Martin Walsh'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.
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Martin Walsh has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2014 Political Courage Test.
Colorado Congressional Election 2014 Political Courage Test
| Yes | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? | ||
| No | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | ||
| If we are not careful, we will leave our children and grandchildren with a bankrupt country. I believe that we are already taxed to the max. I support legislation that puts our country on a sustainable fiscal path. Comprehensive entitlement reform is the first step in securing our fiscal future. | |||
| No | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| While well-intentioned, campaign finance reform has done more harm than good. I do not support any current campaign finance regulations. | |||
| No | Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| I do not support capital punishment in the U.S. criminal justice system. Our justice system is not perfect. The practical reality is that if even one innocent person is mistakenly put to death, we have lost the moral high ground. I do support harsh life sentences for those convicted of heinous crimes. | |||
| No | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| Yes | Do you support lowering taxes as a way of promoting growth in the economy? | ||
| Yes | Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? | ||
| I support a business-friendly, low tax, low regulation environment. Our free market system is responsible for creating better jobs and more prosperity than any government initiative. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants? | ||
| Education is a very personal and local issue. I support the empowerment of states and local school districts to create better educational outcomes, not federal mandates. | |||
| Yes | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? | ||
| Yes | Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production? | ||
| I believe that we must do everything in our power to become energy independent as a nation. | |||
| Yes | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? | ||
| No | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| The focus of climate change should be on how to spend our limited resources to save lives and improve our planet. Even granting that climate change is happening, I believe that there are more cost effective ways to improve our planet and save lives. I would point to the work of scientist Bjorn Lomborg and his case for spending our resources outside of limiting carbon emissions. | |||
| Yes | Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? | ||
| I support a reasonable system for the legal purchase and possession of firearms. Our laws should be limited and should emphasize our constitutional right to arms. | |||
| Yes | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act? | ||
| When elected, I will do everything in my power to repeal the Affordable Care Act. | |||
| No | Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? | ||
| From a practical point of view, I don't believe we can institute comprehensive immigration reform by first sending back all illegal immigrants to their home countries. | |||
| Yes | Do you support same-sex marriage? | ||
| Yes, I believe that all Americans deserve equal protection under the law. | |||
| Yes | Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict? | ||
| Yes | Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? | ||
| I believe in a strong foreign policy will take the fight to terrorists and hostile governments around the world. | |||
| Yes | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? | ||
| I believe that solutions emphasizing personal responsibility and choice should always be preferable to top-down government mandates. | |||
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.
| Greatly Decrease | a) Agriculture | ||
| Greatly Decrease | b) Arts | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Defense | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Education | ||
| Greatly Decrease | e) Environment | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Homeland Security | ||
| Maintain Status | g) International aid | ||
| Maintain Status | h) Medical Research | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Scientific Research | ||
| Maintain Status | j) Space exploration | ||
| Greatly Decrease | k) United Nations | ||
| Greatly Decrease | l) Welfare | ||
| m) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Greatly Decrease | a) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | b) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Excise taxes (alcohol) | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Excise taxes (cigarettes) | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | f) Income taxes (low-income families) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | g) Income taxes (middle-income families) | ||
| Greatly Decrease | h) Income taxes (high-income families) | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Inheritance taxes | ||
| Greatly Decrease | j) Payroll taxes | ||
| k) Other or expanded categories | |||
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