2014 Kansas
1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VOTER
GUIDE
THE CANDIDATES
Tim Haleskam
(Republican)
Incumbent
TimHaleskam
Huelskamp
Tim
Tim
Haleskam
(Republican)
(Republican)
(Republican)
Incumbent
Incumbent
Incumbent
Jim Sherow
(Democrat)
Challenger
2014 Kansas 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VOTER
GUIDE
Huelskamp
F
Sherow
N/A
Does the candidate support a science based curriculum
in public schools and reject the use of public funding of
religious schools or religiously-based curriculums?
F
N/A
Does the candidate support the use of public funding for
religiously-affiliated organizations such as faith-based
initiatives, to provide services?
F
N/A
Does the candidate support social policies that do not
discriminate based on religion, such as marriage
equality?
F
A
Does the candidate believe government sanctioned
religious symbolism is appropriate? (Examples
including prayer in legislative sessions and public
schools, religious symbols on government property.)
F
N/A
Does the candidate support scientifically based
regulations including science surrounding reproduction,
stem cell research, climate change and other issues?
F
B
FINAL SCORE:
F
N/A
What role would religion play in the candidate's decision
making in his or her role as a U.S. Representative?
Key:
Candidate’s remarks and/or actions toward the Secular Coalition’s stances have been:
A:
Generally or consistently positive.
B:
Neutral or occasionally positive.
C:
Mixed, with positive and negative responses.
F:
Generally or consistently hostile or negative.
N/A: At the time of publication, the Secular Coalition for America was unable to verify the
candidate’s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate.
If the SCA was unable to find a candidate’s stance on at least four of the six questions, the candidate
was given a final score of N/A.
The above chart is based on the topics and individual public candidate responses in the following sections.
INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE RESPONSES
What role would religion play in the candidate's decision
making in his or her role as a U.S. Representative?
•
•
•
•
Huelskamp
F
Sherow
N/A
Rep. Huelskamp voted in favor of reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship
program, which took public funds away from public schools and gave them to
private schools, 82% of which were religiously-affiliated.3
At the time of publication, the Secular Coalition for America was unable to verify
the candidate’s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate.
Does the candidate support the use of public funding for
religiously-affiliated organizations such as faith-based
initiatives, to provide services?
•
Sherow
N/A
Rep. Huelskamp is an advocate for traditional marriage values and believes
that marriage can only be between a man and woman.1 He also cosponsored a
bill declaring the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments weekend.2
At the time of publication, the Secular Coalition for America was unable to
verify the candidate’s position or did not have enough information to rate the
candidate.
Does the candidate support a science based curriculum
in public schools and reject the use of public funding of
religious schools or religiously-based curriculums?
•
Huelskamp
F
Huelskamp
F
Sherow
N/A
Rep. Huelskamp voted in favor of HR 592, which made houses of worship
eligible for emergency assistance and disaster relief, funds which were not made
available to many other secular non-profits.4
At the time of publication, the Secular Coalition for America was unable to verify
the candidate’s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate.
1
“Tim Huelskamp on Civil Rights,” On the issues website, accessed Jul 2, 2014,
http://house.ontheissues.org/House/Tim_Huelskamp.htm#Civil_Rights.
2
Bill sponsored by Rep. Gohmert, Jr.; Bill H.Res.211; 11-HRes211 on Apr 7, 2011.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hres211)
3
Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR); Bill HRes186; vote 11-HV200 on Mar 30, 2011.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr471)
4
Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013; Bill H.592; vote 13-HV039 on Feb 13, 2013.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2013/h39)
Does the candidate support social policies that do not
discriminate based on religion, such as marriage
equality?
•
•
•
Sherow
A
Rep. Huelskamp sponsored H.J. Res 51, which defines marriage in the United
States as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman.5 He also voted twice
against allowing nontheist chaplains to join the military’s chaplain corps.6
On his campaign website, Sherow writes, “Due process and equal treatment under
law must be afforded to every person regardless of race, ethnicity, religious
orientation, sexual orientation, service in the arm forces, or disability.”7
Does the candidate believe government sanctioned
religious symbolism is appropriate? (Examples
including prayer in legislative sessions and public
schools, religious symbols on government property.)
•
Huelskamp
F
Huelskamp
F
Sherow
N/A
Rep. Huelskamp cosponsored H. Res. 250, which expresses support for prayer at
public school board meetings.8
At the time of publication, the Secular Coalition for America was unable to verify
the candidate’s position or did not have enough information to rate the candidate.
5
Bill sponsored by Rep. Huelskamp; Bill H.J.Res. 51; 13-HJR51 on Jun 28, 2013.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hjres51#overview)
6
Amendment prohibits the use of funds to appoint chaplains without an endorsing agency; H.Amdt.375
(Fleming) to H.R.2397; vote number 13-HV392 on Jul 23, 2013
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2013/h238). and H.Amdt.169 (Polis) to H.R.1960; vote
number 13-HV238 on Jun 14, 2013. (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2013/h238)
7
“Issues,” Sherow for Congress, Jim Sherow’s campaign website accessed Jul 2, 2014.
(http://www.supportsherow.com/issues)
8
Expressing support for prayer at school board meetings; Bill HRes250; 13-HRes250 on Jun 6, 2013.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hres250)
Does the candidate support scientifically based
regulations including science surrounding reproduction,
stem cell research, climate change and other issues?
•
•
Huelskamp
F
Sherow
B
Rep. Huelskamp has voted and cosponsored multiple bills that would restrict
reproductive rights.9 He also voted in favor of barring the EPA from regulating
greenhouse gas emissions.10
On his campaign website, Sherow writes, “I am pro-family. Abortion is a tragedy,
but the key to reducing abortions is not to criminalize women. Instead, we should
implement what does work, which means giving young women and men the
information they need to make good decisions and enhancing access to affordable
birth control. We must also remember that helping families and reducing poverty
is key to reducing abortions.”11
Methodology
Candidates were graded only on questions for which the Secular Coalition was able to
identify the candidates' position—either through statements or previous actions. For each
response, the candidates were given a grade of A, B, C or F. An "A" grade earned the
candidate 3 points, "B" earned 2 points, "C" earned 1 point and an F earned 0 points. An
average of the candidates' grades for each question were averaged for each section. Grades
of "N/A" indicate that the Secular Coalition was unable to identify the candidate's position
on the given topic. The section averages were then averaged for the total score.
N/A grades were not factored into the candidate's score.
Averages were compiled on the following scale:
A = 2.25 – 3.0
B = 1.50 – 2.24
C = 0.75 – 1.49
F = 0.0 – 0.74
9
No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act; Bill H.3; vote number 11-HV292 on May 4, 2011
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3). and Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act; Bill
H.R.217; 11-H217 on Jan 7, 2011. (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr217)
10
Energy Tax Prevention Act; Bill H910; vote number 11-HV249 on Apr 7, 2011.
(https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr910)
11
“Issues,” Sherow for Congress, Jim Sherow’s campaign website accessed Jul 2, 2014.
(http://www.supportsherow.com/issues)
The Secular Coalition for America is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization whose purpose is to
amplify the diverse and growing voice of the nontheistic community in the United States.
We are located in Washington, D.C. for ready access to government, activist partners and
the media. Our staff lobbies U.S. Congress on issues of special concern to our constituency.
Our member organizations are established 501(c)(3) nonprofits who serve atheists, agnostics,
humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. Their purpose in founding the
coalition was to formalize a cooperative structure for visible, unified activism to improve
the civic situation of citizens with a naturalistic worldview. A number of additional
organizations have endorsed our mission statement.
Member Organizations
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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•
•
•
•
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American Atheists – www.atheists.org
American Ethical Union – www.aeu.org
American Humanist Association – www.americanhumanist.org
Atheist Alliance of America – www.atheistallianceamerica.org
Black Nonbelievers – http://blacknonbelievers.wordpress.com/
Camp Quest – www.campquest.org
Council for Secular Humanism – www.secularhumanism.org
Freethought Society – http://www.ftsociety.org/
Freedom from Religion Foundation – http://www.ffrf.org/
Hispanic American Freethinkers – http://www.hafree.org/
Humanist Community at Harvard – http://www.harvardhumanist.org/abouthcp/what-is-humanism/
Institute for Humanist Studies – www.humaniststudies.org
Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers – www.militaryatheists.org
Recovering from Religion – http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/
Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (US) –
http://www.richarddawkins.net/
Secular Student Alliance— www.secularstudents.org
Society for Humanistic Judaism – www.shj.org
The UU Humanists – http://www.huumanists.org/