SHORT BIO
Tom Tancredo has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999. In 1976, while teaching high school history, he ran for and won a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives, serving two terms from 1977 to 1981. He then moved to a position in the Department of Education until 1993, when Tancredo became president of the Independence Institute, a conservative think tank. In 1998, he ran for and won a seat in the House, where he has served four terms (despite promising to serve no more than 3).
(Interesting note: Both sets of Tancredo’s parents immigrated from Italy.)
ISSUE SUMMARY
Tancredo is often described as the most classically conservative candidate in the race. His current stances include:
- Strongly opposes abortion and stem cell research
- Strongly opposes illegal immigration (his most important issue)
- Blames Bush administration and Congress for not being tougher on immigration
- Supports a Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage
- Supports a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman
- Supports requiring schools to allow prayer
- Supports a Constitutional Amendment to allow school prayer
- High rating from the Christian Coalition, the National Taxpayers’ Union, and the NRA
- Low rating from the League of Conservationist Voters
- Consistently voted to lower taxes, and to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent
- Believes Iraq invasion was correct, but that we should begin to pull out so that we can focus more broadly on radical Islam
- Supports the PATRIOT Act
- Supports FBI wiretapping and other controversial surveillance, in the interest of safety
EXPANDED ISSUES and STANCES
- Completely opposes all forms of abortion, stating that it “compromises the sanctity of life”.
- Opposes granting federal funds to any organization that promotes abortion.
- Agrees that Roe v. Wade should be repealed, adding that it would be “the greatest day in this country’s history”.
- Strongly opposes all illegal immigration (often referred to as Tancredo’s “single issue”).
- Opposes bilingual education and any form of bilingual accommodation.
- Speaks out against George W. Bush’s immigration policies, going so far as to accuse his administration and Congress as being responsible for any future terrorist attacks.
- Has referred to Miami, FL as a third world country.
- Awarded an “A” from the National Taxpayers Union for each year he’s served in Congress, for consistently voting against tax increases and for tax cuts.
- Believes the invasion of Iraq was the correct decision but that it is time to get out so that we can focus on radical Islam.
- Has been critical of the People’s Republic of China.
- Opposed to all stem cell research, as it is “morally reprehensible”.
- Voted “Yes” on all abortion regulation/restriction bills.
- Supports the PATRIOT Act.
- Voted to ban same-sex couple adoptions in DC.
- Voted to enact a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.
- Voted to Constitutionally define marriage as between one man and one woman.
- Publicly stated that he does not believe in evolution.
- Voted to allow school prayer during the War on Terror.
- Supports requiring schools to allow prayer.
- Supports a Constitutional Amendment to allow school prayer.
- Received a 5% rating from the League of Conservationist Voters, indicating an anti-environment voting record.
- Received a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition, indicating a pro-family voting record.
- Voted to restrict US funding to the UN, to encourage reform.
- Received a 61% rating from CATO, indicating a mixed voting record on trade issues.
- Received a “B+” grade from the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record.
- Voted consistently to discourage medical malpractice lawsuits.
- Opposes McCain’s immigration plan, calling it soft on immigration and amnesty.
- Voted to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent.
- Supports phasing out the death tax.
- Voted to eliminate the marriage penalty.
