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Trent Franks' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for U.S. House (AZ) - District 8

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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 2016.

  • Rated 0% by Planned Parenthood (votesmart.org)
  • "It is my deep conviction that whenever an abortion takes place, a mother is never quite the same. A nameless little baby dies a tragic and lonely death and all the gifts the child might have brought to humanity are lost forever." (votesmart.org)
  • "The United States Constitution guarantees to all the 'right to life,' Human life commences with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent. Who else can state with exact certainty when a human life does or does not begin? I have made it one of my priorities in public office to fight for the end of abortion on demand. I believe that life begins at conception; that each life is given by our Creator." (franks.house.gov)
  • "Dramatically slowing the rate of federal spending growth, easing the regulatory and tax burden on productivity in this country, and eliminating government waste are all critical if we are to balance this federal budget monster and return this nation to consistent economic prosperity. I am deeply committed to that endeavor." (franks.house.gov)
  • "[...] I will continue to support policies which accomplish the following five common-sense economic principles: Cutting taxes to encourage work, savings and job-creating investment Eliminating red tape and bureaucracy at all levels Abolishing federal income tax in favor of a National Sales Tax." (franks.house.gov)
  • Signed a letter stating " The 'drugs minus two' amendment should be made retroactive without restriction or limitation, as a matter of equity and fundamental fairness. Retroactive application of the amendment will save billions of dollars, ease overcrowding in federal prisons, and lessens the disproportionate impact that drug sentences have had on tens of thousands of people and communities of color." (www.ussc.gov)
  • Signed a letter stating "U.S.S.G. § SCI .3 We support this amendment, which would encourage a sentence of probation with a condition of substance abuse treatment for low-level, non-violent drug offenders with no more than one criminal history point and a guideline range of no more than 21-27 months." (www.ussc.gov)
  • "As the West Valley's primary voice in Congress, I realize that one of the most critical transportation issues we face is the traffic congestion and bottlenecks on Interstate 10, which the road was not originally designed to manage. This congestion results in longer commutes, increased safety risks, and deterioration of air quality. I am working in Congress to secure federal funding for this essential project to increase the safety of our residents and lessen the financial impact on West Valley municipalities." (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Franks has been working hard to ensure government is part of the solution and not part of the problem when it comes to our economy. This is why he opposed every government bailout and so-called 'stimulus' package." (votesmart.org)
  • "Dramatically slowing the rate of federal spending growth, easing the regulatory and tax burden on productivity in this country, and eliminating government waste are all critical if we are to balance this federal budget monster and return this nation to consistent economic prosperity. I am deeply committed to that endeavor." (franks.house.gov)
  • "It is time to index the federal tax exemption for inflation, to provide child care tax credits for children and to reduce overall tax rates on families. This will help both traditional families and single parent families, and ultimately, lessen the burden on our country's social welfare system." (votesmart.org)
  • "I will continue to support policies which accomplish the following five common-sense economic principles: Cutting taxes to encourage work, savings and job-creating investment." (franks.house.gov)
  • Cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R.1105 "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Parental Rights Amendment would impose a 'compelling interest' test on government entities before they interfere with parents' rights to direct their children's education or other aspects of their upbringing." (votesmart.org)
  • "To that end, this week I have introduced the Children's Hope Act, which encourages states to enact their own state scholarship tax credits of $250 or more, by allowing residents of those states to receive an additional $100 federal tax credit. " (votesmart.org)
  • "Put simply, there are really only two options when it comes to who will determine the substance of a child's education: It will either be a bureaucrat who doesn't know the child's name, or a parent who would pour out their last drop of blood for the child." (votesmart.org)
  • "By denying the implementation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Mr. Obama has cost America 100,000 jobs and 700,000 barrels of oil per day. Far more significantly, he has demonstrated that he is now willing to sell out American national security to placate a handful of misguided environmentalists." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating "It is time to act in our nation's best interest and approve the Keystone XL pipeline." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S.1 "A Bill to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline" (votesmart.org)
  • "In addition to producing our own oil and utilizing safe, clean, effective forms of alternative energy (such as nuclear power, with which France powers about 80% of its own electricity needs), we must also apply American ingenuity to the task of developing new, efficient, sustainable forms of energy, with which we can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels." (franks.house.gov)
  • "Simplifying and streamlining the permitting process for renewable energy development on public lands is an easy step toward a more efficient government." (votesmart.org)
  • "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced alarming new plans to set carbon standards for existing power plants as the agency simultaneously pursues a reckless agenda of taking reliable, affordable power offline in Arizona and across the country. These plans are the Obama Administration's new strategy to impose a 'cap and trade' agenda on coal-fired energy production, even though a bipartisan majority in Congress rejected those policies more than four years ago." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating "More importantly, we believe that the authority to limit carbon emissions, even if that were actually a necessity, rest in neither the Constitution nor the Clean Air Act but in the true free marker of individual choices made by the American people." (jeffduncan.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of S.J.Res.23 "A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to 'Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units' " (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 93% by National Rifle Association (votesmart.org)
  • "I believe the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees law-abiding citizens the right to own and bear arms. The amendment does not restrict the use of certain arms, magazines, or clips; rather it is broad in its scope – if you do not misuse your right to the weapon, you do not have to be monitored or restricted by the government. I have always supported this Constitutional right [...]" (franks.house.gov)
  • "I strongly believe in the second amendment to the constitution, which guarantees law-abiding citizens the right to own and bear arms. Criminals have always preferred unarmed victims." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.Amdt.1098 "Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws" (votesmart.org)
  • "One of my first votes in the 112th Congress was to repeal ObamaCare, and I was pleased to support efforts to support efforts to defund this monstrous piece of legislation when debating the Fiscal Year 2011 package." (franks.house.gov)
  • Signed a pledge stating "I pledge, if elected, to vote for all bills which seek to REPEAL the health care bill, HR 3590, signed into law on March 23, 2010." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R.3762 "Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015" (votesmart.org)
  • " I do not support legislation that would grant citizenship or any other privilege to those who have broken the law ahead of those who are undergoing our established legal process." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our borders must be secured, and every illegal immigrant in the United States must be accounted for. […] Citizenship should be given only to those who treasure the United States and that means those who have upheld American law, and the United States Constitution." (franks.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of H.R.5759 "Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by Human Rights Campaign (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a letter stating "This clear and deliberate violation of established U.S. law sets a dangerous precedent. DOMA makes clear that for purposes of the federal government, marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. The use of federal property or federal employees to perform anything but opposite-sex ceremonies is a clear contravention of the law." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.J. Res.88 "Same-Sex Marriage Resolution" (votesmart.org)
  • "To maintain a solid national defense, the United States of America must do three things: we must continue to hold to our beliefs that made us such a great nation in the first place; we must be able to define terror for what it really is, being ready to call out a rogue nation or group that might be engaging in detrimental activity to freedom anywhere in the world, willing to go to any step to eradicate that threat; and we must secure and defend our border as soon and as efficiently as possible." (franks.house.gov)
  • "We understand that with our standing in the world comes great responsibilities, and I do not apologize for the United States' involvement in the world. […] I believe very strongly that the United States should not apologize for who she is or what she stands for; that the United States should do more to come to the aid of those bravely fighting against their dictatorial regimes;[...]" (franks.house.gov)
  • "With Yemen hovering on the brink of civil war, the U.S. must take real and serious steps to ensure Yemen does not fall into anarchy, allowing terrorists to pose a greater threat." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 3% by Alliance for Retired Americans (votesmart.org)
  • "By the time the baby boomers begin to retire, in approximately 20 years, they will find Social Security on the verge of bankruptcy. It is critical that we begin to phase in an optional private investment component to Social Security." (votesmart.org)
  • "It is critical that we phase in an optional personal investment component to Social Security." (franks.house.gov)

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