“One of the sadder stats to me around guns is the data around suicides. In 2013, we had 11,208 murders using guns. We also had 21,175 suicides using guns. In a 2001 Harvard study, there were 353,613 suicide attempts recorded, of which only 19,849 were from firearms (5.6%). Yet, 55% of suicide deaths were due to firearms (17k out of 31k total deaths).”
Read more "Should DC residents have easier access to guns? (S874)"“This shows what I don’t like about pure market capitalism, that we would have to legislate something like this. Without compassion within capitalism, where the quality of life is put above pure profits, you need to legislate things like paid sick days.”
Read more "Should we have paid sick days? (S497)"“What Polinav would do if successful is to significantly reduce the impact of money on elections. In that case, I would want to help keep the privacy of those who help pay for these ads. However, in the current political climate where money actually has a lot of influence in the political process, I would want disclosure on who’s paying for them.”
Read more "Should the names of major donors be disclosed on political ads? (HR2125)"“In a perfectly moral society, of course, lobbying & Congress could work hand in hand, but there’s just too many opportunities where personal gain can take precedence over the good of the people. It’s also one of those situations where representatives can rationalize giving in to corporations by how little they’re giving up; but the problem becomes how much in aggregate it affects the whole system.”
Read more "Should former Congress members be prohibited from lobbying Congress? (HR1740)"“The reason the prices of these generic drugs have risen is because they can and within a free market economy, of course we should let them! They’ve bought out (or merged with) the competition, so it’s either their drug or nothing else, so they can charge whatever they want for it! They’ve earned the right, according to the free market…but, the big question then becomes whether we want that with our healthcare or not?”
Read more "Should generic drug price increases within Medicaid be limited to inflation? (S1364)"“The concept of solitary confinement, like a “time out” when you’re a kid, isn’t a horrible concept. However, the way it’s used to keep people isolated for days, weeks, months, and even years at a time. That honestly seems like cruel and unusual punishment.”
Read more "Should solitary confinement of juveniles be prohibited? (S1965)"“This seems like common sense legislation. We don’t want those regulating the industry to receive any kind of benefit from that industry (whether before or after). This would obviously incentivize them to act favorably toward that industry, especially since they can make significantly more money in the private sector than with the government.”
Read more "Should there be stronger laws against the revolving door b/t government & the financial industry? (S1779)"Summary for Congressional bill S 1766 (114th): An estimated 100,000 service members since WWII have been discharged due to their sexual orientation. This bill gives gay veterans a path to an honorable discharge, if their sexual orientation was the only reason for their dishonorable discharge. If an honorable discharge given, also requires sexual orientation to be removed […]
Read more "Should less than honorably discharged gay veterans receive honorable discharges? (S1766)"Summary for Congressional bill S 1571 (114th): Members of Congress must sign an affidavit saying that they read the entire bill, if they vote yes on the bill. Requires the bill to be posted online 7 days before a final vote. Requires advance public notice on scheduled votes in Congress. Requires entire bills to be read to […]
Read more "Should Congress have to read every bill before they vote on it? (S1571)"Summary for Congressional bill HR 2732 (114th): Allows the Attorney General to give grants to help states make stronger handgun purchaser licensing laws. States must include the following for applicants: be at least 21 years old background & criminal history checks apply at the police station reapply for license within 5 years fingerprints & photograph […]
Read more "Should we encourage stronger pistol licensing laws nationwide? (HR2732)"
Figuring it all out. 