Mike Prendergast's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Mike Prendergast 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.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Mike Prendergast. Mike Prendergast for Congress. 26 July 2010. "The Death Tax is but one of many government taxes on capital and entrepreneurship, and its reinstatement will be yet another job killer from the Obama administration. According to a study by the American Family Business Foundation, a full repeal of the death tax, like the one rejected by the Senate last night, would create 1.5 million jobs." (www.facebook.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Prendergast Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 26 July 2010. "'I am proud to sign the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge. This was an easy choice for me because I am a committed fiscal conservative. If elected to Congress, I will not vote for higher taxes,' said Prendergast...the Taxpayer Protection Pledge states that as a member of the House of Representatives, Prendergast will 'oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.'" (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast signed American Family Business Institute: Death Tax Repeal Pledge. (www.nodeathtax.org)
- Derby, Kevin. 2010. Sunshine State News: GOP Congressional Hopeful Mike Prendergast Unveils Jobs Plan. 21 October 2010. "Prendergast called for reforming jobs programs set up by President Barack Obama's federal stimulus -- a measure which the Republican candidate opposed. 'We allocated $200 million to Florida, but we created only 77 jobs in Hillsborough County,' said Prendergast. 'We must do better. We can, and we will, use the taxpayers' money more effectively and my plan shows how to achieve job growth.' Prendergast added that the best way to increase the number of jobs was to enact free-market solutions, cut the size of the federal government, protect small businesses and increase American exports." (www.sunshinestatenews.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Comparing Candidates. 29 October 2010. "The Stimulus Flop exemplifies that excessive spending leads to wasteful spending and barely noticeable results. The bill did create a few jobs, just not in Tampa or St. Pete and not enough. It did create tax credit loopholes to allow people free golf carts, begin funding a study for scientists to study the effects of cocaine on monkeys, and provide on average $5 million per state for signs letting the public know stimulus money was spent. One sign in particular in D.C. advertised improvements to a runway which used $15 million in stimulus funds and created 17 jobs. This money should have been used for tax credits on businesses willing to hire or to pay down the $700 billion in foreign debt held by China." (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Wilmath, Kim. 2010. St. Petersburg Times:Political novice Mike Prendergast stirs up race for Kathy Castor's seat. 3 October 2010. "'Washington's not the solution,' he says solemnly to the camera. 'It's the problem.' He calls the $787 billion stimulus bill 'waste, fraud and abuse,' noting that unemployment has climbed since the bill passed in 2008. 'If you link that back to policies in Washington, D.C., right now, it tells us we're on the wrong track,' he said." (www.tampabay.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Mike Prendergast. Issue Position: Education. "Mike Prendergast believes that control of education must be taken away from Washington bureaucrats and returned to parents, teachers and local leaders. It just makes common sense to put our children's education in the hands of those who know their names and their needs." (votesmart.org)
- Mike Prendergast signed Americans for Prosperity: No Climate Tax Pledge. 10 February 2010. (www.noclimatetax.com)
- Mike Prendergast signed the Contract from America. "Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures." (www.thecontract.org)
- Mike Prendergast. Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Mike Prendergast. 26 July 2010. "The free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today applauded U.S. House candidate Mike Prendergast-running in Florida's 11th Congressional District- for signing the group's 'No Climate Tax Pledge.' Prendergast joins more than 350 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to 'oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.'" (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Defeat cap and trade. 26 July 2010. "July is heating up for yet another major battle in Washington spearheaded by the Obama administration. The White House hopes to have enough political capital locked and loaded in the Senate to fire the American Clean Energy and Security Act into law. A debate, scheduled for this week, must result in the defeat of carbon emission allowances to protect American families from further taxation." (www2.tbo.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Prendergast Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 26 July 2010. "Castor-Pelosi policies such as nationalized healthcare and the carbon tax will only burden small businesses and the other engines of our economy. I agree with President Reagan that sometimes government is not the solution to our problems, it is the problem." (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Comparing Candidates. 29 October 2010. "This is simple, cap and trade is a large tax. Washington will tell you it controls companies' emissions, but they will gladly pay the fine and pass the cost on to you. Businesses and struggling families cannot afford this. Castor's unwillingness to even consider failsafe amendments to protect the consumer shows her entrenchment in the interests of her party and not the people." (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Mike Prendergast for Congress. 26 July 2010. "Supreme Court Shoots Down Gun Ban, Upholds the Second Amendment. A narrow 5-4 decision today favored the Bill of Rights by invalidating a Chicago ban on firearms. Mike Prendergast, candidate for the United States...Congress, hailed the ruling as a victory for Americans and the Constitution: 'Gun ownership is a fundamental right of every American as guaranteed by the Constitution.'" (www.facebook.com)
- Mike Prendergast signed The Club for Growth: Repeal It! (www.repealit.org)
- Mike Prendergast signed the Contract from America. "Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries." (www.thecontract.org)
- Mike Prendergast. 2010. "Health Care." (Video). 26 July 2010. "I understand what the issues are and I understand that we have some challenges when it comes to healthcare, but passing a trillion dollar bill that America has no ability to pay for right now is not the way to go about taking care of America and her needs. In great times great leaders stand up to tough challenges and make decisions for the good of the country. I don't believe the healthcare bill is for the good of the country." (www.youtube.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Prendergast Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 26 July 2010. "Castor-Pelosi policies such as nationalized healthcare and the carbon tax will only burden small businesses and the other engines of our economy. I agree with President Reagan that sometimes government is not the solution to our problems, it is the problem." (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Comparing Candidates. 29 October 2010. "I have signed a pledge to repeal Obamacare, and I will proudly live up to that promise. There is a reason why the majority of the nation wanted health reform and, by the end of the political process, the majority disapproved once of this bill once it was signed. It wasn't done right. It served only to add to Washington's ego whereas I will serve my district's wants." (www.pickprendergast.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Issue Position: Immigration and Border Security. "Legal immigrants have made many positive contributions to our nation in terms of economic growth and cultural heritage. However, while we have benefited greatly from legal immigration, illegal immigration continues to put us all at risk. Gaining control over our borders means protecting the American dream for all our citizens and legal immigrants." (votesmart.org)
- Wilmath, Kim. 2010. St. Petersburg Times:Political novice Mike Prendergast stirs up race for Kathy Castor's seat. 3 October 2010. "Like Castor, Prendergast said he wants U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan. His grown son is stationed there now. His daughter's husband is there too, on his seventh tour. Unlike Castor, Prendergast is against a withdrawal timetable." (www.tampabay.com)
- Mike Prendergast. Issue Position: Strengthening America's Military & Our Local Bases. "Mike believes that the number one responsibility of the federal government is to protect American lives. The only way to keep America safe is to keep America strong. The cornerstone of an effective defense remains a strong, well-trained and well-equipped United States military." (votesmart.org)
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.