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Dennis Cardoza's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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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.

Dennis Cardoza refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

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 2010.

  • NARAL Pro-Choice America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 50 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • National Right to Life Committee. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 25 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Planned Parenthood. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 67 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. H Amdt 509 to HR 3962. 111th Congress. An amendment printed in Part C of House Report 111-330 to codify the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3962. The amendment prohibits federal funds for abortion services in the public option. It also prohibits individuals who receive affordability credits from purchasing a plan that provides elective abortions. However, it allows individuals, both who receive affordability credits and who do not, to separately purchase with their own funds plans that cover elective abortions. It also clarifies that private plans may still offer elective abortions. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 760. 108th Congress. To prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted NO on 4 June 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. S 3. 108th Congress. A bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted NO on 2 October 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. H Amdt 209 to HR 1815. 109th Congress. An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 109-96 to lift the current ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 25 May 2005. (votesmart.org)
  • National Taxpayers Union. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union 7 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 5638. 109th Congress. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the unified credit against the estate tax to an exclusion equivalent of $5,000,000 and to repeal the sunset provision for the estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 22 June 2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 8. 108th Congress. To make the repeal of the estate tax permanent. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 13 April 2005. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Valley Farmers, Families, And Small Businesses Benefit From Permanent Estate Tax Exemption. 3 December 2009. "With Congressman Dennis Cardoza's strong support, today the House of Representatives passed the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009. The legislation marks a significant victory for businesses and families, especially those in agriculture, in the San Joaquin Valley. 'Although I would have appreciated the opportunity to vote on the Family Farm Preservation Act, today's legislation is still of significant importance during these difficult economic times. It provides our families with a means of stability and predictability in planning their financial affairs,' said Congressman Cardoza. 'This permanent tax exemption will provide a direct, tangible benefit to our famers and small businesses who are the backbone of our economy. It will also help family-owned farms and businesses to stay within the family.'" (votesmart.org)
  • Club for Growth. 2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the Club for Growth 8 percent in 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 1. 111th Congress. Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 13 February 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 1424. 111th Congress. To provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 10 March 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Congressman Cardoza's Statement on Economic Stimulus Package. 7 February 2008. "Today, H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, was passed by the House and Senate. The package will inject $170 billion to stimulate the economy by providing rebate checks to millions of American families, seniors, and veterans. Additionally it provides tax breaks to small businesses and includes provisions to help families avoid losing their homes to foreclosure. 'Families in the 18th Congressional District are struggling just to make ends meet, and the economic downturn is only making things worse,' said Congressman Dennis Cardoza. 'I'm proud Democrats, Republicans and the Bush Administration worked together to craft a plan that will give the economy a much-needed boost, and deliver to families the relief they need right now. I am especially happy that the package includes my proposal to put the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) back in business by allowing it to provide relief to mortgage borrowers across the country, including regions with high median home values like California, that FHA is currently prohibited from serving,' continued Cardoza. 'The Valley is the epicenter of the mortgage foreclosure crisis and this relief cannot come soon enough.'" (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 4849, Small Business And Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act Of 2010. 23 March 2010. "Now is not the time to sit back and relax but to continue to give this economy a shot in the arm that it needs in so many areas like mine. And we will get the extra stimulus we need to overcome this recession once and for all by passing this and other measures that will be coming before us...That is also why we are bringing this bill, H.R. 4849, the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010, on the floor today with an additional provision, a proven measure to further stimulate the economy." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Privatizing Social Security. 26 July 2005. "Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, when are Washington Republicans going to listen to the American people? At the beginning of this year, President Bush unveiled a general plan that would lead to the privatization of Social Security. When his plan was met with a lukewarm response, President Bush decided that he would travel around the Nation for 60 days trying to sell the American people on the concept of privatizing Social Security. The American people listened, and they gave President Bush a resounding no. Our constituents paid into Social Security, and they want it paid back to them when they retire. Cutting Social Security benefits that Americans have earned should always be a last resort. And yet recently there was legislation introduced by the Republicans that would divert payroll contributions from Americans to create private accounts. By taking money away from Social Security, the Republican plan would explode the deficit or force deep cuts in guaranteed benefits our Nation's citizens have already been promised. It is time to listen to our constituents and realize Americans are not going to back Social Security privatization. Let us strengthen Social Security rather than destroy it." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. 2004. Project Vote Smart: California Congressional Election National Political Awareness Test. 29 January 2010. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes."
  • Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. 2005-2006. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants 60 percent in 2005-2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. 2004. Project Vote Smart: California Congressional Election National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students."
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Reaching the American Dream through Education. 8 June 2009. "Because education is so critical, I believe we have a duty to ensure quality and equal availability in our educational system. Despite good intentions, the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has strayed far off course, overwhelming schools and teachers due to inadequate federal funding. We must invest in the resources necessary to ensure our public education system features highly-trained teachers, full funding for programs, and affordability for American families of all backgrounds." (www.house.gov)
  • Environment America. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of Environment America 100 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 2454. 111th Congress. To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 26 June 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Providing for Consideration of H.R. 502, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008. 22 June 2007. "Madam Speaker, the legislation we will consider today, H.R. 2771, funds the legislative branch of our government. This includes funding for the House of Representatives so Members of Congress have the resources we need to serve our constituents. It includes funding for the Capitol Police, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, the Office of Compliance and other government agencies. The bill also takes a bold step forward and begins implementing the Speaker's Green the Capitol Initiative. For the first time ever, the House of Representatives will take steps to address the threats of global warming by ensuring the House operates in a carbon-neutral manner." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Congressman Cardoza Solar Legislation Seeks To Aid Agriculture, Air Pollution. 22 October 2009. "The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act today, establishing a short-and long-term strategy for solar research and technology developments in the United States. Included in the legislation was an amendment introduced by Congressman Dennis Cardoza that aims to reduce agriculture costs and reduce air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley. The Solar Technology Roadmap Act directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of solar technology. The bill aims to establish guidance on energy security, U.S. competitiveness, climate change mitigation and energy diversification. Congressman Cardoza, a strong proponent of solar energy, introduced an amendment focused mainly on the development of solar electricity based on thermal power technology. This technology involves using the sun to heat water for mechanical uses, similar to a traditional steam engine. The technology is significant to California and the San Joaquin Valley because it could provide farmers and growers a means of powering their irrigation pumps and other farm equipment through solar energy created on-site at their agriculture operation. In addition to the potential to reduce growers' costs, it would also reduce the number of diesel engines operating in the Valley, cutting back on air pollution. 'This is a common-sense approach to harnessing the power of solar technology in the Valley,' said Congressman Cardoza. 'This will have a direct benefit to all of my constituents back home and moves us one more step away from our dependence on foreign oil.'" (votesmart.org)
  • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 2003. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 0 percent from 1991 and 2003. (votesmart.org)
  • Gun Owners of America. 2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. In 2010 Gun Owners of America gave Dennis A. Cardoza a grade of D. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 6842. 111th Congress. To restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 17 September 2008. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A.Cardoza. In Support of the Recent Supreme Court Decision on DC's Handgun Law. 10 July 2008. "Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for the recent decision made by the United States Supreme Court upholding the right of residents of the District of Columbia and elsewhere to keep and bear arms. On Thursday, June 26, 2008, the Court rightly struck down the decades old ban on handgun possession and ownership in the District of Columbia, one of the strictest bans in the country. * Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have co-sponsored legislation to end this ban and to expand gun rights within the District to preserve the Second Amendment rights guaranteed to all Americans by the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, I signed an amicus brief along with 249 other members of this respected body opposing the District's gun ban and urging the Supreme Court to recognize its constitutional defects. * In issuing its decision, the Court affirmed and protected the Constitution and the right of a sportsman to have a registered shotgun in his home and renewed the right of a homeowner to possess a handgun in order to protect one's family and property from intruders. * While I certainly understand the desire to consider occurrences of violent crime when crafting gun control legislation, our country is based on the premise that enforcement of our fundamental rights cannot be haphazard. Our Founding Fathers fought for the individual liberties we all enjoy--among them, the right to possess firearms. This right, along with the freedom of the press or the privilege against self-incrimination, must not be dismissed or diluted. * As a hunter and gun rights advocate, I applaud the Supreme Court for its decision. I look forward to continuing my work in Congress to protect the integrity of the Second Amendment." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 3962. 111th Congress. To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on 7 November 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • American Public Health Association. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the American Public Health Association 88 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. 2004. Project Vote Smart: California Congressional Election National Political Awareness Test. Checked SUPPORT for: "c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied. d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied. e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts. f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits. g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare. h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans. i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage. j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid. k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare. l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells. m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research."
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Rep. Cardoza To Support Health Care Reform. 20 March 2010. "After decades of debate, the United States House of Representatives is poised to pass sweeping changes aimed at reining in spiraling health care costs and providing more control to patients and doctors in making critical and personal health care decisions. After closely reading the bill, meeting with my constituents and medical professionals for the past year, and taking into consideration all of the letters and phone calls my office received, I am pleased to announce I will vote in favor of the health care reform bill...This measure can stabilize health care costs, make health care more affordable for millions of Americans, help local and state governments which too often are forced to pay for the coverage of the uninsured, and allow millions of seniors and their families greater health care security. From the beginning of this discussion I have called for cost containment which must reduce the deficit, bending the medical cost curve that negatively impacts the country and our economy. This bill does that, along with its other significant improvements in our national health policy." (votesmart.org)
  • Federation for American Immigration Reform. 2007-2008. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the Federation for American Immigration Reform 25 percent in 2007-2008. (votesmart.org)
  • National Latino Congreso. 2007-2010. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of the National Latino Congreso 83 percent in 2007-2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Rep. Cardoza Opposes Flawed Immigration Bill, Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Problem. 17 December 2005. "Congressman Dennis Cardoza today opposed a bill - HR 4437 - that he believes would have a devastating impact on California's agriculture industry. Cardoza, who has a strong record on border protection and illegal immigration, favors an approach that would address both sides of the issue: securing America's borders and putting in place an effective policy for dealing with illegal immigrants already in the United States. The bill, introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (WI), attempts to addresses only one side of the issue, and offers no effective means for dealing with the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. Further, the bill's provisions would likely result in the arrest and deportation of seasonal workers, devastating the Central Valley's agriculture community and overwhelming local law enforcement. It would also require retroactive electronic verification of employment, which would punish legal workers and essentially eliminate the workforce for many growers in the Central Valley. "Sensenbrenner's bill is not the right medicine for this problem. It would be terribly detrimental to the agriculture industry in the Central Valley," said Cardoza. "I support additional border security and a comprehensive strategy to deal with illegal immigration. We are in need of a serious and comprehensive overhaul of U.S. immigration policy, not a half-baked bill that doesn't deal with reality and hurts employers." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted NO on Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. HR 4899. 111th Congress. Supplemental Appropriations Act. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted YES on Requiring Timetable for Withdrawal from Afghanistan on 1 July 2010. (votesmart.org)
  • Peace Action West. 2009. Project Vote Smart: Interest Group Ratings. Dennis A. Cardoza supported the interests of Peace Action West 46 percent in 2009. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. Iraq War Resolution. 14 February 2007. "And we must redouble our efforts to snuff out the Taliban in Afghanistan." (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. H J Res 88. 109th Congress. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage. Project Vote Smart Summary: Dennis A. Cardoza voted NO on 18 July 2006. (votesmart.org)
  • Dennis A. Cardoza. 2004. Project Vote Smart: California Congressional Election National Political Awareness Test. Selected YES for: "k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?" l) Other or expanded principles: "The issue of whether same-sex couples can form civil unions should be left to states to decide."
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.
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) Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
g) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
h) Other or expanded principles

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities

Maintain Status a) Agriculture
Maintain Status b) Arts
Slightly Increase c) Defense
Greatly Increase d) Education
Maintain Status e) Environment
Slightly Increase f) Homeland security
Maintain Status g) International aid
Slightly Increase h) Law enforcement
Slightly Increase i) Medical research
Maintain Status j) National parks
Slightly Increase k) Public health services
Slightly Increase l) Scientific research
Maintain Status m) Space exploration programs
Slightly Increase n) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Maintain Status o) Welfare
p) Other or expanded categories

Defense Spending

Slightly Increase a) Armed Forces personnel training
Slightly Increase b) Intelligence operations
Slightly Increase c) Military hardware
Slightly Increase d) Modernization of weaponry and equipment
Maintain Status e) National missile defense
Greatly Increase f) Pay for active duty personnel
Slightly Increase g) Programs to improve troop retention rates
Slightly Increase h) Research and development of new weapons
Greatly Increase i) Troop and equipment readiness
j) Other or expanded categories

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

Maintain Status a) Less than $25,000
Maintain Status b) $25,000-$75,000
Maintain Status c) $75,000-$150,000
Maintain Status d) Over $150,000
e) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status f) Over $40,000
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Alcohol taxes
Maintain Status b) Capital gains taxes
Maintain Status c) Cigarette taxes
Maintain Status d) Corporate taxes
Maintain Status e) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status f) Inheritance taxes
g) Other or expanded categories
Maintain Status a) Charitable contributions
Slightly Increase b) Child tax credit
Maintain Status c) Earned income tax credit
Greatly Increase d) Medical expense deduction
Maintain Status e) Mortgage deduction
Slightly Increase f) Student loan credit
g) Other or expanded categories
Yes 4) Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
No 5) Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
Yes 6) Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

a) Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
b) Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
c) Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
d) Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
e) Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office.
f) Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election.
g) Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
No h) Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
No i) Should Election Day be a national holiday?
j) Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
Yes k) Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
Yes l) Other or expanded principles
The issue of whether same-sex couples can form civil unions should be left to states to decide.

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

X a) Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
b) Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
X c) Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
X d) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X e) Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
f) Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
X g) Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
X h) Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
X i) Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
X j) Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes.
X k) Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
X l) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
X b) Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
X c) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
d) Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
X e) Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
f) Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
g) Other or expanded principles

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

X a) Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
b) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
c) Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
X d) Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
X e) Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
f) Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
X g) Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
h) Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
i) Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
j) Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
k) Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
X l) Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
X m) Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
n) Other or expanded principles

1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

X a) Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
X b) Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
X c) Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
X d) Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
e) Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
X f) Increase the federal minimum wage.
X g) Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
X h) Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
i) Other or expanded principles
a) The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
b) The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
c) The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
X d) Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
e) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

a) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
b) Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
c) Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
d) Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
e) Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
X f) Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
X g) Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
X h) Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
X i) Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
X j) Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
X k) Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
l) Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
m) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
b) Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
c) Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
d) Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
e) Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
X f) Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
X g) Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
h) Require a license for gun possession.
i) Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities.
j) Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
k) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.

a) Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
b) Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
X c) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
X d) Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
X e) Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
X f) Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
X g) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
h) Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
X i) Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
X j) Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
k) Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare.
X l) Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
X m) Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
n) Other or expanded principles

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

a) Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
b) Establish English as the official national language.
c) Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers.
d) Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
e) Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States.
f) Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism.
X g) Other or expanded principles
We must work to arrive at a consensus on immigration issues.

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

X a) Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
X b) Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
X c) Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
d) Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
e) Other or expanded principles

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

Yes a) Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
Yes b) Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
c) Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
d) Discuss your proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq. What funding sources would you use to implement these proposals? (75 words or less. Please use an attached page if the space below is not adequate.)
Yes e) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
Undecided b) Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
Undecided c) Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
Yes d) Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
Yes e) Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
f) Other or expanded principles
Yes a) Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
No b) Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
Undecided c) Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
d) Other or expanded principles
Undecided 4) Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
Undecided 5) Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"?
Yes 6) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
Yes 7) Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education?
8) Other or expanded principles
Troops should be withdrawn from Iraq after a lasting, stable Iraqi government has been formed and maintained.

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

No 1) Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
No 2) Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
Undecided 3) Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Yes 4) Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
Undecided 5) Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
Yes 6) Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
7) Other or expanded principles

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

Yes a) Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
Yes b) Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
c) Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
Yes d) Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
Yes e) Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
f) Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security?
Yes g) Other or expanded principles
The validity of pre-emptive strikes must be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

a) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
b) Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
c) Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
d) Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
e) Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
f) Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.
X g) Other of expanded principles
Don't rail the Social Security Trust Fund.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

a) Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
X b) Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
c) Implement regulation of Internet content.
X d) Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
X e) Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
X f) Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
g) Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
X h) Impose regulations on "spam" emails.
X i) Other or expanded principles
Strengthen laws to protect children on the Internet.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

a) Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
X b) Increase funding for child care programs.
c) Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
d) Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
e) Abolish all federal welfare programs.
X f) Support housing assistance for low-income families.
g) Other or expanded principles
1) Creating Jobs/Reducing Unemployment I will seek financial support for local government and economic incentives for private industry to bring new jobs and job training to the Central Valley. 2) Homeland Security I will work to protect our national security and ensure that our first responders receive the critical funding they need. 3) Regulatory Reform I will continue my efforts to reform flawed regulatory processes in government.

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