Joel Demos' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Joel Demos 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.
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.
- Joel Demos. 2010. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: Primary Election Voter Guide. Responded YES to the questions: "(1) Do you support the reversal of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. bolton decisions, so that elected legislative bodies may once again protect unborn children by limiting or prohibiting abortion?;" "(2) Would you support legislation to strictly limit abortion at least from the point in development that evidence suggests an unborn child has the capacity to experience pain?;" "(4) Would you vote to renew the current hyde amendment policy without weakening amendments?;" "(5) Would you support legislation to reinstate the Mexico City policy, and would you oppose any legislation that would prohibit a future president from reinstating the policy by executive order?;" "(6) Would you vote for the Child interstate abortion notification act, and oppose weakening amendments?" (webcache.googleusercontent.com)
- Joel Demos. Issue Position: Small Businesses. "As a member of Congress, Joel will consider how each decision he makes affects small businesses in the Fifth District because he knows that small businesses are the engine of our economy. In order to bring down our unemployment rate, the federal government must look at ways at easing the burden on job creators. With the tax relief passed in 2003 set to expire at the end of this year, small businesses are anticipating a tax increase in 2011. In order to prevent layoffs, the Congress must extend and make permanent these important tax breaks." (votesmart.org)
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "It is unlikely I would vote for any federal bailouts in committee or on the floor. My neighbors here in the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota are struggling to make ends meet. Asking them to subsidize the rescue of another failed private institution is adding insult to injury. Instead of bailouts, we must put in place the conditions for the private sector to have the freedom to succeed. We should not reward greed nor punish enterprise. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for economic failures in the private sector." to the question: "9. Are there any circumstances under which you would vote for a program similar to TARP or other federal bailouts?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
- Joel Demos. Meet Joel Demos (R CAND, MN-05). 9 August 2010. "I became dismayed as I watched time and time again that Congress was applying short-term band aids instead of long-term fixes and sound policies for long-term, sustainable economic growth and expansion." (www.redstate.com)
- Joel Demos. Issue Position: Jobs. "Joel knows that the most pressing issue facing all Americans is the difficulty finding and maintaining employment. In order to create more sustainable jobs, the government must create an economic environment in which the private sector can grow. Reducing taxes on families and businesses must be part of the solution. When individuals and businesses can keep more of their own hard-earned money, they will be able to reinvest in the economy and job creation will follow." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "Absolutely. Among the many, two glaring examples stand out - the Departments of Justice and Education...The DOE also needs to be held accountable for its spending and its progress in improving education. State and local governments know how to better spend education dollars so if the federal government is involved, we must ensure they are spending our money wisely." to the question: "11. Would you commit to solid, informed congressional oversight if you were in Washington, DC - not random acts of after-sight or political grandstanding? If so, give us at least two areas in which you would want to better learn and ask questions of our governments to seek the effectiveness of programs, curtail the growth of the federal largesse, or properly oversee the enforcement of current laws?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
- Joel Demos signed the Contract from America. "Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures." (www.thecontract.org)
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "Yes, because it amounts to a tax on energy. Some regulations may prevent the free market from flowing. Such legislation stipulates that businesses will be required to buy a carbon credit based on how much carbon they are emitting. The more money businesses are forced to spend on such regulation, the less money they have to spend on expanding their company, marketing, and creating innovative technologies." to the question: "1. Do you oppose government regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
- Joel Demos. Issue Position: Conservation. "Joel believes that we must be good stewards of our environment. As Minnesotans, we have been given an abundance of wonderful natural resources including our lakes, rivers and streams. These resources are important to our way of life. We must ensure our bodies of water remain clean so that they can continue to be used for fishing, recreation, and a source of attraction for Minnesotans and visitors alike. Weather permitting, Joel actually rides his bike to work every day he can." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Joel Demos signed the Contract from America. "Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn't restricted by state boundaries." (www.thecontract.org)
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "Yes. When politicians in Washington passed the recent legislation, they missed an opportunity. Healthcare reform should address access, cost, and quality associated with healthcare. The current law only offers access to healthcare. Families and businesses express rising frustration of the high costs associated with this legislation and the likelihood of employees being left without health insurance coverage. Other worthy alternatives were available, but true healthcare reform was sacrificed for the sake of expediency and ideology. Legislation that addresses these concerns, while maintaining individual non-penalty options, is a better alternative." to the question: "2. Would you support repealing the Obama Health Care Bill, including the individual mandate?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
- Joel Demos. Issue Position: Health Care. "Joel supports real health care reform focused on lowering costs and ensuring access without decreasing the quality of care. The recently enacted health care law only addresses access and leaves the cost and quality problems unsolved. Minnesota families and small businesses worry already that the new law will impose financial burdens upon them and upon generations to come. Joel will work with his colleagues in Congress to develop sensible solutions to make health care affordable without increasing federal spending and the burden on hard-working Minnesotans." (votesmart.org)
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "Yes. Before we can even begin to deal with questions relating to guest workers, streamlining naturalization or those unfortunately already here illegally, we must be confident that our laws are being enforced and our borders are secured. America is a nation of immigrants. We must encourage legal immigration and consider options to improve the citizenship process for those that comply with our laws. We can only accomplish these goals if the structures necessary to achieve them are enforced and adhered to strictly." to the question: "4. Do you support a "border enforcement first" policy for defending America's borders?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
- Birkey, Andy. 2010. Minnesota Independent: Ellison's GOP-endorsed challenger: The anti-Christ is on the rise. 13 April 2010. "In that same sermon, Demos praised the leadership of President George W. Bush and the need to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush's "overwhelming legacy" will be "that we have not had an attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001" because "the United States has gone on the offense," he said." (minnesotaindependent.com)
- Joel Demos. 2010. Liberty Central: Questionnaire For 2010 Congressional Candidates. Responded "The Global War on Terror demands a military response. The enemy should not benefit from the rights and privileges afforded American citizens. Defense attorneys, courtrooms, and taxpayer dollars should not be used as a platform for terrorists to spread propaganda or misguided politicians to 'prove' that America is fair, which ultimately only sends the message that we are weak. Our free society, republic, and democratic values are under assault, and we must bear heavy costs to remain free. These burdens should not include helping our enemies escape justice in the name of justice." to the question: "6. Does the War on Terror demand more of a military response or a law enforcement response?" (libertycentral.s3.amazonaws.com)
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