Bruce Westerman

Republican | Arkansas

Candidate Profile*

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Bruce Westerman


Party

Republican


Election Year

2020


Election

General


Race

U.S. Rep., Dist. 4


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Bruce Westerman websites Bruce Westerman emailFacebookXYouTube

EDUCATION

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 1990

Yale University, New Haven, Masters in Forestry, 2001

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

(Candidate did not provide)

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Representative-AR House of Representatives, 4

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS

2019-20

100%


2017-18

100%


2017-18

100%


2019-20

100%


2015-16

100%


2020

100%


2017-18

100%, 100% (cum.)†


2019

100%


2017-2018

100%


2013-14

100%


2019-20

100%


2020

A


2017-18

95%


2019

93%


2019

89%, 89% (cum.)†


2019

93%, 85% (cum.)†


2019-20

92%, 83% (cum.)†


2019

B+


2019

82%


2013

81%


2019

85%, 80% (cum.)†


2019-20

73%, 75% (cum.)†


2019

61% (cum.)†


2019

61% (cum.)†





2015-16

|

100%



2017-18

|

100%, 100% (cum.)†


2019

|

100%




2019-20

|

100%





2019

|

89%, 89% (cum.)†


2019

|

93%, 85% (cum.)†


2019-20

|

92%, 83% (cum.)†



2019

|

82%



2019

|

85%, 80% (cum.)†


2019-20

|

73%, 75% (cum.)†


2019

|

61% (cum.)†


2019

|

61% (cum.)†



LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (6)

Arkansas Right to Life

Campaign for Working Families

*Family Research Council Action PAC

Huck PAC

National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

OTHER (1)

American Conservative Coalition

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)

American Conservation Coalition

National Right to Life

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (27)

Barbara Comstock (2015)

Barry Loudermilk (2016)

Bryan King (2012)

Carlos Curbelo (2015)

Charlene Fite (2012)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (99)

American Conservative Union (2014)

American Principles (2017)

Andrew Harris (2014)

Arkansas for Leadership PAC (2018)

Austin Scott (2019)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)

Airline Pilots Association (2019)

American Maritime Officers (2019)

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2020)

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (2017)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Only to save the life of the mother.


ECONOMY

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.

Strongly Disagree

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?

The Social Security system is on a path to insolvency but can still be saved if proper actions are taken. The system should be reformed by gradually increasing retirement ages and making sure that social security taxes are collected. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act that I supported also had a positive effect on Social Security because the economy expanded with more people working and paying into the system so this is proof that policies that boost economic growth also help preserve Social Security for future generations.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

The only way to balance the budget is to make changes in the mandatory spending programs which are driving approximately 3/4 of deficit spending (outside of the 2020 pandemic spending). There are five areas of mandatory spending Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Social Welfare programs (approximately 80 of them), and interest on the debt. Healthcare costs are the biggest driver of the debt which is why the Fair Care Act is so important.

Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?

When the students work in service to the public after graduation.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.

Strongly Agree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

Strongly Agree

I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.

Yes

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

That the state stays out of the Church’s business


HEALTHCARE

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.

Disagree

I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.

Strongly Disagree

How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?

Please see the Fair Care Act that I have authored to use a market based approach to cover pre-existing conditions, cover more people, and lower costs. The Fair Care Act has many bipartisan healthcare solutions in it. With a 60-vote threshold in the Senate, it will take bipartisan policy to actually fix the healthcare costs and access problems we currently have in the country.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Strongly Agree

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?

President Trump’s efforts to take out terrorists leaders and to build strong coalitions in the Middle East that include a strong Israeli state combined with using our economic strength to weaken state sponsorship of terrorism is our best approach to eradicating radical Islamic terrorism.


IMMIGRATION

I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.

Strongly Agree

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.

Strongly Disagree

State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.

Strongly Agree

Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

People who follow U.S. immigration laws which need to be modified.


EDUCATION

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Disagree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe that all humans have a sinful nature and live in a fallen state of sin that separates us from God who is Holy; however, God loves us and sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the price (death) for our sins and that all who believe in Jesus receive forgiveness of our sins and through Jesus, we are justified and have our relationship with God restored. I have placed my trust in Jesus.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.

voting records

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

For more information about Bruce Westerman and the Westerman for Congress Campaign, please visit www.BruceWesterman.com.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.

Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

None


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.

Strongly Disagree

I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Strongly Disagree

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree

The Electoral College should be abolished.

Strongly Disagree

In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?

I have already authored legislation and plan to author additional legislation as follows: Trillion Trees Act to promote conservation, U.S. manufacturing and building, and rural economies Fair Care Act to provide better healthcare insurance that is market based and fair to the taxpayer, the provider, and the beneficiaries. Other legislation to leverage our abundant natural resources to create U.S. manufacturing jobs and strengthen our domestic supply chain.

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

The reaction to racism has obviously created domestic security issues in the United States. We should all work in a civilized manor to address racism and to protect the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that I believe all men have been equally endowed with by our Creator.

If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the phone number provided.