Kyrsten Sinema

Representative Kyrsten Sinema's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Full Name:	Kyrsten Sinema
Office:	U.S. House (AZ) - District 9, Democratic
First Elected:	11/06/2012
Next Election:	2014

Gender:	Female
Family:	Single
Birth Date:	07/12/1976
Birth Place:	Tucson, AZ
Home City:	Phoenix, AZ
Religion:	None

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Kyrsten Sinema refused to tell citizens where she stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2012 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

In response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Presidential and Congressional candidates' public ecords to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2012, are provided below as a courtesy to voters.

Pro-choice		Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I believe that these are decisions best made by a woman and her doctor. The government should not interfere with women's private medical decisions." to the question: "Where do you stand on abortion and women's access to reproductive services?" (www.azcentral.com) National Women's Political Caucus. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. National Women's Political Caucus endorsed Kyrsten Sinema in the 2012 general election. (votesmart.org) Kyrsten Sinema. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Arizona State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "a) Abortions should always be illegal." Kyrsten Sinema. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Arizona State Legislative Political Courage Test. Did Not Check SUPPORT for: "f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions." Kyrsten Sinema. Project Vote Smart: 2006 Arizona State Legislative Political Courage Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "b) Abortions should always be legal."
No		Afghanistan: Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "The future of the Iraqi and Afghan people should be left to democratic processes determined by them. The U.S. should work with our NATO allies to turn over security process to the Afghans and work diligently to redeploy our troops home from Afghanistan." to the question: "What should be the U.S. policy toward Iraq and Afghanistan moving forward?" (www.azcentral.com)
Yes		Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Vote Smart's Research Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and-WILL. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and-WILL endorsed Kyrsten Sinema in the 2012 general election. (votesmart.org) Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I believe in a strong national defense, but believe there can be adjustments in the we way spend our defense resources. For example, I agree with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's strategic reductions of outdated programs in the defense budget." to the question: "How would you propose to balance the federal budget?" (www.azcentral.com)
Yes		Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I believe that the Bush tax cuts for the very rich should be allowed to expire. This policy has not proven to spur economic growth and has not created jobs." to the question: "Should wealthy Americans pay more in taxes?" (www.azcentral.com)
Yes		Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. Arizona Jobs Plan. 19 September 2012. "We can spur economic growth by creating programs to support key local government services and infrastructure. The next wave of economic stimulus funding should assist states to hire teachers, police and firemen as well as pay construction workers to rehabilitate homes that are being foreclosed upon. It is also time to modernize K-12 classroom facilities and make investments in wireless and other Internet technologies to serve schools and disadvantaged communities." (kyrstensinema.com)
Yes		Economy: Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. Arizona Jobs Plan. 19 September 2012. "I support targeted tax credits for businesses that create the specific outcomes of creating jobs, retaining in or returning jobs to the U.S. and expanding key industries that offer long-term economic opportunity and stability." (kyrstensinema.com)
Unknown Position		Education: Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I believe that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that every child has access to a quality education. Local school systems should set their own policies, but the federal government can encourage innovation and ensure access in rural or impoverished communities." to the question: "What should the federal government's role in education be?" (www.azcentral.com) Kyrsten Sinema. Investing in Our Future. 19 September 2012. "Ongoing cuts to public education and unfunded mandates have had predictable results students and teachers underachieving, schools becoming overcrowded and a struggling local economy" (kyrstensinema.com)
No		Energy: Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. Video: AZ Conference on Energy Solutions & Offshore Drilling. 11 September 2008. "I personally can tell you that I think that expanding drilling in our country is not good for us in the short term or in the long term." (youtu.be) Jeremy Duda. RedOrbit.com:Arizona Dems Urge Congress to Reject Oil-Drilling Expansion. 13 September 2008. "We want to emphasize the importance of not focusing on oil and not relying on drilling for the energy plan for America's future [¦] We all know that the oil supply, not only in our country but around the world, is very limited, and if we don't start transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources we will not only see a continued increase for cost for consumers, but we'll also see a decrease in availability of long-term energy solutions for our country." (www.redorbit.com)
Yes		Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Vote Smart's Research Krysten Sinema. Project Vote Smart. 2006 Arizona State Legislative Political Courage Test. Selected SUPPORT for: "f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law." Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I believe the scientific consensus that human behavior is changing the climate of our planet and we should cooperate with other countries to reduce carbon emissions. Since the cap & trade system that passed the House died in the US Senate, I would seek the advice from both sides of the aisle to accomplish a reasonable solution. We need to be practical about achieving the goal of reducing carbon emissions, and I am not committed to any specific manner of getting there." to the question: "Would you support a cap-and-trade-style measure to address climate change?" (www.azcentral.com)
Yes		Guns: Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Vote Smart's Research Krysten Sinema. Project Vote Smart. 2006 Arizona State Legislative Political Courage Test. Selected SUPPORT for: "a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns." Kyrsten Sinema. Video: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Presentation, Part 1. 3 February 2011. "I am an adjunct professor at Arizona State University ¦ and I cannot imagine what it would be like to walk into a classroom knowing people had guns. ¦ If we change the law and allow guns on campus, I think we'll see an increase in violence on school campuses." (youtu.be)
No		Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
Vote Smart's Research Krysten Sinema. Issue Position: Making Quality Health Care Affordable. 1 January 2012. "Rising health care costs are bankrupting middle class families and holding back small businesses from creating jobs. I support America's new health care law because it controls costs, protects taxpayers, ends the worst practices of the insurance industry and puts doctors and patients back in control of their health care decisions." (votesmart.org) Krysten Sinema. Issue Position: Health Care. "Kyrsten cares about not only Arizona, but about people across the Nation. That is why she has dedicated herself to helping pass the national healthcare reform bill in 2010. Krysten was part of national team of state elected officials personally chosen by the White House to help spearhead healthcare reform efforts. As part of this team, Kyrsten was committed to ensuring that any healthcare bill which passed Congress and was signed into law provided effective coverage for currently uninsured individuals in Arizona and across America, protected taxpayers, reduced costs, and ended the worst practices of the insurance industry. Due to her hard work on this landmark legislation, Kyrsten was actually invited by the President to attend the bill signing in March of 2010." (votesmart.org) Kyrsten Sinema. Video: Health Insurance Reform Now Arizona 1st Stop Organizing for America Kyrsten Senima. 27 August 2009. "Arizona is a perfect example of why this country needs health reform and needs it now. ¦ All across the country families and businesses are paying more and getting less from their health coverage. ¦ That's why our president wants health reform this year." (youtu.be)
No		Immigration: Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. Securing Our Border and Fixing our Broken Immigration System. 19 September 2012. "Sinema believes instead that we need to create a tough but fair path to citizenship for undocumented workers that requires them to get right with the law by paying back taxes, paying a fine and learning English as a condition of gaining citizenship." (kyrstensinema.com)
Yes		Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?
Vote Smart's Research Gay & Lesbian Political Victory Fund. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. Gay & Lesbian Political Victory Fund endorsed Kyrsten Sinema in the 2010 general election. (votesmart.org) Gay & Lesbian Political Victory Fund. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Endorsements. 04/18/2012. Gay & Lesbian Political Victory Fund endorsed Kyrsten Sinema in the 2012 general election. (votesmart.org) Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I support marriage equality. I question the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act which was written during an era when there were no state-recognized same-sex marriages or legally recognized LGBT families. Since then, several states have enacted laws that recognize LGBT families. I believe that the federal government has no right to stop states from recognizing legal, binding contracts formed in other states." to the question: "Do you support or oppose gay marriage? And should the federal government maintain or repeal the Defense of Marriage Act?" (www.azcentral.com) Kyrsten Sinema. Facebook: Wall. 13 February 2012. "Governor Gregoire has signed marriage equality into law. Another great step for America's families!" (www.facebook.com) Kyrsten Sinema. Facebook: Wall. 17 February 2012. "I'm very disappointed that NJ Gov Chris Christie has vetoed marriage equality. This legislation protects and supports families. #Fail" (www.facebook.com)
Unknown Position		National Security: Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
Vote Smart's Research Despite exhaustive research, Project Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
No		Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Vote Smart's Research Kyrsten Sinema. Protecting Arizona Seniors. 19 September 2012. "Sinema strongly opposes these attempts to privatize Social Security and Medicare, and will fight to strengthen these cornerstones of economic security for Arizona seniors." (kyrstensinema.com) Kyrsten Sinema. 2012 Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress. Responded "I oppose efforts to privatize Social Security and Medicare. I believe that we must strengthen these programs for the economic security of our seniors. We must balance the federal budget, but we need to do it the right way, by protecting Social Security and Medicare, not asking seniors to sacrifice their dignity." to the question: "Do you support entitlement reform and, if so, what kind?" (www.azcentral.com)

Key

: Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.
: Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.
: Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.
: Project Vote Smart's Research: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Project Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Arizona State Legislative Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test

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.

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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.
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

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.
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.
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?
c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?
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.
X	a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in todays 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.
	h) Other or expanded principles
(f) and gender identity
Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies decisions on:
Yes	a) Public employment
Yes	b) State college and university admissions
Yes	c) State contracting
	d) Other or expanded principles

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 Arizonas 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.
	e) Other or expanded principles
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.
	h) Other or expanded principles
(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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Kyrsten Sinema

Representative Kyrsten Sinema's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Issue Positions

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Key

Arizona State Legislative Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test

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

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.

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?

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies decisions on: