OCF Candidate Survey 2006
Candidate: Tammy Baldwin
Party: Democrat
District: 2
Running For: US House
State: Wisconsin
1
QDo you think organic agriculture should receive a fair share (at least 2.5%) of government resources spent on agriculture?
A Yes
Comment: I support increased funding for programs which educate about and increase study of organice agriculture so that farmers and consumers have the most up-to-date knowledge about how to become more efficient and successful while protecting the environment for future generations.
2
QDo you support strict standards for processed foods, dairy, and body care products that are labeled or marketed as organic?
A Yes
Comment: I beleive it is important to maintain a strong organic program that certifies the integrity of the organic label placed on consumer products.
3
QDo you support more aggressive government action to assess the harms of pesticides, take harmful pesticides off the market, and hold companies responsible for diseases and environmental damage caused by pesticides?
A Yes
Comment:
4
QShould people have the right to pass consumer safety laws at the state or local level that require food labels to include information on dangerous ingredients?
A Yes
Comment: I voted against H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act, because I believe that it will prevent states and local governments from being allowed to have stricter labeling standards on foods than the federal government.
5a
QDo you support Country of Origin and labeling that helps consumers choose local products?
A Yes
Comment: I support mandatory country-of-origin labeling on all agricultural products, including meats, because they provide a significant level of important information concerning agricultural products that will expand the level of consumer choice, confidence, and knowledge in the retail marketplace and potentially increase demand for U.S. origin commodities.
5b
QDo you support government action to help US farmers develop local and regional markets and to reduce non-renewable energy use on their farms?
A Yes
Comment:
6a
QDo you support mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients?
A Undecided
Comment: I believe that consumers should have all available information so that they can make informed choices for themselves and their families.
6b
QDo you support mandatory pre-market safety testing for all genetically modified foods and crops?
A Yes
Comment: I believe that extensive research must be done to determine the risks involved in creating, and eating, genetically modified crops. This should inform regulations of labeling for genetically modified foods and ingredients.
7
QDo you support universal testing for Mad Cow disease and a ban on feeding slaughterhouse waste to farm animals?
A Yes
Comment: The USDA's BSE testing program is important to ensuring food safety, but I do not belieeve that individual farms and slaughterhouses should be prevented from performing their own BSE testing.
8
QDo you support a restructuring of trade-distorting US farm subsidies?
A Undecided
Comment: Farm subsidies play a vital role in the U.S. agricultural industry--without them, many smaller farms adn farmers would not be able to copete against larger producers and processors. I agree that the U.S.'s subsidies can negatively affect international agricultural trade and agriculture industries in foreign countries, but any subsidy restructuring mandated by the WTO's Doha Round or Federal legislation must not unnecessarily endanger domestic agricuture.
9
QDo you support a significant shift in US farm subsidies to help family farmers and ranchers make the transition to organic?
A Yes
Comment: I support funding for easing the transition from conventional to organic farming.
10
QDo you support a significant shift in subsidies to help US farmers adopt conservation and renewable energy practices on farms?
A Yes
Comment:
11
QDo you support increases for WIC (Women, Infant and Children), the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and other programs to help low-income Americans buy organic food?
A Yes
Comment: These programs help two very important groups simultaneously--they ensure that low-income families and children have access to healthy and nutritious food, while expanding the number of customers for the organice food industry.
12
QDo you support universal health care with a preventive focus and a major emphasis on better nutrition?
A Yes
Comment: I am a strong believer in health care for all. I believe that all Americans should have comprehensive, affordable, accessible health care, including proper prevention and nutrition.
13
QDo you support 80%-by-2050 reduction in climate destabilizing greenhouse gas pollution?
A Yes
Comment: I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 5642, the Safe Climate Act, which would set exactly these goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
14
QDo you support ending the Iraq war and redirecting funds from the $500 billion annual military spending in the U.S. toward greening the U.S. economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and converting U.S. agriculture to organic practices?
A Yes
Comment: The money currently diverted to military involvement overseas can be spent on many things, among them domestic agriculture, environment, and nutrition programs.
15
Q Do you support requiring electronic voting machines to produce voter-verified paper records and election officials to use these records to conduct mandatory audits of election results?
A Yes
Comment: I beleive it is vitally important for paper voters records to be created, and that voters have the opportunity to verify them, to ensure transparency and accountability in our election system.
16
QDo you support eliminating the distorting effect of special interest money on our elections and politicians by requiring full public funding for all federal, state, and local elections?
A Yes
Comment: I support the public financing of campaigns because I believe confidence and trust in elections is essential to a democracy.
17
QDo you support legislation to prevent internet companies from rigging the system to serve only the highest-paying users and discriminate against users they don’t like?
A Yes
Comment:
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