or Login to see your representatives.

Access Candidates' and Representatives' Biographies, Voting Records, Interest Group Ratings, Issue Positions, Public Statements, and Campaign Finances

Simply enter your zip code above to get to all of your candidates and representatives, or enter a name. Then, just click on the person you are interested in, and you can navigate to the categories of information we track for them.

[x] close
Print

Richard L. Grabowski

Richard L. Grabowski's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Richard Grabowski
Full Name: Richard L. Grabowski
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Linda; 4 Children: Timothy, James, Daniel, Samuel
Home City: Chicago, IL
Religion: Christian
Project Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.
Richard Grabowski 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.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

In response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Presidential and Congressional candidates' public ecords to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2012, are provided below as a courtesy to voters.

Pro-life Inferred Answer Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Who is Richard Grabowski. 3 February 2012. "He is a constitutional conservative with traditional family values, is Pro-Life and Pro-Second Amendment." (richardgrabowski.com)
Yes Inferred Answer Afghanistan: Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Eventually turn control over to the Afghan military when timing is right and the smoke has settled without sight of it all falling apart. Finish what you started. " to the question: "Specifically, what should the U.S. mission be in Afghanistan?" (elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. 2012 Candidate Profile. 09 October 2012. Responded "The President promised to bring our forces home this was a campaign promise yet for his entire term, we still have not seen this total withdrawal of troops that he touted. So why wait until 2014 if he's using an executive privilege? I could agree, if we know what our end game scenario is for success of the mission is." to the question "Do you favor President Obama's planned 2014 military withdrawal from Afghanistan? Why or why not?" (abclocal.go.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Afghanistan - having a clear plan for what the end game scenario should be is very important to any engagement on foreign soil. Success is winning, not peacekeeping, and an exit strategy is only as good as the job that was completed. The job is not done." to the question: "Specifically, what should the U.S. mission be in Afghanistan?" (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
Unknown Position Unknown Answer Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Project Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
No Inferred Answer Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayers Protection Pledge. "I, Richard Grabowski, pledge to the taxpayers of the 3rd district of the state of Illinois and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." (www.atr.org)
Unknown Position Unknown Answer Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Start slashing. There's a lot there that's wasteful, and if it doesn't have to do with administering the basic union between the 50 states, is not provided for in the US Constitution, and is something that should be a state obligation rather than a federal handout, then get rid of it. If the US Citizens, taxpayers and future generations don't want it, why have it on the books to pay for with federal tax money?" to the question: "What share of deficit reduction do you believe should come from spending cuts and what share from revenue increases? / Specify what spending you want to cut and/or what revenues you want to increase." (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Spending cuts aren't an option anymore, now they're a mandatory basic necessity. Reductions in taxes as well as deeper spending cuts are an ultimatum being handed up from our next generations, who shouldn't need to be saddled with the dire consequences of the irresponsible decisions made by leaders of this generation" to the question: "What share of deficit reduction do you believe should come from spending cuts and what share from revenue increases? / Specify what spending you want to cut and/or what revenues you want to increase." (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
Yes Inferred Answer Economy: Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Lower taxes on businesses - first and foremost. Start fostering a business friendly environment, not punitive, by strengthening and solidifying the CONDITIONS for economic growth, bringing real private sector businesses - the job creators, and real private sector jobs back to Illinois, for good. Greatly reduce regulations on businesses, give them some elbow room to do what they do best - turn an increasingly larger profit and hire people in doing so to continue their growth" to the question: "Identify three specific actions you would support to foster private-sector job creation." (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
No Inferred Answer Education: Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Divest and shut down the federal department of education, since it exists at all state levels already - eliminate the duplicity of efforts, excessive spending, and put local control of schools, curriculum and tax dollars back into local school districts." to the question: "What role should the federal government play in public education? How can public school systems enhance the accountability of educators and provide more education options for students? Tell us your priorities for American education." (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Education is intended to be handled at the local level. Federal standards can be very misguided, and holding federal monies above the heads of school districts to force them to submit to the fill of the government is just plain wrong" to the question: "What role should the federal government play in public education?" (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
Yes Inferred Answer Energy: Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Allow offshore drilling to resume, remove moratorium on drilling, open federal land to drilling, shorten the lead time for approval of drilling permits." to the question: "What are your priorities for U.S. energy production and conservation? How can the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil? Do you favor or oppose expanded domestic drilling for oil, shale oil and natural gas" (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "We need to begin drilling on American soil, in the Gulf and in our Oceans for oil, rather than relying on the OPEC nations to supply for our oil energy needs and dictate to the world's economies with a death grip. Exploration has been done in many areas of the United States, in the Gulf of Mexico and in our Oceans, yielding many rich deposits which still to this day are untapped" to the question: "What are your priorities for U.S. energy production and conservation? How can the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil? Do you favor or oppose expanded domestic drilling for oil, shale oil and natural gas" (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
No Inferred Answer Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. 2012 Candidate Profile. 09 October 2012. Responded " No. What the human race adds to our environment water, air, and sea is so minimal compared to the untouched wilderness and open spaces. We need to become better stewards of the world around us." to the question "Do you believe there is global warming? If so, is any of it man made and can we do anything about it?" (abclocal.go.com)
Unknown Position Unknown Answer Guns: Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Who is Richard Grabowski. 3 February 2012. "He is a constitutional conservative with traditional family values, is Pro-Life and Pro-Second Amendment." (richardgrabowski.com)
Yes Inferred Answer Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "As for the fate of Obama-Care, I am gainst it! Repeal it! Good sounding intentions on other people's dime and at the cost of our freedoms, increasing costs rather than reducing them, on a gargantuan bill that was not read before voted on. Shame on them! Our Constitution does not guaranteed the right to healthcare ˜insurance' provided by our government, forced on the private sector business healthcare and medical provider industry. Hillary started it, Barack finished it, but we NEED to END it" to the question: "Do you support the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which is supposed to have broad powers to cut Medicare spending if Congress fails to do so?" (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Independent Women's Voice: Obamacare Repeal Pledge. "I pledge, if elected, to vote for all bills which seek to REPEAL the health care bill, HR 3590, signed into law on March 23, 2010.* To that end, I would now and will in the next Congress endorse and vote for all measures, including discharge petitions, leading to its defunding, deauthorization, and repeal. I shall do so whether those measures are taken for the whole of the bill or those component parts that impose mandates, restrict patient and doctor choice and access, violate individual freedom and privacy, reduce healthy competition, increase costs, or raise taxes. *The healthcare bill is defined as consisting of: 1) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), signed into law on March 23, 2010; and 2) The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4872), signed into law on March 30, 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Richard Grabowski. WTTW: 2012 Election Q&A. Responded "I'm not in favor of it.  It needs to be repealed.  Good sounding intentions on other people's dime and at the cost of our freedoms, increasing costs rather than reducing them, on a gargantuan bill that was not read before voted on.  Shame on them" to the question: "What are your thoughts on the healthcare law?" (chicagotonight.wttw.com)
Yes Inferred Answer Immigration: Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Who is Richard Grabowski. 3 February 2012. "He's concerned with preserving our freedoms, our traditional American way of life, defending the United States Constitution, lowering taxes, fighting wasteful spending, balancing the federal budget, protecting our USA borders, enforcing AND toughening our existing immigration laws currently on the books, and having something left of our country to pass on to our future generations." (richardgrabowski.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Eliminate ˜dual citizenship' “ CHOOSE your country of allegiance! You cannot belong to BOTH! Redefine legally born citizens to eliminate ˜anchor babies'. If the parents aren't citizens and came here illegally across our borders, then the child that was born goes back to that country with the parents who were legally or illegally visiting or ˜vacationing' here. No social services benefits for LEGAL immigrants until they have been CITIZENS for at minimum 5 full years, not a dime until then" to the question: "How should the U.S. government reform its immigration system, and how should it treat the 12 million immigrants who are here illegally? Please be specific." (primaries2012.elections.chicagotribune.com)
  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Non-citizens here ILLEGALLY shouldn't receive assistance of any sort, they are here ILLEGALLY, get it?? The only assistance we should give immigration lawbreakers is assistance in finding their way back to their border - for good! Everyone else came here the right way, don't diminish years and years of righteous rule following immigrant's efforts with amnesty. Then it won't mean a thing for anyone." to the question: "How should the U.S. government reform its immigration system, and how should it treat the 12 million immigrants who are here illegally?" (elections.chicagotribune.com)
No Inferred Answer Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. WTTW: 2012 Election Q&A. Responded "Holding first the values of faith, family, freedom, father and mother, one man one woman marriage, and teaching my young children in my family the differences between right and wrong, social conservatism, treat others the way that you would expect to be treated" to the question: "How do you define family values?" (chicagotonight.wttw.com)
Unknown Position Unknown Answer National Security: Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Despite exhaustive research, Project Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
Unknown Position Unknown Answer Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? View Citations

Vote Smart's Research

  • Richard Grabowski. Chicago Tribune: 2012 Editorial board questionnaire. Responded "Do not raise Social Security payroll taxes. There's enough coming in already, just everyone else who's NOT retiring has their hand in the senior's cookie jar. Get your hands out!!! And quit moving the target. When I was younger, 65 was retirement. Let's keep it there. Government employees should share in the same retirement age as well. Let's all be fair about it" to the question: "How would you change revenues or benefits to keep the system financial solvent? Specifically, would you raise the Social Security payroll tax on employers and employees? Would you raise the retirement age? Would you change the benefit formula? Please explain." (elections.chicagotribune.com)

Key

Candidate Answer

Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.

Inferred Answer

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.

Unknown Answer

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.

Project Vote Smart's Research: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Project Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

About Project Vote Smart

Help Us If You Can

Media & Communications

Education

For Candidates

One Common Ground, Philipsburg, MT 59858 Hotline: 888-Vote-Smart (888-868-3762)
All content © 1992 - 2013 Project Vote Smart unless otherwise attributed - Privacy Policy - Legislative demographic data provided by Aristotle International, Inc. Mobile Version

Back to top