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James DeMint'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.

Due to a later filing deadline or other circumstances delaying entry into our database, James DeMint did not receive the 2012 Political Courage Test.

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 2010.

  • Jim DeMint. HR 3660. 106th Congress. To amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 4 May 2000. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. HR 760. 108th Congress. To prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 4 June 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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."
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • National Right to Life Committee. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Planned Parenthood. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 0 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. S 3. 108th Congress. A bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 2 October 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. S Amdt 3330 to S Amdt 3325 to HR 3043. 110th Congress. To prohibit the provision of funds to grantees who perform abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 18 October 2007. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. S Amdt 3896 to S Amdt 3899 to S 1200. 110th Congress. To modify a section relating to limitation on use of funds appropriated to the Service. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 26 February 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • National Right to Life. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 28 September 2010. National Right to Life endorsed Jim DeMint in the 2010 General Election. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Issue Position: Valuing Life. "The right to life is not something that begins or ends at our time of choosing. Rather, this unalienable right begins at conception and ends at natural death. I oppose abortion, because I believe it is the taking of human life. Adoption is a wonderful alternative to abortion. There may be unwanted pregnancies in this world, but there are no unwanted children. Adoption not only allows a mother to choose life, it gives a child a chance for a better life in a loving home. The parents who open their homes to these children represent the very best of the American spirit, and the mothers who make this life-saving choice are true American heroes. I will continue to fight for the protection of innocent human life and condemn acts or policies that destroy human life - regardless of age, health, sex, race, or stage of development. I am committed to providing a voice to those who are voiceless and doing all I can to ensure that each life is treated with the dignity it deserves." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Selected YES for: "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: I support eliminating the IRS Income Tax and replacing it with a consumption-based system that is simple, fair, and promotes savings & investment."
  • National Taxpayers Union. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 97 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Family Prosperity Act. 26 September 2006. "Senator Durbin also argues that the death tax only affects 8,200 families. The truth is, the death tax doesn't affect 8,200 family members who may die; it affects millions of family members still living who are left to deal with Uncle Sam's sticky fingers." (votesmart.org)
  • Club for Growth. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the Club for Growth 100 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. HR 1. 111th Congress. Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted NO on 13 February 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • The Club For Growth. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 28 September 2010. The Club For Growth endorsed Jim DeMint in the 2010 General Election. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. DeMint Opposes Trillion Dollar Spending Bill. 13 February 2009. "Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) made the following statement after voting against the Democrats' trillion dollar spending bill. As more economists are admitting, this spending bill won't create the jobs necessary to turn the economy around, but it does contain major changes in the law that could reverse 1996 welfare reforms and expand government control of health care. Senator DeMint offered an alternative stimulus, the American Option, which would create 18 million jobs over the next ten years and permanently lower taxes for every American taxpayer. 'This is a three trillion dollar mistake that our economy cannot afford at this critical time,' said Senator DeMint. 'Democrats promise it will work, but they don't even know what's in it because no one has had time to read the 1,074 page monstrosity. Not even the President has read this bill, yet he's rushing to sign it to prove he's "done something" even if it's the wrong thing. If government spending created jobs and prosperity, we'd have the best economy in our history right now. But government-controlled economies have never worked and never will, as we learned painfully in the Great Depression and Japan proved in their lost decade.'" (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. DeMint on Democrats' Second Stimulus Bill. 24 February 2010. "We won't have a sustained economic recovery as long as Washington keeps picking winners and losers, piling up debt, and increasing taxes. This bill is built on the same failed thinking that led to the first stimulus, and it won't work. Unemployment is at record levels after Washington wasted a trillion taxpayer dollars on pork projects. What makes anyone think a smaller version of the same failed bill will have better success? The answer is very simple: Americans will create jobs if Washington gets out of the way. It's time to stop meddling in the economy every few months, and time to enact permanent, broad-based tax cuts that reward success and spur real job creation." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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."
  • Jim DeMint. Issue Position: Retirement Security. "We must also address the fact that we are not currently providing workers with real ownership of the money they pay into the system, and wealth is never allowed to be accumulated and passed on to children or grandchildren. The answer to this: Personal Social Security Savings accounts. These accounts would give younger workers the opportunity to build wealth and control their futures, so that when they retire they will not have to live month-to-month relying on the government for a check. Personal Social Security Savings accounts will make every American and saver and investor." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes."
  • Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. 2005-2006. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants 9 percent in 2005-2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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;" "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;" "l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college;" "m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college."
  • Home School Legal Defense Association. 1999-2000. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the Home School Legal Defense Association 80 percent in 1999-2000. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. HR 1. 107th Congress. To close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted NO on 23 May 2001. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. DeMint Statement on President's State of the Union Address. 27 January 2010. "Enhance primary and secondary education by reforming the No Child Left Behind law so states have the flexibility to innovate and achieve results in the classroom." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Op-Ed: Education - Shoot for the Moon. 15 March 2007. "Rather than streamlining our education system and allowing our students to excel, No Child Left Behind has created new burdens that worsen the obstacles local school systems face. No Child Left Behind made important first steps in measuring the progress our schools are making, but we must begin to trim back the exhaustive list of unnecessary federal regulations the bill imposed... As we reauthorize No Child Left Behind, we must give states autonomy in exchange for accountability. Congress should seize this important opportunity and unshackle states and local schools to create new opportunities for our students to learn and achieve. By taking this step, we will once again entrust teachers, parents, and students with the decision making power needed to succeed." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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);" "h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration;" "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."
  • Environment America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of Environment America 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint signed the Contract from America. "Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures." (www.thecontract.org)
  • Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund. 2007. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund 0 percent in 2007. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Congress Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2009. 15 May 2008. "We do need to keep in mind that carbon in the air that comes from China does as much to hurt the worldwide environment, if, in fact, it does affect global warming--it doesn't matter if it is coming from the United States or China. If we ignore what other countries are doing, we do it at our own peril. My motion is very similar to bipartisan agreements that we had in the Congress when discussing the Kyoto agreement. It makes no sense to bind our own companies with expensive mandates if we do not have cooperation from countries in other parts of the world. We simply move our production and our jobs somewhere else. So we need to be logical about it.... In order to truly address greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that China, India, and other countries that are emitting need to work together. So if we take this on simply as one country, we will hurt ourselves, we would not help the environment and we will send jobs overseas and actually encourage pollution, magnified, in effect, by not acting in a way that tries to seek cooperation around the world." (votesmart.org)
  • Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Jim DeMint a grade of A+. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. HR 2122. 106th Congress. To require background checks at gun shows, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 18 June 1999. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. S Amdt 1067 to S Amdt 1058 to HR 627. 111th Congress. To protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks and refuges. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted YES on 12 May 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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;" "j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims."
  • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 2003. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 0 percent from 1988 and 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 28 September 2010. Gun Owners of America endorsed Jim DeMint in the 2010 General Election. (votesmart.org)
  • American Public Health Association. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint signed The Club for Growth: Repeal It! (www.repealit.org)
  • Jim DeMint signed the Contract from America. "Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries." (www.thecontract.org)
  • Jim DeMint. CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript. 28 July 2009. "BLITZER: Why are you so afraid of a public option, a government- run health insurance company, if you will, that would compete with the private health insurance companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield or Kaiser Permanente, or whatever? DEMINT: Well, a couple of reasons, Wolf. First of all, I have yet to see a federal program that works effectively or anywhere close to the budgets that we talk about, but maybe the more important point is, if we really want competition between insurance companies, which I have been working for, for years, let's just allow interstate competition." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Health Care. 23 June 2009. "If you want to know how the public option is going to work, I encourage you to drop by a Social Security office, take a number, and sit down and wait for them to get to you, or maybe go to a veterans hospital or another government service. Do we really want the government involved with health care? Health care is the most personal and private service we have as Americans. Do we want to turn health care over to the most impersonal, the most bureaucratic, the most wasteful and, in many cases, the most corrupt aspect of our society?" (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Issue Position: Health Care. "America has the best health care system in the world. Unfortunately, bad tax policy, frivolous lawsuits, government price fixing and antiquated regulations are reducing access to care and drastically increasing healthcare costs?.While this approach has considerable political appeal, socialized medicine is known for delivering few medical innovations, poor quality, long waiting times and the rationing of care in ways not liked by patients. This is why the wealthy in Europe and Canada often come to the United States for care. If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it is 'free.' The right health care solution sets a goal: every American will have a health plan that they can afford, own and keep. This side supports individual choice and ownership and believes that Congress should allow the health care industry to operate like other free market service industries. Instead of forcing physicians and hospitals to be focused on government-fixed prices and codes, competition would allow health care providers to simplify and reduce their prices, just like we've seen happen in the field of laser eye surgery." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked in SUPPORT for: "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;" "f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism."
  • National Latino Congreso. 2007-2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the National Latino Congreso 0 percent in 2007-2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Federation for American Immigration Reform. 2007-2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 75 percent in 2007-2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. S Amdt 4087 to S 2611. 109th Congress. To modify the conditions under which aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States are granted legal status. Project Vote Smart Summary: Jim DeMint voted NO on 23 May 2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. Senators Form Border Security and Enforcement First Caucus. 5 March 2008. "It's time for Congress to keep its promise to the American people to secure our borders and stop illegal immigration. Amnesty is unacceptable, but there are some commonsense solutions that will help us create a rational legal immigration system that works. I'm proud to join with my colleagues on the Border Caucus to fight for a secure border, enforcement of our immigration laws, and steps to encourage legal immigration.'" (votesmart.org)
  • Peace Action West. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Jim DeMint supported the interests of Peace Action West 20 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. DeMint Statement on President Obama's Afghanistan Strategy. 1 December 2009. "We must win the War on Terror to prevent future attacks like the ones on September 11th. President Obama is our commander-in-chief and I hope his new plan will achieve victory in Afghanistan. I'm concerned by the months of delay and the message it has sent to our enemies about our commitment to win this fight. However, I'm going to do everything I can in the Senate to ensure our troops are supported with everything they need to be successful defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban and return home with honor." (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Selected NO for: "j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?"
  • Jim DeMint. 2004. Project Vote Smart: South Carolina Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Selected YES for: "k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?"
  • Eagle Forum. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 28 September 2010. Eagle Forum endorsed Jim DeMint in the 2010 General Election. (votesmart.org)
  • Jim DeMint. DeMint Statement on California Court Overturning Ban on Gay Marriage. 15 May 2008. "Marriage is America's most important institution and it must be cherished and protected. This decision by the California State Supreme Court to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage is the latest in a series of attacks on the sanctity of marriage in this country." (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.
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.
X e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
X f) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
X g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

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

Defense Spending

Greatly Increase a) Armed Forces personnel training
Greatly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Greatly Increase c) Military hardware
Greatly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Greatly Increase e) National missile defense
Greatly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Greatly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Greatly Increase 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:

Greatly Decrease a) Less than $25,000
Greatly Decrease b) $25,000-$75,000
Greatly Decrease c) $75,000-$150,000
Greatly Decrease d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Decrease f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
Eliminate a) Alcohol taxes
Eliminate b) Capital gains taxes
Eliminate c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Eliminate f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Greatly Increase a) Charitable contributions
Greatly Increase b) Child tax credit
Maintain Status c) Earned income tax credit
Greatly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Maintain Status f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
Yes 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
Yes 5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
Yes 6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
Yes 7) Other or expanded principles
I support eliminating the IRS Income Tax and replacing it with a consumption-based system that is simple, fair, and promotes savings & investment.

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

a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
X 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.
X 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.
No h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
No i) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
No j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes 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.

X a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X 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.
e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
X g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
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.
X 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.

X a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
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.

a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
X b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
X c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
X e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
X f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
X h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
X i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
X j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
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.
X b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
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.
f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
X h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
i) Other or expanded principles
a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
X b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
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.

a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
X c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
X d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
X e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
X f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
X 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.
X j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
X k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
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.

a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
X e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
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.
X 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.
b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
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.
X e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
X 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.
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.
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.

X a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
X b) Establish English as the official national language.
X 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.
X 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.

a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
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.
X 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?
Yes 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?
d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
Yes b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
Yes 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"?
6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
Yes 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.

Yes 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
Yes 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Yes 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?
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.

Yes a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
Yes 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?
Yes d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
Yes 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.

X a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
X 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.
X b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
X c) Implement regulation of Internet content.
X d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
X 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.

X a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
b) Increase funding for child care programs.
X c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
X d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
X 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.

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