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Matt Connolly'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.

Matt Connolly has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2016.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • "Radical environmentalism and fear mongering do not create jobs or support families." (www.mattconnollyforcongress.com)
  • "There are also way too many regulations in this country. [...] Other countries will gladly allow us to build factories and hire their locals. These factories should be in this country with our citizens working in them, but the environmental lobby and the alternative energy movement won't allow it. We must stand up to these groups." (www.mattconnollyforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "[...] I'm pro-2nd amendment, pro-life, pro-school choice and don't support gay marriage (civil unions are the solution)." (www.mattconnollyforcongress.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.
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-life 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) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
Yes f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
Yes g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
Yes h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
The only time abortion should be considered is when the woman did not consent or if the mother's life is in danger. Other than that, regardless of the precautions taken, the unborn is innocent and should be carried to term.

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 Pennsylvania's budget.

Maintain Status a) Education (higher)
Maintain Status b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Decrease c) Environment
Slightly Decrease d) Health care
Maintain Status e) Law enforcement
Maintain Status f) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Greatly Decrease g) Welfare
Slightly Decrease a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease c) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease d) Gasoline taxes
Eliminate e) Property taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Sales taxes
Slightly Decrease g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Slightly Decrease h) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Decrease i) Income taxes (high-income families)
No a) Tapping into Pennsylvania's "rainy day" fund
No b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders
No c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities
Yes d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees
Yes e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
Yes f) Privatizing certain government services
Taxes should be lowered in all areas, especially business and property taxes.
The role of government is not to redistribute wealth but to allow the citizens to spend thier own money as they choose. This leads to business growth and entrepreneurship which ultimately increases tax revenue via growth.
Eliminate waste - it is a cliche but we should start with zero based budgets, not an increase from the previous year automatically. There should be rewards for departments that give back unused funds instead of using them wastefully so they don't get a lower amount the following year. All welfare recipients should take drug tests and prove citizenship and be tracked to make sure they are not getting welfare from multiple sources.

d) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?

Yes a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Pennsylvania governors?
Yes b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Pennsylvania state legislators?
Yes c) Do you support reducing the size of the General Assembly?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) Political Action Committee
3) Corporate
No 4) Political Party
Yes e) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes f) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Term limits will reduce corruption and keep people in who deal in the real world and bring that to the capitol.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
Yes b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
No c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?
Yes d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
Yes f) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
I support Arizona's immigration policy and would like to see it here.
Yes a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No b) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
No c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
Yes d) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
No e) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
No f) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
No g) Do you support the taxation of cigars and smokeless tobacco?
Less government is best. Lower taxes, reduce gov't interference and let people pursue their goals and create jobs and industry as a natural byproduct.
Yes a) Do you support national education standards?
Yes b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?
Yes c) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
Yes d) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
No f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Pennsylvania high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
g) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
No b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
No c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?
No d) Do you support state funding for improvements to Pennsylvania's energy infrastructure?
No e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
No f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
g) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Yes b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?
e) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
Yes b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
No d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
Yes e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
No f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Pennsylvania?
No g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
h) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes b) Should Pennsylvania allow same-sex couples to form civil unions?
No c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research?
No d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research?
No e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action?
No f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
No g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
h) Other or expanded principles
I would vote to advance the Marcellus Shale gas production program to greatly reduce our dependency on foriegn oil. I would like to reduce and freeze property taxes for seniors and even give them the option to not pay for them at all (but allow the current rate to accumulate against the value of their home. The taxes will be paid in full when the home sells.) I would reduce corporate taxes to attract business to PA. The increase in commerce would result in greater revenue to the state.

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