Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential run on December 21, 2015.[1]

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png 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.


Grahampp.jpg

Lindsey-Graham-circle.png

Presidential candidate
Lindsey Graham
Political offices:
U.S. Senator
(Assumed office: 2003)
U.S. House of Representatives
(1995-2003)
Graham on the issues:
Taxes • Banking policy • Government regulations • International trade • Budgets • Agricultural subsidies • Federal assistance programs • Foreign affairs • Federalism • Natural resources • Healthcare • Immigration • Education • Abortion • Gay rights
Republican Party Republican candidate:
Donald Trump
Ballotpedia's presidential election coverage
2024 • 2020 • 2016


See also: Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham was a Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. He announced his candidacy in his hometown of Central, South Carolina, on June 1, 2015. During his announcement, he focused on his experience with foreign policy and national defense.

Lindsey Graham Suspends Presidential Campaign, released December 21, 2015.

Graham withdrew from the race on December 21, 2015, after finding it difficult to win a significant level of support. On the day he dropped out, Real Clear Politics listed Graham with a national polling average of 0.5 percent.[2] Graham's announcement also came on the same day as the deadline for him to remove his name from the South Carolina primary ballot, a date that had been closely watched amid speculation that the low-polling Graham would want to avoid a potentially poor performance in his own state’s contest, according to Politico.[3] Graham released a video thanking his supporters and took credit for raising the prominence of foreign policy and the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria among the GOP presidential primary candidates.

[4] Graham is a Republican member of the U.S. Senate from the state of South Carolina. He was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and most recently won re-election in 2014. Graham also represented South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2003.[5] On January 18, 2015, Graham said that he was considering a run for president in 2016. He noted that his foreign policy knowledge qualifies him to run. He said, "I think the world is falling apart, and I’ve been more right than wrong when it comes to foreign policy. But we’ll see."[6]

In recent candidate rankings, Crowdpac ranked Graham as a 4.6C (C being conservative) on a scale ranging from 10L to 10C, making him the fifth least conservative Republican presidential candidate.[7] He received a grade of "C+/77" from the Leadership Project for America PAC.[8]

On the issues

Public policy
in the 2016 election
Budgets and Taxes
Education
Common Core
Student debt
Energy
Clean Power Plan
Fracking
Environment
Climate change
Healthcare
Medicaid and Medicare
Obamacare
Redistricting
Voting Rights Act
Voter ID
Public Policy Logo-one line.png
Hover over the words for information about the issue and links to related articles.

Economic and fiscal

Taxes

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Taxes
  • In an op-ed for CNBC on October 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham explained how he would prevent “the coming debt crisis.” Graham’s plan included raising the retirement age for Social Security, eliminating the payroll tax and “expanding rehabilitation and work opportunities for those on disability.” He would also cap individual and corporate tax deductions and require that “[a]ny new revenues would have to be paired with spending cuts in a 3:1 ratio of cuts to revenues.”[11]
  • Graham voted for H.R. 8 - the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003, while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels.[12]
  • On September 19, 2011, Graham released the following statement: "The President’s $1.5 trillion dollar tax increase on investors, job creators, and American business is poorly-timed, ill-conceived, and dead on arrival. Our economy desperately needs to grow so more Americans can get back to work. Tax increases on job creators, like President Obama is proposing, will be a death blow to any recovery. Our tax code needs to be reformed. I support tax code simplification which combines lower rates with the elimination of deductions and loopholes. However, increasing tax burdens on job creators is the last thing we ought to do in a weak economy. The President’s 1.5 trillion tax increase will certainly make it more difficult to grow the economy and create jobs."[13]
  • Graham signed Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[14]
  • In 2008, Graham voted against S.Amdt.4218 to S.Con.Res.70, which would have raised the tax rate for those earning more than $1 million.[15]
  • In 2008, Graham voted for S.Amdt.4191 to S.Con.Res.70, which would have raised the Death Tax exemption to $5 million.[16]
  • Graham voted for H.R.4297 - the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, which, among other things, extended "reductions in capital gains and dividends tax rates enacted by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003." It became law on May 17, 2006.[17]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.3594 - the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000, which "Amends the Internal Revenue Code (as amended by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999) to repeal revisions to the Code (made by the Act) which repealed the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method taxpayers and modified the pledge rules of installment obligations." The purpose of the bill is to ensure that businesses are not unfairly taxed until the full amount of the sale of a business is completed. It became law on December 28, 2000.[18]

Banking policy

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Banking policy
  • In July 2013, Lindsey Graham voted to confirm Richard Cordray as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. According to The Huffington Post, Republicans filibustered Cordray's nomination for a year to protest the Dodd-Frank Act. Graham said, "Cordray was being filibustered because we don’t like the law. That's not a reason to deny someone their appointment. We were wrong."[19]
  • In December 2011, Graham described the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as "something out of the Stalinist era." He said, "The reason Republicans don't want to vote for it is we want a board, not one person making all the regulatory decisions."[21]
  • In 2009, Graham said the Troubled Asset Relief Program was "necessary because the whole economy was gonna collapse, and Bernanke, Paulson, and everybody that I know and quite frankly trust, after Lehman Brothers went down, that if we had not involved ourselves, quickly, we'd have a financial meltdown. ... That's no reason to keep giving money to banks. I think what we ought to do now is if a bank can't make it through raising private capital, then they ought to be broken up and sold off."[23]

Government regulations

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Government regulations
  • Lindsey Graham co-sponsored S 193 - the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, which increased fines for broadcasting "obscene, indecent, or profane language" as defined by the Federal Communications Commission. It became law on June 15, 2006.[24]

International trade

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/International trade
  • Lindsey Graham told the Post and Courier on October 13, 2015, that he supports reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. Graham said, “If our Ex-Im Bank and its competitive financing go away permanently, the United States will lose market share and it will cost us jobs. Other nations are cheering the ill-conceived decision to close the doors to Ex-Im while they keep their export banks open for business.”[25]
  • Graham voted in favor of free trade agreements with Panama and Korea in 2011, Peru in 2007 and Oman in 2006.[26][27][28][29]
  • Graham voted against free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore in 2003.[30][31]
  • Graham voted against H.R.3045 - the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act in 2005.[32]

Budgets

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Budgets
  • In an op-ed for CNBC on October 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham explained how he would prevent “the coming debt crisis.” Graham’s plan included raising the retirement age for Social Security, eliminating the payroll tax and “expanding rehabilitation and work opportunities for those on disability.” He would also cap individual and corporate tax deductions and require that “[a]ny new revenues would have to be paired with spending cuts in a 3:1 ratio of cuts to revenues.”[33]
"Government Shutdown: End Obamacare Exemption for Congress and Obamacare Medical Device Tax Repeal," October 1, 2013.
  • Graham voted for H.R.3547 - the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014. The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations. It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency and left the Affordable Care Act without any drastic cuts. It became law on January 17, 2014.[34]
  • Graham voted for H.R.2775 - the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, which re-opened the government after the shutdown and funded it through January 15, 2014.[35]
  • Graham voted for H.R.325 - the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill temporarily suspended the debt ceiling and withheld the pay of members of Congress until a budget was passed. It became law on February 4, 2014.[36]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.1340 - the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011, which proposed cutting federal spending, putting a limit on future spending and increasing the debt ceiling.[37]

Agricultural subsidies

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Agricultural subsidies and 2016 presidential candidates on rural policy
  • Lindsey Graham voted for the H.R.2642 - the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers set to kick in when prices drop; however, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states. It became law on February 7, 2014.[38]

Federal assistance programs

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Federal assistance programs
  • In an op-ed for CNBC on October 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham explained how he would prevent “the coming debt crisis.” Graham’s plan included raising the retirement age for Social Security, eliminating the payroll tax and “expanding rehabilitation and work opportunities for those on disability.” He would also cap individual and corporate tax deductions and require that “[a]ny new revenues would have to be paired with spending cuts in a 3:1 ratio of cuts to revenues.”[39]
  • In 2013, Lindsey Graham voted for S.954 - the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, which, among other things, made cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.[40]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.2196 - the Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012, which proposed allowing those who qualify for Medicare to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefit program.[41]
  • In 2011, Graham sponsored S.804, a bill to increase the age to receive Social Security benefits to 70 in graduated stages.[42]
  • In 2003, Graham voted against H.R.1 - the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which provides a prescription drug benefit to those on Medicare. It became law on December 8, 2003.[43] Graham commented on the legislation saying, "Medicare is already scheduled to go bankrupt. Reform of the Medicare system and adding a prescription drug benefit were supposed to go hand-in-hand. Instead of sticking with that approach, we went 180 degrees the other way by adding a costly new benefit and dropping reform."[44]

Labor and employment

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Labor and employment
  • Lindsey Graham co-sponsored S.30 - the Forty Hours Is Full Time Act of 2015. The Affordable Care Act defines full time employment as 30 hours per week. S.30 proposed changing the definition of full time employment to 40 hours per week.[45]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.1335 - the Pilot's Bill of Rights, which protects pilots from being treated unfairly by the Federal Aviation Administration. It became law on August 3, 2012.[46]
  • In May 2011, after "the National Labor Relations Board moved to stop Boeing from building airplanes at a nonunion plant in South Carolina," Sens. Graham, Lamar Alexander and Jim DeMint "introduced the Job Protection Act (S. 964), a bill to preserve federal law’s existing protections of state right-to-work laws."[47][48]
  • In 2011, Graham voted for S.Amdt.14 to S.223, which proposed ending collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration employees.[49]
  • In 2011, Graham sponsored S.1523 - the Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act, which proposed amending the National Labor Relations Act to deny the National Labor Relations Board the ability to "order an employer (or seek an order against an employer) to restore or reinstate any work, product, production line, or equipment; (2) rescind any relocation, transfer, subcontracting, outsourcing, or other change regarding the location, entity, or employer who shall be engaged in production or other business operations; or (3) require any employer to make an initial or additional investment at a particular plant, facility, or location."[50]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.1180 - the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which states that a "disabled beneficiary may use a TWSSP ticket issued by the Commissioner to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services, pursuant to an appropriate individual beneficiary work plan that meets specified requirements." It became law on December 17, 1999.[51]

Foreign affairs

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Foreign affairs

Iran nuclear deal

See also: 2016 presidential candidates on the Iran nuclear deal
  • Speaking of the quickly quashed 2009 uprising against the Iran regime, Lindsey Graham said in September 2015, “The religious Nazis running Iran faced no consequences for their actions ... Without the support of the world's greatest democracy, their effort was doomed. The ayatollah and his henchmen in the Revolutionary Guard killed, jailed or terrified into silence every Iranian moderate." He also suggested, “They knew exactly who they were dealing with. They saw President Obama's weakness and they took every possible advantage of it."[52]
  • Graham announced on August 10, 2015, he would attempt to block $88 million in funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency until Congress was given access to the terms of “side deals” made between the IAEA and Iran. “It’s a secret deal between the two parties that limits inspections of their military facilities. I don’t believe it’s a deal that until I get to look at it, so that’s the problem here. I betcha dollar if you looked at it, it would be a joke,” Graham said.[54]
  • Graham released a letter on August 13, 2015, addressed to Secretary John Kerry about his intentions. “There is precedent for the IAEA to share side agreements between the Agency and the Iranian government. In 2007, the IAEA made the document, ‘Understandings of Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA on the Modalities of Resolution of the Outstanding Issues’ public. … As an indication of how serious I view the provision of copies of these side agreements to our national security, I intend to condition and/or withhold voluntary contributions to the IAEA in fiscal year 2016 should they not be provided prior to the congressional debate next month,” Graham wrote.[55][56]
  • While interviewing Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on July 29, 2015, Graham suggested the United States would undoubtedly win a war with Iran. “Could we win a war with Iran? Who wins the war between us and Iran? Who wins? Do you have any doubt who wins? We win!” Graham said.[57][58]
  • On July 21, 2015, Graham called President Obama the “Neville Chamberlain of our time,” likening the British prime minister’s policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany to the Iran nuclear deal. Graham continued, “ I don’t think he’s a bad man, I think he misunderstands the world and the Mideast.”[59]
  • On July 20, 2015, Graham joined by Joe Lieberman and John McCain, launched a 60-day multi-state “No Nukes for Iran” tour to encourage members of Congress to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal." Graham said of the Iran nuclear agreement, “You've ensured that the Arabs will go nuclear. You've put Israel in the worst possible box. This will be a death over time sentence to Israel if they don't push back.”[60][61]
  • After an Iran nuclear deal was reach on July 14, 2015, Graham said, "My initial impression is that this deal is far worse than I ever dreamed it could be and will be a nightmare for the region, our national security and eventually the world at large." Graham added, "If the initial reports regarding the details of this deal hold true, there’s no way as president of the United States I would honor this deal. It’s incredibly dangerous for our national security, and it’s akin to declaring war on Sunni Arabs and Israel by the P5+1 because it ensures their primary antagonist Iran will become a nuclear power and allows them to rearm conventionally.”[62]
  • During an interview on Fox News Sunday on April 19, 2015, Graham commented on the framework of the possible nuclear deal with Iran and Congress' authority to approve or deny the deal. He said, "I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in Hell this framework will get approved by Congress after review. It is so weak in a time we need to be strong. I don’t think any Republican or Democrat is going to allow that to become final."[63]
  • On April 10, 2015, Graham released the following statement: "The Ayatollah and President Obama appear to be talking about two separate agreements and unfortunately, I can't say I'm surprised. President Obama wants a deal way too badly, and his Administration has been trying to sell a deal which may not actually exist. The Ayatollah should be told - in no uncertain terms - that should we come to an actual agreement between both parties, sanctions relief will not be immediate. Any realistic agreement must preclude sanctions relief from being granted until Iran proves it has ended its military nuclear program. Finally, I will never support an agreement with Iran that does not allow for snap inspections - anytime and anywhere. The ‘anytime-anywhere' inspection should be a given in light of Iran's history of cheating, and it would be incredibly dangerous not to require Iran to abide by an ‘anytime-anywhere' inspections regime."[64]
  • On April 2, 2015, Graham released the following statement on the Iran nuclear deal: "I have been very consistent and straightforward when it comes to the manner in which we should address Iranian nuclear ambitions. I believe any agreement with Iran should require that they dismantle their nuclear weapons program and infrastructure, and forbid them ever having the pathway to develop a nuclear weapon. I believe sanctions relief should not be granted until Iran comes clean and fully reveals the past and present military dimensions of its nuclear program. I believe steps should be taken to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is to be used solely for peaceful purposes and never allowed to evolve into a program allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapons capability. ...It is increasingly imperative Congress review any deal before it is finalized and before congressional sanctions are lifted. I also categorically reject President Obama's construct that if Congress does not accept this agreement it means war. My biggest fear is a bad deal, which makes Iran a nuclear threshold state, will lead to an arms race in the Middle East. In addition, it will put our closest ally in the region, Israel, at great risk. The impact of a bad deal with Iran is unimaginable to our own national security, the region as a whole, and our allies. We simply cannot take President Obama's word that it is this or war."[65]

Military preparedness and budget

  • In August 2015, Lindsey Graham suggested two women who became the first female graduates of the Army’s Ranger School should be permitted to engage in combat. “Passing that program, going through the Ranger School and coming out successful is an amazing human feat. So if these women want to go into war and protect my nation, as commander in chief, they’re ready to go, I’m ready to send them,” Graham said.[66]
"Graham Discusses 2014 Veterans' Access to Care Act"
  • Graham voted for HR 3230 - Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, which provided funding to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the goal of providing better healthcare to veterans. It became law on August 7, 2014.[68]
  • While discussing sequestration in 2013, Graham said, "Taking four and a half million dollars out of the Defense Department, and if you don't, if you exempt personnel, it's got to come out of modernization and readiness. So that means you'd have to cancel contracts that would have the ripple effect. So a 10- year, $600 billion cut to Defense would be devastating."[69]
  • In 2013, Graham expressed his concern with Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense. He said, "I hope the administration will reconsider his nomination. He’s a good man, but these are dangerous times. What kind of signal are you sending to the Iranians when your secretary of defense is clueless about what your policy is?"[70]
  • According to The New York Times, Graham "a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of the (Benghazi) attack, said he would use a Senate custom known as a hold to stall the nominations of John O. Brennan as C.I.A. director and former Senator Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief until the White House gave him a full description of Mr. Obama’s actions during the attack on Sept. 11."[71]
  • Graham co-sponsored S 407 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, which "Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2009, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children." It became law on June 30, 2009.[72]
  • Graham co-sponsored HR 1291 - Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001, which increased funding for veterans to attend college through the Montgomery GI Bill. It became law on December 27, 2001.[73]
  • Graham co-sponsored HR 4 - National Missile Defense Act of 1999, which "Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) deploy as soon as technologically possible a National Missile Defense (NMD) system capable of defending U.S. territory against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate), with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for NMD; and (2) seek continued negotiated reductions in Russian nuclear forces." It became law on July 22, 1999.[74]
"Graham, Others Announce Bill Restricting Transfers of GTMO Detainees"

National security

  • At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham talked about his support for ground troops in Iraq and Syria: “Well, here's what I'm here to tell you, when I first started this process of running for president., I said, ‘if you didn't realize we need more America boots on the ground in Iraq and eventually in Syria as a part of the regional army - not ready to be commander in chief.’ Like nobody said a word, now everybody's on board except Senator Paul.”[75]
  • When Graham was asked November 3, 2015, if he thought Congress could reach agreement and pass legislation authorizing war against ISIS, he said, ”[A]bsolutely not. ...I think Democrats and a few Republicans have absolutely no clue as to the threats that we face. We're going to get attacked from Syria. That's where the next 9/11 is coming from. After that happens, and I pray that I'm wrong, everybody will take a different view."[76]
  • Speaking at an editorial board meeting of The Conway Daily Sun on October 14, 2015, Graham primarily discussed his view on foreign policy in the Middle East. He said as long as Bashar al-Assad remained in power in Syria, there would be war there because Syrians had rejected him. If he were president, Graham said he would put 10,000 troops on the ground in Iraq and work with Turkey and other regional powers to remove Assad from Syria.[77]
  • In an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe" on September 23, 2015, Graham said that “the next 9/11 is most likely to come from Syria.” He pointed to Russia’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime and recruitment tactics for terrorist organizations there.[78]
  • During the September 2015 GOP debate, Graham said America needs to take the lead against terror threats from the Middle East. “All of us are going to say we want to destroy ISIL. But here's what I'm going to tell you. What we're doing is not working. I have a plan to do it. If I'm president of the United States, we're going to send more ground forces into Iraq because we have to. President Obama made a huge mistake by leaving too soon against sound military advice. To every candidate tonight, are you willing to commit before the American people that you will destroy ISIL and you understand we need a ground force to do it?” said Graham. He then challenged the mediator to ask each candidate the following questions, “Would you go from 3,500 to 10,000 American boots on the ground in Iraq to destroy ISIL? Because if you don't, we're going to lose. Are you willing to send American combat forces into Syria as part of a regional army, because if you don't, we'll never destroy ISIL in Syria.”[79]
  • In July 2015, Graham called for putting more boots on the ground in Iraq, increasing the number from 3,500 to 11,000 troops. He added that he would consider “shaking the Pentagon up” but has no intention of “tearing it apart.”[80]
  • On January 15, 2015, Sens. Graham, Kelly Ayotte and John McCain criticized the Obama Administration for transferring four Guantanamo detainees to Oman and one to Estonia. They said, "As this week's transfer demonstrates, the Administration continues to transfer Guantanamo detainees while providing virtually no details to the American people regarding the risk the detainees present to our country and our allies, as well as the detainees' affiliations with terrorist groups and the conditions of their transfer. …If the detainees the administration has been transferring are truly not a threat to the American people, the administration should provide the unclassified details our legislation requires for the 32 detainees whom the administration has transferred since May."[81]
  • In January 2015, Sens. Graham and John McCain called "the administration's strategy against ISIS incoherent," according to The Hill. They said, "Despite the President’s claims of progress in the campaign against ISIS, this terrorist army continues to gain thousands of recruits and now controls significantly more territory in Syria than when U.S. airstrikes began there six months ago." They also criticized the administration’s strategy in Yemen. "If the President uses the same failed strategy in Syria that he holds up as a model in Yemen, we can expect the same results: a failed state, reduced American influence, and more safe havens for violent Islamic extremists committed to attacking America and our allies," they said.[82]
  • On November 23, 2014, Graham criticized a report from the House Intelligence Committee on the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. He said, "I think the report is full of crap. The House Intelligence Committee is doing a lousy job policing their own. This report puts all the blame on the State Department and absolves the intelligence community. When the Department of Defense committees looked at it, the Department of Defense was held blameless. At the end of the day, everybody is pointing fingers to everybody else."[83]
  • Following the 2014 State of the Union Address, Graham said, "The world is literally about to blow up. The world as I know was not remotely described by the president. Syria is a contagion. Explain to me what happens if the Syrian conflict goes on another year and Assad continues to win. Iraq is disintegrating. The whole region is moving toward chaos, and we’re doing nothing. We’re talking about limiting drones? I hope he will leave a residual force in Afghanistan [so] they can do the job, because if he doesn’t, it will fall apart at a faster pace than Iraq."[84]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.2195 - "A bill to deny admission to the United States to any representative to the United Nations who has been found to have been engaged in espionage activities or a terrorist activity against the United States and poses a threat to United States national security interests." It became law on April 18, 2014.[85]
  • In 2012, Graham introduced S.J.Res.41, which "Reaffirms that the U.S. government and the governments of other responsible countries have a vital interest in working together to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability." It passed the Senate on September 22, 2012.[86]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.1959 - the Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012, which designated "the Haqqani Network (an insurgent network operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan) as a foreign terrorist organization." It became law on August 10, 2012.[87]
  • Graham cosponsored S.2370 - the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which "States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support a peaceful, two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians… and oppose those organizations, individuals, and countries that support terrorism and violently reject such two-state solution; (2) promote democracy and the cessation of terrorism and incitement in institutions and territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA); and (3) urge members of the international community to avoid contact with and refrain from financially supporting the terrorist organization Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel, renounce violence, disarm, and accept prior agreements." It became law on December 21, 2006.[88]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.J.Res.114 - the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. It became law on October 16, 2002.[89]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.1883 - the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000, which "Directs the President to report periodically to specified congressional committees on foreign persons who, on or after January 1, 1999, have transferred to Iran: (1) controlled goods, services, or technology; or (2) non-controlled goods, services, or technology that nevertheless would be, if they were U.S. goods, services, or technology, prohibited for export to Iran because of their potential to make a material contribution to the development of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, or ballistic or cruise missile systems." It became law on March 14, 2000.[90]

International relations

  • At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham talked about dealing with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: “It is absolutely imperative that Bashar Assad go. The biggest mistake Obama made was drawing a red line. Assad crossed it. He is still standing. If I'm president, Assad will not stand. He has murdered 240,000 of his own people. They're not going to accept him as their leader. The war never ends if he stays in power. You're giving Damascus to the Iranians.He's a puppet of the ayatollah, a proxy of Iran. He is the biggest benefactor of Hezbollah. Weapons flowing from Damascus to Lebanon will continue to flow if Assad stays. For our interests and the stability of the region, he must go.And if I'm president, he will go. And the Syrians will pick their leader, not the ayatollah.”[91]
  • During the September 2015 undercard GOP debate, Graham criticized the Obama administration for its approach to foreign affairs. Graham commented, “What do I have to offer that's different? I get my foreign policy from being in on the ground. I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan in the Middle East 35 times in the last decade, trying to understand how we got in this mess. Our leading candidate gets his foreign policy from watching television. And what I heard last night is the Cartoon Network, oh, I'm big, I'm strong, we're going to hit them in the head.”[79]
  • On September 8, 2015, Graham said that America should welcome Syrian refugees. “I don't see how you can lead the free world and turn your back on people who are seeking it,” said Graham.[92]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.2673 - the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, which "Expresses the sense of Congress that Israel is a major U.S. strategic partner." It became law on December 19, 2014.[93]
  • During the 2014 crisis in Gaza, Graham sponsored several resolutions expressing support for Israel’s right to defend itself. S.Res.498 reaffirmed "the support of the Senate for Israel's right to defend its citizens and ensure Israel's survival," and called on "Hamas to cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel." It passed the Senate on July 17, 2014.[94][95][96]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.2318 - the Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012. The bill, which became law on January 15, 2013, expanded the Department of State rewards program to: "(1) address the threat to U.S. interests from transnational criminal activity, such as intellectual property rights piracy, money laundering, trafficking in persons, arms trafficking, and cyber crime; and (2) target individuals indicted by international, hybrid, or mixed tribunals for genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity."[97]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.2165 - the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, which "States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) reaffirm the commitment to Israel's security as a Jewish state, (2) support Israel's right to self-defense and help Israel preserve its qualitative military edge, (3) expand military and civilian cooperation, (4) assist in a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states living side-by-side in peace and security, and (5) veto any one-sided anti-Israel U.N. Security Council resolutions." It became law on July 27, 2012.[98]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.709 - A bill to award a congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair. It became law on July 17, 2003.[99]

Epidemic control

  • In October 2014, Lindsey Graham said, "It seems to be that the president is all in when it comes to Ebola. I want to compliment him for sending troops to help get ahead of this in Africa. But we've got a series of half measures with ISIL. They're gonna draw this conflict out, and it will not lead to ISIL's destruction."[100]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.15 - the Project BioShield Act of 2004, which authorized $5.6 billion to be used to research, develop and purchase vaccines and drugs to prevent and fight acts of bioterrorism. It became law on July 21, 2004.[101]

ISIS and terrorism

  • At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham discussed his plan to defeat ISIS: “The bottom line is you have to go after them everywhere. The key to winning this war is to provide the capacity to those in the faith who reject the ideology. The key to fighting this war is to fight it in their backyard, not ours. Two years ago I came up with a plan that requires more American boots on the ground in Iraq. The first thing out of my mouth running for President was, if you don't understand we need 10,000 troops in Iraq, rather than 3,500, you're not ready. What would I do in Syria? I'd form a regional army of Arabs and Turkey. Ninety percent them, 10 percent us. Up to 10,000 U.S. forces to go in on the ground and destroy the caliphate and its roots. Take Raqqah away from ISIL, kill every one of these bastards we could find. Then I would stay. I would hold the hands of those who are willing to live in peace with us. I would build small school houses in remote regions of the world to give a young woman a voice about her children, something that will end radical Islam more than the bomb. I'm all in. Whatever it takes, as long as it takes. To the isolationists in our party, you're no better than Obama. If you want to win this war, follow me. I am seeking victory, folks, not containment.”[102]
  • Graham co-wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal on how to defeat the Islamic State with U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on December 7, 2015. They said, “Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, has said that he does not want foreign ground combat forces to be introduced on a large scale. Neither do we. What we do want is additional U.S. troops to perform discrete tasks: improve and accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, especially Sunni tribal fighters; embed with and advise Iraqi units closer to the fight; call in airstrikes from forward positions; and conduct counterterrorism operations. This will likely require two to three times as many forces as the U.S. has in Iraq now.” In Syria, however, Graham and McCain stated that “there is a role for U.S. ground combat forces.” They argued that “the U.S. should lead an effort to assemble a multinational force, including up to 10,000 American troops, to clear and hold Raqqa and destroy ISIS in Syria. Such a force could also help to keep the peace in a post-Assad Syria, as was done in Bosnia and Kosovo. Here, too, if the West wins the war and leaves, it should not be surprised if violence and extremism return.”[103]
  • Graham said on November 18, 2015, that Ted Cruz’s and Rand Paul’s bills to prevent Syrian refugees from resettlement in the U.S. do nothing to injure the Islamic State. “Well, number one, many of these attackers apparently were citizens of France. The problem is as follows: two thousand jihadists are flowing into Syria every month to join jihad from all over the world. … I am calling for a time out until we can figure out a what kind of system works. … But Senator Cruz and Paul, you’re not gonna destroy ISIL by shutting down refugee flows, there’s 20 different ways to get here as you just described. The goal is to destroy ISIL. The refugees are a symptom of the problem. My plan would make sure you don’t have to leave Syria. There’d be a no fly zone, a safe haven, where people could go without being raped and killed so they don’t have to leave their own country,” he said.[104]
  • On November 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham announced he intended to introduce a Senate motion to declare war on ISIS. He said such a declaration would “allow this President and every other president to do whatever is necessary to destroy ISIL before they hit us here at home.”[105]
  • In an interview on November 15, 2015, on CNN, Graham said if the U.S. does not "disrupt [ISIL’s] operation inside of Syria" or place 10,000 American troops in Iraq, "what you’ve seen in Paris is coming to America."[106]
  • On November 13, 2015, Graham warned that killing "Jihadi John" would not unravel ISIS. "Just like when Osama bin Laden was killed, al-Qaida has not been decimated, but they're stronger. Jihadi John may be dead, but ISIS is alive and well and what is happening in Sinjar will not change the equation much at all," Graham said. Just before the terrorist attacks in Paris, Graham predicted that "it is just a matter of time that they will hit us or hit Europe if we don't go in on the ground in Syria."[107]

Domestic

Federalism

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Federalism
Legislative
  • In 2015, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt began asking Republican candidates on his show if they would be willing to use the Senate "nuclear option" in order to get rid of the filibuster and repeal Obamacare. Lindsey Graham is one of a few candidates who is in favor of keeping the filibuster.[108]
Judiciary
  • In a discussion of Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis in September 2015, Lindsey Graham said the United States was “a constitutional democracy not a theocracy” and “the secular law of the land is the United States Constitution.” Graham expressed his sympathy for defenders of “traditional marriage,” but added, “I can not say as a conservative that the court’s decision does not apply because I dislike it. I can not say as a conservative there is not a judicial interpretation of the Constitution that is supreme when it comes to how the Constitution works.”[109]
  • After the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, Graham released the following statement: "No one should be angry at Chief Justice John Roberts for exposing the Obama tax for what it is and holding Obamacare is constitutional under the broad power of Congress. Public anger should be directed at the politicians who denied it was a tax to pass Obamacare and are responsible for creating this mess."[115]
  • After the Supreme Court ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act, Graham said, "The main thing is that something like marriage and the bedrock of society should be decided by the population through the political process, not by unelected judges. This is an example of where something this fundamental to our society should be left in the hands of the people through their elected representatives."[116]
Government accountability
  • Lindsey Graham co-sponsored S.202 - the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011, which proposed auditing the Federal Reserve.[117]
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • In April 2011, in response to a pastor burning the Quran, Lindsey Graham said, "I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war. During World War II, we had limits on what you could do if it inspired the enemy. (We should do) anything we can to push back here in America against acts like this that put our troops at risk."[118]
Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • Lindsey Graham was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in 2014. After receiving the endorsement, Graham said, "As an avid hunter and gun-owner, I am a longtime supporter of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I’m proud to have the support of the National Rifle Association and tens of thousands of gun-owners across South Carolina in my re-election campaign."[119]
  • In 2013, Graham voted against S.Amdt.714 to S.649, which sought to "regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices," also known as high-capacity magazines.[121]
  • In 2013, Graham voted for S.Amdt.719 to S.649, which sought to allow citizens with concealed carry permits to carry in other states that allow concealed carry.[122]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.397 - the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prohibits individuals from suing gun manufacturers and retailers as a result of "criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm." It became law on October 26, 2005.[123]
Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham discussed is support for National Security Agency data collection: “Senator Paul and Senator Cruz, are isolationists. They both want to restrict the ability of the NSA to do the following; find out if somebody overseas is calling into America and if somebody is on the other end of the phone, don't you want to know who their talking to? If a terrorist is calling into America and we can match up phone numbers we get a get a [sic] court order to find out what the content is. We're at war folks, they're not trying to steal your car, they're trying to kills us all. So yes, I would re-institute this program. There's four things you need to understand about this war, it's a religious war, them against the world, if you don't fight them over there, they're coming here. If you don't hit them first, they're going to hit us. If you're not determined to fight it as a ware, you're going to lose it. So if you're worried about somebody having your phone in the government, don't be. The only thing you need to worry about is if you're talking to terrorist and a judge gives an order to listen to what you're saying. That's all you need to worry about.”[124]

USA FREEDOM Act of 2015
Neutral/Abstain On June 2, 2015, the Senate passed HR 2048 - the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 by a vote of 67-32. The legislation revised HR 3199 - the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 by terminating the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Graham did not vote. It became law on June 2, 2015.[125][126]

Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • According to Forbes, Lindsey Graham argued in a series of tweets "that nineteen-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev—suspected of being one of the Boston Marathon terrorists and taken into custody on Friday evening—should be treated as an enemy combatant and denied his due process rights under the Constitution."[127]
Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • Lindsey Graham opposes Common Core Standards. In 2014, he introduced S.Res.345, which would have allowed states to establish and define their own "academic standards and assessments."[128]
Crime and justice
  • In August 2015, Lindsey Graham expressed disgust with a Connecticut Supreme Court decision holding the death penalty violated the state’s constitution, sparing the lives of two men who raped two girls before killing them and their mother. “If this doesn’t cry out for the death penalty nothing ever would and I don’t think you’re an indecent society when you take two men who broke into a family’s home, tortured two young girls, raped them, burned them alive — I don’t think that makes us indecent that they would be administered the death penalty … You know if I’m president of the United States, under my administration, my Attorney General - we’re going to prosecute people like this to the fullest extent of the law. I doubt if there’s any federal jurisdiction in a case like this, but it would be worth looking at,” Graham said.[129]
  • Graham voted against S 47 - Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. It became law on March 7, 2013.[130]
  • Graham co-sponsored S 1789 - Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which "Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to: (1) increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for trafficking; and (2) increase monetary penalties for drug trafficking and for the importation and exportation of controlled substances." It became law on August 3, 2012.[131]
  • Graham co-sponsored HR 3633 - Controlled Substances Trafficking Prohibition Act, which "Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to prohibit U.S. residents from importing into the United States a non-schedule I controlled substance exceeding 50 dosage units if they: (1) enter the United States through an international land border; and (2) do not possess a valid prescription or documentation verifying such a prescription." It became law on November 10, 1998.[132]

Natural resources

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Natural resources
Keystone XL Pipeline
  • In 2015, Lindsey Graham co-sponsored S.1, a bill to approve the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.[133]
Energy production
  • At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Lindsey Graham talked about boosting domestic energy production. He said, "I would like to become -- you know, I'd like to stop sending $350 billion overseas to buy oil from people who hate our guts, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you like to export natural gas to cut Putin's legs out from under him? I'm not afraid of a guy riding around on a horse without his shirt. The guy has got a pair twos and we've got a full house, and he's walking all over Obama. Mike, the surge worked. It worked. George W. Bush made mistakes, but he did adjust. I blame Obama for ISIL, not Bush. I'm tired of beating on Bush. I miss George W. Bush. I wish he were president right now. We wouldn't be in this mess. I'm tired of dictators walking all over us. I'm tired of siding with the Iranians and the Russians.”[134]
  • In February 2012, Graham, a strong supporter of nuclear power, released the following statement: "I am very pleased the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted 4-1 today to approve the nations’ first nuclear reactor construction permits in more than three decades. This is a major step on the road to a nuclear renaissance in the United States. NRC approvals will allow us to move forward as a nation in building new reactors for the first time in more than 30 years."[135]
  • Graham voted for H.R.6 - the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The purpose of the bill was "to reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes." It became law on December 19, 2007.[136]
  • Graham voted for H.R.6 - the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which "Sets forth an energy research and development program covering: (1) energy efficiency; (2) renewable energy; (3) oil and gas; (4) coal; (5) Indian energy; (6) nuclear matters and security; (7) vehicles and motor fuels, including ethanol; (8) hydrogen; (9) electricity; (10) energy tax incentives; (11) hydropower and geothermal energy; and (12) climate change technology." It became law on August 8, 2005.[137]
Climate change
  • During the undercard to the third Republican debate, on October 28, 2015, Lindsey Graham explained his position on climate change. Graham said, "Now, you don't have to believe that climate change is real. I have been to the Antarctic. I've been to Alaska. I'm not a scientist, and I've got the grades to prove it. But I've talked to the climatologists of the world, and 90 percent of them are telling me that greenhouse gas effect is real. That we're heating up the planet. I just want a solution that would be good for the economy, that doesn't destroy it."[138]
  • In 2015, according to ABC News, "Graham said Wednesday he accepts that global warming is happening and that it is largely man-made."[139]
  • On October 10, 2009, Sens. Graham and John Kerry wrote an op-ed in The New York Times urging Congress to pass climate change legislation. They advocated for: "aggressive reductions in our emissions of the carbon gases that cause climate change," investing in nuclear power, reducing dependence on foreign oil by providing "new financial incentives for companies that develop carbon capture and sequestration technology," imposing a border tax on countries like China and India that avoid environmental standards and developing "a mechanism to protect businesses — and ultimately consumers — from increases in energy prices."[140]
Environmental Protection Agency
  • In a November 2009 op-ed, Lindsey Graham commented on the EPA’s role in regulating carbon. He explained, "In the U.S. Supreme Court's 2007 decision Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court ruled carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases should be regulated as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. EPA regulation of carbon is the worst possible scenario. The EPA will destroy jobs and contain no new provisions for expanded nuclear energy or offshore drilling. Regardless of whether you view climate change as a real threat or some grand hoax, carbon will eventually be regulated - either through congressional action or by the EPA."[141]

Healthcare

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Healthcare
  • During a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in September 2015, Graham said seniors in his income bracket should pay actual medical premiums instead of having them subsidized to 40 percent of the cost under Medicare.[143]
  • Graham co-sponsored several bills to defund and repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including S 1292 - the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013, S 1272 - the Exchange Sunset Act of 2013, and S 177 - the ObamaCare Repeal Act.[144][145][146]
  • Following the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act website, Graham said, "The president promised if you liked your health care you could keep it. He said it’d be as cheap as a cell phone and easy as [sic] to access as Amazon.com, so he’s oh for three. How could for three years you haven’t noticed that you got to roll out a website on a certain day and it not work? Everybody’s responsible but nobody’s to blame, I guess, is sort of what I learned."[147]
  • Graham declined his employer contribution toward the Affordable Care Act and purchased his healthcare through South Carolina's healthcare exchange. Graham explained that his healthcare was cheaper and covered more before he enrolled. He said, "Sadly, I’m not the only one who will feel the negative effects of Obamacare. It’s happening all over South Carolina."[148]
  • In 2011, Graham introduced S.1587 - the Medicaid Flexibility for States Act, which proposed allowing states to "opt out of one or more of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."[149]
  • Graham co-sponsored S.707 - the PREEMIE Act, which sought to reduce preterm birth, infant mortality, and pregnancy-related death. It became law on December 22, 2006.[150]

Immigration

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Immigration
  • On November 3, 2015, Lindsey Graham criticized Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s decision not take up comprehensive immigration reform while President Obama is in office. Graham said, "Forget about working with Obama, just take up the bill and vote. If you don't like the Senate bill change it, but at least vote. Take a stand. ...It's wrong for the House not to take a position on immigration. I think it hurts our party.” Graham was one of the original Gang of Eight senators who drafted and passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate in 2013.[151]
  • On October 12, 2015, Graham held himself up as an example that a Republican could support amnesty for undocumented immigrants and still succeed “in the reddest of red states.” He added, “I am called ‘Lindsey Grahamnesty’ and ‘Lindsey Gomez.’ To all the Gomezes out there, I will try to honor the family name."[152]
  • During the September 2015 GOP debate, Graham said that the people who come to America illegally or on tourist visas to have babies are “bastardizing citizenship” and that he’d like to stop the policy of birthright citizenship to limit this problem. He also said, “We're not going to deport 11 million people here illegally, but we'll start with felons, and off they go. And, as to the rest, you can stay, but you got to learn our language. I don't speak it very well, well, look how far I've come?” Graham also encouraged creating a better system for legal immigration. “We're going to need more legal immigration. Let's just make it logical. Let's pick people from all over the world on our terms, not just somebody from Mexico. Let's create a rational, legal immigration system because we have a declining workforce,” said Graham.[79]
  • Graham discussed immigration reform and Donald Trump’s policy proposals during a CNN interview on August 17, 2015. “I think it’s a bad practice to give citizenship based on birth. We have evidence of people buying tourist visas for the express purpose of coming over here and having a child as birth tourism. I don’t think that’s a good idea. But that’s not going to happen until we fix a broken immigration system. Donald Trump’s eight-page plan is absolute gibberish, that is unworkable. Mitt Romney said his biggest mistake as a candidate for president was embracing self-deportation. That hurt our party. Donald Trump’s plan is forced deportation. It’s not going to work. It is unworkable,” Graham said.[153]
  • On July 30, 2015, Graham warned he would veto any immigration reform bill that did not include a pathway to citizenship if he were president.[154]
  • Graham, who is a member of the bipartisan Gang of Eight, co-sponsored the comprehensive immigration reform bill, S 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which passed the Senate on June 27, 2013.[155]
"Senator Graham's Speech on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill," June 27, 2013.
  • In 2013, Graham voted against an amendment to S 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which would have required the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 "before registered provisional immigrant status" could be granted. It also required that 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants could be changed to permanent resident status. It was rejected on June 17, 2013.[156]
  • Graham and the Gang of Eight support a path to citizenship. According to the Washington Post, "The senators envision a temporary legal status and then the opportunity to obtain a green card, upon payment of back taxes, learn English, and a background check 'among other requirements.'"[157]
  • During a 2013 interview with Meet the Press, Graham said, "We’re in a demographic death spiral as a party and the only way we can get back in good graces with the Hispanic community, in my view, is to pass comprehensive immigration reform. If you don’t do that, it really doesn’t matter who we run, (in 2016) in my view."[158]

Education

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Education
  • Graham opposes Common Core Standards. In 2014, he introduced S.Res.345, which would have allowed states to establish and define their own "academic standards and assessments."[128]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.800 - the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999, which, among other things, "transferred authority for granting waivers of certain federal statutes and regulations from the U.S. Department of Education to state agencies that met certain requirements."[162][163]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.5 - the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, which continued funding free public education to meet the needs of disabled individuals.[164]

Abortion

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Abortion
  • Lindsey Graham said on October 26, 2015, that he supported abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. He said, "Anybody with that position [against abortion in the case of rape and incest] will get creamed. I would never tell a woman who's been raped she's got to carry the child of the rapist. Eighty-three percent of the American people feel like that goes too far. So if you would veto a bill that had an exception for rape or incest. ... I appreciate your passion for the pro-life issue but you're outside the mainstream and you cannot get elected." He added that Marco Rubio needed to clarify his position on the issue, saying, “But is that Marco's position? You're 44 years old. You need to tell us what you think about this.”[165]
  • On September 21, 2015, Graham encouraged his colleagues in the Senate to support a 20-week abortion ban. "We're one of seven nations in the entire world that allow abortion on demand at 20 weeks, the fifth month of the pregnancy. I'd like to get us out of that club,” Graham said, referring to Canada, China, the Netherlands, North Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.[166]
  • During the undercard GOP September 2015 debate, Lindsey Graham opposed Bobby Jindal’s and Ted Cruz’s positions that Congress should push for Planned Parenthood defunding. "If I am president of the United States, I wouldn't put one penny in -- in my budget for Planned Parenthood, not one penny. I'm as offended by these videos as you are. But the one thing I'm not going to do going into 2016 is shut the government down and tank our ability to win. What you're saying and what Senator Cruz is saying, I am really sick of hearing," Graham said.[79]
  • During the Fox News Republican debate on August 6, 2015, Graham suggested there was no "war on women" in the United States. Graham said, "I don't think it's a war on women for all of us as Americans to stand up and stop harvesting organs from little babies. Let's take the money that we would give to Planned Parenthood and put it in women's health care without having to harvest the organs of the unborn. The only way we're going to defund Planned Parenthood is have a pro-life president. You want to see a war on women? Come with me to Iraq and Afghanistan, folks. I've been there 35 times. I will show you what they do to women."[167]
  • Graham co-wrote an op-ed in The Des Moines Register on July 29, 2015, to promote the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act he sponsored in the Senate. Calling America’s adoption of abortion a “radical policy” and comparing it to existing laws in countries like North Korea and the People’s Republic of China, Graham said legalizing abortion “was never chosen by the American people, and whenever given the opportunity to express their convictions, they reject that policy.”[168]
  • In 2014, Graham sponsored S 1670 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks, except in cases of medical emergency, rape and incest.[169]
  • Graham co-sponsored S 3 - 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.[170]

Gay rights

See also: Lindsey Graham presidential campaign, 2016/Gay rights
  • On September 1, 2015, Lindsey Graham called on a Kentucky clerk who refused to give out same-sex marriage licenses to “comply with the law or resign.” He also stated, “The rule of law is the rule of law,” and said that while he himself supports traditional marriage and appreciates “her conviction” he believes “she’s accepted a job in which she has to apply the law to everyone.”[171][172]
  • On June 28, 2015, Lindsey Graham advocated for Republicans to yield on the issue of same-sex marriage for political reasons during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." Graham explained, "I don't believe there is any chance for a constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman to get a two-thirds vote in the House or the Senate and be ratified by three-fourths of the states. In my view, you can put it in the platform, but it will, in my view, hurt us in 2016, because it's a process that's not going to bear fruit."[173]
  • Follow the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, Graham released the following statement: "I am a proud defender of traditional marriage and believe the people of each state should have the right to determine their marriage laws. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that state bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional, and I will respect the Court's decision. Furthermore, given the quickly changing tide of public opinion on this issue, I do not believe that an attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution could possibly gain the support of three-fourths of the states or a supermajority in the U.S. Congress. Rather than pursing a divisive effort that would be doomed to fail, I am committing myself to ensuring the protection of religious liberties of all Americans. No person of faith should ever be forced by the federal government to take action that goes against his or her conscience or the tenets of their religion. As president, I would staunchly defend religious liberty in this nation and would devote the necessary federal resources to the protection of all Americans from any effort to hinder the free and full exercise of their rights. While we have differences, it is time for us to move forward together respectfully and as one people."[174]
  • In November 2013, Graham voted against S.815 - the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013, which "Prohibits covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees) from engaging in employment discrimination on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."[175]
  • In 2013, Graham said, "I believe in traditional marriage – between a man and a woman, without animosity. I don’t mind if people are able to transfer their property, visit their loved ones in hospitals, but marriage to me, I’ve stayed with the concept of traditional marriage."[176]
  • Graham co-sponsored H.R.3396 - the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as "as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." It became law on September 21, 1996.[177]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Lindsey + Graham + 2016


Lindsey Graham 2016 News Feed

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ NPR, "Lindsey Graham Ends Presidential Bid," December 21, 2015
  2. ↑ Real Clear Politics, "Polls: 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination," accessed December 21, 2015
  3. ↑ Politico, "Lindsey Graham drops out of presidential race," December 21, 2015
  4. ↑ Time, "Watch Lindsey Graham Announce His Presidential Bid," June 1, 2015
  5. ↑ Congressional Bioguide, "Lindsey Graham," accessed September 18, 2013
  6. ↑ The Hill, “Graham considering a presidential run,” accessed January 22, 2015
  7. ↑ Crowdpac, "2016 Presidential Election," accessed July 27, 2015
  8. ↑ Leadership Project for American PAC, "Candidate's Grades and Comparisons," accessed July 27, 2015
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Voter Identification Requirements|Voter ID Laws," March 9, 2023
  10. ↑ The Washington Post, "Do I need an ID to vote? A look at the laws in all 50 states," October 27, 2014
  11. ↑ CNBC, "What I'll do to fix the debt crisis," October 15, 2015
  12. ↑ GovTrack, “H.R. 8 (112th): American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,” accessed January 25, 2015
  13. ↑ Senate.gov, “On President's Plan to Raise Taxes,” accessed January 26, 2015
  14. ↑ Americans for Tax Reform, “The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Database," accessed January 25, 2015
  15. ↑ Congress.gov, “ S.Amdt.4218 to S.Con.Res.70,” accessed January 26, 2015
  16. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.4191 to S.Con.Res.70,” accessed January 26, 2015
  17. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.4297 - Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005,” accessed January 26, 2015
  18. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3594 - the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000,” accessed January 22, 2015
  19. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Lindsey Graham Admits It Was 'Wrong' To Block Richard Cordray Vote," July 17, 2013
  20. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.202 - Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011," accessed December 9, 2015
  21. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Lindsey Graham: Consumer Protection Bureau 'Is Something Out Of The Stalinist Era,'" December 11, 2011
  22. ↑ Senate.gov, "U.S. Senate Roll Call for H.R. 4173 (Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010)," July 15, 2010
  23. ↑ YouTube, "Lindsey Graham Is Asked Why He Supported The Bailouts," May 18, 2009
  24. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.193 - the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005,” accessed January 22, 2015
  25. ↑ The Post and Courier, "Ex-Im Bank getting another chance to fund Boeing Dreamliner sales, other deals," October 13, 2015
  26. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3080,” accessed January 22, 2015
  27. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3079,” accessed January 22, 2015
  28. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3688,” accessed January 22, 2015
  29. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.3569,” accessed January 22, 2015
  30. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2738,” accessed January 22, 2015
  31. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2739,” accessed January 22, 2015
  32. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3045,” accessed January 22, 2015
  33. ↑ CNBC, "What I'll do to fix the debt crisis," October 15, 2015
  34. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3547 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014,” accessed January 23, 2015
  35. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2775 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014,” accessed January 25, 2015
  36. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.325 - No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013,” accessed January 25, 2015
  37. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1340 - the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011,” accessed January 22, 2015
  38. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.2642 - Agricultural Act of 2014,” accessed January 23, 2015
  39. ↑ CNBC, "What I'll do to fix the debt crisis," October 15, 2015
  40. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.954 - Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013,” accessed January 15, 2015
  41. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2196 - the Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012,” accessed January 22, 2015
  42. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.804 - Social Security Solvency and Sustainability Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  43. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003," accessed January 27, 2015
  44. ↑ LindseyGraham.com, “Economic Issues,” accessed January 27, 2015
  45. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.30 - Forty Hours Is Full Time Act of 2015,” accessed January 22, 2015
  46. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1335 - Pilot's Bill of Right,” accessed January 22, 2015
  47. ↑ Senate.gov, “Graham, DeMint, Alexander Introduce Job Protection Act,” accessed January 26, 2015
  48. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.964 - Job Protection Act,” accessed January 26, 2015
  49. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.14 to S.223,” accessed January 22, 2015
  50. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1523 - Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  51. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1180 - Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999," accessed January 22, 2015
  52. ↑ CNN Politics, "Lindsey Graham: There are 'religious Nazis running Iran,'" September 8, 2015
  53. ↑ Observer, "Lindsey Graham Rails Against Iran Nuclear Deal Outside Kirsten Gillibrand’s Office," September 1, 2015
  54. ↑ Roll Call, "Graham Plans to Block U.S. Money to the IAEA Over Iran ‘Side Deals’," August 10, 2015
  55. ↑ U.S. Senator for South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, "Graham Threatens To Withhold Funding Unless Iran Nuclear ‘Side Agreements’ Are Released," August 13, 2015
  56. ↑ Politico, "Graham: Defund inspection agency unless Iran 'side deals' revealed," August 13, 2015
  57. ↑ MSNBC, "‘Who wins the war between us and Iran?’," July 29, 2015
  58. ↑ YouTube, "Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questions on Iran Nuclear Deal (C-SPAN)," July 29, 2015
  59. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Lindsey Graham: Obama Is The 'Neville Chamberlain Of Our Time'," July 21, 2015
  60. ↑ Bloomberg, "Lindsey Graham and His Two Amigos Kick Off 'No Nukes for Iran' Tour," July 20, 2015
  61. ↑ Business Insider, "GOP presidential candidate: The Iran deal could be a 'death sentence' to Israel," July 14, 2015
  62. ↑ Bloomberg, "Graham: Iran Deal 'Akin to Declaring War' on Israel," July 14, 2015
  63. ↑ The Hill, "Graham: 'Snowball's chance in Hell' Congress approves Iran deal," accessed April 20, 2015
  64. ↑ LGraham.Senate.gov, "Iranian Ayatollah Blasts Nuclear Framework," accessed April 13, 2015
  65. ↑ LGraham.Senate.gov, "Graham on Iran Nuclear Negotiations," accessed April 10, 2015
  66. ↑ KCRG, "Lindsey Graham: Female Rangers have earned right to fight," August 18, 2015
  67. ↑ Senate.gov, "U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services," accessed August 23, 2015
  68. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3230 - Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014,” accessed January 26, 2015
  69. ↑ Real Clear Politics, “Interview with Senator Lindsey Graham,” accessed January 23, 2015
  70. ↑ Politico, “Lindsey Graham: Chuck Hagel’s hearing ‘disturbing’,” accessed January 23, 2015
  71. ↑ The New York Times, “Republican Threatens to Block Pentagon and C.I.A. Nominees,” accessed January 23, 2015
  72. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.407 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009,” accessed January 22, 2015
  73. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1291 - the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001,” accessed January 22, 2015
  74. ↑ Congress.gov, “ H.R.4 - National Missile Defense Act of 1999,” accessed January 22, 2015
  75. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNN undercard GOP debate," December 15, 2015
  76. ↑ The Hill, "Senators skeptical of ISIS war bill's chances," November 3, 2015
  77. ↑ The Conway Daily Sun, "Lindsey Graham Said He's the Candidate Who Can Push Back Against ISIL," October 14, 2015
  78. ↑ The Hill, "Graham: 'The next 9/11' is likely coming from Syria," September 23, 2015
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 Washington Post, "Full transcript: Undercard GOP debate," September 16, 2015
  80. ↑ The Eagle-Tribune, "Presidential hopeful Graham speaks to voters in Derry," July 28, 2015
  81. ↑ Senate.gov, “Graham, Ayotte, McCain Statement on Transfer of Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Oman, Estonia,” accessed January 26, 2015
  82. ↑ The Hill, “Obama tries to turn page on wars,” accessed January 22, 2015
  83. ↑ CBS News, “Lindsey Graham: House Benghazi report ‘full of crap’,” accessed January 27, 2015
  84. ↑ Roll Call, "Graham Says World ‘Literally About to Blow Up’," accessed January 29, 2014
  85. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2195,” accessed January 22, 2015
  86. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.J.Res.41,” accessed January 22, 2015
  87. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1959 - Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012,” accessed January 22, 2015
  88. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2370 - Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006,” accessed January 22, 2015
  89. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.J.Res.114 - the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,” accessed January 22, 2015
  90. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1883 - the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000,” accessed January 22, 2015
  91. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNN undercard GOP debate," December 15, 2015
  92. ↑ USA Today, "Lindsey Graham calls on U.S. to accept refugees," September 8, 2015
  93. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2673 - the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014,” accessed January 22, 2015
  94. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Res.498,” accessed January 22, 2015
  95. ↑ 'Congress.gov, “S.Res.537,” accessed January 22, 2015
  96. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Res.517,” accessed January 22, 2015
  97. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.2318 - Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012,” accessed January 22, 2015
  98. ↑ Congress.gov, “the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012,” accessed January 22, 2015
  99. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.709 - A bill to award a congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair,” accessed January 22, 2015
  100. ↑ Huffington Post, “Lindsey Graham: Obama Is 'All In' On Ebola But Not ISIS,” accessed January 27, 2015
  101. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.15 - Project BioShield Act of 2004,” accessed January 22, 2015
  102. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNN undercard GOP debate," December 15, 2015
  103. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "How to Defeat ISIS Now—Not ‘Ultimately’," December 7, 2015
  104. ↑ BuzzFeed, "Lindsey Graham: Ted Cruz, Rand Paul Won’t Stop ISIS By “Yelling About Refugees”," November 19, 2015
  105. ↑ Fox Business, "Sen. Lindsey Graham: I’m Declaring War on ISIS," November 18, 2015
  106. ↑ CNN, "Lindsey Graham: 'There's a 9/11 coming,'" accessed November 16, 2015
  107. ↑ Newsmax, "Lindsey Graham: Killing 'Jihadi John' Not Enough to Stop ISIS," accessed November 16, 2015
  108. ↑ Politico, "Filibuster divides GOP 2016 contenders," July 6, 2015
  109. ↑ BuzzFeed, "Lindsey Graham On Kim Davis: We’re Not A Theocracy," September 10, 2015
  110. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Committee Members," accessed September 13, 2015
  111. ↑ The New York Times, “Senate Panel Endorses Roberts's Nomination as Chief Justice,” accessed January 26, 2015
  112. ↑ CNN.com, “Senate panel recommends Alito on party-line vote,” accessed January 26, 2015
  113. ↑ The New York Times, “Senate Panel Endorses Sotomayor,” accessed January 26, 2015
  114. ↑ LA Times, “Elena Kagan approved by Senate Judiciary Committee in 13-6 vote,” accessed January 26, 2015
  115. ↑ Senate.gov, “Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Obamacare,” accessed January 26, 2015
  116. ↑ Newsmax.com, “Lindsey Graham: 'Federal Government Has Right to Define Marriage’,” accessed January 23, 2015
  117. ↑ LindseyGraham.com, “Economic Issues,” accessed January 27, 2015
  118. ↑ Politico, “Graham: Explore limits on Quran Burnings,” accessed January 26, 2015
  119. ↑ LindseyGraham.com, “Release: Graham Endorsed by National Rifle Association.” accessed January 23, 2015
  120. ↑ New York Times, “Senate Vote 97 - Defeats Manchin-Toomey Background Checks Proposal,” accessed January 23, 2015
  121. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.714 to S.649,” accessed January 23, 2015
  122. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.719 to S.649,” accessed January 23, 2015
  123. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.397 - the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  124. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNN undercard GOP debate," December 15, 2015
  125. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2048," accessed May 26, 2015
  126. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2048)," accessed June 2, 2015
  127. ↑ Forbes.com, “Senator Lindsey Graham Says Suspend the Constitution For Boston Marathon Suspect And Designate Him An Enemy Combatant,” accessed January 23, 2015
  128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 Congress.gov, “S.Res.345,” accessed January 22, 2015
  129. ↑ BuzzFeed, "Lindsey Graham: No Death Penalty For CT Home Invaders 'Makes Me Want To Throw Up'," August 18, 2015
  130. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.47 - Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,” accessed January 14, 2015
  131. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1789 - Fair Sentencing Act of 2010,” accessed January 22, 2015
  132. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3633 - Controlled Substances Trafficking Prohibition Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  133. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  134. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNN undercard GOP debate," December 15, 2015
  135. ↑ Senate.gov, “On Nuclear Power Permits Issued by NRC,” accessed January 26, 2015
  136. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.6 - the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,” accessed January 26, 2015
  137. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.6 - the Energy Policy Act of 2005,” accessed January 26, 2015
  138. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: CNBC undercard GOP debate," October 28, 2015
  139. ↑ ABC News, “Senate Says Climate Change Real, but Doesn't Agree on Cause,” accessed January 23, 2015
  140. ↑ New York Times, “Yes We Can (Pass Climate Change Legislation),” accessed January 26, 2015
  141. ↑ Senate.gov, “Becoming Energy Independent, Cleaning our Environment,” accessed January 26, 2015
  142. ↑ CBS News, "Senate passes Obamacare repeal bill," December 3, 2015
  143. ↑ The Herald, "Graham says GOP must improve relationships with minorities, middle class," September 28, 2015
  144. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1292 - the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013,” accessed January 22, 2015
  145. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1272 - the Exchange Sunset Act of 2013,” accessed January 22, 2015
  146. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.177 - the ObamaCare Repeal Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  147. ↑ Politico, "Lindsey Graham: Obama '0 for 3' on ACA," accessed October 31, 2013
  148. ↑ Politico, "Lindsey Graham declines health care contribution," accessed December 10, 2013
  149. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1587 - the Medicaid Flexibility for States Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  150. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.707 - the PREEMIE Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  151. ↑ The Hill, "Graham 'frustrated' by Ryan's immigration comments," November 3, 2015
  152. ↑ The Washington Times, "Lindsey Graham: Critics call me ‘Lindsey Grahamnesty’ and ‘Lindsey Gomez’," October 12, 2015
  153. ↑ Breitbart, "On the Bubble: Graham Under 1%," August 17, 2015
  154. ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "GOP presidential hopeful Lindsey Graham talks immigration in Pilsen," July 30, 2015
  155. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,” accessed January 23, 2015
  156. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.Amdt.1197 to S.744,” accessed January 25, 2015
  157. ↑ Washington Post, “Gang of Eight immigration plan: Reality-based legislating,” accessed January 23, 2015
  158. ↑ The Daily Beast, “Lindsey Graham Wasn't Afraid to Fight for Immigration Reform,” accessed January 23, 2015
  159. ↑ The Hill, "Senate approves No Child Left Behind rewrite, sending legislation to White House," December 9, 2015
  160. ↑ NBC Washington, "Obama Set to Sign Education Overhaul Bill to Replace No Child Left Behind," December 10, 2015
  161. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.1 - No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” accessed January 22, 2015
  162. ↑ NCPublicSchools.org, “Educational Flexibility Program,” accessed January 22, 2015
  163. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.800 - Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999,” accessed January 22, 2015
  164. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.5 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997,” accessed January 22, 2015
  165. ↑ CNN Politics, Lindsey Graham presses Marco Rubio over abortion stance," October 26, 2015
  166. ↑ The Hill, "Graham: America needs to leave abortion 'club of seven'," September 21, 2015
  167. ↑ The Washington Post, "Transcript: GOP Aug. 6 undercard debate," August 6, 2015
  168. ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Graham: Ending late-term abortion is chance to recover humanity," July 29, 2015
  169. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1670 - the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
  170. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.3 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003,” accessed January 22, 2015
  171. ↑ New York Times, "Kentucky Clerk Denies Same-Sex Marriage Licenses, Defying Court," September 1, 2015
  172. ↑ HuffPost Politics, "Lindsey Graham: Kentucky Clerk Must 'Comply With The Law Or Resign'," September 1, 2015
  173. ↑ Huffington Post, "Lindsey Graham: Trying To Amend Constitution On Gay Marriage Would Hurt GOP," June 29, 2015
  174. ↑ FOX Carolina, "Lindsey Graham releases statement on same-sex marriage decision," June 26, 2015
  175. ↑ Congress.gov, “S.815 - Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013,” accessed January 25, 2015
  176. ↑ MSNBC, “‘I’m not gay. So I’m not going to marry one’,” accessed January 23, 2015
  177. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.3396 - the Defense of Marriage Act,” accessed January 22, 2015
v • e
2016 United States Presidential Election
OverviewsPresidential Elections-2016-badge.png
Candidate profiles
Path to the presidency
Policy positions
On the campaign trail
Ballotpedia's battleground poll • Campaign preparations • Political and leadership attributes • Presidential campaign trackers and opposition researchers
Campaign staff
Debates
Analysis
The media's coverage of Donald Trump • The media's coverage of Hillary Clinton

Post-debate analysis overview
Democratic: April 14, 2016 (CNN) • March 9, 2016 (Univision) • March 6, 2016 (CNN) • February 11, 2016 (PBS) • February 4, 2016 (MSNBC) • January 17, 2016 (NBC) • December 19, 2015 (ABC) • November 14, 2015 (CBS) • October 13, 2015 (CNN)
Republican: March 10, 2016 (CNN) • March 3, 2016 (FNC) • February 25, 2016 (CNN) • February 13, 2016 (CBS) • February 6, 2016 (ABC) • January 28, 2016 (FNC) • January 14, 2016 (FBN) • December 15, 2015 (CNN) • November 10, 2015 (FBN) • October 28, 2015 (CNBC) • September 16, 2015 (CNN)

Insiders Poll: First Democratic debate (October 13, 2015) • Presidential Nominating Index: Clinton remains choice of Democratic Insiders • Presidential Nominating Index: Bush remains choice of Republican Insiders • Insiders Poll: Winners and losers from the Fox News Republican Debate
v • e
Ballotpedia
About
Executive: Leslie Graves, President • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Michelle Robinson, Senior Product Manager, Education & School Boards

Communications: Alison Graves • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Erica Shumaker
External Relations: Andrew Heath • Moira Delaney • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Policy: Caitlin Styrsky • Molly Byrne • Jon Dunn • Jimmy McAllister • Annelise Reinwald
Research: Josh Altic
Tech: Matt Latourelle • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Trevor Pollo • Joseph Sanchez

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen
Editorial


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Lindsey_Graham_presidential_campaign,_2016&oldid=8984755"