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Cathy Rodgers' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Cathy Rodgers did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2022.

  • "I believe that all life is sacred and deserves to be protected at every stage. For me, this is personal. As a pro-life mom of three, part of my story is with my oldest son, Cole, who was born with Down syndrome. When my husband and I received that news, it wasn't what we expected. Now, more than 10 years later, Cole is working his way through school. He lights up a room. People are drawn to him. He plays sports. He inspires me every day." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 36 "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "America must live up to the promises it has made to our seniors who have worked hard for these benefits. At the same time, we must make these programs sustainable and self-sufficient for future generations." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Protecting people with pre-existing conditions is a priority of mine. As we prepare to vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) tomorrow, I want you to know that I'm a co-sponsor of the latest amendment, which dedicates $8 billion to reduce premiums and other out-of-pocket costs for patients in the individual market with pre-existing conditions. The AHCA would allow waivers to states if they meet very specific standards, including the standard that premiums for individuals living with pre-existing conditions must be stabilized, meaning premiums cannot be unaffordable. At no time is any insurance company permitted to deny access to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. If a state applies for a waiver and you have a pre-existing condition and don’t have continuous health care coverage, the $8 billion fund helps lower premium costs. To me, protecting people with pre-existing conditions isn’t just good policy: it’s a personal mission. That’s why I’m a co-sponsor of this amendment and have fought to make sure everyone with pre-existing conditions has access to affordable, quality health care coverage." (www.facebook.com)
  • "George Floyd’s death highlights the importance of ensuring justice for all — no matter race, creed, or religion. George Floyd represents a shocking failure in our justice system. The rule of law depends on the fairness of the legal system. In response, last week I helped introduce the JUSTICE Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation which will make reforms to policing in America and work to rebuild the trust that has been broken over recent weeks, months, and years. It will also increase transparency and accountability within local police departments and prioritize training resources so our police can better protect and serve our communities." (www.facebook.com)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support increasing defense spending? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I support more responsible spending, which is why I helped pass the first audit of the Department of Defense, but the number one responsibility of the federal government is to keep our country safe. We need to make sure that our military has every resource they need so they can keep us safe and secure." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by Center for Security Policy (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Businesses have been forced to close during this pandemic through no fault of their own, and should be supported for their role in addressing this public health crisis. I supported the CARES Act which created the Paycheck Protection Program, designed to help small businesses keep their payroll and pay for rent and utilities, which saved roughly 1 million jobs in Washington state." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced funding for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) to help farmers and ranchers impacted by the pandemic. This program also covers wheat growers like those here in Eastern Washington who were left out of the first round of support. This funding stems from the CARES Act, which I supported in Congress." (www.facebook.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 266 "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 5376 Inflation Reduction Act (votesmart.org)
  • "While pretending the president can make debt disappear with the stroke of a pen may sound nice, it's a pie-in-the-sky belief that fundamentally defies basic economics. Families are already paying an extra $500 per month thanks to record-high inflation, and adding $300 billion to the deficit will only make things worse. The American people cannot afford Democrats spending like kids in a candy store." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Last week, President Biden signed legislation to raise taxes on nearly every single American. Today, he is doubling down on misguided economic policy by canceling up to $20,000 in student debt for individuals who made the conscious choice to take out loans for higher education. This action is a dramatic overreach of his authority, and it's a slap in the face to every hardworking person in Eastern Washington who will now have to foot the bill." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I believe we must restore trust and confidence in our election system,' said Rodgers. 'Every American -- Republican, Democrat, and Independent -- deserves to know that their vote is counted when they go to the polling place or mail in their ballot. This legislation takes a huge step towards shoring up our free and fair elections by empowering states to put in place long-overdue voter ID requirements, establishing standards for mail-in voting, and deterring any foreign interference. This is a common sense solution that we should all be able to rally behind as Americans." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The United States, through free-market innovation was one of the only major countries to decrease emissions in the last few years. This includes comparison against countries in the Paris Agreement. In fact, we exceeded the 10 year emissions reduction goals of the 2009 Cap and Trade bill, without increasing costs." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2467 "PFAS Action Act of 2021" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H Con Res 119 "Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation? "No" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "My goal is to not infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns. Any new law should focus on keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have access, not making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 38 "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "As Lead Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I am leading the Lower Costs, More Cures Act to drive down drug prices for individuals and families in Eastern Washington without limiting access to cures." (mcmorris.house.gov)
  • "... we’ve made with 21st Century Cures to help bring more generic drugs to market faster, make insulin more affordable for our loved ones, lower out-of-pocket spending for seniors, boost access to new medicines and cures, and bring much-needed transparency to drug pricing." (mcmorris.house.gov)
  • "Cathy joined Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) in sending a letter to Governor Inslee requesting he respond to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's joint request for Washington State to send Washington National Guard troops to the border." - (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "For years, I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure our borders, provide certainty for children who have been brought to our country illegally through no fault of their own..." (mcmorris.house.gov)
  • "The lawmakers concluded, "American families in all 50 states are harmed by the influx of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border. On behalf of our constituents in Washington, we're requesting that you approve Texas and Arizona's requests for assistance and follow the lead of your fellow governors by deploying National Guard troops to help secure the southern border. State and federal officials have a duty to respond." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "She remains a strong congressional supporter of that country on the cusp of Europe and Russia. But while she disagrees with the Trump administration’s decision earlier this year to delay military aid to Ukraine, she doesn’t yet see anything that would be impeachable." - (www.spokesman.com)
  • "Funding the military and providing for our defense is one of the most important functions of Congress." (mcmorris.house.gov)
  • "The Democrats’ radical tax and spending spree is only going to accelerate the inflation and energy crisis in America – and give the federal government more command and control in our lives. It’s NOT the will of the American people." (twitter.com)
  • "This $3.5 trillion tax and spending spree will make rising costs WORSE. The American people do not want the Build More Inflation Act." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5430 "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I will continue to be a champion for free trade and opening markets, and I’ll fight to protect crop insurance in the upcoming Farm Bill." (www.facebook.com)
  • "Washington State is one of the most trade dependent states in the nation. We need to ensure our farmers and manufacturers are able to do business with other countries such as Japan." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
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.
Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
I believe that all life is sacred and deserves to be protected at every stage. For me, this is personal. As a pro-life mom of three, part of my story is with my oldest son, Cole, who was born with Down syndrome. When my husband and I received that news, it wasn't what we expected. Now, more than 10 years later, Cole is working his way through school. He lights up a room. People are drawn to him. He plays sports. He inspires me every day.
No In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
No Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
America must live up to the promises it has made to our seniors who have worked hard for these benefits. At the same time, we must make these programs sustainable and self-sufficient for future generations.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I completely support transparency in our elections and would support reforms to increase transparency.
Unknown Position Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
Yes Do you support increasing defense spending?
I support more responsible spending, which is why I helped pass the first audit of the Department of Defense, but the number one responsibility of the federal government is to keep our country safe. We need to make sure that our military has every resource they need so they can keep us safe and secure.
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
Businesses have been forced to close during this pandemic through no fault of their own, and should be supported for their role in addressing this public health crisis. I supported the CARES Act which created the Paycheck Protection Program, designed to help small businesses keep their payroll and pay for rent and utilities, which saved roughly 1 million jobs in Washington state.
No Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
I am opposed to the federal "Common Core" curriculum and believe educational choices should be made at the local level.
No Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
The United States, through free-market innovation was one of the only major countries to decrease emissions in the last few years. This includes comparison against countries in the Paris Agreement. In fact, we exceeded the 10 year emissions reduction goals of the 2009 Cap and Trade bill, without increasing costs.
No Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
My goal is to not infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns. Any new law should focus on keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have access, not making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
Yes Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
I supported the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which included a requirement for businesses to provide paid medical leave, along with a reimbursement to help small businesses pay for it.
Yes Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
Yes Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Yes Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
Yes Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
My support for any reduction in American military presence in the Middle East would be conditioned on whether or not such action would leave America and our allies more vulnerable to attack.
Yes Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
Washington State is one of the most trade dependent states in the nation. We need to ensure our farmers and manufacturers are able to do business with other countries such as Japan.
Three of my top legislative priorities will be to ensure proper care for veterans, affordable access to quality healthcare, and to get the economy growing again. I am proud to have passed legislation to improve the VA, to help eliminate wait lists, and to make sure veterans get the care they earned. I support requiring hospitals, insurers, and doctors to disclose their prices so patients know the real cost of care and are empowered to shop for quality health care & coverage at the lowest cost. We must empower businesses and workers to get the economy growing again.

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