In urging Democrats to focus on the working-class, Michaud has long positioned himself as an ally of organized labor. While a state senator, he championed services meant to help displaced workers.
In the House, he has become a leading opponent of free- trade agreements, arguing that they have contributed to the loss of manufacturing jobs and by extension to alcohol abuse and health concerns. He is a founder of the House Trade Working Group, made up of legislators - mostly Democrats - who are opposed to free-trade deals.
Michaud took a leading role in urging U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement, in opposing renewal of the president's fast-track trade authority and in fighting against bilateral agreements with Colombia, Oman and Peru. Many of these battles were waged against fellow Democrats. "A Democratic administration gave us NAFTA. There's going to be a Democratic Congress that will give us the Peru trade deal," he lamented in 2007.
The Economy
Michaud is a deficit hawk, which explains his membership in the Blue Dog Coalition. While in the state Senate, he put pressure on his party to speed up repayment of Maine's debt. Yet, he insists that cuts to social programs cannot be the solution to deficit reduction as that "robs the poor to feed the rich." He has also oppsed tax cuts supported by other fiscally- conservative Democrats; in 2006, he voted against permanent repeal of the estate tax.
Michaud opposed other items of the GOP's economic agenda, even those many of his fellow Blue Dogs supported. He proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent the creation of private Social Security accounts, and he led the Democrats' floor flight against changes to overtime rules. In 2005, however, Michaud was one of 73 House Democrats who supported a high-profile reform making it tougher for people to file bankruptcy.
In fall 2008, Michaud twice opposed the financial bailout plan because it granted "unchecked authority" to the Treasury Department and because it didn't do enough to protect taxpayers, provide adequate aid to foreclosed homeowners and change accounting rules. A few months later, Michaud supported a bailout for the auto industry, citing the thousands of jobs that could be lost if the Big Three were to fail.
Health Care
In 2003, Michaud introduced legislation to allow the federal government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Americans who lack health-care coverage. The bill, called America Rx, was modeled after a prescription drug plan Maine enacted in 2000.
Michaud supported the creation of a public-insurance option, which he said should be "robust." Yet, he repeatedly expressed concern over a strong public plan based on Medicare rates, mot notably when he criticized the draft bill penned by House Democrats in a letter he signed along with 39 other Blue Dog Democrats.
Veterans' Affairs
Expanding veterans' benefits has long been Michaud's legislative priority, and he chaired a relevant House subcommittee in the 111th Congress. He has helped advance legislation improving veterans' home loans and education benefits, worked to improve rural veterans' access to health care and he has requested increased funding for facilities like Maine's Togus VA Medical Center.
In July 2009, the House adopted Michaud's Care Act, which aims at helping family members who care for an injured or disabled veteran. These caregivers would be entitled to receive monthly stipends, counseling services and compensation if they left school or work to look after their relative.
National Security
Michaud is an ardent opponent of funding the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as long as a clear exit strategy isn't in place. He has repeatedly opposed bills appropriating more defense money, from the 2004 $87 billion supplemental requested by President George W. Bush to the 2009 $94 billion supplemental requested by President Obama.As the latter vote indicates, Michaud is very much willing to break with his partyp
In 2007, he joined coalitions of 10 to 14 Democrats in opposing spending bills that did set a withdrawal deadline - though one Michaud argued fell short. Michaud has also criticized President Obama's approach to Afghanistan, arguing that it would escalate the conflict without defining ways to measure progress and goals for withdrawal.
Michaud voted against reauthorizing the USA Patriot Act and against legalizing warrantless wiretaps. In 2008, he urged the House leadership to press ahead with impeachment proceedings against Dick Cheney. He cited the vice president's role in "dangerously expand[ing] the scope of executive authority" and in authorizing detainee abuse and illegal wiretapping.
Social Issues
Opposed to abortion rights, Michaud has stated he would ban the procedure except when the mother's life is at risk. In 2002, under attack by pro-abortion rights groups from both parties, Michaud said he opposed a constitutional amendment overturning Roe v. Wade.
In the House, he opposed a bill making it a federal crime to kill an unborn child and he twice supported expanding federal funding for stem-cell research. Yet, Michaud was one of 63 Democrats to vote in favor of a 2003 ban on late-term abortions.
Initially hostile to gay-rights legislation, Michaud switched gears around 2000 by supporting a state discrimination ban and sponsoring legislation extending health benefits to same-sex partners of Maine employees.
In the House, Michaud opposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.While he was one of only 25 Democrats to vote against prohibiting employment discrimination against gays and lesbians, he explained doing so because transgender workers weren't included.
Generally hostile to gun control, Michaud has received support from the National Rifle Association. In 2005, he was the only member of Maine's congressional delegation to support federal intervention in the Terri Schiavo case.
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