Ron Varasteh's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
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Ron Varasteh has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.
California Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| I am against abortion, personally, except in some rare cases. However, I am decidedly pro-choice. I believe it is a woman's right to choose what to do with her body. I believe government must not have any involvement in making that choice. Many Republicans keep convincing the right to believe that they're pro-life. Why then, during 2003-2007 period, when Republicans controlled the House, the Senate, the White House, and the Supreme Court, didn't they abolish abortion? Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Government out of our private lives + Pro-family planning + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
| Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
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| In the past few years, middle-class is sinking into poverty while uber-rich is enjoying unprecedented surge in income. Our nation is spending more than taxes we are collecting. Defense spending is the majority of our budget and higher than next dozen richest countries combined. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + NO income tax on $120K income or less + Offset revenue loss by imposing marginal income tax rate on $1.2M+ income + Balance budget and reduce deficit, each and every year, once our economy stabilizes + Cut waste in defense spending + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Yes | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Is it acceptable in America that the top 0.1% now owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 90%? Is it acceptable that 99% of new income is going to the top 1%? Is it acceptable that Wall Street and billionaires are spending hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy elections? This is why we must overturn Citizens United and move to public funding of elections! Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Getting money out of politics is #1 priority + Corporations/Unions are not people + Money is not speech + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | |||
| Yes | Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? | ||
| No | Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? | ||
| Non-violent drug offenders are in prison industrial complexes instead of being rehabilitated. California wastes more money trying to execute convicts rather than imprisoning them for life, without parole. War on drugs is a trillion-dollar failure. California and some states have legalized Marijuana. Such state rights should be protected by Federal Government. Studies have shown much of deficit can be paid for, if marijuana is taxed. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Non-violent drug offenders rehabilitated not incarcerated + DNA testing prior to any execution + Marijuana & hemp legalization and taxation + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| No | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? | ||
| Yes | Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? | ||
| Yes | Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? | ||
| USA has been an oil producing/exporting nation for some time. Combination of what we export and what we import is leaving us with a net gain. Even though we are drilling more than ever, it is not resulting in reducing skyrocketing gasoline prices. Studies show that a fundamental reason for this fluctuation is speculation on Wall Street. We must continuously strive to replace ancient fuels such as oil with safer and cleaner alternative forms of energy. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Repeal fossil fuel subsidies + Reform energy speculation market + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Yes | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| Yes | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| One of the earliest protectors of our environment, as exemplified by the creation of many of our most beloved national parks, was a Republican President - Teddy Roosevelt. Many years later, another Republican President by the name of Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There has been and must continue to be a balance between the environment that we are leaving for our children and grandchildren and our endless appetite/search for energy. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Address our contribution to climate change + Renewable energy tax credits + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| No | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | ||
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| The United States Constitution is a document that is cherished by the American people. The Second Amendment grants the-right-to-bear-arms to law-abiding citizens. This amendment, which I support, becomes controversial when the question arises about people who are not law-abiding. Guns in the hands of some individuals affects the safety of our citizens, which is why there are many laws currently on the books that support waiting periods before obtaining a gun, so that background checks can occur; and lock laws. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Support the-right-to-bear-arms by law-abiding citizens + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| No | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? | ||
| I'm not a huge fan of ObamaCare, because I felt we could've negotiated an even better deal. It did, however, secure coverage for many, including college students still living at home and individuals with pre-existing conditions. Further, it ended caps on lifetime-coverage and created a cap on salaries/bonuses not-to-exceed 15% of premiums received. However, if we are to truly change the trajectory of health care costs, I believe it would best be accomplished through a Universal-Healthcare/"Medicare-for-All" approach. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Health Care is a human right + Universal-Healthcare/Medicare-for-all + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| No | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
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| Our nation has always had an immigration problem. The great state of California experiences this problem more first-hand than most other states. Simply put, life appears to be better on this side of the border than it does on the other side. As long as there are employers in the United States who are willing to continue to hire undocumented illegally, there will be people who are willing to risk it all to be here. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Immigration reform, immigrant visas, temporary working visas, and Dream Act + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Yes | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Marriage has become better defined as a union between two people who love one another. A gay/lesbian couple should be able to cover his/her spouse under their health insurance and visit them in an emergency room. Job discrimination should be prohibited. Hate crimes should be prevented. Gays/lesbians should be able to adopt children. I firmly support LGBTQ rights. Our constitution guarantees and protects the rights and freedoms of our citizens! Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + LGBTQ community should have no less and no more rights than the rest of us + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| No | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
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| Many politicians have tried to bankrupt Social Security/Medicare by either lowering the rate that's taken out of our paychecks to fund it, failing to increase the rate enough to reflect the anticipated rising costs, or allocating some of the reserve to expenses outside of this fund. They want to prove that it's another Democratic idea doomed to fail. In fact, they want it to fail as soon as possible, and continue to eliminate it, primarily through efforts to privatize it. Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Strengthen Social Security & Medicare + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.
| Slightly Decrease | a) Agriculture | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Arts | ||
| Greatly Decrease | c) Defense | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Increase | e) Environment | ||
| Slightly Decrease | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Maintain Status | g) International aid | ||
| Slightly Increase | h) Medical Research | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Scientific Research | ||
| Slightly Increase | j) Space exploration | ||
| Maintain Status | k) United Nations | ||
| Maintain Status | l) Welfare | ||
| Maintain Status | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | c) Small business taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Eliminate | g) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Eliminate | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | j) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Slightly Decrease | k) Payroll taxes | ||
| Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Address our contribution to climate change + Healthcare and education is a human right + Universal-Healthcare/Medicare-for-all + Access to attainable public higher education + Cut unnecessary waste in military industrial complex spending + Diplomacy over War in Iran?s case and all other future potential conflicts + Remove our troops, as soon as safely possible, in Afghanistan?s case and many other countries we currently occupy + Eliminate large business subsidies and tax-loopholes + Reform energy speculation market + Strengthen Social Security, Medicare, ObamaCare, TriCare, and ADA + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + NO income tax on $120K income or less + Offset revenue loss by imposing marginal income tax rate on $1.2M+ income + Balance budget and reduce deficit, each and every year, once our economy stabilizes + Reform/simplify tax laws + Less small/medium business tax and regulations + Lower corporate tax/eliminate large business subsidies and tax-loopholes + Address failed trade policies + Renewable energy tax credits + Marijuana & hemp legalization and taxation + Address our contribution to climate-change + Stop our race to the bottom + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale | |||
| Varasteh's Congressional Pledge: + Getting money out of politics is #1 priority + Overturn Citizens United and move to public funding of elections + Corporations/Unions are not people + Money is not speech + Address our contribution to climate change + Government out of our private lives + Strip NDAA/Patriot Act police-state + Audit and reform or end the fed + 21st-century Glass-Steagall + Less small/medium business tax and regulations + Label genetically modified food + Marijuana & hemp legalization and taxation + Stop our race to the bottom + Standing up for WE the People + Not for sale |
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