James Vestermark's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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James Vestermark has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.
Presidential Election 2020 Political Courage Test
| Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | |||
| I believe in the preservation of life; the sanctity of life, from inception to death. This issue of reproductive rights should be a woman's decision. It is her body; this should not be made a political issue. I stand as Pro-life with compassion and consideration for life compromising situations: rape and incest. | |||
| In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | |||
| Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare? | |||
| No, generally. I support the hiring of competent government accountancy, auditing and whistleblowers embracing truth in reporting facts of irregularities according to GAP and CBO/DCMA policies. I support a balanced budget by way of conservative, fiscal responsibility. Fiscal responsibility as a result of reducing outlays/spending (expenses outside of entitlements) and through increased revenue generation beyond tax revenues.It may be necessary, according to the bipartisan CBO. The SS fund according to projections by the CBO?s Hoagland the fund will reach a critical funding year by 2049. The policy of increasing the retirement age to 67 may be necessary to maintain solvency | |||
| Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | |||
| Generally, no. I would support the FEC guidance and recommendations on this issue to provide legitimate funding regulations and guidance. Some entity must get ahold of campaign financing. | |||
| Do you support increasing defense spending? | |||
| No. The DoD Pentagon budget is has three separate parts: Maintenance, Research and Logistics. I would accept increases in the Maintenance component for soldier, sailor, airman pay to attract/ retain warfighter quality. Research will be dependent on the Defense Threat Management and Research Agency and their evaluation of future technology threats and time . I support improved contract management, the staffing of Contracting Officers and Procurement Officers, and timely, annual auditing from the DCMA along with financially rewards whistleblowers through the Fair Reporting Act. I favor the long-standing belief/policy that? it is cheaper to invest in diplomacy than buy bullets.? | |||
| Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | |||
| Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | |||
| Generally no. The country's infrastructure and grid needs repair and security. This line item issue is used as a political ploy to do something; to show Congressional will. Meanwhile safe water and air and roads and bridges remain afterthoughts. I support honest and fair trade along with the implied protection of and preservation for intellectual property laws of the US and the rights to international property laws according to WIPO. Generally, yes. Taxation is a factor in the money supply. I would be in favor of monitoring how the tax margins would be used: reinvestment in research and development programs. | |||
| Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? | |||
| I believe the direction/emphasis of this question is about government involvement. I would support, as part of our government size reduction effort, to eliminate the budgeted Education Department, and allow the states to standardize curriculum, to establish teacher qualifications, ethics, policy relating to educational goals, objectives, teacher competency and teacher tenure, the classroom size and discipline, and annual achievement standards based on student population size, special needs and state-level demographics. | |||
| Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | |||
| Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | |||
| I support common sense, cost saving, safe renewable energy programs to include ocean wave. The US should lead in innovative technology to reduce our carbon footprint. The US must find ways to become independent of the global markets, cyclical demand/ pricing. I would encourage our national laboratories, like Sandia and NREL to assist in the commercialization of technology. Paris Accord would need to be reviewed;support action after review. China, one of two top carbon polluters, must be held accountable. China especially, is a contributor to our environment because of the transport winds aloft with pollutant effluence impacting the US footprints. | |||
| Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | |||
| Generally, Yes. There shall be no amendment to the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms. Step One: I would support a forensic audit of the NRA and investigation of its funding. Two: I would support a hearing with assault weapon manufactures, law enforcement unions, trauma doctors, and labor to formulate plans to implement harsh laws on violators who injury innocent people, strict policy. Step three: The country is filed with mentally ill people. The majority needs to be allowed to identify/ report those individuals who are deemed a risk to society. I would support a Red Flag Law. | |||
| Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | |||
| No. This Act is law and has been allowed to exist as a tax on US taxpayers under the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. I would support a thorough evaluation from an audit and cost benefit analysis. I do not trust the voices and opinions of either of the political sides and the departments of this administration. Our government currently has degreed professional medical doctors/ pharmaceutical doctors serving in Congress; who can provide some common sense ideas to improve law, and coverage parts, recipients, and deliverables on prescription drugs. The government should do no harm,protect the most vulnerable. | |||
| Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border? | |||
| Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | |||
| The US needs to become a good neighbor. I support laws for good neighbors. 2005, both parties in Congress agreed to provide funding for a southern wall, The Southern Border Electronic Security Act. I support the need to preserve our nation?s sovereignty. We have a right to know who is coming in. A root cause of this global migratory problem is because of poor leadership. Yes. The US has existing laws to support/ process legal immigration. There is a path to Citizenship. Learning our laws. The 116th Congress must amend, improve and pass immigration laws. Get it done. | |||
| Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)? | |||
| Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts? | |||
| The use of force must be the very last resort. I support the need for alliances and a bilateral structure to prevent the invention, development and acquisition of these weapons. Diplomacy, sanctions and the strengths of our current international alliances (whoever they are) shall be the proper and prudent tools to implemented a positive change in behavior and understanding. Yes, at all costs! Our enemies know our foreign affairs policy and the calculus. The Middle East and its conflicts have been legendary in its span of time/ frequency. The US has had a long history supplying/arming our future armed combatants. | |||
| Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)? | |||
| I support the use of sanctions, the authorization of hash fines and penalties on counterfeit products from China to the US that flood our markets in New York with distribution centers in North Carolina, and the reduction of barriers to common sense, trusted free trade partners to conduct respected, and open trade. | |||
| 1) Sign Executive Orders Term Limits for Congress including corruption laws, Ethics Standards for the Supreme Court, Request the DOJ to Waive the Right of Legal Peril (Indictment) for a sitting President, Executive Order to Suspend Congressional and Chief Executive Pay and Benefits in the event of a Government Shut Down, and Sign Executive Order for Nepotism Laws. 2) Review and Enhanced Legal Support of the Fair Reporting Act for Whistleblowers 3) Legislate and Enforce ? No one is above the Laws of the US; and audit, conducted by the GAO, the number, purpose and importance of the Lobbyist Industry. |
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