Indiana - U.S. Senate and House Candidate Endorsements based on drug war policy reform Note: This is an old Voting Guide. Go to the New Drug WarRant.net Voting Guide Make a difference in Indiana Drug WarRant is providing information to help you make decisions on voting and supporting candidates. Be aware that the information provided here ONLY relates to drug policy reform, and there are other reasons to vote for a candidate. However, drug policy reform is a critical issue, and one that is too often neglected by candidates, unless the voters make it critical. Below each candidate, you will see information about their drug policy reform views and/or voting record. (see the criteria at right for definitions). A red check mark is a Drug WarRant endorsement. A vote for them will be a vote for drug policy reform. In some cases there may be multiple good options. In other cases, there just isn't a good candidate. More endorsements will come as the election nears. If you have additional information about a candidate's drug policy positions, please contact Drug WarRant. If you don't know your district, go to Project Vote Smart and enter your zip code to find out your district and detailed information on all the candidates. Criteria 1. The National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) asks candidates which items they will support if elected. Not all candidates have answered the questionaire. For the purposes of Drug WarRant's endorsements, we have focused on the following specific items from the NPAT: NPAT Drugs: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs. Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes. Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs." Other or expanded principles For the purposes of endorsement, clearly the most important areas are "c, d, and f." A candidate with all three is gold. Selection "a" is a negative factor (although some consider this only for violent or major drug dealers). Selection "e" should be negative, but is confusing. There are some candidates who have an enlightened view of drug policy, who still choose "e" simply because of the heightened border concerns since 9/11, so there may be more involved in that response. At a minimum, a candidate should have chosen "d." The choice of "c" and/or "f" add greatly to their attractiveness. NPAT Colombia funding: Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"? "No" is the preferred answer here (at a minimum -- in fact, the answer should be to reduce funding, rather than just not increasing it). It is possible that someone could claim they are for increased funding to Colombia, but not for spraying or military purposes, but rather humanitarian purposes -- this seems a stretch, however, so I am looking for a solid "No" here. 2. The Hinchey Amendment. The incumbents have had two opportunities (2003/2004) to vote on an amendment that would stop the federal government from interfering with medical marijuana in states where it is legal. There was no legitimate reason to vote against this (and it was a bipartisan amendment), so a "no" vote is generally an indication of ignorance, or being in the pocket of the drug warriors. The proper response is: "Hinchey: Yes/Yes." 3. Other criteria. Where there is useful information from campaign web sites or news reports, those details are added here. If you have additional information (preferably with links), please let me know. US Senate B. Evan Bayh (D) Incumbent No NPAT Marvin Bailey Scott (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Albert Barger (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g; The federal government has NO constitutional authority to outlaw drugs.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Incumbent Bayh has co-sponsored some horrible bills, so is not a great friend in the Senate. However, Scott, based on his views, would likely be worse. Your choice is to vote for the Libertarian candidate, who has the best drug policy reform views (my endorsement) or the less or evils US House 1 Mark J. Leyva (R) NPAT Drugs: d,e,g MAKES SURE ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS GET EQUAL JAIL TIME.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Peter J. Visclosky (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: No/No Leyva's got some problems with understanding the drug war, but is still preferable to incumbent Visclosky US House 2 Douglas D. Barnes (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Chris Chocola (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Joe Donnelly (D) No NPAT Chocola needs to go, Barnes has excellent positions, and Donnelly doesn't seem to want to talk about drug policy. US House 3 Maria M. Parra (D) NPAT Drugs: a,b; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer Mark Edward Souder (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No This one is critical. Souder is the ultimate drug warrior and the author of the horrible provision that takes away financial aid to students who have made mistakes in the past and completed their penalties (while rapists and burglars are not so penalized). Souder is a bad guy with a lot of power. Congressman Souder is Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources. The Subcommittee is responsible for authorizing legislation for the Office of National Drug Control Policy and its programs as well as general oversight for all U.S. government drug control efforts (including international and interdiction programs, law enforcement, and prevention and treatment initiatives). He's the wrong person to have in that position. While Maria Parra isn't the ideal drug policy reformer, removing Souder is of primary importance here. US House 4 Stephen E. "Steve" Buyer (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No David A. Sanders (D) NPAT Drugs: b,d,g The execution of the war on drugs is biased, ineffective, and far too costly.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Kevin R. Fleming (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No A couple of great candidates here, and the incumbent isn't one of them. Vote Fleming if you want to be a purist for the best drug policy reform position. Vote Sanders if you're looking to stick with a major party and increase your chances. US House 5 Dan L. Burton (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: No/No Katherine Fox Carr (D) NPAT Drugs: d,e,g Increasing border security would make our country safer.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer Frederick C. "Rick" Hodgin (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g It is not the responsibilty of the federal government to tell people what substances they can or cannot put in their body.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Burton is another ignorant drug war cheerleader in a position of power in the House. Vote Hodgin for the best drug policy position, but even Carr would be a vast improvement over Burton. US House 6 Melina A. "Mel" Fox (D) NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,g Treatment programs are vital in fighting the war on drugs.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Mike Pence (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: No/No Chad E. "Wick" Roots (L) NPAT Drugs: No Answers; NPAT Colombia funding: No Pence is not a good option. Fox has some positive views, particularly related to medical marijuana, although I'd prefer that she not talk about the drug war as something worth "fighting." Still, she's far better than Pence, and Roots doesn't appear to be a serious candidate. US House 7 Julia M. Carson (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: Yes/NV Andrew M. "Andy" Horning (R) NPAT Drugs: d,f,g The constitution was amended to make the first prohibition legal. Nixon never did that with his "war on drugs." Either we end it, or reword the 18th amendment and try again.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Barry M. Campbell (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No What a breath of fresh air. All three candidates are in favor of medical marijuana and ending federal involvement in the war on drugs. Feel comfortable voting for any of these three on drug policy reform issues. I've endorsed Horning, simply because of Carson's problem with understanding Colombia funding. US House 8 John Nathan Hostettler (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Jon P. Jennings (D) No NPAT Mark Garvin (L) NPAT Drugs: d; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 9 Baron P. Hill (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Mike Sodrel (R) No NPAT Al Cox (L) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f,g End the War on Drugs; NPAT Colombia funding: No Back to main voting guide page.