Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Lincoln Chafee presidential campaign, 2016
From Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia's scope changes periodically, and this article type is no longer actively created or maintained. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.
 Lincoln Chafee |
Governor of Rhode Island (2011-2015) U.S. Senate (1999-2007) |
 Democratic candidates: |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
- See also: Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee was a Democratic candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. He dropped out of the race on October 23, 2015.
Chafee is the former Democratic Governor of Rhode Island. First elected to the governorship as an Independent on November 2, 2010, he became the only governor not to belong to one of the major parties when he was sworn in January 4, 2011.[2]
Chafee previously belonged to the Republican Party, serving in the U.S. Senate for seven years. Initially appointed to his father's seat upon John Chafee's death in 1999, he won a six-year term in 2000. In 2006, he lost his seat to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse. The following year, Chafee left the Republican Party to become an Independent.[3] Then, in anticipation of a possible re-election loss in 2014, as well as his affinity for his former U.S. Senate colleague, President Barack Obama, Chafee made his second party switch, formally joining the Democratic Party on May 30, 2013.[4]
In recent candidate rankings, Crowdpac ranked Chafee as a 0.3L (L being liberal) on a scale ranging from 10L to 10C, making him the least liberal Democratic presidential candidate.[5]
On the issues
Economic and fiscal
Taxes
- On his campaign website, Lincoln Chafee expressed disapproval of the Bush-era tax cuts, which he believes favored the wealthy. Chafee stated, “Today’s system is stacked against the working people of this country... I will work for a fair tax structure that removes excessive loopholes and tax cuts for wealthy citizens and corporations.”[6]
- In 2014, Chafee signed Rhode Island’s budget for 2015 which reduced corporate income tax from 9 to 7 percent and repealed the franchise tax.[7]
- In 2012, Chafee signed into effect a one-time 75-day tax amnesty period to allow Rhode Island taxpayers the opportunity to file past-due returns and pay delinquent taxes with no penalties and reduced interest.[8]
- In 2011, Chafee proposed a state budget with 1 percent sales tax on several exempt items, but declined to apply the tax to medical devices.[9]
- In 2004, Chafee voted for S 150 - Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, which extended the moratorium on taxes on Internet access through November 2007. It became law on December 3, 2004.[10]
- In 2003, Chafee co-sponsored S 1736 - The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Act, which would have simplified and made uniform the sales tax in member states.[11]
- In 2003, Chafee co-sponsored S 1637 - Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act. It was the predecessor bill to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which became law in October 22, 2004.[12]
Government regulations
- During his presidential announcement speech on June 3, 2015, Lincoln Chafee advocated for the United States to use the metric system. Chafee said, "Here’s a bold embrace of internationalism: let’s join the rest of the world and go metric. I happened to live in Canada as they completed the process. Believe me, it is easy. It doesn’t take long before 34 degrees is hot. Only Myanmar, Liberia and the United States aren’t metric and it will help our economy."[13]
- In 2012, Chafee signed a bill requiring each Rhode Island state agency to evaluate its regulations for adverse effects on small businesses over the course of four years. Chafee praised the effort as showing “Rhode Island’s commitment to make state government more efficient and create a clear, predictable and reliable regulatory system for business.”[14]
International trade
- Lincoln Chafee joined 14 other governors in an open letter encouraging President Barack Obama and congressional leadership to support transatlantic trade agreements in 2013. The governors asserted “that the national and global economy can grow at a more robust pace and that trade liberalization will be a key component of that future growth.”[15]
- In 2006, Chafee voted for HR 5684 - United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, a free trade agreement with Oman.[16]
- In 2005, Chafee voted for S 1307 - Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Chafee argued the law would “keep America competitive with China” by encouraging businesses to use regional factories and American materials.[17][18]
- In 2003, Chafee voted for free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore. Commenting on these agreements, Chafee said, “Free trade, rather than imposing U.S. values and robbing peoples of their culture, creates new economic opportunities and helps raise the standard of living for millions of people.”[19][20][21]
- In 2002, Chafee co-sponsored S 2796 - United States-Uruguay Free Trade Agreement, a bill to authorize free trade with Uruguay.[22]
Budgets
- As governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee crafted four state budgets for fiscal years 2012 through 2015. These budgets focused on support for education and job development. Notably, Chafee reduced the corporate income tax from 9 percent to 7 percent.[23][24][25][26]
- In 2014, the Cato Institute found Chafee’s budget “increased spending roughly in line with the national average.”[27]
- In 2005, Chafee voted in favor S Amdt 186, an amendment “to fully reinstate the pay-as-you-go requirement.”[28]
- In 2005, Chafee voted against S 1932 - Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which aimed to reduce federal spending by $40 billion over five years.[29][30]
Agricultural subsidies
- In an August 2015 interview with Agri-Pulse, Lincoln Chafee said farmers were “well represented in the Senate. That's the beauty of the Senate, every state gets two senators no matter how small the population so farm industry is well represented and if I'm going to be president I want to have a good relationship with the legislature to get anything done.” On the subject of genetically modified food, Chafee encouraged caution. “We have to be careful with what's happening out there and strike a balance between good production and crossing the line on how we genetically modify some of these crops,” he said.[31]
- To support the development and marketing of Rhode Island-grown agricultural products, Chafee made $210,000 in grants available to farmers and seafood businesses in 2014. The grants were funded through the state budget and matching funds from charitable organizations.[32]
- In 2006, Chafee voted against an amendment to provide $6 million in loans to Hawaii sugar cane growers. Six years earlier, Chafee also co-sponsored a bill to eliminate nonrecourse loans and price supports for sugarcane.[33][34]
- In 2005, Chafee voted to appropriate more than $1 billion to the Farm Service Agency and Agricultural Research Service, respectively.[35]
- In 1999, Chafee co-sponsored a bill to reduce quotas and loan rates for peanut products.[36]
Federal assistance programs
- On April 10, 2015, Lincoln Chafee stated on Morning Joe that he would support an increase in the minimum wage, Pell Grants, Head Start and other “social programs to help build the middle class.”[37]
- As governor of Rhode Island, Chafee sought to reduce waste and fraud in the Office of Health and Human Services through a third-party study of the agency, legislative package and state budget funding for the Office of Program Oversight and Integrity.[38]
- Chafee supported the federal government’s disbursement of more than $530,000 in SNAP benefits to Rhode Island residents affected by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.[39]
- In 2006, Chafee voted against “establish[ing] a reserve fund for Social Security reform.”[40].
- In 2003, Chafee co-sponsored S 1411 - National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2003, which sought to increase the availability of affordable low-income housing through grants.[41]
Labor and employment
- Speaking at the Iowa Federation of Labor Presidential Forum on August 6, 2015, Lincoln Chafee said he supported raising the minimum wage, but noted there should be some deviation allowed from the figure in urban and rural areas.[42][43]
- Chafee’s 2014 budget for Rhode Island apportioned $3 million for workforce development support. With this money, Chafee proposed the creation of a Statewide Work Immersion Program to benefit students, unemployed adults, and businesses seeking to train potential employees.[44]
- Chafee signed a bill in 2014 to increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage from $8 to $9. While a member of the U.S. Senate, Chafee also voted in favor of several amendments to increase the federal minimum wage.[45][46][47][48]
- During his time in the Senate, the AFL-CIO gave Chafee a lifetime favorable rating of 54 percent.[49]
Foreign affairs
Iran nuclear deal
- Lincoln Chafee has expressed support for negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear development program: “Of course, we should be talking with [Iran]. That’s what we did right during the Cold War: talking with China, talking with Russia….That’s the right way to make peace.”[50]
- In 2008, Chafee authored an op-ed in The Huffington Post on Iran emphasizing the importance of diplomacy to address nuclear proliferation. Chafee also suggested Americans understand Iran’s position, “If we were Iranians, would we be paranoid, too, about protecting ourselves and our vast resources in an oil-thirsty world?”[51]
Military preparedness and budget
- In an October 17, 2015, interview with Providence Journal, Lincoln Chafee explained that the media is not interested in covering an “anti-war” candidate. He said, "Not one person has asked me about stopping drone strikes. The establishment doesn't want to hear my voice, obviously." Chafee also discussed his plan to improve relations in the Middle East. He said, "Our brand isn't working, so we have to change that. Make it more positive. Start talking about peace. Let's resolve our differences without armed conflict. Let's be the ones to get to the peace table.[52]
- In a November 2014 interview with WPRO, Chafee described himself as “a pacifist.”[53]
- Chafee opposed potential cuts to the Army National Guard’s personnel and equipment to take effect in 2015.[54]
- In 2006, Chafee voted for an amendment to the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, which would have appropriated more than $47 billion for the operations and maintenance of the military.[55]
- In 2005, Chafee voted in favor of HR 1268 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2005 to increase funding for the families of military personnel killed in combat, procurement of combat supplies, military research and other defense costs.[56]
National security
- At the first Democratic debate, October 13, 2015, Lincoln Chafee called for changing the approach to the nation's approach to the Middle East. Chafee said, “We've got to stop these wars. You have to have a new dynamic, a new paradigm. We just spent a half-billion dollars arming and training soldiers, the rebel soldiers in Syria. They quickly join the other side. We bombed the...And also we just bombed a hospital. We've had drone strikes that hit civilian weddings. So I would change how we -- our approach to the Middle East. We need a new paradigm in the Middle East.”[57]
- When asked on Morning Joe how he would handle ISIS, Chafee responded, “My view is that we have to do what we did in the Cold War and build strong alliances, and that’s how you deal with threats. Containment worked in the Cold War. Go back to what worked.”[58]
- In an interview with Huff Post Live on April 16, 2015, Chafee stated that although he “care[s] deeply about civil liberties,” he does not regret his vote for the Patriot Act.[59]
- Chafee served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in 2005.[60]
- Chafee has been a strong opponent of the Iraq War. Chafee wrote on his exploratory committee website, “The tragedies of the Iraq War are manifold; lost and injured lives, hundreds of billions of squandered tax dollars, the difficulty of providing just and proper care for our brave veterans, but maybe the most tragic, the loss of American credibility. I commit to the repair needed to all the harm done. Our credibility will be restored when we respect our world partners and truly listen when they speak. In a world of nuclear weapons, the United States must make international decisions with brains and not biceps.” Chafee was the only Republican to vote against the Iraq War Resolution in 2002. [61][62]
International relations
- On October 19, 2015, Lincoln Chafee tweeted that the European Union should offer $3 billion to Turkey to help them take in Syrian refugees."EU countries can't agree on #refugee distribution so offer $3B to Turkey. Turkey needs the help, and I'm for whatever works at this point," Chafee said.
- Chafee is a member of the Advisory Council of J Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[63] In a speech at Brown University in 2007, Chafee expressed support for Israel as an ally, and encouraged greater American involvement in the peace process there.[64]
- In a November 2014 interview with WPRO, Chafee described himself as “an advocate for the United Nations.”[65]
- Chafee suggested tension with Russia over its military intervention in Ukraine and major arms sale to Iran could be traced back to a diplomatic error by Hillary Clinton. Chafee described the incident, “In the early days they tried to restart with Russia and she presented the Russian foreign minister with the restart button. And they got the Russian word wrong. They said, 'This means over-charge,' and it was an insult.”[66]
- Chafee has vehemently criticized the vote against the Levin Amendment in 2002, which would have required approval from the United Nations before authorizing force in Iraq. In an op-ed published five years later in The New York Times, Chafee wrote the vote against the Levin Amendment and for the Iraq War Resolution ignored multilateralism and warnings from the United States’ Near Eastern allies.[67][68][69]
- Chafee served as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee’s Near East Subcommittee.[70]
- In 2003, Chafee voted against HR 1828 - Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, which authorized sanctions on Syria. Prior to the vote, Chafee expressed concern on the Senate floor that “cracking down on an Arab nation ultimately harms [American] interests in many very important parts of the world.”[71]
Epidemic control
- Lincoln Chafee was critical of strict quarantines for medical workers returning from West Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. In response to the mandatory 21-day quarantines instituted in New York and New Jersey in October 2014, Chafee urged caution, “The idea of a blanket quarantine for people who come back could possibly have a negative consequence of essentially disincentivizing people from wanting to go there.”[72]
- Chafee co-sponsored S 1765 - Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 and voted for HR 3448 - Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.[73][74]
ISIS and terrorism
- When asked on Morning Joe how he would handle ISIS, Chafee responded, “My view is that we have to do what we did in the Cold War and build strong alliances, and that’s how you deal with threats. Containment worked in the Cold War. Go back to what worked.”[75]
Syrian refugees
- On October 19, 2015, Lincoln Chafee tweeted that the European Union should offer $3 billion to Turkey to help them take in Syrian refugees."EU countries can't agree on #refugee distribution so offer $3B to Turkey. Turkey needs the help, and I'm for whatever works at this point," Chafee said.
Domestic
Federalism
Judiciary
- Lincoln Chafee voted against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Chafee cited his concerns with Alito’s positions on using the commerce clause, the expansion of executive power, women’s reproductive rights, and warrantless wiretapping. Chafee was the only Republican to vote against Alito’s confirmation.[76][77][78]
- Chafee voted against President George W. Bush’s nomination of William Pryor to the Eleventh Circuit and Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit.[79][80]
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- Lincoln Chafee has expressed support for a clear separation between church and state. In an op-ed in The Huffington Post, Chafee questioned the decision by several 2008 presidential candidates to attend a megachurch forum. He argued, “It's hypocritical for the religious right to be hyperventilating over state-sponsored religion by the Taliban and Islamic extremists while ever so gradually allowing the state to encroach on our ‘full liberty in religious concernments.'"[81]
- In 2006, Chafee voted against prohibiting flag desecration.[82]
Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- In an interview with The Brown Political Review, Lincoln Chafee expressed support for an "assault gun" ban and closing the gun show loophole. He said, “Truly, what hunter needs an assault gun or a large magazine clip? I just think [Second Amendment advocates are] treating it as a step. First they take away my assault weapon, and then they take another. So we just have to fight back against that. This isn’t a progressive step of taking away guns. It’s just common sense; nobody needs an assault gun with a large magazine clip. You’re not allowed to hunt with them, so what do you need them for?”[83]
- In 2013, Chafee introduced a package of gun control legislation that would include stricter regulation of firearms with obliterated serial codes and enable Rhode Island to use mental illness and substance abuse records in addition to traditional background checks as a potential bar to gun ownership.[84]
Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- At the first Democratic debate on October 13, 2015, Lincoln Chafee was asked if Edward Snowden —the one-time CIA employee who leaked classified information, and who is now a privacy activist in exile — is a hero or a traitor. Chafee said he judged Snowden more hero than traitor. "No, I would bring him home. The courts have ruled that what he did -- what he did was say the American...the American government was acting illegally. That's what the federal courts have said; what Snowden did showed that the American government was acting illegally for the Fourth Amendment. So I would bring him home," Chafee said.[85]
- Although Chafee supported the Patriot Act in 2001 and 2006, he has raised concerns that the government has violated the Fourth Amendment. At the first Democratic debate on October 13, 2015, Chafee said "As long as you're getting a warrant, I believe that under the Fourth Amendment, you should be able to do surveillance, but you need a warrant. That's what the Fourth Amendment says. And in the Patriot Act, section 215 started to get broadened too far. So I would be in favor of addressing and reforming section 215 of the Patriot Act.”[86] He made a similar point in an April 10, 2015 interview with U.S. News & World Report Chafee said, “I don't believe it granted any power to tap phones or any other surveillance without a warrant. That’s a definite stretch.”[87]
- In a 2015 interview with Huff Post Live, Chafee stated, ”I’m definitely against warrantless wiretapping, and I wasn’t in the Senate when they voted to give retroactive immunity to the telephone companies that did allow warrantless wiretapping. I would have never voted for that.”[88]
Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- In 2011, Lincoln Chafee denied a request to transfer a murder suspect from Rhode Island state custody to federal custody. Under federal law and contrary to Rhode Island state law, the suspect would be eligible for the death penalty. Chafee argued the Interstate Agreement on Detainers gave him the right to make this refusal as it would be against the state’s interest to expose the suspect to the death penalty. The First Circuit ruled the suspect must be tried in a federal court, and the Supreme Court declined to review the case.[89][90][91]
Crime and justice
- Chafee put out a Facebook message against drones and militarized police on August 28, 2015. He posted, "I say 'no' to drones. They're bad enough abroad. We need to demilitarize our police, not do the opposite. #NoDrones."[92]
- When Lincoln Chafee was asked in a 2006 senatorial debate if he would support the death penalty for Osama bin Laden, he stated, “I oppose the death penalty.” To support his stance, Chafee cited the history of a wrongly convicted man put to death in Rhode Island and evidence that capital punishment is a weak deterrent.[93]
| Lincoln Chafee discusses the death penalty in 2006 |
- In 2004, Chafee voted against HR 1997 - Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which criminalized the injury or death of a fetus when a pregnant woman is injured or killed.[94]
- In 2001, Chafee co-sponsored S 486 - Innocence Protection Act which would allow individuals convicted of a federal crime to apply for DNA testing for the purposes of exoneration. A version of the bill was included as part of HR 5107 - Justice for All Act of 2004, which became law on October 30, 2004.[95][96]
- In 2000, Chafee co-sponsored S Amdt 3473, which expanded the definition of hate crime to include gender, sexual orientation and disability, and appropriated $5 million to enable states to prosecute hate crimes.[97]
Natural resources
Climate change
- Lincoln Chafee tweeted his support for President Obama's "Clean Power Plan" on August 3, 2015. To address climate change, the plan set new standards for carbon emissions from power plants.[98][99]
- Chafee established the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council in 2014 “in recognition of the strong evidence and scientific consensus that manmade greenhouse gases are causing an overall rise in global temperatures that are predicted to have profound effects on global climate, weather patterns, ocean conditions as well as terrestrial environments.” Several months later, Chafee signed the Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2015 to charge that council with creating a framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change.[100][101]
- Chafee supported the EPA’s 2014 proposal to reduce power plants’ carbon emissions in an effort to address climate change.[102]
Energy production
- Lincoln Chafee supported the development of green energy sources in Rhode Island through the Renewable Energy Fund. He stated, “If we can leverage our existing assets and maintain collaboration between government and the business and environmental communities, green energy will be a source of tremendous job creation and economic growth for our state.”[103]
- In 2014, Chafee supported legislation creating a new license type for renewable energy professionals.[104]
- In 2006, Chafee voted in favor of S 3711 - Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, which sought to explore and develop mineral resources in the Gulf of Mexico through offshore drilling.[105]
Environmental protection
- Environmental stewardship is listed as one of four policy priorities on Lincoln Chafee’s exploratory committee website. Chafee wrote, “Throughout my career I have shown the proper respect for our natural world. At the local level I was a champion for wise growth with maximum input from neighbors on development. As a Senator, I was often the critical vote in favor of clean air, clean water and protection of vulnerable species. As Governor, my administration added unprecedented open space and parkland. The Northeast has the nation’s highest energy costs and I know the importance of balancing protection of our environment and making rational decisions on energy infrastructure. This same respect for people’s livelihoods extends to all economic sectors of our country.”[106]
- The League of Conservation Voters gave Lincoln Chafee a lifetime favorable rating of 78 percent for pro-environmental votes while in the U.S. Senate.[107]
- As a Republican senator, Chafee joined seven Democrats and one Independent in blocking President George W. Bush’s environmental initiative, the Clear Skies Act, from leaving the Senate committee. Chafee and his allies argued “the negotiations were conducted in bad faith, that the pollution-control targets were too low and that the bill contained irresponsible loopholes.” In a press release, Chafee specifically cited his discomfort the bill’s lack of a mandatory reduction of carbon dioxide.[108][109]
- In 2005, Chafee co-sponsored S 260 - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act, which allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support private landowners and public and private entitites involved in habitate improvement and resotration. It became law on October 3, 2006.[110]
- In 2005, Chafee voted in favor of an amendment to bar oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[111]
Water and air pollution
- Lincoln Chafee joined 44 other senators in 2004 to urge the EPA to more strictly regulate mercury emissions from power plants.[112]
- In 2001 and 2005, Chafee introduced bills to provide federal funding for research into the connection between breast cancer and environmental factors.[113][114]
Healthcare
- Following the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Affordable Care Act in 2012, Lincoln Chafee said in a press release, “It is an economic imperative that we address the problem of uninsured Rhode Islanders and rising healthcare costs. I'm confident of the clear path forward that we have marked to achieve universal coverage for Rhode Islanders, and now we can get back to that important work with this decision behind us.”[115]
- Rhode Island also adopted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, although Chafee sought to reduce spending on Medicaid by $43 million in his final budget.[116][117]
Immigration
- Lincoln Chafee laid out views on immigration at the Unite Iowa Immigration Forum on August 29, 2015, saying that it should be an international issue with the United Nations leading the process. He also said it was impractical to deport all of the undocumented immigrants in America, advocating, instead, that America address the root cause of the difficulties.[118]
- Speaking at the Iowa Federation of Labor Presidential Forum on August 6, 2015, Chafee expressed support for immigration reform legislation first drafted in 2005 by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).[119][120]
- Chafee joined 13 other governors in a 2013 letter encouraging John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi to create a bipartisan immigration solution. The letter outlined three components this immigration reform should include: (1) a pathway to citizenship that includes the payment of taxes and a penalty, (2) a replacement for the “guest worker” visa program and (3) the provision of visas to foreign graduate students in science and math.[121]
- In 2006, Chafee voted against HR 6061 - Secure Fence Act of 2006, which called for the installation of 700 miles of fencing to protect the border between the United States and Mexico.[122]
- In a 2006 senatorial debate, Chafee suggested successful immigration reform must consider the poverty in countries immigrants are leaving. Chafee stated his own experience working illegally in Canada when he was 23 years old has influenced his opinion on immigration.[123]
Education
- Lincoln Chafee reserved $29.4 million in funding for Rhode Island colleges during his tenure as governor. Chafee also froze tuition for three years.[124]
- While Chafee was governor of Rhode Island, the state received $50 million in federal funding as part of a Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant, one of only nine recipients.[125][126]
- Although Chafee voted in favor of HR 1 - No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Rhode Island received a flexibility request waiver on the most burdensome aspects of No Child Left Behind in 2012.[127]
- Chafee expressed uncertainty about the efficacy of charter schools after reading a critique published by Diane Ravitch.[128][129]
Abortion
- On September 2, 2015, Lincoln Chafee sent the following tweet about protecting funding for Planned Parenthood:
- On his exploratory committee website, Lincoln Chafee stated he “strongly support a woman’s right to make her own personal reproductive decisions.”[130]
- Chafee vetoed a bill allowing a license plate that says “Choose Life” on the grounds the funds received would be used to support a specific religion.[131]
- In 2006, Chafee voted against S 403 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which would have prohibited the interstate transportation of minors in order to have an abortion unless the minor’s life was in danger.[132]
- In 2003, Chafee voted against S 3 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which prohibited partial-birth and later-term abortions in most situations. The bill became law on November 5, 2003.[133]
Gay rights
- In reaction to the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, Lincoln Chafee tweeted, "Congratulations to Supreme Court on today's good ruling for marriage equality!"[134]
- In 2013, Lincoln Chafee penned an op-ed in The New York Times reasserting his support of marriage equality. Chafee wrote, “Much of the argument for and against gay marriage has revolved around the morality of the issue. Each side feels intensely that its position is more righteous than the other side’s. I personally feel that Rhode Island is a better state, and America is a better country, when we are as inclusive as possible.”[135]
- Chafee applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013. Chafee said, “For the nearly two decades that DOMA was the law of the land in our country, discrimination and unequal treatment were, regrettably, given legal legitimacy.”[136]
- In 2000, Chafee co-sponsored an amendment which expanded the definition of hate crime to include sexual orientation.[137]
Civil liberties
- At the Unite Iowa Immigration Forum in August 2015, Lincoln Chafee called marijuana legalization in Uruguay and some U.S. states “interesting, positive experiments.”[138][139]
- Chafee supported the decriminalization of marijuana in Rhode Island in 2013. When asked in a 2014 interview with Huffington Post whether he would embrace the full legalization of marijuana, Chafee said he “believes there’s a connection between liberal social policies and the economy” but that Rhode Island must proceed slowly.[140]
- In 2013, Chafee issued an executive order to increase minority representation in the Rhode Island state workforce to “better reflect the changing demographics of the state as a whole.”[141]
Race and ethnicity
- On June 18, 2015, Lincoln Chafee posted on his Facebook, "My heart goes out to the Charleston community and to the victims of these horrifying murders. It is comforting to know that Charleston is fortunate to have an expert and able mayor in Joe Riley. Hate crime legislation I supported while I was in the Senate will give the community federal funding to assist in this difficult time."[142]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Lincoln + Chafee + 2016
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ CNN.com, "Lincoln Chafee drops out of Democratic primary race," October 23, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Lincoln Chafee switches affiliation to Democrat," May 30, 2013
- ↑ Rhode Island Governor, "About," accessed November 3, 2012
- ↑ Boston.com, "RI Gov. Chafee poised to join Democrats," May 30, 2013
- ↑ Crowdpac, "2016 Presidential Election," accessed July 27, 2015
- ↑ Chafee Campaign Website, “Policy,” accessed Sept. 18, 2015
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of Revenue, “Tax changes take effect on Thursday, January 1,” December 30, 2014
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Chafee Launches Tax Amnesty Program,” August 29, 2012
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Lincoln D. Chafee Unveils First Budget in Address to General Assembly,” March 8, 2011
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.150 - Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1736 - Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1637 - Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ TIME, "Transcript: Read Full Text of Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s Campaign Launch," June 3, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “State Agencies Complete Accelerated Regulatory Review,” September 16, 2014
- ↑ IN.gov, “Governors' Letter on International Trade and Investment,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.5684 - United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1307 - Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, “Chafee Hails Passage of DR-CAFTA,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2738 - United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2739 - United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congressional Record - Senate, “Page S10585 (July 31, 2003),” accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2796 - United States-Uruguay Free Trade Agreement Act,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Budget Office, “Executive Summary: Fiscal Year 2015,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Budget Office, “Executive Summary: Fiscal Year 2014,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Budget Office, “Executive Summary: Fiscal Year 2013,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Budget Office, “Executive Summary: Fiscal Year 2012,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ The Cato Institute, “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2014,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.186 to S.Con.Res.18,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1932 - Deficit Reduction Act of 2005,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ The White House, “Fact Sheet: President Bush Signs the Deficit Reduction Act,” February 8, 2006
- ↑ Agri-Pulse, "Long-shot presidential candidate believes in protecting farms," August 13, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Chafee and R.I. DEM Announce $200,000 in Grants to Strengthen Local Food Systems,” February 20, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.3617 to H.R.4939,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1118 - A bill to amend the Agricultural Market Transition Act to convert the price support program for sugarcane and sugar beets into a system of solely recourse loans to provide for the gradual elimination of the program,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2744 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.802 - A bill to provide for a gradual reduction in the loan rate for peanuts, to repeal peanut quotas for the 2002 and subsequent crops, and to require the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase peanuts and peanut products for nutrition programs only at the world market price,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Morning Joe, “Clip of Interview with Lincoln Chafee,” April 10, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Lincoln Chafee Offers Update on Administration's Ongoing Efforts to Root Out Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Health and Human Services,” March 13, 2013
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Chafee Announces Funding for SNAP Replacement Benefits in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy,” November 4, 2012
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.3087 to S.Con.Res.83,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1411 - National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2003,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Democratic candidates pledge labor-friendly White House," August 6, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Democratic presidential hopefuls — minus Clinton — court labor leaders in Iowa," August 6, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “Executive Summary: Fiscal Year 2014,” January 16, 2013
- ↑ Reuters, “Rhode Island governor signs minimum wage increase,” July 3, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.4322 to S.2766,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.44 to S.256,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.2547 to S.625,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ AFL-CIO, “Lincoln Chafee’s Scorecard for Year 2006: U.S. Senate,” accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ Morning Joe, “Chafee: We should be talking with Iran,” April 10, 2015
- ↑ The Huffington Post, “Iran Policy: Foolhardy and Dangerous,” June 5, 2008
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Chafee roused by Democratic debate, despite criticism of his performance," October 17, 2015
- ↑ WPRO, “Exclusive: One-on-one with Governor Lincoln Chafee,” November 20, 2014
- ↑ National Governors Association, “Letter to the President Regarding Army National Guard,” February 28, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.2737 to S.Amdt.2707,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1268 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The CNN Democratic debate transcript, annotated," October 13, 2015
- ↑ Morning Joe, “Chafee: We should be talking with Iran,” April 10, 2015
- ↑ Huff Post Live, “Chafee: 'In General, We Went In The Right Direction' With Patriot Act,” April 16, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, “Chafee to Serve on Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Chafee 2016 Exploratory Committee, “Policy,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.J.Res.114 - Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ J Street, “Advisory Council,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Brown University, “President Bush’s Road Map to Middle East Peace: A Promise Unfulfilled,” February 12, 2007
- ↑ WPRO, “Exclusive: One-on-one with Governor Lincoln Chafee,” November 20, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Post, “Lincoln Chafee accuses Hillary Clinton of diplomatic clumsiness, says ‘America loves an underdog’,” April 16, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, “The Senate’s Forgotten Iraq Choice,” March 1, 2007
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.J.Res.114 - Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.4862 to S.Amdt.4856,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Chafee 2016 Presidential Exploratory Committee, “Meet Lincoln Chafee,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Government Publishing Office, “Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 163, Pages S14405-S14417,” November 11, 2003
- ↑ WPRI, “Chafee’s Ebola remarks puts him at odds with NJ Governor,” October 28, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1765 - Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001,” accessed May 4, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3448 - Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002,” accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Morning Joe, “Chafee: We should be talking with Iran,” April 10, 2015
- ↑ C-SPAN, “Rhode Island Republican Senate Primary Debate,” August 23, 2006
- ↑ The New York Times, “Alito Is Sworn In as Justice After 52-42 Vote to Confirm Him,” January 31, 2006
- ↑ Senate.gov, “Chafee Statement on Judge Alito Nomination,” January 30, 2006
- ↑ Congress.gov, “PN200 - William H. Pryor Jr.,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “PN194 - Priscilla Richman Owen,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The Huffington Post, “Roger Williams, the First Amendment and the Presidential Campaign,” July 9, 2008
- ↑ Senate.gov, “S.J.Res.12 - A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The Brown Political Review, “BPR Talks with Gov. Lincoln Chafee,” May 22, 2013
- ↑ Providence Journal, “Gun-control bills clear R.I. House Judiciary Committee,” June 25, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The CNN Democratic debate transcript, annotated," October 13, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The CNN Democratic debate transcript, annotated," October 13, 2015
- ↑ U.S. News & World Report, “Chafee Says He'll Push Hillary on Privacy, Hound Her on Iraq,” April 10, 2015
- ↑ Huff Post Live, “Chafee: 'In General, We Went In The Right Direction' With Patriot Act,” April 16, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, “Gov. Chafee Declines,” December 29, 2011
- ↑ United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, “U.S. v. Pleau, No. 11-1775,” May 7, 2012
- ↑ Providence Journal, “R.I. Gov. Chafee dismayed by U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear Pleau case,” January 14, 2013
- ↑ Facebook, "Lincoln Chafee," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ C-SPAN, “Rhode Island Republican Senate Primary Debate,” August 26, 2006
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1997 - Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.486 - Innocence Protection Act of 2002,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.5107 - Justice for All Act of 2004,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.3473 to S.2549,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Twitter, "Lincoln Chafee," August 3, 2015
- ↑ Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants," accessed August 4, 2015
- ↑ Rhode Island Division of Planning, “RI Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ General Assembly, “H 7904 - Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2014,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Chafee Applauds New Federal Rule to Cut Carbon Emissions,” June 2, 2014
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Lincoln D. Chafee Announces RIEDC Funding for East Providence Solar Farm Project,” March 29, 2011
- ↑ RI.gov, “Legislation Removes Barriers for Renewable Energy Businesses,” June 16, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.3711 - Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Chafee 2016 Presidential Exploratory Committee, “Policy,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The League of Conservation Voters, “Senator Lincoln Chafee (R),” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, “Senate Impasse Stops 'Clear Skies' Measure,” March 10, 2005
- ↑ Lincoln Chafee’s Office, “Chafee Fighting for Clean Air,” March 1, 2005
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.260 - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, S.Amdt.2358 to S.1932,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, “Tripartisan Senate Coalition Calls for Stronger Mercury Proposal,” April 1, 2004
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.830 - Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2001,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.757 - Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2006,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Lincoln Chafee, Lt. Governor Roberts, State Officials Respond to Supreme Court Decision on Affordable Care Act,” June 28, 2012
- ↑ Rhode Island Executive Office of Health & Human Services, “Healthcare Overview,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Providence Journal, “Chafee’s $43-million cut to Medicaid touches many sectors of R.I. health care,” January 16, 2014
- ↑ Pilot Tribune, "Immigration forum spurs impassioned, but civil debate," September 1, 2015
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Democratic candidates pledge labor-friendly White House," August 6, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Democratic presidential hopefuls — minus Clinton — court labor leaders in Iowa," August 6, 2015
- ↑ Governor of Delaware, “Democratic Governors’ Letter to Boehner and Pelosi,” July 17, 2013
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.6061 - Secure Fence Act of 2006,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ C-SPAN, “Rhode Island Republican Senate Primary Debate,” August 26, 2006
- ↑ WPRI, “As term nears end, Gov. Chafee sees ‘progress’ on education,” July 22, 2014
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of Education, “Governor Chafee Announces Awarded Grants to Improve Early Learning,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Providence Journal, “Chafee awards $335,000 in early childhood grants from Race to the Top,” July 31, 2013
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1 - No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ WPRI, “Chafee not looking to sack Gist or the Regents,” November 23, 2010
- ↑ WPRI, “Chafee’s K-12 scholar: Roll back No Child Left Behind,” November 29, 2010
- ↑ Chafee 2016 Presidential Exploratory Committee, “Policy,” accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ WPRO 630, “Gov. Chafee explains his veto of ‘Choose Life’ license plate,” accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.403 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act,” accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.3 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003,” accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ Twitter, "Lincoln Chafee," June 26, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, “I Am Signing Marriage Equality Into Law,” May 1, 2013
- ↑ Providence Journal, “Chafee: Same-sex ruling is 'no small step forward for our country',” June 26, 2013
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.3473 to S.2549,” accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ Marijuana.com, "2016 Presidential Candidate Calls Legalization ‘Positive’," August 31, 2015
- ↑ YouTube, "#UniteIowa on Immigration Forum," August 29, 2015
- ↑ Huffington Post, “Rhode Island Governor Offers Amazingly Stoner-Sounding Idea For Pot Revenues,” February 24, 2014
- ↑ RI.gov, “Governor Lincoln D. Chafee Signs Executive Order on Diversity,” May 9, 2013
- ↑ Facebook, "Lincoln Chafee 2016," accessed June 24, 2015
