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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 Maine (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Charlie Summers: Must consider incest or rape. Angus King: Favors abortion rights; opposes defunding Planned Parenthood. Chris Lyons: Oppose abortion as an unrestricted right. Chris Lyons: Life is precious; abortion only if maternal life at risk. Eric Brakey: Pro-life, and anti-ObamaCare. Eric Brakey: Oppose funding Planned Parenthood; require parental consent. Sara Gideon: Backed in primary by abortion-rights groups. Sara Gideon: Protect & expand access to women's reproductive care. Susan Collins: Joined Democrats to fund Planned Parenthood. Susan Collins: End unfair copays charged to veterans for contraception. Zak Ringelstein: Publicly-funded reproductive healthcare for women. David Costello: Support efforts to protect the reproductive rights of women. Demi Kouzounas: The Maine GOP is fighting to protect the lives of the unborn. Angus King: Overturning Roe robs millions of women of fundamental right. Demi Kouzounas: No national ban; abortion should come back to the states. |
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Budget & Economy Chris Lyons: Market-led recovery better than stimulus. Eric Brakey: The government takes enough; we shouldn't raise taxes. Eric Brakey: Not just for economic freedom but also personal freedom. Matt Dunlap: Shore up availability of credit to stimulate job creation. Matt Dunlap: Shore up availability of credit to stimulate job creation. Sara Gideon: COVID: prioritize small business, bolster unemployment funds. Susan Collins: We tried & failed in 2005 to tighten mortgage regulations. Tom Allen: Bush administration's debt has failed middle-class America. Tom Allen: Driving up debt & unbridled free market caused bank crisis. Demi Kouzounas: ARPA is a $2 trillion tax hike proposal. David Costello: Boost investments in transportation, energy infrastructure. Demi Kouzounas: End inflationary spending punishing hardworking Mainers. |
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Civil Rights Angus King: Supports gay marriage. Charlie Summers: Marriage is between a man and a woman. Chris Lyons: Comfortable with same-sex marriage. Chris Lyons: Education will achieve affirmative action, not law. Chris Lyons: Government should have no say on same-sex marriage. Eric Brakey: Leave transgender bathroom policy up to local school board. Sara Gideon: Husband solicited to run for town council; she ran instead. Sara Gideon: Support LGBTQ+ people everywhere. Zak Ringelstein: People have the right to love who they want. David Costello: Protect reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. Demi Kouzounas: Wants state party to be a little more inclusive and diverse. Demi Kouzounas: Adults can be with whoever they want. David Costello: Will support efforts to approve the Equal Rights Amendment. David Costello: Reform agenda including tribal sovereignty. |
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Corporations Eric Brakey: Cut $400M in corporate welfare & return it to the people. Susan Collins: Excess corporate pay rewards risk-taking over results. Angus King: Close corporate tax loopholes: 15% corporate tax minimum. |
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Crime Chris Lyons: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime. Eric Brakey: Being pro-life is why I oppose the death penalty. David Costello: Focus increased resources on violent offenses. Angus King: Defund localities that defund police . Demi Kouzounas: We've lost respect for those that protect us. |
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Drugs Chris Lyons: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug. Eliot Cutler: Legalizing marijuana sends message that drug use is OK. Eric Brakey: Supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Mike Michaud: Real concerns about the impact of pot legalization on kids. Paul LePage: Oppose legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Sara Gideon: Treatment for opioid addiction; hold big pharma accountable. Sara Gideon: Voted to regulate marijuana legalization in Maine. Shenna Bellows: Supports marijuana legalization. Shenna Bellows: Three past presidents acknowledged use; legalize pot. Susan Collins: Declines to take sides in marijuana legalization petition. Angus King: Rated A- by NORML: legalize recreational marijuana. David Costello: Increase funding for substance abuse, mental health services. Demi Kouzounas: We need someone concerned about drugs, fentanyl addiction. |
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Education Angus King: Public schools are the idea at the heart of democracy. Angus King: Simplify repayment & refinance student loans. Chris Lyons: Vouchers for school choice. Eric Brakey: Support private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling. Eric Brakey: Competition will improve our schools. Sara Gideon: Access to high quality K-12 education for every family. Sara Gideon: Tackle student debt crisis; expand trade, technical training. Shenna Bellows: Voucher programs siphon public school money. Susan Collins: Allow employers to help pay employee student debt. Zak Ringelstein: Refinance student loans at lower rates. David Costello: Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare. Demi Kouzounas: Concerned about transgender identity video for children. Demi Kouzounas: Forgiving student loans costs money & inflation. Demi Kouzounas: Oversaw platform that would effectively end sex education. |
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Energy & Oil Charlie Summers: Off-shore exploration for oil, plus nuclear and coal. Chris Lyons: Oppose prioritizing green energy. Cynthia Dill: Encourage conservation and renewable energy. Matt Dunlap: Invest in weatherization programs and maintain LIHEAP. Sara Gideon: Bold, immediate action on climate change. Sara Gideon: Passed aggressive goals reducing carbon emissions in Maine. Sara Gideon: Rejoin Paris Agreement; invest in clean energy. Shenna Bellows: Green energy solutions instead of nuclear energy. Susan Collins: Double funding for low-income home weatherization programs. Tom Allen: 1%-interest loan for home weatherization projects. Zak Ringelstein: Curb emissions & return to Paris Agreement. David Costello: An aggressive national, science-based climate action plan. David Costello: Reallocate fossil fuel subsidies to clean energy initiatives. David Costello: Funding to mitigate the growing impacts of climate change. Angus King: We are fiddling while the planet burns. Demi Kouzounas: Opposes wind energy; opposes carbon reduction. Demi Kouzounas: Radical Democrats support the Green New Deal. |
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Environment Angus King: Support EPA brownfield program for industrial cleanup. Chris Lyons: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach. David Costello: Enact more stringent air and water quality regulations. Angus King: Phase out single-use plastic and foam . |
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Families & Children David Costello: Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare. Demi Kouzounas: It's child sexual abuse to teach kids multiple genders. |
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Foreign Policy Chris Lyons: Oppose American Exceptionalism. Eric Brakey: Crazy that we have our troops in 177 different countries. Eric Brakey: Deposing secular dictators in Mid-East empowers our enemies. Susan Rice: Didn't want to be pigeonholed as "black working on Africa". David Costello: Expand military and intelligence gathering alliances. David Costello: Engage more fully and responsibly in world affairs. Demi Kouzounas: China planned pandemic to harm Trump's re-election. |
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Free Trade Charlie Summers: I support free trade, but protect shoe factories. Chris Lyons: Support & expand free trade. Cynthia Dill: Keep tariffs against foreign products that compete unfairly. Eric Brakey: I don't think tariffs are a good thing. Shenna Bellows: NAFTA damaged our manufacturing sector; so will TPP. Susan Collins: Some trade agreements have resulted in more tariffs. Susan Rice: US beneficiary of free trade; don't cede leadership to China. Tom Allen: Review existing trade agreements that damaged US economy. David Costello: Strengthen trade and foreign policy agencies and agreements. Demi Kouzounas: Bring jobs back by adding a little bit more tariffs. Janet Mills: Broad tariffs increase prices, cause havoc to economy. Susan Collins: Voted with Democrats to undo tariffs on Canadian goods. |
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Government Reform Betsy Sweet: Only Democrat to use Maine's taxpayer-funded election system. Betsy Sweet: Publicly funded federal election system. Charlie Summers: OpEd: Pushes for voter registration, with his name on ballot. Chris Lyons: Make voter registration easier. Eric Brakey: Independent redistricting & automatic voter registration. Sara Gideon: $500 fine for campaign finance ethics violation. Sara Gideon: Worked in Maine to pass automatic voter registration. Sara Gideon: End influence of big money on our elections and officials. Shenna Bellows: Funding her campaign $5 at a time from local events. Susan Collins: Outrageous for IRS to target Tea Party groups. Susan Rice: Supports National Voter Registration Day. Zak Ringelstein: Independent redistricting & automatic voter registration. Zak Ringelstein: Overturn Citizens United; disclose campaign donations. David Costello: Mandate automatic voter registration, early and mail voting. David Costello: U.S. Senate is obscenely undemocratic. Demi Kouzounas: Deeply concerned about possibility of election fraud. David Costello: Substantial reforms to overcome partisan gridlock. David Costello: 24-year term limits for Congress; retirement age for judges. Demi Kouzounas: Declare electronic voting machines unconstitutional. David Costello: Restructure Senate based on state population. |
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Gun Control Angus King: Supports gun rights. Chris Lyons: Absolute right to gun ownership. Eric Brakey: Bipartisan Republican leads the charge to less gun control. Eric Brakey: The second amendment is essential for liberty. Eric Brakey: Oppose background checks for individual gun transfers. Sara Gideon: Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority. Shenna Bellows: Was NRA member, but left because they became too extreme. Zak Ringelstein: Most Americans wants gun control but NRA stops it. David Costello: Strengthen our nation's gun safety laws and regulations. Angus King: Implement red flag laws; expand background checks. Demi Kouzounas: Very concerned with gun rights. |
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Health Care Chris Lyons: Oppose ObamaCare. Chris Lyons: Insurance companies benefit from ObamaCare; people don't. Cynthia Dill: Medicaid and Medicare programs need to be strengthened. Eric Brakey: Apply principles of freedom to broken healthcare system. Eric Brakey: Do better than backdoor deals that led to ObamaCare. Matt Dunlap: ObamaCare individual mandate is constitutional. Sara Gideon: Public option for Medicare, but not Medicare-for-All. Sara Gideon: Complete the work started under Affordable Care Act. Sara Gideon: Reduce prescription costs; protect pre-existing conditions. Sara Gideon: Let government negotiate to lower cost of drugs. Sara Gideon: Strongly oppose raising Medicare eligibility age. Sara Gideon: Let Medicare negotiate drug prices; allow imports. Shenna Bellows: Supports ObamaCare & universal health coverage. Susan Collins: Helped pass law lowering drug prices, speeding generics. Susan Collins: Improve advance transparency on medical billing. Susan Collins: Authored law letting pharmacists help patients save money. Susan Collins: Strong supporter of home care. David Costello: Offer Medicare, including dental/vision, to all who want it. Angus King: Resources to LGBTQ youth for mental health/ prevent suicide. Demi Kouzounas: ObamaCare will bring rationing of healthcare. Susan Collins: Extend ACA tax credits, but also need some reforms. |
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Homeland Security Chris Lyons: Don't expand the military. Cynthia Dill: Cut military spending such as weapons systems. Cynthia Dill: Opposes unlimited detention of terror suspects. Eric Brakey: Apply limited government philosophy to the military. Sara Gideon: Make sure that services vets have earned remain available. Shenna Bellows: No spying on foreign leaders NOR on ordinary Americans. Shenna Bellows: Snowden was a whistle-blower, not a criminal. Shenna Bellows: We cannot afford to be the world's policemen. Shenna Bellows: NSA should target only based on individualized suspicion. Susan Collins: No justification for spying on Germany's chancellor. Susan Collins: Cuts in defense are very troubling to me personally. Susan Collins: Mass surveillance justified by national security. Susan Collins: Mass unwarranted surveillance is never justified. Susan Collins: Increase transparency of NSA but keep NSA programs. David Costello: Expand military and intelligence gathering alliances. |
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Immigration Chris Lyons: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens. Eric Brakey: We must put our citizens first. Sara Gideon: Urged support for DREAM Act. Susan Collins: Co-sponsored bill for path to citizenship for DREAMers. David Costello: Comprehensive reform, resolve nation's worker shortages. Demi Kouzounas: Illegal immigrants, drugs, and guns are crossing our border. Demi Kouzounas: DACA is unconstitutional executive action (oppose DREAMers). Susan Collins: Allow foreign religious workers to stay in the U.S. |
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Jobs Angus King: Keep 900 shoe factory jobs in Maine. Angus King: Protected jobs in forests & Bath Iron Works. Angus King: Supports federal minimum wage increase; but not $15. Chris Lyons: Oppose affirmative action in hiring. Eric Brakey: Oppose increasing minimum wage; it takes out the bottom rung. Sara Gideon: Prioritize needs of small businesses; raise minimum wage. Sara Gideon: Co-sponsored bill to give unions access to public employees. Shenna Bellows: Increase minimum wage to make it a living wage. Susan Collins: For Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Zak Ringelstein: Increase minimum wage to $15/hour & tie to inflation. David Costello: Increase federal Child and Earned Income Tax Credits. Demi Kouzounas: Keep bureaucrats off our lobster boats & fishing waters. Demi Kouzounas: Supports right-to-work laws. |
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Principles & Values Chris Lyons: Keep God in the public sphere. Chris Lyons: Personal belief in God is fine; government action is not. Sara Gideon: Public service is about improving the lives of people. Sara Gideon: Courts pushed to the right, favors independent judiciary. Shenna Bellows: Calls herself a progressive libertarian. Susan Collins: Focuses on seniority & forging bipartisan solutions. Susan Collins: Nine is good number for seats on Supreme Court. Susan Rice: Fierce love of country should override disagreements. Demi Kouzounas: Donated time for dental care for children, needy, elderly. Demi Kouzounas: Former chair of Maine GOP. |
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Social Security Charlie Summers: Remove disability coverage from Social Security. Chris Lyons: Privatize Social Security. Cynthia Dill: Stop raiding Social Security Trust Fund. Matt Dunlap: Remove cap on earnings to sustain system. Sara Gideon: Protect Social Security, Medicare from cuts & privatization. Sara Gideon: Raise the earning cap so wealthiest pay their fair share. Scott D`Amboise: Option to invest in private retirement program. Shenna Bellows: Scrap the cap; apply payroll tax over $113,700. Shenna Bellows: Scrap the Cap: highest-paid Americans pay their fair share. Susan Collins: Foundation of retirement income for most Americans. David Costello: Raise FICA tax cap, increase benefits to low-income retirees. Janet Mills: Recommit to the promise of the Social Security Act. |
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Tax Reform Chris Lyons: Oppose higher taxes on the wealthy. Cynthia Dill: Require the wealthy to pay their fair share. Eric Brakey: Voted against raising the lodging tax to 10.5%. Eric Brakey: No additional 3% tax on income above $200,000. Sara Gideon: Roll back Trump tax cuts; breaks for hardworking families. David Costello: Ensure tax fairness via progressive tax reforms. Demi Kouzounas: Inflationary spending that is punishing taxpayers. Janet Mills: Legislature must act on conforming to federal tax changes. |
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Technology Eric Brakey: Net Neutrality is heavy-handed government control. Shenna Bellows: Total Information Awareness undermines our democracy. Zak Ringelstein: Create federal law protecting net neutrality. David Costello: Require social media to adhere to strict privacy rules. |
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War & Peace Charlie Summers: Iraq & Afghanistan have taken a turn for the positive. Chris Lyons: Avoid foreign entanglements. Cynthia Dill: Afghanistan is not as irresponsible as was Iraq. Eric Brakey: Learn from the past: we don't need another Mideast war. Eric Brakey: Ok to withdraw from Iran nuke deal so Trump can negotiate. Matt Dunlap: We cannot stand by while Syria slaughters its citizens. Matt Dunlap: Iraq war was poorly thought out and enormously expensive. Sara Gideon: Congress must provide oversight over military action. Scott D`Amboise: Time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan. Susan Collins: Exert economic pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program. Susan Rice: Benghazi investigations became "gotcha" game. Susan Rice: We sold out the Kurds in Syria. Susan Rice: National security endangered by lack of communication. Susan Rice: Small U.S. military presence in Syria fought ISIS threat. Tom Allen: We need strong economic sanctions against Iran. Zak Ringelstein: Favors diplomacy against potential nuclear threats. Demi Kouzounas: Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East. |
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Welfare & Poverty Eric Brakey: Disallow using food stamps to purchase junk food. Shenna Bellows: No one in Washington stands up for people who are hurting. Angus King: increase government investment in the economy. Demi Kouzounas: Ensure American Dream by reducing inflation. |
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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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