Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Campaign 2016

Reproductive rights
Kaine, a Roman Catholic, is for religious reasons personally against abortion, but is "largely inclined to keep the law out of women's reproductive decisions." Kaine has said: "I have a traditional Catholic personal position, but I am very strongly supportive that women should make these decisions and government shouldn't intrude. I'm a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade and women being able to make these decisions. In government, we have enough things to worry about. We don't need to make people's reproductive decisions for them." Kaine supports some legal restrictions on abortion, such as requiring parental consent and banning late-term abortions in cases where the woman's life is not at risk.

Kaine previously criticized the Obama administration for "not providing a 'broad enough religious employer exemption'" in the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act, but praised a 2012 amendment to the regulations that allowed insurers to provide birth control to employees when an employer was an objecting religious organizations.

In 2005, when running for governor, Kaine said he favored reducing abortions by: (1) "Enforcing the current Virginia restrictions on abortion and passing an enforceable ban on partial birth abortion that protects the life and health of the mother"; (2) "Fighting teen pregnancy through abstinence-focused education"; (3) "Ensuring women's access to health care (including legal contraception) and economic opportunity"; and (4) "Promoting adoption as an alternative for women facing unwanted pregnancies."

In 2007, as governor, Kaine cut off state funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, citing studies which showed that such programs were ineffective, while comprehensive sex education programs were more effective. A Kaine spokesman indicated that Kaine believes that both abstinence and contraceptives must be taught, and that education should be evidence-based.

Afghanistan and ISIL
On the issue of the war in Afghanistan, Kaine's website states "The main mission in Afghanistan—destroying Al Qaeda—is nearly complete and we should bring our troops home as quickly as we can, consistent with the need to make sure that Afghanistan poses no danger in the broader region."

In November 2014, at the Halifax International Security Forum, Kaine, together with Senator John McCain, emphasized the necessity of congressional authorization for U.S. military operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), saying: "You just can't have a war without Congress."

On December 11, 2014 after a five-month campaign by Kaine, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved by 10–8 (straight party lines) a measure authorizing military force against the ISIL, but barring the use of ground troops.

Capital punishment
Despite his personal opposition to capital punishment, often cited during the 2005 campaign by both sides, Kaine oversaw eleven executions as governor, including the execution of John Allen Muhammad, the Beltway Sniper, on November 10, 2009. He has vetoed eight death-penalty expansion bills although some of the vetoes were overturned, and opposed the electric chair as an option. In June 2008, Kaine commuted the death sentence of Percy Levar Walton to life imprisonment without parole on grounds on mental incompetence, writing that "one cannot reasonably conclude that Walton is fully aware of the punishment he is about to suffer and why he is to suffer it" and thus executing him would be unconstitutional.

Kaine said: "I really struggled with [capital punishment] as governor. I have a moral position against the death penalty. But I took an oath of office to uphold it. Following an oath of office is also a moral obligation."

Energy and climate change
Kaine endorses a comprehensive energy plan. Kaine acknowledges the scientific consensus on climate change, and in a speech on the Senate floor in 2014 criticized both "science deniers" (who deny climate change) and what he termed "leadership deniers"—people who "may not deny the climate science, but they deny that the U.S. can or should be a leader in taking any steps."[89] He has expressed concern about sea level rise, and in particular its effect on coastal Virginia. Kaine endorses an incremental approach toward moving to clean energy, saying that it is imperative " to convert coal to electricity with less pollution than we do today."[89] He has criticized those who "frame the debate as a conflict between an economy and the environment," saying that "Protecting the environment is good for the economy."

Kaine supports the use of fossil fuels as a bridge source of energy, and co-sponsored the Advanced Clean Coal Technology Investment in Our Nation (ACCTION) Act, legislation to stimulate large-scale federal and private sector investment in clean coal technologies. However, he voted against passage of legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.[91] Kaine supports the use of hydraulic fracturing technology (fracking) that has allowed the US to access natural gas in shale formations. He sees use of natural gas as a way to reduce carbon pollution.
Like his fellow senator from Virginia, Mark Warner, Kaine applauded the U.S. Forest Service's compromise plan to close most, but not all, of the George Washington National Forest to hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") and other horizontal drilling activities.

Kaine supports oil and gas exploration off the Atlantic Coast, saying, "I have long believed that the moratorium on offshore drilling, based on a cost-benefit calculation performed decades ago, should be re-examined." He also supports the development solar energy and of offshore wind turbines.

As governor, Kaine established the Climate Change Commission, a bipartisan panel to study climate change issues. The panel was shuttered under Kaine's Republican successor, Governor Robert F. McDonnell, but was revived (as the Governor's Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission) under his successor, Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Healthcare
Kaine supported passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 ("Obamacare"), saying in 2012: "I was a supporter and remain a supporter of the Affordable Care Act. I felt like it was a statement that we were going to put some things in the rear-view mirror." In 2013, Kaine said that he agreed that changes to the ACA should be debated, but criticized Republicans for "wrapping them up with the threat" of a federal government shutdown.

As governor, Kaine set up a review panel following the Virginia Tech shooting, and subsequently proposed many mental health reforms reflecting the panel's recommendations. Kaine specifically proposed $42 million of investment in mental health programs and reforms, included "boosting access to outpatient and emergency mental health services, increasing the number of case managers and improving monitoring of community-based providers."

LGBT rights
When talking about LGBT adoption in 2005, Kaine said that "No couples in Virginia can adopt other than a married couple — that's the right policy. Gay individuals should not be able to adopt." In 2011, however, Kaine would change his position and become more open to the idea of adoption. Kaine said he believed that the judges would be able to make effective case-by-case analyses when dealing with unmarried couples applying to be possible parents. He said that he was open to consideration being made available to all couples, gay or straight.In 2012, Kaine said that "There should be a license that would entitle a committed couple to the same rights as a married couple."

In March 2013, Kaine announced his support of same-sex marriage,saying "I believe all people, regardless of sexual orientation, should be guaranteed the full rights to the legal benefits and responsibilities of marriage under the Constitution."

In the Senate, Kaine has co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would bar employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Local issues
Kaine supports some "smart growth"–style policies to manage sprawl and transportation issues; he refers to these plans as "balanced growth".

Taxes
Kaine says he supports allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for those with high incomes. Kaine also stated during a debate that he would be open to establishing a minimum tax that everyone must pay.

In 2012, Kaine supported raising the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes, saying "[f]or Social Security, we can raise the income payroll tax cap so that it covers a similar percentage of income as it did in the 1980s under President Reagan, which would greatly extend the solvency of the program."

Kaine supports introducing an internet sales tax that would require online retailers to collect the same sales taxes that traditional brick-and-mortar retailers currently collect.