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Rhett Smith'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.

Rhett Smith has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage 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.

Presidential Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Unknown Position Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Roe v. Wade addresses this important issue for U.S citizens. Together with the Hyde amendment these laws help enable our society to minimize violence and to co-exist even while expressing divergent points of view. I actively help and voluntarily support the San Antonio Coalition for Life and also 40 Days for Life, which offer peaceful, prayerful help, in my San Antonio community.

BudgetIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

do you support reducing Medicaid spending?
do you support reducing Medicare spending?
Is balancing the budget an administrative priority?
a) Agriculture
b) Arts
c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
Slightly Increase e) Environment
f) Homeland Security
g) International aid
h) Medical Research
i) Scientific Research
j) Space exploration
k) United Nations
l) Welfare
Greatly Increase m) Other or expanded categories
a) Capital gains taxes
b) Corporate taxes
c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
f) Income taxes (low-income families)
g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
h) Income taxes (high-income families)
i) Inheritance taxes
j) Payroll taxes
Unknown Position do you support reducing defense spending?
Unknown Position do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
We should "greatly decrease or eliminate" income taxes for low income tax payers; this would improve the "safety-net," stimulate the economy, and get Washington bureaucrats off the backs of those taxpayers. Because the U.S is in economic crisis (we do not want to face a "Euro Zone" situation) I favor minimizing alarm, i.e. 3=Maintain Status no major changes for overall total budget, spending, and taxes.
Greatly increase funding for U.S Institute of Peace-raise to Departmental level. Education Increase funding early childhood and accelerated (college prep) programs.
We should "greatly decrease or eliminate" income taxes for low income taxpayers; this would improve the "safety-net," stimulate the economy, and get Washington bureaucrats off of the backs of those taxpayers. I select level (3) =maintain status for all the other general categories, with the exception of alcohol and cigarette taxes which should be increased to cover long-term health care.
Unknown Position Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
As a Green party candidate, I believe our political system would be better served if the Federal Communication Commission were required by law to provide some coverage for candidates who are not running in the major parties. The Citizens United v. FEC case was a moral outrage--that corporate money is entitled to "1st Amendment rights", while millions of impoverished citizens are being denied the same due to lack of funding.
Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
In my state of Texas, which executes more than the other 49 states combined, the Roman Catholic Cardinal organized a peaceful demonstration, marching from an abortion clinic in Huntsville, TX to the death chamber where Texas carries out executions. Would not society be better off, if the government were not involved in terminating life,?... because this places taxpayers in an unethical dilemma.
Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of unemployment benefits?
Yes Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
Unknown Position Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Unknown Position Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
In an economic period of low inflation, the U.S should make prudent decisions for long-term balanced development and prosperity, not only for domestic economy, but mindful of global impact as well. The first 4 questions above involve government borrowing, while the fifth allows taxpayers to control their own dollars, and eliminate bureaucracy.
Unknown Position Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
Advocate for Federal Early Childhood Development office. Supported fellow members of NAACP, LULAC in filing a formal complaint against Texas State Board of Education, due to Board's adoption of racially prejudiced curriculum of instruction for social studies. Advocate for every child (upon completion of primary education) to be offered acceleration (college preparatory) programs- funded by elimination of secondary education in the U.S. We hear about young 12, 14 year old students who have excelled at college level. If students would complete their four year degree before age 20, perhaps the major cots could be state funded.
Yes Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
As a Green candidate, I advocate a massive increase in every avenue of public education, research, and communication regarding environment and energy. The above answers (Y,Y,Y) sustainable development for centuries to come must be America's long-term goal as well as working with global partners.
Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
No Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
Unknown Position Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
I advocate for the First Amendment in both domestic and foreign policy. I am the only candidate that is currently developing a Dept. Of Peace, which I believe can link historically to Adam Smith- The Wealth of Nations, "political economy". As a Green party candidate, we support policies of engagement that avoid conflict."__ Proposal: to create Department of Peace to generate developmental plan for seven billion humans to peacefully coexist.
Unknown Position Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
the Second Amendment address this issue for U.S citizens. I believe that the 2nd Amendment, along with the other nine amendments in the Bill of Rights, is to protect individual citizens from oppression by their own government. As Americans we must always guard our liberty and be wary of Washington elite who would usurp the same.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
No Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
I believe there is an important reason that the United States of America are fifty sovereign and separate states. As this Act clearly demonstrates, Congress and the Chief Executive have usurped rights that are clearly reserved for the states and the people. Medical/health care is a personal, private choice. This Act undermines our liberties and freedoms. If United States citizens believe they have been denied medical care due to no funding, Congress should set up an oversight fund of several billion dollars and consider case-by-case basis... In San Antonio, University Health System serves all county residents.
Yes Do you support allowing illegal immigrants, who were brought to the United States as minors, to pursue citizenship without returning to their country of origin?
No Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?
Unknown Position Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Re: the international borders with Canada and Mexico-- U.S citizens, many whose families immigrated from Europe after 1776, are now trying to make laws for Americans whose families were living along the borders for many more than 236 years. As a Green candidate, I respect these indigenous people and their families.
Unknown Position Do you support same-sex marriage?
As a Green candidate, I support Constitutional protections for all citizens.
No Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Social Security should not be touched, due to possible financial risk if taxes are diverted.
Rekindling the spirit of the American Revolution; America's founders realized "revolution" alone was not enough, -- a Constitution was needed that secured basic rights and liberties. The First Amendment, I believe, represents the pinnacle of freedoms that individuals seek worldwide. I make "no Proselyte" pledge: all major administrative positions and all appointments will be from a faith tradition other than my own. Two predominate parties (Republican/Democrat)-- are not serving America well. We fail children, women, veterans, ... child abuse, violence against women, veteran suicides. Finally, "Eco-Renaissance" creating 'eco'- sustainable education, jurisprudence, economics and global finance.

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