The Important Stuff (Excruciatingly Long)

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I culled this from another discussion board, apparently someone did his homework. Other than the obvious attack points that Kerry opens himself as a target for, this is the booty that Americans should familiarize themselves with when considering a Presidential candidate...

Abortion
NO
Voted on disallowing overseas military abortions. Motion to table Murray Amdt #397; Bill S. 1059 ; vote number 1999-148 on May 26, 1999

Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. Partial Birth Abortion Ban; Bill S. 1692 ; vote number 1999-340 on Oct 21, 1999

Voted NO on maintaining a ban on military base abortions. Bill S 2549 ; vote number 2000-134 on Jun 20, 2000

Civil Rights / Society

Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. Bill HR 1854 ; vote number 1995-317 on Jul 20, 1995

Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. Flag Desecration Bill; Bill S. J. Res. 31 ; vote number 1995-600 on Dec 12, 1995

Voted NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. Bill S Con Res 57 ; vote number 1996-140 on May 22, 1996

Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage. Bill HR 3396 ; vote number 1996-280 on Sep 10, 1996

Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. Employment Non-Discrimination Act; Bill S. 2056 ; vote number 1996-281 on Sep 10, 1996

Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. Motion to invoke cloture; Bill S.1173 ; vote number 1997-275 on Oct 23, 1997

Voted NO on banning human cloning. Motion to invoke cloture on motion to proceed to S. 1601; Bill S. 1601 ; vote number 1998-10 on Feb 11, 1998

Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. Bill S.1173 ; vote number 1998-23 on Mar 6, 1998

Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. Bill S.Con.Res.86 ; vote number 1998-56 on Apr 1, 1998

Voted NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. Roth Amdt #2339; Bill H.R. 2676 ; vote number 1998-120 on May 6, 1998

Voted YES on continuing funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Motion to table Smith Amdt #1569; Bill H.R. 2466 ; vote number 1999-260 on Aug 5, 1999

Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. Bill S.2549 ; vote number 2000-136 on Jun 20, 2000

Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. Bill H Con Res 83 ; vote number 2001-65 on Apr 3, 2001

Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. Bill S.625 ; vote number 2002-147 on Jun 11, 2002

Defense of Marriage Act: designed to establish the legal definition of marriage as a ”union between one man and one woman.“ This definition would be binding on all agencies and programs of the federal government.
JFK voted NO

Crime

Voted NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals. Bill S 1935 ; vote number 1994-106 on May 11, 1994

Voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. Bill HR.3355 ; vote number 1994-126 on May 19, 1994

Voted NO on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. Conference Report on H.R. 956; Bill H. R. 956 ; vote number 1996-46 on Mar 21, 1996

Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. Bill S.735 ; vote number 1996-66 on Apr 17, 1996

Voted NO on spending international development funds on drug control. Bill HR 3540 ; vote number 1996-244 on Jul 25, 1996

Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999

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Defense & Nat'l Security

Votes to Cut Defense Spending by 2% (S. Con. Res. 29, CQ Vote #49, Apr 25, 1991)

Votes to Slash Over $3 Billion from Defense (H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #182, Sep 10, 1991)

Votes to Cut $6 Billion from Defense (S. Con. Res. 106, CQ Vote #73, Apr 9, 1992)

Votes Against Military Pay Raise (S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #73, Mar 24, 1993)

Kerry Introduces Plan To Cut Numerous Defense Programs:

Cut the number of Navy submarines and their crews

Reduce the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one

Reduce tactical fighter wings in the Air Force

Terminate the Navy’s coastal mine-hunting ship program Force the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces
in one year.

(S.1163, Introduced Jun 24, 1993)

Introduced an amendment to SLASH defense spending by 4 billion dollars and Intelligence spending by about 1 billion. Senator Inouye, Very Liberal (D) from Hawaii had the following comments: Amendment 1452, 1994, Senate Floor

The amendment offered by Senator Kerry would reduce the 1994 appropriations for national defense by about $4 billion. I believe the Members of this body should recall that Congress has already reduced DOD's budget in 1994 by more than $18 billion. Moreover, in each and every year of the past 10 years, Congress has cut the funds provided for defense. We have already cut defense spending drastically. ...
Now if I may comment on another section that reduces funding for intelligence programs, and this amendment would reduce such funding by about $1 billion. Madam President, the intelligence budget has already been cut by almost 18 percent over the past 2 years. An additional reduction of $1 billion would severely hamper the intelligence community's ability to provide decisionmakers and policymakers with information on matters of vital concern to this country.

These issues include nuclear proliferation by North Korea--this has been on the front pages for the past 3 or 4 months--peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia and Somalia, as well as terrorist threats against American citizens and property. ...

At a time like this, is it prudent to reduce funds for the very intelligence programs which we need to identify these targets? This amendment would do that. It would blind our pilots. Is this the time to cut the satellite programs that give our forces warning of attacks? I hope that we will keep this in mind... If we do and this amendment passes, then we are putting blindfolds over our pilots' eyes. ...

Voted NO on the Defend America Act of 1996. This bill stated that it would be U.S. policy to deploy by the end of 2003 a national missile defense system that (1) is capable of providing a highly effective defense of U.S. territory against limited, unauthorized or accidental ballistic missile attack; (2) will be augmented over time to provide a layered defense against larger and more sophisticated ballistic missile threats; and (3) does not feature an offensive-only form of deterrence. Newsmax

Introduces a bill to SLASH Department of Defense Funding by 6.5 Billion (S. 1580, Introduced Feb 29, 1996) (No one was willing to co-sponsor this bill!)

Voted YES to freeze defense spending for 7 Years, slashing over $34 Billion from defense. (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181, May 24, 1995)

Voted NO on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. Conference Report on H.R. 927; Bill H.R. 927 ; vote number 1996-22 on Mar 5, 1996

Voted NO on considering deploying National Missile Defense, and amending ABM Treaty. Bill S 1635 ; vote number 1996-157 on Jun 4, 1996

Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. Resolution of ratification of the Chemical (Comprehensive) Weapons (Convention) Ban; Bill S. Res. 75 ; vote number 1997-51 on Apr 24, 1997

In 1997, the conservative Center for Security Policy awarded Kerry a score of 0 out of a possible 100 on 14 key defense votes – including funding for space-based laser programs. Newsmax

Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. Motion to table the Lugar Amdt #3156.; Bill S. 2159 ; vote number 1998-201 on Jul 15, 1998

Voted NO on deploying missile defense as soon as possible. Bill S 1873 ; vote number 1998-262 on Sep 9, 1998

Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. Bill S.1059 ; vote number 1999-147 on May 26, 1999

Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. H.R. 2606 Conference Report; Bill H.R. 2606 ; vote number 1999-312 on Oct 6, 1999

Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; Bill Treaty Document #105-28 ; vote number 1999-325 on Oct 13, 1999

B-2 Stealth Bomber:
Repeatedly Votes to Cut or Eliminate B-2 Stealth Bomber

(H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #203, 9/26/89)
(H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #310, 11/18/89)
(S. 2884, CQ Vote #208, 8/2/90)
(S. 2884, CQ Vote #209, 8/2/90)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #174, 8/1/91)
(H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #206, 9/25/91)
(S. 2403, CQ Vote #85, 5/6/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #216,9/18/92)

(S. 2182, CQ Vote #179, 7/1/94)

Missile Defense:
Repeatedly Votes to Cut or Eliminate Missile Defense

(S. 1507, CQ Vote #168, 7/31/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #171, 8/1/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #172, 8/1/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #173, 8/1/91)
(H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #207, 9/25/91)
(S. 2403, CQ Vote #85, 5/6/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #182, 8/7/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #214, 9/17/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #215, 9/17/92)
(S. 1298, CQ Vote #251, 10/9/93)
(S. Con. Res. 63, CQ Vote #64, 3/22/94)
(S. 1026, CQ Vote #354, 8/3/95)
(S. 1087, CQ Vote #384, 8/10/95)
(S. 1745, CQ Vote #160, 6/19/96)
(S. 1873, CQ Vote #131:, 5/13/9
(S. 1873, CQ Vote #262, 9/9/9
(S 1635, CQ Vote #157, 6/4/96)
(S. 2549, CQ Vote #178, 7/13/00)

Education

Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. Bill S.1513 ; vote number 1994-236 on Jul 27, 1994

Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. Bill S 1956 ; vote number 1996-231 on Jul 23, 1996

Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. DC Appropriations Act; Bill S. 1156 ; vote number 1997-260 on Sep 30, 1997

Voted NO on education savings accounts. H.R. 2646 Conference Report; Bill H.R. 2646 ; vote number 1998-169 on Jun 24, 1998

Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. Motion to Invoke cloture on Jeffords Amdt #31; Bill S. 280 ; vote number 1999-35 on Mar 9, 1999

Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. Bill S.1134 ; vote number 2000-33 on Mar 2, 2000

School Vouchers:
this legislation would force local governments to fund religious and other private educational schools through cash vouchers to students.
JFK voted NO to vouchers.

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Energy & Environment

Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. Bill H.R. 4624 ; vote number 1994-255 on Aug 3, 1994

Voted NO on approving a nuclear waste repository. Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997; Bill S. 104 ; vote number 1997-42 on Apr 15, 1997

Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. Bill HR.2107 ; vote number 1997-242 on Sep 17, 1997

Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. Motion to table the recommital; Bill S. 1186 ; vote number 1999-171 on Jun 16, 1999

Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. Motion to table Bryan Amdt. #1588; Bill H.R. 2466 ; vote number 1999-272 on Sep 14, 1999

Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. Bill S Con Res 101 ; vote number 2000-58 on Apr 6, 2000

Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. Bill S.517 ; vote number 2002-71 on Apr 18, 2002

Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. Bill SConRes 23 ; vote number 2003-59 on Mar 19, 2003

Guns/Hunting

Voted with the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 100 percent of the time.

Voted with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 100 percent of the time.

Received an F from the National Rifle Association in 2002.

Received an F from Gun Owners of American for the 108th Congress.

Opposes the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (H.R. 1036 / S. 659), which grants gun manufacturers, distributors and dealers immunity from lawsuits.

Voted NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. Bill S 2260 ; vote number 1998-216 on Jul 21, 1998

Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-111 on May 11, 1999

Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. Hatch Amendment #344; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-118 on May 14, 1999

Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999

Government

Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. Murkowski Amdt to S. 1061; Bill S. 1061 ; vote number 1995-339 on Jul 28, 1995

Voted NO on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. Reference: S. J. Res. 1; Bill S. J. Res. 1 ; vote number 1997-24 on Mar 4, 1997

Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. Campaign Finance Reform Bill; Bill S. 25 ; vote number 1997-267 on Oct 7, 1997

Voted NO, killing an amendment that would increase the amount of the budget that would be used to reduce the national debt by $75 billion over 5 years. Bill S Con Res 101 ; vote number 2000-55 on Apr 5, 2000

Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. Bill HR.2356 ; vote number 2002-54 on Mar 20, 2002

Immigration

1996: Voted to continue chain migration which has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today. Sen. Kerry voted AGAINST both the Simpson Amendment and the Feinstein Amendment to S. 1664.

1997: Voted to grant legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans who had lived in the United States illegally since 1995, along with their spouses and minor unmarried children. The overall ten year impact of this legislation will be the addition of some 967,000 people to U.S. population. There was no separate vote on the amnesty, as it was included in the DC Appropriations bill.

2000: Voted to include an amnesty for illegal aliens from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti in the Senate H-1B bill (S.2045). The move to include the amnesty with the H-1B legislation failed 43-55 in a procedural vote on the Senate floor.

2003: Co-sponsor of S. 1645, the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2003. S. 1645 would create a guest worker program that leads to amnesty for certain agricultural workers. The potential recipients of the amnesty will be required to prove 100 days of agricultural employment in the 18-month period that ended Aug. 31, 2003. Then, prior to receiving amnesty, workers would have to show 360 days of additional farm work over the next six years.

2003: Sen. Kerry is a cosponsor of S. 1545, the DREAM Act of 2003. S. 1545 would grant in-state tuition and amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of 21 who have been physically present in the country for five years and are in 7th grade or above. Such a reward for illegal immigration serves as an incentive for more illegal immigration.

Taxes

JFK Has Voted Against Tax Reductions and for Higher Taxes a total of 379 times! Here's 352 and here are 27 more! (PDF format)

Voted Against Spending Reductions that would reduce the national budget by $94 billion. H.R. 3759, Roll Call Vote #35: Motion To Table Adopted 65-31: R 23-19; D 42-12, Feb 9, 1994

Voted Against Bipartisan Plan To Balance Budget in seven years. S. Con. Res. 57, Roll Call Vote #150: Rejected 46-53: R 22-30; D 24-23, May 23, 1996

Voted Against Fiscally Responsible Budget that would have cut spending and taxes. H. Con. Res. 84, Roll Call Vote #92: Adopted 78-22: R 41-14; D 37-8, May 23 1997

Voted NO on FY99 tax cuts. Motion to waive CBA Re: Coverdell Amdt. # 2199; Bill S Con Res 86 ; vote number 1998-55 on Apr 1, 1998

Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. Kyl Amdt #2221; Bill S Con Res 86 ; vote number 1998-71 on Apr 2, 1998

Voted YES To Increase Gas Tax By 6 Cents Per Gallon. (S. 3209, CQ Vote #280: Rejected 45-55: R 8-37; D 37-18, 10/18/90)

In Two Votes, Said YES to a 4.3 Cents-Per-Gallon Increase In Gas Tax And 2.5 Cents-Per-Gallon Extension Of Existing Gas Tax. (H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #190: Passed 50-49: R 0-43; D 49-6, With Vice President Al Gore Casting A “Yea” Vote, 6/25/93, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #247: Adopted 51-50: R 0-44; D 50-6, With Vice President Al Gore Casting A “Yea” Vote, 8/6/93, Kerry Voted Yea)

Voted NO on $792B tax cuts. Motion to waive Congressional Budget Amendment in regards to the Gramm Amdt #1405; Bill S. 1429 ; vote number 1999-230 on Jul 29, 1999

Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. Nickles Amdt #1889; Bill S. 1650 ; vote number 1999-313 on Oct 6, 1999

Voted YES To Keep 1993 Gas Tax Increase. (H. R. 8, CQ Vote #183: Motion Rejected 40-59: R 40-15; D 0-44, 7/13/00)

Voted NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. Bill HR.4810 ; vote number 2000-215 on Jul 18, 2000

Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. Bill HR 1836 ; vote number 2001-165 on May 23, 2001

Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. Bill HR.2 ; vote number 2003-196 on May 23, 2003

Voted Against A Balanced Budget Amendment At Least Five Times. Several times in the mid-nineties the Senate took up the Balanced Budget Amendment. Kerry voted five times against the amendment. (S. J. Res. 1, Roll Call Vote #24: Rejected 66-34: R 55-0; D 11-34, 3/4/97, Kerry Voted Nay; H.J. Res. 1, Roll Call Vote #158: Rejected 64-35: R 52-1; D 12-34, 6/6/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.J. Res. 1, Roll Call Vote #98: Rejected 65-35: R 51-2; D 14-33, 3/2/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. J. Res. 41, Roll Call Vote #48: Rejected 63-37: R 41-3; D 22-34, 3/1/94, Kerry Voted Nay; S. J. Res. 225, Roll Call Vote #45: Rejected 66-34: R 43-10; D 23-24, 3/25/86, Kerry Voted Nay)

Obviously there were many many more bills voted on than listed here. This represents an excellent cross-section of his political beliefs, IMO...