Chuck Hagel Last Update: 8/27/07 Biography

republican Party Chuck Hagel 2008 Candidate for President of the United States of America Campaign Website | Candidate Forum

			Issues

(Select An Issue to Jump Directly) Abortion Darfur Death Penalty Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Energy Plan Global Warming Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp Health Care Immigration Iran Iraq Plan Kyoto Protocol Military Funding Minimum Wage Increase No Child Left Behind Act Nuclear Power Social Security Stem Cell Research Tax Reform The Patriot Act

	Chuck Hagel on Abortion
	Stance: Anti-Abortion Description: Senator Chuck Hagel is pro-life and has supported everyone of President Bush's judicial nominees. Citations: 1. Issues: Pro-Life (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has been a consistent supporter of life since he came to the Senate and has supported everyone of President Bush's judicial nominees, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

	Chuck Hagel on Darfur
	Stance: Implement a no-fly zone over Darfur, use a security force, and implement diplomatic sanctions Description: Hagel co-sponsored the no-fly legislation and has voted for sanctions, and a U.N. peacekeeping force. Citations: 1. Chuck Hagel: Darfur Scorecard (8/13/07) What Chuck has done in reference to Darfur.

	Chuck Hagel on Death Penalty
	Stance: Supports Description: Hagel supports the death penalty for heinous crimes. Citations: 1. Senator Chuck Hagel (8/15/07) Hagel voted not to abolish the death penalty

	Chuck Hagel on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
	Stance: Supports Description: Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Citations: 1. Hagel on the issues - Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 2. Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

	Chuck Hagel on Energy Plan
	Stance: Drill in Alaska; require gas to contain 10% ethanol by 2010; 25% of America's energy renewable by 2025; use nuclear power, offshore drilling, and other energy alternatives. Description: Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). He also has introduced legislation in the Senate to require that all gasoline contain 10% ethanol by 2010, and supports producing 25% of America's energy from renewable resources by 2025. Hagel has also supported the increased use of nuclear power, off-shore drilling, and a wider and deeper portfolio of energy resources. Citations: 1. Hagel on the issues - Energy (8/14/07) 1. Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). 2. Senator Hagel has introduced legislation in the Senate to require that all gasoline contain 10% ethanol by 2010, and supports producing 25% of America's energy from renewable resources by 2025. 3. Senator Hagel has supported the increased use of nuclear power, off-shore drilling, and a wider and deeper portfolio of energy resources. 2. Energy (8/14/07) He outlines 3 points about energy

	Chuck Hagel on Global Warming
	Stance: Doesn't believe that global warming is proven. Description: "We always had climate change, the issue is what is causing this. We still do not know." - Hagel. Regardless of global warming, Hagel still wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in clean technologies. Citations: 1. The Chuck Stops Here (8/7/07) An interview with Sen. Chuck Hagel, Republican from Nebraska, on his new climate bills. 2. The Unmooring of Chuck Hagel (8/7/07) It's not well-known, but Kyoto foe Hagel is still skeptical that humans are triggering global warming. "We always had climate change," he told me during a recent interview. "The issue is what is causing this. We still do not know."

	Chuck Hagel on Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp
	Stance: The detainment camp is causing us to lose our image around the world Description: Hagel has cited controversy at the prison as one reason the United States is "losing the image war around the world." Citations: 1. Guantanamo Bay to Stay Open, Cheney Says (8/15/07) and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) cited controversy at the prison as one reason the United States is "losing the image war around the world."

	Chuck Hagel on Health Care
	Stance: Review the current state of health care and present recommendations for a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system Description: Senator Hagel formed a Health Care Commission which has brought together key health care professionals and leaders from Nebraska and the nation's health care fields. The purpose of the Commission is to review the current state of health care and present recommendations for a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system for the 21st century. - Hagel's Campaign Website Citations: 1. Issues: Health Care (8/14/07) Senator Hagel formed a Health Care Commission which has brought together key health care professionals and leaders from Nebraska and the nation's health care fields. The purpose of the Commission is to review the current state of health care and present recommendations for a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system for the 21st century.

	Chuck Hagel on Immigration
	Stance: Protect our workforce, tighten border security and enforcement, and bring accountability to illegal immigrants. Description: "America cannot continue to defer making tough choices about its immigration policy. It is not in our national security interests to have 12 million undocumented individuals living inside our borders. Last year, after meeting with many Nebraska law enforcement officials, community leaders, business owners and immigration lawyers, I re-introduced a comprehensive package of immigration reform bills. My legislation will enhance America's national security, protect our workforce, and bring accountability to those living in America illegally. This month, as the Senate begins work on legislation to provide comprehensive immigration reform, I plan to be a part of that debate with my legislation." - Chuck Hagel Citations: 1. Immigration Reform (7/24/07) Talks about Hagel's immigration reform bill.

	Chuck Hagel on Iran
	Stance: Use political settlement not military Description: "Iran is a regional power; it has major influence in Iraq and throughout the Gulf region. Its support of terrorist organizations and the threat it poses to Israel is all the more reason that the U.S. must engage Iran. Any lasting solution to Iran's nuclear weapons program will also require the United States' direct discussions with Iran. The United States is capable of engaging Iran in direct dialogue without sacrificing any of its interests or objectives." - Hagel Citations: 1. Hagel: Military Strike on Iran is 'Not a Viable, Feasible, Responsible Option' (8/15/07) Hagel: Military Strike on Iran is 'Not a Viable, Feasible, Responsible Option'

	Chuck Hagel on Iraq Plan
	Stance: Begin phased troop withdrawal. Description: "The United States must begin planning for a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq. The cost of combat in Iraq in terms of American lives, dollars and world standing has been devastating. We've already spent more than $300 billion there to prosecute an almost four-year-old war and are still spending $8 billion per month." - Hagel Citations: 1. Bipartisan resolution opposes Bush plan on Iraq (7/24/07) Hagel speaking out against the war. 2. Hit by Friendly Fire (7/24/07) Talks about how angry Hagel is at Bush. 3. Leaving Iraq, Honorably (7/24/07) How to honorably leave iraq

	Chuck Hagel on Kyoto Protocol
	Stance: Opposes Kyoto Protocol Description: "One thing we should not do is jump into a treaty that would place the United Nations in charge of U.S. energy policy and devastate our economy. That is what the Kyoto Protocol would do. This is a treaty negotiated by an Administration in the face of clear Congressional intent. . . .The Administration's own Energy Information Agency has estimated that implementing the Kyoto Protocol would give us an increase in gasoline prices of over 70 cents per gallon. But unlike current price fluctuations, the Kyoto fuel price increases would be permanent and would continue to grow. High energy prices don't just effect American consumers. They would drive many American agricultural producers, manufacturing and transportation companies right out of business or out of the country. Independent economic studies placed the job losses caused by the Kyoto Protocol in the millions. And for what? The Kyoto Protocol has no hope of achieving its stated goal. How can it reduce global greenhouse gas emissions when it excludes more than 130 nations? Nations such as China, India, Mexico, South Korea---all of whom are already among the world's largest producers of man-made greenhouse gases." - Chuck Hagel Citations: 1. Moving Beyond Kyoto: A Responsible Approach to Climate Change (8/8/07) Speech to the James A. Baker Institute of Public Policy at Rice University by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel on September 7, 2000

	Chuck Hagel on Military Funding
	Stance: Increase funding to increase size of military Description: Hagel wants to increase the size of the U.S. Army and Marines. Citations: 1. Sen. Hagel: On news of US-supported attacks on Iran, war funding and his war support (8/14/07) Hagel talks about how we need to keep funding the military. 2. Issues: Military (8/14/07) Senator Hagel led the fight to increase the size of the U.S. Army and Marines. Senator Hagel sponsored legislation to increase the military death benefit and eliminate the fee charged to members of the American military to sign up for the Montgomery G.I. Bill. - Hagel's campaign site

	Chuck Hagel on Minimum Wage Increase
	Stance: Increase minimum wage to $7.25 Description: Hagel voted for a federal minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour. Citations: 1. Minimum Wage Increase (8/15/07) Hagel voted for a minimum wage increase

	Chuck Hagel on No Child Left Behind Act
	Stance: Opposes Description: Hagel has voted against No Child Left Behind in Congress. Citations: 1. No Child Let Behind Voting (7/26/07) Shows Hagel voted against No Child Left Behind.

	Chuck Hagel on Nuclear Power
	Stance: Supports nuclear power Description: Senator Hagel has supported the increased use of nuclear power as an alternate energy source. Citations: 1. Hagel on the issues - Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported the increased use of nuclear power, off-shore drilling, and a wider and deeper portfolio of energy resources. 2. Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported the increased use of nuclear power, off-shore drilling, and a wider and deeper portfolio of energy resources.

	Chuck Hagel on Social Security
	Stance: Supports raising the current full benefit retirement age, adjusting benefits to those who retire early, and optional voluntary personal accounts Description: Sen. Hagel stated, "The Social Security system is not in crisis today, but there is clearly a crisis on the horizon. . . In 2018, more money will be paid out of Social Security than comes in. In 2042, the Social Security Trust Fund will be insolvent. Beyond the next 75 years, there is only a black hole of unfunded liability for future generations." To deal with the issue, Sen. Hagel proposed a bill to reform social security. The bill would only affect those Americans who are now under the age of 45 and would only apply to retirement benefits, not survivor or disability benefits. The bill would raise the current full benefit retirement age by one year, from 67 to 68 and would maintain the current early retirement age at 62, but would adjust benefits for those who choose to retire early. Currently, workers who retire early receive 70% of their full retirement benefits. Hagel's bill would provide these early retirees with 63% of the traditional benefit. The bill would also provide the option of voluntary personal accounts. According to the bill, individuals could "opt to invest four percent of their payroll tax into a personal investment account modeled on the same accounts now offered to federal government employees (the remainder of their payroll tax contribution would continue to go into the traditional Social Security system); or they can continue to invest their entire payroll tax in the traditional Social Security system." Citations: 1. Sen. Hagel Introduces Bill To Extend Social Security Retirement to 68 (8/14/07) Article summarizing Hagel's social security reform bill. 2. Speech by Sen. Chuck Hagel (8/14/07) Speech by Sen. Chuck Hagel Detailing His Social Security Reform Plan 3. Face the Nation: March 6, 2005 (8/14/07) Transcript of Face the Nation. Sen. Chuck Hagel discusses his social security reform bill. 4. Republicans Float Ideas for Social Security (8/14/07) Article discussing Sen. Hagel's social security reform plan and compares it to two other proposed plans.

	Chuck Hagel on Stem Cell Research
	Stance: Against embryonic stem cell research Description: Senator Chuck Hagel has voted against senate bills supporting embryonic stem cell research. Citations: 1. U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 110th Congress - On Passage of the Bill (S. 5 ) (8/27/07) Senator Chuck Hagel voted no on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.

	Chuck Hagel on Tax Reform
	Stance: Supports permanent tax cuts and eliminating the estate tax Description: Hagel supported the President's tax cut initiatives in 2001 and 2003 and supports making them permanent. He also has co-sponsored legislation for 10 years that would eliminate the estate tax. Citations: 1. Issues: Taxes (8/14/07) Senator Hagel supported the President's tax cut initiatives in 2001 and 2003 and supports making them permanent. Senator Hagel has co-sponsored legislation for 10 years that would eliminate the estate tax.

	Chuck Hagel on The Patriot Act
	Stance: Supports Patriot Act Description: Voted to extend the patriot act in March, 2006 but voted against extending the patriot act's wiretap provisions in December, 2006. Citations: 1. U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S. 2271 (7/24/07) Senator Chuck Hagel voted for a bill to clarify that individuals who receive FISA orders can challenge nondisclosure requirements, that individuals who receive national security letters are not required to disclose the name of their attorney, that libraries are not wire or electronic communication service providers unless they provide specific services, and for other purposes. This means he voted to extend the patriot act on March 1, 2006. 2. U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes H.R. 3199 (7/24/07) Senator Chuck Hagel voted against a bill to extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes. This means he voted against extending wiretap provisions in the patriot act on December 16, 2005.