Hagel on the issues - PRO-LIFE AND CONSERVATIVE JUDGES

Today I pick up where we left of a week ago on Chuck Hagel's positions on a variety of issues. The information comes from his website.

PRO-LIFE AND CONSERVATIVE JUDGES

• 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.

"Hagel Announces Lincoln Couple as Adoption Angels"

Here is a press release from Chuck Hagel's Senate office:

Hagel Announces Lincoln Couple as Adoption Angels

September 20th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced today that Lance and Amy McCord of Lincoln, Nebraska are recipients of the 2006 Angels in Adoption award. Every year, the Angels in Adoption program allows members of Congress to recognize and honor those who have been involved in adoption. Hagel recommended the McCords to be the Nebraska recipients for 2006.

“Adoption is an amazing gift of love. The McCord family has opened their home and hearts to children in need of a loving family and has shown others across the country the importance of adoption. The Angels in Adoption award allows Congress to recognize those who are ‘real-life angels.’ The McCords are ‘real-life angels’,” Hagel said.

The McCords have adopted their three children, Wesley, Anna and Jackson. The McCords have also provided “cradle care” for 16 newborns ranging in age from a week to a month old while adoption proceedings were pending. Lance worked at The People’s City Mission in Lincoln for 14 years and is now serving as a Nebraska Corrections Officer at the Lincoln Correction Center. Amy is the Activities Director at the Clark Jeary Retirement Center in Lincoln and previously served as the “Adoption Specialist” for the Lincoln Crisis Pregnancy Center.

“We are humbled and honored to be recognized among many others who have given of themselves in foster care and adoption. Every child deserves a loving family and if we can help that happen we are blessed. We are very thankful for the privilege of having children through adoption,” the McCords said.

The eighth annual congressional Angels in Adoption awards ceremony is being held today in Washington, D.C.

Chuck Hagel - Social Conservative (part 2)

Today we continue with the topic from yesterday, Chuck Hagel's social conservative credentials. Yesterday we looked at interest group ratings based on his voting record. Today we will look at two of his statements that went with recent votes on social conservative issues.

Here is one statement from July:

Senate Passes Child Custody Protection Act

July 26th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed The Child Custody Protection Act (S.403) by a vote of 65 to 34. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) was an original cosponsor of the bill.

This legislation makes it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion if the purpose is to circumvent a state parental notification or parental consent law. Nebraska requires a parent to be notified before a minor has an abortion. A majority of states have laws that require a parent to give consent or be notified before a teenage girl can obtain an abortion.

“State parental notification and consent laws have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. These responsible state laws should not be circumvented by those who would take a young girl across state lines for an abortion. It is in the interest of a young pregnant daughter to have parental involvement in their medical decisions. This legislation reaffirms states’ authority to enact and enforce their own laws regarding abortions,” Hagel said.

Senator Hagel took the more socially conservative (and somewhat controversial stance) on the stem cell legislation this summer.

July 18th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) released the following statement today regarding his vote against allowing federal funding to be used for expanded stem cell research:

“Whether to federally fund research on embryonic stem cells is a very complex issue with significant long term consequences. Moral, religious, ethical, scientific and health considerations all come together on the embryonic stem cell research question.

“I do not support using taxpayer dollars for the destruction of human embryos. That is the reason I voted against legislation today to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. I did vote to support promising research on adult stem cells and on ways to harvest stem cell lines without destroying human embryos. In 2001, I supported the decision President Bush made to allow federally funded stem cell research to proceed only under strict guidelines which will not result in the destruction of any additional human embryos.

“I will support President Bush’s veto of this legislation,” Hagel said.

Clearly, Chuck Hagel is a solid social conservative.
Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Social Conservative, Voting Record

Chuck Hagel - Social Conservative (part 1)

As long as I'm back on series of posts from last month, I'll add another couple of posts to the series of Chuck Hagel the conservative. While Chuck Hagel's focus has never been social conservative issues, his voting record is clearly that of a social conservative.

Here are some interest group ratings based upon his voting record to give you a sense of what his voting record looks like.

Christian Coalition
1999-2000 - 100%
2001 - 60%
2003 - 100%
2004 - 100%

American Conservative Union
2000 - 88%
2001 - 84%
2002 - 95%
2003 - 100%
2004 - 87%

You can check out these two and more at this earlier post. His rating on abortion issues is solid:

Rating by NARAL Pro-Choice
2000 - 0%
2001 - 0%
2002 - 0%
2003 - 0%
2004 - 0%
2005 - 0%

Rating by National Right to Life Committee
1999-2000 - 100%
2001-2002 - 100%
2003-2004 - 82%

Here are Senator Hagel's ratings by family issues interest groups:

Family Research Council
2000 - 100%
2003 - 100%
2004 - 83%

American Family Association
2003 - 100%
2004 - 100%

You can find the previous in this series here, here, and here.

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Social Conservative, Voting Record

"Senate Passes Child Custody Protection Act"

Senator Hagel's office issued this press release yesterday:

Senate Passes Child Custody Protection Act

July 26th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed The Child Custody Protection Act (S.403) by a vote of 65 to 34. U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) was an original cosponsor of the bill.

This legislation makes it a crime to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion if the purpose is to circumvent a state parental notification or parental consent law. Nebraska requires a parent to be notified before a minor has an abortion. A majority of states have laws that require a parent to give consent or be notified before a teenage girl can obtain an abortion.

“State parental notification and consent laws have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. These responsible state laws should not be circumvented by those who would take a young girl across state lines for an abortion. It is in the interest of a young pregnant daughter to have parental involvement in their medical decisions. This legislation reaffirms states’ authority to enact and enforce their own laws regarding abortions,” Hagel said.

This piece of legislation is one that has been applauded by right to life organizations.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Child Custody Protection Act, Pro Life

"Hagel Statement on Vote Against Using Taxpayer Funds to Destroy Human Embryos"

The following is a press release from Senator Hagel's office issued yesterday.

July 18th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) released the following statement today regarding his vote against allowing federal funding to be used for expanded stem cell research:

“Whether to federally fund research on embryonic stem cells is a very complex issue with significant long term consequences. Moral, religious, ethical, scientific and health considerations all come together on the embryonic stem cell research question.

“I do not support using taxpayer dollars for the destruction of human embryos. That is the reason I voted against legislation today to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. I did vote to support promising research on adult stem cells and on ways to harvest stem cell lines without destroying human embryos. In 2001, I supported the decision President Bush made to allow federally funded stem cell research to proceed only under strict guidelines which will not result in the destruction of any additional human embryos.

“I will support President Bush’s veto of this legislation,” Hagel said.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Stem Cell Research, Embryos

Hagel Press Release on Court Ruling

Senator Hagel's office issued this press release on Friday in response to the 8th circuit court upholding Nebraska's ban on gay marriage.

Hagel Applauds Federal Appeals Court Ruling Reinstating Nebraska’s Constitutional Provision Banning Same-Sex Marriage

July 14th, 2006 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) released the following statement this afternoon in support of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit’s ruling which reinstated Nebraska’s constitutional provision banning same-sex marriage:

“The federal appeals court has reinstated Nebraska’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, re-affirmed the right of Nebraskans to determine their own laws governing marriage, and has found there is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage. I support Nebraska’s constitutional provision and I support this long-awaited and common-sense decision by the 8th Circuit. States have always had jurisdiction over marriage laws. Today’s ruling should not come as a surprise. Every other ruling by state appeals courts or federal courts on this issue has upheld the authority of states to define their own definition of marriage,” Hagel said.

Technorati tags: Senator Chuck Hagel, Gay Marriage, Nebraksa

Interest Group Ratings - Family Issues

Here are Senator Hagel's ratings by family issues interest groups.

Family Research Council
2000 - 100%
2003 - 100%
2004 - 83%

American Family Association
2003 - 100%
2004 - 100%

From Project Vote Smart
Technorati tags: Sen. Chuck Hagel, Family, Voting Record, Issues

Interest Group Ratings - Abortion

Over the next few weeks we will be posting Senator Hagel's ratings by various interest groups. These are based on his voting record in Congress and can give us a sense of where he stands on issues given how he has voted in the past.

Year - Rating by NARAL Pro-Choice
2000 - 0%
2001 - 0%
2002 - 0%
2003 - 0%
2004 - 0%
2005 - 0%

Years - Rating by National Right to Life Committee
1999-2000 - 100%
2001-2002 - 100%
2003-2004 - 82%

As you can see, Chuck Hagel has a strong Pro-Life voting record.

From Project Vote Smart
Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Abortion, Voting Record, Issues