Political Positions
The National Journal has ranked Franks among the "most conservative" members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009. Franks is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker. In 2006, he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.
He opposes same-sex marriage and abortion. In a 2010 interview, discussing the legacy of slavery which Franks denounced and described as a "crushing mark on America's soul", the congressman said, "Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery." Franks is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. During the 2008 campaign, Franks stated that he is skeptical about global warming.
On October 14, 2009, Franks joined with three fellow Representatives in calling for the investigation of CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) over allegations of trying to plant "spies," based on a CAIR memo indicating that they "will develop national initiatives such as Lobby Day, and placing Muslim interns in Congressional offices." The request came in the wake of the publication of a book, Muslim Mafia, the foreword of which had been penned by Representative Sue Myrick, that portrayed CAIR as a subversive organization allied with international terrorists. CAIR has countered that these initiatives are extensively used by all advocacy groups and accused Franks and his colleagues of intending to intimidate American Muslims who "take part in the political process and exercise their rights."
Franks supports the right to bear firearms. The interest group, Gun Owners of America, have given Franks high approval ratings. In 2011, he voted to pass the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act.
In 2010, Franks voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He continues to oppose this law and government run health care, saying “the thought of Americans' health care decisions being put into the hands of an unimaginably large bureaucracy is a frightening prospect.” He is not supported by American Public Health Association or The Children’s Health Fund.
He has high approval ratings from Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. In November 2011 he voted to pass HR 2930 which authorizes crowdfunding for small businesses.
Rep. Franks presided over a hearing to ban abortions in the District of Columbia, in which he did not allow D.C.'s delegate to congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, to testify. In doing so he stated that Congress has the authority to “exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever” in the District, even though the Democratic-leaning district is strongly opposed to the ban.
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