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Ken Cross' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
What is the Political Courage Test?
Presidential Election 2016 Political Courage Test
Key
- Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.
- Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.
- Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.
- Vote Smart's Research: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Pro-life![]() | Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? |
Other or expanded principles | |
I am opposed to abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. |
No![]() | In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending? |
Yes![]() | In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? |
Other or expanded principles | |
The current U.S. debt to GDP ratio is over 100%, which is dangerously high. The national debt will be over 20 trillion dollars by 2020! I support freezing the defense budget until there is a budget surplus. I also support small reductions in Social Security and Medicare. Only by serious shared sacrifice can the United States hope to avert a future crisis such as the one Greece is struggling with now. Visit www.kencross.com |
Yes![]() | Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? |
Other or expanded principles | |
I do support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions, but not the elimination of them. |
Yes![]() | Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? |
Yes![]() | Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? |
No![]() | Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? |
Other or expanded principles | |
I have faith in the United States Judicial System. Judges and jurors should have the flexibility to determine the appropriate sentences, punishments, and/or treatments that are most appropriate and suitable for any given situation. |
Yes![]() | Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? |
Yes![]() | Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? |
Yes![]() | Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation? |
Other or expanded principles | |
Federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth should be reserved for periods of serious recession or when there is a budget surplus. |
![]() | Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards? |
Other or expanded principles | |
My "Quality Education Initiaitive Program" would be far superior to the "No Child Left Behind Program". See www.kencross.com. |
Yes![]() | Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline? |
Yes![]() | Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? |
No![]() | Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry? |
Other or expanded principles | |
We need to promote renewable energy in order to reduce global warming and reserve some precious limited natural resources for future generations. However, the transition can and should be a gradual process to minimize disruption to our society and the world. See www.kencross.com. |
Yes![]() | Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change? |
Yes![]() | Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions? |
Other or expanded principles | |
We have only one planet on which to survive. We need to take care of it. |
No![]() | Do you generally support gun-control legislation? |
Other or expanded principles | |
I am a strong advocate of our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms as citizens. However, I do support restrictions for convicted felons. |
No![]() | Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")? |
Other or expanded principles | |
I believe that the benefits outweigh the shortcommings of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. |
![]() | Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship? |
Other or expanded principles | |
Such a requirement would be logistically and legally burdensome if not prohibitive by nature. Our emphasis currently is, and should continue to be, on protecting our borders. See www.kencross.com. |
Yes![]() | Do you support same-sex marriage? |
Other or expanded principles | |
The United States Supreme Court has decided the question, and I support our Constitutional form of government. Jesus said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". I don't qualify. |
![]() | Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support? |
No![]() | Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon? |
![]() | Other or expanded principles |
No![]() | Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts? |
Other or expanded principles | |
See www.kencross.com |
Spending | |
Indicate 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. | |
Maintain Status![]() | a) Agriculture |
Maintain Status![]() | b) Arts |
Maintain Status![]() | c) Defense |
Maintain Status![]() | d) Education |
![]() | e) Environment |
Maintain Status![]() | f) Homeland Security |
Slightly Decrease![]() | g) International aid |
Maintain Status![]() | h) Medical Research |
Maintain Status![]() | i) Scientific Research |
Slightly Decrease![]() | j) Space exploration |
Maintain Status![]() | k) United Nations |
Slightly Decrease![]() | l) Welfare |
![]() | m) Other or expanded categories |
Taxes | |
Indicate 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. | |
Maintain Status![]() | a) Capital gains taxes |
Maintain Status![]() | b) Corporate taxes |
Slightly Decrease![]() | c) Small business taxes |
Maintain Status![]() | d) Excise taxes (alcohol) |
Maintain Status![]() | e) Excise taxes (cigarettes) |
Maintain Status![]() | f) Excise taxes (transportation fuel) |
Slightly Decrease![]() | g) Income taxes (low-income families) |
Maintain Status![]() | h) Income taxes (middle-income families) |
Slightly Increase![]() | i) Income taxes (high-income families) |
Maintain Status![]() | j) Inheritance taxes |
Slightly Increase![]() | k) Payroll taxes |
![]() | l) Other or expanded categories |
Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, how you would use executive orders if elected. | |
I would use them as necessary. |
Please explain in a total of 100 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. | |
See www.kencross.com |