Candidate Research - John Edwards (D-NC)

Personal Info
Birth: June 10, 1953
Religion: Methodist

On the Issues
Abortion: Right to abortion is constitutionally protected
Stem Cell Research: Expand embryonic stem cell research
Budget & Economy: More funds for education, health care, and defense
Gay Marriage: Supports gay marriage
Death Penalty: Death penalty OK despite flaws, should be a state-by-state decision
Drugs: Supports drug courts and alternatives to incarceration
Education: No Child Left Behind program is much underfunded, higher teacher pay in low-income schools
School Vouchers: Private school vouchers drain resources from public schools, pro-public schools
Environment: Protect ANWR, lead in global warming battle
Gun Control: Right to bear arms protected by Second Amendment, with rules
Health Care: Provide a real patients' bill of rights, it is wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured
Homeland Security: Make better use of our National Guard
Immigration: Roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
Jobs: Provide tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in America
Minimum Wage: Raise minimum wage to at least $6.65
Social Security: Federal match for every dollar put into savings
Tax Reform: For more tax cuts for middle class, not millionaires

Voting Record
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions
Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts
Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation
Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors
Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds
Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages
Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare
Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%
Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage
Voted NO on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions