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Emily Cain'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.

Emily Cain has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2016.

  • Rated 0% by the Maine Right to Life Committee (votesmart.org)
  • "Emily has consistently voted to protect access to safe and legal abortion services, to protect medically accurate sex education in schools, and to protect funding for family planning." (votesmart.org)
  • "[...] Emily will work to invest in women's health, protect reproductive rights, provide life-saving assistance to victims of domestic violence, and ensure quality education for our children." (votesmart.org)
  • "During her service Emily worked with Democrats and Republicans alike to save Maine taxpayers $4 BILLION with responsible budget agreements that cut wasteful spending while protecting middle class families and seniors. In 2011, Emily worked across the aisle to pass a balanced budget that saved nursing homes and cut income taxes. Maine people can count on Emily to continue as a bipartisan leader for balancing responsible budgets and focusing tax relief on working families and small businesses." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "In Congress, Cain’s number one priority will be to create more economic opportunity for every Maine family by making investments in small businesses, rebuilding our roads and bridges" (emilycain.com)
  • "In the Maine Legislature, Emily fought for responsible plans to create jobs through research and development grants, small business loans and infrastructure investments." (votesmart.org)
  • "Emily believes balancing budgets, paying our bills, and lowering taxes all go hand-in-hand with investing in our future." (emilycain.com)
  • " 'I think Common Core doesn’t go far enough,' Cain said, indicating her support for the standards, but adding they should be accompanied by support for prekindergarten programs and teachers." (bangordailynews.com)
  • Portland Press Herald "Cain opposes Keystone XL, a proposed pipeline that would carry oil from the tar sands of western Canada to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast, and supports a carbon tax, which Poliquin has criticized her for." (www.pressherald.com)
  • "In the Legislature, Emily supported renewable energy investments like offshore wind and solar, along with bipartisan packages to ensure clean air and water, restore wetlands and protect farms and forests." (votesmart.org)
  • "She will support critical investments in our public schools, universities and community colleges. And she'll bring some Maine entrepreneurship to DC by pushing for investment in the innovative jobs of the future -- like those in green technology." (votesmart.org)
  • "[...] she has been an ardent supporter of land conservation efforts, raising awareness of toxic chemicals in toys and household products, investing in green technology jobs, and voting to cut greenhouse gases and address climate change in Maine." (votesmart.org)
  • "To preserve our way of life, our fishing and farming economy, and the health of our children, Maine must be a leader in the fight to stop global climate change." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 50% by National Rifle Association (votesmart.org)
  • "Emily is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and will always fight to protect the rights of Maine gun owners in Congress." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of L.D. 1240 "Establishes Penalties for Unauthorized Private Gun Sales and Requires Background Checks" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of L.D. 1603 "Authorizes State Employees to Keep Concealed Firearms in Vehicles" (votesmart.org)
  • "The Affordable Care Act is far from perfect, but it is an important step in the right direction." (votesmart.org)
  • Bangor Daily News "Cain supports the DREAM Act, which would give residency to undocumented minors who were brought into this country by their parents and meet certain education requirements." (bangordailynews.com)
  • Cosponsored and voted in favor of S.P.550 "Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform" (votesmart.org)
  • "Same-sex couples should be able to marry and be legally recognized by the state and federal government, and Emily will always stand up for that right." (votesmart.org)
  • "She will vote to support our coalition partners on the ground and work with our allies to bomb ISIS targets." (votesmart.org)
  • "She will block any attempts to turn Medicare into a voucher program, privatize Social Security, increase the retirement age, or slash benefits for struggling seniors." (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.
The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

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

a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
f) Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

Greatly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Slightly Increase c) Emergency preparedness
Slightly Increase d) Environment
Greatly Increase e) Health care
Slightly Increase f) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase h) Welfare
i) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Greatly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Greatly Decrease f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Greatly Decrease g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Greatly Decrease h) Property taxes
Slightly Increase i) Sales taxes
Slightly Decrease 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?
Undecided n) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
o) Other or expanded principles

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

Yes a) Do you support the current limit of terms for Maine governors?
No b) Do you support the current limit of terms for Maine state senators and representatives?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Yes 4) Political Parties
Yes d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
Yes f) Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
Yes g) Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Maine are closed?
Yes h) Should Maine 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) Implement the death penalty in Maine.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) End parole for repeat violent offenders.
X e) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X f) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
g) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
X h) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
X i) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
X j) Strengthen sex-offender laws.
X k) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
X l) Support the continued publication of Maine’s sex offender registry.
m) 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) Require 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.
Support community colleges & early college programs & adult ed.

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

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
X 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 Maine's anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Other or expanded principles
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 Maine's power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
X f) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
b) Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
X f) Require a license for gun possession.
X g) Support notifying individuals protected by an abuse order when the abuser attempts to purchase a firearm.
h) 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) Continue to support Dirigo Health in Maine.
g) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Maine.
X h) Continue to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
i) Other or expanded principles

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
1. Make Maine more competitive - invest in research & development, healthcare, natural resources, state infrastructure. 2. Increase base budget funding for Maine's colleges and universities 3. Comprehensive tax reform: rebalance the income tax to lower it for all; increase the sales tax 1% and expand it; increase lodging tax 1% ; continue to invest in K-12 education to lower property taxes. Bonding: investment in infrastructure, capital improvements, and targeted research & development

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