Words: Richardson opposes any attempt to challenge a woman’s right to choose. “I’ve been at the forefront with issues that affect women. … I have also resisted any effort to weaken a woman’s right-to-choose.”
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Words: Richardson fully supports equal rights and opportunities, as well as affirmative action. “Race is not just passing new laws. Race is not just naming solid Supreme Court justices. Race is also dealing with bigotry and racism that exists in this country. (more…)

Words: Richardson believes we need to “intervene” in energy markets as we do in food and drug markets, initiating rules and standards to keep markets competitive. He also feels we should provide tax credits for companies that pay over the prevailing wage. (more…)

Words: Richardson advocates mandatory jail time, especially for repeat offenders, and feels there should be “zero tolerance for heinous crimes”. He believes in tough sex offender laws, as well as domestic abuse, stalking, and harassment legislation. (more…)

Words: Richardson supports drug courts and treatment over prison sentences for users, but believes in mandatory jail sentences for dealers. He feels that the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes is “the right thing to do”. He advocates cracking down on illegal drug labs (more…)

Words: Richardson advocates a universal pre-kindergarten program, a minimum wage for teachers, and a ban on junk food in schools. He opposes voucher programs, believes “No Child Left Behind” should be ended and feels we should assist failing schools (more…)

Words: Richardson supports nuclear energy with reservations. He advocates “cap and trade” arrangements relating to carbon dioxide emissions and urgently developing alternative energy sources including wind and solar energy. (more…)

Words: Richardson advocates fully funding Head Start and establishing a federal Pre-K program, as well as paid family leave. He also opposes the “marriage penalty” in the tax code.
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Words: Richardson considers China a strategic competitor and feels the US has strategic interests in Russia. He advocates UN troops in Darfur and a UN-enforced no-fly zone and a re-evaluation of our embargo for post-Castro Cuba. “Foreign policy should not be just about power. (more…)

Words: Richardson believes that no one with a criminal record or a mental illness should be able to possess firearms and advocates background checks prerequisite to gun purchases. He also feels that the assault weapon ban did not work. “We have to tighten up those background checks. (more…)

Words: Richardson advocates more preventive health care without raising taxes and supports giving states the flexibility to run Medicaid programs. He feels our goals should be decreasing the number of uninsured and increasing access to affordable health care. (more…)

Words: Richardson feels that a border fence is “a horrendous example of misguided policy”. He advocates increased border patrols and better technology. He believes “human services” should be available to illegal aliens and that there should be a path to citizenship (more…)

Words: Richardson supports a reasonable minimum wage and advocates rewarding companies that pay over the prevailing wage.

Actions: Under Richardson’s tenure as governor (more…)

Words: Richardson supports civil unions with full marriage rights, sexual orientation being included in hate crime legislation, and open military service by gays and lesbians.
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Words: Richardson feels we need homeland security at both the national and state levels. He opposes the missile defense shield and feels we should lead the campaign against nuclear proliferation. He also believes that veterans should have on-demand health care anywhere. (more…)

Words: Richardson supports same-day registration and an overhaul of election standards to increase voter participation and eliminate disenfranchisement. He feels we should eliminate PAC contributions and restrict campaign spending. He also supports a line-item veto (more…)

Words: Richardson feels we should stop talking about privatization and stop raiding the Social Security trust fund. He believes that budget reform can solve the funds liquidity.
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Words: Richardson believes that stem cell research is part of preventive health care. “My health care plan [includes] research into Alzheimer’s, into cancer, into stem cell.”
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Words: Richardson supports reforming the tax code, reducing income tax overall, and believes that we should replace the Bush administration’s tax cuts with more cuts for the middle class.
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Words: Richardson believes we should “nurture and invest in science and technology”. He has proposed creating in an Energy and Climate Investment Fund and increasing the number of science and math academies. He supports allocating capital for water projects (more…)

Words: Richardson believes that reconciliation and reconstruction cannot occur in Iraq until the US withdraws - though he feels the best solution to Iraq is a federated partition - and that Congress should de-fund the war effort. He also advocates sanctions against Iran. (more…)

Words: Richardson supports a Balanced Budget Amendment. He feels we should grow our trade with Latin America. He also argues that the mortgage industry needs more transparency.
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Words: Richardson feels we should preserve and protect our national park and national forest system and expand the state park system. He feels we need to restore the Clean Water Act and revive Clean Air Standards, as well as developing a comprehensive water management plan. (more…)

Words: Richardson supports NAFTA, the GATT agreement, and the WTO but feels that we need fair trade rather than unfettered free trade and argues that trade agreements must include labor, safety, and environmental standards. (more…)

Words: Richardson advocates a strategy for fighting poverty through an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, an increase in the minimum wage, an expansion of child care, and more accessible unions.
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