Election 2014: Check out candidate survey results

Every election year, the Maryland Catholic Conference surveys the state’s democratic and republican candidates for the U.S. Congress, governor and General Assembly about their positions on issues of interest to Catholics. The candidates were asked to either “Agree” or “Disagree” with a list of issue statements listed below. A blank response to a statement means the candidate did not choose a position on that issue.  

Candidates also were given the opportunity to provide 50 word comments to each of the five survey questions. Their comments are available on the Maryland Catholic Conference website, mdcathcon.org/elections.

Only candidates who responded to the survey are included in the chart. For a complete list of candidates, visit mdcathcon.org/elections. Each candidate received the survey by email; non-responding candidates received additional copies of the survey by email at least eight times and were contacted at least once by phone.

The Maryland Catholic Conference does not endorse or oppose any candidate, under any circumstance, and no inference of endorsement or opposition should be concluded as a result of the information provided here.

Responses from all of Maryland’s candidates can be found on the Maryland Catholic Conference’s website at www.mdcathcon.org.

 

A=Agree

D=Disagree

Blank=No response

D=Democrat

R=Republican

S=Maryland Senate

HD=House of Delegates

 Survey Questions of Candidates for United States Congress

 Candidates also were given the opportunity to provide 50 word comments to each of the five survey questions. Their comments are available on the Maryland Catholic Conference website, www.mdcathcon.org/elections.

 

1. LATE-TERM ABORTION. Congress should pass legislation that prohibits late-term abortions except to protect a woman from death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment.

2. CONSCIENCE PROTECTIONS. Congress should pass legislation that ensures protections for religious and moral beliefs in the provision or purchase of health coverage.

3. NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act should continue the longstanding policy of providing educational benefits to students and teachers in private and religious schools on a basis equitable to those received by public school students and teachers.

4. IMMIGRATION. Congress should pass comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform providing a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the U.S., while preserving family unity and restoring due process protections to enforcement policies.

5. POVERTY. Congress should reduce future unsustainable deficits in a manner that protects poor and vulnerable people by adequately funding programs that address hunger and joblessness, and that help people rise above poverty.

Candidates also were given the opportunity to provide 50 word comments to each of the five survey questions. Their comments are available on the Maryland Catholic Conference website, www.mdcathcon.org/elections.

 1. LATE-TERM ABORTION. Current Maryland law allows abortions to be performed after fetal viability in the case of fetal abnormalities, or to protect the life or health of the mother, including mental health. Maryland law should be changed to allow late-term abortions only to protect a woman from death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment.

 

2. PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE. Maryland should maintain its current law prohibiting physician-assisted suicide.

3. TAX CREDITS FOR EDUCATION. Maryland should enact a state income tax credit for businesses that donate to nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance to public and nonpublic school students for educational expenses.

 

4. IMMIGRATION. Maryland should not pass laws restricting the ability of undocumented immigrants to access basic necessities, such as food, shelter, driving privileges, healthcare, and education.

 

5. ASSISTANCE FOR THE POOR. Funding in Maryland’s budget to provide necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare to low-income residents of the state should be maintained at current levels, or increased where possible to accommodate increasing demand for basic services.

 

Vote Nov. 4 in the general election. Early voting centers will be open starting Thursday October 23 through Thursday October 30. Visit elections.state.md.us/voting/early_voting.html for locations.

Redistricting for the General Assembly takes effect this 2014 election. You may see some change in the legislators who are running for office in your district, since some incumbent legislators may be representing districts with newly-drawn geographical borders. To see if you are in a new district, find your current legislators, or see your Congressional districts, go to the Maryland Catholic Conference website mdcathcon.org/FindYourLegislator.