Adoption “I firmly believe in moving toward and promoting a culture that values and respects the sanctity of life - especially those rights of the unborn and the elderly. We must protect infants at their most vulnerable stages and never overlook the weakest and most frail among us. As a foster mother to 23 at-risk children, I applaud the work of those who reach out to assist those most in need of care.”
11 July 2006, Campaign Website
Roe v. Wade
Favors a repeal “Don’t think that sidewalk counseling, praying for someone, stroking out a check, being on your knees … don’t ever think that it is a waste. You pour out, pour it out with the most liberal offering that you can give to the savior.”
24 January 2011, speaking at the Rose Dinner in Washington for the annual March For Life, an event organized on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade
Parental Consent
Supports "Does that mean that someone's 13 year-old daughter could walk into a sex clinic, have a pregnancy test done, be taken away to the local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, have their abortion, be back and go home on the school bus that night? Mom and dad are never the wiser, they don't know any different."
30 September 2009, speaking on the House floor against the House health care legislation.
Planned Parenthood
Supports measures to defund the organization “As a co-sponsor of the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act introduced by Representative Mike Pence (IN-06), I know Congress must take up this critical issue right away. Tax dollars have been flowing to this heinous organization far too long.”
Press Statement, 10 February 2011
Embryonic stem cell research
Against “I am disappointed with the President’s decision to use taxpayer funds to promote unnecessary and unethical scientific procedures,"
"In fact, science has given us options that permit progress with ethics. Not only is it immoral to destroy human embryos, but it is even worse to place women in a position where their health is at risk to do unethical research"
Press Statement, 9 March 2009
Bachmann believes that President Obama’s draw down decision came much too soon, which may disrupt efforts to consolidate our recent gains, and more importantly, went against the advice given by General Petraeus.
“ … it appears for President Obama that he is acting more on political strategy than military strategy. That's very concerning, because it also seems that this is more the Obama-Biden plan for early withdrawal, as opposed to the Petraeus plan.”
“Gen. Petraeus, who's in charge of winning the war effort in Afghanistan, understands that we need to win the war on terror. We must never forget that 9/11 was hatched in the caves and the mountains of Afghanistan. The Taliban has a presence there. Al-Qaida has a presence there. We must defeat them in their backyard. And it's important that Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Allen have the resources that they need to be successful in southern Afghanistan and then also in eastern Afghanistan … ”
“ … I think that the president needs to follow what the advice is to be successful. Let me tell you this: As president of the United States, I would — knowing that we have a war hero like Gen. Petraeus — I would call Gen. Petraeus into my office. We would have a very short conversation. It would be something like this: It would be, "General, how quickly can we conclude the war in Afghanistan?" No. 2, "What do you need?" And I would, I would trust his judgment. He wrote the book on counterinsurgency. He turned around the war effort in Iraq. We need to trust him on Afghanistan. Simply because he's demonstrated results. With the resources he's had, he's demonstrated positive results, particularly in southern Afghanistan. But let's remember, if we pull out now, we could cause all of the advances we've made to collapse. And we have to remember, the greatest treasure we've expended in Afghanistan has been the blood of our soldiers. Not to mention the resources of the American people to be able to provide the assets required.”
29 June 2011, National Public Radio (NPR)
Budget
Bachmann is a strong advocate of spending cuts, and feels that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are committed to the kind of massive cuts necessary to slash down the nation’s budget deficit.
“We must answer the bell that was rung last November when the American people called us to fight for deep cuts in spending, for the full repeal of ObamaCare, for an end to taxpayer funding of abortion, and for a government that will live within its Constitutional boundaries. … Don’t get me wrong, cuts in spending are a move in the right direction. House Republicans have brought about a change from the spending binge of the last two years. But it’s time to face the facts. This is the “small ball” battle that House leadership has chosen to engage … I am ready for a big fight, the kind that will change the arc of history” April 8, 2011, Redstate
Deficit
Bachmann, in an appearance in The Today Show, articulates her position on a number of issues concerning the budget deficit. Foremost was her position on taxation, which echoes the Laffer Curve, i.e, taxation dampens growth.
“Individualism and personal responsibility have always been the bedrock of the country”
April 13, 2011, The Today Show with Matt Lauer
Debts
Bachmann believes that President Obama’s agenda is misguided, and has instead worsened the national debt crisis. She believes that the populace is looking at the Republicans to take the lead in getting the nation out of this quandary.
“And I think that it’s a tremendous shock for a lot of young people to find out that their standard of living could be demonstrably lowered beyond what their parents had.”
“The debt and the taxing…the taxes that result from this out of control debt will be one that will mean fewer jobs will be created in the private sector. You have to have a growth economy to create jobs”
“under President Obama’s policies and Speaker Pelosi’s policies…their policies are not inducing entrepreneurs to grow and create jobs. Without private job creation, there can be no healthy public sector either. And so, they are making some very foolish decisions that have long term consequences and they bode ill for the debt paying generation.”
“We don’t want to see senior citizens put in a situation where they’re dependent on either Medicare or Social Security, and one day when they go to their mailbox, they open it up, and there’s no check there because these programs have collapsed because we’re actually bankrupt”
“Government takeover of health care has been the Obama way and the Obama solution, and it isn’t that I think President Obama is an evil, negative person- I think he just simply, simply has it wrong.”
“I think people are reacting negatively to what they have observed from the Pelosi/Reid/Obama agenda. People intuitively understand that they can’t live with excessive spending that creates unsustainable levels of debt ... So people are rejecting the Obama agenda. People want to know, “Republicans, if we give you the gavel, can we trust you? Will you be responsible? Do you have a plan to get us out of this hole?” And that’s up to Republicans, now, to make that message. I think one of the best things we could do, is let the American people know- number one- if you put us in office, we will vote to full-scale repeal ObamaCare”
June 30, 2010, The Lobbyist (Listen to the interview here)
Policy
Bachmann invokes the name of the Lord to assist with the country’s financial predicament. She also included President Obama in her prayer.
“Oh Father God, I thank you that we are privileged to be here this morning in Iowa, one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever been privileged to be in… Lord, we hear you, Father, in the thunder… We lift up our president to you today. We lift up the Supreme Court. We lift up the senators. We lift up the house members, Lord, as they grapple with this issue of how they deal with the finances for our nation, would you give them wisdom… Lord let us know that you are enough, and that things will get better…”
July 24, 2011, Speaking at the New Life Community Church in Marion, Iowa
Bachmann believes that our economic policy is shaped and guided by the liberal agenda, and believes that the Republicans must be bold and face the threat of the ‘left’ head on. Bachmann also advocates the closure of non-productive federal agencies such as the DoE, DoC and EPA.
“What we need to do is expose these policies that we see on the left, expose them, and then number two, defund them … It’s very important that we de-fund the left … There’s been talk about abolishing the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce. Any place where we could abolish we should go ahead and cut back and abolish. The private sector can handle that on their own … The free-market economy takes care of those functions …We don’t need government intervention … Also the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has drifted from their focus on conservation, of clean air and clean water … They’ve drifted to other areas and the cap and trade bill is one area that’s adding in an enormous fashion to our regulatory burden … People across the nation have told me since Friday how terribly disappointed they are in the final budget deal that we have because they expected so much more from us and so do I … And that's why we have to remember, we will never win if we don't fight.”
Christ Wallace (Moderator): Congresswoman Bachmann, I want to switch to another angle of the war on terror, though if you want to weigh in on Iran, feel free. We — you say that we don’t win the war on terror by closing Guantanamo and reading Miranda rights to terrorists. Congressman Paul says terrorism suspects — suspects have committed a crime and are due – should be given due process in civilian courts. Could you please tell Congressman Paul why he’s wrong?
Bachmann: Well, because, simply, terrorists who commit acts against United States citizens, people who are from foreign countries who do that, do not have any right on our — under our Constitution to Miranda rights. We’ve also seen that Guantanamo Bay has yielded significant information. In fact, we’ve learned that that led to the capture and the killing of bin Laden. This is a tool that we need to have in order to be able to prostitute the new type of war, the new type of warfare, and the new type of terrorists that this country is dealing with.
August 11, 2011; Fox/Exaqminer Republican Presidential Debate in Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa
On Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Supports
“If I were President, I would be willing to use water boarding. I think it was very effective to gain information for our country.”
Nov 12, 2011; CBS News/National Journal GOP Presidential Debate, Spartanburg, South Carollina
The Second Amendment: Individual or Collective Right?
Bachmann is a strong believer in the rights of an individual to bear arms
“The Second Amendment states that the people’s right to keep and bear arms may not be infringed, and I believe that citizens who are in compliance with the law should not have that guaranteed right taken away. I am a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus which is a bipartisan group of nearly 300 U.S. Representatives and Senators committed to fish and wildlife conservation and preserving opportunities to hunt, fish and trap.”
Bachmann’s official website
Legislations
“Growing up in a home that valued hunting and fishing, the 2nd Amendment is of equal importance as the other nine Amendments in our Bill of Rights. Since the age of twelve, when I passed my first gun safety class, I’ve enjoyed the privilege afforded us by the right to bear arms. While serving in the Minnesota State Senate I supported and helped pass the Minnesota Personal Protection Act and legislation to protect local shooting ranges. I will fight to uphold our 2nd Amendment rights.”
Bachmann’s official website
Bachmann record extends to her support of numerous anti-gun control legislations, which includes:
• S.1001: A bill to restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia
(Mar 27, 2007: Co-sponsored by Bachmann. The bill was designed to overturn the gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington)
• H.R. 197: National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009
(Jan 6, 2009; Bachmann signed)
• S. 845: Respecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009
(April 21, 2009; Signed)
“The United States is a nation founded by immigrants and prides itself on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Obtaining the “American Dream” is an inherent part of our nation’s spirit and we should encourage those who enter our country legally to achieve it. However, we are also a nation founded on the rule of law and we must ensure U.S. immigration laws are respected and enforced to preserve our national security; protect federal, state, and local budgets; and curb unfair strain on our country’s job markets.”
Sourced from bachmann.house.gov
•On Legislation
The "problem is not our laws on immigration… The problem has been in our unwillingness to enforce the laws that are on the books."
August 16, 2011, Bachmann speaking at the Beacon Drive-in in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Bachmann has indirectly implied on several occasions her opposition to the 14th Amendment, specifically on 'anchor babies'. Her latest comment on the subject was made during a campaign speech in South Carolina.
“Bachmann, who was also asked about her position on illegal immigration, told the audience she thinks it is possible through legislation to stop the "anchor baby" problem of children born to mothers living illegally in the United States. When that happens she said, "A whole new set of implications arise for the United States. I do not believe that the American taxpayer should be paying benefits to people who are in the United States illegally."
August 25, 2011, Bachmann speaking at Trident Technical College, North Charleston; Excerpts from CNN.Com article, ‘Bachmann's warning to South Carolina voters’, August 26, 2011
•On Public Amenities & Infrastructure (Healthcare, Education, Shelter, etc)
Bachmann is opposed to Social Security coverage for illegal immigrants. She co-sponsored H.R.787 - No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2011, which propose,
“To amend title II of the Social Security Act to exclude from creditable wages and self-employment income wages earned for services by aliens illegally performed in the United States and self-employment income derived from a trade or business illegally conducted in the United States.”
Bachmann is against health coverage for illegal immigrants. In a blog post for Townhall.com last year, she wrote,
“The relationship between illegal immigrants and our nation’s health care system is one that cannot be overlooked. In 2006, the Census Bureau reported that there were 46.6 million people without health insurance of which about 9.5 million were not United States citizens…It’s clear that a bill that is silent on eligibility means a bill that includes illegal immigrants.”
July 28, Bachmann, Health Care Bill to Cover Illegal Immigrants, Townhall.com
Note: The Health Care bill referred to by Bachmann above already contained a provision denying coverage to illegal immigrants
Section 221, (h) APPLICATION OF INCOME AND ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION SYSTEM (IEVS) AND THE SYSTEMATIC 3 ALIEN VERIFICATION FOR ENTITLEMENTS (SAVE) PROGRAMS.—In order to utilize the public health insurance option, an individual must have had his or her eligibility determined and approved under the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) programs under section 1137 of the Social Security Act. The benefit determination and approval under this subsection shall be the responsibility of the Exchange-participating health benefits plan offering the public health insurance option.
•U.S. Mexico Border Fence
"How do you solve it? You build a barrier, a fence, a wall — whatever you want to call it. You build it… As president of the United States, every mile, every yard, every foot, every inch will be covered on that southern border…
August 16, 2011, Bachmann speaking at the Beacon Drive-in in Spartanburg, South Carolina
