Democratic Candidate: Martin O'Malley

Martin Joseph O'Malley was the 61st Governor of Maryland, from 2007 to 2015, He is married with four children. Martin is running for President of the United States in the 2016 election

On the Issues:

Very Liberal/ Progressive

Abortion:

• Abortions should be legal, without government restriction. (May 2015)
• $101M for stem cell research over six years. (Feb 2012)
• Supports federal abortion funding. (Aug 2010) 

 On the Economy:

• Why weren't Wall Street CEOs convicted in 2008 meltdown? (May 2015)
• Reinstate Glass-Steagall: separate investments from banking. (Apr 2015)
• Tax reductions & regulatory reforms to help job creators. (Feb 2015)
• Closed $1.7 billion budget deficit in 7 years. (Jan 2014)
• Middle-out economics instead of trickle-down economics. (Jan 2014)
• Obama inherited worst economy since the Great Depression. (Sep 2012)
• Limit budget growth to below inflation. (Jan 2007) 

On Social Security:

• Repeal income tax on retired veterans; & later all retirees. (Feb 2015)
• Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000) 

On Civil Rights:

• All are created equal, including gay, lesbian & transgender. (May 2015)
• Led Maryland to 2012 same-sex marriage law. (Apr 2015)
• Respect dignity of individuals & support same-sex marriage. (Jan 2014)
• Civil marriage rights for all Marylanders. (Feb 2012)
• Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
• Opposes Amendment to prevent same sex marriage. (Aug 2010)

On Gun Control:

• Ban assault weapons, limit clip size, & require fingerprints. (May 2015)
• Further toughen the enforcement of our gun laws. (Feb 2011)
• Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)
• Supports restrictions on the right to bear arms. (Aug 2010) 

On Drugs:

• Executive Order to address this heroin epidemic. (Feb 2015)
• Proportionality in marijuana arrests, but not legalization. (Jan 2014)
• Let Colorado experiment with legalization, not Maryland. (Jan 2014)
• Baltimore recovered from open-air drug markets. (Nov 2013) 

On Education:

• Allow refinancing college loans & income-based repayments. (Jun 2015)
• Encourage more public charter schools. (Feb 2015)
• Tax credits for contributions to private & parochial schools. (Feb 2015)
• Complete College Maryland: incentives to finish on time. (Feb 2011)
• Give students, teachers & parents resources they need. (Nov 2006)
• Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
• Opposes education vouchers for public or private school. (Aug 2010) 

On Energy and Oil:

• American jobs agenda to build a new renewable energy future. (May 2015)
• End the automatic gas tax increase. (Feb 2015)
• Raise gas tax by 2% per year, to rebuild infrastructure. (Feb 2012)
• Maryland needs a long-term vision to make energy affordable. (Nov 2006)
• Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000) 

On the Environment:

• Passed milestone of preserving 1 million acres of open space. (Jan 2014)
• Flush Tax: fund green upgrade to wastewater treatment plants. (Feb 2012)
• Adopt the Clean Cars Act to fight global warming. (Jan 2007) 

On Families and Children:

• Cut infant mortality by 21%, after setting goal of 10%. (Jan 2014)
• Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000) 

On Foreign Policy:

• New foreign policy of engagement and collaboration. (May 2015)
• Respect my right to shy away from foreign policy. (Apr 2013)
• Israeli separation barrier might be called "peace wall". (Apr 2013)
• Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000) 

On Free Trade:

• Opposing bad trade deals like TPP is just common sense. (Apr 2015)
• Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)
• Reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank. (Jul 2014)

On Government Reform:

• Fair Campaign Financing Act for gubernatorial elections. (Feb 2015)
• Every Marylander should have the right to cast their vote. (Apr 2013)
• Implement a system of open and transparent administration. (Jan 2007)
• Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000) 

On Healthcare:

• All-payer system: state caps medical cost & hospital fees. (May 2015)
• ObamaCare will get past the scare tactics and will work. (Feb 2014)
• ObamaCare website has problems, but we're enrolling citizens. (Jan 2014)
• Pass the Maryland healthcare act to expand health coverage. (Jan 2007)
• Health care should be a right--not a privilege. (Nov 2006)
• Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
• Supports government-run healthcare. (Aug 2010)
• Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year. (Oct 2009)
• 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health. (Apr 2010) 

On Homeland Security:

• Congress' authorization required for use of force on ISIS. (May 2015)
• More equipment and training for first responders. (Nov 2006) 

On Immigration:

• Comprehensive reform to bring 11 million out of shadows. (May 2015)
• First state to pass the DREAM Act. (Jul 2013) 

On Jobs:

• Raise the minimum wage, plus collective bargaining rights. (May 2015)
• Extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. (Jan 2014)
• Raise minimum wage to $10 per hour. (Jan 2014)
• We have driven unemployment down to a three-year low. (Feb 2012)
• Recovery & Reinvestment Act creates jobs; spend more locally. (Feb 2011) 

On War and Peace:

• Negotiate with Iran to remove potential nuclear weapon. (May 2015)
• Two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. (May 2015)    

 
So there we have it.

Update: It appears Republican Rick Perry's entire staff is gone and he may or may not be dropping out of the race. Until we are sure....we will move on. If he does in fact stay in the race for the Primaries we will take a closer look at that time. And no word yet whether Democrat Joe Biden will or will not be entering the field although it has been strongly suggested. 

Next up then : Republican Candidate Ted Cruz