Tony Amorose's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Tony Amorose has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.
Michigan State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy? | ||
| No | 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 the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures? | ||
| Yes | h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| Yes | i) Do you support increased licensing restrictions for abortion providers? | ||
| c) I do not believe it should be legal, however, I do not think the woman, nor the doctor, should be penalized if she chooses that course of action, as that is a deeply personal and consequential choice. While this may seem like splitting hairs, what is involved here is the role of the state in such matters. | |||
1) State Spending:Using the key, indicate 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 Taxes:Using the key,indicate 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 Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Michigan's budget.
| Slightly Decrease | a) Education (higher) | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Education (K-12) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | c) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Health care | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Law enforcement/corrections | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Transportation/infrastructure | ||
| Slightly Decrease | g) Welfare | ||
| h) Other or expanded categories: | |||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Gas/Oil taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | e) Property taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Sales taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | h) Income taxes (mid-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| No | j) Do you support requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature in order to approve all future tax increases? | ||
| k) Other or expanded categories: | |||
| No | a) Tapping into Michigan's "rainy day" fund | ||
| No | b) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| Yes | c) Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining | ||
| Yes | d) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions | ||
| Yes | e) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees | ||
| No | f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | ||
| As a public sector union member, I know I will be attacked for the positions I'm taking. I have advocated those positions, though, among my colleagues, knowing that I, too, would be taking those economic and financial hits. But since Michigan's economy is still among the worst, and since public sector compensation packages are paid for by the public, the time has come whereby we MUST make difficult financial decisions. I take these positions for the sake of my state, its taxpayers and our future. | |||
a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?
| Yes | 1) Individual | ||
| Yes | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| Yes | 3) Corporate | ||
| Yes | 4) Political Party | ||
| No | b) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| No | f) Do you support Michigan's emergency manager law? | ||
| 1)-4) Insofar as to reflect the principle of equality under the law, and not to limit free speech. 3) if Corporate, then unions also d) can independence truly be achieved? Would bipartisanship accomplish its task? What criteria would be agreed upon? f) While it may be expedient, it violates republican principles, and it allows local officials to evade accountability to their constituents, and then turn around and blame others. Local officials must make the tough decisions. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| No | b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | c) Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana? | ||
| 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? | ||
| e) TOTALLY inappropriate activity, but let's not make criminals out of them. This is a MORAL issue that must be addressed, but not through the criminal justice system. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| Yes | 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 a constitutional amendment affirming a right to collective bargaining in Michigan? | ||
| No | h) Do you support construction of a new bridge across the Detroit River to Canada? | ||
| No | i) Should Michigan allow more casinos? | ||
| d) reduced taxes-yes; tax abatements-most likely not; lower taxes will result in businesses wanting to bring jobs here, rather than taking them some other place. More jobs results in more taxpayers, fewer folks on unemployment, a stimulated economy and fewer empty businesses and homes. | |||
| No | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| No | b) Do you support a merit pay system for teachers? | ||
| No | c) Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support replacing pension plans for new teachers with 401(k)-style retirement plans? | ||
| Yes | e) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| No | g) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | h) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Michigan high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| a) More abdication to the Federal government, among other issues. b) I would support it if an appropriate method can be determined. e) Yes, but that won't solve the problem. f) Only as a reallocation of funds, not in addition to public schools g) No, but it could mandate state colleges and universities do so. | |||
| 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 state funding for improvements to Michigan's energy infrastructure? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | ||
| No | e) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Should a license be required 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) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| No | e) Do you support establishing a state-run health insurance exchange? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| 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 same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions? | ||
| No | c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Michigan's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles: | |||
| My first and foremost legislative priority is always to preserve our traditional values of life, the sanctity of marriage and the protection and nurturing of the family. Secondly, I place a high priority on completely restructuring our school system, empowering local districts to make necessary changes in the delivery of education. A third priority is to revitalize Michigan's economy by doing what is necessary to bring back an industrial base, and reduce burdensome regulations on small businesses. |
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