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John Betz, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

John Betz, Jr. has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2014 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests.

What is the Political Courage Test?

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 2014.

  • Those two tax reductions would reduce state revenue by about $25 billion over the next two years*. I propose cutting expenditures to match. (The current total budget is about $172 billion.) I support across-the-board cuts, and I note that most of the cuts will need to come from the two largest areas of state spending: education and health and human services. (votesmart.org)
  • Today our state government spends money on almost everything: education, health care, cancer research, business incentives (i.e. corporate welfare), and poverty programs. These may be worthy goals, but they are not proper functions of government. (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • 2012 PCT (votesmart.org)
  • Today our state government spends money on almost everything: education, health care, cancer research, business incentives (i.e. corporate welfare), and poverty programs. These may be worthy goals, but they are not proper functions of government. (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
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?
No g) Do you support requiring a doctor to show a sonogram to patients seeking an abortion?
Yes h) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
Yes i) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I was an adopted Infant. That should make my stand on the subject extremly clear.

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 of the proposals you support (if any) for balancing Texas's budget.

Greatly Decrease a) Education (higher)
Maintain Status b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Environment
Maintain Status d) Health care
Maintain Status e) Law enforcement/corrections
Greatly Decrease f) Transportation/infrastructure
Eliminate g) Welfare
h) Other or expanded categories:
Slightly Decrease a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Decrease b) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease c) Gas/Oil taxes
Maintain Status d) Property taxes
Maintain Status e) Sales taxes
f) Other or expanded categories:
No a) Tapping into Texas's "rainy day" fund
Yes b) Increasing tuition rates at public universities
No c) Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
No d) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
No e) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
No f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
Give less services. THe goverment is not there to make sure everybody is fed, it's there to make sure everybody has the chance to feed themselves.

a) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

No 1) Individual
No 2) Political Action Committee
No 3) Corporate
No 4) Political Party
Yes 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?
No e) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes f) Do you support strengthening restrictions on the state's use of eminent domain?
When you accept money from someone, you better know beforehand what you have to do to earn it. People vote for those who will vote thier way, if it does not agree with your way, let them know.
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?
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?
No g) Should municipalities be allowed to prohibit law enforcement from checking the immigration status of individuals in custody?
h) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No 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?
No 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?
Life, Liberty and the PURSUIT of happiness. Catching it is your concern
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?
No d) Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
No e) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes f) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
No g) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Texas high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
letter a. I don't know enough to form and opinion. Letter f. State loans which means you pay it back one way or another.
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 Texas 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?
Energy is like any other bussiness. It is the relm of the private sector.
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?
The right to bear and keep arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. WHAT PART OF THIS DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING.
No a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
No b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
No 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 monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
Yes f) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
We need another bureaucracy of any kind about as much as New Orleans need another huricane.
No a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
Yes b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes c) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Texas's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes d) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Texas's anti-discrimination laws?
What consenting adults do to each other in private is NOBODY ELSE'S CONCERN.
Remove all surcharges associated with the texas drivers responsibility program. Pass laws putting 100% liabilty for firearm damages occuring on their property on bussiness owners who put up Texas 30.06 signs. Work to repeal and reform laws as to narcotics and vice. Fight to dismantle the texas bureaucracy that threatens to strangle the people.

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