Bill Keating
Liberal
Democrat
House Representative
Massachusetts - District 9
Current Position: US House Representative MA-9
Running For: House Representative - District 9
Policy Positions
Economic Policy
- Against reductions to Social Security, including raising the retirement age or privatizing the program; supported cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security benefits
- Against Trump's tariffs, arguing they increase prices on everyday goods and harm small businesses
- For phasing out the Massachusetts estate tax as co-chairman of the Taxation Committee in 1992
Health Care
- For expanding access to affordable and accessible healthcare for all
Environment
- For federal investment in coastal resiliency, clean energy, and job creation for Southeastern Massachusetts
Civil Rights
- For protecting reproductive rights; pro-choice, voted against the Protect Life Act and the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
- For same-sex marriage and LGBT rights; supported ending Don't Ask Don't Tell, pushed for nationwide anti-discrimination laws and marriage rights for gays and lesbians, and defended transgender Rep. Sarah McBride's right to be addressed correctly in Congress
Public Safety
- For increased federal firearm regulations, including closing the Terrorist Watch List gun purchase loophole and requiring child safety trigger locks on all guns; opposed a bill requiring states to recognize right-to-carry permits from other states; as a state senator pushed for restrictions on rifle ownership by foreign nationals
- For stronger public safety laws and consumer protection legislation during his time in the Massachusetts Legislature
- For drug sentencing reform, having authored an 1988 package lowering thresholds for possession charges while also establishing new minimum sentences for distribution
- For allowing juveniles to be tried as adults and pass harsher sentences in major crime cases, as lead author of 1991 sentencing reform bill