Card image cap

Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

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.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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 2022.

  • Voted in favor of HR 8296 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "An extremist Supreme Court majority just turned women's bodies into government property, forcing pregnancy onto millions of women who now face horrific medical, financial, and emotional harm. It's a repulsive, immoral decision that erodes women's constitutional and human rights and shows just how dangerously out of step that extremist Republicans and their judicial picks are with most Americans. Overturning Roe v. Wade sets a dangerous precedent for upending other decisions that guarantee our rights to live and love as we choose. No personal rights are safe with this right-wing majority -- only gun rights are. This radical Supreme Court bloc threatens every American's right to privacy and control of their own body." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by NARAL Pro-Choice America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "More than 100,000 of my constituents in Florida's 23rd Congressional District receive Social Security benefits, and as I always have on their behalf, along with millions of Americans across the nation, I will never stop fighting to expand benefits and ensure the promise of Social Security is an unwavering one." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Governor DeSantis: "We write in regards to waivers for work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and recertification requirements for Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF beneficiaries.[1] It is unconscionable to limit aid for our most disadvantaged constituents while Florida continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. We urge you to reinstate and extend all work requirement and recertification waivers until we are certain that the pandemic no longer threatens Floridians and Florida's economy and until the job market returns to pre-COVID-19 levels." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Today, the Republican-led Congress failed the American people by teaming up with special interests to prioritize the wish lists of Wall Street over the needs of middle class families. This abhorrent legislation was written by wealthy Republican donors, for wealthy Republican donors. While providing an enormous handout to giant corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent, this plan will ultimately raise taxes on millions of middle class Americans, increase premiums and the numbers who will be without health insurance, and adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit. As Republicans openly admit to using this legislation to pave the way for unconscionable cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, I will not back down in fighting their reckless agenda." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 11% by Center for Security Policy (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This bill demonstrates a strong commitment to our servicemembers, their families and our Veterans," Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23) said. "It addresses military infrastructure and readiness needs of current servicemembers and provides the benefits and medical care that Veterans duly earned in their service to our Nation. The bill specifically targets military housing and child care needs, women's and mental health priorities, and the climate crisis, while responding to threats emanating from Russian and Chinese aggression. It's a blueprint to make our VA and military stronger and more responsive to all those who proudly protect America, now and in the past." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Florida's tourism economy relies on a strong, modern travel network and Democrats sent bold, job-producing legislation to President Biden that will repair our dilapidated water systems and fix our crumbling roads and bridges. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will do all that by putting thousands of Floridians to work with union and good-paying jobs," Wasserman Schultz said. "As for our hard-working families, the Build Back Better Act will help cover health and childcare costs and offer paid family leave, universal pre-k programs and extends a child tax credit, putting more money in the pockets of parents and caretakers. Seniors struggling to pay for home care or prescriptions would see lower costs by allowing Medicare to cover hearing care and begin negotiations for lower drug prices. BBB represents the most significant federal investment to confront climate change in American history, and will produce high-paying, green jobs. The package is fiscally responsible, requiring corporations and the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Biden Infrastructure Law invests $17 billion in America's port infrastructure and waterways to address repair and maintenance backlogs, and reduce congestion and emissions near ports and airports, and Port Everglades will be at the forefront of applying for those funds. The new transformational law is part of a broader effort to support the middle class, grow the economy, create good-paying American jobs, and show the American people that good governance works." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The #AmericanRescuePlan is the progressive support small businesses desperately need. Proud to support $7.25B in PPP loans, $15B in EIDL loans, $29B for restaurants and $15B for shuttered venues. Help is on the way." (twitter.com)
  • "I am proud to have voted today to protect our workers, health professionals, small businesses and veterans from this grave health and financial crisis we face," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "In Florida, where we are seeing one of the worst infection surges in the nation, we desperately need the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. With the CARES Act, workers will see massive investments in unemployment benefits, and an added 13 weeks of benefits, and small businesses will receive significant loan forgiveness assistance tied to keeping their employees on their payroll." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "JUST IN: 126 top US economists — incl. 7 Nobel Laureates, 2 ex-Treasury Secretaries, 2 past Fed Vice Chairs and 2 former CEA Chairs — say the Inflation Reduction Act “will fight inflation and lower costs.” (twitter.com)
  • Signed Letter to Leader Schumer: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the child care industry has faced numerous and steep challenges in their work to adequately serve the population most affected by the pandemic. Families were forced to choose between staying home to care for their children or returning to the workforce and relying on inefficient or scarce alternatives. Furthermore, as inflationary pressures increase and families face rising child care prices, this proposal will allow parents, families, and child care workers to offset part of that burden. The funding will allow those parents who have been unable to rejoin the workforce an opportunity to continue their careers, make sure that their children are adequately cared for, and support the existing child care workforce." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "I will continue to support robust funding for Pell grants and have supported legislation to provide college students with loans at low rates, including supporting legislation that would allow students to refinance their loans at the same low rates available to new borrowers. These student loans are helping make school affordable for students and their families, and are part of what I hope will be a comprehensive effort from all stakeholders to keep college costs down." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "@POTUS announced historic student debt relief to millions of borrowers, providing breathing room to working families as they continue to recover from the pandemic. Democrats are putting #PeopleOverPolitics." (twitter.com)
  • ".@POTUS delivered on a promise to provide targeted student debt relief to working- and middle-class families. Nearly 90% of it goes to borrowers earning less than $75,000 per year. This is breathing room for those who need it most. #PeopleOverPolitics" (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Governor DeSantis: "As a first step, Florida should set meaningful goals for renewable power generation and energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save consumers money, and then transition to modern power purchase agreements like reverse auctions which provide competition and energy storage to boost the various regions of the state. While most other states have set targets for renewable energy and efficiency, Florida has not. Florida is far behind other states and the investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) have been roadblocks to progress for decades. The parent companies of Florida Power and Light, Duke Energy and Tampa Electric are producing enormous amounts of renewable electricity in other states and Canada, and they should be required to make similar major investments in renewable electricity here." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "The clean energy industry, which includes renewable energy, clean vehicles, energy efficiency, and energy storage, is an integral and broad part of the American economy. Before the current crisis, this sector employed 3.4 million people, two thirds of whom worked at companies with less than 20 employees. These were blue-collar and white-collar jobs in every state of the country. Over the past five years, this sector grew at a rate that is 70% higher than the national average, particularly in states such as California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4447 "Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 94% by League of Conservation Voters. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Administrator Wheeler: "We write in strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recently proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which would replace the 2015 Clean Power Plan (CPP) with a far weaker rule that poses direct threats to both human health and the environment and undermine U.S. efforts to combat climate change. This rule will undoubtedly have severe consequences for the health and well-being of the communities we represent, many of whom have long endured profound environmental injustice. In contrast, EPA's own assessment demonstrated that the CPP would have saved thousands of lives each year." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Speaker Pelosi: "The Civilian Climate Corps will reduce carbon emissions by investing in a clean energy economy. From installing renewable energy infrastructure, to improving energy efficiency, to providing training for clean energy jobs, the Corps will support the transition to a clean, competitive energy economy. These investments are integral to achieving President Biden's goal of achieving net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 9 "Climate Action Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 2938 "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "No person should endure the agonizing pain of losing someone they love to gun violence. Families in towns and cities across the country who have been touched by this agonizing epidemic are joining Fred Guttenberg and other gun safety advocates to demand Congress address this public health crisis," said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. "Jaime'sLaw is a crucial piece of the multifaceted approach needed to end the gun violence epidemic. Closing the ammunition loophole and requiring background checks for ammunition purchases can save lives." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1425 "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Paid leave provides economic equity & family stability. I applaud @SpeakerPelosi for adding 4 weeks of paid family & medical leave back into BBB bc we cannot #BuildBackBetter without #PaidLeaveForAll. It’s time that every family receives the paid leave they deserve." (twitter.com)
  • Signed Letter to President Biden: “Furthermore, we cannot ignore the economic benefits of paid leave. Enacting paid leave also means that families will continue to earn some income at the very time when they need it most – when a family is growing or a member is sick and needs medical care. Workers will be able to continue to earn a portion of their wages, allowing them to continue to meet their basic needs and pay bills before returning to work. Moreover, lack of paid leave has meant that workers lose an estimated $22.5 billion in wages each year when that could have been used to keep a family afloat and spent in local economies." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6201 "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Floridians pay more than 10 times the price of insulin compared to other high-income countries. That is absolutely unacceptable and why I voted YES on the #AffordableInsulinNow Act, which will cap the cost of insulin at $35/month." (twitter.com)
  • "Prescription drug companies are charging Americans prices that are three, four, or even ten times higher than what they charge for the same drugs in other countries. I’m proud to support the #LowerDrugCosts Now Act to make prescription drugs affordable in America." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3 "Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833 "The Affordable Insulin Now Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this Republican-only compromise immigration bill. The only thing that is compromised in this legislation is America's source of strength as a nation of immigrants. This bill guts asylum protections for those fleeing danger and dashes the hopes of legal immigrants seeking to reunite with family members. It continues this Presidential Ponzi scheme of forcing taxpayers to buy an expensive but useless border wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "#Dreamers make an enormous contribution to our communities. They are our neighbors and our friends. Trump's decision on #DACA is heartless." (twitter.com)
  • "President Trump's heartless, cowardly decision to eliminate the DACA program will spread anxiety and chaos throughout communities across the nation. It is yet another cruel, unnecessary and divisive policy move by this White House. Instead of providing promise, stability and opportunity to millions of young people, Trump has done the opposite, and made the American dream more elusive for those who have already given so much to this nation. DREAMers have served in our armed services, rescued Harvey victims, studied with our children in classrooms, and for years worked and played in our neighborhoods. Republicans have left DREAMers twisting in the wind for too long. Speaker Paul Ryan must bring legislation advancing a pathway to citizenship to a floor vote this week, and remove this cloud of uncertainty and distress Trump has placed over the lives of hundreds of thousands of families." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1333 "NO BAN Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6 "American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "The House today will also revoke normal trade relations status from Russia and build on a bipartisan ban on the import of Russian oil and energy products into America. Congress is also prepared to review Russia's access to the World Trade Organization and to reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, to impose further sanctions on Russia." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 4695 "Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968 "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Thankfully, President Biden and Congress are doing just that. Congress just approved $13.6 billion for military and economic support, and today, President Biden pledged $800 million more." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 3522 "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "The #InflationReductionAct will lower health and Rx costs, make corps. pay their fair share and tackles climate change, but doesn't raise taxes on families making under $400,000. That’s why I voted YES to put #PeopleOverPolitics " (twitter.com)
  • "Today, the Republican-led Congress failed the American people by teaming up with special interests to prioritize the wish lists of Wall Street over the needs of middle class families. This abhorrent legislation was written by wealthy Republican donors, for wealthy Republican donors. While providing an enormous handout to giant corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent, this plan will ultimately raise taxes on millions of middle class Americans, increase premiums and the numbers who will be without health insurance, and adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5377 "Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Ambassador Lighthizer: "To help our constituents during this crisis, we urge you to remove all duties for food and drink products (HTS Subheadings 0203 through 2208) imposed in relation to this case without lowering the total value duties that can be imposed. We believe it is possible for our strategy to maintain maximum pressure on the EU to remove its subsidies case while avoiding harm to American workers, consumers, and small businesses to the greatest extent possible." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Secretary Perdue: "This belligerent economic behavior by the Chinese government has the potential to significantly reduce the market share of Florida's spiny lobster in the Asian marketplace, and could have a ripple affect across our state's economy. We are concerned about the long-term future of Florida's spiny lobster fishery and the ability of our fishermen to earn a living. Florida's fishermen have been harmed by the tariffs imposed on lobster from the United States. As such, we respectfully request their inclusion in the relief program." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act" (votesmart.org)
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.
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.
f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
X h) Other or expanded principles
I support the Roe v. Wade decision.

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities

a) Agriculture
b) Arts
c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
e) Environment
Greatly Increase f) Homeland security
g) International aid
h) Law enforcement
i) Medical research
j) National parks
Greatly Increase k) Public health services
Greatly Increase l) Scientific research
m) Space exploration programs
Greatly Increase n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
o) Welfare
p) Other or expanded categories

Defense Spending

a) Armed Forces personnel training
Greatly Increase b) Intelligence operations
c) Military hardware
d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
e) National missile defense
Greatly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
h) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

a) Less than $25,000
b) $25,000-$75,000
c) $75,000-$150,000
d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
a) Charitable contributions
b) Child tax credit
c) Earned income tax credit
d) Medical expense deduction
e) Mortgage deduction
f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

X a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office.
f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election.
g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
Yes i) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
Yes j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
l) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
X h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
X j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes.
k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
X l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
n) Other or expanded principles

1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
X d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
i) Other or expanded principles
X a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
X c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
X d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
e) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
X b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
X i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
X l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
X b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities.
j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
k) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
X h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
X i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare.
X l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
X m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
n) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers.
d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States.
f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism.
g) Other or expanded principles

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
d) Discuss your proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq. What funding sources would you use to implement these proposals? (75 words or less. Please use an attached page if the space below is not adequate.)
e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
Yes d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
Yes e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
No b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
No 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"?
Yes 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education?
8) Other or expanded principles

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
Yes 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
Yes 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security?
g) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.
g) Other of expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
c) Implement regulation of Internet content.
d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Increase funding for child care programs.
c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
f) Support housing assistance for low-income families.
g) Other or expanded principles
On an attached page, disk, or via email, 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.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward