Whitfield is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of moderate Republicans. He has amassed a conservative voting record on matters ranging from the economy to social issues, though he has occasionally crossed party lines.
Starting in January 2011, Whitfield is set to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy and Power subcommittee. He believes climate change is an urgent problem, though he insists environmental considerations have to be balanced with concerns over the economic impact of policies designed to address climate change.
In particular, he is a firm opponent of the EPA's efforts to regulate carbon emissions through the Clean Air Act. He worries regulations will harm the coal industry and increase electricity rates. "[The EPA] is doing everything they can to adopt regulations that impede the use of U.S. natural resources such as coal, and, in turn, hurt job growth," he said in 2010.
Whitfield has supported environmental legislation drafted by Democrats, such as the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 or the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation, which allocated $1.7 billion in federal grants to transit systems. A narrow majority of House Republicans opposed both bills.
The Economy
Whitfield advocates substantial tax cuts, starting with a full repeal of the estate tax. He is the cosponsor of legislation that would replace the progressive income tax system with a flat sales tax. Also, he had expressed interest in George W. Bush's proposal to create private Social Security accounts.
In the fall of 2008, Whitfield opposed the financial bailout, arguing the plan was too bureaucratic and expensive. Under the Obama administration, he has opposed most Democratic reforms, from the 2009 stimulus package and the Cash for Clunkers program to health-care reform. He contended the latter bill was too costly and that it would result in increased taxes and Medicare cuts.
However, he has over the years backed several high-profile Democratic bills. Whitfield voted to increase the minimum wage to $7.25 and to impose new regulations on the credit-card industry. He has also voiced support for extending unemployment benefits.
Whitfield's highest-profile break from his party came in early 2009, when he was one of just three Republicans to support the Lily Ledbetter Act, which made it easier to file equal-pay lawsuits.
Tobacco
Whitfield, who has received substantial donations from the tobacco industry, has been a critic of anti-smoking efforts.
He has denounced "the wartime fervor with which the anti-tobacco movement pursues its aims, its deployment of extreme measures, including punitive legislation and coordinated lawsuits" and he has opposed efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco.
Horseracing
From 2005 to 2006, Whitfield served as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, which gave him jurisdiction over sporting events.
Given horseracing's importance in Kentucky, Whitfield naturally turned his attention to investigating its practices. While racing groups contended the industry didn't need legislation to regulate itself, Whitfield was skeptical that much could be done without government intervention. "I don't think it is unreasonable for the federal government to set minimum standards," he said.
Whitfield identified a number of problems from widespread use of doping to excessive inbreeding that made horses too fragile. He also opened a congressional inquiry to probe the adequacy of the insurance coverage received by jockeys and racetrack workers.
Immigration
"Under certain conditions, I do believe that illegal immigrants could be put on a path toward citizenship," Whitfield said during the 2006 debate over comprehensive immigration reform. He also voiced support for some form of guest-worker program, though he added that "border security has to remain our first priority, and I think it would be a mistake for economic concerns to take precedence."
Over the years, he has backed numerous Republican proposals meant to toughen immigration laws. In 2004, he was one of 88 House members to vote to require hospitals to gather and report information about possible undocumented immigrants; the bill was also meant to ensure hospitals aren't required to care for undocumented immigrants if they can be transported to their home country. He is also a co-sponsor of legislation that would end birthright citizenship.
Social Issues
Whitfield opposes abortion rights, as well as federal funding for stem-cell research.
Whitfield supports amending the federal constitution to ban same-sex marriage. He has voted against gay-rights legislation, from a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to a ban on employment discrimination.
However, he broke with much of his party in a high-profile vote in 1999, siding with just 36 Republicans in voting against a measure banning adoptions by same-sex couples in Washington, D.C.. The measure fell two votes short.
National Security
In 2002, Whitfield supported authorizing the Iraq war. He subsequently opposed setting timetables for withdrawing troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing these would create security concerns.
He supported making the USA Patriot Act permanent and legalizing the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program.
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