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Evan Jenkins' 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.

Evan Jenkins has refused 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?

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 2018.

  • Rated 0% by NARAL Pro-Choice America (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by the National Right to Life Committee (votesmart.org)
  • "Evan knows that life begins at conception and is firm in his convictions. He supported West Virginia's Defense of Marriage Act clearly recognizing that marriage is between one man and woman, and will always defend your constitutionally guaranteed 2nd Amendment rights." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 36 "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "He believes we must live within our means and tax relief, not tax increases, is what we need to get our country moving in the right direction." (votesmart.org)
  • "West Virginia must reform its tax structure so all payers -- businesses and individuals -- have a fairer system that provides the resources for cost-effective government programs. We must look to cut the tax burden and streamline government expenditures. I will fight to ensure that every tax dollar is spent properly and efficiently." (votesmart.org)
  • "[...] we will be voting on historic tax cuts that will create more jobs and put more money in the pockets of West Virginia's families. I will carefully and thoughtfully read the final legislation to make sure it meets our goals of lowering taxes, creating jobs, and growing our economy." (votesmart.org)
  • "Keeping our military strong is the central role of the federal government. Although I support funding levels that maintain America as the world's pre-eminent military power we must spend our money wisely and not waste critical resources." (votesmart.org)
  • "Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line so we can live in freedom, and I will always ensure that they have the support and tools they need to complete their missions. This bill gives our military much-needed resources, including planes, ships and vehicles, to combat and destroy ISIS and radical Islamic terrorism." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "We have so many infrastructure needs across West Virginia, and this will provide important funding to help us rebuild our roads, repair our bridges, and construct new highways. It will be up to the governor and legislators in Charleston to decide how to prioritize this funding, and I will continue to urge them to invest in West Virginia's long-promised projects like the King Coal Highway and Coalfields Expressway. I look forward to seeing this money put to good use across West Virginia to invest in our infrastructure -- as go the roads, so go the jobs," (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 22 "Fixing America's Surface Transportation" (votesmart.org)
  • "Under our tax cuts plan, we'll unleash West Virginia's economic potential, create jobs, and put more money back into the pockets of hardworking West Virginians. We will simplify the tax code so many families can file their taxes on just a postcard. I hope the House and the Senate will pass tax cuts and tax simplification quickly to help West Virginia's families and small businesses." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 1 "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Jenkins also believes that we need policies that restore local control to our public schools and empower parents, not Washington, to decide what's best for their students. That's why Evan has supported legislation that would halt the federal government's ability to coerce states into adopting the flawed Common Core standards, further reigning in the Obama administration's executive overreach." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "[...] , the House will vote this week on a resolution of disapproval on a carbon tax, a new tax that would greatly hurt my State of West Virginia. […] West Virginia needs more jobs and reinvestment, not a carbon tax." (votesmart.org)
  • "This government overreach is over. […] At every step, I have fought against burdensome regulations, worked with President Trump, and stood with West Virginia's coal miners. I fully support a speedy repeal of the Clean Power Plan, giving West Virginia hope for a future of economic prosperity." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 806 "Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. J. Res 24 "Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to 'Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units'" (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by National Rifle Association (votesmart.org)
  • "Congressman Evan Jenkins is a proud supporter of the Second Amendment rights for all law-abiding Americans. West Virginia has a proud tradition of using firearms for sport, and the federal government should not infringe on their right to bear arms." (votesmart.org)
  • "Evan knows that life begins at conception and is firm in his convictions. He supported West Virginia's Defense of Marriage Act clearly recognizing that marriage is between one man and woman, and will always defend your constitutionally guaranteed 2nd Amendment rights." (votesmart.org)
  • "The congressman has voted multiple times to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with commonsense health reforms that focus on lowering costs and improving access to quality health care. Since the disastrous implementation of Obamacare, premiums have skyrocketed, jobs have been lost, and the price tag of the law skyrocketed to more $1 trillion." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 596 "Repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010" (votesmart.org)
  • "I also fought to cut nearly half a billion from the EPA and its war on coal, all while standing with President Trump to build the border wall." (votesmart.org)
  • "[...] I support President Trump’s plan to build a wall along our southern border, and that’s why I fought to make sure that President Trump’s $1.6 billion request to increase border security was fully-funded." (evanjenkins.com)
  • "I support President Trump’s plan to build a wall along our southern border, and the funding I helped secure will allow us to strengthen our national security and curb illegal immigration" (evanjenkins.house.gov)
  • "I strongly oppose amnesty for those who entered this country illegally. We are a nation of laws, and those laws must be respected and followed." (evanjenkins.house.gov)
  • "The crisis on the southern border is another example of failed leadership on the part of the Obama Administration. We must secure our borders now, and do everything we can to prevent President Obama sidestepping Congress to implement his unconstitutional plans to implement amnesty-by-fiat." (votesmart.org)
  • "We are a nation of laws and have a responsibility to secure our borders. I remain firmly opposed to amnesty and am committed to ensuring our nation's immigration policies are constitutional and lawful." (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 17% by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
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.
b) Abortions should always be legal.
c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
X d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
X 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.
X g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
h) Other or expanded principles

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

Slightly Increase a) Education (Higher)
Slightly Increase b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status c) Environment
Slightly Increase d) Health care
Slightly Increase e) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase f) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Slightly Increase g) Welfare
Maintain Status h) Emergency preparedness
i) Other or expanded categories
Slightly Increase a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Slightly Increase c) Cigarette taxes
Slightly Decrease d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Slightly Decrease f) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Maintain Status g) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Maintain Status h) Property taxes
Slightly Decrease i) Sales taxes
Maintain Status j) Vehicle taxes
Undecided 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?
No n) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
o) Other or expanded principles
Eliminate Food tax

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 West Virginia governors?
Undecided b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for West Virginia 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 West Virginia are closed?
Undecided h) Should West Virginia recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
No i) Should racetracks be able to offer casino-style table games?
Yes j) Should the use of eminent domain be restricted to seizures of property necessary for public use?
k) 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 West Virginia.
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 other penalties than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
f) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
X g) Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
X h) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
i) Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
j) Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
k) Increase state funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent or respond to terrorism.
X l) Increase sentences on sex offenders.
X m) Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make Methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing Pseudophedrine, Ephedrine and Phenylpropanolamine.)
n) Other or expanded principles

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

X 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.
d) Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
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.
l) Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
m) Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
n) Other or expanded principles

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.
b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
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.
f) Include sexual orientation in West Virginia's anti-discrimination laws.
X g) Increase the state minimum wage.
h) Other or expanded principles
a) Public employment
b) State college and university admissions
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).
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 West Virginia's power generating and transmission facilities.
X e) Support funding for open space preservation.
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.

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.
e) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
f) Require a license for gun possession.
g) 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.
X 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.
f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in West Virginia.
g) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
h) 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
On an attached page, disk, or via email, please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

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