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Lamar Smith'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.

What else does Smith say?

Lamar Smith has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2016 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Texas Congressional Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Abortion

Pro-life

Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Budget

No		In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
No		In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Campaign Finance

		Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I support the disclosure of sources of indirect expenditures.

Crime

Yes		Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
		Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
Yes		Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
"The bill before us today, S. 1789, lowers the ratio for Federal crack cocaine offenses from 100-to-1 to 18-to-1. The bill also eliminates the mandatory penalties for crack cocaine possession, making it only a misdemeanor under Federal law. Why enact legislation that could endanger our children and bring violence back to our inner-city communities?" http://votesmart.org/public-statement/540830/fair-sentencing-act-of-2010#.VZVLZXUVhHw (votesmart.org) "The Sentencing Commission has released four reports in the last 15 years on this subject, each time urging Congress to amend the cocaine sentencing laws. Unfortunately, those pleas have fallen onto deaf ears in Congress. The commission, as well as the Federal Judicial Conference, has urged Congress to remove the unfair mandatory minimum sentences. Each time they remind us that those mandatory minimums often violate common sense." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/426084/hearing-of-the-subcommittee-on-crime-terrorism-and-homeland-security-of-the-house-committee-on-the-judiciary-unfairness-in-federal-cocaine-sentencing-is-it-time-to-crack-the-100-to-1-disparity/?search=mandatory%20minimum#.VbeZyHV3k1M (votesmart.org)
It depends on the circumstance and nature of the crime.

Economy

No		Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes		Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes		Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?

Education

No		Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
"Members of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation, led by Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Lewisville), today introduced legislation to repeal language in last month's education funding bill that discriminates against only the state of Texas, and could prevent Texas from receiving its fair share of the federal education funding." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/551996/texas-republicans-introduce-legislation-to-repeal-doggett-education-language#.VZVMqHUVhHw (votesmart.org) Signed a letter stating "We are writing you urge you to remove previously House-passed language included in Sen. AMDT. 4575 that solely discriminates against our State. Again, this amendment singles out only the state of Texas. [â¦] According to the Congressional Research Service, the State's share of the $10 billion is estimated to be over $830 million. By adding the additional two-year requirement, the House language only punishes Texas students and teachers." http://burgess.house.gov/uploadedfiles/08-06-10_letter_to_speaker_pelosi_on_ed_funding.pdf (burgess.house.gov)

Energy

Yes		Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
Yes		Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
No		Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?

Environment

		Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
No		Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
"The EPA should not saddle the American people with extensive and burdensome regulations, especially if the regulations have little environmental impact." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/986623/witnesses-warn-of-clean-power-plan-economic-impacts#.VZVNxnUVhHw (votesmart.org) "The cornerstone of the White House sweeping Climate Action Plan is EPA's power plant regulation. Extending well beyond the power plants themselves, this rule will increase the cost of electricity and the cost of doing business. It will make it harder for the American people to make ends meet." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/931886/smith-statement-on-obama-climate-plan#.VZVOSHUVhHw (votesmart.org)
The impact of emissions is complex and often inconclusive. We must not burden the American people with costly regulations that will kill jobs until we have all of the facts.

Guns

Do you generally support gun-control legislation?

Health Care

Yes

Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?

Immigration

Yes		Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
"Border security is another area neglected by the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress. Congressman Smith believes that the United States has every right to secure its borders. The enforcement of immigration laws is the key to achieving this. It is a national security issue as well as an economic issue, especially with millions of American citizens and legal immigrants out of work." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/486098/issue-position-border-security#.VZVPenUVhHw (votesmart.org) "I am encouraged by today's decision to uphold a Texas judge's injunction preventing the Obama administration from forging ahead with unilateral amnesty actions. I will continue to be a vocal supporter of the Texas-led, 26-state lawsuit and our nation's rule of law." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/977224/smith-statement-on-fifth-circuit-ruling-on-immigration-executive-actions#.VZVP3nUVhHw (votesmart.org)

Marriage

Do you support same-sex marriage?

National Security

Yes		Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Yes		Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?
"Congressman Smith thinks that the government needs to stop treating terrorists like citizens and stop treating citizens like terrorists. In Congress, he has fought the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of dangerous terrorists to our shores. And he has made strengthening our national defenses against terror one of his highest priorities." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/486097/issue-position-national-securitywar-on-terror#.VZVREHUVhHw (votesmart.org) "I am glad the president continues to affirm his resolve to defeat the Islamic State and groups with ties to Al Qaeda who have plotted against the U.S. and our allies. Our enemies must once more fear us as we stand against forces of evil in the world that would do harm to our nation." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/931908/smith-statement-on-strikes-against-the-islamic-state#.VbehHXV3k1M (votesmart.org)

Social Security

Yes

Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

Spending and Taxes

SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Maintain Status		a) Agriculture
Maintain Status		b) Arts
Maintain Status		c) Defense
Slightly Decrease		d) Education
Slightly Decrease		e) Environment
Maintain Status		f) Homeland Security
Slightly Decrease		g) International aid
Maintain Status		h) Medical Research
Maintain Status		i) Scientific Research
Maintain Status		j) Space exploration
Slightly Decrease		k) United Nations
Slightly Decrease		l) Welfare
		m) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Decrease		a) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Decrease		b) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease		c) Small business taxes
Slightly Decrease		d) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Slightly Decrease		e) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Slightly Decrease		f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Slightly Decrease		g) Income taxes (low-income families)
Slightly Decrease		h) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Slightly Decrease		i) Income taxes (high-income families)
Eliminate		j) Inheritance taxes
Slightly Decrease		k) Payroll taxes
		l) Other or expanded categories

Administrative Priorities

My top priority will be to continue to rein in bloated and federal agencies. Costly and burdensome regulations from the Federal Government are costing jobs and decreasing economic activity.

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