U.S. HOUSE RACE

The Star-Tribune asked each of the candidates in the U.S. House race to specifically answer 15 questions. Here are the results:

DEMOCRAT GARY TRAUNER

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes.

- Do you support drilling in ANWR and offshore drilling? Supports responsible drilling offshore and in Alaska, if we use the oil domestically and couple it with a commitment to energy independence.

- Do you support a national carbon cap and trade system? Supports a properly structured cap and trade system as one of several tools to properly account for the real cost of carbon emissions.

- Do you support a time line to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq? Supports a "reasonable time frame," a new plan that calls for our troops to be out of the cities and villages by July 2009 and out of Iraq by 2011.

- Could you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Yes, after all other non-military options have been exhausted, and only with proper planning, intelligence and exit strategies.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? Yes, for cuts that affect most Americans, but not for people making $1.5 million a year. The estate tax should be adjusted so as not to put family ranches, farms or small businesses out of business.

- Do you support limits on military spending? Supports more efficient military spending to maintain military superiority. Opposes "cost plus" contracts and privatization of military duties.

- Do you support bans on hand guns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kind of health care reforms do you support? Supports free-market competition for insurance coverage, with the goal being every American has access to affordable health care.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? No.

- What is your position on abortion? Believes that women have the right to make their own decision regarding reproductive health. Opposes late-term abortions unless health of mother or fetus is at risk.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Supports enforcing laws holding illegal immigrants and companies who hire them responsible. Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.

- Did you support the $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill? Initially, no. But eventually supported it because, "It became clear after time passed that something had to be done, and taking no action was not an option."

- Do you support No Child Left Behind education laws? Generally supports local control of education. While accountability is good, the policy is a bad "one size fits all" law.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Believes that because the scientific community and much of the rest of the world believes it, America will be left behind if it doesn�t act with a major push for energy independence.

REPUBLICAN CYNTHIA LUMMIS

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes, with some changes. Believes boundary lines should be based on topography, and drilling restrictions should eventually sunset.

- Do you support drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling? Yes.

- Do you support a national carbon cap and trade system? Opposes any new bureaucracy or growth of government. Believes the Warner-Lieberman cap-and-trade bill must be scrapped and we must start over.

- Do you support a time line to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq? Believes we must listen to the military commanders and diplomats on the ground. Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will help define the exit strategy.

- Could you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Believes in diplomacy and economic sanctions in concert with allies around the world. Military action is the absolute last step, but may be a necessary step.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? Yes.

- Do you support limits on military spending? Would consider the world situation and domestic issues in seeking the proper balance of the nation�s "guns and butter" spending needs.

- Do you support bans on hand guns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kind of health care reforms do you support? Believes health care should be patient-directed not government-directed. Supports Sen. Mike Enzi�s 10-point plan for the nation�s health care.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? Supports consideration of all options to make the system solvent for future generations. Opposes any changes for those currently in the system.

- What is your position on abortion? Believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned and this issue decided by states. Opposes the repeal of the federal partial-birth abortion ban, opposes federal funding for abortions and voted for parental consent in Wyoming Legislature.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Supports more temporary work permits, enforcement of current laws, penalties for sanctuary cities, English as the official language and a fence along portions the U.S.-Mexico border.

- Did you support the $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill? No. Congress loaded the bill with pork and did not adequately protect citizens.

- Do you support No Child Left Behind education laws? Supports local control of education. Will work to change the requirements in the No Child Left Behind and support local control.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Believes the jury is still out on how much mankind is contributing. Supports conservation and efficient use of energy resources to reduce air pollution and extend resources.

LIBERTARIAN DAVE HERBERT

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Believes the federal government should allow Wyoming to do as it wants.

- Do you support drilling in ANWR and offshore drilling? Yes.

- Do you support a national carbon cap and trade system? Yes, if the economy can profit from it on the free market.

- Do you support a time line to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq? No. Does not support a publicly announced time line, as it tips �our hand to our enemies in the Middle East.�

- Could you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Probably, if we are in imminent danger of attack.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? Yes.

- Do you support limits on military spending? No.

- Do you support bans on hand guns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kind of health care reforms do you support? Supports efforts to make health care cheaper for all Americans. Wants to end �monopolies� in health insurance and health care provider field.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? Supports alternatives to privatization, but not pure privatization.

- What is your position on abortion? Pro-life. Believes life begins at conception; a federal ban is needed.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Believes current laws must be enforced.

- Did you support the $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill? No.

- Do you support No Child Left Behind education laws? No. Believes education should be left to the states.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Believes that if global warming is taking place it is not caused by humans.

- Compiled by Star-Tribune capital bureau reporter Jared Miller

U.S. SENATE RACE

The Star-Tribune asked both candidates in the U.S. Senate race to specifically answer 15 questions. Here are the results:

REPUBLICAN MIKE ENZI

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes. He is a co-sponsor of Sen. John Barrasso's bill to limit drilling in the Wyoming Range.

- Do you support drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling? Yes. Introduced an eight-step energy sufficiency bill which is an all-of-the-above approach that includes coal-to-liquid fuel, oil shale, wind, other renewables and increased exploration in ANWR and offshore.

- Do you support a national carbon cap and trade system? Opposes the cap and trade bill as proposed because it would amount to an increased tax on all Americans.

- Do you support a time line to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq? No. Will continue to deliver the funding the troops need. Goal always been for the troops to stand down when the Iraqis stand up.

- Could you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Depends on the specific situation. Favors a diplomatic solution over armed confrontation if at all possible.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? Yes. Supports lower taxes and making the 2001 and 2003 cuts permanent, including tax rates for capital gains, which are set to expire in 2009.

- Do you support limits on military spending? No. Supports fully supplying military with all the equipment, supplies and training needed to complete their missions and keep the country safe.

- Do you support bans on hand guns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kind of health care reforms do you support? Introduced a 10-step plan to reform health care by allowing market-based pooling and equalization of tax treatment of health insurance for all Americans. It proposes solutions that will enable uninsured working families to purchase private health insurance, helps make their health care more affordable, and expands coverage and choices to give individuals real control over their health care.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? Supports investing Social Security taxes like Wyoming does with Permanent Mineral Trust Fund money, under strict rules to protect the principle.

- What is your position on abortion? Pro-life.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Better enforcement of law, no amnesty for illegal immigrants and Congress continuing to examine immigration policy.

- Did you support the $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill? No. Voted against bill on grounds using $700 billion of taxpayer money to buy toxic debt is not sound financial strategy and could get country into worse trouble in the future.

-Do you support No Child Left Behind education laws? Yes. The law has improved education in this country.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Regardless of the cause or accuracy of the climate change claims, supports developing technology to meet energy needs efficiently and cleanly.

DEMOCRAT CHRIS ROTHFUSS

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes. But not adamant about it. Confident the energy resources could be developed in an environmentally friendly way but believes the people of Wyoming value the range more highly than the energy resources beneath it.

- Do you support drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling? Not opposed to it - with proper and sufficient regulation - but it will never solve the energy crisis. Better to focus on coal liquefaction.

- Do you support a national carbon cap and trade system? Strongly supports it but it must be coupled with legislation that levels the playing field for next-generation coal power, coal liquefaction and other hydrocarbon technologies.

- Do you support a time line to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq? Supports directing our generals, who have the expertise, to withdraw our troops from Iraq as quickly as possible without sacrificing troop safety.

- Could you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Would never take the option off the table but we�re not yet close to a point where he would recommend it.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? No. But there are some good bits that should be salvaged through separate legislation that reduces the inequities of the tax code.

- Do you support limits on military spending? No, but supports an overhaul of the Department of Defense program management system, which is rife with waste and lacks oversight, responsibility and accountability.

- Do you support bans on hand guns and other forms of gun control? No. Received an �A� rating from the National Rifle Association.

- What kind of health care reforms do you support? Focus on cost reduction, the elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions, larger pooling, affordable quality health care for all Americans, and the removal or reduction of health insurance companies from the health care decision making process.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? No.

- What is your position on abortion? Pro-Choice. We should work to make it unnecessary.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Opposes amnesty and supports a guest-worker program. Eliminate the jobs that fuel illegal immigration by providing massive penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants and provide employers with simple, rapid means of verifying immigration status or citizenship.

- Did you support the $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill? No.

- Do you support No Child Left Behind education laws? No. It forces educators to sacrifice all innovation, creativity and inspiration in favor of �teaching to the test."

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government?

Yes. The preponderance of scientific evidence suggests a link between human activities and global warming. Because of the potential severity of the impacts, the risk of inaction is worse that the cost of action.

- Compiled by Star-Tribune capital bureau reporter Joan Barron

U.S. SENATE RACE

The Star-Tribune asked both candidates in the U.S. Senate race to specifically answer 15 questions. Here are the results:

DEMOCRAT NICK CARTER

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes.

- Do you support drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling? Supports drilling in the two areas provided it is part of a comprehensive energy plan that allows the country to be energy independent.

- Do you support a national carbon cap-and-trade system? Supports it as a good first step to limiting harmful emissions, but believes it is not a substitute for a nationwide energy program.

- Do you support a timeline to withdraw troops from Iraq? Yes, and wants to remove troops as quickly as possible.

- Do you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Yes, if Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? No. Believes the tax cuts were for only a wealthy few and supports restructuring the tax code to make it fairer to the middle class.

- Do you support limits on military spending? No, but believes military spending should be focused on troops on the ground.

- Do you support bans on handguns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kinds of health care reform do you support? A universal catastrophic health care plan for major accidents or illnesses. Day-to-day care is handled by people's private insurance.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? No.

- What is your position on abortion? Believes women have the right to make their own decision regarding reproductive health.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Supports securing the country's borders and giving illegal immigrants already in the country the possibility of establishing citizenship.

- Did you support the $700 billion bailout bill? Yes. Even though the bill was expensive, he believes the country "didn't have a choice."

- Do you support�No�Child�Left�Behind education laws? Supports the concept and the need for accountability but doesn't like that the federal government has left�this mandate largely unfunded.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Yes.

REPUBLICAN JOHN BARRASSO

- Do you support legislation to protect part of the Wyoming Range from drilling? Yes. Introduced the Wyoming Range Legacy Act of 2007 to protect the Wyoming Range.

- Do you support drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling? Yes, because it can help America gain energy independence.

- Do you support a national carbon cap-and-trade system? Believes proposed limits on carbon cap and trade will not decrease global temperatures and imposing restrictions, without changes by all developing nations, restricts America's economic future.

- Do you support a timeline to withdraw troops from Iraq? Believes Congress can't give a deadline yet to when troops will return home.

- Do you support military action to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology? Supports military action if aggressive international diplomatic options are exhausted.

- Do you support extending the Bush tax cuts? Supports cutting taxes for hard-working Wyoming people and small businesses to encourage Wyoming's economic growth.

- Do you support limits on military spending? No, but does support active Congressional oversight of the defense budget to ensure accountability.

- Do you support bans on handguns and other forms of gun control? No.

- What kinds of health care reform do you support? Supports personalized health care and doesn't believe Washington should be in charge of someone's health care.

- Do you support efforts to privatize Social Security? Supports having a national dialogue on all options available to ensure a financially stable retirement system and believes in a strong Social Security system.

- What is your position on abortion? Pro-life.

- What is your position on illegal immigration? Voted against amnesty for illegal immigrants because he doesn't believe in "rewarding people who broke into the country."

- Did you support the $700 billion bailout bill? No, because the bill was too rushed, too broad and too expensive.

- Do you support no child left behind? Believes education decisions should be made locally.

- Do you believe that global warming is a human-caused phenomenon that should be addressed by the government? Unconvinced that global warming is solely caused by humans.

- Compiled by Star-Tribune staff writer Allison Rupp