Todd Tiahrt

The Economy

Tiahrt voted against the $787 billion economic stimulus package enacted in early 2009 and has made the issue of stimulus cancellation a key issue in his 2010 Senate campaign.

"Consider that 1.5 million Americans have lost their jobs since the Obama stimulus bill became law, and then ask yourself why we should borrow money to fund programs that fail to perform," he said in a statement.

Abortion Rights

Tiahrt is staunchly opposed to abortion rights, including opposing the use of federal funds to pay for abortions.

He voted to prohibit late-term abortions except for situations when the life of the mother is in danger (not when the health of the mother is at risk); he also voted to ban the interstate transport of minors to get abortions, allowing for exceptions if the life of the minor is in danger or if a court in the minor's home state waives the parental notification requirement.

Tiahrt did not release a statement after the murder of late-term abortionist George Tiller, though he joined the rest of Congress in voting for a symbolic motion condemning Tiller's murder.

Aviation

The "big four" aviation companies-Cessna, Raytheon, Boeing, and Bombardier-are either headquartered or have a strong presence in Wichita. "Todd Tiahrt" in The Almanac of American Politics. Tiahrt has been accused of being too close to airline interests; indeed, one of his chief accomplishments while in the House has been sending millions of dollars to Wichita for aviation projects.

In just one term-2002-2004, Tiahrt secured:

* $7.4 million for an Air Intelligence Exploitation Facility at McConnell Air Force Base.

* $3.1 million for Wichita Mid-Continent Airport taxiways and compass rose reconstruction.

Needle Exchange Program

Tiahrt successfully inserted riders in two successive appropriations bills that effectively banned needle exchange programs for drug addicts in the District of Columbia, citing a lack of scientific evidence that such programs are effective. ; The ban was overturned almost a decade later.

Smaller Government

One of Tiahrt's first acts as a House Member was an attempt to dissolve the Department of Energy. In subsequent terms he has lobbied for a smaller, "less opressive" federal government.

"Tiahrt Amendment"

Tiahrt sponsored a 2003 law that restricted local law enforcement's access to aggregate data compiled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, arguing that the law was needed to protect the gun industry from "nusisance lawsuits" by cities and that the restrictions protect the identities of undercover cops.

Critics, like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) and his coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, charge that under the provisions of the Tiahrt amendment it is "nearly impossible [to] solve crimes or to identify gun buyers with criminal histories who were mistakenly approved [for gun ownership]."

Show less