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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Past and present Senate candidates from Illinois (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Alan Keyes: Pro-choice stance is the slaveholder�s position. Anne Stava-Murray: Progressive and pregnant prochoice champion. Anne Stava-Murray: OpEd: Supports expanded abortion rights. Barack Obama: Moral accusations from pro-lifers are counterproductive. Doug Truax: Calls himself "very pro-life" & supports limiting abortion. Jim Oberweis: Abortion procedure should be outlawed. Kathy Salvi: Takes traditional party positions, opposes abortion. Mark Curran: Opposed partial-birth abortion. Mark Curran: Pro-life, only allow abortion to save life of mother. Mark Curran: IL Right to Life Action: rated most prolife in Senate race. Mark Kirk: Fund Planned Parenthood for non-abortion health services. Peggy Hubbard: As unwed mother refused abortion after hearing heartbeat. Richard Durbin: Abortion is a private decision. Richard Durbin: IL Right to Life Action: rated "4" for pro-abortion. Sharon Hansen: Life begins at conception, but listen to constituents. Steven Sauerberg: I'm pro-baby, pro-mother and pro-family. Steven Sauerberg: Born Alive Infant Protection Act is basic humanity. Steven Sauerberg: Provide women with an alternatives to abortion. Kathy Salvi: Let states decide abortion rights. Tammy Duckworth: Majority support a woman's right to make her own decisions. |
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Budget & Economy Kathy Salvi: Grow the economy through a small, limited government. Mark Curran: Would support and lead on Balanced Budget Amendment. Mark Curran: Balanced budget via combo of increased revenue & budget cuts. Richard Durbin: Doing nothing in economic crisis abdicates responsibility. Sharon Hansen: Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity. Steven Sauerberg: Opposes $700 billion rescue plan. |
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Civil Rights Alan Keyes: Gay marriage invalid because gay couples cannot reproduce. Barack Obama: Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry. Doug Truax: Uphold one-man, one-woman definition, but let states decide. Mark Curran: The wrong people moved in, and changed Lake County. Peggy Hubbard: White liberals are the most, gullible, asinine people. Sharon Hansen: Government shouldn't redefine marriage. Steven Sauerberg: Hired Log Cabin Republicans as press secretary. Tammy Duckworth: Calls for Justice Dept investigation into gay hate crime. Juliana Stratton: Will continue to stand up and fight for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Opposed ending LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline. Robin Kelly: The issue with our country is not its diversity. |
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Corporations Jim Oberweis: Corporations go overseas when taxes & governments bully them. Mark Curran: Cut red tape and regulations for private business. Mark Curran: Oversight of government agencies hostile to business. Mark Curran: Cut red tape and regulations for private business. Richard Durbin: Patriot employers: reward companies that supply U.S. jobs. Sharon Hansen: Lower corporate tax rates prevent companies going overseas. |
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Crime Alan Keyes: Enforcement should target criminals, not social conditions. Alan Keyes: No conflict between pro life and pro death penalty stances. Alan Keyes: Sentencing gang members to death sends strong social message. Barack Obama: Restrict police entry rules, to protect our civil liberties. Barack Obama: Passed 150 laws to toughen penalties for violent crime. Barack Obama: Death penalty should be enforced fairly and with caution. Barack Obama: Death penalty should not discriminate by gang membership. Kathy Salvi: I will always stand with the police and the rule of law. Mark Curran: Black Lives Matter addresses police racist conduct. Mark Kirk: Provide after-school basketball to reduce youth violence. Mark Kirk: Deportation to fight rising street gang population. Peggy Hubbard: Don't demonize police officers serving in high-crime areas. Juliana Stratton: A strictly punitive criminal justice system is not working. |
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Drugs Anne Stava-Murray: End marijuana probation; allow regulation and taxation. Doug Truax: Medical marijuana is a state issue. Jim Oberweis: Who am I to say patients shouldn't use medical marijuana? Mark Curran: Key to solving opioid epidemic is border security. Mark Curran: Training and Narcan will help responders deal with overdoses. Mark Curran: Training and Narcan will help responders deal with overdoses. Mark Kirk: No need to increase veterans' access to medical marijuana. Mark Kirk: Crack down on drug cartels trafficking of illegal weapons. Mark Kirk: Decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana. Richard Durbin: The plague of methamphetamine abuse is growing. Tammy Duckworth: Protect state marijuana laws from federal interference. Juliana Stratton: Chairs board reinvesting state revenues from marijuana sales. |
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Education Alan Keyes: Parents, not schools, should be responsible for sex ed. Anne Stava-Murray: Shift cost of education away from property tax. Barack Obama: Sex education needed to help children discuss molestation. Kathy Salvi: Parents are the primary educators of their children. Mark Curran: There is no student loan crisis: against "free college". Mark Curran: Need localized approach to education and parental choice. Mark Curran: Need localized approach to education and parental choice. Peggy Hubbard: College isn't for everyone, real problem is inflated costs. Richard Durbin: Create refundable tax credit for teachers in Title I schools. Juliana Stratton: Education cuts will impact lowest income communities. |
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Energy & Oil Kathy Salvi: Increase our production of all types of energy. Mark Curran: Opposes "far-left radical environmental agenda". Mark Curran: Not convinced climate change is current threat to humankind. Mark Curran: Yes to cleaner fuel but some climate ideas are alarmist. Mark Curran: Yes to cleaner fuel but some climate ideas are alarmist. Mark Kirk: Climate change is real, but no carbon tax. Peggy Hubbard: Don't believe lies of the left on human-made climate change. Richard Durbin: Energy tax to fund infrastructure investment. Richard Durbin: Empower the EPA to regulate greenhouse emissions. Sharon Hansen: No subsidies for wind and solar. Tammy Duckworth: Human activity is the major factor driving climate change. Kathy Salvi: More natural gas to relieve reliance on foreign energy. Juliana Stratton: Ensure access to benefits of our growing clean energy sector. |
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Environment Mark Curran: Corporate polluters should be prosecuted and sent to prison. Mark Curran: Use EPA to prosecute corporate polluters. Mark Curran: Use EPA to prosecute corporate polluters. Richard Durbin: Drives a Ford hybrid that gets 30 mpg. Richard Durbin: Renovate our entire drinking water infrastructure. Steven Sauerberg: Drives a Lexus that gets 23 mpg. Tammy Duckworth: Every American has a right to clean air, water, and land. Juliana Stratton: Trump's EPA cutting regulations on PFAS a slap in the face. |
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Families & Children Richard Durbin: Safe, affordable child care available to more families. Tammy Duckworth: Airports should all have 'lactation rooms' for breastfeeding. Juliana Stratton: Balanced state budget making it easier for families. |
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Foreign Policy Doug Truax: End Obama's "lead from behind" approach to foreign policy. Jim Oberweis: To understand China, read the 5-year plans. Jim Oberweis: Obama's results are ok, but too often he does nothing. Kathy Salvi: Congress needs to reassert its authority on foreign policy. Mark Curran: Some Islamic nations not ripe for democracy. Napoleon Harris: Shift focus of foreign aid from Mideast back to the Americas. Richard Durbin: Ukraine should ally with European Union, not former Soviets. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Bombing Iran may have accelerated their going nuclear. |
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Free Trade Jim Oberweis: Challenge in China is lack of clarity on taxes. Jim Oberweis: Invest in Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, India, and China. Mark Curran: Tariffs may be necessary; subsidize farmers if required. Tammy Duckworth: Yes to Ex-im bank; Yes to fast-track. Juliana Stratton: Trump's Tax on Working Families will harm hardworking people. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Tariffs are a hidden tax on families and small businesses. Robin Kelly: Against tariffs; trade should be fair and equitable. |
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Government Reform Alan Keyes: Reinstate that state legislatures elect US Senators. Andrea Zopp: Voter ID laws are intended to limit the Black vote. Anne Stava-Murray: Favor legislative term limits. Anne Stava-Murray: End gerrymandering and voter suppression. Barack Obama: Electing US Senators empowers people: keep 17th Amendment. Doug Truax: Political class fails to put interests of taxpayers first. Kathy Salvi: Does not claim Biden won through election fraud. Mark Curran: Supports term limits for Congress. Peggy Hubbard: I will oppose the job-killing big government policies. Peggy Hubbard: For term limits, keeping the filibuster, voter I.D. Sharon Hansen: Photo ID for voting. |
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Gun Control Alan Keyes: Gun control mentality means crooks have all the guns. Anne Stava-Murray: We can reduce number of gun-related suicides. Barack Obama: Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban. Kathy Salvi: Favors some gun reform, but supports the NRA. Mark Curran: Focus on mental health & video games, not guns. Mark Curran: Absent amendment, many proposed laws unconstitutional. Mark Kirk: Both major-party Senate candidates support gun restrictions. Peggy Hubbard: Guns save lives; I will defend our Second Amendment rights. Peggy Hubbard: 2nd amendment about single mother defending herself & family. Richard Durbin: Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority. Sharon Hansen: Don't bow down to money instead of our rights. Sharon Hansen: Opposes more gun restrictions. Kathy Salvi: Implement laws on the books before any new laws. Tammy Duckworth: Ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. Juliana Stratton: We must enact common sense gun laws, stricter policies. Robin Kelly: Hold gun dealers accountable for sales to straw purchasers. |
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Health Care Doug Truax: AdWatch: ObamaCare does more harm to middle class than good. Jim Oberweis: Not a fan of ObamaCare, but it helps healthcare businesses. Jim Oberweis: Repeal and replace ObamaCare; not just repeal. Jim Oberweis: Parent policy until age 26 good; pre-existing coverage good. Mark Curran: Study ACA to see what's working before deciding to repeal. Mark Curran: Preventative medicine approach, with free market principles. Mark Kirk: For 2013 shutdown over ObamaCare, but then for compromise. Peggy Hubbard: Return market forces to patient-doctor relationship. Peggy Hubbard: I am not in favor of socialized healthcare. Richard Durbin: AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare. Richard Durbin: Large-scale expansion of taxpayer-subsidized coverage. Richard Durbin: Defend & expand ObamaCare and Medicaid. Sharon Hansen: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility. Steven Sauerberg: Vouchers to make health care portable and less job-dependent. Juliana Stratton: Trump, Republicans stripping away health care from millions. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Medicaid is too important a program to cut in the budget. Robin Kelly: Vaccines are safe, effective, and the best medicine . Robin Kelly: Trump's policies will lead to deaths of LGBTQ people. |
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Homeland Security Adam Kinzinger: Republicanism means stronger defense and smaller government. Doug Truax: Ok to interrogate jihadists using any means necessary. Jim Oberweis: Supports funding cuts for the military. Mark Curran: Proper funding & resources to fight terror. Peggy Hubbard: Ensure every veteran in America is cared for properly. Richard Durbin: $48M to protect US Embassies around the world. Richard Durbin: Benghazi was a tragedy, but not a cover-up. Richard Durbin: Veterans angry over accusations that Guantanamo like gulag. Sharon Hansen: Superior nuclear arsenal is unnecessary. Steven Sauerberg: Apologized for saying Guantanamo is like gulag. Juliana Stratton: Opposed threat to cut over 400 jobs at Rock Island Arsenal. Raja Krishnamoorthi: One focus must be redoubling investments in our submarines. |
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Immigration Doug Truax: First secure the border, then no comprehensive reform. Jim Oberweis: Visas for illegal immigrants, but no path to citizenship. Kathy Salvi: Secure border from drugs, terrorists, dangerous criminals. Mark Curran: Backed bipartisan legislation with path for citizenship. Mark Curran: Deporting working people with families is absolutely wrong. Mark Curran: When rights of one are in jeopardy, rights of all are. Mark Curran: Supports Trump on funding for border/ICE agents, border wall. Mark Curran: For border wall; but path to citizenship for DREAMers. Mark Kirk: First secure the border; then path to citizenship. Peggy Hubbard: Securing our border first step to ensure national security. Peggy Hubbard: Illegal immigration threatens our security, economic health. Peggy Hubbard: Support ending chain migration and the visa lottery program. Richard Durbin: Our border with Mexico is strongest it's been in 40 years. Richard Durbin: Immigration reform bill makes America safer. Richard Durbin: Reform will increase coordination & reduce terrorism. Richard Durbin: Extend partner immigration rights to gay couples. Sharon Hansen: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry. Juliana Stratton: Not going to tolerate people being snatched off the streets. |
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Jobs Jim Oberweis: Minimum wage of $10 (and less for those under age 24). Richard Durbin: Raise minimum wage to $10.10 & same pay regardless of gender. Sharon Hansen: No minimum wage; & no set pay based on gender. |
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Principles & Values Adam Kinzinger: Protesting Electoral College is "scam"; accept Trump losing. Alan Keyes: Great principles at stake: marriage & innocent life. Barack Obama: Seek common ground, not a moral crusade. Doug Truax: The Great Experiment known as America shines brightly. Jim Oberweis: Milk Dud: poured dairy fortune into 5 failed campaigns. Mark Curran: Bless us with four more years of Donald Trump. Mark Curran: Curtailing individual religious freedoms, I find abhorrent. Peggy Hubbard: Put the American people and our freedoms first. Peggy Hubbard: Prioritize America's interests above the rest of the world. Peggy Hubbard: Our country was built the mantra "One nation under GOD". Richard Durbin: Bipartisan dialogue instead of gridlock. Sharon Hansen: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework. Steven Sauerberg: Put $1.3M of his own money into campaign. Tammy Duckworth: I answer the call when asked to serve my country. Juliana Stratton: Juneteenth means always honor that legacy; more to be done. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Read from the Bhagavad-Gita at bipartisan interfaith service. |
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Social Security Anne Stava-Murray: Our state pension debt is underfunded. Mark Curran: Local pensions invest the majority of money in the market. Mark Curran: Face hard truth to properly fund benefit programs. Peggy Hubbard: Program has grown too large and will become insolvent. Richard Durbin: Simpson-Bowles got it right. put everything on the table. Juliana Stratton: Standing up for Social Security is in our own best interest. |
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Tax Reform Mark Curran: Simplify tax code; against tax breaks for large corporations. Richard Durbin: Close tax loopholes and gain $1.2T from the wealthy. Juliana Stratton: Supported amendment to make graduated state income tax. |
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Technology Jim Oberweis: Protect intellectual property rights, including lawsuits. Peggy Hubbard: Address cyber threats with large-scale network security. Richard Durbin: Fund science to protect food supply, cure disease, and more. Tammy Duckworth: Longer-term government funding for infrastructure needs. |
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War & Peace Alan Keyes: Iraq War reduced probability of attack from Saddam to zero. Alan Keyes: Naive to think Saddam has no connections to Al Qaeda. Andrea Zopp: Supports the Iran nuclear deal. Barack Obama: Iraq War has made US less safe from terrorism. Barack Obama: Saddam has no connections to Al Qaeda nor to 9/11. Jim Oberweis: Stay the course; gradual withdrawal from the Iraq war. Mark Curran: Sanctions & possible bombing, to stop spread of nuclear arms. Mark Kirk: Ground troops against ISIS only with long-term exit strategy. Richard Durbin: Engage China to de-escalate North Korean nukes. Richard Durbin: We can' afford $10B to $15B a month in Iraq. Steven Sauerberg: Critical to keep U.S. troops in Iraq to help Iraqis. Susan Rice: Small U.S. military presence in Syria fought ISIS threat. Tammy Duckworth: Iran is our enemy, but nuclear deal prevents Iranian nukes. Robin Kelly: Trump's decision to bomb Iran will not lead to peace. |
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Welfare & Poverty Jim Oberweis: Tepid welfare reform is the best we can get right now. Mark Curran: Access to food is a right and Congress must safeguard it. Mark Curran: Access to food is a right and Congress must safeguard it. Peggy Hubbard: Refused to live on welfare, free of government dependency. Peggy Hubbard: Help forgotten communities escape the government plantation. Richard Durbin: Educate farmers about federal programs that can help them. |
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Senatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - U.S. House of Representatives winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - Gubernatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - |
All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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