Tom Steyer

Democrat

Email Candidate

Candidate Website

CAMPAIGN AND FUNDRAISING SUMMARY

POSITION ON ISSUES

These issue positions are derived from the annual Citizens Count issue surveys or candidate websites, social media posts, media interviews, voting records, and other sources.

Crime and Public Safety

Should the federal government ban certain "military-style" firearms, such as the AR-15?

FOR | Read My Position

"Ban high risk weapons including assault weapons, device modifications, high capacity ammunition magazines, and strengthen laws on untraceable firearms, including ghost guns, 3D printed guns, and home manufactured guns"

Source: Candidate's Website 2019 https://www.tomsteyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/190930_TS2020_GunReformPoli…

Should the government legalize marijuana at the federal level?

FOR | Read My Position

"I’m for legalizing marijuana. I’m from California, we also have legalized marijuana."

Source: 2019 https://www.marijuanamoment.net/presidential-candidate-says-prohibition-prevents…

Do you support Pres. Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement?

AGAINST | Read My Position

After President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement, Steyer posted on Facebook: "Mr. Trump keeps promising 'better deals.' These promises are as real as the promise to disclose his taxes. He has no Plan B."

Source: Candidate's Facebook Page 2018

Should the federal government expand background checks for firearms sales?

FOR | Read My Position

"Politics in Washington aren’t working. Congress won’t take the most basic steps, such as requiring background checks on every gun sale in America, to reduce the death toll from guns."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2018

Economy, Budget and Taxes

Do you generally support higher tariffs on imports from countries such as China, where we have a large trade deficit?

AGAINST | Read My Position

"Mr. Trump can't spell 'strategy.' All he can do is theater and bluster. Now he's dragging us even further into a trade war with China and just like his business deals of the past, someone else is footing the bill. American farmers should not be collateral damage."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2019

Should the federal government raise the minimum wage?

FOR | Read My Position

"At a time when economic inequality has spiraled out of control, raising the minimum wage to $15 represents an important first step to restore balance, advance economic justice, and ensure all Californians benefit from our state's prosperity."

Source: Candidate's Facebook Page 2016

Should higher income brackets pay more in federal taxes than they currently do?

FOR | Read My Position

"I will enact policies that ensure that all corporations and all income classes will pay their fair share. I will repeal the Trump tax cuts and institute a wealth tax — 1% on those whose net worth is above $32 million — that will generate over $1 trillion for healthcare, education, environmental, and criminal justice programs. It will not continue to provide favorable treatment to the rich and powerful at the expense of low-income and middle-class Americans, nor will it starve the government of the resources needed to deliver services."

Source: Candidate's Website 2019 https://www.tomsteyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/191003_TS2020_PeopleOverPro…

Should the federal government increase funding for transportation infrastructure, such as road repair and highway expansion?

FOR | Read My Position

"Investing in U.S. energy, water, & transportation infrastructure is crucial."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2016

Education

Should the federal government provide free tuition at public colleges and universities?

FOR | Read My Position

"I support providing two-years of free tuition to community colleges. Every American should have the right to a free, quality, public education from universal pre-kindergarten through higher education, including workforce and technical training."

Source: 2019 https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/11/07/democratic-presid…

Should the federal government allow student loan payments to be reduced based on income?

OTHER | Read My Position

"Tom will tackle the student debt crisis head-on by forgiving certain types of student loan debt, reforming the public service student loan forgiveness program, making the refinancing of student loans easier, cracking down on predatory student loan servicers, and expanding access to educational benefits through his New National Public Service Plan."

Source: Candidate's Website 2019

Energy and Environment

Do you agree with President Trump on withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement?

AGAINST | Read My Position

"By pulling out of the Paris Agreement, Donald Trump is betraying America's moral, political, and economic leadership position."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2017

Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by providing subsidies for energy efficiency?

FOR | Read My Position

"I am honored to join a coalition of 19 foundations and philanthropic donors to support a new $53 million fund to help expand energy efficiency efforts in developing nations. These efforts, which could potentially double the climate benefits compared to reducing HFCs alone, are necessary to reduce greenhouse gases, address the climate crisis, and strengthen the global framework needed for business to accelerate our transition to clean energy."

Source: Other 2016 https://medium.com/@Tom_Steyer/progress-after-paris-the-next-global-step-to-tack…

Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by providing subsidies for renewable energy?

FOR | Read My Position

As the founder of the political advocacy group NextGen Climate (now NextGen America), Steyer has advocated for many policies aimed at fighting climate change, including various renewable energy investments. For example, in 2015 he wrote, "Today President Obama took an important step by committing the country to using 20% renewable energy by 2030. But we must still do more."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2015

Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by taxing carbon emissions?

FOR | Read My Position

Steyer shared a link on Facebook to an article about state leaders supporting carbon taxes, and wrote, "Leadership from the states. Forward-thinking governors. A better vision for America. Fantastic!"

Source: Candidate's Facebook Page 2017

Health Care

Should the federal government ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

AGAINST | Read My Position

"Republicans have launched an outrageous assault on reproductive rights. Abortion is healthcare. The draconian anti-choice bills in GA, AL, and OH seize power on behalf of a centralized group of legislators. Unacceptable."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2019

Should the federal government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?

FOR | Read My Position

"Proud to stand with Planned Parenthood, now and always."

Source: Candidate's Facebook Page 2016

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by giving states a fixed block grant for Medicaid?

AGAINST | Read My Position

Steyer opposed the American Health Care Act, which would have eased essential health benefit requirements and created a block grant system for Medicaid. For example, in May 2017 he wrote, "The AHCA is a huge tax cut for the richest Americans paid for by throwing everyone else’s healthcare under the bus."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2017

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by eliminating the "essential health benefits" insurance plans must cover?

AGAINST | Read My Position

Should the federal government pass a law guaranteeing the right to an abortion as decided in Roe v. Wade?

FOR | Read My Position

"An entire #DemDebate passed with ZERO questions about reproductive health, abortion rights, or gender equality.

"The right to choose has been under sustained, strategic attack. We cannot take away the basic right to bodily autonomy. As president, I vow to protect Roe v. Wade."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2019

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by automatically enrolling every citizen in Medicare, replacing most private insurance?

AGAINST | Read My Position

"Tom also firmly believes in consumers’ right to shop for the plan of their choice. Tom proposes that his public option be offered side-by-side with private plans on the open exchanges, allowing any individual to purchase a plan on the exchanges if it fits their needs better than their current employer option."

Source: Candidate's Website 2019

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by allowing citizens to opt into Medicare if they so choose?

OTHER | Read My Position

"To give Americans a real choice, Tom supports the creation of a public option. Every American should have the ability to choose the plan that best suits their health care needs. But choice is only meaningful if there are good options available. Tom’s public option will compete aggressively with the insurance companies to drive down costs, expand coverage, and deliver quality health care. ... Tom’s public option will be administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which charges a far lower overhead than private insurers, but be fiscally separate from Medicare and Medicaid. It will enable the government to negotiate health care costs directly with medical groups and providers, just like Medicare does today."

Source: Candidate's Website 2019

Recreation and Transportation

Should the federal government increase funding for transportation infrastructure, such as road repair and highway expansion?

FOR | Read My Position

"Investing in U.S. energy, water, & transportation infrastructure is crucial."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2016

Social Issues

Should the U.S. build a physical wall between Mexico and the U.S.?

AGAINST | Read My Position

"A failed real estate developer is fixated on his worst idea ever for construction: A huge, useless wall. This is worse than his bankrupt casinos!"

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2019

Should Congress create a path to citizenship for illegal/undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children?

FOR | Read My Position

"Ending #DACA: unjust, short-sighted, and just plain dumb-ass wrong. Americans stand with the Dreamers."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2017

Should the federal government ban abortion after 20 weeks gestation, with exceptions for cases of rape/incest and health complications?

AGAINST | Read My Position

Should the federal government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?

FOR | Read My Position

"Proud to stand with Planned Parenthood, now and always."

Source: Candidate's Facebook Page 2016

Should the U.S. make illegal border crossings a civil rather than criminal offense?

FOR | Read My Position

"'I support decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings. These matters are better handled through civil proceedings,' Steyer told The Post."

Source: 2019 https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/policy-2020/immigration/crimina…

Should the federal government provide more funding to states to fight opioid addiction?

FOR | Read My Position

"The #TrumpTaxScam gave 4 pharma companies—Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer, Merck, Abbott Labs—$7 BILLION in tax breaks this year.

"That $$$ could have nearly DOUBLED our efforts to end the opioid crisis and save tens of millions of American lives. Instead, it's lining corporate pockets."

Source: Candidate's Twitter Feed 2019

VOTING RECORD

This candidate did not hold office as a legislator in the most recent session, and therefore does not have a voting record available.

COMMENTS

John Tellefson
- Salina

Hello, Mr. Steyer. I've been

Sat, 11/23/2019 - 4:56pm

Hello, Mr. Steyer. I've been a Paul Krugman fan for years, and hope that you have similar views on economics and business. To add one thing to the above questions and answers, I'd like to see a much stronger war on meth trafficking, such as involving the Mexican govt and US military in destroying meth producers and traffickers. It's caused a lot of ruined lives, a lot of petty crime and some violent crime in my state and many other states, and adds greatly to the corruption within Mexico. I support relaxing rather than tightening the borders with Mexico and Canada, doing away with Trump's border nonsense, and enlisting Mexican help with a real war on drugs. I'd happily support "foreign aid" to fight corruption in Mexico, and happily support the US military bombing the crap out of drug traffickers wherever they are found. I support this rather than the wimpy law enforcement route to ending drug trafficking.

Scott Whisnant
- Live Oak

We can't fix a democratic

Fri, 11/15/2019 - 6:39pm

We can't fix a democratic Government since we are not a Democratic Government we are a Republic Government with Democratic values. Unless you haven't recited the pledge of allegiance lately it still states "to the republic for which it stands" which is a Government of the people for the people by the people. So as we are still a Republic should we still value the winner of the presidency from the electoral college vote or the popular vote? Which brings me to my next question if it's now the popular vote then was the electoral college vote wrong since John Adams?

Jonathan Meyer
- Dover

AMEN!

Fri, 12/06/2019 - 8:54am

AMEN!

Tom Steyer

Background

CAMPAIGN AND FUNDRAISING SUMMARY

POSITION ON ISSUES

Crime and Public Safety

Economy, Budget and Taxes

Education

Energy and Environment

Health Care

Recreation and Transportation

Social Issues

VOTING RECORD

LEAVE A COMMENT

COMMENTS

Tom Steyer

Background

CAMPAIGN AND FUNDRAISING SUMMARY

POSITION ON ISSUES

Crime and Public Safety

Economy, Budget and Taxes

Education

Energy and Environment

Health Care

Recreation and Transportation

Social Issues

VOTING RECORD

LEAVE A COMMENT

COMMENTS

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