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Kyrsten Sinema's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Kyrsten Sinema has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 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 2018.

  • "Only a woman, her family, and her doctor should be allowed to decide what is best for her health. Instead of finding ways to undermine a woman's ability to make personal health decisions, Congress should work together to create jobs, support businesses, and strengthen the economic security of Arizona families." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Planned Parenthood (votesmart.org)
  • "Kyrsten believes a woman, her family, and her doctor should decide what’s best for her health – not Washington politicians. She stands up for women’s health clinics like Planned Parenthood and opposes efforts to let employers deny workers coverage for basic health care like birth control." (kyrstensinema.com)
  • "Today, our clueless Congress plans to cut taxes for the richest two percent. Time for a change! " (buswk.co)
  • Voted in opposition to HR 1 – "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Kyrsten consistently votes for funding for our troops and national security. She knows we must responsibly fund our military to ensure our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to protect our national security. Hardworking Arizona families expect Congress to put partisanship aside and get things done to support our troops and veterans, and keep our country safe. Kyrsten will continue to support commonsense, bipartisan legislation that provides needed increases in military funding and servicemember pay each year." (sinema.house.gov)
  • "Kyrsten knows that the only way we are going to fix Congress and our broken political system is to get the vast sums of secret money out of politics and shine a light with more transparency and enforcement. Arizona families have a right to know who is spending vast sums of secret money to influence politicians and elected officials. That is why Kyrsten cosponsored the DISCLOSE Act, which expands election spending disclosures and reforms election and lobbying rules to increase transparency and accountability. We need more accountability to return to a government of We the People and to make progress for the middle class." (sinema.house.gov)
  • "It’s ridiculous that Congress continues to waste hard-earned taxpayer dollars on duplicative and unnecessary government programs. That’s why Kyrsten worked with Republican Congressman Frank Guinta of New Hampshire to introduce H.R. 3534, the Auditing United States Departments to Insulate Taxpayers (AUDIT) Act of 2015. This bipartisan bill aims to eliminate duplicative federal programs and wasteful spending the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifies in annual reports to Congress. The AUDIT Act would require Congress to introduce legislation based on GAO findings and proposals. It would compel federal agencies to defend their programs’ merits in hearings before Congress, all within an expedited time frame. The GAO estimates that addressing more of its proposals could save American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars in areas from defense to health care." (sinema.house.gov)
  • "There is a major need to improve aging infrastructure in our country.  Most of us agree that our country is overextended, and raising taxes isn’t the answer. Kyrsten supports legislation to create a large-scale infrastructure financing entity that is funded by selling infrastructure bonds to private corporations.  In exchange for purchasing these low-yield bonds, the companies receive a one-time tax-break to bring their overseas earnings back into the United States. This bipartisan legislation encourages private investment in projects that create good jobs for Arizona workers and build lasting and modern infrastructure."  (sinema.house.gov)
  • "There is a major need to improve aging infrastructure in our country.  Most of us agree that our country is overextended, and raising taxes isn’t the answer. Kyrsten supports legislation to create a large-scale infrastructure financing entity that is funded by selling infrastructure bonds to private corporations.  In exchange for purchasing these low-yield bonds, the companies receive a one-time tax-break to bring their overseas earnings back into the United States. This bipartisan legislation encourages private investment in projects that create good jobs for Arizona workers and build lasting and modern infrastructure."  (sinema.house.gov)
  • Voted in opposition to HR 1 – "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Kyrsten knows that teachers should focus on the content their students need to master—not simply material for an upcoming standardized test. This is why Kyrsten and Republican Congressman Chris Gibson introduced the Student Testing Improvement & Accountability Act, which makes commonsense reforms to the No Child Left Behind Act by reducing the frequency of federally-mandated assessments in U.S. schools." (sinema.house.gov)
  • "She is working to strengthen STEM education for primary and secondary students, and to increase access to technical and skills training so all Arizonans can be successful and get ahead." (sinema.house.gov)
  • "Sinema advocates investing in our solar future -- she helped lead the fight for job-creating solar energy investments in the state legislature and in Washington will push to cut red tape that holds back solar startups and increase investments in this abundant energy source." (votesmart.org)
  • "Solar energy is a win-win for Arizona and the country. Not only does solar energy mean lower energy costs for homeowners and less dependence on foreign oil, it also means a cleaner environment for our families. And it means thousands of middle class jobs, developing, building and maintaining solar arrays." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating: "We write to request the House adopt similar 45Q language as our Senate colleagues in any tax extenders package that may be considered. This language, which is H.R. 3761, the Carbon Capture Act, provides critical updates to Section 45Q that allows for greater financial certainty for carbon capture projects, boosts domestic energy production, reduces carbon emissions, and provides relief for our beleaguered coal and power industries." (votesmart.org)
  • "Sinema has often been outspoken about the measures in the Affordable Care Act that she does not support, such as rising costs. In 2012, Sinema told the Arizona Republic that she did not support a repeal of the ACA but instead argued that it must be improved to contain costs." (votesmart.org)
  • "It’s why she voted against health care repeal that would have stripped coverage from hundreds of thousands of Arizonans, sent premiums skyrocketing for older patients and those with pre-existing conditions, and cut billions in funding from AHCCCS, worsening the opioid epidemic in Arizona." (kyrstensinema.com)
  • "I do not support every provision in this bill and voted twice to remove funding for the border wall. The wall is a waste of taxpayer money that will not ever be built, and won't keep us safe. Congress must work together on effective border solutions and comprehensive immigration reform that secures our country and strengthens our economy." (votesmart.org)
  • "Sinema is also proud to support the DREAM Act. She believes that children who grew up in the U.S., who came here through no fault of their own, speak English and think of themselves as American should be allowed to become American citizens." (votesmart.org)
  • "Kyrsten is a long-time supporter of the DREAM Act. DREAMers are hardworking Arizonans who serve in our military, graduate from our schools, and contribute to our economy. She believes they deserve to become citizens of the only country they’ve ever known." (kyrstensinema.com)
  • Signed a letter stating: "We write regarding funding for the Department of Justice in the FY 2019 appropriations legislation. Specifically, we are concerned about the Department of Justice enforcing federal marijuana law in a way that blocks implementation of marijuana reform laws in those states that have passed such reforms." (votesmart.org)
  • "I am concerned that this agreement will escalate a conventional arms race in the Middle East and further destabilize the region. The agreement allows financial resources to flow to an Iranian regime, which siphons resources away from its citizens to fund terrorism and foment war. It allows Iran to strengthen its military capabilities, including conventional weapons and ballistic missiles. The Iranian regime and its proxies have made no secrets about how they will use these new resources and weapons in the region." (votesmart.org)
  • "Kyrsten knows there’s nothing more important than keeping Arizona families safe. That’s why she’s worked to keep our military strong and fully funded, pushed for aggressive action to defeat ISIS and other overseas threats, and supported law enforcement here at home." (kyrstensinema.com)
  • "The United States must destroy terrorists abroad, stop them from entering our country, and end radicalization in our communities. We need a smart, strong and coordinated strategy to defeat the terrorist threat and keep America safe. That's why Kyrsten co-introduced and voted for bills that require the Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations, and support federal, state and local law enforcement." (sinema.house.gov)
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 public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
h) Require doctors to tell women considering an abortion that the fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks.
i) Other or expanded principles

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Greatly Increase c) English Language Learning Program
Slightly Increase d) Emergency preparedness
Greatly Increase e) Environment
Greatly Increase f) Health care
Maintain Status g) Law enforcement
Maintain Status h) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase i) Welfare
j) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Increase b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Increase d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Greatly Increase g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Slightly Increase h) Property taxes
Maintain Status i) Sales taxes
Slightly Increase j) Vehicle taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
No l) Should the state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
No m) Should accounts such as a “rainy day” fund be used to balance the state budget?
No n) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
o) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of terms for Arizona governors?
Yes b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Arizona state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes g) Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Arizona are closed?
Yes h) Should Arizona recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support the death penalty in Arizona.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X i) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X j) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
k) Increase state funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent or respond to terrorism.
l) Strengthen sex-offender laws.
X m) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
n) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Support national standards and testing of public school students.
b) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
X e) Increase funds for hiring additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
g) Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
h) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
X i) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
X j) Increase funding for Head Start programs.
X k) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
X l) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
m) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
n) Other or expanded principles

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies’ decisions on:

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
X d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X f) Include sexual orientation in Arizona's anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
Yes a) Public employment
Yes b) State college and university admissions
Yes c) State contracting
d) Other or expanded principles
(f) and gender identity

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

X a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
X c) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
X d) Increase funding for improvements to Arizona’s power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
X f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X f) Require a license for gun possession.
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
b) Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
c) Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
e) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Arizona.
X g) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
h) Criminalize the sale or purchase of a human egg for research.
i) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Deploy Arizona's National Guard to the border to stop illegal immigration.
b) Criminalize the employment of an illegal immigrant in Arizona.
c) Expand Arizona's trespassing laws to include undocumented immigrants.
d) Build a ground-based radar system, or smart fence, along the border.
issue drivers licenses to undocument workers provide tax credits and other financial assistance to legal residents who want to apply for citizenship.

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

a) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
X b) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
X c) Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
d) Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
X e) Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
f) Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
g) Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
(f) This is offensive.
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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