Sen. Lieberman: Where He Stands
By The Associated Press
Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate, on policy issues:
ABORTION:
--Shares Gore's support for abortion rights; voted against banning procedure known by its opponents as partial-birth abortion.
--Has supported requiring minors to have parental consent before having abortions at federally subsidized clinics.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE:
--In an addendum to a Senate report on fund-raising irregularities, accused President Clinton and Gore of using ''the
White House as a marketing tool.''
--Backed a defeated constitutional amendment to allow Congress to limit contributions and spending by and for
candidates for federal office.
CIVIL RIGHTS:
--Voted to make it easier to sue employers for discrimination and to allow women, religious minorities and the disabled
to win damages for intentional discrimination.
--Voted to expand the definition of hate crimes to include crimes committed because of the victims' sex, sexual orientation or disability.
--In 1994 crime bill, opposed letting prisoners on death row appeal using argument that sentencing statistics show they
were victims of racial discrimination.
CRIME:
--Backed anti-crime legislation pushed by Clinton, including mandatory sentences for crimes involving firearms.
--Switched to favoring the death penalty from being against it early in career.
CULTURAL VALUES:
--An author of the law that required TVs to have a V-chip to help parents monitor children's viewing. Pressed makers
of video games to label violent games.
--Supported National Endowment for the Arts.
--Voted last year to assert that erecting religious symbols and praying on public school campuses as part of a memorial
service is constitutional.
--A critic of Hollywood violence and sex, teamed up with conservative William Bennett to hand out ''Silver Sewer''
awards to ''cultural polluters.'' Recipients have included radio host Howard Stern, CBS' ''60 Minutes'' and the Fox
Television Network.
DEFENSE:
--Has sided with Republicans in supporting early deployment of national missile defense system.
--Supported Persian Gulf War.
--Voted against requiring separate housing and platoons for male and female recruits in basic training.
EDUCATION:
--Championed experimental voucher programs, letting parents use federal money to send children to public or private
schools of their choice. Gore says vouchers would undermine public education.
--More recently, backed education changes that do not include vouchers.
--Voted to expand tax-free education savings accounts to help parents cover education expenses in all grades and at
public and private schools -- an idea promoted by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush.
--In line with Gore, voted to spend more on teacher training and fixing school buildings.
ENVIRONMENT:
--League of Conservation Voters gave him 100 percent approval rating for eight of the last 11 years, based on his votes
on environmental issues.
--Co-sponsored 1990 Clean Air Act, introduced legislation in 1991 to give consumers more information about the dangers of pesticides, and has championed the need to address global warming.
FLAG:
--Voted against constitutional amendment to outlaw desecration of the flag.
FOREIGN POLICY:
--Backs Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
--Voted for United States to pay arrears to United Nations without setting conditions in law.
--Opposed Clinton's clemency to members of a Puerto Rican independence group.
GAY RIGHTS:
--Sponsored legislation to prohibit employment discrimination against gays.
--Saying ''society should not be promoting the homosexual lifestyle,'' backed 1994 bill to deny federal money to schools
presenting material ''supportive of homosexuality.''
--Voted to prohibit same-sex marriage in federal law, and provide that no state is required to recognize same-sex
marriages performed in other states.
GUN CONTROL:
--Backed mandatory child safety locks.
--Backed five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and ban on semiautomatic assault-type weapons.
HEALTH CARE:
--Opposed the Clinton universal health care plan in favor of a more limited plan proposed by insurance companies,
which are major financial supporters of his campaigns.
--Sought bipartisan agreement on rival plans to increase rights for consumers in HMOs and other health plans.
IMPEACHMENT:
--A leading Democratic critic of Clinton's behavior, but voted ''not guilty'' on articles of impeachment.
LEGAL REFORM:
--One of only four Senate Democrats to side with Republicans in 1995 in voting to limit punitive damage awards in
product liability cases.
SOCIAL SECURITY:
--Has spoken in favor of partially privatizing Social Security, as proposed by Bush and opposed by Gore. Told The San
Diego Union-Tribune in 1998: ''A remarkable wave of innovative thinking is advancing the concept of privatization. ... I
think in the end that individual control of part of the retirement-Social Security funds has to happen.''
TAXES:
--Supported 1993 increases in the gasoline tax and taxes on the wealthy, after winning support for cuts in capital-gains
taxes for investors in some new small businesses.
--Voted to raise the limit on income exempt from the estate tax but not to eliminate the tax.
--Backed Democratic plan to reduce tax penalty on married couples instead of more aggressive GOP plan.
--Supported increasing tobacco tax to help pay for prescription drug program.
TRADE:
--Shares Gore's support for liberalized trade and normalizing trade relations with China.
By The Associated Press
Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Al Gore's running mate, on policy issues:
ABORTION:
--Shares Gore's support for abortion rights; voted against banning procedure known by its opponents as partial-birth abortion.
--Has supported requiring minors to have parental consent before having abortions at federally subsidized clinics.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE:
--In an addendum to a Senate report on fund-raising irregularities, accused President Clinton and Gore of using ''the
White House as a marketing tool.''
--Backed a defeated constitutional amendment to allow Congress to limit contributions and spending by and for
candidates for federal office.
CIVIL RIGHTS:
--Voted to make it easier to sue employers for discrimination and to allow women, religious minorities and the disabled
to win damages for intentional discrimination.
--Voted to expand the definition of hate crimes to include crimes committed because of the victims' sex, sexual orientation or disability.
--In 1994 crime bill, opposed letting prisoners on death row appeal using argument that sentencing statistics show they
were victims of racial discrimination.
CRIME:
--Backed anti-crime legislation pushed by Clinton, including mandatory sentences for crimes involving firearms.
--Switched to favoring the death penalty from being against it early in career.
CULTURAL VALUES:
--An author of the law that required TVs to have a V-chip to help parents monitor children's viewing. Pressed makers
of video games to label violent games.
--Supported National Endowment for the Arts.
--Voted last year to assert that erecting religious symbols and praying on public school campuses as part of a memorial
service is constitutional.
--A critic of Hollywood violence and sex, teamed up with conservative William Bennett to hand out ''Silver Sewer''
awards to ''cultural polluters.'' Recipients have included radio host Howard Stern, CBS' ''60 Minutes'' and the Fox
Television Network.
DEFENSE:
--Has sided with Republicans in supporting early deployment of national missile defense system.
--Supported Persian Gulf War.
--Voted against requiring separate housing and platoons for male and female recruits in basic training.
EDUCATION:
--Championed experimental voucher programs, letting parents use federal money to send children to public or private
schools of their choice. Gore says vouchers would undermine public education.
--More recently, backed education changes that do not include vouchers.
--Voted to expand tax-free education savings accounts to help parents cover education expenses in all grades and at
public and private schools -- an idea promoted by Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush.
--In line with Gore, voted to spend more on teacher training and fixing school buildings.
ENVIRONMENT:
--League of Conservation Voters gave him 100 percent approval rating for eight of the last 11 years, based on his votes
on environmental issues.
--Co-sponsored 1990 Clean Air Act, introduced legislation in 1991 to give consumers more information about the dangers of pesticides, and has championed the need to address global warming.
FLAG:
--Voted against constitutional amendment to outlaw desecration of the flag.
FOREIGN POLICY:
--Backs Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
--Voted for United States to pay arrears to United Nations without setting conditions in law.
--Opposed Clinton's clemency to members of a Puerto Rican independence group.
GAY RIGHTS:
--Sponsored legislation to prohibit employment discrimination against gays.
--Saying ''society should not be promoting the homosexual lifestyle,'' backed 1994 bill to deny federal money to schools
presenting material ''supportive of homosexuality.''
--Voted to prohibit same-sex marriage in federal law, and provide that no state is required to recognize same-sex
marriages performed in other states.
GUN CONTROL:
--Backed mandatory child safety locks.
--Backed five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and ban on semiautomatic assault-type weapons.
HEALTH CARE:
--Opposed the Clinton universal health care plan in favor of a more limited plan proposed by insurance companies,
which are major financial supporters of his campaigns.
--Sought bipartisan agreement on rival plans to increase rights for consumers in HMOs and other health plans.
IMPEACHMENT:
--A leading Democratic critic of Clinton's behavior, but voted ''not guilty'' on articles of impeachment.
LEGAL REFORM:
--One of only four Senate Democrats to side with Republicans in 1995 in voting to limit punitive damage awards in
product liability cases.
SOCIAL SECURITY:
--Has spoken in favor of partially privatizing Social Security, as proposed by Bush and opposed by Gore. Told The San
Diego Union-Tribune in 1998: ''A remarkable wave of innovative thinking is advancing the concept of privatization. ... I
think in the end that individual control of part of the retirement-Social Security funds has to happen.''
TAXES:
--Supported 1993 increases in the gasoline tax and taxes on the wealthy, after winning support for cuts in capital-gains
taxes for investors in some new small businesses.
--Voted to raise the limit on income exempt from the estate tax but not to eliminate the tax.
--Backed Democratic plan to reduce tax penalty on married couples instead of more aggressive GOP plan.
--Supported increasing tobacco tax to help pay for prescription drug program.
TRADE:
--Shares Gore's support for liberalized trade and normalizing trade relations with China.
]