afford not to do it.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/energy
Cut Oil Demand: 50% by 2020
That means reducing oil imports from around 65% to 10-15%. We can do this in part by getting the 100 mile per gallon (mpg) car into the marketplace. We must work to double the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, or CAFE, to 50 mpg by 2020. And we will set a life-cycle low-carbon fuel standard that reduces the carbon impact of our liquid fuels by 30% by 2020.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/energy
|
|
Proposition 3:
The US should never sign international treaties on climate change that limit economic growth
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Dramatically Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 90% by 2050
20% by 2020, 80% by 2040 -- ten years faster than scientists say is necessary because we must lead the world, and we can't afford the possibility of backsliding and inaction. We will start with a market-based cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions to create incentives for the electric and industrial sectors to make significant reductions in their carbon emissions. Economists say the world can protect itself from drastic climate change at a cost of 1-3% of our economic activity. We can afford to protect the climate. Given the risks of catastrophic climate change, we can't afford not to do it.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/energy
|
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
You've dubbed yourself the "energy president." Why did you choose that moniker?
Right now, the most important domestic and national-security issues involve America becoming energy independent and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. I believe it's going to take an "energy president" who will lead this country toward these goals by asking all Americans to sacrifice for the common good and be more energy-efficient and promote a green style of living.
http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/08/06/richardson/index.html
|
|
Iraq
Proposition 1:
The US had every right to invade Iraq
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
"MR. RUSSERT: So you regret supporting the war initially?
GOV. RICHARDSON: Yes, I do. It was a mistake. But I was pushing intensively, at the time, for more diplomatic engagement, to go to the United Nations, to bring international support for our goals, to go to NATO, to, to get strong Security Council resolutions. I didn’t push hard enough. I didn’t push hard enough. But, you know, I, I didn’t have the intelligence everybody else had. Incompetence, deceitfulness...
MR. RUSSERT: But you said you knew more about the region than anybody else.
GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, yeah.
MR. RUSSERT: So it was a mistake?
GOV. RICHARDSON: Yes, it was a mistake. It was a mistake. I, I openly state that."
MSNBC Meet the Press 05/27/2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18818527/page/2/
|
|
Proposition 2:
The US is safer because of the invasion of Iraq
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"Overwhelming majorities of Iraqis, both Shia and Sunni, oppose the presence of US troops in Iraq and believe that US troops are more a cause of violence than a solution to it. Our presence in Iraq fuels the insurgency, strengthens Al Qaeda, and distracts us from the urgent task of defeating the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9-11. It's time for a phased and coordinated, but rapid, withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq, and Governor Richardson has a realistic plan to do it."
- Lieutenant General
Robert G. Gard, Jr.
(USA, Ret.)
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq
We must redeploy some of our troops to Afghanistan to stop the resurgence of the Taliban and to fight the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9-11.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq?id=0006
The Iraq War is costing Americans $10 billion each month. By implementing my plan to de-authorize the war and withdraw ALL troops in six months, we can start redirecting these funds toward what matters most for Americans: improving education, expanding access to quality health care, and addressing the REAL security threats like the Taliban, nuclear proliferation, and global warming. My seven-point ‘New Realism' plan for Iraq describes in detail what is required.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq?id=0006
|
|
Proposition 3:
The new president should begin to bring home all US troops from Iraq immediately
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"There are seven components to my plan to end the war and stabilize Iraq, but the most important step, upon which all others depend, is to remove ALL of our troops quickly."
"Withdraw as Quickly as Possible: We should start redeploying now. The longer we stay, the more people die, the further the situation deteriorates, and the more damage we do both to our military and to our reputation. Only when we are out of this quagmire can we refocus on the real war against Al Qaeda -- the terrorists who attacked us on 9-11, and who are still headquartered along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border -- not in Iraq."
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq
|
|
Economy
Proposition 1:
The best way to reduce the federal deficit is to raise taxes
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Under President Bush, our country's national debt has skyrocketed to a record-breaking $9 trillion, with interest payments on the debt reaching $404 billion last year alone. Our next President must have the discipline to rein in spending so that we may return to the budget surpluses we experienced during the Clinton administration. As Governor, Bill Richardson has consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility, and as President he will restore America's financial strength.
Governor Richardson has been successful creating jobs through targeted tax credits. As a result, New Mexico has had an incredible record of economic growth and job creation over the past several years. We must reverse the failed policies of the Bush Administration and provide tax cuts to businesses that create good paying jobs.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/jobs_and_the_economy?id=0003
|
|
Proposition 2:
The tax cuts for people with a higher income should be reversed
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Proposition 3:
The government has no responsibility to provide retirement funds
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
MR. RUSSERT: Governor Richardson, would you lift the cap and have taxes paid on income and not cap it at --
GOV. RICHARDSON: No, you don't need to do that. That's a 15 percent tax on small businesses, on the middle class, on family farms. You don't need to do that.
This is what you do.
One, you take privatization off the table. You don't want Social Security in the stock market.
Two, you stop raiding the Social Security Trust Fund, as the Congress and the president constantly do.
Democratic debate at Dartmouth College Sep 6. 2007
Medicare -- 33 percent of it is diabetes. Let's have major prevention programs, and also ways that we can ensure that we find a cure.
Social Security -- stop raiding the Social Security trust fund. Stop talking about privatization.
And then thirdly, let's look at a universal pension, 401(k) universal pension, that would assure portability for those that want to keep their pensions as they move into other professions.
But what we need is a bipartisan effort. Put this issue aside. If I'm president, I would take this issue and I would say, Republicans, Democrats, within a year, let's find a solution. No politics. This is the safety net of this country.
- CNN Youtube Democratic Debate South Carolina 2007
|
|
Income
Proposition 1:
Mortgage lenders should be more tightly controlled
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
The mortgage crisis will not affect only homeowners. It has seeped into the broader economy, freezing up liquidity and shattering consumer and investor confidence. Indeed, we are in danger of slipping into a recession in the coming months.
I will act aggressively to prevent this by taking several actions, including freezing adjustable-rate mortgages at their current levels, reforming bankruptcy laws to allow for the restructuring of primary-residency mortgages in bankruptcy, and working to keep our neighborhoods responsibly maintained and protected, even when there are foreclosures.
(http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/credit )
|
|
Proposition 2:
People with higher incomes should receive less Medicare benefits
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Bill Richardson believes that we need to make health care more affordable for all Americans, including those who are already covered. And any real solution to making health care more affordable for everybody must start with the commitment that all Americans should have health care coverage. America’s moral values support the basic concept that no one should be denied the health care necessary to sustain their lives productively simply because of wealth or income. Moreover, though uninsured people often delay or skip the care they need, the care they do get – which is often in more expensive settings – amounts to nearly $100 billion annually, and much of the cost is covered by health care providers, taxpayers, and insured individuals via higher premiums.4
|
|
Proposition 3:
The federal government should reduce income inequality
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Index the Minimum Wage to Inflation
Governor Richardson pushed for and signed legislation increasing New Mexico's minimum wage to $7.50. As President he will work to increase the minimum wage, and then index it to inflation.
(...)
Our next President must restore this nation's focus on working Americans. Families in this country are struggling in an economy that is increasingly harmful to the middle class. Over the past several years, middle class incomes have declined even as worker productivity has increased. Most of the gains have gone into profits at the top, not toward workers' wages. Real earnings, pensions, and health insurance benefits are dropping, while the costs of living rise.
And so we must fight for American families by creating higher salaries, stronger benefits, and lower costs. And that's got to start with job creation and economic growth.
We also need to help families combat the rising cost of living. Expenses for health care, childcare, and a college education are rising faster than wages, and our next President must focus on making these necessities affordable.
Bill Richardson will also go further by creating a Living Wage Commission that conducts a nationwide analysis of how we can increase the number of living and prevailing wage jobs and stimulate the economy.
http://richardsonforpresident.com/issues/jobs_and_the_economy?id=0003
|
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
GOV. RICHARDSON: Carved at the marble top of the U.S. Supreme Court it says, "Equal justice under law." This country has had 200 years. Yet today 68 percent of those in jail are minorities.
In your own book, Tavis, you say that one out of three African- American males spends some time in jail. That is wrong.
And what we need is a strategy to deal with poverty. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. Increase the minimum wage. Have a living wage in this country. Find ways to expand child care. Find ways also to let Americans join a union. This will not only give them more health care but more accountability and the ability to protect themselves.
Democratic Debate Transcript, Washington, D.C.
Published June 28, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/us/politics/29transcript.html?_r=2&bl&ex=1183348800&en=854f8e2a84e9cef0&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
|
|
National security
Proposition 1:
The US should reduce its financial contribution to the UN
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Proposition 2:
Iran is not an imminent threat to world peace
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
We need to stop treating diplomatic engagement with others like a reward for good behavior. The Bush administration’s refusal to engage obnoxious regimes has only encouraged and strengthened these nations' paranoid and hard-line tendencies. The futility of this policy is most tragically obvious in regard to Iran and North Korea, who responded to Washington’s snubs and threats with intensification of their nuclear programs.
(Bill Richardson, http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/foreignpolicy)
|
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
Diplomacy, Not War, With Iran
Washington Post, February 24 2007.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301595.html
Saber-rattling is not a good way to get the Iranians to cooperate. But it is a good way to start a new war -- a war that would be a disaster for the Middle East, for the United States and for the world. A war that, furthermore, would destroy what little remains of U.S. credibility in the community of nations.
A better approach would be for the United States to engage directly with the Iranians and to lead a global diplomatic offensive to prevent them from building nuclear weapons. We need tough, direct negotiations, not just with Iran but also with our allies, especially Russia, to get them to support us in presenting Iran with credible carrots and sticks.
This is no time for chest-beating and dangerous brinkmanship. It is time for alliance-building, direct engagement and tough face-to-face negotiations. For the United States to attack Iran without exhausting all diplomatic options would be a terrible mistake.
Diplomacy, Not War, With Iran
Washington Post, February 24 2007.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301595.html
|
|
Proposition 3:
The US should decrease its spending on defense
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Expand the Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Community
To ensure that our soldiers and Marines are never again burdened with multiple deployments and not enough time to rest and retrain, we must expand the size of the Army and Marine Corps by some 50,000 troops (three divisions), and our nation's top commandos by some 10,000 forces.
Refocus the Pentagon's Budget on the Needs of the 21st Century
I have detailed over $57 billion in specific cuts to Cold War-era programs that do little to meet the threats of the 21st century. These include substantial cuts to our nuclear forces, which will also increase our ability to enlist other nations in the fight against nuclear proliferation.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/defense
Costs
$50.01 billion per year
TOTAL SAVINGS:
$127.13 billion per year
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/first_responders?id=0030
|
|
Family
Proposition 1:
Same sex marriages should be made legal
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"Governor Bill Richardson has the strongest record of achievement of any Presidential candidate on civil rights issues and support for the LGBT community. He proudly stands for domestic partner rights and against discrimination of any kind. He believes all families deserve our respect no matter their race, creed or sexual orientation."
"As President, he will continue to fight for full and equal rights for all domestic partners, including gay and lesbian families."
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/lgbt
|
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
QUESTION: Hi. My name is Mary. And my name is Jen. And we're from Brooklyn, New York.
If you were elected president of the United States, would you allow us to be married to each other?
RICHARDSON: Well, I would say to the two young women, I would level with you -- I would do what is achievable.
What I think is achievable is full civil unions with full marriage rights. I would also press for you a hate crimes act in the Congress. I would eliminate "don't ask/don't tell" in the military.
(APPLAUSE)
If we're going to have in our military men and women that die for this country, we shouldn't give them a lecture on their sexual orientation
I would push for domestic partnership laws, nondiscrimination in insurance and housing.
I would also send a very strong message that, in my administration, I will not tolerate any discrimination on the basis of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate transcript
July 23, 2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/
|
|
Proposition 2:
Abortion should be made completely illegal
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"As a Catholic, I am personally opposed to abortion. As difficult as this decision is, I am committed to protecting the right of every woman to make her own decision and will continue to support the rights of the individual against the mandates of the state.
I believe we can work together to make abortion safe, legal and rare. And we should do everything we can to support quality prenatal care and early child health care so that newborns and infants have the support they need to grow.
In January 2007, I was honored to have received the “Champion of Choice” award from NARAL New Mexico for my commitment to a woman’s right to choose. As President, I will continue to support policies that protect this right.
I am the only candidate to explicitly commit to protecting Roe v. Wade through appointing only Supreme Court justices who recognize it as settled law. Some people call this a “litmus test.” I call it respecting precedent and putting women’s lives above politics."
http://billrichardson.cachefly.net/pdf/issueflyers/ChoiceFlyer.pdf
|
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
Do you support the Roe v. Wade decision or would you like to see this decision overturned? Why or why not?
I am pro-choice, and I support Roe v. Wade. As President, I will continue to support abortion rights and medical privacy for women, and I will support full law enforcement against domestic terrorists who bomb abortion facilities. Moreover, I have gone on record saying that I will ask any potential nominees to the Supreme Court whether they consider Roe v. Wade settled law. If they say 'yes,' they have a good chance of being chosen. If they say 'no,' I will not choose them. It's as simple as that, and I encourage the other presidential candidates to make the same commitment. A woman's right to choose is under attack in this country, and we can't afford to be shy about saying where we stand on the issue, loud and clear.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/bill-richardson/
|
|
Proposition 3:
Using embryos for stem cell research is acceptable as it enables us to find cures for diseases
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"Lifting ban on federal funding for stem cell research would be a priority for Richardson
SANTA FE, NM -- Governor Bill Richardson today issued the following statement regarding President Bush's veto of legislation to lift the ban on federal funding for stem cell research:
"With one pen stroke, President Bush has ignored hard science, embraced misplaced ideology and turned his back on the millions who stand to benefit from the advances that stem cell research holds.
"Countless Americans continue to suffer from debilitating diseases while our country's brightest scientists are denied critical funding needed to search for cures and treatments.
"Congress must continue to fight this battle, exploring every option at its disposal to lift this arbitrary ban and give hope for a brighter future for those living with Parkinson's, ALS, cancer, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating ailments."
Press Release 06/20/2007
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0131
|
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
We have to be a country that does research on stem cell research, on autism, on heart disease, on chronic diseases, on cancer.
Des Moines Register Presidential Debate Democrats on 2007-12-13 in Johnston, IA.
|
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
If elected, would you keep the current ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research in place? Why or why not?
I would end the ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research. I want to pay tribute to Nancy Reagan who has taken up the fight for research to solve diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - disorders that we will one day conquer. I admire her for standing for what is right - even though members of her party have criticized her. We don't know where the key piece of science will come from that will cure these diseases - but when I am President we will stop closing off promising areas of research just to buy a few fringe votes.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/bill-richardson/#stem-cell-research
|
|
Immigration
Proposition 1:
To prevent illegal immigration, the US should complete the fence along the entire Mexican border
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
"Here's my answer. Two years ago, I'm the first governor that declared a border emergency because the federal government wasn't doing its job in stopping the flow of drugs and people. But you know what? We should stop demonizing immigrants. We should stop doing that. (Applause.)
And I'm against the fence -- and I am against the fence because it will not work. The Congress only funded half of the fence, and it's not America. "
CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate 07/23/2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/
|
|
Proposition 2:
All illegal immigrants without a criminal record should be given the right to stay in the US legally
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Debate transcripts |
| |
"What I would do is I would do four quick things. One, we have to secure the border. Double the number of Border Patrol agents. Keep the National Guard there a little longer; detection equipment, as you mentioned.
Secondly, those that knowingly hire illegal workers should be punished. (Applause.)
Third, we should have a relationship -- it's called foreign policy -- with Mexico. They're our friend. But we should speak frankly to our friends, and it should be something like this. "Mexico, give jobs to your people." (Cheers, applause.) "You know, at the very least, stop handing out maps on the easiest place to cross." (Laughter.) And then, lastly, a legalization plan -- a legalization plan --
MR. BLITZER: Thank you.
GOV. RICHARDSON: -- not amnesty, not citizenship, but a path to legalization that involves conditions -- learning English --
MR. BLITZER: Thank you.
GOV. RICHARDSON: -- paying back taxes.
MR. BLITZER: Governor, thank you.
GOV. RICHARDSON: This is a very important issue."
CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate 07/23/2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/
|
|
Proposition 3:
Illegal immigration threatens our national security
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"I am committed to implementing comprehensive reforms that secure our borders and our ports and provide for an effective and humane immigration policy"
"Building a fence will not increase security, just as attempting to deport 12 million illegal immigrants is not feasible or reasonable. I believe a realistic immigration reform plan must address the problem from all sides -- securing the border, penalizing employers for knowingly hiring illegal workers, offering a tough but reasonable path to legalization, engaging Mexico in the reform process, and improving our current immigration quota system."
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/immigration
|
|
Health care
Proposition 1:
Providing health care is not the responsibility of the government
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"Individuals, families and small businesses will have the choice to purchase the same coverage that members of Congress enjoy. Taxpayers are already supporting a portable, affordable and high-quality health coverage system for members of Congress and millions of federal employees – and they should be allowed to purchase that same coverage for themselves. This option will allow Americans who purchase this coverage to keep it even when they change jobs, simplify administration for businesses and allow the self-employed to find more affordable coverage than they could on their own. And nobody will be turned away from this coverage due to pre-existing conditions."
http://billrichardson.cachefly.net/pdf/whitepapers/richardsonhealthplan.pdf
|
|
Proposition 2:
US law should obligate all companies to provide health care insurance for their workers
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
"Employers will be required to do their fair share to contribute to a healthy and covered work force. A healthy, productive workforce is in everybody’s best interest. But businesses that provide coverage are being forced to compete with businesses that do not, by indirectly covering the health care costs of other businesses’ workers. Bill Richardson’s plan will level the playing field by requiring all but small hard-pressed employers to contribute to their employees’ health care premiums, or pay to help the uninsured purchase coverage. Businesses’ contributions will be determined on a sliding-scale basis according to the size of the business."
http://billrichardson.cachefly.net/pdf/whitepapers/richardsonhealthplan.pdf
|
|
Proposition 3:
The government should provide health care coverage for the millions of uninsured Americans
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Governor Richardson's health care plan uses new ways to expand proven sources of affordable coverage to all Americans. It guarantees that all Americans will have choices of high quality, affordable care by giving every American the choice to keep their current coverage or obtain coverage through an existing, well-established program. My plan can be paid for without raising taxes. When some do not have access to affordable care, all Americans end up paying the price.
Covering Every American
Working families and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through the same plan that members of Congress enjoy. Americans 55 and older will be able to purchase coverage through Medicare. Veterans will get access to the high-quality care they deserve, when they need it, without bureaucratic hassles.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/healthcare
|
|
Law and order
Proposition 1:
The death penalty helps deter crime
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Proposition 2:
The government should spend money on keeping drugs off the streets, not on treating drug addicts
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Speech transcripts |
| |
“I got all the sheriffs in the United States mad at me, but I believe the War on Drugs is not working. I’m tough on crime -- I’m not going to let somebody out that commits a violent crime, and I know we’ve got problems in our prisons, but I’d have more treatment of our incarcerated people, more rehabilitation, more educational programs.”
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Ktmln6-4g
|
|
Proposition 3:
For each crime there should be a fixed minimum sentence
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Other websites and news sources |
| |
Domestic violence affects more than just the immediate family involved in any incidents it impacts all of us, especially children who may witness the abuse. Governor Richardson
is proposing several new laws to help the victims of domestic violence and punish offenders: The first will provide stronger, mandatory sentences for domestic violence offenders.
www.governor.state.nm.us/press/2005/dec/121505_01.pdf
|
|
Education
Proposition 1:
Better teachers should be paid higher wages than their colleagues
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Proposition 2:
Creationism should be taught in science classes in school
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
|
|
Proposition 3:
More government funding should go into public schools, not to education vouchers
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely agree |
|
Terrorism
Proposition 1:
Anti-terrorism legislation, such as the Patriot Act, unacceptably violates civil liberties
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to agree |
|
Proposition 2:
Some form of torture is acceptable if it can prevent terrorist attacks
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
completely disagree |
|
Proposition 3:
Iraq is just one front in a broader fight against Islamic terrorism
| Your opinion: | You have not answered that question. |
| Opinion Bill Richardson: |
tend to disagree |
|
Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website |
| |
Our military presence in Iraq is prolonging the violence, costing us more than $10 billion a month, and distracting us from the war against Al Qaeda. George Bush's "surge" has failed: this summer was the bloodiest yet, and there's no end in sight. Our troops have done everything we've asked them to do -- but they cannot win someone else's civil war. We need to get them out so that a new political process can begin.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq
Our troops have done everything they were asked to do with courage and professionalism, but they cannot win someone else's civil war. So long as American troops are in Iraq, reconciliation among Iraqi factions is postponed. Leaving forces there enables the Iraqis to delay taking the necessary steps to end the violence. And it prevents us from using diplomacy to bring in other nations to help stabilize and rebuild the country.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq?id=0005
Redeploy to Address Real Threats
We must redeploy some of our troops to Afghanistan to stop the resurgence of the Taliban and to fight the real terrorists who attacked this country on 9-11. While all American troops in Iraq must be removed, we need to maintain a military presence in the region, in countries like Kuwait where they are welcome. We must always have the capacity to use air power, special forces and other means to strike Al Qaeda anywhere. We do not need American troops in Iraq to perform this essential task.
We also must bring our National Guard home where they are needed for homeland security, and we must focus our energy and resources on real threats, such as nuclear proliferation, Al Qaeda, public health, and global warming.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/iraq?id=0006
|
|
|
|
|
