Bill Cassidy
Republican | Louisiana
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
Bill Cassidy
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, BS
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, MD
WORK & MILITARY
Medical Doctor
AFFILIATIONS
Chapel on the Campus, Parishioner
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
U.S. Representative, 6
U.S. Senator, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017-18
100%
2019-20
100%
2015-16
100%
2020
100%
2017-18
100%, 100% (cum.)†
2019
100%
2017-2018
100%
2019-20
100%
2020
A
2019-20
94%
2017-18
87%
2019
82%, 83% (cum.)†
2019
45%, 82% (cum.)†
2015-16
80%
2017-18
71%
2019
66%, 71% (cum.)†
2019-20
80%, 68% (cum.)†
2019
67%
2019-20
92%, 64% (cum.)†
2019
61% (cum.)†
2019
49% (cum.)†
2019
C-
2017-18
|100%
2019-20
|100%
2015-16
|100%
2020
|100%
2017-18
|100%, 100% (cum.)†
2019
|100%
2017-2018
|100%
2019-20
|100%
2019-20
|94%
2017-18
|87%
2019
|82%, 83% (cum.)†
2019
|45%, 82% (cum.)†
2015-16
|80%
2017-18
|71%
2019
|66%, 71% (cum.)†
2019-20
|80%, 68% (cum.)†
2019
|67%
2019-20
|92%, 64% (cum.)†
2019
|61% (cum.)†
2019
|49% (cum.)†
2019
|C-
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2017-18
50%
2018
33%
2019
31%
2018
D
2019-20
17%
2017-18
13%
2019
20%, 10% (cum.)†
2017
0%, 9% (cum.)†
2018
7%, 7% (cum.)†
2017
0%, 4% (cum.)†
2017
0%
2017-18
0%
2017-18
0%
2017-18
0%
2017-18
0%
2019
0%
2017-18
0%
2018
0%
2019
0% (cum.)†
2019
0%
2019
F
2017-18
|50%
2019
|31%
2018
|D
2019-20
|17%
2019
|20%, 10% (cum.)†
2017
|0%, 9% (cum.)†
2018
|7%, 7% (cum.)†
2017
|0%, 4% (cum.)†
2017
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2018
|0%
2019
|0% (cum.)†
2019
|0%
2019
|F
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (7)
Campaign for Working Families
Donald Trump
*Family Research Council Action PAC
Huck PAC
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
OTHER (2)
Louisiana Republican Party (GOP)
Louisiana Sheriff's Association
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
President Donald J. Trump
Republican Party of Louisiana
Susan B. Anthony List
National Right to Life
Louisiana Sheriffs' Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (25)
ActRight (2014)
Allen West (2010)
American Legacy PAC (2014)
Andrew Harris (2010)
Charles Boustany Jr. M.D. (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (195)
21st Century Majority Fund (2014)
ActRight (2014)
Adam Kinzinger (2014)
Alamo PAC (2020)
American Legacy PAC (2014)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Airline Pilots Association (2018)
American Maritime Officers (2019)
American Nurses Association (2019)
David Trone (2019)
International Association of Masters, Mates, and Pilots (2019)
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?
The health of the mother.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
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?
We must strengthen the Social Security trust fund for those who currently rely on this important program and preserve it for Americans who will need it in the future. We must implement fiscally conservative solutions to not only ensure this program endures, but get our nations spending problem under control. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, working with my colleagues and experts on solutions to protect and strengthen social security has been a top priority.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We must start by eliminating the blatant waste, fraud and abuse that plagues our country. I have already passed legislation like the EGO Act and the MEGABYTE Act to eliminate wasteful government spending. I have also passed legislation to close loopholes costing taxpayers billions of dollars on prescription drug prices.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
What needs to addressed is why there is so much student loan debt in the first place. That is why I introduced the College Transparency Act to ensure students and their families have a better understanding of the cost and quality of institutions when deciding where to go to college.
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?
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech...” -First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment prevents the state sponsorship or discrimination of a religion, but it does not prevent us from expressing our faith, assembling to worship, or letting our religious beliefs guide our convictions.
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?
As a doctor who treated uninsured patients in Louisiana’s charity hospital system for over 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand how government-run health care fails patients. Now, as Louisiana’s U.S. senator, my mission is to lower the cost and improve the quality of health care to ensure every Louisianan can have affordable coverage. Democrats are pushing Medicare-for-all that would triple taxes, take away your ability to choose the care that’s best for your family and force all Americans into a one size fits all plan. By passing legislation that introduces price transparency, eliminates surprise medical billing, lowers drug costs, protects those with preexisting conditions, and provides other solutions, we can lower the cost, increase the quality and ensure all have access to adequate and affordable health care.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
The United States must maintain a strong military and law enforcement community. They protect us from terrorists and must have our support. We need to work with our international partners, like Israel, to combat terrorist threats. We must operate within the powers of the constitution, but be prepared to take action to protect American life.
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.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Any law-abiding individual should have the chance to immigrate to the Unites States, so long as they follow the rules and go through our immigration system properly.
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 am a practicing Christian who believes Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and I try to live my life each day with values that reflect that.
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.
I am endorsed by President Trump, NRA, Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life and others for my work fighting for conservative values.
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?
I want six more years to listen to you and continue to find those solutions that work for our state and our country—solutions that work for the family rebuilding after a disaster and work for a family sending their kid off to school. If we can continue to do that, our country is better off.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The constitutional right of a law-abiding American citizen to keep and bear arms should not be infringed. We as a country must take on and solve the root causes of crime and violence in our nation, not take away the means of everyday Americans to defend themselves and their families.
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.
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 will continue my work to restore the prosperity of the Trump economy—getting Louisianans back to work and strengthen Louisiana’s energy industry hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. I will continue working to improve our nation’s health care system by lowering the cost of prescription drugs, protecting those with preexisting conditions, eliminating surprise medical bills and helping all Americans have access to adequate and affordable health coverage. I will also continue my work as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, passing laws giving our veterans expanded health care choices, better mental health services and more job opportunity when returning home.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism has no place in American life. We are all first children of God and then citizens of the United States of America. We must all come together in common purpose and understanding that our nation is better now than it once was and we must strive for even better, tomorrow.
