Ted Poe (R-Texas)

Immigration

Poe's primary focus is border security. While he has pushed the federal government to defend the U.S. border with patrols and physical barriers, Poe introduced a bill in 2010 seeking to give border-state governors authority over National Guard troops when it comes to securing the border.

An opponent of granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, Poe criticized the DREAM Act as legislation "that discriminates against Americans and lawful immigrants to the benefit of those who break our laws." He said provisions in the bill that are intended to give certain undocumented residents a path to U.S. citizenship a "way to bring the rest of their extended family to the United States."

Poe successfully lobbied President George W. Bush in 2009 for commuting the sentences of two Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting a Mexican drug smuggler in 2005.

Fiscal Policy

Though Poe generally agrees with Republicans on federal spending and taxes, he has broken with his party in a few notable ways.

The Texan has avoided making comments on a potential ban on earmarking, saying the process allows "lawmakers to have a say in how taxpayer dollars (are) spent." "It is in the best interest of taxpayers," Poe said in 2009. "to have their member of Congress secure funding for local projects than to leave it up to unaccountable and un-elected bureaucrats in Washington."

In 2010, Poe voted against extending the Bush-era tax cuts. "The current plan is a tax cut extension, not an additional tax cut," Poe said prior to the vote. "It is a flawed economic philosophy to think that we have to pay for tax cuts. The government doesn't need more money, it needs to spend less."

Poe criticized a 2010 report issued by a bipartisan budget commission created by President Obama, saying that its plans to stem the national debt excluded cuts to the social safety-net programs. "Every federal program and agency should be on the chopping block," said Poe, adding that cutting foreign aid to "unfriendly anti-American countries" would be a good start.

Health Care Reform

Poe voted against the Democrats' 2010 health-care reform bill, saying "the government takeover of health care is unconstitutional."

Poe sponsored Republican-backed legislation that would've allowed the sale of insurance across state line, would've given small businesses the ability to form group pools and allowed children to remain under their parents' coverage until age 25.

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