Leah Vukmir in State of Wisconsin Archives

On Abortion: No exceptions, including rape, incest, or mother's life

Tammy Baldwin (D): Legal. Consistent support for making it the woman's choice.

Leah Vukmir (R): Ban "in all cases," with no exceptions, including rape, incest, or mother's life.

Q: Give Planned Parenthood public funds for non-abortion care?

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Planned Parenthood provides "essential care & preventive services."

Leah Vukmir (R): No public funding for Planned Parenthood.

Q: Contraception: Let employers withhold coverage if disagree with it morally?

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. Considers critical to women's health.

Leah Vukmir (R): Yes. Prohibit mandatory contraceptive coverage.

On Drugs: Keep marijuana a Schedule 1 drug; no medical use

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Early supporter of medical. Sponsored bill to remove federal penalties & let states decide.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Opposes recreational use & believes that "as a Schedule 1 drug. it has very little medical use."

On Education: I want schools competing for enrollment

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. Opposes "giving taxpayer dollars to private schools."

Leah Vukmir (R): Yes. "I want schools competing for enrollment."

On Education: Get federal government out of business of student loans

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Voted for 2017 bill to do this. Also expand Pell grants.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. "We have to get the federal government out of the business of loans."

On Energy & Oil: No government subsidies for renewable energy

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. "Global climate change poses a growing threat to our planet, our country, our Great Lakes & Wisconsin." Reaffirmed support for Paris Accord after Trump's withdrawal.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. To Baldwin: "I'm amazed that you support government intervention to end global warming or climate change or whatever Al Gore's buzzword is these days," but not to protect "human life in the womb."

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Tammy Baldwin (D): Strong supporter.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Opposes.

On Environment: Many EPA actions are over-regulation

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. Will continue to try to restore full EPA funding & oppose new cuts.

Leah Vukmir (R): Likely yes. Board member of ALEC, which considers many EPA actions overregulation.

On Families & Children: Only recognize marriages between 1 man & 1 woman

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Supreme Court decision was "a victory for freedom, fairness & equality."

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Defended WI law only recognizing marriages between 1 man & 1 woman.

On Free Trade: Tariffs on China give time to negotiate fairer deals

Tammy Baldwin (D): Qualified yes. Send message "to bad actors like China," but support those hurt by retaliatory tariffs.

Leah Vukmir (R): Qualified yes. Free trade advocate but "willing to give the president the time to negotiate fairer deals."

On Government Reform: Drew districts overturned as unconstitutional gerrymander

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. "Partisan gerrymandering is an attack on our democracy."

Leah Vukmir (R): Helped draw districts that court reversed as "unconstitutional political gerrymander."

On Government Reform: Supports voter photo-ID law

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. New Wisconsin voting requirements harm participation.

Leah Vukmir (R): Yes. Pleased Supreme Court refused the challenge to WI photo-ID law.

On Government Reform: Ease campaign spending rules; limit donor disclosure

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Cosponsored 2017 DISCLOSE Act. Would overturn Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Helped pass WI bills easing campaign spending rules, limiting disclosure of contributions & tightening boundaries on corruption investigations, which their opponents called "political witch hunts."

On Gun Control: Approach any 2nd Amendment law skeptically

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. For more background checks & high-capacity magazine & bump stock bans.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. "100% pro-gun." Would approach any 2nd Amendment law skeptically.

On Health Care: Full repeal of ObamaCare, period

Tammy Baldwin (D): Support. "Take repeal off the table & work to improve." Ultimately prefers Medicare for All.

Leah Vukmir (R): Repeal. "Leah supports full repeal of ObamaCare. Period."

On Immigration: First build a wall; illegals go home then re-apply

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Supports DACA. For other illegal immigrants supported bipartisan bill.

Leah Vukmir (R): First build a wall. "Then we can talk about a process for those DACA residents." Other illegal immigrants must first return to country of origin before applying for citizenship.

On Jobs: Block cities from raising their local minimum wages

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Raise from current $7.25 to $15/hr. People who work hard should be able to provide for their families.

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Voted to block cities from raising their local minimum wages. Led efforts to repeal Wisconsin's prevailing wage law.

On Social Security: Personal Retirement Accounts for portion of payroll taxes

Tammy Baldwin (D): Long opposed.

Leah Vukmir (R): Backed Personal Retirement Accounts for portion of Social Security payroll taxes.

On Tax Reform: It's garbage that Trump tax cuts only benefited the wealthy

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. Overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy & major corporations.

Leah Vukmir (R): "Tired of garbage talking points that these tax cuts will only benefit the wealthy."

On War & Peace: Iran nuclear treaty was a foolish & dangerous deal

Tammy Baldwin (D): No. "Breaking [the agreement] will not make us safer."

Leah Vukmir (R): Yes. "It was a foolish & dangerous deal. now in the wastebasket of history."

On Drugs: Don't let our veterans down, like with opioids at Tomah VA

"Make no mistake about it: Tammy Baldwin let our veterans down at the Tomah VA," said Vukmir, a state senator from Brookfield. "To have sat on a report, to have been the only person in this congressional delegation to have known that a doctor was over-prescribing opioids, a veteran died and many others became addicted, to me, it's unconscionable."

The Tomah VA was wracked several years ago by a scandal involving over-prescription of opioids. Republicans accuse Baldwin of failing to act in 2015 on problems at the facility. Baldwin disciplined top aides for bungling whistleblower complaints about the facility, including sitting on an inspector general's report. Since then, Baldwin co-sponsored legislation that toughened opioid prescription guidelines and pushes education for VA providers.

On Health Care: Opposed requiring health insurers to cover oral chemotherapy

In Baldwin's newest ad, cancer survivor Kristin Jome-Robley of Manitowoc took Vukmir to task for voting against a bill that required health insurance companies to pay for oral chemotherapy. Jome-Robley said, "Leah Vukmir, you ought to be ashamed."

Vukmir defended her vote and said it was "absolutely ludicrous that Tammy Baldwin is going to lecture me, as a nurse, as somebody who understands health care in the way that Tammy Baldwin doesn't."

She said the ad was a way for Baldwin to attack her "as a way to distract from her own problems at the Tomah VA." Vukmir continued, "Make no mistake about it: Tammy Baldwin let our veterans down at the Tomah VA. To have sat on a report that a doctor was over-prescribing opioids, a veteran died and many others became addicted, to me, it's unconscionable."

On Drugs: More law enforcement grants to prevent drug flow into WI

"As a member of Governor Walker's Task Force on Opioid Abuse, I am pleased to join my colleagues as we unveil legislation that builds on the Legislature's efforts to combat opioid abuse in Wisconsin," said Vukmir who has more than 20 years' experience as a nurse practitioner. "It is critical that our communities have the tools necessary to combat the rising problems that stem from heroin abuse."

The legislation focuses on providing law enforcement training grants targeted at preventing drug flow into Wisconsin, offers funding for programming to prevent substance abuse, and gives grants to counties for medical-assisted treatment. This legislation will strengthen our law enforcement efforts and save lives. Additionally, the bill creates regional drug prosecutors to assist local District Attorney's prosecuting drug crimes.

On Gun Control: 100% pro-gun

On Health Care: Repeal ObamaCare; Medicaid as block grants

On Tax Reform: Lower tax rates for everyone

On Budget & Economy: Congress is addicted to spending our money

To pay for all this spending, Congress has created a complicated federal tax code. Thousands of pages long and burdensome for many Americans, Leah believes we must streamline the tax code by eliminating loopholes and deductions, while lowering tax rates for all Americans.

Finally, smaller companies pay one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Taxation of this magnitude negatively impacts our ability to remain competitive and keep our workforce in the United States. In the Senate, Leah will push for a tax code that is simplified, increases competition with other nations, and benefits all Americans.

On Crime: Law and order is a critical issue

Those that keep Americans safe at home are our brave first responders--our police and firefighters. Leah stands with their efforts to keep us safe and believes the unfair attacks on police officers specifically by the fringe left need to stop. Police officers deserve our praise and thanks, not protests and attacks.

On Homeland Security: Address disgraceful neglect at Veterans Affairs

She was appalled to learn of the widespread mismanagement and disgraceful neglect that has taken place at Veterans Affairs and angered by the way Senator Tammy Baldwin failed our veterans at Tomah.

On Immigration: Construct a wall on the southern border

In the U.S. Senate, Leah Vukmir will support construction of a wall on the southern border and efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in the United States. Leah also opposes sanctuary cities in Wisconsin.

On Principles & Values: Our rights come from God, not man

If elected, Leah will swear an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States, and she pledges to always refer to the intention of our founders when deciding how to vote.

On War & Peace: Confront ISIS & Islamic jihadists who want to kill us

President Obama weakened America's standing across the globe when he called ISIS the "JV team" and refused to enforce a red line drawn in Syria after Bashar Al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. Leah believes our leaders must project strength and be prepared to back it up with smart military force if necessary. Our enemies need to know that if you attack the United States or its civilians, we will respond.

On Abortion: 100% pro-life

On Education: Expand school choice

On Government Reform: Voted YES on new state-funded absentee voting hours

• A municipality may make available no more than 45 hours each week for in-person absentee voting for any statewide election
• A municipality may hire individuals to assist in receiving absentee ballots in person.
• The state shall reimburse the municipality for 50% of the compensation paid to such individuals.

Legislative outcome: Bill passed Senate 17-16-0 on March 12 (Sen. Vuikmir voted YEA); passed House 56-38-5 on March 20; vetoed by Governor Walker on March 27

On Civil Rights: Voted against anti-bullying legislation to protect students

The race between Sullivan, a pro-equality candidate, and Vukmir, who's so far to the religious right that she voted against anti-bullying legislation, would seem a natural to draw the interest of LGBT voters in the area. Vukmir consulted with Wisconsin Family Action's anti-gay president about how to vote on the anti-bullying law.

On Civil Rights: Silent on LGBT issues during debate and surveys

Vukmir declined to fill out the Wisconsin Family Council's 2010 election questionnaire, which included an item asking about support for the state's domestic partner registry. Her reticence seemed odd given Vukmir's cozy behind-the-scenes relationship with Wisconsin Family Action. That group was behind the state's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and is behind the current legal challenge to the state's domestic partner registry.

With polls showing Vukmir and Sullivan statistically tied, LGBT support might yet make the difference in the race, but only if future forums don't enable Vukmir's strategy of silence on social issues.

On Drugs: Opposes stronger penalties for drunk driving

The debate questions, presented by two panelists, covered a wide range of issues, including clean energy (he's for it, she's against it), high-speed rail (he's for it, she's against it) and stronger penalties for drunk driving (he's for them, she's against them).

On Energy & Oil: Opposes funding clean energy & high-speed rail

The debate questions, presented by two panelists, covered a wide range of issues, including clean energy (he's for it, she's against it), high-speed rail (he's for it, she's against it) and stronger penalties for drunk driving (he's for them, she's against them).