Dan Schmitt's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Dan Schmitt 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.
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "First let me state that I am pro-life. I had two children and now I have eight grandchildren. The one study that I keep looking for is this. When a woman reaches her middle ages, what bothers her more? Does she wonder about the child she may have given up at birth when she knew she was not ready for parenthood? Or, does she wonder about the child she got rid of through abortion" to the question: "What are your views about abortion and immigration?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Daily Herald: IL-5 Election Questionnaire. Responded "Abortion is wrong. Abortion clinic should not get Federal funds" to the question: "What is your position on abortion? What, if any, abortion exceptions do you support?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "I agreed with President Bush to mount the drive into Afghanistan, to route out both al-Qaeda and their allies, the Taliban" to the question: "How are your views on the war in Afghanistan?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Daily Herald: IL-5 Election Questionnaire. Responded "We should never get involved in a politically correct war again. The biggest mistakes to be learned by being involved with Iraq and Afghanistan is that these people do not want to join the 21st century" to the question: "What steps should the country now be taking in the war on terrorism? What policy should the U.S. have toward Iran and North Korea? What is your view of terrorism policies that pit public safety against civil liberty?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. WTTW: 2012 Republican Survey. Responded "Additionally, Federal spending is out of control under President Obama and Congressman Quigley. This is madness. There just isn't enough money to fund their spending spree. We need to cut the federal budget by 10%. Every member of the Cabinet should be required to cut their departments by 10%. If you love America, if you love your family, if you love your neighbors, you will cut spending, you will reduce the size of the federal government" to the question: "Should the federal government cut spending and where?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "Without going into the history of income taxes, I believe that President Reagan had it right. He drew down the top rate to 28%. His second rate was 15%, I believe. So this would be a good start. Reduce the top rate, so that more people will pay their fair share. While our President tries to confuse the public by stating that George Bush's 35% was an un-fair tax cut, I believe 28% would be much better" to the question: "How do you want to change the federal tax rates?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune. Editorial Board Questionnaire. Responded "NO TAX INCREASES. Each Department head, each Cabinet Member, should be required to cut their department by 10%. Congress should take up the problems with 'current services baseline' and be required to build a budget that works in 2013, not automatic increases from this 1974 system." to the question "The federal government has more than $15.7 trillion in debt and is in its fourth consecutive year of trillion-dollar budget deficits. Congress has not reached agreement on how to balance federal spending. What percentage of deficit reduction do you believe should come from spending cuts and what share from revenue increases? Give specific numbers." (elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Daily Herald: IL-5 Election Questionnaire. Responded "The out-of-control spending is going to destroy America as we know it. The Federal Budget needs to be cut by 10% across the board. Each and every Department must be cut by 10%. The congress must take responsibility for the budget. They must debate and pass an annual budget. Automatic increases in the budget must be ended. All spending comes from the House, and I will make it my responsibility that federal spending is reduced and justified" to the question: "What is your number two campaign issue?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "To balance the budget, we need to cut the federal government by 10%. Every department needs to cut 10%, with each Secretary of each Cabinet position responsible for the 10% cuts. If he or she is not up to the task, they need to be removed. The EPA presents a special case. This department needs to be shut down totally, with everyone sent home without pay" to the question: "How do you want to change federal spending?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. WTTW Survey: PBS Questionnaire. Responded "The Federal Government should cut 10% across the board. Each and every department should be reduced. There should be a new budget with everything on the line. No more automatic increases in federal spending. I am willing to spend my first two years in the Congress to clean up the budget. We need to means test everyone on Social Security. There are too many people gaming the system and getting a check from Social Security. Now that the Income Tax Credit program has been created, millions more are gaming the system and taking money from the IRS" to the question: "Should the federal government cut spending and where?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune. Editorial Board Questionnaire. Responded "I believe we should return to the Reagan Tax rates. Capital gains at 15% only. Mortgage interest deductions and property tax deductions stay. Congress should take a look at the entire system, but I am not a flat-rate taxer. Lower taxes will increase the revenue and get people interested in starting businesses again." to the question: "Should Congress rewrite the U.S. tax code? If so, what would your priorities be?" (elections.chicagotribune.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune:Political Questionnaire. Responded "Please have someone tell me the great progress this Department has created? Race to the Top, No Child Left Behind? Quite frankly, get the federal government out of the education business. It is an utter waste of money. Let the parents, local school boards and teachers take care of the education in the local areas. And end the federal government control over the student loan program. The private-public arrangement we had before this President's involvement was working fine" to the question: "What role should the federal government play in public education? Do you favor or oppose the Obama administration's Race To The Top program? How can public school systems enhance the accountability of educators and provide more education options for students? Tell us your priorities for American education." (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune:Political Questionnaire. Responded "We may have hundreds of times more oil in our own shale rock than there is in Canada. But this administration and Clinton's stopped any development of these lands. Yes, we can develop our own shale oil, and we can develop methods that will be clean, we can develop ways to restore these lands just as we have replanted our forests over the last 100 years" to the question: "How can the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil? Do you favor or oppose expanded domestic drilling for oil, shale oil and natural gas?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. ABATE of Illinois: Political Questionnaire. Responded "One of the first acts that I will undertake when I get to the U.S. House is propose a bill to cut off all funding for the EPA. This agency has overstepped their powers when they designed their own carbon standards. It is the responsibility of the U.S. Congress to set air standards. ONLY THE U.S. Congress can make law" to the question "Considering that motorcycle only contribute to .006% of the overall emissions, would you favor legislation that would burden states and force them to adopt a federally prescribed test cycle for motorcycle emissions standard?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune:Political Questionnaire. Responded "America still leads the world in our demands for a clean environment. We are the cleanest of any of the large countries in this world" to the question: "How can the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil? Do you favor or oppose expanded domestic drilling for oil, shale oil and natural gas?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Daily Herald: IL-5 Election Questionnaire. Responded "Now that Illinois is the only state without concealed carry laws, I believe it is time for the citizens in Illinois to join the rest of the states. Just tell me why a law-abiding citizen should not have the right to own guns and carry them if they want to" to the question: "What is your position on concealed carry gun laws?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Chicago Tribune:Political Questionnaire. Responded "It is the responsibility of the next Congress to kill ObamaCare. The current Congressman in the 5th District voted to steal 500 billion dollars from Medicare. If they can get away with this, where is the end......President Obama is not interested in saving Medicare, or Medicaid. Read his books, listen to his close advisers, listen to Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. She has stated that there should be no insurance companies involved in health care in this country" to the question: "By 2020, Medicare and Medicaid costs could account for one-fourth of federal spending. Medicare's largest trust fund will be insolvent in 2024. How should these programs be restructured to control costs? Do you support the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which is supposed to have broad powers to cut Medicare spending if Congress fails to do so?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Daily Herald: IL-5 Election Questionnaire. Responded "OBAMACARE is madness.... But, we have to remember that there is an exemption in OBAMACARE for religious groups. They think this applies to the Amish, or Christian Scientist or Muslims. I think maybe it is time for the Catholics to join the Jews and the Lutherans and the Presbyterians, we should take back all the hospitals that we have built and exempt ourselves from ObamaCare. Let's see, did I see a report that 80% of all hospitals in the world were built by the Roman Catholics" to the question: "How should Medicare and Medicaid be changed overall to fix fund gaps? How should Medicare be changed for those currently enrolled? How should it change for the Baby Boomer generation?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. WTTW: 2012 Republican Survey. Responded "ObamaCare is evil. If there is one thing that a person owns, it is their life. You are responsible for your health. You are responsible for your life. The government is not responsible for your health. Just who in the government will be responsible for your health? Just who? If you believe that the government can serve your best interest, you need to have your head examined" to the question: "What are your thoughts on the healthcare law?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "I am willing to expand the guest worker programs, increase the number of immigrants from each and every country in the world, but I do not support open borders. We need to establish an orderly system for immigration, but those that are here illegally, must return to their own countries. Maybe we need to print the U.S. Constitution in hundreds of languages and give one to every immigrant as they return to their home country. If we could get every country in the world to accept our constitution, join the 21st century and begin to treat their citizens respectfully, the world would be a better place and we would not have this immigration problem" to the question: "How are your views on immigration?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Dan Schmitt. WTTW: 2012 Republican Survey. Responded "Marriage is one man and one woman. All statistics will show that the best situation for any children is a father and a mother. No matter where a person's position in life may be, no matter how poor or rich, their lives will be better if they marry someone of the opposite sex, stay married for a lifetime and stay off drugs and liquor. Living a Judeo-Christian lifestyle is a plus" to the question: "How do you define family values?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Dan Schmitt. Center Right Coalition: 2012 Republican Assembly of Northern Cook Co. Questionnaire. Responded "Let me just state upfront that this plan from President Obama that has reduced the Social Security tax is an evil plan. Not only is it going to reduce the amount of money that is paid into Social Security, but if allowed to continue, it will create another so-called "donut hole" in the system" to the question: "How do you want to change the federal tax rates? How do you want to change federal spending?" (www.schmittforillinois.com)
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