Michael Bendas' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Michael Bendas refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.
Issue Positions
For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2010.
- Michaels, Jane. 2010. Western Springs: Army Vetern Seeks to Unseat Incumbent in Race for 3rd US Congressional District. "'My personal position is pro-life. My political position is we need to give that power to the states and away from the Supreme Court,' he said. 'Each state should make decisions on health care and abortions." If elected, Bendas said he intends to introduce a constitutional amendment returning authority to states for making individual determinations on abortion." (www.pioneerlocal.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- ABC News WLS- TV Chicago IL. 2010. Michael A Bendas, U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Dist. "I want my voice to be heard. I want to work to bring America back to its roots of personal responsibility instead of relying on government for everything....It is time for new leadership and innovative ideas. It is time to break the mold. It is time for a smaller, more responsive federal government. And I want to contribute to that process." (abclocal.go.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Tribune: Editorial board endorsements questionnaire. Responded "The concept of 'Too Big To Fail' is flawed. Teddy Roosevelt took on big, monopolistic businesses to break them into reasonably sized entities. If it is that big, it should be broken up...The problem with increasing leverage is that when it makes money, it makes a lot of money, but when it loses money such as in an economic downturn, it loses a lot of money. Hence the failures of AIG and many large banks. Congress needs to reinstate the components of the Glass-Seagall Act to separate investment and retail/commercial banking, to put the derivatives products under regulation and eliminate the CRA's requirements for lending to people who cannot support the loan payments." to the question "What specific changes would you make to financial oversight of banks and financial institutions in the U.S. so that no single large entity could pose a systemic risk to the economy? Would you like to see more or less power given to the Federal Reserve Board? Would you favor a new federal regulator to oversee financial products sold to consumers?" (primaries2010.elections.chicagotribune.com)
- ABC News WLS- TV Chicago IL. 2010. Michael A Bendas, U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Dist. "While I generally oppose government intervention, there are times when well planned, targeted support is appropriate, and this is one of those times. Incent small businesses to hire now, rather than waiting until the recession is over. Set a national goal to create 3 million new jobs through an incentive program. Pay small businesses $1500 per month for the two years for each employee position that is added and filled on their payroll." (abclocal.go.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Tribune: Editorial board endorsements questionnaire. Responded "Permit the government invest up to 30% of the Social Security funds into the stock market through funds which invest in all stocks meeting certain generic criteria" to the question "What changes in revenue and benefits do you support to keep Medicare and Social Security solvent?" (primaries2010.elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago-Sun Times: Candidate Questionnaire. Responded: "Education is the foundation of any successful nation's growth. We have permitted our educational systems to deteriorate to an extreme degree. Yet, it is repairable. One only has to look at the Washington DC system led by Superintendent Michelle Rhee who has installed teacher standards, tough student requirements and school choice as foundations of revitalizing a failed educational enterprise. I support vouchers, competition is good for education. . . . 5.Create a National Academy to bring the best teachers together to exchange ideas, concepts and best practices. Teach them how to integrate the parents into the teaching environment and to hold parents accountable. Instruct them how to be strong leaders and future principals. Create a standard of excellence." to the question "Please comment on the president's education agenda, specifically on the Race to the Top competition that emphasizes core national standards and tests and the use of student test data to evaluate and reward teachers." (www.suntimes.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Tribune: Editorial Board Questionnaire. Responded: "2. Implement an energy tax to encourage the development and purchase of more efficient automobiles and trucks, and to fund the long term fusion project. 3. Continue to increase renewable energy production with reasonable, but not give away, incentives. Support geothermal, solar and wind based technologies that are commercially viable which means that they can be made competitive without governmental subsidies. Reduce and eliminate ethanol subsidies, since when one includes the entire ethanol production cycle it is anything but green. 4. Guarantee bank loans to selected smaller, startup type companies doing innovative research and development work. The big oil companies have plenty of funds, they do not need the government to give them taxpayer money to develop alternative energy systems that will make them money in the future. Let them fund their own research and development. . . 7. Require companies to implement cost effective, clean air technologies for hydrocarbon based energy production plants. Long Term Implement a national initiative to develop nuclear fusion as our primary power source. Fusion is the source of our sun's energy. It is clean energy and there is no opportunity to use the byproducts to build a terrorist nuclear device. There are no pollutants such as those produced in the hydrocarbon energy production cycle. The technical issues are huge, the rewards are extraordinary." to the question "The Energy Information Administration projects that fossil fuels will provide 78 percent of America's energy supply in 2035, down from 84 percent today. Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico provides 30 percent of America's domestic oil production today. What are your priorities for U.S. energy production? How can the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil? Should the U.S. halt or expand offshore drilling? Should it subsidize, or not subsidize, the production of ethanol for fuel?" (elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago-Sun Times: Candidate Questionnaire. Responded: "Global warming is real, and man is partially responsible per scientific fact (I have a strong science and engineering background). The question is whether normal global changes or man-made elements are more dominating, or are they equal? In other words, are the man-made contributions to global warming the ripple on top of the ocean's waves, are they the waves themselves while global changes are the ripples, or are both major contributors. . . . 5.Implement an energy tax to encourage the development and purchase of more efficient automobiles and trucks, and to fund the long term fusion project. 6.Require companies to implement cost effective, clean air technologies for hydrocarbon based energy production plants." to the question "Is global warming real? Is it man-made? What, if anything, should be done about it? And do you favor a national cap-and-trade program to put a price on carbon emissions?" (www.suntimes.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Illinois Family Institute: 2010 Voter Guide. Responded "OPPOSE" to the question "Tax Increase/ Cap and Trade-will tax energy consumption to combat "global warming (American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009)" (www.iviipo.org)
- ABC News WLS- TV Chicago IL. 2010. Michael A Bendas, U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Dist. "I will be a watchdog to ensure that the bureaucrats do not "run the show". For example, while I am supporter of clean air and water, the EPA has arbitrarily expanded its interpretation of Congressional mandates to enlarge their authority and to dictate new restrictions. This I oppose without direct input from Congress." (abclocal.go.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Illinois Family Institute: 2010 Voter Guide. Responded "OPPOSE" to the question "Government Health Care - A government managed insurance plan that includes a "Public Option" similar to Medicare. (H.R. 3200, H.R. 3962 or U.S. Senator Max Baucus' plan - 2009)" (www.iviipo.org)
- Michael A. Bendas. Healthcare: Hand Up, Not Hand Out. 19 July 2010. "...Eliminate the 'single state' limitation on insurance companies. With more size they can negotiate better prices - as the Canadians do for their drugs. We do NOT need a government plan to do this. It is interesting that the liberals in the House are demanding a national public plan, not state plans, because they say that the public plan needs to big enough to negotiate better rates. BUT THEY REFUSE TO ALLOW INSURANCE COMPANIES TO CROSS STATE LINES." (www.bendasforcongress.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Sun Times: Candidate Questionnaire. Responded: "I support the Arizona bill, a state has a responsibility for protecting its citizens and their property and for enforcing laws for the good of society. We have laws that establish the rules for immigration. The laws need to be enforced, or changed. The federal appellate court was very wrong in its ruling." to the question "Will the United States ever have a comprehensive policy on immigration? What should it be? And what is your view of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and the recent federal appellate court ruling striking down its key provisions?" (www.suntimes.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Tribune: Editorial Board Questionnaire. Responded: "A legal Mexican immigrant mentioned that throughout America's history, immigrants have started at the bottom and worked their way up. Legal immigrants are trying to work their way up, yet illegal immigrants, are taking those jobs. We are hurting those who do it in accordance with our laws when we permit open avoidance of them. We have laws that establish the rules for immigration. The laws need to be enforced, or changed. I support sealing the border with strict rules to preclude harming civilians but with latitude to stop any drug enterprises seeking to penetrate the border. Employers must be able to check on the immigration status of applicants. There must be strict penalties for hiring known illegals. Establish a Guest Worker program for employers who cannot hire an American for a job. Applications must be from locations outside of the US to discourage illegals from remaining in the States. Any criminals or gang members status would be deported." to the question "President Obama's July immigration speech highlighted doubling border personnel and verifying immigration status of workers. What should Washington do about the estimated 11-12 million immigrants who are here illegally who have otherwise not broken any laws? Be specific. What elements do you want to see in immigration reform legislation?" (elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Chicago Tribune: Editorial board endorsements questionnaire. Responded "In Afghanistan, we need to secure, then hold territory through economic development and the implementation of viable governmental agencies while training and growing the Afghan military and police forces. It is necessary that the leadership of that nation be responsible, and be credible to its citizens. We need to increase the pressure on the government to attack the issues of systemic corruption." to the question: "What are your views on the U.S. military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq? Should the U.S. change the focus of its antiterrorism campaign?" (primaries2010.elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Michael A. Bendas. 2010. Illinois Family Institute: 2010 Voter Guide. Responded "OPPOSE" to the question "REPEAL of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - the repeal of the only federal law that prevents homosexual "marriage" from becoming legal across the country (H.R. 3567 - 2009)" (www.iviipo.org)
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