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Sherrod Brown's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. Senate (OH) - Sr

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

Sherrod Brown is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "Today, I joined my Democratic colleagues on the Capitol steps to speak out in defense of a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. I will always vote to support women and protect Roe." (x.com)
  • "In 2023, Ohioans spoke loud & clear — they don’t want politicians interfering in their personal medical decisions. As we mark 51 years since Roe v. Wade, we must honor their voices & restore the protections of Roe for millions of women around the country." (x.com)
  • "Overturning Roe would take away rights and freedoms our daughters have grown up counting on. The time to make our voices heard is NOW." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 3755: "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class. It’s retirement security that Americans earn over a lifetime of work & count on to be there when they retire. Everyone should get the Social Security they earn — including cops, sheriffs, firefighters, & teachers here in Toledo." (x.com)
  • "Social Security is the bedrock of our middle class. I’ll always fight back against ANY plan that cuts Social Security — we need to strengthen this essential program that Americans earn and protect it for generations to come." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "More evidence to support what we already knew - too many workers pay more in taxes than our country's wealthiest billionaires. Billionaires need to start paying their fair share for the infrastructure they’ve relied on to be successful." (x.com)
  • "Everyone pays the same percent of their paychecks into Social Security — except for the wealthy. They stop contributing once they hit a certain amount, no matter how much they make. Millionaires & billionaires should pay their fair share, just like the rest of us. #ScrapTheCap" (x.com)
  • "It's pretty simple – whose side are you on? Do you want tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, or do you want tax cuts for working families? Every single month with the Child Tax Credit, we're showing parents and workers: we're on your side." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "More evidence to support what we already knew - too many workers pay more in taxes than our country's wealthiest billionaires. Billionaires need to start paying their fair share for the infrastructure they’ve relied on to be successful." (x.com)
  • "Everyone pays the same percent of their paychecks into Social Security — except for the wealthy. They stop contributing once they hit a certain amount, no matter how much they make. Millionaires & billionaires should pay their fair share, just like the rest of us. #ScrapTheCap" (x.com)
  • "February 19th is Valentine's Day for the rich. Working families pay into Social Security all year long. But today, millionaires stop paying their fair share. Let’s #ScrapTheCap so we can strengthen Social Security for everyone." (x.com)
  • Voted against HR 1: "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 87% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Our democracy belongs to the people — not corporations. I support @SenateDems’ constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and restore #DemocracyForAll." (x.com)
  • Rated 94% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "While today’s guilty verdict was just and right, we cannot mistake accountability for justice. True justice would mean George Floyd was still alive today. This must be a turning point in our country to reform a broken justice system that has failed Black Americans over and over." (x.com)
  • "A peaceful protester in Bethel, Ohio was sucker-punched in the head right in front of police officers – and they did nothing about it. These officers’ inaction is shameful. This is why we need the Justice in Policing Act - to hold police accountable." (x.com)
  • "A year ago today, the world learned George Floyd's name. We must honor his memory by passing meaningful reforms - reforms that protect Black and brown communities and hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct. That starts with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 815: "National Security Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "It's great news that this year's #NDAA includes our bipartisan measure to strengthen the tools the U.S. uses to block national security threats posed by investments from China and other countries." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7776: "James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 1319: "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021" (votesmart.org)
  • "When we build better public transportation, everyone wins. Right now, low-income workers spend between 20-30% of their wages trying to get to and from work. The more we invest in public transit, the less time and money hardworking Americans have to spend commuting." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Say it with me: Housing IS infrastructure – period." (x.com)
  • "If you don't have a place to call home or a roof over your head, everything else falls apart. We cannot achieve racial justice without addressing the housing inequality that disproportionately affects our Black and brown communities." (x.com)
  • "Met w/ @RepMarciaFudge this morning to discuss addressing inequality, the racial homeownership gap, and investing in affordable and public housing. At a time when millions of people are one crisis away from losing their homes, Rep. Fudge is the right person to lead @HUDgov." (x.com)
  • "We have an affordable housing crisis in Ohio and all over the country. If we don't do housing better, we'll never make quality of life better for so many moderate and low-income families." (x.com)
  • "The next wave of lower drug costs from the Inflation Reduction Act is coming April 1. Depending on your prescriptions, seniors can start saving up to $400 at every trip to the pharmacy counter." (x.com)
  • "BREAKING - I just left the Senate Floor, after an historic vote. This is an unprecedented step to take on corporate special interests to fight inflation, lower prescription drug and health costs, and create jobs that corporations can’t ship overseas." (x.com)
  • "On #NationalManufacturingDay, we celebrate Ohio's manufacturing workers. With CHIPS, the infrastructure bill, and the Inflation Reduction Act, we're ensuring the technology of the future—from semiconductors to electric vehicles—will be made in America, by American workers." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "New: I released a plan with @SenSchumer @SenWarren and @PattyMurray to get emergency relief to student borrowers. cancel federal student loan payments during the crisis& at least $10,000 debt paid down for every federal student loan borrower #CancelStudentDebt" (x.com)
  • "President Biden has the authority to #CancelStudentDebt - freeing millions of students, workers, and their families from the burden of crushing debt. I am calling on him to take executive action - NOW is the time." (x.com)
  • "For too long, student debt has prevented generations of Americans from pursuing their dreams and seeing their hard work pay off. Now, @POTUS is providing relief and helping those Americans start families, buy homes, and open businesses. This will go a long way for many Ohioans." (x.com)
  • "Six years ago today, the Shelby v. Holder ruling struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act — opening the door for voter suppression efforts across the country. The Senate needs to act on HR.1 to restore voting right for thousands of Americans." (x.com)
  • "Eric Murphy defended Ohio’s voter purge, along with strict voter ID laws, and fought to uphold restrictions on early voting in Ohio. He led the legal battle to outlaw "Golden Week" in Ohio, which allowed voters the opportunity to register and vote on the same day. Special interests already have armies of lobbyists and lawyers on their side – they don’t need judges like Chad Readler and Eric Murphy in their pockets." (x.com)
  • Rated 87% by Common Cause (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We cannot allow voter suppression to rear its ugly head in this country ever again. @senatemajldr, honor John Lewis. Pass the Voting Rights Act in his name. #VRA55" (x.com)
  • Rated 94% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "America's energy sector is changing – we can’t leave workers behind. I’m introducing legislation with my colleagues to #EmpowerEnergyWorkers as we transition toward renewable energy." (x.com)
  • "Great news: @FirstSolar is investing $185 million to expand its manufacturing factories in Northwest Ohio. The #InflationReductionAct is already creating hundreds of jobs and ensuring we make the energy of the future in America." (x.com)
  • "Protecting the Earth also means protecting Ohio’s economic future. Together we are taking on corporate polluters, creating good-paying clean energy jobs, and protecting Lake Erie to build a brighter future for generations of Ohioans to come. #LCVScorecard" (x.com)
  • "Reducing our dependence on Big Oil means lower energy costs. The #InflationReductionAct will spur more renewable energy manufacturing here in the U.S." (x.com)
  • "Big oil and gas already have too much power in Washington and in the White House. Ohioans deserve an EPA Administrator willing to stand up for the interests of our state, not rubberstamp the agenda of corporate polluters and their lobbyists." (x.com)
  • "Protecting the Earth also means protecting Ohio’s economic future. Together we are taking on corporate polluters, creating good-paying clean energy jobs, and protecting Lake Erie to build a brighter future for generations of Ohioans to come. #LCVScorecard" (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by American Energy Alliance (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We cannot say we are doing what it takes to keep our country safe until we are finally willing to pass commonsense laws to protect all Americans from gun violence. #GunViolenceAwarenessMonth" (x.com)
  • "Proud to stand alongside activists in Cleveland today calling for commonsense gun legislation. We must continue to pressure President Trump and Mitch McConnell to stand up to the NRA and to act." (x.com)
  • "Thanks to Stoneman Douglas students who met with the team in my office last week. Their activism is making an incredible difference in the fight to pass commonsense laws to protect all Americans from gun violence. Hear from Emily about how this movement for change came together." (x.com)
  • Rated 0% by National Rifle Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Ten years ago today, President Obama signed the #AffordableCareAct into law. Let’s take a moment to think about how the comprehensive, quality health coverage provided by the #ACA is helping us combat the coronavirus." (x.com)
  • "For the last 53 years, #Medicare and #Medicaid have enabled millions of Ohioans to receive the affordable, quality healthcare they need. We see the success of these programs every day – and we'll keep fighting to expand and strengthen their impact" (x.com)
  • "There are lots of options on the marketplace – don’t forget to take the time to compare healthcare plans and prices, to choose the one that’s right for you. Shopping around may help you save money!" (x.com)
  • "Paid sick leave is the obvious answer to protecting our public health." (x.com)
  • "I'm hearing from Ohioans terrified of getting sick in an epidemic, and being forced to choose between keeping their job or protecting their health and the health of the community. Millions of workers with no paid sick leave face impossible choices like this every day. #COVID19" (x.com)
  • "No worker should ever have to choose between their health and family, or their job. Let’s make #PaidLeave a reality for all workers, by passing the #FAMILYAct." (x.com)
  • "When we fail to protect our workers, they don't feel essential - they feel expendable. I stand in solidarity with all of the frontline workers striking on #MayDay demanding better pay, paid sick leave, and access to PPE." (x.com)
  • "BREAKING - I just left the Senate Floor, after an historic vote. This is an unprecedented step to take on corporate special interests to fight inflation, lower prescription drug and health costs, and create jobs that corporations can’t ship overseas." (x.com)
  • "At the O’Reilly Family Pharmacy in Columbus this morning, I got to see how our work to lower prescription drug costs is improving older Ohioans’ lives. When we stand up to Big Pharma, older Ohioans see more money in their pockets & can better keep up with the cost of living." (x.com)
  • "The next wave of lower drug costs from the Inflation Reduction Act is coming April 1. Depending on your prescriptions, seniors can start saving up to $400 at every trip to the pharmacy counter." (x.com)
  • "The purpose of medicine is to help people, not to line the pockets of Big Pharma executives. That’s why I’m proud to introduce two bills today to lower prescription drug prices for American families – here’s how they’ll work:" (x.com)
  • "We must do everything possible to keep illicit fentanyl from reaching Ohio. Today we introduced a bill to strengthen border security to help stop the flow at its source." (x.com)
  • "I stood with Dems and Repubs today to support two plans that would have provided certainty for Dreamers and boosted border security. I’m disappointed these bipartisan compromises didn’t pass, & I’ll continue working for a commonsense solution to fix our broken immigration system" (x.com)
  • "Just got out of a meeting with @ZelenskyyUa. If we choose to abandon Ukraine now, Putin will win. We must defend democracy & freedom. Aid for Ukraine, support for Israel, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and border security. Let's put the politics aside & pass all of it — together." (x.com)
  • "This bipartisan deal would've taken dramatic steps to secure our border, stop fentanyl at the source, & provide law enforcement with more tools to protect us. It was the best border security plan we’ve seen in years — and it’s reprehensible that Washington politicians killed it." (x.com)
  • "We owe it to all the #Dreamers, including Elvis, who contribute so much to our state and to our country. It’s time for us to come together and pass a bipartisan, commonsense solution that protects these kids, and upholds our American values." (x.com)
  • "800,000 #Dreamers are now safe from Pres. Trump's attempt to rip them away from their families and communities. America is their home. Time for real immigration reform that recognizes that." (x.com)
  • "I stood with Dems and Repubs today to support two plans that would have provided certainty for Dreamers and boosted border security. I’m disappointed these bipartisan compromises didn’t pass, & I’ll continue working for a commonsense solution to fix our broken immigration system" (x.com)
  • "We shouldn't target young people who are working, serving in our military, going to school, paying taxes, and contributing to this country—the only home they’ve ever known. They’re Americans in every sense but the paperwork. Today—and every day—I stand with Dreamers. #HomeIsHere" (x.com)
  • "Just got out of a meeting with @ZelenskyyUa. If we choose to abandon Ukraine now, Putin will win. We must defend democracy & freedom. Aid for Ukraine, support for Israel, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and border security. Let's put the politics aside & pass all of it — together." (x.com)
  • "Hamas's terrorism is fueled by cryptocurrency. We need to crack down on illicit crypto and stop terrorists from moving money around, evading sanctions, and funding their acts of evil. We must curb this emerging threat & protect our national security." (x.com)
  • "I'm calling on Trump’s administration to immediately impose new sanctions on Russia for its ongoing efforts to interfere in the 2020 election. Anything less would be an abdication of their responsibility to protect the integrity of our elections and defend our national security." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Just got out of a meeting with @ZelenskyyUa. If we choose to abandon Ukraine now, Putin will win. We must defend democracy & freedom. Aid for Ukraine, support for Israel, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and border security. Let's put the politics aside & pass all of it — together." (x.com)
  • "Early this morning we put politics aside & came together to honor our commitment to the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom. The House must move quickly to defend our country, support our allies, and stop Putin in his tracks before he knocks on NATO's door." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Here's the answer: corporations take your rights, Big Tech mines your data, government invades your privacy. My Data Accountability and Transparency Act will ban these one-sided, abusive privacy policies and give power back to consumers." (x.com)
  • "Big tech and big banks aren’t accountable to the public, and they shouldn’t be given more power over public infrastructure like the financial system. #FacebookFakebucks" (x.com)
  • "Letting Big Tech and other companies operate banks—without proper oversight—will open doors for predatory lending and invasions of your privacy. That's why I introduced the Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act—to protect your pocketbooks and our banking system." (x.com)
  • "I agree. Facebook must answer to the American people before it proceeds any further with its risky cryptocurrency. We can’t afford to wait and see what happens when big tech companies like Facebook assert their power over financial markets and consumers." (x.com)
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.
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
Abortions should be legal when performed by a licensed physician after a pregnant woman is made aware of all her options.

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
d) Education
e) Environment
f) Homeland security
g) International aid
h) Law enforcement
i) Medical research
j) National parks
k) Public health services
l) Scientific research
m) Space exploration programs
n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
o) Welfare
Budget needs are too specific to be defined by these six categories.

Defense Spending

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

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
f) Over $40,000
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Capital gains taxes
c) Cigarette taxes
d) Corporate taxes
e) Gasoline taxes
f) Inheritance taxes
a) Charitable contributions
b) Child tax credit
c) Earned income tax credit
d) Medical expense deduction
e) Mortgage deduction
f) Student loan credit
increase taxes on people earning over $1 million.
Reduce taxes for low income seniors
Increase corporate and capital gains tax.
Increase child tax credit for low income families and EITC.
No 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
No 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
Opose Bush plan, which excludes low income couples from marriage penalty relief.

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?
No k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
Yes l) Other or expanded principles
h) Bush, do you know the answer to this?

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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
X 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.
X 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.
X h) Require a license for gun possession.
X 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.
h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
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.
X 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.
X n) Other or expanded principles
Support efforts to bring down U.S. prescription drug prices, including the commerical importation of lower priced medicines from Canada. Oppose privatization of Medicare.

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.

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
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
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
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?
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.

No 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
No 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Undecided 3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Yes 4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
No 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?
No 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?
Yes e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
No 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.
X 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.
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.
X f) Support housing assistance for low-income families.
g) Other or expanded principles
1) We must ensure every American access to basic health coverage. Funding for this effort can be obtained by securing reasonable prices for prescription drugs, identifying and utilizing only the most cost-effective health services and supplies, and achieving system-wide administrative efficiencies. 2) We must overhaul U.S. trade policy to promote U.S. values, including the fair treatment of workers, environmental security, and sustained economic progress here and abroad. Trade policy should not export US jobs and import lower labor and environmental standards; it should advance the economic well-being of the US and its trading partners.

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