Melissa Bean

Centrist

Democrat

N/A

Illinois

Current Position: Former US House Representative IL-8

Running For: House Representative - District 8

Policy Positions

For extending Bush-era tax cuts on capital gains, dividends, and estate tax repeal; voted with Republicans in 2005 and 2006 to extend approximately $70 billion in Bush tax cuts and to repeal the estate tax
For the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

For the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); was one of only 15 Democrats to vote in favor
For the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009; co-sponsored legislation to protect workers' right to organize
For AI investment and regulation; supports U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence research and public-private partnerships while establishing rules that protect rights without hampering innovation
For pro-innovation cryptocurrency regulation; supports clear regulatory frameworks that protect consumers while promoting U.S.-based blockchain innovation

For the Affordable Care Act; voted for it in Congress, supports protecting pre-existing condition coverage, extending premium tax credits, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and reversing Republican Medicaid cuts
Against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010; was one of four Democrats to vote against healthcare funding for 9/11 first responders

Against school voucher programs; opposes vouchers that divert tax dollars from public schools

For cap-and-trade climate legislation; supported the 2009 House Democratic bill to cap carbon emissions and provide economic incentives for emissions reductions; supports clean energy investment and holding polluters accountable

For abortion rights; supports codifying Roe v. Wade protections, expanding access to abortion, contraception, and IVF nationwide; opposes any federal abortion ban or criminalization of patients or providers; has voted against Hyde Amendment restrictions on reproductive choice for low-income women
For same-sex marriage equality; voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, voted to end Don't Ask Don't Tell, and opposes efforts to reverse constitutional protections for marriage equality
For protecting LGBTQ+ civil rights; opposes political attacks targeting gay and transgender Americans and supports strong action against hate crimes and discrimination

For campaign finance reform; supports overturning Citizens United, requiring full disclosure of political spending to eliminate dark money, and small-donor and public financing reforms
For protecting and expanding voting rights including early and mail-in voting; opposes voter suppression and intimidation
For a presidential line-item veto; voted in favor during her time in Congress

For comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship; supports the DREAM Act; opposes Trump's mass deportation and family separation policies; calls for greater ICE oversight including mandatory body cameras and accountability for unconstitutional enforcement