Left In Lowell

Update: Check out this link…not sure who this org is but they purport to grade Congresspeople on their votes to help the middle class. Capuano gets very high marks every year they have a score.

A friend pointed out this ACLU questionnaire where the four Democrats give answers on their views of various related issues. (The Republicans didn’t send back answers…surprise, surprise…)

I found it really telling that not only did Capuano answer the questions but also commented on most of them. He was the candidate with the most expanded answers (Coakley had a few but not nearly as many).

Some highlights from Capuano’s comments:

Question 10: Will you support efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act that denies legally married gay and lesbian couples more than a thousand federal rights and protections that are afforded to all opposite-sex married couples?

Capuano
I support the repeal of DOMA and I am a co-sponsor of HR 3567, the Respect for Marriage Act. I have also consistently co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act which would permit same-sex couples in committed relationships the same immigration sponsorship rights as married heterosexual couples.
[snip]
Question 12: Will you oppose efforts to funnel scarce federal taxpayer funds to create, expand, or continue federally-funded private and religious school voucher programs?

Capuano
I oppose state subsidies or vouchers for private secular or religious schools. I am also opposed to the funding formula for charter schools, which bases payments to charter schools on the average per pupil expenditure of the public school system. This formula ignores the fact that public schools must educate all children, students who are not fluent in English and those with special needs, cognitive, emotional, and physical, while charter schools are free to cherry pick the motivated students of attentive parents.

This is why I endorsed Mike Capuano. Not only is he principled, but he’s also able to express strong reasoning in his arguments. This is the best of all worlds - thoughtful decision making, standing up for what one believes in, and the practical ability to do something about it. All three are necessary for a good Senator.