Sean Holmes' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Sean Holmes has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he/ she may face if elected.
Mississippi State Legislative Election 2011 Political Courage Test
| a) Do you support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | |||
| No | b) Should abortion be legal after 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 parental notification be required before an abortion is performed on a minor? | ||
| Yes | f) Should parental consent be required 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? | ||
| No | h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? | ||
| While my personal views on abortion are negative, I feel it is also the duty of elected officials to protect certain rights of their constituents regardless of their views on particular subjects. To the extent of my knowledge, there is no law existing in the United States that requires an unwilling person to risk their life in the service of another. I could not condone any measure that would force a woman, against her will, to risk her life to possibly protect another. It must remain up to the character and courage of the citizen, not compelled by legislation. | |||
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 can use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Mississippi'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 | ||
| g) Welfare | |||
| Slightly Decrease | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | c) Corporate taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | d) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | e) Property taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | 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 Mississippi's "rainy day" fund | ||
| Yes | b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders | ||
| No | c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities | ||
| d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees | |||
| e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients | |||
| Yes | f) Privatizing certain government services | ||
| No | g) Reducing public pension benefits | ||
| We should examine the consolidation of school districts and reduction of administrative overhead. We should examine ways to increase private and volunteer health care participation, and better ingrate these with state resources. The only exception to this is mental healthcare, which I feel is a legitimate role of Government. While I talk about the need to reduce expenditures, this does not apply to pensions. I will not violate contracts with citizens except in cases of fraud. While welfare should be reformed, doing so in the middle of such economic disparity may lead to grave unintended consequences, reforms should be cautious. | |||
| If a family lives on a budget greater than it can afford, it must either cut back or face the penalties associated with debt. The family cannot simply require their neighbors to give them more money. The government can spend more money than it takes in, and then simply increase taxes on the citizens, and the only recourse their constituents have is to wait for the next election. I would like to gradually reduce the state budget to a level where the taxes can be lowered in all categories. While not be a quick or easy process, it is possible. | |||
| The rainy day fund is for emergencies, and should be used for such. Non violent offenders should be punished with fines and public service. Both prison and parole can needlessly waste tax dollars on otherwise harmless offenders. It is possible that both layoffs for some state employees and some reduction in medicare may help balance Mississippi's budget, however extremely careful consideration must be given prior to any such action. I have previously stated that I would not reduce pension benefits. The government of Mississippi must honor the contracts it has committed to, new and future contracts should be carefully reconsidered. | |||
c) 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 Mississippi governors? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Mississippi state legislators? | ||
| No | 1) Individual | ||
| No | 2) Political Action Committee | ||
| No | 3) Corporate | ||
| No | 4) Political Party | ||
| Yes | d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits? | ||
| No | e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information? | ||
| I feel that private entities should be able to use their resources as seen fit; however I am also aware of the possibility of bribery. To address this issue, I feel that if a government official has received contributions for any person or entity, and then proposes legislation benefiting that organization, then that official should disclose this information. I believe that voluntary spending limits would help with this problem as well. I do not support the current requirements of campaign finance information because of the added burden it places on small party and independent candidates, who can unknowingly violate them. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Yes | 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? | ||
| Tax payers spend far too much on jailing offenders who have not acted violently. Increased fines and public service, along with a re-examination of existing law should help reduce our overburdened criminal justice system. I feel that the use of certain substances is a subject of individual morality. Violations of the law while under the influence, should still draw penalties. I think it is the responsibility of parents, and not the state to monitor their children. I also fail to see how convicting a minor as a sex offender will ever allow them to lead a normal and productive life. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | ||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? | ||
| d) Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? | |||
| e) Do you support 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 comprehensive public pension reform that incorporates a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k)? | ||
| C) Only in times of economic downturn where there are no jobs available. There is in existence a public safety net for times of depression and unemployment, it should not be used to support able individuals who voluntarily fail to seek employment. D) I would like to see corporations move here because of a very low tax base for them, and for the businesses already in Mississippi, no incentives, just lowered taxes for all. | |||
| No | a) Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative? | ||
| 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 eliminating the cap on charter schools in Mississippi? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? | ||
| No | f) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Mississippi high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | ||
| A) I feel that education should be returned to the local level and schools to be held responsible to the local community and not to federal guideline. I believe that this is the best way to increase the success of our youth in an ever expanding and changing society. B) My response on the exit exam question is an extension of my previous answer, if the community wants it, they should vote for it. I oppose financial aid for college students as it is not the governments role to be providing money to individuals at the expense of the taxpayer. | |||
| a) Do you support state regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | |||
| b) Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | |||
| No | c) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)? | ||
| No | e) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? | ||
| Yes | f) Do you support state funding for improvements to Mississippi's energy infrastructure? | ||
| g) Do you support state funding for open space preservation? | |||
| A) to the extent of visible and known harm to its citizens that may be recognized by a reasonable person. B) The amount of conflicting reports, data, (falsified) data, and junk science on both sides makes this a confusing issue. I believe it is our duty to be good stewards of the Earth, while using its resources in the most advantageous and least destructive methods. With the exception of infrastructure for public benefit (ex; TVA), I believe that the private sector can produce far more creative solutions to the energy crisis than the government, with its restrictions and rules, can. | |||
| No | a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| No | b) Do you support requiring background checks on all firearms sales at gun shows, including sales by unlicensed dealers? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? | ||
| No | d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? | ||
| There is no legitimate or wholesome interest in the government regulating the peoples ownership of firearms. I fully believe that every free citizen has the right to defend themselves from crime with arms, to the extent that they wish to take upon themselves. I fully support HR 822 (National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011). As a Marine, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. The second amendment is an individual right (District of Columbia v. Heller), and I feel that it is an elected officials duty to protect the rights of citizens from government infringement. | |||
| 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? | ||
| Yes | e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? | ||
| f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Mississippi? | |||
| g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes? | |||
| E) I think that tort reform is needed, and perhaps the creation of an independent and professional set of jurors, specifically to address medical malpractice, and awards. F) Freedom is the right to live or die as you choose, and no politician has the right to enforce their morality upon their constituency. Nor is it the right of the government, to force a person to live or die in unbearable torment. G) Yes, scientific studies have shown marijuana to have medicinal benefit. Since doctors can prescribe opiates, there should be no reason to exclude much less dangerous compounds | |||
| No | a) Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Yes | b) Should Mississippi allow same-sex couples to form civil unions/domestic partnerships? | ||
| No | c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research? | ||
| No | d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? | ||
| e) Do you support affirmative action? | |||
| f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Mississippi's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Mississippi's anti-discrimination laws? | |||
| A) Marriage is the province of religious institutions, and is protected by the first amendment. B) I support the ability for consenting adults to contract into almost any agreement free of government interference. EFG) I think that private businesses should able to hire the individuals that they think would best represent their interests. The only advantage I would support for hiring is for military veterans, as they have risked their lives with their service. While no citizen should be discriminated against in the public sector, no person should be considered for anything more than their qualifications, skills and experience. | |||
| First I would seek ways to reduce the budget and lower the tax burden on Mississippi citizens, though I realize this will be a long and arduous process. Secondly I would seek ways in which we can reduce administrative expenditures in education, while improving the quality of our teachers, and the excellence of our students. Also I would like to encourage the formation of more charter schools in Mississippi. Thirdly I would attempt to find a way to reduce the incredibly overreaching previsions of the National Food Safety act on Mississippi Farmers, before the provisions begin to damage Mississippi agriculture |
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