Ed Perlmutter
Bio | Ed Perlmutter was born in Colorado where he attended the University of Colorado with a focus in political science and later received his J.D. He was elected a member of the Colorado Senate in 1995 where he remained until 2003. He was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives in 2007 and remains incumbent as of August 2020. |
Status and Position | Current US House of Representatives of Colorado |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Colorado |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 House of Representatives Election CO-07 | CO-07 | Yes | Running | N/A |
Campaign Financing | Perlmutter is a supporter of campaign finance reform. He believes the Citizen United decision was one of the worst decisions. He supports overturning it and empowering Congress to regulate and set limits on the raising and spending of money for campaigns. (Source:https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14888 ) |
Voting Rights | Perlmutter helped pass H.R.1, a package of legistlation that protected and expanded voting rights. H.R.1 expanded automatic voter registration, strengthened voting by mail, ahelped combat voter intimidation and supression, and much more. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5315) |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | Perlmutter believes health care is a right. Perlmutter's website states that "Ed believes healthcare is a right". Perlmutter is a co-sponsor of the Medicare for All Act of 2021. This bill aims to establish a national health insurance program that covers all U.S. residents. (Sources: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14896 and https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1976) |
| Socialized Healthcare | For | Perlmutter is a co-sponsor of the Medicare for All Act of 2021. This bill aims to establish a national health insurance program that covers all U.S. residents. The program would be administrated by the Department of Health and Human Services. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1976) |
| Private Healthcare | For | Perlmutter supported the Veterans Access to Care Act which aimed to allow veterans to recieve their healthcare from private healthcare facilities. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1071) |
| LGBT Rights | For | Perlmutter is an advocate for LGBT rights. Perlmutter co-sponsored the Equality Act. The Equality Act aims to prohibit discrimination based on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation when it comes to education, federal funding, housing, credit, employment, and the jury system. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5/cosponsors) |
| Taxes | Nuance | Perlmutter supports fair taxes that spur economic growth. Perlmutter believes the American tax code needs to be reformed. He believes the tax system should be fair for all classes and support economic growth. He didn't support the Republican tax bill in December 2017 because it lowered taxes for the wealthy and businesses while raising taxes for the middle class. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14891) |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on a flat tax rate. Perlmutter believes the American tax code needs to be reformed. He believes the tax system should be fair for all classes and support economic growth. He didn't support the Republican tax bill in December 2017 because it lowered taxes for the wealthy and businesses while raising taxes for the middle class. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14891) |
| Abortion | For | Perlmutter supports abortion. Perlmutter co-sponsored the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act of 2019. The bill aimed to require that abortion care be covered through public health insurance programs. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1692?s=1&r=67) |
| Gun Control | For | Perlmutter respects Second Amendment rights but also adovates for gun control. On his website, Perlmutter states that he respects the Second Amendment when it comes to law-abiding citizens. However, he believes the government can create common sense reforms to the gun laws. These reforms incluse requiring universal background checks, reinstating the federal ban on assault weapons, and more. Perlmutter is also the Vice-Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and is very passionate about preventing gun violence. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14997) |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on assisted suicide. On his website, Perlmutter states that he respects the Second Amendment when it comes to law-abiding citizens. However, he believes the government can create common sense reforms to the gun laws. These reforms incluse requiring universal background checks, reinstating the federal ban on assault weapons, and more. Perlmutter is also the Vice-Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and is very passionate about preventing gun violence. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14997) |
| Government Interference | For | Perlmutter has stated that that Congress must be careful in regulating the markets that make up the American econemy but it must be done. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=187) |
| Planned Parenthood | For | Perlmutter voted against the American Health Care Act of 2017 which aimed to withold federal funding from certain Planned Parenthoods. (Source: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017256) |
| Welfare | For | Lamborn has co-sponsored several social welfare bills. Perlmutter has co-sponsored the Younger Onset Alzheimer's Act which would allow individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease to be eligible for certian grants and programs that only support older adults. Additionally, he has co-sponsored several social security bills. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/member/ed-perlmutter/P000593?q=%7B%22subject%22%3A%22Social+Welfare%22%7D) |
| Welfare | For | Perlmutter once told an interviewer that stem cell research is an important issue that needs to be focused on. (Source: https://www.5280.com/2006/04/an-interview-with-ed-perlmutter/) |
| Death Penalty | For | Perlmutter supports the death penalty. While Perlmutter supports the death penalty, he opposes limitations and restictions on the ability for those on death row to challenge their convictions and sentences. (Source: https://www.5280.com/2006/04/an-interview-with-ed-perlmutter/) |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on mandatory sentencing. |
| Military Spending | For | In 2009, Perlmutter led a debate on the Supplemental Approrpriations Act of 2009. During the debate, he urged Congress to provide additional funding to support troops in Afghanistan. He stated that providing funding for military operations was fundamental. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359) |
| War on Terrorism | For | In 2009, Perlmutter led a debate on the Supplemental Approrpriations Act of 2009. During the debate, he urged Congress to provide additional funding to support the military's effort in the War on Terrorism. On a different occassion, he stated that fighting the War on Terrorism was an important job being done by the military.(Sources: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359 and https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=454) |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Perlmutter is a strong supporter of international interaction. Perlmutter is a supporter of utiliing American tools to work with international allies to disrupt terrorists at home and abroad. He believes that the United States needs to enhance diplomatic efforts in East Asia to become united in an approach against North Korea's nuclear program. He is a supporter of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in which a handful of countries have commited to a diplomatic solution that limits Iran;s bility to make nuclear weapons. Additionally, he has always advocated for a strong relationship with Israel. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14895) |
| United Nations power | For | Perlmutter stated that full funding needed to be provided to the Untied Nations Relief and Works Agency in order to address a humanitarian crisis. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5541) |
| Nationalism | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on nationalism. |
| Free Markets | Unknown | Perlmutter has not given his opinon on free markets but has stated that the government needs to prevent the most dramatic market swings that inevitably come with a free market economy. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=187) |
| Brexit | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on Brexit. |
| Affirmative Action | For | Perlmutter was against the proposed Amendment 46 which aimed to ban racial and gender preferences for Colorado in public education, public contracting, and public employment. (Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/23/the-posts-endorsements-2/) |
| Government Spending | Nuance | Perlmutter has voted to increase government spending in some areas (i.e. defense and economic development) but is commited to lowering the country's rising debt. (Sources: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359 and https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14891) |
| Charter Schools | Nuance | Perlmutter has not taken a direct stance on charter schools but did vote in favor of H.R.2187 which aimed to require the Department of Education to make grants to states for the purpose of modernizing, rennovating, and repairing public schools, early learning facilities, and charter schools. (Source: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2009259) |
| Common Core | Nuance | Perlmutter has not taken a direct stance on Common Core but agrees with some criticisms of Common Core. Perlmutter told Colorado Public Radio that he believes schools and their staff are forced to focus on testing too often. He said that when they're forced to focus on testing, the educators aren't given the flexibility to make sure children recieve a well-rounded education. This is a common argument against Common Core standards. (Source: https://www.cpr.org/2014/10/23/colorado-congressional-district-7-race-don-ytterberg-ed-perlmutter-on-the-issues/) |
| Clean Energy | For | Perlmutter believes in promoting clean energy. Perlmutter is an adovcate for investing in clean energy (i.e. wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, etc.). He believes that Americans must reduce the threat of climate change by utilizing efforts such as decreasing the Untited State's dependency on fossil fuels. He deems climate change to be a serious threat. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14890) |
| Religious Freedom | Unknown | Perlmutter has not taken a stance on religious freedom. |
| Separation of Church and State | For | Perlmutter told an interviewer that no one believes more strongly in separation of church and state than him. (Source: https://www.5280.com/2006/04/an-interview-with-ed-perlmutter/) |
| Slavery Reparations | For | Perlmutter is a co-sponsor of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. The act would establish a commission to - among other things - study the effects of slavery and offer remedies accordingly, including reparations. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/40/cosponsors) |
| Border Control | For | Perlmutter wants to strengthen our borders but is a strong advocate of immigration reform. Perlmutter has stated that the American immigration system needs to be reformed in a way that makes jobs, strengthens American borders, and creates a way for undocumented Americans to earn a path to citizenship. He has strongly spoken against border control methods such as separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2149) |
| Passenger Profiling | Against | In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, Perlmutter urged for there to be immediate action on legistlation addressing racial profiling. Specifically, he wanted H.Res.988 to be voted on. H.Res.988 was a resolution to condemn all acts of racial profiling across the country. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5042) |
| DACA | For | In 2020, Perlmutter stated that the Supreme Court's decision to rule against the Trump administrations attempt to end DACA upheld American values. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5054) |
| Sanctuary Cities | For | Perlmutter criticized former President Trump's actions against sanctuary cities. He stated that Trump's executive orders to invoke measures to block federal funding from sanctuary cities conflicted with America's values and principles. (Source: https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1579) |
| Legalizing Marijuana | For | Perlmutter sponsored the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 which aims to prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing depository institutions for providing their services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1996/summary/00) |