James Roach'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.
James Roach 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.
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 2012.
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Pro-choice" for: "a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?" Abortion Issues Other or expanded principles: "Both Pro Life and Pro-choice would like to see fewer abortions in our nation. In looking at other nations, I know what we need to do to reduce the number of abortions in our country and provide better alternatives. I believe we can reduce the number of abortions by 50% without taking away the right of women to choose. There are examples of other nations that have accomplished this. I do not believe that there are two sides to this issue."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures?" Abortion Issues Other or expanded principles: "Both Pro Life and Pro-choice would like to see fewer abortions in our nation. In looking at other nations, I know what we need to do to reduce the number of abortions in our country and provide better alternatives. I believe we can reduce the number of abortions by 50% without taking away the right of women to choose. There are examples of other nations that have accomplished this. I do not believe that there are two sides to this issue."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan?"
- James Roach Issue Position: Terrorism and Wars. 1 January 2012. "Fighting a ground war in remote locations is too costly in lives and dollars. We should shift our focus from ground troops to funding a greatly expanded intelligence operation. Along with expanded intelligence we should use our technology guided weapons to make surgical strikes on the bases and key supplies of our enemies. This would lower the cost of our fight for freedom in both lives and dollars." (votesmart.org)
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Decrease" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. c) Defense" Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. Other or expanded principles: "We need to work more in partnership with private industry as we expand and rebuild our roads, ports and other infrastructure. Public/Private partnerships will increase employment in the private sector and reduce government management."
- James Roach. Issue Position: The Defecit. 1 January 2012. "The U.S. spends more on defense than the next nine countries combined and we can no longer afford to do that. We must start by closing some of the more than 1000 foreign bases (including the Italian Riviera Resort base); auditing defense contracts and the restructuring of our defense system to meet the needs of today's threats." (votesmart.org)
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Decrease" for: "c) Defense" Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. Other or expanded principles: "We need to work more in partnership with private industry as we expand and rebuild our roads, ports and other infrastructure. Public/Private partnerships will increase employment in the private sector and reduce government management."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. h) Income taxes (high-income families)"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "h) Income taxes (high-income families)"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy?"
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. d) Education" Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. Other or expanded principles: "We need to work more in partnership with private industry as we expand and rebuild our roads, ports and other infrastructure. Public/Private partnerships will increase employment in the private sector and reduce government management."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Slightly Increase" for: "d) Education" Indicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once. Other or expanded principles: "We need to work more in partnership with private industry as we expand and rebuild our roads, ports and other infrastructure. Public/Private partnerships will increase employment in the private sector and reduce government management."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas?" Environment and Energy Issues Other or expanded principles: "We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?" Environment and Energy Issues Other or expanded principles: "We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system?" Environment and Energy Issues Other or expanded principles: "We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?" Environment and Energy Issues Other or expanded principles: "We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles?" Environment and Energy Issues Other or expanded principles: "We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "Ban assault rifles that are truly assault rifles and not cosmetically similar hunting rifles."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "Ban assault rifles that are truly assault rifles and not cosmetically similar hunting rifles."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "Ban assault rifles that are truly assault rifles and not cosmetically similar hunting rifles."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?" Gun Issues Other or expanded principles: "Ban assault rifles that are truly assault rifles and not cosmetically similar hunting rifles."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option?" Health Issues Other or expanded principles: "I would further expand funding for the Veterans Administration to include all veterans in the programs and improve quality of care."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?" Health Issues Other or expanded principles: "I would further expand funding for the Veterans Administration to include all veterans in the programs and improve quality of care."
- James Roach. Facebook: Timeline. 1 July 2012. "One of my worries is that it took decades to get a health care reform bill past the drug and insurance company lobbyists. If the current bill is repealed, we may not be able to pass another one until the cost of health care bankrupts our country. Everyone agrees that our health care system is badly broken, expensive, and mediocre in quality. I would suggest that we start talking about facts and what we want our health care system to be like instead of reacting to myths and political spin (from both sides)." (www.facebook.com)
- James Roach. Issue Position: The Defecit. 1 January 2012. "The Affordable Care Act will reduce the rate of health care growth but fundamental changes of our health delivery system must be implemented to reduce cost and improve quality." (votesmart.org)
- James Roach. Obamacare Cuts Medicare: What is Really Going On. "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and related legislation (known as Healthcare Reform or "Obamacare") were signed into law in March 2010. No cuts at all were made in Medicare benefits, contrary to what some opponents claimed to scare voters. However, $716 billion in savings over 10 years were projected for Medicare through reducing the growth in Medicare costs by trimming fraud, waste, abuse, and reducing the payments to private insurers that administer highly profitable Medicare Advantage plans. In fact, the savings to be realized over the next two decades as a result of Healthcare Reform will extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund another 12 years, until the year 2029, while increasing Medicare benefits." (electroach.com)
- James Roach. Socialized Medicine: What is Really Going On. "The healthcare reform legislation, the Affordable Care Act was not a government takeover of healthcare, a charge designed to mislead and frighten people. There is no attempt in the Affordable Care Act to create "socialized medicine" or to take over the doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies. These services are still in private hands as are industry health insurance plans. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was supported by major health providers and specifically by: ï· The American Medical Association (Doctors) ï· The American Hospital Association (Hospitals) ï· The Pharmaceutical Industry (drug makers) [¦] None of these groups would have supported socialized medicine or "a government takeover of healthcare." Such charges were politically motivated lies and sheer nonsense. These responsible organizations supported "Obamacare" because they recognized the urgent need for reform in healthcare." (electroach.com)
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?" Immigration Issues Other or expanded principles: "Comprehensive immigration reform includes much more than enforcement of current laws. Increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants by U.S. companies (felony level) will do much more to reduce the problem. Increased border security will decrease illegal drugs and potential terrorists. Fixing the guest worker program will reduce the number of workers becoming illegal. Enforcement of minimum wage and safety for workers will also help. Federal representatives must have the guts to enact legislation to fix this problem."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "Yes" for: "a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?" Immigration Issues Other or expanded principles: "Comprehensive immigration reform includes much more than enforcement of current laws. Increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants by U.S. companies (felony level) will do much more to reduce the problem. Increased border security will decrease illegal drugs and potential terrorists. Fixing the guest worker program will reduce the number of workers becoming illegal. Enforcement of minimum wage and safety for workers will also help. Federal representatives must have the guts to enact legislation to fix this problem."
- James Roach. Issue Position: Undocumented Workers. 1 January 2012. "We need to enforce the laws on employers to prevent more undocumented workers and deal with the generations of undocumented families here now who are law abiding, by offering a choice if they are not convicted of serious crimes: a) stay here with a permanent green card (not allowed to vote) or (b) go back and get in line to immigrate legally." (votesmart.org)
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?" Social Issues Other or expanded principles: "Everyone in this country that is a citizen and pays taxes should have the same civil rights as everyone else. Churches should be able to deny gay or others from marriage ceremonies but gay couples should have the same civil rights as other married couples."
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan?"
- James Roach. Project Vote Smart: 2010 Florida Congressional Political Courage Test. Selected "No" for: "a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security?" Business and Employment Issues Other or expanded principles: "I would like to see federal support of small companies to hire unemployed workers instead of sending the unemployment benefits directly to the individuals. This would accomplish job training and provide dignity to unemployed workers as well as help out small businesses."
- James Roach. Issue Position: Social Security. 27 July 2012. "I will oppose any attempts to privatize or otherwise cut benefits to social security." (votesmart.org)
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.
| Pro-choice | a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? | ||
| No | b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| Yes | c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? | ||
| Yes | e) Should federal subsidies be prohibited from being used for abortion procedures? | ||
| Both Pro Life and Pro-choice would like to see fewer abortions in our nation. In looking at other nations, I know what we need to do to reduce the number of abortions in our country and provide better alternatives. I believe we can reduce the number of abortions by 50% without taking away the right of women to choose. There are examples of other nations that have accomplished this. I do not believe that there are two sides to this issue. | |||
1) SpendingIndicate what federal funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.2) TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category- you can use a number more than once.
| Slightly Increase | a) Agriculture | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Arts | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Defense | ||
| Maintain Status | 1) Intelligence operations | ||
| Slightly Decrease | 2) Military hardware | ||
| Slightly Decrease | 3) National missile defense | ||
| Slightly Increase | 4) Salary and benefits for active duty personnel | ||
| Slightly Increase | 5) Programs to improve troop retention rates | ||
| Maintain Status | 6) Research and development of new weapons | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Environment | ||
| Greatly Increase | f) Homeland security | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) International aid | ||
| Slightly Decrease | h) Medical research | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Scientific research | ||
| Maintain Status | j) Space exploration | ||
| Maintain Status | k) United Nations | ||
| Slightly Decrease | l) Welfare | ||
| Slightly Increase | m) Other or expanded categories | ||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Slightly Increase | b) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | h) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| i) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Yes | 3) Do you support the elimination of the federal estate tax? | ||
| Yes | 4) Do you support requiring the federal budget to be balanced each year? | ||
| Yes | 5) Do you support using government funds in an effort to stimulate and improve the economy? | ||
| 6) Other or expanded principles | |||
| We need to work more in partnership with private industry as we expand and rebuild our roads, ports and other infrastructure. Public/Private partnerships will increase employment in the private sector and reduce government management. | |||
| No | a) Do you support privatizing elements of Social Security? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing the federal minimum wage? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the ability of workers to unionize? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support federal funding for job-training programs that retrain displaced workers? | ||
| I would like to see federal support of small companies to hire unemployed workers instead of sending the unemployment benefits directly to the individuals. This would accomplish job training and provide dignity to unemployed workers as well as help out small businesses. | |||
| No | a) Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns? | ||
| Yes | b) Should Congress regulate indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| No | c) Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns? | ||
| Yes | d) Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations? | ||
| No | f) Do you support limiting the President's ability to define how legislation is applied through the use of signing statements? | ||
| Campaign reform is needed to control the excessive spending and control of candidates through funds from PACs and the Parties. We must develop a level playing field for candidates. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | d) Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs? | ||
| I support a program to restore voting rights to people that have served their sentences and have remained out of jail for 1 year. Priority should be given to veterans that have fought for our country and have lost their voting rights. Many homeless veterans have lost the right to vote. | |||
| No | a) Do you support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students? | ||
| No | b) Do you support federal funding for universal pre-K programs? | ||
| No | c) Do you support federal funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | d) Do you support federal funding for K-12 school vouchers? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support the federal government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support international emissions targets aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| No | c) Do you support allowing energy producers to trade carbon credits under a "cap and trade" system? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support strengthening fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles? | ||
| No | e) Do you support domestic oil exploration in federally-protected areas? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support federal funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support the development of nuclear reactors? | ||
| We must develop alternative energies. We spend over 1 Billion dollars per day on imported oil. Some of that money goes to groups that are fighting our own soldiers. There are many viable alternative energies that we have waited far too long to develop. | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support a ban on assault rifles? | ||
| Ban assault rifles that are truly assault rifles and not cosmetically similar hunting rifles. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support a publicly-administered health insurance option? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? | ||
| Yes | c) Should the federal government expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs? | ||
| I would further expand funding for the Veterans Administration to include all veterans in the programs and improve quality of care. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support establishing English as the official national language? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Comprehensive immigration reform includes much more than enforcement of current laws. Increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants by U.S. companies (felony level) will do much more to reduce the problem. Increased border security will decrease illegal drugs and potential terrorists. Fixing the guest worker program will reduce the number of workers becoming illegal. Enforcement of minimum wage and safety for workers will also help. Federal representatives must have the guts to enact legislation to fix this problem. | |||
| No | a) Do you support United States military action in Afghanistan? | ||
| No | b) Do you support increasing military assistance for Afghanistan? | ||
| No | c) Do you support increasing economic development assistance for Afghanistan? | ||
| No | d) Should the United States continue to strike suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support granting aid to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States? | ||
| No | f) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state? | ||
| Yes | g) Do you support increasing sanctions on Iran if it continues to defy United Nations mandates? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq? | ||
| No | i) Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements? | ||
| j) Other or expanded principles | |||
| No | a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support allowing openly-gay men and women to serve in the United States military? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| No | d) Should the federal government end affirmative action programs? | ||
| Everyone in this country that is a citizen and pays taxes should have the same civil rights as everyone else. Churches should be able to deny gay or others from marriage ceremonies but gay couples should have the same civil rights as other married couples. | |||
| My biggest priority is to get our economy back on track and create jobs and grow the middle class. We must support the development of new green and energy jobs and keep those jobs in this country. We must remove incentives for companies moving jobs overseas. Federal funding must be offset by jobs. My second priority is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We spend 1 billion dollars per day on oil imports. We can create jobs by building more alternative engery production facilities. Reducing the tax breaks on oil and coal companies can provide funding. |
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