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Abel Maldonado'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.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Abel Maldonado 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.

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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.

  • John Coté. San Francisco Chronicle: Newsom, Maldonado battle hard for 'lite gov' post. 19 October 2010. "Maldonado, a Santa Barbara County agro-businessman and the son of immigrant farm workers from Mexico, is a moderate Republican who has bucked his party on key issues, like casting the deciding vote for last year's state budget in exchange for a ballot measure on open primaries. But he has also voted against domestic partnerships and received failing grades from the League of Conservation Voters and the state's Planned Parenthood affiliate for votes on environmental protections and a woman's right to choose an abortion. "I'm a family man first," Maldonado, 43, said during a recent debate in Silicon Valley. 'I'm a Californian second. Third, we can talk about political parties.'" (www.sfgate.com)
  • Larry Gerston. NBC San Diego: Abel Maldonado: "Top Two" Success Story. 15 June 2012. "The son of Latino immigrant farm workers-turned-farm owners, Maldonado occasionally bucked the direction of his Republican colleagues by voting for an assault weapons ban, opposing off-shore oil drilling, and supporting abortion rights." (www.nbcsandiego.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issue Position: Combating Terrorism. 1 January 2012. "While winding down operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, we need to work with governments in Africa and Asia to stop al-Qaida cells before they develop and stand strong against nations that sponsor or hide terrorists." (votesmart.org)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "Congress must reduce its spending on military operations and foreign aid so that we can rebuild our economy." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Israel Security and the Middle East. 9 March 2012. "Iran has been crystal clear about its intentions to acquire nuclear weapons, and just as clear that Israel would be a target. That's why all options, including the military option, should remain on the table in order to prevent the Iranians from becoming a nuclear power. In Congress, I will ensure that all current Iran sanctions laws “ such as the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act “ will be enforced to the fullest extent of the law, and will push to make sure any loopholes in those laws are closed as soon as possible. And I will push for even tougher measures if Iran does not end its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and vote for legislation that would reject any attempts by the United States to contain, instead of prevent, a nuclear-capable Iran." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Israel Security and the Middle East. 9 March 2012. "Our $3 billion per year of military aid for Israel's defense yields the greatest return of our foreign aid dollars and is our greatest bargain. As stated by the late Alexander Haig, Israel resembles the largest US aircraft carrier, which doesn't require a single US boot, can't be sunk, located in a most critical area for vital US interests, thus saving the US some $20 billion annually. US-Israel two-way street, mutually-beneficial, win-win ties have enhanced US national security and economy." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "Our nation's military and economic infrastructure are heavily reliant on an electronic grid, the Internet, Satellite communications and other automated systems connected to it represent a massive vulnerability to the United States. This critical infrastructure is vulnerable to attack through cyberspace. Though terrorist groups currently lack the capability to attack in these areas, some nations do not. The United States needs to bolster the security of its critical infrastructure to ensure that no foreign nation can cripple our economy, steal our secrets or damage essential communications systems." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "A former Iraqi official estimated that as much as $13 billion meant for reconstruction projects in Iraq was wasted or stolen through fraud schemes. America must stop spending so much on wars and do a far better job of making sure what we spend on national defense is spent more efficiently." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issue Position: Taxes. 5 July 2012. "A Fiscal Conservative to Oppose Higher Taxes Earned a 100% Rating from the California Taxpayers' Association in 2005, 2006, and 2008 and opposed billions of dollars in new tax hikes. Named "Hero of the Taxpayer" by Americans for Tax Reform for opposing Governor Davis' tax hikes." (votesmart.org)
  • Abel Maldonado. Pacific Coast Business Times: Op/ed: Washington's attack on job creators is hurting future generations. 17 August 2012. "We need to lower the personal and business tax rate and make America a place that welcomes innovation and supports entrepreneurship and doesn't demonize success." (www.pacbiztimes.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Keep Taxes Down. 9 March 2012. "In Congress, I'll work to close the tax loopholes while keeping the tax burden down on working people." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "The budget crisis in Greece and Europe show how excessive spending can weaken a nation and create political turmoil. Should America fail to get a grip on the deficit, it will foreclose any opportunity for recovery and weaken our ability to defend ourselves." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Stop Excessive Spending. 9 March 2012. "Tie the hands of the politicians to stop them from spending too much. We need to bring fiscal restraint to Washington by placing a cap on federal spending to force our government to live within its means... Congress must identify programs that can be terminated. It must transfer other programs to the states and local government. That way the federal government can cut its spending and people can have a greater say in how their government is run."
  • Abel Maldonado. Twitter: @abelmaldonado. 22 February 2010 "Voting on ABX8 11, which expedites construction projects and creates JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. ª#cajobs¬ ª#cabudget" (twitter.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Fighting for Jobs. 9 March 2012. "As a legislator, I worked to enact tax incentives to help create new California jobs, keep jobs in state and relocate jobs here...Authored legislation to provide income tax credits to encourage construction of more environmentally sensitive buildings and encourage economic growth in green jobs... To create new jobs and protect the environment, America must foster a new energy economy that creates jobs by developing new energy technologies here in the United States. Investment in this new economy should be encouraged through tax incentives that will help attract new venture capital." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issue Position: Jobs. 1 January 2012. "Backed Tax Incentives to Create New Jobs. As a legislator, I worked to enact tax incentives to help create new California jobs, keep jobs in state and relocate jobs here... Create More Green Jobs. To create new jobs and protect the environment, America must foster a new energy economy that creates jobs by developing new energy technologies here in the United States. Investment in this new economy should be encouraged through tax incentives that will help attract new venture capital" (votesmart.org)
  • Abel Maldonado. Pacific Coast Business Times: Op/ed: Washington's attack on job creators is hurting future generations. 17 August 2012. "Businesses large and small need more certainty in the tax code and less regulations coming out of Washington. We need to lower the personal and business tax rate and make America a place that welcomes innovation and supports entrepreneurship and doesn't demonize success." (www.pacbiztimes.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: A Business Owner...Fighting to Build a Stronger Economy. 12 March 2012. "Fought to Reduce Job-Killing Regulations. Supported tax reforms that encourage employers to create new jobs for California, keep jobs in our state as well as relocate to California... Backed Tax Incentives to Create New Jobs. Voted to enact a temporary tax incentive to aid small businesses that create new California jobs and save small businesses $330 million." (www.abelmaldonado2010.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Demanding Excellence in Education. 30 July 2012. "Increase Accountability in our Schools. I co-authored legislation to increase student education accountability thorough high school exit examinations...Raise California's Academic Standards. Co-authored legislation to increase per-pupil spending to the National Average...Improve Teacher Performance. Supported the California Peer Review Program to help ensure veteran teachers are well versed on subject matter and teaching strategies." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issue Position: Fighting for Our Children's Future. 1 January 2012. "Congress must work with the President to ensure American students have the resources and training to gain skills to compete with workers in the new international economy. However, we must empower states and local communities to recognize the needs in their regions. We must reject one size fits all solutions and ensure that education dollars flow to the classroom -- not the bureaucracy. We also must empower parents, teachers and local school boards to demand the kind of quality educations our children deserve." (votesmart.org)
  • Abel Maldonado. ABX4 23. California Legislature 2009-10 4th Extraordinary Session. Vote to pass a bill that enables an Interim Resouces Management Board to accept applications for offshore oil and gas drilling leases. Abel Maldonado voted NO on 24 July 2009. Project Vote Smart summary: (votesmart.org)
  • Abel Maldonado. Video: Abel Maldonado Interview. 29 November 2009. "I voted no on offshore oil...It's the will of my district...I think my record speaks for itself." (youtu.be)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: The Lt. Governor, Working To Create Jobs. 12 March 2012. "As a Commissioner, Lt. Governor Maldonado will be pursuing opportunities to expand and promote alternative energy sources, from harnessing wave and hydrokinetic energy offshore to wind and solar on inland California. Helping alternative energy companies thrive by streamlining regulations and helping spur more venture capital investment in the industry is going to help create jobs and strengthen the state's burgeoning green economy." (www.abelmaldonado2010.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "America has more energy reserves than any other nation. Yet, Congress lacks the leadership to develop them properly. We need to tap our resources, provide relief at the pump and stop relying on unstable Middle East governments for our energy." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Encourage Investment In America. 9 March 2012. "America must reduce its dangerous reliance on foreign oil by making our nation more energy independent. Increasing environmentally friendly domestic production of clean coal and natural gas while expanding use of alternative energy sources such as wind, biomass, solar and tidal power will help reduce our reliance on foreign oil." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. AB 32. California Legislature 2006 Session. Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits. Abel Maldonado voted NO on 31 August 2006. Project Vote Smart summary: (votesmart.org)
  • John Coté. San Francisco Chronicle: Abel Maldonado goes for Gavin Newsom's jugular, but might have cut himself. 28 September 2010. "Arguably the starkest contrast between the two candidates is AB32, California's landmark greenhouse gas reduction law. Maldonado today said it was "an easy ˜no' vote" for him to oppose the bill when in the Legislature. He called on the governor to suspend its implementation if regulations to limit emissions currently being formulated by the California Air Resources Board result in lost jobs." (blog.sfgate.com)
  • NBC Bay Area: The Race for California's Lieutenant Governor Heats Up. "Both Maldonado and Newsom say they support the state's greenhouse gas law, AB 32, which requires the state to dramatically increase the use of renewable energy sources, even if it drives up the cost of power. But Maldonado backs a plan to hold back implementation of the law until it is clear that it won't cost state jobs. 'If once those regulations are in place, and this AB 32 says we get good research that it's going to hurt jobs, why not put a moratorium of one year? That's being reasonable, and that's being pragmatic,' says Maldonado." (www.nbcbayarea.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Gun Control Still One of the Great Divides Between GOP and Democrats. 16 September 2004. "During legislative debate, there was heated argument over whether the guns are capable of bringing down low-flying passenger jets. Republicans were willing to risk it. Only two voted to ban the weapons: Assembly members Shirley Horton of Chula Vista and Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria." (articles.latimes.com)
  • Editorial. Reading Times: Assault weapons under new fire. 16 July 1999. "'These are weapons of war; they shouldn't be on our streets,' said Rep. Abel Maldonado, one of four Republicans who voted for the legislation." (news.google.com)
  • Larry Gerston. NBC San Diego: Abel Maldonado: "Top Two" Success Story. 15 June 2012. "The son of Latino immigrant farm workers-turned-farm owners, Maldonado occasionally bucked the direction of his Republican colleagues by voting for an assault weapons ban, opposing off-shore oil drilling, and supporting abortion rights." (www.nbcsandiego.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Advocate for Improved Health Care. 9 March 2012. "As a legislator, I worked hard to ensure access to quality health care. In Congress, I'll work hard to reform our broken health care system and ensure Medicare remains solvent." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. @Abel Maldonado. 2 July 2012. "If you missed it take a second and read my op-ed in the Santa Barbara News-Press about the ª#ObamaCare¬ gamble - (bit.ly)
  • Abel Maldonado. @Abel Maldonado. 26 June 2012. "I have a new op-ed up @DailyCaller - ObamaCare was not a Gamble We Could Afford - (thedc.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. @Abel Maldonado. 28 June 2012. "you would think that ª#repealandreplace¬ would pass on a bipartisan level..." (twitter.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Obamacare was not a gamble we could afford. 26 June 2012. "It's clear that this was a gamble that the American people couldn't afford. It's clear that this was a gamble that the millions of seniors who depend on Medicare couldn't afford. It's clear that this was a gamble that the millions of retirees who struggle to afford their prescription drug plans couldn't afford. Having an affordable and reliable health care plan is something that every American family needs. It's something that is far too important to carelessly roll the dice on, hoping the right numbers come up. The American people deserve better than that. They deserve representatives who when confronted with one of the most significant public policy decisions in history, take the time to understand what's in the bill before they blindly vote for it. Regardless of what the Supreme Court decides on Thursday, the verdict from the American people is in and couldn't be more definitive: stop gambling with health care in America." (dailycaller.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Video: Abel Maldonado: a Republican for immigration reform. 27 September 2011. "Even though he is a republican, he doesn't share the candidates views on immigration... 'Everyone was hard on immigration. They all love Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan gave amnesty!..I wanna fix immigration reform.'" (youtu.be)
  • Abel Maldonado. @Abel Maldonado. 22 December 2010. "America needs Immigration Reform. It starts with securing the border and a Temporary work permit" (twitter.com)
  • Susan Ferriss. The Sacramento Bee: Maldonado weighs in on Whitman housekeeper, immigration. 30 September 2010. "Maldonado differs with Whitman on this. He said, like Whitman, that he doesn't support "amnesty" but that he believes some undocumented workers should be able to stay if they pay a fine or perform community service and pass background checks. 'I'm not in the business of dividing families,' he said." (blogs.sacbee.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. SB 54. Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages. California Legislature 2009 Session. Abel Maldonado voted NO on 9 September 2009. Project Vote Smart summary: (votesmart.org)
  • Kurtis Alexander. Santa Cruz Sentinel: Gavin Newsom, Abel Maldonado face off in first debate. 8 October 2010. "Maldonado, who opposes same-sex marriage, criticized Newsom for going too far to placate the gay community. Maldonado took issue with Newsom's 2004 order authorizing the San Francisco city clerk to issue marriage licenses to gay couples in defiance of state law. 'My opponent said one time, With a piece of paper and a pen and an executive order, I can do whatever I want,' the incumbent said." (www.santacruzsentinel.com)
  • Seth Hemmeigarn. The Bay Area Reporter: Wedding Bell Blues: Anti-gay activist could help Newsom's bid for state office. 14 October 2010. "Newsom's main opponent in the race, incumbent Abel Maldonado, a Republican, supported Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban that voters passed in 2008." (ebar.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "During the cold war, the threats to America's security came from the Soviet Union. Today, radical Islamic terrorists challenge our security. To combat these future threats, we need to build upon recent successes with cyber offense and cyber defense, unmanned aircraft patrols, and special operations actions while maintaining sufficient troop strength to protect our people." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Rebuilding a Stronger America. 9 March 2012. "While winding down operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, we need to work with governments in Africa and Asia to stop al-Qaida cells before they develop and stand strong against nations that sponsor or hide terrorists." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issues: Advocate for Improved Health Care. 9 March 2012. "Seniors have worked hard and made a positive difference in our communities throughout their lives. In return, they deserve peace of mind during their retirement. Medicare and Social Security must be fixed and kept solvent for the benefit of our nation and our seniors." (maldonadoforcongress.com)
  • Abel Maldonado. Issue Position: Oppose Privatizing Social Security. 1 January 2012. "Seniors have worked hard and made a positive difference in our communities throughout their lives. In return, they deserve peace of mind during their retirement. Medicare and Social Security must be fixed and kept solvent for the benefit of our nation and our seniors." (votesmart.org)

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