Melissa Bean'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.
Melissa Bean refused to tell citizens where she stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.
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 2010.
- National Right to Life Committee. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Planned Parenthood. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. H Amdt 509 to HR 3962. 111th Congress. An amendment printed in Part C of House Report 111-330 to codify the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3962. The amendment prohibits federal funds for abortion services in the public option. It also prohibits individuals who receive affordability credits from purchasing a plan that provides elective abortions. However, it allows individuals, both who receive affordability credits and who do not, to separately purchase with their own funds plans that cover elective abortions. It also clarifies that private plans may still offer elective abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted NO on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Abortion Issues: h) Other or expanded principles: "I support a woman's right to choose as defined in Roe v. Wade. I do not support recent legislation banning certain abortion procedures because it did not include and exception where the woman's health is at risk."
- Melissa Bean. Issue Position: Choice. "I have always been a strong proponent of a woman's reproductive rights, as outlined in Roe v Wade." (votesmart.org)
- NARAL Pro-Choice America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. H Amdt 209 to HR 1815. 109th Congress. An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 109-96 to lift the current ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 25 May 2005. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Selected NO for: "4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?"
- Melissa Bean. HR 5638. 109th Congress. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit against the estate tax to an exclusion equivalent of $5,000,000 and to repeal the sunset provision for the estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 22 June 2006. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 8. 108th Congress. To make the repeal of the estate tax permanent. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 13 April 2005. (votesmart.org)
- National Taxpayers Union. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 17 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. Issue Position: Taxes. "I have consistently supported lower taxes for families and businesses. I have voted to cut taxes by: adjusting the Alternative Minimum Tax for millions of middle-class families; reducing the capital gains and dividends rates; reducing estate taxes; eliminating capital gains tax on small business investment, expanding the child tax credit, co-introducing and passing the college tuition tax credit; extending the first-time homebuyer tax credit; and by introducing and passing small business tax cuts like Net Operating Loss Carryback and accelerated depreciation of capital purchases. I have consistently voted against a proposal to permanently increase the "carried interest" capital gains tax, which would increase the costs of investing in small business and real estate investment funds, drying up sorely needed capital in hard hit sectors of our economy." (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 1. 111th Congress. Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 13 February 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 1424. 111th Congress. To provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 10 March 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Club for Growth. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the Club for Growth 22 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. Statement on Stimulus Bill Passing Congress. 7 February 2008. "I'm proud to see that the House, the Senate and the President could work together thoughtfully towards swift passage of this critical legislation. This is how bipartisanship is supposed to work. This economic stimulus package will strengthen the economic health of our businesses, our nation and the families we represent. I'm particularly gratified that my small business tax incentives from the House version remained in the final bill, as it encourages those businesses to increase investment and hiring in 2008." (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. Issue Position: Supporting Small Business and Strengthening the Economy. "... It is the private sector, not government that creates jobs ... While our nation's economic recovery has slowed, we have sustained four consecutive quarters of continued growth. Recognizing that it is the private sector, not government that creates jobs, I have strongly supported policies that create an environment for innovation, investment, and sustainable growth. I introduced and got included in the Recovery Act small business tax cuts, including the Section 179 expensing provision and Net Operating Loss (NOL) Carryback extension, which has rebated over $3 billion to community businesses." (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "Other: Work toward a balanced budget to devote Social Security funds exclusively to Social Security instead of using them to fund discretionary spending."
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes."
- Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. 2005-2006. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants 40 percent in 2005-2006. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "Support national standards for and testing of public school students."
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act;" "b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act;" "g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles;" "i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution;" "j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel;" "l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming;" "Other: I support re-entering the Kyoto process to develop a new treaty that will apply reasonably and fairly to the United States."
- Melissa Bean. HR 2454. 111th Congress. To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 26 June 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2010. Illinois Family Institute: 2010 Voter Guide. Responded "SUPPORT" to the question "Tax Increase/ Cap and Trade-will tax energy consumption to combat "global warming (American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009)" (www.iviipo.org)
- Environment America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of Environment America 93 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Melissa Bean a grade of F. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 6842. 111th Congress. To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted NO on 17 September 2008. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting;" "b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns;" "f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns;" "g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows."
- Melissa Bean. HR 3962. 111th Congress. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted YES on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied;" "d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied;" "i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage;" "l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells;" "m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research;" "Other: I support efforts to reduce the number of frivolous malpractice lawsuits, and to reduce the costs of medical malpractice insurance. I also support revising the recent Medicare drug bill to eliminate some of the special interest giveaways and make prescriptions more affordable to more people."
- American Public Health Association. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2010. Illinois Family Institute: 2010 Voter Guide. Responded "SUPPORT" to the question "Government Health Care - A government managed insurance plan that includes a "Public Option" similar to Medicare. (H.R. 3200, H.R. 3962 or U.S. Senator Max Baucus' plan - 2009)" (www.iviipo.org)
- Federation for American Immigration Reform. 2007-2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 54 percent in 2007-2008. (votesmart.org)
- National Latino Congreso. 2007-2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of the National Latino Congreso 17 percent in 2007-2010. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. Issue Position: Immigration. "Our nation is made stronger both economically and culturally by those Americans who have immigrated to our country legally, but it is imperative that we secure our nation's borders in the interests of our national security. In 1986, President Reagan and the U.S. Congress passed comprehensive immigration reform legislation which promised border security. But both the Administration and Congress failed to follow through, and in that time the number of illegal immigrants in our country has grown from 3 million to 12 million. The lesson: Congress must live up to its commitments. I have voted in favor of legislation that would build more border fences, increase patrol agents, and toughen penalties on those who break the law. I voted for toughening requirements on businesses to make sure their employees can legally work in the United States and increasing penalties against companies that hire illegal workers. In addition, I voted to end the practice of 'catch and release' by increasing funding for detention capacity." (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted NO on Requiring Timetable for Withdrawal from Afghanistan on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
- Peace Action West. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Melissa Bean supported the interests of Peace Action West 31 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted NO on Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. Bean Supports President's Afghanistan Strategy. 1 December 2009. "I support the President's strategy, which recognizes that security and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly degrading Taliban and insurgent capacity, is essential to our own national security. It is critical, however, that we ensure that Afghan security forces are trained to equally engage and ultimately assume the lead security role." (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. H J Res 88. 109th Congress. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Melissa Bean voted NO on 18 July 2006. (votesmart.org)
- Melissa Bean. 2004. Project Vote Smart: Illinois Congressional National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "Other: I do not support gay marriage. And I believe civil unions are an issue most appropriately left to the legislatures of individual states."
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. | |||
| 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 the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion. | |||
| g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions. | |||
| X | h) Other or expanded principles | ||
| I support a woman's right to choose as defined in Roe v. Wade. I do not support recent legislation banning certain abortion procedures because it did not include and exception where the woman's health is at risk. | |||
Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities
| Slightly Decrease | a) Agriculture | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Arts | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Defense | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Education | ||
| Slightly Increase | e) Environment | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Homeland security | ||
| Maintain Status | g) International aid | ||
| Slightly Increase | h) Law enforcement | ||
| Maintain Status | i) Medical research | ||
| Maintain Status | j) National parks | ||
| Slightly Increase | k) Public health services | ||
| Maintain Status | l) Scientific research | ||
| Slightly Decrease | m) Space exploration programs | ||
| Maintain Status | n) Transportation and highway infrastructure | ||
| Maintain Status | o) Welfare | ||
| p) Other or expanded categories | |||
Defense Spending
| Maintain Status | a) Armed Forces personnel training | ||
| Greatly Increase | b) Intelligence operations | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Military hardware | ||
| Slightly Increase | d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment | ||
| Maintain Status | e) National missile defense | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Pay for active duty personnel | ||
| Slightly Increase | g) Programs to improve troop retention rates | ||
| Slightly Increase | h) Research and development of new weapons | ||
| Slightly Increase | i) Troop and equipment readiness | ||
| Greater emphasis on border security and local defense | |||
Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:
| Maintain Status | a) Less than $25,000 | ||
| Maintain Status | b) $25,000-$75,000 | ||
| Maintain Status | c) $75,000-$150,000 | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Over $150,000 | ||
| e) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Maintain Status | f) Over $40,000 | ||
| g) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Maintain Status | a) Alcohol taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Capital gains taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Cigarette taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | d) Corporate taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Gasoline taxes | ||
| Maintain Status | f) Inheritance taxes | ||
| g) Other or expanded categories | |||
| Maintain Status | a) Charitable contributions | ||
| Maintain Status | b) Child tax credit | ||
| Maintain Status | c) Earned income tax credit | ||
| Greatly Increase | d) Medical expense deduction | ||
| Maintain Status | e) Mortgage deduction | ||
| Slightly Increase | f) Student loan credit | ||
| g) Other or expanded categories | |||
| No | 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax? | ||
| No | 5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately? | ||
| All tax and spending policies must be determined in the context of the goal of a balanced federal budget. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.
| a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits. | |||
| b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns. | |||
| c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office. | |||
| d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees. | |||
| e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office. | |||
| f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election. | |||
| g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties. | |||
| Undecided | h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)? | ||
| Yes | i) Should Election Day be a national holiday? | ||
| j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions? | |||
| Yes | k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman? | ||
| I do not support gay marriage. And I believe civil unions are an issue most appropriately left to the legislatures of individual states. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.
| X | a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. | ||
| b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. | |||
| X | c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole. | ||
| X | d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released. | ||
| X | e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment. | ||
| f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes. | |||
| g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman. | |||
| X | h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes. | ||
| X | i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth. | ||
| X | j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes. | ||
| k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults. | |||
| m) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs.
| a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. | |||
| X | b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs. | ||
| c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. | |||
| d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes. | |||
| X | e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. | ||
| f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs." | |||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.
| X | a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students. | ||
| b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school. | |||
| c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school. | |||
| d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools. | |||
| X | e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers. | ||
| X | f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay. | ||
| g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology). | |||
| h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs. | |||
| i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children. | |||
| j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| X | k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions. | ||
| X | l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college. | ||
| X | m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college. | ||
| X | n) Other or expanded principles | ||
| The federal "No Child Left Behind" Bill limits local control of schools by imposing many restrictive and expensive unfunded mandates. I support legislation to address those flaws. | |||
1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.
| X | a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market. | ||
| b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion. | |||
| X | c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees. | ||
| X | d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies. | ||
| e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment. | |||
| X | f) Increase the federal minimum wage. | ||
| X | g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced. | ||
| X | h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options. | ||
| i) Other or expanded principles | |||
| X | a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions. | ||
| b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs. | |||
| X | c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs. | ||
| X | d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws. | ||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.
| X | a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act. | ||
| X | b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act. | ||
| c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land. | |||
| d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands. | |||
| e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage. | |||
| f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil). | |||
| X | g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. | ||
| h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. | |||
| X | i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution. | ||
| X | j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel. | ||
| k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits. | |||
| X | l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming. | ||
| X | m) Other or expanded principles | ||
| I support re-entering the Kyoto process to develop a new treaty that will apply reasonably and fairly to the United States. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.
| X | a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting. | ||
| X | b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns. | ||
| c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns. | |||
| d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns. | |||
| e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns. | |||
| X | f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns. | ||
| X | g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows. | ||
| h) Require a license for gun possession. | |||
| i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities. | |||
| j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims. | |||
| k) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.
| a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income. | |||
| X | c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied. | ||
| X | d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied. | ||
| e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts. | |||
| f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. | |||
| g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare. | |||
| h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans. | |||
| X | i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage. | ||
| j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid. | |||
| k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare. | |||
| X | l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells. | ||
| X | m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research. | ||
| X | n) Other or expanded principles | ||
| I support efforts to reduce the number of frivolous malpractice lawsuits, and to reduce the costs of medical malpractice insurance. I also support revising the recent Medicare drug bill to eliminate some of the special interest giveaways and make prescriptions more affordable to more people. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.
| a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country. | |||
| b) Establish English as the official national language. | |||
| c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers. | |||
| d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps). | |||
| e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States. | |||
| X | f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism. | ||
| g) Other or expanded principles | |||
International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.
| X | a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives. | ||
| X | b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States. | ||
| c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses. | |||
| d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated. | |||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.
| Yes | a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? | ||
| b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state? | |||
| c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq? | |||
| e) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program? | ||
| Undecided | b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program? | ||
| Undecided | c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power? | ||
| Yes | d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan? | ||
| Yes | e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan? | ||
| f) Other or expanded principles | |||
| Yes | a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations? | ||
| No | b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations? | ||
| c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions? | |||
| Yes | 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba? | ||
| No | 5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives? | ||
| Undecided | 7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education? | ||
| 8) Other or expanded principles | |||
| We must remain committed to establishing a democratic Iraq economically and socially stable enough to prevent it from becoming a haven of terrorist recruiting or training. So American soldiers and taxpayers do not carry the entire burden, we should reach out to our allies to share with them the costs of Iraq's reconstruction and occupation. As elections have already taken place in Iraqi city and regional councils, we should consider having these representatives elect a new interim government to which the U.S. can gradually transfer government functions. These approaches should be part of a larger plan to stabilize Iraq and bring our troops home as soon as possible. | |||
| The decision of whether to commit U.S. troops to U.N. actions must be made on an individual basis, determined by the merit and viability of the objectives and strategies of each mission. | |||
International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.
| Yes | 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? | ||
| Yes | 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)? | ||
| Yes | 3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)? | ||
| Yes | 4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States? | ||
| No | 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba? | ||
| Yes | 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights? | ||
| NAFTA, GATT and other trade agreements should be revised to avoid competitively disadvantaging U.S. businesses, stem the exportation on American jobs and improve global worker and environmental standards. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.
| Undecided | a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical? | ||
| Yes | b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism? | ||
| No | c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks? | ||
| Yes | d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country? | ||
| Yes | e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security? | ||
| f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security? | |||
| The decision to take any military action should be individually determined by the level and imminence of the threat to the United States, its citizens or interests. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.
| a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves. | |||
| b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government. | |||
| c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities. | |||
| d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form. | |||
| e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases. | |||
| f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits. | |||
| X | g) Other of expanded principles | ||
| Work toward a balanced budget to devote Social Security funds exclusively to Social Security instead of using them to fund discretionary spending. | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.
| a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions. | |||
| X | b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation. | ||
| c) Implement regulation of Internet content. | |||
| d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television. | |||
| X | e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses). | ||
| X | f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet. | ||
| g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government. | |||
| h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails. | |||
| i) Other or expanded principles | |||
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.
| X | a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs. | ||
| X | b) Increase funding for child care programs. | ||
| X | c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants. | ||
| d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations. | |||
| e) Abolish all federal welfare programs. | |||
| X | f) Support housing assistance for low-income families. | ||
| X | g) Other or expanded principles | ||
| Offer employers incentives to hire welfare recipients and to provide child care services to ease their transition into the workforce. | |||
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