Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)

Blumenauer is a loyal Democrat, voting with his party 97 percent of the time during the 111th Congress.

An original backer of the Defense of Marriage Act, Blumenauer said that he has regretted his vote to ban the federal recognition of same-sex unions.

Health-Care Reform

Leading up to the March 2010 health-care vote, Blumenauer was a staunch advocate of the public option, which he believed was essential to reducing the cost of health care and insuring those lacking coverage. Prior to the vote, Blumenauer indicated his vote would have been uncertain without such a provision. "It would be very hard for me to do," he said in October 2009. "But if it gets to the point where the choice is doing some things that will make a significant difference without a public option or letting the whole thing die, that too would be hard."

Blumenauer did ultimately vote for the March 2010 final bill, which insured more Americans but didn't include a public option.

As a part of the health-care debate, Blumenauer led Democratic House efforts to include "end-of-life" plans to allow doctors to advise patients on their options such about continuing treatment in dire situations. After conservatives interpreted the policy as the creation of "death panels," it was dropped from the bill. The policy was inserted into Medicare regulations beginning in 2011.

Livable Communities

A proud Portlandian, Blumenauer has gone on nationwide tours touting his city's growth and environmental stewardship. The Livable Communities Task Force, which he founded, promotes federal policies seeking the "livability of communities." Central tenets of the task force include providing more transportation choices, seeking affordable housing, coordinating and leveraging both federal policies and investment, reinvesting in existing communities, and valuing communities and neighborhoods.

The founder of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus, Blumenauer has touted bikes as a key ingredient to cure climate change and obesity alike. He has pushed for legislation that would fund bicycle- and pedestrian-focused facilities and safety issues.

Trade and Foreign Affairs

Blumenauer has been intentionally unpredictable on international trade issues, opposing such pacts as the Central American Free Trade Agreement while supporting a deal with Peru. "Some people are always lined up against trade initiatives, and some people are reflexively for them," Blumenauer said in 2007. "Both sides have reason to be a little cranky with me. I'm not 100 percent. I take them as they come."

Blumenauer says that "China is an overarching backdrop to almost everything that I am involved with" including the economy, climate change and energy policy.

Fiscal Policy

Blumenauer was critical of a December 2010 deal that extended Bush-era tax cuts for all income classes, along with funding for unemployment insurance. Blumenauer said the "deal represents a victory for the immediate and the modest issues over the major challenges and long-term, while undercutting the President's authority on budget deficits, national security and economic reform."

The final 2008 financial bailout bill included Blumenauer-authored provisions such as tax credits for the purchase of small-wind turbines and tax benefits for those who cycle to work. Nonetheless, Blumenauer opposed the bill, claiming it was insufficiently protective of taxpayers and homeowners facing bankruptcy.

On Social Security, Blumenauer says the fund is solvent for decades to come, however the program needs reform to ensure full benefits for future generations. He has argued for "progressive price indexing," paying more affluent Americans based on the consumer price index rather than wages.

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