Card image cap

Carmen Amato, Jr.'s Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

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.

Carmen Amato, Jr. has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2023 Political Courage Test.

What is the Political Courage Test?

New Jersey State Legislative Election 2023 Political Courage Test

Pro-life a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rapes?
No c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions?
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
Yes b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to balance the budget in your state?
No c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state?
No d) Do you support the legalization and regulation of wagering on collegiate sporting events involving NJ based teams?
No e) Do you support a reduction in State and Local Tax Deductions, otherwise known as SALT?
a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes?
Yes b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No d) Do you support the use of private prisons?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders?
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)?
Yes b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
No c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of New Jersey?
No d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in New Jersey?
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in New Jersey?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in New Jersey?
No d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from New Jersey high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status?
No a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
No b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands?
c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
Hesitant to respond to open-ended questions.
Yes a) Do you support the regulation of campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals?
Yes b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
No d) Do you support automatic voter registration?
No e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in New Jersey?
No a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, boyfriend loophole)?
No b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in New Jersey?
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
No b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All?
No c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia?
No d) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
No e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)?
Yes f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs?
Yes g) Do you support the state legislature expanding the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act to include outdoor public spaces such as Atlantic City casinos that have traditionally allowed it?
No a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in New Jersey anti-discrimination laws?
No b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in New Jersey anti-discrimination laws?
No c) Do you support greater efforts by the New Jersey state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps?
My legislative priorities will include reducing the state�s crushing tax burden, controlling state government spending and fully funding property tax relief programs. I will forcefully oppose all sanctuary state policies. I will demand reform of the state�s broken and politicized school funding formula which is failing too many of our students, parents, educators and taxpayers. Enhancing services for veterans and seniors will also be among my legislative priorities. Protecting the autonomy of senior communities from state oversight and regulation would be a key component of my legislative efforts. I will forcefully oppose government overregulation to protect individuals� Constitutional rights and freedoms. In protecting the environment, I will support open space preservation and vehemently oppose offshore wind turbines that threaten our ocean and marine wildlife as well as our state�s fishing industry. I will work to restore parental rights in education.

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

arrow_upward