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Sharon Cissna's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Sharon Cissna refused to tell citizens where she 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.

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 2012.

  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal; d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape; e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered." "Need to expand awareness of parental and societal responsibility for children after born, to help build strong families with health members."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal." Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion. Other or expanded principles: "Need to expand awareness of parental and societal responsibility for children after born, to help build strong families with health members."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "f) Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2004 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal." Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion. Other or expanded principles: "Support woman's right to choose and support honoring the relationship between patient and doctor."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legally available."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal."
  • 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.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses; d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families; e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Support national standards and testing of public school students." Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education. Other or expanded principles: "Favor improvements in educational facilities, standards, programs, teacher benefits - but within financial restraints not now known."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Support national standards and testing of public school students."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil); d) Increase funding for improvements to Alaska's power generating and transmission facilities."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law."
  • Sharon Cissna. AM 2. 2007 Legislative Session. Amendment Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Sharon Cissna voted YES on 23 April 2007. Project Vote Smart Summary: (votesmart.org)
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns; e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows; f) Require a license for gun possession;" Gun Issues: g) Other or expanded principles: "Allow citizens to carry conceal guns except where local communities have restrictions implemented."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting." Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues. Other or expanded principles: "Some of these principles are already covered by Alaskan law. As a foster parent & then foster licensing officer - safety of children must be considered."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns."
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2002 Alaska State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "h) Require a license for gun possession." Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues. Other or expanded principles: "Some of these principles are already covered by Alaskan law. As a foster parent & then foster licensing officer - safety of children must be considered."
  • Sharon Cissna. Alaska Dispatch: Rep. Don Young faces challenge from Alaska state Rep. Sharon Cissna. 11 April 2012. "I'd like to help bring together what Washington, D.C., can do for us (on health care) in a way that works for and with Alaska, along with the private sector," she said. "We need to come up with unique answers to Alaska's needs." (www.alaskadispatch.com)
  • Sharon Cissna. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Alaska State Legislative Election National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary;" Health Issues: h) Other or expanded principles: "Develop health planning mechanism with statewide/all stakeholder input - including entire scope of human health: medical, dental, mental health, community health."
  • Sharon Cissna. Fairbanks Daily News: U.S. House - Sharon Cissna. 18 August 2012. Responded: "The federal health care law starts legislation working to provide a nationwide health service payment plan. Alaska's government rejection of portions of the federal health program did not give recognition to Alaska health problems [¦] Congressional-level work with state and local governments could build strength as a team approach creating statewide buy-in for the plan to successfully harness Congress and the White House." to the question: "What parts of the president's health care law do you agree with? What parts of the president's health care law do you disagree with, and will you take action to change it?" (newsminer.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Sharon Cissna. Fairbanks Daily News: U.S. House- Sharon Cissna. 18 August 2012. Responded "Government's role in society is to build incentives safeguarding population welfare and privacy. The U.S and Alaska constitutions protect law-abiding adults' choices in lifestyle." to the question: "It is possible that the U.S. Supreme Court next year will hear a case regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage. What is your view of same-sex marriage?" (newsminer.com)
  • 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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
Need to expand awareness of parental and societal responsibility for children after born, to help build strong families with health members.

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Slightly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase b) Education (K-12)
c) Emergency preparedness
Maintain Status d) Environment
e) Health care
f) Law enforcement
g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
h) Welfare
Greatly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Property taxes
g) Vehicle taxes
h) Other or expanded categories
No i) Should the state tax Internet sales?
Undecided j) Should accounts such as a “rainy day” fund be used to balance the state budget?
k) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
Fully implement performance based budgeting with training to policy makers for peek implementation succeess.
User fees, permits and other fees increased with discounts for state residents.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of terms for Alaska governors?
Undecided b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Alaska state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes g) Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Alaska are closed?
Yes h) Should Alaska recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
i) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Implement the death penalty in Alaska.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
f) Support recriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X i) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X j) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X k) Strengthen sex-offender laws.
X l) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
Develop mental health planning mechanism with statewide/all stakeholder input. Recognize role of mental/behavioral health in many crimes.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

X a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
g) Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X i) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X j) Increase funding for Head Start programs.
X k) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
X l) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
m) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
Support inclusion, especially in primary grades of local cultral enrichment, including language, and other skill development.

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies’ decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X f) Include sexual orientation in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws.
g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Support replacing the state's retirement system with privatized 401(k)-type accounts.
i) Support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex partners of public employees from receiving benefits.
No a) Public employment
No b) State college and university admissions
No c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles
Support career ladders and career academies in middle and high school to prepare students for advanced training in trades and professions critical to Alaska's economy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
X b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
X d) Increase funding for improvements to Alaska's power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
X f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the natural gas pipeline.

X a) Require oil companies to guarantee the construction of a gas pipeline as part of a contract with Alaska.
b) Support 20 percent state ownership in the gas pipeline.
X c) Tax oil companies if they do not build a gas pipeline or sell the gas they have under lease.
d) Freeze oil taxes for 30 years as an incentive for building the gas pipeline.
e) Freeze gas taxes for 45 years as an incentive for building the gas pipeline.
g) At what rate should Alaska tax oil production?
h) Other or expanded principles
Include provision for a comprensive study of post development impacts communities/social costs, as requested by several economists, to create the basis for adequate repayment to Alaska for those future impacts as part of present pipeline negotiations.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

X a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X f) Require a license for gun possession.
Allow citizens to carry conceal guns except where local communities have restrictions implemented.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
e) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Alaska.
X g) Continue to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
Develop health planning mechanism with statewide/all stakeholder input - including entire scope of human health: medical, dental, mental health, community health.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
e) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
f) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
h) Other or expanded principles
Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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