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Karen Kwiatkowski's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.

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Karen Kwiatkowski has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where she stands on the issues she may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Virginia Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
No Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
Yes Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
This occupation of Afghanistan and the nationbuilding being attempted there is not in the US interest, and is in my opinion unconstitutional and a dangerous waste of resources.

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,

Yes do you support reducing defense spending?
No do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes do you support reducing Medicaid spending?
Yes do you support reducing Medicare spending?
Yes Is balancing the budget a legislative priority?
I aim to reduce federal spending in every way.
No Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I oppose government regulation in general and generally misguided and counter-productive -- not because I support corporate power grabs, but because regulation seems to do no good -- Politicians remain for sale, and they remain there for the highest bidder.
No Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
No Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
No Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits?
Yes Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
I oppose income and capital gains taxation in general and will vote at every opportunity to reduce the taxes collected by the federal government, in terms of a percentage of GDP.
No Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
I oppose a federal role in education, and will work to eliminate the Department of Education.
No Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
I will work to eliminate the Department of Energy.
No Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Most federal regulation in this country leads to great greenhouse gases being produced overseas - defeating the purpose of that global goal of reducing greenhouse gases.
No Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
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?
Yes Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
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?
Yes Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?
No Do you support same-sex marriage?
I personally don't support it but I see no reason for the federal government to be involved in marriage of any kind. Marriage a a religious union, and to seek government approval for marriage is really just a way of accessing perceived state and governmental benefits.
No Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
No Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon?
I prefer using the Constitution as our guide for foreign and security policy.
Yes Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
I would like to end the social security program, and see it as completely optional for those 50 years old and younger. Social security is a ponzi scheme, and we must end it -- not replace it with some "permitted" kind of private or governmentally managed individual retirement accounts.

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.

Greatly Decrease a) Agriculture
Eliminate b) Arts
Greatly Decrease c) Defense
Eliminate d) Education
Greatly Decrease e) Environment
Eliminate f) Homeland Security
Eliminate g) International aid
Eliminate h) Medical Research
Eliminate i) Scientific Research
Eliminate j) Space exploration
Eliminate k) United Nations
Greatly Decrease l) Welfare
m) Other or expanded categories
Eliminate a) Capital gains taxes
Greatly Decrease b) Corporate taxes
Slightly Decrease c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Slightly Decrease d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Slightly Decrease e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Eliminate f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Eliminate g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Eliminate h) Income taxes (high-income families)
Eliminate i) Inheritance taxes
Eliminate j) Payroll taxes
k) Other or expanded categories
I will work to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. It won't require more money to do this, but less. I'd like to see taxation of all kinds be reduced, and the constitution restored as our guide to the proper role in society of the federal government.

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