2014 Alabama 7th District Congressional Voter Guide

Transcription

1 2014 Alabama 7th District ongressional Voter Guide

2 The andidates Representative Terri (D), incumbent, running unopposed

3 2014 Alabama 7th District ongressional Voter Guide What role would religion play in the candidate s decision making in his or her role as U.S. Representative? Does the candidate support a science based curriculum in public schools and reject the use of public funding of religious schools or religiously-based curriculums? Does the candidate support the use of public funding for religiously-affiliated organizations such as faith-based initiatives, to provide services? Does the candidate support social policies that do not discriminate based on religion, such as marriage equality, and nondiscrimination in adoption policies, the military and hiring practices at faith based organizations receiving public funds? Does the candidate believe government sanctioned religious symbolism is appropriate? (Examples including prayer in legislative sessions and public schools, religious symbols on government property.) Does the candidate support scientifically based regulations including science surrounding reproduction, climate change, embryonic stem cell research, and cloning, and reject abstinence-only sex education? INAL SORE N/A A Key: andidate s remarks and/or actions toward the Secular oalition s stances have been: A: Generally or consistently positive. B: Neutral or occasionally positive. : Mixed, with positive and negative responses. : Generally or consistently hostile or negative. N/A: At the time of publication, the Secular oalition for America was unable to verify the candidate s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate. If the SA was unable to find a candidate s stance on at least four of the six questions, the candidate was given a final score of N/A. The above chart is based on the topics and individual public candidate responses in the following sections.

4 Individual andidate Responses What role would religion play in the candidate s decision making in his or her role as U.S. Representative? N/A At the time of publication, the Secular oalition for America was unable to verify the candidate s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate. Does the candidate support a science based curriculum in public schools and reject the use of public funding of religious schools or religiously-based curriculums? A Rep. voted against reauthorizing the D opportunity scholarship program, which took public funds away from public schools and gave them to private schools, 82% of which were religiously-affiliated. 1 Does the candidate support the use of public funding for religiously-affiliated organizations such as faith-based initiatives, to provide services? Rep. voted in favor of HR 592, which made houses of worship eligible for emergency assistance and disaster relief, funds which were not made available to many other secular non-profits. 2 1 Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR); Bill HRes186 ; vote number 11-HV200 on Mar 30, ederal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit airness Act of 2013; Bill H.R. 592; vote number 13-HV039 on eb 13, 2013.

5 Does the candidate support social policies that do not discriminate based on religion, such as marriage equality, and non-discrimination in adoption policies, the military and hiring practices at faith based organizations receiving public funds? Rep. voted twice against allowing nontheist chaplains to join the military s chaplain corps. 3 However, she cosponsored legislation to enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. 4 Does the candidate believe government sanctioned religious symbolism is appropriate? (Examples including prayer in legislative sessions and public schools, religious symbols on government property.) Rep. voted in favor of H.on.Res. 13, reaffirming In God We Trust as the U.S. motto and supporting its public display. 5 Does the candidate support scientifically based regulations including science surrounding reproduction, climate change, embryonic stem cell research, and cloning, and reject abstinence-only sex education? Rep. voted against barring federal health coverage that includes abortion 6 and against HR 7, prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortion services. 7 However, she voted in favor of barring EPA regulation of greenhouse gases. 8 3 Amendment prohibits the use of funds to appoint chaplains without an endorsing agency; H.Amdt.375 (leming) to H.R.2397; vote number 13-HV392 on Jul 23, and H.Amdt.169 (Polis) to H.R.1960; vote number 13-HV238 on Jun 14, H.R.1652/S H1652 on Jul 8, Reaffirming In God We Trust as the official motto; H.on.Res.13; vote number 11-HV816 on Nov 1, No Taxpayer unding for Abortion Act; Bill H.3 ; vote number 11-HV292 on May 4, No Taxpayer unding for Abortion Act; Bill H.7; vote number 14-HV030 on Jan 28, Energy Tax Prevention Act; Bill H.910; vote number 11-HV249 on Apr 7, 2011.

6 Methodology andidates were graded only on questions for which the Secular oalition was able to identify the candidates' position either through statements or previous actions. or each response, the candidates were given a grade of A, B, or. An "A" grade earned the candidate 3 points, "B" earned 2 points, "" earned 1 point and an earned 0 points. An average of the candidates' grades for each question were averaged for each section. Grades of "N/A" indicate that the Secular oalition was unable to identify the candidate's position on the given topic. The section averages were then averaged for the total score. N/A grades were not factored into the candidate's score. Averages were compiled on the following scale: A = B = = =

7 The Secular oalition for America is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization whose purpose is to amplify the diverse and growing voice of the nontheistic community in the United States. We are located in Washington, D.. for ready access to government, activist partners and the media. Our staff lobbies U.S. ongress on issues of special concern to our constituency. Our member organizations are established 501(c)(3) nonprofits who serve atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. Their purpose in founding the coalition was to formalize a cooperative structure for visible, unified activism to improve the civic situation of citizens with a naturalistic worldview. A number of additional organizations have endorsed our mission statement. Member Organizations American Atheists American Ethical Union American Humanist Association Atheist Alliance of America Black Nonbelievers amp Quest ouncil for Secular Humanism reethought Society reedom from Religion oundation Hispanic American reethinkers Humanist ommunity at Harvard Institute for Humanist Studies Military Association of Atheists and reethinkers Recovering from Religion Richard Dawkins oundation for Reason and Science (US) Secular Student Alliance Society for Humanistic Judaism The UU Humanists