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Charlie Dent'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.

Charlie Dent has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

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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 2016.

  • "My vote today represents my consistent belief that taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for abortion services, which is currently the law of the land. I have long supported the inclusion of prohibitions on taxpayer funding for abortion in the annual government funding bills. H.R. 7 codifies these prohibitions into law, eliminating the need for them to be continuously renewed.” (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by NARAL Pro-Choice America (votesmart.org)
  • Signed a pledge stating, "I Charles Dent pledge to the taxpayers of the 15th district of the state of Pennsylvania and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." (www.atr.org)
  • “The money you earn is your money. It is not the government's money. That's why Charlie Dent voted against what would have been the largest tax increase in the history of America. It's why he voted to expand the Child Tax Credit and to permanently get rid of the Marriage Tax Penalty and the Death Tax (which particularly hurts family businesses and family farms).” (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • “The best way to let our families keep their money is to stop the government from spending it. Charlie has voted against bloated government spending items like the Farm Bill and wasteful projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere." He is a strong leader in reforming the earmark process in Washington. Charlie has called for greater fairness and openness in the process to make sure that taxpayers know how their money is being spent and he demanded that lawmakers attach their names to projects they are supporting.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Under Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership, the liberal Congress has dramatically increased spending and extended the reach of government. We simply cannot afford this Congress's expensive and over-ambitious agenda. I have opposed bloated government spending initiatives [...]” (votesmart.org)
  • "Understanding the record-breaking spending levels of the recent past are simply unsustainable, H.Con.Res. 34 freezes discretionary spending below pre-Stimulus levels for the next five years. I recognize the impact of these cuts will be felt across the country, but difficult steps must be taken today to guarantee a prosperous and secure tomorrow." (votesmart.org)
  • “First and foremost, we should provide small businesses with a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income. American companies should also be allowed to recoup reasonable and necessary business expenses in order to foster greater business investment.” (votesmart.org)
  • "Reducing the tax burden on American small businesses will allow these crucial job creators to invest in their growth and hire more employees. Like a growing number of bipartisan Members of Congress, I believe comprehensive tax reform, which broadens the base, eliminates loopholes and modernizes the tax code, will help spur substantial economic growth. However, until extensive reform is completed, Congress must continue to pass legislation like H.R. 9 that supports the growth of American small businesses." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R.1105 “Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015” (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "It's disappointing to see President Obama veto the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Building the Keystone Pipeline would create jobs, increase North American energy independence, improve our domestic energy infrastructure and strengthen our relationship with Canada.” (votesmart.org)
  • "The Keystone XL Pipeline project, and the tens of thousands of jobs it would support, has been unnecessarily held up by the President for too long. It has been studied and restudied. Cleared and re-cleared. Support for this project amongst the public remains at an overwhelming level. It's something the vast majority of Americans agree would be beneficial and it is unfortunate that the President allows ideology to trump good public policy." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • “Given that nearly forty percent of electricity in the United States is generated by coal, it is especially important to carefully consider both the short- and long-term ramifications of this proposal. In some states nearly ninety percent of electricity is coal-powered, so consumers could be especially hard-hit. We have already heard an outpouring of concern from constituents alarmed about this proposal's impact on energy affordability, job creation, and long-term economic growth. Allowing stakeholders additional time to comment will ensure those wishing to share their views are able to do so and will enable the EPA to more fully consider public opinion.” (votesmart.org)
  • "This misguided effort is nothing more than a threat from the Administration for Congress to pass harmful cap-and-tax legislation or face the possibility of the EPA imposing even more damaging regulations,: […] At a time when the nation is struggling to create and maintain jobs, over-reaching mandates on greenhouse gases will only increase energy costs for American manufacturers, farmers and homeowners, further stifling any real hope for sustainable economic growth.“ (votesmart.org)
  • “I firmly believe in the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, and I have been a staunch defender of this freedom. In fact, I signed on to an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief in the landmark Supreme Court case, D.C. v. Heller, in which the Court finally affirmed the individual right to bear arms and maintained that all Americans have a constitutional right to self-defense.” (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 0% by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.Amdt 1098 “Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws” (votesmart.org)
  • "No person is above the law in America, not even the President. In 2010, the House passed the Affordable Care Act, the President's signature domestic legislation. While I voted against the law, and find the employer mandate particularly onerous, that provision, contained in the law, was duly passed. The Constitution is quite clear that the President's job requires him to see that laws are faithfully enacted.” (votesmart.org)
  • “Obamacare helps people who couldn't previously get insurance. That's a good thing. But it does so by hurting everyone else. There are better ways to care for people.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R.3762 “Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015” (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "As members of Congress dedicated to promoting equal rights to every American, we believe that no one should lose their job simply because of who they are or who they love." (votesmart.org)
  • “Life is too short to have the force of government stand in the way of two adults whose pursuit of happiness includes marriage. As a Republican, I value equality, personal freedom and a more limited role for government in our lives. I believe this philosophy should apply to the issue of marriage as well. […] To all those Americans today who are able to marry their loved ones and have that marriage recognized everywhere throughout the country, congratulations.” (votesmart.org)
  • Rated 100% by the Human Rights Campaign (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • “I DO NOT SUPPORT privatizing Social Security.” (votesmart.org)

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