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George Bush'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.

George Bush REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RESPONSES TO CITIZENS ON ISSUES THROUGH THE 2004 NATIONAL POLITICAL AWARENESS TEST


George Bush REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION WHEN ASKED TO DO SO BY:

Major News Organizations and key national leaders of both parties including,

John McCain, Republican Senator
Geraldine Ferraro, Former Democratic Congresswoman
Michael Dukakis, Former Democratic Governor
Bill Frenzel, Former Republican Congressman
Richard Kimball, Project Vote Smart President

What is the Political Courage Test?
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.

Texas Gubernatorial Election 1998 National Political Awareness Test

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) concerning abortion.

a) Abortions should always be legally available.
b) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X c) Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
d) Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
e) Abortions should always be illegal.
X f) Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
X g) Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
h) Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
No j) Should Texas government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
The Supreme Court has decided (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). Best public policy is to encourage fewer abortions through strong adoption laws and giving children a clear pro-abstinence message....

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

No a) College and university admissions
No b) Public employment
No c) State contracting
Yes d) Other
Assuming by "into account," the question means preferences and/or quotas. Governor Bush opposes quotas, but supports affirmative efforts to reach out and recruit qualified Texans from all ethnic backgrounds for public employment, state contracting and college and universities.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
X b) Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
X c) End parole for repeat violent felons.
d) Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
e) Oppose the death penalty.
f) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X g) Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
h) Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
i) Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
X j) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X k) Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
X l) Lower the limit defining drunk driving to .08 blood alcohol content.
X m) Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
X n) Provide funding for military-style "boot camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
X o) Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.
p) Strengthen and enforce penalties for those committing "hate crimes" directed against a specific group.
(a) If necessary; (c) Parole board has effectively ended parole for repeat violent offenders....

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

a) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
X d) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X e) Ban the casino-style slot machines known as "eight-liners".
X f) Support using local tax money to finance the building of sports stadiums.
(a) Proposed tax credits for companies to invest in research and development and franchise tax cut for small business. (f) If approved by voters and does not raise state taxes.

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

X a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
X b) Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
X c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X d) Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
f) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X g) Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
h) Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X j) Require students to pass a state basic skills exam before being promoted.
X k) Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
X l) Allow parents to send their children to the public school of their choice.
X m) Advocate bilingual education programs in public schools.
n) Increase state funding for school security.
o) Fund public school education in Texas by increasing state taxes rather than local property taxes.
p) Provide state-funded tuition and fees to any Texas student accepted by a college or university as long as they maintain a 2.8 GPA.
(a) Proposed Teachers Academies to help train teachers in advanced reading instruction. (c) Support a pilot program....

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

a) Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
X b) Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
X c) Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
X d) Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
X e) Provide funding for recycling programs in Texas.
X f) Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
g) Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
X h) Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
X i) Urge the U.S. Congress to amend the 1973 Endangered Species Act, to limit habitats eligible to be designated endangered.
j) Support "right-to-know" laws for workers exposed to hazardous substances.
k) Support building a low-level radioactive waste dump near Sierra Blanca.
No m) State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
(a) Decision should be made at the local level. (g) Against all unfunded federal mandates....

Indicate which level of government that should have primary responsibility for the following services. Select one level only.

Federal a) Border security
Federal b) Civil rights enforcement
Local c) Education
State d) Environmental cleanup
Local e) Job training
Local f) Law enforcement
Local g) Low-income housing
State h) Medicaid
Federal i) Medicare
State j) Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
Local k) Welfare
(d) Except for federal property (military installations) and natural disasters.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.a) Do you support amending the Texas Constitution to limit the number of terms of the following officials?b) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

Yes 1) State Senators and Representatives
Yes 2) Governor
No 1) Individual
No 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes c) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
No d) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
No e) Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support requiring proof of U.S. citizenship at the time a person registers to vote?
Yes g) Do you support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
h) Other

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

a) Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
b) Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
X c) Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
d) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
e) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
X f) Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
g) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
(a) Support current ban of fully-automatic machine guns. (g) Support voluntary efforts to provide child safety locks.

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

X a) Provide tax incentives to small businesses who provide health care to their employees.
X b) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
X c) Support the Texas Healthy Kids Corporation, a private non-profit organization that provides low-cost health insurance for uninsured children.
X d) Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
X e) Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
X f) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X g) Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X h) Require health maintenance organizations to give patients complete doctor choice.
(b) To improve access to basic health care, we need to bring down health care costs, reform tax laws, limit frivolous lawsuits, and allow medical savings accounts....

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

X a) Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
b) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
X c) Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
X d) Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
e) Favor banning smoking in public places.
f) Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
g) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
h) Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
No j) Do you believe that the Texas government should include sexual orientation in Texas' anti-discrimination laws?
No k) Do you believe that the Texas government should recognize same-sex marriages?
(b) Need to examine costs; (e) local decision....

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

a) Border security
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Education (Higher)
Maintain Status d) Environment
Maintain Status e) Health care
Slightly Increase f) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase g) Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
Slightly Decrease h) Welfare
i) Other

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gas taxes
Greatly Decrease f) Property taxes
Slightly Decrease g) Sales taxes
h) Other
No i) Do you support implementing a state income tax in Texas?

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

X a) Maintain the current time limits on welfare benefits.
X b) Require able-bodied welfare recipients to enroll in the state's welfare-to-work program in order to receive benefits.
X c) Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X d) Provide tax incentives to businesses who hire welfare recipients.
X e) Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
X f) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
g) Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
X h) Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
X i) Require unwed teenage mothers to live with parents or in a group home to receive welfare benefits.
j) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
(c) Depends on program; (j) Ultimately, the role of government in providing welfare should diminish as local communities and faith-based organizations take a larger role in delivering hope and help to those in need.
Please explain what your two main gubernatorial priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.

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