Jim Nielson's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Jim Nielson refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2012 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Utah State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test
| a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | |||
| b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | |||
| c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | |||
| d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | |||
| e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? | |||
| g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? | |||
| h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | |||
| > I am pro-life. I do not believe abortion should be legal, except in instances of rape or incest or where the mother's life is in danger. > Parents should be notified of all actions involving their minor children and should have the final say on the content of sex-education programs and whether or not their children participate. | |||
1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Utah's budget.
| a) Education (higher) | |||
| b) Education (K-12) | |||
| c) Environment | |||
| d) Health care | |||
| e) Law enforcement | |||
| f) Transportation and highway infrastructure | |||
| g) Welfare | |||
| a) Alcohol taxes | |||
| b) Cigarette taxes | |||
| c) Corporate taxes | |||
| d) Gasoline taxes | |||
| e) Property taxes | |||
| f) Sales taxes | |||
| g) Income taxes (low-income families) | |||
| h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | |||
| i) Income taxes (high-income families) | |||
| j) Other or expanded categories | |||
| a) Tapping into Utah's "rainy day" fund | |||
| b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | |||
| c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | |||
| d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | |||
| e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | |||
| f) Privatizing certain government services | |||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
| > We can't cut and shouldn't increase taxes anytime soon. On my website I list some taxes that should be eliminated when possible. I will do my best to shield education from further cuts. Once our economy improves, revenues should increase enough to make tax increases of any kind unnecessary. > It's clearly raining (economically), so we should use our rainy day fund in 2011 similar to what we did in 2010. We will continue to face difficult decisions in order to make ends meet as long as funding remains tight. | |||
c) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?
| a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Utah governors? | |||
| b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Utah state legislators? | |||
| 1) Individual | |||
| 2) Political Action Committee | |||
| 3) Corporate | |||
| 4) Political Party | |||
| d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | |||
| e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | |||
| I do not support term limits of any kind. I don't want to restrict voters' constitutional rights. We have seen that delegates and voters are capable of limiting terms of incumbents. I would not limit contributions in any way. As Justice Anthony Kennedy said, that would amount to censorship. See the US Supreme Court's January 2010 Citizen's United v FEC ruling for a discussion of the fundamental 1st Amendment rights that underlie political speech. I support full and timely disclosure. I would strengthen current law to require disclosure of all contributors regardless of amount. And I would outlaw gifts. | |||
| a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | |||
| b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | |||
| c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? | |||
| d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | |||
| e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? | |||
| f) Do you support a ban on cell phone use for drivers under eighteen years of age? | |||
| g) Do you support a ban on smoking in vehicles in which children are riding? | |||
| h) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | |||
| > I support existing criminal statutes, sentencing guidelines and procedures, including capital punishment. However, judges should have more discretion in sentencing. I oppose banning cell phone use by minor drivers, which would likely lead to a ban for all drivers. I oppose a ban on smoking in vehicles with children inside. That might lead to a ban on smoking in a private residence that houses children. Individuals should be free to choose how they use legal products on or in their private property. > I support the enforcement of all federal laws, including immigration laws, by state and local police. | |||
| a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | |||
| b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | |||
| c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | |||
| d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? | |||
| e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? | |||
| f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? | |||
| See my comments about economic development on my website. We need: *Quality education. *Stable, predictable tax policy. *Tax advantaged capital creation. *Public/private partnerships to develop business resource centers. I also favor to deregulation and incentives for job creation. Unemployement beneftis should go to all who qualify and who have paid into the system through payroll taxes. I support bonding for infrastructure and needed buildings because construction is inexpensive right now. We do not have the funds to increase job training programs. The state should not become involved in financial assistance to homeowners facing forclosure. | |||
| a) Do you support national education standards? | |||
| b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? | |||
| c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | |||
| e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | |||
| f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Utah high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | |||
| I oppose national education standards. A statewide exit exam is fine. I favor performance-based pay, but teachers and their union should be an integral part of structuring the program. Three years ago, union and education leaders spoke out strongly in favor of state funding for Charter schools as compelling settings for parental choice. I agree wholeheartedly. I support limited state-funded scholarships, to the extent our budget allows. I do not support in-state tuition for illegal immigrants under any circumstances. | |||
| a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | |||
| b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | |||
| c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for improvements to Utah's energy infrastructure? | |||
| e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | |||
| f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | |||
| g) Should Utah withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative? | |||
| Government should not pick winners. Where infrastructure benefits everyone, similar to roads, I will support it within the context of available funding. The same goes for open space. I would treat development of energy resources of any kind the same as other economic development prospects. If it promises to create good jobs, financial incentives that will only be realized as performance is demonstrated and will be paid back through increased economic activity are appropriate. I will oppose state action with respect to putative climate change considerations, and I would vote to remove the state from the Western Climate Initiative. | |||
| a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | |||
| b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | |||
| c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | |||
| d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | |||
| I oppose restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns and would make no changes to Utah's current laws with respect to permits, transactions, and concealed carry permits. | |||
| a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? | |||
| b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | |||
| c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? | |||
| d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance? | |||
| e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | |||
| f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Utah? | |||
| g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | |||
| I oppose public option health insurance, mandates that individuals purchase or companies provide health care, physician-assisted suicide, and medical use of marijuana. I support Utah's insurance exchange concept, which--if allowed to take hold--will lead to appropriate health insurance reform. I also support allowing and encouraging insurance policies to be sold across state lines and tort reform. See my website under Healthcare for an innovative approach to dealing with large malpractice awards. | |||
| a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | |||
| b) Should Utah allow same-sex couples to form civil unions? | |||
| c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | |||
| d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | |||
| e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action? | |||
| f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Utah's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Utah's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| h) Other or expanded principles | |||
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