Brendan Doherty (RI-01)

Notable Headlines ...................................................................................... 2 Editorials.................................................................................................... 2 Budget Issues ............................................................................................. 2 Business and Consumer Issues .................................................................. 2 Campaign Finance Issues........................................................................... 2 Crime & Public Safety Issues .................................................................... 3 Economic and Financial Issues .................................................................. 3 Education Issues ........................................................................................ 3 Energy Issues ............................................................................................. 3 Ethics Issues .............................................................................................. 3 Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea ................... 3 Gay and Lesbian Issues.............................................................................. 4 Gun Issues ................................................................................................. 4 Health Care Issues ..................................................................................... 4 Immigration and Border Issues .................................................................. 4 Israel .......................................................................................................... 4 Labor and Working Family Issues ............................................................. 4 National Security Issues............................................................................. 4 Other Social Issues .................................................................................... 4 Stem Cells .................................................................................................. 4 Tax Issues .................................................................................................. 5 Tea Party .................................................................................................... 5 Transportation Issues ................................................................................. 5 Womens Issues ......................................................................................... 5 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................ 6 2012 Campaign .......................................................................................... 6

Notable Headlines
Tough to tell Cicilline and Doherty apart on foreign policy [wpri.com, 6/24/2011]

Editorials Budget Issues

Doherty: Need to Reassess Spending on Countries You May Not Have Ever Heard Of In June 2011, Republican candidate for RI-I Brendan Doherty commented, We need to reassess the billions we are spending on other countries other countries youd have to find a map to find out where they areI understand what is going on in the Arab Spring and the tenets of soft power and smart power and diplomacySome of these countries, folks, you may not have ever heard of them, and we are spending billions of dollars there. What about spending that money here in Rhode Island, here in America? [wpri.com, 6/24/2011]

Business and Consumer Issues

Opposed SOPA In January 2012, Dohertys political director, Rob Coupe, said the candidate was opposed to the Stop Online Piracy Act. [blogs.wpri.com, 1/19/12]

Campaign Finance Issues

Cicilline and Doherty Raised Equal Funds In January 2012, the respective campaigns of Cicilline and challenger Brendan Doherty, announced that they had both garnered $500,000 each. Nicole Kayner, Cicillines campaign spokeswoman, said he raised more than $250,000 for the quarter and had well over $500,000 in campaign funds. Rob Coupe, Dohertys political director said that Doherty has gathered more than $150,000 in the fourth quarter, and is approaching $500,000.
[wrnipoliticsblog.wordpress.com, 1/04/12]

Raised $38,500 From Out-of-State In November 2011, Doherty had raised $38,500 from out of state, which made up 18 percent of his campaign funds. [golocalprov.com, 11/12/11]

Crime & Public Safety Issues Economic and Financial Issues

Doherty: Slammed Obama Deficit Plan In September 2011, Doherty criticized Obamas deficit reduction plan, saying that class warfare is not the answer. In a statement, Doherty said, Whats next? Do we say that families making $250,000 are rich and need to be taxed more? Or maybe families making $150,000? Who decides?...At the heart of it, government is not the answer. A healthy, vibrant public sector, unburdened by regressive taxes and overly stringent regulatory policies, is the only answer to sustainable job growth. Doherty also said that he could support cutting waste, as well as eliminating loopholes and creating a flat tax, but said that the presidents tax plan will affect more than the Warren Buffetts and the Bill Gates of this country. [wpri.com, 09/21/2011]

Education Issues Energy Issues Ethics Issues Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea
Doherty: Need to Reassess Spending on Countries You May Not Have Ever Heard Of In June 2011, Republican candidate for RI-I Brendan Doherty commented, We need to reassess the billions we are spending on other countries other countries youd have to find a map to find out where they areI understand what is going on in the Arab Spring and the tenets of soft power and smart power and diplomacySome of these countries, folks, you may not have ever heard of them, and we are spending billions of dollars there. What about spending that money here in Rhode Island, here in America? [wpri.com, 6/24/2011]

Gay and Lesbian Issues Gun Issues Health Care Issues Immigration and Border Issues Israel Labor and Working Family Issues
Backed Extension of Federal Support for Emergency Jobless Benefits In February 2012, Doherty said he supported an extension of federal support for emergency jobless benefits. According to Doherty, the current maximum of 99 weeks is way too long. Doherty also said hed like to see measures to counter what he described as the practice of gaming the unemployment benefit system. [Providence Journal, 2/08/12]

National Security Issues Other Social Issues

Opposed Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage, Supported Border Fence At his February 2012 campaign kick-off event, Doherty said he opposed anti abortion and same-sex marriage. He also said he supported a tall fence to deter illegal immigration, and flat taxes on individuals and corporations. [publicbroadcasting.net, 2/06/12]

Stem Cells
Opposed Stem Cell Research In February 2012, Doherty voiced his opposition to human stem cell research because it entailed the destruction of human embryos. [Providence Journal, 2/08/12]

Tax Issues
Blasted by Cicilline Over Capital Gains Tax In February 2012, Cicilline ripped Dohertys stance on corporate and capital gains tax. In the message, Cicilline wrote, Brendan Dohertys plan to slash corporate taxes, end the capital gains tax and change Social Security benefits for anyone born after 1960 fits right into the Republicans economic philosophy to take care of the rich and let the rest of us hope that the wealth trickles down. National Republicans know he will be one more reliable vote for their agenda and they are throwing their support behind him. [golocalprov.com, 2/09/12] Supported a Flatter, Fairer Tax, Declined to Clarify In February 2012, Doherty said he supported tax changes that would include a flatter, fairer tax, but he repeatedly declined clarify his statement. Doherty also said he supported a cut in the rate of corporate income taxes from the current 35 percent to the 22-to-25-percent range, but declined to comment on the proposed Buffett Rule, a 30-percent minimum tax on income over $1 million per year. [Providence Journal, 2/08/12] Supported Federal Tax Code Reform In February 2012, Brendan Doherty voiced his support for federal tax code reform. We must reform our federal tax code to level the playing field and to give a fighting chance to small businesses. As a candidate for Congress, I also recognize that property taxes place a significant burden on homeowners and small businesses. On both the federal and local levels, the first step to economic reform should be to level the field and eliminate cases of special treatment, Doherty said. [golocalprov.com,
2/03/12]

Tea Party Transportation Issues Womens Issues

Opposed Abortion, Except Under Certain Circumstances In February 2012, Doherty said he opposed abortion, except in cases involving rape, incest or the physical well-being of the mother. Doherty supported certain restrictions on the procedure, such as parental consent for abortions for minors.

According to Doherty, life begins at conception, but he declined to state a view on proposals to grant rights to the human fetus. [Providence Journal, 2/08/12]

Miscellaneous
Endorsed Romney for President In January 2012, Brendan Doherty endorsed Mitt Romney for president. Mitt Romney is a proven leader who will stand by his convictions while seeking consensus to find real solutions to the daunting challenges facing our nation, Doherty said. I would be honored to serve as Rhode Islands Representative from the first Congressional district and to work closely with Mitt Romney once he becomes the President of the United States. As a former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney understands the challenges facing our regions economy and I trust that he will provide strong leadership and together, we will restore economic opportunity and hope to Rhode Island families.
[golocalprov.com, 1/04/12]

Doherty Promised to Always Tell the Truth In June 2011, Republican candidate for NH-01 Brendan Doherty told his fundraiser audience that he may not dance, sing or tell jokes, but he will always tell the truth. [The Providence Journal, 6/22/2011]

2012 Campaign
Received $1,000 from New York State Laborers On November 21, 2011, Doherty received $1,000 from the New York State Laborers PAC. [Doherty for
Congress, 2011 Year-End FEC Report, Filed 1/31/12]

Carrying $50,000 in Debt in Loans As of January 2012, Dohertys campaign is carrying $50,000 in debt due to loans. [Doherty for Congress,
2011 Year-End FEC Report, Filed 1/31/12]

Cicilline Accused of Manipulating RI Redistricting In December 2011, Rep. Langevin accused fellow Democrat Cicilline of trying to use redistricting to aid his re-election. A proposed Rhode Island redistricting plan would transfer Republican-heavy districts in northwest Rhode Island from Cicillines district into Langevin. In addition, Cicilline would pick up Democratic leaning districts in Providence. Campaign spokesmen for Loughlin and Doherty, Cicilline opponents, said officials seemed to be favoring Cicilline. [Associated Press, 12/13/11] Doherty Voiced Concerns on Redistricting

In December 2011, Doherty voiced opposition to changes in Rhode Island redistricting. These proposals ignore the requirement to consider the historical boundaries of the congressional districts and fail to recognize communities of interest. Statutory and judicial requirements impose limits on the political upheaval that is permitted as a result of gerrymandering and Rhode Islanders deserve a redistricting process that considers those requirements ahead of the political gain of any one candidate. [630wpro.com, 12/12/11] Accused by Cicilline of Trying to Score Political Points Over Super Committee Failure In November 2011, Doherty released a statement criticizing Rhode Islands congressional delegation for blaming Republicans on the Super Committee failure, and Cicilline criticized Dohertys statement saying he tried to score political points. Cicilline said, If Mr. Doherty is serious about ending the partisan bickering in Washington, instead of issuing press releases, he should call on the Republican leadership and the Republicans on the Super Committee to end their unwillingness to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share. It is disappointing that not a single Republican on the Super Committee had the courage to do what is right, even if it meant breaking their pledge to lobbyist Grover Norquist. Our country is facing serious problems and it is critical that our leaders are able to reach a reasonable compromise that doesn't undermine Social Security and Medicare or jeopardize our national security. Now is not the time to try to score political points. [golocalprov.com, 11/25/11] Received Endorsements from Many Prominent Republicans In November 2011, Doherty received endorsements from several Rhode Island Republicans including former Governor Donald Carcieri, former Lt. Gov. and former state party chair Bernard Jackvony, former rep and current National Committeewomen for the RI GOP Carol Mumford, and former state party chair John Holmes. Doherty said, I am honored to receive the endorsements of these dedicated officials and I am grateful for the tremendous support I am receiving from Governor Carcieri and other leaders of the RI Republican Party. Having worked closely with Governor Carcieri, I saw first hand the importance of electing men and women who are honest and dedicated to their principles and I intend to take those lessons to Washington to represent the people of Rhode Islands First Congressional District. [golocalprov.com, 11/02/11] Received Endorsement from Warwick Mayor In October 2011, Doherty received an endorsement from Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. [twitter.com,
10/28/11]