Tom Tancredo Last Update: 10/8/07 Biography

republican Party Tom Tancredo 2008 Candidate for President of the United States of America Campaign Website | Candidate Forum

			Issues

(Select An Issue to Jump Directly) Abortion Darfur Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Energy Plan Free Trade Global Warming Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp Gun Control Health Care Immigration Iran Iraq Plan Kyoto Protocol Medical Marijuana National Deficit Net Neutrality Nuclear Power Same-Sex Marriage School Vouchers Social Security Stem Cell Research Tax Reform The Military Commissions Act of 2006 The Patriot Act Top Contributors & Amounts Unemployment Welfare

	Tom Tancredo on Abortion
	Stance: Pro-Life Description: "The innocent unborn enjoy a God given right to life. Roe is a scar on the moral and intellectual history of the country; but, contrary to popular belief, overturning it would merely permit and not require states to prohibit abortion. To protect life, we also need to educate the public about the second victim of abortion, the mother who is subject to potential life long medical and emotional scarring." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Preserving Life (7/26/07) A summary of Tancredo's feelings on Abortion

	Tom Tancredo on Darfur
	Stance: Increase U.S. involvement in Darfur to end the genocide Description: Tancredo says that one of his proudest accomplishments is his work to end genocide in Sudan. He has worked with allies from both parties to raise awareness and to cosponsor legislation aimed at ending genocide in the Darfur region. Tancredo, who has been called a "congressional champion" for the region, first became an advocate for Darfur years ago when he saw a presentation at his church. Citations: 1. 10 Things You Didn't Know About Tom Tancredo (9/24/07) 8. Tancredo says that one of his proudest accomplishments is his work to end genocide in Sudan. He has worked with allies from both parties to raise awareness and to cosponsor legislation aimed at ending genocide in the Darfur region. Tancredo, who has been called a "congressional champion" for the region, first became an advocate for Darfur years ago when he saw a presentation at his church.

	Tom Tancredo on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
	Stance: Supports Description: Tancredo supports drilling in ANWR because he says it will help achieve energy independence. Citations: 1. Rep. Tancredo on Global Warming &Energy - Littleton, NH (8/8/07) Tancredo says he supports drilling in Alaska

	Tom Tancredo on Energy Plan
	Stance: Become energy independent Description: Tom Tancredo feels we need to become energy independent as soon as possible. He supports nuclear power, biofuels, and drilling in Alaska and the continental shelf. Citations: 1. Rep. Tancredo on Global Warming and Energy - Littleton, NH (8/8/07) Tom lays out his energy plan.

	Tom Tancredo on Free Trade
	Stance: Opposes Description: Tancredo is a free trade skeptic, largely because of its potential effect on immigration to the United States. He was an outspoken opponent of CAFTA, which he said is "more than a just trade agreement about sugar and bananas; it is a thinly disguised immigration accord." He was opposed to the creation of free trade agreement's with Oman, Chile, and Singapore. Tancredo voted in favor of the 2005 House resolution proposing U.S. withdrawal from the WTO, as well as a similar 2000 resolution. Citations: 1. Republican Candidates on Trade (7/27/07) Tom Tancredo = Free Trade skeptic

	Tom Tancredo on Global Warming
	Stance: Supports the reduction of carbon emissions regardless of the cause of global warming. Description: Congressman Tom Tancredo is not sure whether global warming is a natural or a human induced phenomenon. Regardless he supports reducing the U.S.'s reliance on petroleum products to reduce carbon emissions that could potential contribute to global warming. Citations: 1. Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/4/07) "Okay. First of all, the whole issue of global warming, for every single scientist that tells you it's happening and that it's our fault -- and they'll stack up to here in this reports -- I can stack up another group of reports that say just the opposite."

	Tom Tancredo on Guantanamo Bay Detainment Camp
	Stance: Keep Guantanamo open Description: Tancredo is in favor of keeping Guantanamo open. Citations:

	Tom Tancredo on Gun Control
	Stance: Opposes Gun Control Description: "I fully and completely support the right of the people to keep and bear arms. " - Tom Tancredo Tom Tancredo has voted yes on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers and prohibiting suing gun makers & sellers for gun misuse. He has also voted to decrease gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. Tancredo was given a B by the NRA for his support of guns. Citations: 1. Gun Control (7/26/07) How Tancredo feels about the right to bear arms. 2. Gun Control (7/26/07) How Tancredo feels about the right to bear arms.

	Tom Tancredo on Health Care
	Stance: Cut the cost using association health plans and possibly federal incentives and subsidies. Description: "The two major problems are the high cost of care and the number of uninsured. Tort reform and immigration enforcement would save the system billions and drive down costs. As for the uninsured: as many as 25% of them are illegal aliens and should be deported or encouraged to leave. For citizens and legal residents who are employed by businesses which cannot afford coverage, I favor association health plans which band small businesses together to access lower cost insurance. For those out of work, state governments should be the primary source of relief, although I would not rule out federal incentives or limited subsidies to make sure families who have fallen on hard times are not without coverage. " - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Republican Debate Transcript, Des Moines, Iowa, August 5, 2007 (8/7/07) "Let me suggest -- let me suggest we think about something in the area of health care that perhaps is unique, different and scary to some people, but that is this: The government -- it's not the responsibility of the federal government to provide womb-to- tomb health care for America. And so, we constantly debate on exactly what way we want to push government control of this issue, but in every way we're doing it, it's unhealthy. It is unhealthy to have a government health-care plan in America. There are some things we can do, absolutely. The expansion of health savings accounts that increases individual responsibly. The allowing for people to actually take -- the reimportation of prescription drugs. And not only that, but let's do something about the 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens in this country that are taking a large part of our health-care dollars." 2. Healthcare (7/26/07) How Tom Tancredo will decrease the cost of healthcare.

	Tom Tancredo on Immigration
	Stance: Opposes amnesty, supports securing borders and eliminating benefits and jobs for illegal immigrants. Description: "Illegal aliens threaten our economy and undermine our culture. While our brave soldiers risk their lives to protect us overseas, our political elites lack the courage to defend us at home. I am 100% opposed to amnesty. As President, I will secure our borders so illegal aliens do not come, and I will eliminate benefits and job prospects so they do not stay." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Republican Presidential Debate, June 5, 2007 (8/5/07) "[If the immigration reform compromise passes, the consequences for the country] are incredible, and they are disastrous. And that is exactly why I have said what I've said, and that is why I have consistently tried to impress upon the American public the seriousness of this issue. We're not just talking about the number of jobs that we may be losing or the number of kids that are in our schools and impacting our school system or the number of people that are abusing our hospital system and taking advantage of the welfare system in this country. We're not just talking about that. We're talking about something that goes to the very heart of this nation: whether or not we will actually survive as a nation. And here's what I mean by that. What we're doing here in this immigration battle is testing our willingness to actually hold together as a nation or split apart into a lot of balkanized pieces. We are testing our willingness to actually hold on to something called the English language, something that is the glue that is supposed to hold us together as a nation. We are becoming a bilingual nation. And that is not good. And that is the fearful part of this. The ramifications are much, much more significant than any that we've been discussing so far. And so, yes, I have said dramatic things. And, yes, I am willing to do whatever is necessary to try to stop this piece of legislation. And that includes go after any Republican that votes for it, because the Republicans can stop this." 2. Immigration Reform (7/25/07) Tancredo speaks to congress about immigration reform. 3. Immigration Issue Yanked Off GOP Agenda (7/25/07) Tancredo is upset at the way the GOP is handling immigration 4. Tom Tancredo - Immigration and "Cultural Assimilation" (7/25/07) Tancredo talks about the need for assimilation 5. Tom stands for America (7/25/07) A quote summarizing his stance on immigration. 6. Tancredo says, "Stop All Legal Immigration" (7/24/07) Tancredo talks about how we need to stop immigration until we have united. 7. A Border War (7/24/07) Tancredo talks about how bad it is to do nothing about immigration. 8. Tancredo Accused of Hiring Illegal Workers (7/24/07) Illegal immigrants did work on Tancredo's house. 9. Tom Tancredo - Tancredo on the Border Fence (10/25/07) The fence itself won't stop people, but it will work combined with other methods of security. 10. Tom Tancredo Speaks at CPAC 2007 (Part 1) (10/22/07) (Part 1 of 3) Tom Tancredo's speech at the American Conservative Union's 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). 11. Tom Tancredo Speaks at CPAC 2007 (Part 2) (10/22/07) (Part 2 of 3) Tom Tancredo's speech at the American Conservative Union's 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). 12. Tom Tancredo Speaks at CPAC 2007 (Part 3) (10/22/07) (Part 3 of 3) Tom Tancredo's speech at the American Conservative Union's 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

	Tom Tancredo on Iran
	Stance: Support a militant anti-Iran group (MEK) Description: Tancredo has repeatedly said that the United States should support the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK), a prominent militant anti-Iran group based in Iraq that the State Department deems a terrorist organization. Tancredo says "I'd like them to be a little thorn in the side of the government of Iran." In 2005, Tancredo formed the Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus in the House with Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) to discuss possible routes for U.S. policy toward Iran. Citations: 1. Iranian Opposition Group Blows Nuclear Whistle, Receives Terrorist Designation (8/13/07) Since early 2001, the MEK has kept a low profile and has refrained from attacking Iran. To be on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations, the group must have carried out attacks within the past two years. But after receiving no evidence from the State Department that the group has done so, "we came to the conclusion that although there was certainly a spotty record in the past for them, there is nothing at the present time - except for their opposition to the present regime in Iran - that can explain their being listed" as a terrorist group, Tancredo said.

	Tom Tancredo on Iraq Plan
	Stance: Eventual Withdrawal Description: Tancredo opposes the troop surge and calls for disengagement to "let regional powers and Iraqi factions cooperate to forge a new balance of power" by November 2007. Tancredo cosponsored the 2002 House resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. During an exchange between Giuliani and Paul at the May 2007 Republican debate over whether U.S. foreign policy in Iraq might have caused 9/11, Tancredo interjected to say "they would be trying to kill us [even if we were not in Iraq], because it is a dictate of their religion, at least a part of it. And we have to defend ourselves." Citations: 1. Iraq Troop Surge Debate (7/24/07) Tom speaks to the house about Iraq. 2. The Candidates on Iraq (7/24/07) A summary of his stance. 3. Tancredo on Iraq (7/24/07) An interview with Tancredo on Iraq

	Tom Tancredo on Kyoto Protocol
	Stance: Opposes Kyoto Protocol Description: In 2000, Tom Tancredo voted against implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Citations: 1. Tom Tancredo (8/8/07) Review of Tom Tancredo's record on environmental issues.

	Tom Tancredo on Medical Marijuana
	Stance: End federal raids Description: Tancredo has consistently voted in favor of legislation to end the DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients. Citations: 1. Tom Tancredo on Medical Marijuana (7/23/07) Tancredo on medical marijuana 2. Federalism up in Smoke (7/23/07) Talks about how Tancredo voted against DEA raids.

	Tom Tancredo on National Deficit
	Stance: Reform the Welfare State by fixing mandatory spending programs Description: "The federal government is in debt because it spends too much, not because it taxes people too little. Government spending is classified as either discretionary or mandatory. Discretionary spending includes funds for things like the military and is explicitly set by Congress on an annual basis. But the major culprit in ballooning budgets is mandatory spending for entitlement programs like medicare, expenditures which are determined by the number of beneficiaries. The only way to control the budget is to reform the entitlement programs that mandatory spending funds. Those decisions on how to allocate resources are as economically necessary as they are politically and ethically difficult." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. 2008 DMR/ IPTV IA Republican Debate (Part 2) (12/20/07) Follow the minimalist constitution to save money and don't ask the government from "womb to tomb" protection. 2. Budget (10/8/07) The federal government is in debt because it spends too much, not because it taxes people too little.

	Tom Tancredo on Net Neutrality
	Stance: Opposes Description: Tancredo has voted against net neutrality. Citations: 1. Final Vote Results for Roll Call 239 (8/13/07) Tancredo's vote - a nay

	Tom Tancredo on Nuclear Power
	Stance: Supports nuclear power Description: Tancredo supports nuclear power as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Tancredo also feels that nuclear power is now safer and the waste is easier to store. Citations: 1. Rep. Tancredo on Global Warming & Energy - Littleton, NH (8/10/07) Tancredo and his energy plan.

	Tom Tancredo on Same-Sex Marriage
	Stance: Opposes Description: "Federalism concerns make a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage an avenue of last resort, Unfortunately, intellectually dishonest activist judges have left us no choice. Activist courts have ignored the principal legal argument that the state's interest in marriage is procreation. Population is power. Society needs a young generation to defend the country in battle, to support its programs with taxes and to carry on its culture and traditions. The mere fact that two people are in a loving relationship does not matter to the state. Society supports traditional marriage because it is the only union which, in the ordinary course, leads to children, without the intervention of a third party." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Gay Marriage (7/26/07) His statement about the states stake in gay marriage.

	Tom Tancredo on School Vouchers
	Stance: Supports Description: "Many government schools, as an enterprise, failed long ago; but because the resources flowing into them are not influenced by the degree to which they are unsuccessful, they cannot go out of business." "We need to change the system. We can do it with choice, the kind of choice that allows parents and students to pick from the widest possible variety of educational opportunities, both public and private. The best way of providing that choice is with education vouchers." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Education Vouchers: America Cant Afford To Wait (10/3/07) By Tom Tancredo 2. Education (10/3/07) He loves those vouchers.

	Tom Tancredo on Social Security
	Stance: Supports partial privatization Description: "The best suggestion I have heard is to switch from a defined benefits approach to a defined contribution approach with payroll tax funded private investment accounts. These accounts would be made available to young workers and function similarly to 401Ks." - Tom Tancredo Citations: 1. Social Security (10/3/07) Tom wants partial privatization.

	Tom Tancredo on Stem Cell Research
	Stance: Against Stem Cell Research Description: Representative Tom Tancredo does not support federal funding of stem cell research. Citations: 1. California Republican debate transcript (7/24/07) "There are billions of dollars going into this research right now. It does not require me taking money from federal -- from taxpayers in the United States to fund it... because it is morally, I think, reprehensible in certain ways." 2. Final Vote Results for Roll Call 20 (7/24/07) Representative Tom Tancredo votes against expanding research in embryonic stem cell research. 3. Final Vote Results For Roll Call 204 (7/24/07) Representative Tom Tancredo votes against federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

	Tom Tancredo on Tax Reform
	Stance: Supports fair tax Description: Representative Tom Tancredo supports the fair tax. He also supports repealing the 16th Amendment to prevent a dual consumption tax and income tax. Citations: 1. Republican Debate Transcript, Simi Valley California, May 3, 2007 (8/6/07) "For all the reasons mentioned by some of my colleagues, I absolutely support the fair tax. It has to be accompanied, however, with the repeal of the 16th Amendment or we'd end up with a consumption tax and an income tax. And all this talk about vetoing spending bills and how that's going to solve our problem -- let me tell you, my friends, you can veto all the spending bills you want. You will not touch the deficit until you actually deal with the structural problem in mandatory spending. That's where all the money is. You can veto every one of the bills that come to you as discretionary funding, including the military, if you want."

	Tom Tancredo on The Military Commissions Act of 2006
	Stance: Supports Description: Tancredo voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Citations:

	Tom Tancredo on The Patriot Act
	Stance: Supports Patriot Act Description: Tom Tancredo has voted to extend the patriot act. Citations: 1. Final Vote Results for Roll Call 627 (7/24/07) Tom Tancredo votes to extend the patriot act.

	Tom Tancredo on Top Contributors & Amounts
	Stance: Individual contributions - $2,700,756 (96%); PAC contributions - $75,500 (3%); Candidate self-financing - $75 (0%); Federal Funds - $0 (0%); Other - $31,548 (1%) Description: Individual contributions - $2,700,756 (96%) PAC contributions - $75,500 (3%) Candidate self-financing - $75 (0%) Federal Funds - $0 (0%) Other - $31,548 (1%) Figures provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. Citations: 1. Tom Tancredo Fundraising (8/13/07) Where he gets his money and how much. 2. Tom Tancredo's Campaign Finances (8/13/07) A map and time line of this finances.

	Tom Tancredo on Unemployment
	Stance: Tax Reform, balancing the budget, and Trade Reform will increase business and increase jobs Description: Tancredo wants to do away with the IRS and complex tax codes, remove the President's fast track authority, and balance the budget by cutting a lot of the discretionary funding. All of these things support the creation of jobs by increasing wealth and giving incentives for companies to expand. Citations: 1. Tom stands for America (9/5/07) A bunch of summaries about where he stands on various issues.