Card image cap

Robert Cuthbert'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.
What is the Political Courage Test?

California State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test

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) Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period.
g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
Roe vs. Wade is the benchmark for a women's right to "choice." The Supreme Court's decision has clear and reasonable curbs on the state's right to legislate. Ultimately, limiting a women's right to choose only has unpredictable and unanticipated negative consequences. I support sex education for our youth; no one wants an unwanted pregnancy.

State Budget: Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.State Taxes: Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

Slightly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Emergency preparedness
Slightly Increase d) Environment
Slightly Increase e) Health care
Slightly Increase f) Law enforcement
Maintain Status g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain Status h) Welfare
Greatly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Greatly Increase b) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Increase c) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status d) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status e) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status f) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Maintain Status g) Property taxes
Maintain Status h) Sales taxes
Maintain Status i) Vehicle taxes
Yes 1) Should state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
No 2) Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
Yes 3) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
No 4) Should California increase the tax exemption on luxury items (yachts, airplanes, and motor-homes) purchased and stored outside of the state from 90 days to 1 year?
Education is an investment for the future. As a state we must not use the already under funded K-12 budget to pay debts the politicians created. California needs to increase funding at least to the point of the national per capita average.
First, the State Legislature must address waste in government. Then, we must realize we need to pay our bills and not defer any longer. The so-called "sin taxes" implemented in other states need to be considered here. Putting off increasing revenues now only increases the State's debt for the future. Politics needs to be taken out of the budget process.
No matter what one may believe, we must balance the budget with all due diligence. Every possible option must be on the table. Increasing the deficit puts a horrendous burden on future generations. To do that, both revenue increases and budget cuts must be considered.

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 California governors?
Yes b) Do you support the current limit of terms for California state senators and assemblymembers?
Yes 1) Individual
Yes 2) PAC
Yes 3) Corporate
Undecided 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?
Undecided f) Should California participate in the federal REAL ID program?
Yes g) Do you support giving the redistricting authority of the state legislature to a California citizen council?
No h) Do you support the California state government using eminent domain to seize private property for the purpose of private development?
i) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
b) Support the death penalty in California.
X c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X d) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X e) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
f) Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws.
X g) Support hate crime legislation.
Across this nation, in most states, developing technologies have proven individuals convicted of capital crimes innocent. DNA samples collected before today's technological expertise existed prove the legal system is flawed. An indefinite moratorium on capital punishment needs to be instituted. Local and state law enforcement is already over burdened. The Federal Government needs to enforce Federal Immigration Law first. Local and state law enforcement should always cooperate in violent criminal immigration cases.

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

X a) Support state funding of universal pre-K programs.
b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
X c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.
X d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
h) Support using a merit pay system for teachers.
X i) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
X j) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of California to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
In my recent experience as a substitute teacher (K-12), it was clear that today's kindergartners are less prepared for school than before. Parents of this generation simply are working more and with more varied shifts. Even the best parents are less available. Pre-kindergarten programs can help fill the gap with the pre-literacy and socialization processes. I support allowing, "illegal immigrant high school graduates" to pay normal in-state fees. The reason is simple. These young people are, in the vast majority, socialized as Americans. They have no home elsewhere and deserve equal opportunity with their peers.

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

X a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today’s job market.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
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) Increase the state minimum wage.
g) Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will.
h) Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
X i) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
j) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
The national economy is rapidly changing. Programs are needed to develop a culture of adaptation among workers of all ages. Small businesses need to be allowed to operate with greater regulatory freedom. Individuals receiving social service cash benefits deserve the dignity of employment. Existing services provide opportunities to grow and become self-sufficient.

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, oil, etc).
c) Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops.
X d) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
e) Support funding for improvements to California's power generating and transmission facilities.
X f) Support funding for open space preservation.
X g) Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
X h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
The once promising "bio-fuel revolution" has proven ill advised. Ethanol, for example, is more polluting and has increased food prices. I support initiatives that decrease dependence on traditional fuels for energy generation and transportation. In the transition to more appropriate fuel/energy technologies we must seek the development of greater efficiencies in the use of traditional fuels.

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

Yes a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
Yes c) Should a license be required for gun possession?
Yes d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Yes e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
The current state laws are adequate and appropriate (including concealed weapon permits). The law needs to be fully enforced. Private citizens are not able to enforce the law in casual gun sales (gun shows). More stringent training programs need to be developed.

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) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
X c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
X e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in California.
X g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
Medical care in the nation is in crises. All who can afford health insurance are now paying for the uninsured. Emergency rooms turn no one away and should not be used for primary care; preventive regular medical care is cheaper and makes for a healthier population. I support reform and a state "single-payer" program for the uninsured.

['Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.', 'Legislative Priorities']

Yes a) Should California continue to recognize domestic partnerships between same-sex couples?
Yes b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
Yes c) Should California provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples?
Yes d) Do you support a moment of silence in public schools?
Undecided e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?
Yes f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
No g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
Undecided h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?
Yes i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?
Yes j) Should California continue affirmative action programs?
Undecided k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research?
Undecided l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research?
No m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?
Same-sex domestic partnerships and "marriage" are simply a matter of individual rights. The State should provide equal rights to all adults as individuals in civil unions. Civil unions are, in fact, equivalent to a civil marriage. The broad spectrum of churches, synagogues, and so on, are free to provide marriages in conformity with their religious beliefs. Moments of silence allow children to exercise the innate spiritual nature all humans have. Organized "prayer" in school does not allow for the increasing diversity in the population. I believe that the pledge of allegiance should be the start of every school day.
Health care reform, sustained educational funding, working family opportunities are the priorities of this campaign. Although each issue will require continued funding and some increases, all three are investments that must be implemented to keep California competitive in the global market place. It is a gross oversimplification to simply make "across the board" budget cuts. Tax increases must be limited, fair, and uniformly applied. Cuts need to be made in non-essential areas, but cuts must be balanced with revenue increases. The current out of balance budget carries greater future costs, a burden our children do not deserve.

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward