Political Positions
- Abortion
Oberstar is a pro-life Democrat. Oberstar showed his full support in 2005–2006 to the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). However, Oberstar believes abortion should be allowed if the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- Education
Oberstar is a strong supporter of the Head Start Program, which is a national program from the Department of Health and Human Services to promote school readiness by enhancing social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services. He considers it to be one of most successful federal anti-poverty programs ever created. Oberstar also supports the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which has been a leading voice promoting education and equality for women and girls nationwide; he fully supported the AAUW in 2007 and 2008. Interest groups, like American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), gave him 100 points support. In the early 1980s Oberstar gave federal support to the establishment of the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth to provide applied research and technology development to Minnesota's natural resource based economy.
- Environment
Oberstar was given a rating of 100 by the Environment America and the League of Conservation Voters in 2009. The American Wind Energy Association also gave him a rating of 100 in 2006. He voted to pass the Energy and Environmental Law Amendments which had the goal of establishing a program to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in 2009. He also voted to pass a bill, Trade-in Vouchers for Fuel-Efficient Cars, in 2009 which granted a $3,500 voucher, or document that could be exchanged for services in the place of money, for trading in an old vehicle with at least 4 miles per gallon more, the purpose of which was to increase the purchasing of fuel efficient cars. However, Oberstar went against most Democrats and voted in favor of allowing drilling in ANWR.
- Free Trade Agreements
Oberstar does not support free trade agreements, such as North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). He believes that the free trading offers little or no economic opportunity for American workers and producers due to inadequate provisions contained in the agreements.
- Labor
According to his voting record and interest group ratings, Oberstar is a supporter of labor. He was given a rating of 100 by the interest groups AFL-CIO, a voluntary group of labor-unions working to improve the lives of working families. Oberstar was also given a rating of 92 by the American Federation of Government in 2009 and a rating of 90 by the group, Federally Employed Women in 2009. He voted for three unemployment benefits extension bills in 2010 as well as three Employment Discrimination Law Amendments in 2009.
- Taxation
According to Minnesota Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test, Oberstar supports having taxes on corporate earnings, gasoline and cigarettes. In 2008, Americans For Fair Taxation (AFFT), gave Oberstar their lowest possible rating, and the National Taxpayers Union gave Oberstar an "F."
He supports a tax plan containing tax relief for working families, investment tax credits for small businesses, and support for the states including incentives for transportation construction projects that will immediately put people back to work.
Read more about this topic: Jim Oberstar
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