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Chard Reid's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Chard Reid has demonstrated Political Courage by telling citizens where he stands on the issues he may face if elected.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Indiana Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Pro-life Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
As your representative in Congress, I will protect life by supporting the "Sanctity of Life Act" which clearly defines life as beginning at the point of conception. By passing the "Sanctity of Life Act" we will effectively prevent judges from defining life as they see fit. Furthermore, I will oppose any legislation that provides federal funds for abortions. Your conscience as a voter should not be violated by using your tax dollars to support something that you personally abhor.
No Do you support United States' combat operations in Afghanistan?
Yes Do you support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan?
I believe that the United States of America should have the strongest national defense program in the world. As usual, my beliefs are consistent with the Founding Fathers, who went out of their way to include national defense as a primary function of the federal government in the Constitution. Although defense spending is the third-largest component of our federal budget, it is arguably the most important and legitimate program we have. However, I am not in favor of nation building and believe we need to bring our troops home as soon as possible.

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing the federal budget.In order to balance the budget,

Yes do you support reducing defense spending?
No do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Yes do you support reducing Medicaid spending?
Yes do you support reducing Medicare spending?
Yes Is balancing the budget a legislative priority?
We must balance the budget immediately to foster long-term economic growth. I will make it my top priority to balance the budget during my first term in office! Unlike my opponents, I have a detailed plan to reform Social Security, to reduce the long-term costs of Medicare, and to eliminate a plethora of unnecessary government programs. My plan will balance the budget within two years without raising income taxes or adding any new taxes to our burdensome tax system.
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
No Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
I am a pro-life candidate who is not comfortable with giving government power over life and death. As a Christian, I strongly disagree with the death penalty because it takes away an individual's chance to repent.
No Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
No Do you support spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
No Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits?
Yes Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?
No Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
My budget proposal, called the Road to Reality, will eliminate the federal Department of Education. See more at roadtoreality.us.
Yes Do you support reducing restrictions on offshore energy production?
No Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
No Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
No Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
The 2nd Amendment states that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Like the rest of the Bill of Rights, this is very explicit in its meaning: Government cannot take away our rights to keep and bear arms. The presence of gun permits doesn't prevent criminals from acquiring guns or using guns. Rather, it discourages law-abiding citizens from carrying guns because it is a hassle to fill out the paperwork.
Yes Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
No Should individuals be required to purchase health insurance, as mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act?
Government should not require us to purchase anything.
Yes Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
No Do you support allowing illegal immigrants, who were brought to the United States as minors, to pursue citizenship without returning to their country of origin?
Yes Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?
No Do you support same-sex marriage?
Marriage is a religious covenant between a man, a woman, and God. So I don't believe that the federal government should regulate marriage at all. State governments should issue civil union contracts to everyone alike, but they should not even recognize my marriage with my wife. So yes, I support equal legal protection through civil unions under the law for all Americans. Many of my fellow Christians need to understand that the number one enemy of marriage is not gay marriage--it's divorce. We need to get our house in order before we legislate how we want other groups to live.
Yes Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
Yes Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Yes Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
Check out my solution to reform Social Security at www.ChardReid.com

SpendingIndicate what federal spending levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.TaxesIndicate what federal tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category; you can use a number more than once.

Greatly Decrease a) Agriculture
Eliminate b) Arts
Slightly Decrease c) Defense
Eliminate d) Education
Eliminate e) Environment
Eliminate f) Homeland Security
Eliminate g) International aid
Eliminate h) Medical Research
Eliminate i) Scientific Research
Eliminate j) Space exploration
Eliminate k) United Nations
Greatly Decrease l) Welfare
Greatly Decrease m) Other or expanded categories
Eliminate a) Capital gains taxes
Eliminate b) Corporate taxes
Eliminate c) Excise taxes (alcohol)
Eliminate d) Excise taxes (cigarettes)
Eliminate e) Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
Eliminate f) Income taxes (low-income families)
Eliminate g) Income taxes (middle-income families)
Eliminate h) Income taxes (high-income families)
Eliminate i) Inheritance taxes
Eliminate j) Payroll taxes
Maintain Status k) Other or expanded categories
My proposal, the Road to Reality, will balance the budget within two years through spending cuts alone. Check it out at roadtoreality.us
Ideally, I would implement the FairTax, which eliminates the IRS and every tax on the books. In their place, the FairTax implements a consumption tax that allows Americans to save, invest, and give tax free. It also requires everyone (including illegal immigrants and drug dealers) to pay taxes. The very poor are exempted through a prebate that is administered to all citizens each month. However, if that is not immdediately possible, I would maintain all current tax levels until we balance the budget through spending cuts and then fight to drastically cut taxes across the board for all Americans.
1) I will fight to balance the budget within two years through spending cuts alone (See www.RoadtoReality.us). In addition, I will introduce a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. 2) I will introduce the Sanctity of Life Act, which will define life as beginning at the point of conception. This will prevent judges from interpreting when life begins through their own worldview. 3) I will fight to audit (and hopefully end) the Federal Reserve, which continually destroys the purchasing power of the dollar by increasing the money supply and creates asset bubbles through its artificial manipulation of interest rates.

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