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| Summary of Positions |
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| Statements on the Issues |
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Duncan Hunter's Summary of Positions
Positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con (NC), or None Found (NF).
Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position.
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Duncan Hunter's Statements on the Issues
Positions are categorized as
Pro, Con, Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. |
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| Abortion: |
"Should abortion remain a legal option in America?" |
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Con: "I would amend the U.S. Constitution and provide blanket protection to all unborn children from the moment of conception by prohibiting any state or federal law that denies the personhood of the unborn. Likewise, I have also introduced the Right to Life Act, which would legally define 'personhood' as the moment of conception and, therefore, guarantee all constitutional rights and protections, including life, to the unborn without utilizing a constitutional amendment."
"Core Principles," Duncan Hunter's official candidate website (accessed Nov. 28, 2007)
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| China: |
"Is China a threat to the U.S.?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "China is cheating on trade, and they're using that $200 billion trade deficit over the United States to buy ships, planes and missiles. They are clearly arming. And it's in the interest of the United States to stop China's cheating. My bill, incidentally, that's up right now would do that."
Republican Presidential Debate, St. Petersburg, Florida, hosted by CNN and YouTube.com, Nov. 28, 2007
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| Cuba: |
"Should the U.S. continue to support an embargo against Cuba?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Voted Yes on "H.R.5323, Cuban Democracy Act of 1992: To promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba through the application of appropriate pressures on the Cuban Government and support for the Cuban people."
"H.R.5323, Cuban Democracy Act of 1992," Library of Congress website, Sep. 24, 1992
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| Darfur: |
"Should the U.S. send any American forces, with or without the U.N., to the Darfur region of Sudan to stop the genocide?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "[Cynthia] Tucker: ... [D]oes the U.S. have a role to play in ending the genocide in Darfur? And, if so, what should that role be?
[Duncan] Hunter: The outside troops, U.N. and African Union, are not getting the job done
because they're garrisoned far away from the villages that get hammered by the
Janjaweed.
By the time the damage has been done, the troops always get there late.
What we probably need to do is get a humanitarian corridor driven up through that vast
country, where we have armed convoys, U.N. convoys or African Union convoys to get
food and medicine to those people that need it most.
And lastly, teach those villages self-defense, because the troops aren't getting there in
time."
Republican Presidential Debate, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by PBS, Nov. 28, 2007
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| Death Penalty: |
"Should the death penalty remain a legal option in America?" |
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Pro: "I think there is a need for the death penalty. And it's called deterrence. And that means that, when that Charles Manson is getting ready to pull the trigger on an innocent
American, just maybe the idea passes through his mind that he, himself, is going to lose
his life.
Now, that might only deter five percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent. It does deter
some people. And for that reason, the death penalty, dealing with some very rough, very
ruthless people, is necessary."
Republican Presidential Debate, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, hosted by PBS, Sep. 27, 2007
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| Economy: |
"Should the U.S. include mandatory regulations for labor rights in free trade agreements?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: "American workers are the most productive and innovative labor force in the world. Unfortunately, they are asked to compete in an unfair environment against other workers who make only a fraction of a living wage and are employed by companies that face few, if any, responsibilities to the environment or the long-term prospects of their employees. Our domestic manufacturers are forced to compete against foreign companies that benefit from their country's currency and regulatory regimes. Ominously, China is cheating on trade and using billions of American trade dollars to build ships, planes and missiles at an alarming rate while, at the same time, taking millions of American jobs. I will reverse this 'one-way street' with a new policy of fair trade for the American worker."
"Fair & Equitable Trade," Duncan Hunter's official campaign website (accessed Jan. 11, 2008)
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| Education: |
"Is the increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America's middle class out of higher education?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Duncan Hunter voted No on "H.R. 2669: Higher Education Access Act of 2007,"
"The College Cost Reduction Act (H.R.2669) seeks to lower the cost of higher education by reducing lender subsidies by $19 billion and then investing those funds in programs that increase grant amounts to students, improve access to student loans, cut interest rates on student loans, provide for the repayment of parts of the loans through employment or service in areas of national need, and reward colleges for lowering costs to students."
"H.R. 2669: Higher Education Access Act of 2007," Govtrack.us, July 20, 2007
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| Election Reform: |
"Should there be restrictions on campaign contributions?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Voted No to "Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002" [H.R.2356], "To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide bipartisan campaign reform."
"H.R.2356," Library of Congress, Feb. 14, 2002
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Voted Yes to "H.RES.188, 'Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2356) to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide bipartisan campaign reform.'"
"H.RES.188," Library of Congress, July 12, 2001
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Voted No to "Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1999" [H.R.417], "To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of campaigns for elections for Federal office, and for other purposes."
"H.R.417," Library of Congress, Sep. 14, 1999
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| Election Reform: |
"Should voter verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) be mandatory in elections?" |
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None Found: No position found as of Nov. 28, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Hunter campaign on Nov. 9, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.
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| Energy: |
"Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed?" |
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Pro: Voted Yes on "H.AMDT.297 to H.R.4: Amendment implements a 2,000-acre limitation on the total surface area that may be covered by oil and gas production operations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's Coastal Plain."
"H.AMDT.297," Library of Congress website, Aug. 1, 2001
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| Environment: |
"Should the federal government mandate an increase in fuel efficiency standards for automobiles?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Voted No on "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, H.R.6, 'An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.'"
"H.R.6," Library of Congress website, Jan. 18, 2007
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| Environment: |
"Should the U.S. ratify an international environmental agreement (such as the Kyoto Protocol) that mandates reductions in carbon emissions?" |
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Con: "While historic measurements of temperatures do indicate that warming has occurred [according the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration the mean temperature for the contiguous U.S. has increased by 1.1 degree Fahrenheit] the apportionment of warming to man's activities versus the natural cycle is unclear. The Kyoto Protocol would have been disastrous for those who advocate less greenhouse gasses as well as Americans who want to maintain the industrial base of the United States.
Kyoto exempted Communist China and India from limitations. Thus, U.S. industry would be incentivized to move production to these two 'smokestack' countries, thereby increasing pollution-per-product made.
I believe strongly in achieving energy independence for the U.S. This should be accomplished by cutting taxes on the production of alternative energy systems, including geothermal, nuclear, wind, solar, etc. In the meantime, ANWR should be open for U.S. petroleum development.
I reject Al Gore's and others' doomsday alarmism on the subject."
"Welcome Congressman Duncan Hunter - LIVE Thread (virtual Free Republic press conference)," FreeRepublic.com, Aug. 13, 2007
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| Gun Control: |
"Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed?" |
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Con: "It seems every election year, some liberal politician dons an NRA cap and grabs a shotgun for a hunting photo-op, as if that means they support our right as Americans to keep and bear arms. I, myself, thoroughly enjoy hunting, having just recently spent a great weekend hunting elk in Arizona. But, the Second Amendment is not about hunting. It is about the right of you and me to be secure in our homes. We must vigorously defend against all attempts to chip away at the Second Amendment. You know as well as I do that there is one thing criminals prefer over any other: unarmed victims."
"Core Principles: Second Amendment," Duncan Hunter's official campaign website (accessed Nov. 28, 2007)
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| Health Care: |
"Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care?" |
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Con: "Since World War II, when employer sponsored health care became a more widely offered employee benefit, spending has increased from 5% of GNP to 16% today. Systematically, the eye of the health care consumer has been removed from the market place. Whether it is employers offering a single insurance option or the government making health care choices on behalf of the elderly and the poor, consumers have been increasingly removed from the market place. The result has been a system with costs increasing at rates that are neither sustainable nor practical.
The solution is freedom for the consumer to pursue their own health care choices. Therefore, I propose three major reforms that will bring the consumer back into the health care equation: 1. freedom to buy health insurance across state lines; 2. freedom to make informed health care choices; and 3. freedom to innovate to save money and improve medical outcomes."
"Core Principles: Values Issues," Duncan Hunter's official campaign website (accessed Nov. 5, 2007)
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| Health Care: |
"Should Americans be allowed to purchase their prescription drugs from other countries?" |
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Not Clearly Pro or Con: Voted Yes on "Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003, H.R.2427, 'To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations for the reimportation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.'"
"H.R.2427," Library of Congress website, July 25, 2003
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| Immigration: |
"Should the U.S. build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the U.S.-Mexico border?" |
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Pro: "As a result of the success of the San Diego fence, Rep. Hunter authored the provisions of the Secure Fence Act calling for the construction of 854 miles of border fence along the five most prolific smuggling corridors on the Southwest border. While construction of the Secure Fence project is not moving as rapidly as Rep. Hunter would like, the Administration is moving forward and as of September 30, 2007, 70 miles of new border pedestrian fence has been constructed. Congressman Hunter remains engaged in ensuring that the Administration meets the mandates put in place by the Secure Fence Act and secures our borders as rapidly as possible."
"Core Principles: Illegal Immigration," Duncan Hunter's official candidate website (accessed Dec. 19, 2007)
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| Iran: |
"Should the U.S. use military force against Iran if Iran does not dismantle its nuclear program?" |
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Pro: "My position is that Iran cannot be allowed to build a nuclear device. We've all been hopeful that sanctions would compel Iran to abandon its weapons development. However, to date, it would be fair to say that Iran is not strongly inconvenienced by existing sanctions. Indeed, China and Russia -- both with an appetite for Iranian oil and money -- probably will blunt any effective sanctions recommended to international bodies by the United States. This leaves us with the prospect that preemptive action may be necessary. As president my commitment would be to deny Iran nuclear weapons capability. Preemptive military action has been used in the past to disrupt weapons programs. If necessary, I would use it."
"Online Q&A with Duncan Hunter", Washington Post online, Oct. 12, 2007
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| Iraq War: |
"Has the war in Iraq made America safer?" |
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None Found: No position found as of Nov. 28, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Hunter campaign on Nov. 9, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.
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| Iraq War: |
"Should the U.S. set a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq?" |
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Con: Duncan Hunter voted No on "HR 2956, Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act"
"AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Defense to commence the reduction of the number of United States Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008, and for other purposes.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ AND TRANSITION TO A LIMITED PRESENCE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ.
(a) Requirement- The Secretary of Defense shall commence the reduction of the number of Armed Forces in Iraq beginning not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall complete the reduction and transition to a limited presence of the Armed Forces in Iraq by not later than April 1, 2008."
"HR 2956, Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act" Library of Congress website, July 16, 2007
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| Israel-Palestinian Conflict: |
"Should the U.S. allow Hamas to join future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?" |
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None Found: No position found as of Jan. 11, 2008. ProCon.org also emailed the Hunter campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email.
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| Marriage: |
"Should an affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public office?" |
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None Found: No position found as of Dec. 20, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Hunter campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.
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| Marriage: |
"Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman?" |
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Pro: "I firmly believe that marriage is one of the most important social institutions we have and that it is central to promoting family values and raising children in a healthy environment. It is for this reason that I cosponsored and voted in favor of H.J. Res. 88 (Musgrave-CO), which proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist solely of the union of a man and a woman. I firmly believe that children need the unique influence offered by both a father and a mother."
"Core Principles: Values Issues," Duncan Hunter's official campaign website (accessed Nov. 5, 2007)
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| Medical Marijuana: |
"Should marijuana be a medical option?" |
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Con: Duncan Hunter voted No on "H.AMDT.272 to H.R.2862: An amendment to prohibit any funds made available in the Act to the Department of Justice from being used to prevent the States of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, or Washington from implementing State laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana in those States."
"H.AMDT.272 to H.R.2862," Library of Congress website, June 15, 2005
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| National Service: |
"Should the U.S. institute a military draft?" |
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Con: "This overwhelming defeat will hopefully stifle those who seek to spread deliberately false information of an impending draft. We simply do not need a draft. The Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines are meeting their recruitment goals and are still attracting and retaining the people we need to fill all ranks. Our military today is highly qualified because it is comprised of an all volunteer force."
"Statement of Chairman Duncan Hunter on the Rejection of the Democrat Sponsored Military Draft Bill," GlobalSecurity.org, Oct. 5, 2004
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| Religion: |
"Should federal funds be given to faith-based (religious) organizations and initiatives?" |
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Pro: Voted Yes on "H.R.7, Care Act of 2002,":
"To provide incentives for charitable contributions by individuals and businesses, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government program delivery to individuals and families in need, and to enhance the ability of low-income Americans to gain financial security by building assets...
Modifies the definition of convention or association of churches to state that no such grouping shall fail to qualify merely because individuals are members or because individuals have voting rights in such organization."
"H.R.7, 'Care Act of 2002,'" Govtrack.us website, July 19, 2001
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| Religion: |
"Should a candidate's religion matter to voters?" |
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None Found: No position found as of Nov. 28, 2007. ProCon.org also emailed the Hunter campaign on Nov. 9, 2007 with this question. They did not respond to our email or follow up call.
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| Social Security: |
"Should Social Security be privatized?" |
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Pro: During the Republican Values Voter Presidential Debate on Sep. 17, 2007, Duncan Hunter responded Yes to the following question:
"Would you revive President Bush's attempt to introduce personal retirement accounts as a way to reform Social Security, thus allowing all Americans, particularly low-wage workers & the self-employed, an investment in their future & ownership in the inheritance they pass on?"
Republican Values Voter Presidential Debate, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, valuesvoterdebate.com, Sep. 17, 2007
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| Stem Cells: |
"Should the federal government fund embryonic stem cell research?" |
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Con: "I supported the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act, banning the practice of fetal farming, the creation of embryos specifically for the purposes of scientific research. I voted in favor of the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act, which would direct federal funding to stem-cell research that does not rely on embryos. I voted against the Stem-Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which would have directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem-cells, regardless of the date on which the stem-cells were derived from a human embryo."
"Core Principles: Values Issues," Duncan Hunter's official campaign website (accessed Nov. 5, 2007)
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| Taxes: |
"Should the Bush tax cuts be made permanent?" |
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Pro: Voted Yes on "H.R. 586: Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2002":"To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the tax reductions enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [2001 Bush tax cuts] and to protect taxpayers and ensure accountability of the Internal Revenue Service."
"H.R. 586," Library of Congress website, Apr. 18, 2002
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| U.S. Constitution: |
"Should the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights be altered or updated in any way?" |
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Pro: "I would amend the U.S. Constitution and provide blanket protection to all unborn children from the moment of conception by prohibiting any state or federal law that denies the personhood of the unborn. Likewise, I have also introduced the Right to Life Act, which would legally define 'personhood' as the moment of conception and, therefore, guarantee all constitutional rights and protections, including life, to the unborn without utilizing a constitutional amendment."
"Core Principles," Duncan Hunter's official candidate website (accessed Nov. 28, 2007)
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| War on Terror: |
"Should the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba be closed?" |
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Con: "Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and a conservative candidate for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination, warned Friday that closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and transferring its inmates into the United States would have a serious impact on the broader U.S. detainee policy, which was defined last year in the Military Commissions Act.
'Once these detainees are brought onto U.S. soil, the detainees may acquire minimal rights under the Constitution, in particular, the right to habeas corpus. This change in status will inevitably spawn a completely new round of litigation,' Hunter said in a statement.
'While I believe the Combatant Status Review Tribunals that all detainees at Guantanamo receive satisfy those rights, it would take years of further litigation to finally reach that result,' the congressman said. 'Thus, the military commission process would be stalled for the foreseeable future, and none of the detainees at Guantanamo would be brought to justice.'"
"Claim: Gitmo Closure Would Aid Terrorists," United Press International, June 25, 2007
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| War on Terror: |
"Should interrogation techniques that some consider torture, such as waterboarding, be a legal option?" |
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Pro: "MR. [Brit] HUME: ...[T]he former director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, the current head of the CIA have both said that the most valuable intelligence tool they have had has been the information gained from what are called enhanced interrogation techniques to include, presumably, water-boarding.
What is your view whether such techniques should be applied in a scenario like the one I described?...
REP. HUNTER: Yeah, let me just say this would take a one-minute conversation with the Secretary of Defense. I would call him up or call him in. I would say to SECDEF [secretary of Defense], in terms of getting information that would save American lives, even if it involves very high-pressure techniques, one sentence: Get the information. Have it back within an hour, and let's act on it. Let's execute with Special Operations or whoever else is necessary, and I will take full responsibility. Get the information."
Republican Presidential Debate, Columbia, South Carolina, hosted by FOX News, May 15, 2007
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Duncan Hunter's Biography |
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| Title(s): |
U.S. Representative (R-CA) |
| Personal Information: |
| Full Name: Duncan Lee Hunter |
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Marital Status: Married |
| Birthdate: May 31, 1948 |
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Children: Two |
| Birthplace: Riverside, CA |
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Religion: Baptist |
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| Involvement: |
- U.S. Representative, California (52nd District), 1980-present
- Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, 2003-2007
- Chairman, Military Research & Development Subcommittee, 2001-2002
- Trial Lawyer, 1976-1980
- Lieutenant, United States Army, Vietnam (173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers), 1969-1971
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| Education: |
- JD, Western State University Law School (now Thomas Jefferson School of Law), 1976
- BS, Western State University, 1968
- Attended, University of Montana, 1966-1967
- Attended, University of California, Santa Barbara
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| Affiliations and Memberships: |
- Navy League
- Congressional Jobs and Fair Trade Caucus
- Co Chair, Congressional Task Force on Bowhunting
- Co Chair, National Security Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
- Awarded Bronze Star, for service in 24 helicopter combat assaults
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| Other: |
- 200 votes missed (27.6 percent of 725 total votes) during the current (110th) Congress (as of July 26, 2007)
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| Contact Information: |
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