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Peter King possible presidential campaign, 2016
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 Peter King |
U.S. Representative (Assumed office: 1993) Nassau County Comptroller (1981-1993) |
 Republican candidate: |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
- See also: Peter King
Peter King was considered a potential Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. On July 1, 2015, he announced he would not seek the presidency.[1]
King is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York's 2nd Congressional District. Prior to redistricting in New York in 2011, King represented New York's 3rd District.
In September 2013, King became the first candidate to publicly state that he was running for president in 2016, although he did not formally declare his candidacy.[2] During an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer in May 2014, King confirmed that he was considering a presidential bid in 2016. When asked whether or not he would run, King responded, "I'm certainly looking at it. I'll be back in New Hampshire on June 21st. And when I saw Hillary Clinton yesterday, I told her to get ready. ...I'm looking at this because I see people like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz and, to me, I don't want the Republican Party going in that direction."[3] Later, in December 2014, King made a similar comment, saying, "I don't want the field to be dominated by people like Rand Paul." King labeled Paul an "isolationist" and Cruz a "nihilist."[4]
On the issues
Economic and fiscal
Taxes
- According to his website, Peter King "fought to repeal are the 3.8% unearned income Medicare contribution tax."[5]
- In 2012, King voted for H.R.436 - the Health Care Cost Reduction Act of 2012, which, among other things, proposed repealing the medical device tax.[6]
- In 2012, King voted for H.R.9 - the Small Business Tax Cut Act, which proposed amending "the Internal Revenue Code to allow a qualified small business a tax deduction equal to 20% of the lesser of qualified domestic business income or taxable income."[7]
- King voted for H.R.8 - the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.[8]
- In 2004, King voted for H.R.4181 - "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the marriage penalty relief provided under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001."[9]
- In 1994, King voted for H.J.Res.103, which proposed "an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation."[10]
Government regulations
- Peter King voted for H.R.2804 – the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014 or the ALERRT Act of 2014, which proposed requiring more transparency during the creation process of regulations.[11]
International trade
- Peter King voted for free trade agreements with Panama and Korea in 2011, Peru in 2007, Oman in 2006 and Chile and Singapore in 2003.[12][13][14][15][16][17]
- King voted for H.R.3045 - the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act in 2005.[18]
- In 2001, King voted for H.J.Res.50, which proposed denying China's normal trade relations status with the United States.[19]
- King voted for H.R.2621 - the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Authorities Act of 1997.[20]
- In 1993, King voted for H.R.3450 - the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.[21]
Budgets
- In 2008, Peter King opposed Sen. John McCain's "war on congressional earmarks," according to Newsday.[22]
- In 1994, King voted for H.J.Res.2, which proposed adopting a balanced budget amendment. He also voted for H.J.Res.103, which proposed "an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation."[23][10]
Agricultural subsidies
- Peter King voted for H.R.2646 - the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.[24]
- In 1996, King voted against H.Amdt.934 to H.R.2854, which "sought to phase out the sugar price support program over five years."[25]
- In 1995, King co-sponsored H.R.2008, which proposed amending "the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949 to repeal respective peanut quota and price support programs."[26]
- King co-sponsored H.R.814 - the Honey Price Support Elimination Act of 1993.[27]
Federal assistance programs
- Peter King voted for H.R.890 - Preserving the Welfare Work Requirement and TANF Extension Act of 2013.[28]
- In 2013, King voted against H.Amdt.231 to H.R.1947, which proposed requiring "federal welfare work requirements to the food stamp program (SNAP) at state option."[29]
Labor and employment
- In 2011, Peter King voted against H.R.3094 - the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, which proposed amending "the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to revise requirements for determination by the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) of an appropriate bargaining unit before an election of collective bargaining representation."
- King voted for H.R.980 - the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007, which proposed providing "collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments."[30]
- King voted for H.R.800 - the Employee Free Choice Act of 2007, which proposed amending "the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board to certify a bargaining representative without directing an election if a majority of the bargaining unit employees have authorized designation of the representative (card-check) and there is no other individual or labor organization currently certified or recognized as the exclusive representative of any of the employees in the unit."[31]
Foreign affairs
Iran nuclear deal
- On April 5, 2015, Peter King said, "What the U.S. is agreeing to is to lock in the nuclear infrastructure in Iran so that they can break loose, they can break out. We are now basically institutionalizing it [Iran's nuclear power]. We're allowing Iran to keep what we said we would take away. I think the president honestly wants a deal, and he's willing to take a not-so-good deal because I believe that he wants to institutionalize Iran. ...He's [Obama] willing to live with a strong Iran, believing that if we make certain concessions to them, we can work with them."[32]
Military preparedness and budget
- Peter King serves on the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and the United States House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select).[33]
- King voted for H.R.1559 - the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003, which, among other things, provided additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.[34]
- King voted for H.R.2561 - the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000, which, among other things, appropriated funds for active duty and reserve members of the military; research and development; and for procuring "aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding."[35]
National security
- During a September 2014 interview on Fox News Sunday, Peter King said, "Attacking ISIS in Syria is in our national interest. Now if we can get allies, if we can get a coalition together, that's fine, and we should work on it. But we can't be beholden to a coalition because we're not doing this out of humanitarian purposes and quite frankly we're not doing it for the people of Syria or Iraq. Ultimately we're doing it because it's in our national interest to do so. And if that's the case, we can't be holding back. We should attack and strike and do all we can to the command and control centers that ISIS has in Syria. That is a key component of ISIS located in Syria so we shouldn't be waiting for other countries."[36]
- In July 2013, King said he was considering running for president in 2016 because he feared having "isolationists" in control of the Republican party. He said, "I think the party is being defined too much by what I would call isolationists. People who don't realize...that we have a real national defense role in the world, that we have an Islamic terrorist enemy which is out to destroy us."[37]
- King co-sponsored H.R.850 - the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013.[38]
- King voted for S.990 - the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011.[39]
- King voted for H.R.3162 - the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001.[40]
International relations
- Peter King co-sponsored H.R.938 - the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, which "Declares that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States."[41]
- King wrote, "During my more than twenty years in Congress, I have been a staunch defender of the State of Israel. I oppose any and all attempts by Palestinians to unilaterally declare statehood, circumvent the peace process or pressure Israel into making concessions that would jeopardize its security. While the United States can use its good offices, peace can only be achieved through direct, bilateral negotiations."[42]
- In September 2014, King argued that the United States and NATO needed to stop Russia from occupying Ukraine. He said, "We have to stop Russia here because they are really going to upset the world order that was set in place after the fall of the Iron Curtain. ...This cannot be allowed to stand and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has be told there’s a price to pay."[43]
- King blamed Russia for taking down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. He said, "By supplying this type of weaponry to a group of thugs like Ukrainian separatists, you have to bear responsibility for what happens after that. There can be no reasonable doubt now that Russia was involved, Putin was involved."[44]
Domestic
Federalism
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- During a June 2014 interview, Peter King praised the Supreme Court's decision in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case as a win for religious freedom.[45]
- King voted against H.R.2102 - the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, which proposed prohibiting the government from requiring a reporter or member of the newsmedia "to testify or produce any document unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including determinations."[46]
- King voted for H.R.513 - the 527 Reform Act of 2006, which proposed amending "the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to include in the definition of political committee any applicable 527 organization." Organizations with the 527 tax code are "typically parties, candidates, committees or associations organized for the purpose of influencing an issue, policy, appointment or election, be it federal, state or local," according to OpenSecrets.org.[47][48]
- In 1998, King voted for H.J.Res.78 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.[49]
Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- Peter King voted against H.R.1025 - the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which, among other provisions, required a background check to purchase a firearm. It became law on November 30, 1993.[50]
Executive powers
- In 2013, Peter King voted against H.J.Res.99, which disapproved "of the President's exercise of authority to suspend the debt limit."[51]
Crime and justice
- According to Peter King's website, "As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee Pete King works closely with the NYPD and the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments. Congressman King has obtained millions of dollars in Homeland Security funds for these departments."[52]
- King voted for H.R.1593 - the Second Chance Act of 2007, which expanded "provisions for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects to provide expanded services to offenders and their families for reentry into society." It became law on March 9, 2008.[53][54]
Natural resources
Energy development
- In 2015, Peter King voted for S.1 - Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act.[55]
- In 2014, King voted for H.R.2641 - the RAPID Act, which proposed establishing "procedures to streamline, increase the efficiency of, and enhance coordination of agency administration of the regulatory review, environmental decision making, and permitting process for major actions that are construction activities undertaken, reviewed, or funded by federal agencies."[56]
- In 2013, King voted for H.R.2728 - the Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act, which proposed amending "the Mineral Leasing Act to prohibit the Department of the Interior (Department) from enforcing any federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing (including any component of that process), relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on or under any land in any state that has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements for that activity."[57]
- King voted for H.R.3409 - the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012.[58]
Environmental protection
- In 2013, Peter King voted for H.Amdt.448 to H.R.367, which proposed requiring "the Administration to receive approval from Congress before implementing a carbon tax."[59]
- King voted against H.R.3534 - the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010, which proposed establishing "within the Department of the Interior a Bureau of Energy and Resource Management (BERM) to administer a comprehensive program of nonrenewable and renewable energy and mineral resources management on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and designated public lands."[60]
Climate change
- Peter King voted against H.R.2454 - the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which proposed setting "forth provisions concerning clean energy, energy efficiency, reducing global warming pollution, transitioning to a clean energy economy, and providing for agriculture and forestry related offsets."[61]
Healthcare
- In 2013, Peter King voted for H.R.2668 - To delay the application of the individual health insurance mandate, to delay the application of the employer health insurance mandate, and for other purposes.[62]
- In 2011, King voted for H.R.2 - the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, which proposed repealing H.R.3590 - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[63]
- King voted against H.R.3590 - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It became law on March 23, 2010.[64]
Immigration
- According to his website, "Pete opposes amnesty for the illegal immigrants living in our country."[65]
- In April 2014 letter to Speaker John Boehner, Peter King argued for "meaningful immigration reform legislation." He proposed securing the United States' borders and creating a process for allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain citizenship.[66]
- King voted for H.R.6429 - the STEM Jobs Act of 2012, which, among other things, proposed amending "the Immigration and Nationality Act to make up to 55,000 visas available in FY2014 and subsequent fiscal years to qualified immigrants who: (1) have a doctorate degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM degree) from a U.S. doctoral institution of higher education; and (2) have taken all doctoral courses in a STEM field, including all courses taken by correspondence or by distance education, while physically present in the United States."[67]
- King voted for H.R.6061 - Secure Fence Act of 2006, which directed "the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 18 months of enactment of this Act, to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders." It became law on October 26, 2006.[68]
Education
- Peter King voted for H.R.1 - the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It became law on January 8, 2002.[69]
- King voted for H.R.2616 - the Charter School Expansion Act of 1998, which amended "the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize a State educational agency (SEA) to use funds for planning, designing, and initial implementation of public charter schools." It became law on October 22, 1998.[70]
- King co-sponsored H.R.2746 - the Helping Empower Low-income Parents (HELP) Scholarships Amendments of 1997, which proposed amending "title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to allow any State that has enacted or will enact a law establishing a voluntary public and private school parental choice scholarship program in compliance with specified ESEA requirements to reserve an additional 15 percent from its annual title IV allotment for use exclusively for such parental choice programs."[71]
Abortion
- Peter King co-sponsored H.R.7 - the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2014.[72]
- King voted for S.3 - the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which "Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury." It became law on November 5, 2003.[73]
Gay rights
- Peter King voted for H.R.3396 - the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined "'marriage' as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." It became law on September 21, 1996.[74]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Peter + King + 2016
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ MSNBC, "Rep. Peter King: 'I’ve decided not to run,'" July 1, 2015
- ↑ NY Daily News, "Rep. Pete King of Long Island: I am running for President," September 6, 2013
- ↑ Real Clear Politics, "Peter King: I'm Thinking Of Running For President To Stop Rand Paul and Ted Cruz," accessed December 16, 2014
- ↑ USA Today, "N.Y. Rep. King pins 2016 hopes on New Hampshire," accessed December 16, 2014
- ↑ House.gov, "Health Care Reform," accessed December 16, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R. 436," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 9," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 8," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.4181," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.103," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2804," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3080,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3079,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3688,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2738,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2739,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.3569,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3045,” accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.50," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2621," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3450," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Newsday, "King, lone LI Republican, stands firmly with Bush," October 28, 2008
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.2," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2646," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Amdt.934 to H.R.2854," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2008 - To repeal the quota and price support programs for peanuts," accessed December 19, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.814 - Honey Price Support Elimination Act of 1993," accessed December 19, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.890," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Amdt.231 to H.R.1947," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.980," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.800 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2007," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Peter King: Obama wants to 'institutionalize' Iran as a nuclear power," accessed April 10, 2015
- ↑ U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, "Committee Information," accessed February 20, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1559," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2561," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Fox News, "Reps. King, Schiff on if President Obama's ISIS strategy will succeed," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ CBS News, “GOP Rep. Peter King weighing 2016 presidential run," July 18, 2013
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.850," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.990," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3162," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.938," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ House.gov, “Israel," accessed December 19, 2014
- ↑ The Hill, “‘We have to stop Russia,’ says Rep. Peter King," September 3, 2014
- ↑ The Week, "Rep. Peter King: 'Putin was involved' in Flight 17 downing," July 20, 2014
- ↑ Youtube, "Rep. Peter King (R-NY) -- member of the Homeland Security Committee," June 30, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2102," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.513," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "527," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.78," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1025," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.99," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Peter King, "Homeland Security," accessed December 19, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1593," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H. Rept. 110-140 - SECOND CHANCE ACT OF 2007," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.1," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.264," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2728," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3409," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Amdt.448 to H.R.367," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3534," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2454," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2668," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3590," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ PeteKing.com, "Illegal Immigration," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Numbers USA, “Letter to Congress," accessed December 19, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6429," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6061," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2616," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2746," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.7," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.3," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3396," accessed March 16, 2015
